Sunday, October 31, 2010
Aspiring to Agony: Finding Bliss in the Burn of Bhut Jolokia
sa·do·mas·och·ism: the derivation of pleasure from the infliction of physical or mental pain either on others or on oneself (Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2007)
'“It's fun,” as one chili pepper expert wrote, “sorta like a night out to watch someone being burned at the stake.” ' (Gorman, 2010).
Only a psychotic few thrill and pain-seekers dare to even approach the legendary bhut jolokia, otherwise known as the 'ghost chile' or naga jolokia, outside its natural home in the Indian and Bangladeshi countrysides; the first taste of the thin pepper whose size reaches no longer than a pencil slowly crawls over your taste receptacles with no warning of the strike to follow; after a moment the floodgates are opened in an orgasmic rush of endorphins as the heat sizzles over your tongue, and depending on the intensity, down your throat clawing its way into your belly. Your brain quickly mixes itself a unique chemical cocktail of anguish and euphoria, and perhaps for just a moment as you consider running face-first into a snowbank to ease the incomparable cauterization on your tastebuds can you see through the haze of sensations to realize that the experience can only be described as a fiery high.
Sounds like it sure feels good to hurt so bad, doesn't it?
Animals other than humans would tend to disagree. Homo sapiens remain the only known creature to knowingly and willingly partake in the consumption of capsaicin- the chemical that, in a simple definition, makes spicy foods taste hot. The most intense varieties of peppers which contain much higher concentrations of capsaicin (namely, strains of jolokia chiles) have been used by the Indian military as painful grenades to combat terrorist and rioters; Indian farmers have been known to smear the searing oils from jolokia plants on fences to discourage elephants from destroying their crops- which means that this dangerous pepper is not just enjoyed as food, but engineered as a weapon!
This dynamite strain of pepper was declared the World's Hottest in 2007 by the Guinness Book of World Records, and depending on climate in which it is grown, ranges from 850,000 to over a million Scoville units. (A Scoville unit is the standard method of measurement for calculating heat ouput in chiles by assessing the amount of capsaicin contained within the fruit). Jolokia chiles shattered the old record previously dominated by the Red Savina Habanero, which weighs in at an impressive 580,000 Scoville units, and to put things into a layman's perspective, in comparison Tabasco sauce taps in at approximately 5,000 Scoville units. One might ask, how can something known to be so utterly absurd, so ridiculous in its capability and certainty to cause pain, be enjoyed, even sought after?
Thankfully, that's easily explained. Studies have shown that humans have participated in benign masochism for centuries, especially when it comes to two things- food and sex. Deriving pleasure by causing or receiving pain (with the understanding that a threshold of human tolerance exists and) remains a widespread psychological normality that has spanned continents and cultures, unifying humankind in these two basic functions of daily life. In reference to the food aspect, a recent University of Pennsylvania study put chili-heads to the test by feeding the subjects peppers, gradually increasing the level of heat, and therefore pain, to the cusp of unbearable agony and then polling them to find which level they preferred. Overwhelmingly, the results showed that the majority of the subjects experienced the greatest amount of pleasure during the bite just before the unendurable. This being noted, perhaps it’s only a matter of time before bhut jolokias become almost a fashionable drug on our dinner tables.
Pain and pleasure remain synonymous only with the proper mental preparation. A slap of surprise instigates a completely different reaction than a slap expected. When one submits themselves to the fate of the following moments, pain and pleasure become blurred and can meld into a complicated dance of unique sensations previously unbeknownst to the subject. Bhut Jolokias, with their unrivaled intensity, have become the next great challenge to be conquered in the thrill-seeking foodie's world.
As jolokias begin to explode in markets all around the world, we continue to discover the human tolerance for spiciness on a sublimely cultural level. These capsaicin-jammed packets have been utilized for centuries in Indian cuisine and Americans (with our typical macho I-can-outdo-you attitude) have only begun to mass-market the item not simply as food that’s not solely meant to be eaten, but vanquished into submission. Seeing as we have centuries to catch up on, Americans are woefully behind in the race to introduce this as a staple dinner item or flavor enhancer, but already hundreds, thousands, even millions have discovered the indisputable power of the jolokias. If there's anything that eons of research have taught us, it's that we as humans are gluttons for punishment: self-inflicted or not! A little bit of pain simply makes the experience that much sweeter.
Sources:
* Savuer Magazine, October 2010, page 63 “Fire in the Belly” by Suketu Mehta
* The Washington Post, February 2009, “The Pleasure is in the Pain”, by Andreas Viestad
* Gourmet Magazine, August 2008, pages 42-45, 116, “Burning Love”, by Tim Stark
* The New York Times, September 2010, “A Perk of our Evolution: Pleasure in Pain of Chiles”, by James Gorman
* October 2010, “Spiced Chili and Spicy Chili Peppers” by Sarah Kaiser
* Wikipedia: Naga Jolokia
* The Causing of Pain to Enhance Sexual Pleasure, author uncited
* April 2010, “Chili-heads' seek friendly fire from powerful pepper” by Sara Bonisteel
Image from Hot Sauce Island
HAPPY HALLOWEEN ~~~ Booooo
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
May you all have a wonderful Halloween with the ones you love... with lots of laughter and friendship. Be safe and if you have any candy left over, please consider The Halloween Candy Buy Back Program. This program has dentists all over the country collect extra Halloween candy and give it to Operation Gratitude (one of my favorite organizations), who then sends the candy
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Cartoon of the Day - Happy Halloween to All My Twitter Friends
{Click to enlarge Image}
Halloween Funny
An extremely modest man was in the hospital for a series of tests, the last of which had left his bodily systems extremely upset. Upon making several false alarm trips to the bathroom, he decided the latest episode was another and stayed put. He suddenly filled his bed with diarrhea and was embarrassed beyond his ability to remain rational. In a complete loss of composure he jumped out of
A Jackie-O Surprise
I did not go to school on Thursday because I was attending a coach's mock trial training. When I returned Friday, I found a mysteriously wrapped present and card in my teacher's mailbox in the main office. Curiously, I opened the card and found that the present was from a friend and colleague of mine at school. I quickly tore off the wrapping paper to reveal - what else - but a Jackie-O "First Lady" Edition Bobble Head! It was one of the nicest, most special cards and gifts I've ever received, and I will treasure them always.
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
On Sunday, October 24th I joined some of our students (PC Cheer Team and PC Cancer Awareness Club) for the "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" 5k walk at Bergen Community College, which is the biggest event in North Jersey helping to raise money and awareness for Breast Cancer patients and survivors. Similar walks are held all over the country during October (Breast Cancer Awareness Month) and there were over 5,000 walkers who turned out for our event - including about 50 kids from our school. It was a perfectly crisp October day, and the sea of pink-clad walkers looked like a beautiful ribbon winding through the brightly colored fall trees. The event raised over $546,000 in donations for cancer research.
Pictures: (top) a group photo of our students who participated in the event; (bottom) I walked with two of my lovely seniors - who are both captains of the varsity cheer team
To Read News Article About the Event: "Thousands make the walk in Bergen County to help breast cancer suffers" - Click HERE
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Pescado
Fresh? Sustainable? Farm-raised? Affordable? The worldwide seafood debate rages on and it's never a concrete battle with black-and-white sides drawn as no sea creature has yet proven its value and ability for a clean death without natural disruption or the lack of hormones pumped into its meaty flesh. The James River in Virginia hardly lends itself as an optimal source for fresh, clean, healthy fish, and yet Richmond continuously seems to offer a better stream of fresh AND affordable catches than the ocean-sided San Diego. While overall San Diego dominates in quality, Richmond remains solidly blue-collar in attitude and prices, especially in the notoriously salty Oregon Hill neighborhood, home to some of the grimiest and grittiest restaurants around- all of which have superior cuisine to even haunts of New York and Los Angeles. Mamma Zu remains one of my favorite restaurants of all time, and 821 is still a biking hipster's paradise with solid grub and cold grog.
On our last visit back to Richmond, I had hoped to satiate my omnipresent longing for brisque lack-of service with a bowl of Mamma's noodles, but Ashton's dad assured us that a new restaurant was a contender for our affections and its Latin-infused seafood couldn't be beat. Pescado now resides in the old Hollywood Grill location on China Street, and while the decor is an odd mix of eclectic hippie paintings with bright splashy walls and an upscale-feeling bar, it was packed from wall-to-wall with an equally eclectic mix normally found in O-Hill, from college crowds to bangled socialites. One glance at the menu and it quickly became obvious we were dealing with major contenders in the seafood arena.
Grilled caesars seem to be one of the trends in the late 2000's in hip eateries, and Pescado proved to be no exception; however, I must admit I'm a sucker for the lightly toasted lettuce plate. Hands down, I can attest that the greatest grilled caesar that Richmond had to offer could be found at Dogwood Grill on Main Street in the Fan (along with some of the best fare in Virginia as far as I'm concerned), but when the restaurant closed a few years back it left a gaping hole in the Virginia culinary forum. Pescado stepped up to the plate with their caesar and since their Latin-fusion brought an entirely different view to the plate I can safely say it's one of the best in town. Lightly drizzled with a spiced dressing, freshness exploded in each bite and while the cornbread served with it was slightly dry, the massive flavors wove themselves into a symphony of balance and offered a pleasant take on the old classic. Even the butter had a twist- a cucumber-infused smear lent itself refreshingly to the spices echoed in each dish and I found it to be a unique detail that spoke highly to the attention spent in all aspects of the meal.
It's a certain caliber of restaurant where one can depend on the night's special actually being 'special', straight from the heart and imagination of the chef and not just scrappled leftovers headed for the waste bin at the end of the evening. Pescado instantly struck me as that caliber. Happily, the special happened to be a favorite fish of mine, the ever-present rare seared tuna, with accent bolsters of pureed carrots served with a raisin compote and flash friend arugula and a citrus glaze. The textures were top-notch; crunchy greens the likes of which I have not experienced outside of notebook paper surprisingly blended with the giving flesh of the fish and soft purees to all build each other up in support of an overall wonderful dish.
Ashton got the triggerfish plate, and I can't pretend to know much about the creature; based on the plate he received, I can guarantee I'll be ordering it again. Curry and okra blanketed a starchy corn mountain in a wonderful blend of seafood, Spain, and the South. Maybe not Spain exactly, but I appreciate a good trifecta of alliteration and it's pretty close! Again, fresh was the emphasis and believe me, it spoke volumes.
I often skip dessert, opting for a savory starter in lieu of a sweet ending, but currently hailing from California, home to the freshest avocados the world has to offer, I found myself tempted by the avocado tart just to see if they would throw a wrench in the works of a to-date excellent meal. Rimmed with an appropriate amount of a red-wine sweet drizzle over an almond cup, they maintained a high ranking in my estimation by echoing shades of key lime pie (which I happen to detest) and removing the over-tartness by using a smooth fruit still proving to be freshly picked and prepared. Kudos, Pescado. We'll be back.
On our last visit back to Richmond, I had hoped to satiate my omnipresent longing for brisque lack-of service with a bowl of Mamma's noodles, but Ashton's dad assured us that a new restaurant was a contender for our affections and its Latin-infused seafood couldn't be beat. Pescado now resides in the old Hollywood Grill location on China Street, and while the decor is an odd mix of eclectic hippie paintings with bright splashy walls and an upscale-feeling bar, it was packed from wall-to-wall with an equally eclectic mix normally found in O-Hill, from college crowds to bangled socialites. One glance at the menu and it quickly became obvious we were dealing with major contenders in the seafood arena.
Grilled caesars seem to be one of the trends in the late 2000's in hip eateries, and Pescado proved to be no exception; however, I must admit I'm a sucker for the lightly toasted lettuce plate. Hands down, I can attest that the greatest grilled caesar that Richmond had to offer could be found at Dogwood Grill on Main Street in the Fan (along with some of the best fare in Virginia as far as I'm concerned), but when the restaurant closed a few years back it left a gaping hole in the Virginia culinary forum. Pescado stepped up to the plate with their caesar and since their Latin-fusion brought an entirely different view to the plate I can safely say it's one of the best in town. Lightly drizzled with a spiced dressing, freshness exploded in each bite and while the cornbread served with it was slightly dry, the massive flavors wove themselves into a symphony of balance and offered a pleasant take on the old classic. Even the butter had a twist- a cucumber-infused smear lent itself refreshingly to the spices echoed in each dish and I found it to be a unique detail that spoke highly to the attention spent in all aspects of the meal.
It's a certain caliber of restaurant where one can depend on the night's special actually being 'special', straight from the heart and imagination of the chef and not just scrappled leftovers headed for the waste bin at the end of the evening. Pescado instantly struck me as that caliber. Happily, the special happened to be a favorite fish of mine, the ever-present rare seared tuna, with accent bolsters of pureed carrots served with a raisin compote and flash friend arugula and a citrus glaze. The textures were top-notch; crunchy greens the likes of which I have not experienced outside of notebook paper surprisingly blended with the giving flesh of the fish and soft purees to all build each other up in support of an overall wonderful dish.
Ashton got the triggerfish plate, and I can't pretend to know much about the creature; based on the plate he received, I can guarantee I'll be ordering it again. Curry and okra blanketed a starchy corn mountain in a wonderful blend of seafood, Spain, and the South. Maybe not Spain exactly, but I appreciate a good trifecta of alliteration and it's pretty close! Again, fresh was the emphasis and believe me, it spoke volumes.
I often skip dessert, opting for a savory starter in lieu of a sweet ending, but currently hailing from California, home to the freshest avocados the world has to offer, I found myself tempted by the avocado tart just to see if they would throw a wrench in the works of a to-date excellent meal. Rimmed with an appropriate amount of a red-wine sweet drizzle over an almond cup, they maintained a high ranking in my estimation by echoing shades of key lime pie (which I happen to detest) and removing the over-tartness by using a smooth fruit still proving to be freshly picked and prepared. Kudos, Pescado. We'll be back.
Carcinoid Cancer: Recurrence Rates
I just read an article from the Annals of Surgery entitled "Carcinoid Tumors of the Appendix" that estimates there is an 80% chance that I will have a tumor recurrence since my initial Carcinoid tumor was bigger than 2 cm. The article only confirms what I have been hearing for the last few weeks from my friends in the Carcinoid community. I found several more reputable medical journals that all have the same statistic, so it's safe to say that 80% is a pretty good estimate of what I'm up against.**
I know that percentages are just calculated odds, and some people beat them. It's a little deflating though to think that my first fight with Cancer may have only been the beginning. I know that I have the best doctors in the world, and the most supportive friends and family anyone could ask for... but sometimes, I feel a little rushed to hit the "Rewind" button and just get back to the way things were before my diagnosis.
I never want to alarm people or cause problems, so I pretend a lot. I pretend my joints don't hurt so badly that sometimes (like today) I can barely walk or move. I pretend my fevers are gone, and I'm sleeping well. I pretend I don't need nausea pills anymore, and all my "plumbing" is humming like a well oiled machine. I pretend I'm not worried that I still may be dying. Dr. Nash has made it clear that there is really nothing to do but wait - nothing will relieve the lingering aches and pains and anxiety; no magic pill or treatment can erase all that's happened to my body as a result of the Cancer - so what else is there to do but pretend that everything is fine? After all, isn't hope just another form of pretending?
I know that I should be celebrating the gift of a second chance, but to tell you the truth I sort of feel like a wimpy kid with a shiny new bike who has to ride home past the neighborhood bully everyday. It would be so nice if the bully just went on a family vacation for a while - at least until I got a little faster, a little stronger, and could outrun him. I guess if I do have to face him, I should remember to "fight like a girl" - and win.
** UPDATE: After I posted this, my sister (who is in medical school) reviewed the medical literature and said that the statistics were not given enough context to support a generalized 80% recurrence rate - which is great news! I have tried to find something concrete about recurrence rates without success... If anyone has good resources on recurrences of Carcinoid tumors of the appendix (greater than 2cm) following a right hemicolectomy - please forward them!
** UPDATE: I saw Dr. Nash in April 2011, and he estimates my recurrence rate to be as low as 10%
I know that percentages are just calculated odds, and some people beat them. It's a little deflating though to think that my first fight with Cancer may have only been the beginning. I know that I have the best doctors in the world, and the most supportive friends and family anyone could ask for... but sometimes, I feel a little rushed to hit the "Rewind" button and just get back to the way things were before my diagnosis.
I never want to alarm people or cause problems, so I pretend a lot. I pretend my joints don't hurt so badly that sometimes (like today) I can barely walk or move. I pretend my fevers are gone, and I'm sleeping well. I pretend I don't need nausea pills anymore, and all my "plumbing" is humming like a well oiled machine. I pretend I'm not worried that I still may be dying. Dr. Nash has made it clear that there is really nothing to do but wait - nothing will relieve the lingering aches and pains and anxiety; no magic pill or treatment can erase all that's happened to my body as a result of the Cancer - so what else is there to do but pretend that everything is fine? After all, isn't hope just another form of pretending?
I know that I should be celebrating the gift of a second chance, but to tell you the truth I sort of feel like a wimpy kid with a shiny new bike who has to ride home past the neighborhood bully everyday. It would be so nice if the bully just went on a family vacation for a while - at least until I got a little faster, a little stronger, and could outrun him. I guess if I do have to face him, I should remember to "fight like a girl" - and win.
** UPDATE: After I posted this, my sister (who is in medical school) reviewed the medical literature and said that the statistics were not given enough context to support a generalized 80% recurrence rate - which is great news! I have tried to find something concrete about recurrence rates without success... If anyone has good resources on recurrences of Carcinoid tumors of the appendix (greater than 2cm) following a right hemicolectomy - please forward them!
** UPDATE: I saw Dr. Nash in April 2011, and he estimates my recurrence rate to be as low as 10%
Cartoon of the Day - It's Silly, Sorry
OK, I know this one is silly, but it made me laugh and I hope you do, too.....
Have a terrific day, hope you get a chance to smile.
Have a terrific day, hope you get a chance to smile.
Howl-o-Ween Party at Woof Gang Bakery
On Wednesday night, October 27th, Bill and I took three of the dogs to Woof Gang Bakery in downtown Celebration for their Howl-o-Ween Party. They had fresh baked pumpkin treats for all the doggies that were there, delicious cheese, humus, pita bread and wines from a local eatery (one of our favorites), Imperium Food and Wine and all the pets who came in costume were entered into a drawing for a
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
I Got my Halloween Blog or Treat Swap Package!!
I was lucky enough to participate again this year in Shannon from The Mommy-Files Halloween Blog or Treat. It is a wonderful blog swap where we exchange packages full of Halloween goodies with another blog writer. I had the privilege of exchanging packages with Brie of Brie-Fly's Blog. Look at the wonderful things that she sent me:
Brie sent me some fabulous things... Great socks,
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Heidel in da House
So, this past weekend we celebrated our anniversary. We actually have two anniversary dates, as we had two ceremonies (on at the end of September and another at the end of October). Due to this fact, we generally celebrate the entire month of October as our anniversary. I am one of those rare women who cannot tell you either of the dates without looking them up, so lucky hubby only has to remember a month. Well, Friday night we saw Bobbie McDuffie perform Vivaldi’s Four Seasons along with the American Four Seasons/Violin Concerto No. 2 by Philip Glass, a piece written specifically for Bobbie. My niece attends McDuffie’s school for strings in Georgia, and he was so gracious to us after the concert. Amazing, amazing, amazing. http://americanfourseasons.com/
On Saturday, we headed to the Heidel House Resort on Green Lake to enjoy a lodging/dinner/breakfast package. Very highly recommend this place. The décor is nice, beautiful setting on the lake surrounded by trees, excellent food…and only 1 ½ hours from home. Perfect for a quick getaway (their motto used to be “Run away and Heidel”). We packed evening clothes – a long gown for me and snazzy suit for hubby – and were ready to launch full-bore into the festivities.
It was Oktoberfest weekend at the resort, and we laughed, enjoyed polka music, watched the Klement’s sausage team race (go Chorizo!) and we drank fresh beer from a Madison brewery. The beer was unfiltered, tasty, rich, and…made us sick. So, just a few hours into our getaway we were in our room incapacitated. I’ll spare the details, but suffice it to say we never made it to dinner.
The next morning, feeling a bit better, we had a great buffet breakfast and pondered the schedule for the day. It was pouring rain outside so we forewent the hike through the woods, and decided to just head home. Were we down about the fact that our plans had crashed? Surprisingly, no! We both had had so much fun in the few hours prior to illness, and enjoyed just being together without the distractions of home and work, that we still considered the weekend a success.
It occurred to me that sometimes we set ourselves up by having expectations. It would have been easy to have high expectations of a fancy dinner and romantic weekend, which would have been dashed by our illness. Instead, we just wanted some time together in a fun setting, so we were OK when things went a little south. In general, I have found that expectations make you more unhappy than happy. If you don’t have expectations, you don’t have disappointment. Now, sometimes simple expectations are fine. At work, I expect that the receptionist will let me know when someone calls for me. On the highway, I expect that drivers will stay in their lanes (but I don’t always trust that they will---another matter). But when it comes to matters of the heart, family, friends and the like, expectations tend to open the door to bitterness or resentment. Hey, we’re all pretty flawed human beings, so we really shouldn’t expect too much from one another. Let’s cut each other some slack! Enjoy time together without thinking that it should be…fill in the blank. This week I encouage you to have fun, stop worrying about the past/future/what-ifs, and just be together in this messy stew we call life.
Life is a matter of passing the time enjoyably. There may be other things in life, but I've been too busy passing my time enjoyably to think very deeply about them. - Peter Cook, English comedian
On Saturday, we headed to the Heidel House Resort on Green Lake to enjoy a lodging/dinner/breakfast package. Very highly recommend this place. The décor is nice, beautiful setting on the lake surrounded by trees, excellent food…and only 1 ½ hours from home. Perfect for a quick getaway (their motto used to be “Run away and Heidel”). We packed evening clothes – a long gown for me and snazzy suit for hubby – and were ready to launch full-bore into the festivities.
It was Oktoberfest weekend at the resort, and we laughed, enjoyed polka music, watched the Klement’s sausage team race (go Chorizo!) and we drank fresh beer from a Madison brewery. The beer was unfiltered, tasty, rich, and…made us sick. So, just a few hours into our getaway we were in our room incapacitated. I’ll spare the details, but suffice it to say we never made it to dinner.
The next morning, feeling a bit better, we had a great buffet breakfast and pondered the schedule for the day. It was pouring rain outside so we forewent the hike through the woods, and decided to just head home. Were we down about the fact that our plans had crashed? Surprisingly, no! We both had had so much fun in the few hours prior to illness, and enjoyed just being together without the distractions of home and work, that we still considered the weekend a success.
It occurred to me that sometimes we set ourselves up by having expectations. It would have been easy to have high expectations of a fancy dinner and romantic weekend, which would have been dashed by our illness. Instead, we just wanted some time together in a fun setting, so we were OK when things went a little south. In general, I have found that expectations make you more unhappy than happy. If you don’t have expectations, you don’t have disappointment. Now, sometimes simple expectations are fine. At work, I expect that the receptionist will let me know when someone calls for me. On the highway, I expect that drivers will stay in their lanes (but I don’t always trust that they will---another matter). But when it comes to matters of the heart, family, friends and the like, expectations tend to open the door to bitterness or resentment. Hey, we’re all pretty flawed human beings, so we really shouldn’t expect too much from one another. Let’s cut each other some slack! Enjoy time together without thinking that it should be…fill in the blank. This week I encouage you to have fun, stop worrying about the past/future/what-ifs, and just be together in this messy stew we call life.
Life is a matter of passing the time enjoyably. There may be other things in life, but I've been too busy passing my time enjoyably to think very deeply about them. - Peter Cook, English comedian
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Monday's Music Moves Me: It's Halloween Time
A Woman's Right to Vote - What it Cost
With election day coming right around the corner, Nov. 2, 2010, I just wanted to remind all women to get out and use your right to vote, you have only had that right since the passing of the 19th Amendment on Aug. 26, 1920!
The right for women to vote is something that was hard fought for and it is with very good reason that is was called the Suffrage Movement.
Many of our mothers and
obsession...forehead..JaeJoong..
call me a weirdo, a freak or whatever u wanna call since i really have a fetish on jae's forehead..i don't know why..seriously..he just looks so handsome and dashing showing off this side of his feature ya know..haha..i think i have blogged about this before but i wanna announce to the world again that I"M TOTALLY CRAZY OVER JAE..from head to toe..even he's imperfect but in my eyes he is...^^
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Coroner Vote 2010
{Image Credit}
My friend Greg over at Telling Dad saw a political sign the other day reading “Mike Kelly for Coroner” - who, knew??? So, out of that, came this terrific idea for him and another blogger to battle each other and run a fake campaign for Honorary Coroner. Head on over to Greg's site to read all about how this came about and find out about the official Coroner Vote 2010 site.
On
My friend Greg over at Telling Dad saw a political sign the other day reading “Mike Kelly for Coroner” - who, knew??? So, out of that, came this terrific idea for him and another blogger to battle each other and run a fake campaign for Honorary Coroner. Head on over to Greg's site to read all about how this came about and find out about the official Coroner Vote 2010 site.
On
Friday, October 22, 2010
Cartoon of the Day - The Best Part of Being a Mom
This was always my favorite part of having kids, now it's my favorite part of having the puppies.
Don't forget to take some time out today from whatever you are doing each day to spend a little fun time with the kids. Take it from me, they grow up WAY too fast.
Then
Now
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Lunching in New England
Downtown Kent, Conn.
On our day-trip to Connecticut, Gary and I had lunch in "downtown" Kent at The Millstone Cafe, which is all about "celebrating honest food, mindfully prepared, locally sourced.” Everything they make is from local farms and delicious. We were so excited to see that they had Tempeh hot-dogs on the menu, which we ordered only to find that they had run out. So instead, we ordered a fantastic, earthy barley, feta and kale salad, which Gary was later able to duplicate at home.
For dessert, we walked down the street to "Belgique" - a Belgian chocolate shop nestled in a small Victorian carriage house. The owner of this gem is the real deal, and worked for Queen Elizabeth and the White House. We ordered two hot chocolates with Chantilly whip cream, which were rich and dreamy, but their chocolates -- so fresh they require an expiration date -- were hands-down the best I've ever tasted.
Then, with hot chocolates in hand, we strolled through a bag-book sale (you pay $5 for a bag and fill it up with as many books as the bag will hold) and wondered down some train tracks to photograph a picturesque farmhouse. It was a pretty amazing day.
Pumpkin Patch
Last weekend, Gary and I took a day-trip to Kent, Connecticut to see the fall leaves. On the way, we passed this enormous pumpkin patch in front of a church. The bright orange of the pumpkins, the clean white of the church, and the scarlet red of the trees created the perfect autumn mosaic.
"Autumn burned brightly, a running flame through the mountains, a torch flung to the trees" - Faith Baldwin
DiamondEarrings.Org Review
I was lucky enough to receive a free pair of earrings from DiamondEarrings.org to review. Let me first tell you that I LOVE jewelry and I have a LOT... an armoire full, to be precise, so it takes good quality to impress me. TeeHee
First let me tell you that these are not real diamonds - would be nice, huh? But, they are really very good quality synthetic diamonds which arrived in a very
stupidity......
have you ever feel at one time you are so stupid and feel so useless and hopeless??...it's happening to me now..yes..right at this moment..this is like the very first time i feel all those negative feels strike at me simultaneously..it's just so hard and suddenly i wanna hide somewhere and run from this world..even i know i can't..and i really feel my heart and brain going to burst out and
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Cartoon of the Day - This is What it's Like at Our House
With all the puppies in our house now, sometimes things get a little out of hand.....
[PICS] JYJ Showcase in Malaysia
the reason why i did not take the boys pics is coz i wanna enjoy every single sec when i'm in the stadium..what i can say is the boys are perfect!!..seriously..they are tall, handsome and flawless..i love to see su in vest, chun in suit and jae..he's so freakin' hot even he just wear a simple t-shirt..he said Malaysia is hot..maybe he wears it coz of that..and jae's smile is simply priceless when
SME should watch this..
what can i say more..this guy totally speaks what cassies think..thanks a lot mister!..thanks for everything..loving the boys and always keep the faith!"SUDDENLY I MISS JUNSU, JAE, CHUN, MIN AND YUN...."
New Name of Blog and New Button
Monday, October 18, 2010
Pardon My Dust
I am very lucky to have Bloggy Blog Designz updating my blog, so things may be a little slow and out of wack or a day or so, so please pardon my dust as we are upgrading.
As this is happening, let me just say that these ladies are FABULOUS!!! If you need to chose someone to redsign or help upgrade parts of your blog, you should really head on over to their site, you will NOT be sorry.
Hope
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Monday's Music Moves Me - A Little Something to Get Your Heart Pumping
Antsy Pantsy
OK, why is it that we humans love drama so much? Even those of us who purport to hate drama in fact look for it anyway. Case in point: I was out of work from January through August, finally found a job that I really like and look forward to each day, everything is peachy, so of course I'm thinking, "Hey, wouldn't now be a good time to move to New Zealand?" Um, wait, what?
You see, hubbie visited N-Zed (zed is New Zealandese for Z) some years ago and wants to move there at some point. It comes up in conversation every so often. But, with his plays, movies, etc. and my ever-unhappy job situations there was never time to consider it for realz. So, now that things are moving along swimmingly, we both like our jobs, his recently produced play was a hit...NOW is the time to shake it all up?! I'm crazy.
Those of you who know me understand that I've had my share of ups and even more downs. Struggled just to keep it all going through the storm. Wasn't peace the goal? Doesn't peace mean lack of stress? Isn't moving across the world a little stressful, girl?!
Well, sure. But now that things are going well, I find myself with the mental space and freedom to let myself dream a little bit. I always wanted to be a National Geographic-type adventurer, seeing new places and exotic peoples. Exploring new landscapes, climbing hills and running through dales...it is easy to forego those thoughts when you're just trying to pay the bills. It's really easy to become myopic and see nothing but the next paycheck, leaves in the gutters, dirty laundry, family commitments, and all that jazz. I'd like to just cut those earthly strings for a moment and be the intrepid adventurer. I mean, LOOK at this photo! We could have a city apartment and a cabin in the wild with a cute little goat and vineyards and an olive tree and clear blue streams everywhere and mountains and...and...and...
Well, it's OK to dream and remind ourselves of how we saw the world as children. One big adventure, which it truly is. As we grow up we tend to appreciate safety more, I guess. "Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore." -- Andre Gidde (Nobel laureate)
It takes courage to be an adventurer, and safety can't be assured once you embark on a journey. But maybe by surrounding ourselves with people who make us feel safe, we can regain that sense of adventure. So this week give yourself permission to dream a bit, as if you were still a child, and share what you discover. Also, remember what George Eliot said, "It is never too late to be what you might have been."
Be it!
You see, hubbie visited N-Zed (zed is New Zealandese for Z) some years ago and wants to move there at some point. It comes up in conversation every so often. But, with his plays, movies, etc. and my ever-unhappy job situations there was never time to consider it for realz. So, now that things are moving along swimmingly, we both like our jobs, his recently produced play was a hit...NOW is the time to shake it all up?! I'm crazy.
Those of you who know me understand that I've had my share of ups and even more downs. Struggled just to keep it all going through the storm. Wasn't peace the goal? Doesn't peace mean lack of stress? Isn't moving across the world a little stressful, girl?!
Well, sure. But now that things are going well, I find myself with the mental space and freedom to let myself dream a little bit. I always wanted to be a National Geographic-type adventurer, seeing new places and exotic peoples. Exploring new landscapes, climbing hills and running through dales...it is easy to forego those thoughts when you're just trying to pay the bills. It's really easy to become myopic and see nothing but the next paycheck, leaves in the gutters, dirty laundry, family commitments, and all that jazz. I'd like to just cut those earthly strings for a moment and be the intrepid adventurer. I mean, LOOK at this photo! We could have a city apartment and a cabin in the wild with a cute little goat and vineyards and an olive tree and clear blue streams everywhere and mountains and...and...and...
Well, it's OK to dream and remind ourselves of how we saw the world as children. One big adventure, which it truly is. As we grow up we tend to appreciate safety more, I guess. "Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore." -- Andre Gidde (Nobel laureate)
It takes courage to be an adventurer, and safety can't be assured once you embark on a journey. But maybe by surrounding ourselves with people who make us feel safe, we can regain that sense of adventure. So this week give yourself permission to dream a bit, as if you were still a child, and share what you discover. Also, remember what George Eliot said, "It is never too late to be what you might have been."
Be it!
Bloggy Friends are the Best
I have mentioned in the past that one of the things that I love the most about social networking is meeting people and becoming friends - real friends. Distance and the fact that you have never actually met face to face doesn't make a difference when it comes to friendship in my book (or should I say laptop).
One of the people who I have met through blogging is Noelle of Jumpin-Beans and she
One of the people who I have met through blogging is Noelle of Jumpin-Beans and she
Cartoon of the Day - Moms and Dads Are SOOOO Different
Moms and Dads seem to have different parenting skills and different priorities.
{Click to Enlarge}
'Nuff Said.....
{Click to Enlarge}
'Nuff Said.....
"Jalan Jalan" for a Cure
During my second year of law school, I spent 10 weeks working for The Center for Law and Global Justice in Bali. During my time there, I was part of a team of lawyers helping the Indonesian government develop their first set of intellectual property laws. And I surfed.
After about a month, my friends and I learned where the secluded beaches were - free from infestation of two exceedingly annoying groups: drunk tourists and the "merchants" who came over from neighboring islands each day to hustle them.
Sometimes, because of work, we stayed local and surfed tourist spots like Kuta, where obnoxiously aggressive peddlers follow you up and down the beach trying to sell anything and everything from blankets to coconut ice cream. Luckily, once we uttered the phrase "jalan jalan" and responded to their weak come-backs in Bahasa Indonesia, they'd leave us alone.
The phrase "jalan jalan" literally translates to "walking walking" - but like most Bahasa Indonesian expressions, literal translation is only tangentially related to actual meaning. Roughly, when said by a group, "jalan jalan" means "I am only interested in walking with my friends and not with you".
Last weekend, this dusty unused phrase peaked its head out from my subconscious because I was in fact "walking walking" with my amazing friend Christine, and did not want to be anywhere else in the world.
Gary and I walked with Christine and "the kids" (Christine's niece and nephew, and their cousin) in the 2010 JDRF Walk in Avon, NJ. The event raised money to help find a cure for Type 1 (juvenile) diabetes - which Christine's niece was diagnosed with a couple of years ago. It was truly an honor to walk with such a brave and beautiful group of kids and their families. As one little boy's shirt said: "insulin is not a cure" - and "walking walking" was the least I could do to help find one.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Friday, October 15, 2010
Cartoon of the Day - High School, How Things Change
I just heard on the news today that the teenage girl averages six text messages every hour... boy has high school changed. I remember when I was a teenager I was allowed one 5 minute phone call (land line of course) every hour after school - ONLY after all my homework was finished. Then heaven forbid someone call after 9:00p.m. Can you imagine that.... I must have had the meanest parents in the
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Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Mikk's Kid Krusaders: Mikk's Kid Krusaders Operation Gratitude Drive
Mikk's Kid Krusaders: Mikk's Kid Krusaders Operation Gratitude Drive: "I am so proud to announce that Mikk's Kid Krusaders is coordinating a 'Treats For Troops' drive for Operation Gratitude. Our drive will con..."
Itinerary for Brandcation... You are Gonna Be SOOOOO Jealous!!
I'm so excited to let you all know that our itinerary for Brandcation has been finalized and man are those of you not going gonna be SO jealous of me. Believe it or not, all of the places (except one) that we are going to are places that I have never been to in the five years that I have lived here which makes it even more thrilling for me. Are you ready???
I have already told you about the
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Monday's Music Moves Me: So Does the Movies!
Welcome back to our rockin' good meme Monday's Music Moves Me! The exciting music meme that XmasDolly and I are hosting, now along with Larry from Cakeblast and Callie from JamericanSpice. Won't you play along... here are the rules:
First step: You need to run on over to You Tube, (or wherever your find your songs/videos) and get your pick for the day according to the theme. Upcoming
give me some space to Breathe...
now i really really and really need some space to breathe..oh my~..this week is really a tough week..everything have to be handed in as this is the final week for lecture classes..seriously i have a headache thinking about all this..my head is going to crash soon..aii..mandarin acting shoot, english report+presentation, miss ezza's final and group reports, encik KAA report, encik wan back up
Happy 10/10/10
{Image Credit}
I realized yesterday that today's date would be 10/10/10 and at 10:00 this morning it would be 10/10/10 10:00... pretty cool, huh? I'm sure there are lots of people out there that figured that out LONG ago, but I'm a little slow on the uptake (blame it on my pain meds).
So, in honor of today, I thought I'd list 10 of my favorite things and ask you my dear friends to list them in
I realized yesterday that today's date would be 10/10/10 and at 10:00 this morning it would be 10/10/10 10:00... pretty cool, huh? I'm sure there are lots of people out there that figured that out LONG ago, but I'm a little slow on the uptake (blame it on my pain meds).
So, in honor of today, I thought I'd list 10 of my favorite things and ask you my dear friends to list them in
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Skillz dat thrillz
'Ever notice how easy it is to be surprised that you actually know something that not everyone else knows? Like, for example, I always assume that EVERYONE knows that California will not slide into the ocean, but rather will travel north to Alaska..(go north, the rush is on). Or that resumes don't require complete sentences, but rather bullet points.
I bring up this second point because in my new capacity as Director of Career Services (duhn duhn DUHN) I have occasion to review resumes on a regular basis. This job is very good at helping me realize that we all need a little help assessing ourselves. Now, I know, before you say it, that I've already covered this topic. But this is different, I swear! Well, sort of different. This is not just about being honest with ourselves, but more about seeing ourselves in a different light.
Enter young woman, recent high school graduate, who wants to apply for a job as receptionist at a chiropractic clinic. She's just 18, uncertain of herself, going into massage therapy and hoping to help people. After a few meetings, she produces her draft resume and we sit down to polish it. Mostly she has experience in fast food and retail, but not too bad for her age. She lists her skills as being friendly and accurate. At the bottom of her resume she lists "other activities." Me: "Oh, I see you have some high school clubs listed...German Club, Spanish Club, Sign Language Club." Student: "Oh, yes. Sign language is my first language as my mom is an interpreter. I am fluent in German and speak a little Spanish." Ok. "WHY ARE THESE NOT AT THE TOP OF YOUR SKILLS LIST?" I scream, nicely. It had never occurred to her that things she took for granted were unusual, desirable, and could very well make the difference between an employer hiring her or someone else.
So again, the question...why don't we see these things about ourselves? I'm always amazed when someone I know points out how great it is that I know something, when it is something I just know so therefore don't value. Wait, what? Why should I not value what I know? It's in my brain, after all. Why don't I value what skills/knowledge/quirks that I have? Why do I hide my light under a bushel? A bushel of apples?! (I like apples)
I bring up this second point because in my new capacity as Director of Career Services (duhn duhn DUHN) I have occasion to review resumes on a regular basis. This job is very good at helping me realize that we all need a little help assessing ourselves. Now, I know, before you say it, that I've already covered this topic. But this is different, I swear! Well, sort of different. This is not just about being honest with ourselves, but more about seeing ourselves in a different light.
Enter young woman, recent high school graduate, who wants to apply for a job as receptionist at a chiropractic clinic. She's just 18, uncertain of herself, going into massage therapy and hoping to help people. After a few meetings, she produces her draft resume and we sit down to polish it. Mostly she has experience in fast food and retail, but not too bad for her age. She lists her skills as being friendly and accurate. At the bottom of her resume she lists "other activities." Me: "Oh, I see you have some high school clubs listed...German Club, Spanish Club, Sign Language Club." Student: "Oh, yes. Sign language is my first language as my mom is an interpreter. I am fluent in German and speak a little Spanish." Ok. "WHY ARE THESE NOT AT THE TOP OF YOUR SKILLS LIST?" I scream, nicely. It had never occurred to her that things she took for granted were unusual, desirable, and could very well make the difference between an employer hiring her or someone else.
So again, the question...why don't we see these things about ourselves? I'm always amazed when someone I know points out how great it is that I know something, when it is something I just know so therefore don't value. Wait, what? Why should I not value what I know? It's in my brain, after all. Why don't I value what skills/knowledge/quirks that I have? Why do I hide my light under a bushel? A bushel of apples?! (I like apples)
I found a great quote, even though it comes from a dubious source. (Hey, I'll take a tiny piece of wisdom from a giant pile of hooey over just a pile of fluff any day.) Harry Palmer is a Scientologist, so I will say no more on that account, but this quote is still worthwhile..."You are much deeper, much broader, much brighter than any idea you could have of yourself."
I'm giving a new assignment. This week, ask someone you trust to tell you one thing about yourself that they find unique. Something that makes you YOU, something that your friends and colleagues value. Doesn't have to be mind-blowingly amazing stuff. Anything that makes us unique is important, and we should be aware of it! Celebrate it! Share it here! I'll do the same, and maybe after this week we can all eat a giant apple pie and put away the bushel for good.
Meeting Sophia Rae
Gary and I have spent hours and hours in doctors' offices, specialist offices, and hospitals over the last nine months. One of our favorite people in the medical world, however, isn't a medical professional at all - he's the doorman at Sloan Kettering's Cancer Center in Manhattan.
The doorman is a gatekeeper of sorts, standing between the outside world and a world centered around cancer. He is this big gregarious guy, who makes it seem like you're a famous celebrity as soon you walk into the lobby. His presence is necessary - he is there to try to put a smile on your face before you climb into a crowded elevator and stare in awkward silence at the panels above the door which illuminate (literally) the different cancers that are treated on each floor. When the panel for floor 3 "Colorectal and Related Cancers" lights up, the doors open and Gary and I step out - leaving the others to keep climbing.
Last week, Gary and I took another elevator ride - this time to the fourth floor of St. Peter's Hospital to meet my good friend Beth's day-old baby girl: Sophia Rae.
Beth and I were destined to become friends ... we both lived in CA; moved to NJ at the same time; were hired to teach at the same high school; and attended the same Seton Hall graduate program. Last spring, we shared another thing in common - we both struggled with nausea and weird pains. After I was diagnosed with cancer, Beth supported me every step of the way. Luckily, Beth's symptoms were caused by morning sickness, and I delighted in watching her belly (and her glow) grow month by month.
Gary and I couldn't wait to meet Sophia, and as we were parking the car we realized that it was the first time in nine months that we had been to the hospital and weren't scared - and just like that, "the hospital" transformed from a place of sickness and pain into a place of miracles and joy.
At the Hospital - Holding Sophia
As Gary and I sat with Beth and her husband, Ryan, in the hospital room, the happiness was overwhelming. Holding little Sophia and feeling her heart beat and little body squirm made me giddy - and seeing my friend so beautiful and healthy made me want to cry with gratitude. Being able to welcome this new little person into the world, and hear about her birth made every one of those elevator trips to Sloan-Kettering's 3rd floor worth it.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Cartoon of the Day - Shopping at Halloween
I saw a post the other day on the Momdot Forum about a dad who took the kids shopping at a Halloween store, with some rather poor results and this cartoon reminded me of that and really made me laugh:
{Click to Enlarge}
Speeking of Momdot, it's only twenty-seven days until I go to Brandcation!!
{Click to Enlarge}
Speeking of Momdot, it's only twenty-seven days until I go to Brandcation!!
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Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Adams Avenue Farmer's Market
When is too much community participation a bad thing? Recently there was a news story about two Los Angeles art walks that are competing for participants as they have both been scheduled at the same time, meaning in the end both will suffer due to conflicting schedules and ultimately hurting the overall cause since neither will back down or combine the two. Many are focused on just getting these sorts of events off the ground, but with communities becoming saturated with farmer's markets, craft fairs, street festivals, and so on, when can one say enough is enough- there's already a plethora of local pride and anything I do would take away from the already established events?
Thankfully, San Diego has struck a wonderful balance of supply and demand with its farmer's markets, offering at least a handful a day spread across the entire county. Geographically spread out, each market has a similar offering of local produce and prepared foods, and as far as I can tell none conflict with a nearby market with a similar demographic. Some only cater to a few vendors (like Coronado and North Park), while some cause traffic jams and thousands flock by bicycle and Birkenstock with reusable bags (Hillcrest and Little Italy). Some have a large variety of vendors offering not just produce, but local jewelry makers, paper artists, or musicians. Some close down entire streets to handle the crowds, while some are tucked away conveniently into parks and parking lots with perhaps only 20 visitors at a time. One can either get some serious shopping done, or peruse leisurely and perhaps pick up a snack before heading home via their Hybrid vehicle. Whatever your bag is, there's most definitely a market for you... as long as your bag includes no plastic and hopefully some sort of snappy "Save the Whales" slogan.
These week, I decided to try out the Adams Avenue Farmer's Market, held at John Adams Elementary School at 4674 35th Street every Wednesday from 3-7 pm. Reviews of this particular market have been overwhelmingly positive, and as one of the newer additions to the scene it seems to have remarkable potential with its vicinity to MANY celebrated local food haunts with sustainability served up daily such as Viva Pops, Mariposa Ice Cream, Blind Lady Ale House, etc. The entire Adams Avenue corridor is packed with attractive draws for exactly the market-going crowd, so I have a feeling this rookie market will only grow as time goes on.
At first glance, this is one of the smaller markets I've visited and I'm immediately approached by a vendor who I'm unfamiliar with selling a variety of candied nuts. He's extremely interested in my camera and is borderline intrusive with his insistence on pouring handfuls upon handfuls of his wares into my hands. Thankfully, I'm not allergic to nuts, because I'm fairly certain that refusing was not an option. Soon, his next-tent neighbor was offering her figs as a compliment to his nuts, and I had to peel myself away, somewhat unwillingly, to be able to actually observe the scope and variety of the crowd.
There was an obvious emphasis on seasonality, perhaps more so in comparison to others due to the limited number of vendors versus the larger markets with a bigger reach, where seasonality is often a bit more flexible.
The number of produce vendors vastly outweighed the number of prepared food vendors- I could count the number of tents with smoke wafting out from their canopies on one hand. However, despite the lack of readily available hot meals and the relatively small number of actual vendors, the variety of available items were well represented across the entire market and everything that one might need for a basic supply of produce was available and local. Too late in the season for citrus and strawberries (both of which in the summer months remain kings of the fruit stands), but plenty of artichokes, squash, peaches, green beans, and peppers, not to mention colorful gourds and decorative pumpkins lined the tables and bins ripe for rifling through.
One of the more spartan tables was the mushroom man- usually a favorite of mine (as I happen to be a fungus fanatic), but as the single mushroom vendor on Adams, there was a single-digit selection of varieties to choose between. Local yes, seasonal to be sure, but with the bulk made up of generic looking white and brown 'shrooms I was left wanting. However, one of the more exciting finds to tantalize my tastebuds was the discovery of an okra farmer! My Southern roots danced in delight as I discovered the delectable veggie available near the piles of brightly colored peppers. I've only managed to spot pickled okra sporadically at the Hillcrest Farmer's Market, but the fresh thing is generally unavailable and unwanted in this region. Gumbo anyone?
All in all, for what the concentrated Adams Market lacks in size it makes up for in variety and genuine friendliness. For someone interested in keeping their fingers on the pulse of What's Happening In San Diego Food Now, I'd recommend staying tuned for what's next on Adams. Not just in the market- the restaurant scene is taking a page straight from the farmer's book and running with it more than any other neighborhood south of Orange County. Big things are in store for Normal Heights and I for one am glad to be a part of it!
Thankfully, San Diego has struck a wonderful balance of supply and demand with its farmer's markets, offering at least a handful a day spread across the entire county. Geographically spread out, each market has a similar offering of local produce and prepared foods, and as far as I can tell none conflict with a nearby market with a similar demographic. Some only cater to a few vendors (like Coronado and North Park), while some cause traffic jams and thousands flock by bicycle and Birkenstock with reusable bags (Hillcrest and Little Italy). Some have a large variety of vendors offering not just produce, but local jewelry makers, paper artists, or musicians. Some close down entire streets to handle the crowds, while some are tucked away conveniently into parks and parking lots with perhaps only 20 visitors at a time. One can either get some serious shopping done, or peruse leisurely and perhaps pick up a snack before heading home via their Hybrid vehicle. Whatever your bag is, there's most definitely a market for you... as long as your bag includes no plastic and hopefully some sort of snappy "Save the Whales" slogan.
These week, I decided to try out the Adams Avenue Farmer's Market, held at John Adams Elementary School at 4674 35th Street every Wednesday from 3-7 pm. Reviews of this particular market have been overwhelmingly positive, and as one of the newer additions to the scene it seems to have remarkable potential with its vicinity to MANY celebrated local food haunts with sustainability served up daily such as Viva Pops, Mariposa Ice Cream, Blind Lady Ale House, etc. The entire Adams Avenue corridor is packed with attractive draws for exactly the market-going crowd, so I have a feeling this rookie market will only grow as time goes on.
At first glance, this is one of the smaller markets I've visited and I'm immediately approached by a vendor who I'm unfamiliar with selling a variety of candied nuts. He's extremely interested in my camera and is borderline intrusive with his insistence on pouring handfuls upon handfuls of his wares into my hands. Thankfully, I'm not allergic to nuts, because I'm fairly certain that refusing was not an option. Soon, his next-tent neighbor was offering her figs as a compliment to his nuts, and I had to peel myself away, somewhat unwillingly, to be able to actually observe the scope and variety of the crowd.
There was an obvious emphasis on seasonality, perhaps more so in comparison to others due to the limited number of vendors versus the larger markets with a bigger reach, where seasonality is often a bit more flexible.
The number of produce vendors vastly outweighed the number of prepared food vendors- I could count the number of tents with smoke wafting out from their canopies on one hand. However, despite the lack of readily available hot meals and the relatively small number of actual vendors, the variety of available items were well represented across the entire market and everything that one might need for a basic supply of produce was available and local. Too late in the season for citrus and strawberries (both of which in the summer months remain kings of the fruit stands), but plenty of artichokes, squash, peaches, green beans, and peppers, not to mention colorful gourds and decorative pumpkins lined the tables and bins ripe for rifling through.
One of the more spartan tables was the mushroom man- usually a favorite of mine (as I happen to be a fungus fanatic), but as the single mushroom vendor on Adams, there was a single-digit selection of varieties to choose between. Local yes, seasonal to be sure, but with the bulk made up of generic looking white and brown 'shrooms I was left wanting. However, one of the more exciting finds to tantalize my tastebuds was the discovery of an okra farmer! My Southern roots danced in delight as I discovered the delectable veggie available near the piles of brightly colored peppers. I've only managed to spot pickled okra sporadically at the Hillcrest Farmer's Market, but the fresh thing is generally unavailable and unwanted in this region. Gumbo anyone?
All in all, for what the concentrated Adams Market lacks in size it makes up for in variety and genuine friendliness. For someone interested in keeping their fingers on the pulse of What's Happening In San Diego Food Now, I'd recommend staying tuned for what's next on Adams. Not just in the market- the restaurant scene is taking a page straight from the farmer's book and running with it more than any other neighborhood south of Orange County. Big things are in store for Normal Heights and I for one am glad to be a part of it!
Monday, October 4, 2010
The New Car I've Decided I Want
{Image Credit}
My husband got this video from a friend of his and I saw it and fell in love with this car... I told Bill that since he is retired, I want him to make one for me. Hey, we live in Florida and it is warm most of the year here, it is the perfect car for the two of us and we could put the doggies in the back.
Doesn't it look perfect for us?
My husband got this video from a friend of his and I saw it and fell in love with this car... I told Bill that since he is retired, I want him to make one for me. Hey, we live in Florida and it is warm most of the year here, it is the perfect car for the two of us and we could put the doggies in the back.
Doesn't it look perfect for us?
Last day of Oktoberfest 2010
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Monday's Music Moves Me: There's Monsters Afoot
Welcome back to our rockin' good meme Monday's Music Moves Me! The exciting music meme that XmasDolly and I are hosting, now along with Larry from Cakeblast and Callie from JamericanSpice. Won't you play along... here are the rules:
First step: You need to run on over to You Tube, (or wherever your find your songs/videos) and get your pick for the day according to the theme.
Packers and pumpkins
Sunday is the best. This is the one day of the week wherein my husband and I can actually rest and relax. As many of you know, hubby dear is involved with a number of entertainment projects. Said projects involve him meeting with his co-creators and minions several nights a week. Along with my new job, which requires regular evening hours and attending events, we have a hectic schedule. Don't get me wrong. Our life is terrific. But restful? Not often!
This is why Sunday is so nice. We sleep late. We have a huge, diet-blowing breakfast with bacon, eggs, buttered English muffins, cinnamon rolls, coffee, and the Sunday paper. (We like to get our saturated fat requirements out of the way for the week.) And now, it is PACKER SEASON! A time where we feel we are actually doing our patriotic duty as Wisconsinites by sitting on our tushes and just watching a game. We can shout and cheer and sip beer and shake our fists. Today the game was especially ugly.
At halftime we strolled a half-block to the farm stand to pick up some decorations for our house. The stand is staffed during the summer, but in the fall the farmer just puts his wares on a big wagon. A rusted tackle box with a slit cut in the top, bolted to the wagon, serves as cashier. We pick out our pumpkins, some gourds, and a hay bale and haul them back to the house.
Sunday is also the day where we prepare for the week. We might take some time to chop vegetables for quick dinners, make lunches, finish up laundry, and make any shopping lists or notes. It is our time to simply enjoy time together and be in our lives without a lot of activity. We often will even take a nap.
I know people, friends of mine, who have great difficulty resting. They feel that they must be constantly working. But if we're working all the time on our own agendas, what might we be missing? What gifts are being offered that we are blind to? Like today, when hubby was chuckling at the squirrel who was walking down the middle of the sidewalk like a person, rather than scampering through the yard. Gift. Or the way the clear blue sky shone through the golden leaves and black branches of the maple tree as we walked to the grocery store. Gift.
Wayne Muller writes in his book (highly recommended) Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal and Delight in Our Busy Lives, "If busyness can become a kind of violence, we do not have to stretch our perception very far to see that Sabbath time – effortless, nourishing rest – can invite a healing of this violence. When we consecrate a time to listen to the still, small voices, we remember the root of inner wisdom that makes work fruitful. We remember from where we are most deeply nourished, and see more clearly the shape and texture of the people and things before us."
Goal for this week: find five or ten minutes of Sabbath time each day. A moment to breathe, look around, accept the gifts offered, and be grateful! Life is good.
This is why Sunday is so nice. We sleep late. We have a huge, diet-blowing breakfast with bacon, eggs, buttered English muffins, cinnamon rolls, coffee, and the Sunday paper. (We like to get our saturated fat requirements out of the way for the week.) And now, it is PACKER SEASON! A time where we feel we are actually doing our patriotic duty as Wisconsinites by sitting on our tushes and just watching a game. We can shout and cheer and sip beer and shake our fists. Today the game was especially ugly.
At halftime we strolled a half-block to the farm stand to pick up some decorations for our house. The stand is staffed during the summer, but in the fall the farmer just puts his wares on a big wagon. A rusted tackle box with a slit cut in the top, bolted to the wagon, serves as cashier. We pick out our pumpkins, some gourds, and a hay bale and haul them back to the house.
Sunday is also the day where we prepare for the week. We might take some time to chop vegetables for quick dinners, make lunches, finish up laundry, and make any shopping lists or notes. It is our time to simply enjoy time together and be in our lives without a lot of activity. We often will even take a nap.
I know people, friends of mine, who have great difficulty resting. They feel that they must be constantly working. But if we're working all the time on our own agendas, what might we be missing? What gifts are being offered that we are blind to? Like today, when hubby was chuckling at the squirrel who was walking down the middle of the sidewalk like a person, rather than scampering through the yard. Gift. Or the way the clear blue sky shone through the golden leaves and black branches of the maple tree as we walked to the grocery store. Gift.
Wayne Muller writes in his book (highly recommended) Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal and Delight in Our Busy Lives, "If busyness can become a kind of violence, we do not have to stretch our perception very far to see that Sabbath time – effortless, nourishing rest – can invite a healing of this violence. When we consecrate a time to listen to the still, small voices, we remember the root of inner wisdom that makes work fruitful. We remember from where we are most deeply nourished, and see more clearly the shape and texture of the people and things before us."
Goal for this week: find five or ten minutes of Sabbath time each day. A moment to breathe, look around, accept the gifts offered, and be grateful! Life is good.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Cartoon of the Day - Out to Dinner with the Family
Anyone with kids knows that this is exactly how they see the menu when you take them out to dinner.
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Real Life Bambi and Thumper
Being the HUGE Disney fan that I am, when I saw this photo on The Daily Squee I had to post it and share with all my other Disney fans. It is so reminiscent of the movie Bambi.
Here is the scene in Bambi which it reminded me:
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I love Disney movies, I have them all and even though the boys are all grown up, some days I still watch them all by myself and remember the days when
Here is the scene in Bambi which it reminded me:
{Image Credit}
I love Disney movies, I have them all and even though the boys are all grown up, some days I still watch them all by myself and remember the days when
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