Last weekend, we had our first snow in Philly, and I made a crepe dinner for two friends. I made the crepes because of the snow. Something about the cold and the fluffiness of the snow made me crave light and airy crepes filled with something warm and delicious. So through the wind and flurries I made my trek to the neighborhood Wawa for half and half, eggs, and butter*, for the crepes.

I followed this recipe.  Crepes are very simple and basic, so any recipe that strikes your fancy is fine..you just need to invest some energy in ensuring a smooth, lumpless batter. My tips - thoroughly whip those eggs in shape and always add the wet ingredients to the dry, not the other way around.  I'm glad those middle school home ec classes are doing some good ;P

For the filling, I simmered 3 cubed chicken breasts in olive oil, onions (one medium sized yellow onion), chopped garlic (plenty ;-), balsamic vinegar, Maille Dijon mustard (I'm picky about mustards..this one is French, delicious, and perfect for all the recipes I've tried so far), honey, and cubed apples.  Spices/herbs included cinnamon (two or three sprinkles), nutmeg (a little less than cinnamon), parsley (I think I ended up putting in one or two teaspoons), and a touch of cardamom (really just a pinch).  The process went something like this:

-Cook onions and garlic in olive oil over medium-high heat until onions are translucent.  Add chicken, stir to mix thoroughly.  After a few minutes, add a splash of balsamic vinegar, about a spoonful of mustard,and maybe 1/2 tablespoon honey.  Add apples.  Cook covered on medium heat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, and in the last few minutes of cooking, add the spices and herbs. 

OK next time I'll keep better track of how much I added, etc :)   But it really is quite simple, all you need to do is make sure everything is well mixed, and cooking it covered keeps the chicken moist.  The result was a fragrant and savory filling for the crepes, which were fluffy and just a little bit crispy around the edges.  It was gone before I could even think to take a photo (plus we were all really hungry), but next time!

For dessert, crepes from the same batter were sprinkled with fresh lemon juice and a touch of turbinado raw sugar, rolled up and enjoyed thus. 

*Next time I am also substituting olive oil for butter, I'll post how it turns out.

I wish I had the power to erase others' pain. I could never stand by and watch someone experiencing great sorrow without wanting to jump in and help..somehow or in some way. Maybe that's why I tend to be so protective of folks I care about-people I know well, and even those that I don't technically know so well but can still feel some kind of bond or kinship connecting us. Whatever that bond is, fleeting though it can be, it's compelling enough to make me care and want to defend them.

I'm sorry this is so random, it's a departure from what I usually write on here. I hope I don't sound like some odd/female/modern version of Don Quixote, jumping in and trying to fix everyone's problems. I know I'm not alone in this feeling of being protective, and that's a comfort at least. It's just that I wish I could do more sometimes. Don't you?

In any case, back to your regularly scheduled programming. I've been living in Philly for the past month now, back in my wonderful happy place where so many dreams and loves and joys thrived. It's like I've put on an old, comfortable pair of running shoes; you know they'll support you through any terrain. If I may extend, coming back here makes the two years in Baltimore feel like wearing orange snakeskin platform pumps*. OK, it wasn't that outlandish, but it certainly was an adjustment in many ways. The point is that being back home made the differences stand out in bold relief.

Surprisingly, living here again is also a bit of an adjustment, but in a more subtle and pervasive way. The best way I can describe this is by borrowing a saying from a good friend - like being haunted by ghosts of your past. This is how I remember places, by the people who were with me as we roamed the city and made our marks. They made their marks on me too, and everywhere I go I feel like I'm walking a fine line between then and now. Memories flashing by around every corner and in every 'old haunt.'

It's actually nice in a way..as another friend put it, the place is full of good karma and good vibes from before. (So you know, these are happy ghosts like Casper, not the creepy clanking chains variety ;-) The downside is that I miss them all and if you know me, you know that I hate to miss people. I'd rather just be with them of course, who wouldn't? (Brilliant/mad scientists out there, the teleportation device is long overdue, ahem) But then, there are new friends and new memories to make, and even though it's going to be very different, it's still going to be very good. I just have to be patient. I'm already blessed with great friends from before and prospects of new ones..it'll just take time :)

And I'd be leaving out a lot if I didn't say that I got to catch up with some very good friends here..they make it feel more like home.

Ok and to Thanksgiving this year. My family had two. One with some other folks at a potluck on Thursday, and another with just the four of us on Friday. You'd think I'd be rolling myself everywhere, but actually (thankfully) the food was quite healthy and varied..Mom and I cooked up a storm as usual while the men did their part to stay out of the way (ha).

At the potluck, there were the adults sitting around chatting as usual, and then the children..I was by far the oldest at 25, the next in line was only 18. The youngest was an adorable and very precocious 5 year old. Yeah, I felt a little old (and glad that I'm long done with the SATs and SAT IIs and college admissions, etc!) , but not so old when, still considered one of the children, I got first dibs at the spread** ;-) The best of both worlds.

The job is going well, I really love what the Center does and I stand behind our work 100%..I am so happy I get to work on causes that are really close to my heart, and am learning a lot. So all in all, life is good. And I want to give back and make it so for others. And wow I just read through what I wrote, this entire long post. This is what happens when I don't post for a long time and a lot has been happening. I am SUCH a girl, there's no getting around that, is there :)


*Though sometimes, I think I wouldn't mind a little dose of flashy, uncomfortable, over-the-top and yet totally fabulous works of art on my feet. It's all about variety! I think I need a return trip or few to Balto/DC sometime soon...:D

**Grammar check for that sentence, please, someone. I'm not sure it's completely right..


Current soundtrack (because I don't have enough bandwidth to be posting playlists or youtube videos :( - Al Green, music from Salaam Namaste, Diana Krall, Sade, Saint-Saens and Gershwin (two old flames), and Sarah Brightman (The Songs That Got Away..I don't care what critics will say about her voice, before she picked up her trademark breathiness and affectations, she made some beautiful recordings with her natural voice and it is stunning. Wish she always sang like that).

And btw I say no to Lady Gaga. Just...no. For the time being, anyway :)

Remember old livejournal/xanga blogs where you had the option of broadcasting your current mood by way of smiley-face pictures?  I just remembered those and have to say my current mood is somewhere between playful and contemplative, or a strange amalgamation of the two, so I hope you'll read this with a similar state of mind.  Or at least understand that I'm not as nutty as I seem (ha..ha).  :)


I was at the grocery store, picking up a few things for dinner, and had a brief and very pleasant conversation with a woman who was also examining some Swiss chocolates.  As it turned out, she happened to be from Switzerland and still maintains her citizenship.  I thought it would be nice to offer a greeting in French, and my accent must have been passable, because her face lit up, and I had to explain that I only know very basic French.  Nevertheless, she was very gracious and taught me some food-related French phrases, and upon parting, wished me a wonderful life in that lovely and elusive tongue.  Our final goodbyes were said in Italian.  (Oh, but to possess her savoir faire in addition to her facility with the languages :)

It's oddly exhilarating to be just on the brink of understanding..when she was explaining her friend's chocolate flavor preferences, the meaning behind the fluid French words slipped in and out of grasp, much like water flows between your hands.  There for an instant and gone in the next.  I know that's a frustrating aspect of learning new languages - the goal after all, is to be able to understand and carry on your part of the conversation, the words springing readily from thoughts to speech.  Right on your tongue when you need them.  Currently I am in no position to be conversing in French, but that feeling of just being able to comprehend - that is what excites me.  The anticipation is akin to the fleeting moments before something glorious, like a great work of art, is unveiled. 

Not too long ago I ended up sitting next to a Japanese woman on the train.  Somehow we had a conversation in Japanese, talking about her vacation to America with her son and granddaughter, the New Jersey leg of her journey, where she stayed with relatives, and the upcoming tour of DC.  Again, she was incredibly gracious and patient as I found the right words to speak with her. I was very thankful for my Japanese professors in college who drilled the correct constructions and honorifics into us :)

I think I'm drawn to the melodies and rhythms of languages.  French, Italian, Arabic - the common denominator I hear is the softness-the gentle ebb and flow of the phrasing, speech like strands of silk flowing in the wind, water babbling through a brook.  They evoke romance and sensuality, and are utterly enticing to me.  Those who know me know that I can be flighty when it comes to settling on languages to learn, and my fancies must seem like caprices at best.  Sometimes I have a burning desire to learn Hindi (Bollywood, duh) and the Devaganari script (incredibly lovely and almost made sense when Denise and Nisha explained it :), other times I decide the Cyrillic alphabet is my new lover and so I devote a few weeks here and there to studying my Russian book.  It's honestly just because I love how they all sound (and look) so I have a hard time deciding. 

Thanks to a mentor though, and a lot of thought/experimentation, I've decided to commit to the three first mentioned above (Fr, It, Ar), as new languages to study.  With the hopes that I'll be able to hold my own part in conversing and making connections bound by the love for the language and culture.  And now I'll stop with the comparisons to relationships, haha!  (It was too easy, couldn't resist :)

A perfect autumn meal:

Sandwich:
Saloio bread (Portuguese bread, hearty and moist interior, tender and chewy crust dusted with flour), or any dense, moist, whole-wheat/grain loaf
Creamy and mild white cheese - would suggest Fontina or American.  Actually, Manchego and Asiago would probably also be great :)
Avocado
Sliced turkey breast
For spreading: spicy brown mustard, honey, and pesto (you want all three).

Side dish:
Apples!  The freshest, crispest, juiciest ones you can get your hands on.  Jonathans are tart and frothy (remind me of champagne), and are a great complement to the mild sandwich above.

Drink:
A glass of your favorite beer, ice cold.  I think a nice chocolate stout adds some depth to the meal.

~If you want a bit of warmth, add a small cup of butternut squash or pumpkin soup to the menu.  And if you're like me and almost religious about eating greens/veggies with your lunch and dinner, briefly microwave-steam some stalks of asparagus, dress with lemon juice, pepper, Parmesan cheese, and a bit of sea salt, and you're good to go. 


Simple and delicious, and not too bad on the nutrition scale either.  Eating all this together brings me back to autumn in New England, apple-picking with my family, and my college - particularly The Black Sheep, the favorite deli/bakery in town, and really an institution in itself.  Smart/kind event-planners at school chose the Sheep's catering, and students and faculty would swarm upon the sandwiches and baked goods afterwards.  OK, so the students swarmed, and our professors were probably more dignified :)  Nobody else made a sandwich like the Sheep though, and they are a large part of the reason I started to develop a greater appreciation for simple and good foods and sandwiches.

I'm sure the nostalgia sneaking into my post has something to do with the fact that Homecoming is this weekend.  One day I am gathering up a bunch of willing traveling buddies to take with me to the Valley, who will get a personal tour of the campus grounds, bike trails/woods, and culinary delights that defined my four years there.  Meanwhile, have yourself a great sandwich and enjoy the bounty the good earth brings, etc...I am calling mine the Amherst :)

About five minutes after I posted the German lieder, I chanced upon this video below. Whoever thought to set this claymation to the Gypsy Chorus from La Traviata is a genius in my book :)



While we're on the opera vein, let me showcase the soprano Anna Netrebko.



She is playing Violetta, the main character of La Traviata, and performing the finale from Act I of La Traviata. This is one of my favorites, besides the above and the Drinking Song :) I like the modern/minimalist take on the stage setting. You get to focus on the singers and the libretto without the traditional staging that, while visually enthralling, can be slightly cluttering. Besides, this was probably a lot easier to set up, probably a good thing considering it's a music festival ;)

I've read mixed reviews about her, spanning from high praise to skepticism. My take: There will always be the legends such as Maria Callas, Leontyne Price, Joan Sutherland, Kathleen Battle, against which newcomers must be measured. It's de rigueur for critics and opera lovers alike. These women have earned their place and rightly should be held as standards. What's great about opera is that the material is so rich and varied, and lends itself well to new interpretations, new direction, new favorites. Ms. Netrebko may not have the coloratura (the quality and ability to sing in the very highest vocal registers) of the singers above, but she has a strong determination and spirit to make the most of each line she sings. I think she's a very believable and engaging performer, and if that can get more people to listen to opera (sort of a gateway effect), then she's served the genre very well. She's earning her niche too.

Long story made short: I hope you'll give her and the opera a listen!

Good heavens, spirit me away to an opera house or to Europe or something. And isn't youtube fab? Now if only they'd stop running grotesque trailers on the main page =T Haggard and rotting corpses/ghosts/whatever they are I can do without, thanks.

Side note: There are tons of apartments in Philly. Why aren't more people vacating? I want your charming apartments overlooking Rittenhouse Square or Washington Park, please :)

Next stop:

(photo courtesy of ning.com)

:)


And of course, ear candy (or more like ear truffles..you know what, both sound a little weird when you think about it, so don't think about it too much) to share.

This is a beautiful and haunting duet I would love to sing one day:



Here is the translation from www.recmusic.org.

"Wenn ich ein Vöglein wär"
(If I were a little bird)
Robert Schumann

If I were a little bird
and also had two little wings
I would fly to you.
But because that cannot be,
I remain just here.

I am also far from you,
I am by your side in dreams,
and talk to you.
When I awake,
I am alone.

There is no hour of the night that goes by
that my heart does not wake
and is thinking of you,
that many thousandfold
you gave your heart to me.



And I just found this recording below..a college friend and I sang this in one of our recitals. It's lighthearted and funny (watch the video for the lyric translations), and brings back fond memories.

I really like this particular trio (Barbara, Angelika, Malcolm - soprano, mezzo-soprano, accompanist!)..the two women's voices blend and play off of each other so well, and the quality of the piano's sound is a perfect counterpoint.

Die Schwestern (The Sisters)
Johannes Brahms



Mm, to be able to sing like that..:)

For haircuts, Mom and I are regular patrons of this wonderful and warm Korean woman who lives about 10 minutes away. She's bubbly and yet down to earth, and quite no-nonsense in her hair and life advice to me (my favorite nugget of wisdom from her today - "When you're young, you're automatically beautiful, so enjoy it and have fun!").

I love going to her house. She always has kids or grandkids running around. One of her adopted children is a small toddler with huge hazel eyes and a mop of ringlet curls. He's just a little angel. Very shy, but terribly cute when he wants to be. Like today, when we were leaving - we waved goodbye to him as he watched us go, sitting in the foyer. We heard a tapping noise behind us after we closed the door, and there he was knocking on the side windows and grinning at us when we looked back. And he just kept on tapping on the windows and waiting for us to look back. I wish I could say I was the subject of his affections, but he was definitely gazing at my mom in this adoring and pining way :)

Oooh and I love how her cuts turn out. Usually I just ask for a trim, I don't like fussing over my hair, and she's done with me in 5 minutes. This time though, I asked her for much shorter hair (it turns out that not fussing over your hair and going for a low-fuss style means eventually you have to fuss a lot because you've let your hair grow way too long in your strict attention to keeping things low-fuss..but I digress), showed her a couple of pictures, and - voila! In 5 minutes (I am not exaggerating), six inches of hair was gone and my head kind of breathed a sigh of relief..and it's back to being very low on the fuss scale :)

And now let's all breathe a sigh of relief that I'm done rambling about my hair :)

By the way, I hope to all deities this playlist works..I thought I had fixed the error that blogger.com keeps insisting I have in the embedding code, but who knows. Technology and I kind of go together like oil and vinegar =) I had fun putting this together, it goes back in time and across genres, and I hope you like it too.

For the past few weeks, I've been working at the NIH as a writer and editor, helping to finish up the initial review process for the ARRA Challenge Grant applications.

I think I wrote earlier this summer that I like to keep busy and it was an adjustment to have a lot of unstructured time. That was an understatement.

Now that the craze of the assignment is over, I find myself in almost the same position as before, but-with a different, and much-welcomed, outlook.

In other words: yes, the experience was awesome, I loved getting things done and being productive in that measurable and easily quantifiable sense. Getting up early, having a routine, reading during my Metro commutes, picking up dinner and sundries on my way home, etc.

I've been 'off the clock' since Wednesday, as my work with them is finished. Everyone I worked with is happy and enjoying the lull. I am also enjoying this change, and feel like I've come full circle and a little more at peace with myself.

You see, sometimes I get so wrapped up in things that I lose perspective, the sense that things will be okay, and with that comes the loss of a little bit of self-confidence. If I had stepped out of myself, I probably wouldn't recognize me. It takes a combination of the honesty and love from good friends, and just some good old quality alone time for me to regain that perspective.

Those busy few weeks with the routine and the clearly delineated responsibilities? Just a shell, a thin and temporary covering while I rebuilt. The real value was never in those details outside of me. So this post is about self-love, and learning to love yourself unconditionally and in entirety. Your accomplishments, your strengths, your path and choices that are uniquely yours, your dreams and demons. Yes, even those demons, because without the struggle to overcome them, we wouldn't know or appreciate true victories. The ones worth holding on to. But enough of the introspection. I also want to share some small things (ok, most of them are small) from this summer that make me happy.

The first:




I did this in June. My rendition of the Sweet Williams in our front yard. They're one of my mom's favorites. Oil pastel and some fun-colored Sharpies. I gave this as a gift to a mentor.


Next:

I'll call this Pizza Viva L'Italia :)



Before it went in the oven. Whole wheat olive oil dough, spinach, onions, fresh mozzarella, red peppers.


Also in the kitchen:



The afterglow of Dorothy and Christopher's wedding (and of course the wedding itself!). The flowers are from the bridesmaid bouquet. Mom put them in the vases that evening. The next morning, while passing by, I was struck by the colors and how well the oranges paired with the creamy flowers. The light from the window made them glow. Perfect photo op.

Side note: I'm not terribly superstitious, but I love finding meaning and symbolism. When taking this photo I felt as though it was a very good sign. You see, orange blossoms in ancient China represented all the facets of a blissful marriage :)


And:

I am thoroughly regretting not having my camera with me in DC. Otherwise I'd show you the tree-lined Harvard St in the evening sun, gorgeous light filtering through thousands and thousands of green leaves and a little bit of mist, the break in the trees where you can see the sunset fires. Mind picture?


'Real' picture:




The Ontario, a fabulous Beaux-Arts apartment building near where I am staying. Photo courtesy of the coop's website (hence, the snow..:)

My hostess's dog always moseys here during our walks. He admires the flowers, I admire the architecture. It's a good compromise.


Also:



(Photo courtesy of www.planet-rcs.de/)

Caipirinhas. And cocktails with limes in general :)


Walks and runs in the National Zoo. Again, no photos, just enjoyment, sun and fun.


Can't forget:



DDLJ and Bollywood movies in general. Otherwise known as falling in love over and over again. Can you ask for better from entertainment?


Retail triumphs:

-Learning that a friend hadn't yet received an item from her wedding registry, which she really, really wanted (it was really expensive). And then finding that item for an incredible kill and having it delivered to her :D

-Scoring a gorgeous and comfy (rare combination) pair of sandals for a tiny fraction of the original price. For me :)


Finally:

Reading for leisure. Books, blogs, newspapers/magazines. Recommend A Thousand Splendid Suns, and Rushdie's Enchantress of Florence. My favorite food blogs are listed below. Beautiful photographs, enticing recipes, and you come away from them feeling inspired to try new things.

http://www.chezpim.com/blogs/

She's gained renown and many followers. This one is really top-notch. Thai food lovers take note.

http://aapplemint.com/

This girl is very talented at what she does. She writes on her blog that she dreams of opening her own restaurant. I am sure she'll be a big hit. Beautiful food, and Indian food recipes!

http://foodrulesyousuck.blogspot.com/

A friend from my college days. Chris is a talented cook and has his own brand of humor. He takes great care in the food he prepares, and it's always fun to read of his adventures.



That's all! Being able to update properly makes me happy too. But now it's time for lunch. And to get off of my computer. By the way, no perspective was harmed in the making of this post, except for maybe my long-distance vision.

On a whim I decided to check my view-counter (I get this idea once in a blue moon), and was more than a little surprised to see I have 150 views so far. Really? I could have sworn my confirmed readership consists of a grand total of 2 people and I certainly don't update that frequently (thank you very much, by the way, for continuing to peruse my hopelessly random jumble of thoughts).

So maybe now there's a little bit more pressure to update more and make it somewhat interesting? And flesh out the writing on love thing? By the way, the 'I love DC' update counts as post #1 on that topic :)

The best way to sum up the past week or so?

I love DC.

That is all.

Well ok, there's more than that, and hopefully will be more in the future. I'm working on it, and working (as in, employment!), so all in all, I am a happy woman on the go.

More updates later. Relying on the metro system means I get up early now and so need to hustle it to bed earlier. I don't know why I'm excited about it. I must just be a weird kind of girl :) But it's nice to be up early..maybe there IS something to this early bird thing.

End ramble. Promise something somewhat substantive, soon.

I haven't updated this in a while :)

So, to roundup the major events of last month:

-Completed my administrative residency

-Graduated with my MHS in Health Finance and Management!

-Moved back in with my parents as I continue the job search


By now I've been at home for three weeks (seems a lot longer!) and I've more or less settled in. It was tough at first. I'm used to being out on my own and I love to work and keep busy, so suddenly having a lot of unstructured time in my parents' quiet neighborhood definitely required everyone to adjust. Still, I am of course glad to have a place to stay, and I'm happy to be with them.

Job searching/looking for volunteer opportunities are certainly taking a large chunk of my days :) I am also reconnecting - with friends, with some hobbies, with my own sense of well-being. I can't tell you what the second half of the year will look like for me just yet. I am okay with this now. The key at this point, I think, is to cast the net as wide as possible and remain flexible. I'm very lucky not to have to worry about anyone's baggage but my own, which is very light. She who travels alone travels fastest - so you can say I'm making my travel plans for a new journey.

Now, job market and economy - do your part and improve for all of our sakes!!



With a few weeks remaining until her big day, a small group of us took Doro out for her bachelorette :) Highlights:

-Firefly restaurant in Dupont Circle - cozy interior with woodsy look. We got a table near the tree trunk sprouting from the center of the dining room. Concept reminded me of the Hundertwasserhaus in Vienna. The food was lovely - the shrimp and grits appetizer got four thumbs up, and we all enjoyed their Strawberry Sparkle cocktail. Roasted organic chicken, softshell crab, and yellowfin tuna all got rave reviews. The chicken pot pie (something they are famous for) was nice too. I loved the peas and mushrooms in it.

-Eighteenth St Lounge - renovated mansion meant beautiful interior, but questionable crowd and choice of music meant it was time to relocate to Circa Wine Bar :) Yummy pizza and sparkling Shiraz, with a good measure of people-watching to end the night.

Somehow managed to save someone's boarding pass and driver's license on the train going back home, and had the good fortune to network a bit. I'd say it was a good weekend :)

There is a balmy breeze blowing through my window, the sun is shining in full splendor, and the trees are draped in shades of green. A tranquil paradise.

Now pan the camera into my room, in particular my desk - computer stuff swimming in a sea of books, papers, and a random objects thrown there during my morning rushes out the door. Obviously anything but :) Ah, the life of a student.

Which will be over in 11 days (11?!). Two years whittled down to the final standoff between me and faculty whims. Or if you really want to be accurate, two + four + twelve + one-ish (preschool/kindergarten in China, or something like that). I'll be 25 in November. Holy moly. I've spent almost 20 out of 24.5 years in school. How's that for some perspective on these last few days?

Actually now I'm curious, and need to ask my parents what kind of school and how long I attended that before coming to the States, because I really only have foggy memories of wearing poofy little dresses and maryjanes (and funny makeup my aunts put on me, as old photos document), waving ribbons around in dances, and writing annoying characters. And doing the eye health-maintenance routines. Guess it shows how much I learned, eh? ;)

And my brother is starting high school in the fall. I feel old and young at the same time. Mostly young though :)

But yes, back to the topic at hand - class of 09 graduates in 11 days!

Instead of spring fever, I got caught up in wedding fever. Two out of four weddings down this evening and last weekend :) Two more to go. The ball is rolling!

Jen's wedding weekend was crazy. Wedding rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, actual wedding and reception involving 200+ people, and after-party (young'uns only ;) were crammed into two days. Plenty of pomp, haha. My preceptor's wedding this afternoon was quite different - moderation and simplicity are the first words that come to mind. I spent much of the dinner talking to one of her uncles, an older gentleman with plenty of interesting experiences and wisdom to share. Spent the rest of the reception on the dance floor surrounded by adorable tiny kids, young couples, middle aged couples, couples who have been married for 30+ years, etc.

Seeing them so happy was absolutely the best part. I also enjoyed the homilies - it's so nice to hear how the bride and groom describe each other and their relationship. Jen's moved me to tears, and my preceptor's built a more 3-D picture of her personality and being. I was a gusher when Jen and Jeff exchanged vows..fortunately was able to hold it in today :)


So I kind of love weddings now. I know how much of an endeavor it is to plan and execute one, but I'm sure the core idea (or at least to me) of having people share your happiness makes it all worth the while. It certainly made me think a little about the kind of wedding I would want to have one day (you know, like 10 years down the road or so, I don't see myself dropping out anytime soon ;)

I'm thinking something small and simple (I'd like to minimize my potential headaches). Absolutely firm on having excellent food and music. Maybe a beach reception? In any case, something near a body of water. Above all I want my guests to feel comfortable and at ease. This last point is probably the most important to me.

Mmm...so much more pleasant to think about than schoolwork! All this rambling just means I have a lab due next Tuesday. We're almost done - it's just a headache to sift through 3 different versions of Word docs all marked up with comments. Much prefer Google docs...and in a couple of weeks, none of this school-related nonsense will matter :D

So I missed the blossoms this year! I wasn't really expecting them to be there, but it was still a little anticlimactic not to see the clouds of pink from afar. Actually I should have gone last week, before the rain and wind dredged the blossoms from the trees, but I can't be in two places at once (rats).

It's okay though-I still got to spend time with a friend I hadn't seen since last summer. We became friends in Philly, and ever since she moved to DC last fall, it's been tough to catch her since she travels a lot for her job. It means more to me to have seen her, meet some of her colleagues and friends, enjoy the city together.

Highlights: dinner at The Ghana Cafe (jollof rice and egusi stew!), wine and spring rolls at Asian Spice (learned a little more about wine tasting), Rocket Bar, luscious potato soup and beer battered fish and chips at Gastro Pub (seriously, the soup was like drinking mashed potatoes...), Freer Gallery, catching some sun at the Mall, Pho 14 in Columbia Heights. Fragrant bowls of pho, Thai iced tea, and banh mi (finally!!) to take home capped off a great couple of days. In case I haven't said this before, I love DC.

Her roommate has a beautiful dog who is extremely shy and yet very loving. He's not accustomed to strangers so I couldn't pet him and had to be very careful not to startle him, but he would come up to me (when he thought I wasn't looking), quickly sniff or put his nose to my hand, and then run off. He was a darling, with expressive eyes and a dignified air. He crosses his little white front paws when he sits :)

I enjoyed the Korean ceramics and Arabic art at the Freer. The show stopper for us was John Singer Sargent's Breakfast in the Loggia. Photos don't do it justice, you need to see the actual painting. When you look at it, you can feel the warmth of the sunlight streaming in through the columns. Amazing.

Read more of Infidel during my train rides. Riveting..though I had to put it down for a minute at one point..this particular scene made my heart feel sick. And all I had to do was read her account, not experience any of the pain she had to endure. I haven't yet gotten to her later years when her views on Islam really crystallize. From what I've read so far, I think she's extraordinarily brave and tough. More later.



On another note, re: the whole writing about love thing...I need to rethink this, and refine it a LOT more. There are so many ways I can and can't do this, so many perspectives to consider. It'll do you much more good to watch this excellent lecture from anthropologist Helen Fisher. It's a great overview of the biological and social explanations for love, and she is very engaging.

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/helen_fisher_tells_us_why_we_love_cheat.html

Sorry, you'll have to click to it..I don't know how to embed this one.

One day I am going to sit down and properly blog about my weekend trip to CT for my Jen's bachelorette, an amazing dance show I saw in DC (LAST MONTH, ohh but I am behind in blogging), weekend fun in Fell's Point including a trip to Blue Moon (yum), winding down at work and the mixed bag of feelings that come with that, and devote some time to writing a not-totally insipid post on L-O-V-E. Oof.


So this is a quick update - just that a new restaurant and grocery store just opened up near work - Ceazar's Palace - which I checked out today during lunch - and I am ga-ga over the selection of Middle Eastern groceries (pomegranate syrup, finally! and I really want to try the yogurt soda. And their Persian baklava). I got their chicken kabob, which I devoured. And baba ghanouj - it is one of my favorite things and it's fun to try different versions. Theirs was garlicky, savory, with just a teensy hint of burnt eggplant (I know...so bad for you, if my mother saw me eating those carcinogenic bits she would definitely have something to say about it :) and topped with generous amounts of fruity olive oil and sesame seeds. Plus mini-lavash to dip. PERFECT :D

The portion I didn't eat came in handy during my 40-minute crawl along 295 N when I hit city limits. It took me that long to get from M&T to UMMS grounds. That's about 2 miles. Ridiculous, no? We have the Orioles and whoever else was playing fans to thank for that...sigh.


Good luck dropped Ayaan Hirsi Ali's Infidel into my lap a couple of days ago. It's been on my reading list for ages. I'm having a hard time putting the book down.

Cherry blossoms this weekend! :)

And now...sleep, I think.

I'm in the process of changing my blog. The first thing was to change the pink explosion theme. It was a nice stand-by until I found this much prettier blue theme :) I'm not sure about the reader, but it's definitely a lot easier on my eyes.

As for the title change, and the Catullus poem (I'm working on the translation, to be posted later :) - I hoped that would serve as an introduction, or at least a preview, of what I want to write more about. I'm further encouraged by this excerpt from an interview with writer Chris Bohjalian, Amherst alum '82:


Q. What tips or advice do you have for writers still looking to be discovered?

A. Read lots. Have a thick skin. And write often-and write about things that interest you passionately. Writing teachers often encourage young writers to write about what they know- or, conversely, to write about things that are foreign to them. I think neither should be a cardinal rule. Instead, you should write about things that interest you, regardless of whether you know anything about the topic when you start, or you're among the world's foremost experts. The key is to care so deeply about the subject-find it so extraordinary-that you are willing to give up a year or two of your life to it. If you bring that level of enthusiasm to the story, it certainly increases the chances that you will create something of interest to strangers browsing in a library or bookstore.


Full interview here: http://www.chrisbohjalian.com/bohjalian-qa.htm


I'm not hoping to be discovered, however - let's see what comes out of my reflections on love for the next year or dozen posts (on the topic), whichever comes first. These posts will be interspersed with the standard updates on my life - I don't want to get rid of that completely. It looks like I may have found a direction for my blog :) And maybe you, the blog reader, will have gained something from it as well.



In other news, I am really enjoying my class on program planning. I'm particularly excited about its use of ecological models to guide needs assessment and to describe health behavior. I loved my ecology class in college - it's part of what drove me to public health - and it's great to finally see how it's applied in this context.

On a side note, with my program winding down, I kind of wish I had taken more biostats =/

Finally, I stumbled upon a treasure trove of music on my computer at work. Actually, it's somebody's old user files. She's got everything - reggae, Soca, trip-hop, soul/neo-soul, jazz, Hindi, flamenco, bossa nova, hip hop, Celtic, etc. I'm in heaven. And bringing my iPod in for 'updates,' mwahaha. ;)





Leaving you with one of my favorites from Jesse Cook, contemporary flamenco guitarist:

Vivamus mea Lesbia, atque amemus,
rumoresque senum severiorum
omnes unius aestimemus assis!
soles occidere et redire possunt:
nobis cum semel occidit brevis lux,
nox est perpetua una dormienda.
da mi basia mille, deinde centum,
dein mille altera, dein secunda centum,
deinde usque altera mille, deinde centum.
dein, cum milia multa fecerimus,
conturbabimus illa, ne sciamus,
aut ne quis malus inuidere possit,
cum tantum sciat esse basiorum.


Catullus 5

I won't be TA-ing any classes this term, which I admittedly will miss-I liked helping the students and my professor was fun to work with. Last Monday though, I realized how nice it was to be home by 6-7 instead of after 9pm :)

I have one more course of my own to complete. Program Planning for Behavioral Change, and I'm excited about this one.

Looking for new things to read - I finished my stack and have nothing on tap right now. Suggestions are most welcome. What have you read recently that was intriguing, informative, or just a pleasure to read?

I fulfilled a craving that's been haunting me for a few weeks now.

I finally had a burrito. And yes, it's totally worth blogging about.

El Torito (soon to be named El Guapito) on Mulberry St, near the library. I pass that place every day on my drive back into Mt Vernon and have been intrigued for some time. Attempts to take roomie and other friends there kept getting thwarted. I finally called this afternoon and asked for a roasted pork burrito for takeout. Ran there to pick it up. I loved the place at first sight. It's kind of a hole in the wall; the inside is warm and welcoming, and the woman who runs the place was so nice. The burrito was a divine mess of succulent meat, melted cheese, rice and beans. And the guacamole was to die for. I can now go to Connecticut happy :)

And now to make up a mad libs for Jen's bridal shower on Sunday..where is that so called creativity when I need it? *searching for a muse*

Was watching Colbert earlier, and it reminded me of something I heard or read the other day. It's basically an AIG spokesperson insisting they really need the bonuses or else "the talent at the company will just go elsewhere." AYFK? If those fools had any talent maybe you wouldn't have needed that bailout.

Current mood: exasperated. I'm not going to get on a soapbox now..maybe another day.


Brighter notes:

Cheesy moment from work today: Helping our AA with our postage machine. It's supposed to have the ability to register the weight of one standard envelope (34 cents postage), but it always requires some extra items - and the amount of stuff you have to put on the scale always varies. The stamppad I added finally made the machine work, which made Tracy happy. I said I guess I can pull my own weight :) ok, don't pull a muscle laughing now ;P

and..




Hélène Segara and Laura Pausini! This song has been stuck in my head for the past couple of days (I am not complaining).

I love these ladies:



This song is one of my all-time favorites to harmonize to. I sang the alto parts for most of my years in choirs (but trained as a soprano, how's that for identity crisis? ;-) - so now I almost always end up hearing the harmonies and wanting to sing those instead of the melody.

Things I must do this year:

-Find a choir

-Brush up on Chinese. One of the senior VPs at work was happily showing me his tie, which he received from National Taiwan University's med school, and asked what the characters on there meant. All I could tell him was that it was a commemorative note for 35 years of excellent scholarship and something or other. AUGH!! I was so mad at myself for forgetting so much. That's the thing about Chinese. Since I understand the radicals and composition, I can sort of guess my way around text without having to know many of the specific characters (and of course context is key) but that obviously isn't flying. So, I am going to practice to get it back. Expect to see some text here in Chinese in the future (I'll translate). I'm determined. The same for Japanese and maybe I'll dig up my old Latin texts (but let's not get too ambitious here). Oh, but I am angry for letting go of these for so long.

-Find a soccer team or running club to join. I've always liked running, it clears my mind and I love a good woodsy trail or urban spread. This past weekend I went home to visit my family - and spent most of it outside running around and playing with my brother. Basketball and soccer. It was glorious. There's something addictive about kicking a ball around and driving it home. I loved it. It's running with a purpose and new tricks. So there you have it. Three real resolutions for the rest of the year :)

Oh and my beloved little baby brother is taller than me and our dad now...he's going to be a heartbreaker one day :) He's really a very neat kid.

There's more I want to write but it'll have to wait until later. I'm getting bags under my eyes for not sleeping well at night. I can sense something is on the verge, and my mind always seems to be working in overdrive these days (hence the surge of posts...it helps me sort things out). And there are of course many things to do always.

I tell myself there's no way I'll ever go back to harsh New England winters. I remember well the huge snowstorms/blizzards when I was growing up in RI/CT/MA, and the Amherst air that froze the tendrils of freshly shampooed hair escaping from my hat and stung as you breathed it in.

I also remember the gorgeous autumns (nothing down here compares), lush springs, and nights out camping/hiking where the only light I needed came from the stars and the moon. I loved traipsing around at night, looking for the best spots, and then serenading my friends when we settled in.

And you know, even winter came with the benefits of cozy evenings indoors, surrounded by the rosy glow of good friends and warm drink. The beauty was in the contrast; I haven't been able to replicate that kind of experience here, though some things have come close. And it's not to discredit anything here, overall I've had an amazing time. It's just different.

Realistically it's probably better for me to stay in the DC/Baltimore metro area. I'm so spoiled by the mild winters (and yet I still can't kick the habit of layering), there's plenty in the field here I want to look into, and I'll find it difficult to leave the people who have come to mean so much to me.

I guess we'll see. Just a few more things to consider as I look forward to closing this chapter (oh HECK yes, I can't wait!) and starting a new one :) These past couple of years have been like a deep sea dive.

Last week was exceptional - I have no idea where my mind went after I handed in that assignment. Actually I do know, it went on vacation around 4:30 pm on Monday, but it's back now ;-)

In any case - I'm ready to surface.


A few random thoughts:

-thank goodness for NPR (what is this junk broadcasting from Maryland radio stations they call music? Sorry if any DJs come across this, but you all have got some serious work to do! And whoever played Police and Howie Day circa 6pm today - thank you truly, you made the end of my commute that much brighter.).

-did I mention I love spring?

-how do you fix a broken suede strap, would Superglue cut it? I'm kind of bummed about these new shoes I got..I guess heels weren't made for walking! (Actually, I know that for a fact, they kill your feet, especially when you're literally running in them at the end of the day. Grr)

Let me preface this by saying I've got a paper due in about 36 hours, and I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, so of course I'll want to dawdle a little more by updating my blog :P That and I need a break :)

I would love to have a dog. When I was little I had two darling parakeets. I loved them and one of my favorite things was to let them fly around our living room and perch on my head. Almost got one of them to talk, I'm pretty sure he said "Hi" once. Sadly though, one died, and one got away. I was devastated. My only pet after them was my Siamese fighting fish. I got Mr. Fish from one of my favorite biology professors, whose research focused on animal behavior. His lab was full of fish, which he routinely gave away to students. Mr. Fish was a beauty. I left him with the lab technician over winter break (didn't want to risk taking him on the train with me), and came back to find he had completely changed colors (a sign of illness). About a week after I got him back, he died, despite my nursing. Poor thing. I guess the lab tech had gone on vacation too.

Anyway, since my little brother joined the family, I think my parents are kinda-sorta starting to come around and see the wonderful possibilities of having a bigger kind of pet. As my mother jokes, having my brother around is kind of like having a dog anyway ;-)

I also like cats, but Mom really doesn't like them. Both my parents think a dog would be great for security reasons. I tease them and say they can get their exercise by walking him or her. Who am I kidding, they're more fit than I am.

They're funny. I think they can also be persuaded to keep chickens and pigs. Dad grew up on a farm and we keep a garden out back, so that probably wouldn't be such a stretch? Back to the dog..even if they don't end up getting one, I definitely want a golden retriever, a Siberian husky, and maybe a beagle or a bearded collie. And maybe a basenji or Great Pyrenees. OK all this will have to wait until I have my own place but it's still nice to dream (dreaming is especially welcome when the alternative is a boring paper). And now, folks...back to the paper!

My life until March 2:


Bill Watterson - "There is not enough time to do all the nothing we want to do."


Until then, though I don't claim my own toils to be nearly as great, I need to be like this:

Quick update today - posting a new playlist. In honor of Valentine's Day, I put 14 songs on this one. I didn't make this with a theme in mind - I just wanted to have these songs in one place, but tell me if you see one :)

Made a hearty veggie soup with barley and pasta from scratch, received great feedback from roomie :) Went running outside and luxuriated in the sunlight at the Monument. That square is quickly becoming one of my favorite spots. Made a trip to XS for decadent desserts with roomie, and watched Step It Up 2 (I love dance movies - it's always interesting and exciting to see the choreography).

I've had a crazy morning involving tow trucks, the Baltimore City impound,
and other such worldly stresses. I am writing this from work, where I am
rushing to complete my reports and critiques for my program office at
school. But I know it doesn't compare to what the families of those who
died in the plane crash are feeling. So one way to look at this is, hey, at
least we got the car back. We made it to work, we got our work done, and
we'll take care of things, life will go on. Not such an easy thing for
these people to say right now. Please, keep them in your thoughts/prayers.
And let's hope nothing else happens on this Friday the 13th (gosh, I feel
superstitious for writing that, when I'm usually not, but these past couple
of days have been exceptional, no?).

AHHHH!!!!

Sorry, dear blog reader/random passerby, I had to get that out of my system. This seemed like a better outlet than somebody's ear :)

I admit I do love being busy, somehow I get a kick out of that. Especially when the reward of a busy day is that delicious feeling of sinking into my cozy bed :D One thing I would love is more time to enjoy my friends, roommates, family, the city I live in, etc. I guess for now I'll have to take it where I can get it, and really be super-organized and well-planned to maximize "it."


Another strategy: Dave Brubeck as my soundtrack. This makes a great backdrop for reading up on retainer medicine.

As an example, his take on "My Favorite Things" is certainly one of my favorite things...I just can't be grouchy (no matter how hard I try. And honestly, sometimes I don't have to try at all) when I listen to his music :)

With everyone around me getting sick, it was only natural for me to get sick as well. I've had something-like-flu for about a week now (I say this because I got a flu shot this season, but still had body/head aches, non-productive coughs, general feeling of fatigue, fevers/chills), and had to take a sick day (first time this year) on Wednesday. Maryland finally got snow last week and I don't think I could have handled another car-spinning, getting sprayed by gravel from the road cleaning trucks, ice chiseling episode that day anyway ;P

In any case, I'm starting to feel a little better, which is good, because work is just getting busier all the time. Plus, there is a final paper due next month which I seriously need to get cracking on, especially since my Mondays are gone for the next six weeks (I'm TA-ing an evening course at school).

OK, now onto the fun stuff. Today's topic - Chinese music. I really do get a kick from making these playlists. I tried to put a variety of music on this one - ranging from Chinese pop (Jay Chou, Faye Wong), music from movies, modern takes on traditional Chinese music. I couldn't find a whole lot of classical Chinese music on www.playlist.com. I'd love to share some pipa and erhu music with you guys. Pipa is basically a Chinese mandolin. My mom plays this :) Erhu is a Chinese violin/fiddle with two strings, and is amazingly versatile. Anyway, I'll post some youtube videos of these later, I'm always amazed at what you can find on there :)

I don't listen to much C-pop, but Jay Chou and Faye Wong are two of the most famous singers. Faye is older and sort of a trailblazer for Chinese pop; I like the variety of style in her music. I think of her as the Chinese version of Madonna. Jay Chou is from a younger generation, and you can definitely hear the Backstreet Boys influence in his music :) I posted the one song of his that I like (not meant to be mean at all, I just don't listen to him a lot) - one of my roomies in college played this almost non-stop for a while, so it brings back fond memories for me.

I included both English and Mandarin versions of the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon theme song. They're both beautiful, but it was bugging me that I couldn't find a good translation of the Mandarin version (literally translated as Moonlight Lovers) to post (cut and paste!). The lyrics from the English version of the song are very different. Here's my translation of the Mandarin:

Moonlight Lovers (Yue Guang Ai Ren - 月光愛人):

-I awake from sleeping in the moonlight. As the moon sets, my mind turns to you. Who knows why I don't want to wake up - maybe it's because I'm afraid when I open my eyes, you won't be there.
-The heart of a lover, deep as the sea, brought me to search for him again. Please, with your true heart, love me for ten thousand years. (Background singers: Love is the gift of the moonlight, and I wait for the angels to tell me you love me.) For the sake of love, I will sleep here for eternity.
-Does eternity exist? I ask because my heart cannot let go.
-The North Star will lead me. I am begging you - don't hide for so long. Please let me find you, for it seems like I have loved you for not even a night.
-My heart will wait. For the sake of love, I will sleep in this moonlight. All alone, I wonder - who would understand? (Background singers: I will keep sleeping in this light, for eternity, and I will have no regrets.)
-I will wait until my true love comes to wake me. (BG singers: One night in this sleep is like a year. Tell me you love me.)
-For the sake of love, I will sleep here for eternity.




And my new darlings - Twelve Girls Band. Twelve women (now 13, I think), all classically trained in Chinese instruments, from conservatories across the country, who made the final cut to be in this group.

A few of my favorites:

Alamuhan - an Uighur children's song that my mom used to sing to me when I was little. This is an instrumental interpretation. I love it.

Clocks and Only Time - covers of the Coldplay and Enya songs.

A Girl's Dream - the little girl is singing a snatch from another lullaby (Little Barn Swallow) my mom used to sing to me.

Vanessa Mae - very talented and spunky violin player. I love her takes on classical violin pieces. Again, playlist.com didn't have a lot of her songs I wanted to post here, so we have the theme from Butterfly Lovers - this is very famous, and it's very likely you've heard this melody before - and from Mulan ;) Lizi, I keep meaning to send you her music, so hopefully this will be a nice preview.

(Oh, and in case you are wondering - the Mandarin version of "Reflections" is pretty similar to the English version.)


Oy, and I just sneezed 7 times in a row. More tea...


Hope you enjoy the music! Let me know if you have any questions, and feel free to post them/comments/feedback in general :)

OK, so I am trying to spice things up a little here. I am always thinking, talking, or writing about food. I think it makes sense to post pictures of food to illustrate. I'm not exactly sure why it took me this long to start doing that. OK, fine, I do know why, and it starts with the letter "L" (hint...it rhymes with "haziness.")

The week before this one, I had a terrible diet. I was too busy and tired to cook, so I ended up ordering in a lot. I got Indian food, Chinese food, burgers, and more Indian food. And boy was it good. And then at some point my body just said "oh no you don't" to another fried dumpling. (Made me miss Mom and Auntie's dumplings, anyway ;P And gyoza..and shumai..argh.)

So last weekend, when I was getting to the end of my Peking duck feast, and my fridge was almost devoid of fresh produce, I finally cooked. I was craving something Moroccan-inspired. My friend Bouchra, a Moroccan educator I met in Philly, was always cooking something fragrant and hearty - in short, delicious. I was eager to try to re-create her apricot-chicken-rice dish.

I had jasmine rice, frozen veggies, salmon, onions, dried apricots, and a fully stocked spice cabinet. BBC's food section had a recipe for spicy Moroccan rice:

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1920/spicy-moroccan-rice-

Basically just substituted salmon for chicken, chicken broth for the broth cubes (they are way too salty for me) and added a tomato which was sitting all by itself in the fridge.

Came out with this:




That's half of a potato that was simmering in the pot with the rice, inspired by my roommate's cooking habits :) The potato absorbs the flavors in the pot, and ends up nice and tender. My dish didn't come out quite the same as Bouchra's, and what I remember of it, but it was enough to satisfy my craving. I'm enticed enough by the cuisine in general to keep trying :)


This week was even busier, but I got down to business and made a trip to the grocery store to stock up on food that isn't dried, canned, or frozen.

Tonight I was feeling the garlic naan (I love garlic. Enough that my roommates tease me about it :), fresh mozzarella (I loovee fresh mozzarella..so many possibilities!), a wedge of good Parmigiano Reggiano (a must for my kitchen), fresh sage, good balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil, and honey.

The naan was toasted briefly, then drizzled with honey. Dollops of mozzarella, roughly chopped Roma tomato, torn sage, and drizzles of balsamic vinegar were next. After a bit more toasting, I sprinkled my sort-of pizza rustica with the king of Italian cheeses, gave it a drizzle of olive oil for good measure, and let that sit for a bit in a warm toaster oven.



Before that was a veggie course - I was too hungry to bother to take a photo - but it was broccoli and carrots, gently steamed with honey, balsamic, olive oil, a bit of ginger and cumin. And generous amounts of chopped garlic, and a dash of sea salt. It's really easy to do. Just take all the ingredients above and microwave in a covered bowl for about 2 minutes. Keep it covered for about another minute, depending on how crisp you like your veggies (I like mine toothy-crisp), and then - bon appetit!

:)

It's been a while since I've seen your face,

Like meeting a stranger all over again.

Have I seen you smile before?

People change, and so have you.

What was there before has been polished, and a

Patina of time glosses and sculpts -

Highlights what was clear to me before.


It's been a long time, and it's

Good to see you smile.

Lara Fabian is first and foremost, an extraordinarily beautiful woman.





Through her crystal clear voice, you hear her soul. Her voice has the power to warm you and lift your spirits. Her eyes and expression amplify every nuance in her music.

You can't help but fall in love with her when she performs; her ability to swing effortlessly between heart-pumping power ballads and gentle love songs captivates you. Her smile is infectious, and she simply radiates the power of her message.

What is most striking is how kind she looks. Her talent puts all the other divas in her class to shame, yet I've never seen or heard of her acting like one. She seems focused and dedicated to her craft, and does it with gusto and joy. I can see her as someone's affectionate and loyal best friend, serene and strong.

Just listen to this selection of songs I've posted. If she doesn't make you smile, want to get up and dance, cry, sit on the very edge of your chair, etc - I don't know what will :-) Pay particular attention to her diction and phrasing in Caruso (I love LOVE LOOOVEEE songs in Italian..), her vocal prowess in I Will Love Again, and the sheer emotion in Broken Vow. Actually, to all four in each song.

Look! Only a week has gone by and I'm posting again :-)

First, I'd like to direct your attention to the Links section of my blog. Two great blogs have been added for your perusing pleasure.

NiseyGlobeTrotting is a collection of travel experiences from Denise, my Amherst/Hopkins classmate and former roommate. Comments Encouraged is a weekly roundup of all the neat things seen and experienced by Anthony, another Hopkins classmate.

I think you'll find them inspiring and interesting, and I guarantee you a good time, so - click away :-)


I've also added a playlist to share the music I'm currently hooked on. "No More Words" takes a bit to start up - but give it a listen, the music is beautiful and worth it.

The version of "Vivo Per Lei" is completely in Italian - there are also duets in French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, and English - which I may or may not be posting in the future xD

And the rest - just makes me happy.

I haven't updated this in a while :) And I always seem to start my posts this way...even though I do want to write more frequently. Maybe a new year's resolution? haha...does anyone still read this?

in any case, happy new year to you. I hope this year brings a little more stability for all. I am looking forward to ushering in the new administration.

Which brings us back to 2008 - what an amazing year in many ways, both good and bad. As you can probably tell I'm still kind of basking in the afterglow of the elections. One more cheer for "That One" please!

So there's the excitement in the political world. My personal life, as you'll soon find, hasn't gone through any earth-shattering changes. 2008 was a pretty quiet and stable time for me in terms of relationships (and I'm not just referring to the romantic type). I was lucky to strengthen friendships with wonderful people and meet some lovely new people along the way. Couldn't have asked for better times with better people, despite all our busy and crazy schedules, and the fact that we're once again scattered all over the place!

Work and school - finished my first year of my MHS program, started a new career in health policy/advocacy/public health (not as nebulous as it sounds).

Travel - didn't get to go overseas this year :( However, discovered the fun in staying local - roaming around Maryland. Plenty to do in such a small state. No devil in the details here..just a lot of charm, history, and beauty.

Other - started driving on a regular basis, for the first time. Driving, and getting lost a LOT at first :-) (best way to learn the roads, really..but not so fuel efficient!)

etc etc.

Outlook for 2009 - finish degree program, bridesmaid for the weddings of two amazing women, planning a getaway, the whole job search thing. Open to adventures always.

more later...I am determined to give my resolution to sleep more a fighting chance ;)