This past weekend I went on a trip to Ithaca to see friends, hear music, and eat delicious food. It was a lovely trip, and although the weather was unbearably cold, I had a great time and was granted with a greater appreciation for the balmy NYC temperatures. On Saturday morning I had coffee with Chris, my unusually tall friend, and we had a conversation about how we each feel about Ithaca, now that we've moved on and started to carve out lives for ourselves. We agreed that, although we both love Ithaca (and probably always will), neither of us felt like it was home anymore.
At various times in the past 6 years I've thought of Ithaca as an answer to something. Before I was a student I was sure it would be the place where I would "find myself." It's been a refuge, a home, a place I wanted to get out of... but I guess that is the way with any place you live for an extended period of time. The last time I visited post-graduation it felt alive with memories. Anyway, the conversation with Chris reminded me that you can't go home again.
And it's true: you can't go home again. I have always found this phrase immensely depressing. I used to hate any reminder of the general impermanence of things in life, but this time I found the phrase comforting. Knowing that I can't go home again helps me resist the temptation to pine for that ever elusive and beautiful ghost: the past. Ithaca is not my home anymore, but I can enjoy it now with fresh eyes and a sense of possibility.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
to tweet no more
I left twitter. It was too weird.
The main reason is that I didn't like the false sense of community that it provided. I get enough false community from Facebook, thankyouverymuch. For instance, I have a friend who lives 135 miles away, who I talk to often, but rarely see. But, through twitter, I knew what he was doing every day, so I felt like I didn't need to talk to him, because I already knew what he was doing. And so rather than feeling closer to him, I felt further away. Anyway, it was too weird and distracting, so I quit.
In other news, I saw The Bridge Project's "The Winter's Tale" last night at BAM. I had never read it before, and didn't know much about it, but I thought it was really beautiful. I'm still processing it, so I don't have much to say about it other than that.
Yet another news item: going to Ithaca this weekend! I haven't been back since December of 2007, so I think it will be a nice treat to see it once more. I can't wait to eat at CTB and Viva, and see old friends and professors! Yay.
Ok friends it is back to work for me. Farewell.
The main reason is that I didn't like the false sense of community that it provided. I get enough false community from Facebook, thankyouverymuch. For instance, I have a friend who lives 135 miles away, who I talk to often, but rarely see. But, through twitter, I knew what he was doing every day, so I felt like I didn't need to talk to him, because I already knew what he was doing. And so rather than feeling closer to him, I felt further away. Anyway, it was too weird and distracting, so I quit.
In other news, I saw The Bridge Project's "The Winter's Tale" last night at BAM. I had never read it before, and didn't know much about it, but I thought it was really beautiful. I'm still processing it, so I don't have much to say about it other than that.
Yet another news item: going to Ithaca this weekend! I haven't been back since December of 2007, so I think it will be a nice treat to see it once more. I can't wait to eat at CTB and Viva, and see old friends and professors! Yay.
Ok friends it is back to work for me. Farewell.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
delicious
Since Kate is off in the mountains today, I have no one to talk about food with. So I decided to share this recipe with you all, and you can try it if you wish! It is simple, and you can really do lots of different things with it.
This is a kind of variation on the Korean bibimbap, and kind of a regular stir-fry.
Ingredients:
red chard (or any swiss chard)
carrots, sliced thinly
scallions
mushrooms, sliced
garlic
ginger (optional)
brown rice
firm tofu (or beef if that's your thang)
one egg (optional)
sesame oil
rice vinegar
soy sauce
First, start your rice cooker because brown rice takes a loooong time to cook. If you don't have a rice cooker, I would make the rice before you start any of the sauteing. Also if you don't have a rice cooker, you should get one because they are awesome.
If you are making this dish with ground beef, you will want to cook it before you do the vegetables. Cook it up in a frying pan until it is almost done - medium rare - because you will cook it more later.
Heat a couple tablespoons of sesame oil in a large frying pan or wok. When hot, add diced garlic (or a whole clove if you just want the flavor without eating the actual garlic) and ginger and heat until you hear it sizzling. Then add the carrots, mushrooms, and scallions (and whatever veggies you like!) and saute for about 5-7 minutes, until the carrots soften a little. Then add the firm tofu, crumbled (or beef), and saute for a minute or two longer. Finally, add the swiss chard and saute until the leaves are wilted, but not mushy. Then add a splash of rice vinegar, mix it up, and add a splash of soy sauce.
When the rice is done, add it to your frying pan and mix everything together. Crack an egg in the frying pan and stir until egg is cooked. If you have Korean chili paste, or any hot sauce you like, add it now. It's delicious!
Well this was my first try at writing out a recipe that I semi-made up. I hope it works if you try it. You will be in for a treat!
This is a kind of variation on the Korean bibimbap, and kind of a regular stir-fry.
Ingredients:
red chard (or any swiss chard)
carrots, sliced thinly
scallions
mushrooms, sliced
garlic
ginger (optional)
brown rice
firm tofu (or beef if that's your thang)
one egg (optional)
sesame oil
rice vinegar
soy sauce
First, start your rice cooker because brown rice takes a loooong time to cook. If you don't have a rice cooker, I would make the rice before you start any of the sauteing. Also if you don't have a rice cooker, you should get one because they are awesome.
If you are making this dish with ground beef, you will want to cook it before you do the vegetables. Cook it up in a frying pan until it is almost done - medium rare - because you will cook it more later.
Heat a couple tablespoons of sesame oil in a large frying pan or wok. When hot, add diced garlic (or a whole clove if you just want the flavor without eating the actual garlic) and ginger and heat until you hear it sizzling. Then add the carrots, mushrooms, and scallions (and whatever veggies you like!) and saute for about 5-7 minutes, until the carrots soften a little. Then add the firm tofu, crumbled (or beef), and saute for a minute or two longer. Finally, add the swiss chard and saute until the leaves are wilted, but not mushy. Then add a splash of rice vinegar, mix it up, and add a splash of soy sauce.
When the rice is done, add it to your frying pan and mix everything together. Crack an egg in the frying pan and stir until egg is cooked. If you have Korean chili paste, or any hot sauce you like, add it now. It's delicious!
Well this was my first try at writing out a recipe that I semi-made up. I hope it works if you try it. You will be in for a treat!
Monday, February 2, 2009
tweet tweet
Today I joined twitter, despite my skepticism about ambient awareness. But I think it's kind of cool to see little random updates from my friends throughout the day. Even though it is cyber, it still makes me feel connected to people. Technology is weird.
Also, today is Groundhog Day! Apparently Phil saw his shadow so we are in for six more weeks of winter, which stinks. All day I was thinking about the movie Groundhog Day, and everything I did I thought, "would I do this again if this day kept repeating itself?" Most of the time the answer was no. If this day repeats itself tomorrow, I think I will get up and make my oatmeal and tea the same way, but then I would go outside and bask in the 50 degree weather. I would not go to midtown, or to my office. I'd go to a museum and walk around the city for a while, during the day when it is relatively empty. I would rent a boat and paddle on Central Park Lake. I would also plan for what I would do the next day, and the next, and the next...
So happy Groundhog Day, my fair readers. I hope the next 6 weeks of winter are a little warmer than the last.
Also, today is Groundhog Day! Apparently Phil saw his shadow so we are in for six more weeks of winter, which stinks. All day I was thinking about the movie Groundhog Day, and everything I did I thought, "would I do this again if this day kept repeating itself?" Most of the time the answer was no. If this day repeats itself tomorrow, I think I will get up and make my oatmeal and tea the same way, but then I would go outside and bask in the 50 degree weather. I would not go to midtown, or to my office. I'd go to a museum and walk around the city for a while, during the day when it is relatively empty. I would rent a boat and paddle on Central Park Lake. I would also plan for what I would do the next day, and the next, and the next...
So happy Groundhog Day, my fair readers. I hope the next 6 weeks of winter are a little warmer than the last.
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