4th Year in Boston Begins

Memorial Day weekend. Three years ago this weekend, I flew into New England to live in Boston for the summer., never imagining I’d end up calling Boston home. Boy how time has flown! I never thought I’d end of up working for the Dean of Harvard Medical School, living in a good neighborhood with two bedrooms all to myself and becoming a city girl.

Four years ago I was free as a bird. Flying all over the States trying to find myself, find something that would make me happy. I find peace whenever I am traveling and this Memorial Day weekend, instead of celebrating the start of my fourth year in Boston, I’m traveling. My bestest friend moved to Monroe, LA a year ago and I miss her terribly. I decided to fly standby on my mom’s pass, which no doubt will be an adventure in itself.

As I write this at our cruising altitude to Dallas, the journey has just begun. I managed to get on an earlier flight out of Boston but will more than likely spend the night in Dallas b/c the flights to Monroe are overbooked.

The past year I’ve been struggling with the feeling I had before I quit my job in San Diego to travel. This weekend’s adventure is bringing me a sense of freedom and peace that I once experienced when all I had was my drivers license, credit card, Southwest miles and my suitcase and I set off to see a majority of the United States. I miss the open road [or I should say skies] and this weekend is just what I needed.

I’m such a planner and I think this weekend is the closest I’ll come to just showing up at an airport, picking a place and hopping on a flight without prior planning. It’s quite invigorating actually. Not knowing where all end up at the end of the day. If work didn’t get in the way, I could seriously see myself doing more spur of the moment trips. I must add this to my bucket list!

#22

Polenta with Garden Vegetables

So I started off looking at this recipe in my cookbook, but then I noticed it called for ingredients I didn't have (fennel seeds) or didn't like (red onion and red peppers), so I decided to use it as a guide and do my own thing. So, I bake the polenta I bought in a tube at Trader Joe's (too lazy to make my own considering I got home at 7:30 tonight). I sauteed 3 pressed cloves of garlic in olive oil, chopped up my summer squash and zucchini and added it to the pan. While that cooked, I grabbed a can of french style green beans, drained them and added to the pan. Put a lid on the pan and stirred occasionally until the veggies were crispy to my liking. I shredded some cheese and waiting for the polenta to finish baking (20 minutes or so). When it was done, I put the veggies on the plate which I lined with shredded cheese, put some circles of polenta and topped it off with some more cheese. The garlic gave it just enough extra flavor. Pretty easy dish when you have extra veggies around.

#21

I'm going to call this the O'side Wrap

I got creative. Using a whole wheat tortilla I smeared on some goat cheese, sliced granny smith apples, a sweet potato and avocado. I then drizzled on a little bit of organic honey and voila... the O'side wrap :) It was quite filling and really tasty with a great balance of flavor and it wasn't as sweet as I thought it would be.

Dirty Thirty

One week into my 30s and I'm realizing a handful of things.

1. The guys in the available dating pool (at least online) are either divorced or more chocolate than vanilla.
2. I have (and probably have always had) a thing for computer guys.
3. I need to grow up- while I can still pass for a college kid; I really don't want to.
4. Last year I complained that I was still getting carded. Getting carded on my 30th made me feel good.
5. For years I've hated jewelry and other girly things, I now own a LV purse and wallet, a ring with real diamonds and have bought 2 pairs of shoes in the past 2 weeks.
6. I want a baby sooner rather than later.
7. I rather be single and independent, than dating and miserable.
8. It's getting harder and harder to get my ass to the gym.
9. 25 was the happiest year of my life, I totally need to work on making 30 come in a close second for happiest year thus far.
10. I need to start wearing my glasses more often.
11. I have to accept the fact that I'm getting old and with that comes new challenges, experiences and adventures...the good, the bad and the ugly.
12. 30's not going to be all that dirty.

The Intouchables

Last night I went to another free movie screening.  Sometimes I go just b/c it's free and I have no plans the night of the screening.  Other times I go because it's a movie I really want to see. 

There have been a few movies that I went into the theater knowing only the title and brief description and nothing else.  These movies tend to surprise me.  Not only b/c they have turned out to be great movies, but b/c they are movies I would have never consider seeing if I saw them at the Red Box, so I would have missed out. 

Last night's screening fits the type where I went because it's my birthday week and I was free.  I knew the title "The Intouchables" and that it was about a quadriplegic rich guy and a kid from the hood who becomes his assistant.  I did not know that this was a French film with English subtitles.  I think it was my first foreign film seen in theaters.

It was a touching story, based on a true story and was hilarious. Omar Sy was quite funny and he had my eyes wet from laughter.  I wasn't bored and was really into the story.  Sometimes it's best going into something with little to no expectations.  I kind of wish I spoke French so I didn't have to read the subtitles, but there are certain reactions and body language that need no translation.  Two guys from opposite sides of the track forming a unique friendship.

Great movie and it's one that I wouldn't mind buying when it's released on DVD.

#20

Mom's Potato Salad

I had a few potatoes left from February so I decided to make my mom's potato salad. I've never made it before and it didn't taste exactly like my mom's, but it was good nonetheless. I boiled the potatoes with the skins on, then peeled them after they cooled. I used packages of mayonnaise I had in my fridge since it's a condiment I don't typically use and didn't want to buy a container of the stuff. I defrosted my chopped onions while the potatoes were boiling and they were good to go when it came time to cut the potatoes and mix in the mayo. I also added a bit of pickle juice and let it sit in the fridge to chill. I forgot to add pepper, but I'm not a big fan of the stuff anyway. Not bad and just enough for a few servings.

#19

Banana Pancakes

I always think of this skinny, short surfer from TX that I dated briefly back when Jack Johnson's "Banana Pancakes" song came out. I've never had banana pancakes before, but after buying a bunch at Costco and having them get overripe all at once, I had no choice but to do something with mushy bananas, so I made banana pancakes for breakfast [and thought about the surfer guy and his love for Jack Johnson- who I can't stand]. I ended up freezing half of the finished pancakes so I could reheat later. I used 2 ripe bananas, smashing them in a plastic bag before adding them to the batter. Not too bad, only wish I had whipped cream, but used powder sugar instead for a topping.