After several weeks of unbridled
gluttony mixed with forced steroid use, continued cravings for the crap food I ate and (GAH!) weight gain, I've decided to go all out...Master Cleanse style.
Last time, it helped with a lot, though I was miserable for the entire time. Being a foodie and not able to eat is hard, but it makes me focus on WHY I'm a foodie, and--more importantly--how I can eat mindfully and be healthy, all while enjoying my passion.
So, here we go! I'm not looking forward to the fast itself, but I'm definitely looking forward to the concentration on becoming my healthiest self!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
7.12.11
31.7.11
some things just start out like that...
so tonight i finally tackled the roll of polenta sitting in the gluten-free drawer of the fridge. i must admit that i've been rather puzzled about what to do with it--for some reason, i was determined to make something with polenta rounds--the idea of cooking it down just didn't appeal as a first go. but all of my recipe searches seemed determined to thwart my plans...that's when i decided to strike out on my own! i am always watching cooking shows and marveling at how chefs and master cooks know what they should combine for the perfect tastes. it is fascinating but also daunting at the same time. i continually wonder, "how am i going to be able to learn all of these different qualities and keep them straight when making combinations?" not to say that i'm anywhere close, but tonight i found myself using a little bit of the information that i've managed to store away.
i finally decided to push forth with my own recipe involving roma tomatoes, fresh parmesan-reggiano, and fresh basil, rosemary, and lavender from my garden. I used a food network recipe for roasted tomatoes for the time and oven temperature, but otherwise I was on my own. here's what i did:
1. cut 4 roma tomatoes lengthwise into 8ths, then half horizontally
2. toss in a large bowl with fresh basil (8-9 leaves), rosemary (approx. 1/4 tbsp), a tiny bit of lavender, and some sun-dried tomato basil infused olive oil 3. roast in oven for 20 minutes at 400 degrees
4. in a large skillet, heat 2-3 tbsp. olive oil with some italian-blend seasoning thrown in.
5. cut polenta into 1/2 inch rounds, then place carefully into hot olive oil, turning frequently until each side is browned (approx. 5 minutes for each side)
6. as the polenta is cooking, season each side with fresh ground black pepper, french grey sea salt, and cumin
7. when polenta rounds are nicely browned, place on plate and top with the roasted tomato mixture.
8. grate fresh parmesan-reggiano cheese onto the top of each round.
the picture isn't great, but wow! this tasted amazing...
i finally decided to push forth with my own recipe involving roma tomatoes, fresh parmesan-reggiano, and fresh basil, rosemary, and lavender from my garden. I used a food network recipe for roasted tomatoes for the time and oven temperature, but otherwise I was on my own. here's what i did:
1. cut 4 roma tomatoes lengthwise into 8ths, then half horizontally
2. toss in a large bowl with fresh basil (8-9 leaves), rosemary (approx. 1/4 tbsp), a tiny bit of lavender, and some sun-dried tomato basil infused olive oil 3. roast in oven for 20 minutes at 400 degrees
4. in a large skillet, heat 2-3 tbsp. olive oil with some italian-blend seasoning thrown in.
5. cut polenta into 1/2 inch rounds, then place carefully into hot olive oil, turning frequently until each side is browned (approx. 5 minutes for each side)
6. as the polenta is cooking, season each side with fresh ground black pepper, french grey sea salt, and cumin
7. when polenta rounds are nicely browned, place on plate and top with the roasted tomato mixture.
8. grate fresh parmesan-reggiano cheese onto the top of each round.
the picture isn't great, but wow! this tasted amazing...
22.7.11
It's 104 degrees outside!
time for the perfect summer dinner...caprese salad with fresh tomatoes and mozzarella...along with some basil and rosemary from my garden...
and some pinot grigio with fresh strawberries and blueberries...
cheers!
and some pinot grigio with fresh strawberries and blueberries...
cheers!
13.7.11
some little lovelies...
the second summer semester is already moving too fast to even imagine posting a full paragraph, but here are some of my favorite things from the last several days...
the quinoa, baby spinach, baby portobello mushroom, broccoli, and sauteed tofu mix that has made me happy for the last 3 days at lunch...
one of my favorite ingredients, french grey sea salt. it just sounds sophisticated!
one of my favorite pictures of mollipops in one of my favorite frames...
the headband i bought while shopping with a dear friend on saturday because it reminds me of my sophie's glamorous collar...
a wonderful antiqued glass vase with some bright green flowers...right next to my bathroom sink ...
the tiny porcelain bird i found at the brocante in brussels...with the base of my grandmother's bathroom mirror in the background...
my antique locker basket with collected corks and some funky flowers...
the quinoa, baby spinach, baby portobello mushroom, broccoli, and sauteed tofu mix that has made me happy for the last 3 days at lunch...
one of my favorite ingredients, french grey sea salt. it just sounds sophisticated!
one of my favorite pictures of mollipops in one of my favorite frames...
the headband i bought while shopping with a dear friend on saturday because it reminds me of my sophie's glamorous collar...
a wonderful antiqued glass vase with some bright green flowers...right next to my bathroom sink ...
the tiny porcelain bird i found at the brocante in brussels...with the base of my grandmother's bathroom mirror in the background...
my antique locker basket with collected corks and some funky flowers...
21.6.11
A chance to take a breath...and a photo
don't get me wrong--i love my job, i love teaching, and i'm very glad that i get to do it over the summer...but i am very, very, very happy to see the end of this first summer semester. not that the classes were bad, but the grueling schedule made it hard to stay healthy, and who doesn't love a short respite?
so, although i thoroughly enjoyed teaching this summer session, i am looking forward to a week of re-centering my body and clearing my head. given the aforementioned schedule, the fibro has been an ever-present companion so the more fluid schedule will be a wonderful period of rest and rejuvenation. i am also looking forward to preparing for next summer session and getting back into my research schedule.
today was study day, giving a little taste of what is to come. although it was a day filled with work, i had the delicious opportunity to do it all cuddled up at home...how i miss those graduate school days of working at home in my pink chair...
the day also afforded me the chance to work on my rice paper roll project. i have for some time been determined to make something with rice paper, and after finding this recipe on gluten free scallywag i was doubly inspired! so with only a fleeting sense of confidence, i embarked on this new adventure.
it was very fun and turned out well, especially for my first try. the hardest part was wrapping the rolls in a visually appealing way...and not eating all of them in one breath!
some gluten-free peanut and sweet chili sauce drizzled on top, and all was right with the world...
so, although i thoroughly enjoyed teaching this summer session, i am looking forward to a week of re-centering my body and clearing my head. given the aforementioned schedule, the fibro has been an ever-present companion so the more fluid schedule will be a wonderful period of rest and rejuvenation. i am also looking forward to preparing for next summer session and getting back into my research schedule.
today was study day, giving a little taste of what is to come. although it was a day filled with work, i had the delicious opportunity to do it all cuddled up at home...how i miss those graduate school days of working at home in my pink chair...
the day also afforded me the chance to work on my rice paper roll project. i have for some time been determined to make something with rice paper, and after finding this recipe on gluten free scallywag i was doubly inspired! so with only a fleeting sense of confidence, i embarked on this new adventure.
it was very fun and turned out well, especially for my first try. the hardest part was wrapping the rolls in a visually appealing way...and not eating all of them in one breath!
some gluten-free peanut and sweet chili sauce drizzled on top, and all was right with the world...
27.5.11
more adventures in gluten-free land
so, after a brief hiatus from posting about my gluten-free adventures, i'm back with new tidbits--some "big," some not so big...
it looks like we're a breath away from being done with the upstairs renovation--the guest bedroom is set up, and all of the furniture has arrived for the living room. the last thing to arrive will be the rug on monday. it looks great! jerry has worked so hard to create a lovely family space for us--he is so wonderful!!
we had a great time in folly beach and charleston--very relaxing and wonderful weather! i wish we had taken more pictures, but i guess the fact that we were having too much fun to remember to get out the camera is a good thing in the end! :)
shortly before we left for the trip, i decided to start eating meat again--with a very large caveat, of course! only humanely raised, organically fed, free-range meat, and only when really necessary. this helps a lot with the issue of protein intake when being gluten-free and vegetarian. i noticed that i was eating mostly rice and veggies; although rice is a rich source of fiber, the proteins are incomplete, so i was always starving and week. by allowing a little bit of meat in my diet, i am able to supplement the protein with some healthy options every once in a while.
as far as gluten-free recipe adventures go, the bean dip that i put together a couple of weeks ago was great--it was all natural, so a dash of cayenne pepper and french gray sea salt made it PERFECT for munching on.
tonight i finally got the courage to make my gluten-free pizza crust. i'm not sure why, but i was completely intimidated by the idea of making a bread product. but the chebe crust mix made it so easy! i used a sun-dried tomato and basil olive oil in the mix, which i think gave it a very unique flavor. this being my first time making a bread mix, i think i added a little too much milk, but after wrapping and refrigerating the dough for about 10 minutes, it turned out great! i topped it with some gluten-free spaghetti sauce, fat-free mozzarella cheese, mushroom slices, tomato slices, and spinach leaves. it was AWESOME! especially since any of my add-ins/add-ons were fat-free, low-fat, or low-cal--it felt good to enjoy a little piece of heavenly pizza knowing that i had made it at least a little bit healthier...
as for restaurant adventures, my friend lisa and i found the black bean hummus at barley's in greenville to be amazing! and, after requesting no pita bread given our mutual gluten-free-gloriousness, they automatically provided us with corn chips. it was so good we ordered another helping!
i'm looking forward this weekend to trying out the gluten-free options at trios in downtown with jennie f.! very exciting to get to spend time with such wonderful ladies and experience new things at the same time!
ahh, well, now off to ride the motorcycle up to bi-lo with my guy...
i'm very much craving that tex-mex quinoa that i mentioned before--it was so good and filling!
it looks like we're a breath away from being done with the upstairs renovation--the guest bedroom is set up, and all of the furniture has arrived for the living room. the last thing to arrive will be the rug on monday. it looks great! jerry has worked so hard to create a lovely family space for us--he is so wonderful!!
we had a great time in folly beach and charleston--very relaxing and wonderful weather! i wish we had taken more pictures, but i guess the fact that we were having too much fun to remember to get out the camera is a good thing in the end! :)
shortly before we left for the trip, i decided to start eating meat again--with a very large caveat, of course! only humanely raised, organically fed, free-range meat, and only when really necessary. this helps a lot with the issue of protein intake when being gluten-free and vegetarian. i noticed that i was eating mostly rice and veggies; although rice is a rich source of fiber, the proteins are incomplete, so i was always starving and week. by allowing a little bit of meat in my diet, i am able to supplement the protein with some healthy options every once in a while.
as far as gluten-free recipe adventures go, the bean dip that i put together a couple of weeks ago was great--it was all natural, so a dash of cayenne pepper and french gray sea salt made it PERFECT for munching on.
tonight i finally got the courage to make my gluten-free pizza crust. i'm not sure why, but i was completely intimidated by the idea of making a bread product. but the chebe crust mix made it so easy! i used a sun-dried tomato and basil olive oil in the mix, which i think gave it a very unique flavor. this being my first time making a bread mix, i think i added a little too much milk, but after wrapping and refrigerating the dough for about 10 minutes, it turned out great! i topped it with some gluten-free spaghetti sauce, fat-free mozzarella cheese, mushroom slices, tomato slices, and spinach leaves. it was AWESOME! especially since any of my add-ins/add-ons were fat-free, low-fat, or low-cal--it felt good to enjoy a little piece of heavenly pizza knowing that i had made it at least a little bit healthier...
as for restaurant adventures, my friend lisa and i found the black bean hummus at barley's in greenville to be amazing! and, after requesting no pita bread given our mutual gluten-free-gloriousness, they automatically provided us with corn chips. it was so good we ordered another helping!
i'm looking forward this weekend to trying out the gluten-free options at trios in downtown with jennie f.! very exciting to get to spend time with such wonderful ladies and experience new things at the same time!
ahh, well, now off to ride the motorcycle up to bi-lo with my guy...
i'm very much craving that tex-mex quinoa that i mentioned before--it was so good and filling!
26.5.11
WOW
i was listening to this as i was walking (thank you, best of the left podcast), and i stopped dead in my tracks and just stood there with my mouth open going, 'wow. awesome.'
Rep. Keith Ellison Talks About What Liberty and Justice for All Really Means
Rep. Keith Ellison Talks About What Liberty and Justice for All Really Means
15.5.11
a very interesting perspective...
from the bill maher show, episode 212, regarding the celebrations surrounding the death of bin laden:
"i think that irshad [manji]'s point is that when we begin to see the evil in another person, and we begin to locate it there and not see that we're just as vulnerable to the same kind of stuff, we're not as humble as we should be. and therefore, we should be a bit more cautious about celebrating that." ~ michael eric dyson
just something to think about...
"i think that irshad [manji]'s point is that when we begin to see the evil in another person, and we begin to locate it there and not see that we're just as vulnerable to the same kind of stuff, we're not as humble as we should be. and therefore, we should be a bit more cautious about celebrating that." ~ michael eric dyson
just something to think about...
3.5.11
so much productivity!
well, mes chers, this day has been a whirlwind! i ended up staying home from work because we had some maintenance going on, and although that doesn't sound like the best recipe for productivity, i was moving through some tasks! now, as it begins storming in a very delightful way, i thought i'd curl up here with a good glass of red wine and share some of the good news as well as what i've been doing in the kitchen...
we had the carpets steam cleaned today--all ready for the upstairs furniture to be delivered on friday and the new changes in the guest bedroom. i can't wait for family and friends to come and share our home!
so, not only did i finish grading compositions and my other work AND plant my roses AND walk 4 miles, i was also able to cook up a bunch of great stuff for the coming weeks! i did the asparagus frittata--very easy and gave me the chance to use the iron skillets that my mom gave me so long ago. i just had a piece--of course with ketchup, since i'm one of those "eggs with ketchup" people--and it was great. surprisingly filling and tasty for only 60 calories a slice!
i also finished making the lasagna--i still couldn't get the food processor to work, so i just decided to mix it by hand. i honestly can't believe that i didn't think of that the other night--the recipe only called for 10 seconds of food processing, so i wish it had occurred to me to look and see if i could just do it by hand. of course the noodles that i had cooked were mostly stuck together and wasted, but luckily i had six unused ones left over, so between those and pieces of the others, i was able to piece together the equivalent of 12 noodles. i would have just bought some more, but the only place i've been able to find the tinkyada lasagna noodles is in easley (grrrrr...), so that wasn't possible.
anyway, after a small taste test, i think it turned out great...i froze it for the next sunday when the family has our traditional lasagna meal. perhaps i'll stop by ingles in the morning to pick up some of the french bread mix that i saw.
i have to say, i am seriously craving some french bread and some doritos (not together of course!). i know, i know...a strange food identity to reference, but i love both so much!
i was also going to fix up some zucchini tempura chips, but i realized that the recipe called for a dehydrator, so i'll have to figure out a way around that or table that one for a little while. i did take the leftover veggies (asparagus, yellow squash, extra zucchini, and green onion) and sauté them with some jalapeno pepper flakes to then be mixed with rice. i think at this point i have enough food for 3 weeks, but it has been fun!
as an aside, the vegetarian times website has been an amazing resource. on this site, you can not only read interesting articles, you can search for vegetarian recipes with an amazing number of specifications, including gluten-free, low-calorie, low-fat, dairy-free, and vegan. it seems like filtering vegetarian recipes for gluten-free and low-calorie would turn up 0 results, but this site has an astonishing number of options! even when i added dairy-free to those options, i still got pages and pages of results. also, every recipe comes with a nutritional breakdown, which is very helpful for dieting and also for ensuring appropriate levels of proteins and other nutrients.
i hope that one day i'll be adept enough at this cooking venture to post pictures of what i actually make--not the recipe photos! of course, that would also require me to find my camera...hmmmm....
we had the carpets steam cleaned today--all ready for the upstairs furniture to be delivered on friday and the new changes in the guest bedroom. i can't wait for family and friends to come and share our home!
so, not only did i finish grading compositions and my other work AND plant my roses AND walk 4 miles, i was also able to cook up a bunch of great stuff for the coming weeks! i did the asparagus frittata--very easy and gave me the chance to use the iron skillets that my mom gave me so long ago. i just had a piece--of course with ketchup, since i'm one of those "eggs with ketchup" people--and it was great. surprisingly filling and tasty for only 60 calories a slice!
i also finished making the lasagna--i still couldn't get the food processor to work, so i just decided to mix it by hand. i honestly can't believe that i didn't think of that the other night--the recipe only called for 10 seconds of food processing, so i wish it had occurred to me to look and see if i could just do it by hand. of course the noodles that i had cooked were mostly stuck together and wasted, but luckily i had six unused ones left over, so between those and pieces of the others, i was able to piece together the equivalent of 12 noodles. i would have just bought some more, but the only place i've been able to find the tinkyada lasagna noodles is in easley (grrrrr...), so that wasn't possible.
anyway, after a small taste test, i think it turned out great...i froze it for the next sunday when the family has our traditional lasagna meal. perhaps i'll stop by ingles in the morning to pick up some of the french bread mix that i saw.
i have to say, i am seriously craving some french bread and some doritos (not together of course!). i know, i know...a strange food identity to reference, but i love both so much!
i was also going to fix up some zucchini tempura chips, but i realized that the recipe called for a dehydrator, so i'll have to figure out a way around that or table that one for a little while. i did take the leftover veggies (asparagus, yellow squash, extra zucchini, and green onion) and sauté them with some jalapeno pepper flakes to then be mixed with rice. i think at this point i have enough food for 3 weeks, but it has been fun!
as an aside, the vegetarian times website has been an amazing resource. on this site, you can not only read interesting articles, you can search for vegetarian recipes with an amazing number of specifications, including gluten-free, low-calorie, low-fat, dairy-free, and vegan. it seems like filtering vegetarian recipes for gluten-free and low-calorie would turn up 0 results, but this site has an astonishing number of options! even when i added dairy-free to those options, i still got pages and pages of results. also, every recipe comes with a nutritional breakdown, which is very helpful for dieting and also for ensuring appropriate levels of proteins and other nutrients.
i hope that one day i'll be adept enough at this cooking venture to post pictures of what i actually make--not the recipe photos! of course, that would also require me to find my camera...hmmmm....
2.5.11
cooking it up this weekend
this weekend was a great food festival! on friday night, we went to the lazy goat in downtown greenville for our anniversary--that was where we went on our first date--and the meal was amazing. the truffle fries were delicious as was the risotto that the chef prepared especially for me after i told the server i was a gluten-free vegetarian. it was honestly one of the best meals that i have ever had and the company was of course wonderful. :)
then on saturday i spent some quality time in the kitchen. my batch of hummus didn't come out as well as the first one, but the tex-mex quinoa was great. with the left over black beans and dr. mcdougall's black bean soup, i made up a little creation of my own--vegetarian, gluten-free bean dip! to the 1/2 of the box that was left and the approximately 1 can worth of black beans, i added a can of great northern beans (drained), some salsa, and some savory, then threw it all in the food processor...voilà! i must say, it tasted very good for something that was, shall we say, a bit aimless...
i also made up some gluten-free spaghetti as well as some brown rice with veggies and quorn. all great things for lunch and dinner. i started to make a gluten-free vegetarian lasagna last night with some tinkyada noodles that i found at wal-mart (of all places!), but couldn't get the food processor to work, so that was shelved until another try tonight. at least all of the ingredients are ready!
then on saturday i spent some quality time in the kitchen. my batch of hummus didn't come out as well as the first one, but the tex-mex quinoa was great. with the left over black beans and dr. mcdougall's black bean soup, i made up a little creation of my own--vegetarian, gluten-free bean dip! to the 1/2 of the box that was left and the approximately 1 can worth of black beans, i added a can of great northern beans (drained), some salsa, and some savory, then threw it all in the food processor...voilà! i must say, it tasted very good for something that was, shall we say, a bit aimless...
i also made up some gluten-free spaghetti as well as some brown rice with veggies and quorn. all great things for lunch and dinner. i started to make a gluten-free vegetarian lasagna last night with some tinkyada noodles that i found at wal-mart (of all places!), but couldn't get the food processor to work, so that was shelved until another try tonight. at least all of the ingredients are ready!
24.4.11
great!
so i did the zucchini tomato gratin tonight for dinner, and it was great! didn't look exactly like the picture, but it was soooo tasty!
also tried my tinkyada gluten-free spaghetti for dinner tonight, and it was also wonderful...i love the feeling of my body regrouping and getting back to what's right!
also tried my tinkyada gluten-free spaghetti for dinner tonight, and it was also wonderful...i love the feeling of my body regrouping and getting back to what's right!
22.4.11
getting back to the right place
i have to say, i'm really loving the gluten-free decision! i can already feel my body regrouping and renewing itself. also, as i mentioned before, it has not only made me more excited about what i eat, it's changed my point of reference to food. after my 'aha' moment in the produce section last week (see previous post), i am just really enjoying getting back to the natural goodness of nature in my food.
now, that's not to say that i haven't splurged a little (even though in a gluten-free, vegetarian way)...for example, the load of spinach-artichoke dip that i scarfed down with some gf crackers at wild wings last saturday! CLEARLY not the healthiest or most natural thing in the world to eat en général, but the point is that what i am ingesting everyday has become so much more fundamental and simple. added to the awesome knowledge of exactly what is in my food is the fun of getting into the kitchen and cooking again.
purely as a matter of coincidence, i noticed a flyer for the farmers' market at clems*n on monday, just in time! it only happens from 11-2, but i was able to take 20 minutes and walk on over there. there were so many cool things for sale--fresh goat cheese, vegetables, etc. there was also a gluten-free bakery booth with AMAZING cupcakes as well as a booth with some potted herbs. i bought some gluten-free treats (although ended up giving them all away) and a potted savory plant. i had never heard of that herb, but apparently it goes well with beans and related recipes, so it will be great for my new endeavors. i plan on going back next week to get some of the cheese and another herb. hopefully soon i'll have a nice little herb garden!
last night i made up a batch of steamed brown rice and veggies...so simple, so cheap, so easy, and makes so much! i made enough for 3 days worth of food just from that! while steaming the rice, i just chopped up some garlic and tossed it into a pan with some of my new savory (yay!), then zucchini, yellow squash, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, and broccoli. i have to say, the smooth feel of cutting the vegetables and handling every ingredient was awesome. i tossed the veggies in with the garlic and savory, added some herbes de provence and natural french gray sea salt, then just monitored and stirred so that they didn't get over-cooked. by the time they were ready to go, the rice was done, and i just tossed them together.
there was clearly a taste test...which was so good!
so, not only was it a stress-reliever to get in the kitchen with the veggies and herbs, it was an amazing, affirming experience.
this weekend, i hope to make some zucchini-tomato gratin. i'll try to remember to take pictures; perhaps there can be some good comparisons between my final product and the website picture!
still working on perfecting the quinoa...tastes great, but doesn't look like the pictures yet! :)
now, that's not to say that i haven't splurged a little (even though in a gluten-free, vegetarian way)...for example, the load of spinach-artichoke dip that i scarfed down with some gf crackers at wild wings last saturday! CLEARLY not the healthiest or most natural thing in the world to eat en général, but the point is that what i am ingesting everyday has become so much more fundamental and simple. added to the awesome knowledge of exactly what is in my food is the fun of getting into the kitchen and cooking again.
purely as a matter of coincidence, i noticed a flyer for the farmers' market at clems*n on monday, just in time! it only happens from 11-2, but i was able to take 20 minutes and walk on over there. there were so many cool things for sale--fresh goat cheese, vegetables, etc. there was also a gluten-free bakery booth with AMAZING cupcakes as well as a booth with some potted herbs. i bought some gluten-free treats (although ended up giving them all away) and a potted savory plant. i had never heard of that herb, but apparently it goes well with beans and related recipes, so it will be great for my new endeavors. i plan on going back next week to get some of the cheese and another herb. hopefully soon i'll have a nice little herb garden!
last night i made up a batch of steamed brown rice and veggies...so simple, so cheap, so easy, and makes so much! i made enough for 3 days worth of food just from that! while steaming the rice, i just chopped up some garlic and tossed it into a pan with some of my new savory (yay!), then zucchini, yellow squash, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, and broccoli. i have to say, the smooth feel of cutting the vegetables and handling every ingredient was awesome. i tossed the veggies in with the garlic and savory, added some herbes de provence and natural french gray sea salt, then just monitored and stirred so that they didn't get over-cooked. by the time they were ready to go, the rice was done, and i just tossed them together.
there was clearly a taste test...which was so good!
so, not only was it a stress-reliever to get in the kitchen with the veggies and herbs, it was an amazing, affirming experience.
this weekend, i hope to make some zucchini-tomato gratin. i'll try to remember to take pictures; perhaps there can be some good comparisons between my final product and the website picture!
still working on perfecting the quinoa...tastes great, but doesn't look like the pictures yet! :)
18.4.11
adventures in food, the sequel
so, as some of you know, i recently decided to go gluten-free. this was a big decision in that i am already a vegetarian (thus already limiting what society deems "normal food"), but also in that it was not based on a medical diagnosis of celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity...just on my intuition of the latter. the more i read, i felt that i do not have the extreme symptoms of celiac disease, but i do feel that the non-celiac gluten sensitivity is probably a legitimate issue for me. as someone who experiences these discomforts with "only" a sensitivity, i cannot imagine how bad the suffering from celiac disease must be. i salute all those who have published such helpful information regarding the presence of these materials in different products and the constant support that they provide to such a wide community, and will continue to honor their hard work and dedication.
the intuition comes from the fact that i already suffer from and have a family history of autoimmune diseases, and from the variety of digestive symptoms that seem to coincide with this sensitivity. so, after some wise and judicious advice from friends and loved ones, as well as a lot of research, i thought it might be a good choice. that's making a long story short, obviously.
overall, it has been a great decision! it has been so long since i have been excited about my food...and that's really sad. how did i get this unenthused about what i ingest? and not only unenthused, but uncaring? how did it only become something to make me feel not hungry as opposed to something that can provide my body with needed resources in a specific context (in my case, vegetarian with fish and shellfish allergies)? at the risk of being too "eat, pray, love" (based on the five minutes of the movie i could stand to watch), why has there been such a disconnect between eating and providing good things for my body? whether or not the vegetarian or the gluten-free things become a permanent aspect of my life, the idea of thinking critically about what i ingest is an ongoing process through which i am always growing. although one of my last posts was about the celebration and enjoyment of food, this one is going a step further--the celebration and enjoyment of finding out how what one ingests helps and hinders a body. it's obviously a lengthy and totally individual process, but that is one of the most exciting things about it--it gives me a sense of agency and individualism as i focus on making changes that may benefit me in such fundamental ways. in turn, it helps my self-esteem to know that i am learning to value my physical self as much as my emotional self.
with this, i am excited about seeing how changes in my diet could help me in many different aspects of my life, and i realized that i was also excited about trying out new recipes. i have had so much fun cooking the new dishes and i am also excited about my meals for lunch and dinner now in a way that i haven't been in so long. the focus on how the different aspects of a meal can affect the human body is a fascinating and exciting aspect that i have not considered in a long time...
i also really enjoyed getting into the slicing, seasoning, and cooking of the fresh vegetables...it's so ironic that as a vegetarian, i don't spend much time in the fresh veggie/fruit aisle. because of time, money, and "good" diet concerns, i always headed for the frozen foods aisle to find the lean cuisines or the veggie burgers. but now that i know a little more about the benefits and FUN of cooking with fresh ingredients, i feel ready to conquer any recipe! to be sure, my quinoa isn't as great as an expert's and i had to do some last-minute substitutions, but this is definitely something that will improve as i continue to work on my nutritional lifestyle (notice i didn't say diet).
i'll keep everyone posted as i continue on this journey...
the intuition comes from the fact that i already suffer from and have a family history of autoimmune diseases, and from the variety of digestive symptoms that seem to coincide with this sensitivity. so, after some wise and judicious advice from friends and loved ones, as well as a lot of research, i thought it might be a good choice. that's making a long story short, obviously.
overall, it has been a great decision! it has been so long since i have been excited about my food...and that's really sad. how did i get this unenthused about what i ingest? and not only unenthused, but uncaring? how did it only become something to make me feel not hungry as opposed to something that can provide my body with needed resources in a specific context (in my case, vegetarian with fish and shellfish allergies)? at the risk of being too "eat, pray, love" (based on the five minutes of the movie i could stand to watch), why has there been such a disconnect between eating and providing good things for my body? whether or not the vegetarian or the gluten-free things become a permanent aspect of my life, the idea of thinking critically about what i ingest is an ongoing process through which i am always growing. although one of my last posts was about the celebration and enjoyment of food, this one is going a step further--the celebration and enjoyment of finding out how what one ingests helps and hinders a body. it's obviously a lengthy and totally individual process, but that is one of the most exciting things about it--it gives me a sense of agency and individualism as i focus on making changes that may benefit me in such fundamental ways. in turn, it helps my self-esteem to know that i am learning to value my physical self as much as my emotional self.
with this, i am excited about seeing how changes in my diet could help me in many different aspects of my life, and i realized that i was also excited about trying out new recipes. i have had so much fun cooking the new dishes and i am also excited about my meals for lunch and dinner now in a way that i haven't been in so long. the focus on how the different aspects of a meal can affect the human body is a fascinating and exciting aspect that i have not considered in a long time...
i also really enjoyed getting into the slicing, seasoning, and cooking of the fresh vegetables...it's so ironic that as a vegetarian, i don't spend much time in the fresh veggie/fruit aisle. because of time, money, and "good" diet concerns, i always headed for the frozen foods aisle to find the lean cuisines or the veggie burgers. but now that i know a little more about the benefits and FUN of cooking with fresh ingredients, i feel ready to conquer any recipe! to be sure, my quinoa isn't as great as an expert's and i had to do some last-minute substitutions, but this is definitely something that will improve as i continue to work on my nutritional lifestyle (notice i didn't say diet).
i'll keep everyone posted as i continue on this journey...
10.4.11
i heart bill maher
thank god for these podcasts...one of my new favorite quotes:
"i know you [republicans] hate the media; it doesn't mean your image doesn't appear on videotape. you're hypocrites, not vampires."
(~on the republican about-face regarding the libyan air strikes)
"i know you [republicans] hate the media; it doesn't mean your image doesn't appear on videotape. you're hypocrites, not vampires."
(~on the republican about-face regarding the libyan air strikes)
26.3.11
adventures in food over the last week...
well, i must admit, the last week has not been the most stellar of diet times. in fact, let's make that the last two weeks. what with the culmination of the moving process and the federal grant proposal deadline, there have been too many times when working out or finding healthy options were not possible, and the stress eating went through the roof. all of that on top of other school situations and the constant search for spikers. so, hello 3 extra pounds!
that being said, i was thinking about it today and stressing out, but then i remembered that i need to realign continually with a healthier viewpoint regarding that whole area. so, yes, it wasn't the healthiest week in terms of staying within my calorie limit, but i thought perhaps it would be good to capitalize on all of those extra calories and celebrate the tasty enjoyment!
it's been awhile since i've fixed a meal other than the lasagnas, etc. that we eat on sunday afternoons (and usually jerry does those and i have a more healthy option), so i thoroughly enjoyed our tuesday night dinner. after closing the door for the final time on my old apartment, i felt the need to celebrate...to celebrate a new household that is healthier in so many different ways--physically/medically, emotionally, and environmentally. the peace that comes with being with loved ones in a safe and thriving environment cannot be overstated, and this is what i wanted to celebrate. my first thought was to go to my favorite salad bar and load up on goodies, but then i thought, "why not cook a great dinner at home?" it seemed much more appropriate to share the celebration with everyone else! (and also get to use some of the serving dishes that i had so carefully transported from the old apartment...) then there was the conundrum of what to fix. it's been so long since i've made dinner, much less an elaborate one, that i was overwhelmed by the desire to go home and pour over my new cooking light issues to find some recipes that would satisfy the vegetarian and non-vegetarian appetites in the household but ALSO to fix one of my old favorites (black bean soup or the tortellini bean soup, with chips or crusty bread).
in the end, i went toward the middle and made a splurge-worthy dinner that was easy but also not an "old faithful" that i used to fix all of the time. to start, we had spinach leaves with natural feta and almonds, then as a main course we enjoyed some seared asparagus with mozzarella topping, breadsticks, and three-cheese tortellini with pesto sauce. it was sooooooo tasty and the fact that it was easy to prepare made for the perfect combination of cooking activity and fun celebration! the cabernet sauvignon that i chose at the store was great--i was expecting a basic wine given the price and unsophisticated appearance, but it was surprisingly good! for dessert, i made a devil's food chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. it was a little wonky because i forgot that the beaters that i previously had actually belonged to jennie faucett (so they had been returned...or so i hope...otherwise they're lost and i'll need to buy some new ones for you jenn), but it turned out okay. those of you who know me can probably already guess that i didn't partake of the cake--i would have much rather had another helping of the pasta! but it looks like that everyone enjoyed the different parts of the meal, which adds to the joy of the entire experience.
although there were splurges throughout the week that functioned just to get me through the mind-numbing writing process, the other one that i would really like to mention was our dinner last night. matthew came over on friday afternoon since jerry was leaving this afternoon for germany, so we went out for a wonderful italian dinner. once again, the great thing about this dinner was the combination of the company with the good food. i really love spending time with jerry and his kids, and this was such a great time. matthew was hilarious--it always makes me remember a phone conversation that jerry and i had when we first started dating. he was sitting outside grilling and eating dinner with matthew, and told me that Matthew is an "old soul" in that he just adapts to any situation and has awesome communicative abilities with people of any age. it's so true--we always have a great time when matthew is here, no matter what we are doing.
so, we went out for italian, and i was sooo hungry--there was definitely some splurging going on there...trio sampler of fried mozzarella, bruschetta, and spinach dip, of course with PLENTY of tasty, crusty bread, and a big bowl of capellini pomodoro as the main course. the laughter and the good food was a great way to end the week, and i hope that it was a good time for jerry as he prepared to go overseas. i will definitely miss him, because things just aren't as happy or exciting when he's not here, but i'm looking forward to his return next saturday and i'm glad we had a fun evening out before he left.
now, on sunday, as jerry is in flight to germany and i'm trying to wrap up my proofreading of the federal grant proposal (and then preparing myself for the massive amounts of grading that have piled up because of the HAB presentation and this proposal), i've sampled some of the pizza that i fixed for matthew for dinner (even just the crust is good). i'm so glad he decided to stay here tonight too.
tomorrow, i'm sure there will be more splurging, as it is the birthday celebration for audrey clair (as opposed to baby audrey) in charlotte at olive garden. while i'm certain that she will get some stuffed mushrooms and take the plate home with her (to return it the next time she goes back--don't worry, it's an established situation), i'm hoping that i won't be too tempted. i do love the salad and breadsticks, so i usually try to stick to the soup option, but it's great soup!
here's to good food in collaboration with living well and experiencing amazing changes and wonderful relationships. although i will certainly be looking forward to a break when i'm not sick or moving, i am so thankful for our household and my place in it. this is the most important thing--not overly stressful thoughts of calorie counts or workouts.
that being said, i was thinking about it today and stressing out, but then i remembered that i need to realign continually with a healthier viewpoint regarding that whole area. so, yes, it wasn't the healthiest week in terms of staying within my calorie limit, but i thought perhaps it would be good to capitalize on all of those extra calories and celebrate the tasty enjoyment!
it's been awhile since i've fixed a meal other than the lasagnas, etc. that we eat on sunday afternoons (and usually jerry does those and i have a more healthy option), so i thoroughly enjoyed our tuesday night dinner. after closing the door for the final time on my old apartment, i felt the need to celebrate...to celebrate a new household that is healthier in so many different ways--physically/medically, emotionally, and environmentally. the peace that comes with being with loved ones in a safe and thriving environment cannot be overstated, and this is what i wanted to celebrate. my first thought was to go to my favorite salad bar and load up on goodies, but then i thought, "why not cook a great dinner at home?" it seemed much more appropriate to share the celebration with everyone else! (and also get to use some of the serving dishes that i had so carefully transported from the old apartment...) then there was the conundrum of what to fix. it's been so long since i've made dinner, much less an elaborate one, that i was overwhelmed by the desire to go home and pour over my new cooking light issues to find some recipes that would satisfy the vegetarian and non-vegetarian appetites in the household but ALSO to fix one of my old favorites (black bean soup or the tortellini bean soup, with chips or crusty bread).
in the end, i went toward the middle and made a splurge-worthy dinner that was easy but also not an "old faithful" that i used to fix all of the time. to start, we had spinach leaves with natural feta and almonds, then as a main course we enjoyed some seared asparagus with mozzarella topping, breadsticks, and three-cheese tortellini with pesto sauce. it was sooooooo tasty and the fact that it was easy to prepare made for the perfect combination of cooking activity and fun celebration! the cabernet sauvignon that i chose at the store was great--i was expecting a basic wine given the price and unsophisticated appearance, but it was surprisingly good! for dessert, i made a devil's food chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. it was a little wonky because i forgot that the beaters that i previously had actually belonged to jennie faucett (so they had been returned...or so i hope...otherwise they're lost and i'll need to buy some new ones for you jenn), but it turned out okay. those of you who know me can probably already guess that i didn't partake of the cake--i would have much rather had another helping of the pasta! but it looks like that everyone enjoyed the different parts of the meal, which adds to the joy of the entire experience.
although there were splurges throughout the week that functioned just to get me through the mind-numbing writing process, the other one that i would really like to mention was our dinner last night. matthew came over on friday afternoon since jerry was leaving this afternoon for germany, so we went out for a wonderful italian dinner. once again, the great thing about this dinner was the combination of the company with the good food. i really love spending time with jerry and his kids, and this was such a great time. matthew was hilarious--it always makes me remember a phone conversation that jerry and i had when we first started dating. he was sitting outside grilling and eating dinner with matthew, and told me that Matthew is an "old soul" in that he just adapts to any situation and has awesome communicative abilities with people of any age. it's so true--we always have a great time when matthew is here, no matter what we are doing.
so, we went out for italian, and i was sooo hungry--there was definitely some splurging going on there...trio sampler of fried mozzarella, bruschetta, and spinach dip, of course with PLENTY of tasty, crusty bread, and a big bowl of capellini pomodoro as the main course. the laughter and the good food was a great way to end the week, and i hope that it was a good time for jerry as he prepared to go overseas. i will definitely miss him, because things just aren't as happy or exciting when he's not here, but i'm looking forward to his return next saturday and i'm glad we had a fun evening out before he left.
now, on sunday, as jerry is in flight to germany and i'm trying to wrap up my proofreading of the federal grant proposal (and then preparing myself for the massive amounts of grading that have piled up because of the HAB presentation and this proposal), i've sampled some of the pizza that i fixed for matthew for dinner (even just the crust is good). i'm so glad he decided to stay here tonight too.
tomorrow, i'm sure there will be more splurging, as it is the birthday celebration for audrey clair (as opposed to baby audrey) in charlotte at olive garden. while i'm certain that she will get some stuffed mushrooms and take the plate home with her (to return it the next time she goes back--don't worry, it's an established situation), i'm hoping that i won't be too tempted. i do love the salad and breadsticks, so i usually try to stick to the soup option, but it's great soup!
here's to good food in collaboration with living well and experiencing amazing changes and wonderful relationships. although i will certainly be looking forward to a break when i'm not sick or moving, i am so thankful for our household and my place in it. this is the most important thing--not overly stressful thoughts of calorie counts or workouts.
10.3.11
A Few Thoughts...
..as I frantically search for the remote to change the channel from American Idol to something, anything else...and, of course, find a wonderful program on SCETV, our public broadcasting television station. I am so happy that I have the option to watch a representation of the Broadway version of Les Misérables over American Idol. [see note 1]
This is not to say that I'm opposed to pop culture or sensationalist phenomena. In fact, Two and a Half Men was one of my favorite shows for a long time, and mainstream programs from Friends to Gossip Girl have been a mainstay of my media environment for quite sometime. Can you get anymore frivolous than Gossip Girl? I don't think so! But here's the thing...if we didn't want to watch that or any number of programs on major networks at the same time (The Bachelor/ette, Celebrity Apprentice, or some iteration of the whole Law and Order situation), we knew we would always have the intelligent programming of the local public broadcast station.
Another story, that might seem unrelated at first, also demonstrates this principle. After having someone brake too quickly in front of me on I-85, I unfortunately spilled soup all over my radio. One might perhaps question why I had soup in the car, but that story, which involves moving my possessions in a Sebring convertible for the second time in a year, is better told in person. Suffice it to say that the soup was spilled, although I was being very careful, and it got into the electronic recesses of my radio. The downside of this entire episode is that at the time, for some reason, I had the radio tuned to a local pop station, instead of ETV radio, the NPR station that I listen to for 95% of the day. As a result, I can't listen to anything but this one station, and what an awakening this has been for me! After one morning's commute, I quickly downloaded several NPR and affiliated public radio iPhone applications so that I could listen to something intelligent. Not that the local radio station wasn't entertaining, it was. But, wow. I'm not sure that a discussion about cheating on social media networks, one that had apparently lasted for three consecutive broadcasts, is worth listening to at any point in someone's life.
So, now I drive the 1.25 hours each morning and again each evening with my phone broadcasting a simulcast of a public radio station. This brings up the fact that public broadcasting has been innovating in many different sectors, including the provision of access in wireless and other applications. While that is wonderful, all of it must cost a lot of money.
I could also speak about how, as I went through boxes of my childhood belongings earlier this year, one of the most exciting and happy things I found was my Sesame Street library. I can still imagine the thrill of reading Grover's adventures in the "P" volume. My mother will tell you that, because she and others in my life had worked so hard to instill the skills and love of reading at an early age, I was able to call any bedtime reader on skipped sections of these stories. I truly believe that Sesame Street (a public broadcasting mainstay) was a key element in these adventures. I also remember the number song from the television show...some of you that are my age probably know this...the late 70's/early 80's arcade/pinball illustrations of a song for counting from 1 to 12.
Number Song Compilation
So, the moral of these stories is that we should all consider the impact of public broadcasting on our own lives as well as in our communities. Sure, these organizations are not perfect, just like any other ones. But if you look into their backgrounds (The Street Gang is a great start for reading), you will see amazing good intentions and incredibly hard, thoughtful work.
I have posted short commentaries about this online as NPR and PBS have fought against the federal budget cuts that would zero out their funding from this sector. But the controversy over the ouster of CEO Schiller compelled me to write about my experiences. I know that these are my personal experiences and viewpoints, and so not necessarily those of many other people that might read this. However, the two key elements of that statement, namely that I am able to think about things in an open way and that I am able to accept and respect others' opinions, are a product of my thoughtful upbringing--one that allowed me to develop a dynamic worldview that respects all viewpoints while also being able to form an educated opinion on topics that I have had the opportunity to learn about. I thank my mother, my grandmothers, and numerous other mentors along the way for this. Without these strong, amazing people I would not have even a piece of the nascent sense of personal growth that I do now. [see note 2] But I am also thankful that I was introduced to NPR at a time when I was trying adult life out for my own. From my background combined with that experience, I have learned that good journalism will present viewpoints that make you you want to cheer out loud but also viewpoints that make your head want to explode...and, by extension, will make you confront your personal judgments and ideologies AND think critically about what you believe and why. And sometimes change your mind in a radical way.
What Juan Williams and Ron Schiller said in both accounts was wrong in so many different ways. But those of us who count on public broadcasting know that their singular statements do not reflect on the organization as a whole.
To Rep. Eric Cantor, I applaud you for listening to news events and considering how they relate to your world view. However, I think that you should parse through the various repercussions of what you are proposing, perhaps with a more open-minded perspective. First of all, does the viewpoint, however egregious, of one person represent the whole organization? In another context, as an example, do the viewpoints of junior Tea Party representatives present a comprehensive view of the Republican party? From what I've learned, that's not true, especially in budgetary issues. And I'm glad that I have been exposed to the varied viewpoints of American politics, whether or not I agree with them.
So, when you say that NPR and PBS should not receive federal funding because Ron Schiller (one person) has a viewpoint that is actually 180 degrees from the organizational mission, how does that exhibit careful thinking about public programs or how they affect and benefit our nation? We can even reference Juan Williams, whose sensationalist views at the opposite end of the political spectrum drummed up the same kind of controversy. Does R. Schiller's misguided viewpoint mean that NPR and PBS should not be a part of our society? To be even a little bit sensationalist, do his comments mean that programs like Sesame Street do not represent a worthy goal? Even though, in fact, federal monies represent a relatively small portion of NPR funding, they do represent a large part of PBS funding; in addition, other aspects of NPR funding rely on PBS as a larger organization, to the best of my understanding. Therefore, any cuts to federal funding for PBS will not only be detrimental to that programming, but also to the radio programming that is affiliated with this. It's much more complicated than just one man's overly-biased point of view.
As a corollary to that thought, if you are going to only listen to one voice, why not that of Susan Stanberg who has been with NPR for 40 years and who is not afraid to voice her opinions about the strengths and weaknesses of the management? She says, "The work that we do has been so consistently extraordinary. The strongest news organization in electronic broadcasting, and that has been untarnished. So that's the thing that I'm just trying, as a long standing staffer, to keep in my mind and keep focused on." How about considering another viewpoint before choosing to eliminate funding? How about choosing to consider the totality of reporting and work, including those that are in dangerous situations bringing us stories like the revolution in Libya, before writing off an entire organization based on the comments of two sensationalist and obviously ill-informed individuals? If this seems overwrought, remember that I'm trying to think about the issue from different viewpoints, as any good lawmaker should also do. Certainly, governmental funding should be carefully considered as it represents the dollars of all Americans. I do, however, believe that if we can consider funding a religious project supported completely by federal dollars in Kentucky, we can consider the effectiveness of funding for an organization that truly strives to be unbiased as a whole. In Kentucky, it seems like the fact that many people don't share the same religious views as that represented by this project is irrelevant. But when the reported liberal bias of NPR comes under fire, the issue of eliminating federal funding is framed in an opposite manner. Although I am a Christian (the religious affiliation of the Kentucky project), I would rather my tax dollars go to programs that are truly respectful of all beliefs and viewpoints, rather than just mine. This applies across all sectors. Even though I wholeheartedly do not agree with the Republican agenda, I feel like we should be exposed to, support, and consider all of the available viewpoints, and I am glad that I can hear about what is going on in different areas of our nation, and that I have the opportunity to listen and consider...whether when I do I feel happy or frustrated or like I realize I really need to rethink something.
Perhaps the point of this post is that a careful consideration of all sides of a story is a major impact of public broadcasting in this country. Imagine a young child who doesn't have access to programs like Sesame Street or Super Why--not because his/her family doesn't have a cable connection, a television, or programming information (or any number of other very real considerations in the varied communities across our nation), but because our society doesn't believe that this type of programming, this type of pedagogically effective technology in television, is not worth working to fund in many different ways. Of course, this also reaches to those that benefit from public broadcasting but who choose not to donate. We can't all always give monetary donations, but the actual burden of funding for these programs, in all of their modes, lies with the listeners and their donations.
Because the reported liberal bias of NPR has been so contextualized, I won't go into an imagination of life without the journalistic excellence on which I and so many others have come to rely. All I can say to this effect is to reiterate that, even when news stories are presented on NPR regarding viewpoints with which I may not agree, I can still appreciate the judicious reporting that seeks to delve into individual issues and bring them to the nation. Even when what the invited speakers or those persons being interviewed makes me want to scream, I can agree that I am glad to have a news outlet that presents all viewpoints.
All I can hope is that I will be able to continue having these opportunities, and that I would be lucky enough to hear that clear, deep, decisive voice say everyday, "This. is NPR."
Note 1: Yes, I did hear the interest piece on American Idol for Morning Edition this week. It was exceptional in that, while I could recognize the meta analysis consideration of such a phenomenon, I was totally bored after about 30 seconds...so, not that it's invaluable, but thank goodness there are other choices out there!
Note 2: I have been incredibly blessed in that the number of beneficial mentors I have had in my life is too long to list here--I am so thankful for their continued guidance, and I hope that one day I will have an opportunity to tell the world in detail about each and every one of them and how they impacted my life.
This is not to say that I'm opposed to pop culture or sensationalist phenomena. In fact, Two and a Half Men was one of my favorite shows for a long time, and mainstream programs from Friends to Gossip Girl have been a mainstay of my media environment for quite sometime. Can you get anymore frivolous than Gossip Girl? I don't think so! But here's the thing...if we didn't want to watch that or any number of programs on major networks at the same time (The Bachelor/ette, Celebrity Apprentice, or some iteration of the whole Law and Order situation), we knew we would always have the intelligent programming of the local public broadcast station.
Another story, that might seem unrelated at first, also demonstrates this principle. After having someone brake too quickly in front of me on I-85, I unfortunately spilled soup all over my radio. One might perhaps question why I had soup in the car, but that story, which involves moving my possessions in a Sebring convertible for the second time in a year, is better told in person. Suffice it to say that the soup was spilled, although I was being very careful, and it got into the electronic recesses of my radio. The downside of this entire episode is that at the time, for some reason, I had the radio tuned to a local pop station, instead of ETV radio, the NPR station that I listen to for 95% of the day. As a result, I can't listen to anything but this one station, and what an awakening this has been for me! After one morning's commute, I quickly downloaded several NPR and affiliated public radio iPhone applications so that I could listen to something intelligent. Not that the local radio station wasn't entertaining, it was. But, wow. I'm not sure that a discussion about cheating on social media networks, one that had apparently lasted for three consecutive broadcasts, is worth listening to at any point in someone's life.
So, now I drive the 1.25 hours each morning and again each evening with my phone broadcasting a simulcast of a public radio station. This brings up the fact that public broadcasting has been innovating in many different sectors, including the provision of access in wireless and other applications. While that is wonderful, all of it must cost a lot of money.
I could also speak about how, as I went through boxes of my childhood belongings earlier this year, one of the most exciting and happy things I found was my Sesame Street library. I can still imagine the thrill of reading Grover's adventures in the "P" volume. My mother will tell you that, because she and others in my life had worked so hard to instill the skills and love of reading at an early age, I was able to call any bedtime reader on skipped sections of these stories. I truly believe that Sesame Street (a public broadcasting mainstay) was a key element in these adventures. I also remember the number song from the television show...some of you that are my age probably know this...the late 70's/early 80's arcade/pinball illustrations of a song for counting from 1 to 12.
Number Song Compilation
So, the moral of these stories is that we should all consider the impact of public broadcasting on our own lives as well as in our communities. Sure, these organizations are not perfect, just like any other ones. But if you look into their backgrounds (The Street Gang is a great start for reading), you will see amazing good intentions and incredibly hard, thoughtful work.
I have posted short commentaries about this online as NPR and PBS have fought against the federal budget cuts that would zero out their funding from this sector. But the controversy over the ouster of CEO Schiller compelled me to write about my experiences. I know that these are my personal experiences and viewpoints, and so not necessarily those of many other people that might read this. However, the two key elements of that statement, namely that I am able to think about things in an open way and that I am able to accept and respect others' opinions, are a product of my thoughtful upbringing--one that allowed me to develop a dynamic worldview that respects all viewpoints while also being able to form an educated opinion on topics that I have had the opportunity to learn about. I thank my mother, my grandmothers, and numerous other mentors along the way for this. Without these strong, amazing people I would not have even a piece of the nascent sense of personal growth that I do now. [see note 2] But I am also thankful that I was introduced to NPR at a time when I was trying adult life out for my own. From my background combined with that experience, I have learned that good journalism will present viewpoints that make you you want to cheer out loud but also viewpoints that make your head want to explode...and, by extension, will make you confront your personal judgments and ideologies AND think critically about what you believe and why. And sometimes change your mind in a radical way.
What Juan Williams and Ron Schiller said in both accounts was wrong in so many different ways. But those of us who count on public broadcasting know that their singular statements do not reflect on the organization as a whole.
To Rep. Eric Cantor, I applaud you for listening to news events and considering how they relate to your world view. However, I think that you should parse through the various repercussions of what you are proposing, perhaps with a more open-minded perspective. First of all, does the viewpoint, however egregious, of one person represent the whole organization? In another context, as an example, do the viewpoints of junior Tea Party representatives present a comprehensive view of the Republican party? From what I've learned, that's not true, especially in budgetary issues. And I'm glad that I have been exposed to the varied viewpoints of American politics, whether or not I agree with them.
So, when you say that NPR and PBS should not receive federal funding because Ron Schiller (one person) has a viewpoint that is actually 180 degrees from the organizational mission, how does that exhibit careful thinking about public programs or how they affect and benefit our nation? We can even reference Juan Williams, whose sensationalist views at the opposite end of the political spectrum drummed up the same kind of controversy. Does R. Schiller's misguided viewpoint mean that NPR and PBS should not be a part of our society? To be even a little bit sensationalist, do his comments mean that programs like Sesame Street do not represent a worthy goal? Even though, in fact, federal monies represent a relatively small portion of NPR funding, they do represent a large part of PBS funding; in addition, other aspects of NPR funding rely on PBS as a larger organization, to the best of my understanding. Therefore, any cuts to federal funding for PBS will not only be detrimental to that programming, but also to the radio programming that is affiliated with this. It's much more complicated than just one man's overly-biased point of view.
As a corollary to that thought, if you are going to only listen to one voice, why not that of Susan Stanberg who has been with NPR for 40 years and who is not afraid to voice her opinions about the strengths and weaknesses of the management? She says, "The work that we do has been so consistently extraordinary. The strongest news organization in electronic broadcasting, and that has been untarnished. So that's the thing that I'm just trying, as a long standing staffer, to keep in my mind and keep focused on." How about considering another viewpoint before choosing to eliminate funding? How about choosing to consider the totality of reporting and work, including those that are in dangerous situations bringing us stories like the revolution in Libya, before writing off an entire organization based on the comments of two sensationalist and obviously ill-informed individuals? If this seems overwrought, remember that I'm trying to think about the issue from different viewpoints, as any good lawmaker should also do. Certainly, governmental funding should be carefully considered as it represents the dollars of all Americans. I do, however, believe that if we can consider funding a religious project supported completely by federal dollars in Kentucky, we can consider the effectiveness of funding for an organization that truly strives to be unbiased as a whole. In Kentucky, it seems like the fact that many people don't share the same religious views as that represented by this project is irrelevant. But when the reported liberal bias of NPR comes under fire, the issue of eliminating federal funding is framed in an opposite manner. Although I am a Christian (the religious affiliation of the Kentucky project), I would rather my tax dollars go to programs that are truly respectful of all beliefs and viewpoints, rather than just mine. This applies across all sectors. Even though I wholeheartedly do not agree with the Republican agenda, I feel like we should be exposed to, support, and consider all of the available viewpoints, and I am glad that I can hear about what is going on in different areas of our nation, and that I have the opportunity to listen and consider...whether when I do I feel happy or frustrated or like I realize I really need to rethink something.
Perhaps the point of this post is that a careful consideration of all sides of a story is a major impact of public broadcasting in this country. Imagine a young child who doesn't have access to programs like Sesame Street or Super Why--not because his/her family doesn't have a cable connection, a television, or programming information (or any number of other very real considerations in the varied communities across our nation), but because our society doesn't believe that this type of programming, this type of pedagogically effective technology in television, is not worth working to fund in many different ways. Of course, this also reaches to those that benefit from public broadcasting but who choose not to donate. We can't all always give monetary donations, but the actual burden of funding for these programs, in all of their modes, lies with the listeners and their donations.
Because the reported liberal bias of NPR has been so contextualized, I won't go into an imagination of life without the journalistic excellence on which I and so many others have come to rely. All I can say to this effect is to reiterate that, even when news stories are presented on NPR regarding viewpoints with which I may not agree, I can still appreciate the judicious reporting that seeks to delve into individual issues and bring them to the nation. Even when what the invited speakers or those persons being interviewed makes me want to scream, I can agree that I am glad to have a news outlet that presents all viewpoints.
All I can hope is that I will be able to continue having these opportunities, and that I would be lucky enough to hear that clear, deep, decisive voice say everyday, "This. is NPR."
Note 1: Yes, I did hear the interest piece on American Idol for Morning Edition this week. It was exceptional in that, while I could recognize the meta analysis consideration of such a phenomenon, I was totally bored after about 30 seconds...so, not that it's invaluable, but thank goodness there are other choices out there!
Note 2: I have been incredibly blessed in that the number of beneficial mentors I have had in my life is too long to list here--I am so thankful for their continued guidance, and I hope that one day I will have an opportunity to tell the world in detail about each and every one of them and how they impacted my life.
8.1.11
Brussels, Day 8
Well, despite how busy we were today, not much to report on the exciting side. The best thing is that Jerry is feeling much better and was able to get out today and do some sightseeing. After having our overflowing toilet fixed, we went over to the Grand Place and then did some walking around and window shopping. Got a great souvenir for Mom today--I think she'll really love it, and it's definitely not something that you can find just anywhere!
Had a nice little lunch at an Italian restaurant, then we made our way over to the train station to try and get the student rail card situation figured out. Luckily, the representative at the guichet this time was much more helpful, so we have everyone situated, save those couple of students who did not send a photo (an easy fix once they arrive).
The students are winging their way over here as I type, and will arrive at 7:25 AM tomorrow morning...very early! Everything is ready for their arrival--we will have dinner at what looks like a very cool little restaurant tomorrow evening, then a chance for waffles on Monday (since all of the museums are closed), then the Museum of the City of Brussels on Tuesday before they go to Louvain-la-Neuve on Wednesday. Unfortunately, the Chocolate Museum is closed until the end of January, as is the Magritte Museum and the Museum of Modern Art. Hopefully the students will be able to visit those spaces later.
We are off to go walk around some more--after the late Italian food lunch, I don't think either of us is hungry, so perhaps we will work up an appetite for some true Brussels fare...
Had a nice little lunch at an Italian restaurant, then we made our way over to the train station to try and get the student rail card situation figured out. Luckily, the representative at the guichet this time was much more helpful, so we have everyone situated, save those couple of students who did not send a photo (an easy fix once they arrive).
The students are winging their way over here as I type, and will arrive at 7:25 AM tomorrow morning...very early! Everything is ready for their arrival--we will have dinner at what looks like a very cool little restaurant tomorrow evening, then a chance for waffles on Monday (since all of the museums are closed), then the Museum of the City of Brussels on Tuesday before they go to Louvain-la-Neuve on Wednesday. Unfortunately, the Chocolate Museum is closed until the end of January, as is the Magritte Museum and the Museum of Modern Art. Hopefully the students will be able to visit those spaces later.
We are off to go walk around some more--after the late Italian food lunch, I don't think either of us is hungry, so perhaps we will work up an appetite for some true Brussels fare...
7.1.11
Brussels, Day 7
Another low key day, as far as blog entries go. Jerry is still sick--I think with the flu, although he insists otherwise--so I just went around the city and tried to get everything confirmed, reconfirmed, and picked up for the students. The train station passes are still proving to be a problem (of course), but other than that, everything is set. It looks like we will have a great restaurant reservation and a great visit to the Museum of the City of Brussels!
Hopefully more tomorrow...
Hopefully more tomorrow...
6.1.11
Paris to Brussels, Day 6
Today was a day of travel and getting settled...no pictures to show, and really nothing exciting to tell, other than we took the train from Paris to Brussels and we are now safely ensconced in our "apartment" (only slightly larger than our little hotel room in Paris, but still perfect for what we need). HOWEVER, getting the chance to visit a new place--even better, a francophone country--is very exciting, so I guess I should amend that statement to reflect how awesome it is that we are in Belgium!!
What is a little bit sad is the prevalence of American chain restaurants here. Beyond even the presence in Paris, by which I was already heartbroken. It EVEN surpasses the abundance of KFC's in Malaysia (please note that every single one of my pictures from Malaysia have a KFC in them, except for the ones from Uncle Rick's apartment and inside the National Museum--even though you might actively try to take a picture there without a KFC, it's almost impossible :) ). Just in the 7-minute walk from the apartment office to our abode, there were two McDonalds, 2 Subways, 1 Pizza Hut, and 1 Dominos. Not to mention the Quick-type spinoffs...GAH!
Jerry is still battling his cold--miraculously I have not gotten it...yet. I fully expect to wake up with it tomorrow morning, since (as all of you who are familiar with me know) I have no immune system. Actually, this might be the first time in about 7 or 8 years that I haven't gotten sick when within 100 yards of someone who is! Let's keep that train of positive thinking going!
We had dinner in a little bistro near the apartment and we are now going to go rest in the hopes that we can soit get better, soit not get sick...
What is a little bit sad is the prevalence of American chain restaurants here. Beyond even the presence in Paris, by which I was already heartbroken. It EVEN surpasses the abundance of KFC's in Malaysia (please note that every single one of my pictures from Malaysia have a KFC in them, except for the ones from Uncle Rick's apartment and inside the National Museum--even though you might actively try to take a picture there without a KFC, it's almost impossible :) ). Just in the 7-minute walk from the apartment office to our abode, there were two McDonalds, 2 Subways, 1 Pizza Hut, and 1 Dominos. Not to mention the Quick-type spinoffs...GAH!
Jerry is still battling his cold--miraculously I have not gotten it...yet. I fully expect to wake up with it tomorrow morning, since (as all of you who are familiar with me know) I have no immune system. Actually, this might be the first time in about 7 or 8 years that I haven't gotten sick when within 100 yards of someone who is! Let's keep that train of positive thinking going!
We had dinner in a little bistro near the apartment and we are now going to go rest in the hopes that we can soit get better, soit not get sick...
5.1.11
Paris, Day 5
Although it doesn't feel like it, today was sort of a low key day. Neither Jerry nor I felt good all yesterday evening or this morning, so we decided to rest in the hotel this morning.
I spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out the luggage situation--still no word from Air France. Although they declared that the luggage is "at the airport", their caveat is that they don't know which airport. My money is still on it sitting there at Hartsfield-Jackson after the mechanical problems on the plane. (Of course that bet doesn't include it still being there--I'm sure someone has walked off with it by now and is feeling very lucky for picking a suitcase with such a classy, well-rounded wardrobe.)
After we were feeling better, for lunch, we went to my favorite...l'As du Falafel!!! That falafel sandwich was every bit as good as I remembered, maybe even more delicious!! Abby met us there, which was really fun as well. I'm proud of Jerry--he tried the falafel! Although he declared it was "not bad" in a tone of voice that made us comment on how Americans have so many different ways of saying "not really my thing", at least he tried it even though he was skeptical. :)
After lunch, we walked to the Place des Vosges, then over to la Bastille and hung out in a cafe for a little while with Abby--it was so sad to say goodbye, knowing that I will not be able to see her for so long!
We then trekked over to the Louvre--it was open late today, until 10:00 PM, but as it turns out, neither of us were up for even the relatively small challenge of a four-hour visit. We saw our favorites (except for Mme de Pompadour), then called it a night, going back to the hotel for some Speed Rabbit Pizza.
Here are a few highlights from the visit today...
An actual helmet from Charles VI's reign, and a copy to show what it would have looked like "back in the day".
The Napoléon III apartments (n.b., we were having some trouble with the exposure on the camera, so some are a little blurry)
A decorative box brought to a church by Philippe le Bel containing some relics from Saint Louis.
The immense inside cours with so many sculptures--very peaceful...
My favorite shot of the day--Jerry and the Vénus de Milo, looking opposite ways...
The Vigée Le Brun for Mom...
Very interesting after the book I read this year on Diane de Poitiers--a bronze sculpture for over a door at Fontainebleau--it depicts the image of Diana, goddess of the hunt, which was at the time strongly linked with Diane de Poitiers.
And a few other images from the day...
Off to bed now to nurse our food troubles and the cold that Jerry caught (and which I will certainly have by 2 or 3 AM). Then onto the train for Brussels early in the morning...
I spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out the luggage situation--still no word from Air France. Although they declared that the luggage is "at the airport", their caveat is that they don't know which airport. My money is still on it sitting there at Hartsfield-Jackson after the mechanical problems on the plane. (Of course that bet doesn't include it still being there--I'm sure someone has walked off with it by now and is feeling very lucky for picking a suitcase with such a classy, well-rounded wardrobe.)
After we were feeling better, for lunch, we went to my favorite...l'As du Falafel!!! That falafel sandwich was every bit as good as I remembered, maybe even more delicious!! Abby met us there, which was really fun as well. I'm proud of Jerry--he tried the falafel! Although he declared it was "not bad" in a tone of voice that made us comment on how Americans have so many different ways of saying "not really my thing", at least he tried it even though he was skeptical. :)
After lunch, we walked to the Place des Vosges, then over to la Bastille and hung out in a cafe for a little while with Abby--it was so sad to say goodbye, knowing that I will not be able to see her for so long!
We then trekked over to the Louvre--it was open late today, until 10:00 PM, but as it turns out, neither of us were up for even the relatively small challenge of a four-hour visit. We saw our favorites (except for Mme de Pompadour), then called it a night, going back to the hotel for some Speed Rabbit Pizza.
Here are a few highlights from the visit today...
An actual helmet from Charles VI's reign, and a copy to show what it would have looked like "back in the day".
The Napoléon III apartments (n.b., we were having some trouble with the exposure on the camera, so some are a little blurry)
A decorative box brought to a church by Philippe le Bel containing some relics from Saint Louis.
The immense inside cours with so many sculptures--very peaceful...
My favorite shot of the day--Jerry and the Vénus de Milo, looking opposite ways...
The Vigée Le Brun for Mom...
Very interesting after the book I read this year on Diane de Poitiers--a bronze sculpture for over a door at Fontainebleau--it depicts the image of Diana, goddess of the hunt, which was at the time strongly linked with Diane de Poitiers.
And a few other images from the day...
Off to bed now to nurse our food troubles and the cold that Jerry caught (and which I will certainly have by 2 or 3 AM). Then onto the train for Brussels early in the morning...
Paris, Day 4
Today was such a great day; we went to Versailles and, although I’ve been before—and even been on the “behind the scenes” tour—I’ve never seen the Galerie des Glaces or Marie Antoinette’s apartments. It was amazing to see both of these spots—perhaps I shouldn’t admit it, but I definitely got teary-eyed and even speechless (a huge feat for me in the middle of so much XVIIIe century history to talk about). Here are a few highlights from all of the pictures that we took…
The chapel, where Louis and Marie Antoinette were married (not the proxy one) on May 16, 1770. I’ve been inside it on the special tour, but when you have to stand outside the doors, it’s impossible to get a good picture of the ensemble. You have to just take a picture of the lower parts at first, then wait until you get up to the second level to take a picture of the beautiful paintings on the ceiling that correspond so well with the colors in the marble on the floor.
Some pictures attempting to depict the opulence of the rooms and the chateau as a whole, which is, of course, impossible. I was especially drawn to the chandeliers. They were spectacular, even down to the braided, silky cords from which they were hanging.
The King’s bedroom
The other “mothership” (Louis Vuitton on the Champs Elysées) being the one previously mentioned), the Queen’s bedroom—once occupied by Marie Antoinette. It was breathtakingly beautiful. I believe I heard a tour guide say that the bedspread was original to the chateau from her time in these chambers, although that’s somewhat hard to believe given what happened during those years and those directly following. It was a thrill to see the door through which she escaped when the chateau was stormed.
Looking forward to a good day tomorrow, which will hopefully include falafel J, the Louvre, and meeting up with Abby (as well as trying to figure out what to do about my luggage…).
3.1.11
Paris, Day 3
03.01.2011
This morning we finally managed to get up on time…fank the yord! as Baby Audrey would say—so we got packed up and left Abby and Stéphane’s house (sad part!) and then went to the hotel. It’s the perfect hotel—just the right size, great staff, and in the middle of Passy.
After we got settled at the hotel, we had a short walk around Passy for old time’s sake…although a lot has changed, so much is the same. I think my favorite thing was seeing the flower shop where Mom and I used to go buy flowers because our apartment smelled so bad!
After our Passy moment, we went ahead to La Conciergerie. Of course the line for La Sainte Chapelle was horribly long. I thought that would only be the case in the summer, but apparently there are plenty of tourists here that would like to see the “dentelle de pierre”. I hope that we will be able to make it back there, as it’s been about 10 years now since I’ve been able to see it.
It goes without saying that La Conciergerie was amazing. I can’t help it—I absolutely adore the big, gloomy feel and all the revolutionary “stuff”. Part of my love for this museum dates back to my first visit, when I had just discovered XVIIIe century French literature. I was just walking up the stairs and around the corner when BAM! mannequins, dressed in period clothing, in jail cells where they tell you what each person’s duty was during the Revolution. I know it’s a little weird, but my favorite is the one with the man who prepared everyone for the trundle to the guillotine…cut the hair, shirts, etc.
And, of course, I took the obligatory picture of the guillotine blade. I must have 100 pictures of this thing…but, WOW!
And then there’s the Marie Antoinette aspect…I just get chills looking at the things that are there to commemorate her. She was such a complex person living in such a complex time, I find it impossible to not be absolutely enthralled by her.
The top of the monument to her, with an inscription penned by Louis XVI
The bottom of the monument, with an excerpt from her last letter, to the king’s sister, Elisabeth:
“Que mon fils n'oublie jamais les derniers mots de son père, que je lui répète expressément : qu'il ne cherche jamais à venger notre mort!...”
I love this quote—it makes one think about all of the complexities of a revolutionary period, which was clearly aimed for good, but did do some harm, a mother’s relationship with her children, as well as the ties between social, economic, and religious aspects that existed at the time. (And let’s not forget the ever-present censures that might have also played a part in her thoughts about what to write.) The entire letter is heartbreaking, but also amazing to read.
The remake of her cell, as well as her last picture and a fragment of the rug that she used in her cell.
After La Conciergerie, we went to Notre-Dame and walked around the chapel as well as the Treasure Room. This was something that I had never seen before, but that Jerry knew from his previous trip. I was so glad that he knew about it, because it was really very fascinating. There were lots of different kinds of reliquaries, chalices, and other extremely valuable objects. It was so interesting to see the reliquaries with actual bones or fragments in them—such a different way of thinking about honoring those who have passed away.
The first is a picture of Saint Louis’ (Louis IX) shirt that he wore for “punishment” or “absolution”.
There was also a beautiful Christmas tree out in front of the cathedral—it was awesome at night when we left.
Here are a few pictures of the nativity scene inside the cathedral as well as a couple of some new favorites on the portails.
And finally, some fun from outside La Conciergerie…
à demain, mes chers!
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