I've been neglecting this blog a whole lot lately, because well... there just hasn't been much to talk about. We're working hard, laughing all the time at/with the Little Man who continues to blow us away with his smarts and memory, and wrapping up summer with some cooler weather, THANK GOD. We were very lucky not to be affected by Irene too badly (no basement flooding etc) and I got to experience my first earthquake on my birthday last week. It was...exciting...up on the 18th floor where I work. Shamefully, my quads were killing me the next day after walking down 18 flights...Like last year, I bought my own ice cream cake and it was fab. Dr. F surprised me with flowers and my parents surprised me with a Nook! This weekend Dr. F's sister and her boyfriend are coming for a visit and we've got a few more weddings in September to round out The Year of the Wedding. Additionally, it seems everyone in my office is in love with Indian food and must eat it every day. I can't even walk through the lunch room without getting sick to my stomach. Pass the ginger ale please.UGHH.
Hope everyone is doing well!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
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Thursday, August 18, 2011
I normally don't do forwards....
but my mom sent this one to me and I had to share it. See, we are a proud military family, one cousin has done 3 tours in Iraq and is Marine helicopter pilot, my uncle is a Navy SEAL who volunteered for Vietnam, both of my grandfathers served in WWII and another cousin is a member of SEAL Team 6 and is currently serving in Afghanistan. And yes, several of his friends were killed a week ago. So this hit particularly close to home.
International Picture of the Year.
Here are two very touching photos honored this year.
First Place :
First Place
Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News
When 2nd Lt. James Cathey's body arrived at the Reno Airport , Marines climbed into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the flag over his casket as passengers watched the family gather on the tarmac.
During the arrival of another Marine's casket last year at Denver International Airport , Major Steve Beck described the scene as so powerful: 'See the people in the windows? They sat right there in the plane, watching those Marines. You gotta wonder what's going through their minds, knowing that they're on the plane that brought him home,' he said 'They will remember being on that plane for the rest of their lives. They're going to remember bringing that Marine home. And they should.'
Second Place
Second Place
Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of 'Cat,' and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. 'I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it,' she said. 'I think that's what he would have wanted'.
And the one that really tightens MY throat:
Blue Fridays.
Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing blue every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the 'silent majority' We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing.
Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday -- and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar, will wear something blue. By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of blue much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and family, it will not be long before the USA is covered in BLUE and it will let our troops know the once 'silent' majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on. The first thing a soldier says when asked 'What can we do to make things better for you?' is .'We need your support and your prayers.' Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something blue every Friday.
Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you:
1. Jesus Christ
2. The American G. I.
One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.
International Picture of the Year.
Here are two very touching photos honored this year.
First Place :
Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News
When 2nd Lt. James Cathey's body arrived at the Reno Airport , Marines climbed into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the flag over his casket as passengers watched the family gather on the tarmac.
During the arrival of another Marine's casket last year at Denver International Airport , Major Steve Beck described the scene as so powerful: 'See the people in the windows? They sat right there in the plane, watching those Marines. You gotta wonder what's going through their minds, knowing that they're on the plane that brought him home,' he said 'They will remember being on that plane for the rest of their lives. They're going to remember bringing that Marine home. And they should.'
Second Place
Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of 'Cat,' and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. 'I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it,' she said. 'I think that's what he would have wanted'.
And the one that really tightens MY throat:
Blue Fridays.
Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing blue every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the 'silent majority' We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing.
Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday -- and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar, will wear something blue. By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of blue much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and family, it will not be long before the USA is covered in BLUE and it will let our troops know the once 'silent' majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on. The first thing a soldier says when asked 'What can we do to make things better for you?' is .'We need your support and your prayers.' Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something blue every Friday.
Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you:
1. Jesus Christ
2. The American G. I.
One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
I finally did it!
I actually got it right last night with tofu! See, I've been trying to incorporate tofu into our meals more often to up our vegetarian options and just keep it interesting. I've had one or two successes and a whole lot of failures. Until now!! So here's how it went down:
1 extra firm block of tofu. I put it on a dinner plate with a cutting board on top of it. Then I put a heavy sauce pan on top of the cutting board (a book would do as well) for about 20 min. This worked to gently press the excess water out without drying it out too much...which I've done.
Then I cubed the tofu and gently tossed it in a cornstarch (its gluten free, if you're so inclined) and Italian seasoning mix. I'm betting this would work just the same way with flour and spice of your choice or bread crumbs. Next time, I'm going to try panko bread crumbs. They are DELISH!
The next step was to fry tofu cubes in hot EVOO until they were brown and crispy on the outside. Without removing them from the pan, throw in some tamari (gluten free soy sauce) or just regular old soy sauce. Coat the cubes and remove from pan.
That is it! It was sooo good. I also served Trader Joes green curry infused rice and sauted string beans. This meal was easy, cheap, delicious...and today, I'm eating leftovers for lunch!
Today I'm so the culinary version of Charlie Sheen. Winning.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Expanding My Horizons
This has easily been the year of the wedding for Dr. F and I, something I'm pretty sure I've mentioned already. However, just to recap:
Oct. 2010: wedding in Princeton, NJ
March 2011: wedding in Vermont*
May 2011: wedding in Maine*
June 2011: weddings in Virginia and New York
July 2011: wedding in DC
Sept. 2011: weddings in Delaware, Virginia, and Pennsylvania
*weddings we didn't actually go to, but still sent gifts*
This list does not include 3 baby showers (one of which I hosted) or the 3 weddings we went to in spring 2010, the July 2012 Philly wedding and Sept. 2012 Fort Lauderdale wedding (which Dr. F is officiating so we have to go)...
Needless to say, it has been a busy and expensive year(s), but wonderful to celebrate so many happy moments for our friends. It has also been super interesting to see the different ways in which people celebrate their weddings. We have been attended everything from a low-key back yard bbq wedding to a Long Island Jewish wedding, to this past weekend's Indian wedding in DC. I feel like I've been on a tour de wedding cultures which totally appeals to my anthropology background. Plus, I really treasure the moment couples say their vows and Dr. F grabs my hand and squeezes it because listening to those promises, its impossible not to reflect on your own wedding vows. It is like a mini-vow renewal each time.
This weekend was also the most different wedding I have attended. It was lavish and colorful and boy, am I glad it wasn't my wedding! There were almost 600 guests at a convention center in DC. The groom rode in on a white horse, there were saris in every color of the rainbow and fireworks over the Potomac River. I mean, the kind of fireworks that get lit from a barge and require permits, not the sparkler kind... The couple had a DJ and an MC (yes, a master of ceremony!) who was totally obnoxious, annnd they played 1 slow song. all. night. BOO :( Dr. F and I were seated at table 44, if that gives you any perspective. This was a shiny, glossy, production and in the end, it didn't feel like the day was celebrating the love of our friends, it was all about the show and left me feeling blah, but that could have just been the Indian food (they didnt serve a single non-Indian morsel despite only half the guests being Indian...a major faux pas in my opinion). Finally, I want to know whose dumb ass idea it was to have a wedding outside, in the middle of July, in DC, at 5:00 pm. One of the guests actually passed out. Oh, and they started 30 min late, so it was really 5:30. UGHH. Anway, enough of my critique... check out some pictures :)
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| Dr. F doing the "bowling" dance move |
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| Serious business with a pink parasol and watermelon juice |
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| Right before we started to sweat profusely. What a waste of a great hair day... |
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| Ahhh finally inside for the cocktail 2 hr. |
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| beautiful view from the 18th floor of the convention center |
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| the bride, whose handmade sari was STUNNING |
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| The dancers leading the groom's procession |
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| annd he's up! |
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| the bridal party getting down leading the guests to the ceremony |
Thursday, July 14, 2011
I have a problem...
I have been buying lots of maternity clothes. I am not pregnant. Yet. I just won an action on ebay. For maternity jeans.
Is it bad luck to starting beefing up my wardrobe? I sure hope not...plus this time around I'll be wearing business clothes, not my beloved layered Old Navy tank tops. Oh, and I'll be preggers (fingers crossed) in a completely different set of seasons than last time. I'm justified, right? Just smile and nod...
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
1 2 3
There are a ton of things I've planned to write about recently, but I've been slammed and a bullet point/picture post will have to do.
1. (and this is a big one!) I got my lab results back last week and the itty bit of my thyroid that remains is functioning perfectly normally and I don't have to be on meds! This essentially means I'm healed :) I have one more round of lab work in August to verify it wasn't a fluke and I can get on with my life. My Dr. was very surprised that I a. had enough thyroid to actually function and b. that it turned back on in only 4 weeks, usually it takes at least 6 weeks for any results... TBTG! also... I honestly havent felt so like myself in oh, 3 years... hooray! *now I need to get busy getting knocked up!*
2. We had a lovely 4th of July at home with some sparkler. LM wasn't totally sure what to make of them, but overall he was pleased (they were safety sparklers and he was heavily supervised):
3. Fanny-packs are NEVER ok. Just because Gucci makes, doesn't make it right.
1. (and this is a big one!) I got my lab results back last week and the itty bit of my thyroid that remains is functioning perfectly normally and I don't have to be on meds! This essentially means I'm healed :) I have one more round of lab work in August to verify it wasn't a fluke and I can get on with my life. My Dr. was very surprised that I a. had enough thyroid to actually function and b. that it turned back on in only 4 weeks, usually it takes at least 6 weeks for any results... TBTG! also... I honestly havent felt so like myself in oh, 3 years... hooray! *now I need to get busy getting knocked up!*
2. We had a lovely 4th of July at home with some sparkler. LM wasn't totally sure what to make of them, but overall he was pleased (they were safety sparklers and he was heavily supervised):
3. Fanny-packs are NEVER ok. Just because Gucci makes, doesn't make it right.
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