Friday, October 04, 2002
I would just like to state that, for the record, I read a bitchin' Dr. Suess. Really. I read to my kids every night, it's the last thing before nightnight hugs'n'kisses and we almost never miss it. I love it. The boys do too. If you wan't I'll read to you some time and you can tell me if I'm right. My favorite is "Fox in Socks" but I do requests as well. "Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See" is a little young for them now but Logan is starting to get old enough for it and my voice characterization of the the goldfish alone is worth the listening. Really.
To add to the previous post. Debra Wilson of MAD TV is not as tall as I thought. She also has a great singing voice if she remembers the words. I got to sit next to her at the reception. Another brush with fame for Fontroll. At the table were: Me (duh), friend Toni (also sans date, we danced a couple times), Amy's friend Bronwyn (a copy writer for Victoria's Secret I believe), Bronwyn's SO, Some stage actress lady whom I didn't catch the name of and her SO (who I also didn't get the name of but he reminded me of Ben Stiller) and Debra Wilson who used to have an apartment in the same building as Amy. We were the "Hip" table. Debra made an effort to get me into the conversation, which I greatly appreciated, and once the champagne had loosened my tongue I enjoyed regaling them all with tales of life in SD and family members. For example my Grandfather who was there (my mothers father) who had just recently gotten the brace off after having broken his neck (he's 79). They were, to say the least, duly impressed.
Monday, September 30, 2002
So. Isn't 20 days worth waiting for another taste of Fontroll-ish nummyness. I may be gruff, coarse and cranky on the outside, but inside I'm full of creamy nougat. You just have to chew awhile to get there.
Lots going on lately so I'll try to cover it all. Pardon any tangents and wandering.
Went to LA for Amy's wedding. 'Twas lovely and fun. I did discover one thing. That whole "other half" thing that people always use when talking about their spouse. That's true. I am not as much of myself when T isn't with me. I'm alot quieter, almost shy. And where I used to be almost comfortable speaking in front of a crowd, I'm not anymore. I read/recited an e.e. cummings poem during the service and had palpatations by the time I was done. I am told that I did well. I also had to do a toast at the reception. I had forgotten about this until the wedding coordinator reminded me as we were heading to the pavilion where the reception was after the ceremony. She told me the theme should mostly be "short" I went with that. Here is the transcript as best I can recollect between the arpeggios of my heart beat:
For those of you who don't know me, I'm Amy's older brother. I have known her for quite awhile. Kent I don't know as well as I'd like but what I have gotten to know, I have enjoyed and would like to get to know better. For Amy and Kent I would just like to wish Happiness and Peace. If they can't have that I wish them Patience and Strength. The determination, friendship and love they already have. To Amy and Kent. *gulp of champagne*
Two things I would like to note from this part. 1. The other highlight of the toast speeches was when, while one of Kent's friends was going on and sounding just a bit like a motivational speaker, my little sister Kari dropped her champagne glass. It shattered like a delicate fragmentation grenade. There was a "GASP!" then absolute hush from the assembly. Kari looked around, did one of those hands in front "What?" shrugs then pointed at me. Classic, and very smooth. (I was still holding my champagne). 2. There may be some who read this and might, perhaps, make a derisive snort or sarcastic remark, due to minor bitterness or scars from the past. I do want to note that I really do believe what I said in the toast.
The wedding itself was werry werry nice. The Descanzo Rose Garden was a beautiful site, they waited an extra half hour to let the sun set so everybody was in the shade. It was right at dusk, the air was still, there were no mosquitos, I was amazed. Very well done.
Aside from that, LA is (chant along with me here) A Nice place to Visit but I wouldn't want to Live There. I did have sushi, we had: shimp and crab rolls, spicy scallop rolls, tuna hand rolls, california rolls, some slab o' tuna on a pat of rice with one metric buttload of garlic in between, and oyster shooters. Yes, I did an oyster shooter. It mostly tasted of soy sauce/salt. And green tea ice cream. I think my main problem wasn't the taste, but the texture. Cold sticky rice and stuff is new to me. And there was smelt roe on about everything, it had the slightest whiff of an aroma of a scent that reminded me of gutting fish, which made it difficult. But I tried everything and I would probably do it again. Also the seaweed paper around the tuna hand roll was tough and had a strong flavor. And the terrible wasabi is alot like horseradish.
In other news.
The house goes apace, we are very nearly done siding it which I hope will be done before snow flies. There is much trim and fit and finish to do inside through the winter however. Hopefully we will get some pictures put together to put up soon.
We are preparing for Aiden's 5th birthday. He is having a party. I am baby sitting Logan somewhere else that afternoon. 10-15 spastic 4-5 year olds on sugar rush is more than my system could possibly handle. Monumental kudos to T and sister Kari for deciding to try to run this thing.
My father in law is a putz. My mother in law may be annoying at times, but she has a heart of platinum and a will/work ethic of cold rolled steel. They are divorced. I don't blame her. My father in law is a class AAA, bottled and bonded dink. With a gambling problem. I'm torn between beating him senseless, giving him $100 and telling him to pack his shit and get out of town, or, something. He has a gambling problem, and an honesty problem. I'd like to be the better man and help my wife take care of her father. Besides, smoking a 68 yr old man with mild parkinson's who talks like Tippy Turtle's stoned cousin isn't really very sporting. I just wish he would try to help himself sometimes. Send some patience juju my way, those of you who read to the end of this anyway.
Lots going on lately so I'll try to cover it all. Pardon any tangents and wandering.
Went to LA for Amy's wedding. 'Twas lovely and fun. I did discover one thing. That whole "other half" thing that people always use when talking about their spouse. That's true. I am not as much of myself when T isn't with me. I'm alot quieter, almost shy. And where I used to be almost comfortable speaking in front of a crowd, I'm not anymore. I read/recited an e.e. cummings poem during the service and had palpatations by the time I was done. I am told that I did well. I also had to do a toast at the reception. I had forgotten about this until the wedding coordinator reminded me as we were heading to the pavilion where the reception was after the ceremony. She told me the theme should mostly be "short" I went with that. Here is the transcript as best I can recollect between the arpeggios of my heart beat:
For those of you who don't know me, I'm Amy's older brother. I have known her for quite awhile. Kent I don't know as well as I'd like but what I have gotten to know, I have enjoyed and would like to get to know better. For Amy and Kent I would just like to wish Happiness and Peace. If they can't have that I wish them Patience and Strength. The determination, friendship and love they already have. To Amy and Kent. *gulp of champagne*
Two things I would like to note from this part. 1. The other highlight of the toast speeches was when, while one of Kent's friends was going on and sounding just a bit like a motivational speaker, my little sister Kari dropped her champagne glass. It shattered like a delicate fragmentation grenade. There was a "GASP!" then absolute hush from the assembly. Kari looked around, did one of those hands in front "What?" shrugs then pointed at me. Classic, and very smooth. (I was still holding my champagne). 2. There may be some who read this and might, perhaps, make a derisive snort or sarcastic remark, due to minor bitterness or scars from the past. I do want to note that I really do believe what I said in the toast.
The wedding itself was werry werry nice. The Descanzo Rose Garden was a beautiful site, they waited an extra half hour to let the sun set so everybody was in the shade. It was right at dusk, the air was still, there were no mosquitos, I was amazed. Very well done.
Aside from that, LA is (chant along with me here) A Nice place to Visit but I wouldn't want to Live There. I did have sushi, we had: shimp and crab rolls, spicy scallop rolls, tuna hand rolls, california rolls, some slab o' tuna on a pat of rice with one metric buttload of garlic in between, and oyster shooters. Yes, I did an oyster shooter. It mostly tasted of soy sauce/salt. And green tea ice cream. I think my main problem wasn't the taste, but the texture. Cold sticky rice and stuff is new to me. And there was smelt roe on about everything, it had the slightest whiff of an aroma of a scent that reminded me of gutting fish, which made it difficult. But I tried everything and I would probably do it again. Also the seaweed paper around the tuna hand roll was tough and had a strong flavor. And the terrible wasabi is alot like horseradish.
In other news.
The house goes apace, we are very nearly done siding it which I hope will be done before snow flies. There is much trim and fit and finish to do inside through the winter however. Hopefully we will get some pictures put together to put up soon.
We are preparing for Aiden's 5th birthday. He is having a party. I am baby sitting Logan somewhere else that afternoon. 10-15 spastic 4-5 year olds on sugar rush is more than my system could possibly handle. Monumental kudos to T and sister Kari for deciding to try to run this thing.
My father in law is a putz. My mother in law may be annoying at times, but she has a heart of platinum and a will/work ethic of cold rolled steel. They are divorced. I don't blame her. My father in law is a class AAA, bottled and bonded dink. With a gambling problem. I'm torn between beating him senseless, giving him $100 and telling him to pack his shit and get out of town, or, something. He has a gambling problem, and an honesty problem. I'd like to be the better man and help my wife take care of her father. Besides, smoking a 68 yr old man with mild parkinson's who talks like Tippy Turtle's stoned cousin isn't really very sporting. I just wish he would try to help himself sometimes. Send some patience juju my way, those of you who read to the end of this anyway.
