Mootang man's blog

Ok so i doesn't take much for me to get excited. I took this pic this morning and by the end of a long day, 1am, after reading about editing, enhancing, etc photographs, I came up with this one photo from the back yard.

the color photo is the orig one and then I thought it would look cool as a black and white.--kinda gothic eh? can you imagine Frankenstein, or Dracula or even the "Werewoof" chasing you thru the woods?  Actually this morning I did hear the coyotes howling and barking out here. check out the sunlight in the steam from the roof, and the tree on the left, then the tree about mid viewpoint and then the sunrise--looks like a perspective of objects.  Textures-shapes, empty leaf trees with an evergreen mix- a outdoor salad if you will. umm I think I am getting hungry?  Nah, ita almost 2am now...beddie bye.!

I was pretty surprised with the gift my wife got me for Christmas this year.  It is a digital camera. Out of curiosity, I asked her today if she shopped around. She said that after the last time we shopped for a camera for my son (this past summer, 2009) she did not have to do too much of the price comparison exercise. We were pretty disappointed in Best Buy but out of it came a great experience. She checked with Best Buy anyway and their price was a joke for the camera she wanted to get me.  Just the camera body alone- no lens, no battery, no nuttin', it cost almost as much as the total bill that she got from the camera shop in New York!

My Christmas present that was shipped from the camera shop in New York, was a Kit for the Canon EOS Rebel T1i. The following is everything I received including some extras: (my wife is such a smart shopper, and kool).

I got the camera body, 18mm-55mm IS lens (standard lens), 2 sandisks (memory sticks, 8gigs ea), a cap keeper (a leash, for the lens cover so it does not get lost), a camera strap, a couple of lens filters, 1 battery plus a spare battery, cleaning kit, a travel bag that can carry the camera and most of my accessories, plus a rebate for the camera kit and a rebate on the memory disks!  WHAT A DEAL!  I don't think I forgot anything.

With all the items that I mentioned above, I feel I can safely say that Best Buy's total price plus warranty and tax would have been about $2200.00! 

The price my wife paid for all items mentioned above plus a 3 year warranty, with tax, was just over $1,100.00.  Now minus the rebates- the total price comes out to be just a tad over about 1,007.00.  Now mind you Best Buy's price for just the camera body was $900.00!  (Oh my wife just told me Best Buy put the camera body on sale now for $800.00). Big deal. I am still stoked at the savings my wife received from B&H.

So you be the judge, $2200.00 vs $1000.00? It does not take a rocket scientist to figure this one out or does it? :-)

Best Buy's cheezy points system seems like they are looking out for their customer base, nah, its all a numbers game.  For small items at Best Buy, we use their points propoganda, but if you buy big ticket items, a flatscreen tv, video recorder, high end sound system or a digital camera as in my experience, I'd go with the cash, $$, cha-ching, savings-discount any day.

As I mentioned in my post from this past summer when I got my son's camera, and seeing that Best Buy does not uphold to their 'price matching' babble that they spew out to customers, our shopping place for big ticket items such as this is none other than,

B&H Photo, Video, Pro Audio

Their address is 420 Ninth Ave, New York, Ny 10001

Ph# 1-212-444-6700, 1-800-947-9950

their web is www.bhphotovideo.com

Yep, we are a return customer- and for business that is the best kind and a great compliment.

I put this in here as a handy item of info for anyone who wants to shop smart.  Both times-experiences has been nothing but the best from B&H!  I am sure you have heard this statement, "with the economy as it is...blah blah blah,"  economy down turn or not, don't pass by B&H.  You want to save money and be in a real win-win situation for the customer and the business, chk them out.  It won't hurt, I promise.  At least give them a call and get an estimate. It is free to talk and free to get a quote. 

Now about the camera: years ago in college I took an elective class, Basic Photography 101 at the Univ of Utah, summer school. So I am somewhat familiar with cameras, terminology etc.  It was also the years of actually loading film in the camera and setting the ASA etc., before taking a picture. 

This Canon digital camera, let me tell you, what a camera it is! Canon has made things so much easier as I am sure other makers have done as well. Previously, I have been using a point and shoot Olympus camera. It was ok but the images from that camera and this Canon obviously is night and day. No comparison!

I've been glued to the web reading and experimenting yesterday and today!  So much fun and satisfying to take nice clear and properly composed pictures. They're not just any ole pictures anymore there Martha!

Yep, I know I might sound like a commercial but please ignore that. 

What it is, is when I can save money and the business I buy from can STILL make a profit, (make a living) I see this as a well balanced consumer-business experience. I consider this good news and should be shared with others.

So if anyone is contemplating a big purchase, check B&H out first and then shop around.  Ask the other businesses to price match and try not to notice their (body language) slight sneer, a 'ha' giggle, eyes roll to the back of their heads, at you like "what are you crazy, this ain't no Tijuana" and I bet you'll end up making your awesome purchase with an awesome price from B&H!

Here are some pics of my cats. the last pic was taken with the Olympus point n shoot. Came out grainy and a little out of focus, even though I had the flash on and I stood perfectly still, or I think I did anyway. The other two pictures are from the Canon. Big difference when you see the images on the computer or the camera Lcd.

If he happens to come up on my blog again, thanks to you Henry and the staff for helping my wife.

I thank Henry who works at B&H because he obviously checks out the web to see what is said about the business. He responded to my blog this past summer and thanked me for the kind words.

Good Luck,

Ciao!

Besides giving thanks and being thankful for everything this year, I must say Christmas 2009 was quite surprising.

Wow! What a Christmas! I must, I must brag! The "Prime Rib Le Mootang" was awesome!  From the roast I cut off two bones (to cook med rare) and the rest of the roast cooked for the rest of the family liking (med well done). I put rub and seasonings on the roast and let it swoon for 5 hours before putting the roast in the oven!
Man 0 Man 0 Man! Very tender and tasty and the aus jus was yummy too!
Salad with my homemade rockin' gorganzola dressing and from my Christmas present (book) from my fake name daughter, I made an Italian dressing...ahh, yumm. The dinner was fit for a king and queen! Leftovers for tomorrow will even be better due to the garlic slivers I had impregnated into the roasts. I think I just might use the larger roast leftover as a pillow tonight--that's how good it is!

Christmas presents were awesome and surprising.  Digital camera, new Dracula book, my new cook book, pj's, matching robe, & a few other things I can't remember right now but it is all good!

Well that is about it.

Merry Christmas again until next year.

Wow, another year is just about to end.  Time for all of us to start anew and try again to do better this next year than last. The wife and I were doing errands tonight after work; we went to the mall--and it was busy, traffic, shoppers etc, but I don't see it as busy this year as it was last year.  Last year there were lines of cars trying to get into the mall parking lots and this year although it was full of cars, it really was not difficult to find a parking spot. As for the past few years, I have done most of my shopping on line and very little shopping in the mall or strip malls.

I do like going out just to mingle and watch all the people shop.  And as the time gets closer I see them getting frantic to get that one last gift.  There are even people who wait til the last minute, like Christmas eve to go out shopping.

Wow, what a person that is eh?  Oh well, I'll just make a lame excuse for them, that it is just different personalities.

So as it gets closer to Christmas, I just might go out with the last of the Shoppers and sit back with a cup o joe and watch them hustle and bustle- looking for that one last gift, or most likely the start of their holiday shopping.

Merry Christmas to all and to all uh good luck!  :-)

It has been a heck of a news week!  Down in my gut I had stated all along during this trial that Amanda had no chance.  Those Italians were soooo inept.  The two years that she has been under arrest is one heck of a long time and now 26 more years?  From what the experts here say, the evidence they had was not even admissable. Dna?  That is a big thing now.  I mean, if you did a crime 20 years ago, Dna now can nail you.  Yet the Italians must have some sort of secret way of determining in ONE test, that she is the one!

I think after a while the authorities knew she was innocent yet, since they had her for all this time, they did not want to look inept so they barged on ahead and decided to convict her anyway.

Now the real murder(s) are wiping their brow and are free and clear....as long as they keep their mouth shut and don't brag.

I just can't believe it.  Well I hope that her appeal will come swift and that they knock off a ton of years or just let her go after this.

Sorry to hear the verdict Amanda / family.  It is just soo terrible when the whole world can see the truth and the Italians are stuck in their little box, still living in the 18th century.

Good luck and I mean it...you will need it.

We had a potluck today and it was great!  I brought my mom's chicken noodle soup, which is more like chicken dumpling soup, I also made chicken chimmichurri, which is chicken tenders with a sauce originating from Argentina, and then I also made and brought a Pumpkin ginger cheese cake topped with chocolate ganache, toasted almonds and sprinkles of pomegranite seeds, the red seeds against the chocolate ganache nice contrast.  the crust for the cheesecake comprised of fresh ginger, lorna doone cookies, ginger snaps, graham crackers and butter! the cheese cake was soooo smooth! ah that texture I have finally perfected it!  Creamy, rich and just a party in your mouth!  Some people deprive themselves and take a small amount, but hey you only live twice, and I say go for it.

Well that's it for now.

I'm soooo tired of the media coverage! Must be due to global warming. The media has nothing else to do.  Must be due to global warming. Everyone is so depressed. It must be due to global warming. Oh i lost my job. Must be due to global warming.
I'm going on food stamps.  Must be due to global warming.
The earth's temperature varies thru the years, it must be due to global warming and global cooling. Just like the cycle of life, must be due to global warming. awwwwwww.
Say it enuff times and put it in people's faces enuff times and they will believe it. Opps, must be due to global warming. Oh crap, my head must be full of steam and that is why I am writing like this...IT MUST BE DUE TO GLOBAL WARMING!  awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

Here it is July 09 and it is almost the 4th!  My son is up here from California for a month which is very nice since I have not seen him for several years.  He is interested in a camera.  He has his eyes on a Sony T-900.  We had gone to Best Buy several times in one day...May I also interject here that my wife and I practically own Best Buy because we buy 96% of our stuff from that business.  To continue, my son who is 17yrs old, was being very careful with his spending, researched the camera and looked at other businesses to see if they could compete with Best Buy. He spent several days doing his research.  A doctor friend of ours from Calif, who is a semi professional camera buff, told us about BH Photo Video in New York. The doc has purchased from BH many many years. Well if my son would have purchased the T-900 and all the accessories from Best Buy, withour tax it would have cost him $540.00 and then a sales tax of 9%.

From BH photo Video the exact same set up is $445.00 with shipping and all!  We gave Best Buy the first shot and asked them if they would price match other stores.  And they said, yes it is their policy that they do that.  So we told the sales person about BH and the sales person had to go talk to the manager.  Well low and behold WANNA TALK ABOUT FALSE ADVERTISING?  The Best Buy manager declined to match the price.  We were very disappointed in that decision. So my son went ahead and ordered from BH.  In the future, for any camera equipment we will always buy from BH of New York. I hope all of you who are camera buffs and read this will do the same.  The only reason to buy from Best Buy is because you can get it right there and now. They don't always have the best price.  It pays to shop around. I say it is worth the wait for the money one saves at BH.

Best Buy sucks the big weinie on their price matching policy. Oh before I forget, they stated that they do not compete with places that only sell on line. I have news for Best Buy, BH has several stores and they sell on line JUST LIKE BEST BUY DOES! What bullshit Best Buy tries to pull.  Anyway, if anyone is looking for a decent price on spendy cameras and camera equipment; before you purchase from Best Buy, chk out BH Photo Video in New York. 

later!

On April 19, 2009 the Big Day Happened.  I G R A D I A T E D fum Culinary School!  Wow and what a relief!  The event was held in Renton, Wa., at the Ikea Performance Art Theatre.  It was a pretty nice day all around!  I graduated with High Honors and I wore a cord about my shoulders for that achievement.  I also received a cord to wear due to me not missing a single day of class; 30 weeks of instructions as well as my externship at the restaurant.  Now what you ask?  Well now my learning begins.  School was just the basics. So as the 'doors' open, I shall walk thru and learn with the eagerness that I have had throughout these months. One door that seems to have opened right now is my cheesecake making.

I have been busy making cheese cakes of all things for some benefits.  A few weeks ago, I made two cheese cakes for the wifey's work and they went for $20.00 a piece.  Then the following week, I made one cheese cake for a co-worker donation/benefit and it sold for over $100.00!  Like oh wow!

Being busy at work (my day job) in front of a computer most of the day modelling/designing nuclear containment systems and now working part time at the Italian restaurant, it is kind of hard bringing myself onto the computer at home, if you know what I mean.  I feel like sometimes I don't have much time to myself..  Guess I'll have to make time somehow.  I think about blogging at times and I think, Oh gee, I have really been slacking. Actually, I am also blogging once in a while on MySpace as well.  So I blog here and blog there...everywhere.

Maybe I might get some cheese cake requests?  Anything can happen. 

We went downo to Portland this past weekend for fun.  We stayed at the Embassy Suites, Presidential suite...Nice!

We actually went down to go eat at Joe's Crab Shack in Vancourver Wa.  It was good.  The entire weekend we had tidbits of eats.  I guess I can say that we ate our way thru Portland.  we had pizza, beer at various micro breweries.

One really good brewery is the Widmer micro brewery.  about 1.5 hours before going to the brewery we ate chinese food. It was ok..Nothing to go wow about . The place was called The house of Louie. Anyway we got to the Widmer brewery and plates of what looked like chocolate cakes smothered with dark chocolate icing was coming out of the kitchken like wild fire. So we asked the waiter if we could get two sample bites of that ''stuff'.  The waiter talked to the manager and the manager came back with 'scraps'...I don't think it was a scrap, but what we asked for was the meat loaf that was smothered with a rich dark brown gravy.  I must tell you that THIS is the MOTHER OF ALLLLL, AND I MEAN ALLLLLLLL MEATLOAFS!  It has got to be one of the most, the bestest, the tastiest meat loafs EVER!

the plate comes with 2 thick slices of the meatloaf, one on top of the other, veggies and mashed potatoes.  What an awesome taste!  It is worth taking the two and a half hour drive to go to Portland for dinner at Widmer's.  Anyone going thru Portland ===It is a MUST to stop off and experience that dish! 

I thank the manager and the waiter at Widmers for doing this for us. 

There was another place that we wanted to experience. It is called  Ringside. Supposedly the best onion rings around. but alas, the restaurant did not open til 5pm so we went to another restaurant and I tried their pizza, wifey had the tomato, basil soup.  It was not bad, it had the tomato, garlic and basil but they also added some smoked paprika to the soup. A different taste..one either likes it or not. I would have added just a tad of the paprika because the smokey flavor goes a loooong way.

well i need to get off of here ===need to fix up my lunch for tomorrow and then  beddie bye and workie tomorrow nite at the restaurant. 

g'nite. 

Ok maybe not Seattle, but just south of it about 16 miles--in Kent.  I had mentioned about my externship in a couple of blogs ago.  I have been externing now 5 weeks.  Next week is my last week but I must say, in mid week 4, I had a surprise.  The chef was along side of me picking out the caperberries from the pickled peppercorns; yep I made a mistake and poured the caperberries in with those peppers. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!  Talk about feeling bad.

Chef was kool about it. Chef is a jokester. And was going to nickname me Caperberry.  To continue, chef was along side of me and asked me when my externship was over.  I told him, 2 more weeks chef.

 Then he responded, "So would you consider staying on after the externship?"  I was like wowed!  I told him, Aren't I a headache as it is now?  He said, Nah, just growing pains and laughed.  So I told chef that I would stay on but on a very part time basis due to my regular day job.  He said that it would not be a problem.   So here it is, where people right now are trying to get a job and here I am externing and by my performance, I get hired before I even graduate from culinary school.  That's pretty kool!

During these 5 weeks now, I had really only one day to myself--sunday.  Sundays and Mondays I am off from the restaurant extern duties, but Mon-Fri, I worked my 8 or 9.5 hours days on my regular day job.  Several sundays ago, I made a 3 cheese tortellini-basil soup.  It was pretty good and I doctored it up a little with a few ingredients that I like.  I liked it even more.  So I took a lock n lock container and filled it about 1/2 full of the soup and took it in to the restaurant for the staff and chef to critique.  I was a little scared.  Well to my surprise chef like it very much and said that the seasoning was just right.  The sous chef, like it quite a bit as well.  (I brought the soup in on Tuesday, my first restaurant work day of the week).  On friday the sous chef asked if I was going to bring in some more of that special soup.  Then my wife said that some people at her job requested that I make something and she would bring it in to work for them to taste.  So I made the soup again and got thumbs up from all who had the soup.  That sure is a great feeling to hear people liking what I made.

The following sunday I made  a bolognaise sauce with italian sausage chunks and ground up beef.  I used two different tomato sauces and it was pretty darned good.  I topped some three cheese ravioli with the sauce.  It was oh so yummy, to me anyway.  I took that in to the restaurant crew and the wait staff as well as the dishwasher, sous chef and the chef tried my bolognaise sauce with the ravioli.  I got rave reviews!  Everyone like it very well and one of the waitresses was like all excited about it.  She even confronted me the next day and told me how much she loved that dish.  Like a double wow! eh?  So those recipes are now on electronic file, printed out and put in the cupboard for ready reference as my Signature Dishes. 

So that is about it for right now.  I am just riding lifes wave--Culinaria dude!

I'm too hip, gotta go for now. Oh I didn't proof read this either so if it doesn't make sense what I wrote, just whing-it!