PILTDOGS Part 2

Today's PILTDOGS (Places I love that don't often get seen) pays homage to Joseph's Market on Front Street in Waterville.

I think, lately, my body has been "possessed" (and I dont mean in a bad way) by the "original" Papa Goldsmith--Charlie Goldsmith. As a boy, I used to hear him talk INCESSANTLY about the great buys he got on meat and produce at the various "mom and pop" grocery stores around Mass. Pursuant to the "Rite Aid" letter, I abhor those "big box" conglomerates and I try to stay away whenever I can. Papa Goldsmith used to talk about this store in Quincy--Roxy's, it was called. Roxy's used to have super-duper buys on all kinds of meat....in fact, as a boy, I used to take my Fisher Price video camera and pretend it was a price gun. I'd walk around the house with my "gun," repeating "MARKIN' DOWN THE PORK CHOPS, MARKIN DOWN THE PORK CHOPS!"

Joseph's market is awesome, notwithstanding the fact that their quality is unparalleled and they are a family business for over 80 years. In addition to that, Kevin is always giving you "deals," and I genuinely look forward to going in there because the folks who work there are so wonderfully friendly and helpful, and I find myself learning something new each time I go!

During the middle of January, I signed up for one of the "meat preparation and cooking" classes Kevin was offering (Kevin Joseph now owns the store). I haven't written about it yet, but I thought I would tonight. It was a fantastic class, and I (think) I learned a ton about how to be a better cook, pick out better meat, prepare it well, and save some cash! The class met on Wednesday nights at 630 (after the store closed), and there was even a syllabus (we teachers love those!). We started the week with chicken, learning how to properly debone, handle, etc. I ended up learning how to make a KILLER cordon bleu. The second week involved pork, and I learned how to correctly pick out a roast, how to crown it, etc. I missed the third week because I was sick (and Kevin is going to let me make it up soon), but it involved the "cheaper" cuts of beef. And, last week, we had our final class....the "prime cuts." For this class, Kevin ended up giving one of his delicious prime ribs to Eddie at "George's Restaurant" in Waterville. He cooked it for us, while the rest of us brought Hillman's pastries, Lebanese salads, rices, etc. And oh yeah....we had like 7 bottles of wine! Below, some of the members of the class "dig in" to some of the delicious pot luck. You can see the store in the background. We met "behind" the case, and I felt like I worked there! As you can see, its a small, adorable little store. I swear that 90% of the class were Waterville area Realtors! In fact, the woman second from the right is Patrice, the lady who sold us our house! I caught her at a great moment, and I'm sure she'd love this picture!

Kevin cuts up the beautiful piece of meat he had prepared. Kevin is a pretty extraordinary guy who is smart as heck about meat and meat preparation. Furthermore, he's a philantrophist, donating all kinds of money, food, and time to the local homeless shelter. Kevin told us some history of the shop, and how his family emigrated from Lebanon almost one hundred years ago--the store has been in the family ever since!

Batman has his Robin, Cheney has his Bush, A-Rod has his Balco, and Kevin has his own sidekick--Danny. Danny is, himself, quite the man when it comes to meat....and he gave me a great recipe for my chitterlings (put the chitterlings in a pot of water, add 5 rocks, bring to a boil, simmer for 3 hours, throw out the chitterlings and eat the rocks!). Danny is also an outstanding food "stylist," which you will see in a moment. Below, he teaches some of us the differences between NY Sirloin and Porterhouse steaks (the difference is the absence of the tenderloin, just so you know!).
Danny "carves" scenes out of fruits and vegetables (he taught us all how to make a chicken out of a squash, some carrot pieces, and a couple of cloves), and he created his masterpiece for us last Wednesday. Isnt this amazing? He taught himself how to do this, and he just does it for a hobby. Enlarge the picture so you can see it better....

In case you're having trouble, from left to right you've got things like a BBQ, a whale with a fish in its mouth, palm trees made out of carrots and green peppers, a waterfall slide made out of aloe, a summertime fun guy made out of mushrooms, etc. I dont think pictures do it justice....

I've been behind in the blogs lately....there needs to be one about our snowshoe trip last Saturday (and a chitterlings update!), our visit with Jon and Mel when they stopped over, and one dedicated to some new meanderings I have...

Amanda will be doing a blog tomorrow (I think...that is what she said anyway) because I am headed "upta camp," as they say in Maine. I am going with my friend Tony and some other friends up to Detroit, where we'll snowshoe, snowmobile, play Axis and Allies, enjoy my pulled pork (shut up Jay) and supposedly stake out coyotes.....but dont tell my mom that.....

Two-for-two

I had my second letter published in "The Morning Sentinel," which is our newspaper. The last one, if you remember, was a refutation to the claim that laptop computers were responsible for making students better writers. This one was a "rant" of sorts about a new Rite Aid being put up in Waterville.....here is the actual newspaper page, which you can read if you click on the picture and enlarge it. But I attached a text copy of the letter below as well. To give you thirty seconds of back-story, central Maine is PLAGUED by vacant storefronts, empty buildings, abandoned stores, you name it. Many of the communities around here (like Fairfield) look like virtual ghost towns. Waterville, however, has a certain charm about its downtown "Main Street"--an opera house, local chocolate shops, coffee houses, etc. There is also a Rite Aid, which stands right in the middle of the intersection leading to downtown; its a nice looking Rite-Aid, with plenty of parking. The building is in great condition. Across the street from this Rite Aid there used to be Darrell's Pizza, which was a restaurant that stood in the same place since 1973. They had fantastic steak bombs. If there is one thing I love about Maine, its Maine's steadfastness (although it seems to be disappearing) to procuring and maintaining local businesses; as a "non Mainer," its not "my right" to say this, but I think any "real Mainer" would tell you they are proud of their mom and pop stores! This past summer, Darrell's pizza was razed, leaving a huge double lot empty--we all wondered what would go there, and Amanda and I were infuriated to find out it was going to be ANOTHER Rite Aid....RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET from the Rite Aid that is already there. Capitalism-scmapitalism.....there are things called ETHICS, STEWARDSHIP, and COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY to think about too, and I will never go into a Rite Aid again....

(here is a text version)
****

Sadly enough, construction of a brand new super-duper Rite Aid less than a stone's throw from an already perfectly good Rite Aid is a sign of the times. As much as I'd love hold Rite Aid accountable, I think the fault is equally shared with the corporation and the people of central Maine.



Personally, I'll never set foot in a Rite Aid again, since I find its building of a new store reprehensible. It is sad when, in America, we consider something that's been in place for 11 years "too old" to be effective.



Notwithstanding the fact that the construction of a new store is an egregious waste of natural resources and raw materials, what truly bothers me is that the current Rite Aid in downtown Waterville will, in all likelihood, stand vacant and abandoned for a several years -- only to then be reincarnated as a thrift store, dollar store or body piercing shop (see the former Ames plaza for proof of this), degrading the "Main Street" look of downtown Waterville.



We cannot possibly exculpate ourselves from this unfortunate event. Rite Aid is undoubtedly convinced a larger store will succeed in central Maine. And why not? Rite Aid (and other pharmacies for that matter) is a store designed on selling the American trifecta: Processed junk food to give us instant gratification, drugs to make our aches and pains go away, and cosmetics to improve our superficial appearances.



Unfortunately, a new Rite Aid will thrive in downtown Waterville.



Jared Goldsmith
Fairfield

Kristie's baby shower PART II

First of all, here is a picture Amanda took today of Callum sitting up in his crib. We think this is our favorite picture of late....if you click on it to enlarge it you can most definitely see his one tooth! What a smile; I am so happy my little boy is so happy....I wish I could be as happy as him all the time. Obviously, he has much to teach me. On Saturday after the baby shower, Amanda tried to get Callum to go to sleep while mom, Bob, and I cleaned up the clubhouse. At around 8, Sally and I were feeling a little peckish, so we ordered Cape Cod Cafe pizza...which is about 70% as good as Town Spa, so I guess that is okay....haha. One thing I WILL say about Maine is that there is hardly anywhere to get good pizza; that is something I miss from Mass.

On Saturday night, we just relaxed and we actually went to bed pretty early. On Sunday morning, Callum spent some good quality time with his grandparents. We hadnt actually exchanged Christmas presents with Dad and Babs yet, so we did that. We also had a great lunch at Texas Roadhouse (home of the world's best prime rib) before heading back to the Pine tree state. Callum sat in a big boy highchair, and he continues to LOVE it!!! He is a different "animal" when he sits in these highchairs; he grabs and lunges for EVERYTHING on the table...forks, knives, plates, butters, rolls, cups, toys, napkins, you name it!

He spent some quality time with Papa, playing with Kody (dad's 30 pound Maine Coon Cat). Kody has this toy fishing rod, which dad uses to entice Kody to jump, play, lunge, etc. Obviously, Callum wanted to play with Kody....Callum really likes animals! Also, check out Callum's new shoes his Nannie got him!


Callum was more into the fishing rod than anything else! Papa and Babs also got Callum a cool keyboard, a little wagon so he could tow his friends around (when he starts walking), and some other new toys too!

And Callum also got to spend time with PeeBee on Sunday morning before we left for dad's house. Together they talked about things like hedge funds, sub-z freezers, and Eddie Bauer sale items. Just kidding. But Callum sure did love going to see all his family he never gets to see! Babies and animals always seem to like Bob....interesting.....

Amanda and I slept down in the basement den, but Callum slept upstairs in the "Kren" (Kristin's old room + den= Kren) which is right by Nannie's room. It was weird to not be woken up by Callum at 5a.m. Instead, Amanda and I slept until almost 8!!!! When I went upstairs to check on Callum, this is what I saw.....

Callum and Nannie were watching Curious George....and Callum was loving it. In fact, Nannie and I didnt mind it so much either. Furthermore, he was totally zoned on this little white dixie-cup Nannie gave him to play with. As my mom would say, he was "as snug as a bug in a rug."

Well we dont know when we'll get down to Mass again, but it will be soon. Our prediction is that our little nephew will arrive sometime in mid-March. But we could be wrong. We can't wait to meet him, hold him, love him, and daydream about life was like when Callum was so small!

Kristin and Anthony--dont listen to all the people who tell you to "get all your rest now" and "do everything you can before the baby comes" and "get ready to lose all your time" and "you're really in for it now." Dont listen at all. You guys are in for the most special time in your whole lives! Enjoy every single minute of it. Dare I even say I am "JEALOUS" of what you have to look forward to....in spite of the 2am feedings, crying, challenges, etc. Looking back, I really do miss those times. You'll really grow as a couple in your own relationship. Jeez....maybe we should have another one.....

Kristie's baby shower PART I

The irony of our visit to Mass for Kristin's baby shower was that the people we got to see/visit with the least were in fact Kristin and Anthony; the day was a whirlwind indeed. Callum had been sick on Thursday and Friday, having a temp of 101 degrees. We brought him to the doctor, who told us he was fine....but he had a tough weekend. He barely slept Friday night, napped all day on Saturday, and then went to bed REALLY hard on Saturday night. This made me miss much of the action at the clubhouse, since I was at mom's while Callum napped. But I still managed to snap a few pictures and take a few videos. Little Jackson Favry has a LOTTTTTTT of stuff.

Here is Callum with "Nana B," who is Bob's mom. She, like the other grandmothers in my family, has a bajillion little grandkids and great-grandkids...yet she loves them all. It seems like every time she gets to hold Callum, he is fussy and needs to eat or nurse. SO.....we remedied that problem by having Nana B help feed the little guy.

When we go down to Mass, I get to see family I NEVER get to see.....and people that I really miss. Here is my cousin Lauren holding Callum. Lauren--and her boyfriend of ten years (haha) just got engaged. Congratulations Lauren and Brian! Lauren, me, Kristin, Ally, and Brian are five cousins who used to hang out all the time when we were little. Lauren, Brian, and Allyson lived in Plymouth, right near the ocean, when we were young. During the summers, we'd go biking on power line trails, make fun of Lumpy Din, go to Al's pizza, and just hang out and listen to NKOTB while Lauren skateboarded. Ah....good times.

Oh and here is another shot of Callum and Madison. They were VERY interested in each other, as you can tell from the video I posted yesterday. I cant wait for Callum to grow up and see the video. Actually, I CAN wait for him to grow up!!! Slow down buddy!!!!!!!!!!

This is for Tim: a panoramic of the clubhouse....haha. Lots of people came to the baby shower, and they all watched intensely while mumma-to-be opened her many presents. Proud Papa Goldsmith, of course, had to sit right in the middle of the action, where he could be a 360 degree smartass. Those two red heart balloons are Callum's....he LOVES red balloons, we found at.

And here is the mother of my future nephew as she opens gifts. Meanwhile, in the wings, Amanda works hard to make sure Kristin has a steady supply of things to open!

I didnt get any pictures of Kristin, Anthony, and Callum. Like I said, it was a crazy weekend. I'll be posting some more pictures later, and describing the "quiet" part of our visit down to Mass.

Callum's first kiss!!!!

Here is an adorable video from my sister's baby shower on Saturday. More pictures, text, etc are forthcoming, but I've had several requests to get this on as soon as possible! The lucky girl is Madison, my mom's friend's baby. Madison is a beautiful little ten month old who was born at 5 pounds, 1 ounce! Check out the blinged out earrings--Callum only goes for rich girls...haha. That's all I will say, since the video speaks for itself.

ONE MORE THING: On Saturday, Callum just randomly started crawling. Just like that. He was on his Nannie's living room rug, sitting up. He saw my Dunkin Donuts cup, he wanted it, and he just took off after it. Unbelievable to watch my little guy CRAWL!!

PILTDOGS Part I

Places-I-Like-That-Dont-Often-Get Seen. That is what Piltdogs stands for. I figure this: Most of our life is on this blog, yet there is so much that isnt--whether its physically parts of the house that dont often get mentioned, restaurants (because God knows I love writing about food), locations that never get their just deserve, etc. I mean, I couldnt possibly include EVERYTHING in this blog, so this thread is designed to pay homage to the lesser blogged about parts of my life that are, without a doubt, so important and loved by the Goldsmiths. I dont know how many I will do in this series, but I need to do something different, as I have been in a blog funk lately now that I dont have King Cheney and his lapdog Bush to make fun of anymore....haha....

So, tonight's installment has to do with: Our Basement.

I LOVE our basement. But I dont usually call it a basement. I used to call it the "men's den" or "man's basement" or "man-town." But, then, I realized how lame that sounded. I mean, I'm not a male cast member on "Saved By the Bell," and I'm not in Phi Kappa Theta...so now I just call it "the den." When Sally and I first looked at this house, the basement was, for me, the "piece de resistance" of the whole place. I love the fact that I have a place "to hide" from the world. In the winter time, I enjoy going down there to cool off (because I am definitely a hot-body) since the wood stove is on the floor above the den. And, in the summer, I've taken some of the best naps of my life in the green recliner. TRANSCENDENTAL naps, even. Its quiet, serene, cool, dark....and there's none of Amanda's yarn or sewing crap to clog the space!!!

Here is the "cellar" part of the basement. Three quarters of the downstairs is finished, and then there is this workshop and storage type of place. Its a great space in which to do woodworking or something, and its only too bad I dont know how to do anything like that. However, I tinker around and have fun, and the table you see in the foreground has become what I call "the herbing table." I dry out lemon balm, spearmint, oregano, and catnip we grow in the summer. Also, I make homemade sauerkraut in the crock you see in the table. You can tell my father was a glazier by all the caulking you see on the shelf to the right!

The view from my green lazyboy recliner: On the morning on which we moved into this house, I woke up UNUSUALLY sick--I was throwing up every five minutes, I was fatigued, and I had major stomach cramps. Due to the generosity of our lovely friends, I was able to sit---for most of that afternoon--down in this basement on moving day, and just sort of take a nap. I still feel bad about how useless I was on that day...but I feel useless most of the time anyway so it all works out. To the right, you'll see the heart that used to house a wood stove back in the 50's and 60's. Now its just a random brick wall. Any suggestions?? To the left of that, you'll see the door to "the man's bathroom," where one can stand proudly and pee, and not have to worry about putting the seat down or any of that crap. Its also where Thomas P. used to have his litter box. And there is just a little TV....I'm not your run-of-the-mill LCD/surround sound/plasma/blu-ray kind of guy. Oh well.

The "situation room." I've had many great meetings down here....from writer's groups to planning Chris's bachelor party with Mike and Pete to games of Risk and Scrabble to fantastic mini-concerts where I played live music for people (I used to keep the keyboard downstairs). All of these PALE in comparison, however, to the "Black Raider Bookclubs" where some of the guys on faculty come over on Friday afternoons and enjoy a couple of wheat beverages while catching up on the latest gossip, etc. Did I say gossip? What I meant to say was that we drink wheat beverages and then make fun of each other to no end. I need to schedule one of those soon.....

Also, check out the built in bookshelves! Its an English major's paradise!

And, lastly, there are the beer bottles. About two summers ago, I decided to start collecting beer bottles--I started with just microbrews, but have since opened it up to ALL beer types. I even include some rootbeer varieties. My rule is this: I must physically drink all the beers I put up there. The picture you see is just a small sampling of the bottles I have....there are some displayed in the man's bathroom as well. I am by no means a "lush" or anything like that; I just enjoy the chemistry and lore of different types of beers. PLUS, I have found myself getting more into antiques lately, and I am sure these will be worth something someday.

So come on over!!!

Blog entry

I dont really feel like writing anything. But here are some pictures from our weekend. Basically, on Friday night, we hung out and I went and got a drink with Hargrove. Then on Saturday we had two birthday parties--Griffin Pelotte's 3rd and Michelle Garner's 31st. Callum was a real trooper on Saturday, and had a great time. Here he is with Luke, the Pelotte's fantastic Boxer. He's a wonderful dog, and he couldnt stop licking Callum--I had to stop him from licking the little guy so much. Callum loves dogs. And look at those fat cheeks!

Another one of Callum over the Pelottes. Callum and his 1 year old friend Liam played with all kinds of toys. Liam was good at sharing, and so was Callum. Its cool the way Luke "protects" the kids and is constantly around them!

Callum out in the snow, while daddy worked on the ice dam on the roof. His snowsuit locks his hands in, but he has obviously figured out how to get his hands free so he can suck his thumb. A smart little cookie!

Completely entranced by all the snow!

On Sunday night we went over to the Greenlaw's for a little to watch some of the superbowl--Callum stayed up a little later for his first superbowl party--and he got to play with another dog (his friend....and Chelsea's boyfriend....Toby). Callum was MESMERIZED by Cindy and Dana's huge LCD television.....it actually made us a little nervous. He will NOT be addicted to television.

This week is school, and then this weekend we head down to Mass. Papa Goldsmith hasnt seen Callum since Thanksgiving, and its been a good while for Nannie and the Favry's too! Hopefully storms dont strand us....like the last two times!