A Little Test

I told one of my coworkers that she had to read "Cryptonomicon" and she asked me back "What else do you like? I have to know whether to trust your recommendation, so what other type of fiction do you like?" I've been stuck on non-fiction for a while now but I'm sure I've read some good, non-embarrassing to admit fiction but I had to check.

Here are some of my favorites. Some are achingly good, other whitty, amusing, and fun. Some, like, #12, symbolize a particular time in my life but I still think are excellent books. As I look over the list, I realize that I love historical fiction with a saucy main character and very descriptive writing. I also realize that my list is biased because it is stuff that has managed to stay on my shelf. I'm a giver of books and that means I often foist my favorites on unsuspecting dinner guests.

1. John Irving, "A Prayer for Owen Meany"
2. Michael Chabon, "The Amazing Adventure of Kavalier and Clay"
3. Edward P. Jones, "The Known World" (breathtaking)
4. Tim O'brien- The Things They Carried
5. George RR Martin - the first three of that series
6. Chris Moore- Bloodsucking Fiends is my favorite but he's best known for Lamb
7. Kate Atkinson - Scenes from a Museum and any of the Jackson Brody Series
8. Caleb Carr- The Alienist
9. Richard Russo- Straight Man
10. Tania French - The Likeness
11. Nicholas Krauss- A History of Love
12. Nicholas Christopher- A Trip to the Stars

For a little perspective, I'm currently reading an autobiography of Madeline Albright, Salt, and a book called "Hilter's Scientists". I'm in a bit of a non-fiction jag it seems but I could use a heartbreakingly beautiful fiction book. I haven't read one since A History of Love or The Known World.

4th of July

We had grand plans for this weekend, BBQs, fireworks, friends, and sun but this damn flu got in the way. We're still sick, and not just a little sick, still really sick and it meant that we didn't do anything but be sick all weekend.

Luckily, we have a great view of the fireworks from our roof. Not only could we see the fireworks on the Hudson, we could see them all around the Harbor. I'm not really fond of fireworks but it was great to see all the small town fireworks across NJ and imagine all of the family and friends huddled together, "ohhinh" and "ahhing" together as we watched from our roof.

We were also treated to a beautiful sunset!

Home Sick X2

My husband was on a business trip last week and came home with a wicked flu, which he kindly shared with me. We've been home sick together for the past day and a half. I have to admit its a bit weird. When I'm home sick I want to be alone, lounging on the couch, being my grossest and not worrying about anything. When you home sick with someone you care about your torn between using your hair as a tissue and running around trying to make soup. Luckily, our flues seem to balance out and when my fever is up, his is down. We also have two bedrooms so his death rattle/ garbage disposal cough doesn't interfere with my honking canadian goose cough.

I've been steadily getting better since my fever broke late this morning while his flu has bought real estate in his lungs. I can hopefully get back to work tomorrow and he can go back to being sick without his wife fluttering around him, honking in his ear and offering to get soup and he doesn't have to feel like he needs to take care of me.

Cracks in the Sidewalk

One of the things that I love about urban living is how, despite our best efforts, life always invades our cement paradise. In the spring, all of the dreary industrial wastelands bloom and are overcome with exuberant plant life forcing itself upon the landscape. I feel a kinship with those plants in the cracks of the sidewalk and try to find a new place to stick a plant whenever I can.

I'd been looking for some planters that I could hang over the railing in front of the building and finally found them out in NJ. I also picked up some new and different plants to go in them. This was my first attempts to purchase plants that would look nice together. Unfortunately the planters and their plants do little to mask the ugly garbage cans and barren street corner where we live. I may consider buying some more but they are expensive and there is little to prevent the local teenagers from stealing or destroying them.

I've been thinking a lot about a deck and wondering what I could do up there in its current state. The roof is totally blank with and I wouldn't feel comfortable putting anything up there for fear it would damage the roof. Its also windy as hell and I would be worried that things would fly off. Regardless, I get credit for trying...

More Pretty Pink

Ab brought these beauties to our dinner party and I snapped some shots of them last week. I'm tempted to blow them up, perhaps 8 X 10 and frame them. Their color is so rich but they are so princessy I'm not sure I can justify it. Maybe they could go in my office at work...

Succulents

My succulents made it through the winter and are flowering.

First Summer Feast

Happy First Feast of the summer! We had many feasts last summer and this kicks off the first of 2009! I feel like I need to make up for my lame start to OLS and throw an almost entirely local feast. To make it more difficult, my oven is broken (though the broiler works). To increase the degree of difficulty even further, I have invited my friend who is allergic to wheat, soy, most dairy, eggs, and red meat. Couple that with making it an OLS meal and you have your challenge.

Luckily, I am a member of the food co-op in my neighborhood and they go out of their way to stock local, organic food. When I went shopping this morning I stopped at the co-op first with the intention of picking everything else up at the farmers market. Luckily, I found everything I needed (and then some) at the co-op. Park Slope, our utopian yuppie sanctuary is one of those places that follows Michael Pollen's every dictate so even our delis and overpriced markets carry more local than most places. That made my local task easier but didn't help me with my oven or my friend's food allergy.



Starters:
Cheeses
Ewe's Blue - Old Chatham (NY)
Tilsit - Brovetto Dairy (NY)
Hawthorne Valley Alpine Reserve (NY)

Mozzarella (Russo's on 7th Ave), Basil (our fire escape), tomatoes (hothouse tomatoes labeled "from New England")

Salsa (made at Union Market on 7th) and Chips (not local)

Main Course:

Roasted Chicken (PA) with homemade pesto under the skin, stuffed with local shallots and garlic and herbs from our window boxes (lemons not local)



Beets (New Jersey) with Goat Cheese (Do, Ri Me Farm, Poughkeepsie NY)





Baby greens (our planter box), beet greens (our windowsill), and local lettuces with kirby cucumbers (NJ) and cherry tomatoes (PA)



Roasted Asparagus (NJ)

Dessert:



Flourless Chocolate Cake
- Chocolate from Mast Bros. - made in Brooklyn
- Flour from King Arthur Flour - VT
- Butter from VT
- Sugar that's not local


Basil, Strawberry Honey Frozen Yogurt

- Basil from our fire escape
- Plain yogurt from Old Chatham Farms
- Honey from my mom in NJ


Chocolate Covered Strawberries
- Strawberries from NY
- Mast Brother's chocolate (Brooklyn)