Amo1025’s blog

I firmly believe that art brings together people and in fact has moved and changed the world more then one time. One only has to look back too all the old Masters to really understand it. Art and Activism have always gone hand and had but this does not mean that the art world is so radical and left wing because the art and artists are so varied and I am lucky in that I've built up a network across the globe on other sites. It is really natural and some works very compelling especially my links of art from places like Israel, South Africa, Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon, then throw in parts of Europe and Asia also. All these artist that span the globe and it's only in this day and age in time I can connect to all these people. Sometimes I must use babblefish to understand what they write me about most want to share their works and have them exposed to the outside world.

So the world of art is full of activist and we all agree that art can and will change things if the world takes the time to pause and take a look. There used to be a time when it was Art and Science over the years it was changed to Math and Science, it has been clearly shown that people that learn to play a music instrument do better in life then those who do not.

Anyway if you want to peek in on my other activities out here you can go Here or There and view some of the things I am working to bring a show together from many artists works in one place for viewing.

Baklava

Half the fun of learning how to cook something is learning the history or story about how you came to acquire the recipe in the first place. I've been known to tell stories usually verbally I am not a gifted writer and my typing is usually a combination of strange computer commands. Throw in one head injury and you have me typing so excuse the mistakes.

When I was about 22 years old I had a co-worker that I became friends with he was Greek and totally into his culture. I was invited him many times to events and social gathering of the Greek community. The people were fun the food great and I always had a good time. At one of his family events his great grandmother was there at his house cooking up some pretty tasty stuff. Then she started to make Baklava having had this treat before I wanted to know how it was made so I ask her if she would teach me, with the help of my friend's mother translating for me. Sure she said looking at this blond haired 22 year old young man me.

Well I am not real sure of all the events granny pulled out a bottle of Ouzo poured a shot glass handed it to me and then poured herself a small amount. I downed mine it was good stuff the bottle was there and I kept taking shots here and there as she went through how it was made. I am glad I took notes because as any up standing 22 year old male I woke up the next day under the kitchen table with a huge hangover. So the Ouzo is an option to making Baklava but it sure makes things more fun well maybe of one is 22 years old.

So now to the Baklava and there are going to be several steps here it is how I learned.

1 Bottle Ouzo Optional

Fillo dough can be found at just about any market now days you will need one package.

(optional Ouzo shot) Step one is complete

Clarified Butter you will have to make I usually use one lb and melt it under low heat the solids and fat will float to the top but just continue to simmer until all the solids fall to the bottom of the pan and the butter turns a light brown and takes on a sort of nutty flavor.

(optional Ouzo Shot) Step 2 is complete

Syrup

2 ¼ cups Sugar

2 Cups Water

2 to 3 Lemon peel Zest

6 Whole Cloves

1 Cinnamon Stick

¼ to ½ cup of good Honey

1 Tablespoon of fresh lemon juice

In a medium sauce pan combine all the ingredients except the honey and lemon juice. Bring to a boil then simmer about 20 minutes or coats the back of a spoon around 225 degrees on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat and add the lemon juice and honey and stir. Set this aside and let it cool.

(optional shot of Ouzo) Step 3 is complete

Nut Filling

1 ½ Cups finely chopped Walnuts

1 ½ Cups finely chopped Almonds

½ Cup Sugar

½ teaspoon cloves

2 ¼ teaspoons of Cinnamon

½ teaspoon Nutmeg

Blanching almonds is not real hard in a large pan boil some water then toss in the whole almonds then shut off the heat. Stir and wait until the bitter brown skin softens then pour into a sieve then simply pinch the nut out of the skin. You can also use any combination of nut you want I am not a huge walnut fan so I replaced them with pecans for a even richer taste. A food processor works great of finely chopping the nuts. If you lack one I have also used a drum shredder usually used for cheese and found it worked very well.

(optional shot of Ouzo) Step 4 is complete

Bringing it all together

Remember that Fillo dough, well if one cuts the sheets in half they will fit a 13 x 9 inch baking pan. Count out ten sheets, butter the bottom (warm the butter if it set up) then place one sheet and brush butter repeat until you have used all 10 sheets. Then place one cup of the nut mixture into the pan spreading evenly then place one sheet of dough butter and place a second one. Add another cup of the nut mixture adding two more sheets of buttered between ayers of dough. Add the remaining nut mixture then use the final sheets to cover the last layer be sure to brush with butter each sheet before you place the next sheet. When you are done let the butter set up then cut the length pf the pan about 1 ½ to 2 inch strips then cut about 45 degrees across the width of the pan to get the classical shape. Place one whole clove in the center of each piece.

(optional shot of Ouzo upon each layer built up) Step 5 is complete.

Baking

Preheat oven to 375 degrees then cook the Baklava for 45 minutes, remove from oven and pour the syrup evenly over the top and let it soak in. Lower the oven to 275 degrees and then bake an additional 30 minutes. Remove from over and let cool. I have found some people that tend to just pop the entire Baklava into their mouth without removing the whole clove from the center and complain it was like going to the dentist so I usually remove the center clove before I serve them up.

(Optional crawl under the table now and go to sleep you had to much Ouzo)

If you could choose any singer to sing at your wedding (past or future), who would you choose? 
Submitted by CYAN.

What you mean I have to actually marry?This is a loaded question past or future? There is Yesterday and Today oh wait that might be a Beattle song.

When I was a kid radio was still big and not everyone had a TV so I used to listen to the stories my grand parents used to tell of their old days. I loved all these stories and at the time did not fully understand I was being given the oral history of my family. Such things are rare now days and because well I am now an old man it does not mean I do not have stories to tell of my time and my youth most often I send these to my eldest son with a Masters in Lit and Art I figure he is the best keeper of them. On the side I am placing them into my own self published book to just leave behind. What sort of stories might I tell well here is one from my younger days while a hot shot artist at Atari. Times change and my life from the early 1950's on are well the old days now. Now to old man story :)

My First Date…..With a Man

I admit it I did date a man one time but to really understand how and why I did you first have to know the events that took me to that date. What it’s like to sometimes not pay real close attention to details and how in spite of things prove that life does have a lighter side to it at times.

It was the mid 70’s I think around 1975 that I was recruited to work for Atari which was known for it’s Pong game the first game console to hook to a TV. I was more into my art back in those days doing then what was considered cutting edge. But they like my art works and I went to work for them moving from Portland Oregon to San Francisco. This was an important time in the history of both the city but the valley and I was amongst it all. I was making a good living I was single and worked with a great bunch of people at Atari. It did not take me long to figure out there was a large gay community around which I did not mind even though I was straight it was their thing not mine. Dates with women were easy to find because most men were gay but that is another story.

In the coin-op division and the graphics for huge stand up arcade games I labored away working with a team to come up with all the graphics for the side panels and the glass bezels it was truly a fun job. I became friends with a group there of co-workers it was not unusual for us to get together mid week for games of poker and as a group go out for drinks after work on Fridays. After about a year nothing seemed so much out of place I worked hard and played hard enjoyed poker nights and Fridays with the work crew.

I was laboring a couple hours after work one Friday finishing up a project and we totally focused upon my tasks at hand when my phone rang. I reached over not loosing focus on my work and said hello and my name, on the other end was Frank. He asks me what I am doing to which I reply working as I cradled the phone to my ear with my shoulder, what on he asks the latest project I reply still focused on my work. Then I still looking at my work pay little attention as Frank talks on a minute or two I am not paying attention to what is really being said. Not being a very big phone talker I was getting uncomfortable holding the phone as I was so I cut Frank off. Frank I said “what do you want” he responds what you doing after work how much longer you going to be to which I reply about ½ hour he asks me want to get a bite to eat Frank asks me sure I respond and at 7:00 PM Frank pulls up says I’ll drive. Again I’m think alright don’t have to drive from the valley to the city and in I hop and off we go.

The first inkling things were different with Frank a fellow poker player and After work Friday part of the group was we left the parking lot with just me in the car, I remember thinking of we are meeting up with the rest of the group for dinner. I have never been so wrong in my life as I was that Friday night about half the way to the City Frank asks me if I knew of this place I said well I never been there but I know the name. Well he tells me I made reservations for us. It was then I sank into the seat sort of slumped and rethought our phone conversation and what I in not paying attention was different. He clearly asked me if I wanted to go out and no doubt I said yes, he puts his hand on my thigh pats it tells me I’ll love the place. Now my mind is racing how I could have been so well lame, for sure this was a date. So I clear my thoughts and ask Frank is this a gay restaurant and he answers yes the best in San Francisco. Yep I am thinking I am on a date now how will I get out of this gracefully and not hurt any feelings, and still maintain my straight status, I then think ok how bad could it be we will eat I’ll say I’m tired and want to go home and sleep. Sound like a perfect plan and we get to the place and we park a few block away in a garage walk to the place after a few testing touches by Frank a swat to the put hand on the shoulder ok I messed up I am thinking how am I going to get out of this.

We walk through the front door the dinning is in the back this presented a problem for me the place was about 24 feet wide a bar on one side tables for two on the other and a sea of men I do not think one more person could have fit in that bar. It was a matter of squeezing between sea of male bodies to get to the dinning area Franks says follows me. Getting to the back was like walking a gauntlet for me my butt is getting pinched I’m getting groped hands are on me from every direction and some man gave me a quick kiss to the lips. I held it together and got to the back dinning area and we sad down my butt sore from the pinches so I ordered a beer. Now this may seem like nothing but it is an important item I had at least 2 beers during the first course of a 3 course dinner at least Frank did it up right but by mid dinner I had four beers in me and I needed to pee. This I thought would not be a problem we are seated in a plush and intimate dinning area. So I ask the waiter where are your rest rooms and he tells be go out through the bar to the front they are on your left. I felt a pang of uh oh I’d have to squeeze myself through the sea of men endure all the gropes and pinches and god knows what would happen to me in the rest room my butt may not be a virgin by the time I get out of the restroom if I ever would. So rather then panic I thought ok I can wait. We finished our second course and I am in pain now I have to pee we order our desserts and I am beside myself as to how to solve my problem and remove myself and take a safe pee when I spy a fire exit about 5 feet away ok I think I’ll slip out into the alley and come back in Frank just needs to be distracted. As it was Frank says excuse me after we had ordered I’m going to the restroom I said ok as I sat there legs crossed trying not to pee my pants and he got up and began the journey to the restroom I figured in the sea of bodies I had a good 10 minutes so I bolt un-noticed to the fire exit to the alley. Good plan one small problem it sounded the fire alarm I did not care I was headed down a short flight of steps behind the first dumpster sort of hid behind and finally got to pee. Needless to say I really was not paying attention as I relieved myself and turned to go back in when I realized the alarm had went off it was still sounding and people were exiting the place as I emerged from behind the dumpster. Ok I thought I’ll just go around in Front can’t go back in the rear door but when I got to the other side people were exiting and mingling upon the street and I could hear siren’s heading our way but I could not find Frank. So in another bright idea I think go pack to where we parked and I get there his car is gone. Ok I am thinking how will I get home now I had moved to the valley. Wait let me call Patricia she lived a short distance away, so I find a pay phone and dial her number she was home I ask can I crash the night she says sure so I go off park my butt on her couch for the night and get up the next day a Saturday. So the next day I wake up and tell Patricia who was part of the poker club and Friday night crew the events and she had a few good laughs and she asked how you getting home I said can you take me she said sure. But some where along the way she and I ended up in Santa Cruz on an unscheduled lets go have a picnic we have no plans so hang out together time that went into Saturday evening and I am not sure of all the events but I did not make it home until Sunday afternoon I had not talked to or seen Frank since Friday which again had not been a event to note. Arriving home I settle in to rest late afternoon for a nap and being lazy to get back to work Monday. I was stirred from my nap by a phone call it was Frank very emotional sounding like when upon hearing my voice he broke into tears. So half awake and in another of my phone conversations where my mind is not fully aware of everything save my own position. I hear Frank blurt out thank god your alive, and respond yes last time I checked had a fun weekend lost track of you Friday. Well he tells me in his tears the fire alarm sounded he was near the front door ran back to his car to pick me up I said well you were not here for me I do not think this is going to work out the pause,. Some sniffles and said I know I understand and he never asked me out again. So some how I had managed to remove myself from my first date with a man look at it all and shake my head Frank later died of Aids Atari was bought by Warner Communications I moved back to Seattle a couple years later and look back and laugh about it all they were fun times and I did not know or understand how important those days were and to this day I still find myself in events not thinking much of them at the time they happen but I do take with me plenty of laughs at my own follies growing up.

This reminds me I really must write to you of my first visit to a gay bar it is filled with as much humor as this event but it is not every dad that can say yep son I had a date with a man looking back it was fun and funny. Not unlike my first story of my growing up and Road Kill I sent to you.

This is a result of a unlicensed driver blowing through a 4 way stop. The back end of their car was far worse then my cosmetic damage oh and the blow to my ego my first accident in 38 years of driving but the plus side I am still clean with no tickets issued.

Damage

This year is off to a totally weird start first getting sick. Then today I had a minor car accident at a 4 way stop my first accident ever in my 38 year driving history not so much as a warning ticket but I did have a fender bender today on my way home from well the train station after work. Driving is not like real high up there on things I like to do I travel like very local and pretty much have everything I need or want within 5 miles of where I live. I commute form the North end of Seattle into down town by train the view is better then the bus and way more quiet and fun. Anyway I have to go through a 4 way stop to get home on a bust street, as I inched up to the intersection waiting my turn the cars going North and South went first and then the care going West and I going East procceded to go into the intersection and the next thing I know a car came from my left right in front of me I hit the brakes but clipped his back rear quarter panel taking out my passenger side headlight I was fully into the center in the intersection when this happened. As it was I pulled over walked around the corner and there already were two cop cars there behind the car I hit. So walk up there is some hyper kid already taking the cops to task freely admitting he did not have a drivers license he was 18 going on 19 I passed my license to one of the cops said it was I how had hit him he gave my license back asked me to go get my truck and pull in behind him I turned around and did what he asked passed all my info again all of it while this kids proceeded to piss off the cops for about 15 minutes and I was shocked they did not tesar him they asked him to take 10 deep breaths and settle down or he was going into the back of the car. I sort of knew this was going to take some time so I just wrote down my statement of what happened and the driver behind me was my witness wrote his down and we gave it to the cops and I stood there and stood there about an hour as the paper work was filled out. The cop finally told me I could go no ticket for me because they could not establish I had done a thing wrong but young man with no license had the real problem a couple of moms arrived and took the people who were riding with him a girl about his age and a boy about 14. Said unlicensed driver had a problem they cops could not let him drive away he did not have a license and he got a ticket for not having one. I felt sorry for the kid really lucky for him dads car was insured and I cannot see any father say sure son you have no license go on take the car but now days you never know.

All in all 2008 i just off to a real funky start with odd happenings and totally dismayed at the bad choices people make in life and they some how cross your own.

I have resigned myself to replacing Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year with Dude Fest. You have to understand when 3 sons now days get together Dude is the word of choice, it's hey dude, dude this or dude that it all makes me laugh and well that is good considering the age differences I have between sons at least they share a common word Dude and they used it often between their self me I'm just dad.

There was the usual food at the table at midnight as a matter of fact between Christmas and New Years there is always a fully set and stocked ready to eat table. How all these things started I well forget now. It's like setting out cotton balls, salt, sugar in small bowls how it started I am not sure what it means I forget but they are always there. This brings us too the last item I have a small chest (youngest son calls it my treasure chest). At the end of my day I toss my change from the day in it all year long until New Years it is then I set it on the table and at midnight I toss all the coins in it in all the rooms of the house which the boys then collect and put in their pockets. Mind you at about 8 years old they all the dudes that is lost the affection for coins they like paper money. Anyway considering their ages this year 12, 22, 32 I let that chest sit on the table. It did not take long and I hear dad aren't you going to do it? I had thought they well sort of out grew all of it the coin toss in all the rooms of the house. I asked what they said aren't you going to toss the coins to which I said well I thought you all out grew it they said but you always have done it...so I did and guess what the dudes picked up the coins just like little boys ah well I mean dudes. So was the close of Dude Fest 2007.

2008 is off to a bit of a rough start me getting the flu and a 3 day hospital stay. Today oldest son emailed me to say his wife had lost their second child at four months. I feel for them but at the same time there is little I can do they will I think work through it all and maybe second grandchild will arrive at a later then expected date maybe not. I don't think I'll every get used to loosing people or their lives I suppose the only thing I can say is my body count grows every year and while not easy to take it is getting easer to well just accept it and it cannot be changed and you go on it all adds to what makes you still a living person.

So who can say what Dude Fest 2008 will bring, I noticed on my commute on the train this morning a bit of light the train follows the shape of Puget Sound it is a beautiful view when one can see it and the days are growing longer.

I swear I have them upon regular utterances of every word other wise known as a man opening their mouth. Maybe I've been in my own male self imposed world far too long or maybe I just never got women and I think it's the latter.

I simply blow it I've no idea and I mean no idea or even a damn clue as to if a woman may be attracted to me maybe because I do not assume they are nor really venture to present anything then just who and what I am. The rituals I never understand social, a look what look? Maybe it is why I removed myself from it all some rituals I like others not so and guessing what people think or feel is simply not my bag.

I've my job, my art, lots of toys some even scare me but they are fun and as I learned again me only to depend upon. If it appears I neglect things perhaps I know if it had been not for one 12 year old boy and a couple friends I would have been neglected to death.

So yeah had a moment will have many more but I do also have a bit of fun and usually hear lots of laughing so I'll stay male challenged.

I've been good an entire week well sort of last week I found myself in the hospital 3 days over the flu I had come down with the week before. It was a goofy time I thought it was not that bad when I called that number on the back of my health insurance card I'd only been in bed 4 days. They said to go in now so I did and they were not happy appears my kidneys had shut down (I did not feel a thing) and my blood chemistry was well not good I was told so 3 days of IV's I was all better and what ever I had was going away. So after all week at home working from home I went out with a buddy of mine of Friday figuring if my kidneys had shut down a beer would help clear them now that they were working again...so I had one beer it was good to visit with my friend sit and BS at the weekly get together me him and one other friend have.

I am not so sure I worry about all these concerns now days, I was being good walking down the street as a young man in college in Chicago where for no reason I was beaten within an inch of my life just because some sort of neighborhood gang wanted to. In my 40's I walked across a street with the walk signal and was almost to the other side where I was promptly run over by a mini van doing 35 mph that sort of messed me up and took me again within an inch of my life, now this flu thing.

Maybe it is the artist in me maybe it is just something that keeps saying live life we all are gonna die anyway it happens at the moment of conception after all. I guess I'd rather live life then worry about it killing me. I enjoy people, conversations, and well social interaction which oddly enough are these social networks. Hell I even help manage and run one that I've taken a bit of a break from. I suppose I'd rather go sliding sideways into my grave in a tattered body rather then live perfection it is way more fun my way I get to have a few laughs mostly upon myself.

So I see a spring road trip after all I can be anywhere in the world in about 12 to 16 hours for the last two decades I have always headed to Asia now my sights are Europe. I look forward to the food/music local scenes there yeah I'm older but I can make new friends anywhere, I simply have been too good and at home too long. I suppose I am just used to being me I have pretty much done my job raising my boys and 3 boys can drive one crazy so now maybe I can drive them crazy especially when I go to LA and see old friends there take my grandson to the Lego store as mom and dad shake head no...grandfather gets grandson the no no no not that...yeah that hey I go back to my hotel well sort of the long way old friends..Manila is far worse behavior.

I have been spending the winter perfecting sculpting and casting these type of leaves. These are just table top eye candy. When I can move outside in the spring and can do larger scale leaves and sculptures things will look a bit more complete. Some of my works can get pretty large scale like in my garden here shown at night