Thinking of Cherries

I went to the farmers market this weekend and rediscovered I really enjoy the experience. It's not exciting per se, it's a simple pleasure, an activity that links the memories of living in Amsterdam (were I woke to the sounds of the Albert Cuyp Market setting up every morning) with my life in quiet Oakland.
Indeed, I find myself daydreaming about what I might find the next time I go to market. Lately, I have a reoccurring daydream about cherries. As it warms up here in the Bay Area, the names Brooks, Tulare, Rainier, and Bing dance in my head. I can't wait for July when they come into season. I feel a little silly but I will admit that I have already bought canning jars to make jam in anticipation. In the early morning light, while drinking my first cup of coffee, I catch a glance of a leg of duck recipe that I have pined to the wall above the cutting board. Complete with brownish red finger stains from years past, it's ready to be of service when the first fruit of summer arrives with its glorious brilliance.

Of Taxes & Reparations

I was asked on my California taxes to declare the income from any Ottoman Turkish Empire settlement payments I may have received. When I first read this during a late night turbo tax misadventure, I thought I must have picked up the wrong tax year, the Ottoman Empire dissolved circa1922.

After a quick look into the ether, I find it refers to Armenian genocide reparations. If I understand the situation correctly, families who survived a genocide in addition to being lucky enough to be able to wait 90 years to get an insurance claim processed, will now have to pay federal taxes on the proceeds.

Web 2.0 and Indian Food

Today was a good day.
I spent some time at the Web 2.0 Expo in the city and watched a really good speaker, but couldn't last through the entire presentation, despite it's relevance, usefulness and good delivery. What are people thinking when they schedule a speaker for 3 solid hours? Well, maybe I'm in the minority, but I can't sit still for a speaker for that long, no matter how great the content is.
Afterwards I went to Vik's. Yummie!
Last night I had a good time hanging out at the beach chalet. We played poker and engaged in various types of debauchery. It was pretty fun.
My punkinpie left for a business trip today. He'll be back on Wed.
We came up with the idea of a type of cocktail party where everybody has to wear white, or some other black light friendly color/clothes and also wear a headlamp. There would be no other light besides the headlamps and black lights.
Is this just a ridiculous idea? I think it could be fun. I might have to tack some hanging fish from the ceiling just to add some "flair". I've been thinking that I need to throw a themed party soon.

Blogger blows

I wrote an entry ( very long and perhaps my best work yet.... something that I might incorporate in the next great American novel) and when I clicked post.... it choked sputtered.... and left me with a big 404 for my effort.
Bastards.

Thursday, April 12, 2007

New Blogger and Blog*Spot will be briefly unavailable Thursday April 12 at 10:00PM PDT for about 5 minutes for maintenance. Posted by Vincent at 17:56 PDT