Visceraman1 - Joshua Lopez

Siesta Linda

Apple, apricot and 1 lonely pumpkin empanadas graced the lips of Doodle this weekend. For some reason, no photos were taken, so you'll have to imagine the Mole Verde con puerco, frijoles con queso y tortillas that followed. Also, there's no photo of the Sour Cream Chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting and glaze. (Sounds like a lot, but it was pretty easy on the lips.)

And back

I suppose I did the same thing after our honeymoon. I took stock of the inordinate amount of photos, and tried to think of a way to force others to endure what we perceived to be beauty. The honeymoon photos, really didn't get edited too much ('cuz I hid them from the Doodle!), and resulted in a nearly 4 hour epic saga about two lovers finding each other in Tuscany.

At least that's how it felt to the "lucky" viewers.

This time however, I was hogtied while Doodle went through and selected the photos that would make the cut. (Naturally, she accidentally left out the numerous photos I took of her hands). So, now there's a 7 or 8 minute flick that shows a bit of what we saw in Heidelberg, Dresden, Guben & Berlin. Which presents a different dilemma, in that I could post it here, but there are photos in it that I'm not sure if I can post on the internet. (It's not the picture of Doodle on the toilet that I'm speaking of.....)

Anyway, we're back, have been back, and will have a great deal more to say soon.

Happy Birthday Will....we noted your German counterparts as well!

Birthing

Happy Birthday Miss Stephanie!

Berlin

Entirely different from Dresden and it's very stark surroundings (except the plaza). Berlin is very much like a large city, and our hotel is just off the 'largest shopping district in Germany'. I can't say if that teased my erector pilli in anyway, but here we are nonetheless.

My second bizarre meal was last night. A delicious sausage drenched in a thick sauce, giving it the appearance of a nice long bowel movement. I ate it, and unlike the wurstsalat, kept it down all night. It did not fill me up though. Pictures may appear of that meal at some later date.

We're going to find the museums today (hopefully), a tobak, and maybe, just maybe, that little skirt Kerry asked for.

Quick Notes From Afar

"As far as a I can tell, you just add a hard and throaty ECK to everything and its German. They always initially speak to you in German you give them a confused look, and they proceed in English. Thats all I have to say about language, now my impressions..
Forest, dark green forest with castles and charming houses litter the hillside. The river Neckar runs the length of the town with its boats and canoe's passing swiftly down. Small patches of grass with children playing and picnic style lunches, cheese, wine and meats. Pastry shops every ten feet with delacacies unknown in the states strong thick coffee and strong thick beer.
We have gone into grocerie stores (unlike the mecca's we are accustomed to in the states) where you pick up what you need on a daily basis) also fresh flower stands, you see the women strolling down the avenue with their fresh pick of the day. Marvelous!
The avenue is alive with people, all sorts of people, and its the primary thing to do, it would seem, here in Heidelberg. We did go to the Schloss castle, my means of a trolley that takes you up the mountain, and it was here, sadly, where I learned my camera was broken, I think somehow on it's long journey here in my luggage it met with its untimely death! Sad, but I guess I will just go digital.
The last thing I will say is, despite what history has shown, and despite what preconcieved notions I might have had, the German people have been astoundingly warm and kind!" said Doodle.
+++++++++++++++++++++

The layout of this kezboard is somewhat difficult to grasp. My porkz lips have been submerged in the absolute dreamiest ice cream I have ever imagined. Walnut and zabalione, delightful. The schnitzel....wow! Both pork (schweine) and veal have passed mz lips, and the potatoes....pomme and other have shamed the USA. (Brash statement I know). The beer has been plentiful, sexz, and pure ambrosia. The people of Heidelberg have been trulz hospitable....as in, "follow me, I will take you to your hotel myself" hospitable. The light that pours over the forest and into the river is a glorious sight, and the "real" german shepards that drive cars are magnificent.

Tonight, we meet this Von Hagens character.

TIdbits

Ok, this entry was delayed (let's blame Jeri!), and the next one will be.....soon. But, it will be from Germany so it should be a sexy one.

Speaking of sexy, I found this video you might enjoy.

Sabor de Sabado

Ok, so I used someone else's salsa. But christ, I made everything else. Tortillas, frijoles, guacamole, bistec, y tambien, jamaica para mi amor. Mire...

Oh, and if that wasn't enough to keep me busy, did I mention the Creme Brulee?

Lumpy Joshua

Many thanks for the Lumpia!

Delicious!

Soup in the Summer

Soup in the summer seems pretty unthinkable, especially here in the god forsaken, hateful Sonoran Desert. Ah, but then you realize "Gazpacho!" (no K-Dog, that's Gabacho), and watch me waddle up to the counter for numerous bowls. {-My parents used to take me to The Blue Willow in the summer, just for the gazpacho. Apparently I embarrassed them with my need for 3 or 4 bowls, so we don't go anymore....}

But enough of that poor me nonsense. It was unnecessarily hot, so I made gazpacho. And it was very cooling, very tasty, very crunchy.

Simple

"Could I not just have some fudge?" cried Jeri.

Fine.

Bagheera El-Jamal

There are so, so many things that I will miss about you Mr. B,

You had the softest and sweetest little voice

You attached yourself to Diego and gave him the harassment he needed

You loved your mama

It was a delight to watch your spindly little legs dash about, chase fake mice

You loved hoarding food

You were a very good bed cat

You could steal food faster than anthing

A list could go on for ever; thank you for letting me be with you, by your side, during your final time. It was a hell of a time to finally let me in, but I am more than grateful for it.

Know that the Fat Bald Oafish Clumsy Man loves you!

Baby Chocolate

I had a recipe lying around that I was curious about. It was for a Smore Cheesecake, but looking at the ingredients, I didn't believe it would be sickenly sweet like a true Smore. So, I embarked. I figured, worst case scenario, Jeri's coworkers would eat it.

It turned out extremely well. Not quite like a cheesecake though, I attribute that to the, well, less than normal amount of cream cheese that was used. The deep deep bitter chocolate was nicely balance by the topping and here you have it:

Now, if you've ever wondered what behaviour is usually exhibited by Baby Jeri when I prepare these feasts for here, I managed to sneak a few shots of her in anticipation. (And she doesn't hide behind her hands!)

HeadCheese

For something like 30 years, in deli cases, I've always seen the most peculiar offering imaginable....headcheese. Not unlike pickle-loaf, olive-loaf or pimento-loaf in appearance. Although, instead of familiar and palatable options present, the gelatinous loaf is embedded with rather devious goods. In the back of my mind though, I've always wanted to give it a try. Just to see.

Looking at the ingredients, I'm actually surprised my parents didn't force this on us as kids. My dad and brother (grandmother, aunts) all had penchants for crunching away at hideous pickled pig ears, and I learned early that (not only were pig ears disgusting), that I really enjoyed a nice slab of tongue.

Headcheese has no ears (that it claims), but it does have a familiar crunch, that of pig snout. To balance that, large amounts of pork tongue is visible in every slice.

This weekend, the mystery finally came to an end for this guy, and this is how it went down:

I bought a package of Head Cheese....I tried photographing the ingredients, but couldn't get the text to come out in a non blurry form:

I made a nice little sandwich out out of it....note how the sheen of the the gelatin mixed with grease!:

And took bite after bite.

It should come as no surprise to some, that I enjoyed it. Yes, there was a bit of a crunch from the snout, but it tasted just fine. I had another one on Sunday to finish off the package.

Payback

Paybacks are a bitch.

LifeNet, the AirMedical group that comes to my work periodically gave me a little payback for my help. A ride around town, in one of their helicopters. Good fucking lord it was amazing.

But how do you photograph that?

The craft from afar:

The cockpit, gurney goes to the left there...my camera didn't really capture the electrical beauty though.

Mark Miller, Chief Protagonist:

Stop touching buttons Joshua:

My building from up high:

And some Tucson scenery.

I could do that again and again......