Of course the BPI staff have our own Olympics every weekend, with the staff poker game. This week's signature performance was the Professor of Astrology Janitor's amazing Downhill run, where he had a slight miss at only one gate. Sadly, that gate was not folding his Jack-Ten of Hearts when Chef made that big raise before the flop. The Queen-Ten-Jack flop with three different suits left him sure his Jacks and Tens had to be good, and they would have been against almost anything Chef had. Aside from that slight bobble, he bet his two pair as strongly as he could, and that's why his mound of chips went downhill when Chef turned up her Ace-King of Clubs for an Ace-high straight.
In other news, we hadn't realized the Professor of Astrology Janitor's signature plaintive mewling was derived from John Williams' Olympic Theme until this week. Chef paraded to the kitchen for our own opening ceremonies: she opened the refrigerator to get out the ingredients for a Curly-Endive Salad with Bacon and Poached Eggs. We just hope she isn't cooking the bacon and eggs over an Olympic torch. Meanwhile, we turn to this week's mail....
Dear Ms. Crissie,
I'm like a really good skier, y'know? And like, I'd really really like to be in the Olympics someday. I ski really really really fast and, like, I win every race in my age group. I train every day and work really really really really hard, y'know? The only thing is, some friends say I should let my blonde hair grow really really really really really long, like Lindsay Vonn's, so I can, like, get on TV and stuff. I like, like it really really really really really really short so it doesn't get whipped around in the wind. What should I do? I really really really really really really really hope you'll, like, write back.
Really x 8 Fast in CO
Dear Really Fast,
Really? Sorry, but we couldn't resist. We're sure you'll outgrow the adolescent syntax, unless you take up snowboarding. As to your question, we can't prove that a certain television network bent over backward to have a camera on Ms. Vonn's long, curly, blonde hair at every possible opportunity, and to her credit Ms. Vonn would be an amazing athlete whatever her hair color or style. We suggest you concentrate on your sport and your schoolwork, style your hair in the manner most comfortable for you, and note that not every female athlete spotlighted in this year's Olympic coverage had long, curly, blonde hair. That network must have spotlighted at least one female athlete who didn't, even if we missed it.
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Dear Ms. Crissie,
Like, that was really not nice, what you said about snowboarders. I've been snowboarding for, like, ten years, and we really really don't all talk like that. Some of us are really really really articulate, like, like me for example. Plus I have pretty blonde curls.
Like Not Liking That in MT
Dear Like Not Liking,
We apologize. Really. Really really. Like, really.
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Dear Ms. Crissie,
Speaking of curls, my wife and I disagree about figure skating. I say the Triple Axle is called that because the woman spins around an axle in the air. My wife says the jump is named after the man who invented it. I say please, who ever heard of a guy named Triple? Who's right?
Wanting To Be Right in AL
Dear Wanting,
Sadly, we fear you'll still be wanting. The Axel - note the spelling - is named for Norwegian figure skater Axel Paulsen. He first performed the jump in 1882, and it is the only jump in figure skating where the skater leaves the ice facing forward. Because all jumps are landed backward, the Axel requires an extra one-half revolution in the air, thus it's the most difficult jump to perform. The "triple" is not part of the jump's name; it refers to the number of revolutions.
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Dear Ms. Crissie,
What? No letters about the only sport they broadcast in the entire Olympic games? Where's my curling? Will I have to wait another four years? Oh, and that salad sounds interesting. What's in it?
Curling My Tongue in Blogistan
Dear Curling,
We, too, were pleased by the growth in popularity for curling over the past few Olympics, and by both the quality and quantity of coverage that sport received this year. We, too, are saddened that we won't be able to watch curling again for another four years. The Canadian men having to pause during the final end while their fans spontaneously sang "Oh Canada," was among the most touching moments in the entire Olympics. Well deserved congratulations to them, to the Swedish women, and to all the other athletes who made this year's Olympic curling such a delight.
As for the salad, it's simple. Cut ½ pound of bacon into ½" strips, then fry. Place the cooked bacon in a bowl with the leaves from two small heads (about 1½ pounds) of curly endive and 4 cups of bread croutons. Pour all but ¼ cup of the bacon fat from the pan, then add 4 tablespoons of olive oil, 3 tablespoons of red wine vinegar, 1 clove minced garlic, ½ teaspoon dried thyme, a pinch each of salt and black pepper, and warm the dressing for about 2 minutes. Pour over the salad and toss; the endive will wilt slightly. Divide the salad into four serving bowls.
To poach the eggs, fill a small saucepan two-thirds full with water, add a teaspoon of red wine vinegar, and bring to a boil. Break four eggs separately, each into a small bowl, and gently slide them one at a time into the water. Reduce heat to a low simmer and poach for about 3 minutes, until the whites are set but the yolks are still soft. Remove with a slotted spoon onto a paper towel and season lightly with salt and pepper. Place one egg atop each salad serving. Bon appétit!
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Happy Sunday!
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