A little about me. I'd like to say that I enjoy hiking, outdoor activities, base jumping and the like. You know, the kind of activities that REI ads are made of. Nope. That is not me.
Yes, I enjoy the outdoors. A nice brisk walk on a cool afternoon. Riding bikes on a greenway trail. But inclines are for sleep number beds. My wife took me on a hiking trail that she said, "would be so much fun. You'll love it!" She failed to mention that this "trail" was a sheer wall up a mountain created by Satan himself. You know, the kind of steep hill where you find yourself leaning forward so much you look like Michael Jackson in the "Smooth Criminal" video. I was breathing so hard that I thought my lungs were going to pop out of my body. Yet I made it to the top. Triumphant. And half dead. Below are some of my favorite things. No lies, no putting on airs. Just me. |
My FamilyMy first love had always been my family. My crazy, laughable family. I am so blessed to have them all near me, and I value every minute with them. We all have a ruthless sense of humor, and family trips and game nights are something to see. A family favorite is Cards Against Humanity, which we have laughed until we cried. My family also includes my small circle of friends, lifelong pals who are there for me when I need them.
My family made me who I am today, my wife who gives me a reason to get out of bed in the morning, a beautiful person inside and out; my beloved grandmothers who taught me about all things good and special in the world; a grandfather who made me value hard work and financial responsibility, my Mom who worked her butt off and showed me the power of a woman, and my Dad, who gifted me with his twisted and hilarious sense of humor. My brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, my son and daughter, and cousins who have all been on Team Steven. I love them all. |
Movies
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The StigThe greatest dog ever. Sorry Happy, my childhood dog. Sorry Maggie, the first dog who showed me that dogs can be more than just a dog, but a family member whose personality can stand on their own. Sorry Quincy and Racsan, family pets who were family members and I wept openly when they passed. The Stig owns them all. I knew the first day I met him, with my short list of requirements: He had to be a rescue dog. Too many dogs need a home. He had to be black; a high percentage of black dogs are inexplicably unfavorable at shelters (Black Dog Syndrome) so we were doing our part to offset this. Lastly, he had to have that spark of personality, to stand out from the crowd. There he was, at the Downey Shelter, in a multi-dog kennel, wanting to do nothing but play, annoying all the other dogs. Seriously. They hated him and kept snapping at him, he did not care, he thought it was fun. Taking him home, the magic continued. A bundle of energy, he barely passed obedience school. He runs like he is on fire, back talks when he is scolded, lives for his BFF Sammy, and welcomes visitors to the house with licks, tail wags and barks of joy. But please don't give him a tennis ball. HE IS OBSESSED WITH THEM. You'll be sorry you did.
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I love cooking. Maybe it's in my genes. My father is a great cook, and his father was a chef, working at The Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles and the famed Brown Derby. No recipes, no formal training, just shooting from the hip. Like the shrimp and polenta above that I created. I love looking in the fridge and pantry, seeing what I have, and creating something special for dinner. No, my fridge is not packed with truffles and foie gras, I have created magical dinners with a can of SPAM. (It was a deconstructed Masubi with vegetable dumplings as an accompaniment. Delicious.) I believe that good cooking feeds the soul as much as the body. And you can't have a great dinner without a great drink or an enjoyable glass of wine. One of my favorite drinks? Aside from a simple Jack and Coke, my secret recipe for my Old Fashioned. Want to know how to make it? Maybe I'll post it on my blog at a later date. :o)
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I am obsessed with the original Top Gear. And all they represent. Cars, goofing around, and British television. They are sarcastic, obsessed with cars, and finding the greatest roads out there. I can completely relate. I even named The Stig after one of the main characters. Alas, it is the end of an era. Clarkson, Hammond and May (the original presenters) have all quit the show, and their replacements include Joey from Friends. No thank you. If you know Top Gear, kudos to you. If you have not seen it, you can find reruns on BBC America. British television as a whole I love. Little Britain was a genius show. Growing up, I only had rabbit ear antennas on my telly, so I watched a lot of British shows on PBS. Are You Being Served?, Waiting For God, Keeping up Appearances. All great shows. Now I am just waiting for the old Top Gear guys to premiere their new show, The Grand Tour, coming Autumn 2016 on Amazon.
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Back around 2006, I found a website about a guy named Jay Shafer, and his company Tumbleweed Tiny Houses. I had also read up on the proliferation of houses made from surplus shipping containers. I was hooked. Now this has become more known and popular, a greener way of living, a counterpoint to ever expanding house footprints. Our mid-century suburban home would be considered by some as tiny compared to new homes, a modest 1200 sf. But today's tiny house movement is amazing. 350 sf amazing. Nooks, cubbies, and full use of every square inch of space for living. It makes new home construction seem lazy and outdated in comparison, more room for more stuff. This is new thinking, less room for less stuff. I'd live it in a second. The problem? My better half. I'd have to drag her kicking and screaming into what she'd view as a claustrophobic potting shed. Maybe I'll settle for one as a weekend getaway.
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