Meson Sabika-A taste of Spain

It was a long drive; to a restaurant in an upscale neighborhood. The menu did not have appetizer category. Because Spanish food is served in appetizer size portions called Tapas. Many people do not like the sizes but I like them. That way you can try many items from the menu; and still do not waste much if you disliked something. Tapas can be cold or hot.


We ordered from:

Wine menu: 
Sangre De Toro-     A bottle (Rich complex Mediterranean aromas with exuberant notes of spices and         blackberries)


Dinner menu:
Tomate Y Queso-       Vine ripened tomatoes and Mozzarella cheese with balsamic vinaigrette
Patatas Bravas-        Spicy potatoes topped with Manchengo cheese
Empanda de Buey-    Beef puff pastry
Champinones-           Stuffed mushroom caps
Vegetariana Paella- Seasonal vegetables


Each item was tasty and was happily washed down with the wine.

When I selected the wine I did not pay attention to the name, only to description. When our very pretty and very efficient waitress brought and opened the bottle at the table she handed me the token it came with. A toy 'toro' (bull). Of course, then it clicked, Spain is renowned for its bull fights. Sangre in Spanish means blood. So the wine was "Blood of Bull". 

First couple of sips were not very impressive. But after the poured wine "breathed " a little, taste changed drastically. It became delicious, or was it that I felt too good to notice the difference!! Regardless, three glasses went down very smoothly.

I plan to buy a bottle for ourselves.

Winter arrived

Real winter finally made its debut. Moisture laden snow with its weight elongated tree limbs and made them kiss the ground for its own late arrival.....

My camera's battery died. Before the snow melted  away I took these from my IPhone camera.

Interesting pictures

A friend sent me some pictures I found interesting. I am posting a few with his permission.

A choice

Acrobatics so smooth it morphed into a dance

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=cWIhXzZT8dE&vq=largeS

Verbatim, almost

Fareed Zakaria of Global Public Square on CNN is one of our favorite hosts. I particularly like him because of his, what I call, balanced presentations.

At the end of each show he has quizes and sometimes humorous political episodes from around the globe. Last Sunday he presented following oration by a Mr. Albanese in the Australian cabinet. His address seemed like it was physically lifted from a speech delivered by President Shepard, played by Michael Douglas,  in the movie "The American President".

I could not get the video clip so I am presenting the actual but written comparison presented by Fareed Zakaria on CNN website.

"ALBANESE: In Australia, we have serious challenges to solve, and we need serious people to solve them.
SHEPHERD: We have serious problems to solve, and we need serious people to solve them.
ALBANESE: Tony Abbott it's not the least bit interested in fixing anything.
SHEPHERD: Bob Rumson is not the least bit interested in solving.
ALBANESE: He's only interested in two things.
SHEPHERD: He is interested in two things.
ALBANESE: Making Australians afraid of it and telling them who's to blame for it.
SHEPHERD: Making you afraid of it and telling who's to blame for it."

After the video tape Zakaria says;  "ZAKARIA: Coincidence? I'll let you be the judge"

Except for two or three words, the speeches are identical. Some might consider this a plagiarism. But, to me, the subjects of both speeches seemed  identical and extraordinarily ordinary. Thus, they cannot but be described with similar and common words. In my opinion, this might just be a coincidence.

But then, I have been wrong many times before......

Talking about mating season....

I just heard on BBC Radio that a Maya Khan in Pakistan has appointed herself as the moral police.

She with her brigade descends on dating couples with film cameras in Karachi parks asking them to reveal their identity, asking if they and/or their family members know what they are doing.

If the couple says they are married, they are requested to present documents to that effect while still filming them.



OMG...

Our Sun.......

is spewing spectacular solar flares causing  Aurora Borealis to dance in awesome splendor. Northern lights seen from Alaska and Norway are one of the bests, some say.

Perhaps, the Solar flares are causing Chicago winter to be unseasonably warm this year. This in turn has confused all the birds. They think or intuit it is mating season and they must build nests. 

Unfortunately, Chicago winds are too strong for the nests to latch onto the eaves of the houses... 

One event, so smoothly and inevitably, ushers in the next and the next and the next.......

Bhupen's Odyssey-Vidyanagar to Vegas and Beyond

I had promised to post this last year...belated:




Bhupen mingling with BVM mates in MGM Grand Hotel room

 

When I was seventeen

It was a very good year

To Vidyanagar BVM Engineering

Junarkar Hostel living, mess dining

Professors BM-KS-PM Patels

Shah, Pandya, N D Bhatt

Jani, Khetani, Jotwani, Priyani

And Principal S M Amin

Civil, structural, electrical

Mechanical and heat engine

Kaka's coffe shop

And college canteen

When I was seventeen

When I was twenty-one

It was a very good year

Out of BVM off to Wisconsin

Paisan's Pizza and Student Union

And to Pittsburgh after Madison

Kirit, Kishore, Vijay all in steel town

Always went to Mt Washington

When I was twenty-one

When I was twenty-eight

It was a very good year

Married Charu in Toronto

Then lake front in Chicago

Where I put on lot of weight

when I was twenty-eight

Now I am over sixty-four

It is reunion in Vegas for

BVM class of sixty-four

Eat and gamble in casino

It's truly a jolly-good show

When I am over sixty-four

Soon I will be sixty-eight

In the autumn of my years

Looking into future I see

Retirement and Social Security

Prescription drugs and Medicare

Movies, music, drinking, naps

No other work and only rest

So, when I turn sixty-eight

Life will be very great

Until I am finally dead

                                 ---by bhupen

 Bhupen is working again. So much for the lap of leisure in retirement!

Peanuts

In the past I have tried many times to lure Peanuts inside the house by offering her a plate of warm milk. I  almost succeeded couple of times. She will come in, have a few laps of milk, nuzzle me and quickly get out, but linger on outside playing coy. Last week I saw her strolling through my back yard. She momentarily paused on the deck by the back door; cased the house and carried on. I  watched her unobtrusively.

I interpreted her behaviour thusly: is this a house of a friend or a foe?

Nothing, absolutely nothing,  puts a spontaneous and unadulterated smile on my face like a sight of a cat.

A dialogue

The group of four split up into two by two, conversationally.

A: I am so tired. I had a "club" meet this afternoon and came here right after there.

I:  So you belong to the "club". How long you've been a member?

A: About a year.

I:  How long does the meet last and how many members are there? Do you like it?

A: We are eight members. Usually, club organizers provide the lunch and drinks in their houses. But today there were no drinks because member does not indulge in alcohol. Including  lunch etc. it lasts for about 3 to 4 hours. And yes, I like it.

I:  What is the age group of the members? How often do you meet?

A: They are all my age. Once a month.

I: Can I join your club?

A: I do not know. I have to ask others and will let you know.

Suddenly, I realised it was a polite non-committal "no". More seriously, I did not wait to be asked; instead, I put someone in a spot by impinging on someone's freedom to choose or not choose me.