I'm Walkin' . . . Yes, Indeed!

During the last weekend of July 2009 I will be participating in the Relay for Life here in Napa. The Relay is an annual event which supports the American Cancer Society. 

One in three people will receive a cancer diagnosis during their lifetime.

I've lost my entire immediate family to cancer. My mother died in 1988 of brain cancer. My father lost his battle with stomach cancer in 1990. And my younger brother Dave succumbed to lung cancer in 1997. You can see why this cause is very close to my heart.

Please consider helping me in this cause:

• By donating at http://main.acsevents.org/goto/rturko
• If you live in the Napa Valley, by walking. Sign up at http://main.acsevents.org/goto/unityleague
• If you’re on Facebook, join my group at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=61152339931
• Forward a link to this blog entry to family and friends
• By praying for me, thinking about me, sending good karma my way (I have a VERY diverse group of friends!)

Thanks so much for considering participating in this worthwhile and vital cause.

Quote of the Day - George Will

"There's certain rules in life: Don't play poker with a man named Slim, don't buy a Rolex from someone who's out of breath, and here's a third - which is don't take financial advice from people who are shouting."

- George Will on This Week With George Stephanopoulos, March 15, 2009

WARNING-"Do not attach any marrowy remainder"

I'm terrible with languages so I shouldn't throw stones.  I don't, however, make a living doing translations.

Rob recently bought me a Tagine at the Napa Style sample sale.  I haven't tried it yet but I got such a kick from the instruction card included in the box.

Honestly, it would be fun to have a contest to see who can interpret these first:

"PROPERTIES

- Unbreakable in the oven independently of the temperature you use:  Traditional ovens, micro-waves, oven of fuel wood, embers of chimney or barbecue.
- Restitution of all the flavours
- Not projections in the oven
- No transfer, neither the smell nor of flavour
- The food does not fight.  The sauces do not stick.
- The heat is preserved for a long time.

- Conviviality on the table

- Guaranteed in dishwasher:  The wash is particularly recommended in machine.  The clay is cleaned deeply, and dries off better without calcareous remains.

The clay is not an ordinary matter.  It is done to cook to low fire, and precautions must be respected to prevent it from producing fissures in the plate.

Instructions for the employment:  The manual of use accompanies to every product:  it is important to read it carefully in order to obtain a total satisfaction of the chosen product.

ATTENTION:  The clay is not a frying pan.  It is enough with little oil.  Put the food inside before cooking them not to spoil them.

We advised against the baking in salt strongly.  Indeed, the salt and the vinegar attack the enamel.  The same it happens with the marinades ones.

Know that the clay and the fused iron remember the blows (the blows undergone during the washing, for example).  Don't use the beater.  It makes jump the enamel of the interior of the product.

We do not accept any responsibility for the damages due to the bad use of products.

The only problem of manufacture is an air bubble that is not seen at first.  It means that maybe a little piece of clay jumps due to the passage of the air.  This fault does not prevent the utilization of the product.  But due to the problems of quality and to the respect for the client, we will change free the product into the next parcel of goods."

My Brother Dave

Today - Thursday, March 12, 2009, would have been my brother Dave's 50th Birthday. The picture, taken in 1997, shows Dave (middle) with his sons Tyler (on the left, now 16) and Troy (on the right, now 14)

A week before he died - Christmas Eve to be exact - Rob and I visited Dave in his hospital room. He had been admitted that day because he was having some trouble with his latest round of chemotherapy. We talked about getting together and "having Christmas" with him and the boys once he was out of the hospital. In fact, we had brought some presents with us and he told us to "hang on to them" until we could all open them together.

Now, Dave and I had never had "the conversation." He and the boys had spent time with Rob and I but, to this point, I had always introduced Rob and "my friend."

As we were leaving Dave said something to me. To this day, I can't remember exactly what he said but I will never forget what I took away. Dave basically said:

• I know who you really are
  
• I know who Rob really is
  
• I'm so happy for both of you
  
• Both of you will always be welcome in our lives
  

Rob and I sat in the car in the Overlake Hospital parking garage as I cried. Years of fear and shame melted away. It is a moment and a feeling that I will always cherish.

Dave was released from the hospital a week later. That night, a blood clot moved from his leg to his lung. He died in the early morning hours of December 31, 1997 at the age of 38. The Christmas presents were never opened but he had given me the greatest gift I had ever received - unconditional love and acceptance - of both me and the person that I love.

So, on the 50th anniversary of the birth of David Edward Turko I'd like to say thanks. Thanks to all of you who have loved and accepted me and Rob. Thanks to those of you who have done the same for others in your life.

And most of all, Happy Birthday Dave! Thanks for loving us. I miss you everyday bro.

Spring Comes to the Napa Valley

I've always been a city boy - well, at least a suburban boy.  Napa, California, while being fairly sophisticated and very close to the center of the "librul" world - San Francisco, is still a farming community.  I'm still in the process of getting use to this.

It's still too early for the grapes to bud-break but the spring rains here in the valley have brought three things:

1) Mustard

2) Plum and Pear Blossoms (according to my resident botanist)

3) Potholes

Ah, Spring . . .

A Solution For Struggling Newspapers?

The Napa Valley Register may have the secret to success in the newspaper publishing industry - Schadenfreude.

For those of you that:

1. don't speak German

2. haven't seen Avenue Q

Schadenfreude is "pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others."

Every month the Register prints Monthly DUI Report and Napa's Most Wanted.  They are very popular features and, in many ways, bring the equivalent of People Magazine and The National Enquirer to the Valley.

Another nice thing - the feature works well both in print and on the web.

Just a thought.

You must remember this, a pint is still a pint...

My favorite sorbet is Ben & Jerry's Berried Treasure (A treasure trove of sunken blueberry and blackberry chunks with lemon sorbet swirls you'll want to hide for yourself!) I've quit buying it since only Raley's here in Napa carries it and they NEVER put that flavor on sale (everything else is 2 for $6.00, Berried Treasure and only Berried Treasure is $4.49 a pint!)

...

I've gone back to my old stand-by - Haagen Dazs Raspberry Sorbet. Now I find out that they're reducing the "pint" by 2 ounces. That doesn't seem fair - especially considering that I always wish that there was at least one more spoonful at the bottom of the container.

...

At least Haagen Dazs went to the trouble of posting reasons for the change.

...

I've decided to switch to another old standby - Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwiches which I can buy in bulk at Costco.

I'm Back!

Here's the deal. I've really gotten into Facebook.

Here's the problem. I'm spamming my Facebook friends with cool stuff that I find on-line.

Instead of posting everything to Facebook, I'm going to start posting stuff here.