... that La Beraca was just as good this time as last. Too often I go to a place and think it's great, but then when I return I'm underwhelmed. Not now!
A new favorite has been born!
And no animal products in the beans - in fact, they were offended we even asked (and I had Alejandra do it, just to be sure there wasn't something lost in translation).
It has really EVERYTHING I could want. There's meat when I want that extra protein - but there's awesome tortillas, beans, cabbage salad, and plantains ... truly all I need in my life to be happy and satisfied. Hm ... maybe I could be a vegan with that menu.
Wow - New Orleans really gives me all I need ... even masa! :)
And now I just need to study. But I cleansed my palate with lots of girl talk, so I can move ahead with law.
A side note - my icky ex-roommate I fled from - everybody else sees it now and she's a pariah. The people I met through her that I liked and wondered how they could be friends with her - it just took them a while longer to see, and now they don't speak to her and are way friendly to me. I don't mean to sound bitchy about it - it's just that I feel like my perception was validated.
Friday, April 06, 2007
pulse: 63
This is excellent news for me! My heart rate used to always be on the slow side, but with these thyroid problems they were regularly clocking it at 100.
Normal women's: 75 or so.
I've been pretty good about exercising of late, so hopefully this healthy pulse will maintain. Woo! My heart is really the only thing I worry about with the hyperthyroidism - because it's really unknown the effects of extremely low TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormones) on pre-menopausal women. On post-menopausal - major effects on heart and bone density loss.
Major benefit to being overweight - less bone density loss.
So maybe as long as I exercise and stay fat, my body will be fine.
Normal women's: 75 or so.
I've been pretty good about exercising of late, so hopefully this healthy pulse will maintain. Woo! My heart is really the only thing I worry about with the hyperthyroidism - because it's really unknown the effects of extremely low TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormones) on pre-menopausal women. On post-menopausal - major effects on heart and bone density loss.
Major benefit to being overweight - less bone density loss.
So maybe as long as I exercise and stay fat, my body will be fine.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
have I always been so shallow?
All the guys I found attractive last semester, we're now buddies. I "somehow" happened to get to know them. Yeah, it's about all that time as a middle school teacher, manipulating situations to get what I wanted with nobody knowing it was my plan.
None of course did I feel like I wanted a relationship with or anything - just, they're hot and why not enjoy some eye candy? For all I put up with, being in school with people 15 years younger than me, why not enjoy the view?
And they are nice people - always an element in thinking somebody's attractive. I enjoy my conversations with them. But nothing more. There's no connection beyond a conviviality.
But there is this other guy. I never would have spoken to him if it weren't for a mutual buddy. It's not just that he's a white guy (never attractive to me) or geeky looking and needing a haircut and often cheap tatty clothing. It's kind of the whole picture, and he's invisible pretty much.
But he (let's call him ... CN) is really great. The mutual buddy (let's say ... MB) and me, we like each other and are eerily alike in our outdoor interests (how we got to know each other) and religious interests (nonexistent) and other things. But we can only take each other in small doses. I can recognize that moment just as either he or I or both of us start to get testy with each other, and it's no big deal - we just step back and don't have to interact for awhile. But CN, he's not like that at all. He's a peacemaker between us (not that we ever fight or anything), and he always defends me and always says just the right thing - but he has a spine, too. He have nice conversations and he really listens to me and really talks honestly.
And I'm almost to the point where I no longer notice his overt unattractiveness, though not entirely. If I were to be stuck on a desert island with somebody, I would take him in a heartbeat over any of my pretty boys - and not just because he's very outdoorsy savvy. There's something really valuable in being with people who are really interesting to talk with and listen and communicate well, and know how to read my moods and de-provoke me. Eye candy decays.
But we're not on a desert island, and we never interact outside a particularly circumscribed area.
We're going to move beyond that, with a study group we're starting. It would have made the most sense to meet at my place, but no boys allowed. Not really that - it's just so private here since it's a studio, and I don't want them to see so much of me.
If he were prettier, or not white, or not a boy - how different would our friendship be? He offered his place to meet ... but I didn't want to see so much of him. We're meeting at MB's girlfriend's house - I like her. Nice and neutral.
None of course did I feel like I wanted a relationship with or anything - just, they're hot and why not enjoy some eye candy? For all I put up with, being in school with people 15 years younger than me, why not enjoy the view?
And they are nice people - always an element in thinking somebody's attractive. I enjoy my conversations with them. But nothing more. There's no connection beyond a conviviality.
But there is this other guy. I never would have spoken to him if it weren't for a mutual buddy. It's not just that he's a white guy (never attractive to me) or geeky looking and needing a haircut and often cheap tatty clothing. It's kind of the whole picture, and he's invisible pretty much.
But he (let's call him ... CN) is really great. The mutual buddy (let's say ... MB) and me, we like each other and are eerily alike in our outdoor interests (how we got to know each other) and religious interests (nonexistent) and other things. But we can only take each other in small doses. I can recognize that moment just as either he or I or both of us start to get testy with each other, and it's no big deal - we just step back and don't have to interact for awhile. But CN, he's not like that at all. He's a peacemaker between us (not that we ever fight or anything), and he always defends me and always says just the right thing - but he has a spine, too. He have nice conversations and he really listens to me and really talks honestly.
And I'm almost to the point where I no longer notice his overt unattractiveness, though not entirely. If I were to be stuck on a desert island with somebody, I would take him in a heartbeat over any of my pretty boys - and not just because he's very outdoorsy savvy. There's something really valuable in being with people who are really interesting to talk with and listen and communicate well, and know how to read my moods and de-provoke me. Eye candy decays.
But we're not on a desert island, and we never interact outside a particularly circumscribed area.
We're going to move beyond that, with a study group we're starting. It would have made the most sense to meet at my place, but no boys allowed. Not really that - it's just so private here since it's a studio, and I don't want them to see so much of me.
If he were prettier, or not white, or not a boy - how different would our friendship be? He offered his place to meet ... but I didn't want to see so much of him. We're meeting at MB's girlfriend's house - I like her. Nice and neutral.
why I love ...
First, why I love Southern California. Tortilla art. I've been missing SoCal's Latino culture lately.
Next, why I love New Orleans. Stella Shouting Contest at the Tennessee Williams Fest. Where else is it haute couture to rip your shirt and fall to your knees shouting?
And Louisiana in general. It's a little like Alaska in a way - where else can I say, "Anybody have a way to open this cardboard box?" and every male and several females in the crowd immediately whip out a big ole hunting knife? It's folksy and real like Alaska, and maybe that's why I feel at home. But there's also big difference - people are far friendlier here, and while they are definitely quirky they aren't as extreme as a fair percentage of Alaskans. Too many people move to Alaska because they really can't function in a society where they have to interact with people - because they want to start their own church which tells them to have sex wtih their children and deal tons of meth, that sort of thing.
But here in Louisiana, there are down-home traditions such as Egg Knocking Contest. Where else is it a cultural tradition to tap another's egg? Too funny.
Pacques, pacques, mes amis. Never a dull moment down here.
Next, why I love New Orleans. Stella Shouting Contest at the Tennessee Williams Fest. Where else is it haute couture to rip your shirt and fall to your knees shouting?
And Louisiana in general. It's a little like Alaska in a way - where else can I say, "Anybody have a way to open this cardboard box?" and every male and several females in the crowd immediately whip out a big ole hunting knife? It's folksy and real like Alaska, and maybe that's why I feel at home. But there's also big difference - people are far friendlier here, and while they are definitely quirky they aren't as extreme as a fair percentage of Alaskans. Too many people move to Alaska because they really can't function in a society where they have to interact with people - because they want to start their own church which tells them to have sex wtih their children and deal tons of meth, that sort of thing.
But here in Louisiana, there are down-home traditions such as Egg Knocking Contest. Where else is it a cultural tradition to tap another's egg? Too funny.
Pacques, pacques, mes amis. Never a dull moment down here.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
more math
Word Problem:
library, 5th floor, studying.
chocolate craving.
vending machine, 1st floor, peanut m&Ms
how many times do I have to go up and down those damn stairs to burn off the m&m's?
library, 5th floor, studying.
chocolate craving.
vending machine, 1st floor, peanut m&Ms
how many times do I have to go up and down those damn stairs to burn off the m&m's?
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Jenny, it's not on the list!
A new fave is born ... La Beraca. Yummilicious! It was a group effort - Tami said she heard an ad on the radio for a place in West Bank but she couldn't hear the place, so I googled and found this one in Metairie and it's GREAT! Excellent beans and plantains, and tortillas to die for. and I think we were all happy - Brenda (Tami's mom) got a banana drink from her childhood (she grew up in Honduras) and even Ahmed and Bekher liked the fajitas (Ahmed does NOT like Mexican food much, so I"m glad we kept him happy with Honduran food). I'm very satisfied. And really, really cheap. Yay! I still think Dayton makes the best plantains, but these were pretty darn good.
I'm in this strange "not hungry" state for the past couple days, so maybe just not having eaten much in a while really made it great. But I'm definitely going back! Soon!
Then I went to Red Cross Disaster Volunteer Training. Look for me in the red vest when the next big one strikes. As Brenda said, "I always wondered about who those people are who would be so stupid to stay ... " Yup, that's me! :)
I'm in this strange "not hungry" state for the past couple days, so maybe just not having eaten much in a while really made it great. But I'm definitely going back! Soon!
Then I went to Red Cross Disaster Volunteer Training. Look for me in the red vest when the next big one strikes. As Brenda said, "I always wondered about who those people are who would be so stupid to stay ... " Yup, that's me! :)
karma
Yesterday I forgot my copy card in the library and it had $10 on it.
Today I remembered and went back, just hoping. The same person was working, whom I always cheerfully greet.
No, my card hadn't been turned in. But she gave me a card that had been turned on with closer to $30 on it.
That's it. Being nice rocks.
Today I remembered and went back, just hoping. The same person was working, whom I always cheerfully greet.
No, my card hadn't been turned in. But she gave me a card that had been turned on with closer to $30 on it.
That's it. Being nice rocks.
Monday, April 02, 2007
can't get focused
Fred, my dearest Liberian friend (outside of Dayton of course) just told me he got a fiance visa and is moving to the U.S. this month. That's huge and exciting! And not just for him - I don't know exactly how long the visa process took, but not too long, and those possibilities are exciting for me.
Maybe Dayton could actually get here in 2007. That's way exciting to think about. Much more exciting than "revocation of acceptance" under the Uniform Commercial Code.
Also, financial aid tells me I have an extra $4,000. OK, so of course I'll have to pay it back so it's not free money at all. I thought it was just a bookkeeping error, so I go to look at my account every day expecting it to disappear - but I went today to the office and she said it "looks like" I can request its disbursement, that it was just maximizing the full amount I can borrow this year (which I thought I already had, so I thought there would just be a transfer of funds).
The bummer is I can't reach Dayton to tell him I'll send him more money so he can fly. I've put out a real effort to try to contact him and I can't, so I need to let it go. I really hate the idea of him and Cece traveling for a week on dangerous (both physically and because of humans) roads, and now that I have extra money I want to give it to him, but I don't know how. Well, I guess this is what happens when you're incommunicado with me - hope he learns his lesson. :)
Anyway, all these things circulate through my brain - and the cost of the A/C that I'm FINALLY running today because of humidity issues - and it makes focusing on my reading very difficult.
Oh, and I just got email from an American woman I met in Senegal - who used to tell me definitively that she would "Never" be involved with an African man. Yup you guessed it - she "fell in love" and is going to see him again soon. Hehe.
Despite all our difficulties and challenges, I still think I got the best one. Not African man - man in general. I wouldn't trade him in for an american model for anything. :)
Maybe Dayton could actually get here in 2007. That's way exciting to think about. Much more exciting than "revocation of acceptance" under the Uniform Commercial Code.
Also, financial aid tells me I have an extra $4,000. OK, so of course I'll have to pay it back so it's not free money at all. I thought it was just a bookkeeping error, so I go to look at my account every day expecting it to disappear - but I went today to the office and she said it "looks like" I can request its disbursement, that it was just maximizing the full amount I can borrow this year (which I thought I already had, so I thought there would just be a transfer of funds).
The bummer is I can't reach Dayton to tell him I'll send him more money so he can fly. I've put out a real effort to try to contact him and I can't, so I need to let it go. I really hate the idea of him and Cece traveling for a week on dangerous (both physically and because of humans) roads, and now that I have extra money I want to give it to him, but I don't know how. Well, I guess this is what happens when you're incommunicado with me - hope he learns his lesson. :)
Anyway, all these things circulate through my brain - and the cost of the A/C that I'm FINALLY running today because of humidity issues - and it makes focusing on my reading very difficult.
Oh, and I just got email from an American woman I met in Senegal - who used to tell me definitively that she would "Never" be involved with an African man. Yup you guessed it - she "fell in love" and is going to see him again soon. Hehe.
Despite all our difficulties and challenges, I still think I got the best one. Not African man - man in general. I wouldn't trade him in for an american model for anything. :)
you do the math
Hm. OK, so 33% of the population in the U.S. is a "minority."
That means 67% are white. 33% are male (yes, there are more females than males).
At risk of revealing the secret that for somebody who's self-righteous about not owning a TV, I watch a significant amount of TV on the internet ...
Here's a breakdown of the shows posted for viewing on the internet, which I assume is a fair cross-section of shows actually on TV:
ABC:
October Road - a horrible, horrible show that just started which got me on this bent. Main character: a white boy, with all white friends. Incidental "agent" and dean are black.
Desperate Housewives - my favorite line ever was Gabriella telling Carlos to "get all cholo on his ass!" But that's very minor in a very white-dominated campy show.
Brothers and Sisters: All white, and I don't think there's even a friend, s.o., or colleague who's minority.
What About Brian - Never seen it. The pic shows a group of white people surrounding a white boy with one black friend off to the side background.
Voicemail is a stupid online thing, all about a white boy.
Knights of Properity - white boy main star, but supporting cast includes an Indian (really Iranian), Columbian, and Black guy. This is more about working class than race, and on the diversity-o-meter it scores the highest grade so far.
What About Jim: white guy with all white family and as far as I know all white friends. Hm, is Jim in the Klan?
Ugly Betty: I've never seen it but heard it's great. Main star is a Latina and includes her culture. But why does the minority need to be "ugly"?
Grey's Anatomy: white girl in a multiracial hospital. It may diss nurses, but I think it's pretty good about incorporating Latino, Asian, and Black people.
Men In Trees: Which I will never watch again because they're always wrong about Sitka and Anne Heche and her co-star were adulterous in real life. Anyway, story of a white girl with almost all white friends, with the exception of an Asian-Black couple. They're in Alaska and nobody's native? That's BS.
ABC score:
White boys are the entire world: 4
White boys and girls are the focus of the world: 3
Minorities may support: 2
Minority characters are key: 1
CBS:
The Class - they went to school in NYC and ALL their friends are white? And all their s.o."s That's BS.
CSI - main characters white with one exception.
CSI: Miami - David Caruso makes my skin crawl so I don't watch. Main star is white boy with supporting including Latinos, as far as I know.
CSI: NY - main characters white, one black support.
How I Met Your Mother - Canadian is as minority as this show gets. Everybody is white, with white boy as main focus.
Jericho - never seen it; white boy stars - don't count it.
NCIS - they have an "Israeli" who is Latina really and an Asian sex fiend - otherwise it's all white boys (and Lauren Holly sometimes, but since they made her cut her hair she's really just a man who slept with Jethro but they wouldn't deal with homosexuality).
The New Adventures of Old Christine - white girl with white family, black best friend and lusted after black teacher. This is probably the most like my life - just hope I'm not as self-centered as Christine is. :)
Numb3rs - white boys star and mostly support, though the support is often minority women (though that's never fleshed out).
Rules of Engagement - Really? All your friends in NYC are white? And women are there only to nag and put out? Sigh.
Shark - white boy focus with some minor minority support.
The Unit - main character is arguably (it's an ensemble cast) black. Still white boy heavy, but not exclusive.
CBS score: (11)
White boys are the center of the universe: 6
White boys and girls are the focus of the world: 2
Minorities allowed to support: 2
Minority-focused show: 1 (sort-of)
NBC:
My Name is Earl - well, there is the Crab Man, and Joy's sister is black. Actually, I think this show is pretty forward-thinking in its bumbling redneckness. It actually faces race issues head-on and then moves on, putting things in perspective.
30 Rock - at first I was pretty offended by Tracy Lawrence's character, but now I'm somewhat impressed. It's mostly about a white girl and white boy (Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey) but not exclusively - Tracy is stealing the show.
Andy Barker, PI - never seen it, white boy star.
The Black Donnellys - saw a two-minute replay and wanted to vomit. Violent Irish and Italian boys? That's so retro.
Friday Night LIghts - never seen it, looks all white. It's football in TExas.
Heroes - I think this one is more diverse, but never seen it.
ER - has traditionally done well with diversity.
The Office - white boys star with some others supporting I think (I've only seen it once or twice, but nobody comes to mind).
Scrubs - ok, I can't complain her about Karla and her husband. Why are the medical shows the best?
Score: (9 total)
White boys are the center of the universe: 3
White boys club, white girls as ornamentation: 1
Significant diversity (either in number or quality of role): 5
Minority as focus/star: 0
OVERALL: (30 shows total)
White boys are pretty much the entire focus: 13
White boys & girls: 6
Significant diversity: 9
Minority as focus: 2
Now, you can argue with me about the way I distinguish the shows. Is "My Name is Earl" really about diversity? Is Numb3rs really not? But it's still a pretty disturbing trend.
So, here are my follow-up questions.
1. Where are the Asians?
2. Why are there only two shows, out of 30, where minorities are the star? And that was a pretty generous count I did.
3. Is anybody else sick and tired of seeing white boys everywhere they look on TV? Don't get me wrong - I like some of these shows a lot. But would I like them any less if the star were a Korean or Jordanian woman? Heck no.
4. Where are the Middle Easterners? Are we really only portraying them as terrorists? That is so messed up!
I understand that a lot of people in this country mostly associate with people who look like them. But a lot of us don't! And a lot of us don't just have one token minority friend, like most these shows do.
Sigh. I'm so over TV.
That means 67% are white. 33% are male (yes, there are more females than males).
At risk of revealing the secret that for somebody who's self-righteous about not owning a TV, I watch a significant amount of TV on the internet ...
Here's a breakdown of the shows posted for viewing on the internet, which I assume is a fair cross-section of shows actually on TV:
ABC:
October Road - a horrible, horrible show that just started which got me on this bent. Main character: a white boy, with all white friends. Incidental "agent" and dean are black.
Desperate Housewives - my favorite line ever was Gabriella telling Carlos to "get all cholo on his ass!" But that's very minor in a very white-dominated campy show.
Brothers and Sisters: All white, and I don't think there's even a friend, s.o., or colleague who's minority.
What About Brian - Never seen it. The pic shows a group of white people surrounding a white boy with one black friend off to the side background.
Voicemail is a stupid online thing, all about a white boy.
Knights of Properity - white boy main star, but supporting cast includes an Indian (really Iranian), Columbian, and Black guy. This is more about working class than race, and on the diversity-o-meter it scores the highest grade so far.
What About Jim: white guy with all white family and as far as I know all white friends. Hm, is Jim in the Klan?
Ugly Betty: I've never seen it but heard it's great. Main star is a Latina and includes her culture. But why does the minority need to be "ugly"?
Grey's Anatomy: white girl in a multiracial hospital. It may diss nurses, but I think it's pretty good about incorporating Latino, Asian, and Black people.
Men In Trees: Which I will never watch again because they're always wrong about Sitka and Anne Heche and her co-star were adulterous in real life. Anyway, story of a white girl with almost all white friends, with the exception of an Asian-Black couple. They're in Alaska and nobody's native? That's BS.
ABC score:
White boys are the entire world: 4
White boys and girls are the focus of the world: 3
Minorities may support: 2
Minority characters are key: 1
CBS:
The Class - they went to school in NYC and ALL their friends are white? And all their s.o."s That's BS.
CSI - main characters white with one exception.
CSI: Miami - David Caruso makes my skin crawl so I don't watch. Main star is white boy with supporting including Latinos, as far as I know.
CSI: NY - main characters white, one black support.
How I Met Your Mother - Canadian is as minority as this show gets. Everybody is white, with white boy as main focus.
Jericho - never seen it; white boy stars - don't count it.
NCIS - they have an "Israeli" who is Latina really and an Asian sex fiend - otherwise it's all white boys (and Lauren Holly sometimes, but since they made her cut her hair she's really just a man who slept with Jethro but they wouldn't deal with homosexuality).
The New Adventures of Old Christine - white girl with white family, black best friend and lusted after black teacher. This is probably the most like my life - just hope I'm not as self-centered as Christine is. :)
Numb3rs - white boys star and mostly support, though the support is often minority women (though that's never fleshed out).
Rules of Engagement - Really? All your friends in NYC are white? And women are there only to nag and put out? Sigh.
Shark - white boy focus with some minor minority support.
The Unit - main character is arguably (it's an ensemble cast) black. Still white boy heavy, but not exclusive.
CBS score: (11)
White boys are the center of the universe: 6
White boys and girls are the focus of the world: 2
Minorities allowed to support: 2
Minority-focused show: 1 (sort-of)
NBC:
My Name is Earl - well, there is the Crab Man, and Joy's sister is black. Actually, I think this show is pretty forward-thinking in its bumbling redneckness. It actually faces race issues head-on and then moves on, putting things in perspective.
30 Rock - at first I was pretty offended by Tracy Lawrence's character, but now I'm somewhat impressed. It's mostly about a white girl and white boy (Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey) but not exclusively - Tracy is stealing the show.
Andy Barker, PI - never seen it, white boy star.
The Black Donnellys - saw a two-minute replay and wanted to vomit. Violent Irish and Italian boys? That's so retro.
Friday Night LIghts - never seen it, looks all white. It's football in TExas.
Heroes - I think this one is more diverse, but never seen it.
ER - has traditionally done well with diversity.
The Office - white boys star with some others supporting I think (I've only seen it once or twice, but nobody comes to mind).
Scrubs - ok, I can't complain her about Karla and her husband. Why are the medical shows the best?
Score: (9 total)
White boys are the center of the universe: 3
White boys club, white girls as ornamentation: 1
Significant diversity (either in number or quality of role): 5
Minority as focus/star: 0
OVERALL: (30 shows total)
White boys are pretty much the entire focus: 13
White boys & girls: 6
Significant diversity: 9
Minority as focus: 2
Now, you can argue with me about the way I distinguish the shows. Is "My Name is Earl" really about diversity? Is Numb3rs really not? But it's still a pretty disturbing trend.
So, here are my follow-up questions.
1. Where are the Asians?
2. Why are there only two shows, out of 30, where minorities are the star? And that was a pretty generous count I did.
3. Is anybody else sick and tired of seeing white boys everywhere they look on TV? Don't get me wrong - I like some of these shows a lot. But would I like them any less if the star were a Korean or Jordanian woman? Heck no.
4. Where are the Middle Easterners? Are we really only portraying them as terrorists? That is so messed up!
I understand that a lot of people in this country mostly associate with people who look like them. But a lot of us don't! And a lot of us don't just have one token minority friend, like most these shows do.
Sigh. I'm so over TV.
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Plantain-Flounder Lasagna
Most people who've known me a while know that I've made some odd dishes. But today's takes the cake.
It will forever forward be known as Plantain-Flounder Lasagna.
Moosewood Cookbooks are usually great, but there are a few recipes in there that make me go WTF?! And that, blog friends, is an intuition that I should stick with. I can't even get my Caribbean friends to try it.
It will forever forward be known as Plantain-Flounder Lasagna.
Moosewood Cookbooks are usually great, but there are a few recipes in there that make me go WTF?! And that, blog friends, is an intuition that I should stick with. I can't even get my Caribbean friends to try it.
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