Kitchen study

Observations

While running along the east river path this morning, two things really stuck out to me:

1) “Marry me?” written in the sky.
2) The man sun bathing in his underwear at E. 111th street and FDR.

I am assuming the two were not connected.

Tessa and her pancakes

My friend Tessa makes really good pancakes.

This morning, as she was running her first ever half marathon (in California), I was making her famous pancakes (in New York).

Here is the recipe (as written by Tessa):

The last part, about the baking powder and the fizzing, is very important. I think it is what makes these pancakes so special.

Also, definitely add the butter. Definitely.

El Fin

I am on page 12 of my final final paper and I am tired.

I have been locked in my apartment for the past 2 days. It is not the best feeling. I have not yet resorted to talking to myself (or, I should say, I have not yet started talking to myself more than I already do).

This morning I went for a brief run. This evening I went to Sylvie’s for dinner where she fed me Joy Burger and a chocolate cupcake with cream cheese frosting. I had to BMOB (bring my own beer). Overall, the burger, beer, and cupcake were a positive experience.

There are a couple of big things that I hope to do upon the completion of my MSW.

Here they are, in no particular order:

1) Read some fiction.
2) Get a job. (If and when I get a job, I plan to buy a frying pan, a coffee maker, and some professional looking clothing.)
3) Go to China.
4) Play Super Nintendo.
5) Climb mountains/swim in mountain lakes.
6) Go to California.
7) Sit in central park.
8) Make banana bread.

Severe nostalgia

I suffer from severe nostalgia. I get it from my mom.

Here is a picture of my dad (well, one of them is my dad):

He has gotten increasingly cooler with age, I will have you know.

And here is a picture of my Grandma Betty, who turns the big 9-0 on Tuesday:

I sure do love her.

In other news

Last night I went to dinner with my older brother, Zachary. We went to Boqueria Tapas Bar (named for a famous market in Barcelona, my brother tells me). It was delicious. Here is what we ate:

1) Catalan goat cheese and bread and olives
2) Serrano ham (I love ham, and need to eat it more often, I have decided)
3) Pan con tomate (bread rubbed with tomato, olive oil, and garlic)
4) Little calamari sandwiches with shaved fennel and fried lemon (really really really good)
5) Patatas Bravas (potatoes in a spicy tomato sauce and garlic aioli)
6) Roasted broccolini with parmesan and almonds
7) Churros con chocolate

Z lived in Barcelona for a year, so this type of food is near and dear to his heart. I am a big fan of ham (as stated earlier) and bread and cheese and potatoes and fried dough, so this meal worked out well for the both of us.

We did not get the almond stuffed dates wrapped in bacon. Next time.

I am happy to report

That it is fishing season above 96th street on the East River.

It is also play chess outside season at the barber shop down the street from my apartment.

It has been absolutely beautiful for the past couple of days, and I am on spring break, so I have been more able to make keen observations about these particular seasonal activities.

My wise friend Tessa tells me that life post-graduate school is like spring break every day. I’m not sure how valid that statement is, but I would like to believe it. I guess I will have to pick up both chess and fishing in preparation for my permanent-spring-break-post-grad life in East Harlem.

The Wire

I just finished the fourth season of The Wire, which I have been watching non-stop since Saturday. The great thing about being in school is that sometimes you get to enroll in courses where you are forced to watch copious amounts of high quality television (some might say, the best TV show ever created!).

I have to write a paper about it by Friday, which will be fine and interesting and all that jazz. Mostly, I wish I could include an analysis of my major crush on Mr. Pryzbylewski. Oh well.

What I want to say is this: if you have not already, watch The Wire. It might tug at your heartstrings and hurt your brain, but it’s worth it.