Back to baking in my own...

kitchen

For more Singular Saturdays go visit Jenn in Holland.

All I Want for Christmas

I got an email from my ne'er do well sister today - in lieu of gifts for herself for Christmas (and her birthday which falls mid-December) she wants cash.

For a family in Uganda. For the school fees for their children. 12 adopted orphans.

"How crass!", I say with a big dose of sarcasm.

On the front page of the metro section of the paper there's an article about how food banks are struggling. Next to that is an article about how a popular mall Santa was fired and has since been re-hired. Everyone is thrilled because their beloved Santa is back - and all I can think is, "glad to hear the guy still has a job".

In the spirit of all this misery - or tightening of belts, going without - I offer you my Christmas list:

- an update from last year - we have the bookshelves! Thank you Jesus (aka Ken!)

1) get those annoying people in my office off my back. let me focus on trying to stop HIV instead of agreeing to disagree on what petty issue has you in a tizzy... I have no idea... you get my drift

2) some qualified cabinet members in the new Obama administration. No former directors of the Arabian Horse Association, please.

3) an organized closet. yes, a bit selfish, I know. but the daily ritual of trying to find shoes (and re-discovering ones I'd long forgotten) really slows down my day. not to mention I'm sure my downstairs neighbor just loves the sound of a dump truck dropping a load of rocks every morning.

4) the ability to cook fish. okay, starting to get into the mundane here - but I really would like to feel a bit more at ease with this cuisine as it's healthier, I think. provided I don't buy the wrong kind and contribute to destroying the environment.

5) patience. don't kill the remote control when the channel won't change and I'm forced to watch the Real Housewives of Atlanta until something finally works in this damn little piece of plastic. don't curse the metro when it takes 8 minutes instead of 4 for a train to come during rush hour even though that means twice as many smelly, disgruntled people will be crowding on when it finally does arrive. don't yell at the TSA agent because I have to take off my belt so that stupid machine doesn't beep when I knew all along that I shouldn't have worn pants that required a belt in the first place. or shoes. or a coat. or lip gloss instead of lipstick.

Come to think of it Santa, just please leave me a big fat barrel of patience under the tree. That ought to take care of items 1 through 4 above.

I Love Turkey

This post brought to you by Soccer Mom in Denial - posting every Monday on a different musical memory.

****************************************************

Finally, a Thanksgiving song!

There's a Hole in My ...

heart

For more Singular Saturdays go visit Jenn in Holland.

That Little Pink Nose

Lucy Rose Ginsberg
1988-2008

Ghana loves Obama

On my recent travels I've noticed a lot of support for candidate Obama - billboards proclaiming "Africa loves Obama", t-shirts saying "Haitians for Obama".


Well now that he's the President-elect there's a whole new wardrobe out there. Shirts, buttons, and hats... and a few campaign buttons I left behind.


It's kind of amazing to see a U.S. President embraced overseas. Rather refreshing.

I'm off to see Ghanaian...

castles

For more Singular Saturdays go visit Jenn in Holland.

Obama soundtrack

This post brought to you by Soccer Mom in Denial - posting every Monday on a different musical memory.

****************************************************

I just can't get enough... best music ever associated with a political campaign!

Expired? Annoying. To see this video - definitely worth viewing - go to http://dipdive.com/ and look for will.i.am's It's a New Day. Also available on iTunes - just not sure if you get the video.

In Yet Another Time...

zone

For more Singular Saturdays go visit Jenn in Holland.

My Ears Are Still Ringing...

From Monday night's rally in Manassas - 100,000 strong. Standing for 5 hours to hear a 30 minute speech. Worth every minute.

My eyes are red from crying for joy last night. There's something very exciting about crying tears of JOY. You have to be so happy that laughter isn't enough of a physical release.

My head is spinning from running around the country - Denver in August, Virginia in November. When you live in a place that gives the victor a 93% return, it's nice to know you can have an impact somewhere!

My heart is singing. The schadenfreude is in check - instead of wanting to stomp all over the loser, I feel an urgent need to get working on getting my country back.

Why Wilma and Lucy Would Vote Obama

Wilma, my beloved dog who has since passed away, would love Barack Obama. As would Lucy, our beloved 20-year old cat. And here's why:

1. He's black and white. As was Wilma, and is Lucy. Bi-color.

2. He believes in easing the tax burden on everyone (except for the very rich) - more biscuits!

3. He is open to hearing different ideas and coming to consensus (yes, you can sleep on the bed...)

4. He is well-traveled. As was Wilma, as is Lucy.

5. He is non-discriminating. Wilma loved everyone - even potential ax-murderers. Lucy could care less about anyone - equally.

Unfortunately this month...

NoGoSloMo

For more Singular Saturdays go visit Jenn in Holland.

Lazy Day, Hanging by the ...

pool

For more Singular Saturdays go visit Jenn in Holland.

Bitterballen Bonanza

Having read about the glory that is bitterballen - and subsequently trying the Haitian version...I had to try them in the motherland. I was not disappointed.

As my friends pointed out to me, there is a trick to eating the glorious bits of heaven. Always break them open first so that the steam escapes or else you'll get bitterballen burned. And that's no fun.


How do they compare to Haiti's version? The outside is crisper and inside is chunkier. Better but not so much that I won't pass them up next time I'm in Port au Prince.

And what's even more fun? When the waiter that delivers them is named "Jip P" - as in Yippee! How perfect!

Charming Dutch

What are charming Dutch things?

Wooden shoes

Bicycles

Old churches

and racy lingerie stores in residential neighborhoods

I Be Illin'

Invariably it happens, you're traveling and come down with something akin to the flu. Well, maybe it doesn't happen to everyone, but lately I've spent more time away from home so the odds were against me.

I went to visit my dear friends in The Hague for a few days before going on to Nigeria (for work) and came down with what seemed to be a nasty cold. Only it got worse and worse. And then my dear friends said to me "you are too sick to fly". At first I took this as a compliment - they wanted me to stay longer - but then upon hearing my own reply "nob I'b obay" I realized that I really couldn't breathe. Or at least talk and breathe, eat and breathe... so here I am.

Lucky for me said friends also have a doctor here in the Netherlands. Let me clarify - they have a doctor who prescribes drugs. Apparently, drugs are not commonly given out here - "tough it out the Dutch way". Seriously, we know women who were denied drugs during childbirth! Don't they know, better living through chemistry.

I got up early, changed my flights (I love my travel agent) and off we went to the doctor. Did I mention he's the same guy who took care of Milosevic (this being The Hague, the prison is just down the road.) Despite other less than charming patients, he treated me well. Joked around in incomprehensible English with a Dutch accent and I was on my way, prescriptions in hand.

I'm so happy now. I'm breathing.

Hey Sarah

This post brought to you by Soccer Mom in Denial - posting every Monday on a different musical memory.

****************************************************

I haven't been feeling very musical for awhile. Maybe it's too much travel, maybe it's the stress of this election. Maybe it's because the only music I listen to lately is Haitian and I've done just about enough posting on that topic...

Then someone sent me this. I love music.

War Is Hell

We went to visit a bunker - at one point Dutch, and later Nazi - in Hoek van Holland. It's now turned into a museum and provides an interesting look at military history.

The bunker is quite extensive - miles of tunnels - that includes a bakery, a prison (that's two I've visited in one month!), and officer quarters.

There are also lots of big guns.

And a medical center. What is this Nazi suffering from that requires the doctors to hover over him with his pants down? Crabs. Really.

Hungry?

The Dutch are an interesting bunch. Their language is something between English and German - I'm not sure which parts of either. Naming restaurants sometimes produces interesting results...


And if you're not in the mood for a restaurant you can always try the automat at the train station.



Yum, appetizing, isn't it?

Surprisingly Warm for ...

Fall

For more Singular Saturdays go visit Jenn in Holland.