Maybe it's the collection of Holocaust and genocide literature littering the coffee table. Or because when asked for titles for some light airplane reading my list included: Night, Machete Season, and King Leopold's Ghost. Perhaps it's the fact that I have been known to holiday in death camps and torture centers throughout the world in an ongoing effort to keep the first world better informed about what has and continues to happen outside their bubble. Or that my roommate and I have a collection of photos of ourselves in front of various human rights sites giving goofy thumbs up poses. (I should probably explain that we only choose the most appropriate of sites to throw our thumbs up. We're not celebrating the gas chambers but we do like Eva Peron's tomb. Because she was cool. And Schindler's Factory. You know, because he saved people.)
Showing posts with label Does this color make me look crazy?. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Does this color make me look crazy?. Show all posts
Singletons, Beware!
Smug Marrieds are lurking behind every poinsettia bush and Christmas tree. As Bridget Jones laments, why is it that all smug marrieds think it's appropriate to ask singletons about their love lives? I can't tell you how many times in the last week people have asked me the status of my dating life. Just substitute Bridget for Captain Awesome and the conversation usually goes a little something like this (just a lot less British and not quite so witty):
The Neuron Project
So this past year has been a rough one. As you know, I went through a traumatic event that produced some unintended side effects that have stubbornly lingered on. I'm not one to talk about my feelings or outwardly express emotion but, in an effort to appease the powers that be (my parents), I spoke to someone about the persistent remnants of this event that I continue to experience. (I promise my blog is not going to turn into some ooey gooey emotionally sappy space. I am just giving you a little background of why I am starting this so-called project.)
Easy Schmeasy...Cooking for the Clinically Insane
Since my initial cooking attempt of Tex Mex went off without a hitch I decided I would spend my first day of R&R cooking dinner for a few friends. Fortunately it was not at my house as I do not have a oven or even a very functional stove. (I did just procure a slightly used microwave though...oh the possibilities!)
Disclaimer: I am typing this as I cook. Therefore there will be frequent updates and perhaps a random fire or two.
The menu: pulled chicken wraps with broccoli pasta alfredo and chocolate chip cookies for dessert. I decided to also throw in a guacamole starter since that takes me approximately 10 minutes to make including chopping and taste testing plus I figured it would keep the boys occupied as I attempt to finish the rest of dinner.
Around 2pm: I returned from grocery shopping and started chopping and cleaning vegetables. I threw 4 small avocados, some chopped onion and red pepper, and a jalapeno in the blender until mixed. I added lemon juice and a little salt to taste. There was an unfortunate incident where I put the spoon in to test the consistency a few seconds before the blender actually came to a complete stop. Happily it didn't break or kill the blender or take out my eye for that matter when it came flying out of the blender at me.
Since I am incapable of chopping broccoli I asked the housegirl to chop that for me so I didn't come off as a complete imbecile when there were huge chunks of uncut broccoli in the pasta later. She did an amazing job and puts my chopping skills to shame.
Around 4pm: I took the chicken that was quasi defrosted (hopefully it's ok to continue on it's defrostation while in the oven?) and sprinkled Hidden Valley ranch seasoning on it and drizzled some barbecue sauce on it. I set the oven on as high as it can go because I know it takes longer to cook and you have to put things on higher temperatures since we're at a higher altitude. Unfortunately, I don't actually know what that equates to in cooking terms but hopefully 300 degrees Celsius is adequate to get the job done.
Live blogging commences. Continue on here:
Disclaimer: I am typing this as I cook. Therefore there will be frequent updates and perhaps a random fire or two.
The menu: pulled chicken wraps with broccoli pasta alfredo and chocolate chip cookies for dessert. I decided to also throw in a guacamole starter since that takes me approximately 10 minutes to make including chopping and taste testing plus I figured it would keep the boys occupied as I attempt to finish the rest of dinner.
Around 2pm: I returned from grocery shopping and started chopping and cleaning vegetables. I threw 4 small avocados, some chopped onion and red pepper, and a jalapeno in the blender until mixed. I added lemon juice and a little salt to taste. There was an unfortunate incident where I put the spoon in to test the consistency a few seconds before the blender actually came to a complete stop. Happily it didn't break or kill the blender or take out my eye for that matter when it came flying out of the blender at me.
Since I am incapable of chopping broccoli I asked the housegirl to chop that for me so I didn't come off as a complete imbecile when there were huge chunks of uncut broccoli in the pasta later. She did an amazing job and puts my chopping skills to shame.
Around 4pm: I took the chicken that was quasi defrosted (hopefully it's ok to continue on it's defrostation while in the oven?) and sprinkled Hidden Valley ranch seasoning on it and drizzled some barbecue sauce on it. I set the oven on as high as it can go because I know it takes longer to cook and you have to put things on higher temperatures since we're at a higher altitude. Unfortunately, I don't actually know what that equates to in cooking terms but hopefully 300 degrees Celsius is adequate to get the job done.
Live blogging commences. Continue on here:
I Have Turned Into a Mush-brained Zombie
I used to be one of those expats who kept up with the news not only in the country I was living and/or working in, but also kept my ear to the ground about issues pertaining to my home country. I got google alerts, checked Al Jazeera and All Africa, and actually read my New York Times updates rather than just skimming the headlines before deleting. What happened? Now I read chick lit and prefer not to contemplate the debt crisis America is facing. Is it that I don't care anymore? I don't think it's that; I am about to start a new job taking testimonies of refugees and writing case histories in order to help them get resettled in the States. I do still care about human rights issues; I am just not motivated to read or hear about it at the moment. Am I burnt out from too much genocide literature and in some sort of post-graduation rebellion stage? Or am I turning into one of those people who lives in a bubble, oblivious to the issues around me? Dear God, I hope not. How do you combat boredom with current affairs? I need suggestions to get me out of my self-imposed media exile.
It's Zeee-bra, Not Zeh-bra
Here's another blog inspired by my Request Line post. Anonymous Carly asked: If you were an animal what would you be and why?
(I apologize now, this is the kind of blog you get when I'm in the midst of typing up notes and studying for my Level 1 Kiswahili exam. Don't be scared of the sheng, a mix of Kiswahili phrases pamjoja na kizungu maneno, definitions are provided at the bottom. Think of it as a bure foreign language lesson. You're welcome.)
(I apologize now, this is the kind of blog you get when I'm in the midst of typing up notes and studying for my Level 1 Kiswahili exam. Don't be scared of the sheng, a mix of Kiswahili phrases pamjoja na kizungu maneno, definitions are provided at the bottom. Think of it as a bure foreign language lesson. You're welcome.)
Dating Dos and Don'ts: Speed Dating 101
A couple of my good friends collaborated on a speed dating event that was hosted at Divino last week. I tagged along to help out with registration and sanity maintenance. As guys are by far the flakier gender, many who RSVPed to the event didn't show and we were scrambling to call friends to come partake. (Clearly it's a terrible hardship to ask single guys to hang out with 15-20 good looking, eligible women on the prowl for which the ratio is skewed in their favor.)
As I wasn't expecting to meet the love of my life there (no disrespect to the guy selection, I'm just extremely picky AND had the opportunity to scope out the options as they registered AND was already friends with 1/3 of the guys in attendance) I was ready to have some fun with these speed conversations. A few of my friends who came out in support (and the potential for awesome stories) and I came up with some surefire conversation starters in case of duds. I mean who doesn't bring up unicorns, LARPing, Renaissance fairs, and zombies on a first date? Hmmm, maybe this is why I don't date that often.... (For those of you non-geeks out there, LARPing is live action role playing and is most commonly affiliated with the Dungeons and Dragons crowd. And for the record, I have never LARPed. Which is more than some of those in attendance at this event could claim, you know who you are.)
As I wasn't expecting to meet the love of my life there (no disrespect to the guy selection, I'm just extremely picky AND had the opportunity to scope out the options as they registered AND was already friends with 1/3 of the guys in attendance) I was ready to have some fun with these speed conversations. A few of my friends who came out in support (and the potential for awesome stories) and I came up with some surefire conversation starters in case of duds. I mean who doesn't bring up unicorns, LARPing, Renaissance fairs, and zombies on a first date? Hmmm, maybe this is why I don't date that often.... (For those of you non-geeks out there, LARPing is live action role playing and is most commonly affiliated with the Dungeons and Dragons crowd. And for the record, I have never LARPed. Which is more than some of those in attendance at this event could claim, you know who you are.)
Dating Dos and Don'ts: Take 2
So I recently read a blog from a woman who said that if a guy who is chatting up a woman has a significant other then they should take the responsibility to tell the chatee within 30 minutes. As someone who has spent entire evenings having nice conversation with gentlemen who proceed to flirt shamelessly but don't have any follow through I agree this is just the courteous thing to do. This is not to say that I wouldn't continue having an interesting conversation with said gentleman and am not even saying that it's not ok to be a flirt (as I'm usually attracted to guys who are more outgoing and flirtatious), but I do agree that it's in everyone's best interest to casually mention a girlfriend in the conversation. It doesn't have to be an awkward, "So, you know, I have a girlfriend" type thing. It could just be "Oh, yeah I really liked XYZ, I saw/did that/went there with my girlfriend." I'm certain that the girlfriend at home would greatly appreciate her existence being made known. As someone who experienced this occurrence rather recently, let's call him Nne Macho, it would have been nice to know that despite his flirtation and nonstop attentions he actually had a girlfriend. I would have been happy to conversate with this friend of a friend despite this fact, but would appreciate knowing that it had no potential to go anywhere.
Fanny packs...what were they thinking?
Is it the new cool travel accessory or the fad that should have stayed dead? Seriously, I saw not one, not three, but numerous fanny packs while people watching at DFW and LHR. Fanny packs; for my non-American, non-geeky friends; are belts with an unattractive pouch positioned over ones waist either facing behind, over one's fanny, or forward, on top of or below one's stomach, with the intent of making the bearer's essentials readily available. It's a travel accessory targeted to geeks the world over.
Christmas Spirt is Like an Infectious Disease
Because this is how my family rolls. And what happens when I'm put in charge of decorating. If only I had a light up baby Jesus then the scene would be complete.
My mother closed the shutters to prevent the neighbors and homeowners association from being able to enjoy our festive decorations.
My mother closed the shutters to prevent the neighbors and homeowners association from being able to enjoy our festive decorations.
Holiday versus Christmas
There has been some debate lately over the usage of the phrase Happy Holidays or Seasons Greetings versus Merry Christmas with one church going so far as to sponsor a website to call businesses out on their lack of Christmas decorations and so-called spirit. I mean really people, this is why outsiders hate Christians and by association, Americans. For one, aren't there more important things going on in the world to care about, like starving children living on the brink of war/genocide/death throughout the world that will never know over-commercialized event you are complaining about? And more importantly, didn't Jesus teach us to be inclusive and loving of all people? What's the matter with respecting the fact that Christmas is not the only religious holiday celebrated this time of year?
In fact, Christianity isn't even the oldest religion observing a significant holiday this month. And for that matter, Christmas day was chosen for its connection to pagan traditions connected to solstice and feasts to the dead rather than the actual birth date of Christ. The origins of many so-called Christmas traditions associated with the holiday are in fact rooted in paganism and not historical Christianity including: evergreen trees, stockings, yule logs, and more.
Indeed, Jesus may be the reason for YOUR season, but for much of the world he is not the reason for their festivities and just because they're different than your own and what you know, these holidays should not be looked down upon as second-rate. In the US people usually think of Hanukkah as the "other" holiday celebrated in December, however many world religions consider this a holy time of year. Other religious holidays being celebrated in December 2010 include:
2nd-9th
Hanukkah- Judaism
7th
Hijra- Islam New Year
8th
Bodhi Day (Rohatsu)- Buddhism
Immaculate Conception of Mary- Catholicism
16th
Ashura- Islam
16th-25th
Posadas Navidenas- Hispanic Christmas
21st
Yule- Wicca/Pagan Northern hemisphere
Litha- Wicca/Pagan Southern hemisphere
Yule- Christianity
26th
Feast of the Holy Family- Catholicism
Death of Prophet Zarathushtra- Zoroastrianism
28th
Holy Innocents- sects of Protestantism
31st
Watch Night- sects of Protestantism
In fact, Christianity isn't even the oldest religion observing a significant holiday this month. And for that matter, Christmas day was chosen for its connection to pagan traditions connected to solstice and feasts to the dead rather than the actual birth date of Christ. The origins of many so-called Christmas traditions associated with the holiday are in fact rooted in paganism and not historical Christianity including: evergreen trees, stockings, yule logs, and more.
Indeed, Jesus may be the reason for YOUR season, but for much of the world he is not the reason for their festivities and just because they're different than your own and what you know, these holidays should not be looked down upon as second-rate. In the US people usually think of Hanukkah as the "other" holiday celebrated in December, however many world religions consider this a holy time of year. Other religious holidays being celebrated in December 2010 include:
2nd-9th
Hanukkah- Judaism
7th
Hijra- Islam New Year
8th
Bodhi Day (Rohatsu)- Buddhism
Immaculate Conception of Mary- Catholicism
16th
Ashura- Islam
16th-25th
Posadas Navidenas- Hispanic Christmas
21st
Yule- Wicca/Pagan Northern hemisphere
Litha- Wicca/Pagan Southern hemisphere
Yule- Christianity
26th
Feast of the Holy Family- Catholicism
Death of Prophet Zarathushtra- Zoroastrianism
28th
Holy Innocents- sects of Protestantism
31st
Watch Night- sects of Protestantism
Survival Guide to Turning 30 or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
The stress of turning the big 3-0 is definitely compounded when you live in a foreign country far away from your family and friends and are currently jobless and homeless. Fortunately for me, when I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead. True story.
Stressed but awesome.
Survival Guide Tips:
1. Start prepping everyone for your upcoming big day. Explain that just because the word "day" is part of the word "birthday" this does not mean that one should only celebrate for one day. Especially when that day is a lame one, like a Wednesday. Yes, Wednesday, I'm calling you out for being a sucky day. Try to do better next time; strive to be Friday, Friday knows what's up.
2. If your birthday happens to fall smack dab in the middle of the week plan fun events for the weekends on either end.
Pre-birthday weekend festivities: 4th of July BBQ
Post-birthday weekend festivities: Trip to Masai Mara to watch the Great Migration
3. Surround yourself with people who have already turned the life-changing age so they can provide reassurances that having a 3 in front of your age is not so scary. Shun your younger friends who take enjoyment from your downward spiral into adulthood. Take names so you can exact revenge when their big day comes.
4. Ignore your friends' suggestion that you have a drink for every year you are turning. "That could be interesting" is not the correct response. Ignore their rationalizations that 30 drinks over a week is completely possible and the fact that you live in Kenya is not a good enough reason for you to try and accomplish this feat.
5. Chocolate is the key to getting you through this nerve-wracking time. Little known fact*: Chocolate will end world hunger, cure cancer, and, if used correctly, bring world peace.
*More of a hypothesis than a fact. But it is known to induce happiness when taken in large portions.6. Give yourself permission to pig out at your birthday dinner AND eat dessert.
Mmmm, flan.
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