Bittersweettoast

My dad and I used to have this tradition of trying to beat one another at finding the 6 differences as quickly as possible in Hocus Focus, that two-paneled picture you see in the Comics & Puzzles section of the newspaper. As simple as the drawings were, it was amazing how challenged we each could be, especially when the other quickly got to 5. I still play Hocus Focus when free time allows. On days when the differences just don't appear, I imagine my dad quickly claiming victory; when my own vision works wonders, I gloat at my prowess and make my victory "V". Here's a little version of Hocus Focus for you: Okay, I admit, I stretched the rules of the game because there are more than 6 changes between these two pictures. The one on the left shows my liquor collection pre-blog days when I had the ingredients to make a gin and tonic, kir, and margarita, along with an assortment of little airplane bottles that were used for cooking and baking. Now, ju

You've probably noticed that my productivity this month has dropped off significantly. Writer's block? Not exactly. Life has gotten in the way and, in particular, the passing of a generation has stymied my creativity. My stepmom died last week, and as is so often the case with those battling a terminal disease, the speed of her decline was both a blessing and a shock. Emotionally, I was on a different timeline, one that would allow at least a few more conversations, maybe even one more visit. Instead, a generation in my family slipped away before my siblings and I really had time to ponder what this means. We are the sole survivors who will now need to take it upon ourselves to plan gatherings. It's up to us to pass down stories and traditions to keep our parents' memories alive. As with most new stages in life, I feel woefully unprepared, maybe because I'm the baby in the family. For every ten pictures taken of my brother as a baby, I got one. My brother and sister

We enjoyed a trip of extremes two weeks ago, starting in LA and ending in Whistler, B.C. College family weekend, swim meet, then skiing. Water in two very different forms took center stage, which got me thinking about H-two-oh. Solid, liquid, gas -- we use it in so many ways and for many different reasons. As a novice bartender, my biggest battle has been with my freezer. How do I allow my beautiful ice cubes to cohabitate with my frozen peas and Trader Joe's Mandarin Orange Chicken? Flavors in a drink can mask the added flavors that sneak into the ice, but I know that I'm serving an inferior product. The ice cubes that most regrigerator ice makers produce are also less than appealing -- the cubes are the wrong shape and melt too quickly. I've done a little research and the prospects, though extreme, are tempting.  Apparently I'm not alone in my obsession. The first article I read ditched the home ice cube tray and suggested freezing water in a large bowl