Road-Trip Louisville, KY

Recently, my family and I road-tripped to Louisville, KY for my grandfather's funeral.  Although a sad occasion, it was nice to see my mom's side of the family and just get in the car and go somewhere.  Mini, last-minute road trips can be really fun!  And this one was such.


For those of you that haven't headed down from Chicago to Louisville, it's a really easy trip. It's just 65 South to 64 West...and then YAY Kentucky!  Note, though, I-65 changes from 65 miles per hour to 55 miles per hour when you are within the 465 loop around Indianapolis.  Sadly, had to find that out the hard way a few years back...stupid Indy cops, lol.  However, if you ARE doing such a road trip, might I recommend a few fun stops on the way down??


1)  Winemac.  It's the Indiana stop where they also have the dairy farm you can visit.  It was closed when we went, but you can see the farm from the BP gas station and it's definitely huge.  It apparently has delicious dairy products to by, but you'll have to take that as hearsay as opposed to fact as I was not privy to a taste.  Personally I think it's a little creepy, but I also think the whole milking like an assembly line is a little creepy and morally wrong...but that's another story for another time.  From what I've heard, it's an interesting stop.


2) - my all-time favorite stop??  Exit 130 - Zionsville.  Go east on the exit and immediately to your right is a gas-station / Starbucks marriage.  Most brilliant idea EVER, and it's literally a mid-point stop, which means you'll need gas and mental stimulation anyways!  There's a drive-thru for the Starbucks too, if you're really lazy, but if you're already out of the car to pump gas, go walk in and take in the atmosphere, the smells, and the 5 minute break of amazingness.


Otherwise, the rest of the trip was fun.  We headed to Anchorage to spread his ashes at something like Owl Oaks golf course, which is gorgeous, and the houses of that town are AMAZING.  In fact, right next to my mom's old house is a house that is on the historic register.  It's a log cabin that has, what used to be, slave quarters next to it, and in the 1700s a young girl was scalped there by a native american.  So fun!  And all right in their back yard.  :-)  You should definitely take a look if you're in town.


For lunch around Anchorage (I believe it's in MIddletown) is a cute restaurant called Mimi's.  HUGE portions, delicious food, and even alcohol - perfect for post-funeral get-togethers.  The sandwiches are delicious, the fries perfect, and the petit-seafood alfreado just that....petit.  It was REALLY small, although probably what was a perfect portion for most normal and sane people, but it was beyond delicious.  I highly recommend it.


So, if you find yourself along these highways someday, hope you find a chance to stop and enjoy the scenery for yourself!

Make Your Own Handbag

Now that Christmas is over and you are officially out of money and in on new presents, it's time to think forward, think to the new year, and revive your wallet.

Unless, of course, you need a new wallet (or purse for that matter), in which case, I have an idea.  It's called Miche, and it's a new purse company that lets you customize the handbag and interchange faces to fit your needs and maybe even match your personality.  They have three sizes, called base bags, and their mid-sized bag also comes in brown.  

So, here's how it works.  You receive a base bag and then overlays, all of which is based in a magnetic system.  The coverings magnetize to the base bag and then you have a completed handbag.  You can also customize it by purchasing different handles for your bag, thus creating an even more, unique representation of you.  They're reasonably priced and can be purchased online or you can become a Miche Representative and run your own Miche business, much like Avon, Arbonne, or Lia Sofia.  

Enjoy a new bag.  It's a new year, a new you, and you deserve it.

Educational Case-in-Point

If you remember the article I posted on the failing US education system (yes, yes, I am fully aware I am part of said system), here is even More Evidence.  This time it's militarily focused.  1/4 of the students trying to enter the military actually fail the entrance exam of basic math, science, and reading questions.  Need I say more?


Go team U.S.A.  

Ye Old Advice

I love advice.  Do I always take it? No, but I enjoy seeking it out to see and understand other people's perspectives and points of view on a topic.  I always feel the more information I have the better I can be at making a good (or at least informed) decision.  Sometimes advice is boring and sometimes it is nothing different than what I already know or what I would tell someone myself, however, every now and again, I come across something new or interesting.


Today was one such day.  I read a copy of Real Simple, a lifestyle magazine while at the doctor's office this morning.  Granted, as most offices go, this edition was from early this year - June to be exact - but, then again, we are talking about doctors' offices.  They don't tend to rotate their reading material very often.  And, actually, it was a good thing too.  This particular article was written by Jancee Dunn, a New York City author, and covered the 10 best pieces of advice she received from her father.  They are as follows: 


1)  Hold hands while you Hast it out.  This is because when you're fighting, you don't become as angry when you're holding hands with someone.  As she says, "you'll feel goofy," but it works.  So next time you and your loved one fight, grab each other's hand, and you might find your fight is more manageable.  :-)


2 and 3)  Pay attention to anyone who wears a tool belt or Uniform.  (a) this is to help you learn how to do it so that next time you don't have to call mr. specialty man and (b) people in uniform (mailman, maids / janitors, etc) don't receive the credit they deserve for the jobs they do.  


4)  You can never have enough baggies.  Need more twist ties, shoe laces, electric chords/ plugs, or paper clips??  The more things you keep in "baggies" the less you have to buy later!


5)  You can't go wrong with Clint.  As her dad said, even the worst Clint Eastwood movies are better than some other great movies.  I'm personally not a big Clint fan myself, but you never know.  It might hold true.  Nowadays I usually go for Tom Hanks or an animated film.  Personally, when in doubt...Pixar is great.


6) Don't belittle the annual Sack Race.  It might be dumb when you hit puberty until you are 30, but those annual family traits are needed and meant to be held dear.  In my family, it's the annual bocci ball tournament at the Family Reunion, or the family member dressing as Santa to give out gifts to EVERYONE on Christmas Eve.  These are the things that keep family spirit and traditions going!


7)  Stop worrying.  Aah, the age old adage.  So true, yet so easily forgotten.  As one of the Bad Boys said:  "go woo-sah" something.


8)  Carry a Hankie.  They come in handy, and they don't disintegrate in your purse, as Jancee happily explained.  She also points out they can be used for the obvious cold, to dry your hands when those dang towels are out, or to wrap up something like a cookie.  However, sadly, ask a kid today for a handkerchief, and they look at you like you're speaking alien.  Sad, but true - someone needs to bring back the "hankie"


9)  No one's smarter than you.  As she says, even if you have no idea what's going on in a conversation, ask a question or for someone to explain further.  It's called the art of conversation, people, and most of the time, if you don't know something, chances are you're not alone.  Plus, when you ask people questions, they get to talk more about something they know or about themselves, and people always love doing that.  Then, afterwards, you now have more knowledge than you had before!  Ergo, don't stay silent simply because you don't know something.  That's now you learn.


10) You will want kids.  According to Jancee's father, you will, even if right now you abhor the idea, want kids someday.  Can't personally tell you what my take on that is, but it's worth mulling over.  


Maybe you, too, have some great pieces of advice that you've learned over the years.  Out of this list, #1 is my new all time favorite.  :-)  Spread the news, and start holding hands, people!!!

Christmas Movie Marathon

Merry Christmas season!  If you haven't already gotten your 'Holiday' on, might I suggest a few movies to help you get in the mood?  Here are some of my all-time favorite holiday movies.  The best part about movies is that you don't have to wait in long lines or fight crowds to watch them, you don't have to wrap them or hide them from the kids until Christmas morning, and they're great at lifting your spirit, getting you in the holiday mood, and/or transporting you back to the "days of yore" as your remember past times when you also watched these same movies.


Some recommendations:
Garfield's Christmas
A Charlie Brown Christmas (I will happily admit I love when the "schroeder" piano song plays on the radio)
A Christmas Story
How the Grinch Stole Christmas.  (personally, I prefer the cartoon version)
Elf** (one of my all-time favorites!)
White Christmas** (Another fav, and I love that it is still timeless and can connect with people today)
Love Actually ** (another all-time favorite, although I admittedly hated it the first time I watched it)


There are also the claymation movies and A Christmas Carol, regular, muppet, or theatrical versions.  I might even recommend some hot chocolate with a candy-cane stirrer.  Yum!  Happy Holidays!

The Movement of Spanish Dance

This is more of a play on words if you will.  Yes, dancing, Spanish or otherwise, is movement, but I also mean the spread of its visibility across the world.  I've already talked to you a little about flamenco and the Spanish gypsy, but now I want to show you more.  More dancing!  More Spanish! ... olé!!!


I should probably thank DWTS (that's dancing with the stars for any non-viewer) for making ballroom dancing alone so popular, but for also shedding some light on some really great Spanish dances.  "Caribbean secrets" if you will, as many of the dances originated from that area.  Some of the ones I include in that statement are:  salsa, merengue, bachata, rumba, and cha-cha.  While each have slightly different backgrounds and have different varieties and "flavors" based on the actual country being discussed, the basic gist of their history is about the same.  Most of these originated from the Caribe" (Caribbean) as a mixture of Spanish, native, and African dances, which itself was a result of hundreds of years of slave trade, immigration, and colonization.  If that doesn't make sense to you, take a moment to watch the dances or listen to the music.  Most of them have similar sounds and beats, are happy and upbeat (rumba might be the exception as it's the 'slower' of the ones listed).  


However, do not make the mistake of thinking these dances are reserved for the ballroom!  If you haven't visited a latina-club before, and you like this kind of dancing, take yourself on an adventure!  They're fun, and way more casual / street dancing than what you'd find in your standard ballroom class, although basics are still basic, steps wise.  A good example?  The dance movie Dance with Me with Vanessa Williams and Chayanne.  The Club Azucar scene is great!  

But let's switch gears.  I have a new favorite dance to watch and try to learn.  TANGO.  That's right.  Tango!  Say it with me "T-A-NGO" (at least, that's what you have to keep saying to yourself as you learn the basic step...according to Antonio Banderas in Take the Lead.  In this movie, he shapes up a group of detention-hall banned kids via ballroom dance.  One dance, the dance he uses to capture their attention (*quick eyebrow raise*), is of course TANGO.  HOTT.  


I love tango.  I love it because you put up one of these pictures like the one here by Fabian Perez, and by the position of the subjects alone people already know it's a tango. They look at it and, taking a quick gasp, go "ah! Tango!"  It originates in Argentina and is such a unique dance because there is so much involved.  It's not just a dance of love, but a dance of passion, lust, sex, jealousy, flirtation, and desire all wrapped up in one.  The movie, Moulin Rouge, did an awesome scene with it to the song "Roxanne".  I'm in love, but it kind of captivates that intense emotion and eerie air all at once.  The music is equally unique, often with violins, guitar, and sometimes piano, flute, etc, and it is popping up in all kinds of movies, besides just the ones listed above.  It's also been in: Scent of a Woman, Evita (as one would absolutely assume), Another Cinderella Story (with Selena Gomez), Shall We Dance, Out to Sea, Frida, and even True Lies.  


I think it's fair to say, dances certainly "get around".

Pomegranate

It's that time of year again!  Pomegranate time!!  I love this little fruit and it always in season in the winter.  You've probably seen food advertisements or displays in food magazines announcing how you can use this delicious red fruit in holiday displays and delicious dishes.  Maybe you already know of this fruit from the variety of juices available at markets, but if you haven't tried the actual fruit itself, well, you're missing out.


For starters, it's a big red ball, just in case you are one of the numerous people who don't know what it looks like.  Inside, the pomegranate seeds are attached to walls of skin like honeycombs.  They're difficult to pull out, and it's best you wear old clothes or an apron, as their juice will definitely stain anything it touches.  However, the seeds are worth the work.  I've been told halving the fruit and soaking it in water can loosen the skins, but I can't seem to get that trick to work.  Regardless, the seeds are delectable.  I spent most of today picking at them all day.  They have a "punch" if you will, when you first bite into them - an explosion of flavor that is the perfect combination of sweet and tart.  


If not alone, they're great in cereals, oatmeal and jams.  I've enjoyed them in salads and fruit dishes, floating around in champagne like strawberries, and even topping rice pudding and yogurt.  I even introduced my boyfriend to them, and he's converted!  I recommend you do the same, but try them now, while they're in season.  They're no good after the winter season is over.  Fine eatings to you and yours.  If you're not a big fruit person, they're always great as holiday decorations!!

Our (Lack of) Standards

I teach.  Ergo, by definition I am a participant in the upbringing and education of today's students and tomorrow's leaders, educators, inventors, writers, politicians, lawyers, etc.  You might be able to see why, therefore, I became immensely disturbed upon hearing the following bit of news this morning on the radio:

US Students are falling behind their international counterparts in Reading, Math, and Science

I had two questions after hearing that:  How far behind?  And Why?  The "why" part leaves something to be desired, as there can be multiple interpretations and just as many actual reasons as there are speculative theories.  I happen to have some of my own, but we can save those until later.  I think the "How far" is much more important at this juncture.  It should also be noted that 15 year olds were the ones surveyed and the survey consisted of 41 different countries. 

I have found two websites with good, informative explanations.  The first is on Info Please.com and shows the upper and lower rankings of a country based on 2003 test scores.  For example, the US varies between 29th and 31st in Math with Honk Kong, China securing the 1st position, trailed closely by Finland and South Korea.  In Reading, Finland secures spot numero uno closely followed by South Korea again and then Canada.  (Or northern neighbors seem to know what they're doing).  We, sadly, fall into 12th place but can fall as far back as 23rd, depending on what section of the country you are analyzing.  Lastly, in Science, Finland is AGAIN in the top spot trailed only by Japan and then Hong Kong.  We fall 20th-27th. 

In the other online posting, The Washington Post, things don't look any better, and this is a survey of 15 year olds from 2006 of 30 different countries.  In Science, we were 17th out of 30, and 24th out of 30 in Math.  In fact, with regards to Math, we tied with two other countries (the names were not given in the article) and were only ahead of four other countries.  Rather pathetic, if you ask me. 

There's also an article on Great Schools.org that goes into further depth on their perceptions of why Finland does so well in comparison to the world.  Take it for what it's worth.

I've also heard it rumored that US students rank highest in self-esteem.  I'm still working to find the evidence to back it, but it really wouldn't surprise me.  We've become a society of "every student gets a medal if not a trophy," of "well, it's okay, you can have 3, 4 or 10 chances," of spoon-feeding information, and of parents bailing out their children into the upper twenties.  What are we doing to our kids?  When do they have to learn some responsibility and hard work?  I can't imagine it's all the school system's fault.  Things are relative and connected, and you can't really and truly fix one without addressing and tweaking the others.  However, regardless of where we start, reform or dire attention is clearly necessary.  Accion is needed.  Playing the blame game?  Not so much. 

When Perspectives Change

I hate winter.  In case I haven't said that already, I really do.  I hate winter.  To me, the only time it should ever snow is when you're on a mission to ski or snowboard, and there is never a reason for it to be below freezing - ever.  Point blank.  Punto.


When I was little, eight I think, I told my mom I was moving to Florida because I hate the cold.  The obscene dislike for snow and cold hasn't changed, but my moving to Florida has.  I grew up.  Responsibilities showed up on my doorstep as quickly as the days changed, and I started to realize the whimsy of the childhood ideal of moving had fine print attached.  


At first, I found a job and felt I was just biding my time until I could decide where to move and / or find a job in a different, hopefully warmer city.  Then, something amazing happened, things changed in my life that made me start to enjoy being here.  I had a revelation at work today, walking through the halls of my school freezing, having to do with acceptance.  It hit me that, although I'm cold more often than not, the cold is temporary.  Normally I can find myself in warm houses or warm cars, after the heat has kicked in of course, and that even though winter may be four months too long, I love Chicago, and the only other place I would want to live right now (NYC) is just as cold in the winter.  So, really, I'm not getting away from the winter or the cold anytime soon.  The best thing to do?  Buy a heavier coat, start enjoying preppier clothing, like button-up shirts under cashmere sweaters, buy waterproof boots and warm mittens instead of the non-waterproof suede shit, and start enjoying all the things that make you happy about where you are instead of wishing yourself away to somewhere else.


Now, does this always work?  No.  People move and change their lives because they really need a change.  Maybe it's a new job, a new boy/girlfriend, or just a dire need for a change of pace, and it's important to accept the need for those things and follow them in the direction they take you.  It's equally important, however, to realize that no situation is perfect, and that, so long as you are happy in most of your life (maybe it's for one of the same three reasons listed above), the things that you saw as monumentally "bad" might now seem like only minor complications.  Plus, that's why God invented vacations, for when you really really do need to change things up a bit.  

Memory Lane

It's Christmas time!  Aside from the snow, this is my favorite time of year.  I officially started turning on the Lite FM Christmas station over Thanksgiving break, when the weather turned cold enough to suggest snow and I was on vacation, which I decided was a signal for me to transition passed Thanksgiving and into Christmas.





I noticed something this year though.  I have responsibilities.  (Don't cry for me.  Don't pity me.  And if you've said "well duh," know that that's what I say to myself all the time!)  However, it was the first year that the reality of my life hit me.  The day after Thanksgiving 95% of all my Christmas shopping was done, my Christmas cards had been signed and sent, and I do not own Christmas decorations, as it is not my place to decorate.  I suddenly was happy to have all my Christmas "responsibilities" out of the way, and that knowledge made me take a step back.  I was excited to be done.  The idea of having no other holiday obligations until Christmas itself actually made me happy, and that threw me for a bit of a reality check.  It is not that the joy of the season is gone, but the whimsy, the idealism, and the ease has changed.

Now, I have responsibilities.  I have a job to go back to on Monday, I have bills to pay every month, I have car payments, insurance payments, and credit card payments to make, gas and groceries to buy, and a savings account to maintain so that I can accomplish things in the future.  I have family parties to schedule, doctors appointments to schedule, work emails to address, errands to run, and food to make daily.  No more are the days of having Mom and Dad drive you to the next family party or prepare your meals for you, you have no more completely empty weekends to fill with sleepovers and movie marathons on the couch, and the general fantasy of the season has changed from a naïve whimsy to an enjoyed quick vacation.  


It was then, wrapping the last present for family and helping my boyfriend set up his own Christmas tree that I remembered with longing and fondness of the Christmases of my childhood.  I used to spend an entire weekend with my Aunt, making gingerbread houses and watching the claymation holiday movies.  I spent a Saturday with my mom making hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies, watching White Christmas while they baked, and finished the night with a full family marathon of The Santa Clause, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, A Garfield's Christmas, and A Charlie Brown Christmas.  We used to put up decorations one weekend and spread out shopping and wrapping over the remainder of the weekends, listening to Christmas music while we worked, reveling in the holiday and the joy.  There were snowmen to build and Christmas cards to open, and there was always someone else to make sure you had the work done or got where you needed to go.  It wasn't a holi-DAY but a holi-month.


It is times like that that I miss, and times like now that make me appreciate how truly amazing the Christmases of my childhood were.  They were magical and memorable, never to be truly replicated but always to be admirably remembered.  So, I hope that you are finding your holidays enjoyable, and if you have kids or little nephews and nieces, remember that these are the Christmases they will look back on someday and wish that they, too, could replicate.

According to Jordan

Maybe you've heard of it, maybe you haven't, however, according to Jean Twenge, a psychology professor for the San Diego State University, we are looking at the "Age of Entitlement".  Or, to put in simpler words, a time when people believe that everyone gets a trophy, a gold star, a pat on the back, and a raise just for being, well, themselves, even if the effort put forth is barely passing or simply mediocre.  One of the best places to look at such trends is within school systems, parent complaints, and kids' sports teams, but we won't delve into that realm for now.  Happy hunting on your own.


No, today, instead, is about a different genre - professional sports.  Sadly, I will admit I do not know the ongoings of the recent Lebron James fiasco, other than it has to do with him making bad choices and there being backlash.  However, what I do love is this VIDEO!!!! that Michael Jordan put out in response to the recent Lebron James scandal.  Yes, I said scandal. I don't know if it really is, but the word just makes everything sound more important, urgent, and juicy!  Ergo:  Scandal.  


LOVE this video, however.  Michael Jordan really hit home on the concept of perseverance, dedication, commitment, overcoming obstacles, continuing even when things look dismal, and totally shat (lo siento much if that somehow offended anyone) all over Lebron.  LOVE IT!  Take a look for yourself.

A Thank you to my Readers

Happy Holidays to all.  I hope the holiday is finding you well and in the company of people you enjoy or at a place in your life where you can be thankful for some, if not all, of the things that you have.


For me, I wanted to say a quick thank you to you, the reader, for supporting this blog and for the readers of my book, Living with B: A College Girl's Struggle with Bulimia and Everyday Life.  The book can be found on Amazon and Kindle, as well as Barnes and Noble.com and Lulu.  


Today, I received two different compliments about my book, one from a former boss who I ran into today at the bank, and one from the online posting (on Amazon) which I also read today.  The online summary is as follows:

A lot of people who read this book are likely struggling with bulimia or other eating issues themselves. If you are, this book is great. It gives the harsh reality of how much living with B sucks and enough humor to help us laugh at ourselves. It is not a "how to" book, nor a "look at how great I'm recovering" book. It gives hope and humor that life continues, and yes, just might get better.

So, dear reader, thank you.  Thank you for taking the time to not only read the novel but review it for others as well; I am glad to hear the content is finding you well and I truly hope it helped you either through something yourself or understand someone you know just a little better.  A warm Thanksgiving "THANKS!" to you and all of my other readers.  Happy holidays, and may your turkey (or to-furkey) be amazing.

Starbucks Still Working to be Fit

I found myself in a bit of a pickle this morning (and no, that is not a Snooki reference, sorry Jersey Shore).  I totally forgot to go to the store this weekend, so I had to buy breakfast on the go, and I really enjoy Starbucks, so I headed to the one close to work.  I'm a healthy kind of girl, and really can't stand super sugary things, so sometimes it can be tricky picking out food and drinks when Starbucks is known for, well, let's be honest, their pastries and seasonal lattes.  Granted, I did take them up on their BOGO (buy one get one free) holiday drink "happy hour" special this weekend, where you bought a holiday drink between the hours of 2 and 5 pm and got a second one free...but that's not what I wanted this morning.  I wanted something healthy that would keep me going all morning.

Again, granted, all Starbucks are different and due to their locations and sizes probably offer slightly different fares, but I ordered myself an unsweetened, half soy half water, hot, green tea latte.  :-)  I love them, although the woman working the bar looked at me like I was an alien.  Apparently this was a new drink to her.  But, I think it's wonderful.  You have to like the taste of matcha powder, but if you prefer regular milk over soy you can just as easily get it with milk, but you'll be lacking the slight hint of vanilla flavoring the soy option offers.  Nonetheless, it's still an excellent choice, providing a bit of protein in the soy without tons of calories, since it's half water too, and all the potency and wonderfulness that is matcha green tea.  

However, I knew I would be hungry.  Sadly a latte just doesn't fill me up for four hours, so I went to buy something to eat.  I didn't feel like spending a ton of money on a cheese and fruit platter, nor did I want the sugar-filled pastries, so I tried to find something else.  Oatmeal is an option, and it's standard instant oats based, so it's good, and there is also the choice of their yogurt and granola parfaits, but those can still be pretty sugary, and I just wasn't in the mood.  Instead, I found my attention taken by something called Two Moms in the Raw.  I grabbed the Gojiberry granola to have with my latte.  DELICIOUS!!  Started by a two moms in CO, their mission is to provide great tasting, delicious, nutricious and just down right honest raw foods to consumers.  Thie morning's granola was gluten-free, wheat-free, dairy-free, and 100% organic and 100% raw.  Now, I will definitely admit that you have to have a palatte for healthy food, otherwise something like this may seem gritty and unsavory, but if you are a healthy-food lover, then this is totally up your alley.  It was packed with nuts and fiber, and had no other sweeteners outside the natural foods themselves, cinnamon and agave.  Yum Yum!! 

So, give it a shot.  Starbucks may not be the healthies cafe around, but then again, when you're looking for coffee and pastries, who wants healthy, right?  However, don't overlook their attempts at providing customers with healthier options.  And they do a pretty darn good job too. 

Petterinos

Tuesday night was reunion night for a college friend of mine and myself.  There were three of us that went out in all, and in trying to find reasonably priced places in the loop itself (think the financial / theater district) within walking distance of all of us, we decided on a restauarant called Petterinos.  It's on Dearborn and if you dine in after 7pm, they offer free valet service!

Overall, the atmosphere was excellent.  It likens itself closely to Maggianos, but then again, how could it not?  It, too, is a Lettuce Entertain Your Restaurant, and they all seem to have similarities amongst them, so another Italian style restaurant echoing Maggianos only seemed to be expected.  The booths, however, we very spacious, and it was never hard to hear each other talk. 

While we weren't going to the theater ourselves, the restaurant does offer "Theater" fair, or a $30, fixed-price meal option, for those patrons who find themselves heading to the theater after dinner.  The options seemed nice, although I do not know the specifics.  They can, however, be found on the restaurant's website.  My friends and I decided on the $20 menu option (available after 7pm), where you can choose an appetizer, main course and dessert from the options given on the menu.  My appetizer ceasar salad left something to be desired, as the dressing and flavor was lacking, but a friend had the corn chowder and said it was excellent.  My potato-crusted tilapia was outstanding.  Everyone at the table wanted bites!  Definitely highly recommended even if you don't choose the fixed menu option.  The blue-cheese steak was really fatty; I would probably pass.  Then my dessert was the chocolate ovation cake.  A-MAZING!!!  It was dense chocolate yumminess with a layer of raspberry goodness and raspberry drizzle.  It is intensely rich, but proved a wonderful end to the meal.  Walking a mile and half back to my car also helped, but we'll just say point goes to the tilapia and the chocolate cake.  :-) 

Wines of the night?  I had the Malbec, which was smooth, a little spicy and a great full-bodied wine.  Definitely worth the $9 a glass.  My friends said their Cab Sav and Reisling were equally delicious.  The service?  Ehhhhh, menza menz.  It could have been better, although the waitress definitely left us alone.

So, overall... probably a 3/5 for the restaurant and experience.  Try it for yourself, but get a good glass of wine and stay away from the NY strip steak!

A Quick Quote

I decided today's quote to live by is the following:

‎"To have a positive attitude is not to always be happy, but to always try to look on the bright side of things"

~Stephanie Caprini

Francesco's Forno

I visited a new restaurant in Chicago:  Francesco's Forno.  Located on the corner of Milwaukee Ave and North Ave in Wicker Park, the restaurant boasts an open and spacious dining room for the Wicker Park area with paneled windows lining the front of the restaurant.  The windows create an illusion of more space, which is aided by the high ceilings.  Additionally, they have a 6 person bar with two high-table for additional seating and a place to wait away from the door.  Reservations are taken, although not always necessary.  However, should you want a guaranteed table without too long of a wait, I highly recommend a recommendation.  


Although erring on the side of noisy, pending the table next to you isn't too close to your table, it is not so loud that you cannot hear the people with whom you are eating.  Our party thoroughly enjoyed our evening.  We sampled two wines before finally deciding, savored the table bread with what appeared to be garlic / chive butter, but I preferred the olive oil with herbs, which is conveniently placed on every table.  For dinner I had the Soppressata (thinly sliced, perfectly cured salami), and the Insalata con Uova (salad with lemon vinaigrette, white truffle oil, and a fried egg on top).  Delicious is an understatement.  It was excellent.  The others had the Linguini Frutti del Mare (seafood linguini).  It comes with a spicy marinara sauce, which lightly coats the pasta.  One person asked for it with a white sauce, which turned out to be more like a light parmesan alfredo.  I highly recommend both those options, depending on if you prefer a spicier flair or cheesier one.  


Overall, with wine and appetizers, a 4 person dinner was about $130, with tip.  It's reasonably priced, and, if you forgo the drinks, not outside of a typical budget.  For atmosphere, I give it a 3.5/5 because of the noise level, a 3/5 for priciness, and a 5/5 for quality of food and desire to return.  So, as I like to say, let's grab some friends and Mangia!

Do You Kiss and Tell?

Today Yahoo! featured an article regarding fun/ quirky facts about kissing.  Of course, I had to read it.  It was a simple, quick, 10 point article, but some of the facts were extremely interesting!  Like, for example, did you know passionate kissing using 34 (all) facial muscles, and it can help improve circulation, prevent tooth decay and just help with overall health?  Or, that men who kiss their significant other goodbye prior to leaving for work tend to make more money?  Cool!!  Honey!, Come kiss me before you leave!! :-)

The one thing I found interesting yet odd, was that women tend to kiss 29 different men, on average, before getting married.  Hmm...I know women keep track of a lot of things: how many sexual partners they've had, what they eat in a day, the last time you called her or took her out for dinner, but how many people they've kissed?  That's a new one to me.  But who knows, maybe it's just another statistic, like the one that says 70% of all statistics you read in magazines are made up.  Or maybe its 40%?  Either way, I won't keep you!  Get back to kissing already!

XBox Fans

So yes, I am . . . I never thought this day would come . . . but here I am, at last, discussing video games.  I can't seem to hide from the release of the newest XBox Game:  Call of Duty Black Ops.  I should probably preface, I know absolutely zippo about the game, the history of the game, or why this is such an important sequel.  I do, however, know that I cannot go out of earshot of at least one person who is talking about it:  A parent about the kid's latest craze, the kids talking about the game they played, other kids talking about other kids talking about the game, friends talking about the game for the same reasons previously listed, etc.  It's like Nitrogen in the air:  It's there.  It's inevitable.  You can't escape it, so you might as well just deal with it and figure out some way to know what the heck people are talking about.


So I did.  Yup, I did.  I actually typed the keys in the order required to look up Black Ops and see why this is such a craze.  The intro video however - AWESOME!!!  But, what can I say, I'm 4 and easily persuaded by celebrities, stuff blowing up, the subtle hints of humor, and just videos in general.    It did disturb me that a seemingly 14 year old girl was carrying a gun, but, um......yeah, she's probably 20 in real life and just looks 12.  Just saying.  A little concerning.  Otherwise, cool.  You get to blow shit up.  Also seemingly ironic it was released really close to Veteran's Day, and day a sad few people continue to celebrate considering, well, we're still a free country and that was after 2 really big world wars, a long Vietnam War, and a whole bunch of other wars today's History books forget to mention for more than a passing sentence, but, you know, it's cool.  They tried. (I guess).  


But yes, even after hearing it all, I'm still a little (or a lot) confused.  I guess I just won't ever be that gung-ho fanatic, but, if blowing things up while talking to others and working solo or in teams is your things, this is a good game for that.  (Fine print:  I am not a reliable source for the interworkings, play-mode, or content found in said game.)  And, on that note, have fun.  If you end up blowing stuff up next to Jimmy Kimmel, let me know.

Spice Up Your Health Life

I recently told my boyfriend I would happily cook all day long if I didn't have to do dishes.  I really hate doing dishes, but I absolutely love cooking.  Just like I am obsessed with Project Runway, I thoroughly enjoy watching Top Chef because I love seeing the different ways foods are used.  I've also discovered, in my own cooking endeavors, that I tend to lean towards certain types of cuisine - Italian, Asian, and just overall Healthy.  


I also love my spice rack.  Over the years I've collected different spices and tried to teach myself about how to use them correctly and experimentally, seeing if different combinations bring more pizzaz and life to different dishes.  I love spices so much I don't know what to do with myself when I find myself cooking blindly without them.  So, you can imagine my happiness when Yahoo! put out a news article about different spices and how they can help your health.  Such spices I already love?  GARLIC!  Cinnamon, Fennel seed, Cloves, and Ginger.  Also making the list are Cumin, Curry, Cardamom (think Chai tea!) and Star Anise.  These spices have links to health benefits, just like different vitamins are linked to different health benefits.  The more you use spices, the more likely you are to reap their benefits.


So, for all you cooking gurus out there, keep cooking!  If you're like me and just a fan of cooking, keep trying new spices and combinations, and your food and technique can only improve.  If you're still trying to get into cooking, remember it's like everything else:  the more you practice, the better you get.  However, become familiar with these and other spices.  It's amazing how much life they can bring to your food.  Eat up, and if anyone feels like helping me with the dishes, let me know!

Give Away?

What would you do with $100,000 if you had to spend it and couldn't spend it on yourself?


This question was posed to my sixth graders during their writing extension class.  Every day they are given ten minutes to explore a new prompt, working on enhancing their flow of consciousness and writing abilities.  Today's I found extremely interesting.  What would a sixth grader think to do with $100,000?  


Some of the most common responses included donating to favorite charities - global, local, pet – or giving the money to family members.  Some people even explicitly wrote out the percentages they would give to each family member based on how they perceive those family member's needs.  I found that logic impressive.  Otherwise some students went even further by wanting to donate to schools or universities, build parks and camps, and one person even said he'd give it all to the first random homeless he ran into.  Clearly, the minds of these ten and eleven year olds are hard and working and working in very different ways.


So, that got me thinking.  What would I do with $100,000 I couldn't spend on myself?  Maybe I would help family members pay off bills or put one of them through college.  Maybe I would help a friend start up a company he or she was trying to get off the ground, or, like so many of my other students, I would donate it to a worthy charity.  I would donate it, however, because I would get to write it off on my taxes and probably get some of it back in a refund?  Does that make me somehow less charitable or just more financially savvy?  Who knows.  All I know is one friend, when posed this question, responded with, "I would cry."  How true.  How very very true.  Sorry world, but $100,000 is a lot of money.

The Marriage Reality

There are a couple of things I love talking about:  traveling (Europe!!), food / cooking, movies and comedy, art/music/culture, and sex & relationships.  I love when Yahoo puts out articles relating to these topics too, especially the last one.  I find them fascinating, and I guess coming from a large, loud, loving, always-around-no-matter-what Italian family gives my perspective on relationships and such a slightly different twist, but I still enjoy learning more.  I always feel the more you know about something the better equipped you are to deal with situations you find yourself facing in the future.  


All that said, this article on yahoo highlighted 10 things couples can expect during that famous "first year" of marriage.  Am I married?  Nope.  But a lot of my friends are on that track and / or discussing it, looking down that road, in relationships, etc, so it's definitely pertinent.  I think the article makes a good point on certain topics.  You won't always be happy, ergo you will go to bed mad sometimes.  Your sex life will ebb and flow, but you'll probably be more in tune with each other and find it gets better over time because you know one another.  Couples still find themselves falling into "traditional" roles, even if it wasn't always set up that way in the beginning, and you do not magically become rich just because you're working with two incomes.  All of these are great points, and the article was fun in the way it laid it out for the reader.  I think sometimes today people just want the fairy tale and they're too quick to want to rid themselves of a situation the minute it gets challenging.  You can blame the fast-paced society, or the instant-gratification mentality, or the cultural phenomenon of divorce on a whim, or whatever else you want, but the truth is sometimes people just aren't adequately prepared for what comes down the road, especially in relationships.  Maybe part of it is because when it's happening to us it seems more monumental than when friends discuss what happened to them, but still, the more you know the better prepared you are to deal with life as it hits you.  And who knows, maybe you'll surprise yourself by your reaction to the article.  Happy reading!

Dance Time...

I'm a dancing maniac.  Plain and simple.  I love it; I do it all the time; it's pretty much guaranteed that if there's good music on I'm dancing.  I especially like pop / dance music, so when the song "Numa Numa" hit the European club scene in 2005/2006 when I studied in Spain, I instantly fell in love.  I personally thought it fell off the planet afterwards until I heard it in the Rhianna song "Live Your Life."  The teaser beginning made me a crazy dancing fiend.  Loved it!


So, needless to say, I geeked out again today when I heard the video NUMA NUMA in the background this morning.  I came running out to find that this was not the original video, but a video made by some man back in 2006 doing stupidly funny dance moves and lip-syncing.  Apparently it was extremely popular around then and then totally went viral on You Tube.  How it took me four years to find, I have no idea, but, again, watch the video!!!!!  I guarantee you'll be laughing, and you might even find yourself singing and dancing along.  :-)   


Happy Halloween in the meantime!!

Internet Installation

This morning we recently had Comcast come install internet in the house.  After learning how AT&T U-Verse fails where we are located (location was too far from the hub for it to be worth it), the choice to switch to Comcast was clear.  


They arrived pretty much right on time this morning.  Having worked with Comcast in the past, I know the set-up time is usually short.  However, it took 2 hours this morning.  Why?  Because they had to sit on hold with their own company for nearly and hour and fifteen minutes.  That's right.  The technicians had to sit on the phone to reach a Comcast representative for over an hour.  That blew our minds, technicians included.  Apparently the other internet companies (i.e. AT&T) have separate lines for technicians to call, but not Comcast.  Comcast puts the technicians through the regular phone lines as though they were any old Joe Schmoe customer.  How ridiculous!  Once they finally did reach a representative, the process was about twenty minutes, like we all assumed it would be.  


Just think about how much more efficient they would be if they had their own technician-line.  They could see more customers, they could service more houses, and they could be more effective.  Period.  So, Mr. Comcast CEO of customer care and technician services, on behalf of your future customers and current technicians, you should be ashamed of yourself for not thinking of this sooner.  Otherwise, you have another set of very happy customers.

Dooms Day Oops?

I, like always, get my news from Yahoo news.  The other day, I came across an extremely interesting article regarding 2012, and the article said the Doomsday Prophecy might actually be wrong.  After initially laughing at the fact that this made news, I read further.


History first.  The Mayan calendar was divided into lots of different sections, and two of those sections included the "Long Count" and the "Short Count".  The Long Count and the Short Count are not explained in the ARTICLE, because, honestly, it's a grueling process to explain the logistics.  Basically the Mayans built a calendar based on a 52 year cycle with smaller measuring points in between . . . and there are LOTS of small measuring pieces.  Every 52 years is a new "Chapter" and when people refer to the Long Count they are usually referring to one of these cycles / chapters.  Additionally, everything is based on the lunar cycles not the solar ones, which is the opposite of how a lot of Western civilization functions, which is why it's complicated.


Ergo, the long and short of it is that "we" may have misinterpreted the Long Count specificity and may therefore be as far as 50 to 100 years off the actual "doomsday" date.  Fun, unless, of course, you're one of those people who has forgone all life savings to build a shelter and stock up for the worst, or one of those people who has run up all credit cards to "maximum" thinking it won't make a difference anyways in 2 years.  Otherwise, the rest of us can figure out if we want to "Party like its 2012" or just go about business as usual.

"Saying AYO, Yo No Puedo"

Okay, if that title makes any sense to you whatsoever, congratulations, you have not only heard of the song "Dynamite" by Taio Cruz, but you are also familiar with the plethora of parody videos going viral on You Tube.  My students have particularly found a liking for the ones that quote the following, although you should probably know the real lyrics first.  


Real lyrics:  "I throw my hands up in the air sometimes, saying AYO gotta let go"


Some of the top parodies as quoted by students:
"I throw my sandwich in the air sometimes, saying AYO, forgot the mayo"
"I throw my homework in the air sometimes, saying AYO I'll take the zero"
"I throw my xbox in the air sometimes, saying AYO, I'll play Nintendo"
"I throw my Call-4 in the air sometimes, saying AYO, I'll play Halo"
"I throw my Skittles in the air sometimes, saying AYO, taste the rainbow"


Love them!  Here is one video specifically that highlights the above phrases.  Is it the one my students are quoting?  Not per se, but it has the same lines.  


And hey, if they can come up with their own why can't we?  Ergo, my Spanish contribution:  "Tiro tarea en el aire yo digo AYO, yo no puedo".  

Night Cap

Here's something I miss as a child - Honey and Milk for sleepless nights.  Yes, that's right, I said it, honey and milk.  Mmmm.  Memories.


It didn't happen often, but every now and again a plague of sleeplessness would hit my family.  It was almost as if everyone caught the bug at once, like the power went out or the cable stopped working and everyone was affected at exactly the same time.  The only problem was this "plague" was extreme sleepiness with absolutely no possible means of falling asleep.  Our eyes hurt, we were cranky, and we just wanted to go to bed, but we couldn't seem to get over the "I finally fell asleep!" hump.  


On nights like those, Dad would head to the kitchen and put on a pot of milk and honey.  He'd sit over the stove while we stood around and chatted, stirring the milk frequently, which I later learned was to prevent the milk from burning.  I always just figured he was bored or had a supreme calling from the Milk and Honey Gods to always and consistently stir the magic potion.  Needless to say, as soon as it was warm enough he'd pour us each a cup and we'd sit and sip at the sweet nectar of promised sleep inducer.  Eventually we'd make it to bed and, sure enough, sleep would arrive soon thereafter.  


In the end, I have no idea if honey milk is a real remedy for sleeplessness, but it certainly worked as a kid - or, well, at least the placebo affect of watching the making of said honey milk, drinking said honey milk, and then returning to bed did the trick.  Either way, it worked for me.  And, on nights like tonight where sleep seems to elude you no matter how much you wish for it, I would gladly return for a childhood night cap.

Food Matters

I love Netflix.  Yesterday, I watched one of the most interesting documentaries I've seen in a while.  The title?  FOOD MATTERS.  In fact, if, upon reading this snippet you're interested in learning more, there is the FOOD MATTERS website.  


So what is it about?  Well, just like Food Inc. talks about the realities and dangers of GMOs and pesticides in food and hormones in food, which sadly goes unnoticed by a large majority of the population and is often kept quiet by food companies, Food Matters deals with food and it's link to medicine.  For example, they discuss how nutrition should be more of a focus for doctors, but how it is immensely underplayed, not taken seriously, and often not taught in medical school.  Seems like a no brainer to me.  Food supplies nutrients.  Nutrients keep things working properly and keep you healthy.  If you're sick, obviously there is a problem.  


One example specifically, which I enjoyed, was the use of extremely high doses of Vitamin C to cure illnesses.  Vitamin C is that same drug you're told to take in tablet form when you feel a cold coming on.  Logic would lead, therefore, to say that if small doses help small colds, then large IV-fed doses would help larger problems.  It's even cooler, however, that this same idea was discussed in the TV Series:  HOUSE.  YAY!  The other one I thought was cool was how the original founder of AA treated alcoholism and depression with Vitamin B3, until the drug companies overtook the medical field.  Again, pretty cool.  Natural vitamins to fix problems.  (It is also known that 2-3 handfuls of organic cashews daily has the same chemicals effect as Prozac).  


Now, don't get me wrong.  They don't completely knock the importance of modern-day medicine.  If you need a quick 7-14 day antibiotic, they were in full support.  This had more to do with how drug companies and the medical field affect economy, why drug companies don't actually want to "cure" you in the long run, and how today's society has seriously overlooked one of the most fundamental parts of health and life in general:  The importance of good nutrition and the benefit of organic foods.


Check it out for yourself.  Maybe you'll find you learn something, maybe you'll find support for what you already know, or maybe you'll just expose yourself to a different perspective.  It's up to you if you want to believe it or understand it or not.  But I loved it!  

Bongo Room

For those of you who love trying new restaurants, may I suggest one in Chicago.  It's called the Bongo Room, and is located in Wicker Park on Milwaukee Ave near North Ave.  It's a cute little restaurant with about 15 tables and a bar seating six.  And, it always has a wait.  That's now you know it's amazing.


What makes this restaurant so special?  It's signature twist on dishes and ever changing menu.  Oh, yeah, and it's portions exceed the size of your face, so you always have leftovers for home.  But, like I said, the ever changing menu means you can keep uncovering new favorites every time you go.  Their pancakes, for example, are stellar.  Today they had Banana Chocolate, Pumpkin Spice, Cranberry Bliss, and Red Velvet with Chocolate.  Each choice comes with three oversized, fluffy cakes and it's own special array of toppings.  They've also been known to have Lemon Pancakes in the summer - hence the "changing" menu.  They switch up their signatures to ensure every visit is unique.  


I personally had the veggie croissant, which included Muenster Cheese, Alfalfa Sprouts, Fresh Spinach, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Grilled Mushrooms, an Egg, and Basil Mayo (which, was beyond amazing, and I hate mayo, so that's saying a lot!)  It was gigantic and had to be broken down with my knife and fork.  And I'm pretty sure I now have dinner today also.  However, before I had decided on the croissant, I had debated the traditional breakfast burrito and the Sweet Potato Black Bean burrito.  Amazing.  


The pricing?  Decent.  My breakfast, cup of coffee and tip ended up being $17.  For the city, that's not too bad, and for breakfast, it's not too bad either.  Plus, like I said, I ended up with dinner as well, so really it broke down to about $8.50.  Totally doable.  Maybe not every day doable, but for the occasional holiday breakfast, absolutely worth it.  


Happy eating, and I recommend visiting them soon.  They're open until 2pm daily.  Yum!

CPR - Y?

At school today we had "CPR" Training, for all the teachers involved in sponsoring sports and after school activities.  I wasn't sure what to expect, but the 2-2.5 hour class ended up being extremely interesting.  We learned CPR and the "Heimlich" Maneuver.


Having never learned CPR, there were a lot of informational tid-bits that I didn't know prior to today.  For example, apparently they change the protocol for CPR every 5-10 years.  No, the actual process doesn't change, but little things can.  Like, for example, it is now customary to use a barrier between your mouth and the other person's mouth if such a barrier is available.  Why?  Simple put, with all the different diseases (think Aids, Hepatitis, etc) having a barrier between your mouths protects both parties.  Now, granted, since most CPR is done within family, you probably already know the ins-and-outs of your family members, so it's not so vital, but, nonetheless, that is one change.  Another, is that the number of pushes on the person chest changes.  Right now it's 30.  30 presses, 2 breaths, repeated 5 times.  According to our fire chief / instructor, they (the CPR Gods) are debating moving the number of chest compressions up from 30 to 50, which would change procedure from 30 compressions / 2 breaths, to 50 compressions / 2 breaths.  Interesting.


I also learned some cool things, like:  How to do the Heimlich maneuver, or that the Heimlich family is suing for royalties, so they have "unofficially" changed the name to something basic like "Choking Procedure", or that if you're doing CPR on a child aged 1-8 that you use only 1 hand instead of 2 during the chest compressions, and finally, the entire reason we do CPR is to keep Grandpa "away from the light," as our instructor so comically explained.  


Honestly, I highly recommend the class for every person.  Apparently in Washington State it is required in school that everyone learn the procedure, so they are the state with the highest number of citizens versed in CPR.  Therefore, should you ever decide to have a heart attack or become unconscious, I highly recommend getting yourself and your heart over to Washington State.  Otherwise, best of luck, and, although I am "trained" now, I would just prefer that you keep breathing on your own.  Thanks!

Investigating Art

I recently had the privilege of having an art related blog recommended to me.  I love art, especially painting and architecture, and the Art Blog By Bob is an exciting gateway into the art world.  He provides background, insight, relays critiques, and just generally brings more awareness to a world that is often remembered as an afterthought.  He highlights sculpture, American and contemporary art, and he also provides references to classic and more referenced art.


If you like art, you'll both fully enjoy and appreciate this website.  I know I do!  I especially like the portrait from fruit by Giuseppi Arcimboldo and the piece Bob previewed on Hong Kong, Art, and Deterritorialization.  Generally my preferences are towards abstract and visually stimulating pieces, like Dali, and impressionistic art, like Monet and Renoir.  I'm also starting to really enjoy more contemporary works, like the ones featured at the MOMA - Museum Of Modern Art, in NYC.  I also visited this really cute art store, the name of which has sadly escaped me, but I loved it because it featured new artists, and I found one particularly exciting.  It was pop art meets portrait, but her portraits were often the negatives and painted with cake decorating tools!  So fun!  And there was a photographer who tore his pieces into strips, encased them in fiberglass, and then warped the strips to make 3-D pieces.  Love it!


Ok, off my art-box for now.  Explore the website, and feel free to share any artist you enjoy!  I know I certainly always love expanding my knowledge base.   

Fall Favorites

Happy Fall everyone!!  Seriously, fall is my favorite time of year.  I love everything about it:  the weather, the changing leaves and vibrant colors, the smells, the food, the fact that it makes you want to snuggle up next to someone with a cup of hot cocoa or apple cider.  Mmm.  Perfect.  Plus, it means Christmas is just around the corner, and I love Christmas!

I re-affirmed today some of the reasons why I absolutely love this season. October is my favorite, not because I love Halloween (in fact, I'm so beyond a huge scaredy-cat that I really don't much care for the holiday or anything scary for that matter), but because fall is in its prime.  I walked the dog two mile, reveling in his desire to jump into piles of leaves,  chase leaves blowing across the ground, and just exist in the same open space as the crisp, cool breeze.  Later, at the store, I found myself totally excited.  Yes, I get excited about grocery shopping in the fall.  I'm a dork.  I admit it.  And I'm totally okay with it.  I love it.  I can't help it.  And Whole Foods does a wonderful job of increasing my love for fall food.  Pumpkin pies were on sale, honeycrisp apples (my fav) were on sale, all of my favorite squashes and sweet potatoes are available, which I couldn't wait to get home and make and drizzle with butter and brown sugar.  Then there was pumpkin and walnut bread with apple butter for morning pick-me-ups, and I even bough cranberries to put in my wild rice dinner and a jug of apple cider and cinnamon sticks with which to make hot apple cider on days like today - just cool enough to make you want to wrap yourself up in a blanket in front of the tv and drink something warm and soothing.  


October is finally here, and life is officially revolving around everything fall.  Find your favorite treat and indulge.  I know I will!

Coffee Break? Language Please!

So, I found this wonderful website.  Ever wanted to learn a language, but don't really have time?  Have an iPod???  I DO!!!!  Even if you don't, you can do all this online as well.

So what language do you want to learn?  Spanish?  French?  Italian?  German??  Well, I just found this podcast / website, and it's wonderful.  I'm using it with my Spanish class, and it's called Coffee Break Spanish.  Otherwise, the website is called Radio Lingua, and you can choose your language and then scroll down to access the "Free Audio Files".  They're great.  You can listen to them right there on the website, or download them to the computer.  You can also find it on iTunes.  Search "Coffee Break Spanish" in the iTunes store and subscribe for free to the podcast.  That way, you can download them to your iPod and listen to them as you go.

They're great.  It's not perfect, and you might find you have some questions here and there, but they have different extras you can pay for to supplement the audio files, but, for the most part, they're great.  And they really focus on "survival" in the country.  They jump right in with how to start talking and how to make basic conversation and ask for things.  It's great.  The two running the Spanish program are from Glasgow, Scotland, so if you're not familiar with the accent it might take the first few to grow accustomed to the accent, but it's a great resource to either catch up on what you know, take a "crash course" before traveling somewhere, or just see what the language is like.

Happy listening.  Grab a friend.  Practice together.  !BUENA SUERTE!

A Mother's Touch

Three years ago I lost my mother to breast cancer.  You can say "sorry" and it's appreciated, but sometimes it's just one of those situations where you don't know what to say and you and the other person both know nothing you say can change the way things are.  Ultimately it is what it is.  Losing a parent at any age is difficult.  Loss is loss.  You can't change it, and coping is a process.  Some days are easier than others, some days even feel normal enough to make you think you've moved on and are finally "fine", and some days…well…some days (or even just moments for that matter) can be just as empty and confusing as those very first few months.  


Understandably, not everyone has a wonderful relationship with his parent(s), so this can't be considered a blanket statement, but I think, for the most part, there's something about a mother that everyone appreciates.  She's the one you want around when you're sick, watching movies with you, making chicken noodle soup or crackers for you, doing her best to make you comfortable until you feel better. Even in college there were times I wished my mom were around when I was sick simply because it was comforting (and, who am I kidding, I would have loved to have been able to lay on the couch instead of having to get up to make my own chicken noodle soup).


Other times, moms just somehow seem to know exactly what to do or say.  They calm you down when you're stressed and overwhelmed, thinking the world will come crashing down around you because nothing could ever be worse than what you're going through at that very moment.  She's the one who tells you everything will be alright when your heart gets broken or your emotions get all jammed and out-of-whack, or the one who celebrates ecstatically with you when you get the job or the grade or finally cross the finish line you trained and worked so hard to get to.  She's your biggest supporter, your strongest ally, and your greatest source of comfort and wisdom.


And when it's gone, it can't be replaced.  Sure, you can fine surrogates - different people at different times to help fill different voids or help you through different struggles and over different obstacles, but it's always just a little…well…different.  And, ultimately, there are times when you just wish she could be around simply because you need her.  And those times, because of those specific set of needs at that particular juncture in your life, are the hardest.