Thurston Blogging

Word

With the introduction of Windows Vista, Microsoft has released a new version of Word.  It no longer sweats misspelled words, foo!

Evolution of a Baby Room

It wasn't easy.  I gave up my XBOX room for The Chosen One.  Why?  Because my wife told me to.  She's getting big and mean, so I do what she says.  Here are some before during and after photos. 

Here is before:

The transition:

The Crib & Dresser:

I told the wife that I would have the room done by the end of April.  Check your calendar.  It's not even the end of March, and this guy is done. 

Baby Thurston is 27 Weeks

I have been catching Hell for not posting updates on The Chosen One lately.  For this, I apologize.  Daddy has been working on painting Baby Thurston's room this week.  The color?  Awesome violet.  Yep, says it right on the can of Sherwin Williams baby paint.

This week Baby T hit 27 weeks.  She is now at the 2 pound mark.  That's the size of a mammoth steak.  She can no longer be measured by the standard foot-long ruler, as she's about 14.5" long.  She now sleeps at normal times and can open and close her eyelids.  If she is like her Daddy, she is going to have one large brain.  It's rapidly developing over the next few weeks.

We've been getting these CD's for the baby from Baby Rock Records.  They take bands like Nirvana, Nine Nails, Tool, and Radiohead and make lullaby music.  Here is a sample;  Download Sober.mp3

Tandoori Chicken

I live for spicy food.  A year ago, a good buddy gave me a package of spicy tandoori mix for chicken.  I made it with two chicken breasts, and it looked great.  However, once I took a bite - my world exploded.  It was so freaking spicy that I thought I was going to die. 

When I talked to my buddy the following day - he said that package was for about a dozen pieces of chicken.  Not two.

Here is what it looks like after I used the correct amount of mix:

Pasta Pizza

Renaissance man.  That's what many people call me.  Fantastic brewer.  Wonderful husband.  Internet gadfly.  Renown chef?  That's right plebs, I can cook better than Mike Tyson can box.

Tonight on the menu was pizza pasta.  You wanna make it?  Start by boiling some rotini noodles, then mix them with an egg, some milk and Parmesan cheese and put on a pizza pan.  Bake that for 20 minutes at 350 Degrees Fahrenheit.

Then, slice some red bell peppers and cook them in pizza sauce.  Chop up some ham, foo.  While you're at it,.  After that, get some pepperoni and mozzarella cheese and slap it on the crust.  Bake for another 12 minutes.

With any luck, yours will look like this:

The Ten Best Pearl Jam Songs

The jPod has recently been focusing on Pearl Jam recently.  Not that I mind.  In fact, this has made me focus on my favorite PJ songs.  Not an easy task for me to categorize the best songs by one of the best bands actively touring today.  Best is a subjective word, but remember where you are.

In order from 10 to 1 - 1 being my favorite; here is my list of favorite Pearl Jam offerings.  Each song is listed along with the album the song can be found on:
10) Corduroy - Vitalogy
9) I am Mine - Riot Act
8) Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town - Vs.
7) Wash - Ten
6) Nothingman - Vitalogy
5) Footstops - Lost Dogs
4) Jeremy - Ten
3) Yellow Ledbetter - B-Side of the Jeremy Single
2) Red Mosquito - No Code
1) Black - Ten

Free Agency and the Detroit Lions

Tomorrow, March 2nd, starts the beginning of the NFL Free Agency period.  Today, the Detroit Lions already announced one move - cornerback Dre Bly to the Denver Broncos for lineman George Foster and running back Tatum Bell.  They also swapped a sixth round pick for one in the fifth round.

That's fine, but the Lions have many more holes to fill.  Here are a few free agents that the Lions should pursue:
Joey Porter, Linebacker.  Fast backer who can play in coverage and rush the quarterback.  Much better than Boss Bailey.
Adalius Thomas, Linebacker.  This dude can play linebacker, end or safety.  Big, strong, fast and versatile.  He'd be an asset in any position on defense.
Daniel Graham, Tight End.  Great blocking TE, but is fast enough to run down the middle of the field.
Robare Smith, Defensive End.  With James Hall on the way out of Detroit, the Lions need to fill that spot.  Not a big sack machine, but he played at Michigan State so Mick can yell at him.
Nick Harper, Cornerback.  He can play the run well, and has 15 picks in his career.  Will fill the void left by Dre Bly.
Drew Bennett, Wide Receiver.  The Lions have been talking about Kevin Curits.  Screw him.  Bennett is a better weapon in the slot, and has more speed than Mike Furrey.
Anthony Adams, Defensive Tackle.  Small for a tackle, but has a good motor.  Signing him will provide depth, or he could start next to Big Baby Rogers.
Deon Grant, Free Safety.  He has oer 400 career tackles, to go along with 18 picks.  An upgrade over the current talent.
Jared Allen, Defensive End.  Fast rusher off of the end for the Chiefs.  A bit of a drinking problem, and the fast he's a restricted free agent makes his signing unlikely.
Robbie Tobeck, Center.  The current Lions center has yet to prove he's legit, and Tobeck has blocked for the former league MVP and has been to a Super Bowl.

Don't screw up, Matt.