tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84340882024-03-13T19:13:01.876-04:00Your Daddy Named You Bo?"As you wander on through life, child, whatever be your goal, keep your eye upon the doughnut and not upon the hole." - Doris T. MuirBohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00580238521977085056noreply@blogger.comBlogger336125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434088.post-75494684171078183392012-12-15T01:02:00.001-05:002012-12-15T01:02:50.062-05:00Thoughts on the mass shooting I was going to start this post with something along the lines of :<br />
<br />
'As a parent, I can't help but have strong feelings about what happened today.'<br />
<br />
But then it dawned on me, it shouldn't fucking matter if you're a parent or not. Any right minded human being should have some strong feelings and emotions about the mass killing of 27 people today. Like many other people my first reactions upon hearing the news went something like this.<br />
<br />
"Oh what the fuck! Not again. Holy shit! God damn! Kids! No! No! No! No! Not kids! Please no. My God, they were kindergarteners! Oh please. No. Where is Annabelle? I need to kiss Annabelle. I need to hold Annabelle. Oh God. What is wrong with the world? Guns. Fucking Guns!"<br />
<br />
That probably went on for about 20 minutes or more. Just a semi-coherent stream of thoughts alternating between anger, sadness, disbelief, frustration, anger, confusion, anger, anger, sadness. <br />
<br />
Once my mind settled down I started getting angry in a more coherent and logical way. Angry because of all the media calls 'not to politicize' this shooting.<br />
<br />
"Now is not the time for that kind of discussion."<br />
"We must share strength and prayer with all the families who are suffering."<br />
<br />
I'm sorry but that's just bullshit. If the moments after the second worst mass shooting in this country isn't the time to start a coherent dialogue about how we get assault rifles and other weapons of mass destruction out of the hands of criminals and the mentally unstable, then I don't know when is. No amount of my prayers and thoughts are bringing those 27 people back. No amount of my positive healing energy is going to comfort those parents who's entire world just ended. I can't even begin to fathom the pain of the parents. I don't even want to try. So, instead, I want to focus on trying to do whatever is possible to prevent the next tragedy. I don't ever want to have to know that another parent has to bury their baby because of our gun obsessed culture. <br />
<br />
And for the record, when someone says 'I don't want to politicize the situation' that's just code for 'I don't want to use this tragedy to spur legitimate support for reasonable gun control laws and thus I'm going to pretend that gun control advocates are all cold hearted assholes.' This is the most political comment a person can make.<br />
<br />
Our culture is profoundly flawed in the way we view guns and violence. Guns are idolized. They have become emblems of strength, virility, freedom, safety, and dominance. Guns are sexuality, fetishized, and worshiped. Through our TV shows, our games, and our media, American citizens are unconsciously taught that guns are good, guns are protection, and guns are power. This false fabrication and aggrandizement of guns thus limit our ability to introduce and conduct a sane and reasonable national dialogue about rationale gun control. In the minds of those who own guns, questioning the accessibility of AK-47s isn't a matter of questioning a mechanical object, it is interpreted as an assault on the principles of strength and freedom. It is for this reason that no progress can be made to limit gun access until we collectively begin to shift our interpretation of guns. Instead of view a gun as a physical manifestation of intangible founding principles, we must begin to show guns for what they are; mechanical death machines akin to poison gas, bombs, and even an executioners noose. <br />
<br />
Have you ever used a gun? I have. A friend took me shooting one day. I wasn't really excited about the trip but given that I live by the motto 'I'll try anything once.' I went along for the ride. Holding the gun in my hand was profound. They are way heavier than you'd imagine. Solid, cold, dense. I purchased a clip of bullets - one for a regular pistol and one for a semi-automatic Glock. The first shot shocked and scared me. I was not prepared for the amount of violent force that was unleashed from the barrel. It disturbed me profoundly. I shot a few more rounds and then I stopped. I had no desire to empty out the rest of the clip. I let my friend finish my round. I had no desire to become familiar with the violence and hatred spewing out of the end of that gun. I did not want to be there. A shooting range meant to serve as a training ground to hone my violence skills. I waited outside until everything was over. <br />
<br />
Have you ever had a gun shoved into the side of your head? I have. I was kidnapped in Malaysia a few years back. I don't think the kidnappers wanted anything more than to clean out my bank accounts (which they did). However, as an intimidation mechanism they had a gun and they wanted me to know that they would have no problem using the gun if I didn't cooperate. At the end of the day I walked away from the situation physically and emotionally unscathed but I did gain a profound awareness of the sheer violence and evil that every single gun manufactured represents. <br />
<br />
Guns are meant to do one thing. Profoundly harm or kill a person. I acknowledge that they serve a purpose in some aspects of society. However, very few people should have access to a tool that minimizes death to an afterthought. <br />
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I pray for the families who have no babies to tuck into bed tonight or those who will lay in bed tonight and see a gaping emptiness beside them. I know my prayers will not comfort them. <br />
<br />
We must do something now to change the dialogue in our country. We must work now to save the lives of future victims of senseless gun violence.<br />
<br />
Bohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00580238521977085056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434088.post-51275956297167003292012-12-13T23:33:00.001-05:002012-12-14T01:40:18.633-05:00Sort of/Kind of Year in Review...But only when I feel like itI wonder why, over the past few months, I've felt compelled to begin writing here again. After so long. I suppose it's just the excitement of all that is happening in my life. Or maybe it's that little bit of me which is moderately extroverted that is waging a battle against the overwhelmingly introverted side of me. Anyway, a need for documentation has pushed forth and here we go.<br />
<br />
2012, what a interesting mistress you have been. Overwhelming good with just a few dark spots. A bit like the Blueberry Lemon Ginger jam I made for wedding favors. Ultimately sweet and luscious with just the slightest hint of sour and spice to keep things mysterious and interesting. Where to begin? As opposed to a chronological order of events I'll focus on large subject areas of happenings. <br />
<br />
Annabelle!<br />
There is the old saying "To the world you are one person but to one person you are the world." I never fully understood this phrase until Annabelle arrived. So delightful you are to me. You are my world. Annabelle will never remember 2012 (and if she does she's a certified genius) but it was a year of transformation for her. Of course so was 2010 and 2011. I suppose all the early years are transformative. You began the year just barely cruising along on your two feet and then in less than a few months you were running. Now you not only walk and run, you gallop! And jump and kick and boogey! Boy do you like to dance! You are a natural born dancer. Swaying to the music as early as 5 months old. You now amuse not only me but your daddy, your entire extended family, and pretty much every other person in your weekly Rockin Railroad class. I will have to enlist you into an early childhood movement class shortly. We'll avoid ballet for now as I'm not a fan of 1)pink, and 2) tutus. You just don't dance, you move to the music. I don't think I've ever seen a child of your age who can pick out the rhythm of music and move accordingly. <br />
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Of course, not all your progress in 2012 has been physical. They have been artistic (you lovely drawer you!) and cognitive. You understand EVERYTHING! You may not be speaking much yet but I'm fairly certain that's because your just waiting to speak in full, grammatically correct sentences. I can't wait to see what 2013 brings! So much to luck forward to.<br />
<br />
John!<br />
2012 has been a good year for our relationship. I think all new parents experience a period of relational doldrums. You're sleep deprived. You're on different schedules. And you just forget that the relationship requires tending. So 2012 started with a lack of a relationship. The institution of regular date nights. More talking. More intimacy. Well, that does a relationship good. We're now in a nice, comfortable place. Companions again. Co-parents. Partners. Lovely.<br />
<br />
Betty!<br />
Well, Betty is just Betty. Silly, lazy, hungry, and utterly adorable and lovable. Oh, Betty. It doesn't matter if its 2010, 2011, or 2012. you are just Betty.<br />
<br />
Career!<br />
What a wild ride I have been on. A year of change. A year of growth. A year of challenge. A year of travel, travel, travel. So many mixed emotions here. I suspect there is more change to come very shortly - all of my making. Hopefully i will have news soon.<br />
<br />
Politics!<br />
At the end of the day politics favored progress. We shall see if this continues.<br />
<br />
Ezra!<br />
Welcome Ezra! Annabelle has a cousin. My mom has another baby to love. My sister's grief is now love. What a gift you are Ezra. I can't wait to baby you some more in 2013. <br />
<br />
Sadness<br />
And no year is complete without just a little sadness. I won't rehash it all here. Now with some time and distance I can see the lesson that was meant by that episode of sadness. It has reaffirmed my long standing beliefs about the dignity and independence of women. I hope to never have to deal with a similar situation in the future.<br />
<br />
Summary<br />
At the end of the day you were a pretty good friend to the Lee-Morrow clan 2012. Lets hope that 2013 is equally lusciously sweet and spicy.<br />
<br />
2013 - Bring it!Bohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00580238521977085056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434088.post-9155444494451149432012-09-19T20:07:00.001-04:002012-09-19T20:07:53.126-04:0018 Month StatsAnnabelle,<br />
<br />
You are now more than half my height.<br />
<br />
Height: 34 inches<br />
Weight: 25 lbs 15 ozs<br />
<br />
Yipeeeeee!Bohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00580238521977085056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434088.post-7211012374145893032012-09-16T23:09:00.000-04:002012-09-16T23:09:12.502-04:00How nice of you to drop by.Wow...it's been nearly two years since I've written anything here. And what a two years to omit. Probably two of the most dramatic years of my life. And how odd that I should suddenly think about this dead thing at this point and time in my life. It's actually quite fun to look back at these posts. Fun to see the journey I was on. I can sort of understand why I stopped writing when I did. Week 12 of carrying Annabelle. Yes, she has a name. And a soul. A laugh. A spirit. A smile. And LOVE. So much love. It's funny to read how I felt about being pregnant. I can confirm two things. 1) I still hate every aspect of being pregnant. I was not a fan of the process. and 2)I do miss the Bo that was but I sure to love the Bo that I've become. She's a mama. And she loves being a mama. And the funny thing is I think I'm more Bo than I was before. I'm stronger than I was before. I'm just as fearless if not more. But now I'm a mama and so I'm fiercer than I was before. I'm more involved in the world around me than I was before (is that even possible?). <br />
<br />
Anyway, the pregnancy was the start of a wild, transformative ride. Here's the short story.<br />
<br />
2010 - the company I worked for, the company I loved, announced that it was being aquired by a big, slow, monster. I was told I was being cut and then I was told that I was not being cut. Not a fun game for a woman who was 20 weeks pregnant. I stayed. I got a bonus. I was told I was very important to the company. Whatever. We went on a Babymoon to Hawaii. Snorkeling paradise. Note to self: Do not try to hike into a dormant volcano when you are 22 weeks pregnant. You may not be able to climb out.<br />
<br />
2011 - Annabelle arrives. Great Joy! <br />
<br />
2012 - Leave the monster that was my former beloved employer. Get a new job. Love the job. Hate the travel and the amount of work. Love the public platform it gives me to do what I love to do. Annabelle is the perfect baby for J and I.<br />
<br />
And that pretty much brings us to the present. And just leaving out a few minor details.<br />
<br />
A few more words about Annabelle. It is my belief that we all get the child that we deserve. Annabelle is that child. She is perfection. She may not be perfect for everyone but she is perfect for us. She is smart as a whip, independent as all hell, strong as an ox, tall as a tree, stubborn as a mule, and about as beautiful as they come. She is feisty. Some people may not appreciate a child who so truly believes in her own rightness that she thinks you (the parent) is clearly an imbecile but I appreciate this about her. I could share story upon story about things Annabelle has done that amazes me but that's what facebook is for. <br />
<br />
Have I said that Annabelle is perfection? I LOVE that little girl.<br />
<br />
But I guess the real reason I'm writing this. The real reason I want to record this is because I have to let go of my sadness. Very few people know this and I don't think anyone realizes the depth of my sadness. I'm afraid I've become almost too good at compartmentalizing my grief.<br />
<br />
I feel so betrayed. By science and medicine...and also my body. We were being careful. And god knows we weren't having that much sex. One truth about parenting...it does zap you of all desires to have sex. But the birth control failed and I got pregnant. But I didn't know. And this one was so different from the last. With Annabelle the signs showed up quick and early. One day I'm feeling great and the next....we'll I'm throwing up all over the Rome airport. But this one, I was feeling fine. Maybe a little tired but otherwise strong and healthy. But then I got sick. Strep throat. And then there was that injury. And all required drugs. Powerful drugs. And I took those drugs because I didn't know I was pregnant. And I even got my period...or what I thought was my period. But then it started. The nauseau. The extreme fatigue. What's wrong with me? Why do I feel so sick? God, this feeling is so familiar. Like I'm pregnant. And there are the two pink lines. In a hotel room in Lake George on vacation. With Annabelle napping away. And I think about all the things I did and didn't do. No prenatal vitamins. No watching what I was eating. All those powerful drugs and pain killers to deal with the swelling and the strep throat. What could they have done to the baby inside me? What was going on.<br />
<br />
And so I visit the doctor expecting him to tell me that the baby was 5 or 6 weeks along and that all looked well. But the news wasn't so good. The baby looked to be about 11 weeks along. Oh my god. So old already. I could see that it was fully formed. Arms, legs, head, fingers, and even toes. I bet if they had audio I could have heard the heartbeat. Oh my god. This baby that I did not know about was inside me. This future perfection. What have I done to you? The doctor said he wouldn't be able to tell me if everything would be okay. It was too early. But I did take a lot of drugs and I wasn't taking care of myself. <br />
<br />
And was I even ready. Annabelle was a conscious choice. And one that we feel blessed was so easy to conceive. This little one. I didn't know you even existed. How could I? Everything betrayed me. <br />
<br />
And the doctor said if we want to terminate it would be easy to do it now rather than later because if the fetus became any bigger it would be a much more significant procedure. And so there I was taking the Valium and the Vicodin. And 45 minutes later it was all over. The baby was gone. <br />
<br />
And the baby was gone. And a part of my heart and soul was gone. <br />
<br />
I think about Annabelle and her perfection. And I think about the baby. What gender was it? I don't know. What if the same thing had happened when I conceived Annabelle. And what if I had made the same decision. There would be no Annabelle. <br />
<br />
And I am so deeply sad.<br />
<br />
I say to myself..."Well, on the bright side you're still really fertile. At 36, almost 37, you got pregnant without even trying. How many women your age are still so fertile?" Always a silver lining, right?<br />
<br />
And next year. That's what J and I tell each other. Next year is when we will start trying for baby number 2.<br />
<br />
But it's not really baby number 2, is it. It's really baby number 3. <br />
<br />
And so there it is. I needed somewhere to put this. Somewhere that I can honor the baby that I will never have. The baby that was not meant to be. And even though nothing was right I know that you were perfect. Every baby is perfect. And every baby deserves to feel perfect.<br />
<br />
And so there is it is. To live on in this story. For no one else to see but me. My record of my life. <br />
<br />
I have been so blessed. A wonderful career, an amazing partner, a cute dog, and a perfect child. And I am blessed to live in a state where I was not harasses by my doctor. Or made to feel like a bad person.<br />
<br />
But saddness exists and keeps all in balance. I love you and I pray for you wherever you may be. Bohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00580238521977085056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434088.post-89545391088598166512010-08-12T16:33:00.002-04:002010-08-12T16:41:29.256-04:00Week 12So the little bugger that's growing inside me has finally decided to spill out of my pelvis and make its presence known to all those who cast gaze down on my lower abdomen. I am most decidedly pregnant. Or just really fat in a funny sort of way.<br /><br />The morning sickness has finally started to subside althought the gestational fatigue is still going strong. Thank heaven for working at home and naps. <br /><br />Ugh, morning sickness really sucks. Big time. The memory forgetting hormone has not yet kicked in for me so I'm not sure I ever want to go through that again. Really-Really-Sucks.<br /><br />I have yet to have that etheral joyful "I'm pregnant!" moment yet. Mostly just meloncholy about the whole thing so far. Being terribly sick probably doesn't help. <br /><br />It struck me the other day that I'm really, really sad about the woman that I will no longer be. The independent, risk-taking, fearless women that I am. I mourn her soon demise. I'm sure the woman I will become will be awesome - a mother, care-giver, a molder of tender minds (frightening) - but I haven't met her yet. So for now, all I can do is miss the woman that I am so familiar and comfortable with. The woman I'm so happy to be.Bohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00580238521977085056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434088.post-22565526308946474832010-05-27T14:44:00.002-04:002010-05-27T14:49:40.793-04:00CSA 2010What, it's been like a year since I last posted me think. Anyhoo, another year another CSA. This year, John and I signed up for the Chubby Bunny CSA. We'll be picking up our seasonal veggies at the church down the street. Lets hope we don't have a repeat of the zucchini incident of 2006. No one needs 20 lbs of zucchini. There is only so much zucchini bread one can make.<br /><br />And the puppy now officially weighs 26 lbs. That's 8 lbs gained in 8 weeks. At this rate she's headed for 50 lb territory before her first birthday. We're hoping the growth slows down soon. Oh and we hope she stops peeing in the apartment as well.<br /><br />It's almost memorial day weekend. We all know what that means! The first batch of strawberry rhubarb jam will be made and put up this weekend! Joy!Bohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00580238521977085056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434088.post-4528043035101001232009-06-24T15:33:00.001-04:002009-06-24T15:34:33.085-04:00Ripley's Believe It or NotYup, the rumors are true. For those who haven't heard. We're getting hitched.Bohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00580238521977085056noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434088.post-74388287040424609972009-02-18T23:25:00.009-05:002009-02-19T00:06:27.728-05:00The Year in Review…About 2 months too late.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeS0B4Lp6mbu_TZqqzDczVr_K87qXlBwqKr3a1qff7Ce-q0w4eawmw7JEBjrq2xIyg5BIr6_hQL6Lrd80RNjQoWdBE1PWbaz3iHKW5oiQszVaJ_yvMp9EBiRHJdKJampomt8UC/s1600-h/Mile+17.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304369731839408002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeS0B4Lp6mbu_TZqqzDczVr_K87qXlBwqKr3a1qff7Ce-q0w4eawmw7JEBjrq2xIyg5BIr6_hQL6Lrd80RNjQoWdBE1PWbaz3iHKW5oiQszVaJ_yvMp9EBiRHJdKJampomt8UC/s320/Mile+17.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">NYC Marathon 2008 - Around Mile 17</span></div>So it should be a sign of the times that this little review of the past 12 months is a few months old. 2008! What can I say, you have been a dousy. Where to even begin. How about January?<br /><br />January<br />The year started off quietly but didn’t stay that way for long<br />Flew to Dallas to run a gigantic conference with 300 attendees and a $600K budget. Aw the days of endless project budgets!<br />Gave my notice to the firm. Got a great job (I thought at the time) to be the Director of Diversity for the 2nd largest utility in the US. My mistake.<br /><br />February<br />Last day at the firm.<br />Two week vacation in Argentina with the boy. BEST VACATION EVER!<br />Two words – Glacier Hiking!<br />Two more words – Fuzzy Armadillos!<br />Five more words – Don’t cry for me Argentina!<br />Started new job at the grid.<br />Realized my horrible mistake after day three.<br />Desperately trying to figure escape route<br />Additional Travel: Boston<br /><br />March<br />Still trying to figure out escape route<br />Start speaking to contractors to gut renovate the bathroom.<br />Additional Travel: Boston<br /><br />April<br />Still POW<br />Select a contractor and begin the lengthy co-op approval process<br />Additional Travel: Boston May<br />Land awesome gig with the association.<br />Said goodbye to the grid.<br />Start with the association and realize I am MUCH MUCH Happier<br />Quick trip to San Francisco while J attends an EP conference out there. Meet his father and sister. Lovely people. Tall.<br />Run into all sorts of renovation approval snafus<br />Additional travel: Chicago<br /><br />June<br />Get notification, I’m in the 2009 NYC Marathon! Yipeee! Hope my knee holds out this year.<br />Travel down to attend the wedding celebration’s of dear college mate El and M! Third times the charm! Celebration, not marriage.<br />Additional travel: Washington DC, Boston, and LA<br /><br />July<br />J and I begin cohabitation. Oh what surprises await us!<br />Ran the NYC Half-Marathon in about 2.5 hrs. Knee holds up splendidly.<br />Additional travel: none!<br /><br />August<br />Attend Wedding in Chicago/Michigan for dear college friend N and M! And it only took them 10 years and two engagements!<br />Flew out to Jackson Hole, WY for a little vacation and my sister’s wedding! I have a brother in-law.<br />Got my sexy, sexy new toy. Nikon D300.<br />Wow! Lots of weddings. But no pressure…you know.<br />J falls out of the boat while white water rafting…and hilarity ensued.<br />Ran first 16 mile training run for the marathon.<br /><br />September<br />A relatively quiet month personally but quite busy professionally. Traveled just about every week. Chicago, Philly, a week in Atlanta, and rounding out the month in DC.<br />Got to see the fabulous S in the ATL. Haven’t seen her in like 8 years! I love S!<br />Ran my first 20 mile training run. Why do I do this to myself?<br /><br />October<br />My birthday! 33!<br />And J and I celebrated year numero duos!<br />Spent a week in London working with a client who also happens to be a former employer.<br />Caught up with the slick kid E whilst in London.<br />Tapering down training for the big marathon.<br />Additional travel: Boston<br /><br />November<br />Ran the 2008 ING NYC Marathon – AND FINISHED in about 5 Hrs 20 minutes! Not to shabby considering that my knee had been out of commission for nearly 18 months.<br />Spent thanksgiving with J’s mom in Mississippi. I’ve decided I never want to live in Mississippi. The above picture is from a parking lot in Mississippi. I don’t think I need to explain myself further about Mississippi.<br />I think J and I are finally starting to figure out this whole living together thing.<br />Started volunteering at the International Center as a career coach. Fun!<br />Obama wins! The world rejoices! I never did really drink the kool-aid though.<br />Additional travel: Boston<br /><br />December<br />Christmas with the family and post-Christmas with J’s dad and sister in San Francisco.<br />The fourth annual Christmas Cookie Party with the girls! Hosted by the lovely L. I made ginger-lemon crème cookies. We each ended up with about 9 dozen cookies. J was a very happy man.<br />Saw longwave in concert at the Bowery Ballroom.<br />J and I made about 200 mandoos on Dec. 31st. It’s a Korean thing…plus I’m incapable of making food for less than a small crowd.<br />Went to Alvin Ailey at the City Center. Beautiful as always.<br />Additional travel: Chicago, and San Francisco (twice in one month)<br /><br />So yeah, 2008 was a big year of lots of changes, lots of accomplishments, and lots of jobs.<br />2009 should be another exciting year.<br /><br />Don’t know what’s in my future but I have a few ideas:<br />I want to take a pottery class…just cause.<br />I have my eyes set on the 2009 Reykjavik Marathon in August. Come and join us. It should be fun. We’ll look for gnomes.<br />J and I also decided we didn't go see enough live music last year. Must remedy that!<br />And maybe a trip to Greece and Turkey!<br /><br />2009 has been off to a running start. And no, my bathroom is still not renovated. Sad. :(<br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Finished!</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0Da5Bj7zJV3dE93JpnM8hncqjCHZkI5FcvmFVvgat3KBfO_QyCai77xqeZVIkkQYgbrk_3DpkNwEXcmazu4VI2OA3y9bxIjyP-zxHuu-jqj-WL8NeXujPG_s_rddFbE0yKKm/s1600-h/Finished.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304369637473931746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0Da5Bj7zJV3dE93JpnM8hncqjCHZkI5FcvmFVvgat3KBfO_QyCai77xqeZVIkkQYgbrk_3DpkNwEXcmazu4VI2OA3y9bxIjyP-zxHuu-jqj-WL8NeXujPG_s_rddFbE0yKKm/s320/Finished.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxIy0wt0VgMa8dGOBt9cXbX8zMi4mJAXCwsvR9VAk9cNc6RJoK7H9l1DvGbm0zoWnF1I6MsOqDqt6t6RWsufIz50N-aQIOp9FuimaOwFX34MKcM6jHwG_5MZovXdJleKzKHKv/s1600-h/Mile+17.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span> </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Finished!</span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="left"><br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiGnrUyY-udSOnONo2LLYx1nJYCdVHu8bVMLVi7MAxUKtKzBPidq9HQvOzFXKZ7boNDSXelcTtO5PsI7AY1w9g6KikmbuItmMCSIR9i0lXNIjLZwGoQ_P1eiUeHlogftnGl_aW/s1600-h/Finished.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiGnrUyY-udSOnONo2LLYx1nJYCdVHu8bVMLVi7MAxUKtKzBPidq9HQvOzFXKZ7boNDSXelcTtO5PsI7AY1w9g6KikmbuItmMCSIR9i0lXNIjLZwGoQ_P1eiUeHlogftnGl_aW/s1600-h/Finished.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="left"></p></div></div></div><br /></div>Bohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00580238521977085056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434088.post-61760631438473461932008-03-19T18:13:00.000-04:002008-03-19T18:18:28.986-04:00Man Up!I hate that phrase...hate it, hate it, hate it.<br /><br />What the f*ck does it even mean? <br /><br />Here's what I suppose people (meaning men) are trying to convey when using the term 'Man Up!'<br /><br />"Stop being such a wuss. Don't you realize that as a man it is your duty to never show emotion, never show vulnerability, and never, ever admit that you have feelings. It is your duty to act brutish, barbaric, and testosterone laced. Beat your girlfriend, drive drunk, terrorize your children, and buy a sawed off shot gun."<br /><br />I almost hate 'Man Up!' as much as I hate 'That's so gay.' and 'Do you.'<br /><br />Can we just strike all three from the American lexicon?Bohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00580238521977085056noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434088.post-37039385542263153842008-02-28T16:45:00.002-05:002008-02-28T18:20:05.734-05:00The Best Granola Recipe in the World**At least in my opinion<br /><br />I love granola but I dislike store bought granola - lots of oats with little to no nuts or fruit, and utterly flavorless. After far too many boxes of disappointing store granola (have you ever seen the fat content on some brands!) I finally tried my hand at making my own and discovered that granola is basically impossible to screw up**. Armed with a fairly simple recipe from Mark Bittman's most excellent cookbook How to Cook Everything I started experimenting and after many tries finally landed on the recipe below. Everything is approximate and I'm constantly making tweaks based on what I have on hand.<br /><br /><strong>Bo's awesome peanut buttery granola</strong><br /><br />- Approximately 8 cups of old fashioned oats (not the quick cooking kind) - I just use an entire 16 oz drum of oats<br />- 1 envelope of powdered milk<br />- Between 1 - 2 cups of sweetened dried coconut flakes<br />- 1/2 tsp of salt<br />- 2 Tbs cinnamon (or more to your taste)<br />- 2 Tbs powdered vanilla (not necessary but nice to add if you have some on hand)<br />- Approximately 1 cup each whole almonds, walnuts, peanuts, macadamia nuts, or any nut of your choice. I usually shot for 4 cups of nuts but you can add less or more according to your taste<br />- 2 Tbs butter<br />- Between 1/2 - 3/4 cup of dark brown sugar<br />- 2 Tbs vanilla<br />- 1 16 oz jar of natural peanut butter (creamy or chunky - but make sure it's the natural stuff i.e. the nut oil seperates out) You can also use any other nut butter you like, just make sure it is natural<br />- Apple juice<br />- Approximately 3 cups of mixed dried fruit. Whatever you like. I usually use some combination of dried blueberries, dried strawberries, dried cherries, dried Turkish figs (chopped), and dried apricots (sulfate free and chopped)<br /><br />Mix the first seven ingredients (from the oats to the nuts) in a big bowl. Set aside.<br /><br />In a heavy, high sided pot (make sure it is heavy and high sided - you're going to make a caramel) combine the butter and sugar. Bring the combination to a boil and allow to boil for anywhere from 2-5 minutes. Stoves are different and some are a lot hotter than others. You want to bring the mixture to the point where it smells richly of caramel but isn't burnt. Once you get to the caramel stage pour in the entire jar of peanut butter and stir vigorously to combine. It will become very thick. Add enough apple juice to the peanut-caramel mixture to create a very thick sauce - about the consistency of a pourable yogurt. Add the vanilla and stir.<br /><br />Allow the sauce to cool slightly (not too much or it will be too thick to combine - if this happens reheat and add a little more apple juice). Pour half of the mixture into the oat mixture and using your hands, begin to combine. I've broken many a mixing spoon during this stage - best to stick with your hands. After a couple of minutes of mixing, gather together the oats that don't seem to have any sauce on them and pour the remaining sauce on top. Combine everything together and make sure all the oats are well coated with the caramel-peanut sauce. The mixture will be coarse and you'll have lots of lumps of various size. Lumps are good. They add texture. <br /><br />Pre-heat the oven to 200 degrees F. Line two baking pans with either parchment paper or aluminum foil. Evenly spread out the granola onto the pans but make sure not to break up all the lumps. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Stir the granola after 20 minutes and return the pans to the oven for another 10 - 20 minutes depending on how dark you like your granola. Towards the end of the baking time check the granola frequently to prevent burning. It goes from being perfect to burnt in a matter of minutes. Makes about 16 cups. Enough to last me about two weeks.Bohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00580238521977085056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434088.post-6062283905554592992007-12-27T16:41:00.000-05:002007-12-27T17:08:58.993-05:00Annual Wrap Up - 2007 EditionIt's that time of year to write some of the happens in 07.<br /><br />January<br />- Went skiing at Mont Tremblont in Canada. Discovered that I STILL have a terrifying fear of skiing. But I am queen of the bunny hill!<br />- Dinner party with friends. I made TWO kinds of lasagna.<br />- Saw M. Ward at Town Hall<br />- Travel: Boston, Montreal<br /><br />February<br />- Went ice climbing for the first time. Very fun. J gets a little frostbite in his fingers. Doesn't get proper sensation back in the tips of his fingers for three more months.<br />- Went skiing again - in the Adirondacks. This time with a trained ski instructor. Have another near panic attack on the green runs. Decide that J is trying to kill me.<br />- Took J to get a couples massage for Valentines Day. Highly recommended!<br />- Diagnosed with a bad knee. Started going to PT.<br />- Travel: Adirondacks, Chicago<br /><br />March<br />- Saw The Shins perform at MSG.<br />- Still going to PT<br />Travel: San Francisco<br /><br />April<br />- Still going to PT<br />- No travel<br /><br />May<br />- Wrapped up PT. Knee supposedly good as new.<br />- Travel: Virginia, Los Angeles<br /><br />June<br />- Began running again after 6 months of 0 miles. PAINFUL.<br />- Vaction in Portugal with J!<br />- Travel: Portugal<br /><br />July<br />- Question why I run. So painful.<br />- Decide to opt out of the NYC Triathlon. Not in proper condition. Would have likely drowned.<br />- Travel: Dallas<br /><br />August<br />- Ran the NYC Half-Marathon. Actually finished without having to walk. Time: 2 Hr. 18 minutes.<br />- Travel: Dallas (Again), Chicago<br /><br />September<br />- Went rock climbing with J and friends around Lake Placid. Very fun. Did my first multi-pitch climb. Nearly peed my pants several times.<br />- Ran an 18 mile long training run for the NYC Marathon. Knee hurts like a b*tch for several days after. Not a good sign.<br />- Travel: Dallas (AGAIN!!!), San Francisco<br /><br />October<br />- Saw Arcade Fire on Randall's Island, Billy Bragg at SEC, and Margaret Cho at the Zipper Club.<br />- Celebrated one year anniversary with J!<br />- Turned 32!<br />- Went apple picking with Sloane.<br />- Made the decision to drop out of the NYC Marathon - knee giving me all sorts of trouble. :(<br />- Travel: Dallas (Last time this year)<br /><br />November<br />- Travel: Atlanta, Houston (I can't get away from TX)<br /><br />December<br />- My sister gets engaged!<br />- Third annual Christmas cookie party with the girls!<br />- Travel: Boston, Chicago<br /><br />Ah...it was a very full year! A good year overall. These are just some highlights.<br /><br />2008 is shaping up to be an exciting year. Many changes in the works, another shot at the NYC Marathon, a century planned for May, and Argentina with J in February! <br /><br />I hope you all (or one) are having a great end of year! And Happy New Year!Bohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00580238521977085056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434088.post-54650126472852378492007-12-18T10:08:00.001-05:002007-12-18T10:09:27.343-05:00How much do you want to bet...That should McCain win the Republican nomination, Joe Lieberman will be his VP running mate. Joe Lieberman was never a democrat.Bohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00580238521977085056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434088.post-43655913246648891492007-12-10T10:42:00.000-05:002007-12-10T11:07:57.060-05:00Cacophany of Christmas Cookies Part 3<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUaMRrGFU54Jc9X-MooXtKwXKH9ikmmZyS4lL8LAciH5CLVnDZORJhbIvNtg7tpsfTLxKqhksMH3IpMe6X-pBMfMrABPJgwSr8nyWH9Vl_BwdSmKPGofAwdKBYzWXyzF8vCAlY/s1600-h/cookies+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142376124343353490" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUaMRrGFU54Jc9X-MooXtKwXKH9ikmmZyS4lL8LAciH5CLVnDZORJhbIvNtg7tpsfTLxKqhksMH3IpMe6X-pBMfMrABPJgwSr8nyWH9Vl_BwdSmKPGofAwdKBYzWXyzF8vCAlY/s320/cookies+3.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br />The girls and I had our third annual Christmas cookie bake and exchange party this past weekend. A great time was had by all. In total we had 7 different kinds of cookies. We made:<br /><br />Chocolate cookies stuffed with Rolos and Peanut Butter Cups (Heidi)<br />Shortbreads dipped in Chocolate (Heidi)<br />Banana Split Brownies (Liana)<br />Snickerdoodles (Liana)<br />Chocolate Chip Cookies (Marlene)<br />Chocolate Chip Cookies with Dried Cranberries & Walnuts (Adile)<br />Rugelach with Lemon Curd, Almonds, and Dried Blueberries (Me)<br /><br />We each walked away with over 8 dozen cookies/person. Eep!<br /><br />You can see some of the cookies in the picture above.Bohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00580238521977085056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434088.post-88214338751046887142007-12-06T10:43:00.000-05:002007-12-06T10:45:11.357-05:00Already pimping out the babyThis <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/06/fashion/06push.html?ref=fashion">story</a> in the NY Times is truly horrifying! Women now want diamonds and pearls for pushing out the baby. <br /><br />Talk about priorities in the wrong place.Bohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00580238521977085056noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434088.post-30871437158530825032007-12-03T16:11:00.000-05:002007-12-03T16:24:52.169-05:00Meat DeprievedIt is rare that I crave meat. Even before I went vegan and then backtracked (Damn you bacon!) I never ate much meat. Most cuts of meat scare me. You never know what sort of jiggly gristle or vein you might run into (shudder). I like my meat pristine and charred until it is completely dead, dead, dead. I'm also easily overcome by the unctious nature of meat. A few bites and I start to feel a heavy, thick, cloying coat of fat cover the inside of my mouth and stomach. Bleach. The average serving size of meat is 3 - 4 ozs - about the size of the palm of your hand. My tolerance probably hovers around 1 - 2 oz.<br /><br />It's not that I actively avoid meat - I just don't seek it out. For this reason, I can go days - sometimes whole weeks - without eating a single piece of animal protein (not including fish). It's usually not until I start having weird craving for hamburgers, ham sandwiches, and lasagna (my lasagna has over 3 lbs of meat in it) that I realize my deficit of protein. <br /><br />Anyway, for the past two weeks - since Thanksgiving - I've been craving hamburgers and bbq ribs nearly everyday. I've been on quite the meat binge as of late. I don't know what's going on. (And no, I am not preggers or anything else of that nature). What's going on here? Has this happened to you?Bohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00580238521977085056noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434088.post-8431411029606389212007-11-19T16:34:00.000-05:002007-11-19T16:42:05.930-05:00J and my momIn a very disturbing turn of events, J and my mom are teaming up against me to make me break some of my less savory bad habits.<br /><br /><strong>On biting my nails:</strong><br /><br />(Over dinner in a Chinese resturant)<br /><br />Mom: You should stop biting your nails.<br />J: Yes, I keep telling her all the time. <br />Mom: You see, you should stop biting your nails.<br />Me: Uh-huh<br />J: (showing her my fingers)...see what she does to them.<br />Mom: Very bad. Stop biting your nails.<br />J: Yeah, stop biting your nails.<br />Me: ....<br /><br /><strong>On running the NYC Marathon:</strong><br /><br />(While at my Mom's shoe store)<br /><br />Mom to J: Do you need new sneakers? Which pair do you like? I'll get them for you.<br />J: No, it's okay. I'm fine.<br />Mom to J: No, really. Which one do you want? What size are you? I'll be right back with a pair.<br />Mom to me: Do you need new sneakers?<br />Me: Yes, how about these?<br />Mom: Okay, I'll get both your sneakers.<br /><br />[Mom returns with sneakers]<br /><br />J to my Mom: Do you know that she's going to run in the Marathon and her knee is injuried? (I'd not told my mother of my knee injury.)<br />[Mom punches me in the arm]<br />Mom: Don't run in the Marathon. You'll kill yourself. You can't have new sneakers.<br />J to Mom: I keep telling her not to run but she won't listen to me.<br />[Mom punches me in the arm again]<br />Mom: Don't run in the Marathon. <br />J: Yeah, don't run in the marathon.<br />Me:...Bohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00580238521977085056noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434088.post-36521249643333731702007-11-19T16:26:00.000-05:002007-11-19T16:33:08.582-05:008 AsiansHello to anyone who still reads this. Just a quick note that you can catch my as a new blogger over on the Asian/Asian-American themed group blog, <a href="http://www.8asians.com/">8 Asians</a>. I've posted about 5-6 new pieces over there since I started about a month ago. Most pieces are about race, society, and being Asian in America. I'll try to cross post when I get the chance. I thought my post about <a href="http://www.8asians.com/2007/11/19/the-day-the-lees-discovered-thanksgiving/">Thanksgiving</a> was most in line with something I'd post here...without the witty verbatim comments my mother would make.<br /><br />Oh...and for those who miss Mother Lee...here is a little exchange we shared recently.<br /><br />Mom: I like J.<br />Me: Thanks, I like him too.<br />Mom: Does he know how messy you are?<br />Me: Yes...<br />Mom: And he still loves you?<br />Me: ...YES...<br />Mom: J's a good man. You should marry him.Bohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00580238521977085056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434088.post-82773348255805232052007-10-18T18:29:00.001-04:002007-10-18T18:42:30.086-04:00Happy CrowdHave you ever found yourself suddenly stumble upon something much bigger than yourself...and also much happier? Well, that's what happened to me last night. I was walking through Penn Station last (having gotten off the 2/3 at one of those annoying exits that force you to exit into the Long Island Railroad terminal rather than the street) when I was confronted by a wall of people - possibly 200 or 300 in total - exiting Madison Square Garden enmass. It being just a bit after 11pm, it was clear this crowd was leaving either a concert or Knicks or Rangers game. See no sports gear I guessed it was a concert. But it wasn't immediately clear what artist. The crowd was largely white and ranged in age from 6 or 7 to late 50s. There was a definite skew toward the late 40s, balding, slightly suburban chubby demographic. The most remarkable thing about this crowd was the uniformly euphoric, almost giddy, and supremely satisfied energy coming off of this crowd. EVERY single person walking towards me was in a good mood...and you could just feel it off of them without even looking into their smiling mugs. <br /><br />Well, it soon became apparent, I saw of few of those counterfeit T-shirt guys, it was a Bruce Springsteen concert. The BOSS. The scion of New Jersey and Asbury Park. I've always heard Bruce was an amazing performer and a very generous artist...playing encore after encore...even after the house lights are turned back on. And if the atomospher in the LIRR terminal was any indication, he surely delivered last night. It was an utterly unexpected and pleasant encounter for me to walk into this temporary community of Bruce lovers. Happy, polite, and friendly. <br /><br />Now, the real question is...how do we replicate this same sense of love and family at a Presidential debate?Bohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00580238521977085056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434088.post-59637280101416145502007-09-21T22:46:00.000-04:002007-09-21T22:58:52.760-04:00Rock Climbing in the Adirondacks.<div>We climbed all the way to the top of Poko-e Moonshine Mountain. If you look real hard, you can kind of see a very small car on the road in the backround...to provide perspective. And yes, that is Burlington, VT in the distance.<br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoOz2Q37rng1p6od3UX07yHg0gBNOxX-nXY58NzB-E7jprJ6aI5-18ei3QVCdsaKaL6pDvfZ94w2To8jeYWncqHAPeT2lh7NV9XZIZxp-1i0bafIo9Vn53ODRgS3imHQZTeKy1/s1600-h/IMG_0627.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112855921654444258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoOz2Q37rng1p6od3UX07yHg0gBNOxX-nXY58NzB-E7jprJ6aI5-18ei3QVCdsaKaL6pDvfZ94w2To8jeYWncqHAPeT2lh7NV9XZIZxp-1i0bafIo9Vn53ODRgS3imHQZTeKy1/s320/IMG_0627.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div>And here is J climbing top rope like a rock star!</div><div></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKtmFyrNw7K6-mEnnMJCGIinpalVzSj3_EIzC6-um4XdOim6DwJDViV6xx9JP_fDmTplaKV2Vv6OI4ochMCfRUyYUXzjhs_jw3CG4AzQ1flVaF124a3hhkaeqgk1Fvq2SIAsd/s1600-h/John+climbing+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112856888022085890" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKtmFyrNw7K6-mEnnMJCGIinpalVzSj3_EIzC6-um4XdOim6DwJDViV6xx9JP_fDmTplaKV2Vv6OI4ochMCfRUyYUXzjhs_jw3CG4AzQ1flVaF124a3hhkaeqgk1Fvq2SIAsd/s320/John+climbing+2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>Bohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00580238521977085056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434088.post-19713083665864197992007-08-30T09:42:00.000-04:002007-08-30T11:43:20.337-04:00I Am Not A....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3rgI2DfqYTXoJ9U5SVNHIjHxlAJHxvIChWENnzW5eO05OU1Z3NTtlHtxLXReQYmbsT1lfH9CBuK28UxeI2dJeI8eDOTL9hov33gnhz_5ivwatIKKYVOdnbHSnKbkvVLdnLO_g/s1600-h/tote.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104489272485571074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3rgI2DfqYTXoJ9U5SVNHIjHxlAJHxvIChWENnzW5eO05OU1Z3NTtlHtxLXReQYmbsT1lfH9CBuK28UxeI2dJeI8eDOTL9hov33gnhz_5ivwatIKKYVOdnbHSnKbkvVLdnLO_g/s320/tote.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Guillble Consumer.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><p>I don't get this bag. Designed by <a href="http://www.anyahindmarch.com/newhome.aspx">Anya Hindmarch</a>, it has become the $5 fashion must have for Hollywood and fashion victims everywhere. The bags sold out during its UK launch in 90 minutes. Lines marched down several blocks when it went on sale at Whole Foods in New York. I see many UES-types marching around the city proclaiming thier faux-environmentalism on their arm. </p><p>Makes this former-vegan, largely pacifist girl want to punch someone.</p><p>Come on people, wake up! It's a marketing gimmic conceived by a very clever handbag designer. It's not really meant to change consumer behavior or raise awareness. It's an experiment to determine who amongst our society are expendable should human sacrifice return to vogue in the next couple of years. </p><p>I'll admit that it's sort of cute in that faux-homey, "I was made in China but don't I almost look homemade" sort of way. But it doesn't really do a good job of serving it's designated function - replacing grocery store plastic bags. It's not an exceptionally big bag. Not nearly large enough to carry any meaningful amount of groceries in it - I doubt a single box of cereal would fit comfortably inside. I once saw a woman put her ipod in it. So one ding for utilitarianism. It's not widely available - so it's not actually meant to be used by the masses as an alternative to plastic.</p><p>In the FAQ on the Anya Hindmarch site, it states that the company feels the bag launch successfully generated publicity around the use of alternative, reusable packaging. Now there is no way to actually gauge this and there is no way to know if anyones behavior has changed due to the bag but given the fact that I saw a girl the other day laden down with plastic grocery bags in one hand and the "I am not a Plastic bag" in the other - I don't think it's working. </p>Bohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00580238521977085056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434088.post-7050011336745796342007-08-24T11:58:00.001-04:002007-08-24T12:38:02.399-04:00"Learning" American CultureThere has been a lot of controversy of late about various supposedly "non-American" cultural charter schools opening up around the country. The two schools currently at the center of the hullabahoo, the Kahlil Gibran school in Brooklyn and the Ben Gamlan school in Broward County, Florida (Yes, THAT Broward County), are being accused of everything from training terrorists (KG) to violating constitutional seperation of church and state (BG).<br /><br />There's much for me to comment on (the role of xenophobia and anti-sematism in this controversy, ignorance of the difference between culture and religion, the fact that people seem to forget that Kahlil Gibran was an Christian-Iranian immigrant and also an American citizen) but I'm going to address a tangential argument that critics of these schools seem to bring up. Several critics argue that American schools should only teach "American culture" and English and by introducing other cultures and languages children will have a diluted sense of allegiance to America - thus creating an army of enemy-partriots who will take over the country and spawn a generation of free-love, pro-homosexual marriage, pro-choice, stem-cell researching biracial babies...but I digress.<br /><br />I don't know about all of you, but I don't have any recollection of being formally taught about "American Culture". It's not like every Wednesday afternoon at the pre-school was America Day where we all ate apple pie and dressed up like Ben Franklin. No, I learned what "American culture" is (if there is such a static, singular thing) by just turning on the TV, seeing a movie, walking down the street, and buying groceries. Everything that I'm exposed to in my day to day life reinforces "American culture", or in my case New Yorkified American culture. A young girl in this country can't get through public elementary school without reading books by Laura Ingalls, EB White, Judy Blume, or Beverly Cleary. And if those books don't provide a healthy does of "American Culture", I don't know what does. American culture is all around us and you can't avoid it if you wanted to. Although my parents put up a heroic battle, their efforts to instill some semblance of Koreanness in their daughters failed miserably. Two parents and a small band of Korean grandmothers are nothing compared to the glamour of Hollywood movies and Saturday morning cereal commericals.<br /><br />Okay, so then if American Culture is pervasive and unavoidable, a critic might still argue that by emphasizing other cultures in school, you create division in the community and diminish the cohesion created by shared experience. Now, I gotta ask you - how much shared experience do I have with an upper-middle class Southern boy with divorced parents, raised in the suburbs, sent to private school, and ivy-league education? Beats me but J and I seem to be doing a pretty good job of getting along despite how dramatically different our childhoods were.<br /><br />Now, I'm not saying that I'm not skeptical about these schools (really, what is the value-add of a school that only teaches ONE alternative language - and a language that a VERY small percentage of the world speaks - and never as the only language they speak) but I am saying that a lot of the people critical of the Kahlil Gibran and Ben Gamlan seem to be underground racist xenophobes who are using the schools as an opportunity to express their racism in a safe forum. It's kinda like how SARS became a good excuse for all those Asian-hating people to get their ya-yas out without being labeled an ugly racist.Bohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00580238521977085056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434088.post-42376863273559743002007-08-13T12:13:00.000-04:002007-08-13T12:23:16.895-04:00People Can Be MeanSo J and I were out on Saturday night having dinner at the pork heaven that is <a href="http://www.momofuku.com/">Momofuku Ssam Bar</a> in the East Village. As we were leaving the resturant and heading towards a free production of Shakespeare's The Tempest, some random dude walked right by and in a very theatrical whisper sort of way, said to us "You could do A LOT better." We weren't entirely sure who the comment was directed towards and if the guy was even talking to us or into a cell earpiece thingy. It just seemed like a terribly rude thing to say to two happy people walking down 2nd Ave. Was he offended by our happiness? Was he a recently scorned man who wanted to put a damper on our togetherness? <br /><br />It was just plain mean and rude. J took it in stride. J could tell that I was a bit more put off by the whole thing. To put my nervous temperment at ease he turned squarely towards me, looked me in the eyes and said "I've never been more happy with anybody then I am with you. I love you and you know that." <br /><br />Sigh. He always knows what to say.Bohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00580238521977085056noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434088.post-15121583465690405902007-08-06T10:54:00.000-04:002007-08-06T11:05:18.466-04:0013.1Sometimes I amaze myself. Yesterday was one of those days. Just a scant five weeks ago my weekly mileage was a big 0 miles. I hadn't run for 7 months. Nada, zilch, nothing. The new running shoes I purchased in mid-November still looked disturbingly clean and spiffy.<br /><br />My first attempt at running was in Portugal with J. My lungs hurt, my legs hurt and I only ran a mile before I had to quit. Ugh. I saw the 2007 New York City Marathon quickly slipping out of my grasp. But through weeks of slowly increasing my stamina, my lung capacity, and conditioning my legs I rebuilt my foundation.<br /><br />Yesterday, I ran in the NYC Half-Marathon...and I finished!!! And I ran the whole thing. Didn't stop. And my time was better than I was expecting. Given how much pain I was in during and after a 10K run on July 14th, I was pretty sure I'd completely punk out during the half-marathon. But I surprised myself. <br /><br />Ran at an overall 11:12 pace with two miles (miles 8 & 9) at an 8:20 pace. I was pretty wiped out afterwards but I'm up and about today and the only reminder of yesterdays event is the mild soreness in my quads - an odd pain considering that it wasn't a tremendously hilly course. The knee felt superb. <br /><br />Anyhoo, here's to the miracles of he human body!!!<br /><br />I've now got 3 months to prep for the marathon. Upward and onward!Bohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00580238521977085056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434088.post-15253808333821056002007-07-19T12:08:00.000-04:002007-07-19T12:18:16.385-04:00Joining the Harry Potter bandwagon...<p>So much speculation on the web about how Harry Potter will end…no reason why I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">shouldn</span>’t join in the fun. <br /><br />Any avid children’s literature fan has already picked up on the series use of familiar literary themes popularized in books by Tolkien, CS Lewis, and the like…good vs. evil (Harry and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Voldemort</span>), the protagonist’s evolution from a unfathomable naive simpleton to grim realist, the humorous sidekick (Ron), the wise sage (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Dumbledore</span>). Given all this, I can only imagine one real ending for the book…the only one that will satisfy and which won’t feel anti-climatic. Harry kicks it.<br /><br />Yes, I think Harry dies at the end. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Voldemort</span> is killed as well, mind you. I don’t think J.K. Rowling is so mean spirited as to allow evil to triumph over good. In quick summary this is what I think happens.</p><ul><li><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Dumbledore</span> is not really dead, neither is Sirius. They both come back and play a role in defeating <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Voldemort</span>. </li><li>Neville’s parents, currently institutionalizes, somehow are snapped out of their trance and also play a role in the end battle.</li><li>Ron and Hermione both die somewhere in the middle to last third of the book. This drives Harry nearly to the point of submitting to his dark side – a la Luke <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Skywalker</span>. Like young <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Skywalker</span>, he ultimately defeats his dark temptations and fights for love, freedom, and all that good stuff.</li><li>Snape is good and evil. He wants to see Harry dead but he doesn't want Voldemort to live. He betrays both.</li></ul><p> And here are a couple of theories that I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">ve</span> mulled over but haven’t made up my final mind on:</p><ul><li>Harry is the ultimate <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Horcrux</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Voldemort</span>, with no other choice, installed part of his soul in Harry when he realized his imminent death. In so doing, he destroyed part of Harry’s soul. The prophecy states that neither can live while the other survives. If Harry is nothing more than a vessel for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Voldemort</span>’s soul – should <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Voldemort</span> retrieve his soul from Harry, Harry would die. However, to stop <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Voldemort</span>, Harry must sacrifice himself before <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Voldemort</span> retrieves his soul. </li><li>It is revealed that Harry and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Voldemort</span> are distant relatives – remember that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Voldemort</span> is a half-blood, his father was a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">muggle</span>. Harry’s mother came from a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">muggle</span> family. There’s a connection there. Remember also that it is Harry’s mother’s love that saved him – again a sign that their genetic relationship has somehow made this all possible. Harry is Voldemort's heir apparant and has the potential to be even more powerful and evil than Voldemort. Dumbledore realized this long ago and therefore did everything he could to prevent this from happening. </li><li>And for my most controversial theory – Neville is actually the true “one”. At the end of book six, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Dumbeldore</span> stated that it could have been either Neville or Harry who was the one mentioned in the prophecy but <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Voldemort</span> chose Harry because of his <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">muggle</span> blood. No one ever mentions whether <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Voldemort</span> made the right choice with Harry. There may be a reason why Neville was raised to be a bumbling fool. No one would ever believe such an incompetent twit would be the one to eventual kill <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Voldemort</span>. But maybe this was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Dumbeldore</span>’s plan all along. Shield Neville and protect him by implicating another child. Neville is the one who ultimately kills <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Voldemort</span>. </li></ul><p>Oh well, we'll know in just a few more days....Happy reading!</p>Bohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00580238521977085056noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434088.post-71413150149531111762007-07-16T18:10:00.000-04:002007-07-16T18:24:18.533-04:00Muggles, Motors, and MobilityJust a random update on activites as of late.<br /><br />First - Muggles and Motors. Saw two GREAT (and VERY long) movies this week. First off was the most excellent <a href="http://www.harrypotterorderofthephoenix.com/">Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix</a>. Clocking in at nearly 2 hours and 24 minutes, the director did a good job of shrinking the 900+ page Order of the Phoenix into a fast, fun, squeal inducing adventure into magic. My butt barely got numb. Saturday night brought in <a href="http://www.transformersmovie.com/">Transformers</a>. What can I say? I LOVED it. I think I may have liked it more then the 5 guys I saw it with. Mind you, I saw it with 4 doctors and a computer programmer (yes, all of J's friends. Couldn't drag a single female friend of mine to see it) and I was the one most excited. I'm a NERD of the highest order. I highly recommend you go out and see both films, if you haven't already.<br /><br />Now for the mobility. After being diagnosed with a case of tendonitis and patello-femoral pain syndrome (aka Runner's Knee) nearly 5 months ago and enduring 4.5 months of PT, I finally ran my first race this past weekend. And I finished! Not quickly and not with much effort...but I finished. It was a 10K around the Central Park loop (one of the toughest 10K courses in the city in my opinion - all hills and valley). I finished in just under 1 hour and 10 minutes - are about an 11 minute pace. WAY off my usual pace - but I didn't stop running once. I'm quite proud of myself. And my knee hasn't hurt since. Knock on wood.<br /><br />All in all, a most excellent weekend.Bohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00580238521977085056noreply@blogger.com0