peut-etre

Chicago trip!

2010-06-26T00:25:00.001-04:00

Logan theatre, originally uploaded by missmartha.

I'm a bit behind on posting.... oops! I have a much overdue post to write about my awesome visit to Chicago. I put it on my Mondo Beyondo list that I wanted to spend 10 days in Chicago this summer UND I did it! What a blessing to work from home! My boss allowed me to work part time during my visit to stay in touch with my work/clients and to enjoy a nice long visit home. Usually when I go to chicago, I have to race home to C-U or pack everything into a weekend, so this was great.
I arrived late on Thursday and went directly to Desi's house. It was so great to see her :) She cooked for me and taught me how to make Mojitos. It was great chatting with her and having some girlfriend time right off. Friday I worked a half day and then checked out Desi's neighborhood (Edgewater)... I hadn't really spent any time there before, it is great! I went to the beach and relaxed and read. That night Vladimir drove in and we went to dinner and out dancing. I had a GREAT time and thank god Vladimir was there to get me home safely :) It is too rarely that I go out dancing anymore.
Saturday Liza came into town and we went out to brunch and then to Wicker Park for some window shopping. WOW, the neighborhood has changed a lot in 3 years... I was very nostalgic being back but also surprised by new chain store sightings. That night Desi made homemade pizza the was Michaela taught her dough and all. I said my favorite is olives, green peppers and mushrooms, so that is what I got :)
Saturday morning Dory arrived to ORD from her semester in India, awesome coincidence!!!! I went to pick her up at an ungodly hour and we drove to Logan Square. Nostalgia attack!!! After walking around my hood, we took a short nap and waited for Lula Cafe to open at 9AM hahaha. After brunch we took another nap and then went back to ORD to get my mom who was flying in from her anniversary trip to Hawaii. We drove to Grandma's and spent a nice afternoon with her. We all tested Grandma's new mattress during a viewing of Crazy Heart.
Monday I met up with Ake and Dimi who just HAPPENED to be in town from Belgium that week. whoo hoo! We went to the apple store to get them a second iPad and then out to Oak Park for some FLW geekery. It was great to see Ake and meet Dimi, what a great couple. I'm only sad that I misunderstood and Lorraine and I didn't meet up for another Belgium reunion.
Monday night I headed out to Tinley Park to spend some time with my cousin Maria and her family. It was great to see my Aunt Mary and my godkids :) So many cute Reagan and Ricky stories!! We had TWO sleepover parties and spent the day together on Tuesday. I'm really sad to live so far from them and am happy we could have some play time. They are both really creative and happy kids and I love them so much.
Wednesday I met up with Megan. We realized that it had been a few years since we saw each other which is CRAZY because it really felt like no time had passed. I guess that is how it is when your girlfriend is so good at keeping in touch :) I wanted her to meet Desi, so we got together and went out to eat in Wrigleyville. Nice girls night.
Thursday I went to work with Desi (awesome organization, I am so happy for her!) and then we went back to her place where she cooked BANGIN' risotto for me, her co-worker and Liza. OMG that was a good meal. Afterwards, we went out to Green Mill for the infamous swing night. Desi said that she was pleasantly surprised by how awesome it was and I was happy that she enjoyed being introduced to this treasure just a few train stops away from her house.
Friday I met up with my aunt Ellen for dinner and a jazz concert. That was SUCH a treat because I have never been to Symphony Center and the show was fabulous (http://cso.org/TicketsAndEvents/EventDetails.aspx?eid=3103 -- she didn't know that Dizzy Gillespie is the reason I took up trumpet!!). Very hot jazz and I got turned on to some new artists to look out for.
Saturday Desi, Vladimir and I met up with Rebecca for brunch (yay for seeing her twice in 2 months!) and then walked up Michigan for epic window shopping...and I got to taste my beloved juice from Brian's. That evening I hung out with Chris and Megan. We walked to sushi in their neighborhood and DQ. I love them tons!
Sunday Megan and Chris were nice enough to drive me up to Evanston where I hung out with Liza and bebe Liam. It was a BEAUTIFUL HOT DAY and I was very sad that it was my last day. Liam is at a very cute age and is still the super social guy from other visits. I liked playing with his camera with him and tasting cooking club creations a la Liza. My last visit was to Aunt Ellen's for a BBQ with the Lindsey crew. The whole crew! I got to meet baby Quinn for the first time and died with everyone else over Aunt Ellen's killer Rhubarb Pie....
Well, I know this is a lot, but it really was all of this and more in 10 days! I love Chicago and all of my Chicago people and I can't wait for my next visit. I'm really sad to be missing summertime Chi, especially as I freeze in the foggy chill that is San Francisco in June. bleah.

one year

2010-04-24T19:26:00.003-04:00

This is the weekend in between the one year anniversary of our missed connection first date and our first date. It seems bizzaro to say that this is our one year anniversary because Chris and I have been through SO MUCH in such a little time. I love you, Chris, and I'm so glad that I gave you a second chance after you stood me up on our first date ;) {this is where Chris groans "I didn't stand you up!!"} Thanks for being a great partner to me and especially joining me in this adventure to start a new life in San Francisco. This last year has been grand.

greetings from SF

2010-03-31T03:25:00.001-04:00

martha mosaic stairs, originally uploaded by missmartha.

I've been here for two months now. Oh, that reminds me that rent is due tomorrow. Here are some reflections about my new life.

I'm living in Inner Sunset. It is a nice neighborhood, more residential than the east side but not completely removed from hipness. It suits me! In my hood there is every type of ethnic food you could ever dream of and it is all really affordable and gooood. Highlights have been the Persian restaurant, Lavash, and the best Thai I have had in a minute at Marnee Thai. Chris and I love the corner market, Parks. A bag of avocados for a dollar? Yes, please! I also get really excited that I can walk to golden gate park (four blocks away). It is a good spot for jogging and also a great place to picnic in the sun and people watch. The other crowned jewel of the neighborhood is the sweet community garden at the foot of our street. I mean FOOT because we live on steep Mt. Sutro.

The apartment is a good fit for now, just enough room (read: packed to the gills but everything fits) and awesome afternoon sun as the sun sets. On a clear day, we see the Pacific in all of its tranquil glory from the balcony :) Living with Benny, Chris' cat, is going very well. It's odd how in check my allergies have been -- I'm so amazed and thankful.

I am working from home and this is going well. I like the flexibility and I love the commute :) I feel productive and focused during the day and never feel bored or at a loss for what to do next (that was a great fear). Little distractions do creep in, but I consider this part of any work day. I feel lucky and work is going well as I slowly build up my client base and get in the groove.

The biggest challenges have been health and making friends. I somehow let myself bulk up over the winter and need to be very diligent about exercise and diet to get back to my healthier weight. No fun! I miss Zumba. As for making friends, I need to be diligent in this, too! On an average day, I meet zero people! Oh, the investment!

This picture is of me at the foot of the mosaic stairwell up to Grandview park in my neighborhood. Chris took it after treating me to a lovely valentine's day celebration in the park (Japanese tea garden tour and paddle boats!!). We climbed to the top and arrived just as the fog rolled in. Photos of that day, the apartment and other various are on flickr. I'll be putting up shots from my parent's visit and our drive down EPIC Pacific route 1 soon.

Come visit!

Creating a clearing/letting intuition in (out?)

2010-03-19T02:04:00.003-04:00

, originally uploaded by missmartha.

I am enrolled in a Mondo Beyondo class (thank you, Megan) which is a great exercise in dreaming big. We had two exercises recently that really spoke to me and the way I live my life. The first was on creating a clearing and the second on intuition.

Creating a clearing is multi-dimensional. It could be as physical as clearing off a desk, as intangible as clearing out space to do something you love {like blogging!!} or as spiritual as making time to meditate or clearing out self-hate from your soul. It's making room for your dreams to breathe and unfold.

Intuition should be the most natural phenomenon in the world, but somehow we've gotten so far away from listening to ourselves that this act needs practice.

I wanted to share a bit more about my choice to move to SF. I think it speaks to clearing and intuition. VERY reminiscent of the events that led me to move to Maryland in the first place.

Things had been challenging at work. I was passionate about the work but felt deflated and uninspired. I had some *unresolvable* issues with my direct supervisor and felt like I needed out of that arrangement. My brother-in-law, Dan, had recently snagged his dream job in Silicone Valley. Before he got it, I joked to B and M that if they moved to CA, I was coming too! I didn't want to be the Q sister all the way on the east coast and I just needed something silly to say or dream about. When it happened, they asked "are you coming?". I said NO. There are no jobs in CA and I am not going.
KJS came to visit at the end of the summer with her new partner. He'd lived in SF and the topic came up. I turned to Chris and said "let's move to San Francisco" jokingly. He said "OK" jokingly. It was veiled as a joke but in my heart I wanted it.
The next day problem-boss called me into his office. He started dancing around a discussion of my role in the organization. It came out that he wanted to move me to a different division. He asked out of nowhere: If I was going to do this new job, what geographic location in the U.S. would be most interesting?? We only have one office, in Maryland. I said truthfully that SF would be the most dynamic place to be. In the time span of 24hrs, I went from not even letting myself take the dream of moving to SF seriously to being offered a position that did not even exist.
I started reporting directly to a new department head the next week, a really inspirational and supportive person. But helas, problem-boss sat me down a few days later and told me that he was rescinding the SF part of the job offer. That I might think that I was the best person for the job, but that it's not necessarily true. blah blah blah other stuff that would have made me feel bad about myself if I held his regard as valuable. I left the room and left the dream behind. I would focus on my new role in new department and my general happiness.

Two months later, new- good-boss called me in and let me know that she had convinced management to move me cross country to SF. IF I still wanted it. That was one of the scariest moments of my life. I was physically shaking when she told me because I had spent a lot of energy convincing myself that CA was not right for me right now and had to make a very big choice. Finally my intuition (and lots of consultation with my partner, Chris) let me choose to go. It was a huge leap of faith!! I wasn't sure if I would be successful (was I listening to bad boss in a tiny part of my mind??), that I could afford life in CA, that I wouldn't regret leaving, that Chris would not be resentful.....

Once I decided to follow my dream (scary), everything started to fall into place. I rented my Baltimore apartment even though my landlord thought it would be impossible over the holidays. I started to plan my cross-country trek and accepted with grace when bad boss forced the date up by three weeks. I packed and moved while ill with a winter thing but DID IT.

The cross country drive was a clearing and an opening. Visit my flickr for more visuals of how the landscape cleared in front of me. Chris and I had a great trip out, not arguing once and enjoying our opportunity to see the southwest. We arrived to SF and found an apartment (with a pacific view!!) in one day. We felt HOME.

Not a day goes by that one or both of us does not acknowledge that we are so happy that we moved and that we feel so blessed in our new surroundings. Oh and problem-boss? In a turn of events that I could have NEVER anticipated, he is no longer the number 2 in our organization. I will never have to speak to him again.

More about life in SF in my next post!!

Things I will miss very much in Baltimore

2010-03-15T03:33:00.001-04:00

P1000440, originally uploaded by missmartha.

I want to blog a bit about my cross country road trip and winter in San Francisco, but before I move on, I have to make a little list of the things that I will (and Do) miss from the 3 years that I lived in Maryland. I love Baltimore and people that don't have never see it through my eyes!

~ American Visionary Art Museum=best museum ever
~ Bolton Hill, my hood
~ My spacious, gorgeous apartment on Eutaw
~ Runs in the hood and to Druid Hill Park
~ The Helmand
~ Woodberry Kitchen
~ Miss Shirley's!!! ---> lots of good food, I'm forgetting some places...
~ The Charles
~ Mount Vernon
~ Ma Petite Shoe in Hamden
~ Being close to DC, Philly, NYC
~ Spending time with Emily
~ Weekend trips to Staunton
~ Weekend trips to North Carolina
~ The Book Thing
~ Sunday morning farmer's market (church!!)
~ ZUMBA and the best ZUMBA familia at Columbia Association
~ Camden Yards
~ My beloved Ravens
~ Brewer's Art
~ AIPT family, AIPT INTERNS!!
~ Chuck and Erin
~ Babysitting the Ruiz boys
~ The Columbia Mall j/k

These were some great years...but I can say with joy that I don't regret moving. I promise to blog more about life in Cali asap.

BIG news

2009-12-15T22:01:00.001-05:00

Mona's favorite, originally uploaded by missmartha.

October 2006 I started a blog post with the words "I am sorry if you are learning about this via blog". Here I am again with big news for the blog-o-sphere! I am moving to San Francisco in a bit over a month, leaving my sweet Charm City. As most readers know, I will be able to end the bi-coastal Quinlan family experience with this move and be close to Bahia, Dan and Munirih. I will also have the opportunity to (I imagine) live out a lot of my 30x30 goals such as: not commuting to work via car, being able to get fresh produce on foot, knowing my sisters as they are...
Deciding to move was to date the hardest decision of my life. Chris has never lived outside of MD and his family is 3.5 hours away. We love them. I've built amazing community here and am sad to leave Melanie, Jay, Chuck, Erin, Megan, Carol, Debbie, Ruth, the Ruiz family, Emily... I'll miss all the good memories with all of the interns at work. My life has been enriched.
I'm excited about a new challenge at work and fire in my belly to reach specific goals. I'm also excited to start my new life with Chris. What a monumental start to our life together, starting with a cross-country road trip! The preparations are stressful now but all seems achievable with my calm, collected partner by my side.
Prayer requests: find someone to rent my apartment, find a beautiful and peaceful new home in SF, a job in SF for Chris, financial stability, peace and no regrets, new community in SF and success in my new position. THANKS!!!

Thankgiving yummies

2009-12-05T16:05:00.003-05:00

Vegas Thanksgiving meal was the best I can remember! We had 13 guests at the condo and cooked up a storm. Both of my contributions were from everyday food and were first-time attempts for me. I must say I was very pleased with both and got lots of praise. Enjoy ~

roasted beet salad with blue cheese and nuts

Serves 4 (I doubled the recipe for TG)

4 medium beets (1 1/2 pounds total), trimmed and unpeeled
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Coarse salt and ground pepper
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
1/4 cup toasted walnut pieces

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Individually wrap 4 medium beets (1 1/2 pounds total), trimmed and unpeeled, in foil. Place on a baking sheet and roast until tender when pierced with a paring knife, 45 to 60 minutes. Let cool. Rub beets with paper towels to remove skins and cut into small wedges.
Whisk together 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 1 tablespoon white vinegar, and 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard; season with coarse salt and ground pepper and stir in 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley. Toss beets with dressing. Serve topped with 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese and 1/4 cup toasted walnut pieces.

sweet potato and chipotle soup

Someone already blogged all about this, so I am gonna be lazy and send you here. I even stole a picture from the site (cute site, by the way).

Off to Vegas! Off to Vegas!

2009-11-21T09:15:00.001-05:00

intl strip, originally uploaded by missmartha.

This picture was taken on the first trip with my digital camera. Where is that darn thing??? I can't wait for family vacation; I leave tomorrow! I'm so nostalgic about Tennessee trip, it was great! I love having the whole family together and it will be great to celebrate my dad's 60th. The Saturday after Thanksgiving I will fly to meet Jillian and check in on Mama and Papa Hammer :)

Happy birthday, Bahia!!!

I'd like to post some things that I am thankful for pre-thanksgiving in case I don't get online again:
Health, a job, my education, quiet moments to read or post, my mom, my dad, my sisters, my brother, my partner, my girlfriends, good food, cultural outings, my opportunities to travel - adventure - explore, zumba, my mentors and God.

Welcome, Jillian Clare Hammer!

2009-11-12T23:08:00.000-05:00

I love you and I can't wait to hold you!

five year anniversary

2009-11-01T19:13:00.002-05:00

bridge, originally uploaded by missmartha.

November marks the 5 year anniversary of keeping a blog. One thing that I like to do at the beginning of each month is hit the archive area of my blog and see what posts I've made this same month in previous years. The blog has always been a way for me to journal and record as much as a published place for friends to stay in touch. It is fun for me to do a same/different comparison of my situation 5 years ago when I started the blog compared to author missmartha's life in November 2009. Some details:
THEN ---> NOW
Living in Chicago ---> Living in Baltimore
4 roommates ---> 1 roommate
Living in so-so hood, recently mugged on street ---> Roommate recently mugged in foyer
Closet that isn't big enough to properly hang clothing ---> ditto
$320 rent ---> $500 rent
Recently started working for "snail soap rope" ---> today is 3 y anniversary at "alpha indigo papa tango"
Thankful for employment after moving to the city unemployed ---> Thankful for employment in economic crisis and through layoffs
Work with wonderful people, sustained ---> ditto
1.5 hour commute via public transportation --> 30 min. commute via car (miss public option)
Live near B in Chicago, the rest of the family is in Champaign ---> Family split between Champaign and SF Bay area. I'm here on the east coast
In love with D, just spent a blissful first summer together. Kinda bringing my own depression and disfunction into the relationship ---> In love with C, just spent a blissful first summer together. Constantly astounded by the stable sanity that we both bring to the partnership.
Trying to figure out what to do next with my life --> ditto
Feeling financially insecure ---> ditto
Feeling blessed for all that I receive ---> ditto
Confused about religious identity ---> clarity and closeness to God
Halloween costume: Sailor ---> Halloween costume: Zebra
Interested by marriage. Curiously watching friends start this part of their life ---> more interested in healthy partnership. No longer buying the marriage fairytale.
Often too tired to post as much as I would like ---> ditto
Healthy ---> ditto

What happened in between the two? Some of it is on this blog. Much of it will fade with time. It has all been glorious or pathetic. I'm very thankful for the good people and good luck in my life. I feel a certain malaise when faced with the thought of "is this as good as it gets??" I write, I heal, I celebrate. I hope to go 5 more years and CAN NOT image the major shifts to occur during that period.

2009-09-08T22:35:00.004-04:00

When trust is broken, I remember how much I TRUST MYSELF! When I feel tired of it all, I remember those that LIFT ME UP! {not pictured here: Meg, Angie, May, Debbie, Ivy, Alexis, Jessica, Bonnie, Ake, Emily, Erin, Chuck, Caroline, Connie, Mom, Dad, Sugeet, Tara, Rebecca, Shelby, Maria, Nate, Anne...every angel that has ever graced my life}

*

2009-08-10T22:18:00.001-04:00

perfect thematic love birdie candles, originally uploaded by missmartha.

*I've just now had the time to write a bit about the Quinlan-Muriello wedding. I wrote a long post detailing every moment of the weekend, only to have it disappear from my screen. My sister has been married almost 2 months now and the time that has followed has been jammed for both of us. Instead of the play-by-play I originally wrote, I will just say that the weekend was perfect, the ceremony moving, the celebrations festive and the couple a delight. Now the young Muriellos have arrived to their new home in Northern California and set up fort very far from me! boooooo.

I hope to have more time to write about June/July, but do want to say thanks to everyone who has kept me in their prayers recently. No time for posting, only healing, resting and reflection on what the hell it all means.

Bahia & Dan June 13 2009

2009-08-10T22:11:00.001-04:00

, originally uploaded by liza-bean.

Bahia:
I think that out of all of the precious gems that you have given me through the growth of our relationship, out of all of the enumerable virtues that you bring to us, the one that I love the most, the one that I appreciate constantly, the one that embodies your presence and gives me exactly what I need most, is your ability to blanket me in calmness and assurance. You truly set my soul at ease. Marriage will be work, we both know that, but you bring a unique perspective to our life's tests and trials that makes me feel like no matter what, everything will be OK. Because of your patience and understanding and strength I know that I have found an ideal partner in marriage. I can't think of anyone better than you, Dan, who I want to walk down this path with. The tests will be many, the growth will be profound. Best of all, you'll be by my side, forever. Right now, in this moment, in front of all of our family and friends, I want to thank you for making it so easy to love you.

Bahia & Dan June 13 2009

2009-08-10T22:05:00.002-04:00

Bahia & Dan, originally uploaded by liza-bean.

Dan:
My Bahia, my love. I never imagined that I would share a love as deep, and as true, as with you.
In a note you once wrote to me, you said that loving me made you feel complete. When I read that, I couldn't remember feeling happier. Knowing that I was that crucial puzzle piece in your life made me feel like my puzzle had finally come together as well.
You have brought an indescribable sweetness and joy to each of our days together. It's difficult to think of where I would be right now without you.
Bahia, I long to see you smile, to hear you laugh, and to look into your eyes. I wait patiently to come home to you at the end of the day with the anticipation of a sailor out to sea, dreaming of coming home to his family.
I've cherished every moment we've spent together. Whether it be our last breath of wakefulness, or the first spark of morning, when we find each others cheerful eyes meeting one another yet again.
We've built a love which has withstood more than its share of distance and complication, only to emerge stronger and more beautiful than anything else I have ever known.
It was once written that "happiness is the longing for repetition." I think we both know exactly what that means.
My Bahia, my love, you are the answer to so many dreams I never dared to dream.
You are the bright, brilliant, light of my life.

You have brought music to my life (litteral)

2009-06-21T16:15:00.002-04:00

Of course, I have to take time to say HAPPY FATHER'S DAY and I LOVE YOU, DADDY! I'm sure most of you are expecting a post about Bahia and Dan's perfect wedding, and that will come soon :) Certainly a post is about to come about my AWESOME 28th birthday spent with the lovely Dodie who is currently en route to Maryland to be with me.

Instead of waxing poetic on any of those sweet subjects, I would like to take some time to talk about my new boyfriend, Firehock (the rest will come later). CF and I have been having a grand old time getting to know each other and boy am I glad that we met. He is a real man and welcomes me with patience and compassion just like I am. He has the heart of gold and lots and lots of soul. Looking into his eyes is like reading an epic poem in one glance. I'm really thankful that I have good advice around me and am willing to not play the fear tactic ploys that have kept me from giving my heart openly in the past. It is so scary, but he meets my fear with acceptance, understanding and support -- not defensiveness.

I mention music in the subject not just for the cliche of floating on air and hearing music when I think about my new man. CF is a drummer (whoot!) and a great admirer of music. I love great music as well but definitely need a tour guide out there. We've had a lot of fun recently sharing music with each other and going to see shows. He planned a date night and we caught local group Arbouretum Arbouretum, June 4, 2009 part 1 . They have an original sound and were joined by Meg Baird for a very angelic sound in the mix.
We then went that Saturday to StarScape, an electronic music festival that my friend DJ Jay Selway invited me to. We danced like crazy and hung out with the Selways and enjoyed the moonrise there. I especially liked hearing Jay's set and all of the people watching (soooooooo not a raver myself!!).
THEN, the next Monday, we spontaneously caught the Andrew Bird/The Decemberists show at Merriweather. We walked up after the beginning of the show and asked for 'best available' and we got front row seats :):):) The Decemberists are a top favorite for CF and the show was very theatrical and something not to miss: also earnest and mystical.

Anyways, it has been such a lovely experience so far and not just for the cool concert tix. We are so sweetly compatible and happy. PUKE!

Congrats, Bahia and Dan!!!!! Love you and will write about your lovely union soon. Happy anniversary Wesolowskis and happy birthday Norah.

African Pineapple Peanut Stew

2009-06-06T08:09:00.004-04:00

One day my sweet roommate, Caro, invited me to dinner at our apartment and introduced me to this yummmmmmy recipe. The hospitality was very nice and we sat and chatted for a long time. The stew itself is delicious!!! Caro made it with Swiss Chard, which I really enjoyed, but I (of course) recreated it with the more available and ever so magical KALE when Katie S. came to visit. Since the recipe has peanut butter in in, it brought back awesome memories of happyfamily dinners in Urbana :)

My notes before you try: Chop up A TON of kale and fill a large stock pot up to the top with it. The kale will cook down soak up all the yummy juices. Also, if you refrigerate your peanut butter, set it out well before starting to cook so that it will mix in with the other ingredients. I served it to Katie with coconut milk rice, but it is good all by itself! Bon App!

African Pineapple Peanut Stew (A Moosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home recipe)

1 cup chopped onions
2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 bunch kale or Swiss chard (4 cups sliced)
2 cups undrained canned crushed pineapple (20-ounce can)
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 tablespoon Tabasco or other hot pepper sauce
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
salt to taste
crushed skinless peanuts

In a covered saucepan, sauté the onions and garlic in the oil for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onions are lightly browned. While the onions saute’, wash the kale or Swiss chard. Remove and discard the large stems and any blemished leaves. Stack the leaves on a cutting surface and slice crosswise into 1-inch-thick slices.

Add the pineapple and its juice to the onions and bring to a simmer. Stir in the kale or chard, cover, and simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring a couple of times, until just tender. Mix in the peanut butter, Tabasco, and cilantro and simmer for 5 minutes. Add salt to taste, and serve.

Beacons

2009-05-31T22:35:00.003-04:00

img_0436, originally uploaded by missmartha.

Everyone knows that I am overjoyed that America has a new president in Obama. Some of you don't know that I was very conflicted during the primaries when trying to decipher which Democratic candidate would be the best choice for the nation. In some ways, I feel that I have the best of both worlds with Sec. Clinton as head of the State Department. As I work in International Exchange administering programs under the auspices of the Department of State, Hillary Clinton's actions and global experience will greatly impact my day to day. Here is an snippet from a speech that she gave recently that excited me and really put into perspective the public diplomacy part of my job that I cherish most:

Speaking at the New York University commencement ceremony on Wednesday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged the 2009 graduating class to become citizen diplomats and to open themselves up to “this increasingly complex and interconnected world.” Clinton spent a significant portion of her speech emphasizing that “lay[ing] the groundwork…for global cooperation” begins with international exchange. Her remarks included such specific proposals as increasing funding for Gilman scholarships by more than 40 per cent, streamlining the visa process for international students, and creating Virtual Student Foreign Service Internships at the State Department “to harness the energy of a rising generation of citizen diplomats”:

My message to you today is this: Be the special envoys of your ideals…be citizen ambassadors using your personal and professional lives to forge global partnerships…

This starts with opportunities for educational exchanges, the kind of dorm room and classroom diplomacy that NYU is leading on. I want to commend my friend, your president, the trustees of this great university, for understanding and believing in the importance of educational exchanges.

You know, study abroad is like spring training for this century. It helps you develop the fundamentals, the teamwork, and the determination to succeed. And we want more American students to have that opportunity. That’s why we are increasing funding for Gilman scholarships by more than 40 percent.

Now, of course, study abroad is a two-way street, and we should bring more qualified students from other countries to study here.

Now, the benefits from such exchanges are so great that I am committed to streamline the visa process – (applause) – particularly for science and technology students so that even more qualified students will come to our campuses in the future. We’re also doing more to marry technology with global service. That’s why today I am pleased to announce that over the next year the State Department will be creating Virtual Student Foreign Service Internships to harness the energy of a rising generation of citizen diplomats. Working from college and university campuses, American students will partner with our embassies abroad to conduct digital diplomacy that reflects the realities of the networked world.

~~~

momentous

2009-05-24T09:27:00.002-04:00

img_0410, originally uploaded by missmartha.

Some HUGE things have happened since my last post!!!! The biggest deal was that I returned home to Illinois for B's bridal shower. I flew into O'Hare and had the pleasure of spending Thursday evening with Lizabean. Lil L woke in the morning to play with me and warm my heart. He is the same as the baby I knew -- a joyful and social one -- but really getting big! Friday was spent downtown chitown and I was sooooo happy to play tourist there with B and M. I had coffee in the morning with Chantal (she is good) and then went on the architectural boat tour with the sisters. They were laughing at the gazillion pictures that I took ("It is like you've never been to the city before!!!!") --- I was moved by the beauty of this city that I left behind three falls ago. B treated us to a fancy lunch of conceptual salads and then we scooped up E and drove down to Mahomet. We met the rest of the family and Dan and enjoyed a quiet evening together.

On Saturday, Dad made us his famous pancakes and i ran to VGS to pick up flowers with B. It is always so awesome to see Koni and Harry! The shower was sweet -- a fancy tea party with 30 women that LOVE Bahia. I liked when we went around the room giving a word of wisdom for a happy marriage. There were laughs and tender moments. Anyone who wanted to was invited back to the house to open presents and chill. Quite a large group came out! In the evening, we went to Korean Karaoke... that is where the above picture was shot of my joyful, beautiful sisters.getting down.

Sunday, Mother's Day, we went to the cemetery and met Aunt Peg and Jamie to plant flowers at Grandma and Grandpa's grave. I also got to visit other family members and important family friends; I hadn't been there in years and find it so swweeeet that Aunt Peg has that tradition. We wrestled up a fancy and indulgent picnic to honor my momma which seemed to please all (think sushi, french cheese, grapes, hummus, sparkling pear juice....). It was a great happenstance to all be together for Mother's day!
Although leaving the family is always sad, it was made better by the fact that we will all be together for the wedding in a few weeks. :)

I had left work feeling stressed and overwhelmed, but returned recharged and happy. I had a large professional victory when my first short-term program left the next Sunday for Germany!

The next weekend, Ruth celebrated her graduation with more sisters, Chinese fire lantern launch and some salsa dancing on a humid, sweaty night. Congrats, Ruth!

I've been seeing a nice, kind, bright man named CF (not to be confused with the Hammer's curlyfry!). He has touched my heart with his openness, soulfulness and kind attention to me. YAY!

Happy birthday Munirih, Azul, Tim and Ozkan!!!!!!!!!! Happy summertime (finalllllly).

the light

2009-05-02T23:57:00.004-04:00

img_0128, originally uploaded by missmartha.

I have some exciting things to post about!

First of all, the picture featured is my favorite singer, Mason Jennings. I went to the eastern shore to hear him play last weekend and it did feel like he was talkin to me the whole time.

Saturday, I drove up to Philly. I met KL downtown and though we haven't seen each other since college, she summed it up by saying that it felt like no time has passed. She seems very very happy. My purpose for the Philly trip, however, was to spend time with Bahia, Dan and Dan's family. It was great to see them again (it had been almost 5 months and I hadn't seen them since the engagement). Bahia is (of course) BELOVED by her in-laws to be. YAY I will see her again this week!!! The weather that weekend was unreal - so sunny and hot and perfect and everyone just seemed charged by it.

This week has been a blluuurrr. Monday was great because I could actually squeeze an hour run in after I got home from work, a sign that we finally have light. Caro invited me to our first of (hopefully) many 'get stoopid' sessions enjoying the fact that we live in a walk up unit on a boulevard :) and we sat and chatted til past midnight. Tuesday was vegan food and AI (no AI post this week, but they were all really good, unlike the last two seasons at this point). Wednesday was a special salsa meetup closing down one of the group venues and I was out dancing until one. The DJ was just rockin and the energy was great with a rare full house for a wednesday night event. Thursday, I zumba'd with Erin (fun!) and then went to an old school diner. Friday was girls night with lilDebbie which included zumba and hibachi.
All of this while work was at an all time accelerated and insane speed. I am praying that there will be some peace and resolution for the large project that I have been working on interdepartmentally!!! And that I will find a way to feel 'good enough' about the work that I accomplish each day.

In other exciting news from this week, I received my first bit of hatemail!! In order not to miss it, please click on the 'reflections' button from my last post. I'm the new Heather Armstrong!!! Well, not quite...but I am glad that I finally wrote something interesting enough to get someone's knickers in a knot. The comment is quite funny, enjoy!

On May 1 Ava Loren Kopolow was born to Jessica and Dan!!!! I can't wait to meet her! I didn't get to see Jess at all during the pregnancy, so it is all a bit surreal right now. Mazel Tov!!

Katie and Ben are expecting! The baby is lovingly named curlyfry for the moment and I'm so happy to be a tia for the third happy family babe. We have a girl and a boy, so now what?

Angie reminded me to practice gratitude and I've been trying. With more light, more life, more love, more health and more time -- how can I not thank God?

Things not to do on a date with me (a list gleaned from my real life...sigh)

2009-04-26T23:04:00.002-04:00

No particular order
1. talk about how you just want to get married while repeating over and over that I am so young and I didn't seem so young when you asked me out
2. tell me that your mother only wants you to date Sri Lankans
3. say fuck or fucking
4. tell me that you would like to take me to the Holocaust museum so you can watch my reaction
5. tell me that your boss said you should have gotten lucky with me for the bracelet that I received at your holiday party (which we both knew was a pity date)
6. when I comment "I like to cook", don't say "of course you do because you are from the Midwest." when pushed for clarification, don't add "you know, like in the olden days, people in the Midwest cooked...and like in modern times, people on the East Coast do not."
7. wear a green paisley tie with a green flannel shirt (i don't care if this makes me sound shallow or if it was st. patrick's day!!!)
8. say that you love to watch Little House on the Prairie (i felt so bad for this guy that I actually let him know most women would find that fairly unsexy)
9. glare at me and ask me if I am elderly, pregnant or handicapped in a totally passive aggressive voice when i sit in the spot that gives preference to those groups on the metro (a simple, "let's leave that spot open in case someone needs it" would have sufficed)
10. practically snort and say "OF COURSE" when I ask if we can split the bill (I'm only ASKING because on our first date you INSISTED on paying and said that it was cultural...)
====>bonus list: things not to do on a first date:
++try to hold my hand
++seem to be going in for a goodbye hug and then give me a disgusting kiss on the lips. blehck.
++arrive late (or text me saying that you are late because you are looking for parking when the resto has valet. sigh)

I'm sure that this post makes me sound petty to the casual reader. To my loved ones, you will know that I know that even the worst dates have a silver lining if you can laugh about it later! I try to give people the benefit of the doubt -- and I am sincerely blown away by the lack of social graces in a "wow, people really don't think there is anything wrong with this behavior. interesting" way.

"when you love somebody, bite your tongue, all you get is a mouthful of blood" ~ Fruit Bats

Oh Adam

2009-04-23T00:05:00.001-04:00

I'm just very simply obsessed with this singer.

Want more American Idol videos? Click here.

chacha to the left

2009-04-18T16:00:00.006-04:00

Just an average Friday night for me at the Morgan State University (an HBCU) Howard County alumni association fundraiser! Pictured above are two of my zumba friends that invited me :) As for the video, I LOVE the gentleman in the plaid jacket. Everyone was so smooth on the dance floor, especially the couples two-stepping. I hope that when I am in my 60s I will have a partner to two-step and slow dance with....

Liza, I hope you had the happiest of birthdays!

2009-04-09T00:15:00.002-04:00

Liza, I hope you had the best birthday! I wish I was with you right now! I'm really proud to know you and admire you as a mother, professional, artist and creator. I admire the way you write and the way you take care of bebe Liam. I think you are strong and sweet. Thanks for being a good friend to me. I'm not sure at what age we met, but I know that I've know you for more than half of your life on this planet. I feel closer to you now than ever! I look for your pictures every day and when you have new ones, it brings me so much joy. Here are some pictures of the good times. Enjoy!

The perfect spring weekend....

2009-04-05T21:37:00.003-04:00

Mmmm.. in contrast to the post from earlier today about mlah march, april is here and lovely! I had the perfect weekend. After a friday/saturday doubleheader of zumba (including a kiss hello from by best zumba buddy Oh, who I hadn't met recently)...I got outdoors! Having the perfect cherry blossom festival experience has been a fantasy of mine ever since I moved to the east coast. As the saying goes, the third time is the charm! Yesterday was a beautiful blustery, sunny day to go to the mall and see the spring buds. Here are some pictures, but there are many many more on flickr. I went a bit crazy with my new camera.
The springness continued today when I went for a walk with Ruth and visited the greenhouse a bit north of our neighborhood. Thanks for a nice walk, talk and tips for how to use my photo, Ruth!

GO STATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO BIG TEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The rest of March....

2009-04-05T20:19:00.001-04:00

intl strip, originally uploaded by missmartha.

It seems like I've been a bit off posting... where did March go? March was a sad, dark, blah month like it usually is. I hate the havoc of time change and MD had a lot of cold, dreary days. Clouds have been hanging over the workplace for sure.

THANK GOD Lindy came to visit me :) We had a nice girlfriends weekend with our favorite things (cooking in, urban exploration, book talk, shoe shopping, chocolate and dining). Miss ya, Lindy!

Right before she arrived, I received my camera in the mail!!!!! It is my first digital camera and I hope that my blog will include more photo content and more pictures by the author. I've really enjoyed playing around so far and even created a set on flickr for pictures that I think are more than a snapshot.

I then started to feel sick and had to travel to vegas for work with another bummer of a head cold. sigh. I know that people have been mentioning that this year has been worse than others, but I SERIOUSLY want to whine and complain about my severe illnesses. Boo. The work part of my trip to Vegas was subdued by dehydration, nyquil, sleep and the inability to breathe, but I started to feel better and had a nice day with Nate. We went hiking, checked out his new place and the 'rents new place, caught up very much so and ++best part++ went to dinner at Samba and out to see Cirque du Soleil performance LOVE (the Beatles review). This show was magical. They incorporated my favorite Beatles song, "Something", which was a special moment, but really the whole show stirred me up and made me feel so thankful that the Beatles became immortal.

light italian wedding soup

2009-03-10T00:09:00.003-04:00

This dish, prepared for Quinlan NYE, is becoming a quick family favorite. I made it for the first time in TN and then made it for myself again when I was sick with that severe headcold/pneumonia/flu thing that was going around. I added tons of SPICE that time and tried to have the chicken turkeyness of the dish heal me. Here are the instructions as Martha Stewart intended:

Ingredients

1 pound ground dark-meat turkey (93 percent lean)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup plain dried breadcrumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan, plus more for serving
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, halved and thinly sliced
2 cans (14 1/2 ounces each) reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 cans (14 1/2 ounces each) diced tomatoes in juice
2 heads escarole (2 pounds total), cored, trimmed, and coarsely chopped

Directions

In a bowl, combine turkey, garlic, egg, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Using 1 tablespoon for each, roll mixture into balls.
In a large pot, heat oil over medium. Cook onion, stirring occasionally, until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add broth and tomatoes (with juice); bring to a simmer. Add meatballs; cook, without stirring, until meatballs float to surface, about 5 minutes.
Add as much escarole to pot as will fit. Cook, gradually adding remaining escarole, until wilted and meatballs are cooked through, about 5 minutes more. Thin soup with water if desired; season with salt and pepper. Serve soup sprinkled with more Parmesan.

I switched out the escarole for kale because they don't have escarole at the super wallmart in sevierville. It turned out to add a YUMMY deep green flavor and we decided to keep it that way for future preps. Enjoy!

PR first images

2009-03-07T13:08:00.001-05:00

privacy, originally uploaded by missmartha.

I'm waiting for the rest of the pictures that I took during my Puerto Rican holiday. In the meantime, I snapped a few shots on my blackberry that are already posted! I love this photo because it shows how private and empty the beach was at our hotel. There was a moment when I was the only person in the ocean. There were directions I could look and only see sand, blue sky, water and rocky bay.

For those of you who don't know, I've been fantasizing about getting away to puerto rico for a few years now. I'm obsession prone and this was one of the bad ones. It all started when I moved to a puerto rican neighborhood in Chicago and become obsessed with Caribbean food and boricua living. It got worse when I visited JnJ in Brooklyn and saw pictures of their paradise elopement in PR. My love for reggaeton, salsa and zumba didn't help. The fact that I haven't had a real ocean vacation since cote d'azur in 2003 stung (although a day here and there in VA or MD did tide me over). Anyways, the short version of my vacation with Anne, Maria, Rick, Reagan and Ricky is that is was splendid! I love the island and the 80 degree weather was made better by the fact that both Chicago and MD were hit with massive amounts of snow :)

Aside from beach bumming and getting my skin eaten up by the sun, other awesomes were puerto rican food, Old San Juan and the rainforest (El Yunque). It was great to be with the W family and have some QT with Reagan and Ricky. They are soooo adorable and I just want to be with them! They will be completely different each time I see them and that is just sad. It was great to have Anne along to heighten the adventure and fun times. She did an awesome job of shaking off the bad week (break in to her apt=move, car towed, etc) and just roll with it island style. It was great to catch up with her! Even though the stress level was high leading up the the trip, her life seems good.

Anyways, if anyone wants to have a sweet good time on vacation, you should go to Puerto Rico. And take me along because I am hooked!

Belgrade

2009-02-22T12:54:00.002-05:00

DSCN3653, originally uploaded by missmartha.

We all agreed that one day was not enough for Belgrade... I hope to return. After my week in Skopje, Desi and I took the bus to Serbia for my return flight home. We met up with friends there for a short walk around the city and an OVERWHELMING dinner with great conversation, food, drink and warmth. Belgrade is a world-class city and serbian hospitality has no bounds. The rest of the Belgrade pictures are here.

Macedonia...timeless

2009-02-22T12:02:00.004-05:00

I had a really hard time picking which pictures to post on my blog from my trip to Macedonia... so I played around with moviemaker and selected a few favorites (below). The rest of the 200 photos are on my flickr. Following my work conference in Poland, I returned home to Skopje with my friend Desi. It was AWESOME to meet her family and her girlfriends and see all of the places that she has been talking to me about during her months in DC. This was a true vacation -- relaxing, site seeing, EATING AWESOME HOMEMADE BALKAN FOOD, going out dancing. Desi's family was so kind and loving to me, I'm so happy that I got to meet them!! It was also awesome to meet Vladimir's mom and learn more about Desi and Vladimir's childhood and their life as a couple. I'm so lucky to have friends all over the world that spoil me when I come to visit... I can't imagine globe-trotting any other way.
If you have never been to the Balkans, you should go! I really love this part of the world and my second visit back (10 years after I went to Slovenia and Croatia) lived up to my romanticized memories.
One last announcement that I have to slide into this post: as soon as I returned home from europe I joined facebook. Yes, I do hear the resounding 'i told you so'. It is not because of the 50 or so awesome people that I met on this trip as some have been assuming. The reason that I joined is because it hurt my heart to know that I am not in touch with any of the stellar people that I met during my first sojourn to eastern europe in '99. Also because I knew that Maike and James were living in Kosovo, but I was totally out of touch with them to say that I would be close (so sad!!!!). If you are on fb, please add me! However, know that forever and ever this blog will be the place to go to keep in touch with me and that my flickr page (such higher quality than facebook!) will be the place for all of my photos.
Enjoy my first ever (so basic!) video!

ps - I noticed that I had somehow disabled comments from my blog... you should be able to comment again ;)

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-14T17:28:00.003-05:00

Special love to all of my loved ones --- a bit belated due to internet issues at home.

Valentine's day is my favorite day after Thanksgiving. I hope you are all surrounded by love today! I had a fabulous party last night and thank everyone who came to rock out at LOVE/HATE with me. Love has been super in the air with Dan and Bahia's engagement and I hope that it remains that way.

Most of you know that I am a HOPELESS romantic (born on the day of romantic exultation). When I need a good booster shot of sappy love stuff, I go here. Enjoy those that love you today and enjoy sending love all around in unmeasured quantities. OH Robin Thicke is playing at the internet cafe -- too hot!

GROS BISOUS MES AMOURS!

Day 5: closing ceremonies

2009-02-11T23:50:00.002-05:00

n1053103412_2296498_7048, originally uploaded by missmartha.

With the final day of exchange and sessions came my restored health! Just in time to celebrate the election Goran Radnovic as General Secretary and my beloved Gunter and Desi as Board members! The gala evening was a p-a-i-n-f-u-l karaoke night and then time to say goodbye to friends before leaving for Skopje the next morning. The photo above is a montage by Laci from Hungary, who proved to be quite the partyboy hosting all the hotel parties during the conference. I missed most of them due to illness, but can you find me twice in the montage he calls "pictures with some of the superstars"? Visit here for the complete Poland pictures and check back soon for some musings about the rest of my trip!!!

Day 4: International Evening/Inaugural eve

2009-02-11T23:34:00.004-05:00

The international evening at General Conference has quite a reputation for being an unforgettable evening of international food, drinks and...exchange. This year, we tried to accommodate everyone with the staples: bourbon, whiskey, pringles, rice crispy treats, oreos and m&ms to represent the US. As President OBAMA was to be inaugurated the following day, my boss purchased 120 pins off e-bay for us to share. Can you believe that they were gone faster than the whiskey and coke????? I love the picture on top of a friend from Poland popping her Obama Biden January 20, 2009 pin :) Although anyone who had talked to me prior to my departure for Poland knows that I was inconsolable about missing the festivities in DC, we certainly did celebrate the advent of the new administration in our own way.

Day 3: Sightseeing in Warsaw

2009-02-10T23:15:00.004-05:00

I'd been in Poland for awhile, but had only ventured out of the hotel to a pharmacy where I mimed sore throat and dry cough. The afternoon sightseeing tour is always an exciting departure from exchange sessions and data entry at the conference.

Old Town Warsaw impressed me. Over 85 percent of the town was destroyed in WWII, but the citizens carefully reconstructed the historic main district brick for brick. Such a labor of love. I especially enjoyed seeing the church with Chopin's heart and Chopin's monument.

Day 2: 50th anniversary celebration Poland

2009-02-10T23:12:00.001-05:00

For this little old girl that never went to prom, I sure have had my share of galas and fancy dinners. This celebration was a the BEAUTIFUL technical faculty and included much dancing to the Engineers' Band.

Day 1: Welcome dinner

2009-02-10T23:11:00.002-05:00

I arrived to Poland so so so sick, but after 14 hours of sleep I was able to make it through the first day of exchange (though I felt like I had liquid in my lungs). In the evening, we enjoyed a welcome dinner, including traditional drinks, food, dance and music. Pleasant!

JOY!

2009-02-02T07:36:00.002-05:00

Read here about what is causing me so much JOY!

Great trips

2009-02-01T22:17:00.002-05:00

martha trip iibw, originally uploaded by missmartha.

I'm way tooooo tired to write about my trips to Poland and Macedonia, but I will leave you with a photo for now (thanks for the editing, Liza!). More available on my flickr and more to come.

The most breathtaking

2009-01-11T13:35:00.001-05:00

The most breathtaking, originally uploaded by missmartha.

You can't see what we were seeing, but I can assure you that it touched my heart.

halo

2009-01-11T13:29:00.001-05:00

halo, originally uploaded by missmartha.

I took a lot of time for peaceful refection during the Tennessee vacation

summit

2009-01-11T13:28:00.003-05:00

summit, originally uploaded by missmartha.

Good bye to 2008!

We all love Dolly

2009-01-11T13:18:00.001-05:00

We all love Dolly, originally uploaded by missmartha.

Happy New Year from the Quinlans

2009-01-11T13:13:00.001-05:00

ps sep, originally uploaded by missmartha.

30x30

2009-01-03T23:49:00.004-05:00

Inspired by my beloved girlfriend May, I've chosen to reflect on little wishes to accomplish before my 30th birthday (in 2.5 years) rather than setting a new year's resolution. Last year, I chose to dream up a mondo beyondo rather than a resolution, and it was a funny thing. A few months ago, I felt like I had it all except for the naps and the goat... now I feel really different. Perception!

As I did last year, I'd like to list the amazing places that I visited for the first time in 2008. What a blessing to experience Jordan (dead sea, Wadi Rum and Petra), Amsterdam, Seoul, New Orleans, Philadelphia, the Shenandoah, Lubbock, West Lafayette, Pittsburgh, Davis and the Pigeon Forge area of the Smokey Mountains. And people came to me (KTH, KJS, Dory, Mom and Dad, Megan and Chris, Tara, Bahia and Dan)....

In 2008, I attended 2 splendid weddings (I know, I'm really slowing down!). I am proud to know the lovely Black-Margidas and Vaughn-Nas. I became a godmother to Ricky W. and joyfully welcomed miracles Liam and Sebastian to the world. A year of boys, I guess!

I let myself fall in love after three years of guarded heart and fearfulness. I didn't do it to perfection and I still have issues about trust and allowing myself to completely let go within the comfort of a loving companionship, but I don't regret opening myself up as much as I was able, letting someone else in.

I have so much more to try and to do! I feel a gypsy stirring that history tells me can only be satisfied by stirring up a lot of muck. Here is my 30 by 30 -- I invite you to post one below! I focused on things that I feel I can accomplish without the need of a ton of luck, divine intervention or partnership; I felt that they would be most satisfying.

In alphabetical order:

Become friends with my parents
Belong to a book or cooking club
Bring all of my girlfriends together for a weekend
Cultivate an African Violet
Dance until the sun comes up
Decide what field I will pursue my Masters in
Find community
Go on a week-long camping trip
Have 10K in savings
Have a colonic cleansing
Have a commute that doesn't involve a car
Have a flat tummy and bikini body
Have better credit
Hire a counselor
Interview my grandma
Know my sisters as they are
Learn to keep my personal spaces organized
Live overseas again
Live where I can get yummy produce on foot
Love my job
Own a camera
Read the biography of Martha Root
See Nabihe again
See NYC in all 4 seasons (I've only seen summer)
See Quebec
Sit and read a book to my godson
Speak/Read/Hear French daily
Start my teapot collection
Stop finishing the sentences of others
Train myself to wake up with the alarm (no snooze)

Pictures of Tennessee New Year's to come! Happy 2009!

Angels

2008-12-20T01:18:00.002-05:00

It was just perfect to have Bahia and Dan visit for the past week. They were great entertainers and I was sad to see them go. I am looking forward to getting into a better groove in the apartment with new roommate CGA. AND of course, I'm excited about Tennessee vacation and the trip that I just booked to PR.

I'll post a few pictures here! {1. B was a doll and dated me for the work holiday party 2. In front of my house 3. We spent a day on the Mall and did more DCish things than the last 2 times B visited 4. At the White House 5. see caption below } More on my flickr page.

MarthaBahiaHoliday

2008-12-20T01:14:00.001-05:00

MarthaBahiaHoliday, originally uploaded by missmartha.

on the stoop

2008-12-20T01:12:00.001-05:00

DSCN8680, originally uploaded by missmartha.

capquinlans

2008-12-20T01:11:00.003-05:00

DSCN8583, originally uploaded by missmartha.

DC1208

2008-12-20T01:11:00.001-05:00

DC1208, originally uploaded by missmartha.

in the hood

2008-12-20T01:10:00.001-05:00

DSCN8672, originally uploaded by missmartha.

I love this photo of me and Dan rolling up to my apartment. Chuck, is that your fleece?????
Dan was a doll and picked out a yummy macaroni recipe, set up our wireless network, slept half the nights on the couch, asked lots of questions and gave lots of compliments.

After Parting

2008-12-20T01:03:00.001-05:00

Oh I have sown my love so wide
That he will find it everywhere;
It will awake him in the night,
It will enfold him in the air.

I set my shadow in his sight
And I have winged it with desire,
That it may be a cloud by day
And in the night a shaft of fire.

Sara Teasdale

My guide to healing a broken heart (trial-tested)

2008-12-07T10:01:00.006-05:00

+sleep as much as you can. If you are having difficulty sleeping or you wake up with sadness in your mind, please medicate or drug. I've found that three ibuprofen and three benedryl will work nicely for the most difficult situations.*Please do not drug if you have addictive tendancies.
+get exercise, sunlight and fresh air. Exercise is a fabulous way of tricking your body and mind into thinking that it feels great.
+find a soundtrack for your sadness and listen to it often. I can suggest anything Aimee Mann or Leonard Cohen and India.Arie's Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship or Whitney Houston's Heartbreak Hotel. Anything that makes you think of your loved one works well, too.
+read a Gabriel Garcia Marquez novel. I highly recommend One Hundred Years of Solitude for the most serious cases: it is captivating at a time where one's mind has trouble focusing out of fog.
+go to a movie alone. I think mindless comedies are the best. For me, going to an Owen Wilson or Vince Vaughn movie by myself is a tradition during heartbreak. Do other things alone that cause you deep, reactionary pleasure.
+eat what you can. At times like this, my appetite is very fickle and leaves me. Eat heavy comfort foods if you can, but if not, simply try to find some things that you can take in to remain nourished.
+hug your Lord close to you. When you feel unloved and alone, take moments to revel in his eternal love and presence. Ask him for healing and angels.
+write it out. Write a looooong letter to your beloved, stating everything you would like to say. read over it the next day and then tear it up into small pieces and dispose of it. At this time, you might also need to dispose of other mementos from your loved one that will cause you pain.
+surround yourself with angels. Angels are often summoned by forces outside of your control and come to your side in times of need. How to recognize an angel in your life: they are people that you are not attracted to (angels are nonsexual, of course!), they surround you with love and they sit with you patiently through hurt. Angels also have superhuman patience as you go through your process! When my heart was broken the most (Paris, spring 2004) and I thought I might not be able to continue on, angels Ake, Jessica, Nabihe and Megan were summoned. Thank God!
+maintain yourself. Stay manicured. Wear makeup and new, beautiful clothing. Look at yourself in the mirror and say "wow, I am beautiful". Look at your body and say "wow, I am desirable".
+meet new people and go new places. Make new memories! When you meet new people, refrain from talking about your loved one. Let these people fill you up with joy and help you remember that life is exciting.
+flirt with people you are attracted to. Let them help you remember that you are a fun, desirable partner. Let them call you more and wish to be with you. Kiss them and dance with them and smile at the thought of them but do not love them. Be honest about your purpose for the relationship so that you are not hurting them. Enjoy each other.

What works for you? Please comment below!

Thanks!

2008-11-29T10:57:00.004-05:00

A FEW THINGS THAT I AM THANKFUL FOR THIS YEAR
*election results
*improving health
*employment
*relationship with my Creator
*my lovely apartment where I feel very good
*advancing technology and modes of communication
*my family
*OZ
*independence
*my opportunities to listen, council, comfort and support those I love in a meaningful way
*self-awareness and a desire to evolve
*my female mentors
*travel opportunities
*anyone who reads this blog: you are the real loved ones in my life and I am touched that you care to follow.

Thanksgiving is always a significant time for me and my family and I am looking forward to the hope that next November we will all be together in Mexico! Yes, I am silly: I am already planning for it and excited!

Bob Quinlan

2008-11-09T18:50:00.002-05:00

There was a large fire last week in downtown Champaign. I've posted a few pictures here as an idea of what my hero-dad does for a living.

CHANGE WE NEED

2008-11-06T22:40:00.004-05:00

I felt additional emotion today at the SWE (Society of Women Engineers) conference that I attended. The Harlem Gospel Choir performed in a plenary session and the tone was quite celebratory. In a room full of thousands of female engineers and engineers-to-be we sang and celebrated the historical moment. When the choir sang "Respect", I was filled with pride at being a female and an American. Having such an educated and just leader that respects women's rights and does not use tokenism to sway the vote is so much more rewarding than having a woman president or VP just to say it has been achieved. YES WE CAN!

2008-11-05T22:10:00.003-05:00

A day of joy and hope for America. I am so proud today. I feel restored. I have no words. CONGRATULATIONS to America for joining together and electing an outstanding leader!!!

SF

2008-11-01T15:04:00.004-04:00

100_1646, originally uploaded by missmartha.

Lucky girl am I! My work also sent me to Northern California, which means that I got to have a peek at Munirih's life since she moved there in July. I am so proud of her! She is embracing her work at UCSF hospital and is learning so much about illness, compassion and cure. I am also JEALOUS of her life: the mansion that she lives in, her walk to work, the cafes and alterna-chic stores all around her, the GROCERY in her hood, the park, her quintessential SF location (can you get any more SF than living on Ashbury at Haight???). Click on the image to check out more photos of her nest on Flickr (including a shot of the mona lisa painting as viewed from the john which I found funny since this chef d'oeuvre is displayed so prominently in my current apartment as well).

While I was in SF, OZ was in Hawaii presenting at a conference. AT THE SAME TIME AS OBAMA. Although I know it was hard for him to return from PARADISE and he is now coordinating his transfer to University of Hawaii, it also meant an end to our crazy schedule-induced separations that prevailed in October. good stuff. November calls for much less nation hopping. I stoked about the election, planing my trip to PR, Thanksgiving -- best holiday ev-ah -- and chuck-and-erin-the-event.

Pittsburgh

2008-11-01T14:46:00.003-04:00

East Regional Conference pics 2008 019, originally uploaded by missmartha.

Following my trip to CU, I got to see OZ, recently returned from his trip to Jordan. Sweet reunion! I'd missed him a ton and it seemed terrible to think that in three days I would have to leave for 4 more days on the road for work. Thankfully, Pittsburgh was AWESOME! JM and I soaked in the fall beauty during the drive. Roomie and foodie C had encouraged me to try a Primanti Bros. sandwich while there (always served with french-fries and cole slaw on the 'wich), and thankfully my students were awesome enough to plan our Friday social there!!! Y'all know I can't do messy food well, so this picture is actually a bit misleading (I ate most of it with fork like a LOSER). I could totally see myself living in Pittsburgh... more pictures available on my flickr (click on the image above to link).

kthmjqcu

2008-11-01T14:37:00.004-04:00

kthmjqcu, originally uploaded by missmartha.

Here is the first of a series of photo posts to talk about my trips in October. I was able to visit CU for work. It happened to be Homecoming weekend and the Hammers were in town! We took a spin around town and visited our Green Street apt together. So many happy family memories.....You can't really see it in the photo, but I am wearing a super cute illinois hoodie that my mom gifted.

I saw the Kopolows, Debbie, the David Bakers, went to the store and spent time with Mom and Dory, including meeting Dory's beloved roommate for the first time. Fall is the most inspiring time to be on campus. OH and don't worry, Dory and I met Dan at OPH for some pumpkin pancakes. Too bad Dad and B were in Asia during my visit!

2008-10-03T22:24:00.002-04:00

He was my companion throughout the last few years.
He greeted me with enthusiasm and was patient.
He was the morning-lover that I could never be, jumping at the sound of the wake-up alarm.
He let me be his healer in the past.
He was mellow.
In the last few days his lungs filled up with white but he never seemed to give up the will to live regardless of the pain he seemed to be in.
RIP, Slurpee.

may my heart always be open

2008-09-30T22:26:00.003-04:00

In a week where my peace was disturbed by hurtful, vindictive treatment from someone I had tried to offer all consideration, I've felt low and gloomy, also insecure and paranoid. At the same time, I received little messages from some who love me to remind me that I AM LOVED...

A link to a photo gallery of a very special girls-weekend...

A letter from LBM sending love and calling me to return to best local girlfriend status...

and this sweet poem from May...

may my heart always be open to little
birds who are the secrets of living
whatever they sing is better than to know
and if men should not hear them men are old

may my mind stroll about hungry
and fearless and thirsty and supple
and even if it's sunday may i be wrong
for whenever men are right they are not young

and may myself do nothing usefully
and love yourself so more than truly
there's never been quite such a fool who could fail
pulling all the sky over him with one smile

--ee cummings

2008-09-22T22:41:00.002-04:00

hi y'all! I'm off to TX in two days and wanted to put a few updates down first. SOoooooO...
+I started running on different urban paths beyond my neighborhood. I gain an unquantifiable amount of pleasure from the urban exploration that I get to do during these jogs. For each boarded up house that I run past, there is a maintained and loved architectural treasure. I have such dreams for a revitalized Bmore!
+Slurpee, my beta, is dying. He has stopped eating. I'm prone to end his life and suffering, but haven't been able to do so yet.
+B returns to the states next month! Before that she will tour southeast asia with Bob Quinlan :) I so pleased for them.
+O.Z. left for Jordan today; he will be there until mid-October. I'm so happy for his trip and jealous (you all know that I LOVED Jordan when I visited last year). We've had some good times recently, including: celebrating his Bday, BIG Ramadan break fasts (including the successful completion of the 3 chipotle burrito challenge), a nice dinner with C+E and a nice dinner with the Selways.

And then there is work. Since my last post, things have really gotten desperate. The director position (that I report to) has been eliminated and the woman that hired me, trained me/showed me the way and greatly inspired me to become more professional and an achiever is gone. In the meantime, senior staff knowingly decided to hire someone to work in tandem with me that I find unsuitable for the position. To add insult to injury, someone who is a superior but not in a supervisory role to me sat me down and told me that he and I both know that I have a problem, namely that I am a strong woman. He then proceeded to name other women that he perceived as super strong that are no longer with the organization. ARE YOU KIDDING ME??

I'm sad about this breaking point. I feel guilt (why am I so overwhelmed by the duties of my position when others like PR succeeded? Why aren't I better able to manage the relational part of my managerial duties and maintaining job satisfaction for the other staff? Why do I find myself wishing to flee when I have only been at the company for less than 2 years -- am I lazy, avoidist, unfit to work?). I feel insult and a lack of job security. I feel saddened by the idea of once again reconstructing my life (new location? new job?). I feel tired and depressed. Mixed into these emotions are a deep love for the work of my department and the potential for impact that I could have under the right circumstances.

Please pray for me!!! I've always had so much providence in my life at times like this that I can't help but feel that the doors will be opened wide.

Thanks in advance and much love right back at you.

time

2008-09-03T23:37:00.006-04:00

August brought me a few roadtrips in my car - to Ohio for the Black-Margida wedding and to NC to visit KJS, LBM and Aunt Lisa's family. LB's wedding was so celebratory! I've included a picture that I feel captures the essence. I love NC tons and just feel good there. It is always fun to spend time with KJS and feel the true joy of being with someone that saw a lot of my development and also has a sassy, sharp, crazy sense of humor. LBM made me laugh when she said that I seem to be more excited about her new life in Durham than she is. I know that she is happy, but I am EXUBERANT. Seriously, I miss my MD girlfriend very much.

In between the two visits, I hosted T for a little staycation. We went to the Charles, Tapas Teatro, Banana Cafe and around town a bit. It is always nice to see a snail soap-roap colleague. We all started our careers together at the entriest of all entry level jobs and I am proud of the career that she has built for herself.

Other than that, I've been spending a significant amount of time working, following the election and trying to enjoy some summertime. I tried to capitalize last week by taking an after work run, but tripped over a low chain-link fence and landed on cement. silly.

hello friends

2008-08-12T18:46:00.002-04:00

I'm writing now from my new dell!!! It is the first new computer that I have owned and another testament to the BOUNTY that is in my life right now. I've been keeping busy during my internetslessness.
I finished Le Scaphandre et Le Papillon and sent it off to Ivy as she departs this week from Middlebury to start her year in Paris. I'm now reading What is the What, a novel account of a Lost Boy of Sudan by my beloved Dave Eggars. THAT is a man that knows how to paint a vivid picture of personal tragedy.
The Campaus surprised me with a lil visit to Bmore that we packed with much exploring, celebratory food and catching up.
I started attending 'mellow out mondays' at a local club - a weekly installment of blues, r&b, funk, jazz that is engrossing.
My SYTYCD fetish came to a close last week with JOSHUA winning!!! I didn't see the finale, but seriously, seriously, YouTube some of his routines with Katee if you want to see a miraculous performance. One of the judges said it right when following a really hot paso doble: this dancer completely defies expectations of a dancer without any classical training and is a true artist.
O.Z. and I did some fun stuffs the last few weeks like charles village farmers market, Body Worlds, A Book Thing, Olympic opening ceremony, Chipoltle (with him eating TWO burritos back to back..........) and most recently me eating homemade pizza and a late night meteor shower viewing.
It's nice to be back in blogosphere.

FYI

2008-07-28T17:37:00.001-04:00

My computer finally died, so I will be a bit offline for a bit. Call me!

the good stuff

2008-07-21T23:27:00.002-04:00

Just a quick post to talk about some of the good stuff that is out there. Work has been going surprisingly well and I have recently received some much craved positive reinforcement and encouragement. Yay! I've also recently been given the perk of meeting with a professional coach at work - the free coaching is a true aid and I do already feel it helping me work through some of the issues that make my worklife so intense. I got a webcam and added Skype - today I tested it out and was able to teleconference Bha and Maya :) I'm hooked. My weekend spent in the Shenandoah Valley to celebrate LB's upcoming wedding was !FUN! and definitely made me want to move forward with my dream of ditching my car and moving south to raise goats. Angie called and shared that her flowershop, fleur, was voted best florist by the Chicago Reader. Angie is one of TWO designers there and I am very very proud of her. Also, fleur is located in the fabulous Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago, just the best place in the universe is all. Finally, things are going well with O.Z. I completely enjoy myself when with him; love loVE LOVE his silly sense of humor and am being treated very nicely. A lucky girl.

4july visit

2008-07-07T22:55:00.001-04:00

P1000350, originally uploaded by missmartha.

My parents came for a week of very much fun! When I think of everything that they did during the time they spent here, I get tired. I like this photo because it is one of our more chill moments: dining at b (a bolton hill restaurant) around the corner from my house. We talked about parenting and oohd and aahd over our food in a very pleasant outdoor setting. Other highlights from the week include: showing dad the American Visionary Art Museum! cooking my new Morrocan chicken dish! going to Philly! John Legend performance! Fort McHenry! Annapolis with seafood and gelato! Miss Shirley's! Baltimore Museum of Art! Korean food by Chuck! Kareoke!
Love ya, mom and dad!
Dad also took some cool pictures of my neighborhood and apartment which I put in the 4july set of my flickr page (click the box on the upper-left hand corner).

what a big girl!

2008-06-25T22:36:00.002-04:00

Wow, Elsa is really cute.

2008-06-22T22:26:00.001-04:00

DSCN0236, originally uploaded by missmartha.

There is a crack in everything//
that's how the light gets in
~ Leonard Cohen

crazy ray's

2008-06-16T22:24:00.003-04:00

One of the craziest things that has happened to me recently was having my car die at a junk yard called Crazy Ray's. Imagine a parking lot full of mechanics sitting out in the sun in junky cars waiting for their buddy to emerge from a virtual dumpster dive with the alternator needed. Imagine two girls in one of the nicest cars in the lot, my lovely '04 Honda Civic that has never given me ANY problems until the day that the battery decides to die beyond the hope of a charge in a PARKINGLOTFULLOFMECHANICS. Although some might think that it is unlucky to have a car die out of no where, I couldn't help but feel blessed as Walter and his buddy jumped to my aide wielding a wrench and switching another battery for mine until we got the car running (if only for one more trip).
Ray is my grandpa q's name and Raymond would have been my middle name had I (or any of my sisters) been a boy. I was thoroughly enjoying myself at the junk yard thinking about my grandpa's shop, QAC, and all the visits we had there growing up. I love the smell of grease, metal and rubber like others might love the smell of a cigar -- forever linked to the memory of my grandpa. The sweet thing is that being in a junk yard is a fun pilgrimage to remember my grandpa L as well, since he became a junk-man in retirement (dumpster diving, etc, to find treasure for his flea market stand).
Happy father's day, all.

NOLA/1st firefly

2008-06-01T20:05:00.000-04:00

I returned home from my holiday weekend in Chi-town and my work trip to New Orleans bruised, walletless and lucky. Attending the baptism and meeting my godson was joyful. I really want to be a good auntie/cousin to R&R and think that they are just precious. R screamed through the entire baptism, which I laughingly said was to get the devil out.
I got to see my mom and dad and get my mom cheap sunglasses. Dad was feeling good after Natl Convention. My Aunt E is still as ever my hero for refinement and literary prowess.
Monday entailed pre-breakfast Zumba with the folks, brunch with Liam and crew, lunch with my REG girlies (it is crazy how we fall into the groove at a moment's notice each playing the role), and a return to Logan Square for a picnic and chat time with AM and dinner in the hood with the supper club. Congrats to Lierremai for being accepted to Middlebury!!!
Mason Jennings says of the quintessential New Orleans neighborhood "Anyone who says that life is clear/has never seen a mirror/or been to Jackson Square." That was pretty much my trip to New Orleans - a confused dream come true. This town is beautiful and filled with delightful people, real music and satisfying food. Please visit and spend money there. The pictures of my trip are not digital, but I hope a few will turn out and I will be able to share.

my girlfriends

2008-05-21T00:11:00.001-04:00

a girlfriend to remember the little things and be thoughtful about them
a girlfriend to drive the miles
a girlfriend to want to more than she does
a girlfriend to enjoy the cheesy with
a girlfriend to tell me it is good that I can imagine the best scenario, and that she is optimistic
a girlfriend to say NO, don't go home, stay and party
a girlfriend to teach me what it means to be giving
a girlfriend to send the note
a girlfriend that loves me neurotic and all
a girlfriend that wishes we were near although we will be further and further
a girlfriend that would pick scabs off my feet if I asked
a girlfriend that trusts me on matters relating to spiritual wellbeing of her marriage
a girlfriend that trusts me with the spiritual wellbeing of her child
a girlfriend to share the pleasure of good food, drink, and sweets
a girlfriend to be my professional advocate
a girlfriend that remembers the beginning and will be there in the end, naturally
a girlfriend that gave trust and respect that is not granted without merit
a girlfriend-mentor
a girlfriend with much in common
a girlfriend to take me as a confidant
a girlfriend that inspires self-determination
a girlfriend that always follows up and gets us together
a girlfriend-healer
a girlfriend that ends each phone conversation with "I love you"
a girlfriend that grants unlimited hugs
a girlfriend to say 'don't even worry about it' when I am bad

I have all of these. Thank you for being one of my fabulous girlfriends.

Gyeongbokgung Palace

2008-05-16T20:25:00.001-04:00

DSCN0234, originally uploaded by missmartha.

Day 8: A day at Gyeongbokgung Palace and goodbye Korea.

K class

2008-05-16T20:22:00.001-04:00

DSCN0126, originally uploaded by missmartha.

Day 7: visiting Bahia's cuties at Kid's College.

day 5

2008-05-16T20:19:00.001-04:00

DSCN0036, originally uploaded by missmartha.

Let's test the new camera procured at the electronics mart using the well-tested bargaining tool of saying over and over again 'but I'm so pretty'.

lantern parade

2008-05-16T20:17:00.001-04:00

n121401101_31791190_6428, originally uploaded by missmartha.

Day 4 as shot by Karen from the comfort of 2nd story Dunkin Donughts.

Doosan Bears v. LG Twins

2008-05-16T20:15:00.001-04:00

IMGP6142, originally uploaded by missmartha.

Day 3 GO TWINS!

my class

2008-05-16T20:10:00.001-04:00

IMGP6087, originally uploaded by missmartha.

Day 2 I substitute taught Randy, Justin, Ciou, Ann and Ashley. Cute and precocious 7 year olds!

Mok Dong, Day 1

2008-05-16T20:08:00.001-04:00

IMGP6054, originally uploaded by missmartha.

Bahia says that this is a good Korea shot.

Korea pictures

2008-05-16T19:58:00.000-04:00

Korea pictures are now finally (mostly) up. It was a real labor of love for Bahia to get them to me so quickly! I'm wanting to post a few of my favorites above as a cliffnotes of the trip.

I'm still processing everything from Korea and do want to write more later. Just to be quick: it was so special to see how Bahia is living and her success as a teacher. I'm proud of her. Seoul is an electric town and I love Korean food much much much.

upcoming blessings

2008-04-27T23:19:00.000-04:00

I'm going to sleep for the last time before I take off on my two week vacation to South Korea. This trip could have in no way been imaginable without the financial support of Bahia, my parents and my job, as well as the support of my boss PR and my teammates. I am humbled by all the different factors that are coming together to let me go (including transportation and holding down of the fort by cna). I always imagined myself visiting Asia, but I didn't have a clear idea of how it would happen. It just seems too easy for me to understand.

I miss Bahia tons. Every day I miss her. I try to not spend too much time thinking about how far away she is, it is too much. I admire her for taking her adventure and not giving up. I can't wait to see what that persistence has given her. I just can't wait to hug her and be with the person that knows me the best, the most profoundly, the truest. sigh.

There are other blessings going on, too. There is the taxes blessing and there is the car insurance blessing. One of my major prayers for this year is to improve my finances, and I can already see it all falling into place in the first months.

In May, we will celebrate the graduation of Munirih, Jiongyi and Dan. YAY! We are also very proud of Munirih for being placed in her number 1 choice for an internship at UC San Fran next year! KJS is also earning her Masters. Good luck to Meg on her GMATs GO MEG!

For Mother's Day I would like to give love to new mama's Lizabean and Maria as well as mamas-to-be babyclairebaby and mamaK.

I'll write more when I'm back from Seoul! Enjoy the springtime, y'all!

Zumba

2008-04-12T13:47:00.000-04:00

For the past month, I have been obsessively attending Zumba classes at my gym. So addictive! I feel like there is a new me: the one that puts in an hour of crazy cardio at the gym without looking at the time once. It is great for my general well being. While blabbing on and on about Zumba to anyone who will listen, lots of people have been asking what it is. I went on a YouTube romp and found a routine that I did for the first time this week. Here is another clip that features a routine that we do a lot in class. Only imagine a class with much more mixing of genders and ages. My Thursday class has the most precious 70-year old African American man! He wears a wicker hat, a sleeveless Nike shirt that comes about mid-torso coupled with spandex pants that also come about mid-torso and velcro snowboots that he wears un-velcroed. He has one of those elderly bodies where the rib-cage is very pronounced and the legs are very thin giving him a distinct rooster look. I kid you not, seeing him gives me more joy than all of my workout endorphins.

I'm a Godparent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-04-05T11:43:00.001-04:00

All Faiths Beautiful

2008-04-05T00:58:00.000-04:00

Here is a picture of me and my childhood BEST FRIEND at the American Visionary Art Museum. Along with getting to share this favorite Baltimore place of mine with KJS and becoming a member, I got to enjoy a brand-new exhibit: All Faiths Beautiful. The stairwells and walkways is lined with PostSecret postcard submissions all about secrets with Faith and the temporary exhibit is half "The Great Mother of All" and half "Words to Live By" including beautiful goddess renditions and modern illuminated Rumi. Even when the exhibit was a less overtly spiritual theme of "Home and Beast" last year, I felt a deep soul-stirring inside the museum, the way it often feels hard for me to breath in sanctuaries under the weight of being presently conscious of the divine.

This next week marks the birthdays of a lot of my loved ones. Happy Birthday Regan, Liza and Angela!!!!!

dory

2008-03-25T22:12:00.000-04:00

Dory came to visit and we had such a nice time! She is a sweetheart and I realized that I have NEVER spent more than a few hours alone with her since I moved out of the house at 18...maybe even longer than that. I love her!

I apologize in advance for the cheesiness of the rest of this post.
The following is a poem by e.e. cummings that is read at the end of a really cute movie about sisters:

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

e e cummings

The bat we keep in the foyer to scare people with finally came in handy

2008-03-17T22:21:00.000-04:00

I had an awesome visit with KJS this weekend - thanks for making the drive up! She got to meet LB, which was important for me. Saturday was just the most beautiful day and we enjoyed it at the inner harbor and the AVAM. By the way, there is a new exhibit at the AVAM that I will be blogging a bit about when I have time. KJS also introduced me to WORDOKU!!!! I'm smitten.

Sadly, she had to get up and leave at 7am on Sunday. Even more unfortunate for her, she was struck with a severe, painful case of the hiccups at that time which she wasn't able to shake with her usual methods. LUCKILY, I was able to scare the hiccups out of her by attacking her with the baseball bat that we keep by the front door just in case. She claims she has never been so frightened in her life as when I came at her with that bat.

Welcome to the world, Richard Dennis Wesolowski III! Happy engagement, C+E! Happy 80th birthday, Grandma!

February March

2008-03-02T13:08:00.001-05:00

Things have been good and busy recently. I've been savoring this weekend with less activity and time to blog. In February, we had out National Conference at work and I got to spend a few days with KTH. I'm so lucky not only to have my cool job because I know her, but also because my cool job brought her to me twice and me to her once. Blessings!
#
Feb.15 I had my first party at my new apt. It was a post-valentine's day loose theme and it really brought me joy to show off my new place which everyone agrees is very 'me' (think green street meets Logan Blvd. with hella high ceilings). For the rest of the 3-day weekend I flew to Chicago to see my family and celebrate Ayyam-i-ha. My sisters are such cute college students all sleep deprived and falling asleep any time they are given a second to stop. I got to meet Arianna - she is the happiest bebe!!!!! I'm glad her big brothers liked the Dora book that I brought her :). It was good to see my Grandma and my cousin Maria who is very very preggie with bebe deux.
#
Megan came to visit the next weekend. The picture above is from her trip here with husband last year. THIS YEAR, it was a girls-only trip (no photographic evidence remains). After an insanely stressful flight delay, we were able to catch up, laugh, cry, psychoanalyze and all. It was very therapeutic (including the part where Meg put me through a boot-camp-like workout at the gym that I was cramping from for 3 days!!). Plus, y'all have got to try the jalapeño-gouda grits at Jack's Bistro. sigh. Megan and I have a very special bond because she is one of the angels that was with me during the darkest and scariest part of my life. If I spend the rest of my life showing her love, it will never be enough. The quiet understanding that is between us is absolutely palpable and I hope we can always find ways to be together as the years go by.
#
On Monday, February 25, we welcomed Liam to the world! Oh Liam, what have you done? I long for you. Congrats, mama- and papa-bean! Our first happy family nephew!!!!!
#
March might be one of my favorite months. The sun is now up when I wake for work and just creeping into sunset at the end of the workday. HOPE with spring is such a cliche pairing, but year after year it strikes the same chord.

Raising Sand

2008-02-18T21:49:00.000-05:00

Please check out this collaboration between Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. OR watch the crossroads performance at http://www.cmt.com/shows/dyn/cmt_crossroads/127935/episode.jhtml.

REAL music.

I booked my ticket to Seoul - THANK YOU Bahia!

2008-02-12T10:34:00.001-05:00

Photos from the 60th annual IAESTE GC

2008-02-03T11:34:00.001-05:00

The conference hotel by the Dead Sea was the most beautiful one I have ever stayed at. At the lowest spot on earth, the air is O2 happy and the salt water and mud from the sea are very nurturing. I saw many old and new friends at the conference, but it was extra special to reunite with Manija and Jaro (above), our interns last year from Tajikistan and Slovakia. And to see Desi (table top photo), the girlfriend of our current intern, who promises to come to the US. Should be fun!

More photos of IAESTE friends here, though these pictures are probably most entertaining to me (there are some good shots of attendees in traditional clothing for our 60th anniversary celebration). More views of the Movenpick Dead Sea Resort and Spa! here.

Photos from Petra

2008-02-03T11:26:00.000-05:00

More photos from Petra here. Did you know that I have never been to a 'wonders of the world' site new or old version? The 9 hours and 2 mountain climbs in Petra were intoxicating.

I leave for Jordan on Thursday!

2008-01-14T23:40:00.000-05:00

new year

2008-01-14T23:24:00.000-05:00

A few things from 2007:

The best books that I read were: Into the Wild, Mountains Beyond Mountains, The Orchid Thief, and The Secret Life of Bees.

Places I visited for the first time: Lisbon, Porto, Annapolis, Budapest, New York City, Ocean City, RDU, Houston, Seattle, Lincoln, Blacksburg.

And here are my mondo beyondos for 2008 (for more on Mondo Beyondos, visit: http://www.superherodesigns.com/journal/):
Fall in love and be loved by a companion
Be renowned in my field (peace work)
Have enough money to be truly generous
Be clean and pure within and without
Take a nap every day
ditch the car. get a goat.

Finally, happy new year to all and special love to the LMF, KJS and KTH: I would be so overjoyed if we could be together each year!

moving

2007-12-17T00:17:00.000-05:00

December has been so eventful! Last weekend, two of the interns that are at UNL came to visit and I was able to be a hostess. They were great and appreciated DC and Baltimore. I like it when people get really excited on visits and oooohhhh and ahhhh everything.
Thursday was our office party. I hope to get some pictures off the share drive at work and post them here. You know it is my type of office if we can't wait until dessert to break onto the dance floor! I especially enjoyed: the *amazing* 5 course meal at Ranazul, the DJ (same one from last year, he really knows how to do it), CC's J singing Enrique in spanish, lame worm-off, dancing with new Argentinian SWT intern, seeing all of the spouses and partners, getting my groove on. I think the amount of dancing going on made some of the non-work guest feel a bit weird, but this is how we DO.
After moving my first car-load of things into my new place, I spent Friday night at what has been named Camp Glen Burnie. It is a bit like Happy Camp, except more male-oriented. LMA said it was the best time she ever had in someones living room, and that the fact that there are NO clocks in camp glen burnie is BRILLIANT.
Thanks to LB and LMA, I was able to get moved in on Saturday. Thank you Thank you! I am lucky to have those girls. Now I am mostly unpacked and turning to organizing and deep cleaning. The apartment is already starting to look beautiful and I think I will enjoy roommate and his partner.
I've got an insane week planned at work... let's hope for the best! In any case, Friday will mark the beginning of a nice 11 day vacation! It has been two years since I've had a fat break and I hope that work will be in order enough that I can fully enjoy.
Let me know if you need my new address, I might not have your email.

2007-12-01T11:25:00.000-05:00

Some pictures from my family's visit to Maryland for Thanksgiving. On Tuesday, we volunteered at Our Daily Bread soup kitchen, serving about 600 people that day. We all really enjoyed the time there and I hope we will have the chance to go back as a family.
On Wednesday, Dad, Jiongyi and I went to DC for Smithsonian and Supreme Court visits. We also took Dad to the new WWII memorial which hit a personal note. It was almost 60 degrees and sunny and a perfect day to be a tourist there.
Our Thanksgiving menu was scrumptious: a small turkey, sweet potato chili, squash soup (with pecan butter!), cheddar and chives mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, wilted spinach salad and cranberry upside down cake with homemade creme! mmmmmmmm. I just ate the last of the leftovers yesterday. Our holiday movie (A Qfamily tradition) was Dan in Real Life, a cute family film or as my dad put it "like Disney with pg-13 pornography" whatever that is supposed to mean.
Friday and Saturday were spent in Old Town Alexandria, a cute shopping mecca near the DC Congress that my family attended. Mom, Jiongyi and I went to Mt. Vernon, which was a BEAUTIFUL 8 mile drive away. Did you know that George Washington invented Thanksgiving? We were all excited about the visit, although frigid wind was blowing up from the Potomac onto us as we waited to see the mansion for over an hour. I bought a year pass, so if anyone wants to return with me in spring to see the plantation grounds, let me know! Did you know that GW was apposed to slavery? Although he had slaves and never put anti-slavery legislation into consideration (because his role was to unite the country and citizens were very divided on this subject), he was convinced by abolitionists that it was not right and freed all of his slaves in his will.
Bahia celebrated her 25th birthday on Thanksgiving day and she was very missed! The good thing is that we got to see her on webchat a couple of times and that it sounds like she had a very memorable day.

I've done it again

2007-11-18T12:38:00.000-05:00

I'm moving!!!! December 15th I will be moving into a beautiful mansion in the bolton hill neighborhood of Baltimore. This neighborhood really reminds me of Logan Square (click there for a reminder of how much I LOVE logan square if I let any of you forget).

I'm excited to live in a historic district of Baltimore. It is close to the Art College, MICA, so the residents of the neighborhood seem young, bohemian and diverse.

This works out well for my current place, too, because I needed to find housing for our second intern coming from Switzerland. He will take over my lease and be able to walk to work! It is great.

Did you know that Woodrow Wilson lived on my block when he was studying politics at Johns Hopkins?

people I am keeping in my thoughts and prayers

2007-10-27T19:53:00.000-04:00

Alu family
Anne (for a new job!)
Campaus (for new jobs, a renewed life!)
babybean
baby w
baby r
cohn family+cc
sisters
parents
jiong ye (feel better!)
KF (feel better!)
Mumu's mom (feel better!)
Malos (happy anniversary)
dooce
josh's dad (feel better!)

me

some of these are pretty urgent requests, and it just seems like a lot.

1yr anniv.

2007-10-25T23:13:00.000-04:00

Next week will mark my 1 year anniversary of moving to Maryland from Chicago. I remember driving here with my dad and the exhaustion of moving everything up to my 4th floor room knowing that I had to start my new job the next day. When I woke up on the couch the next morning (dad was sleeping on my mattress in my room, the bed wasn't put together yet), I remember looking out of the LARGE window in my living room and seeing the STUNNING fall colors right there. It looked like a scenery backdrop and was such a peaceful shift from living on a busy city street. I thought "I am going to like it here, this is going to be good for me". I then went to work and met my best friend in the area, my co-worker LB who was starting the same day. I then went and bought a car (exhausting) and put my bed together with help from my dad. The next morning, my dad left and here I am one year later. Today MCampout asked me if I was still happy that I moved here. I am. It is hard to imagine what my life would have been like if I had stayed in Chicago. I do think that I would have been less lonely. On the other hand, I've had a chance here to take solitude and use it to create my own self-indulgent rituals.

If you have something to get out of your system, go and see Things We Lost in the Fire.

ELSA!

2007-10-02T17:39:00.000-04:00

For more from my happy family reunion, click here.

L party

2007-10-02T17:30:00.000-04:00

At the L Party: Legos, Left-handed, Love Doctor, Lil Debbie, Lara Croft... We raised $300 for LLS, helping LMA cross the 2K mark for her fundraiser.

Q sisters

2007-10-02T17:26:00.001-04:00

We got together for the last time before B left for South Korea. It is always so good, but super sweet since we know we won't be together again for another year.

If you would like to follow B in Korea, click here.