BENDING THE HORIZON-PUSHING THE LIMIT-THE WEEKENDER

CAMBRIA
bending the horizon

pushing the envelope

an extraordinary demo real-an excellent video ride

    Enjoy something outside this weekend.

    See you down the trail.

A RENEGADE OF WHIMSY

THINGS TO OCCUPY US UNTIL 2016

     John Oliver, subbing for Jon Stewart as the resident satirist on The Daily Show lamented the other night he wished the political industry would wait another couple of weeks, until Stewart returns, to begin the next presidential onslaught. Maybe the shills, pollsters, pundits and yackers could wait until say, June of 2016!  Just dreamin'!

     In the meantime, too much life and truly important realities to enjoy.

STAR POWER

    Here are a few happy campers spotted on a recent coastal stroll.

This guy looks like an action hero, ready to spring into action.

PRETTY DELICIOUS

the before and after of a Lana Quiche

AT THE WISE OWL

     One of the great joys of the Central Coast is the abundance of masterful musicians. A recent venue of preference is the coffee/beer/wine bar Wise Owl with evening jams. 

   Perfect summer fun. Who needs TV or politics eh?

   See you down the trail.

THE SHIRT-A MARIJUANA MIRACLE-LIKE A CARTOON

OK-HERE'S THE SHIRT

     This blog is nothing if not sensitive to you, dear reader. Several of you responded that I should have shown the neon yellow tennis shirt which earned me such derision last week.  Some of my tennis mates even suggested I should show the shirt.  OK, I hear you.

   I admit it is way out of my usual white or blue color zone, but I've been reminded that a couple of others have been seen sporting the color on the pro circuit.

The great champion Rafa Nadal...

Courtesy of thesidelinesagenda.com

...and the battling Argentinian Juan Martin Del Potro

Courtesy straightsets.blogs.nytimes.com

     Wow is it empowering to be linked in the same post to Nadal and Del Potro!  Pretentious and absurd too!

A MARIJUANA MEDICAL MIRACLE?

     Dr. Sanjay Gupta, one of the best of the broadcast journalists, presented an astounding and heart rending story  in his CNN Special Report WEED.  The piece linked here, details how a compound in marijuana has essentially saved and then improved the life of a young girl with a medical condition that results in seizures.  As a result of the success many other children are being treated as well.

     I was surprised to learn that Israeli medical researchers are leading the world in finding medical application for marijuana in treating dementia and cancer-the disease states and not just the symptoms. 

     CNN is attempting to reassert itself as a valued news organization and Gupta's work is a big piece of that.  He's found a way to report medicine and science in an accessible and enlightening manner.

LIKE A CARTOON

    I saw this the other day and thought the termite control tenting made it look like a cartoon house-something out of a Tim Burton movie.

   See you down the trail.

THE WEEKENDER-SURPRISES

SURPRISE

   It's the time of year when the "surprise lilies" or as they are known here the "naked ladies" start popping up.  

     They are a wild flower that some find annoying.  We simply enjoy their elegance- surprise, naked, or not.

SURPRISE 2

     Stepped outside my normal comfort zone this week and took advantage of a discount coupon sent by favorite sporting goods store, celebrating an upcoming birthday. I took home a new tennis shirt-neon yellow.  Way outside my habitual white or blue color scheme.  

      I had barely gotten out of the car before the hoots and catcalls came from the tennis courts.  Even my foursome had commentary.  Later as I went into the coffee shop, ooohh!, oh my! and other such observations filled the air.     

       Lana was surprised when I told her what color I was shopping for.  I like the color and I've seen it on the pro tour. It is not my traditional style, but when and where else might I ever wear neon yellow? And I felt like I was playing more energetically today.  Power Yellow!

WEEKENDER VIDEO
A LITTLE LARGE FOR THE KIDS POOL, BUT. -

    Enjoy your weekend.

      See you down the trail.

LIGHT FUN & THE NEWS BIZ

SORKIN'S GENIUS RUNS THE NEWSROOM

Courtesy HBO

     It's a subjective thing and thus, Aaron Sorkin's scripts in season two of HBO's THE NEWSROOM weave a brilliant faux reality that parodies, parses and probes what we know as "true reality," however vague and ephemeral that may be and gives us entertainment without peer.
     Last year he build a foundational understanding of the sliding iterations of broadcast journalism in modern America, against the back drop of journalistic iconography. This year he bores in, delivering core samples, albeit fiction, that examines how it is in the newsrooms of broadcast journalism. The fiction is virtually life like, and he delivers characters, drama and intrigue in story arcs that are painted in some of the most effective dialogue ever.
     The situational ethics are real and so are the characters. Yes, it's fiction, but after a life time in newsrooms I tell you unreservedly he nails it all. And brilliantly he holds a mirror to America where our political and journalistic mores are exposed, laid bare and in a way that will move you-to laughter, anger and even tears. And yes, the cast, everyone of them are up to walking and talking those brilliant words.
      If you haven't joined in this Newsroom fandom, make a point of starting with last year's season 1.  I'll best most of you will be like the rest of us-we can't wait until the next episode.  It's not Downton Abbey, but it is just as addictive. And it is about our age.

LIGHT FUN

     Jeff and Florence Pipes hosted a marvelous wine club dinner in the Pipestone Vineyards.  The candles and torches set against the gloaming created an enchanting mood. You can see more in a brief video below.

MUSICAL SHADOWS

 A pre sunset concert at Harmony Cellars provided a couple of interesting shadow moments.

Spend a gorgeous evening dinning in a vineyard

in about a minute and half-thanks to Pipestone Vineyards and my IPhone.

     See you down the trail.

RELAX----THE WEEKENDER

RELAX

     Can you?  Do you?  How frequently?  How do you relax?

Leading questions that were launched by the admonition of a friend in response to a recent post.

      It's no doubt a good thing to do, just relax. But it's difficult for some to do so.

SERENE

the weekender video
THE SUMMER SUN AS YOU'VE NEVER SEEN IT

   Find a little relaxation this weekend.  And wonder how you can help others to do so.

     See you down the trail.

ROMANCING THE FAVA

THE FINE ART OF THE SECOND SHUCK

The finesse of a culinary affair

     It approaches a near sensuality. Near, I say, lest you think I've gone around the bend. Perhaps it is the knowledge that your effort will lead eventually to a taste unique, a culinary dance rich with flavor, aroma and the certainty of kitchen alchemy where almost anything you do ends up delicious. Such is the Fava. And so the endeavor to get these  tasty morsels into their prime nakedness, while not an easy task, is not without its pleasure, in the moment and in the anticipation of what is to come.

     When Lana bought the beans we are growing on our back hill the lady said "So you're growing these for cover crop huh!"  

      "No, my husband loves to cook with them."

      "Really!"

    Native to North Africa, the Fava, also called the broad bean, has been eaten by almost all cultures through history. Getting to that point, the eating, begins the way it is with most beans, getting them out of the pod-a common enough exercise. But the Fava is special. It requires further attention, a kind of special seduction.

     Out of the outer shell, these nutty companions of succulent dalliances need further prompting for culinary amour. 

     Some will tell you to parboil them, to soften the casing in which they hold their precious treasure. NO, NO, NEVER do that! You are not mashing potatoes here, you are instead courting a freshness and taste that merely is being coy. You must speak the language of food love, with your hands and a longing caress.

     Each Fava bean needs to be seen for its individual structure and promise.  You begin by an examination to find the proper side and spot where you begin the journey.

    Carefully, I prefer a thumb nail, you incise a small point

to reveal the inner bean, the essence of the taste.

     You then begin a gentle squeeze, not unlike the way some Mediterranean men or women apply an approving, even if an uninvited, pinch of your derriere. 

     A digression-both Lana and I have been the receiver of such. It is a special kind of touch and practiced by those of a particular nation where this bean is prepared in rapturous excitement. Maybe there is a connection.

     As you can see in the frame below, the gentle pinch brings the tasty little dear out into the world and ready to satisfy. 

Such delight, ready for the kitchen and the eventual 

consummation of the romance.

CLINICAL NOTATIONS

   It may enhance your experience with Favas if you know that a particular kind of pasta, perhaps Italian sausage, cheese and or creme fraiche and wine await.  In fact having the wine open, and in a glass and near your work station is also advised.

    I've wondered if there couldn't be some use for the now discarded inner shell.  Ours goes into the compost which is a good purpose in itself.

   If your climate permits, doing the work outside also enhances the love affair.

   Cheers!  I wish you many happy hours in your romance of the Fava.

    See you down the trail.