My essence in a tight little bundle

Just back from a Monday morning walk (well, I was just getting back when I started this entry.. 12 hours ago), and my military-green shoulderbag is full of the following fun - in no particular order, a sampling of the simple San Francisco things I've been obsessing about lately:

Two bombers of beer: Moylan's Hopsickle Imperial IPA and Russian River's Damnation Batch 23, the first being a new favorite and the latter an intriguing offering from one of my favorite local breweries. I should also say that my fridge is full of similarly bombastic brews, mostly IPA-ish stuff, but there are a few other goodies there like a Russian Imperial Stout (spring 2007 release) from Stone Brewing and a selection from Flying Dog Ales (ex. their Double Dog Double Pale Ale. Is it coincidence that most of the beers in my fridge weigh in around 10% abv? And, if not, what does that say about my tastes.. or my current level of alcohol tolerance? Both, I believe, are mighty-high, or, else, I'm just high (a possibility, since that sort of thing can come naturally to me - sans chemicals, that is). haha.

One "A Scanner Darkly" DVD from the SF Public Library (Main branch, thank you very much), which I will watch - hopefully with company (interested?) - drinking a few of the delicious beers I mentioned above. In particular, I bought those Flying Dog's for an envisioned Ralph Steadman-themed night: you see, "Where the Buffalo Roam" is currently a free movie on our Comcast On Demand thingie, and Steadman designed both this movie poster and the labels for these beers - art created decades apart, but stylistically in the same vein; in addition, Dr. Hunter S. Thomson relations abound for those interested. That said, I'm actually more interested in seeing A Scanner Darkly; and since the drug/paranoia (or, if you rather, drug-induced-paranoia) connections to my original plan cannot be denied, I feel the initial sentiment is maintained. Drink on!

A large tub of Rami's Mommy's hummus from Healthy Spirits, one of my favorite spots to buy beer in the city, and, oddly enough, homemade Lebanese food. I buy both here on a regular basis; the hummus is awesome (if I'm not making a batch from scratch myself), as is their "pita" - whole wheat if it's available; try toasting it (for reals). In my quest for good - nay, great - beer this week, I've been hitting up all sorts of neighborhood establishments, from big-uns like Trader Joes and BevMo! to smaller shops like Healthy Spirits and Nimer's Market (it's been awhile since I've visited Chops, and his beer selection is still tops). And, regardless of my consumer destination (I've been really having my fill lately, dropping the bucks to prove it), I've always had a "pleasant evening"; good beer is highly accessible in the US, and, more specifically, in SF.. if you know where to look! I can be your guide, for sure; funny how things turn out, huh?

And, finally, a used copy of Demons by Fyodor Dostoevsky (formerly translated as The Possessed); let me write that all out in Cyrillic for you, s'il vous plait. At Dolores Park today, I turned through the first 10 pages, approximating a man reading (nevermind the scratching of the head); in the meantime, an hour passed. At that rate, this 700 page novel will occupy my time until the new year (2008!) or beyond; and, while I like to read heavy-hitters, I may have to abandon such a time-consuming endeavor (although I will finish, at least, the first chapter to see if the operation is linear). In any case, I'll be the first one to admit that this pathetic prose-processing-pace says something about one (or likely, all) of the following aspects of my current mental state: attention span, knowledge of 19th century Russian history, and general understanding of intellectual -isms (ex. socialism, materialism, atheism, etc.). Maybe (ahem) this all has something to do - again - with beer? Well, I hope so.. or else this book has nothing to do with anything else in my satchel (and who wants such non-topical accoutrement?).. this shizz is heavy (physically, that is - at least). Still, the Russian people have captured my imagination; and I start Russian 1B at CCSF on August 16th. In another semester or two, follow me to the motherland..

So.

If I could go back in time to add into this shoulderbag my climbing gear, some Kitsune-released CDs, and maybe a bike or two, we would basically have my July 2007 essence in a tight little bundle. And who wouldn't want to be a proud little mama or papa to that? I'm - as always - only slightly moist..

An addition of Hot Knives; dance and drink to your health!

Combining a love of beer and vegetarian cooking (topics near and dear to my heart), the guys at the Hot Knives blog have caught my attention. Check them out at:

Hot Knives (http://www.urbanhonking.com/hotknives/)

They've got some great beer reviews (the latest are on anniversary brews from Pizza Port and Avery Brewing), and some even greater recipes (all novel and looking-delicious, though not always for kitchen newbies). Steak and Eggz anyone?

By the way, Hot Knives is the latest edition to my link menu on the right; find them conveniently under "Food So Delicious", now and forevermore. And don't forget about those other nice links over there, like Disco Belle and My Open Bar (SF); dance and drink to your health!

Gently fold WET2 into WET1 and add to DRY0

As evidenced from the sale prices at your local grocery, and their general availability at your local farmer's market, berry season is upon us! In fact, this week I've been able to continue my kitchen explorations using FRESH blackberries, personally picked - for free; I only paid in thorn scratches - at Bernal Heights Park earlier this week.

The blackberries were plump and sweet, and made for a nice addition to a perennial favorite of mine: PANCAKES! While always a recipe in flux, try my (yes, my) current one; I would say it is my best thus far:

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DRY0 ingredients:
1c whole wheat flour
2T Spiru-tein Vanilla protein powder
2t ground cinnamon
1/2t nutmeg
1/2t salt
1/4t baking soda
5/4t baking powder
1/4t grated orange or lemon peel
optional: 2T brown sugar or other sweetener

WET1 ingredients:
1/2c plain lowfat yogurt
1 1/8c vanilla soymilk
1T olive oil
2 eggs

WET2 ingredients:
1 1/2c fresh blackberries

Mix together the DRY0 ingredients in one bowl, and whisk the WET1 ingredients vigorously in another. Gently fold WET2 into WET1 and add to DRY0 (what is this a recipe for again?). Again, fold everything together GENTLY; do not overmix (it's better to have a few lumps than to overmix - if you do, you'll end up with dense pancakes). Also note that depending on the juiciness of your berries (damn girl!), you may need to add a little more soymilk to the batter to get a nice, pourable consistency.

Butter up a hot cast iron skillet or stovetop griddle (a new culinary toy of mine!) and cook up some deliciousness. This recipe will make about eight, thick, 6 inch pancakes.. which sounds like quite a party, for brunch or beyond; let me show you how - and pour the belinis. Top them with maple syrup, crème fraîche, yogurt, more blackberries, or some combo of these and enjoy (duh).

Note: Adding sweetener into DRY0 is really a matter of taste, and may be a function of how sugared your other ingredients are. For example, you may be using unsweetened soy milk, or your berries might be a little more tart than you may like; in these cases, a little added sugar (or equivalent, maybe some honey or maple syrup?) may be in order.

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In related, um, news, I also made a batch of Blackberry Muffins a few days ago, based on a recipe from SimplyRecipes (http://www.elise.com/recipes/) - with a few "healthy" modifications (reducing the butter requirements, etc.); let me know if you'd like to try my version. These guys are tasty in all incarnations; my muffins were devoured within, basically, a day. Yum!

Another saying, saying nothing, but seeing something

Yes, so I fully admit(ted) that there were going to be distractions - distractions from the bit of writing I envisioned I would do this week (or, rather, I would have "liked to do" this week), writing destined for this blogspace. That is, I'm back in SF - I've been back for a week now - and I knew there was a good possibility that I would not be updating this blog as much as I would like from the get-go (or, at least, in the same frequency as before I left on sabbatical). And I said this much in my last entry (or two). Was I just hedging my bets (and catering to my lazyman tendencies)?

Frig. Yeah. I guess..

But yeah, it's been waaay too long to have a "proper" excuse. I've - for sure - have had some time to start "processing" the random and, often, disparate events from the past could of weeks: adventures in Utah, NYC, St. Petersburg, Moscow and Kyrgyzstan. It's even gotten to the point where I've been asked - en vivo - "what's up?" - maybe, simply, as conversation filler - on several occasions this week (I fully acknowledge that possibility).

Regardless of any outside intentions of inquisition, I'll ask myself: yeah.. what's up (with that writing you were planning on doing), (yo)?

And to that, I need to say: One.. more.. day.. (or two)..

In the meantime, what I can give is direction to check out my flickr site (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eheaton/), where I've uploaded all the photos from my trip. While they don't *exactly* do the time justice - at least not without live commentary - they are a start. In particular, check these sets:

1. BOSS Field Course J-65 2007
2. Russian Massive June 2007
3. Traveling Kyrgyzstan July 2007

And, umm, talk soon?

There will be distractions, and yet postings will flow!

Well, I'm back and I'm back, and, well, really, I'm *almost* back. (It depends on your perspective.)

That is, I arrived in NYC last night after hours and hours and hours of traveling (more than a literal 24 hours, I guess) from Kyrgyzstan (et. al.) - and it all seemed quite normal and go'd-with-the-flow throughout: First I was there. And then there; it is another place to be and do. And another.. so, now, I'm here, being and doing still more. And more and more. "Finally", now - at 3:00pm EST - awake (again), if not a bit disoriented, another time and place (in every senses of those words - ha!) upon me.. and, well, starting to settle (readjust?) back into "stability"; I'm drinking some tea.

I show up places and do things.
I show up places and do things?
Again, I guess; and I guess I do (in a good way!).

There is a black Moleskine journal across the table, so full; the first entry is dated from May 26th (2007, thank you very much) or so, and the most recent is from "yesterday" (whatever that meant at the time); the latter is a picture. But most of the rest is words, and words and more words; words I'd like to (and will) read over and (maybe) obsess about, given no other distractions (although I imagine distraction; I plan to assist in my arrival at distraction).

I'd like to use those words as inspiration - ha! - for remembering specific incidents and funtimes, but moreso for musing a bit about themes and feelings and thoughtlines that emerged - or will emerge, in retrospect - over my last couple of untethered weeks out of SF (and, more importantly, outside of my "normal" life). Blog posts will follow. haha.

In the meantime, let me just say that - wow, what disparate adventures to consider! - while there were ups and downs, physically, culturally, and - perhaps, most memorably - emotionally, the overall time was awesome (to put it simply, yet accurately).

Also: fuck yeah! (ahem) That is, again, to put it simply, yet accurately. haha. Good stuff; stay tuned.

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Chris, I hope you made it to Istanbul safely; we rocked Russia and Kyrgyzstan. And we - as discussed - have, now, a higher standard for interactions with future drunks in our life (ex. they better bring - at least! - their own loshad, mutherfucker). hahaha. And the rest of you, I hope to see soon (loshad or not)..