All Are Welcome

They're a good looking couple if I do say so myself!

This weekend Mom and Dad stopped by for a visit. Rolling up on Friday afternoon you'd think they lived a few minutes down the street... until you watched me move three loads of 'closet clean out items' from the trunk. I guess it is about time I collected the extra wedding decorations, my precious photo albums, and my George Foreman Grill. Little makes my mom happier than 'de-cluttering'.

We spent Saturday at the Botanical Garden and downtown taking in St. Patrick's, Times Square and $9.99 burgers and beer. Those two are fun to have around!

After church on Sunday we got outta dodge in the car. It's always amazing to see our city from above ground. Dominic and I make terrible navigators (Ok, Dom's not so bad). I didn't even realize the street we live on was one way. Fortunately we made it safe and sound to Oyster Bay and Roosevelt's home. We only had a couple hours, but took full advantage of the sunset to walk down to the sound and listen to the waves. Who knew we were so close to the water?!

There's something very special about spending time with our family. Thank you so much for coming to see us! Y'all come back now ya hear?

Project Cicero

Project Cicero gives books to under-resourced NYC public schools, homeless shelters, juvenile detention facilities, community centers, and reading programs like the one where I volunteer each week.

Books come from an annual citywide book drive. It's a nice exchange from independent, public and parochial schools, organizations and corporations to the places mentioned above. In 2010, Project Cicero distributed 200,000 books.

Distribution. Enter Volunteer Sarah.

Today me and four of my closest volunteer buddies from the South Bronx brought empty suitcases to the Pennsylvania Hotel near Herald Square to collect as many books as we could carry. Unfortunately, we were on the wait list and the last session to collect, so we had slim pickins. Dr. Seuss was on my list, (along with 'how things work' books and Scholastic picture books with large letters for kindergartners) but Seuss must be popular because I missed the last of the books.

Regardless of the selection, you get 45 minutes to run back and forth from the book conference room to your luggage in the hallway. I must have carried four or five armloads. It was like being a kid in a free candy shop.

Thanks to Project Cicero our program library got five full suitcase loads of books for this year!

Ninth grade Earth Sciences

Three weeks ago the director of a reading program where I volunteer approached me with a 'perfect fit'. She said, "Sarah, you work in health and one of our students is failing his ninth grade Earth Sciences class and needs a tutor. In my mind I think you'll be an excellent tutor for him!"

Earth Sciences and health promotion... it was a correlation similar to Peace Corps designating me a Community Health Educator based on my communication's internship in the Central Ohio Diabetes Association. "I would be happy to," I replied.

So we sat down, David and I, and that first week we calculated gradient. Turns out my brain was able to dust off my high school education after all. I was very concerned, however, that what he might throw at me in subsequent weeks would prove my incompetence and break my director's 'perfect fit' ideal.

Yesterday David comes in and presents me with his Regents exam packet. Students are allowed to use this guide during the examination, but they obviously need to know each topic proficiently to be able to use the guide. He says, "I hate C14." I thought to myself. "Me too."

He was specifically struggling with the concept of the half life of isotopes. C14 was just the first one, but there are three other calculations he needed to understand as well. We started the only way I could imagine -- he let me read the book. All of a sudden I decided to use what I knew which was health.

"David," I said. "Think about people. What would a human's half life be?" He said 50 years which sounded good to me. I told him the half life of carbon was not 50, but 5,730 years and I asked him what characteristics people exhibit when they've reached their half life. "Wrinkles, a bad back, muscle soreness, maybe." We were on a roll. I explained that people can do things to change our half life. Smoking, drunk driving and extreme sports all affect our condition when we reach our half life. Carbon, interestingly enough, is not affected by any external conditions. It is going to age by 5,730 years regardless of pressure, temperature or light.

We went on to discuss how when humans reach half life we don't change into anything else. We decompose. We began talking about decomposition, trash and compost and I quickly realized I was getting off topic. "Carbon, however, changes into lead. So every 5,730 years there are going to be smaller percentages of carbon and larger percentages of lead in the sample. This goes on indefinitely," I read. We looked at the questions on his homework and by the grace of God my explanation worked. He completed the entire assignment perfectly. He was proud of his understanding.

I'll admit, we turned to problems in the book and got stuck on one of the calculations. Fortunately for both of us David is strong at math. He'll check that question with his teacher tomorrow.

My director was right. Despite my doubts, despite my intimidation, despite my lack of qualifications I can serve this ninth grader. At the very least he is getting positive reinforcement from someone learning right along with him.

NY Style Caribbean Getaway

This is our new mid-winter escape. Thank the Lord for the New York Botanical Garden.

I'll admit, the winter is making us weary. It's cold, it's brown, and the frozen yellow snow has trash poking out of it now. Yesterday we splurged on a family membership to the garden. It was the best investment we have made in a long time.

Inside the conservatory we wandered through the exhibits ranging from a high desert to the tropical rainforest. Plants, plants everywhere! It was a feast for the eyes. The web site states: "The Enid A Haupt Conservatory is beautiful in all seasons, but in winter it feeds the color starved soul with lush green leaves and florid flowers and warms the cold and weary with it's sultry climate." Sultry climate, now that's where I belong.

Who knew fern leaves were 'born' all wrapped up like this? From chocolate beans to exotic orchids we were like kids in a candy store exploring the exhibits.

Green is good.

The conservatory has the largest glasshouse in the United States, holding 11 distinct habitats. It was fun to walk through the tropics while glancing out the window at the snow-covered gardens.

After our walk Dominic went to the cafe to study while I ran around outside. I was praising God the entire time for this open space without cars or crosswalks, trash or dogs. It was a peaceful escape and a challenging jog.

We have a lot to look forward to as members of this special place. This spring the farmer's market will return and as the seasons progress we'll look towards picnics among the azaleas and rhododendrons, strolls through the herb, rock and rose gardens and morning jogs to the historic stone quarry.

Where do you escape from winter?

Nine Days that Changed the World

June 2-10, 1979, Pope John Paul II traveled to his native Poland to address a war-torn country. One third of the population saw him live, millions more listened on the radio and watched him on television as he told the depressed population: "Do not be afraid."

Newt and Callista Gingrich came to Fordham last night to present a screening of their newest documentary, Nine Days that Changed the World, about the historic trip. We were captivated by a story we knew very little about prior to this week.

After the screening we thanked the Gingrichs for coming to the Bronx. I shared that I was most struck by the power of Pope John Paul's devotion to the cross. Callista was very gracious and reiterated a point made in the documentary that as a country the U.S. hasn't experienced the radical oppression that many countries have because of the faith we cling to.

AeroGarden 3 weeks | Marriage 1.5 years

February is National Indoor Gardening Month! According to my first edition of AeroGrow magazine, there is an entire website of webinars and videos on indoor gardening. I now have my very own, year-round garden calendar so I know exactly when to plant for vine-ripened tomatoes all winter long and when fresh spring greens would be likely to sprout for summer salads.

If I sound excited about this gift it is because I am. Check out my herb garden's progress after exactly three weeks:

This is lemon basil under the light. Notice how the leaves rise up to get those rays:

The lights are on about 16 hours each day. They know exactly how much these little starters need to meet their full potential. Here's a picture from just a few hours later after the light went off:

Nap time

I'm thankful for Dominic, and not just because of his thoughtful generosity. Today we have enjoyed marriage for a year and a half. From Queen Anne hill to Rose Hill he makes my life exciting and inspires me to reach the highest heights.

A Sunday Sigh

Here we are ending January without a clue how this month has passed so quickly. It could be that we spent less than half the month in NYC, or that we spent only half together. This week was the end of a whirlwind of travel activity for a bit. A bit.

I arrived at LaGuardia on Tuesday night and non-intentionally stayed on Pacific Time for the remainder of the week. After work on Wednesday, while every other New Yorker rushed home to avoid the severe winter storm, Dominic and I put on our boots and caught the D train to Manhattan to grab a drink with a friend and fellow RPCV who was in town for for an interview. After reminiscing and getting caught up we were on track to get home well after midnight.

Thursday afternoon I got a call from one of Dominic's cousins who had been trying to fly into JFK for days. About a half an hour later she arrived at our apartment and we spent the evening getting to know one another. She was also in town for an interview [perhaps the state of our union is improving?] and would only be sleeping over for a couple nights, but it was a terrific opportunity to visit, learn more about the cousins, and hear about her international lifestyle. The willingness to travel and visit family members - no matter how often you talk or how well you know each other - is one of the best things about my in-laws. We were up late by default because of Dominic's class times.

On Friday night we hosted a Growing in Faith 101 class in our living room. The church we started attending regularly doesn't have a building yet so the mid-week classes, groups and studies typically take place in someones home. We're thankful for this community and honored to have the opportunity to host our neighbors. More on this to come...

Saturday we said goodbye to our cousin and then Dom voluntarily sacrificed his day to help people complete their taxes at a local nonprofit. I headed down to the South Bronx to read with elementary school students - the least I can do to address the failing school system in this city. We met at the train station and headed to Manhattan for a Mediterranean dinner with our Peace Corps friends. We ran from the restaurant - literally - to Broadway to see Mary Poppins. Mary couldn't have provided a better way to end such a hectic week.

Do you remember Mary Poppins? Surely supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, taken down with a spoonful of sugar, is a delightful memory from childhood. Of course humming Let's Go Fly A Kite is a lighthearted tune for Saturday afternoon chores, but do you remember the message of Mary Poppins? The magic of a talking umbrella and hopping into chalk art, the value placed on family over money, the focus on stewardship? This musical could have been written in 2008. It was a perfect way for Dominic and I to relax, refocus and remember our blessings. We are so grateful for the balance we've found here.

Now if you'll excuse me, I must go feed the birds.

The Philippines

As I sit and stare out of the Fordham Library window at this...

....I can’t help but think about the stark contrast from where I was just a few days ago.

Sarah was kind enough to agree to allow me to take advantage of a great opportunity to attend a 2 week Project Assessment course in the Philippines. My first time in Southeast Asia was a wonderful experience.

The trip began auspiciously enough when I was delayed for a whole day. Now the reader may be thinking that this sounds terrible and it would indeed have been if I had been delayed someplace like O’Hare or JFK. Fortunately for me I was delayed here….

…In Guam. I eventually did make it to Manila.

We were hosted for the first week of classes by Ateneo de Manila. Outside of our classroom time we did get to go on some cultural trips and see the city. These included trips to the old city center known as Intramuros as well as Corregidor. This is the island where the Americans and Philippinos fought the last battle before being defeated (initially) by the Japanese in WWII. It was from here that McCarther’s “I shall return” comes.

While in Manila I also got to taste a local delicacy that I heard a lot about called balot. I thought I had eaten some challenging things while abroad in my past, but this one may take the cake. It is a duck egg that has been allowed to fertilize and so it has a nearly developed embryo inside. You break a hole in the top, drink the juice (which tastes a lot like chicken soup) and then proceed to eat the insides; hoping all the while that you don't taste feather or beak which is a sign that the egg has been allowed to fertilize for too long. Here's a photo of my particular egg.

It was rough getting it down, but it actually tasted pretty good.

For the second week of class we traveled to a rural fishing village in the south of Luzon island and spent time living with the local fishing folk. While learning about a local livelihood project (which we were there to assess) we got a chance to go fishing with them. Here we are traveling by boat out to a fishing site.

This was a highlight of the trip. The fishermen spread out these nets that then sink down in the water a few feet in a circular pattern.

They then use these tools which are kind of like large toilet plungers to smack the water. This hopefully startles the fish so that they scramble and get caught up in the net. The video below is of me taking part in the smacking. Our catch was pretty minuscule so perhaps my form can use some work.

After catching our fish we went to a white sandy beach, started a fire and ate our catch. It was a pretty darn neat experience.

The villagers in Baranguay Uno, Batangas were so friendly. It had been a while since I had stayed with a host family and I forgot how enjoyable and worthwhile it is to stay with locals while traveling; even if only for a few days, as was the case on this trip. here's a picture of the village:

I, as so many others before me, was very enamored of the artistry of the most common mode of public transportation in the Philippines: the Jeepney.

This particular Jeepney caught our eye. Not sure why Mike Tyson is associated with the Bronx? But nonetheless it's pretty sweet.

All in all it was a great trip and a worthwhile class. Hopefully Sarah and I will be able to visit Southeast Asia sometime in the future.

AeroGarden Part 2

I planted my AeroGarden one week ago today. There couldn't be an easier process. The machine knows when to turn on the lights and when they should go off. Sixteen hours of light, eight hours of dark. The AeroGarden can stay on a healthier schedule than most Americans! Here's what it looks like when I put in my seed pods:

The great thing about the garden is that I know when to expect my plants to sprout. Each plant is labeled with the number of days I should wait before the leaves appear under the little 'greenhouse covers'. I'm proud to say that Genovese Basil (expected in 6-12 days) appeared on Saturday:
I can also see my thyme (7-12 days), lemon basil (4-7 days) and globe basil (4-7 days) today! We can not wait to try these herbs. This garden has been a pleasure to watch.

Crafty Christmas

I spent time over Christmas and New Years with two of the best, most talented women in the world: My Mom and my Mother-in-law. Fortunately for me, they are both willing to share their gifts with others.

A few years ago my mom joined the Prayer Shawl Ministry at church. She's been knitting up a storm ever since. Her newest project is knitting hats for babies in the hospital. She got several different sized looms for Christmas and she offered to teach me how to knit while I was home. As it turns out, knitting hats is really quite easy (and quick) to learn. I finished the hat on the right in just a few days. It's a good thing since the temperatures haven't been over 30 degrees since I returned to NY. Although tight, this hat does the trick in protecting my ears from the overwhelming wind.

For some lucky baby's bald head.

My Mother-in-law is a gifted seamstress who shares her gifts wherever she goes. When she visited Seattle in 2009 she brought a sewing machine in her trunk. I was ashamed to admit that one of the quilts we started together way back then had sat in my closet unfinished until this winter. She graciously agreed to help me complete it.

I sent this bunny-patterned baby quilt to my host sister's daughter in Armenia. Although I'm not sure when I'll be able to return to meet her, I hope this quilt will keep her warm through the winter.

Thank you both for the things you have taught me--crafts and life lessons.

AeroGardening Part 1

An AeroGarden is the ideal garden for a NY apartment. An AeroGarden is the best gift a husband can give. Thank you for my Christmas present Dom!

We had a small Christmas exchange before leaving for Sacramento. Dominic surprised me with this thoughtful gift for our tiny place. I got the herb garden seek kit with the actual growing machine itself.

The great thing about an AeroGarden is that it grows with water and nutrient packets - no dirt, therefore no bugs! A water pump circulates water up and over through the 'growing sponges' (or seed pods) and on the roots of the plants.

Here's Dom reading the growing instructions:

There aren't many parts, the large frame on the top right is what holds the seed sponges. I can grow seven different plants at a time.

This is the base. To get started you choose what you're growing: herbs, tomatoes/peppers, flowers, etc... and it knows just what to do.

I planted my herb garden on Tuesday, January 11. For the first round I'm growing globe, genovese and lemon basil, tall dill, oregano, mint and thyme.

I'll keep you posted as the AeroGarden works it's magic...

An Ode to Rachel

Rachel o Rachel what can I say?

She's lovely and kind and always makes our day.

She'll love you and call you and never go away,

Even when you move she's willing to pay-

For a ticket, a Metro card a trip to the city,

She'll surprise you at home and make you feel pretty...

Special.

She's a professional, responsible and cooks just the best,

Quesadillas, guacamole and dessert better than the rest.

Rachel cares about family and never forgets friends,

Which is why I hope we'll be together until the very end.

Love,

Sarah

A Day in the Life

Back to the BX*.

I will admit, I am feeling overwhelmed by all there is to say about the past three weeks. I've decided to work backwards starting with my day - well a portion of my day - today.

Before leaving town we did our best to clean out the refrigerator. I have been gearing up for a grocery run for a few days now (trust me, it is necessary to do so) fully anticipating my desire to avoid the neighborhood grocery store in the new year as long as possible. Something I've learned about myself since living here is that I'm willing to travel great lengths and endure great frustrations to shop at a good grocery store. Lucky for us, one exists in Manhattan. I know, I know, there are probably tons in Manhattan and probably tons within the Bronx that I'm not giving a chance, but I have one store where I know I can find what I want, feel good about the quality, and enjoy the customer service. Think customer service doesn't make a difference with all the high-tech self-checkouts these days? I bet if you come shop at our local store you'll change your mind.

I pulled out my GNAUSA cart, grabbed a veggie slice, and caught the train about a half a mile from my house at 12:35 p.m. For whatever reason, however, I forgot to turn on my brain or pay attention to what was happening and I ended up in Brooklyn. For those of you not familiar with the city, this is a very long trip from the Bronx. Long. And yet, just before we crossed the river (after there was anything I could do to remedy the situation) I realized I had gone straight through and out the base of the island. What a delay. At the first stop I got out and headed right back where I had come. I had always looked forward to visiting Brooklyn, but today I was on a mission and couldn't be distracted from the groceries... or so I thought.

I asked a kind gentleman next to me where the next stop was. This is critical for me as I have been known to get on a train thinking I'm heading uptown when it's going the opposite direction. Somehow we struck up conversation and he told me that his name was Arsen and he was in America studying English. Arsen is an Armenian name so I asked him about it. He told me that he is a mechanical engineer but his family owns a florist shop in Istanbul. He's looking for American roommates so he can practice his English. Amazingly, I think he would have moved in with Dom and I today if I would have offered. He was eager to practice English and very chatty, but got off to go shopping with his friend. That's the thing about NY, I think if you're willing to ask people are willing to help. You can't isolate yourself.

I got to 14th and stopped by the farmer's market to see if anything looked good. It is a rough time a year for the market, and even harder for those who have to stand outside in 30 degree weather, so I bought a couple apples and pears. They looked pitiful, but since they're harvested naturally I'm sure they'll taste fine.

I was so close to the store when I got stopped by another guy my age trying to get me to try out a new salon. At first I listened because I thought I could get a free haircut (which I desperately need) but then I realized he wanted me to buy a salon package. I don't know what was wrong with me today - perhaps I was trying to support the poor souls who have to work outdoors in the winter- but after he discounted the haircut to a deal I couldn't pass up I bought the darn package. Shampoo, deep conditioning, cut, blow dry, style, skin analysis, mini European facial, eyebrow wax, lip wax (which I do not want), 20 minute neck and shoulder Shiatsu massage, all for $50. I think the UN should hire me for my negotiation skills. I asked the guy about his work, his lifestyle in midtown, and how he stays warm outside all day. I also found out that he grew up in Cincinnati. When I asked him if he was ripping me off he said "I'm too cute for jail." I should have walked away then, but then I had to think that Ohioans take care of each other. We'll see how the salon is...

The store was packed. It's always packed. When you picture busy you have to shrink the size of whatever establishment you're imagining and double the people inside. I've shopped here a lot since we arrived and every single time the checkout line wraps around the perimeter of the store. My salon marketer friend gave me a good tip to shop the interior first and then just pick up what you want from the exterior as you wait in line. It would have worked today if there were not two lines side-by-side wrapped around the store. No cutting in for eggs when there could be line confusion.

I was trying to shop for more than a month's worth of groceries so I filled my cart completely. I brought four reusable grocery bags and all were filled to the brim.

As 3:30 approached I boarded the train back to the Bronx. This was easier said than done. I took the elevator downstairs and knew I wouldn't be able to fit my full cart through the entrance turnstiles. I waved to the attendant in his booth and asked him to kindly unlock the door from me. He yelled for me to swipe my metro card then push the turnstile. I was flustered (it was crowded) and I started to walk through. Realizing I was getting stuck on the other side - apart from my beloved cart - I panicked and only let one leg through. There I was, holding up traffic and straddling the stupid gate. The man was screaming: "I told you to push, not walk through!" Annoyed and embarrassed I jumped over the darn thing, got my cart and went through the now open emergency exit doorway. I looked at him in his glass office and said, "You don't have to be mean." What a sight I must have been.

Now although there is an elevator from street level into the subway there isn't an elevator to all of the tracks. Once I got through the door I was stranded at the top of the mezzanine trying to figure out how to get my groceries downstairs. Thank goodness a kind man offered to help me carry the cart in its entirety. Lucky me! It was so heavy another guy helped us make it all the way down.

Accessibility is a greater issue, perhaps deserving of an entire post itself, but if this massive grocery run is difficult for me (and I brought it on myself) what do people with strollers do? Who helps people in wheelchairs? What year is it anyway? New Yorkers are nice, but doesn't ADA have a code for public transportation?

Fortunately I had plenty of time on the ride home to make a plan for getting off this train I had so cleverly gotten onto. I knew there were four flights of stairs I would have to make it back down to get to the street to walk to my apartment. There's a different generosity in the Bronx, so realizing I probably wouldn't be able to get someone to carry my burdensome transportation system I decided to unload in a rotation.

Sure enough, the track cleared by the time I made it to the first stairway. I unloaded three of the four bags to the first landing, went back up for the cart, carried the cart to the second landing, reloaded the cart, charged the emergency exit, unloaded three bags to the third landing, carried the card and then reloaded all the bags for the walk home. It was exhausting, but I was proud of my independence.

If it weren't for a sidewalk crack that crashed my cart four blocks from home it would have been a successful trip. I lost a jar of peanut satay sauce and a jar of marinara sauce to that crooked corner. One could blame all that lifting and carrying, or the fact that I bought glass jars, but again I ask you, ADA...

I walked in the door at 4:52 p.m. Here's what I learned from my day:

• Stay positive. New Yorkers always have somewhere else they need to be that they're in a hurry to get to no matter where you are. It's better to just stay calm and not worry about how fast people are moving around you.
• Use a buddy system. A.) I would not have spent so extravagantly and B.) Cart carrying is a two-person project.
• Living takes a little more effort here. Get used to it.

Dom got a scale for Christmas. To add credibility to my story, my bags weighed: 24, 10, 18 and 31 pounds for a total of 83 pounds. Guess I won't need to hit the gym tonight.

*Apparently snow affects an already delicate trash-pickup process. Not for the better as this pile is taller than me.

A very merry Christmas

Dominic and I spent a very special Christmas in Yolo County, CA this year. My first Christmas with the in-laws and my first visit to downtown Sacramento. I was delighted to be a part of the annual caroling party, the very social happy hours, the family dinners and midnight mass on Christmas day. Thank you for hosting us!

The events started a week before Christmas with the neighborhood, family and friends caroling party. We gathered talented artists to play guitar, banjo, cello and bongo.

My only regret was that I didn't have my trumpet in California!

The kids danced, adults sang, and a good time was had by all. My dear friend and teacher from Armenia was able to join us for this holiday.

Thank you so much for the memories. From the blessing cake to the Cross Court pass, the family creche to the white elephant exchange. We loved spending time with you!

Tis the season

Christmas in the Bronx is in full swing in the our household. It's always an adventure finding our Christmas tree. Our first year in Seattle we had a Christmas bush, last year we cut down our own sad-looking Charlie Brown Christmas tree. This year we went with a Christmas fern!


Pretty impressive I realize. Unfortunately the fern branch is not as rigid as one might hope and so we were pretty limited in the number and type of ornaments we could hang. Nonetheless it finally feels like Christmas in our little corner of the Bronx.

Landmark Quiz

Dear West Coast Readers,

Please take a look at the photo below and leave us a yes/no comment to the following question:

Do you know the name of the cultural landmark where this photo was taken?

I am certain that by answering honestly you can end a marital debate and earn me a Chipotle burrito.

Learning to Cook

Disclaimer: This is not a cooking blog. I don't know how to cook, but I was so surprised with my progress since August 1, 2009 I couldn't help but share. Experiential Learning at it's finest.

There are several reasons why I don't enjoy cooking. I'll admit, my recipes are not organized and I can never remember what our favorite meals are. I'll say that I don't enjoy grocery shopping, and I'll confess that I have an aversion to touching uncooked meat. It's all a recipe for disaster in the kitchen.

My fridge on Sunday (most days for that matter) wasn't very inspiring either:

For some reason, Sunday dinner became the road less traveled. I decided to 'wing it'. Usually this ends in cereal for dinner, but last night cauliflower was our centerpiece. I managed to pull this off:

Does it look like a crab cake? Fooled ya. I think I once tried a similar recipe from a Rachael Ray magazine, but (see aforementioned disorganization) without the recipe I decided to see what I could do with what I had on hand. Here's what I used:

• 1 head of cauliflower
• 2 eggs
• 2 handfuls of whole wheat flower
• 2 pinches of special herbs de province my friend gave me
• dried basil (I'd season everything with basil if I could. I'm crazy about this herb)
• some oil
• lots of spinach
• a handful of cherry tomatoes
• a drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette
• shredded parmesan cheese

How that for measurements? I don't measure when I don't have a recipe.

I boiled the cauliflower, but I can't tell you how long because I got it started then had to turn it off while I delivered some cookies to our super. Maybe it took 15 minutes. I just waited until I could smash it down with a fork. After draining and smashing all the cauliflower I added my herbs and eggs then picked out the shells... I didn't mention I can't crack an egg... and my handfuls of flour.

I began heating some extra-virgin olive oil (I thought this would be 'lighter' than frying in butter) in a large skillet and dropped in the cauliflower globs in four-at-a-time to fry. I think there could be other ways to heat them - perhaps by broiling - but I wanted Dom to eat something for dinner and I knew if it was fried he would give it a try.

Once all my little patties were set out on paper towels I rinsed off the spinach, picked off the stems and drizzled in my balsamic vinegar. I made little beds for the patties and shredded some fresh parmesan cheese on top. Not bad at all.

The picture above is the reheats I had with a whole wheat tortilla for lunch. I ran out of balsamic vinaigrette last night so this is Greek feta dressing. Just as I sat down to enjoy the leftovers my dear friend Jill called from Columbus. She said she found my blog and plans to read every post, welcome Jill. I'm happy you're here.

It was very appropriate that she called just as I was thinking about sharing my makeshift cauliflower recipe because it also gives me a platform to shout my hoorays for her chocolate pumpkin cookies I mentioned delivering above. I make these cookies constantly (when I have access to pumpkin) and they're a big hit.

I don't like to share this recipe because it's so easy people might not think of the cookies as a gift. We'll see if Jill really reads and if she gives away my cookie secret.

My mom will tell you, and my college roommates will confirm, that I've come a long way in the past year and a half. Marriage brought out the Julia Child in me. While there's still progress to be made - Julia made tasty food after all - I feel like breaking free from the cookbook to create something edible is a step in the right direction.

Doesn't This Look A Lot Like Christmas

I am going to write an ode to my Gnausa* shopping cart. I love it. I push it everywhere. It even transported our Christmas pine home from Little Italy yesterday evening.

Life this year is much different from life last year. We're the the big city, so we get a smaller Christmas tree. To be fair, this was our "love fern" two years ago (Sarah and Dom spend within their means):

Anyway, we're thrilled with this year's Norfolk pine. We've learned a lot since 2008 and chose a plant from my new friend at the Italian market that is meant to be kept indoors. In fact, despite it's pine-like look, my friend told me that it's a tropical plant. If it is, surely it will love my climate. TheGardenHelper.com writes that this plant could live inside and would grow straight if I turn it every once in awhile. Wikipedia says it must be planted outdoors after the holidays. We'll see who wins... maybe I'll ask John what he thinks.

We haven't had time to decorate it yet, but I'll get another post up to spread the holiday cheer in a few days.

*Side note: gna means go in Armenian. I like to call this my Go USA cart.

Thanksgiving in Columbus

We're celebrating Thanksgiving with the Zaengers this year. A week in Worthington fills my heart with gratitude and appreciation for my parents, family and friends and what they have done for me over the years.

My parents always roll out the red carpet when we come home. It doesn't have to be a holiday to get some TLC and genuine hospitality. Not only do they cook up delicious meals, but they entertain with the best of them (with a hat tip to the Wii, Bananagrams, the Columbus Zoo and Elf the movie). Mom cares about comfort; always setting out travel-sized toiletries, picking up our favorite foods, and providing fresh towels in the bedroom. Dad will make sure you know exactly what Ohio teams are playing, on what channel and when. Go Bucks!

This year was particularly special because Seda, my Peace Corps Armenia teacher, friend, and mentor also came to our feast from California where she is getting her master's degree. My cup runeth over!

Not ones to miss an opportunity to put Ohio's best face forward, today my dad, Dominic and I took Seda on a tour of some of the Columbus wintertime sights (it was way, way too cold to visit any of our outdoor favorites like Highbanks, the park of roses, or Inniswood). We headed down to Capital (that's me with my brick above), visited German village's Book Loft, drove past Dad's charitable pharmacy and stopped by the Santa Maria.

The brick I placed at Capital reads: "Direct our footsteps Lord, Psalm 121". Psalm 121 was the last thing my grandfather said to me before I left for Armenia in 2006. It's the first thing I think of when I remember him today. I am grateful for Frank Zaenger. For his faith, his guidance, and the family he raised. May we always remember as we walk that the Lord will watch over our coming and going both now and forevermore.

Getting Noticed in our New Neighborhood

Yesterday I went to campus for a jog by myself. On the way home I crossed the street to our apartment and a friendly gentleman struck a running pose and commented: "What, no partner today?". I had no idea who this guy was and his question caught me off guard. I quickly replied "not today" and headed home.

What? People recognize me?

Then I realized, I've lived here for nearly three months! We do stand out a bit because of our race, but we're particularly hard to miss in the morning because a) we're running and b) I'm wearing a neon yellow reflector jacket.

Neighborhood, you recognize me? Well, I've started to recognize a few things about you:

• I like to watch you, Speedy Scooter Man, fly down the middle of the road in your motorized chair at 20 miles per hour. Where are you going in such a hurry? Why don't you use the sidewalks or at least wear a helmet?
• I'm grateful for you, Talented Opera Singer. Maybe you don't live in our building, we are so close you might live in a different building all together, but when the windows are open I feel like I'm at my own private concert.
• I tolerate you, Cat Lady Across The Street. Why you've decided to invest in cat food for the 20 stray black cats in our neighborhood is beyond me, but I'm sure they appreciate your effort.

• You terrify me, Pigeon Flock On The Corner. Why must you get all riled up every time I walk by? Don't you migrate? Isn't there a park you could hang out in?

Thank you, Man Downstairs, for your understanding when I bribe you with a bar of Lindt dark chocolate to turn your music down. Of course I'll always oblige your requests to stop 'dragging across the floor' when I'm vacuuming at 11 a.m. on a Saturday.

• I feel for you, Bodega Owner, as you sit at the check stand for hours, days, weeks on end. You remind me of Usnavi and I wish we were friends. Thank you for the free matchbook.
• I wonder about you, Next Door Neighbor Front-Porch-Sitter, and appreciate your willingness to bring back the use of the front of the house. I bet you get a kick out of me running up and down the street on my lunch breaks. What can I say? An hour's not enough time to get to Family Dollar and back.
• You're wonderful, Jeff, and I must say you're the most hard-working super we've ever had. Thank you for keeping our sidewalks leaf-blown, our apartment building warm and our trash cans empty. Now about that pet policy...

More recognition to come. We'll be here for awhile.