So this is an open call for artistic suggestions. What should I change? What should I keep?
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Art in progress
I bought a blank canvas yesterday and attacked it with acrylics. My paint was kind of running out, so I let it dry overnight and then hung it up to stare at for a while. I'm not satisfied with the results yet, which is fine. My favorite part about working with paint is that you can always paint over. And over. And over. And the resulting layers build up cool textures on the canvas. But until I decide what I want to do with this particular abstract, it's hanging on the wall, waiting for inspiration to speak to me.
So this is an open call for artistic suggestions. What should I change? What should I keep?
So this is an open call for artistic suggestions. What should I change? What should I keep?
Monday, May 26, 2008
Meme from Ali
What I was doing:
10 years ago:
May 1998
I was a junior in high school, which meant that we were in the throes of show choir concerts and possibly our big performance of “Grease.” Saddle shoes and too much makeup, naps under the set and slightly illicit foot rubs…go greased lighting!
5 years ago:
May 2003. I was graduating from a tiny Indiana college with a music degree, getting ready to spend a summer telemarketing in preparation for four months in Brazil.
1 year ago:
May 2007. Recovering from a bad breakup by making lots of jewelry and getting ready to head back to the States for a couple of months.
Yesterday:
Loooong business meeting; went home, ate Whoppers and made breakfast for dinner; started work on a big writing project.
5 snacks I enjoy:
-dark chocolate (better if it comes with caramel)
-Planters’ Cheese Curls. The ones that come in the round tin.
-Ritz crackers…or the Brazilian equivalent, Piraquê
-chocolate milk
-bananas or strawberries
5 books I like:
-Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
-Colossians Remixed
-The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
-Eat, Pray, Love
-The Blue Sword
What I’d do with 100 million dollars:
-Tithe: to urban missions and organizations that are working to help the oppressed and end slavery
-buy a farm in England or Ireland
-commission a designer to create the wardrobe that is in my head
-start a business in Brazil that offered “first-jobs” to kids from the favelas
-invest! I want my kids to benefit from a college fund someday…
5 places I’d love to run away to:
-Ireland
-Greece
-Narnia (is that allowed?)
-Rome
-the mountains
5 bad habits and/or pet peeves I have:
-computer solitaire
-obsessively checking to see that the doors are locked, windows closed, sinks not dripping, refrigerator is working and shut, and any number of other odd things before I can leave the house
-forgetting whether I locked the door and having to check again
-tapping pictures of things I like
-biting my hangnails
5 things I like doing:
-writing
-dancing
-reading blogs (reading almost anything)
-cooking but not cleaning up
-having parties with good wine and conversation
5 things I would never wear:
-anything mustard-colored
-crop tops
-leggings (except to the gym)
-turtlenecks
-granny underwear
5 tv shows I like:
I don’t have a TV. These are the series I wish people would send me:
-What Not To Wear
-Alias
-24
-Arrested Development
-Seinfeld
5 famous people I’d like to meet:
Dead or alive? The alive ones are extremely difficult; not sure if I can even come up with 5 names!
-Muhammad Yunis
-John Williams (the composer)
-Bono
-Annie Dillard
-David Broza
5 people I’d like to see fill this out:
you...and you...and you!
10 years ago:
May 1998
I was a junior in high school, which meant that we were in the throes of show choir concerts and possibly our big performance of “Grease.” Saddle shoes and too much makeup, naps under the set and slightly illicit foot rubs…go greased lighting!
5 years ago:
May 2003. I was graduating from a tiny Indiana college with a music degree, getting ready to spend a summer telemarketing in preparation for four months in Brazil.
1 year ago:
May 2007. Recovering from a bad breakup by making lots of jewelry and getting ready to head back to the States for a couple of months.
Yesterday:
Loooong business meeting; went home, ate Whoppers and made breakfast for dinner; started work on a big writing project.
5 snacks I enjoy:
-dark chocolate (better if it comes with caramel)
-Planters’ Cheese Curls. The ones that come in the round tin.
-Ritz crackers…or the Brazilian equivalent, Piraquê
-chocolate milk
-bananas or strawberries
5 books I like:
-Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
-Colossians Remixed
-The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
-Eat, Pray, Love
-The Blue Sword
What I’d do with 100 million dollars:
-Tithe: to urban missions and organizations that are working to help the oppressed and end slavery
-buy a farm in England or Ireland
-commission a designer to create the wardrobe that is in my head
-start a business in Brazil that offered “first-jobs” to kids from the favelas
-invest! I want my kids to benefit from a college fund someday…
5 places I’d love to run away to:
-Ireland
-Greece
-Narnia (is that allowed?)
-Rome
-the mountains
5 bad habits and/or pet peeves I have:
-computer solitaire
-obsessively checking to see that the doors are locked, windows closed, sinks not dripping, refrigerator is working and shut, and any number of other odd things before I can leave the house
-forgetting whether I locked the door and having to check again
-tapping pictures of things I like
-biting my hangnails
5 things I like doing:
-writing
-dancing
-reading blogs (reading almost anything)
-cooking but not cleaning up
-having parties with good wine and conversation
5 things I would never wear:
-anything mustard-colored
-crop tops
-leggings (except to the gym)
-turtlenecks
-granny underwear
5 tv shows I like:
I don’t have a TV. These are the series I wish people would send me:
-What Not To Wear
-Alias
-24
-Arrested Development
-Seinfeld
5 famous people I’d like to meet:
Dead or alive? The alive ones are extremely difficult; not sure if I can even come up with 5 names!
-Muhammad Yunis
-John Williams (the composer)
-Bono
-Annie Dillard
-David Broza
5 people I’d like to see fill this out:
you...and you...and you!
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Telling lies to strangers.
Not being able to hear (or pretending you've can't) within generally accepted personal space boundaries? That qualifies you as old and possibly slimy.
At least twenty years older than the woman you're hitting on? That qualifies you as clueless.
Not taking visible and obvious "get lost" clues from the same woman, asking her for personal information and pretending to be a gentlemen? That qualifies you as creepy.
Which makes you a slimy, creepy, clueless old man.
If men over the age of 50 want to behave like 17 year old playboys, they're entitled to their ridiculousness in our society. Mature and on the prowl, out for a "good time" and looking for the newest "hangout?" We can't bar you from public spaces. But realize that you're a hideous caricature. Perhaps there are women out there who are equally interested. But make sure there's interest on her part before you start your harassment. If you intrude on our space, if you bombard us with leering and inappropriate requests, we will lie to you and we will find subway advertisements suddenly extremely appealing. But that might just be because we mentioned that we were Christians.
The next time, women such as myself may be tempted to forgo that part and share in a very loud voice in a public place that single women are not prostitutes for sale and just because you may find someone attractive does not mean that you can force small talk until the vomiting point. We do not have to talk to you. We do not have to be nice. We can carry our own bags, will not be beholden to you, and yes, we can figure out how to take public transportation very well thank you.
Gah! Brazilian courtesy has its limits. Christian courtesy has its limits. And the slimeball with the bad breath today managed to cross both lines...
At least twenty years older than the woman you're hitting on? That qualifies you as clueless.
Not taking visible and obvious "get lost" clues from the same woman, asking her for personal information and pretending to be a gentlemen? That qualifies you as creepy.
Which makes you a slimy, creepy, clueless old man.
If men over the age of 50 want to behave like 17 year old playboys, they're entitled to their ridiculousness in our society. Mature and on the prowl, out for a "good time" and looking for the newest "hangout?" We can't bar you from public spaces. But realize that you're a hideous caricature. Perhaps there are women out there who are equally interested. But make sure there's interest on her part before you start your harassment. If you intrude on our space, if you bombard us with leering and inappropriate requests, we will lie to you and we will find subway advertisements suddenly extremely appealing. But that might just be because we mentioned that we were Christians.
The next time, women such as myself may be tempted to forgo that part and share in a very loud voice in a public place that single women are not prostitutes for sale and just because you may find someone attractive does not mean that you can force small talk until the vomiting point. We do not have to talk to you. We do not have to be nice. We can carry our own bags, will not be beholden to you, and yes, we can figure out how to take public transportation very well thank you.
Gah! Brazilian courtesy has its limits. Christian courtesy has its limits. And the slimeball with the bad breath today managed to cross both lines...
Monday, May 19, 2008
Food Blogging: Burgers
Burgers have been on my mind recently, but the price of McDonald's or the Brazilian substitutes is way out of my price range for a weekly indulgence, not to mention what that would do to my not-bikini-ready body! But I've been thinking about cheeseburgers a lot.
A while ago, in an attempt to cut my grocery bills, I bought a bag of textured vegetable protein. TVP. It’s a flaky soy-based meat substitute that must be reconstituted before using. It also smells like dog food. My first experience with TVP was several months ago and I hadn’t touched the bag since, my meatless spaghetti sauce being a minor disaster. But in college, I was a big fan of veggie burger patties. I used to brown onions in a tiny bit of butter or olive oil, then toss a little white wine into the mix, maybe some rosemary, and fry up a patty in the sauce. They were great…and a much healthier late-night snack. In class the other night, one of the girls mentioned that she was a vegetarian and told me how she used TVP. I was already feeling guilty about that unused bag sitting in my refrigerator, so today I decided to experiment. And you know what? They were so good, I've just added a new recipe to my repertoire: Erica's Brazilian VeggieBurgers, in homage to my classmate.
These quantities are guesstimates. I was under kitchen inspiration and didn’t measure anything. My uncooked mixture was kind of wet (I think I should have measured the water for the TVP) but when they were fried turned out perfect, so if anyone is brave enough to try this recipe, don’t be scared off by the “batter.” Try a test patty. If it is too soft, wet, whatever, you can always add more of the dry ingredients. This recipe made 6 medium veggieburgers.
The “meat”:
½ cup TVP
Dissolve ½ a beef bullion cube in enough water for your TVP (see package directions)
Add TVP and cook according to package directions. Set aside to rehydrate. Drain any excess water.
Dry ingredients:
¼ cup whole oats
¼ cup wheat bran
3-4 T flour
bread crumbs if necessary/desired
Add-ins and condiments:
sesame seeds
garlic salt to taste
¼-1/2 a grated carrot
¼ cup diced onion
black pepper to taste
cayenne pepper to taste
½ t-1 T soy sauce (depending on personal preference)
1 T ketchup
Binder:
1 lightly beaten egg
Add your condiments, add-ins, and dry ingredients to the TVP. Mix in the egg. It should be slightly wet but form patties. Too dry, add water/bullion. Too wet? Add more dry ingredients. Fry patties in a little oil for a few minutes on each side. Best as cheeseburgers. I’m experimenting to see if they freeze well…
A while ago, in an attempt to cut my grocery bills, I bought a bag of textured vegetable protein. TVP. It’s a flaky soy-based meat substitute that must be reconstituted before using. It also smells like dog food. My first experience with TVP was several months ago and I hadn’t touched the bag since, my meatless spaghetti sauce being a minor disaster. But in college, I was a big fan of veggie burger patties. I used to brown onions in a tiny bit of butter or olive oil, then toss a little white wine into the mix, maybe some rosemary, and fry up a patty in the sauce. They were great…and a much healthier late-night snack. In class the other night, one of the girls mentioned that she was a vegetarian and told me how she used TVP. I was already feeling guilty about that unused bag sitting in my refrigerator, so today I decided to experiment. And you know what? They were so good, I've just added a new recipe to my repertoire: Erica's Brazilian VeggieBurgers, in homage to my classmate.
These quantities are guesstimates. I was under kitchen inspiration and didn’t measure anything. My uncooked mixture was kind of wet (I think I should have measured the water for the TVP) but when they were fried turned out perfect, so if anyone is brave enough to try this recipe, don’t be scared off by the “batter.” Try a test patty. If it is too soft, wet, whatever, you can always add more of the dry ingredients. This recipe made 6 medium veggieburgers.
The “meat”:
½ cup TVP
Dissolve ½ a beef bullion cube in enough water for your TVP (see package directions)
Add TVP and cook according to package directions. Set aside to rehydrate. Drain any excess water.
Dry ingredients:
¼ cup whole oats
¼ cup wheat bran
3-4 T flour
bread crumbs if necessary/desired
Add-ins and condiments:
sesame seeds
garlic salt to taste
¼-1/2 a grated carrot
¼ cup diced onion
black pepper to taste
cayenne pepper to taste
½ t-1 T soy sauce (depending on personal preference)
1 T ketchup
Binder:
1 lightly beaten egg
Add your condiments, add-ins, and dry ingredients to the TVP. Mix in the egg. It should be slightly wet but form patties. Too dry, add water/bullion. Too wet? Add more dry ingredients. Fry patties in a little oil for a few minutes on each side. Best as cheeseburgers. I’m experimenting to see if they freeze well…
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Snippets
The Copacabana Palace has a job in which the employee’s sole purpose is to scare away the pigeons. He’s an “espantador de pombas.” Imagine. A couple of guys in nice hotel suits, who walk around the grounds all day and spook the pigeons. Priceless.
***
The other job I love? Professionais de abastecimento. Professional fuelers. They pump your gas. And they take training seriously…there's actually PROGRAMS and STATIONS that specialize in training people to pump gas. Ah...Brazil!
***
Ben told a story this week about the kids at the after-school program playing tag. Dengue tag. They'd gotten a mosquito mask from the public health workers, a black thing with a pointy snout that was striped black and white. And the other kids would try not to get poked. When they were bitten by the Dengue IT, everyone else turned on the poor mosquito and chased him with brooms and swatters!
***
Also courtesy of Ben, the dengue-proof suit: a hat with attached mosquito net that falls to the ground like a South American burqua. I wonder if it works going up stairs...
***
Last week on the streets, the Servant Team girls brought finger paints. For the most part, the finger paints went on finger and papers. But there was one kid who wanted to graffiti the white walls of the Lapa arches. My original argument wasn't convincing him, so I told him that the paint was wrong and wouldn't dry right. So if he painted on the walls, and someone leaned up against it, he'd be responsible for ruining their clothes. Street kids are pretty picky about their shirts...and he backed away from the wall and didn't try it the rest of the night! A little lie...but then, it IS possible that the paint was washable, in which case it might come off on clothes...There was also a kid throwing stones, a small fight involving a crazy old man and bananas, and a knife. But no one was hurt. Just a normal night in Lapa.
***
The other job I love? Professionais de abastecimento. Professional fuelers. They pump your gas. And they take training seriously…there's actually PROGRAMS and STATIONS that specialize in training people to pump gas. Ah...Brazil!
***
Ben told a story this week about the kids at the after-school program playing tag. Dengue tag. They'd gotten a mosquito mask from the public health workers, a black thing with a pointy snout that was striped black and white. And the other kids would try not to get poked. When they were bitten by the Dengue IT, everyone else turned on the poor mosquito and chased him with brooms and swatters!
***
Also courtesy of Ben, the dengue-proof suit: a hat with attached mosquito net that falls to the ground like a South American burqua. I wonder if it works going up stairs...
***
Last week on the streets, the Servant Team girls brought finger paints. For the most part, the finger paints went on finger and papers. But there was one kid who wanted to graffiti the white walls of the Lapa arches. My original argument wasn't convincing him, so I told him that the paint was wrong and wouldn't dry right. So if he painted on the walls, and someone leaned up against it, he'd be responsible for ruining their clothes. Street kids are pretty picky about their shirts...and he backed away from the wall and didn't try it the rest of the night! A little lie...but then, it IS possible that the paint was washable, in which case it might come off on clothes...There was also a kid throwing stones, a small fight involving a crazy old man and bananas, and a knife. But no one was hurt. Just a normal night in Lapa.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
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