CHOCOLATE COSMOS

2011: A year of fab "firsts" and a super "second"

2012-01-03T15:15:00.000-08:00

Happy 2012! Hope the new year is going great for all of you. This is one of those mega posts that has been sitting in the "unpublished" queue of posts for a while (maybe since Jan 1st, eeks). Better late than never I say (wait, did I just type this exact sentence in my recap of 2010?!)

Anyhoo, here's a recap of 2011. It was a momentous year and here are some of the exciting excerpts of the journey that Gini and I were a part of:

Mid 2011 - We geared up for some serious "zero waste" changes to our lifestyle. Bea from Zero Waste Home is my constant source of inspiration. A post on what we are doing should be coming up (it's in the unpublished posts' queue, I promise!). But this change is permanent for us and we are loving the challenges that accompany it.

July 2011 - We took classes for rock climbing. What an adrenalin rush this was! This is one activity I see myself doing over and over again. Gini was a natural at this, with his mad climbing skills. The very first day he was climbing at the level of an intermediate climber - 9s and 10s. Don't ask about me, even on my last day I was still happy with the beginner levels of 7s and 8s.

July 2011 - We went kayaking for the first time in the amazing Elkhorn Slough along the Monterey Bay. I hadn't imagined that we would be so beat at the end of it. It takes a lot of stamina to paddle in a kayak. I was lucky I was kayaking with Gini. He did most of the paddling =) We saw a lot of birds and seals lounging along the slough, it was a wonderful experience. Here's a picture of a mega-seal jumping out the water, in the backdrop you can see a million seals lounging:

From early September - We registered ourselves to become volunteers at 2 organizations we deeply care about:
Food Sorting at Second Harvest Food Bank.
Maintaining open space preserves with the Mid Peninsula Region Open Space Division.

September 2011 - My first Josh Groban concert. I wish he had sung more of my favorite songs. It was a great concert though, but I doubt if I'll ever go to his concert again. Does that mean I'm not a true Grobanite? :(

December 2011 - Gini's first flight with his flying instructor. Yes, you read it right, his "first flight". He had always wanted to fly, and he is now enrolled in classes for becoming a private pilot (for small planes, of course). I was his co-passenger on his first flight, and it was one of the most surreal experience of 2011.

Some of the "firsts" in the gardening front were harvesting garlic, broccoli, cauliflower, okra, and carrots. I've been reading a lot about growing vegetables and I'm gaining more confidence every year. Some pics from our harvest:

And of course, the most memorable event of 2011 was hiking the Half Dome. You've already read about it, here =).

What are some of your memorable moments from 2011?

Here a butterfly, there a butterfly!

2011-10-20T10:14:00.000-07:00

If you happen to be in the Santa Cruz area between Oct - March, you should not miss the Monarch butterflies' Sanctuary in Pacific Grove, also nicknamed "Butterfly Town, USA".

We were delighted to see hoards of butterflies amid the Eucalyptus trees when we visited in mid October this year. The visual treat is spectacular and the images will stay with you for a long time. Not often do you get to see butterflies these days, and to see hundreds of them in one glance is a surreal experience :-)
Binoculars are a must, and so is a good camera. You'll have to do with pictures from our point and shoot for now.

The Visitor Center close to the grove offers informative talks and tours on the various stages of the monarchs. There are several plants that the monarchs love, here's a handy list. The picture below has several caterpillars on a host plant that attracts the monarchs. It's hard to spot them because the leaves are almost the same color as the caterpillars.

Across from this quiet grove is a gorgeous beach with a natural bridge. The beach offers spectacular views and has plenty of picnic tables.

Sometimes I wonder if we will ever be able to see all the breathtaking sights that our beautiful California has to offer =) Know of some hidden gems in your area?

The Good Life!

2011-10-20T10:02:00.000-07:00

If you've ever gone camping before, you know how exciting sleeping under the trees and on an uneven surface is. Okay, let's face it, you barely get any sleep the first night. Your mind is playing games with you all night, going: "Genius! Leave the warm, comfy bed at home and sleep on this pseudo-jail cell mattress. Whose idea was it again?"
Regardless of the sage advice your mind is going to dole out, I say, Go Camping!

We set out on a Friday evening (Sept 23rd) to camp for 2 nights at Kirk Creek Campground in Big Sur, CA. This campground is the Mother of all campgrounds I've been to before. It is nestled neatly on the bluff of the Pacific Ocean and almost all campsites offer breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean (site 9, in particular, offers most rewarding views). The sites are spacious and have a cushion of grass all over. Trust me, sleeping on a grassy site is waay better than a rocky one (Yosemite campsites, I'm looking at you!).

Our drive to the campsite on Friday was uneventful. The only highlight was the gorgeous sunset amid the fog covered cliffs over the Pacific (no pics, boo!) . We reached the campsite at 9 PM and pitched our tent in the dark. The campground was full, but not noisy. We could hear the ocean, but we couldn't gauge how close we were to it. The next day, we rose to the sound of pleasant bird chatter, stepped out of the tent and behold! The ocean was roaring away, waves lashing against the cliffs, right in front of us. Kirk Creek is a keeper! The pictures don't do much justice.

This was the view from our campsite:

Our dear friends, with their adorable son S, joined us later in the day on Saturday. And together, we continued exploring the scenic spots around Kirk Creek. Some places we visited and loved:

Trail to the ocean from the campground (surreal, tropical forest-y). This is a strange but exotic rock formation. I see an elephant in that rock:

Sand Dollar Beach (5 miles south of campground, super fine sand and gorgeous rocks). Here's me losing at a game of hopscotch/ aeroplane:

Vicente Trail (across the road from the campground). Picture perfect panoramic views, with the royal Pink Pampas grass:

McWay Falls (in Julia Pfeiffer state park, 10 miles north of campground)
Bixby Bridge (closer to Big Sur, ~20 miles north of campground)

The evening was full of laughter, fun and food. 3 year old S seemed to enjoy every moment of this experience. And since his little body needed to rest, he went to bed early. The 4 of us sat, laid back, around the campfire, looking at the ocean, realizing that it doesn't get any better then this. This is The GOOD LIFE!

Buy an experience ...

2011-08-31T14:30:00.000-07:00

Read a nice article by David Brooks on NY Times today.

The article is about the presence of an invisible "Haimish" line that is omnipresent in our lives. Haimish is a Yiddish word "that suggests warmth, domesticity and unpretentious conviviality." His comparisons range from eating breakfast at a jovial diner where people share stories across the table and chat at the waffle iron, and then crossing the Haimish line, eating breakfast at a hotel where the atmosphere is quiet and the people around are busy checking email on their phones.

Another poignant point Brooks makes: "Often, as we spend more on something, what we gain in privacy and elegance we lose in spontaneous sociability."

He ends the article citing a finding that reiterates and reinforces my (changed) perspective on "things".

"... We also live in a highly individualistic culture. When we’re shopping for a vacation we’re primarily thinking about Where. The travel companies offer brochures showing private beaches and phenomenal sights. But when you come back from vacation, you primarily treasure the memories of Who — the people you met from faraway places, and the lives you came in contact with.

I can’t resist concluding this column with some kernels of consumption advice accumulated by the prominent scholars Elizabeth W. Dunn, Daniel T. Gilbert and Timothy D. Wilson. Surveying the vast literature of happiness research, they suggest:

Buy experiences instead of things; buy many small pleasures instead of a few big ones; pay now for things you can look forward to and enjoy later.

"

Happy to report that my gift to Gini's birthday this year was a series of Beginner's Rock Climbing classes at Planet Granite. We both took the classes and loved it! Needless to say it was a great "experience" =)

Do you like the idea of gifting experiences? What experiences would you like to get as gifts?

Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market: Sights and Bites

2011-08-30T13:32:00.000-07:00

The Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market is like a wonderland. Every time I visit, I am in a semi-hyperactive mode because of the gazillion varieties of fresh vegetables, fruits, and artisan cheeses.
The Market is famed for local and organic vendors. Everything in the market, from the bread to chocolates, from milk to fish, from flowers to fruits is by a vendor who has the business not far from the city. A true locavore haven.

Enjoy the picture slideshows below. I didn't get pictures of the raw food vendor, but that is also a mandatory stop you must make while at the market. I ate their raw cheesecake and raw apple pie, OMG! duuper-delicious!

Location:
Ferry Building Marketplace
One Ferry Building
San Francisco, California 94111
(415) 983-8030

Hours:
Tuesday: 10am2pm
Thursday: 10 am - 2pm
Saturday: 8am-2pm

Some sights and bites from our last visit:

Flowers:

Shrooms:

Veggies and Fruits:

Along with the fruits, flowers and veggies, the farmers' market has the most delicious hot chocolate. Old style, thick and surreal:

I'll end the post with my most favorite section of the Ferry Plaza marketplace, the cheese mecca: Cow Girl Creamery. They are an organic dairy from Point Reyes, California.
Taste as much as you want, and don't forget to try their fresh Goat Cheese. If I ever went vegan, their Goat Cheese will still be an exception for me :-)

Half Dome Hike: The Dissection

2011-08-19T10:27:00.000-07:00

Warning: Long post ahead.

Saturday, Aug 6th 2011 will be etched in my memory forever. We hiked the Half Dome for the 2nd, and probably, for the last time on this day. I've never felt so strong and vulnerable at the same time. Strong, because I never thought I'd be able to make it to the top but I did. Vulnerable, because the grandeur of Yosemite reiterated the fact that we are all so small and feeble in the grand scheme of nature.

The story as it unraveled.

Climbing the Half Dome (HD) now requires a permit. And as expected, the permits are a hot commodity. We tried, unsuccessfully, to get permits for a day in May. Not getting permits in May turned out to be good, because the snow-pack in Yosemite had made the trails inaccessible, and the cables were not up until the beginning of June. Gini and I, targeted August as the month when we would hike the HD.

On May 1st, permits for August went on sale online at 7 AM. It was a scene out of the 'Situation Room' in our house that morning. Gini and I, were ready with 3 laptops, with credit cards, and with the calendar to get as many permits as we could for August dates. 7 AM, and boom! in a wild frenzy we snapped up 10 permits for 3 weekend dates in Aug. By 7:02 AM, all permits for August were taken. We were happy, we had a choice from 3 dates in Aug. We chose Aug 6th, with 4 permits. I gave away the rest of the permits on mrhalfdome's website.

The next hurdle to cross was getting accommodation inside the Yosemite park for those dates. Yosemite is crazy in summer, we'd have to be persistent in looking for cancellations for campsites. And persistence paid off. By end of June, I was able to get a campsite for Friday, Aug 5th. This was good, because we wanted to be inside the park on Friday so we could save time in getting to the trailhead on Saturday, Aug 6th. I kept looking for campsites everyday since then. And as luck would have it, I got the same campground and the same campsite for Aug 6th. We were now, in the true sense, all set for the hike!

We originally had plans to hike with Gini's sister and her husband. But they couldn't make it. We then asked a couple of other friends, who also were not able to make it. By July, we were pretty sure it was going to be just the 2 of us hiking. But then, our friends A+S, agreed to join us. Then C+A decided to join us as well. Together we were 6, and we had permits for 4. DANG! I was determined to get permits, so I posted notes on mrhalfdome's website and kept looking for 2 extra permits on the website. And voila! on Aug 2nd, I snapped up 2 permits that became available online. The stars had aligned. We had the campsite, the permits, and the dome awaiting us on Aug 6th!

With several sleeping bags and food in tow, we left bay area for Yosemite on Friday, Aug 5th at 4 PM. A 3 hour drive turned into a 5 hour nightmare because of traffic on 580 and 680. We reached the campsite at 9 PM. Pitched the tent and tried to sleep. The next day would be a LONG day!

Aug 6th. 5AM: Up from bed, everyone dressed up, drank coffee, bear-proofed the campsite, ate bagels+muffins for bf. We were delayed by an hour when we reached the Curry Village parking lot at 7:30 AM. We were still upbeat.

8AM: An ominous sign greeted us at the Mist Trail (MT)/ John Muir Trail (JMT) entrance. Two people were putting up the sign "Trail Closed". We couldn't believe what we were seeing. The people stationed at the trailhead explained, they had recovered the body of one of the 3 people who had fallen to their deaths earlier in July. A Search and Rescue team with a dog in tow had just left to search for the other 2 bodies. Having more people on the trail would mean more distraction for the dogs. And that's why they had decided to close the trail till noon. I felt like someone had just punched me in my stomach. Months of preparation and planning, and now this. Our heads were shaking in disbelief. "Let's hike the Sentinel Dome", "Let's do Cloud's Rest", "Let's hike tomorrow, oh, but we don't have permits for tomorrow", we said to each other in tandem. We were at Yosemite to hike the HD and "We are hiking the HD", we said to each other. Yes, we are doing it!

8:30 AM: Back at the Curry Village parking lot. Still confused and nervous about what was the alternate plan, we decided to not lose any more time and started driving towards Glacier Point (GP). Taking the Panorama Trail would mean adding 5 miles to the existing distance, but the Panorama Trail was mostly downhill, so we were cautiously optimistic of making it to the top of HD.

9:00 AM: We hit the Panorama Trail. True to it's name, the trail offers a gorgeous vista everywhere you look:

Noon: We passed Illilouette Fall and Illilouette River along the trail. By the time we reached the top of Nevada Fall, we had walked for ~5 miles. We were doing good on time. At this pace, we would make it to the top of HD by 4 PM. We were starting to get a little nervous about our hike back to GP. Hiking the Panorama Trail in the dark would be difficult, we were not very familiar with the trail and the hike would be mostly uphill. Gulp!

Half past Noon: We soaked in the gorgeous views from the Nevada Fall, took some pictures. Distance to HD from Nevada Fall: 4.5 miles.

The trail was starting to get strenuous and steep now. And we were conscious of the time we had missed earlier in the day. We split up in groups of 2 depending on our pace, and C+A leading the pack, stopped to think aloud what we all were afraid to speak up. One of us should head back and retrieve the car from Glacier Point. We cannot hike all the way to the top of HD and then hike back uphill to GP. One of us will have to start back now, get the car, and wait for the rest of the gang at the Curry Village parking lot. C offered to hike back, "I have done this hike before", he said. But so had Gini and I. Discussions and strategies followed. We hike up fast, and try to get to GP to fetch the car before it gets too dark. The prospects of making it to the GP trailhead before it got too dark were looking dim already. We would have to share a ride with someone at the Curry Village Parking lot to our campsite. We were only ~2 miles away from the HD, it didn't make sense to turn back. So, up we went!

We reached the subdome around 3 PM. The ranger was lounging at the entrance of the subdome, he had a long list of the names of permit holders for that day, mostly unchecked. The Mist/ John Muir Trail closure had drastically altered everyone's plans.

The sub-dome is the most treacherous section of this extremely strenuous hike. By the time I reached the subdome, my energy reserves were near empty, my legs were shaking, and time was running out. Can't go down now, I could see the half dome! The cables looked daunting, my energy was low.

C, Gini and I reached the base of the HD close to 3:45 PM. Unlike 2006, when we had first climbed the dome, the scene at the base of the Dome was different. In 2006, the cables were full of people going up and down. In 2011, there were only a handful of people loitering at the base, and barely anyone on the cables. The permit system was working. The crowds had reduced. The closure of the Mist Trail earlier in the day, may have also caused some hikers to turn around and not attempt the hike.

With Gini behind me, I started climbing up the cables. The rock felt more slick and slippery this time compared to my last climb in 2006. My hiking boots were in a pretty good condition, and yet, I was struggling to find a good grip. Fortunately, Gini and I were the only ones climbing, so, I could take a lot of breaks. My arms were shaking, there was no way to rest between the rungs of the ladder. The rock was as smooth as a satin ribbon, no grip at all. It was scary! Can't go down though, I said, up we went!

The Dome flattens out towards the end, giving your arms the much needed relief. We made it to the top by 4 PM. It was ethereal. Yosemite never ceases to stun. Gini and I hike a trial at Yosemite almost every year, and each time we reach a summit, we see the grandiose vistas, we are SPELLBOUND! No words can describe the magnitude and vastness this place has to offer. Each time I see this view, I feel humbled and happy!

Our treat at the top of the HD: Methi Theplas+Mango Achaar. Best methi theplas EVAAA!

4:45 PM: Time to head down. Let's just say the hike down to the Valley, was not as much fun. My right knee has a propensity to flare up while hiking down. And it started right away. I had climbed up, that was the easy part.

5:30 PM: We took a break at the base of the subdome. Refueled the bodies. I taped up my knee and reinforced it with a knee brace. With a silent hope that my knee cooperate all the way down, I set out towards the Nevada Fall. I was going to slow down Gini, so I let him take a longer break. I could've used a longer break too, no time for it, I said!

We were losing daylight, we had to walk faster. By the time we hit the Mist Trail and John Muir Trail junction, the sun had already set. It was 7PM. I knew it would be dark when we were at the most difficult section of the Mist Trail, the steep steps along with the heavy mist from the waterfall. GULP! Keep walking, no time to think!

One step after another. The steep granite steps were killing my knee. No time to catch a breath, keep walking. Gini and I were the only ones on the trial by 7:30 PM. It was getting darker, what would we have done without the flashlights!

The Vernal Fall was even more majestic in the dark. Roaring, Grand, Surreal, Powerful! Soak up the moment, I told myself, this will never happen again. Being alone without the jostling crowds on the Mist Trail, never again!

The roaring sound of the waterfall gave us company till we reached the end of the steep steps. It was dark, very dark! If a bear was to cross our path, we wouldn't have known. GULP! I was scared. Needless to say, Gini was not. He is fearless. Fearless Gini. The trail was mostly downhill, my knee was better. We stepped up our pace. Our flashlights shone on the tiny creatures that had ventured out. It was their territory after all. The night belonged to them: the centipedes, the bats, the crickets, the frogs. At this hour, their attack on us would be justified. We had no reason to be there at such an hour. Never again!

We reached the Happy Isles trail head at 9 PM. The ordeal had come to an end. The Half Dome had conquered us. Their was not an ounce of energy left in me. We made it to the Curry Village Pizza Parlor in time. An otherwise ordinary pizza tasted gourmet that night. An ordinary Bud tasted vintage beer that night. The rest of the gang felt like family that night. We had bonded with an experience that would be forever etched in our memories.

By the time we would lay our bodies to rest that night, it would be 3 AM. How we made it to Glacier Point from Curry Village, and from Glacier Point to Crane Flat Campground is a story better told in another post. Not to forget A's vomit marathon during the drive to GP and to Crane Flat, poor A! He is always the life of the group and his suffering made us all sad for him. He, and the rest of us, slept like logs that night.

Aug 6th had come to an end. It will be 2 weeks tomorrow since our hike, and I still vividly recall every event that unfurled on Aug 6th.

I end this post with a grand vista of the Yosemite valley as seen from the Sub Dome.

The "Zero Waste Home"

2011-04-22T10:59:00.000-07:00

Happy Earth Day earthlings!

This post is not about checklists of what I should be doing or what I already do to be a *greener* person. Seriously, we all should know pretty much everything about what we should be doing or should be doing more of to leave a smaller carbon footprint. This post is about celebrating the initiative of Bea from Zero Waste Home.

Bea, I bow to thee!

She has managed to achieve what I have been only aspiring to attain, she has achieved the goal of living a "zero waste" lifestyle. And no, she is not a hippie, single woman, living in a tree. Although, that would be pretty cool.

She is just another person, with a husband, 2 kids, and a job. She is gaining the much needed publicity she deserves, not without some negative reactions though. You will either walk away from her blog feeling empowered to change your lifestyle. Or you will walk away feeling sorry for Bea that she is suffering from an OCD. I hope you will end up in the 1st bucket.

There is no need to go to extremes. Do what you can, one plastic bag at a time!
And repeat Bea's anthem after me:
Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

There's a Leek in the house.

2011-02-02T12:25:00.000-08:00

Pun intended =)
I prepared a delicious vegetable soup some days ago, followed a dear friend's recipe closely. The verdict: Move over Panera Bread Garden Vegetable Soup, there is a better version in town!
Okay that's a little melodramatic. But interestingly, my previous versions of this soup did not include the vegetables I used this time and I could tell by the delicious broth of this soup that the vegetables made all the difference. Note that I did not use any store bought broth. Instead I used Leeks, Fennel bulb, and Bok Choy to get the flavor.

Coincidentally, I had just finished reading Chapter 8 (Vegetables and Fresh Herbs) from Keys to Good Cooking by Harold McGee. And here is an informative note about Leeks from that chapter:
"Leeks are the pungent underground stalk and leaves of an onion relative. The inner leaves and root end have the strongest flavor.
Cooked leeks and especially their tops exude a thick slippery fluid that gels when chilled, and can help thicken soups and stews."

It should be okay to sub leeks for the smaller spring onions commonly sold in India.

Back to the soup, mmmm!

Ingredients:

Leek 1 , root end and green tops chopped (largish spring onions to sub leeks)
Garlic 2 cloves, roughly chopped
Carrots 2, chopped
Fennel Bulb 1, chopped (can skip if not handy)
Tomatoes 2-3, chopped
Tomato Paste 1 tablespoon, to get the red color (I did not use any)
Bok Choy 3, chopped (or any other leafy greens)
Black Beans 1/2 can, rinsed and drained (or any other precooked beans for some protein action)
Parsley few sprigs, finely chopped
Dill few sprigs, finely chopped
Water 2 cups (or broth) : add more or less depending on how thick you like your soup.

Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
Oil 2 teaspoons

Start with oil in a heavy bottom pan. Add chopped leeks first, saute for some time, then add garlic, carrots, fennel. After some time add the water (or broth), add salt and pepper, and bring to a boil. You can cover the pot with a lid.
Check for doneness of carrot, okay if its crunchy. Add canned/ precooked beans of choice. Add chopped Bok Choy and half Parsley. Continue cooking while adjusting the salt, pepper and water. When the soup is of desired consistency, add the remaining Parsley and Dill. Let the herbs disperse their aroma and flavor in the soup and turn off the heat.
I also added some buckwheat groats in the end for fun. The soup thickens with time because of the leek gel.

Best enjoyed on a cold day with a good book (mandatory) and crusty bread (optional)!

Eloquence personified

2011-01-26T16:00:00.000-08:00

We watched the State of the Union last night with rapt attention. The speech was: balanced, delivered with the right tempo, not theatrical, had its light moments, and yet nailed all the points the pundits hoped he would cover.
Link to the speech is here.

Here is a classic bipartisan discussion between Gail Collins and David Brooks from the NY Times Opinionator.

Gail Collins, in the above article, talks about how the president did not even go near the gun control topic. This article sums up the perils and trials this sensitive issue holds for any politician:

Daily Beast's article on Gun Control.

2010's buzzword for me: Travel

2011-01-19T10:02:00.000-08:00

I know, I am 18 days late. But it's still January y'all!

If there was one word that could sum up the entire 2010 for me, it would be: wanderlust. And I am happy that this is just the beginning of the wanderlust, and 2011 already seem like a promising year, new destinations to choose and explore.

Earlier in 2010, we did a lot of local tours and trips around the Bay Area with my parents in law. We are just so lucky that we live in the Bay Area. There is a destination just an hour or two away in every direction.

Mid June 2010, we had this ah-mazing trip to West Sikkim, India. Lush green mountains, serene monasteries, gushing rivers, and roaring waterfalls. It sounds like Yosemite, doesn't it :=) Well, it was very similar to Yosemite, sans the monasteries, of course. We were astounded by the beauty this place had to offer. And to be able to enjoy this with the entire family, was just a cherry on top. There is something for everyone here: infinite green landscape for the quiet nature lover, marked trails on mountains for the avid hiker, divine snow-clad mountain ranges (Kanchenjunga range in the Himalayas) for the photographer, and serene monasteries for the solace seeker. Highly recommend this place, and happy to share tips and itinerary for those interested.

November 2010 saw us embarking on our South America trip to Machu Picchu (MP), Peru and Iguassu Falls, Argentina. I have yearned to see these 2 places. I started planning this trip in Nov, 2009 when one of our friends took a tour to MP. We booked the tickets early (got an awesome airfare deal) and planned everything ourselves (much cheaper to do this). It is an out of body experience to be at the MP mountain overlooking the MP city. Incredible views, amazing architecture, surreal landscape. Iguassu Falls is a waterfall haven. There is literally a waterfall everywhere your eye can see. I am eager to go back to South America. Loved the food, the people, the charming architecture, and the jaw dropping natural beauty.

These two trips attest to one thing, I am *very happy* when I am traveling. I don't stress out, I relax, and I let go. Stress these days is coming from this: We are at an age where we should be trying to have a baby, or should already have had a couple of them (this one needs a separate longer post, trust me!). I don't know what life will be like when I grow older, but I am certain that if I am physically fit, I will still be traveling, hiking, tasting odd fruits, and choosing destinations to explore. And hopefully, not stressing out, not too much at least!

Learning to read Arabic

2010-09-02T10:25:00.000-07:00

A friend forwarded this very interesting read on the challenges of learning to read Arabic:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-08/uoh-raa083110.php

Excerpt:
Series of studies published in the prestigious journal Neuropsychology has shown that because of the visual complexity of Arabic orthography, the brain's right hemisphere is not involved in decoding the text in the first stages of learning to read

The brain's right hemisphere is not involved in the initial processes of reading in Arabic, due to the graphic complexity of Arabic script. Therefore reading acquisition in Arabic is much harder in comparison to English. This has been shown in a series of studies that were carried out at the Department of Psychology and the Edmond J. Safra Brain Research Center for the Study of Learning Disabilities at the University of Haifa. These studies have been published in the prestigious journal Neuropsychology.

...

What I'm reading

2010-05-12T10:33:00.000-07:00

I've been reading quite a few interesting books, they're all non-fiction. I am not a huge non-fiction person, but these are pretty riveting. Considering how I am hooked to health and natural food blogs, and books, I should consider if there's a career opportunity for me there.

So here's the list:
Food Rules: An Eater's Manual by Michael Pollan. I luhuv his books. Annie's Annuals recently named a tomato after him :o)

Clean Food by Terry Walters What an amazing find. I am so going to buy this one. Within the first 20 pages, I learnt about so many new vegetables and grains, and more importantly, how to cook grains. Did you know most of the grains (brown rice for instance) contain phytic acid, which is harmful for the body. The acid can be washed away if you soak the brown rice in water for at least an hour, and/or by cooking the rice with a piece of Kombu. Kombu, nice to meet you!

Guns Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond. Ok, it's been about 3-4 months that I've been reading this. It's over 600 pages, and I only read it while I'm on the elliptical. It's riveting, no really!

I also read 2 not so riveting books, Up in the Air by Walter Kirn (yes, as in the movie of the same name) and A Good Talk: The Story and Skill of Conversation (I had to return it to the library before I could finish the last 20 or so pages. But I was so done with it!)
Up in the Air is written in an interesting style, fast paced, witty! I couldn't relate to the protagonist's character though!
Good Talk, was such a bore. I don't remember a single tip on what skill to acquire to carry out a good conversation.

Until the next time then.

"The Never Ending Workout" from Daily Beast

2010-03-31T12:57:00.001-07:00

Linking a good read from DB written by Dr. Susan B. Roberts on the controversial research published in AMA that women need to exercise at least 60 mins a day to avoid gaining extra weight as they age.

...
But just because exercise is important for health doesn't mean it is important for everything. Instead of spending an entire hour each day exercising, we might instead spend some of that time thinking about what we eat—which is key to preventing weight gain—and cooking our own food at home.

What else can you do to prevent weight gain as you pack on the decades? Other research studies point to two factors as particularly important to preventing age-related ballooning.

1. Avoid “disinhibited eating.” Disinhibited eating is a psychological term for taking casual opportunities to eat with abandon. Birthday cake, free hot dogs, and candy on a coworker’s desk are all opportunities for eating if you take them, and several research studies show that people who step up and take a helping will gain 20 or 30 pounds more as they age, compared to those who say “no thanks” and stick to their regular meals and snacks.

2. Accept that your calorie needs decline as you get older and that your eating patterns need to change. Depending on your individual characteristics, your calorie needs may decline anywhere from 500 to 1,000 calories per day between the ages of 20 and 70. That is a lot less food you need to eat to stay weight stable, and since you still need to get essential nutrients and feel full even if you need less calories, that means cutting out more junk and focusing on fresh, healthy foods that really fill you up.
...

I can attest to the 2 points above. 2010 has been a great year for me, and it's just April :D Among other things, I have been able to stick to my resolution of working out at least 3 times a week and eating healthy. I must admit, the only junk food I terribly miss is: fries :( Yes, we've tried the baked version, and it's nowhere near the crispy, salty, greasy, fatty, disgustingly delicious fried taters!

Health Care, Nancy Pelosi, Stewart

2010-03-29T14:06:00.001-07:00

Linking two articles on the power and persuasion of Nancy Pelosi that led to the passing of the landmark Health Care Bill:

Hear it at NPR, choose 'Health Care overhaul boosts Pelosi's clout' from the menu.

Read it at The Daily Beast:
...
At a time when just about every prominent figure in the Democratic Party seems ethically challenged, the most prominent and the most controversial woman in Washington is as pure as Washington’s latest whirling white snowstorm. The next time a woman runs for president, Pelosi’s example will be one of her strongest arguments.
...

And watch an impeccable Jon Stewart:

Doing the Right Thing!

2010-03-17T14:59:00.002-07:00

Ok, let's not even start about how bad I am at keeping this blog thing up to date.

Our part of the world has been soaking in sunshine for the past week or so, and I couldn't let all those sunshine $$s go to waste. So here's a picture of ging and me doing the right thing:

The bedsheets were bonedry within minutes. And look at how green the lawn looks:

It was fun drying them, just like we do back home.
I'm so eager Spring is around the corner, looks like it will be very promising. Here are some early bloomers charming us:

I'm going to have to be courageous and try some exotic bulbs this fall. The tulips around our neighborhood are so charming. No offense to the daffodil in the above picture, but the tulip trumps it any day.

Notes to myself

2009-09-11T16:24:00.000-07:00

Blog, you stood abandoned for a while. These notes need to be with me, so I return to thee.

I absolutely have to link Obama's Back to School Speech. I didn't watch it live, but reading it makes me want to go back to school and start over :)

*************************************
Napa is gorgeous in late summer, early fall. The vineyards are laden with grapes and the winery tours let you taste the grapes :) 90% of America's wine comes from California, out which Napa accounts for only 5% (what!!). The grapes were soooo delish!

What areas to visit for what wines:
Calistoga: Zinfandel and Syrah (Do not see the Geyser here, it's blah!)
St. Helena/Oakville: Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir
Carneros area : Chardonnay (Chandon winery), Merlot (!?)

And si, take the wine tasting tour later in the day and make reservations when visiting on a busy weekend (hic!)

"The successful are those who have been given opportunities."

2009-04-24T10:03:00.001-07:00

... from Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers. Grab a copy, every chapter is an 'aha' moment.

Earthly!

2009-04-22T15:16:00.000-07:00

Plethora of articles today on how to be green, what you can do to reduce your carbon footprint. It feels good to know that gini and I are already quite green.
1) Use reusable bags for grocery/shopping - check
2) Use public transportation - semi-check (MS is huge on encouraging an alternative commute option to work, I get free train and bus passes).
3) Replace incandescents with CFLs or LEDs - semi-check (still some antique bulbs in the house, should be replaced soon)
4) Unplug where you can - hell-yeah check (I heard this first on Oprah some years back, chargers with transformers will suck energy even when you have them switched off, unplugging or using a power strip is the way to go).
5) Switch off lights when not in use - big-check (it runs in our family, Electrical Engineer as a father y'all)
6) Most of our appliances are energy star since they are new - huge savings on monthly electricity bill.
7) I am growing veggies this summer - we still need to get rid of the lawn, which is an embarrassment to maintain these days. Considering farmers have no water to irrigate their farms and we are watering our lawn for curb appeal, yuck!
8) Use your own bottle and mug at work - like someone needs to tell you this. And yet there are people who will use water bottles and styrofoam cups every single time they need a drink.

The list is obviously open-ended, but these are the big ones for us. I have resolved to start composting from today, we already have a composting bin. I saved the vegetable scraps from yesterday's cooking (yes I cooked on a weekday, felt weird!).

Oh yes, the most important step:

9) Reduce shower time: I should get a gadget that turns off water after 5 minutes. A couple of days of getting out of the shower with soap here and there will be a nice learning experience.

Click Here for some of the top tweets from the week.

Happy Earth Day earthlings, make a resolution to do something green. And try to stick to it!

I'm so predictably "Amiable"

2009-03-17T16:11:00.000-07:00

At an Interpersonal Effectiveness workshop I attended at work, we were given a Self-Perception Questionnaire. 30 MCQs, 60 Yes/No type answers. Turns out the results were almost accurate, in the sense that very few people at the workshop challenged the Social Style they were attributed as a result of the answers they chose.

These were the 4 Social Styles, developed by Industrial Psychologist David W. Merrill, and although these are not watertight compartments, you would definitely lean more towards one of them.

1) Driving Style : "Let's get it done, now."
Faster paced
Make efforts to set the pace
Less concerned for the value in relationships
Tend to direct the actions of others whether or not they are the leader
Tend to avoid inaction

2) Expressive Style : "I have an idea and its going to be great!"
Faster paced
Make efforts to get involved
Show less concern for routine
Work in the future timeframe
Tend to act impulsively
Tend to avoid isolation

3) Amiable Style: "One for all and all for one."
Slower paced
Make efforts to relate
Show less concern for affecting change
Work in the present timeframe
Show supportive action
Tend to avoid conflict

4) Analytical Style
Slower paced
Make efforts to organize
Show less concern for relationships
Work in a historical timeframe
Take action cautiously
Tend to avoid personal involvement

The takeaway of this workshop was: Even though you are at your best when in your comfort zone, you soar when you make an effort to break out of that zone. I don't know about other Amiables, but if I am to break out of my zone, Expressive is *definitely not* where I'm heading.

in your face

2009-02-14T09:16:00.000-08:00

Whoa, another post within 24 hours, blog you are getting prolific alright!

I absolutely have to link this one here, if you can watch it, please do, the guy is a pleasure to watch.
Larry King Live

Pièce de résistance :

King: Do you think the Republicans follow Rush?

Maher: Who else are they following? I think they're absolutely following Rush. And that's how clueless that party is. They look to find the future, and they found the radio.

Bill Maher Ann Coulter live in March in Radio City Music Hall, that's one duel I can pay to watch :)

for the linguaphile in you

2009-02-13T16:47:00.000-08:00

I was intrigued by this guy on 'The World' on NPR this afternoon:

"Keith Brooks is a man who loves languages but he is still looking for that perfect one to really commit to. So he's trying out a new tongue every week and he is blogging about his experience. His blog is called 37 languages."

Happy reading!

I finished 'Sea of Poppies' yesterday night, luhuved that one. I actually thought that one was better than The White Tiger. Everything about Sea is intricate, it's language, it's story, its characters. I am contemplating buying a copy, for I know I am going to miss Serang Ali's lines.

Minor correction to the last post: turns out ESPN 360 streams most of the live action in sports. Go Rafa, no?

Channel [ N one ]

2009-01-26T09:29:00.000-08:00

January 2009 marks two anniversaries for us:
i) a year in our house
ii) a year of no TV
The 2nd one was not an intentional decision, we were not trying to prove anything, we were not trying to save us some monies, but it appears that we did both. And ofcourse, I don't mean to pontificate, but no TV is not as bad as it sounds.
Although, we caught most of the live political footage online or on NPR, we are considering getting paid subscriptions to watch live sports.That, I would say, was what we really missed last year. And every now and then, we feel like it might be worthwhile to get TV, for Maher is not online, but as long as Stewart and Colbert spread the cheer around, we are fine.

I also realized, missing the SAG or Golden Globes is not a big deal after all (it used to be for me). But I will make sure to catch the Oscars chez some friends. It's not every year that a Rahman is nominated :)
Go watch Slumdog, if you haven't already that is!

All in a day's work

2008-12-16T08:50:00.001-08:00

Dear Blog,
While you were hibernating,
- 52% Americans realized the Republicans are taking the country to the dump and voted for change.
- they also voted Yes on 8 citing lame (religious) reasoning. The jarring note here is that the Yes campaign was funded largely by Mormons.
- the $700 billion bail-out farce drama unfolded, and
-terror struck again at India's most vivacious city, Mumbai on 26th Nov, 08. The poor security infrastructure and ignorance of politicians was exposed along with the media's base coverage focusing on sensational rather than factual.
A friend who was in Mumbai during the attacks sums it up: Mumbai is back to normal, people have gotten used to this and that is part of the problem.

Ok, moving on to the blahs of blogging, I have been stalking Katheats lately, and wow that girl has some determination. Inspired by her gazillion variations of Oatmeal, I came up with my own twist. Well, sort of, I vaguely remember reading about this somewhere: Oatmeal Upma.

That was our Sunday breakfast, very filling and tasty. After that I cooked for 3 hours to stock up for the rest of the week's meals: Blackeye bean curry (chawli usal), brussel sprouts daal, split pea and barley soup (so easy to make and so delicious), and brown basmati :D

While I was warm near the kitchen stove (its been friggin cold lately, today it was 39 F, which is 4 Celsius and raining, brrrr), gini was in the Arctic garage crafting our kitchen island:

I am super excited about the island, will post pictures when it's ready.
Oh and I highly recommend The White Tiger, the man writes effortlessly and the story comes alive instantly. I am currently hooked on to Soul of a Chef , a vivid culinary journey.

another one joins the list

2008-10-22T14:30:00.000-07:00

... of Man Booker Recipients

2008 Aravind Adiga The White Tiger
2006 Kiran Desai The Inheritance of Loss
1997 Arundhati Roy The God of Small Things
1981 Salman Rushdie Midnight's Children
1971 V.S. Naipaul In a Free State (writes of diaspora, but may be not of Indian origin)

2008-10-06T11:45:00.000-07:00

Robert Reich

so colorful

2008-09-10T20:38:00.000-07:00

Treats from our yard.

Ginger - ly

2008-09-05T11:08:00.000-07:00

Aunty gave this Hawaiian Ginger yesterday.
The fragrance still looms in our car, along with the black ants that came with it ;) Ginu claimed today morning, '... these ants fly'. No, they dont!

Cracks in the glass ceiling

2008-08-26T20:09:00.000-07:00

Hillary just ended her big speech at the DNC and I am so moved, I could cry right now :( It takes so much courage to accept defeat at something you have been preparing for most of your lifetime. And to embrace it graciously infront of millions of people - the woman is incredible.
"... I stand here as a proud mother, a proud senator, a proud American, and a proud supporter of Barack Obama".
"No way, no how, no McCain."
And one critique of this speech stood out: "... very forceful endorsement of Obama."

"18 million cracks in the glass ceiling...", indeed!!!

'niis aged pntkm' ... huh

2008-08-14T22:43:00.000-07:00

That makes so much sense.

Living Oprah

2008-07-17T13:46:00.000-07:00

So, there's this lady in Chicago, calls herself 'LO' - Living Oprah, who is following every suggestion and every advice Oprah gives on her show. The operative word being 'every'. From the books, to the jeans, to the perfumes to the diet. Now if you have ever seen Oprah, you will know how exhausting this can be. I salivate when I lay my eyes on her magazine. Pretty much every page is laden with stuff she recommends. Obviously, if you go all out and buy everything she is suggesting, you must be out of your mind.

This story reminds me of Morgan Spurlock, of Supersize Me. The guy ate at McDonald's everyday for every meal for a month. And then he documents how his health plummeted because of all the artery clogging food he was shoving down his throat. That drives home the point quite forcefully, yet I doubt there are people who didn't know this already. Perhaps, those who didn't know now and can eat at home for a change. I still feel he overdid it.

Back to 'LO' : she claims that she is going to do this for a year and record her experience on her blog - www.livingoprah.com
I am quite skeptical she is going to be happy at the end of this year. Coz of all the money she is spending to get the fancy stuff. Plus where is she going to keep that stuff. I am troubled by the mere thought of it.

I am a huge Oprah fan, but I know that when she says, "... that Chanel handbag is a must-have this fall", she's not talking to me. Although when she recommends, "... have real plants and flowers indoors, not plastic, those are tacky". Hell yeah, she is talking to me!

Tidbits

2008-07-16T14:47:00.001-07:00

On NPR's Political Junkie : Mastering Political Put-Downs.

A caller called in to share Margaret Thatcher's put-down: At a dinner party, Margaret Thatcher is asked "What would you like to have?" She says, "Steak". The server then asks, "What about the vegetables?" She retorts, "They will have steak too!".
Genius!!!

Another one: At a rally featuring Lincoln, one of the less pleased audience member comes up to him and says, "I can't believe I paid a dime to see such an ugly person." Lincoln's reply: "I am sorry for your loss. But I had that privilege for free!"
Nice!!!

Hypocrisy!

2008-06-27T11:23:00.000-07:00

Reportedly, Obama writes Clinton a $2300 check to help pay off her campaign debt and is also urging supporters to donate to help her.
Come on man, she is sitting on a $100 mill personal wealth, shouldn't she be held accountable for sinking deeper in debt when there was no hope of candidacy. A $10 mill or so debt at that.

The week that was June 7 - June 15

2008-06-16T15:13:00.000-07:00

CIS 15AG - Lab 7 kicked my butt. I still don't know how to read an entire word from a file using fscanf. Didn't get enough sleep last week but felt good that I atleast tried.

McCain bashing
He says on video: I dont use computers, I have to go to my wife for everything Internet. SERIOUSLY!!!

Home Improv. Project: Veggie Patch (pics coming up)
We finally finished mixing the soil and compost, the veggies are thriving in the soil. I have tomatoes, peppers, melon and zucchini now. Looking forward to putting in eggplant, okra, dodka, onion, raddish :). Oscar planted the Provence Lavender in the front yard, it has made the walkway pop with color. I still need a couple of bright pink and blue flowering gems.
And the delicious Chocolate Cosmos is in my garden now - Yamagami's rules.
3 houses down ours is a Magnolia tree that has flowers so low that I could smell 3 of them.
Dear blog, if I were ever to create a perfume, I would choose Magnolia fragrance- hands down. Smitten by its lemony, sweet and arresting smell.

Sunday Farmer's Market
Good discovery! All vendors had loads of cherries, stone fruits and tomatoes. So much for tomato salmonella. People were even sampling raw tomatoes - I mean hello, do you read your news.
I bought the freshest eggplant and sinqua. Cooked for 3 hours straight after I came back.

Googoo in the meanwhile worked on the kitchen floor. Love you sweetie, for all the wonderful things you do.

Sunday Evening Hike at Rancho
So refreshing. Will go there more, it was quite under rated on my list of trails, no more. Saw a ton of quails and bunny rabbits. Legs are hurting today, wish it was a friday already.

Ah, monday thou punisheth !!!

On Forum today...

2008-06-05T11:48:00.000-07:00

Michael Krasny is probably the best interviewer on air. Here's what he said at the end of Forum on the inauguration of Genesis, the Contemporary Jewish Museum in SF.

Guest: We have everyone from Einstein to Gertrude Stein.

MK: ... just like from Beowulf to Virginia Woolf.

Nice!

Joining the bandwagon

2008-06-04T13:51:00.000-07:00

Well, so everyone is penning one and I join in.