TODAY’S MUSE: Jeff Buckley

DAILY MUSE | As you can see, it’s been a while since I’ve been actively blog here. Been in a bit of a creative dry spell due to letting myself get carried away with other obligations in my life. Feeling at once, mournful and thankful. Jeff Buckley captures the feeling well in “Hallelujah”. Enjoy!

Great Music to Cook By

DAILY MUSE | This year  I’m trying to cook more for myself, for reasons of health, wealth, and enjoyment. A key to enjoying the experience of cooking at home is having the right music in the background to cook by. Today I dug up a CD I’ve had lying around a few years and had forgotten about: Cafe Paradiso by Steve Erquiaga. It’s a perfect CD to cook by. Instrumental guitar. Classical with a latin, flamenco feel. Played at just the right volume, I feel like I’m the star of my own cooking show. Together we made a delightful omelet with sautéed onions (with a dash of sherry vinegar), peppers and feta. So consider letting your music be your partner while cooking.

Cross posted at my other blog, “This Blog is Habit-Forming”

Update: Here’s a link to a track from the CD.

Excuses, Excuses

DAILY MUSE | Boy, do I have excuses for not having posted since… November! I-yigh-yigh! Here they are. Work. The Holidays. Family. Sloth. Working out (I have lost 14 pounds and am getting in great shape). Oh and there’s my newly rekindled interest in cooking. Yesterday, I made a killer pot roast recipe. Lately, I’ve been interested in making ‘one-pot’ meals and also revisiting old classics (but finding killer recipes of them with lots of flavor… no boring old foods pass these lips). Anyway… that’s a sampling of the many excuses I have for not having posted in a while. I’m not going to make any puffed up promises, either. At this point, I’ll just take it one day at a time.

p.s. Did I forget to mention ‘Project Runway’?

It’s Been So Long

DAILY MUSE | Well, I sure didn’t live up to my promises did I? I spent the summer wrapped up in work, my Miata convertible and my new MAC book. This past week I restarted a work-out program (Power 90) that I had done a few years ago to magnificent results. Hoping for that, and then some, this time around.

Here is a picture I took for my avatar on the P90 website… in case any of you are wondering what I actually look like. I’m hoping in six months I won’t look anything like this. Well that’s a bit too much self loathing isn’t it. Well, maybe I’m hoping I’ll just look like a better version of the me in that picture. You know that fit guy with the totally sick body that’s lurking underneath there… somewhere.

TODAY’S MUSE: The Faith Middleton Show

DAILY MUSE | One of my favorite radio programs broadcast locally here in Connecticut is fortunately available over the internet and through podcasts– it’s ‘The Faith Middleton Show’, a constant breathe of fresh air in my day. Whether it be her ‘Food Schmooze’ show, made famous by it’s Saturday Night Live parody, or her Book Show, or her general shows on the richness of life, I always look forward to listening in– it helps me make it though my 3 o’clock slump in the afternoons. She has a special knack for interviews as well. Check her show out.

Listen via internet stream…

Podcast link via iTunes

UPDATE 1/11/11: Including new links because they’ve changed.
Here’s a link to the show website.And the link to free iTunes podcasts.