Relocating The Tiger's Den

 

Song:  Enter Sandman

Group:  Metallica

I have decided to move my computer...

and all of my instruments...

to my bedroom.

There are numerous reasons...

any of which is cause for me to move them to my room.

  The beauty is too distracting.

I know it sounds counter intuitive...

but...

I have a pinball mind.

I am easily distracted by the view.

Instead of being creative...

I end up staring at the scenery...

especially at the clouds.

I end up enjoying the moment instead of projecting myself into the future.

The fact is...

I haven't been very creative since I had all of my instruments 

and the computer in the loft.

I was very creative when I lived in Reno, NV...

and had set up The Tiger's Den in my bedroom.

I had blacked out the room...

and it was only lit by the computer and a red computer light.

I was in complete isolation...

so much so...

 that I felt as if I were living underground in a cave...

and so...

my mind went inwards.

That is what I need again.

I will eventually by blackout blinds for my room as well...

as I am mostly nocturnal.

By having the room blacked out...

I will be able to sleep far more deeply in the daytime

(although I use a sleep mask...

it is not the same...

 as it is uncomfortable...

and so...

it disturbs my sleep).

The sound is not what I thought it would be.

The cathedral ceilings are only reflective with louder sounds.

Were I to have a deep and resonating voice...

it would be different.

But...

I don't.

My voice is too soft.

I thought the loft would add ambiance...

but during my sound check...

I realized that instead of adding resonance...

it sounded empty...

void of any resonance.

The loft is simply too large to add any resonance...

especially with its very high ceilings.

In the smaller confines of my room....

the sound reflects far more easily off the ceiling and walls.

And so...

my recordings will sound much better there.

The arid air is destroying my guitars...

and will dry out my bass flute pads...

eventually ruining it as well.

As the loft is open...

I would have to completely humidify the whole house instead of just my room

(The woods on my guitars are starting to show cracks).

My room...

just by virtue of it being smaller and confined...

the air is naturally more humid as I spend so much time in it.

I would put the computer desk and chair in the alcove of my bedroom.

And...

the instruments...

should they not all fit inside my room...

I could always put them in the spare bedroom until needed.

An added benefit would be to convert the area in the loft

 now used by my computer and instruments...

into an inner house serenity point.

I will most likely make it an area of blissful relaxation...

with comfortable recliners so the raised view may be fully enjoyed.

There is just so much room in the loft.

This would be part of the view from recliners now used by my computer.

As you can see...

the alcove would fit the computer desk perfectly...

and I could easily open the windows for a full cross breeze at will.

I could fit at least two guitars in the corner area...

and perhaps the keyboard and bass flute as well.

I will have to leave room in front of the side windows so Bandi could still peek out.

I know were I to put any guitars in front of them...

she would accidentally knock them over in her rush to investigate any noises.

I will be buying more furniture in the future...

but I will first buy a comfortable seating arrangement for the great room below.

Although I am more of a minimalist...

again...

there is just so much room in the loft.

I want it to be an area of relaxation amidst the beautiful views.

I am still unsure as to what furniture will go up in the loft...

but...

my immediate main focus will be setting up everything in my room...

to once again...

make it...

The Tiger's Den...

a place of complete isolation...

solitude...

peace...

but most of all...

a place of creativity.

Day 6 - An Italian Meal

 

Song:  Che Vuole Questa Musica Stasera

Artist:  Peppino Gagliardi

My sister had been with the realtor for most of the day.

Her number one home pick is still under contract...

but my sister is hoping to be a backup buyer...

if once she actually tours the home...

she still loves it.

Once she had returned...

we drove into Colorado Springs to eat.

There was an Italian restaurant I've always wanted to try...

as they had great reviews.

It is in old town Colorado Springs...

and so...

 is nearest to where I live

(out of the Colorado Springs restaurants).

Their bread and salad was very good.

I especially loved dipping the bread into olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

I had ordered the shrimp and scallop fettuccini.

It was the best I've ever had.

The white sauce was creamy and cheesy...

just so perfect.

My sister had shrimp scampi risotto.

My sister loved her dish as well.

 I had chosen this place because the reviews were very good.

It had earned every one of their great reviews.

The food was the best Italian I have ever had.

I now have a known excellent Italian restaurant I can depend on for delicious food.

As my sister and I drove back home...

it began to lightly snow.

At times...

it got heavier...

and I had to slow down quite a bit in the mountains because 

the reflection of the headlights off the snow almost became blinding.

But...

we arrived home safely.

Besides...

there were very few cars on the road...

and for the last ten or so miles...

I was the only one on the road.

As it is now after 10 PM...

I will head off to bed early.

Salt And Pepper Shrimp / Beef Tataki / Beef Stew

 

Song:  What is Life

Artist:  George Harrison

Last night...

I made Salt and Pepper Shrimp for my sister and myself.

I use a 50/50 sesame oil and chili oil blend to sear the shrimp.

We ate our fill...

but I left enough room for dessert (Blueberry Pie)...

while my sister saved her Peach Pie for the following morning.

I stopped by the kind lady's pie and pastry truck

(the one who thought I was homeless and had given me 3 cookies).

Although she had someone filling in for her as she was catering an event...

I had told the young man who was tending her shop about her kindness...

and I had asked him to tip her the cost of a bag of cookies and to thank her for me.

----------------

On the following morning...

I got started on making beef tataki...

the most laborious portion of which is the grating of the daikon.

I then sliced up a couple of white onions.

After adding in the onions...

...I added in rice vinegar and memmi.

I then sliced up the rest of a previously made roast beef from a few days prior...

and then added it into the mixture to marinate for a couple of days in the fridge.

After I had finished with the beef tataki...

my sister started on making beef stew.

She had cubed the beef...

...and began searing the meat in batches.

After each batch of seared meat was finished...

she placed them into a 24 quart stock pot.

After finishing the meat...

my sister then began searing the veggies.

As the veggies were searing...

she filled up the stock pot with the requisite amount of water.

After adding the veggies...

she added the spices and beef stock and brought it to a gentle boil.

After about 45 minutes at a low boil...

...my sister then added quartered red potatoes for another 45 minutes of a low boil.

We then had a delicious meal of beef stew and buttered bread.

After allowing the stew to cool enough...

I then put the rest of the stew into 8 freezer containers for quick and easy 

meals in the future.

My sister's beef stew recipe (per pound of beef).

In this batch...she had used approximately 5 lbs of beef.

---------

Tomorrow...

my sister will be meeting with a realtor to look at some properties.

Even though her number one pick is in contract...

she will try to see it anyway...

and if she really does like it still...

she can put in as a backup buyer.