big chief
Sunday, December 21, 2008 4:44:00 AM
today.

Shortest day of winter. They just get longer after this.

PecanPi1
Sunday, December 21, 2008 5:07:00 AM
I'm not shutting off my outside lights because of this.
big chief
Sunday, December 21, 2008 5:11:00 AM
Today the sun will set about 4:45.
pacman357
Sunday, December 21, 2008 5:20:00 AM
It figures...my named saint day (Saint Thomas), and I get the shortest day of the year, Dec. 21. I get screwed every time, dammit!

--tom

pdxstogieman
Sunday, December 21, 2008 6:28:00 AM
It's my effing birthday and I get the short end of the stick every year! Waaaah!

Actually, had a very nice gathering last night for a great dinner that my wife made to celebrate the occasion of my 55th Bday. (I can now feel entitled to senior discounts, belong to AARP, eat the early bird special, claim that "I have too ridden in a Cadillac", and yell "Hey you kids, get offa my lawn" with real authority).

Oh yeah, where was I, couldn't remember what I was originally posting...uhmmm...oh yeah. The birthday dinner.

The wife cooked up:

> Herb and Orange zest dry rubbed Racks of Lamb...mmmm

> Roasted Fingerling Potatoes with Pancetta and onions

> Balsamic Glazed Caramelized Cipolline Onions.

> Arugula Salad with Pine nuts, Feta, & Lemon Vinagrete

> Bread Pudding with Bourbon Pecan Sauce.

Daughter and Son In Law gave me a bottle of Glenlivet Nadurra 16 Yr Old (117.8 proof, cask strength) We cracked that thing open after dinner, went out under the cover on my back patio, swept off some of the 9 inches of new snow and had a smoke in the 20 deg F night air. I had a Perdomo Habano Corojo which smoked great and didn't crack at all in the low temp.

A nice time, reminds me that I'm a lucky guy, despite getting cheated on the Birthday occuring on the solstice, and now feeling older than dirt.

Today's task: fiddle with the new IPOD that my better half bought me. I have to transfer all the files from the 100's of CD's I burned of Jazz and Classic Rock from back in the heyday of Napster.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/new-orleans-style-bread-pudding-with-whiskey-sauce-recipe/index.html 

It is the absolute bomb. Use some brioche or challah bread, soak the raisins in bourbon.....mmmmm tasty.

big chief
Sunday, December 21, 2008 6:37:00 AM
I just checked and I was wrong--sunset today (here) at 4:32 pm...

Pac and StogieMan just had their days shortened by 13 minutes. Sorry.

(StogieMan, happy birthday, sounds like you wife is good cook!)

dwalt10048
Sunday, December 21, 2008 6:50:00 AM
Happy birthday PDX. Sounded like a great meal. You are a lucky man, people that love you AND an IPOD! I don't know how I went so long without one. Enjoy. I'm listening to some Nirvana now on mine.

pdxstogieman
Sunday, December 21, 2008 7:15:00 AM
^Thanks dwalt! Amazing that the Ipod will replace two 100+ CD changers that currently take up a lot of space in my cabinets. I may have to put a wine rack in the vacated space so there isn't just a gaping hole there.
dwalt10048
Sunday, December 21, 2008 7:19:00 AM
It's a diferent world. I used to lug CD's everywhere. Now I bring this little thing. I have the 80Gig. everything I own is on it and I still have 60g to go.