Recent conversation

Nate: I need your help in an area you specialize in.

Me: What area is this? Knowing how to save a beached whale?

Nate: No, not saving a beached whale. Something else…

Me: Knowing how to make coffee?

The truth is, folks, there is no one area I specialize in. Nate, however, is easily fooled.

Hiding my inner (web) geek

Lately it seems like the online world has been crossing over into my real world. As my new dentist filled my cavity she carried on a rather detailed conversation with the dental assistant regarding breast-feeding. The assistant had much to contribute about the topic, as well. They discussed where to go to get a breast pump, if she should rent one from the hospital, how you pay for what you get… Meaning: Don’t buy a cheap pump unless you want to regret it later. (The thought of this made me cringe inside. It also made me happy that I’ve never had a baby.) The assistant cut in and said, “I’ve heard that once you finish breast feeding you can put cabbage inside your bra to reduce the swelling. But I don’t know if this is true or simply an old wives tale.”

For the next five minutes, which felt like eternity, they debated if there was truth to this method. I could not interject due a giant drill inside my mouth but I was tempted to stop the drilling and say, “Look, cabbage really will reduce the swelling. I know, I read all about it on Dooce.com. Now, please, continue.” Instead, I held back from saying these words. You see, I didn’t want to come across as sounding silly. Passing off knowledge gained from someone’s personal weblog? While some individuals may value weblogs as an information source, many do not. Also, the shy side of my personality would stop me from telling my dentist: “You should put cabbage in your bra.”

This is not the only time in which the online world has crossed over into my daily life. When my new roommate moved in from New York we had an early conversation about grocery stores. She asked with excitement, “Have you ever heard of Wegmans?” I could tell she was prepared to tell a long, detailed account of the wonder that is the grocery store. Instead, I had to be honest: “Actually, I have heard of Wegmans. I know quite a lot about the store because of a blog I read.”

“Oh.”

She went on to tell me about Wegmans, anyway. How it is wonderful, how you can hang out in the store, how if medical school doesn’t work out for her she could always take a job licking Wegmans floors, instead. Her love for the store was made very clear.

Later, she asked, “So, what is this blog you read? What is it about?”

For non-weblog readers, answering this kind of question can be tricky. What am I suppose to say? “It’s a blog called ljcfyi.com. The girl lives in Rochester, NY. She writes about her pug, cat, and what it’s like to be a web designer for Kodak.”

“And you read this website because…?”

You see, for non-weblog readers it might seem silly to read about the lives of strangers. The question is always, “What’s the point?” Well, there is no point. Not really. Except for picking up random information, such as the alternative uses of cabbage, or why a certain grocery store chain in New York is comparable to Paradise… which leads me to wonder what random information readers of this site have gained. “It’s about a girl in Michigan who is a coffee barista and sometimes writes about coffee but most of the time her entries are pretty random.” Ahh, yes, this is my contribution to the lives of others.

Get your garden on

"A world without tomatoes is like a string quartet without violins.”
-Laurie Colwin, Home Cooking

Yesterday I bought a Roma tomato plant that is now basking in the sun on my apartment balcony. I bought a large plant with green tomatoes already showing. I’ve been keeping an eye on it since then. Progress is key. The moment I can pick tomatoes for eating will be a moment of victory. Although I limited myself to one plant, not 100, this self-control wasn’t easy. I wanted to buy at least one of everything. Cucumbers, melons, red peppers, peas, sunflowers, why not? I would love to be able to eat fruits and vegetables from a balcony garden (even if it was for a brief period of time), rather than having to go to the store. The idea seems utterly romantic. It would be my own 100 Mile Diet, sort of. Here are two tomato related products I found that are worth sharing:

Large Garden Center Cedar Planter Box:


I would love to have something like this on my apartment balcony.

Topsy Turvy Upside Down Tomato Planter:


You can hang the planter anywhere. Very useful for limited spaces.

Camera talk

I stopped in at Ritz Camera in order to lust after cameras that right now I cannot afford. A young employee answered all my questions and continued to place camera after camera into my hands. She would show me a model with the standard lens it comes with but then retrieve a superior lens and make me look through the viewfinder so I could gasp and say, “Yes, that really does make a difference.” I also loved that when I confessed, “I just don’t know what level of camera will suit my needs,” she insisted I needed the best, without question.

“It’s only going to be a matter of time before you want to do more.”

I stared into her eyes after she made this statement, wondering: “How do you know me so well?”

Watching "Guns, Germs, and Steel"

Over the weekend I watched the National Geographic documentary, Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies. The documentary is based on the book by Jared Diamond, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1998. I enjoyed the documentary and thought it was beautifully put together. I just didn’t find myself being blown away. I know the book received incredible commotion and is being read in classrooms. Knowing this, I kept waiting for something revolutionary. This moment did not occur. Perhaps I’ve taken too many Anthropology courses, which cover the same material but go deeper. Or, maybe when I read the book I’ll feel differently and end up being amazed. (I plan on reading the book next.)

I was surprised that Diamond did not cover religion as a major player in shaping the fates of human societies. I know the title is, “Guns, Germs, and Steel” but I would revise it to, “Guns, Germs, Steel, and Christianity.” I don’t think you can have a fair discussion of human history without discussing religion. I know, I know, Diamond linked everything back to geography. Maybe he should have named the book, “Geographic Advantages: The Fates of Human Societies” instead.

I don’t typically watch documentaries but sometimes I do envision myself as a National Geographic reporter/photographer. Or as an anthropologist who must conduct critical fieldwork in some remote location in the world. This is where my mind drifted off to as I watched the documentary. Of course, it is very easy to have these thoughts from the comfort of one’s couch. If I really were living this life I might start to miss all that I cherish now. Clean water. Soap. Febreze. Iced lattes. Sleeping in late. How could I live the life of the investigative journalist without such luxuries?

The movie of my life

While watching Sylvia, which is a British film based on the life of American poet, Sylvia Plath, I couldn't help but think, "If someone decides to do a movie based on my life one day* I'd want Gwyneth Paltrow for the part." I'm not saying we look alike (although we both have blonde hair). I just feel no matter what role Gwyneth is in she comes across as a very distinguished and classy gal. She oozes elegance. I know, many may argue, "She's a snob." To this I would answer: Who isn't mistaken for being a snob these days? All it takes is to have a slightly introvert personality and people will often mistake someone who is quiet as someone who is a snob. When in reality, not until you throw in Izod apparel or vacations in the Hamptons do you really start to get a glimpse of what real snobbery entails.

Anyway, if I had to be remembered on film I'd want the portrayal to be classy. And did I mention how lovely Gwyneth is?


I would hope she would wear more than this simple towel for the movie but even if she did that would be okay, too. I know I often try the towel look, as well.

* Yes, I know this idea is absurd.

Art in the world of books

What is a book cover worth? The answer will vary depending on the reader. I know my brother, Alex, always removes the dust jacket when he is reading. He claims to like the feel of the book. I have a working theory that he does this to avoid bias. The cover art will not influence him as a reader if he has stripped it bare. Of course, I can hear him laughing as I make this claim.

As for me, I judge a book by its cover all the time. This doesn't mean an attractive cover will guarantee an attractive story. It just means at first glance I'll be more likely to approach certain books over others. I also enjoy comparing different versions of the same book. Here is an example of various Harry Potter covers from around the world:



Top, left: Finland. Top, right: France. Bottom, left: Germany. Bottom, right: United States (and elsewhere). The bottom right is the most popular version.

Book Covers is a blog dedicated to "the appreciation of book cover design." Many of the selected covers I would describe as being artsy-fartsy, which is a good thing, by the way. I agree with the majority of their selections.

One of my favorite book covers of all time is this version of The Catcher in the Rye. However, other versions exist for the novel. Let us compare:



To the right we have interesting, striking, the red draws me in... And on the left we have simple, boring, this cover puts me to sleep. In high school I read the novel with what I view as the boring cover. Later, I found the horse version and my aesthetic senses were quite pleased. If I were the publisher and had the kind of power to determine which version would be on bookshelves I'd go with the horse version. Of course, if I were Holden Caulfield I'd probably go with the boring version, except I'd make it black to match the color of my soul.

(If you don't understand what I'm talking about, don't worry. The character, Holden Caulfield, reminds me of a modern day emo kid and so you'd probably need to read the novel and understand what emo is to get the joke.)

I've also found I almost always prefer the original cover art over the movie version that is released for certain books. This is true with the novel, Memoirs of a Geisha. Compare:



I feel like the original cover is more authentic, whereas the movie version is a little too glossy for me.

What are your favorite book covers, and why? I'd love to hear your answers.

Cooking meatloaf

Back in October 2006 I posted this Meatloaf recipe and forgot about it. (Oh, and about forgetting old entries? This is pretty common for me.) I came across the recipe the other day and decided to try it out. This is the end result:



Here is another view:


Does the inside meat look a little light-colored here? I think it does. However, I can honestly say it is the result of the lighting and that the meat was in fact fully cooked. Eating uncooked food is one of my greatest fears in life and so, I am much more likely to burn a meal than to serve up something raw.

The meatloaf ended up being consumed by Alex, Nate and myself. Nate had made the previous claim that he does not like meatloaf. (He also claims to not like steak or shrimp!) However, when he saw what I was eating he decided to give it “a try” and soon had taken over my plate. I thought the meatloaf was “okay.”

Cooking Chicken Stir Fry

From time to time I make Chicken Stir Fry (see image above). In a separate pan I will whip up rice to go with it. (Alas, I do not own a rice cooker.) Perhaps it doesn't count but I cheat and use Green Giant Create A Meal! Stir-Fry Teriyaki. Basically, I cook the chicken and add the frozen vegetables and sauce that comes in the package. The meal is incredibly easy and quick to make. Nate loves it. I love it. We both fill our bellies until the point of full capacity.

On one occasion in the past we went all out and cooked up Chicken Stir Fry with use of each individual ingredient. There were no prepackaged shortcuts. Everything was made through the fruits of our labor. Nate did all the chopping and cleaning. I yelled out all the instructions. The meal ended up being very tasty but I wouldn’t say it tasted better than the frozen food method. So, I don’t know which way is better. If I’m in a hurry I’ll probably go the quick and dirty route but if I have time I might try my hand at real cooking.

If you need to read up on how to successfully use frozen vegetables go here. If the notion of using frozen vegetables absolutely horrifies you then I apologize. Please understand I am a nitwit in the kitchen. A nitwit who wishes she could cook like Emeril.

Life with roommates

I gave a tour of my apartment today to someone who is a potential fall roommate. Everything went very well. When the girl mentioned she has a background in history I immediately began to fall for her. Then, I had to stop myself. So what if she has a degree in History, does that really matter? Just because someone may have an understanding of the Roman Empire doesn't mean they will have an understanding of washing dishes or taking out the garbage when it is necessary. Anyway, the meeting went well and the girl wants to move in.

I feel... hesitation. You see, I've been very lucky with roommates. Someone moved in a week ago for the summer and although I did not interview or meet her in advance (my other roommate took care of this), she is my most favorite roommate ever. I don't want to replace her. And, am I always going to be so lucky?

In other news I really want to try out this recipe. It seems simple enough and I am curious.

Danger at every turn

A part of traveling is spontaneity. One might plan their vacation in full detail right down to a minute-by-minute itinerary but once the vacation is underway plans have a way of shifting. One might decide to take the road less traveled. Or, to simply throw out previous plans and spend the trip in the hotel room watching HBO instead of taking in the Louvre or the Loire Valley.

This last April I visited my sister, Sara, who currently lives in Florida. I made absolutely no plans in advance. It wasn’t until I reached Fort Lauderdale that I began to wonder, “Wait, where is Fort Lauderdale on a Florida map?” This is the answer to that question.

The main reason I didn’t do any planning is that I knew I was visiting Sara, the queen of travel. She would know where to go, what to do, what SPF level of sunscreen I should apply, if we should party in Miami with Gisele (something she has already done at a previous party), and if I should take the advice of our Dad who, when hearing of my trip, took the time to give me an extensive lecture on avoiding stingrays.

Oh, I listened to my Dad’s detailed warning, patiently thinking, This man is crazy, this man is nuts, because, Why not? He loves me. And maybe he seriously believes his daughter is in danger of being stung by a stingray.

I remember going to Yellowstone National Park at 19 years old and calling home to check in with my parents. When my Dad got on the phone all he could talk about was the danger of Grizzly Bears. He was probably certain his carefree daughter would go traipsing through the woods and end up trying to cuddle a Grizzly cub. After all, have you seen how cute bear cubs are? There is a reason why teddybears are so popular.

Although I listened to his stingray lecture I sort of found the whole thing amusing, rather than informative. While on the trip Sara and I spent some time on the beach in Fort Myers. Imagine my surprise when I discovered my Dad had contacted the city prior to my visit, urging them to post this sign:



Okay, so maybe he didn’t contact the city and maybe the sign was already in existence prior to my visit. Maybe stingrays do hang out on Florida beaches, waiting for unsuspecting tourists who don’t have fathers to warn them of disaster. When I look at this photo now all I can do is smile. It reminds me that even when I believe I am being spontaneous, the voice of Dad will be with me.

Dirty laundry

Today is laundry day. In honor of the day, here is an image of Martha Stewart taking care of her laundry:



Unlike dear Martha, who I love, I am never color coordinated while doing laundry. I tend to wear my most embarrassing clothes (because all the clothing I like I’ve already worn and thus, is in need of washing). Also, I don’t smile while in the laundry room and I would never use a washboard. I tend to focus on if I’ll have enough quarters, if the shared laundry room will be busy and therefore I might run into strange residents who enjoy starting random conversations with me, or if there will be enough room to shove everything in even if it means I have to sit on the machine in order for the lid to close. (Actually, I do tend to overfill the machine but not to the point it would break or cause serious trouble. I’m not that reckless.)

Here is how I do laundry:

I do minimal sorting, but I try to keep whites with whites and colors with colors.

Sometimes I check clothing tags for instructions but this is only on rare occasions.

I use cheap laundry detergent because I feel “soap is soap” and I enjoy spending $3 instead of $8. Although, my Mom recently advised me to use Tide and I’m considering the shift.

As I mentioned in an old post, I use the Time To Go and Clorox Bleach pens.

If Nate is over I ask him to carry the laundry basket for me. If I’m folding my laundry I toss the socks over at him and he finds the pairs and ties them.

And, that’s about it. If you want to know how to do laundry right, check out Martha's Ten Tips for a Perfect Wash.

Current consumption

Enjoying on the WWW:

Cofessions of a Pioneer Woman. Ree cracks me up. Also, her photos of "pioneer life" make me want to go move to the country.



Eating:

Häagen-Dazs ice cream. Which flavor? Coffee. One cup has 48 milligrams of caffeine. I just like having my coffee in ice cream form.



Reading:

The Opposite of Fate by Amy Tan. I have two more books by Tan to read and then I'll be able to say I've read everything by her.



Listening to:

The Crane Wife by The Decemberists.



Watching:

Thank You for Smoking on DVD. The movie reminded me of how much smoking stinks and how happy I am that the US is becoming more and more health conscious to this fact.



Waiting (on pins and needles) for:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling. Of course, once it is all over I don't know what I will do.

Facebook, a place for snobs

So last week I joined Facebook, the social network for students that opened its doors last fall to anyone with an e-mail address. The decision not only doubled its active membership to 24 million (more than 50 percent of whom are not students), but it also made it possible for parents like me to peek at our children in their online lair. At Facebook.com, I eyed the home page (“Everyone can join”) with suspicion. I doubted Facebook’s sincerity. What could a site created by a student who was born three years after I started mispronouncing “Henri Cartier-Bresson” want with me?

An exercept from omg my mom joined facebook!!, by Michelle Slatalla.

I use Facebook but it should be noted I am a college student and fall in the 18-25 age demographic. And no, I don’t have a MySpace. Although, I can rather shamefully admit I had an account at one time. In my defense, I only signed up in order to write a paper on how horrible MySpace is but after the paper was completed I deleted my account. (Do I always write such cynical papers? I hope not.) It was an A paper, folks, and so my time invested was of great value, I’m certain.

Unlike MySpace, Facebook has an entirely different feel. For example, I love being able to navigate from page to page without waiting for 10 music videos to load in all at the same time. Facebook has recently opened up to anyone with an email account, whereas before the site was primarily college students only. I liked this exclusivity. I can’t describe it but when I stumble across a profile page belonging to an 80-year-old man whose interests are “church” and “spending time with grandchildren” I can’t help but feel like the site has taken an entirely new direction.

Michelle Slatalla’s article reminded me of these thoughts I’ve been having. It’s a very funny piece and I recommend reading it. Will my parents cross over to Facebook? What a scary thought! I hope not! As of June 7, 2007 I assume the answer is: No. Never. Let’s hope my assumptions are correct.

[Oh, and for the record: I have a healthy relationship with both my parents. My Mom is a reader of this blog and keeps up with my flickr photos. My Dad has no interest in blogs in general. He’d rather be using the Internet to purchase a Chessboard he probably already owns, or, to check the amazing (yes, amazing) Astronomy Picture of the Day. I wouldn’t be horrified of my parents joining Facebook due to my relationship with them, or because I have things to hide. I just don’t think the site was meant for… older people? But maybe I'm wrong. If 80-year-old men are joining Facebook then maybe the online community site really is changing.]

Canine devotion

It is no secret I love dogs. They are easily one of my favorite photo subjects. Many photographers scoff at seeing yet another pet photo. I know many serious photographers would say, “Put down the camera. For crying out loud, the last thing the world needs is a picture of a dog.” I do not share this sentiment. I love Daily Oliver, just as I love checking in on Heather Armstrong’s daily torture photo of her dog, Chuck.

I do not have a dog but I visit my sister, Theresa, quite often and she is the owner of two dogs. This is a recent photo of Chester that I absolutely love:



He was in the middle of licking the door with wild, passionate abandon. The look of concentration on his face moves me. Theresa was outside and he wanted desperately to get to her but the door stood in the way. So, acting on canine logic that I am incapable of understanding, he proceeded to lick the door. Over and over. The licking did not stop. An hour passed by and he was still at the door, licking with full intensity. I deem this an act of true canine devotion.

More on eating local

After posting the previous entry I stumbled upon two links that are related to the whole “eat local” movement. The first, Pick Your Own, a website that includes local farms with you-pick options. It only takes seconds to find the closest farms near you.

The second find is a Time photo essay, What the World Eats (via kottke). In the essay an individual family is shown with the foods they eat in a span of a week. The photographer captures fifteen different homes from around the globe. I’ve been trying to picture my family with the kinds of foods I grew up on. Right now the image is of miles and miles of meat and potatoes with canned vegetables on the side.

Update: Local Harvest is another great site for finding farms near you.

Eating local

In the past few years there has been an incredible amount of interest on the issue of eating local. In the book, The 100 Mile Diet, two young writers attempt to live according to such standards. A brief synopsis of the novel is as follows:

“When the average North American sits down to eat, each ingredient has typically traveled at least 1,500 miles—call it "the SUV diet." On the first day of spring, 2005, Alisa Smith and James MacKinnon chose to confront this unsettling statistic with a simple experiment. For one year, they would buy or gather their food and drink from within 100 miles of their apartment in Vancouver, British Columbia.”

I recommend visiting the official site for the novel and in particular, the FAQ section, which seems to cover all bases. I enjoyed reading their response to the question: “Did it take a lot of time?”

Their answer:

“We won't lie–it takes time to find local food sources, to make food from scratch, to do canning for winter, and so on. But it also raises interesting questions about how we're spending our time. What if we spent more time on self-sufficiency and less time at the office?”

They also responded to the question: “Was it expensive?”

“Again, only in the beginning. Most of us pay a big premium for out-of-season foods like cherries in winter or prepared foods like spaghetti sauce, usually with a long list of ingredients we might prefer not to have in our bodies. Eating locally, we bought fresh ingredients in season and direct from the farmer–and we were often buying bulk. We preserved enough food for the winter that we rarely had to buy groceries. Our bet? Most people eating a typical diet could save money by eating locally.”

I’m going to be honest: Time and money are probably the biggest factors that would restrict me from a local diet. I wish it were possible to grow my own food or to avoid supermarkets altogether. I also admire the environmental benefits of eating local. However, I feel like I’m stuck in a rather cruel, matter-of-fact reality, which is quick to remind me: You barely have enough time in the day as it is and your bank account cannot afford to go any further.

I have shopped at the Farmer’s Market, local food co-op and at independently owned, small-scale grocery stores in my area. While I’ve discovered I can afford a few items from these locations, the majority of the items are just too dang expensive. I can’t be tossing around $7 for a cantaloupe or $5 for a single blueberry muffin. I’m sorry, but I just can’t afford those prices. If I start spending that kind of money I might as well purchase a new laptop, the digital SLR camera I’ve been dreaming of and quality toilet paper instead of the cheap stuff I’ve been buying. I want to make the world a better place but I just don’t want to do it while living in a cardboard box.

As for the matter of time, I’m willing to admit I probably could find more efficient ways for managing time. Do I really need to spend hours doing absolutely nothing with my boyfriend? Should I really be putting aside time to check in on my favorite blogs? And what about all that time I spend in the day responding to the 100 or so phone calls from my Mom, should I really be on the phone that often?

I know if I had more time I wouldn’t be rushing off to spend it planning food options or debating what to preserve for the long Michigan winter. With extra time in my life I would set out to write the great American novel or, forget the novel, I’d spend more time gossiping with my sisters because doing so keeps me happy. I haven’t ruled out the possibility of changing my diet someday. I just know that day is not today.

* In this entry the Canadian cover of "The 100 Mile Diet" is shown. An American version of the cover also exists, but I prefer this version.

Giving advice to others

The questions in my life seem to be incredibly simplistic. Lately all questions have been about money. I don't like obsessing about money but when one doesn't have it nothing else is more apparent and all trips to Starbucks (or any other coffee shop for that matter) must end. It was a relief to take a phone call from my sister, Sara, who was in desperate need of my advice.

"What do you wear when wine tasting in Napa Valley?"

My mind immediately considered the very funny movie, Sideways. Did they dress up in the film? Or did they dress casual? I couldn't remember but since then I've come up with a few "looks" that might work. This is how I picture wine tasting in Napa Valley:





The last image is my favorite because the woman is elegant but coy. She is very Audrey Hepburn. Her suitor is enamored with her beauty but she fakes indifference. This is the look I'll tell my sister to go for as she will be touring the vineyards on a date. I can only hope her date has better taste in ties than the man pictured. The polka dots are a little frightening.

*All images in this post are courtesy of Getty Images.

Florida in photos

All the photos from my Florida trip in April are up on flickr. For some reason uploading the photos took forever. Here are a few of my favorites from the set:







I'll be returning to Florida later this summer. (After all, it's important that someone in my family keeps an eye on my sister, Sara, who moved down there.) I plan on taking more photos on the next trip because, you know, you can never have enough photos of Florida... Maybe by then I'll have a fancy digital SLR camera? A girl can dream, can't she?

Not all friends see eye to eye

My Republican, gun toting, Bush-loving friend, Stephen will be leaving for Iraq this June. He will be serving as a soldier in the United States Army. Fortunately, he will be serving in a military hospital that is on a military base. He will not be parading around Baghdad or applying layer after layer of sunscreen in the middle of combat fire. For these reasons, I feel like I can rest a little easier. I just finishing talking to him on the phone and during the conversation he said the most beautiful words one could hope for:

“I probably won’t even leave the base.”

To be honest, I’m having different thoughts and feelings about his departure to Iraq. I don’t think it’s all a matter of politics, even though we have the ability to debate politics for days on end. All it takes is for someone to mention, let’s say, gun control and we’ll probably be on the phone until 5 AM. We often reach the point of agreeing to disagree, which has held our friendship together. In this sense, our friendship is unique. I almost always know I’m not going to see things the way he sees them but I am willing to listen to his position. And somehow I’m convinced this makes all the difference.

Which leads me to two main thoughts:

It’s difficult to reach a point of agreeing to disagree with someone. For many, this isn’t possible. I’ve had plenty of debates in which the person is obsessed with “winning” the argument. In these cases there is no genuine dialogue or sharing of ideas. Instead, the debate is about proving a point and nothing else.

I’ve often felt it’s worthwhile to hear different points of view. I don’t always want to be around people who think and act exactly as I do. I’m also interested in why the person holds their beliefs. In the case of Stephen, the why is simple: he’s been drinking the “I love Bush” Kool-Aid for a little too long and I suspect the stuff has addictive qualities.

Oh, and in case you are wondering: I kid! I kid! A part of our friendship has become endless teasing. Stephen will exaggerate as to how liberal I am (after all, according to him in the last presidential election I voted for the most liberal Senator in US history) and I, in return, will exaggerate when describing his conservative tendencies. Somehow it works out and I will be missing the discourse while he is away.