Something Like a Stream of Consciousness

I'm not really feeling sleepy ... so now I'm trolling the 'net. Do people actually call it the "net" anymore? I'm sure my lingo is outdated. Language is kind of fascinating, when you think about it. It's living, changing- reflecting a lot of the little details of our lives, as well as the big ones. When anything major changes we introduce new words, coin a new phrase that best suits our unique situation. Some of the best slang I have found is kind of old fashioned ... it's a shame slang isn't like fashion- as in clothing. Clothing seems to cycle every decade or so. Slang- not so much. Sam and I had wanted to make an old-timey word a day calendar, with old-west verbage, or phrases from the Roaring Twenties ... one day perhaps! Maybe it will be your birthday/winter holiday gift.

Earth Hour was a rather pleasant candle lit hour that stretched into a candle lit evening. I had the place to myself and spent a fair amount of time recording deep thoughts in my paper journal and just thinking things through. What things? Just life things. Life seems to be going by so quickly. I thought I'd had my "quarter life crisis", but sometimes that little demon of doubt raises his ugly head when I least expect it. In times of stress - thinking "Am I doing the right thing?", "Will I actually be able to finish school?", "By the time I finish school will I still love the subject enough to devote a career towards it?" ... I think about the things I thought about doing instead, and what paths I would have trundled down had I pursued other forms of academia. I'm happy. I'm just stressed out; and when it comes right down to it- I know I'll love it. I already love it. I think in circles and patterns now, not just one straight line.

I felt a little guilty this weekend- on Friday night Sam and I were downtown enjoying the LA Philharmonic (and cello soloist Johannes Moser- wow, he was amazing!!); on the way home, on the Metro, there was an old woman. She seemed able enough, if slightly confused about which stop would transfer her to the Blue Line, and beyond to Long Beach. Not a nice ride late at night, but what can you do? Anyway, she missed the transfer stop, got confused, I tried to give her directions but I'm not sure she understood. I felt guilty because I'd first noticed her in the station, and I had overheard bits of her conversation with other patrons- but I didn't take the time to make sure she understood. When she finally realized she'd missed her stop (which wasn't really a big deal, she just had to backtrack a few stops), she seemed so confused and a little scared, and she didn't seem to understand what another passenger and I were trying to tell her. I felt so guilty and a little worried as she hurried off the train, a look of sheer bewilderment on her face- because I know what it's like to be lost, or at least disoriented just from lack of knowledge of your surroundings. I hope she got home okay. It makes me think about the "Golden Rule"; you know- treat others as you would like to be treated. Having compassion. Going out of your way when it's really no trouble. I didn't, not this time. 

It's strange- I've been feeling kind of blocked every time I sit down to write, and now it's all just pouring out ... but my eyes are starting to hurt, and now I'm feeling sleepy, and I need to get some sleep so I can enjoy Disneyland tomorrow with Tiffany for her birthday. Goodnight, Internet.

Earth Hour

Earth Hour 2009!

Join me, and people all over the globe for Earth Hour. This Saturday, March 28 at 8:30pm simply turn off all your household lights, appliances, television - any electricity you can spare, for one hour. 

Veggie of the Month: Cabbage

[This one is dedicated to Sean and Marcy!]

Yes, I know ... it's the end of March, but still March nonetheless! We may have missed St. Patrick's Day by a week, but this month's veggie isn't a potato ... it's CABBAGE! Yay!

You may remember last month's entry and cabbage lore and trivia; but it doesn't end there! According to Wikipedia "The cultivated cabbage is derived from a leafy plant called the wild mustard plant, native to the Mediterranean region, where it is common along the seacoast. Also called sea cabbage and wild cabbage, it was known to the ancient Greeks and Romans; Cato the Elder praised this vegetable for its medicinal properties, declaring that 'It is the cabbage which surpasses all other vegetables.' The English name derives from the Normanno-Picard caboche (head), perhaps from boche (swelling, bump).  It is related to the turnip."

We already know that the cabbage family is home to many of our popular leafy greens, such as broccoli, kale, and Brussels sprouts. In fact, all members of the cruciferous family are great anti-cancer foods! They contain sulforophane, which will increase the body's production of phase-2 enzymes; the very same phase-2 enzymes that deactivate and help eliminate carcinogens in the body! Cabbages are also rich in Vit. C, calcium, iron, potassium, and fiber.

Medicinally, cabbage can treat inflammation, internally (ie: stomach ulcers, in juiced form), or externally- including hematomas, or swollen/painful joints. It's especially useful for the ladies, treating mastitis (swollen/painful breasts), and also good for breast tenderness while PMSing or nursing! Just put a whole cabbage leaf in your bra overnight.

The recipe I'm including this month came from In Mama's Kitchen, also a source of some lovely cabbage info! I have not tried it yet, but I'll keep you posted (probably with pics!)

Traditional Irish Colcannon 

[contributed by Diana Ferrel Serbe]

Ingredients:

• 2/3 c. milk or cream
  
• 6 scallions or 2 leeks,  finely chopped 
• 1 lb. green cabbage
• 1 lb. potatoes, cooked and mashed
• 1/4 tsp. mace
• 1/2 c. butter
• salt and pepper to taste

Heat milk or cream in a small pan with scallion or leek. Set aside to infuse.

Shred cabbage finely, being sure to remove any core. Boil in large amount of water for 10 - 15 minutes. Drain in colander and press out excess water. Chop very fine, preferably in food processor.

Combine mashed potatoes and milk, beating to get the lightest texture possible. Mix in cabbage, combining well. Season with mace, salt and pepper and half the butter. When combined, put into a large sauté pan and cook just enough to heat.

Mound on serving dish, make a well in center and put remaining butter in well.

Serves: 4 - 6

Mini Ice Cream!

This is a short post. Actually, just a link: learn to make mini ice cream in a restaurant!

A Lesson in Metro Etiquette

Friday night is a night for the town! That's what Sara and I think anyway ... so we went Downtown to meet up with Sam after work. The beauty of living in NoHo is that we're really close to the Metro Redline, and don't have to battle an hour + of traffic if we want to go somewhere cool. [On the flip side, everywhere 'cool' must be within walking distance of another Metro station, and many of them have the added downside of being scary neighborhoods. But I digress...]

On the way home, all very tired, we were on the Metro and Sara and I were talking above the noise. Sara has a naturally loud resonant voice, and she also likes to talk with her hands. Across the aisle a man started to make a hand gesture, and then Sara made eye contact. Of course, this guy took that as an invitation to join our conversation. And by join I mean dominate. And by conversation I mean he went off on a racist tirade, and further upped the uncomfortable factor by actually coming to stand over us. 

Now, I should say, before continuing, that most people who take the Metro, like other forms of public transportation, are totally normal. Everyone else on the train that night was fine, it was just this one dude. I also have to add, he was not directing his anger at us, he simply thought he had found like minded people who were totally okay with what he was saying [which is funny, because he kept degrading women and white people; we are both].

While he was standing uncomfortably close to me I saw a beer bottle in his pocket (presumably empty). He starts ranting about "mouthy women", the "white oppression", government, education, and gangs, (insert racial opinions and insults where you like) and then, just as I'm about to say "Oh hey, this is our next stop" to get away from him, he hops off the train after announcing to everyone "Well, I'm packing heat right now, I have to!" and then walks nonchalantly away. 

Lesson: 

1) Don't make eye contact. 

2) Don't laugh at crazy people because they're not actually joking and it just encourages them.