may the force be with you, tony....

i have been wanting to write something...following up to Tony's benefit concert as well as he and his wife's on going (until the end) struggle with those venomous insurance companies but words really escaped me. the long beach press telegram posted a nice piece on tony-describing his amazing, full of life silly self and the way he created a whirlwind of friends and family around him who only thought the greatest of him. there is nothing to say and never will be enough words to write about how he will be missed and how a void will grow in his physical absence...we have hilarious, awesome and star wars filled memories that will last our lifetimes!

you'll be missed, dude.

(here is the piece lifted from the long beach press telegram, out today.)

Tony Carbone, LBUSD teacher

OBITUARY: Lee Elementary teacher lost 2-year battle with cancer, died March 7.
By Kevin Butler, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 03/13/2008 10:24:59 PM PDT

LONG BEACH - Tony Carbone's life was shaped by two passions: teaching and music.

His parents were teachers and he had worked as a sound engineer while playing in a band after graduating college.

But his love of children led him eventually to follow his family and become a teacher at Lee Elementary School in the Long Beach Unified School District.

"He felt that teaching was a profession that he could really be happy in and rewarded ... but also (be able) to pursue music" in his spare time, said his wife Sinnamon.

Carbone, who had struggled with complications from advanced melanoma for more than two years, died March 7. He was 34.

As a teacher, Carbone really connected with children, holding picnics for them and taking them to movies, said Sinnamon, who also teaches in the LBUSD.

"He was himself with his kids," she said. "He didn't draw those super-strict boundaries that we were taught to draw as professionals."

Music was his other passion. Carbone played guitar and sang in the local band Bikeride, which was written up in Rolling Stone magazine and toured in Japan, she said.

Carbone and his wife in December 2005 had just bought a new house in Bluff Heights and were planning eventuallyto have a family down the line when Carbone was suddenly diagnosed with advanced melanoma, a type of skin cancer.

Six months later, the cancer had spread, creating tumors in his brain, leading to multiple surgeries and other medical

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complications.
Carbone showed strength and calmness while dealing with his illness, Sinnamon said.

"He was so positive," she said.

Sinnamon said that the couple appreciated the generosity shown by family, friends and strangers who gave money to help pay for expenses during Tony's illness.

The couple received about $100,000 from two benefit concerts, a silent auction and donations from people who learned of the couple's plight from a Press-Telegram article in January, she said.

"The outpouring of support and money that people donated was really incredible," she said.

Carbone's positive attitude and kindness touched many children's lives, she said.

"I think they learned from the way he approached life," she said. "He was so full of life ... and I think that really rubbed off on the kids."

The family requests that donations be made to the American Melanoma Foundation. Checks can be mailed to AMF 12395 El Camino Real, Suite 117, San Diego, CA 92130, or visit www.melanoma foundation.org.

sourdough sesame bread

its been awhile. a month ago i got a wild hair in my brain and decided to make a sourdough starter to use in a million different things...which we have been doing with much success...its still alive and bubbling and kicking it in the back of our over
stocked fridge. this is just one of the gazillion recipes i will be posting in honor of the beloved sourdough. this is a great sandwich bread..we've been indulging in salami sandwiches with it!
i suppose i should post the starter at some point but since its been a while and life is dealing its heavy hand right now it'll have to wait on better days!

(the photo sucks...sorry. it doesn't quite do this bread justice)
enjoy!

1 1/2 cups sourdough starter
1/2 cup plus 3 tbl warm water
2 tsp sea salt
2 tbl olive oil
1 tbl sugar
3 1/2 cups unbleached ap flour

combine all in stand mixer with dough hook. turn out onto floured board and knead about 10-15 min until elastic and not too sticky...add flour as needed. let rest on counter 10 min.

grease a clean large glass bowl and add the dough, turning to coat in the oil. cover loosely with a damp towel and let rise about 4-8 hours. (sourdough takes longer than the average bread.)

turn out again and knead a few minutes. shape into 2 loaves. cover with damp cloth and let rise once more...about 2 hours.

brush with a mixture of eggs and water then sprinkle with sesame seeds.

bake at 350F for 30 min.