My Pizza World Turned Upside Down!!!

Melissa did a great post about our terrific New York anniversary weekend. If you haven't already, check it out at It was such a treat to get back to the city. Haven't been there since graduation in 2003.

However my fond memories of the best pizza in New York were deeply challenged. We stayed in SOHO, an area I'm not very familiar with and we made our regular trek across the Brooklyn bridge to Grimaldi's, which has always ranked as one of my favorite food places in the world. We thoroughly enjoyed our pizza (I'm including a sample pic of the pies)



But that same evening we were looking for a place near the hotel to grab a bite and I found another, new pizza placed call Keste. The reviews were uniformly glowing and claimed that it was the best pizza in town. So we made the short walk over and were totally blown away.

Don't get me wrong, Grimaldi's is amazing pizza and the sauce and the toppings at Keste weren't notably superior, but the crust was unbelievable. Light and chewy, but with a great crispness. Just absolutely melted in my mouth. As we left the restaurant I felt a little disoriented and uneasy. I struggled to rationalize that Grimaldis was still superior, but after a while I stopped trying. Keste was my new, best New York pizza.



I wonder if my pizza experience isn't similar to other facets of our lives. I know I've been guilty before of grasping to the good and familiar things in my life even when presented with something better. I hope, in the future, I can be more open and willing to embrace change if it gets me closer to the person I want and need to be. Funny how even pizza can teach you a thing or two.

World Cup Wannabes

In light of the World Cup games, some friends of mine have started organizing our own pick up games of soccer. Some of us have never played, some stopped in early childhood, and others are really skilled, having played in high school and/or college. But despite all these differences we always manage to have a lot of fun! It can get rough- I've gotten cleated in the shin and have huge bruises from it, and some of the guys playing are big, but I've never been one to shy away from soccer. It's a great game to watch and to play! Too bad I will have to stop playing with them since I leave for LA tomorrow, but it's been fun. Hopefully with more practice I'll be better next time we all play!

Who do you think you are?

A friend of mine from Aberdeen ended up moving back to the US the same time we moved back to Canada. We spoke a few months after our moves and she told me that her 13 year old daughter was taking FOREVER in the morning getting ready for school. Every morning she would deliberate over the perfect outfit, how to style her hair, the pink striped bag vs the green damask patterned bag. The details of her 'look' mushroomed into nuclearly important statements of who she was. One day her mom said "Paige, your looks shouldn't matter this much. Why don't you go to school and just be yourself?"

Paige replied "Well, I don't know who that is."

That story comes to my mind every once in a while and it did again this morning as I was reading an excerpt from The Cocktail Party by T.S. Elliot:

"We die to each other daily.

What we know of other people

Is only our memory of the moments

During which we knew them.

And they have changed since then.

To pretend that they and we are the same

Is a useful and convenient social convention

Which must sometimes be broken.

We must also remember

That at every meeting, we are meeting a stranger....

You're still trying to invent a personality for me

Which will only keep me away from myself."

The Correct Spelling is R-A-C-Q-U-E-T

I always thought tennis was kind of a silly game - running around like a crazy person after a ball - well I guess that can be said of almost any sport - think basketball, lacrosse, football (I'm using the worldwide definition of the term)

So I can't really say WHY I decided that I should give tennis a try! - maybe it was Rico saying that he wanted to learn or maybe it was hearing friends and Beej say over and over how much fun they had playing- but even that doesn't make sense because I've NEVER wanted to give GOLF a try --- anyways - one day in May I said to myself 'I want to play tennis!' But I didn't want to do it myself, so I talked to Rach, who's always up for something new and said let's do this. We found a teacher and the two of us have had five lessons - would have had more but it's been raining for six straight weeks here! - and even though I'm BAD!! - I have to say - I LOVE this game. I don't even know how to serve yet because I still have to learn how to hit the ball over the net but its still a ton of fun. Thanks Wooz for being my tennis buddy and thanks Oj for not laughing too loud at me . It's my goal to play a real live game by the end of the summer. And win.

GRILLIN'

Nothing says summer like grilling. We've had a long spell of cold and rainy weather here in the great Northwest, so we finally broke out the BBQ when we had company over on Friday. (Even though it was still overcast.) You California folks must be chuckling about all the complaining we do about the weather.

Anyway, we have a recipe for chicken kabobs that is a surefire hit whenever we serve it, and it is incredibly easy. I put the chicken chunks in a gallon ziplock bag with the sauce and marinade it for 4-24 hours, the longer the better. Soaking the bamboo skewers in water for a couple hours will ensure that they don't burn during the cooking process. Also, leave a little space between the chicken pieces on the skewer so they cook evenly.

HAPPY GRILLING!!

Luv,

Gramps

HONEY MUSTARD CHICKEN SKEWERS

1 cup mayo

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

1 Tbsp honey

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1 clove garlic, finely minced

1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in 1 inch pieces

Whisk to combine, pour over chicken pieces and marinade, then thread three or four pieces on each skewer.

Prepare a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill, or preheat a gas grill on med-high. Place skewers directly over the fire. Cover the grill and cook on one side for about 6 minutes. Turn and cook another 5 minutes, covered.

Makes 6 - 8 skewers

Happy Birthday Melissa!

I don't think I can adequately outline here the amazing load that Melissa carries with grace each and every day. She is a top notch mother, taking care of our brood of little monkeys in a housing situation that is too small with neighbors that aren't always the most understanding. She takes the time to teach joy school, shuttle them to and from play-dates, classes and other activities. She's always working to teach them, to nurture them and to love them. She is a great mother.

She also works a demanding part time job as a freelance editor for the church, cutting together amazing stories of faith and devotion. They have been a source of inspiration for our whole family and I'm so glad she continues to keep her professional skills sharp. She is definitely the best editor I know.

Additionally, she teaches gospel doctrine in our ward, which is filled with the highly educated and opinionated. She does an outstanding job and takes tremendous pains to be prepared. Her lessons are always fabulous.

She does so many other things too; fantastic scrapbooking and journalling, awesome friend to many of the other young mothers in the ward, 5k runner, the list goes on. That said, the thing I'm most grateful for is how loving and supportive she is of me. I wouldn't be the man that I am, without this wonderful woman. Thank you, Melissa! I love you! Have the best birthday in the world!

BIRTHDAY GIRL!!

Grandma is 90 YEARS OLD today!

Grandma, I'm sure that each one of us wishes we could be in Edmonton with you today to celebrate, but please know that each of us wishes you a Happy Birthday from wherever we are! We look forward to celebrating with you and paying tribute to you at our reunion in August. We love you and admire you so much. We feel very blessed that you've had such a long and beautiful life and that you continue to be an inspiration to us every day!

Happy Happy Birthday!!!