Give me 5!

In this month of October there are (drumroll please)......

5 Fridays

5 Saturdays

AND

5 Sundays!

This apparently only happens every 823 years, now I have something to tell my grandkids (and kids for that matter...)

Pumpkin Pi

Need I say more?

And yes, I am nerdy enough to have carved the pi symbol into a pumpkin....

Pick a berry

This past weekend I flew down to DC for an alumni event and to see people back at AU.

I took JetBlue for the first time and it was a wonderful experience.

After we had all boarded the plane they came on the loud speaker to ask everyone to turn off their electronic devices ahead of pushing back from the gate.  And you know how there has been all this talk about using humor to have airline passengers pay attention? Well, JetBlue has it down.

"Good morning ladies and gentleman and welcome to JetBlue flight 1230 with non-stop service from Boston Logan to Washington Dulles.  The door to the plane has been closed and this means it is time to turn off all electronic devices, that means anything with an on/off switch: iPods, iPads, Blackberries, pinkberries, boysenberries, blueberries, Halle Berries, and iPhones. We thank you for you're cooperation and thank you for choosing JetBlue."

The plane was laughing so hard!

Nothing like a little humor on a Friday morning!

I Heart Pink!

This week at I Heart Pictures they are wrapping up Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a week that is all about pink!

Didn't you hear? Pink is the new black!

To see more pink pics, head on over to I Heart Faces!

Where I use a lot of parenthesizes

I tried to think of a witty title, but epically failed. Alas. Never mind, I came up with one (see above)

Anywho...

I have been remiss in chronicling my past few weeks in grad school (shame on me?)

It's going really well. I am really enjoying my classes and everything is going along swimmingly.

But surprise, surprise I still sorta doubt myself (seriously, not shocking news, eh?).

In my Racial and Cultural Identities class (which I love by the way) we have have had two assignments so far. One was really cool, we had to video ourselves talking about issues like our culture, and our identity, and such and such. Then we had to analyze and write about our answers. Of course I was so fearful on how I did. Not because I have to get an A, but because I want to do well, I want to learn and show my professors I am learning.

In the end? 6/6 - I was very proud of myself (as I should be) and went on with life.

Then we had another assignment which required us to analyze (really, not my favorite thing to do) and synthesize the readings and then draw on our own experiences. I was so nervous (a theme is emerging) I had not done well.

Last night that paper was returned to us and again 6/6 - I walked home talking to myself (I do that way to much) about how I am always so hard on my self. Yet, I know I can do it, and I clearly do well. Oh well, at least the fear of not doing well drives me to work really hard, right?

Okay, that is all!

I Heart Orchards

This week at I Heart Faces the theme is I Heart Orchards - a perfect theme for this crisp Boston fall morning!

This is the first picture I thought of for this week - this is my little cousin Y.

Nothing says fall like a cute little guy in an apple orchard!

Thanks for visiting!

But it feels like yesterday.

Wow - today I began to think about my puppies, Sivi and Sufi. All of a sudden I realized that today is two years since Sivi died. I miss her so much and Sufi too (she died 6 years ago). I wrote this on my old blog when Sivi died and thought today was the perfect day to post it here.

Dear Mr. Roger’s, Today My Dog Died...

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Sivivon, best known as Sivi, passed away today at the ripe age of 17 years, 1 week, and 2 days. She had rapidly declined in the last few days and my mom found her at peace today when she went home to take her to the vet to have her put down. We found some humor in this because Sivi was always in control and got her own way to the very end. She was an amazing dog and was always more than a pet to all of us. We feel blessed for all the time we have had with her and all the fabulous memories we now have.

She was always a little fighter and a real miracle. She survived being hit by a car at 6 months old and even managed to hang onto all four legs!! She was also not supposed to live past February 2007 and defied the odds once again and got to move to NY with us. She was there through thick and thin and became a good friend to me after my pal, her sister Sufi died 5 summers ago.

She was my little buddy and it will be very hard in the coming weeks, and again at Thanksgiving when I return to NY knowing Bubbe and Sivi are not there. In some respects it is a blessing her death came so soon after Bubbe’s death since we are still hurting and healing, part of it is a curse because my mom is now alone and without our best fury friend to help her heal.

So in honor of a sweet children’s book about a little girl’s cat who died and how she lists 10 great things about him - So without further ado - 10 GREAT things about Sivi!

1. 1.Sivi was a great guard dog all 10 pounds of her!
   

2. 2.Even though she acted tough she was a real fun cuddly puppy
   

3. 3.She loved shabbas naps!
   

4. 4.She loved going on explorations in her back yard aka The Savannah
   

5. 5.She was one tough cookie!
   

6. 6.She was a great eater and loved Chinese food and Challah!
   

7. 7.She (and Sufi) started are weekly shabbas walks
   

8. 8.She never slobbered or ate shoes
   

9. 9.She never held a grudge
   

10. 10. She made coming home so fun because there was a fury friend waiting for you!
    

And since I didn’t have a blog when Sufi died here are 10 GREAT things about Sufi!!

1. 1.She gave the best licks!
   

2. 2.She loved tickles
   

3. 3.She loved all food, especially Challah!
   

4. 4.She loved everyone, and probably would have loved a burglar
   

5. 5.She was the friendliest dog and loved everyone
   

6. 6.Even tough she was a little short she always tried hard to keep up
   

7. 7.She loved going for walks
   

8. 8.She loved taking shabbas naps
   

9. 9.She was the best manipulator (who could say no to that face)
   

10. 10. She made coming home so fun because there was a fury friend waiting!
    

I will always be a dog person, and no matter how many other dogs I have no one will ever replace the love and memories I have of Sivi and Sufi (Frick and Frack) - I have had them for as long as I can remember and I hope for the rest of my life I always have these memories:

1. 1.The Shabbas they got the 2 challot from the counter and ate them in the guest room
   

2. 2.Their nearly nightly elephant races
   

3. 3.how much they HATED to be brushed
   

4. 4.how they really knew what W-A-L-K spelled
   

5. 5.The night before Pesach when they got into the trash and dragged the Challah all over the house (miracle they lived past that!)
   

6. 6. How we figured out they could pull me like little reindeer on my scooter
   

7. 7.How much they LOVED snow
   

8. 8. How Sufi couldn’t go up stairs as a puppy
   

9. 9. How Sivi acted elitist to the end!
   

10. 10. How much they loved to beg for treats
    

11. 11. How Tamar Lewkowitz is the only reason they begged for food from the table
    

12. 12. How excited they got when we came home and we could here them barking the second the garage door was opened
    

13. 13. How much they loved to explore their Savannah
    

14. 14. They were always cuddly and loved to curl up on the couch
    

15. 15. They were too cool for toys
    

16. 16. The time Mom vacuumed Sivi’s ear up!
    

17. 17. How they taught the bunny to go down stairs (they regretted that one to the end)

    18. How Sivi would nose but any visitor and Sufi would melt and beg for attention (or have an accident from the excitement)

    19. How Sufi could make her ears stick straight up

    20. How Sivi cold jump so high to get food from your hand

    21. How Sivi hated to take medicine and learned to cheek pills while Sufi would glad lake another cream cheese ball with a pill inside

    - There are SO many more too!

Show us Your Life - Office

Welcome back to my humble abode! This week on Kelly's home tour it's offices. I don't have an office per say it more like a wall and a 1/3 in my living room, but it works and it's a great place to study and such!

So - my desk/office is on the far wall of the living room. The couch serves as a great divider and the fact that my back is to the tv when I am facing my desk is a fabulous incentive to focus on work and not mindless tv!!

I am a neat freak about my desk (okay, and everything else too). I won't even go to the gym unless my desk is organized and neat so I promise this is normal and I actually didn't tidy up for the tour!

My desk and the drawer unit next to it are from IKEA. The desk is from the series where you choose the top (color, size, etc) and legs (style, etc) and make your perfect desk. I am in love with that desk chair which, no joke, I accidentally got at IKEA (thought I was getting another chair!) and it's so funky and different.

My diploma! I am so proud every time i look at it. It still feels surreal that I have a college diploma!

My office book shelf - all my various text books and other nicknacks.

This is a picture of my Zayda's family. It was taken when he was about 5 years old. He's the cute little boy in the second row from the front (yes, he's the one picking his nose, which he was proud to point out to us when we found this picture!).

This is super special to me too - my mom went to Wheelock College for her masters as well. She gave this to me when I was accepted last December - it was the college's gift to the graduates on her graduation day!

And on top of the book shelf. My zen garden and some family pictures - me shaking hands with the president of AU after receiving my diploma, my sister and I on her wedding day, and my sister and me (we were 2 and 9) in Florida one winter vacation.

The wall above my desk - some pictures, funny cards my mom has sent me over the years, and some bumper stickers.

"There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who see the rain as wet and dreary, and those who see the rain as an excuse to wear funny boots" - a great mantra!

These speak for themselves...

My board full of pictures and hangings and such. The pointe shoes where mine - one is autographed by Patricia McBride and the other is from when I graduated high school and left my dance group - great memories!

If you know NJ this is hilarious if not, I promise I am not nuts! And by the way - I was exit 36!

Now these are on the other wall of the living room, but I didn't have them up for the living room tour and I so wanted to share them!

This is by Michael Albert - he makes collages, he even does one where its the map of the US using cereal boxes to help him spell out the cities and states and make the map - this is called "Mr. Tangerine" and is his trademark piece and I got it autographed!

My sister and brother-in-law bought me this Decemberists concert poster for my 21st birthday and I just got it framed and am so happy to have it hanging on my wall. Sea turtles are my favorite animal so it's really extra special!

Thanks for stopping by! Who knew my office was so interesting until I wanted to show it to the world wide web!

Hooked on Phonics

A five year old student was learning to read.

She pointed to a picture in a book about the zoo and said, "Look at this! It's a frickin' elephant!!"

Her teacher took a deep breath and asked, "what did you call it?"

"It's a frickin' elephant! It says so on the picture!"

And so it did....

AFRICAN ELEPHANT

Isn't learning to read great!

In 1492...

Got to admit, it's catchy.

Show Us Your Life - Kitchen

Welcome back to my apartment! I am so excited for Kelly's tour this week! I love kitchens, I love cooking, and no trip to the mall is complete with out drooling looking at all the amazing things in William & Sonoma.

Anyway.

Back to my kitchen. To understand why I am so madly in love with my kitchen in my new apartment we have to take a look at my kitchen last year.
Did you blink? You may have missed it! Okay, honestly, it worked but was shall we say tiny...

Now back to Boston and my current kitchen.
This is the view from the door way. It's 3x the size of my kitchen last year! And I even have a backdoor that goes from the kitchen to the back of my building. Classy, I know!
Here is the fridge (no I do not have a small child and yes my fridge is covered in magnets - I'm young at heart!). The cabinets over here are my pantry (last year my pantry was 4 milkcrates in my closet...) and I have my spices and microwave over here.
My sink and beautiful light filled window. I've had that snake plant for 2 years now and have loved watching it grow from a tiny little plant that fit into a tea cup to this!
The stove side of the kitchen. The cabinets over here have my dishes and cups and such. Please pardon the fish for dinner defrosting on the stove.
My bumper sticker wall. My mom finds the craziest bumper stickers for me!
Exhibit A:
Exhibit B:
My dining nook. And a great place to leave my jacket and purse.
Some of the funky things on my fridge.
I'm a vegetarian and keep kosher so I find this card hilarious. I like to say that this is the only pork of beef one will ever find in my kitchen (-:
I have yet to hang this up on the wall, but it's one of my favorite kitchen things. This is a menu from 30 Arts in Philly. My dad was eating there last year when Top Chef Las Vegas was on. One of the top chefs of the season, Jen Carroll, is the head chef at 30 Arts and my dad asked her to autograph the menu for me since I was rooting for her and am a huge Top Chef fan!

I hope you enjoyed the kitchen part of the tour! Please let me know if you stopped by and come back soon!

I Heart Recipes

The themes this week at I Heart Faces is "My dinner recipe in pictures." This week was screaming my name - I heart photography and I heart cooking - ultimate combo here folks!

This past week it turned cold and damp here in Boston and this weather was screaming out for one of my favorite soups - Cream of Carrot. Seriously simple and amazingly delicious.
The ingredient list: 2lb carrots, onion, veggie stock, rice milk (or real mik), salt and pepper
Who knew carrot peelings could be artsy?
I think I like my "kitchen toys" as much as I like cooking. I love the mandolin, its fun and it makes slicing carrots into even slices so much easier and slightly less dangerous...
Diced onion - I am thinking a colored cutting board would be cool for dicing and then photographing onions (not that I do that frequently).
And the prep stage is done! Let's get cooking...
Glaze the carrots in some oil or butter.
Add the stock and simmer until the carrots are nice and soft.
Time for another kitchen toy! Immersion blender - how did we ever live without you!? Of course this step could be done in a food processor - but this is just so much more fun!
When the carrot, onion, and stock has turned to a nice puree add the milk of your choosing. It calls for 3 cups but I like to add slowly to get the right consistency. I also take the immersion blender through the soup again to really make it nice and smooth.
And voila! Cream of carrot soup - just add salt and pepper to your liking and enjoy!