Gratitude – 3/3/2012

Grateful for another stellar day! Got some work done around the house, great Pilates session, and a very productive LLTAM recording session with Norm. An amazing dining experience at Nostrano provided the figurative and literal dessert!

Suffice to say, it is my new favorite place in Madison. Interestingly, we sat at the bar and had the best seats in the house. All the wait-staff and bar-staff were super helpful and accommodating for all of our questions and went out of their way to explain all the great plates that were passing in front of us on the way out of the kitchen. The food was excellent, drinks were original and interesting, and the atmosphere was perfect. I’m not going to do a ‘review’ but you can find them here and here.

Craft cocktails are very popular in a lot high-end establishments around town now and I LOVE it! Grant Hurless, the resident mixologist, whipped up a special concoction for us that was outstanding. We also got to meet and chat with Tim Dahl, the co-owner and executive chef. Both were really nice people and interesting to talk to. Its probably good that its a more expensive restaurant so I can’t go there every week.

 

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Gratitude – 3/2/2012

Grateful to be trusted enough at work to be tasked with the responsibility of providing a management-level report to a federal government department each week. Also got out for a snowy, picturesque walk after groceries this evening. Casual evening of snacks, homemade chicken soup, and a The Tourist with a friend. Depp was stellar as usual. I haven’t been impressed with Jolie in anything since Gia.

Twilight Walk on My Street

Twilight Walk on My Street

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Gratitude – 3/1/2012

Grateful for being able to see and support Rylee in her freshman basketball game and Ian in his 6th grade band concert. I was a proud great-uncle for both this evening.

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Gratitude – 2/29/2012

Productive Leap Day at work. Got my new cube reconfigured and its much more workable now. Good night with Norm in the studio. My third attempt starting over with an integral song for the LLTAM project and I think this time it’s gonna hit the mark.

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Gratitude – 2/28/2012

Grateful for a casual evening. Walk after work, got a few things done around the house before enjoying some take out and Bottle Shock with a friend. Interesting and entertaining flick.

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Gratitude – 2/27/2012

Grateful for an evening with no agenda. Tired from late night before. Watched two episodes of Spectacle and went to bed early. Episodes with Lou Reed and The Police. Elvis Costello is a great host and I love the format. Fascinating series for those who appreciate music. Thankful my friend Brian turned me on to this show.

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Gratitude – 2/26/2012

Good day. Slept in, after brunch did a trek with a friend to the outlet mall and picked up some badly needed new work shirts and a pair of shoes. Had dinner at Hi-Way Harry’s – it was just ok. Building was pretty cool and the calamari was fantastic.

Great evening with Norm and Kathleen taking in the Johnny Cash Birthday Tribute at The Majestic. Big fun and great bands.

Seven straight days of Don’t Break the Chain!

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Gratitude – 2/25/2012

Sold my old dining room table. Was only on Craigslist for a day and I got what I wanted for it! Ian helped out on the house. Finished up the kitchen trim and the threshold and trim by entryway and front closet. Great dinner with Karen and Joe and The Family at Norm and Laurel’s. Experimented with my latest new culinary idea: Fruit Nachos. It was delicious but needs some more refinement. 😉

Fruit Nachos!

Fruit Nachos!

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Gratitude – 2/24/2012

Grateful for a gorgeous snow-covered morning, a decent day at work (even though I was crabby for a good chunk of it), for making a craigslist sale this afternoon (guitar case), and for meeting a friendly greyhound on my evening walk. His caretaker was trying so hard to contain him so I asked if I could say hi. He was so excited for the attention and I was more than happy to give it to him. I love dogs and miss my pups terribly.

Snowy Morning in the Back Yard

Snowy Morning in the Back Yard

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Gratitude – 2/23/2012

Grateful for the relationship I have with one of the big dogs at work. Provides helpful perspective and lets me know I provide value.

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