You will notice on the side it has a slicer blade - a smaller, cheaper mandolin. This is important for making your own pickles, which I have been doing a lot of lately. Making your own quick pickles is so easy: sliced cucumber, vinegar of some kind (a mix of white and unseasoned rice is my favorite), some fresh dill, smashed garlic, salt, and crushed red pepper. No sugar (sugar makes it awful). Their tartness makes it hard to eat them alone, but when you put them on a sandwich, homemade pickles become the star.
Recent media that is good: Party Down (awesome awesome awesome), the trio of awesome shows on ABC - The Middle, Modern Family, and Better Off Ted (except for the absence of Andy Richter [and sort of Paget Brewster, but I do like Portia Derossi], it nearly atones for the premature cancellation of Andy Richter Controls the Universe).
Rescue Me is into its 6th season, but I only started watching it. I'm not sure why I'm surprised by its quality.
And sitting around the house watching baseball all day. It's a "City Slickers" cliche, but the Daniel Stern line is true. Baseball is pretty much the only thing I can talk about with my dad.
