I have been feeling nostalgic lately for when I was just 20 years old and lucky enough to spend four months in Europe. I wish I could travel far and wide again, though it would be pretty difficult with two young children. Luckily, I have my old journal, and kept very good notes on my time in Europe. I can revisit those old times in my imagination.... One way to bring these old memories back is to remember through cuisine.
I remember the food and the wine in Hungary to be very special. The prices were affordable, and it was so delicious. I recently bought a Hungarian cookbook for myself. It is The Hungarian Cookbook, by Susan Derecskey, and I do like it quite a bit. After much searching, I found some Hungarian paprika at Target of all places. (Archer Farms was the brand, and it comes in a nice square glass jar, though I didn't notice much of a taste difference from the Simply Organic paprika that also sits on my spice rack in a very similar clear square glass jar.)
I thought I would share one recipe from this cookbook here on my blog. It will give you a feel for the style in which it presents instructions. (But first I will torture you with my own librariany thoughts on the cookbook its self, if you can stand it. Otherwise, just skip the next paragraph.)
I found the book to be a bit quirky because it basically assumes that the reader knows how to cook, and it feels a lot like reading my grandmother's handwritten recipe notes. Some aspects to the instructions are perfectly detailed, and others are more vague. For example, at one point it assumed I would have no hesitation throwing a nearly whole onion into a soup pot. This was a false assumption because I like my onions chopped finely. However if I did not read and think through the entire recipe, I would have experienced some extra frustration trying to fish out all those nice small pieces of onion that I spent time and tears chopping nice and small. That said, my grandmother's handwritten cooking notes are a real treasure to me, and I very much enjoyed the adventure of digging into each recipe as though it were a puzzle with many possible correct answers. I do like this cookbook, other than I wish the index were more detailed. To be fair, I nearly always want to complain about the indexes of cookbooks. Okay, enough torture, here's the recipe for lentil soup that I promised Megan a while ago. I added a few of my own notes in italics.
Lentil Soup
LENCSE LEVES
(len-che le-vesh)
1 1/2 cups (about 3/4 pound) dried lentils
1 tablespoon salt - I discovered this was too much salt for my tastes
2 leafy celery stalks
2 carrots
1 leek or medium onion
2 cloves garlic, peeled and stuck on toothpicks
3 peeled tomatoes, preferably canned
1/2 medium green pepper, cut in 1/2 inch strips
2-ounce piece of smoked bacon - Resist the urge to add extra bacon. I made this mistake... and it really does taste better with only a little bit.
3 frankfurters, sliced. I added half a package of polish kielbasa based on a suggestion in the first section of the cookbook.
Wash the lentils in cold water and pick them over, discarding any shriveled or black ones. Place them in a large, heavy-bottomed soup pot, and add 6 cups of cold water and the salt. Simmer, covered, for 45 minutes. If desired, puree all or some of the lentils at this point, or leave them whole. Add the cleaned vegetables to the pot as well as the smoked bacon. Bring back to the simmer and continue cooking for about 45 minutes or until the lentils are tender. Remove the celery, onion, garlic, and bacon from the soup and discard them; remove the carrots and leek, slice them in 1/2 inch pieces, and put them back in the soup. The tomatoes should have dissolved; if not, mash them with a fork. About 15 minutes before serving, bring the soup back to the simmer and add the frankfurter slices. Cook at least 10 minutes, and serve the soup.
If you try the recipe, do let me know what you thought!
Monday, April 1, 2013
Monday, January 21, 2013
MLK's dream included Indians
This website has many resources to promote an accurate understanding of Indians when working with children: http://www.racismagainstindians.org/
Have you been following the Idle No More movement? Protests are fascinating, and I have been learning a lot by following this one. Here is a link describing the origins of the movement if you are unfamiliar with it.
http://idlenomore.ca/index.php/about-us/press-releases/item/58-press-release-idle-no-more
For one, I have discovered that I am a huge fan of Northwest Coast art. I especially like Andy Everson. His images are clean, modern, with just enough traditional feel to make me know what I see - the spirit of the thing. Here are links to his Facebook page and website.
https://www.facebook.com/Andy.Everson.NWC.Artist
http://www.andyeverson.com/
He made this image:
Have you been following the Idle No More movement? Protests are fascinating, and I have been learning a lot by following this one. Here is a link describing the origins of the movement if you are unfamiliar with it.
http://idlenomore.ca/index.php/about-us/press-releases/item/58-press-release-idle-no-more
For one, I have discovered that I am a huge fan of Northwest Coast art. I especially like Andy Everson. His images are clean, modern, with just enough traditional feel to make me know what I see - the spirit of the thing. Here are links to his Facebook page and website.
https://www.facebook.com/Andy.Everson.NWC.Artist
http://www.andyeverson.com/
He made this image:
Also, this rapper has some sweet pieces about the Idle no More movement: https://www.youtube.com/user/IamDrezus?feature=watch
My kids are part Yakima, I guess. I have been told that they are decended from a chief that signed a treaty. I saw a copy of the geneology around the time I was married. I only know what I read online about it all, because my mother-in-law was raised white. She was not even supposed to know that she was part Indian. I can only imagine the whole story behind all this! The only other thing I know is that the last name Hoffer was adopted spontaneously to cover up the lineage.
Environmentalism interests me, especially in the sense that my kids and future generations better learn from the mistakes of past generations or the human race will end up this video:
I read this book from the library called Through Indian Eyes: the Native Experience in Books for Children, and I realized that there was plenty of offensive content in my early education that did not make my understanding Native Americans correct. I knew there were still Indians around, but I did not understand what racism against Indians looked like. Now I think I have a better understanding of this, and it is important to me that my children know they are part Indian and also that this ok, just as their handedness, gender, sexuality, and the choices they make are ok.
So today I saw on Facebook that the Sandy Hook Massacre was being touted as the largest shooting in American history... A meme reminded me that Wounded Knee was far worse... My heart broke imagining the estimated 300 men, women and children that were massacred for fear of the ghost dance. History came alive for me this morning. I found this somewhat awkward flash website for the Wounded Knee Museum as a source to learn more about it. http://www.woundedkneemuseum.org
Resources for Librarians:
American Indian Youth Literature Award
Publisher out of Canada:
Non-fiction for students and teachers:
Love the visual impact of these:
Comics!
DVDs
The biggest source of racism that I have encountered in library materials has been in kids craft books. I am appalled that there are so many projects for children that mock Native American culture. Please be very careful when planning activities for children. Do not invite them to do craft projects that would come across as offensive to children with Indian heritage!
- Implying all Indians wear feathered costumes? no!
- Crafts mimicing Indian handiwork? no!
- Talking about traditions without citing a specific tribe? no!
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Christmas 2012: some thoughts and photos
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| Pipe cleaner collection |
The kids managed to sleep until 8, which I thought was totally fair. We all woke up and together we all checked out the living room. Bea and Vinny were in their new pajamas so that they would look nice in pictures. This is a Colbert tradition I've adopted thanks to Christmas eve with Arlene and Mary Ann. Bea's Christmas jammies this year made her look just like a leopard. Thanks Mary Ann! How cute. Funny that I bought some kitty ears totally separately that just happened to match perfectly. Santa must be psychic! At least he was when I was a kid. Now that I'm grown I have to figure out how to be the mind reader. Oh wait, no I have to find a way to conjure up money.
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| Kitty Bea waking up slow next to a family of sledding penguins. |
I feel old and worn as a Mommy of two approaching Christmas. I don't want to teach them to over-do as I think I was taught. I want to teach them to center themselves and live life awake. Bea asked Santa for a pink whistle with a bird on it. Vinny wanted trombone. Santa looked at me inquisitively and told the kids he was stumped. I just said, "I guess that's what they want." He told them that he wasn't sure if he could do that or not, but that he would try. A pink whistle with a bird on it is pretty specific, and a trombone is likely very expensive. He managed to find a pink recorder and put a bird sticker on it for Bea. Vinny somehow got his hands on a slide whistle, but I'm not sure where that came from. Wishes were fulfilled, though I didn't spend $20 on the pictures.
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| Vinny thinks his new saw is amazing! |
We celebrated Christmas eve with the Colberts where we helped decorate the tree.
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| My best attempt at photographing overtired Vinny decorating the tree at Grama and Grampa's house. |
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| Vinny made an interesting attempt at wearing a stocking. |
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| Centerpiece for the dinner table! |
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| Close up of my pink Christmas tree. |
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| Bea is just cute. |
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| Dad carving the perfectly cooked, perfectly timed prime rib. |
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| The tiniest cutest ladybug! |
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| Bea opening a present carefully selected by Mama and Auntie. Finger print art! |
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| Decorating the tree with Mom and Dad Colbert |
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| Bea flipped when she opened this. |
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Something about me.
I really started learning stuff back in the autumn of the year 2000 at St. Lawrence University. One of five courses I took my first semester of college was intro to environmental science. I still have my two and a half inch thick text book, even though I could have sold it back for good money. It was painful to learn all this from a teacher who basically started out by telling us that there is no real solution. That same semester, my first year class also studied environmental issues and international politics. It was enough to immerse me deeply in the problems of this planet, that's for sure. After reading Ishmael by Daniel Quinn and also The Man Who Grew Young by the same author, I became passionate about making a difference in the world.
My second semester I decided to steer away from such a deep focus on the environment. I knew it was very bad, and that was enough. My second semester first year course was "Toxic Avenger's Theatre." That course really stretched me far beyond my comfort zone and pushed my creativity to the limit. The following semester I took international politics and then, early in the semester on an off day, September 11th happened. I decided to focus my learning on international politics and math. I was doing well in most of my courses.... but I had become so deeply depressed by the shock of learning about the impossible ills of the world I was not sure I could carry on. I spent a semester in Europe and then dropped out of college.
I felt it was time for me to switch from a science and math focus to a creative focus. I took courses at a few different community colleges and then designed my own degree program at Empire State College. I carefully planned out a highly balanced, extremely well rounded education topped by a study in the use of literature in education. I did not study how to teach but rather the broader concept of education in general. After finishing my highly coveted degree, I spent two years earning minimum wage in urban poverty until I realized that a career in librarianship was perfect for me. I wrote a compelling application essay and (surprise!) conceived my daughter the same week. I learned of the pregnancy two weeks after I was accepted at the University at Buffalo's library science program. This same month, my grandmother died. I underwent several serious lifestyle changes to adapt to the pregnancy, while at the same time I awkwardly began a degree I wanted second only to my baby. We moved to Batavia and got married. We moved back to Rochester. As soon as my prepregnancy figure returned, (surprise again!) I became pregnant a second time. I finished my MLS and then gave birth to my boy child three weeks later. Perhaps this might be the right answer to "tell me something about yourself" for someone looking to hire the best of the best? I don't know. What makes one best better than another best of a different variety?
Honestly, I am the sort of person who is interested in so many things. I must concentrate to narrow my focus and execute detail oriented work. Seeing the big picture is something that comes naturally to me. I like to bird walk ideas, as one started project gets set aside unfinished as I become excited about a new concept that then in turn feeds to another. I will return to my old projects. I do intend on finishing them one day. Deadlines help me.
My current focus is learning about how humanity must change the way we interact with our environment if we are to stop living as parasites on the planet and begin to shift our way of thinking toward sustainability. My daughter's preschool teacher says I should just talk about going green. That's something palatable that people can learn about somewhat comfortably. Learning about sustainability and permaculture can be overwhelming and depressing. I think that now I am ready for it. As a pretend librarian, I imagine that I am in a position where maybe somehow I can make a difference by providing my imaginary patrons with just the right amount of information so that they want to learn more and continue to live an increasingly green lifestyle.
I fantasize about being able to build a collection of very useful reference books in these subjects. I am lying. I see titles and reviews of books like these and I ignore them all the time. I have zero budget. I have kids to look after and there are so few jobs out there paying a wage that will both meet our physical and financial needs. The only thing I want more that a part time library job, is a nice home comfortably within my budget where I can raise my family.
I interviewed for a position nearly two weeks ago....
I just discovered my nice rejection email. They will keep my resume on file in case of new openings and all that. I know that I should not feel bad as they interviewed quite a few of my well qualified colleagues, but rejection is intensified by how few and far between open positions have become. Will I even get another chance within a year? The more time that passes, the more shiny new graduates are also waiting with their freshly sharpened skills and advice from their professors on how to get that job. I owe money for this education. I care about this work. I have children to think of. I have goals for myself that I have been holding on to for a long time. How am I supposed to accept things the way they are? I can't.
My second semester I decided to steer away from such a deep focus on the environment. I knew it was very bad, and that was enough. My second semester first year course was "Toxic Avenger's Theatre." That course really stretched me far beyond my comfort zone and pushed my creativity to the limit. The following semester I took international politics and then, early in the semester on an off day, September 11th happened. I decided to focus my learning on international politics and math. I was doing well in most of my courses.... but I had become so deeply depressed by the shock of learning about the impossible ills of the world I was not sure I could carry on. I spent a semester in Europe and then dropped out of college.
I felt it was time for me to switch from a science and math focus to a creative focus. I took courses at a few different community colleges and then designed my own degree program at Empire State College. I carefully planned out a highly balanced, extremely well rounded education topped by a study in the use of literature in education. I did not study how to teach but rather the broader concept of education in general. After finishing my highly coveted degree, I spent two years earning minimum wage in urban poverty until I realized that a career in librarianship was perfect for me. I wrote a compelling application essay and (surprise!) conceived my daughter the same week. I learned of the pregnancy two weeks after I was accepted at the University at Buffalo's library science program. This same month, my grandmother died. I underwent several serious lifestyle changes to adapt to the pregnancy, while at the same time I awkwardly began a degree I wanted second only to my baby. We moved to Batavia and got married. We moved back to Rochester. As soon as my prepregnancy figure returned, (surprise again!) I became pregnant a second time. I finished my MLS and then gave birth to my boy child three weeks later. Perhaps this might be the right answer to "tell me something about yourself" for someone looking to hire the best of the best? I don't know. What makes one best better than another best of a different variety?
Honestly, I am the sort of person who is interested in so many things. I must concentrate to narrow my focus and execute detail oriented work. Seeing the big picture is something that comes naturally to me. I like to bird walk ideas, as one started project gets set aside unfinished as I become excited about a new concept that then in turn feeds to another. I will return to my old projects. I do intend on finishing them one day. Deadlines help me.
My current focus is learning about how humanity must change the way we interact with our environment if we are to stop living as parasites on the planet and begin to shift our way of thinking toward sustainability. My daughter's preschool teacher says I should just talk about going green. That's something palatable that people can learn about somewhat comfortably. Learning about sustainability and permaculture can be overwhelming and depressing. I think that now I am ready for it. As a pretend librarian, I imagine that I am in a position where maybe somehow I can make a difference by providing my imaginary patrons with just the right amount of information so that they want to learn more and continue to live an increasingly green lifestyle.
I fantasize about being able to build a collection of very useful reference books in these subjects. I am lying. I see titles and reviews of books like these and I ignore them all the time. I have zero budget. I have kids to look after and there are so few jobs out there paying a wage that will both meet our physical and financial needs. The only thing I want more that a part time library job, is a nice home comfortably within my budget where I can raise my family.
I interviewed for a position nearly two weeks ago....
I just discovered my nice rejection email. They will keep my resume on file in case of new openings and all that. I know that I should not feel bad as they interviewed quite a few of my well qualified colleagues, but rejection is intensified by how few and far between open positions have become. Will I even get another chance within a year? The more time that passes, the more shiny new graduates are also waiting with their freshly sharpened skills and advice from their professors on how to get that job. I owe money for this education. I care about this work. I have children to think of. I have goals for myself that I have been holding on to for a long time. How am I supposed to accept things the way they are? I can't.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Shop local this Christmas!
Thanksgiving this year was, for me, the most sincere version of the holiday that has blessed my life. Beginning in early November, I noticed some Facebook friends posting "30 Days of Thanks," where each day they would mention something they were thankful about. I took this idea and made my own "attitude of gratitude" by discussing the concept of being thankful with my children and posting the results of some of these discussions on my favorite social networking site. When we discussed thankfulness at the table, I was proud of my two year old son who said he was thankful for his life. We all agreed that we are thankful for our own lives, and for the lives of each other.
In addition to the numerous things I listed on my Facebook this past month, I am thankful for knowledge and critical thinking. In honor of that I am celebrating Buy Nothing Day today rather than Black Friday. Furthermore, I am creating a list of small businesses here in Rochester that are ready and able to offer us a great variety of goods and services to gift this Christmas. Please let me know of any places you think I should add to this list, and I will continue to update this post.
Parkleigh
Zak's Avenue
MAG Store
RMSC Gift Shop
Craft Company No. 6
Archimage
George Eastman House Shop
Comics Etc.
Bop Shop
Needle Drop Records
Record Archive
National Museum of Play Gift Shop
The Library Store
Beers of the World
In addition to the numerous things I listed on my Facebook this past month, I am thankful for knowledge and critical thinking. In honor of that I am celebrating Buy Nothing Day today rather than Black Friday. Furthermore, I am creating a list of small businesses here in Rochester that are ready and able to offer us a great variety of goods and services to gift this Christmas. Please let me know of any places you think I should add to this list, and I will continue to update this post.
Parkleigh
Zak's Avenue
MAG Store
RMSC Gift Shop
Craft Company No. 6
Archimage
George Eastman House Shop
Comics Etc.
Bop Shop
Needle Drop Records
Record Archive
National Museum of Play Gift Shop
The Library Store
Beers of the World
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
When I tell Vinny I am a librarian, he assumes I'm playing let's pretend.
Maybe I am just pretending to be a librarian. It feels like that these days. People post on Facebook, something inspires me, and >>whoot!<< I have imaginary patrons to cater to. Bea and Vinny are my awesome patrons, too. I find them stuff to do, research parenting, listen to their play and think about bringing them into a better future. It's the bringing them into a better future part that is the tall order. It's also the reason I wanted to be a librarian in the first place.
There are so many incredible ideas out there right now. The world is ripe for change. I think people are ready to do the work needed to make things better for everyone. Or at least some people think it is. Maybe we are living in a time when things can change. Maybe I am dreaming of an unattainable utopia again. I've had a habit of doing that for a while now. There is so much work to be done. Look, here is a site that lists movie titles to encourage awareness of important social, environmental, and media related issues. 900 movies are available to stream, and many others might just be available at your local library. http://www.filmsforaction.org
There are so many people out there like me: young, educated, unemployed or underemployed, perhaps parents, perhaps not, maybe single, maybe gay, maybe married, and we value the future. Our other values may conflict, but we are connected through social networking online, and we are talking about what we experience. This is powerful. There is discussion to sort things out. These are the essential roots of change, and I believe it is reasonable to have hope as I press on in exploring the depressing, frightening truth of this hellish world in which we live. We must not deny our fear. It must be faced to be overcome.
There are so many incredible ideas out there right now. The world is ripe for change. I think people are ready to do the work needed to make things better for everyone. Or at least some people think it is. Maybe we are living in a time when things can change. Maybe I am dreaming of an unattainable utopia again. I've had a habit of doing that for a while now. There is so much work to be done. Look, here is a site that lists movie titles to encourage awareness of important social, environmental, and media related issues. 900 movies are available to stream, and many others might just be available at your local library. http://www.filmsforaction.org
There are so many people out there like me: young, educated, unemployed or underemployed, perhaps parents, perhaps not, maybe single, maybe gay, maybe married, and we value the future. Our other values may conflict, but we are connected through social networking online, and we are talking about what we experience. This is powerful. There is discussion to sort things out. These are the essential roots of change, and I believe it is reasonable to have hope as I press on in exploring the depressing, frightening truth of this hellish world in which we live. We must not deny our fear. It must be faced to be overcome.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Thinking about exercise is easier than exercising
I was always taught that it is important to eat healthy and exercise. Dad and Vanessa instilled a deep love of nature by traveling the
world on horseback. Horseback riding and caring for horses is a very
enjoyable way to stay in shape, however is beyond my financial means at this time. One day I hope to return to my favorite sport that exists, endurance riding. This sport changed my life when I was in high school, and I received a nice scholarship from St. Lawrence University for an essay about what I learned from the sport. Not familiar with it? Here is a basic primer: http://www.olddominionrides.org/EndurancePrimer/EnduranceHowTo.html
My mama also promoted exercise when I was a kid by planning outdoors activities like camping, hiking, mountain climbing, cross country skiing, canoeing, canoe camping, ice skating, and working out at the Y as a family. These activities created many interesting memories. I think my kids are still young for all that, but I plan to share these things with them when they are old enough.
At the present time, I would like to improve my life by making exercise a priority, and also passing that value along to my children. I have always been interested in Yoga, so I created a list of yoga DVDs that I think look cool for families. I also have heard some things about hula hooping as a great way to build core strength. My core... needs work.... So here is the list. I've ***marked the DVDs I think look especially cool.
My mama also promoted exercise when I was a kid by planning outdoors activities like camping, hiking, mountain climbing, cross country skiing, canoeing, canoe camping, ice skating, and working out at the Y as a family. These activities created many interesting memories. I think my kids are still young for all that, but I plan to share these things with them when they are old enough.
At the present time, I would like to improve my life by making exercise a priority, and also passing that value along to my children. I have always been interested in Yoga, so I created a list of yoga DVDs that I think look cool for families. I also have heard some things about hula hooping as a great way to build core strength. My core... needs work.... So here is the list. I've ***marked the DVDs I think look especially cool.
- Hooping For Beginners: A Hybrid Journey
- ***Pranam
- Hoopnotica: Hoopdance Basics - Beginner, Level 1
- HoopDance for Beginners
- Hoopnotica Fitness Hoop Dance DVD Level 1
- ***Bryan Kest Power Yoga Complete Collection
- ***Yoga Booty Ballet Complete Workout System
- Yoga for Depression and Anxiety
- Pelvic Yoga for Pregnancy
- AM/PM Yoga for Beginners
- Teen Yoga
- ***Shanti Generation: Yoga Skills for Youth Peacemakers Ages 7 -16
- Yoga for Families: Connect With Your Kids
- Storyland Yoga: Yoga for Kids and Kids and Families Ages 3-8
- Family Yoga
- Yoga Kids Age 3-6
- Yoga Kids Two
- Yoga Motion: Yoga for Kids Age 2.5+
- YogaKids, Vol. 3: Silly to Calm
- YogaKids, Vol. 2: ABCs for Ages 3-6
- ***Kids Yoga with Phonics
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