Folks have really spruced up Bark Park over the last year. Now there’s a pathway paved with custom brick messages by Bark Park donors. There’s a message board and a cute flower garden bordering the park. Some of the large dirt areas are now covered with wood chips.
Despite all the availability of toys and doggies, sometimes all Daisy wants to do is chase leaves or squirrels on the other side of the fence. As long as the weather stays dry, Bark Park is a nice place to visit for our family.
It’s getting hotter in Topeka. i can hear air conditioners humming in other apartments downstairs.
Last weekend, Mark and I had a blast at Legends in Kansas City, Kansas. I loved sipping cocktails and beer on the rooftop bar at Dave & Busters. We also watched a fantastic display of fireworks over Hooters.
After Legends, we did sangria and conversation at one of our favorite bars in Lawrence, the Bourgeois Pig. Then I came down with a case of the late-night munchies. We stumbled on Fatso’s. This bar next to the Granada sold slices of Pyramid Pizza. Yum. Some folks were ticked-off with the price hike, from $2 to $2.50. I think it’s partly because of the rising price of cheese. Still, I was happy to sit on the curb and enjoy my pepperoni slice.
This weekend, I wanted something cool, but hearty. I savored the memories of eating tirista on our Mexican honeymoon. So I figured ceviche would hit the spot.
I whipped up this cold seafood dish based on recipes from the South Beach Diet, Simply Recipes and what’s available at the grocery store and inside my cupboards. Both called for red snapper. The only fresh fish available at the market was US Farmed Catfish. Some day, I’d like to try it again with the red snapper.
catfish (or really any fresh fish you enjoy)
frozen shrimp
salt
1/2 can of diced tomatoes
1/2 onion, sliced up
1 1/2 cups of lemon juice (bottled)
2 cups of lime juice (bottled)
oregano
So, I thawed out the shrimp. Then I washed the catfish and sliced it up into strips. I added the fish, shrimp, tomatoes and onion to a Pyrex pan. I topped everything off with several dashes of salt and oregano. Then I poured the lime and lemon juice and stirred it up. I made sure the seafood was coated with the juices. According to both recipes, the citrus acid ends up cooking the fish. I covered the mix and left it overnight in my fridge.
Today for lunch, I topped the ceviche over hot rice, mushrooms and corn. I could really see the difference in the catfish. Overnight, it lost its raw translucent color and now looks cooked. Neato. Mostly yummy. I think chilly seafood tastes so satisfying on a hot day. I wish I added more spice to the ceviche — like chili powder. I also wanted to use less of the lime juice and more of the lemon. The tangy lime flavor almost overpowered the fish. I think I’m going to add cilantro to my next serving — to add a bright bite to the seafood.
I found this quiz from Cup of Joe.
He is also a Smart American.
You Are a Smart American
You know a lot about US history, and you’re opinions are probably well informed.
Congratulations on bucking stereotypes. Now go show some foreigners how smart Americans can be.
This morning, I read the May issue of Vogue while Daisy was eating her breakfast.
A beautiful essay by Diana Abu-Jaber resonated with me: “The Royal We”. She wrote about growing up hyphenated. Her father pushed for her Jordanian identity while she struggled to include being American into her sense of self. Then she met Queen Noor. Her Majesty found her in the baggage claim after the author gave the Queen a copy of her book. That meeting helped Abu-Jaber claim both cultures as her own.
After a lifetime of being my father’s daughter, after 20 years of defining myself as an Arab-American writer, I began writing Origin, a different sort of book - an American one. By setting aside culture identity in my psychological thriller, I was reclaiming both my countries, all my selves.
It’s never one or the other for folks who grow-up hyphenated in America. I’ve pushed for balance in my own life. It was a bumpy 29 years, but eventually, I learned how to cherish both my Filipino and American identities. I’ve also learned to ignore cultural expectations from others and follow my own path. That’s stopped me from going crazy.
This is a good thing. I’ve also grown more tolerant of ignorant and racially-biased questions. From strangers wondering how my family accepted a white man as my husband to others wondering if I knew how to celebrate Thanksgiving (because that holiday doesn’t exists in my parents’ homeland or something.) I’ve had to bite my tongue hard from spewing something mean and realize they’re not being cruel in return.
I found a way to answer those questions with respect and without callousness. I tell myself to take this opportunity to educate them. I’ve learned tolerance goes both ways.
This week: Crazy good times in the newsroom.
I got a chuckle out of watching some Anchorman clips. I’m waiting for one of the anchors to finish watching my Anchorman DVD. Then I can finally add to the scripts: “Stay classy, Topeka.”
Sigh. One day….
Have you seen this film? Will Ferrell is brilliant! And it’s an outrageous take on TV news.
Stay classy…
Daisy is sleeping in my blue chair. Last year, Mark drove a huge truck and transported that chair and other items from storage back here to Kansas. I imagine the puppy likes to think he brought back that chair for her. Sometimes she gives me an annoyed look when I sit in “her” chair.
Silly puppy.
With Mark gone, Daisy and I have more involved, one-sided conversations. She makes a couple of grunts and moans about her time at Day Care. Apparently it’s a tough job being such a cute puppy. Then I try to explain my work day. She looks at me like she almost understands the stress, adrenaline rush, frustrations and comedic situations I deal with in the newsroom. But I like I said, it’s a one-sided conversation.
So, I’ve also been exploring the world of social networking. Since people keep adding me as a friend in facebook, I’ve pimped out my facebook profile with new applications and pictures. I also started using last.fm this week. If you use either online app — add me please. Let’s dish about music, movies and stuff. It would be nice to have a two-sided conversation through a web site.
Just finished watching last night’s episode of Top Chef. Since I love food, this is a very entertaining reality show. However, sometimes I wonder about the chefs that make it on to the show. Some seem to be more about the personality and looks versus cooking talent. Thankfully the judges knocked off a pretty, but weak chef from New York. She just didn’t seem to know what she was doing.
Mark’s in California and now we return to the theme of missing him very much.
Daisy had some tummy problems today. She woke-up around 5:30 this morning and I had to take her outside about three times. At day care, I found out some new guy may have added too much wet food to her breakfast. Grrrr. I did not like cleaning Daisy poo on our carpet this morning and I was mad at myself for missing her “gotta go” sign. I was also pissed at the folks at day care for being so careless with her food.
So, I made sure she ate breakfast at home before taking her in to day care. I made it clear to them that they needed to stick with her dry food diet because she has a picky stomach.
Things are bumping nicely at work. It seems fireworks, cookies and the Independence holiday put folks back in a good mood.
I had a blast taking live shots from Lake Shawnee for the choreographed light show. One anchor was kind enough to thank me for providing July 4th fun for the newscast.
After our July 4th show, we stepped outside to check out everyone else’s fireworks. The air smelled like gunpowder. Driving home, I could see people shooting off their fireworks by the highway.
At home, I watched the last explosives light-up the sky with my hubby. Mark pointed out that with everyone shooting off their fireworks - the sounds would muffle gun shots. We figured Independence night would be a smart time for a naughty person to shoot someone. The next morning, I read about four shootings in Northeast Topeka. Good grief.
I had my kitchen groove on the other day. So, I cooked up some Morning Star meat starter with rice and a lemon cilantro sauce. I added chick peas and frozen peas. I was pleasantly surprised by the texture and flavor of the chick peas - chewy, hearty and complimentary to the sauce and the tofu meat. I think I’m cooking more rice in our paella pan than with our rice cooker.
We stopped by Buffalo Wild Wings after work. Mark took on the Blazin’ Wings. I am a wuss when it comes to hot and spicy. However, thanks to Steingarten’s rant on being an Omnivore, I decided to try one. I couldn’t finish a tiny drumstick. After two bites, a slow burn took over my tongue, mouth and cheeks. It was an exciting dining experience and it quickly became a painful one. The burn kept heating up over the tip of my tongue and lips. I couldn’t find any relief in my Stella Artois. I finally set aside the drumstick and accepted defeat.
Mark managed to finish two wings. He said the wings would rate medium hot by the city of Buffalo. He said the suicide wings in Buffalo tasted hotter.
I’m half-watching Live Earth on Bravo. I wonder how big of a footprint the concert venues will leave behind on the planet. As you can see, we try to recycle at work. Then Fally managed to make recycling fun and artistic. I’m sorry to say her creation was knocked down the next day and the cans disappeared from the break room. I guess they were recycled.
Just got back from Bark Park with my family.
Beautiful weather for the puppy and shes now pooped from running around, bullying other dogs and playing fetch.
I slept on my shoulder funny and pulled a muscle on Friday morning. I spent the last three days with a tweaking pain in the shoulder blade and back area. Mark said he could he see a bit bump on my shoulder. It hurt to roll my head, look to the side and carry my purse.
Mark massaged my shoulder over and over again. He even tried stepping on it — trying to crack my back. Then he had our 25-lb Daisy walk on my back. Crazy puppy kept trying to lick my nose. After she got off my back, I bent over into Child’s pose. We heard a a loud cracking pop from my back.
Then, relief. A combination of Mark’s hands and Daisy’s paws helped pop my shoulder back in place. A puppy miracle!
Maybe this cocker spaniel therapy is something we could market to health spas. We could train cute doggies to walk on people’s backs and lick their noses. Then again, I suspect the puppies wouldn’t need much training.
Daisy and Mark now visit me at work during my dinner hour. At least once a week. She’s so cute walking around the parking lot. On bad days, she puts a smile on my face. I took her inside for Take Your Dog to Work day.
