Thứ Năm, 1 tháng 9, 2011
Thứ Năm, 25 tháng 8, 2011
A Permanent Relationship With Words: Literary Tattoos
This is the first official post for the newly-instated “Free-For-All Fridays.”
It’s a funny coincidence. On Tuesday Clay talked about being “Tatted Up” on his blog EduClaytion. Of course, his story is about receiving a few temporary tattoos from his niece, but still. Tattoos. Major coincidence, because I’ve planning to write a blog about tattoos all week.
Let me begin by saying I don’t have any tattoos, but I am endlessly fascinated by them. I really want one, but haven’t worked up the guts to get one. Here’s the thing: my mother is one THOSE people. You know the kind. One of those people who honestly believes that anyone with a tattoo must automatically be a punk and quite probably a criminal.
When I was fourteen or fifteen years old my mother told me in no uncertain terms that, besides from the obvious things like drugs and alcohol, there were four things I was never allowed to do: die my hair an outrageous color, get body piercings (for her meaning anything besides a single ear-piercing), get a tattoo, or date a guy who owned a motorcycle. (You can see what kind of mentality my mother has pretty easily from this list.) And, purely by accident since I’d never said anything, these were almost all things I was interested in. I’d thought about dying my hair purple on a number of occasions (though I have since decided that I like my hair just the way it is, thanks), I’d thought about getting an ear-cartilage piercing, I wanted a tattoo, and I loved motorcycles (though I’d rather own one myself rather than date someone who owned one).
I am twenty-six years old now. I have never done anything of these things. And for the most part, I’m okay with that. But after all this time, my fascination with tattoos as remained. As long as they are carefully planned and done by a professional, they are beautiful, expressive, and a wonderful portrayal of a person’s tastes, beliefs, etc. But more than any other kind of tattoo, I have recently discovered a trend that I love above all others: literary tattoos.
As is true for most of the people who read this blog, words are my life. Period. I read, write, dream them. I breathe them in. Words stay with me forever. Books that are important to me, leave an indelible mark on my thoughts, beliefs, and life. It seems to me that have a tattoo at all gives you a permanent connection to art. Having a literary tattoo gives you a permanent and explicit relationship with the words that have touched you, marked you. How can could I say no to that? So when it first occurred to me that one could get a tattoo based on a book, poem, etc., I was hooked.
I have been going through a few blogs devotedly specifically to literary tattoos, admiring and also scheming. The two best blogs are Contrariwise and The Word Made Flesh. Contrariwise, unfortunately, hasn’t been updated since May 2010, so I’m assuming it’s essentially been abandoned, but there are still plenty of pictures to go through and admire. The Word Made Flesh updates with new pictures of tattoos a couple times a week. I find myself checking back every day to see if there’s a new one yet. The Word Made Flesh is also a book (and the creators are apparently working on a second one), that I really really want but haven’t shelled out the cash for yet.
Some of my favorites from The Word Made Flesh are (each image links back to the original post on The Word Made Flesh):
After years and years of being fascinated by tattoos, I’ve finally decided that this isn’t some passing fancy that will go away. And I think it’s about time I finally said ‘screw it’ and get a tattoo. So my plan is for my birthday next May, I’m going to get one.
I like to plan everything very carefully, so before I go through with anything, I want to make sure I know exactly what I want, and where I went to go to get it. There are quite a few tattoo parlors in Houston, and I have no idea how to go about picking one.
In the mean time, I have a few ideas for tattoos I want to get. The first, and I think strongest, choice is the words “Still Rowing” — from Anne Sexton’s poem, “Rowing” — in white ink. White ink is a fairly new trend, and it looks really cool. Here’s a couple examples (also from The Word Made Flesh):
Another idea I’m really leaning toward is a tattoo based on Watership Down by Richard Adams. I’d love to do something with El-ahrairah and The Black Rabbit of Inle in a circle, possibly with Frith in the center, and the quote “All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a Thousand Enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you” encircling them. I’ll have to find someone who can design it for me though. And those of you who haven’t read Watership Down are completely lost right now, but that’s okay (and if you haven’t read it, you need to. Hmm… I think I know what book I need to blog about next now…).
There are at least a dozen other books and poems I’ve considered doing a tattoo for, but I think the two above or the most promising right now.
Okay, tattoo enthusiasts, chime in! How many do you have? What are they for? What inspired them? Etc. And those of you who don’t have any tattoos, have you ever considered getting one, or are they just not your thing? And if you have considered it, what kind do you want, and why haven’t you done it yet?
(Again, all images are from The Word Made Flesh, clicking on the image will take you to the original post.)
Horchata
It has been a hot summer in Buffalo. One of the hottest that I personally can recall. We’ve been traveling a ton and trying to enjoy every last-minute of the heat and sun while we are in town. We don’t leave again for another month so we hope to get the bikes out a few times, head to the beach and maybe even squeeze in some hiking or camping or something. Now that we are working from home, we really want to take advantage of the summer months while we can and enjoy the beautiful weather, before the snow and cold set in.
One of my favorite things about the short-lived summertime in Buffalo, is playing around with refreshing drink recipes. Admittedly, I planted mint in my yard, just to make mojitos and this summer I even infused my own liquors after reading this article in Bon Appetit magazine. Now that I made my first two batches and they turned out great, I plan to write-up a post about them. Don’t worry though, it isn’t just “adult beverages” I like to create, I love making fresh smoothies in the morning, iced teas, flavored sparkling waters and the like. Naturally, when I came across a post on David Lebovitz’s blog about making homemade horchata, I couldn’t wait to try it. There is nothing better than an ice-cold refreshing glass at an authentic mexican restaurant. OK, so maybe it is a close second to a good margarita, but it’s still incredible. It’s light, full of delicious flavors and it is perfect on ice on a hot summer day. There are few “authentic” Mexican restaurants here in Buffalo, (as far as I am concerned, none of them are authentic) and definitely no taquerias, so the chances of finding horchata here, are slim to none. I usually reserve my mexican indulgences for when we travel, rather than being let down, so when we aren’t traveling and I am craving Mexican, I tackle it myself at home. It isn’t nearly the same, but I still find it to be better than any of the Mexican restaurants here. I make my own tortillas, pico de gallo and guacamole, which is already a step above most places. We are actually having black bean tacos at home this week and I cannot wait.
When I saw how easy this horchata recipe was, I knew that this would be another Mexican treat worth trying at home. It is quite simple, you will spend more time waiting for the rice to soak then all of the prep time combined. You definitely want to make sure you strain in through cheese-cloth so you get all the rice bits, otherwise it will settle to the bottom of the pitcher in the fridge.
In addition to David’s recipe, I also checked out Rick Bayless’ recipe and many others. I came across many variations on the recipe, some include almonds, lime zest, etc. I decided to alter them all slightly and go with my own combination and I was very happy with the results. Oh and definitely try a glass with a shot of good rum stirred in, YUM!
Another fun twist you can take with the horchata is something that I have now learned is called a “Cochata”: Iced Coffee + Horchata. I made this apparently trendy drink in accidental desperation the morning after making the horchata. I wanted an iced coffee and realized after it was poured that we were out of any milk or cream, so I poured in a large glug of the horchata and was instantly in love. You have to try it.
On a side note, I apologize for the lack of posts and recipes on here, we just got home from nearly 2 weeks on the west coast. So I am hoping to get more recipes up here in the next few weeks as we are home for a month straight, finally. It has been a busy summer, full of travel and events, so I am excited to have some time at home.
Ground up rice and spices for horchata
Horchata
Makes 7 servings
Adapted from recipes from Rick Bayless and David Lebovitz
2/3 cup white rice
2 cinnamon sticks
Pinch of freshly ground nutmeg
3 2-inch strips of lime zest (colored rind only) 3/4 inch wide
3 cups of hot water
3/4 – 1 cup sugar
3 cups of cold water
Grind the rice in a blender or spice grinder into fine pieces. Transfer to a medium-sized bowl and add in the cinnamon sticks, nutmeg and lime zest. Stir in 3 cups of hot tap water, cover and let stand at least 6 hours or preferably, overnight.
Remove the cinnamon sticks and pour the mixture into a blender and blend for 3 to 4 minutes, until it no longer feels very gritty. Add 2 cups of water, and then blend for a few seconds more. Set a large sieve over a mixing bowl and line with 3 layers of dampened cheese cloth. Pour in the mixture a little at time, gently stirring to help the liquid pass through. Squeeze the cheese cloth firmly to extract as much of the rice flavor as possible.
Add 1 cup of water and stir in your desired amount of sugar, mix until the sugar is dissolved. Taste, and adjust sweetness, if necessary. If the consistency is too thick, add additional water. Cover and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve. Stir before pouring. Serve over ice with a sprinkling of ground cinnamon on top.
One of my favorite things about the short-lived summertime in Buffalo, is playing around with refreshing drink recipes. Admittedly, I planted mint in my yard, just to make mojitos and this summer I even infused my own liquors after reading this article in Bon Appetit magazine. Now that I made my first two batches and they turned out great, I plan to write-up a post about them. Don’t worry though, it isn’t just “adult beverages” I like to create, I love making fresh smoothies in the morning, iced teas, flavored sparkling waters and the like. Naturally, when I came across a post on David Lebovitz’s blog about making homemade horchata, I couldn’t wait to try it. There is nothing better than an ice-cold refreshing glass at an authentic mexican restaurant. OK, so maybe it is a close second to a good margarita, but it’s still incredible. It’s light, full of delicious flavors and it is perfect on ice on a hot summer day. There are few “authentic” Mexican restaurants here in Buffalo, (as far as I am concerned, none of them are authentic) and definitely no taquerias, so the chances of finding horchata here, are slim to none. I usually reserve my mexican indulgences for when we travel, rather than being let down, so when we aren’t traveling and I am craving Mexican, I tackle it myself at home. It isn’t nearly the same, but I still find it to be better than any of the Mexican restaurants here. I make my own tortillas, pico de gallo and guacamole, which is already a step above most places. We are actually having black bean tacos at home this week and I cannot wait.
When I saw how easy this horchata recipe was, I knew that this would be another Mexican treat worth trying at home. It is quite simple, you will spend more time waiting for the rice to soak then all of the prep time combined. You definitely want to make sure you strain in through cheese-cloth so you get all the rice bits, otherwise it will settle to the bottom of the pitcher in the fridge.
In addition to David’s recipe, I also checked out Rick Bayless’ recipe and many others. I came across many variations on the recipe, some include almonds, lime zest, etc. I decided to alter them all slightly and go with my own combination and I was very happy with the results. Oh and definitely try a glass with a shot of good rum stirred in, YUM!
Another fun twist you can take with the horchata is something that I have now learned is called a “Cochata”: Iced Coffee + Horchata. I made this apparently trendy drink in accidental desperation the morning after making the horchata. I wanted an iced coffee and realized after it was poured that we were out of any milk or cream, so I poured in a large glug of the horchata and was instantly in love. You have to try it.
On a side note, I apologize for the lack of posts and recipes on here, we just got home from nearly 2 weeks on the west coast. So I am hoping to get more recipes up here in the next few weeks as we are home for a month straight, finally. It has been a busy summer, full of travel and events, so I am excited to have some time at home.
Ground up rice and spices for horchata
Horchata
Makes 7 servings
Adapted from recipes from Rick Bayless and David Lebovitz
2/3 cup white rice
2 cinnamon sticks
Pinch of freshly ground nutmeg
3 2-inch strips of lime zest (colored rind only) 3/4 inch wide
3 cups of hot water
3/4 – 1 cup sugar
3 cups of cold water
Grind the rice in a blender or spice grinder into fine pieces. Transfer to a medium-sized bowl and add in the cinnamon sticks, nutmeg and lime zest. Stir in 3 cups of hot tap water, cover and let stand at least 6 hours or preferably, overnight.
Remove the cinnamon sticks and pour the mixture into a blender and blend for 3 to 4 minutes, until it no longer feels very gritty. Add 2 cups of water, and then blend for a few seconds more. Set a large sieve over a mixing bowl and line with 3 layers of dampened cheese cloth. Pour in the mixture a little at time, gently stirring to help the liquid pass through. Squeeze the cheese cloth firmly to extract as much of the rice flavor as possible.
Add 1 cup of water and stir in your desired amount of sugar, mix until the sugar is dissolved. Taste, and adjust sweetness, if necessary. If the consistency is too thick, add additional water. Cover and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve. Stir before pouring. Serve over ice with a sprinkling of ground cinnamon on top.
Beating the Hourglass: My Foundation for Better Time Management
I get asked quite frequently about my “secrets” for time management because apparently I seem to look like I have it all together. This couldn’t be further from the truth and even I have moments of stress, panic and sheer exhaustion. But I have established some guidelines that I regard as my foundation for better time management that I’m more than happy to share. They’re not one-size fits all, but they fit perfectly into my life.
My Office Assistant, Pinot sets a poor example of time management
Keep a Weekly White Board
I keep a white board in my office that’s divided into seven columns for each day of the week. This allows me to visually map out my “Must-Get-Dones” for each day and set priorities for the week. Moving these tasks from my mental to-do list and to my white board has been a huge stress reliever and organizational tool. I can clear my mind long enough to focus on a single task and when I have time to move on to the next project or if something were to come up and change my plans, I can visually move around my tasks from day-to-day and change them as often as my schedule does. I also find myself completing tasks based on priority not based on ease or interest which I’ve found to be my own personal form of procrastination.
Block Schedule Your Time
All too often I would find myself in the same workday scenario. I would be trying to complete 4 tasks at once, have at least 8 pages open on my browser and be checking my email every 3 minutes. Not only was I not getting anything done, I was also causing myself more frustration and stress. The answer I found was to block-schedule my work time. I focus on what task I need to complete, estimate the appropriate time it should take me and schedule time on my calendar to work solely on that task until completion, just like I would schedule a meeting or conference call. And because I wouldn’t check my email in the middle of a meeting or hang up in the middle of a conference call, I am able to see one task through to completion and find myself with a better quality product in the end.
Be Productive Even When You’re Not Working
No one can be productive for 8+ hours straight. Ok, no HUMAN can be that productive…but we are just that—human. We need to take breaks and my best advice is that when you feel like you need 15 minutes away from the computer screen, take it and make it count. I use my breaks throughout the day to still do productive things that I want to get done, they just might not be work related. I’ll read through a magazine, clean, do laundry or browse Word Press and see what other people are writing about. By using these little breaks to knock routine or housekeeping items off of my list, I’m still gaining that moment of relaxation and mental clarity while clearing even more free time for myself in the future.
Get Into a Routine
As a freelancer and business owner, I set my own schedule. I COULD sleep in until 11am each morning or spend the afternoons shopping, but I don’t. I wake up earlier now than I ever did with a desk job. I exercise, eat breakfast and shower just like I would if I were going to an office. Then I use the first hour of my work day to complete routine business-building tasks. I browse the news, answer emails and update my social media. After one hour, no matter what, I stop. I then focus solely on client work and what my white board has laid out for me that day. My goals for the day are already outlined and I know exactly how much time I’ve allotted to complete each one. This structure in my day helps me to move forward and with greater speed and efficiency. Find whatever routine works for you, but stick with it!
Make the Most of Your Mornings
Get up early. Get up two hours earlier than when you would normally feel like waking up. I promise you, this is some of the best advice I can give to anyone who wants to be successful. Those morning hours are ones you’ll never be able to make up for the rest of your day. If you wake up late, you’ll be playing “catch-up” until you finally crash into bed that night. Mornings are your time to knock as much off your to-do list as possible. If a crisis were to strike in the afternoon, you’ll be well-equipped to handle it without it causing other tasks to roll over to the next day. If you work hard enough in the mornings and find yourself with some free time in the afternoon, then that’s all yours! You paid the piper now enjoy it, guilt-free. Run an errand, exercise, check-in with a friend, nap or give into a guilty pleasure. Eventually this “free afternoon” reward will inspire you to want to work hard in the momings and if you use today’s free afternoon to work ahead on tomorrow’s tasks, you can “earn” an entirely free day later that week.
These guidelines aren’t easy or always fun. They take discipline and accountability. But I promise you, you’ll adjust to the early mornings and new routine and will be even more prepared to accommodate the future growth of your business, your family and all of the chaos that comes with it!
Types of Questions Kids Ask
It is always amazing to me and sometimes frustrating (to be honest) the questions that my children come up with. They are curious about everything from flowers and colors to death and leveled parking structures. The underlying theme in most of the questions seems to be “why.” I understand that this is an effort to understand why and how everything around them works, at least, that is what I have been told. Sometimes I think it is a means to test the mental agility and stamina of a parent. Anyhow, as I was pondering the answers to the the ten rapid fire questions that I received in the five minutes between the car and the pool deck, I put these questions into three categories: Genius Questions, Glad I Have Kids Questions, and Procrastination Questions.
The first category is my favorite. These Genius Questions are the ones that make us as parents, feel like we have done right by our kids and that we may have actually taught them some type of critical thinking that will benefit them later in life. Example: Today, Maya, Ethan, and I were discussing the “Big Woods” (more to come on the Big Woods, think Laura Ingalls Wilder) near our new house. This seems to be a frequent topic in the car these days. Anyway, we were talking about how the wooded areas are getting smaller because people are cutting down the trees. Both kids quickly concluded that this is a terrible thing to do to trees. They wanted to know why people can’t just live in the shade of the trees or build their houses somewhere else? I was impressed with the level of concern and thinking. That leads to the next type of questions.
The second type of question usually presents shortly after the Genius Questions or when you are having a really bad day. These are the questions that make you glad that you have children and tend pull you out of even the deepest funk. As is usually the case, just as I was thinking that I have the two smartest kids in the world and that they are going to be renowned scientists or discover the cure for all that ales the world, I got hit with the question of the day, “Mommy, why are my (Ethan) buns small and yours are so big?” How do you answer that? Not with anger, it is an innocent question that means exactly what was asked. Nevertheless, This is not the first time my big buns have been called into question. This put me in mind of another such occasion. Maya had been helping me fold laundry. I am sure we were having some type of insightful and Earth moving conversation when I heard the question. ”Gee mommy, those are pretty panties. When I grow up, can I wear big panties like yours?” Again, I couldn’t be mad. These are the questions that make me stop and just laugh aloud. I have no answers to these types of questions other than a big hug and lots of smiles. occasionally I will try and explain the science of it, but typically we are laughing so hard we become distracted and forget the original question.
That brings me to the front door of the final type of question. I am not sure if this should be a type of question or a strategy for questioning. I am referring to the burning questions that need to be answered right away or one might perish, or more likely be ushered off to bed. These are the questions that are meant to derail the train that is heading down the hall to the Naughty Step (if you have to ask about the naughty step, you probably don’t have kids). The ultimate kid trick, the Procrastination Questions. These questions, like the Genius Questions, are usually insightful and require a lengthy answer which provides the perfect distraction from bedtime routines or disciplinary actions. Maya and Ethan like to save their Procrastination Questions for the moment in which the toothbrush with dangling toothpaste is headed towards his/her mouth. I can almost always see it coming. It is like a slow motion event. The tiny mouth slams shut, little hands reach for the toothbrush, usually knocking it out of my hand, and then the words flow out, “Mommy, wait, why. . .” I try not to get sucked in, but alas, is it not my job to impart the wisdom of the world into the young minds of my children?
And so it goes. These three categories of questions fill my days with pride, laughter, and sometimes the frustration of not being able to answer. Maybe, some of the frustration comes from being overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of questions being asked. Either way, I would not trade these questions for all of the answers in the world. I just pray that I have the strength keep answering them and that my children continue to believe that I know everything!
The first category is my favorite. These Genius Questions are the ones that make us as parents, feel like we have done right by our kids and that we may have actually taught them some type of critical thinking that will benefit them later in life. Example: Today, Maya, Ethan, and I were discussing the “Big Woods” (more to come on the Big Woods, think Laura Ingalls Wilder) near our new house. This seems to be a frequent topic in the car these days. Anyway, we were talking about how the wooded areas are getting smaller because people are cutting down the trees. Both kids quickly concluded that this is a terrible thing to do to trees. They wanted to know why people can’t just live in the shade of the trees or build their houses somewhere else? I was impressed with the level of concern and thinking. That leads to the next type of questions.
The second type of question usually presents shortly after the Genius Questions or when you are having a really bad day. These are the questions that make you glad that you have children and tend pull you out of even the deepest funk. As is usually the case, just as I was thinking that I have the two smartest kids in the world and that they are going to be renowned scientists or discover the cure for all that ales the world, I got hit with the question of the day, “Mommy, why are my (Ethan) buns small and yours are so big?” How do you answer that? Not with anger, it is an innocent question that means exactly what was asked. Nevertheless, This is not the first time my big buns have been called into question. This put me in mind of another such occasion. Maya had been helping me fold laundry. I am sure we were having some type of insightful and Earth moving conversation when I heard the question. ”Gee mommy, those are pretty panties. When I grow up, can I wear big panties like yours?” Again, I couldn’t be mad. These are the questions that make me stop and just laugh aloud. I have no answers to these types of questions other than a big hug and lots of smiles. occasionally I will try and explain the science of it, but typically we are laughing so hard we become distracted and forget the original question.
That brings me to the front door of the final type of question. I am not sure if this should be a type of question or a strategy for questioning. I am referring to the burning questions that need to be answered right away or one might perish, or more likely be ushered off to bed. These are the questions that are meant to derail the train that is heading down the hall to the Naughty Step (if you have to ask about the naughty step, you probably don’t have kids). The ultimate kid trick, the Procrastination Questions. These questions, like the Genius Questions, are usually insightful and require a lengthy answer which provides the perfect distraction from bedtime routines or disciplinary actions. Maya and Ethan like to save their Procrastination Questions for the moment in which the toothbrush with dangling toothpaste is headed towards his/her mouth. I can almost always see it coming. It is like a slow motion event. The tiny mouth slams shut, little hands reach for the toothbrush, usually knocking it out of my hand, and then the words flow out, “Mommy, wait, why. . .” I try not to get sucked in, but alas, is it not my job to impart the wisdom of the world into the young minds of my children?
And so it goes. These three categories of questions fill my days with pride, laughter, and sometimes the frustration of not being able to answer. Maybe, some of the frustration comes from being overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of questions being asked. Either way, I would not trade these questions for all of the answers in the world. I just pray that I have the strength keep answering them and that my children continue to believe that I know everything!
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