the veg in veg monitoring

Work terms become a second language. You don't even realize that what you are saying (often) might not make sense to someone in a different industry. I feel like I throw around the term "veg monitoring" quite a bit, to the response of quizzical looks or blank stares ---see the above photo for an accurate pictorial representation. Morgan and I crept and sat and crept and sat along hillsides in south San Jose yesterday. I usually visit this particular field site in the drier months, when things are prickly, thistly, and full of ticks, but Thursday's visit was rad --- tons of wild flowers were up, and I even saw a federally listed Bay Checkerspot butterfly! Schizophrenic clouds chased us all day, alternating the temps between freezing and quite warm. Good day. Next week, I'm going to a site a bit further south that is really close to one of the highest density wildflower fields in the Bay Area. Awesome.

Yesterday's Doll

Earlier today, someone posed the question, "What books have affected you?" Such questions are almost impossible to answer if you stop and think about them, but if you focus in on those immediate thoughts you had in response to the question...

When Lisa asked what books stood out in my life, the first book I thought of wasn't an Austen novel, or any other highbrow literature. It wasn't even any of my favorites -- Desert Solitaire (Abbey), Vanity Fair (Makepeace Thackery), or the Harry Potter series (Rowling).

Nope. My first thought was of this small book I read over and over when I was around eight years old, called Yesterday's Doll by Cora Taylor. I can't remember the exact details of the wee novel -- mostly, a girl is sick in bed with her doll, and when she falls asleep, she is transported back in time to the Oregon trail into the body of her ancestor, who has the same doll. Adventures ensue, but then the Oregon trail little girl gets very sick. The modern day little girl wakes in her own bed frantic and confused, and ultimately finds out that Oregon trail girl had died at the moment she was 'transported' back to her own modern bed.

So, I have been sitting here, musing about why this book, of all the thousands I have read, was the first book that popped into my mind. Who knows if it was the writing, or maybe I was just at the right age, but Yesterday's Doll was the first time I ever felt connected to a character and fully immersed into a story. It was the first time I ever felt the room zoom around me as I came up for air from a chapter, from an adventure. It was the first time a book made me cry... and oh my goodness, this little book made me sob.

Call it the butterfly effect, call it inevitable, since reading Yesterday's Doll I have loved historical novels, I went through a period of being obsessed with the Oregon Trail, did my state report in 5th grade on Oregon, love reading about time travel, am fascinated with stories about ancestors (actual stories, not just dates) and pretty much feel pierced through the heart when emotive connections are drawn through tangible items: rings, dolls, scarves. The things we remember. Fascinating.

And you? What book has affected you?

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You've already thought of it. Don't analyze. Just embrace. :)

Sweet T and the Oakland Running festival

Oakland had their inaugural marathon last weekend. Bill and I went out to support Miss T and enjoyed some sunshine and Oakland vibe at the same time. Everyone was so enthused!

Watching people cross the finish line was really amazing. I mean, some runners were definitely fit, and yes this was a challenge, but there were others who you know were really struggling at the end. They hobbled, they walked, they paused to stretch, but then kept going --all while a crowd along Broadway cheered them on. Neat.

And what? What you say? Here's a wee video of our own Sweet about 100 feet pre-finish line. YEEEEEEEEEEEEEAH!

In my kitchen: Parmesan Chicken Wrapped in Posh Ham

Recall the 2010 goal of cooking from my Jamie Oliver cookbook once a week -- not in an effort to go all Julia and Julia, but to become excited and interested in cooking again. While I haven't quite hit the weekly mark, I am making a new recipe about every other week. Considering I was eating spinach, rice and salsa frequently, this is a total improvement.

Last night, I made Parmesan Chicken Wrapped in Posh Ham. Posh ham= prosciutto, but I guess it's more posh to say 'posh' than a fancy Italian word? The chicken came out really tasty, which I fully attribute to the joy I infused into said fillets as I beat them thin with the bottom of a saucepan (per the instructions!) . The poshy ham could have been a bit more crispy -- I think the key might be having the pan hot before placing the food in to cook. Learning. Anyhow, with some slight modifications: win.

An unexpected boon of this whole cooking more concept is leftovers! Translation: awesome work lunches! Also, having your cookbook in the car during carpool is a pretty good conversation starter -- except when they make fun of your notes in the margins, and smiley faces for win recipes. :)

In lieu of concrete piles and ivy

Fell Street off-ramp, you are but a distant memory. The new(ish) Octavia/Fell off-ramp has revitalized the neighborhood (less concrete in the sky can do that), and everyone has adjusted just fine. But then there was that plot of land. You know, where the old off-ramp used to meet with Fell street. Piles of concrete, an expanding grove of Eucalyptus, and an even more expanding onslaught of ivy (can you say rats?) became a blight and attractant for homeless and general do-no-gooders. We would walk by and toss out ideas for the block: park? tons of slides? god forbid, even more housing? SOMETHING.

Well. Someone did more than talk it seems. I have been noticing people working out there, clearing ivy and doing some type of landscaping. Turns out, the old lot is home to the Hayes Valley Farm now. San Francisco (City) gave residents $50,000 in grant money to farm the land, turn it into an orchard, and become a resource for community development. In theory, the City has agreed to this until they can find a willing developer, but the project has been so successful, hopefully they will rethink selling when the time comes around.

How is it successful? They have classes, volunteer work parties, and are currently setting up an exhibit of art by local kids. I'm going to check out the April 4th work party if anyone wants to join!

2000: 2010

In 2000, my first passport enabled me to spend a semester abroad in Dublin Ireland. Great adventure, good times spent during a summer amidst Irish folk and artsy kids from Tisch, NYU--- I learned the value of that wee little book and loved the stamps that showed my travel path. I cannot believe that ten years have passed, but yes, I looked at my passport the other day and realized it expires in a month. Oh, that will not do.

Renewing is easy, just send your old one in by mail with the application, fee, and two new shiny little pictures. Tip: AAA will take these for you and for cheaper than at the post office (if you are a member). And now, time for some compare/contrast!

wow. just wow. When I took my 2000 photo, my roommate's response was "it's not a bad picture, I've just never seen you make that face before." I think I was sick (ergo, pale) and I had definitely waged war on my poor eyebrows (poor plucked within an inch of their lives eyebrows!).

But at least they let me smile.

So. Now I am confined to the US for... 2-4 weeks. Um. K.

the long way around

I just spent a beautiful day hiking the hills of Pleasanton, looking for the Callippe silverspot butterfly's host plant -- a pretty wee viola. The tiny flowers were yellow on green hills and California looks like it has had enough rain for once. I know that I'm lucky that wandering hillsides today is part of my job -- but I have to interject that those hills were ridiculously steep, there was not really an option not to hike them, and my route was, well, circuitous. See above.

* * * *

I know. Still pretty sweet.

Holy Moly Frijole

Lunchtime at Mi Familia Taqueria in San Rafael. Who knew I was getting lunch AND dinner!?!

All Hail

It was very, very loud.

Delta Delta

I love old theaters. They rule. Give me the Balboa Theatre, West Portal's CineArts, or the Red Vic over the Metreon or AMC cinemaxes any day. I like the old timey feel, the popcorn, often served in bowls, and the overall quirky atmosphere. A few weeks ago, my sister and I checked out the Delta Theater in Brentwood. The theater was pretty sweet; the building it was in is really old and had quirky angles, resulting (for example) in a bathroom that seemed somehow wedged under an eve. The concession stand prices were about the same as some of the larger cineplexes, but, get this.... our movie tickets cost us six bucks each. I know, right? We had great conversation with the woman selling us the tickets and the popcorn, I got to wander around and take photos, we saw slideshows of cute local puppies before the movie...and it totally didn't break the bank! RAAAAD. Also, you can spend your leftover monies at the super cute wine bar next door. There was even live jazz! People forget that Brentwood existed before the housing boom -- and it's loaded with activities (read: apple picking, peach picking etc) and a super cute downtown! If you head out there, maybe skip the strip malls with Target and Mimis and Bed Bath and Beyond; those stores exists evvvveerrrrywhere. Visit downtown!