Asphalt. ASSFAULT.

Supppp my people?! So. You hear it first. Well, second cuz Facebook heard it first. But, word on the street is SNOW DAY TOMORROW! EFF YESS! I have not had one of these babies in over 4 years. Never once did Union cancel classes in the wake of a storm. So, I'm thinking, I've had this a long time coming. So thank you, snow storm. There should be a name for you.

Anyways, moving on. How have you been, my ponderous anonymous readers? Yes, I have been absent for quite a while, not sure how you managed to survive with out me. But alass...here we are. And let me tell you. The last few days/weeks have been quite the trip. Ups, downs. Tears, smiles. Laughs, crys. Road trip to CT to say adios to my BFF since I was 11. Oh boy. I guess it's all part of growing up, eh? Sometimes I like to look up at the sky and find where snowflakes are born. Other times I like to pretend I'm little again. But you know? No one likes being sad but it makes the happy times that much better. I'm gunna miss driving to CT and hanging with Ashley and Sondra but I look forward to roads trips with Sondra up to Maine. I've always wanted a flannel wearing lumberjack bearded scruffy boy friend. Let the fantasies begin...moooovving on!

So, in trying to set new goals and keep my life busy while getting as little sleep as possible, there are several projects I have put on my plate. First, I have reactivated my Peace Corps Application. Yes. Second, I am starting a photo project. Photo project. What is that? Well, in order to take more photo's (and as you may know I am a fan of film photography) and expand my photography knowledge I am going to set a challenge of one roll of film per month for the next year. I'm also going to wait until the end of this one year project before I develop them. I figure it will be cool to look back at a year of my life through film.

On another note, I have purchased a harmonica! Finally time to act on that goal. But now the issue is actually playing the harmonica. To tell you the truth, it's a lot harder then I thought it would be. To say the least, I have a new found appreciation for Billy Joel, Elton John and all those other singer song writers who perform with a harmonica in their mouth.

One final thing before I consider getting dressed and hitting up the BIER GARTEN for some late night fun before a snow day. Two new races on the map. The first is a half-marathon in Long Island May 1st. Yeah Boiiiii. The second is the famous and infamous Boilermaker in Utica, NY that ends at the Saranac Beer Factory. Can I get a WHOOP WHOOP! Interested? Hit me up...I could always use some company. The Boilermaker has become something of a running revolution over here in Albany.

Alright. On that note, I leave you with two things. A note from my harmonica which you cannot hear and a poem from Sir Shel Silverstein, the master of words. Kind of an ode to youth and hard times if you will...and I believe it's called "Where the Sidewalk Ends"

There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.

Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.

There will be two posts today!

Post one is a list of a few recipes I have tried over the past two weeks. Post two is more dialogue...and I suppose an apology for not having written for nearly two months.

Recipe 1: Rosemary Focaccia Bread

Ingredients:

2 TBSP Rosemary

1 Cup Boiling Water

1 Package (1 TBSP) dry yeast

1 Teaspoon Sugar

***

1 Teaspoon Salt

3 Tablespoons Olive or Rosemary Oil

1 ¼ Cups Whole Wheat Flour

1 – 1 ½ Cups unbleached white bread flour

***

1 TSP Coarse Sea Salt

3-4 Fresh Rosemary Sprigs

Crush the rosemary laves with a pestle or chop them finely. Pour the boiling water over the rosemary leaves in a large mixing bowl. Let the water cool to a temperature comfortable on the inside of your wrist. Add the yeast and Sugar.

After about 5 minutes, when the yeast is bubbling, add the salt and one teaspoon of the olive oil. Stir in the whole wheat flour. Add only as much white bread flour as you need to make the dough pull away from the sides of the bowl. Knead the dough for 5 to 10 minutes until smooth and springy. As you knead the sough add just enough flour to prevent sticking. The dough should remain soft.

Oil a large bowl. Place the dough in the bowl, turning it once to oil both sides. Cover the bowl with a damp cloth and set it aside in a warm place for about 1 ½ hrs or until doubled in size.

Punch down the dough and knead it for a minute or two. Oil a large baking sheet with olive oil. Stretch and pat the dough on the baking sheet to roughly form a 12x12 inch square. Cover the pan and let the dough rise again for about 45 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Make indentations with your fingertips about every two inches, dimpling the dough all over. Sprinkle coarse salt over the top. Lightly press in fresh rosemary sprigs. Drizzle the dough with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Bake for about 25 minutes or until golden. Serve warm, cut or broken into pieces.

Note: I top mine with sundried tomatoes, red onion, olives, sea salt, rosemary, and olive oil.

Recipe 2: Rosemary Shortbread

2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon plus 1 pinch kosher salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted cold butter, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 to 2 teaspoons rosemary, chestnut or other dark, full-flavored honey (optional).

1. Heat oven to 325 degrees. In a food processor, pulse together flour, sugar, rosemary and salt. Add butter, and honey if desired, and pulse to fine crumbs. Pulse a few more times until some crumbs start to come together, but don't overprocess. Dough should not be smooth.

2. Press dough into an ungreased 8- or 9-inch-square baking pan or 9-inch pie pan. Prick dough all over with a fork. Bake until golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes for 9-inch pan, 45 to 50 minutes for 8-inch. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Cut into squares, bars or wedges while still warm.

Note: I used 1/3 c sugar and 1/3 c brown sugar and I added finely crushed walnuts.

Recipe 3: Maple Balsamic Vinigrette (Courtsey of LANA!)

‎1 small Shallot, finely diced
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons Balsamic Vinegar
1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 teaspoons Maple Syrup
...Kosher Salt
Freshly ground Black Pepper
-------------------------------------
Combine the chopped shallot, Dijon and Balsamic Vinegar in a mixing bowl. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while you whisk to emulsify. Add the maple syrup and season, to taste, with salt and pepper.



That will be all for today. I have other recipes but they will be added in good time. Yum.

Chalupa in Solitude

What is uuuuuppp anonymous readers. Sorry for the two month hiatus but did I not warn you at the beginning that I would probably fail with the upkeep of this venture? I know, this does nothing but reflect poorly on my ability to follow through on, well, anything. But alas, that is why I am here. I followed through. On what you may ask? I'll get to that in a moment. But first, a side story on follow through: I've been bad at it since childhood. In dance, I lacked the follow through in sticking my leg straight up behind me. My dance teacher said I had froggy legs. In piano, I lacked follow through in practice. I never practiced. It wasn't that I didn't care....well, it was. Piano was one of those things my mom made me do and because she did I hated it and my revenge was to never practice. Now, of course, I regret it because I would love to be able to sit at a Piano and knock out Beethoven's 9th by memory. I lacked follow through in soccer. I could never kick the ball properly. I was tall enough as a kid to make a good basketball player but I lacked follow through in making a shot. I lacked follow through in throwing a soft ball and in swimming the breast stroke. See what I mean? I am prone to lacking follow through.

Well...to be honest, I began this post like two days ago...so once again my lack of follow through SHINES. But at least I am aiming to finish this post...without distraction. Maybe. Hopefully. We'll see. Anyways. The topic of this post. Follow through. So I am approaching the 6 month mark in my year of service. Half way through. And boy oh boy have I been struggling. Both in my current job and in my future. I am not going to go into the details of my struggles at work...mainly because if you are close to me, you know what they are, and if you're not, well then you don't know the issues for a reason. Not to mention you never know who could be reading this blog.

However, my concerns about my future I have no concerns about revealing to you. In fact, I welcome any and all suggestions from you, anonymous readers. Not that there are many of you. But hey. One can hope.

Well anyways I suppose I'll save that for another day mainly because talking about my (lack of a) future depresses me. But moving on. The reason for this post was. Follow through. Right. So the other night I was feeling really down and wondering if I had accomplished much of anything this year. Then I remembered the post I wrote nearly 6 months ago when I first started my year as a VISTA. I'm sure you, anonymous reader, recall it? It listed 20 goals I wanted to achieve this year. And I am happy to report that at the 6 month mark I have accomplished 10 of these goals. When I realized this...well lets just say it made me feel grrreeat. Like Tony the Tiger. Yes. I have accomplished something and I will accomplish more. From biking to cooking to running a half marathon. Yup.

Next on my list will be to purchase and learn the harmonica. Even if I don;t actually "learn" it I will at least have a new, grounded, portable source of entertainment that will last me well beyond the end of the earth. Hopefully I'll remember to update you on that when I d purchase one.

And now, anonymous readers, I am sick of typing. And sick of expressing my thoughts. It's your turn. So speak up friends.

And I suppose in the spirit of my blog, I should leave you with a funny quote.

Did someone say Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?

"Not that I condone fascism, or any -ism for that matter. -Ism's in my opinion are not good. A person should not believe in an -ism, he should believe in himself. I quote John Lennon, "I don't believe in Beatles, I just believe in me." Good point there. After all, he was the walrus. I could be the walrus. I'd still have to bum rides off people."

Thank you sir.

Baked for GOOODDDD

cool. Cool. COOL.

Yes....

1. http://www.townpedaler.com/

2. http://www.spotlightnews.com/news/view_news.php?news_id=1286815604

3. http://www.javajazzdelmar.com/index.php?go=menu

4. http://allgoodbakers.weebly.com/

Now go!

A couple tasty things...

1. Pumpkin Cookiessss

Ingredients

* 1 cup canned pumpkin (I just used the whole can cuz I didnt want leftovers)
* 1 cup white sugar (I used 1/2 cup white and 1/2 cup brown sugar)
* 1/2 cup vegetable oil
* 1 egg
* 2 cups all-purpose flour *(I used 1 1/2 cups white flour, 1/2 cup whole wheat flour, and 1/2 cup rolled oats)
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (I also added powdered ginger, nutmeg, and cloves)
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon milk
* 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
* 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (I used the whole bag...)
* 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions

1. Combine pumpkin, sugar, vegetable oil, and egg. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt. Dissolve the baking soda with the milk and stir in. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture and mix well.
2. Add vanilla, chocolate chips and nuts.
3. Drop by spoonful on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for approximately 10 minutes or until lightly brown and firm.

2. Butternut Squash and Brown Rice Risotto

Butternut Squash and Brown Rice Risotto – makes 3 main course servings

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbs. olive oil (divided)
• 4 cloves garlic
• ½ butternut squash (2 lb)
• 1 Tbs. butter
• 3 shakes chile flakes
• ½ tsp. cumin seed
• 1 cippolini onion
• 1 c. short grain brown rice
• 5 c. broth
• 14 dried sage leaves
• ½ c. white wine
• 1 Tbs. heavy cream
• ½ tsp. fresh thyme
• 1 tsp. lemon zest
• ½ c. parmigiano reggiano

Instructions:

1. Cut squash in half, remove seeds and strings to a sauce pan. Add water and bouillon (if using, other wise, add broth of your choice) to sauce pan and bring to a very low simmer. (Make sure your broth is not overly salty, as it will be a very dominant seasoning.)
2. Reserve half the squash for another use. Trim and skin the remaining half and cut into 1 centimeter cubes.
3. Heat 1 Tbs. olive oil (lemon infused if you have it), add garlic and fry for 30 seconds, then add squash cubes. Cook covered, over medium heat until just soft. You may wish to add a ladle-full of broth to speed the cooking process.
4. While squash is cooking, heat remaining 1 Tbs. olive oil and 1 Tbs. butter. Add cumin seeds and chile flakes and let sizzle 15-30 seconds. Add onion and cook until it is translucent. Then add the rice and cook until rice begins to whiten.
5. Add broth to cover the rice (1-3 ladles full). Cook at a brisk simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally. When the squash is ready, add 1/3 of the cubes to the rice.
6. Let rice cook until it absorbs almost all the broth, then add 1-2 ladles-full until rice is just covered. Continue this way, simmering, adding broth, stirring occasionally until the rice is almost to your desired texture. Using brown rice, this may take an hour. (You do not have to stir constantly, just check every couple minutes until the rice is close to done, then stir more frequently).
7. While rice is cooking, chop thyme, lemon zest, grate cheese and prepare a salad. Fry the sage leaves in olive oil for a garnish.
8. When rice is nearly done, add wine and let cook down, stirring constantly. Add remaining broth, if desired, along with reserved squash, cream, lemon zest, thyme and parmesan. Stir until the risotto reaches your desired consistency. It should be creamy and a lovely orange color with the rice still somewhat firm to the tooth. Serve and garnish with sage leaves!

3. Sweet website/article!

http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/dec2009/sb20091217_914398.htm

http://www.themediaconsortium.org/2010/10/01/weekly-mulch-why-building-a-bike-safe-city-is-key-to-a-clean-energy-future/

Til next time...

coincidence? i think not!

Buttons Were Made to Fall off

Two Days til my half marathon...oh shit. Check it at: http://www.hartfordmarathon.com/marathonnew/race_information/half_marathon/coursemap.htm

Hit Up the Troy Bike Rescue. Awesome place. They found a small hole in my front tire and replaced the tube. We also adjusted the gears so they stopped making weird noises and added lights to the front and back so I can bike safer at night. Me and a new buddy found a torn up bike and are gunna fix it up over the next few TBR sessions as a project bike. TOTALLY awesome.

Here are some other cool links I have come across over the past few days:

http://www.themediaconsortium.org/2010/10/01/weekly-mulch-why-building-a-bike-safe-city-is-key-to-a-clean-energy-future/

http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/dec2009/sb20091217_914398.htm

Yup. Some day soon I will tell you about my bakery non profit idea. But not yet. When I have time. Yes.

Today I have an after work thing for my job but I don't wanna go! We are supposed to watch a movie. But it's pie day. I wanna make pie! But alas, instead of pie and a movie, I will be attending a dinner and discussion thing for work. Oh, when duty calls. There is a pie place on Central Ave that I may make a trip to...yes. Definitely. Yes.

Don't you worry, I will make pie. Hopefully sooner rather then later. And when I do. I will post pictures. And a recipe. Yes. Yum!

Til next time!

Journeys to Live

So today was a day I wanted to post. Look at that. A day where I actually wanted to write something. But then I ran into a dilemma. I couldn't figure out what to write about...there were just soooo many things to say! So I guess you, lucky readers, with be able to read about all of them. Now, I am going to say that I will make this a short post because I need to get to bed, but reality is that it probably won't be short so you, anonymous reader, will just have to deaaaalll.

So. The thing that first sparked the need for a new blog post was the fact that I needed to document my amazing adult grilled cheese that I made for myself the other day. I wish I had pictures to show you, this thing was soooo good. The grilled cheese all began at the farmers market where I purchased yummy, delicious, $8 (yes, $8) pesto. I also purchased olive foccacia bread and fresh yummy vine tomatoes. All of this proceeded to be made into what I have decided to call "Adult Grilled Cheese." It's like that grilled cheese you used to eat with the crusts cut off and dipped in tomato soup. You know, like from elementary school. You'd eat it on days that were cool and rainy while watching Beauty and the Beast...well at least I did. Up until high school. Yum. Well, anyways, my adult grilled cheese consisted of all these farmers market ingredients piled high on top of the olive foccacia along with some Health Community Harvest bruschetta...YUM! OH, don't forget to broil it in the over for like 5-7 minutes. Then it's absolutely perfecto. Serve with some fresh apple cider (or beer, which ever you prefer) and voila! Beautiful, easy, yummy meal. Don't forget the Stewarts Ice Cream for dessert.

Second thing I wanted to mention was this whole idea of Walmart selling fair trade coffee. WHAT'S WIT THAT?! I mean, walmart is anything but fair trade. They don't even pay their employees enough to purchase health insurance without falling below the poverty line. Crazy. It's like McDonald's going organic.

NEXT! OH shit I forget...Hang on, it will come to me. AH YES! The Troy Bike Rescue. I went for the first time today and it is totally AWESOMEEEE!!!!!! YEAH! Like, I feel like I've talked about my bike and how important it is to me. Well, the Troy Bike Rescue (TBR for short) has confirmed to me that I am not a sole lunatic (or that I am one of many lunatics) obsessed with me bike! So I walk in about an hour after they started the session to see like tons of bikes and a bunch of people running around with wheels, bolts, wrenches, and greased up hands. YUM. Lets just say I was home! I felt slightly useless at first because I had no idea what to do or what I was doing. But then the head lady volunteer person hooked me up with this dude who was just like a wealth of knowledge. Not the best teacher, but he was lucky cuz I'm a visual learner anyways. This dude went through the names of all the different parts of the bike. I could lie and tell you that I remember them all, but who are we kidding. You must know me well enough at this point to know that I know nor can retain very little information. A lot of people there were first timers, some were people who wanted to adopt a bike, and others were like me. They just wanna learn! And learn I did. I could totally like take a bike and put it back together in no time. Not saying it would be better off that way...just that I can do it. I also feasted my eyes upon the MONSTER bikes. Or at least the really tall bikes. HUGE bikes that are two bike frames fused together so its super tall. Someday I'll get a pic up here. I feel there is more to tell you but it is late and I am getting tired so I will just leave you with the fact that its AWESOME and you should TOTALLY HIT IT UP.

I gave blood yesterday. First time ever. IRon is usually too low. This time it was at the minimum. Hell yeah. Took about 6 minutes. BOOM!

Talked with mom today. Love her. Argued of course. I'll talk more when I am less tired.

PEACE!

I Owe You

Shit, dude. Look at that. Two days in a row of posting...you should be proud of me. My dear anonymous readers. How have you been? You see I can ask that question, but you cannot answer me for you are somewhere, out there, in cyberland reading my question while I, forlorn blogger, sit miles away from you asking a question to which the answer I will probably never hear. For you see, you may answer that question, out there, where you sit in front of your computer. But I, master of the keys, do not care to hear it. It was a question, thrown out among the other words on this page, left up to be as important or unimportant as you deem them to be.

But I digress.

The real reason for my posting here tonight is far deeper then you may care to read, though I promise it is better then my NYC "Alone" post or any other attempt at being deep I have had over the past month or so. At this point it is actually past my self appointed bed time (whenever that may be) so writing out this post is actually important for helping me sort out my thoughts. And I am going to do it as quickly as possible so that I may go to sleep.

So. Today. At. Work. I.

Alright, I'm over that...

Today I was going through my normal business of arriving to work, locking up my bike, checking email, going on facebook, etc etc when I was overcome by this strange feeling of loneliness. Now, I am not going to lie. This strange feeling of loneliness stemmed from a bit of stalking I did on facebook. So perhaps it was a punishment for procrastinating when I should have been getting work done. But that is besides the point. While on facebook I came across some people who I had not see or spoken to since high school. People who had remained friends all through college and were now dating, living, traveling, or working together. They all seemed to be spreading their wings while maintaining close friendships. Seeing the world while being missed from home. And I miss that. I miss knowing people for years upon years in high school. Most of the people I had been friends with I have lost touch with in the years since college. I could probably count the number of people I am still in touch with on one, maybe two, hands. And this is not to say that those people I remain in touch with are sub par. Far from it, actually. In fact, the topic of straying from friends is not even what I wanted to address in this blog post. So let me get back to that...

Seeing what my friends from college were doing left me with this strange feeling of loneliness. But more then that. It was a feeling I could not place. It left me easily irritated and confused. I even teared up a bit. So not the usual me. I was left with this somewhat sour and irritated feeling nearly all day. I tried to laugh past it, as I do in most situations. I even tried to talk about it only to find that I had no idea what I was trying to say nor describe how I felt. It was not until I got home and was sitting with my roommates that I realized...I was trapped. It was a feeling of loneliness because I felt that I was stuck. Don't get me wrong. I love my life as an AmeriCorps VISTA. I love the people I've met and the place I work. I love my roommates and my apartment. However, I am trapped. Now let me tell you why I feel this way. I am trapped because this is not a place I pictured myself at the age of 22. To be honest, I never really pictured myself anywhere at 22...too many preconceptions and expectations come with that. But I definitely did not picture myself in a 9 to 5 job wearing professional clothes everyday and attending Professional Development Opportunities on public speaking and attending bi-weekly staff meetings. This is entirely too structured for a 22 year old like myself. Granted, I understand that this year will benefit me in my future. The issue is that at 22 I don't want to think about my future. I have been thinking about my future since I was in elementary school. And for once in my life I want to live in the now. I want to be as free as I can be in this point in my life before it become necessary for me to settle down and find a real job. I want to explore the world. I want to road trip across the United States and sleep in fields. I want to find odd jobs working at farms and in basements. I want to fix up a house. I want to do illegal things and not get caught. I want to run away from the police. I want to get mugged in another country. I want to fail at speaking a different language. I want to get fucked up and attend music festivals and not brush my hair and go weeks without showering. I want to get a tattoo and get piercings. I want to get lost and then find myself again. I want to live without rules and without expectations and without needs. I want tattered clothes that mean the world to me and and I want to live out of a back pack. I just want to live. Without being told how.

At 22 I want to be care free and free. The next time I will be a double number is when I am 33 and at that age I suppose I will have to have a real career, a home, and a family. But at 22 I don't need to have anything. And that is what I want. I want nothing. I just want to be.

I suppose I will get through this year. No. I don't suppose it, I know it. Because I have made a commitment and commitments I do not back up on. But I hope that maybe when I am 23 I can do these things. I can just be and just live and just do.

Til then don't be surprised if I attempt small random acts of rebellion or attempts at achieving this way of just being. For example: a nose or lip ring. Probably not acceptable at work, but what are they going to do? Fire me? Hell no. I'll just put a band aid on it or something. Maybe this weekend. I would also like to bike to Canada. Sometime...maybe over a vacation? I would also like to plan a road trip. Complete with sleeping backs and road map.

If you, anonymous reader, have any suggestions or would like to meet me somewhere along my journey, please make your desires known. For I would love company on my path of rebellion. Til then I suppose I will continue to fake it until I make it and hope that out of that I will be able to free myself. But for now I should go to sleep. Because I suppose it will be difficult to free myself when I lack sleep. I am sorry I do not have a quote to depart you with, but we'll leave it at an IOY.

Later, homes.

Ice Ice, Baby

Oh heyyyyyy!

It's been a while, has it not? I am sorry, anonymous readers, but I did give you fair warning. Take my lack of blogging as a good sign. It means that I am thouroughly enjoying myself, living life in the almost real world. I hope the same goes for you. Since I first began this blog I believe that my life has expanded and changed and I have learned so much about so many things. I have learned that procrastinating at work is as acceptable as procrastinating homework in college. I have learned that foodstamps are quite awesome and that I can eat like a king (or queen) on them. I have learned that there are chemicals in almost every product we use that can cause cancer and that I cant actually run 10 miles all at once, although I may not survive the next two days. And that is only the beginning of my mind expatiation...

It may please you to know that I am currently at my work site, writing this blog on my sites computer. Mainly because my computer at home is beyond slow. I wanted to come on and provide you, anonymous reader, with some links, books, and things that may be of interest to you...mostly because they are of interest to me:

Troy Bike Rescue: I plan on hitting up the learn and earn workshops...heeelllzz yeah!
Capital District Community Gardens
Troy Farmers Market
Democracy Now
Move On

Ishmael - the book I am reading now by Daniel Quinn...quite an interesting perspective
The Better World Handbook - don't know how much I trust the resources but a good place to start
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake - haven't actually started reading it yet but it looks cute and its for my work book club

Made some awesome apple crisp this past weekend. Emergency trip to the super market was necessary in order to purchase vanilla ice cream (food stamps were utilized). I also purchased tomatoes - in season and highly recommended. I don't think I've ever craved a tomato before and I am now. Its in ma blood or something.

Last thing: TSHIRT. I am going to have people sign a t-shirt that I will wear on my race day. I have a tendancy to drop my head when I get tired (while running) so I thought that maybe if I have encouraging messages or names of people, it would inspire me to keep going :-)

Also, shout out to Amanda Wilson for giving damn good massages. Thanks dude.

LarkFEST this weekend, yeah baby! Also Boarded up Action at Grand Street Community Arts. Busy week to get through, but the weekend will be hella rewarding :-)

CARAZY

What up homes?

I WANT YO $$$$$$$!!!

It's official. I've gone absolutely insane (as if you didn't all know that already). And to prove it to you all I have decided to challenge myself above and beyond, mentally and physically. Even more so, I'm just bored and I need something to keep myself entertained, at least til winter in the northeast hits and I can spend all my energy sledding and attempting to snow board.

Over the next few months I am enrolling myself in a variety of races ranging from 5K's to half marathons and I need YOUR SUPPORT!

Here is my schedule so far of races I would like to complete:

9/26 - Tour de Habitat Relay bike race w/ VISTA's (?)
10/2 - Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Albany 5K
10/9 - Hartford HALF MARATHON !@(#!(#(!#!(@*@#%(@)#$!!!!!!!!!!
11/7 - Stockade-athon 15K (I hope I have the energy after the 1/2 marathon)
11/25 - Manchester Road Race 4.75 miles
1/1 - Albany Hangover Half Marathon/Sober Up 3.5 mile run

That's all I've got so far but I hope to add maybe a few more 5k's in there or maybe some more biking or something.

I would love to sponsor myself in all these events! However, seeing that I am an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer living below the poverty line, I don't have the dough to do so and that's where YOU come in! HELP ME RAISE THE MONEY TO COMPETE IN THESE RACES!! :-) No amount is too small (or too big).

I NEED TO RAISE $300 OR MORE!!! And I promise that all the money will go to great causes!

Here are some incentives:

For every $5 donated I will be your friend forever
For every $25 donated I will make you tasty cookies
For every $50 donated I will give you a really great back massage
If you donate more then that, I'll arrange something exxxtra special for you ;-) (THAT WAS A JOKE)

Even if you can't donate anything, I would love your support on the race day. And if you are interested in doing any of the races with me let me know! I would love the company!

Peeing on the side of the road

This post was started on Saturday evening and finish on Sunday morning.

So. Here I am. Sitting in NYC alone in my brothers room on a Saturday night. And for the first time since school has ended I feel so alone. I suppose that makes this a Debbie Downer/Negative Nancy type of post but I was actually hoping that coming here and writing to you, anonymous readers, would help me realize that I was in fact not as alone as I feel. You see, I was unsure about my trip to NYC in the first place. I was hesitant to leave Albany because I had been thoroughly enjoying my stay there thus far and I was going to miss what has become my now weekly bike trip to the Troy Farmers Market. I also did not want to spend what little money I have on what usually turns out to be an expensive NYC experience. And this in no way is the fault of my little brother. He was actually quite awesome and funded a lot of my experience. He also let me sleep in his bed while he slept on the (comfortable, he claimed) couch in his living room. If anything, I am glad I came to NY to at least visit him. He is quite, quite, quite awesome.

I suppose I was just in a bit of a slump this weekend. Not really sure why. Well, that's a lie. I have an idea why and it's actually a really stupid reason. Reasons for which I have told my friends before are things not to be upset over. So I suppose that makes me a hypocrite, which is even worse. Because I often have trouble controlling my feelings. I am one of those people whose feelings control me so once I'm in a slump for whatever reason, unless things turn out unexpectedly, I usually remain in said slump. But I think what it comes down to was the fact that I was unsure about my entire city trip to begin with and then the entire weekend preceded to be framed around this state of mind.

Honestly, it was not all bad, really. I suppose I should have enjoyed it a bit more. I went to Max Brennars for the first time, ate falafel, visited the transvestites, visited the Stonewall Bar, walked over to the Hudson and saw an awesome view of Jersey City, went to the farmers market in Union Square, went to Times Square and purchased a kinda cool (though probably fake and unoriginal) poster, walked around a bit, got some delicious roasted almonds, went to long island to visit the grandparents, parents, aunts/uncles and cousins, sat in Union Square and was included in some dudes really awesome freestyle rapping, and now here I am...Sunday morning typing to you, my dutiful anonymous readers. You see, a generally pretty awesome weekend. But I think I was just not in my New York City state of mind. Normally I really love the city. But this weekend, instead of loving the city, I missed Albany. Caaarrraazy.

Anyways. In my defense, I haven't really had a weekend to rest yet. This weekend NYC, last weekend, home for less then 24 hrs (which included leaving West Hartford at 6 AM in order to get to Albany on time for work), weekend before I went to Schenectady, weekend before that I had 2 friends come visit. Weekend before that, home. You see? Busy!

Alright, alright. I'm going to stop complaining. I'm going to stop feel bad for myself. Lets find something good in all of this. Lets see. The good. I love Albany. I love my life in Albany. I love my friends in Albany, my new job in Albany, my awesome apartment in Albany. And coming to NYC for the weekend made me realize that. It made me realize how much I really am enjoying post college life. It's not as bad in the real world a they make it seem, kids. In fact, its actually quite survivable and enjoyable. Even on severely limited income. This is my take away from the weekend. Along with $30 from my mom. So I suppose, all in all, it actually wasn't so bad. Although I do still feel a bit slumpy. But once I'm back in Albany, I'll be sure to look back at the great weekend I spent in NYC with my bro.

B E A utiful

Litany

by Billy Collins

You are the bread and the knife,
The crystal goblet and the wine . . .
Jacques Crickillon

You are the bread and the knife,

the crystal goblet and the wine.

You are the dew on the morning grass

and the burning wheel of the sun.

You are the white apron of the baker

and the marsh birds suddenly in flight.

However, you are not the wind in the orchard,

the plums on the counter,

or the house of cards.

And you are certainly not the pine-scented air.

There is just no way you are the pine-scented air.

It is possible that you are the fish under the bridge,

maybe even the pigeon on the general's head,

but you are not even close

to being the field of cornflowers at dusk.

And a quick look in the mirror will show

that you are neither the boots in the corner

nor the boat asleep in its boathouse.

It might interest you to know,

speaking of the plentiful imagery of the world,

that I am the sound of rain on the roof.

I also happen to be the shooting star,

the evening paper blowing down an alley,

and the basket of chestnuts on the kitchen table.

I am also the moon in the trees

and the blind woman's tea cup.

But don't worry, I am not the bread and the knife.

You are still the bread and the knife.

You will always be the bread and the knife,

not to mention the crystal goblet and—somehow—the wine.

What I want.

Understand more
Learn Everything
Open my mind
Live with intent
Dig Deeper
Be better
Fear nothing
Fear Everything
Be honest
Accept dishonesty

yum? YUM?

Oh My Awesomeness!

So, remember that potato salad I was contemplating a few weeks ago? Well I made it...the pesto one that is and I adapted it and changed it to what I like. You see, I usually find recipes and use them as template for amounts and modify them to how I like. And this recipe in particular work FABULOUSLY!!! And they usually do anyways.

Let us call this the Awesomely Awesome Blue Colored Earthy Rustic Potato Deliciousness Salad. Here is the recipe (I trust that you, anonymous and trusted reader, will not go off and become famous with it because if you do I will have a mastiff/st bernard mix bike your head off in my honor (-: ).

1.5 - 2 lbs Blue Potatoes (mine were fresh from the Troy Farmers Market)
1 lb Green Beans
1 Head of Broccoli
1 Red Onion
1/4 Cup + 1 TBSP Olive Oil
1/3 Cup Grated Parmesan
1/4 - 1/3 Cup Crushed Walnuts
1 Cup Sliced Basil (FRESH!)
Garlic Powder
Pepper
Italian Seasonings

Wash Potatoes. Bring them to a boil in a pot of water and drain. Return potatoes to pot and toss with garlic, salt, Italian Seasonings, and 1 TBSP olive oil. Roast in over at 400 F for 1/2 hr. While the potatoes are roasting, cut up broccoli, green beans and onions. Put in the same pot potatoes were mixed in. Stir fry veggies for 5-10 minutes over medium high heat (til slightly tender). Take off heat. When potatoes are done, put them in the pot with the rest of the veggies, olive oil, basil, walnuts, Parmesan, and spices.

Eat your heart out. Yum.

A Quickie

Yo Yo Yiggady Yo! (If I might borrow that from Juno)

Well, its been a while and in light that revelation I have decided to provide you with a quickie just to keep you satisfied until I have a chance to write a much longer post. Thought knowing myself this may or may not actually end up being a short post.

Events of the past week or so have involved a lot of bike riding to and from Siena, biking to the farmers market, biking in general, purchasing a chain to make a bike lock, making said bike lock, admiring my awesome bike............

Have I done anything besides care for my bike this week? Well yes, but none of it has provided as much entertainment as the new bike obsession. I moved boxes. Lots of them. I went to a retreat at which I discussed my (non-existent) christian identity and how this related to my (currently almost non-existent) duties relating to students. I ate pecan pie at a food festival. Oh, and I was a passenger in a car that went upwards of 125 miles/hour (sorry mom, if you're reading this...I am alive and well...the car ride was quite awesome, thanks for asking).

That's about it, really. Most of the time I find some ways to keep my own self entertained (not in the way that you sick minds may be thinking...). Though the past few weeks have been oddly satisfying and fulfilling. We shall see how this continues.

Now the real reason I wanted to post today was because while at the retreat (at which I discovered my non existent christian) I productively created a list of things I wanted to accomplish this year. I also created a logo for the coop/bakery/food pantry/community kitchen I am going to open, but I'll leave that for another post. Some of the goals are lame and effortless and will take all of a few minutes. Others will take months of preparation and effort. But rather then prep you for what they are I think its better to just throw them right at you! So, in no particlar order, here they are:

1. Learn Harmonica
2. Start biking
3. Bike More (and sweat more)
4. Eat more local/fair trade/organic
5. Blog (obviously have not completed this one yet)
6. Do more crafty projects (like make bracelets)
7. Run a half marathon
8. Do more photography
9. Learn more about film and Polaroid photography
10. Read more news
11. Be more sustainable
12. Learn
13. Read the pile of books I have had since freshman year of college
14. Learn how to drive stick
15. Study and take the GRE's (and or GMATS)
16. Figure out how to start my bakery
17. Learn to play guitar
18. Write more
19. Read more poetry
20. Stare at the sky at night and watch the clouds during the day

This is an ongoing list so it may be edited an anytime without notice. Sorry. I also plan on putting these up on my apartment wall next to the list of goals Michael made for the apartment.

Anywaayysss. I told you this would be a short post turned long post, did I not? Not unlike the extremely long and thick bratwurst I lay eyes on at the international food festival that somewhat resembled a part of the male anatomy. Though I'm not sure how my post could qualify as being thick. Yup. Well, keeping in the theme of Juno we have going on, I say a farewell with this quote:

"That ain' no Etch-A-Sketch. This is one doodle that can't be un-did homeskillet."

Thank you, Dwight from the office, for those wise words. The mean more then you know.

It's hot as a stiff cock!

AMAZING Potato Salad!

So today, several VISTAs gathered for a (free) bbq hosted by Young Organics, a program run by Grand Street Community Arts, which is James' site. ALL of the food was beyond delicious, especially when nothing but pasta and salad has been eaten over the past 2 weeks at Siena (not that I'm not thankful for that food). The Stewart's Ice Cream served for dessert was especially good, but this time around nothing beat the potato salad.

Now, I'm not usually a fan of potato salad (or macaroni salad or egg salad or tuna salad or any of those salads drenched in mayo). But this potato salad was blue. It was made with BLUE POTATOES! So I HAD to try it! Not to mention that it looked like it was just overflowing with good stuff and was begging to be eaten. In fact, the moment I saw the pot it was in, I could hear the potato salad calling out my name. It was saying "Eaten me Ariel. EAT ME! For I am tasty and blue and full of good stuff for you." So, of course, I obeyed. Again. And Again. And Again. And then I packed some in a cup to take home for lunch tomorrow (to be eaten with avocado, carrots, and pumpkin cheddar crackers... yum!). And the best part about this salad???? It's sooooo simple!

Here is the recipe that was given to me by the free spirited awesome hippie lady who seemed to be a member in charge:

Blue Potato Salad (That Calls Out Names)

Blue Potatoes - Boiled
Mayonnaise
Yellow Mustard
Red Peppers
Oregano
Salt/Pepper

The awesome free spirited tree hugging (I mean that as an endearing term, for I also see myself as a tree huger. It's ok for tree hugers to call other people tree hugers) hippie lady told me she didn't know the amounts for all the ingredients, which is 100% ok with me. This means I get to experiment!!

Oh, and the other best part of this blue potato salad? The blue potatoes had been picked that day!! How much more fresh can you get?????

So, because I like to research food and food combination's and experiment and add ingredients to makes them unique, I looked up recipes for rustic potato salads and here are some other things I may add:

Red Onion
Olive Oil
Vinegar
Dijon Mustard
Sour Cream
Eggs
Garlic
Hot sauce
Paprika
Basil
Rosemary
Green Beans
Pine Nuts
Chives
Dill
Lemon

and anything else that may float your boat (or potato bed...in this case). I think I might try mine with some fresh spinach!

While on the search for other things to add to a potato salad I discovered this very yummy looking pesto potato salad recipe which works well for people like my housemate Michael who hate mayo.

Rustic Pesto Potato Salad:

Ingredients:

1 lb. small, thin skinned potatoes (I used red, white & purple, but any one of these would be just fine), rinsed and quartered
1 lb. green beans, trimmed
8-10 cloves garlic, chopped
1 cup basil, sliced
1/3 cup of toasted pine nuts
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
As many eggs as you're in the mood for
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Bring the potatoes up to a boil in a large pot of salted water. Once the water is boiling allow the potatoes to cook for another five minutes or so or until tender.

Two minutes before the potatoes are done, toss your green beans into the pot with the potatoes. Allow to cook for 2-3 minutes, then drain potatoes and beans and place back into your pot or into a large bowl.

Stir in the garlic, basil, pine nuts, olive oil, salt, pepper and mix together thoroughly. Taste for seasonings (this salad tends to beg for a couple extra pinches of salt).

Serve yourself a plate of potato salad and top with an over easy egg(or not)...Enjoy!

Serves 6.

Yum! Does That Not Look Good???????? Well, this blue potato salad is on my list of things to make...thats if I can get my hands on blue potatoes at the Troy Farmers Market this weekend...or perhaps at the Menands/Albany regional market. I'll give it a try. Two other things I would like to try include homemade mayo (Julie Child, thank you) and Banana Bread. Though we don't have a bread pan so it may have to be banana muffins. We have multiple overripe bananas that are just begging to be consumed and what better way then banana bread? I'm happy, the bananas are happy, the people eating banana bread are happy...nothing wrong with that! I was gunna post Julia Child's mayo recipe, but alas, all the ones I find are too long and not worth sorting through at the moment. But never fear! I will try the mayo recipe and get back to you about how many times I failed :-)

Now before I bid you adieu, I leave you with this:

"I hear it's bad form to say Yum when you're eating. But, yum!"

Yum is an integral part of my vocabulary. I may even replace most common nouns with it. I'll yum ya later, yums!

Awhaaaa?

To my anonymous reader .... (s).

If you or someone you know:

1. Does not have herpes

2. Has a harmonica that is unwanted

I would like it. The Harmonica that is, not the herpes...or your friend. Unless he's cute.

Thanks.