Chinese Instructions for a Dangerous Toy
Worms!
"I am lucky enough to of been able to work with Robert Altman amongst the other greats on a film that I can genuinely say created a turning point in my career... He was the closest thing to my father and grandfather that I really do believe I've had in several years... He left us with a legend that all of us have the ability to do. Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of yourselves' (12st book) - everytime there's a triumph in the world a million souls hafta be trampled on. - altman Its true. But treasure each triumph as they come.
Be adequite.
Lindsay Lohan."
Somewhere in the hills of Ventura County, CA lies The Koenigstein Property - Five semi wooded acres with a seasonal creek and two oil wells. Its the future site of a dream home, with an expansive view of the valley below. With its unique topography you could stick a kind of west coast Falling Water type thing here, it just depends on how crazy you want to go. It's SoCal beauty is like something straight off the set of M*A*S*H*.
Or at least it was...
Over the last two years it has become a kind of storage facility to anyone with a smile for the owner. A graveyard for those things that look like they might be worth something to some one, someday- trailers, odd sized wheels, sunglasses - If only these objects could learn to use Craigslist before entrophy reduces them dust!
The above photographs show the advancement of the clutter. It was taken maybe 2 years ago, maybe more. In the first photo the area had already become home to a few industrial size storage containers, a mobile home, horse trailer & a few other light load trailers. The second image shows the area that is now covered with junk. Serious fucking get a God damn dumpster JUNK!
There are campers, broken cars, piles of wood, Mardi Gras beads, tools in various states of decay, knives everywhere, framed crappy art, lawn ornaments, wheels, machine parts, sporting goods etc. If it exists or has ever existed there is evidence of it existing at Koenigstein.
These images show some of the mountains of shit. Good Lord, look at the full rez versions! Thousands of little Texas Chainsaw Massacre-like details! Heck if you see something you want, let me know! The Junk! Ahhhrrrg!
Now there are two other guys living there, one has really improved his corner of the lot. Brought in a nice new mobile home, some trees, gravel, porta-potty. Real high class livin' kind of stuff.
See? It's kind of nice. See there's a little table with an umbrella? Quaint. Then there's a third guy who's kind of in the middle, not really proactivelly improving the place, but he's not shitting all over it either. Although I do think he's the guy who built the roof between the two trailers.
So there you go. I'm thinking of going up there to camp out with the guys. See what they all think about living out there in the middle of nowhere. Maybe make a little documentary video. Anyone wanting to help with this project is urged to contact me through this site. Especially if you're a woman about half my age (or a confused young man) that doesn't mind spending a few nights miles from the nearest telephone with four, obviously deranged, men.
Special concideration given to those with exotic accents.
Stay tuned....
Sorry no pictures.
This recipe is my take on two great meals I had in Italy over the summer. One, Grilled Beef with Course Salt, in the town of Rimini and the other Beef with Pepper Sauce I had at a place in Rome. I fart around in the kitchen a bit but this is the first recipe I've bothered to write anything down because it came out really well.
Sauce:
1 Shallot - chopped fine
1 Clove Garlic - sliced
2 Red Bell Peppers (Next time I may try green peppers) - cleaned out of seeds and ribs and chopped up
1/2 Cup Chicken Stock
1/4 Cup Heavy Cream
1 tbsp Olive Oil
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Black Pepper
1 tsp Cracked Green Pepper Corns
Steaks:
3 NY Strip Steaks (about 1.5 pounds total)
1 tbsp Olive Oil
Kosher or Course Salt
Put the oil, shallots and garlic in a pan and saute on medium heat for about 2 minutes- until they get kind of transulcent - don't brown or the garlic flavor will get strong & bitter
Add the Bell Pepper and continue sauteing for another 5 minutes on so. Until the peppers start to soften and turn pale.
Add the Chicken Stock, reduce heat and allow to simmer for about 20 minutes. Don't let the stock all boil away though!
Then take everything and throw it in a food processor and puree.
Pour everything back into the pan, add the cream, salt, black Pepper, and green pepper corns. Reheat thoughoughly, stiring occasionally. Just make sure the mixture is thick enough then just keep it warm.
The steaks I just brushed with Olive Oil, coated with the Course Salt and threw on the grill fo a few minutes, turning twice, so the meat had those cool "X" pattern things on both sides.
Spoon the sauce on the meat & eat!
It was great.
This guy did good too:
