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Here are some pictures from our family’s 2008 Thanksgiving dinner.  We were joined this year by John Woods.  While it was nice having 30 people at our house last year, I appreciated having a small family get-together this year.

Cooking, Dining, Life

Great Quotes:

Alex Baldwin: “I can’t believe you’re out of the game… [snip]… Don’t you miss it?”
Steve Martin: “I do.  That’s why I’m forming a new company.  Here’s the pitch: Windpower, bandwidth, chinese market.”
Alex Baldwin: “Oh god.”
Steve Martin: “Jack, you’re drooling.”

Alex Baldwin: “Lemon, you’re going to go to Gavin’s and you’re going to work this thing like a Chinese gymnast. Wear something tight, force a smile, and lie about your age.”

Alex Baldwin: “Kenneth, I’m very proud of you. Next step, home ownership. Just kidding… the middle class is dying.”

Alex Baldwin: “I couldn’t get your money back and I’m sorry. I feel responsible so I want you to have this…”
Kenneth: “Mr. Donaghy, I can’t take that. What would this country be if our economy didn’t allow wealthy people to take advantage of rubes?”

Alex Baldwin: “I thought by now you’d be someplace that U.S. law couldn’t touch you like Bali… or Utah.”

Television

Ever since Mara and I attended Steve and Wendy’s wedding at Wente Vineyards, we’ve been craving the amazing the double pork chop that they served during the reception.  It’s been several years but we have not been able to go back to Wente Vineyards.  This past weekend, while I was at Costco, I was inspired to replicate the dish in our very home.

I had to convince Mara to let me buy a huge bottle of honey.  I then mixed the honey with soy sauce and chopped garlic as a marinade.  We marinaded the double pork chops overnight and grilled it the next day for dinner.  It turned out really well… another meat dish added to my recipe book!

Cooking

Last weekend, Mara and I went to celebrate the one year mark of our engagement.  We first went up to the Marin Headlands where I proposed.  The weather was absolutely gorgeous… very different than that morning I proposed to Mara.  I’m sure she was thinking that morning… “why in the world is Michael taking me to the Marin Headlands when it’s so foggy???”

We followed up with a dinner at Range San Francisco (http://www.rangesf.com/).  It’s the recipient of a Michelin Star for the past few years and is surprising affordable given how popular it is.  The portion sizes were very good and the quality was excellent.  It was a great opportunity for us to enjoy each others’ company and to reflect on what a great year it’s been for both of us.

Life, Wedding

This weekend, I ordered a DSLR!  I’ve been interested in taking better pictures since Mara and I took our engagement photos in Taiwan.  Taking great pictures didn’t seem like a ridiculously difficult thing to do, but I knew I wasn’t going to be able to do so with my point-and-shoot Canon SD1000.

I then started to notice that more of my friends had Digital SLRs, so it couldn’t have been a ridiculous hobby to get into (I last checked back in 2000, when I was still a student at UCLA… and it was ridiculously expensive!).  After doing my research, I picked up a Canon XSI for a very good price and a B&W UV Filter to protect the lens.

I’ll be sure to post my photos when I get my camera!

Photography

It was just announced that Barack Obama has just won enough electoral votes to be our next President.  Regardless of whether you are a Democrat or Republican, McCain or Obama supporter, young or old, liberal or conservative… you certainly have to be relieved that the past 8 years of George Bush is finally coming to an end.  Without a doubt, I firmly believe that this past administration will go down as the worst in United States history.  Not only have they failed to advance American values and leadership in the world, they have caused great harm to our nation.

I couldn’t help but think of the rollercoaster of emotions Barack has experienced these past few days.  Tragically, his grandmother passed away a few days before seeing her grandson elected the next President.  While she left this world too early, I’m sure she was already proud of Barack and all he has accomplished.  Barack has to know this and I hope that he continues to lead this country with the same values his grandparents brought him up with.

Very recently, I felt very similar emotions.  The day after Mara and I were married, we went up to my Grandfather’s burial site to pay my respects and to tell him that I was finally married to somebody who I love and who loves me unconditionally.  I instantly broke down into tears with an empty feeling that my Grandfather wasn’t around to see me so happy.  It was hard to imagine somebody who has had the hugest influence in my life, unable to make it to my wedding.  I just couldn’t accept it… it should never have happened that way… he was always supposed to be with me… to see that I’ve finally found my way.   I still remember that I slipped into a period of depression after he left us, and I wished that he could see me today.

It was suprising to me that I could come down from the happiest day of my life the day before…. to one of the saddest moments I have ever experienced.  I will never forget that day.  If Barak was as close to his Grandmother as I was to my Grandfather, I believe that I understand the emotions he is experiencing.

Life, Wedding