Overheard in the J and L House

Scene: Lisa is standing over the stove, poking at what's in the skillet.

Lisa to Jesse: Goat meat is much fattier than I expected.

Barack: "I think it's important to realize that I was actually black before the election."

Oh, how I heart the Prez.


Also, check out Letterman's Top Ten Reasons the President Agreed to Appear on the Late Show.

Kirk Shreve

My friend and mentor, Kirk Shreve, died unexpectedly three years and two weeks ago. Kirk was a really stellar guy; I learned so much from him. He buried my Grandma Mastroberti six months before he died.

He keeps an eye on me. I know he's around.

I hope he knows how much he means to me.

RIP, Kirk. I wish we had more time together.


Read more about Kirk.

• Obituary
• May, 2006 article on the funeral home
• September, 2006 reaction to his death
• September, 2006 editorial
• An article on the first anniversary of his death

image via The Lansing Star

Craftsman and Artist, My Friend Tighe

What a coincidence! One of my most treasured wedding gifts was created, handmade, by one of my most treasured friends, Tighe James. Tighe and I go pretty far back, nearly ten years I'd say. We've been close and far in friendship and we've been close and far in proximity but he's always been exceedingly dear to me.

I have been remiss by neglecting to tell you all about him before now! Tighe is an amazing and talented artist and designer whose medium is a wide variety of wood species: American White Oak, New Zealand Lemonwood, South American Purpleheart, and more. He's got an array of items (furniture, chopping blocks, mirrors, frames (like the one J and I received for our wedding!) available at Tapwater Designs. Don't see what you like (you must be crazy!)? Send Tighe an email and see what great possibilities exist to make you completely happy!

Think of the possibilities: medicine cabinets, book shelves for your study, lamp tables for your bedroom, toy boxes for the nursery, key ledges to keep you organized. What about a bench where your guests can sit and take off their shoes when they arrive? I bet Tighe can do that. You'd like some sort of place to toss the mail into when you come in the front door? I'm pretty sure Tighe can do that. Maybe you need a kitchen table "crafted to resemble a Roche-Bobois Spinnaker table, with a Scandinavian influence." You'd like it made of Pennsylvania Walnut and Northern White Ash? Tighe did do that.

Tapwater Designs currently offers a collection of handcrafted original wooden goods, designed to simplify your life and continue to the next. Organic hand- rubbed finishes are used whenever possible, and the traditional joinery methods employed from my hardwood chopping blocks to the Lambda barchair are time-tested and reinforced for extreme wear and seasonal shifts. I am confident in this enough to back all my items with a wear guarantee. I personally handcraft each piece to the highest standards in a small shop in southern Maine. They are then signed and dated and ready for your good pleasure. All of Tapwater Designs products are customizable in species, sizes, and ideas.

Tighe is doing superior work. Every single thing I see is better than the last and the last was outstanding. I dream about the day when I'll have another piece of Tighe's work in my house and I couldn't go another day without telling you just what you're missing!

Oh, and Christmas is right around the corner!

Don't wait another minute!

Tapwater Designs

tighe@tapwaterdesigns.com

Re: Overheard in the J and L House: Thousand Islands Edition

This is the walking stick I spent a good portion of Saturday talking about consuming.

I Love My Husby

September 30 will mark our third year of marriage. I think this last year was my favorite so far; hopefully, I'll say that every year around this time. My life is so much better with J in it; for all the time we spend together, it is almost never enough, if you ask me.

Overheard in the J and L House: Thousand Islands Edition

Scene: J and I are with my parents and Lauren at a cottage in Clayton, NY in the Thousand Islands for the weekend.

Lisa, referring to the walking stick hanging tightly to the screen door: Dad, what would you do if I ate this walking stick?

Dad: Well, given the minimal amount of protein and how bad it will probably taste, I wouldn't recommend it.

image via US Forest Service

Here's For All of The Beer Geeks I Love

I learned this while reading some of my history homework: The Sumerians had a special goddess designated to supervise the production of beer. Her name was Ninkasi, or "the lady who fills the mouth." Neat, huh? She's pretty, too.

Read more about Sumerian Beer at Beeradvocate.


image via Beeradvocate

Overheard at the Drive-Thru: A Back-to-School Edition

Scene: I am working the drive-thru at the illustrious bagel shop. A strung-out mom with a car full of kids (three, at least) pulls up at the window and waits for her food.

Lisa, seeing all sorts of kids: Would you like these (holding up several Dum-Dums) for the kids?

Strung-out Mom, snapping at me: No! No one in this car deserves any candy!

Sounds like its time for everyone to go back to school, huh?


p.s. This is exactly why I ask instead of give automatically.

BLERG!

I got a stupid parking ticket at my stupid school and not even this cute and ridiculous puppus made me feel better. BLERG!!


Maybe it helped a little.


via HuffPo