Happy Halloween!

XShot

Mama Jan and Amy recently sent me one of the coolest new camera contraptions ever. The XShot 2.0, hand held camera extender ("You deserve to be in the picture too"):This is extra good news for those of us who suffer from "double-chin in pictures you took yourself syndrome."

While you risk looking like an absolute dork, it really does capture the pictures and videos that were once impossible... can we say aerial views! So please be ready for a whole new window into the lee family adventures!

Amy just informed me that my girl cousin Leigh also has this amazing devise. Please visit http://leighleighland.blogspot.com/2008/10/my-new-toy.html to see how it has changed her life as a fellow picture taker extraordinaire!

SKA '98

This past weekend marked the Highland Park High School Class of 1998 10 year reunion. The events were plentiful, and there was an amazing turnout. We estimate that half of the class came to at least one of the activities!

Here was the schedule for the weekend!
Friday Night: HP Scot Football Game at Highlander Stadium
Friday Night After Hours: Everyone to the Stoneleigh P
Saturday morning: The new and improved HPHS was open for tours/walk-thrus.
Saturday evening: The main event at Green Elephant with Uncle Julio's catering

HP 98'ers traveled from all over: Spain, LA, San Diego, NYC (woo-woo), DC, NOLA, etc. It was really great to catch up with everyone! Now, only 10 more years until our 20th!

Friday Night: Setting Up:

The Main Event:

Oh yes, we had bagpipe playing... thanks to the one and only Bob Rost (formerly known as Bobby)!

SNL Sketch of the Week

Host: Jon Hamm
Musical Guest: Coldplay

SOTW:


Also worth watching: Coldplay was absolutely amazing!


Amy Poehler and Will Arnett had baby Archie this past Saturday. That means last week marked the end of Amy Poehler's SNL career! She will be missed!

10 YEARS

Tonight is my 10 year highland park high school reunion. In honor of HPHS class of 1998, I give you one of my favorite movie clips... from Gross Pointe Blank:

Scene from the subway

late on a weeknight...

Much like the wild west...

NYC's version of a hitching post...

NYC Underground

Some things are just too good to be true!

More Trouble...

So this one is a little more serious. They have opened a Magnolia Bakery right across the street from Del Frisco's!!! Literally... 49th and sixth avenue, just opposite corners. I have no idea when it opened, it just appeared there one day. I first noticed a long line of people in suits... then I realized they were all waiting for cupcakes.

So here goes the usual "cupcake review." It is a lot like the first chain location (upper west side on columbus) not as "west village"--- newer look and a lot more space in the kitchen.

Negative: you do not get to pick out your cupcakes. They are behind glass, and you tell the cupcake person what flavors you want. That means you get no say in sprinkles unless you want to be "that high maintenance customer who holds up the line."

Positive: cold milk in cartons!

Positive: They have new boxes that hold two cupcakes and even have holders. The usually 4-cupcake boxes only work if you have 4 cupcakes and, even then, they get pretty messy in the box. No longer!

But who are we kidding... how many times am I going to be able to leave Magnolia with only 2 cupcakes?!

SNL Sketch of the Week

Host: Josh Brolin
Musical Guest: Adele

Sketch of the Week:


I also wanted to add this follow-up sketch to the SOFW from two weeks ago:

Trouble...

They have recently placed a "nuts-4-nuts" at the end of our block. Yes, on my direct route to the subway. Seriously, how bad can a daily pack or two of hot honey roasted almonds be?

Buffalo Salmon

A New Lee Family Favorite!

active time: 10 minutes

start to finish: 30 minutes

ingredients:

5 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/4 cup hot sauce such as Frank's Redhot

1/3 cup panko (Japanese bread crumbs)

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 (2-lb) piece salmon fillet with skin

-Preheat oven to 425°F with rack in upper third. Lightly oil a shallow baking pan.
-Melt butter with hot sauce and 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper over medium heat. Set aside 1/4 cup sauce.
-Toss panko with oil in a bowl.

-Put salmon, skin side down, in baking pan and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper, then brush with remaining sauce.

-Sprinkle panko evenly over top of fish, then bake until panko is golden and fish is just cooked through, 16 to 22 minutes.

-Serve reserved sauce on the side.

I AM...

Part V: I Love Lamp

I love smell...

The Perfect Waffle

1. pecan waffles

2. fresh whipped cream

3. strawberries

4. toasted crumbled pecans

5. mrs. butterworth's syrup

I heart the fall

New York in the fall... "bouquets of sharpened pencils"!

And my favorite... street markets!

Hill Country

Hill Country BBQ is down on 26th St. and quite the phenomenon... especially for Texans living in NYC. They actually have their oak shipped in from Texas--- Texas Post Oak for the smokin' of brisket, sausage, ribs, etc (all for sale by the pound and served on butcher paper). Other major Texas authenticities include pecan pie, Lone Star Beer, and BLUE BELL ICE CREAM!!! They love showing Texas football and often have some great Austin bands performing on their stage.

Our Fellowship Group with Redeemer Pres. had its weekly meeting here a couple of weeks ago. What better way to priase God than through Texas BBQ!? Please meet our friends (most of whom hail from Texas)... the Miceks, the Bolliers, the Hawkins, the Whitfords, and us. Please note that baby Jack goes with the Whitfords... he was passed around most of the evening... but he is definately the youngest member of our group- we are SO multi-generational.

Bad Day?

The Return of Stiffs McGee!

You Likey-di-Sauce?

I am truly at a loss for words...

The Blessing of Ida

This Sunday was eventful for Ida--- it was her "christening"!!! Although we opted out of the traditional white dress and went for the blue bandanna... Ida was blessed at St. John the Divine during the yearly Blessing of the Animals! here is a little history on the day: The Blessing of the Animals originated in the 13th century in remembrance of St. Francis who believed all animals should be treated with dignity and respect. This blessing is a way of praising God for all of His creation. Pets are blessings from God and family members. The pets benefit from an outing with their family and they benefit from receiving the blessing. This strengthens the special bond that already exists between the animal and their family. Here are a few of the events Ida and I witnessed during our outing: animals included hawks, a camel, a huge turtle, a monkey, llamas, a sheep, a reindeer, a pig, rabbits, chickens, birds, cats, dogs, etc. etc. For more (better) pictures, please visit this article in the Columbia Spectator: http://www.columbiaspectator.com/node/56068
Yes, this is a cat... in a jacket.

Ida waiting in line with her new friend:
Here is the parade:

Tons of people brought their pets to be blessed:

SNL Sketch of the Week

Host: Anne Hathaway
Musical Guest: The Killers

It's back!!! SNL was absolutely brilliant this week... Anne Hathaway was suprisingly great and does a perfect Mary Poppins impersonation. Weekend Update was top notch--- added to with a hilarious song by Will Forte! I really cannot say enough about this weeks' show, so please try to watch it someway, somehow.

Sketch of the Week: It is a tie!!! (the first in SOTW history)


And major props to Andy Samburg--- impersonations are not usually his strong suit, but his Marky Mark is perfect!

Grobanite

Grobanite: 1. a rapid woman or man who enjoys the auricle ecstacy of Josh Groban's harmonious voice. Many of them rampage through the streets in the pursuit of being 'Joshed' 2. A fan or follower of Josh Groban, new superstar in the "popera" genre

I know this is a little late... since the Emmy Awards were 2 weeks ago, but I really have been trying to block them from my mind. There was only one saving grace for the entire evening, and that was our good friend Josh Groban. He performed a medley of memorable TV theme songs. The whole performance really was brilliant--- and I will spare you the music dork details of why this 4 minute medley shows the true musical talent of Mr. Groban. So please enjoy! (and for a more thorough breakdown of the Emmys and a sample of our favorite tv theme songs from the past, please visit my girl cousin, Leigh's, blog: Leigh Leigh Land)

...And Boom Goes the Dynamite

Due to a recent Family Guy episode (details of which are not appropriate for the LFB), all of the waiters at Del Frisco's are revisiting the "boom goes the dynamite" craze---- it really does work well to repeat this line as you drop a glass, put a plate of food in front of a guest, or almost run into another server. Take a moment to relish in the awesomeness of this sports broadcast from a few years ago!

Scene from the Subway

Best Commercial

Bryant spilled coffee on his shirt this Sunday after church... this is becoming somewhat of a trend. Well, I entertained myself for the rest of the day by imitating the talking stain in the "tide pen" commercials. Go on, try it... and try not to laugh at yourself... seriously.

Part IV: I Love Lamp

I love ride...