mermaidtalesandtears

One month, one novel..no problem?

2011-10-22T11:18:00.000-05:00

I am gonna do it this year...stay tuned for progress...

Out of the Darkness Walk for AFSP

2011-10-19T13:21:00.000-05:00

Last month I participated in my third walk for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. My past two walks were in NYC. The first year we walked along the Hudson River, it was raining, sleeting and absolutely freezing but that stopped no one. Last year was it was a beautiful day, the walk went across the Brooklyn Bridge, and honestly, who could ask for a better or more inspirational view. That walk was even more special, as NPR was there covering the event and I was interviewed. To be able to speak about my brother, to be able to speak about my thoughts on loss, understanding and hope was something that helped me feel even more of a part of the event and Foundation, and very healing.

This year's even was held in Busse Woods, IL. Again, the Foundation found another great place to hold this event. Walking through these gorgeous woods, rustling trees, and seeing so many people, hearing so many voices was sad yet so hopeful. I am so proud to always be a part of the wonderful foundation and the work they do.

2011-09-11T12:02:00.002-05:00

Chicago Korean Street Festival

2011-08-26T14:58:00.000-05:00

2011-07-01T21:41:00.001-05:00

A little late to post but it's been a long week...Went to the Pride parade on Sunday and had the absolute best time in my life here in Chicago! The night before the tremendous news came that New York State passed the bill to accept gay marriage as a real, honest, true and right thing. I absolutely had to go and celebrate my state! Way to go New York! We all had a fantastic time. Good vibes, happiness and much love. Here are my pics from this fun, great day!.

Happy Memorial Day!

2011-05-30T17:37:00.000-05:00

homesick for nyc...part deux

2011-05-19T10:00:00.001-05:00

some more pics. how i miss it! but, good news is i am planning on definitely moving back within the year.

homesick for nyc...

2011-05-18T22:46:00.000-05:00

good cure for being homesick, going through pics. here are some from last fall...

Thatcher Woods, IL

2011-05-14T16:40:00.000-05:00

Beautiful. Walked through the woods imagining it was the same as in Laura Ingalls' day...

Dream Houses of Oak Park, IL

2011-05-13T21:48:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was a hot 86 degrees, humid and had the hope of an early summer. Took a walk around the Frank Lloyd Wright District of Oak Park with a good friend and the puppy, enjoying the weather. Here are some of the beautiful "dream" houses we saw. And by "dream" houses, I mean the type that make you stop and stare, imagining yourself gardening, judging from a window which room would be yours, where the porch swing would hang, and how good a cool drink would taste while hanging out in the backyard in the summer.

Better late than never...Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-09T15:47:00.000-05:00

Kimchi!

2011-05-06T12:32:00.000-05:00

I so miss the easy accessibility of finding an Asian supermarket in my neighborhood, but discovered there's an H Mart not too far away.Went shopping this morning and found the largest selection of kimchi I have seen yet. Look at this isle!

Quite a selection...

Huge bags of kimchi...

So many varieties!

Cabbage, leek, chives, radish, and many more

I picked up some napa cabbage and cubed radish kimchi. Plan on making many more trips here to try all the other fantastic varieties offered. http://www.hmart.com/

I heart Kindle

2011-04-30T15:24:00.001-05:00

Never, ever thought I would want one. I treated myself to a Kindle a couple months ago (justified by buying my little guy a Flip camera too). I am a voracious reader, and love books. Ordering books, going to the library, shopping for books and finding gems. But I am totally addicted to my Kindle. Sure, it's not a satisfying as reading a good old fashioned paperback, the lovely musty book smell of old books, the hours spent browsing bookstores, but to be able to have so much reading material available inside one handheld computer thingy is very attractive.

Years ago, in college, in History of The English Language class our professor told us that books will soon be a thing of the past and there will be computerized versions. I was horrified! I thought it totally signaled the downfall of civilization. But now here we are. It's not bad. I would never, ever give up my hardbacks or paperbacks, but a Kindle, or any other "reading device" is essential to one's library now. Just consider it an extension of your collection.

Some of my favorite all time bookstores in NYC.

East Village Books & Records

St. Marks Bookshop

The Strand

Shakespeare and Company.

Books saved my life. They got me through those awful high school years, enlightened me in college, kept me company in cars, airplanes, subways and buses. Reading a book in the hot sun on a beach is about as good as it gets. And years ago, when I lost my job and couldn't pay rent I looked around my belongings and thought "what do I have of value". Boxes and boxes, shelve upon shelve of books. So I took an inventory, figured out prices, and set up a table on Bedford Ave in Brooklyn and joined the other booksellers to sell my wares. I made about 50-70 bucks a day and was able to pay my rent. It was so wonderful to hang out in all weather, hawking and haggling.

I love books, and although an electronic reader will never replace the experience of buying books, finding books, exchanging books, I feel it is a very nice, modern extension of your personal library.

It's been a while... more top 10 things I hate

2011-04-29T20:29:00.000-05:00

Last year I started a list of "top 10 things I hate", and it's time to re-visit. I'm kinda boring on this blog, so let's stir it up, people.

1. Yes, Pete Wentz, I still hate you. I don't care that you got a haircut and a divorce. Still. Hate.You.

2. Not living in NYC. Illinois, you suck. Ugh. Wtf? Seriously, wtf!

3. Homophobia. For real, people? I went to a Cubs/Sox game (last summer, but it still stings) and there were signs of two men holding hands and the words were "Cubs Fans". Oh, I get it, Cubs fans are gay? Try that at Shea Stadium and prepare to get your asses kicked. I have encountered more homophobia here in IL then in my many, many years in NYC.

4. Illinois. I want to go home. NOW.

5. Jewel-Osco Supermarket. Ugh, if standing behind me means "i want to get something but can't say excuse me" is your motive. Just say excuse me! I'll move. Freaking Illinois!

6. See above.

7. Too much rain. I LOVE rainy days, don't get me wrong. But my too-early gardening projects are suffering. Shoulda checked weather.com. Or some shit.

8. The fact that my fiancée is from Oak Park, IL and thinks it's god's gift to the US. Henceforth, he does not want to move.

9. Becoming a vegetarian. I miss hot dogs :(

10. Illlinois. What a suck-ass state to live in. Bleh.

Signs of Spring

2011-04-22T07:50:00.001-05:00

It's been gray and overcast this past week, but today the sun managed to pop through the clouds and dissolve all that gloom. A tad cool, a bit breezy, but lovely enough for a nice long walk. Along the way I found some other "signs" of spring.

Ode to an Airstream Trailer

2011-04-21T16:44:00.006-05:00

I have been living here in Forest Park, IL for about nine months or so. In those nine months I have seen this Airstream trailer on my daily walk. Always parked in the same spot, it has never been moved as far as I can tell. Always in the same spot, always a shiny silver, always beckoning. I want this trailer. I want to ask whomever owns it if they want to sell it. They don't seem to be using it. I keep hoping I will see the owner loitering around it so I may ask them. I keep looking for a "For Sale" sign to be taped to the window. I expect to wake up one morning (it's owner somehow knows how much I desire it) and find this silver lightning parked in front of my house, a big banner bearing the words "the open road belongs to you, adventurous one!". Oh, thudding silver beat of my heart, if you belonged to me, we could go such places!

I would drive you to the loveliest of mountain ranges in this here U.S. of A. We would head down to the Sangre De Christo Mountains in New Mexico.

Smell that sage, breathe that chile smoke-infused air. There is nothing to compare.

This is the door to our future, just picture your satiny sleekness speeding us towards it!

Or, perhaps we can bump, jump and roll on down U.S. 1 to Key West, Florida.

Swaying palms wave hello at our arrival. We are wrapped in lustrous, sweet humidity, birds chirping, waves crashing. We've reached the "End of The Line" you and I. And couldn't be happier.

Maybe a cooler climate would appeal. Crisp, sunny summers, cold, wet Maritime winters. I haven't been there yet, but Prince Edward Island sounds lovely indeed. I have always wanted to visit, and I see an adventure up ahead, my sterling beast of comfort!

Look at those flowers! I could pick a few, some for me, some for you!

Until then, I will walk past you, parked, untouched, and lonely. Don't worry, my darling glassy gas guzzler, I'll have you yet.

G is for Gravlax

2011-04-18T15:00:00.000-05:00

New Scandinavian Cooking is one of my favorite cooking shows. That cute host Andreas is so enthusiastic about everything and makes it look so easy, I just want to follow him around Norway in search of cheeses and little fishies and cook with him on a boat. But, alas, that is not an option, so I decided to attempt to make gravlax at home, with travels to Norway in my heart.

I went with smaller pieces of salmon, covered in equal parts salt and sugar, and lots of dill.

The salmon was wrapped in plastic wrap, then placed between two plates with a weight on top. I've read different recipes where it may be kept like this in the fridge to preserve for 48 hours, or 3-4 days. I kept mine in for 4 days just to be sure it was cured, and a little nibble proved me correct.

After wiping off the salt, sugar and dill it's ready to be sliced and served.

Mustard dill sauce, radish spread, pumpernickel bread, capers, lemon, chopped cucumber, onion and tomato. Also a can of smoked sprats, very delicious!

Little bites to nibble on.

By all accounts the salmon was pretty tasty, and I definitely want to attempt it again. Here's a great site where I found tips and the radish spread recipe, in addition to lots of other fish delicacies.
http://www.beyondsalmon.com/2007/05/gravlax.html

Lovely Spring Sunday

2011-04-03T18:45:00.001-05:00

The sun is not out today, but the wind is warm and soft, perfect for a nice long walk with the pup. We walked around River Forest, there are so many fantastic houses to enjoy. Here are some of the sights we saw along the way.

I find this house to be both beautiful and creepy at the same time.

Like a church or a house from a gothic novel.

Cool tree house

The neat hanging lights are eyeballs

Rusted old train tracks

Spring flowers!

Puppy Love

2011-04-03T00:47:00.002-05:00

My better half and I have been contemplating getting a dog for some time, but didn't want to get a dog just to have one.We have been patient and not impetuous, not wanting just to get a dog just to "own a dog". We went to our nearest shelter, the wonderful Animal Care League in Oak Park. We told the ultra friendly staff we were interested in adopting, and was told they only had two puppies. Ok, we shall see! The second we went to the cages I laid eyes on, and totally fell in love with, this little creature.

I was hooked! We got to speak at length about the adoption process, our living conditions, past pet-owernership experiences, etc. then we got playtime with her and I just knew we had to have her. She took to us so quickly and lovingly, the staff was impressed. We decided at once and Dave went off to fill out an hour's worth of paperwork. I just absolutely fell in love with her, and when you know, you know. So welcome home Shelby!

First dinner at home!

Napsies after a loooong walk.

Settling in!

She jumped on me and was licking my face, a happy girl :)

Can't wait to wake up to her tomorrow, it will be like Christmas. The most wonderful thing you can do in adopting a pet is to seek out your nearest shelter first. Much thanks to the wonderful people at The Animal Care League. Very thorough, loving, and caring pet people who only want the best for these little guys.
http://www.animalcareleague.org/

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2011-03-17T18:46:00.000-05:00

May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light,
May good luck pursue you each morning and night.

Fried Food Sunday @ The Beacon Pub

2011-03-09T20:44:00.003-06:00

The Beacon Pub is our local friendly establishment here in Forest Park, and this past Sunday was "Fried Food Sunday". There were tater tots, shrimp, fries, chicken wings, and my honey made ribs. Quite often these "special snack" days pop up and we try to participate. My honey made ribs, not fried but enjoyed by all. I was just diggin' the tater tots. A nice little slice of life here, good friends, good food, and yes...good fun. Some pics.....

The Beacon Pub

Tim enjoying something fried

"Wing Dings" as they are called out here

Siracha, a must have!

Diet Coke & Kindle, cuz that's how I roll...

Some fried goodies...

Tim & Molly outside in the Beacon's beer garden

Me & Molly

Ribs made by my honey, Dave

Tim chowin' dowm

Dave, the expert rib maker (wearing my Flyers jersey as a joke!)

Me & my honey Dave

Molly-bartender extrodinaire

Me & my BFF, Tim

Fun Sunday afternoon, enjoyed by all!

Better late than never...Happy New Years!

2011-01-20T19:24:00.000-06:00

We had a nice quiet party for New Years Eve before it got too rowdy... here are some pics of our feast. All Prepared by me!

Raw oysters with mignonette sauce.

Partially done party tray...manchengo cheese, cucumber stuffed with feta, sprat pate on crackers & artichoke hearts.

Le menu

Putting the finishing touches on the seviche...

Chop, chop, chop

Marinated and ready...

Shrimp & scallop seviche with red onion, cilantro & habanero...

Dave diggin' in and Molly dancing...

Yummy!

Molly making a point while Tim looks on

Blue corn tortillas!

Mussels steamed in white wine & herbs

Clams steamed in beer, butter & herbs

A wonderful way to start the new year. All the best!

It's a blizzard out there!

2010-12-27T10:26:00.001-06:00

Reasons I can't go back home to NYC for Christmas with family:

No flights back, LaGuardia, JFK and Newark Liberty all closed. My plans were ruined Sunday by an cancellation email from United.

Of course I was headed right to the East Village, which looks like this.

And then on to South Jersey to meet up with family and friends. What a bummer :(

Chicago Xmas Eve & 7 Fishes Dinner

2010-12-25T01:09:00.002-06:00

Walked around Chicago to see the Christmas decorations and tree at Daley Plaza and then on to my honey's family tradition of the Italian 7 fishes dinner. Lovely family tradition that I am so happy to be able to enjoy!

Millennium Park decorated for the holidays.

Christmas tree at Daley Plaza.

Baked clams.

Mussels with marinara.

Just a glimpse at dinner, doesn't do it justice. Wish I took more pics, but was busy eating! We had raw clams on the halfshell, baked clams, mussels, shrimp-cold & fried, fried smelts, talapia, cold crabmeat & shrimp salad. Wonderful! So nice to be hooked up with an I-talian family for the holidays!

Fantastic gifts of tea from Todd & Holland Tea Merchants. My favorite store! Here's their site, check it out: http://www.todd-holland.com/

My honey opening some presents. Tomorrow we to to my favorite Uncle-in-Law Greg's & family, then Sunday NYC, pick up the buddy & head for my family in Jersey. Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season!

Dreaming of Summer...

2010-12-13T01:42:00.000-06:00

It's cold this time of year, no matter where you are (ok, Florida, we love you now!), so I figured I would post some pics taken over the summer to heat up your hearts, get you all ready for sunshine and baseball season.

These are some of my favorite things...

The Highline, NYC

2010-12-01T11:26:00.002-06:00

NYC is chock-full of all kinds of wonderful things, and this past fall I finally stumbled upon The Highline while just wandering around (as many wonderful things in NYC are discovered that way). The Highline was part of an elevated railway, long, long in disuse that was converted into a above ground park. It runs from Gansevoort St to West 20th. You can read all about it here: http://www.thehighline.org/

Chinatown NYC part 2!

2010-10-26T17:32:00.001-05:00

Had so much fun, took so many pics...here's the rest!

Very crowded market!

We all tried to guess what this was...you be the judge

The labels were great! Here's a "fresh silky" duck perhaps?

My favorite- "patrick"!

More "patrick"

Who doesn't love "chicken dump stick"

Gator hands-these really had quite a strong, swampy smell

Jack photo-bombing my shot

Custard with pork crust...looks yummy

mushroomcloudchickenwine....they fit all that on the label!

Chinatown NYC

2010-10-26T11:04:00.000-05:00

What is the best thing to do on a lovely fall day in NYC? Visit Chinatown, walk around and eat great street food. It's really one of my favorite things to do, so much to see. Sure, you'll get jostled around in the teeming crowd but that's part of the fun.

Damn you, Iron Chef!

2010-09-18T14:35:00.000-05:00

Watched Iron Chef USA the other night and it was battle truffle. Oh, my goodness! I am a big fan of Iron Chef, i used to watch it way back when on the Japanese channel in NYC when it was shown in Japanese with no subtitles. That was fun, guessing the ingredients AND what they were saying. Now we have an American version and it was truffles. I was drooling the entire program and went to the supermarket the next day to buy some truffle oil, all I could afford. They are costly little buggers. But it led me to desire a nice romantic dinner on a lovely Friday evening...

A simple cheese plate to start...

Squash blossoms! So pretty and delicious...

sniff...sniff...

squash blossom production line...

Crispy, salty flowers!

Angel hair pasta with white truffle oil and parmesan, squash blossoms and tomatoes with sea salt and truffle oil
A lovely Friday night dinner.

Forest Park Rib Fest

2010-09-11T16:44:00.000-05:00

Finger lickin', lip smackin', bone gnawin' good time at the Forest Park Rib Fest!

Lots of yummy ribs

Chowin' down!

Delicious ribs, good people watching, music, and a piggy ice sculpture!

Today is World Suicide Prevention Day

2010-09-10T12:39:00.000-05:00

A very powerful message. This poster is from last year's survivors day. Today you can help by remembering, reaching out, listening. Light a candle in memory of lost loved ones and their survivors.

I will be participating in the Out of The Darkness Community Walk this October 24
http://afsp.donordrive.com/participant/jennyberk

Let's try to help end the stigma, and help those in need. Thank you.

Scrapple, Pork Roll and other regional food delights!

2010-09-08T14:48:00.000-05:00

I was always very interested in regional foods. There are favorites you grew up with, then local foods you might eat on a trip somewhere. It's a neat way to experience the local culture and maybe learn a little history too. My all-time favorite is Scrapple. What on earth is that, one might ask. Pork products and cornmeal, all fried up! It is a Pennsylvania Dutch food, and according to Wikipedia, "the first pork food invented in America". Learn all about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrapple. My grandmother worked as a teen at the Scrapple factory in Philly, and would never touch it!

Special delivery! After a recent trip to South Jersey left me still craving another taste, I ordered some Scrapple and Taylor Pork Roll (another fantastic pork delight). Pork Roll is sliced ham that is fried and delicious too, mostly used in sandwiches. A true "Jersey Breakfast"! Here's Pork Roll's link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pork_roll

Which one do I eat first?!

I decided to go with Scrapple for a late breakfast.

This is how I like my Scrapple, a couple fried slices with an egg. Ketchup is a pretty common accompaniment to go along with Scrapple.

Since I was on a "Regional Food Kick" I found a great website to order Irish and British foods: http://foodireland.com/. I wanted to be able to enjoy the teas I had in Ireland, home to a dear friend of mine. Irish/British foods have some really great names like Yorkshire Pudding, Spotted Dick, Digestives (cookies!). The website is really fun to read.

Just perfect for a spot of tea!

I even ordered some Vegemite, definitely an acquired taste, but I like it. Next time you are in the supermarket, take a look at some brands you wouldn't normally try. Check the labels and see what is made locally, support your local business! And if something is considered "international food" go online and check that out too. Enjoy!

Toll House up in this house

2010-09-07T13:27:00.000-05:00

I was hankerin' for some sweets (which is pretty rare for me) and decided on making some chocolate chip cookies to fill up my piggy cookie jar. And my tummy. I used the tried and true Toll House cookie recipe http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/specialty/nth-detail-occc.aspx

I still do not own a mixer, so it's all done by hand

Just grab a handful and drop on baking sheet...

Gobs and gobs of cookies!

I was as happy as this piggy eating my cookies!

Cookbook Score!!!!

2010-09-06T12:02:00.001-05:00

Here in Forest Park there are many nice antique stores along Madison Street. I like to take a walk and pop in to see what they have and on a recent walk, found a major sale on cookbooks. Score! All perfect condition, first edition. I used to spend hours as a kid pouring over my mom's 1960's and 70"s cookbooks. Great illustrations, great memories.

The Savor of the Sea, complete seafood cookbook, 1966

Long Island Seafood Cookbook, 1971, reproduction of 1939 cookbook

The Language of Cookery 1968

Chafing Dish Possibilities, Fannie Merritt Farmer 1898. Am totally in love with Fannie, she taught me cooking and am very proud to have this first edition in my home! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fannie_Farmer

Summer Quiche

2010-09-02T19:35:00.001-05:00

Quiche is one of my favorite things to bake and I decided it was time for some end-of-summer taste of quiche. I love to make my own crust, and this time tried an herbed crust, adding parsley, thyme and savory. Lots of butter made it super rich and hopefully extra flaky. I was planning on making one, possibly two quiches but ended up with extra dough, so here goes three!

All the fixin's for tasty quiche! Bacon, mushrooms,spinach, green onion, monterey jack, colby and mild cheddar cheese. While I was prepping these, the crusts were pre-baking in the oven.

Seven eggs and two plus cups of low fat half and half were whisked with salt, pepper and a bit of nutmeg.

I set up a quiche "production line" to move things along...

All filled up and into the oven to bake...

Here are the three lovelies all baked, smelling wonderful and cooling off...

A delightful summer dinner. Enjoy the taste of summer while you can!

Millennium Park, Chicago

2010-08-28T19:38:00.000-05:00

Spent a gorgeous, late August afternoon at the Art Institute of Chicago and Millennium Park. a lovely day for art and culture, and in the park we came across the Sister Cities International Festival. http://www.chicagosistercities.com/. There was delicious food, neat shopping and entertainment.

Columbian food, you say? I'm so there!

Empanadas and iced coffee!!!!

Beautiful gifts from across the globe.

The big bean!

And a splash in the fountain to cool off! A beautiful day in Chicago!

Beer Can Chicken

2010-08-27T11:59:00.001-05:00

Yes, you read it correctly...beer can chicken. Sounds delicious already, in a redneck kinda way. Well, it's simple. Fire up the grill, rub down a whole chicken with any rub you like, open a beer can and plunk that bird right down on top.

Steady there, bird! We used a little olive oil and a Caribbean barbecue rub and a can of Miller Lite. You MUST open the can. Otherwise that bird will shoot off your grill like some crazy molotov cocktail. It's science, people. Anyway, open the can and pour a bit out. Into a glass to drink, if you prefer. Place it carefully onto your hot grill so it stands up.

There are some contraptions you can buy to make it stand up, but you can use those legs as leverage. See?

About an hour and half for a four pound chicken. Doesn't it look delicious? Well, maybe not in that position, or..I'm just not gonna go there. It's really quite easy. Here's a good link from Steve Raichlen, of BBQ University fame. http://www.barbecuebible.com/featured/recipe/basic_beercan_c.php

All done! It comes out wonderfully juicy. Some wing and breast meat, chicken rice (I cheated and used packaged) and my yummy jalapeno pickles. Try it, use that grill while you can this summer!

Cute little things around my home...

2010-08-26T16:36:00.001-05:00

My precious Shawnee Smiley Pig cookie jar, 1940. Isn't he the cutest? He's in excellent condition, I found him in an antique store and could not pass him up.

I have been collecting seashells, sea glass, coral and driftwood for a long time. One of the pleasures of growing up along the seashore was a nice walk along the beach in any weather, and finding little treasures. The white china bowl was my grandmothers, and I filled it with coral I found in Aruba. The sea glass is from New Jersey beaches, and even some was found at the base on the Manhattan bridge in NYC. Near South Street Seaport you can find sandy areas to search.

Carved bird I found at an antique store in Tuckerton, NJ.

Blown glass birds and Henri Cartier-Bresson print.

I love my plants, they brighten up my kitchen. Just a little glimpse into my happy home!

Barnegat Lighthouse-Long Beach Island, NJ

2010-08-22T12:47:00.000-05:00

I am huge fan of lighthouses. On our recent South Jersey vacation, we drove up to LBI to visit the Barnegat Lighthouse. It had been a long time since I had last visited, and an even longer time since I had experienced the Jersey Shore traffic "experience". Ugh! A 10 minute skip up the pike turned into 45 minutes in the car, not moving anywhere. Anyway, we made it and were rewarded with a beautiful sunny day.

Just 217 of the steps to the top!

Barnegat Lighthouse was first commissioned on January 1, 1859. read all about it here:http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/barnlig.html

Gorgeous views from the top of the lighthouse

After you descend, you can walk along the trails on the beach and island. Lots of fishing, boating and good people watching. So go for a nice drive and find yourself a lighthouse to visit!

Lady Jane

2010-08-21T14:59:00.000-05:00

I am a sup-duper Anglophile. Have no idea why. One of my grannys could barley contain herself when seeing or hearing of a Brit. She was Irish to the bone. I love her dearly, but never could share that kinda passion, instead I became obsessed with anything British, especially the Tudor period. My favorite of all is Lady Jane Grey. Tragic! You can read all about her here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Jane_Grey. Also, Alison Weir, a fantastic writer of many, many books on the Tudors, good old Henry the VIII, Elizabeth and so on, wrote a fiction book about Jane called Innocent Traitor. She was basically a pawn used by her father and other powerful men to restore the Protestant reign. Only nine days Queen, then beheaded for treason. I think it is unfortunate that she is never listed in any history as being the queen at all, however short her reign. I think I spend too much time surfing Wikipedia, but whatever!

Some pretty pictures of Jane...

I think this one is really beautiful...

So read up on her and enjoy. Who doesn't love a good, sad, tragic tale whilst having a spot of tea?

NJ Surfing Museum-Tuckerton Seaport, NJ

2010-08-19T15:19:00.000-05:00

The newest exhibit at the Tuckerton Seaport Museum is the NJ Surfing Museum. A great homage to the very vibrant surfing culture that exists in South Jersey. North Jersey, we got you so beat! No smog here, just miles and miles of beautiful sandy beaches and sparkling ocean.

The buddy riding a "wave"...

Boards, boards, and more boards...

Types of surfing wax...

One cool surfer chic. This exhibit was a breath of fresh air on our visit. If you happen to be in Tuckerton, NJ check it out! http://www.tuckertonseaport.org/

Lucy the Elephant!

2010-08-18T21:20:00.000-05:00

I love Lucy! There is a wonderful elephant that lives along the beach in Margate, NJ, and her name is Lucy. When I was a wee lass my granny used to take me to visit her, and in turn, I now take my little buddy. He was three the first time, and even though he is a big guy now we had to stop by and visit Lucy on a recent trip to the wonderful (South) Jersey Shore.

Lucy has a very interesting history. She was a tourist attraction to sell real estate to vacationing Philadelphians, a hotel and even a home for a while. You can read all about her wonderful history here: http://www.lucytheelephant.org/. Now Lucy is 129 years old and still lookin' good! She has been through a major saving/restoration in the mid 70's, and that's when I first saw her. Now she requires some upkeep, and the people who volunteer to work for her definitely love her, you can feel it.

Here's Lucy looking out to sea...

The beautiful view of Margate beach when you look out her eye...

My buddy and me visiting Lucy...

Lighted steps lead you inside...

This is what Lucy sees everyday and shows to all her happy visitors. No trip to south Jersey can be complete without saying hi to Lucy. Go visit her. Guaranteed that you and her will love it! Happy Summer!

More pickles!

2010-08-18T14:05:00.000-05:00

Was out in the neighborhood the other night and noticed someone had cut up and thrown away an entire tomato garden! Just chopped it all down and tossed it the curb. What kind of crazy is that? I am a recycling nut and these tomatoes looked good enough, so I rescued them and took 'em home to clean and pickle. Pickled green tomatoes! Why not?

Some pickling vinegars, mustard seed, black pepper, garlic, dill and habanero for a wonderful bite. In the fridge they go to marinate and get all delicious!

Grinder Bash 2010

2010-08-08T14:26:00.001-05:00

What is Grinder Bash?, you ask. Well, it is a sort of fan appreciation day the Chicago White Sox throw every year for their season ticket holders. The stadium is open for fans to walk around (every where but on the grass-boooo! I wanted to run the bases). There was free food and you could go into the dugouts, clubhouse, bullpen and walk around the field. Really cool to kinda have the stadium "all to yourself". Thanks White Sox!

Grinder Bash!

Rows and rows of seats.

Load up your plate!

Manager Dave is ready to take questions.

I have an invisible glove.

Sox manager Ozzie Guillen and the great Bernie Mac.

Beautiful field.

I love the movement in this great statue. Great day!

Snappy summer salad!

2010-08-05T16:57:00.000-05:00

Isn't a nice salad the best thing to eat in the summertime? I think so too. It's hot outside, you don't want to get stuffed but still need to eat and look good in a bikini? Make yourself a lovely salad.

Here's my creation-chopped romaine, tomato, sliced radish and radish sprouts for a great spicy bite, and some creamy delicious gorgonzola cheese. A simple drizzle of olive oil, squeeze of lemon and dash of sea salt and pepper. Delicious!

Once in the bowl, I added sliced hard boiled egg, there's your protien! Throw a little more gorgonzola on there just because it's so yummy. The flavors worked well together, the lemon and radish sprouts made it sparkle my mouth. A guilt-free healthy summer salad that won't make your bathing suit tight at all!

Steak tacos @ home

2010-08-02T16:14:00.003-05:00

Having grown up like most Americans, "taco night" usually consisted of hard shell store bought tacos, sloppy joe like taco meat and jarred salsa. Oh, and cheese. I discovered a far more authentic version when I moved to NYC many years ago. The true Mexican taco that can be found at the taco trucks in Jackson Heights, Queens. Small corn tortillas that can be stuffed with pork, beef, tounge, goat, chorizo, etc. No cheese here. The toppings are usually tomato, cilantro, radish, onion, hot peppers, hot red or green chili sauce with a squeeze of lime. After enjoying these tacos off and on again throughout the years, I have never wanted to go back to store bought ingredients. So here is my version of "taco night" at home.

Fresh, locally made corn tortillas, grilled steak that was rubbed with salt, pepper, cumin and red pepper flakes, tomato, onion, cilantro and lime. I used Sricracha hot sauce, which together with the lime had a fresh, spicy tangy bite. They came out pretty good, and I want to make them again trying out different meats, especially chorizo, which is pork from the gods. Here's to experimenting!

Caesar Salad

2010-08-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

Who doesn't love a good Caesar Salad? I do, and it's better when you come across the "true" version. No processed dressing here, I decided to make it myself . I mashed together garlic and anchovies, Coleman's mustard, lemon juice, worcestershire sauce, raw egg yolk and whisked in olive oil. Chopped romaine lettuce and croutons were put in dressing bowl and tossed. Salty, tangy deliciousness made the perfect salad, if I do say so myself.

Pickles!

2010-08-01T14:26:00.002-05:00

Summer is the perfect time to experiment and I want to try some pickles. I found a "refrigerator" pickle recipe, no boiling or steaming, all that jazz. Hot ingredients and glass containers make me super nervous. Just all the vinegars and spices to the jarred cut cucumber and pop in the fridge. The recipe I found called for a lot of brown sugar, so after a day in the fridge I added more vinegar. It's all an experiment. I had enough for four jars, so two were dill, one garlic and one habanero.

So far they have absorbed all the spices, vinegars and are crunchy and tasty. I figure they can sit and stew for a while to develop full flavor, but the habanero pickles are SUPER HOT!!! Awesome! I love experiments and so far, so good. A great summer so far!

The Puttanesca Project

2010-07-28T21:38:00.002-05:00

It's been aaaagggesssss since I had posted anything. No direction here. Do I write about books? Sightseeing? Things I hate? I will get my shit together and post goodies about what I have been doing lately, which is reading and cooking. Maybe this will work.

Up early this morning on a walk to get coffee I was already thinking of what to make for dinner. Puttanesca immediately popped into my head. It really is a dish I love. The saltiness, earthiness and spice is wonderful. I've had it with spaghetti or penne, but really like it with angel hair pasta.

I sauteed onions and garlic in olive oil, then added capers (rinsed and whole), different types of olive (nicoise, kalamata, empeltre), four to five thick anchovies, and diced tomatoes in their juice. A lot of crushed red pepper flakes, dashes of basil and oregano. A nice long simmer, then the pasta was added and sauced up.

It really came together nicely and was delicious. I just might be getting the hang of it!

hot dogs!!!

2009-08-02T14:45:00.003-05:00

it's a rainy sunday and i am recovering from a bout with icky food poisioning. from old chinese food, nonetheless. never was a fan, don't know what led me to it! that being said, am getting back to normal. the one food item that always whets my whistle is the good old american hot dog. does it really exist anywhere else? well, guess food poisioning tales and mention of food might not whet anyone else's whistle, but when i get back into full mode i will be sooo hungry for one of these...here are some favorites. top is me at nyc rooftop bbq with a yummy hotdog made by doggybloggy. then, gene and jude's in chicagoland. totally a fan!!! next but certainly not least, grey's papya here in good old nyc. can't beat that!

are you being served?? rip mollie sudgen!

2009-07-02T15:50:00.002-05:00

it seems that mollie sudgen, or mrs slocombe to you, missus, has passed away. i absolutely love her in are you being served? one of the best of british telly! i wonder who will care for her "pussy" now? that's pussycat, kittens. in these days of celebrities dropping like flies, i am sad to see mollie go

summer reading

2009-07-01T11:25:00.002-05:00

I love to read. I was born to read. I read constantly, on the subway, standing at the counter while cooking, in the tub, as I fall asleep (not in the tub). You get the idea. Here are a few of the books I am currently reading this summer, I have the good/bad habit of reading several books at the same time. It just depends on my mood at the moment, but I get the book finished. So here are the books I have begun my summer with.

10 more things i hate

2009-05-21T18:08:00.002-05:00

you know, it just felt sooo good i had to do it again

1. bees-ok, i am allergic and will probably die if you bastards sting me, so please, please leave the hive you have created under my balcony. this white girl needs a tan and you are screwing it up.

2. pete wentz-i just had to, again.

3. my ex-boyfriend's mother-seriously lady, you are freud 101 when it comes to emasculating, overbearing mothers. stop paying his rent, stop calling him every 5 minutes, stop getting between him and every girl he gets (or tries to) be with. he is almost 40. and he's the only one of your children that still talks to you. i will see you in hell.

4. bunnies-not cute. you are usless creatures, along with guinea pigs, hamsters, etc. oh, but you are delicious in stew. see, when you bit me on my 11 year old boob years ago, i have HATED your kind ever since.

5. squirrels-stay out of my garden!!! i used to feed your sorry asses peanuts in the winter so you wouldn't starve, respect me.

6. manny ramirez-you, sir, are one big asshole. single-handedly responsible for baseball players wearing enormous uniforms now. what??? you are no trendsetter. i want tight pants on ballplayers. tight, get it??

7. my downstairs neighbor-i love dogs, lady, but really hate yours. do you really let them crap in your apartment?? it sure smells like it. lysol does not cover all evils. oh, and p.s. i totally respect the fact that your man is in the military and all, but he has been home for months!!!! take down the welcome home sign before i do.

8. ups-ok, your drivers are always totally hot, but leaving that little tag on my window is just not trying. i didn't hear you ring the buzzer.

9. terrorists-there is no god, you fucking morons. dead is dead. your efforts are all in vain. let us have the world peace we so desperately strive for.

10. the casino bus to atlantic city-look, greyhound or nj transit, please set your standards higher. i need this bus to visit my peeps in ac, and getting my money back is an awesome deal. but your are one nasty ass ride.

top 10 things i hate

2009-05-21T13:30:00.002-05:00

this blog is not moving along very well, so i figured i would just vent. here is my top 10 list

1. pete wentz-i HATE you. stop populating the planet with your offspring and horrible, pseudo-hipster music. lose the eyelier. dickhead.

2. the corner of 212st and 23rd ave, bayside, queens-there is a school across the street, you idiots. stop driving like mad just to get to the cross island parkway and rush home to long island. or bayside for that matter.

3. walbaums in bay terrace shopping center, bayside, queens-you are waaay, too expensive to be serious. and your "self-checkout" line is not working. EVER.

4. bayside, queens-no, wait, i take that back, bayside. i love your lexus-driving, tennis-playing, stuck-up polo shirt wearing snobbery. and i just love taking 1.5 hours out of my day to get to manhattan.

5. pete wentz-i really do hope i run into you someday, pete wentz.

6. the preschool teacher at my roomate's preschools daughter's class-come on lady, do you have to bitch me out every time i drop off/pick up this kid?? EVERYTIME??? just cause she doesn't always have a snack or nap blanket is not my fault. i am usually hungover or not awake or both. doesn't that fact that i show up in my pj's, no matter what time of day it is tip you off?? get off my jock.

7. people that only form one line at the checkout counter when there are 4-5 cashiers open at any given time-yes, i will move ahead of all you idiotic lemmings to get my parliament lights. this mostly applies to the walgreens on 14th street and every check cashing place everywhere.

8. unemployment-why did it take a month for me to get my money??? which i blew in one day on amazon.com

9. the g train-you suck, g train. greenpoint is way off the subway map. thanks for letting my boyfriend use this excuse everytime he doesn't come over. and being the shortest train the mta has to offer. you have such penis envy.

10. pete wentz-looking like a 13 year old girl who shoplifts eyeliner makes me rue the day you were born.

i am soo boring

2009-05-21T13:05:00.002-05:00

haven't posted anything recently, but have been seriously enjoying THE best blogs ever...

testing date and time

2009-05-14T11:56:00.001-05:00

it's too bad that sometimes I don't know what day it is, let alone my computer...

Ft Totten

2009-05-12T13:32:00.000-05:00

Last week I took my little other little buddies (my girlfriend's kids) to Ft Totten, a great park here in Queens. We took a nature walk, and discovered all kinds of wonderful things. We pulled up spring onions to plant in our garden, and walked along the trails. We got so tired out and the walk home took quite a while but it was a nice time. I usually rollerblade here, but one path is along the Cross Island, which is an extremely busy highway. Turn your ipod up loud!

art and science fair

2009-05-11T19:08:00.000-05:00

This past Saturday was the school art & science fair, so the buddy and I went. It is his last year at this school so it was a big deal. We had a great time, he made goop and oragami, we painted a tote bag together and he made me a tye-dye tshirt. Both of these he gave me for Mother's Day, very sweet! It was a really good weekend, weatherwise not bad, and had a nice sushi breakfast his dad made for us on Mom's Day. Here are some pics!

Happy Mother's Day to all!

2009-05-10T21:44:00.000-05:00

Had the best Mother's Day weekend with my boy.

my babies

2009-05-04T11:45:00.000-05:00

here are my happy little babies...thriving plants are a good sign of a happy household. i am addicted to plants! or obsessed could be the better word. i love going to the farmers market at union square, chatting with the sellers and being immersed in wonderful greeness. there we can support lots of local farms and i have found buddies there that i like to frequent. so this is just a little glimpse...

cherry tomatoes

2009-05-03T19:45:00.000-05:00

it's spring and wonderfully rainy and time for planting. i am hoping to have a successful balcony-garden this summer, and am going to start with tomatoes. little bitty cherry tomatoes. i read a great tip to use an egg carton to start sprouts indoors. cut the top off the carton, poke holes in the bottom of each little cup, add potting soil, whatever seeds you want to use and cover with more soil and water. use the top of the carton as a tray. keep soil moist, and once sprouted, re-plant outdoors. hopefully as easy as it sounds. we'll see!! the pics are not top-quality as they are from a cameraphone, but you get the idea.

mermaid pictures

2009-05-03T15:34:00.000-05:00

just some pretty mermaid pictures that i love...

mermayd and little merman in honduras

2009-05-01T09:25:00.000-05:00

May Day

2009-05-01T08:48:00.001-05:00

Welcome to my new blog...