Back to work...

Hey Folks, Another spring break comes to a screeching halt today. I decided I needed a rest from flying all over the globe, so stayed local, spent excellent time with family and friends. But another week off wouldn't hurt. The guanciale was really good in the linguini alla matriciana, albeit very salty. I will use less next time. But my mom was happy. I believe that when you are feeling down, or a little under the weather, nothing fixes you up like a nice plate of pasta. Or pizza. One time when my stomach wasn't quite right, I stopped into Roma Pizza (7h ave and Berkeley, Bklyn) for a slice, and it fixed me right up! Happy Monday, everyone, and stay dry and cheerful, if possible...

sciatica, Omie, and Guanciale,

Hi Folks, sorry it's taken so long to post, but I've been a bit busy. Because I work, and usually play, on my feet, I have suffered intermittent attacks of sciatica. If any of you readers out there have ever worked on their feet for any stretch of time (like you former-and/or present food professionals-you know who you are!), you may suffer from it also. It's literally a pain in the ass, or hip, sometimes also in the leg and the foot! It is also a bit of a mystery to health professionals, too much sitting, too much walking, not enough walking, too much/not enough stretching, anything from the above, to sleep deprivation, or even stress can set it off. Sorry to bitch and moan, but it's put a kink in my regular dash-and-do modus operandi. Speaking of the dash-and-do M.O., I now know how my Omie felt when sciatica would strike her. Omie was my German grandmother, on my father's side. She suffered intermittent bouts of it all her life. This Wednesday would have been her 100th birthday, she tried to hang on, but let go of her last breath 3 weeks after her 98th birthday, 2 years ago May 9th. If there ever was a whirlwind force of nature in this plane, it was Omie. Those of you who knew her were witnesses, recipients, and sometimes targets of her lightning-fast style. In the words of my friends Eliza and Kim, she was a true "Attagirl." (More on Attagirls later). She could get more stuff done before breakfast than anyone I've ever known. It was a point of enormous pride to her to "get things done." And woe to anyone who slothed around. Oh, no, not when the sun is shining, and if the day were rainy, there's plenty to do inside! Organizing, cleaning, planning, troubleshooting. Even relaxing on the beach was a perfect time to brainstorm something new and different to prepare and cook another day. People used to laugh at us when we did that. We could be in the middle of eating lunch and be talking about what we should make tomorrow, or tonight, or for the next occasion when we got together with a group of people, sometimes my mom, sometimes my father, always with some extended family members (my cousins Ingrid and Karen, and their parents, Enno and Rae. Omie taught me how to recognize what was in season, and how to purchase foods, especially fresh veg and fruit. She was very practical about it, though, she did it because the stuff was cheaper and better quality than goods that had to be imported from far away. Nobody ever heard of a "carbon footprint" when I was growing up around Omie. I still attempt to buy and cook locally grown stuff, in season. It's sort of like living my life in real time (like traveling in real time). And I still do it because the stuff is better and cheaper than goods that are out of season, or that you can't grow in the Northeast. Of course, there are always exceptions to every rule, more later on those. So Happy 100th Birthday, Omie, I hope you are snuggled with the animals in the barn, at this time of year, there would be baby animals, which was one of your favorite things in the world, caring for young creatures. I blow a kiss to your picture, and hold you in my heart, as always. About the guanciale, I am making a traditional pasta all'amatriciana, inspired by the2-lb. package of Niman Ranch guanciale's appearance at my food coop yesterday. I am still searching for a recipe for guanciale confit, as opposed to simply slicing and rendering it, or slowly simmering it, for the sauce. I just feel that it would be so much more mouth-blowingly good if I confit it before composing the rest of the ingredients. And if any of you read the NYTimes article written by Florence Fabricant (Dining In, Wednesday, January 16th) on the famous pasta from Amatrice, or Rome, depending on which side of the debate you're on. The dish's provenance is a highly controversial topic in Italy. I couldn't care less where it originated, why waste time arguing about these things when we could be cooking and eating wonderful things together? Are you rolling your eyes at me now?? Do I seem too corny? Peace-loving? Yeah, well, too bad! I am one of those folks who really does think we could all get along if only we could put these sorts of petty arguments aside, have a nice plate of pasta, a glass of wine, and shut the hell up. I go prepare my guanciale now. I'll let you all know how it comes out, maybe. Happy Sunday. Nadsquad

paragraphing, furniture, hair, neologisms

Hey! OK, MB, I'll keep my eyes open for stuff for you, but I cannot promise anything. Glad it's not gloomy in SF, it is no longer gloomy in Brooklyn, just misty as a magic morning should be... I am looking forward to being out in the mist, absorbing the wonder of new shoots and buds popping up all over Prospect Park. I am attempting to fumble through this paragraphing feature, we'll see if it works, if not, I will attempt to fumble/stumble through again, or maybe not. Thanks for the tip, though. It may be a while before I can coherently post anything, computer issues, time management issues, and a need to pull back and reorganize. NOT changing the hair, at least not yet, so thanks for the compliments, everyone. love Nadia

Whatever happened to paragraphs?

This is my 4th post, and I am frustrated by the format it ends up in on the actual site (in other words: what you are reading now, if anybody's actually reading this... I paragraph when I write this, as any reasonable person would. But when it posts, it's all a mass of words, blithering out without a gap in sight! arrgh! Val, no, not "buffet," please! It makes me think of those "family" restaurants out in Pennsylvania where they let you eat lots of beige food, piled on top of salad bar fare, what Calvin Trillin referred to as "stuff stuff with heavy." you all know what I mean. have a good day, and try to stay sunny, despite this GLOOMY April weather.

Thanks for the feedback

Nadsquad's 'Thought for the Day' Take a few minutes to think and breathe before reacting to what gets thrown your way. It might save you all kinds of trouble. I say this in friendship, from one who all too often has to floss little tiny pieces of shoelace from between her teeth. I try to keep my feet very far away from my mouth, but my underactive impulse control can bring much yanking of the foot from the mouth after the damage has been done. On the subject of comments: Hey thanks, folks. I like Hey bla bla bla blog. Because bla bla is sort of what this whole "blog" business is about, right? But it's still not exactly right, but thanks, Scorpio13. And thanks for the compliment re: my hair. Now I am tired of it short, but that I'll save for the hair discussion. Susan, the baseball connection is cute, but still not what I'm looking for. Rolo, I love your comments, but what would Jesus want with that book, if I could give it to him? Be careful with the proctologists, you never know what they're going to do when you're in a vulnerable position like that. Remember: protect the booty!! monitor it, but always protect! Love the red room, it made me feel like stretching out on a chaise and wearing something satiny. Do you think you and the bunny will be wanting a chaise for that room?? We could find one for you. Sean finds all kinds of furniture he has to leave behind because we are out of space here at home. And MB: No, Klatch is not quite there either. keep trying, OK? and I am glad you are keeping your own counsel, always a good idea with delicate matters. Don't you think? love youse keep those comments coming!

April 5, random snippets of thought

I am thinking about The Fool, as represented in (newly interpreted) Tarot. Playful, experiential, impulsive, and irrational. Maybe it's time I tune into my "inner fool" a bit more, as life seems to be getting a little too heavy lately. Also, the Dragonfly. I have been contemplating my relationship/kinship with the dragonfly for some years. It is a potent image for me, especially since researching ADD, pediatric OT, my own scattershot thought/behavior patterns. I put a lot of stock in mindfulness, as I believe it can be a useful therapeutic approach to my work as an OT, and in my less public life as well. Does mindfulness conflict or preclude fool/dragonfly spirit?

Welcome to my "blog!" I have placed the word in quotes-here's why: I am a language-obsessed individual, one with various sensory issues. One way my sensory issues play out is in the sound of words, even as I repeat them silently to myself. So when I hear myself think the word "blog" I get a little squirmy. Therefore, those of you who are reading these words are cordially invited to come up with a new term for blog, which is a word that really rubs me sideways. The first person who comes up with a replacement will win nothing but my unending admiration, and perhaps the admiration of others who care about these issues. Any and all suggestions will be considered, by me, and whoever else cares to comment on their viability. Remember, this is an open process-that is, all who take the time to vote will be created equally. There must be a more esthetically pleasing word out there (or a neologism-that's great with me! Contrary to my husband's opinion of my linguistic rigidity, I am strongly in favor of neologisms) Be brave- the more creative the better!