18 Years and No Homocide

Yes, Rusty and I are celebrating our 18th Anniversary.  A long time for sure!

To commemorate this occasion, we enjoyed dinner and a show in San Francisco. 

The dinner was at Chaya, on the Embarcadero.  Sitting at our table, we had a perfect view of the Bay Bridge and Treasure Island.  Dinner was unbelievable.  I had salmon with wild mushrooms and a Pinot Noir reduction.  I always feel a little guilty eating an expensive meal, especially one that doesn't involve the heartiness of schnitzel and red cabbage.  Damn my practical German heritage.  For dessert, a martini of course (my drink had chocolate vodka, chambord, and godiva).  

Then off to the show.  Adam, our friend and landlord, recommended the Tony Award winning play, The Drowsy Chaperone.  Excellent choice as this musical was high spirited, clever, and funny.  The music and dancing were tongue in cheek 1920's style numbers, with very little plot to get in the way of the singing.  Check it out if it comes to a theatre near you.  This madcap show will not disappoint.  

  

Australia, a True Beaut!

A few Odds and end to wrap up our vacation, random stuff I wanted to share.  

This is just a brief list of many of the things we love about Australia

• The pubs! (Fair Dinkum!) Especially the Lord Nelson in Sydney
  
• Colin Hay - of "Land Down Under" singing fame, now sings acoustic songs.
• XXXX Bitter Beer
• Meat Pies (Especially from Pinnacle Pub)
• Duel flush toilets
• An affinity for Cabaret (singers, drag performers, etc.) at all the bars
• "Sunrise" with Koshi and Cynthia (including the infomercials during the talk show)
• "Sticky" - a lolli shop in Sydney
• Sunsets off the Sydney Harbor Bridge
• The barrier reef
• Lizzie's rissoles, prawns, and lamb
• Qantas Airlines
• Multiple crazy drunks 
• Baked beans for breakfast
• Mass transit system (confusing but excellent)
• Kevin's dirty jokes.  
• Seeing Aussie Celebs everywhere (Dreamy Denham Hitchcock)
• A strong loyalty to the mullet
• "Kath and Kim"
• "The Castle" ("This is going right to the pool room...")
• Cricket clubs and footie clubs
• Seeing the Milky Way and the Southern Cross in the clear night sky
• Flying foxes
• A phenomenal sense of humor
• The people, including all of our wonderful new friends (Lizzie, John, Tony, Kathy, Tracey, Janice, Kevin, Belinda), and our friends with whom we managed to reconnect (Di, Shane, Phil, Toyassi, Donna, Josh, Joy, Aaron).  We'll certainly miss all of our Aussie mates and encourage all to come visit us in the city by the Bay.  

Speaking of a great sense of humor, just thought I'd share this:

By the way, found this recipe for meat pies, in case you have a hankerin' to try them out.

Heat a little olive oil in a pan and cook 1 kg. diced chuck beef until well browned.  Drain off excess liquid and remove from pan.  Add 300g sliced button mushrooms, two washed and sliced leeks, one tablespoon minced garlic to the pan.  Cook untli soft. Return beef to the pan and add 375ml  Guiness, bring to a boil reduce heat and bring to a simmer for a couple of minutes.  add 400g crushed tomatoes and enough beef stock to cover the beef, bring to the boil and simmer until beef is tender.  Stir in a little Maggi gravy mix to thicken, add salt and pepper to taste.  Ladle into serving bowls, cut off puff pastry to fit the top.  Glaze pastry with egg wash, and bake in the oven at 180 degrees C until pastry has risen and browned.  Give it a try!