Journal

Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors - Des Moines Playhouse - 10/25/2024

We got tickets for this, just on the title alone. Unlike the Shaun of the Dead, I got one of my co-workers to cover a nice block of time while I was expecting to be in the theater.

We went to Hugo’s for dinner, and then found a nice place to park.

The show itself was a fairly funny interpretation of the story. Depending on both modern and at the time period jokes to push the humor to the forefront. The set of actors were entertaining, and the purposeful use of less actors also led to jokes as well.

Good show over all. Luckily for my guilt level, nothing happened while I was having my on call covered.

Shaun of the Dead: 4k restoration - Varsity Cinema - 10/24/2024

The first time I had been in the upper theater at the Varsity. We went with Dave and Jo and I was looking forward to a nice relaxing evening watching a film I love in a theater. At the point where Shaun starts to notice that something bad is happening, was about the time I got texted about a work thing.

I left the theater to see if I could resolve this without going home, but shortly later I told Shannon to get a ride home from Dave and Jo, and I ran home.

I admit it was a risk to schedule this during an on call week, but usually it works out.

When Shannon got home I was closing out the “outage” and was a bit wound up.

Back to the Future: The Musical - Civic Center - 10/20/2024

I’m not sure what I was expecting when we went, but I ended up having a good time. I understand most of the decisions they made in changing it to be a bit more family friendly, and other things that would be ridiculously challenging to stage (skateboard chases, etc). Quite enjoyable, fun to watch. I’m glad we went.

2024 - Week 43 Cooking

Made a short, Shannon supervised trip, to The Good Butcher, a new butcher shop. I’ve had some of their cured sausages purchased at the Cheese Shop, but they opened yesterday. I bought a nice selection of things, had ideas for other things there. We’ll see how this goes.

2024 - Week 42 Cooking Results

This past week I spent quite a bit of time just being there, as my brother recovers from a surgery. We had a good time wandering around the metro area, stopping at places he likes or that he thinks I like and a restaurant that he goes to from time to time. I ordered out (some excellent pizza, some very good hand pies) a bit and used what we bought grocery shopping to make breakfast lunch and dinner.

Beef Stew

Using what he had, and what I bought, I made a nice beef stew. I may have been a little intoxicated to taste well enough, so I had to salt it enough, after he tasted it, and added a bit to much apple cider vinegar (my bad, but not too too much just a bit much). I used some leftover (!!) American Wagyu beef that he had, potatoes, onions, carrots to make for a nice dinner and Lunch the next day.

Goulash

I adapted this a bit, because i used pork, instead of beef, as he eats / cooks a lot of beef. And I used more paprika then anything I saw called for (half smoked, half hot). I bought some cultured sour cream for this purpose and then forgot to add it, until I was eating it, so I gave him and myself a bit of a dollop, then added the rest of the sour cream and left him with quite a bit of leftovers.

I think he’s got a pretty good start on recovery, and I hope it goes very well. Shortly after I left my parents had flew in to took over, at a bit more of a distance (I stayed in his apartment, they will not be). I had quite the layover in Denver, so I caught up on work for that day, and after eating, worked in a coffee shop, in the airport, for a few hours. Got to a good stopping point a good hour 15 minutes before my flight. I was able to charge up my laptop from the morning’s use and also get my new backup battery charged up for the most part. I got home a bit after 10:PM and once I got off the flight I called Shannon to come get me.

I’ll miss just hanging out, shooting the breeze, making jokes and just being there with my brother, but I also slept well in my bed last night, with Máni between us, and this morning I woke up to Loki sitting on top of my side while I finished sleeping.

Taylor Tomlinson - Save Me Tour - Civic Center - 10/11/2024

We went with with Dave and Jo, and after eating at a new place, we got ready for the show. Normally the age of the people we go to shows with end up being quite a bit older on average, and it was interesting to see quite a younger range of people in the show. Though quite a number went in and out both before and during the show.

The show was quite fun. The opener Sophie Buddle, was quite funny and with that, Taylor Tomlinson and the Q&A / crowd work after the show.

Afterwards, we split off and headed home, happy with the experience.

2024 - Week 41 Cooking Results

Squash Lasagna

Not the one I have made previously, but certainly a good recipe. I made have added a bit of extra cream cheese, as paying attention can be hard. Worked out well. I did have to microwave the pumpkin a bit, as it wasn’t quite done in the oven. I may have burned myself a little but in the rush to get the pumpkin off. I also added some La Quercia prosciutto, and some coppa I think. quite good.

Sausage

All pork hot dogs, quite nice.

Grilled Cheese

Mortadella, and some lightly smoked cheddar. I’m getting pretty good (knocks wood) at getting a nice buttery golden brown on the bread.

Green Onion Sausage Pasta

Used some leftover pasta and some other pasta. and made a nice fridge emptier. Good things.

2024 - Week 41 Cooking

This week will be mostly normal, next week, however, will be a bit of a change up. Saturday I head to Seattle to help my brother out during and after his first week of surgery. I’ve heard quite the range of things about the surgery and just being through the adaptations that I needed to go through with my own issues. Hopefully I can be a bit of a help, and get him in a good pattern so he can move forward. He’ll be helped by our parents and sister going forward as he is not supposed to drive for that first month.

2024 - Week 40 Cooking Results

Sausage

Good as always.

Pasta Al Tonno

We still had a bit of leftover pasta left, so I didn’t want to add more to it, so Delayed! I ended up making eggs and hash browns.

Squash Lasagna

We went to see My Old Ass with Dave and Jo, so I’ll be making this today.

Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

I started this a bit later, but I took a short nap after work, but it came together well and made for a nice dinner and unlike other times where I roasted everything together I roasted the chicken first then the veggies then together, and remembered to reserve some sauce for the veggies. It was a good combination and a nice meal.

Crab and Corn Pasta

There was crab at Costco, so I bought crab and used the crab. This seemed to be a bit under seasoned, or the crab was a bit washed out? Either way, I could’ve used more old bay, I guess. Who knows. I’ve been using some hot sauce as I eat my way through the leftovers.

Skillet Shepherds Pie

This was relatively easy, to do, a bit busy at times, but over all a nice result. Certainly not the same as making the full blown pie, but still pretty good.