So today I am simply going to say that I am remembering with fondness Michael’s Grandmother Marie. She passed away yesterday morning.

She was a very strong woman for whom I had tremendous admiration and respect.

Very excited about the start of our 2008 Garden.

I can’t wait for it to grow up to be a big boy!

One of my favorite dishes to prepare is Coq Au Vin. As an individual with some French decent, it seems to connect me with my family history in taste. Coq Au Vin is literally translated as Chicken of Wine. Actually the best way to create this dish is by using a middle aged rooster. The hardened tendons and such of the rooster provide a natural thickener to the stew. Here are the rest of the ingredients. Feel free to send me a comment for the instructions - as I will gladly email them.

Rooster or Chicken Thighs
Pearl onions
Bacon
Flour
Button Mushrooms
Onion, celery and carrots
Garlic, bay leaf, thyme
Tomato Paste
Red Wine

With Manchester United still at the top spot, the number 2 and 4 teams (Chelsea and Liverpool respectively) will be fighting out in the Champion League semi-final today at Stamford Bridge. Although I am a fan of both teams, in this case I am supporting the Reds.

Here are some interesting stats as we countdown to the match:

-This is Liverpool’s 15th European Semi Final and their ninth in this competition.
-This is the first time ever that Liverpool have met the same club in four successive European campaigns.
-Liverpool are meeting English opposition in a European tie for the eighth time.
-Against Arsenal in the last round Steven Gerrard set a new club record by scoring in four successive home games in Europe.
-Sami Hyypia’s goal against the Gunners two weeks ago was his third goal in a European Cup Quarter-Final. He had previously found the net against Bayer Leverkusen in 2002 and Juventus in 2005.
-The Reds have played 14 Semi-Finals in Europe at Anfield winning 11 and drawing two. The only defeat was at the hands of Leeds in the Fairs Cup in 1971.
-Liverpool have kept nine successive clean sheets in European Semi-Finals at Anfield. The last visiting team to score here was Barcelona in 1976.

SIR- I am pleased that you had taken on the topic of the death penalty - as it was argued by the highest court in the land this past week. In the accompanying photo (of a bed with straps) you had printed beneath “It’s not unusual.”

I was a bit taken aback by that tag line, as your article so rightly reminds us that only in America and partly in Japan do developed countries practice this barbaric method for reducing crime and seeing “justice served”. That puts us in the less than third percentile of developed countries that find this acceptable. Despite the context relating to the method of injections, I ask that you look more carefully at the words you select to accompany your photos, as so many of the voters in this country read nothing more than the bold text and images.

It was once thought in Western society that rulers had to balance between ordinary personal ethics and their responsibility to the whole kingdom (called casuistry). This certainly created many a conflict.

Although in the business world there are numerous people who become impacted by your decisions as a leader, I am always cognizant of the personal comfort I hold with the decisions I make especially where ethics is a factor. I know that I must make decisions for the greater good, but I must also feel comfortable in my own shoes to lead effectively.

I’ve added some new banners and a rotating mechanism to the banner functionality on Shutternick.com. Here is a bit of info about each of the banners:

Here I am going to Fire Island last summer.

This is taken at a farm less than a mile from our home.

Michael and Anthony having a laugh.

Taken last summer near Hampton Beach.

Zac took this pic of me on the LIRR a couple of years ago.

This was taken a county fair at a nearby airport last summer.

Here is our Emma this week enjoying the new Spring temps and sunshine.

Isn’t she the cutest thing since sliced bread? (If you’re into bread)

This was a classic cheese souffle recipe I made for dinner last night.

2 Tb of finely grated Parm cheese
1 C of whole milk
2 1/2 Tb of unsalted buter
3 Tb of Wheat Flour
1/2 Ts Paprika
1/2 Ts Salt
Pinch of Freshly Ground Nutmeg
4 Large Egg Yolks
5 Large Egg Whites
1 C of Gruyere

Send me a comment for the details…

I was laying in bed last night watching Liverpool (No. 4) beating Chelsea (No. 2) 1-0. It was coming to the close of the 90 minute semi-final match. I was calmly happy for the underdog team, ready to finally fall asleep.

Suddenly in the final seconds John Arne Riise (Defender for Liverpool) accidentally bounced the ball off his head into his own team’s net for an equaliser! OMG! What an upset! Now I fall asleep feeling badly for the Norwegian red head.