Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

I finished Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in about a week. I miss the days when I could read for days on end without the rude interruption of work and responsibility, but that is not my life right now, so I had to put the book down to do all the things I am supposed to do. As with the previous 5 books, I loved it. I won't print spoilers or even plot twists, but I will say that I disagree with the reviews that say that this installment is "darker" than the previous books. I think it is just that the themes in the book are maturing a bit, because the main character is getting older. He is starting to realize his responsibilities in life (like the rest of us) and so this book is not as light hearted as its predecessors. The darkest thing about the Harry Potter saga (aside from He Who Must Not Be Named), is the fact that with every passing page, you realize you are one page closer to the end of the adventure. Now that I am done with book 6, I know there is only one more book left, then it all comes to a screeching halt. I hope J.K. Rowling changes her mind and keeps going. I think Harry would be a fascinating young man - imagine the mischief he could manage in Wizard College...

Pimp My PC

Pimp My PC by Finijo

Steve, Marilyn, Connor and I had a lovely dinner at Patu with Caryn and Matt, after crossed signals and work emergencies. I came home and completed the project I have been whittling away at for the last week. I finally finished my Plus Deck 2 exterior conversion enclosure. Note the fine black leatherette with contrasting stitching, and balsa wood accent trim. The package is completed with an exhaust pipe and a super sporty racing stripe.


Pimp Guts by Finijo

When you open the enclosure, it's clear that things are a less stylish and a little more nuts and bolts (the glue is not even dry yet). I used my new rotary tool, an exacto knife, wood glue, Velcro and two thumbtacks to achieve the end product. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. So, once again, Thank you to Mom, Dad, and Marilyn for the Plus Deck 2, and thank you to Steve for the rotary tool and helping me PIMP MY PC!

Yao Restaurant and Bar

Tonight we celebrated Dad's 60th birthday and my 39th birthday at Yao Restaurant and Bar. The restaurant has a modern Chinese chic feel about it. You know you are eating in a Chinese restaurant, but you aren't hitting your head on paper lanterns; it is understated, rather than garrish. The walls are modular, so the rooms can be changed around to suit different parties and there is a HUGE flat screen projection screen on one wall, that I almost mistook for modern art.


Yao Restaurant and Bar by Finijo

We enjoyed the food, especially the pan seared salmon in chili sauce and the General Tso's chicken. Connor had special fried rice (as usual) and ate it up. We had crispy spring rolls and vegetable lettuce wrap for appetizer and enjoyed them, also. We opened presents and Dad got his standard gift of shirts and I got a cool hanging "bag'o tomatoes" to grow from Connor. Both Dad and I opened our big gifts prior to the dinner (see Plus Deck 2 post).



Yao Spread by Finijo

After dinner we adjourned to the nearest Starbucks where the adults indulged our java obsession (addiction) and Connor got his favorite vanilla milk and a Lemon Bar.


Starbucks Westheimer by Finijo

I didn't realize that this Starbucks had a chess board available for play. Dad quickly wiped the board with Connor and Marilyn, but was at least challenged in his game with Steve.


Dad and Con Play Chess by Finijo

Buca di Beppo (with Stevo)

Cherub Fountain by Finijo

We met Steve and team at Buca di Beppo for dinner. We had a wonderful dinner of caesar salad, pizza arrabbiata, salmon and artichokes with a light creamy mustard sauce, eggplant parmesean, and garlic mashed potatos. For desert we had chocolate covered canoli. We all reek of garlic, but we really enjoyed the dinner!


Normi by Finijo \

There are over 2,000 pictures on the walls of this restaurant according to the schpiel the hostess serves up as she gives you the tour of the restaurant. They start you off by walking you through the kitchen, in part because it is cool, but also to show how clean it is. There is even a table you can reserve in the kitchen - touted as the best seat in the house. They walked us past The Pope Room and The Wine Room, settling us in The Frank Sinatra Room.


Sinatra Room by Finijo

To say they decor is kitschy would be an understatement, but it is also a little raunchy and a lot of fun. Even though Buca di Beppo has been franchised and can be found in several states, we still love the food and the atmosphere.

Happy Birthday to Me

Embroidered Love and Hearts by Kate McPeak

I turned 39 today. The number seems foreign and strange, but I still feel the same. Over the last week, I received e-mail, calls, and gifts from everyone I love and hold dear. I am employed, healthy, happy, and I think blessed more than most. This weekend I will have the opportunity to share the birthdays of Dad, David, and Skyler - July is a busy month for birthdays. The pictures show the embroidery Grandma did for me for my 12th birthday. She did beautiful work, except for the sad little butterfly on the pocket - she let me do that one myself.

Sunday with Stevo

Buffalo Grille Exterior by Finijo

Sunday we met Bill and Mike for brunch at the Buffalo Grille, which we should do more often. Buffalo Grille has a good (albeit noisy) breakfast/brunch) on the weekends. Their pancakes are the size of the plate and a they have a great pepper maple bacon.


Buffalo Grille Interior by Finijo

As we were leaving, I took this shot at the door. I especially like the look on the face of the woman in the foreground. I was hoping that the white sign in the back would be more legible, but it didn't work out. It reads: Welcome Lakewood Community - which means that soon the new Lakewood Church will attendees will know about our already crowded little breakfast haven, and the locals will no longer want to eat there. Lakewood Church, for anyone who doesn't know it has bought out and renovated the former Compaq Center (the former Summit), turning it into a "mega church." Now their services will seat more than 16,000 people weekly - greatly increasing traffic in our area. This situation should make the merchants in the area ecstatic, but it will keep those of us who live nearby at home on Sunday. The whole idea of a mega church is a odd to me. I guess I don't understand why anyone would want to worship in that large of a crowd, it seems both impersonal and exhibitionistic. I guess it would be reassuring to anyone who needs reassurance, knowing that there are thousands of others who believe just like they do. It does come across like the Wal-Marting of religion, though. Mass marketed, polished and professional, but instead of a dog and pony show, you get a Jesus and donkey show.


Hampton Inn Ad Campaign by Finijo

We went back to Steve's room at the Hampton Inn to pick up his dirty laundry and this sign that says "smile" greeted us on the elevator. Apparently, it is part of the Hampton Inn look. They carry over the slogans to their exclusive line of Purity Basics™ mini soaps and shampoos. The toiletries are packaged very simply with clean lines, and they sport the word "Purity." It's just like being at a spa with a kitchenette - sort of.

Shopping Day

All Bundy Shoes by Finijo
After Connor finished tutoring, we took Steve to the Harwin wholesale district today to shop. Funny how you take some things for granted. We shop there maybe twice a year, and never really think much of it, but today the first thing we saw when we pulled into the parking lot was a tour bus from Oklahoma. This shopping center is in a pretty seedy area and stores in the area are raided and shut down by the FBI every couple of years or so for selling counterfeit designer items. So, I guess I never thought it would be a draw for tourists from out of state. Who knew? Our favorite shop is Mulan, which has a lot of purses, clothing and bric-a-brac from China. We've never been in, but the All Bundy Shoes sign always makes us chuckle. It's a neat area and the prices are low, but I always feel a little bit like I need a shower when I leave. The desperation of the merchants in most of the shops is palpable.

Mulan by Finijo

We continued our shopping at the new Fry's off 59 between West Belfort and Wilcrest. I found the future (very near future) case for my Dual Deck 2. It is actually a CD Album, but it's the right size and I think I can convert it without too much effort. Since Steve successfully installed the Dual Deck 2 as an external drive, instead of as an internal drive, I think I can successfully turn a CD album into a drive enclosure. After Fry's we were hungry and stopped at Dimassi's for the Mediterranean buffet. Great food, but perhaps it was too good, because many hours later, we are still not hungry. After an early evening nap, Steve and I returned to Fry's to exchanged the game he bought for his PSP earlier in the day, then we went to Home Depot and Steve bought me a rotary tool so I can route the back of my new drive enclosure, so the wires will fit. Happy birthday to me! I got a new power tool! The only thing missing was Steve's girlfriend, Gina.We know she'd love the shopping and we all hope she'll come for a visit soon.

Plus Deck 2

Plus Deck 2

My birthday gift from Mom, Dad, and Marilyn arrived, and Steve installed it last night. I got a Plus Deck 2! It is a computer casette drive so I can convert my old casette collection from analog to digital files. We played Trivial Pursuit until about 2:00AM, and Steve converted the first few tapes. I spent today sitting on my butt in front of the PC just playing with it. So far, we've converted:

ABC - Lexicon of Love
Duran Duran - Rio
Gipsy Kings - Mosaique
Indigo Girls - Indigo Girls
Julian Lennon- Valotte
Los Lobos - Kiko
Marshall Crenshaw - Marshall Crenshaw
Miguel Bose - Bajo el Signo de Cain
Pulp Fiction - Soundtrack
Tom Petty - Full Moon Fever

It's not high speed, the process is done in real time. First the casette is recored as a wave file, then it converts it to mp3. The casettes I am working with are 20 years old and were heavily listened to, so the drive is having trouble distinguishing between some of the tracks and some are not being picked up at all. I don't think it's the drive, I think there has been degradation of the tapes. The tracks that have been converted sound great, though! Very cool gift.

Tooth Necklace

Tooth Necklace

My co-worker, Pham, came back from his trip home to Vietnam with gifts for everyone. He went through Hawaii and brought back necklaces for everyone, and I got the one pictured above. When he handed it to me, I recoiled at first, because it looked like human teeth. When I looked closer I realized it was made of tiny shells. I accepted it as graciously as I could (given that it really looks like teeth to me), and I wore it the next day to work. When I picked up Connor from the YMCA, one of his friends reached out for it saying, "Cool! Are those all your teeth?"

I am the proud owner of the Full Metal Jacket, tooth necklace.

Current Events

Storm Over Holcombe by Finijo

Steve made it to town just in time for our afternoon down pour/flash flood season. He will be here for a week and a half working and hanging out with us, and during the time he's here, Hurricane Emily is expected blow through. I am thoroughly disappointed in losing out on the job I applied for, but Steve's arrival has helped to keep my mind off of it.

We went to Vietopia last night for a great Vietnamese meal, and we especially enjoyed the coconut curry chicken. We will meet up with Bill and Mike on Saturday or Sunday for breakfast at Buffalo Grill, and to meet Mom and Dad sometime Saturday, then we are set for Thai with Caryn and Matt on Saturday night, and I think we will try to talk them into some Balderdash. I also thought we might hit Harwin for some wholesale shopping on Saturday. It's amazing how the schedule fills up with little to no effort...

Shamrock Pudding

Desert Makin's by Finijo

Tonight, the urge hit again and I found myself in the kitchen whipping up a little something special for Connor.


Shamrock Pudding by Finijo

His treat consisted of a layer of palak paneer (a spicy Indian spinach and goat cheese dish), covered with hummus (ground chick peas, with tahini, spices, and lemon), topped off with Kelly green icing rosettes.


Con's First Bite by Finijo

First he tasted the icing on top, and found the icing to his liking.


Shamrock Blech by Finijo

Then, he dug in to the fetid concotion.


Con Gag's by Finijo

Con's reaction was appropriately theatrical.


Con's Down by Finijo

Ultimately leading to his green-mouthed demise.