No Other Day The Same 2014

Happy New Year's Eve!

Yesterday, I reflected on my past year of blogging. Today, I will tell you all about the 2014 revamping of my blog. I loved writing about a moment every day in 2013, and choosing blogging as one of my New Year's Resolutions (the only one I successfully completed) was an excellent motivational tool. Therefore, in 2014, I will combine New Year's Resolutions/goals/intentions with new weekly blog post topics that are personal challenges of mine and hopefully topics of interest for all of you.

Here goes!

Monday: No Other Angle The Same

I love words, and words are everywhere in my life, from my career to my hobbies. Therefore, I want to experiment with images. I'm excited to take on the challenge of finding a new angle every week on a different scene and posting that photograph to my blog on Monday.

Tuesday: No Other Tale The Same

I have always loved books and even made a career of being an English teacher. Yet somehow in these past several years I have not read nearly as much as I have wanted to - and I'm quite a fast reader. Therefore, my new challenge is to read a new book per week and to blog about it every Tuesday. Perhaps some weeks it will be a short story or children's book, yet it will be a tale all the same. Ideally I won't look like this guy when I'm done.

Wednesday: No Other Dish The Same

My goal for 2014 is to gain more confidence in the kitchen by trying one new recipe per week and telling you all about the process. As someone who instinctually rebels against recipes, this weekly Wednesday post should be highly entertaining. The best part is that unlike those perfect Pinterest pictures, my cooking posts will probably make you feel much better about your own cooking!

Thursday: No Other News The Same

In 2014, my goal is to actually read the news. Not this news....I seem to always be quite caught up on this news.

Instead, I will read this news. 

Where does the blogging come in? I took this amazing Op-Ed seminar last April and have never actually written an opinion editorial. Therefore, each week I will take one current news topic and, after some research, I will post a short Op-Ed on Thursday.

Friday: No Other ______ The Same

As someone who plans way too much, I'm taking the challenge of leaving every Friday wide open. We'll see how it goes!

I won't be posting on Saturdays and Sundays. As someone who is continually striving for balance, I know this new blogging schedule will warrant a break on the weekends!

I hope in the new year I get the chance to hear more from my readers. I would love to hear about your personal resolutions in the comments, if you choose to make them. To play devil's advocate, I've been reading several articles that suggest, in fact, that making New Year's Resolutions is a bad idea. What do you think?

What books should I read? What news sites are your favorites? Which cooking blogs/recipe books should I try? I welcome all book, news article and recipe suggestions!

I hope everyone has an incredible New Year's Eve. I look forward to greeting you tomorrow with my first Wednesday post of No Other Dish the Same. Happy 2014!

Thank you and Top Twelve

Well, the year 2013 is rapidly coming to an end, and I first wanted to say thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. When I started this blog, I didn't think I could last a month. In fact, this is the very first New Year's Resolution I have successfully accomplished, and I couldn't have done it without each one of you, my readers.

Some of you have read because you are related to me and are obligated to, some of you have read because you are my friends and you support me no matter what, and some of you hopefully have read simply because you are interested in/can relate to what I write. I've been so inspired seeing that my readers have come from the US, Serbia, Russia, China, Germany, France, Belgium, Bangladesh, Honduras and Malaysia. Knowing (or hoping) someone out there is reading my blogs has kept me going. 

I plan to keep blogging, and I'm completely changing up the format, so tune in tomorrow to hear all about No Other Day the Same 2014! 

Today, however, I'm choosing to think back on 2013. Some posts have certainly been more elegant and well thought out than others, yet here we are, 365 posts later. It's odd in a sense. When you take each day and write about it, a year seems very long and very short at the same time. Looking at my posts collectively, I've noticed a few trends. This year, I have taken the bus - A LOT. I have said goodbye to my teaching career (for now). I have frequently experimented with baking. I have experienced plenty of absurd encounters that seem to only happen to me, and seem to only happen in Philly. I have continually embraced my awkward nature. I have laughed at myself. 

Below I've listed my favorite post from every month. Well, you're getting a Baker's Dozen this time. I feel as though March was a particularly good month for me, writing-wise, and I couldn't choose just one.

January: Yo dropped your smile - I remember on that particular day feeling very down in the dumps. Taking the time to notice this sign and write this post changed my entire mood.

February: The art of getting lost - Looking back on this post reminds me to never stop having adventures, even if they aren't the adventures I have planned to have.

March: Neat Stuff - I've been wanting to enter this store for six years, and I couldn't believe my luck that I finally got to see inside. It was everything I had been hoping for and more.

Bonus: If you can't spot the weird person on the bus, it's you - After all my ranting and raving about bus rides, I loved laughing at myself for being THAT PERSON.

April: I feel the streets! - I will always remember taking my 3rd graders outside that day, after the craziness that was the hellish standardized testing.

May: The man with the shirt that blows in the wind - This, like "Neat Stuff", was another Philly mystery I was delighted to crack this year.

June: YES - I will never forget how free I felt on that day, running through the fountain. 

July: Picture memories - Even though no picture accompanies this post, I can still see the lake in Maine in my mind.

August: Baking my cake and eating it too - I will continue to bake, to the frustration and worry of those skilled bakers around me!

September: Trying to bike like I'm French - I will never manage to bike like the French, yet somewhere this year, I managed to embrace those moments of complete awkwardness I have every day.

October: Frank Sinatra is a liar - I will never stop looking for Dr. Evans in that coffee shop, and I continue to be haunted by his story.

November: The intricacies of the trees - My grandma has taught me to see the beauty in the unexpected, and I loved being able to pass along that message. 

December: Now and Then - I believe that part of moving on in years is having the ability to reflect on how the world is changing. 

I remember telling a friend early on this year that my posts would be short, a paragraph at most! I didn't quite hold true to that promise!! Goodbye, 2013...

5 second rule?

Have you ever had that moment when you were carrying a Chipotle paper bag with handles containing burritos and it was pouring down rain and the bag just fell apart, leaving the burritos on the sidewalk? Did you have to make the decision, right then and there, to either leave the burritos on the sidewalk or pick them up and keep walking? I'm sure you picked them up and kept walking, right? 5 second rule? Bueller? Maybe that was just me, today...

The perfect dress

I don't know much about wedding dresses. Every bride I've ever seen looks sensational, but to be perfectly honest, the dresses kind of all flow together in my mind. The whole "I've found the perfect dress" thing seems a bit arbitrary to me. Yet today, watching my friend find her perfect dress and seeing the absolute joy on her face, I began to understand this phenomenon just a little. 

The lost art of conversation

I attended my friend’s grandma’s memorial service today. It was a beautiful, touching ceremony in a gorgeous temple. Everyone had amazing memories to share.

I always enjoyed talking to my friend’s grandma. She was so lovely and interested in everything going on around her. Yet until today, I wasn’t aware of a huge connection we had in common.

She owned a bookstore in New London, Connecticut and sold wholesale books to schools and libraries. All of her family members talked about how much she loved books. In that moment, I felt such profound sadness that I had never had a conversation with her about a book, and I wondered why, since I majored in English in college and then became an English teacher.

My friend’s uncle talked about how his mother was extremely adept in what he called the “lost art of conversation”. 

“She could keep a conversation going on with just about anyone,” he said. “Her secret? Never talking about herself. She kept asking question after question after question.”

That’s exactly how I remember her. I met her several times since I became close with my friend and her family, and we always talked about my life and how I was doing.

In that moment, sitting in the memorial service, it hit me that I had never asked what she had done before coming to live in DC. I usually pride myself on my art of conversation. Yet this one individual always made it so easy to shift the focus away from her, in her mastery of the art of conversation. I felt a moment of profound sadness and loss over the deeper discussions we could have enjoyed, had I simply asked her a question.

Oh, Cactus

There's one restaurant in DC that I always seem to keep getting back to - a Mexican restaurant where all the high school kids hang out. I waitressed there in college. Somehow, I always get pulled back. Tonight, dining there with a friend from high school, while coincidentally getting seated next to my brother and his girlfriend and running into some of his classmates having a high school reunion, I reminisced about my days as a waitress there. On my final night, there was a snafu with a gift receipt, and I was told that I had to take responsibility for it and receive no tips. I remember leaving on such a sour note that I actually stole an entire huge jar of paprika. Why the paprika? It seemed like a good idea at the time. I like to think I've outgrown that rebel against authority phase. Probably no one ever noticed my huge act of rebellion, which is ultimately for the best. I do like a good swirl margarita and some queso dip every once in a while.

Motivation

'Twas a very lazy Christmas this year, and mid-afternoon I was still in my pajama's. My dad kept nudging us to go for a walk, and we kept carefully ignoring his hints. Finally, he insisted we get out and move around a little. Once I got outside into the crisp, cold air, I was glad to be doing something other than eating and lying on the couch. My dad was right!

Away in a manger...

At church this evening, I was pleasantly surprised to see what they had done with the nativity scene. Look closely. You should spot some other creatures besides the standard sheep, donkeys and cows.

That's right, There are dinosaurs, frogs, tigers, zebras and more. Apparently the children of the church were asked to bring in toy animals to decorate the manger. I guess God has an amazing sense of humor. Merry Christmas Eve!

The moment when I almost hugged the FedEx guy

I know that mine is one of the thousands of Christmas shipping stories. Usually, I forget to order presents until it's too late, and then I have to pay extra for shipping and wait anxiously as Christmas day creeps closer and closer. However, this year I was prepared. I ordered a globe on December 9th. On December 19th, I received the following email:

Hello Julia L,

There has been an unexpected delay with your order# 1640781532 due to the popularity of the items below, which are temporarily out of stock. Your new delivery estimate is 03/20/2014.

March 20th, 2014???? I was, as you can imagine, fuming. I called customer service and spent an hour on the phone arguing about how if an item was out of stock they should have told me MUCH sooner and finally got them to ship another globe overnight. A very nice woman named Sarah assured me the new globe would arrive on Friday the 20th. 

Friday the 20th rolled around, and no globe showed up. At this point, Monday the 23rd was the last shot before Christmas. I spent all morning inwardly panicking. 

Just when I thought I couldn't take it anymore and I would have to present the dreaded IOU instead of the actual gift, a FedEx guy came through the door with the globe. I practically jumped up and down, and had to restrain myself from hugging him. He looked understandably surly.

Please Touch Museum

The Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia doesn't allow adults in without a kid. Yeah, I get it. It would be kinda sketchy for adults to want to go to a children's museum without a kid in tow. Yet for 7 years now, I've been curious about what exactly this amazing place might entail - and today, I finally had an excuse to go (I took my friends and their kid). It was even better than I imagined - an Alice in Wonderland section, a SEPTA bus to explore, and countless places to play. For a minute, I forgot the real focus of the trip as I urged my friends' four-year old daughter to come on and see the next exhibit. It was something I really wanted to play with. Yeah, I may be regressing. 

Am I really right?

This evening, walking the streets of Philadelphia with my friends and their four year old daughter, I told everyone we had five more blocks to go until we reached the restaurant. "No, we have six!" the little girl said. I think originally meant just to be silly. I thought about it for a moment. "Actually, you're right!" I said. She looked at me for a moment, almost as if she thought I was pacifying her. "Am I really right?" she asked. She looked so proud to have been proven right. I usually underestimate the distance and time it takes to get somewhere (most of my friends know this well, because I am usually late), and it took a perceptive four year old to make me realize that tonight. On the way home, I told everyone we were two blocks away. "You mean three!" the little girl said. Of course, she turned out to be right again. Really right.

Secret Snow Friend

Today, at my work holiday party, we were revealing who our "Secret Snow Friends" were. Seriously, no one is okay with the term Secret Santa anymore?? Anyways...a co-worker's adorable 4 year old daughter was there, and as the first person was about to guess, she yelled out, "I'll give you a hint! I'll give you a hint!" We burst out laughing because it was obvious to us that she was giving away the Secret Snow Friend as her mom. Of course, she was totally oblivious. "Want a hint? Want a hint?" She then proceeded to spell her mom's name as the hint. We played along and let her think she had helped the guesser. In that moment, I almost longed to be 4 years old again, when I was too enchanted with the guessing part to skip to the end. 

Pop!

Remember these veggies?

One of them makes homemade popcorn. So I was told. Thus, I started to try to get every single kernel off the cob and into a bowl. It wasn't easy.

Finally, I did it! I was getting a bit crazy right here. Notice my crazy eyes?

Next, I put the kernels into a pot, covered them in oil, and waited. L looked at me suspiciously, and asked if I knew what I was doing. It seemed to be an eternity (although it was probably about 2 minutes) until we heard the first pop. I was so excited that I actually hopped up and down and clapped my hands. At popcorn.

In my excitement, I may have left the popcorn on too long...so I was left with this.

Was it worth it? Hmm.....

Last week of CSA

It's really cold out this week, and the last thing I wanted to do tonight was drag myself over to my friend's house to get my share of the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture - we paid up front to get shares of vegetables from a local farm). To tell you the truth, this CSA thing has been kind of a pain. Every week, I have to coordinate with two other people and trek to get a third of a bag of nebulous vegetables that I don't know how to cook. Sounding like a curmudgeon, am I?

Yet...I've had so much fun experimenting. I've tried vegetables that look like dinosaurs, I've been cooking a lot more often, I've felt stronger and healthier, and now, when I look at the produce that's at the store, I feel weird about buying out of season.

I don't always get a chance to see these two particular friends, and I'm going to miss having the routine of knowing I'll see them every week. Looks like it's time to commit to the next CSA season. Who can identify those vegetables in the picture? 

Talk talk talk

When I was in high school, I would come home and spend hours on the phone. My mom always said she didn't understand why. "You've just spent all day with your friends!" she'd say. "Why do you need to talk to them for hours per night?" She was right, of course. Yet my day wouldn't be complete until I would talk to every single one.

I've always been a phone person. This new texting phenomenon is useful, but to be honest, I just like to gab on the phone. Getting to chat with two of my girlfriends tonight was a rare treat and, I realized, that in this sense, I'd like to revert back to high school and do it more often. 

What's next?

I realized today that I only have a handful of days left to blog in 2013. At the beginning of the year, my challenge was to write once a day. For the most part, I've managed to keep that up. I want to continue to blog next year, but I want a new focus - a new lens. I just haven't found it yet. A blog about failed cooking adventures? Book nerdiness? Travel hopes? What do you think?

A ten-second Christmas Village

In the middle of 30th Street Station, there's a miniature Christmas Village. There's a toy train that goes around and around, lights a plenty, and even tiny ice skaters twirling. All you have to do is stop rushing, push a button, and watch for a moment. 

Now and Then

I remember watching this movie for the first time when I was in 7th grade. Even then, I longed for a simpler time. The girls rode their bikes without helmets, and bike locks weren't necessary. They had crazy adventures, and just seemed to wander the streets all day until it got dark, no questions asked. Best friends were just a signal away, and if they were summoned by flashlight, they would sneak out and meet up late at night. Especially when watching this movie again with girlfriends tonight, life in the early 70's seems very idyllic.

Then, I started thinking about my childhood. My best friend was just down the street. While we didn't sneak out of our houses (note, we did NOT sneak out of our houses), we did have crazy adventures sneaking around in the Bishop's Garden by the National Cathedral. We sang in treetops and spent hours at the local pool. We held fundraisers and put on musicals in my friend's backyard. Life didn't include any cell phones, computers or much TV at all (unless it was supervised by parents). In short, if a new "Now and Then" came out today, I bet that teenage girls would watch, probably while texting their friends, longing for that simpler time.

I realized in that moment that it's all just a matter of perspective.

Patlajan

The most memorable moment of my day was by far the first bite of patlajan - the Turkish word for eggplant - in my favorite Turkish dish - Hunkar Begendi - in my favorite Turkish restaurant in Philly - with my favorite friends from my trip to Turkey.

It's a kind of smoky, sweet pureed eggplant...delicious. 

Love Actually is...actually a great film

Tonight, I coerced L and two of my friends to watch Love, Actually. Yeah, don't pretend like you've never heard of it.

It's my ultimate favorite holiday feel-good movie. Why, you ask? Even if you didn't, I'll enlighten you. One, it has British actors. I personally believe that anything is funnier said in a British accent. Two, all the stories connect in a really cool way. Three, it's all a big countdown to Christmas! But when I actually think about it (Love, Actually - hee hee), I love it because it's one big sappy declaration of love. As evidenced the the fact that I must have squealed at least 10 times at a cute/romantic/cheesy moment. I love the movie's point of view that Christmas is a good time to tell someone you love them, that airports are one of the places you can witness true love, and that lobsters and an octopus clearly belong in the nativity scene. The love in the movie doesn't always work out, and some of the characters aren't happy in the end. Yet everyone tries. As the 9-year old boy who is in love with the 10-year old singer in his class says, "Let's go get the shit kicked out of us by love."

Figuring it all out

Today, I met up with some old co-workers. We had an amazing time, and yet we kept circling around to the fact that we are in our early 30's and we don't have our careers all figured out. Sheryl Sandberg says that we should have a 5-year plan, and sometimes, even though I'm such a planner in my personal life, I can't manage to plan more than a week ahead in my work life. I resolved to start thinking about my longer-term career plan. 

The snow day that wasn't/was/wasn't

This morning, I awoke and yes, I'll admit it - the first thing I did was to check Facebook (don't judge me!). I immediately noticed that every single one of my teacher friends had posted about the snow day...and I got very bitter. As I showered, I told myself that of course, this day would come. Just like the summer, when my friends were on vacation and I was working, of course the day would come when 95% of the people I know in Philly didn't have work...but I did.

Just then, my boss let me know that she was going to cancel all meetings and work from home. Joy returned to my heart. I got a snow day after all! Except...it wasn't. I still had to work. This whole "work from home" option means...I can still work. No matter what.

If you're a teacher, and you don't have students in front of you, of course you can grade and plan lessons, but you wouldn't be blamed for not doing work on a snow day. I realized today that my new job means that I will always have the ability to work. I realize that this applies to 99% of all jobs (am I just making up percentages in this blog or what??), yet it's still a shock to my system. The teacher mentality towards winter in general is that they are entitled to a couple of snow days per year. It's almost as if they believe that the universe owes them a couple. I can say this because I've been there, and possibly still am there. Who doesn't want a free day off?

However, working from home today wasn't all bad. I did get to brunch with some friends, play a couple games of bananagrams, and finally settle into work in my great great Aunt Mabel's rocking chair, looking out onto the snowy city.

My bed

I seriously may stay in my bed until winter is over. My apartment is so drafty in the winter, and I've spent the majority of the evening cuddled up with my laptop. How many months until spring??

And a hush fell over the city

Today was the first snow, and very quickly, everything became...peaceful, which is difficult for a city to do. No loud footsteps, no rushing cars. Just a lovely calm. 

Holiday Cheer

Every year, for the past seven years, I've held a holiday party called "Holiday Cheer at Lantern Square". Some things remain consistent from year to year - an appetizer called an oyster roll, my little Christmas tree, and a plethora of Christmas music. Each year I think I don't have enough food and scramble to cook more, and inevitably, with the help of my friends, I end up with way too much. My tiny apartment somehow expands and manages to hold more than twenty people. This party has become more than a party in my mind. It's my gift to my Philadelphia family - a way to celebrate the holiday season and the end of another year. Tonight, I took a moment to look around and feel thankful for my amazing friends. 

Um....do you really want that?

I purchased an umbrella from CVS today. 10 minutes later, it looked like this (mine is the one on the right. My friend's umbrella was also having issues....

I walked into the next CVS we passed, told them my situation, and demanded a new umbrella. I expected them to put up a fight. Instead, they said, "Sure, you can get another umbrella...but do you really want another one?" I kind of loved that even CVS employees were not standing by their umbrella products. I did take one, though. Even a poorly made umbrella was worth having in this weather. The second umbrella did survive the walk home. I give it one more day.

Ah the city life

I realized just now that today, I walked 4.7 miles without exactly trying. I listened to two episodes of This American Life, rocked out to my music, and ran my battery down to zero. Even though it was misty and humid, 'twas glorious. Although, I didn't look like this...

...that's okay.

Being neighborly

I know I've touched upon this topic before, but this is a post for anyone who is dubious of Philly's "Brotherly Love" tagline. I mean, sure, there are definitely some days when someone yells at me while biking, or shoots me a dirty look on the bus. Yet tonight, walking home from book club, a lady called across the street to my friends and I, "Ladies - a little help, please?"

We looked over and saw she was struggling with a huge potted plant she wanted to bring up from the sidewalk to her stoop. We rushed right over and assisted her.

"Thank you so much," she said. "You saved my life! Philadelphia really is a neighborly city, isn't it?"

I have to agree.

Scone optimism

I tried baking scones again (why, oh why do I bake?). I used frozen fruit, and when I pulled them out of the oven after about 5 minutes, there was this liquid at the bottom of the pan (even though I had defrosted the berries first). The scones were sizzling. My extreme oven didn't help matters.

"At this rate, they're going to burn to a crisp," I said to L. "I should transfer them to another pan and coat it with flour."

"Oh, I'm sure they'll be okay where they are," L said. I fumed. Why, I thought, do men continually assume things will turn out fine, when women are the ones who try to problem-solve and guess every possible outcome?

"Or they'll burn," I said. 

"Okay, pessimist," L said.

"I'm not being a pessimist..." I said. "I'm being a realist."

Just to prove my point, I decided to take all but one scone off of the "burning" tray, and put both trays back into the oven - the new tray lined with flour and all but one scone, and the lone scone on the sizzling pan.

Sure enough, guess which scone was the only one that didn't burn? I guess sometimes it pays to be an optimist. 

Manning the elevator

This post is from Saturday...I don't know why it didn't post!

On the elevator up from a parking garage today to see a movie, a little boy approximately age 5 stood at the front of the elevator.

"Come on in!" he declared. "I'm holding the door! I'm holding the door!" His younger brother, possibly age 2, kept wanting to press all the buttons.

"Not now", the 5 year old admonished. He very carefully helped his brother press the right button, and then we were off. "

First, we arrived at the next level of parking. "Not this one!!", the little boy said. "We're not there yet!"

When we got to the movie theater level, the little boy helped everyone get off safely. "Holding the door! I'm holding the door!"

It was the most efficient and mannerly elevator ride I've ever been on. Perhaps we should all start acting like 5 year old gentlemen again. 

NEVER....

An Adult Senior Nutrition Education site visit today...

Facilitator: "We're talking about breakfast. Can anyone tell me what you ate for breakfast today?"

Participant (a woman, roughly 80 years old): "I ate oatmeal, fruit, and toast. And you should NEVER...."

Facilitator: "Never skip breakfast?"

Participant: "You should NEVER, NEVER, NEVER take a drink of alcohol for breakfast!"

The rest of the participants: "That's right! You said it!"

I survived Wegman's

On a Sunday, with carts careening this way and that, Christmas tunes blaring and people rushing, I got in and out in two hours. A feat to be celebrated!

Names and faces

I've been to both the Vietnam War Memorial and Korean War Memorial  countless times - throughout my childhood and now, as a tour guide to my friends and family who pass by DC. They are so different, yet both so deeply impactful. Tonight, touring the monuments in the dark, it was hard to find the Vietnam Memorial. Suddenly, the wall came out of nowhere, and I was once again overwhelmed by the sheer number of names. The Korean Memorial was easier to find, and I got lost in the shadows and faces peering out at me. It always amazes me how both memorials depict lives lost in such different ways. 

Cat in the ceiling

Somehow, in the midst of all the Thanksgiving thankfulness and joy, my parents' cat Ella always manages to get stuck in a ceiling. No, seriously. It's the second Thanksgiving in a row where we've realized she's gone missing and frantically searched (even making sure she hasn't escaped outside), only to find that she's wedged into a tiny hole in the ceiling, staring down at us as if she's saying, "Well, it's about time you found me!"

Happy Thanksgiving! I'm grateful to all of you who actually read my rambling thoughts every day. I truly appreciate it. 

Today

Today was the day I picked out a Christmas tree (before Thanksgiving???) with my mom and put it up for the first time without my dad (he was pleased to have passed the torch :) ....

Today was the day I got to catch up with my friend while giving my nails some much needed love...

Today was the day I learned how to make half of my mom's famous pecan miniatures recipe...

Today was the day I tried bone marrow with three of my wonderful friends from high school at my friend's fabulous new restaurant...

Today was the day before Thanksgiving. Where has this year gone? 

Safe and warm

I'm currently typing in bed, with the rain pouring outside, all safe and warm. All I can think about is my 4 hour drive down here in the pouring rain and mist and incessant traffic, where I had to maintain a laser-like focus to navigate all the obstacles in my way. Right now I'm so glad the rain is outside, not right in front of me, and that I'm safe and warm inside. I'm wishing everyone who is traveling for Thanksgiving a safe, uneventful trip!

Brightening my day

It was a long, long, cold day. Yet right at the end, someone special surprised me with my favorite color of flowers. Just to brighten my day. I haven't stopped smiling.  

Christmas in November

I've always been a staunch believer that Christmas should be reserved for the month of December. I was disgusted by the fact that stores, the day after Halloween, loudly proclaimed that the Christmas season was starting. 

Yet, I have something to confess. For the first time ever, I decorated my personal Christmas tree in my apartment - TODAY. November 24th.

I know I've turned into one of those people I hate - playing Christmas songs on Pandora and decorating a tree a month early. Yet it's been so darn cold lately that to be honest, this tree really cozies up my home quite nicely. Maybe, since we're all cold, a bit of glittering lights on a tree and Christmas spirit won't hurt anyone - even if it's before Thanksgiving. 

Strolling down memory lane

I am the worst at organizing my apartment. I alternate between stuffing objects in out of the way places to deciding to (sigh) take my apartment apart and re-organize everything that I've hastily stashed away. Usually that process takes hours, and at the end I always vow to keep up my organization so I don't have to do that ever again. I succeed for a couple months, and then the whole process starts over again.

Part of the reason why I take so long to re-organize is because I stop and read over everything I've saved in the process. I save EVERYTHING. Every letter, every yearbook, every essay - well, it's either in my apartment here in Philly or at my parent's house in DC (sorry, Mom and Dad - but I learned it from you!). In a way, I guess my re-organization phases allow me to stroll down memory lane again and again.

Tonight, I was reading student notes to me in a 2011 yearbook. I laughed at the way they, as only 8th graders could, expressed exactly how they felt: 

"Tr. Julie, You mean a lot to me. I deeply respect you although I hated you in the beginning...I love you..."

"Tr. Julie, I will never forget the teacher that I was scared of at first but then turned out to be one of my favorite teachers..."

"Tr. Julie I can remember at the beginning of the year, I did something really rude to you. And the whole year I've been trying to make up for that. Aha sorry...thanks for being awesome!"

In contrast, when reading notes my 3rd graders wrote to me last year, I discovered a slightly different trend:

"Tr. Julie, You were the best English teacher ever!! I love your smile..."

"You're the best English teacher ever..."

"There will never be an English teacher better than you..."

When I taught 3rd grade, they of course immediately loved me. I mean - they loved EVERYONE immediately - it just wasn't even a question. Yet I always had to win over my 8th graders, and I loved/hated the process.

Tonight I started thinking about when in life we stop being completely open to everyone and every new experience. While we're not as blatant about it as middle schoolers, there can be a certain skepticism or cynicism when encountering a new teacher, friend, co-worker, boss, etc. If we embrace the world whole-heartedly, we are considered a bit Pollyanna-ish (which isn't always considered the most practical). Maybe living life like a 3rd grader is something to strive for.

“... there is something about everything that you can be glad about, if you keep hunting long enough to find it.”
― Eleanor H. Porter, Pollyanna

Squash night

Sometimes my friends and I like to have an evening centered around cooking one particular vegetable. One time it was eggplant. Tonight it was squash.

We had acorn squash, spaghetti squash, butternut squash and even zucchini squash (yes, zucchini is a squash). Even without meat (some people I know are shaking their heads at me right now), it was a smashing success.

Yet, even though we definitely ate very reasonable portions and had tons left over, we realized that centering a meal around something as filling as squash might not be a great idea for the future. Each of these dishes could have been a meal within themselves. Yikes.

Got a blender

A conversation in a food educator's classroom today:

Educator: "What positive lifestyle changes have you been making since our last time together?"

Student: "I told my mom I needed a blender. You know, to make those fruit smoothies - you know, to eat a rainbow? She got me a magic bullet."

Educator: "That's amazing! Do you use it?"

Student: "Every day. I'm keepin' it tight."

I've been writing curriculum for and advocating for this amazing food education program for 6 months, and today, during a site visit, I actually got to see it in action. For anyone out there who thinks a 15 year old can't make a positive, healthy lifestyle change (and make it seem cool at the same time), think again.

The tea kettle that won't sing

Lately when I put the kettle on for tea, it takes forever to boil water. It just seems to steam. There's no whistling. No encouragement that it's finally time to have my tea. I picture the tea kettle thinking, "Why even bother? I don't care if you get hot water or not, I just have to do my thing!" In my head, we have lots of sassy arguments back and forth. Tonight, I just admitted defeat and settled for not quite as hot water. I don't think I'm patient enough to wait for a kettle. Maybe I'll get one of those hot pots.  

The intricacies of the trees

Today, driving back from a conference, I noticed that fall has come to an end. No more yellow and red leaves! It made me really sad at first. After all, those fall colors are something I anticipate every year. It's always the start of something special - perhaps, constantly being on a school schedule has made the fall my own personal New Year. Now, without the leaves, it's easy to get a bit down. The days are getting shorter, it's colder, and some days even the prospect of wearing my new red coat isn't enough to get me out of my warm bed.

Yet today, I noticed something about the trees. Sure, they were barren of leaves, but my grandma has always had a different way of looking at life. I remember very distinctly a conversation we once had about bare trees. "When you don't have the leaves in the way," she said, "You can really get to see the true nature of the tree. It's so intricate, you know? When the leaves are there, you just don't get the full story."

So today, Grandma Genie, rather than seeing a stark and bitter landscape, I really took in the intricacies of the trees. Thanks for always helping me to see the deeper picture.

There's always the second impression

Today, I was in a restaurant at a hotel for a conference, trying to do some work. I was all alone, save the table of six very loud women, maybe in their 60's, next to me. My first impression was complete annoyance. Why, I thought, did they have to be carrying on and laughing uproariously at 1 pm? 

I asked the server to move me, and was even a bit snarky about it. I pulled out my laptop and set out to work, but I could still hear them. 

After a little while, I realized that they were talking about a book. My attitude softened a bit. Books always get me. A few more minutes of listening I realized they might be a book club. I couldn't resist finding out.

I went over and started exchanging book ideas with them. They were more than delighted to chat - and luckily, didn't seem to realize that I had been complaining to the waiter about them just minutes before. On second impression, I was more than happy to share the quiet restaurant with this boisterous group of ladies.

Give up, or keep going?

I worked for many, many hours this week on a project for work that seemed like it would never end. About halfway through, I was out of my mind tired. I had that defining moment where I could literally go either way. I could watch "just one" episode of How I Met Your Mother for the millionth time and squander the rest of my time, or I could push on and just get it done. Today, I pushed on and finally FINISHED.

Some space in my mind

Frequently, nowadays, my mind looks like this:

Today I was finally able to carve out some space. Space with which to write, to think, and to just - be.

5-7-5

Tonight, a haiku for you:

Sauteed greens, onions

Butternut squash, radishes

I love CSA

Bathroom buddies

A common joke revolves around the fact that us ladies always have to go to the bathroom in pairs. Little did I know that this trend apparently starts at birth...

Today, in the bathroom with my colleague's 3 year old daughter (because of course kids flock to me to take them to the bathroom :):

Me: "Alright, are you almost ready to go?" (After about 10 minutes of hanging out with not much happening toilet-wise).

Her: "Nope, I just want to sit for a while."

Me: "Well, I think maybe we should go see what your mom is up to..."

Her: "Or, we could just stay in the bathroom and become best friends!"

If her mother hadn't come in looking for her, I'm sure I would have been in there all night.

Squash soup and Steinbeck

On this cold night, my friends and I all huddled together in a cozy living room, drinking our hot tea and debating the inner human struggle between good and evil.

“We have only one story. All novels, all poetry, are built on the neverending contest in ourselves of good and evil. And it occurs to me that evil must constantly respawn, while good, while virtue, is immortal. Vice has always a new fresh young face, while virtue is venerable as nothing else in the world is.” 
― John Steinbeck, East of Eden

Usually we are pretty divided opinion-wise in book club, but this time we all loved it.

Even the cat.

One of those things is not like the other...

Today, in a convenience store, I saw a cat lounging around the aisles.

While I love cats, I hastened to alert the cashier. She (quite defensively, I might add), said, "It's the store cat, okay?!!"

Umm....bookstore cat? Totally makes sense. Art gallery cat?? Sure. Food store cat?? Something seems wrong...weigh in guys. What do you think?

Sweet, sweet turnip

Today I ate a turnip, raw, straight from the ground on a farm. In the middle of Philadelphia. Sometimes, there are perks to my job!

Parking wars? Not so much.

I've been lucky enough to borrow my friend's car for a short period of time. So many times I wish I had a car - for groceries, the opportunity to just pop out of town on a whim, etc. The only issue is that parking in Philly is tricky. During my first month in Philly, I managed to get my brother's car towed two times. So while having access to a car is amazing, the never ending problem is of course where to park it! Trying to park a car on a Sunday evening in Philly? Even more impossible.

I drove around and around the one block I could remember where I could leave a car for more than two hours, and finally was in the process of trying to parallel park in a very narrow street when....a couple walking by motioned for me to roll down my window. Great, I thought. They're going to lecture me on how I shouldn't be trying to park in that spot...which I already know! I braced myself for what I thought was going to an episode of parking wars - wasn't parking wars actually based on Philadelphia?

Instead, one of them said, "You know, we're walking to my car, and I'm going to move out of a spot - do you want to take it?" I gratefully accepted, followed them to their car (yes, I know that sounds super sketchy), and finally parked the car. All is well! Until I try to move it...

Taking a moment to get away

Saturday's Post

I consider myself to be a city girl. I grew up in the city, I get around without a car, and I love walking (to be honest, driving isn't my strongest talent). Yet, I also love the woods. I feel so at home gazing up at the sky through pine trees. So, how do I reconcile both? Every once in a while, taking a moment to breathe and just be - AWAY - is SO needed. As I gazed up at the sky through the pines, I felt right at home.

Writer's block

Okay guys, I know you're all thinking it, so I'll just say it. This week I have put out some pretty sub-par blogs. I've been struggling to really think of something substantial to blog about. My mission this year is to make each day stand out, and this week it's been like pulling teeth. So, my moment today is to just take a moment to reflect and think about how, going forward, I can make more of an effort to consciously notice my life. I don't want it passing by in a blur. I want to savor every seemingly ordinary moment. 

Expired root beer

I actually have never had root beer that's expired. That was merely my guess when playing taboo this evening.

The clues were:

- the word old, just another word for the word old

- a liquid you could drink at dinner that's usually either red or white

- okay seriously, another word for old

....and I got expired root beer.

The word was VINTAGE.

The moment when your hairdresser becomes your friend

I've known my hairdresser for 7 years. Previously, I've always gone to the Hair Cuttery, or a permutation of that ilk. One of my most infamous mistakes in college was going to a place called California Cuts, which only cost $8. I would always leave there crying at how horrible my hair looked, yet I would always go back. When I moved to Philadelphia, I sought out a more permanent solution. Now, my current hairdresser knows all about my job, my personal life, and my favorite TV shows. She's been with me through all my highs and lows over the past few years. When I gave her a hug after we were done today, I realized that, although my haircuts don't cost $8 anymore, the relationship and the lack of tears are all worth it.

The day I carried a pineapple on the bus

I headed to a meeting today, carrying a pineapple and some other fruit for one of my staff who had a cooking club later that day. As I stepped on the bus, a man yelled out, "Save some pineapple for me, sister!" All heads swiveled towards me, almost in disbelief that I would dare carry such a fruit on the bus. I didn't share.

Chocolate! Chocolate! Chocolate! Aack!

It would be the understatement of the world to say that I am a chocoholic. I take every and any excuse to consume the stuff. I'll even refuse deserts when they don't contain chocolate. Yes, I'm a very dedicated chocoholic.

Yet today, even I was a bit embarrassed when I stuck my hand in my jacket pocket, only to discover that the chocolate bar I had been eating (and keeping in my pocket) had started melting a bit. Upon withdrawing my hand from my jacket, covered in melted chocolate, I began to think that perhaps I have a bit of a problem.

Is ignorance bliss?

My friends and I went to a coffee and tea tasting out in the suburbs today. It was a lovely, caffeine-filled event. Yet there was one moment that I can't get out of my mind. We were having a conversation with this lovely woman (she told us proudly that she was 65 years old with three grandchildren, the youngest being 13). 

She mentioned that her daughter was the director of guidance counseling at a middle school (in a very wealthy suburban school district). Two of my friends who teach in Philadelphia said how lucky that school was to have guidance counselors at all, much less a director of guidance counseling. "You know, because of the School District of Philadelphia cuts..." my one friend said. The woman kind of gave her a blank look and kept rattling on about her daughter.

She then started bragging about that 13 year old grandson, and how well he was doing in school. "He's so smart," she said. "He asked me the other day, what was one difference between when I was growing up and today, and I said the diversity. I mean, he has an African-American friend, an Oriental friend, an Indian friend - you know, the ones with the red dots?" 

I wanted to give her a stern lecture right then and there - letting her know first of all that her family's experience in the suburbs is completely different than the children in schools only 30 minutes away. I also wanted to ask her what she really meant by diversity - did she mean that there were a few kids in that school who weren't white? And - did she really not know that calling people Oriental is offensive? Red dots? Seriously?

In that moment, I took a deep breath, and kept my lecture to myself. I didn't know if saying anything would mean she would hear it. Part of me also kind of wanted her to keep her ignorance just a bit longer. She was so happy.

Dance of joy

Saturday's Post

I could tell how sleep deprived I was on Saturday when, upon realizing I would gain an extra hour from Daylight Savings Time, I actually danced with joy. It's the little things in life!

Sad pumpkins

Today, walking around Philly, I was saddened by the state of the pumpkins in this fair city. If they weren't smashed, they were moldy. Eek. I guess I will have to start preparing for Christmas now? Halloween is SO over.

The Little Squash That Could

Neil was just an ordinary carnival squash, sitting at the grocery store with all his friends. He stared longingly at the display of pumpkins which were being purchased by the dozen. I'm a perfectly good carving shape and size, he thought. Why doesn't anyone pick me?

Finally, the magical date of October 31st came around, and all the pumpkins were purchased. Neil sighed. Well, he thought. I missed my chance. Just then, a desperate brave soul marched over and picked him up. "Look", she said to her friends, "who cares if they're out of pumpkins? I'll just carve this cool squash instead!" Her friends laughed. "A squash is not a pumpkin!" they said.

As Neil sat on the table, waiting patiently to be carved, he sized up his competition. Those are pretty cool pumpkins, he thought. All I've ever wanted is to fit in. Only one of the girl's friends believed in her. "I love the creativity of the squash," she said. "Great idea!" When Neil was carved and accessorized, he puffed up with pride. I look pretty good, if I do say so myself, he thought.

Even better, Neil had a new friend.

Neil glowed just as brightly as any pumpkin ever would...

...and by the end of the night, Neil had a brand new set of friends: Esmerelda, Petey/Ernie, Pheonix and Felix. They accepted him, even though he was a bit different.

The girl decided that perhaps she'd make a tradition from that point on of carving a squash each year. Happy Halloween!

The End