It should almost be a separate blog. The weird passengers I come across on planes. Sure, I travel more than the average person maybe, but do I come across more weird people than the norm? Feels like it. What about me just attracts these weirdos?? Why is it, that even when my eyes are CLOSED, does the lady next to me feel like she can talk to me? And not really even talk to me, but to ask me why the guy sitting across the aisle from us can be on his 'blueberry' (yes, she meant BlackBerry) while we were in the air? Sigh.
Someday, I’m going to write a Flying 101: Do’s and Don’ts. Have annoying flying stories of your own? Send ‘em my way and I’ll be sure to include in the book!
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
The Olympic Spirit
I haven’t been too excited about the Olympics this year. I’m not really sure why. I think I’ve been a bit pessimistic about how China’s going to do being in the spotlight. Was there enough infrastructure in place? What about all of the politics? And all the protests. On top of that, I’m kind of more of a Winter Olympics gal. The ice skating, skiing, hockey, all a little bit more appealing than track and field, judo and weightlifting to me.
I haven’t been paying too much attention, and found myself even unable to name many athletes beyond Michael Phelps and the members of the Redeem Team that I know from my NBA days. Well, boy, was I in for a surprise.
I missed Opening Ceremonies and didn’t even really intend to watch them. But when I saw my sister and friends the morning after, all everyone could talk about was how amazing the ceremonies were. And how there were 2008 drummers, and what about the performers, dancers, costumes, lighting, Bird’s Nest arena, and torch lighting ceremony and on and on and on.
Thanks to my dad (who taped the Opening Ceremonies since I still don't have TiVo!), I was able to tune in. A few days late, but better late than never. I learned that China wasn’t even awarded the 2008 Olympics until 2001—only giving them seven short years to prepare. Amazing. The number of performers and the technological advances that were made in that time is unreal. I think this was the most amazing Opening Ceremonies I have ever seen in my life. There were times when they were using amazing technology (did you see the size of that LCD screen??)…and then the times when they weren’t (those blocks were all manipulated by people?? WOW!)
As I was watching, I found myself in complete awe of everything. Literally each and every performance had my full, uninterrupted attention. Come on, how often does that happen these days in a world where there are always too many things vying for your attention? I couldn’t believe how organized and the amount of practice and hard work that went into this. Each and every performance was very thoughtful, educational, and poignant.
Even all of the commercials! For those of you watching on TiVo, you’re missing out! The commercials are brilliant. And yes, a tad cheesy, but they’re cute! (Who is doing ads for Coke these days? I think they’ve still got it!) Think of all of the money that as put into this!
Yes, I’m American. But I’m also Chinese. And not one to always be proud of all of the decisions my native China makes, as I was watching, I found myself swelling up with pride. And with that, I find myself thinking about my mom. She would have been fascinated by all of this and could have really appreciated all of the thought and artistry of these opening ceremonies! I wish she was here so I could be watching this with her. I know we’d be admiring and commenting on all of the costumes, the dancers, the music, the art, the colors.
I haven’t been paying too much attention, and found myself even unable to name many athletes beyond Michael Phelps and the members of the Redeem Team that I know from my NBA days. Well, boy, was I in for a surprise.
I missed Opening Ceremonies and didn’t even really intend to watch them. But when I saw my sister and friends the morning after, all everyone could talk about was how amazing the ceremonies were. And how there were 2008 drummers, and what about the performers, dancers, costumes, lighting, Bird’s Nest arena, and torch lighting ceremony and on and on and on.Thanks to my dad (who taped the Opening Ceremonies since I still don't have TiVo!), I was able to tune in. A few days late, but better late than never. I learned that China wasn’t even awarded the 2008 Olympics until 2001—only giving them seven short years to prepare. Amazing. The number of performers and the technological advances that were made in that time is unreal. I think this was the most amazing Opening Ceremonies I have ever seen in my life. There were times when they were using amazing technology (did you see the size of that LCD screen??)…and then the times when they weren’t (those blocks were all manipulated by people?? WOW!)
As I was watching, I found myself in complete awe of everything. Literally each and every performance had my full, uninterrupted attention. Come on, how often does that happen these days in a world where there are always too many things vying for your attention? I couldn’t believe how organized and the amount of practice and hard work that went into this. Each and every performance was very thoughtful, educational, and poignant.
Even all of the commercials! For those of you watching on TiVo, you’re missing out! The commercials are brilliant. And yes, a tad cheesy, but they’re cute! (Who is doing ads for Coke these days? I think they’ve still got it!) Think of all of the money that as put into this!
Yes, I’m American. But I’m also Chinese. And not one to always be proud of all of the decisions my native China makes, as I was watching, I found myself swelling up with pride. And with that, I find myself thinking about my mom. She would have been fascinated by all of this and could have really appreciated all of the thought and artistry of these opening ceremonies! I wish she was here so I could be watching this with her. I know we’d be admiring and commenting on all of the costumes, the dancers, the music, the art, the colors.
Me and Mom with a cup of coffee. Another one of the things we enjoyed frequently together!
I’ve come full circle. I’ve gone from feeling bleh about the Olympics to being totally engaged. Did you know there’s synchronized diving? AMAZING! And the swimming competitions have been so awesome to watch. Not to mention…umm, go USA men’s gymnastics team! I’m finding myself on the edge of my seat, and staying up way too late each night, just to tune in (and ok, the fact that these athletes have pretty amazing bodies is reason enough to tune in!) In any case, now it's time to show some USA pride, time to cheer on the team. And if you’re ever in doubt for which country to route for behind the USA? I’d say Go China!
Monday, August 11, 2008
Sacred Foods and Food Sins
There was a posting on one of the blogs I peruse recently, and it basically talked about a women meeting someone that didn't like garlic. And, naturally, she was appalled. It lead her to the question, "What are your sacred foods"? The ones that you love and as she put it, that if your romantic partner doesn't like, you begin questioning them??
I know. It sounds harsh. I mean, not like someone just because there's one thing they don't eat? Well, it got me thinking. Am I one of those people? I'd like to say I wasn't. That yes, food is important to me, but no food item could be a 'deal breaker'. That true love could pass this test. Then I got to thinking.
She's onto something. Someone that doesn't like garlic? I wouldn't trust 'em! I use garlic in half the dishes I make!
And what about vegetarians? Well, while that's something I'll tolerate when it comes to friendship (sorry vegetarian friends reading, just being honest!), but for my husband to-be? Yea, I don't think so. How else could we grill steaks on hot summer nights? And what about my mom's yummy roast beef recipe? Or my dad's killer pork chops?
They're great, and don't get me wrong, I love vegetables, but all veggie all the time?
And then there's bacon. And really, all things pork. Yea, I couldn't be with someone that didn't love pork. Pork chops, pork belly, pork tenderloin (as my sister would say, now I'm beginning to sound like Bubba from Forest Gump and his obsession for all things shrimp). But seriously. Nothing beats the smell of bacon in the morning. I want to be with someone that's not only going to crave some themselves, but be willing to get up and make it for me!
Then I remembered this guy I dated for a little while a few years ago. He was deathly allergic to dairy. Which meant not only could he not eat the obvious things, like cheese, and milk, and yogurt, and ummm, my personal favorite, ICE CREAM, but there was also some chemical or ingredient in dairy that he was allergic to. SO. That meant he also couldn't eat most cured meats. Ummm. Did he not know that I could live on salumi, cheese and wine?? Yea, needless to say, that relationship ended. Of course our failing relationship wasn't all to be blamed on this dairy allergy, but it sure didn't help.
NONE OF THIS! Don't even think about it. He couldn't eat any of it!
So. Maybe this fellow blogger is right? Maybe there are deal breakers for me when it comes to food. Or let's be more positive. Maybe I just haven't found the right person? And that some pork hating, garlic despising, vegetarian is out there waiting for me? Nah! I don't think so!
I know. It sounds harsh. I mean, not like someone just because there's one thing they don't eat? Well, it got me thinking. Am I one of those people? I'd like to say I wasn't. That yes, food is important to me, but no food item could be a 'deal breaker'. That true love could pass this test. Then I got to thinking.
She's onto something. Someone that doesn't like garlic? I wouldn't trust 'em! I use garlic in half the dishes I make!
And what about vegetarians? Well, while that's something I'll tolerate when it comes to friendship (sorry vegetarian friends reading, just being honest!), but for my husband to-be? Yea, I don't think so. How else could we grill steaks on hot summer nights? And what about my mom's yummy roast beef recipe? Or my dad's killer pork chops?
They're great, and don't get me wrong, I love vegetables, but all veggie all the time? And then there's bacon. And really, all things pork. Yea, I couldn't be with someone that didn't love pork. Pork chops, pork belly, pork tenderloin (as my sister would say, now I'm beginning to sound like Bubba from Forest Gump and his obsession for all things shrimp). But seriously. Nothing beats the smell of bacon in the morning. I want to be with someone that's not only going to crave some themselves, but be willing to get up and make it for me!
Then I remembered this guy I dated for a little while a few years ago. He was deathly allergic to dairy. Which meant not only could he not eat the obvious things, like cheese, and milk, and yogurt, and ummm, my personal favorite, ICE CREAM, but there was also some chemical or ingredient in dairy that he was allergic to. SO. That meant he also couldn't eat most cured meats. Ummm. Did he not know that I could live on salumi, cheese and wine?? Yea, needless to say, that relationship ended. Of course our failing relationship wasn't all to be blamed on this dairy allergy, but it sure didn't help.
NONE OF THIS! Don't even think about it. He couldn't eat any of it! So. Maybe this fellow blogger is right? Maybe there are deal breakers for me when it comes to food. Or let's be more positive. Maybe I just haven't found the right person? And that some pork hating, garlic despising, vegetarian is out there waiting for me? Nah! I don't think so!
What are your food deal breakers?
Sunday, August 10, 2008
A "Miracle" Dinner...In the Dark
Would You Dine in the Dark??
And when I say dark, I mean pitch black! Yes it’s true! I was lucky enough to experience this courtesy of my friend Jennifer…and San Francisco Citysearch editor Patrick. I have to admit, when I first heard about it, I was a little skeptical. Not seeing my food? Hmmm. Isn’t part of the eating experience that initial sight of the food? Not sure I’d like it. Don't we eat first with our eyes and then our taste buds? But, never a gal to turn down a new experience…I said yes and joined in.
We started off with drinks at Jade Bar where we met the rest of our dining companions. A smallish group of about 30 of us imbibed in some champagne and chatted as we prepared for dinner.
We were then lead around the corner to Opaque Restaurant for our dining experience. When I was first told about this dinner, I had in my head, the idea that there’d be some light some where or some how. Kind of like your room at night when the lights are all out. It’s dark, but there are still traces of light. I thought our eyes would adjust and we’d be able to see shadow and at least maneuver through the dinner without being completely ‘blind’. I was wrong. Whey they say ‘dark’, they literally mean pitch black. There is NO light coming through, and your eyes NEVER get adjusted to anything.
All of the servers are legally blind, and our server was AWESOME. She totally made our experience. It was a challenge getting to the table, and feeling our way around the table. It is so amazing how much your other senses are heightened when you can’t see. It definitely took a little while to get adjusted (and I don’t really think we ever got fully adjusted!) I was taught to feel my way to the corner of the table, and that’s where service came from. I’d take the glass or plate, and pass it over to Jennifer, and then go back to the corner and then feel for my plate or glass. It was bizarre!!
When given the option of red or white wine, our table was brave enough to opt for the red wine, and the restaurant was smart enough to use steam less glasses. Luckily there was no spillage and we all ended up coming out of there without stains or major messes on ourselves! We were also lucky enough to taste a new ginger liqueur—which I loved!
Our amuse bouche was roasted beets with a herbed goat cheese. It was on a small spoon on our plate and after feeling my way to it, I ate it with my hands. It seemed like the easiest thing to do—and without actually seeing the food, I found myself really wanting to touch everything. I didn’t use my utensils once. Those of you that know me know that I love eating with my fingers anyways, so dining in the dark seemed like the perfect excuse to eat with my fingers!
Our first plate was brought out and we were given the option of being old what was on it, or we could taste first, and then get the descriptions after. Of course, we opted for that. We were an adventurous bunch! Plate one had:
- Grilled Chicken Skewers Satay with Peanut Sauce
- Sun-Dried Tomato Risotto Fritters
- Potato Cup with Mushroom Duxelle and Grated Parmesan
- English Cucumber Rounds with Smoked Salmon, Pickled Ginger, Wasabi Aioli
- Spicy Tuna Tartare on Black Sesame Won Ton Crisps
We all found the skewers and aligned it to 6 o'clock. From there, we tasted clock-wise. It helped us all talk about the same items at the same time. My favorite? Those potato cups! Yum!
Then. We all had the opportunity to taste Miracle Fruit! For those of you that haven’t heard about it, read this article from the New York Times. Simply, it’s a fruit from Africa, that changes the way you taste things! Anything bitter or sour, becomes sweet! Here’s a photo of the fruit:
There has been such high demand for this fruit that most people aren’t even able to get a hold of it. Our dinner host had to get us Miracle Fruit tablets…and we were even lucky to have them!
In any case, we put the tablets in our mouth, and then plate #2 came. Same deal as before—we tasted everything first, and then found out what we had tasted.
- Tabasco sauce
- Sliced Green Apple
- Sliced Meyer Lemon
- Pickled Ginger on a spoon
- Dried cranberries
- Red Grapefruit
- Belgian Endive
- Goat Cheese on a Spoon
- Taste of Guinness
It was amazing. The lemon, felt like an orange wedge, and was the sweetest thing I have ever tasted. I found myself sucking on it, and wanting more. The Guinness was completely different too—much sweeter, and almost even a little flat. I found that the Miracle Fruit effect lasted about 30 minutes for me. The dessert of Limoncello and lemon-lime sorbet was slowly starting to have that sour taste.
This experience made me appreciate not only my vision, but the complete experience I am lucky enough to go through each and every time I eat. The joy of eating definitely comes from all of the senses uniting—seeing, smelling, touching, listening (yes!), and of course tasting. It just wouldn’t be complete without any one part of it for me.
All in all, this was a really great experience...and a meal filled with laughter (in the dark!)
And when I say dark, I mean pitch black! Yes it’s true! I was lucky enough to experience this courtesy of my friend Jennifer…and San Francisco Citysearch editor Patrick. I have to admit, when I first heard about it, I was a little skeptical. Not seeing my food? Hmmm. Isn’t part of the eating experience that initial sight of the food? Not sure I’d like it. Don't we eat first with our eyes and then our taste buds? But, never a gal to turn down a new experience…I said yes and joined in.
We started off with drinks at Jade Bar where we met the rest of our dining companions. A smallish group of about 30 of us imbibed in some champagne and chatted as we prepared for dinner.
We were then lead around the corner to Opaque Restaurant for our dining experience. When I was first told about this dinner, I had in my head, the idea that there’d be some light some where or some how. Kind of like your room at night when the lights are all out. It’s dark, but there are still traces of light. I thought our eyes would adjust and we’d be able to see shadow and at least maneuver through the dinner without being completely ‘blind’. I was wrong. Whey they say ‘dark’, they literally mean pitch black. There is NO light coming through, and your eyes NEVER get adjusted to anything.
Truly, it was PITCH BLACK the entire meal!
All of the servers are legally blind, and our server was AWESOME. She totally made our experience. It was a challenge getting to the table, and feeling our way around the table. It is so amazing how much your other senses are heightened when you can’t see. It definitely took a little while to get adjusted (and I don’t really think we ever got fully adjusted!) I was taught to feel my way to the corner of the table, and that’s where service came from. I’d take the glass or plate, and pass it over to Jennifer, and then go back to the corner and then feel for my plate or glass. It was bizarre!!
When given the option of red or white wine, our table was brave enough to opt for the red wine, and the restaurant was smart enough to use steam less glasses. Luckily there was no spillage and we all ended up coming out of there without stains or major messes on ourselves! We were also lucky enough to taste a new ginger liqueur—which I loved!
Our amuse bouche was roasted beets with a herbed goat cheese. It was on a small spoon on our plate and after feeling my way to it, I ate it with my hands. It seemed like the easiest thing to do—and without actually seeing the food, I found myself really wanting to touch everything. I didn’t use my utensils once. Those of you that know me know that I love eating with my fingers anyways, so dining in the dark seemed like the perfect excuse to eat with my fingers!
Our first plate was brought out and we were given the option of being old what was on it, or we could taste first, and then get the descriptions after. Of course, we opted for that. We were an adventurous bunch! Plate one had:
- Grilled Chicken Skewers Satay with Peanut Sauce
- Sun-Dried Tomato Risotto Fritters
- Potato Cup with Mushroom Duxelle and Grated Parmesan
- English Cucumber Rounds with Smoked Salmon, Pickled Ginger, Wasabi Aioli
- Spicy Tuna Tartare on Black Sesame Won Ton Crisps
We all found the skewers and aligned it to 6 o'clock. From there, we tasted clock-wise. It helped us all talk about the same items at the same time. My favorite? Those potato cups! Yum!
Then. We all had the opportunity to taste Miracle Fruit! For those of you that haven’t heard about it, read this article from the New York Times. Simply, it’s a fruit from Africa, that changes the way you taste things! Anything bitter or sour, becomes sweet! Here’s a photo of the fruit:
There has been such high demand for this fruit that most people aren’t even able to get a hold of it. Our dinner host had to get us Miracle Fruit tablets…and we were even lucky to have them!
In any case, we put the tablets in our mouth, and then plate #2 came. Same deal as before—we tasted everything first, and then found out what we had tasted.
- Tabasco sauce
- Sliced Green Apple
- Sliced Meyer Lemon
- Pickled Ginger on a spoon
- Dried cranberries
- Red Grapefruit
- Belgian Endive
- Goat Cheese on a Spoon
- Taste of Guinness
It was amazing. The lemon, felt like an orange wedge, and was the sweetest thing I have ever tasted. I found myself sucking on it, and wanting more. The Guinness was completely different too—much sweeter, and almost even a little flat. I found that the Miracle Fruit effect lasted about 30 minutes for me. The dessert of Limoncello and lemon-lime sorbet was slowly starting to have that sour taste.
This experience made me appreciate not only my vision, but the complete experience I am lucky enough to go through each and every time I eat. The joy of eating definitely comes from all of the senses uniting—seeing, smelling, touching, listening (yes!), and of course tasting. It just wouldn’t be complete without any one part of it for me.
All in all, this was a really great experience...and a meal filled with laughter (in the dark!)
Happy Saturday!
This was one of my first weekends at home in San Francisco in a long time. I did what I love most—I headed to the Farmer’s Market! My sister Michelle, and I met up with two of my friends, Jason and Eric. We kicked off the morning with my favorite Blue Bottle Coffee. What is my coffee of choice? If y’ll really must know, I am a New Orleans style coffee fan. It’s Blue Bottle iced coffee with roasted French chicory, sugar and milk. All perfectly mixed. Not too sweet, just perfect. Yum yum yum. Seriously. Even this morning, which was a little overcast and a tinny bit cold, I opted for my iced New Orleans coffee.
From there, we began perusing the stalls. Eric was a man on a mission and bee-lined for a few different stalls. Michelle saw some gorgeous strawberries and headed there. Meanwhile, Jason and I kind of hung back and took it all in.
I saw a lot of familiar faces. In fact, ran into my friends Kevin and Alli and their new baby Charley! (Hmmm, wonder if this was Charley’s first Farmer’s Market outing?) We saw some familiar chef faces too. We saw chefs (and other fans) congratulating Chef Daniel Patterson from Coi Restaurant on his recent four star review by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Michael Bauer.
Sadly, this was also the night the famous Rubicon was closing. And we even had a Drew Nieporent sighting along with Chef Stuart Brioza and the Rubicon crew. Made me a little sad just seeing them…to think, I’ve never been to Rubicon! Sigh. Guess I never will. We’ll have to anxiously wait and see where Stuart and Nicole end up!
Here are some of the things we saw…
Some amazing bell peppers...look at all of the colors!
I took this photo just for my friend Bahram...shout out to East Palo Alto!
Squash Blossoms! I almost bought them, but wasn’t exactly sure how to prepare them, and the petals looked so delicate! I also knew I wasn’t eating at home tonight nor tomorrow, so hesitated and ended up not buying them. My friend Josh later told me, “You could have simply eaten them with olive oil, sea salt and mixed greens. They’re like candy!!” Sigh. My biggest regret of the day was not buying them!
Look at these beautiful hydrangeas!
We also watched Chef Chris Cosentino of Incanto Restaurant and Boccalone fame do a cooking demo, but since we were late comers, we ended up sitting in the back on the ground (as Michelle and I shared a Prather Ranch breakfast sandwich...yum!) Chris demonstrated how to make Sharyln melon with Boccalone Lardo with torn basils, and was great at getting the crowd involved. Super interactive, and we could hear the crowd laughing and getting really into it. The bite sized sample was tasted was really good too. Chris did a great job, but we had more fun gabbing in the back with his wife Tatiana.
All in all, a fun and relaxing Saturday morning. A great reminder of just how great this city is and how lucky I am. Oh yea! And yes! As promised, I came home with some pretty flowers of my own. Not as amazing as those hydrangeas we saw earlier, but still pretty.
Dahlias of my very own to enjoy this week!
From there, we began perusing the stalls. Eric was a man on a mission and bee-lined for a few different stalls. Michelle saw some gorgeous strawberries and headed there. Meanwhile, Jason and I kind of hung back and took it all in.
I saw a lot of familiar faces. In fact, ran into my friends Kevin and Alli and their new baby Charley! (Hmmm, wonder if this was Charley’s first Farmer’s Market outing?) We saw some familiar chef faces too. We saw chefs (and other fans) congratulating Chef Daniel Patterson from Coi Restaurant on his recent four star review by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Michael Bauer.
Sadly, this was also the night the famous Rubicon was closing. And we even had a Drew Nieporent sighting along with Chef Stuart Brioza and the Rubicon crew. Made me a little sad just seeing them…to think, I’ve never been to Rubicon! Sigh. Guess I never will. We’ll have to anxiously wait and see where Stuart and Nicole end up!
Here are some of the things we saw…
Some amazing bell peppers...look at all of the colors!
I took this photo just for my friend Bahram...shout out to East Palo Alto! 
Squash Blossoms! I almost bought them, but wasn’t exactly sure how to prepare them, and the petals looked so delicate! I also knew I wasn’t eating at home tonight nor tomorrow, so hesitated and ended up not buying them. My friend Josh later told me, “You could have simply eaten them with olive oil, sea salt and mixed greens. They’re like candy!!” Sigh. My biggest regret of the day was not buying them!
Look at these beautiful hydrangeas! They were huge and colorful and gorgeous!
We also watched Chef Chris Cosentino of Incanto Restaurant and Boccalone fame do a cooking demo, but since we were late comers, we ended up sitting in the back on the ground (as Michelle and I shared a Prather Ranch breakfast sandwich...yum!) Chris demonstrated how to make Sharyln melon with Boccalone Lardo with torn basils, and was great at getting the crowd involved. Super interactive, and we could hear the crowd laughing and getting really into it. The bite sized sample was tasted was really good too. Chris did a great job, but we had more fun gabbing in the back with his wife Tatiana.
All in all, a fun and relaxing Saturday morning. A great reminder of just how great this city is and how lucky I am. Oh yea! And yes! As promised, I came home with some pretty flowers of my own. Not as amazing as those hydrangeas we saw earlier, but still pretty.
Dahlias of my very own to enjoy this week!Friday, August 8, 2008
Pack Your Bags!
Yay! The end of this year is going to be a busy one for this gal...
I'm packing my bags and will be spending Thanksgiving in...AUSTRALIA!
I'm packing my bags and will be spending Thanksgiving in...AUSTRALIA!
It's my first trip there, so I'm taking suggestions for Sydney, Melbourne and the Hamilton Islands. You know me, always looking to be connected with some fun local people...I need the insider's tips on food, wine, sights and sounds! My friend Shaye and I are traveling together and I can't wait to hang out with her and for us to explore a new city together. Should be amazing...lots of photos and memories for us to reflect on when we're old.
And then, right after Christmas...I'm heading to HONG KONG!
Hitting up one of my all time favorite cities with my family. I can't wait. And best of all, we'll get to spend New Year's Eve and my sister's birthday there! This is one of my favorite eating cities of all time, the food there is amazing. From the nice restaurants to the street food. It's all good! Don't believe me? Hop on a plane and join me! Happy to play tour guide for friends! It's one of the things I enjoy most, sharing things, places, and foods I love with people that can appreciate it.
Too bad I don't have a lot of time off (nor a lot of money...) Wouldn't it be great to travel to New Zealand, Northern Australia, Thailand, Bali, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, or some other fantastic location over on that side of the world for the month in between?
But still. What a lucky gal I am...to be able to visit not only one of my favorite places in the world, but to check out a new one too!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
The Gift of Giving
Have people stopped giving and sending flowers these days? Or has it just become a rare thing? Or is it just me that's not receiving 'em?
Someone at work got flowers yesterday, and it caused quite the stir. All the gals were envious, and everyone (men and women) were wondering who they were from, and what for! It made me think. Flowers are one of those things that can totally brighten up your day. Can they be expensive? Well sure. Is it a little frivolous? Maybe a little. But do they bring a smile to your face like nothing else can? Most definitely.
I have a friend at work, Sabine. She's incredibly thoughtful...and is a person that has surprised me with flowers on a number of occasions through the years of our friendship. I've received 'Happy Birthday' flowers from her that are bright and cheerful...and then this last March, on the anniversary of my mom's death, she was sweet enough not only to remember the date, but to bring me flowers. While obviously all the flowers in the world couldn't have made that day any easier for me, it was nice to know I had a friend that cared. And yes, the flowers did bring a smile to my face.
And that's just it. The act of giving someone flowers is so thoughtful. It shows a person that someone had been thinking of them, and that they took time from their busy day to do something nice for you. Despite the fact that you might be giving them to someone for a sad occasion, it does help make them feel just a little bit better, even if just for a moment.
And if not for a sad occasion? Even better!
I'm trying to think about the last bunch of flowers I received that were for a good reason. Does my high school prom corsage count?? Haha, just kidding. And for the record, those were beautiful and from my 'date' and good friend Eric!
But in all seriousness, recent memories of receiving flowers are all around my mom's death. Not the happiest memories.
Although, one of the most thoughtful bouquets I've ever received, were from my friend Sarah. She and I have spent a lot of time talking about the significance of a person's favorite flower. She lost her sister more than seven years ago, and her sister's favorite flower was the sunflower. Sarah says that each time she sees sunflowers, she thinks of her sister. My mom also had a favorite flower. They were tulips. And like Sarah, seeing tulips still makes my heart ache, and most days, I still find myself tearing up. Sarah sent me this bouquet in March:
No words are needed...they're just perfect, and perfectly thoughtful.
Someone at work got flowers yesterday, and it caused quite the stir. All the gals were envious, and everyone (men and women) were wondering who they were from, and what for! It made me think. Flowers are one of those things that can totally brighten up your day. Can they be expensive? Well sure. Is it a little frivolous? Maybe a little. But do they bring a smile to your face like nothing else can? Most definitely.
I have a friend at work, Sabine. She's incredibly thoughtful...and is a person that has surprised me with flowers on a number of occasions through the years of our friendship. I've received 'Happy Birthday' flowers from her that are bright and cheerful...and then this last March, on the anniversary of my mom's death, she was sweet enough not only to remember the date, but to bring me flowers. While obviously all the flowers in the world couldn't have made that day any easier for me, it was nice to know I had a friend that cared. And yes, the flowers did bring a smile to my face.
And that's just it. The act of giving someone flowers is so thoughtful. It shows a person that someone had been thinking of them, and that they took time from their busy day to do something nice for you. Despite the fact that you might be giving them to someone for a sad occasion, it does help make them feel just a little bit better, even if just for a moment.
And if not for a sad occasion? Even better!
I'm trying to think about the last bunch of flowers I received that were for a good reason. Does my high school prom corsage count?? Haha, just kidding. And for the record, those were beautiful and from my 'date' and good friend Eric!
Sorry Eric, had to post this one!! No laughing folks, this is from more than 10 years ago!
But in all seriousness, recent memories of receiving flowers are all around my mom's death. Not the happiest memories.
Although, one of the most thoughtful bouquets I've ever received, were from my friend Sarah. She and I have spent a lot of time talking about the significance of a person's favorite flower. She lost her sister more than seven years ago, and her sister's favorite flower was the sunflower. Sarah says that each time she sees sunflowers, she thinks of her sister. My mom also had a favorite flower. They were tulips. And like Sarah, seeing tulips still makes my heart ache, and most days, I still find myself tearing up. Sarah sent me this bouquet in March:
No words are needed...they're just perfect, and perfectly thoughtful. At one point last year, I had said I would start buying myself flowers. Either for my office desk or to have at home. Just because they made me so happy. Well...it seemed silly to buy them for myself to put on my cubicle desk at work. And frankly, I wasn't home enough to justify having flowers there. So alas. No progress there.
My friend Shaye always has flowers in her apartment. They're just not real! (Sorry Shaye, had to tell your secret!!). Although her's do look real and are nicely done, I know some of you might be laughing at the idea of buying fake flowers. But there is something to be said for them! Each time I visit her, I comment on them-and for a moment, don't even realize or remember they're not real. So if they still bring a smile to your face, shouldn't that count for something?
The last bunch of flowers I received romantically? Sigh. I can't even remember. The last bunch I received for no reason (good or bad)? Also can't remember. The last bunch I bought for myself? That's easy. I'm vowing to grab a bunch of the prettiest things I can find at Saturday's Farmer's Market.
My friend Shaye always has flowers in her apartment. They're just not real! (Sorry Shaye, had to tell your secret!!). Although her's do look real and are nicely done, I know some of you might be laughing at the idea of buying fake flowers. But there is something to be said for them! Each time I visit her, I comment on them-and for a moment, don't even realize or remember they're not real. So if they still bring a smile to your face, shouldn't that count for something?
The last bunch of flowers I received romantically? Sigh. I can't even remember. The last bunch I received for no reason (good or bad)? Also can't remember. The last bunch I bought for myself? That's easy. I'm vowing to grab a bunch of the prettiest things I can find at Saturday's Farmer's Market.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Foodies...Chefs...Help Needed!
My dad moved into a new house last year...and one of the best things about the new place was the outdoor space. It's got a great covered patio, and although the interior of the house is smaller than our old house (the goal was to downsize!), the outdoor space gives him a lot more living space.
In addition to it being a cute little house, there was this fantastic brick grill/oven in the back yard!
In addition to it being a cute little house, there was this fantastic brick grill/oven in the back yard!
When dad moved in last year, I was so excited to use this...but never got very motivated to clean it out.
Then one day last summer, when I was home for a visit, I decided to look online and research brick ovens a bit. I found a lot of cool images, companies selling the ovens, and even "how-to's" teaching you how to build your own. But none of the ones I saw looked quite like this one. I sent the photos around to a few friends to see if they had any tips. I got a few comments back, but nothing that gave me enough confidence to move forward and actually get cooking. And slowly, I lost my motivation.
Well, I was home this last weekend, and again, my dad, sister and I found ourselves sitting outside sharing in some wine and talking...and I found myself looking at that darn brick grill/oven again (what am I suppose to even call it?) I decided. I'm gonna try again to figure it out-this time using the power of the Internet to see if I can get any tips on how to use this!
It looks homemade, and although the grill portion is a little stiff, I think with some oil, it's totally useable.
Then one day last summer, when I was home for a visit, I decided to look online and research brick ovens a bit. I found a lot of cool images, companies selling the ovens, and even "how-to's" teaching you how to build your own. But none of the ones I saw looked quite like this one. I sent the photos around to a few friends to see if they had any tips. I got a few comments back, but nothing that gave me enough confidence to move forward and actually get cooking. And slowly, I lost my motivation.
Well, I was home this last weekend, and again, my dad, sister and I found ourselves sitting outside sharing in some wine and talking...and I found myself looking at that darn brick grill/oven again (what am I suppose to even call it?) I decided. I'm gonna try again to figure it out-this time using the power of the Internet to see if I can get any tips on how to use this!
It looks homemade, and although the grill portion is a little stiff, I think with some oil, it's totally useable.
Grill with a creaky crank on the right that moves the platform up and down Then the rest starts to get a bit more confusing. Here's this portion, right below the grill:
I'd like to get it cleaned up and use it as a brick oven, but had a few questions. First, doesn't it need some type of ventilation? As far as I can tell, there is none. Second, if I were to put wood on one side of it and cook food on the other side, when I'm all done, will I be scooping up ashes forever? Is there any easier way to do this? And what’s with the circular cement block in there? Is that a raised surface so the food won’t get dirty with the ashes?
Then, there's this portion on the right hand side:
Then, there's this portion on the right hand side:
Right hand side section--with the lid on 
Here with the lid off (It's a little dirty in there...but just needs to be cleaned)
This part really intrigued me. Probably because I have no idea what to do with it. Can you use it as a smoker? Line the bottom with some chips or something?
And lastly, the bottom left side:
Is this space just for wood? What was the person thinking when they built this?
So! You can see. The piece is beautiful, and I haven't completely given up. I'm still anxious to use it. I can't let the summer go by without having made any progress! And how great would it be to figure it out, and actually use it? Nothing says summer like cooking outside!
Tips? Ideas? Suggestions? Or better yet. Anyone want to come over and show me for yourself? I'm sure dad and I would welcome the in-person lesson (and yummy food of course!)
Friday, August 1, 2008
Landlord vs Tenant: Round 1
I'm a city dweller. And in the land of rent control, I've lived in the same place for more than four years now. Do I wish I lived in a bigger place? Yes. Do I wish I had some outdoor space? Yes. Do I sometimes think about living in a different neighborhood? Well sure. Can I beat my rent anywhere else in the city? Probably not.
Exterior of my building--isn't it cute? Very 'San Francisco'
The downside of rent control? The landlord wants you out, because he can rent my place for a lot more. The result? Let's just say, not the most responsive when it comes to repairs.
I've had two major problems in my apartment that I've been living with for the past few months. First. A drippy kitchen faucet. Drippy is going easy on that thing. It's practically running. I called my landlord when it first started happening (not only because I was thinking about all of the water I was wasting, but because drip drip drip is annoying!) He sent his son over to fix it. His son took a quick look, moved the washer inside the faucet a bit, and declared 'That's the best I can do.' Still, all I heard was drip drip drip.
Both my sister and my friend Josh have asked 'Why don't you put a bucket under it and reserve the water?' Ummm, because the bucket would be full in a minute, and then what do I do with all this water??
I called my landlord about it again recently and he came over himself this time. I got home that night, and it was fixed! I called him to thank him and to just make sure everything was finished and fine, he was shocked how much water was leaking from it. Duh. What did he think I was talking about all this time? I think he was mad at his son for not actually fixing it sooner.
Landlord 0
Tenant 1
The leaky faucet in question--the good thing is that it's a really deep sink.
My second big issue? My bathroom sink. It doesn't drain very well. Well, ok, pretty much not at all. I've tried Drain-O and other products. No luck. I called my landlord in, and again, in came his son. He pulled up the stopper thingy and after pulling out some hair (opps, my bad), he declared it was better. Ummm, sorry. Not really.
So after how responsive my landlord was on the kitchen sink, I thought I'd push my luck and call again about the bathroom. Again, I lucked out, and the landlord came over himself. When he saw just how badly it was not draining, I think he felt bad. It was fixed that day. Whoo hoo!
Landlord 0
Tenant 2
I do love my place. You can't beat the neighborhood...I either walk to work or hop on the cable car. I've got quick access to the water, Chinatown (where I do buy some of my groceries!), North Beach, Pacific Heights, Cow Hollow, even Hayes Valley and the Haight. In general, it's pretty sunny and warm on the top of my hill. And most importantly, I feel safe in my hood.
Someday, my dream will be to have a small house, with some great outdoor space (for a grill and vegetable garden...and maybe a dog.) I'll have a real living room. And a dining room (I want to throw lots of dinner parties!) And most importantly, it'll have an amazing kitchen. Definitely a good kitchen. And I'll have more than one bathroom. And I'll own the darn place and fix the leaky faucet and clogged sink myself. Or at least have a very good plumber on speed dial.
Exterior of my building--isn't it cute? Very 'San Francisco'The downside of rent control? The landlord wants you out, because he can rent my place for a lot more. The result? Let's just say, not the most responsive when it comes to repairs.
I've had two major problems in my apartment that I've been living with for the past few months. First. A drippy kitchen faucet. Drippy is going easy on that thing. It's practically running. I called my landlord when it first started happening (not only because I was thinking about all of the water I was wasting, but because drip drip drip is annoying!) He sent his son over to fix it. His son took a quick look, moved the washer inside the faucet a bit, and declared 'That's the best I can do.' Still, all I heard was drip drip drip.
Both my sister and my friend Josh have asked 'Why don't you put a bucket under it and reserve the water?' Ummm, because the bucket would be full in a minute, and then what do I do with all this water??
I called my landlord about it again recently and he came over himself this time. I got home that night, and it was fixed! I called him to thank him and to just make sure everything was finished and fine, he was shocked how much water was leaking from it. Duh. What did he think I was talking about all this time? I think he was mad at his son for not actually fixing it sooner.
Landlord 0
Tenant 1
The leaky faucet in question--the good thing is that it's a really deep sink. My second big issue? My bathroom sink. It doesn't drain very well. Well, ok, pretty much not at all. I've tried Drain-O and other products. No luck. I called my landlord in, and again, in came his son. He pulled up the stopper thingy and after pulling out some hair (opps, my bad), he declared it was better. Ummm, sorry. Not really.
So after how responsive my landlord was on the kitchen sink, I thought I'd push my luck and call again about the bathroom. Again, I lucked out, and the landlord came over himself. When he saw just how badly it was not draining, I think he felt bad. It was fixed that day. Whoo hoo!
Landlord 0
Tenant 2
I do love my place. You can't beat the neighborhood...I either walk to work or hop on the cable car. I've got quick access to the water, Chinatown (where I do buy some of my groceries!), North Beach, Pacific Heights, Cow Hollow, even Hayes Valley and the Haight. In general, it's pretty sunny and warm on the top of my hill. And most importantly, I feel safe in my hood.
Someday, my dream will be to have a small house, with some great outdoor space (for a grill and vegetable garden...and maybe a dog.) I'll have a real living room. And a dining room (I want to throw lots of dinner parties!) And most importantly, it'll have an amazing kitchen. Definitely a good kitchen. And I'll have more than one bathroom. And I'll own the darn place and fix the leaky faucet and clogged sink myself. Or at least have a very good plumber on speed dial.
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