My Blog

*#%^ music downloads...

Lara — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 16:39:11 GMT

purchased an album online today- love having the brand new release in time to use it for class tonight, but then, listening to the words in a foreign language I don't even recognize, I realize I don't have liner notes. Not only that, but the band has no website, and being a brand new release, no one has commented on it anywhere that I can find (at least not in English!) So, if anyone knows anything about Ethnique Electrique by Les Faux, help a girl out, huh? I'm sticking to hard copy from here on out!

Falafel...Dreaming of Mamoun's

Lara — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 11:57:45 GMT

Ah, summer travel- I was taking a class at New Haven for just under a week. On the way to class from the hotel, I scoped the potential eateries- quite a variety, it seemed, and a middle eastern patio as well as a falafel restaurant caught my eye. That night, the falafel joint (Mamoun's) looked most inviting, so we stopped by. My mom had come along to help watch my baby girl who is still nursing, and my sister had driven up to see us as well, so the next day I asked them to pick up a falafel for lunch to drop off. We tried to find somewhere else to eat, I swear, but we were back that night too. and the next. and the next. We wandered for ages looking at menues, thinking "but Mamouns is less expensive" "but that doesn't sound as good as the makdoos...or the lamb plate...or the kibbeh...or the tamarind drink...or the Turkish delight..." It also helps that Mamouns had a variety of tasty vegetarian options to tempt my sister. I kept suggesting different places to try, but was always relieved when someone finally said "Let's just head back to Mamoun's." We did manage to have Sunday tea at a little shop called Celtica- oh, how and lovely and fattening THAT was, highly recomended, but then we ate at Mamoun's that night. Twice. I thought about picking up something to take to the airport the next morning, but just couldn't swing it. I tried mimicking the fava bean dish with sesame gravy with passable success upon returning home, but I didn't write it down, and now I can't remember. And the schwerma-ooohhh! And best of all, not once did my allergies act up- I was so dreading a miserable stay with my allergies to egg & soy (yes, even oil & lecithin) that seem to sneak in everywhere, but not so! Thank you!!! Won't you please just come to Alaska or franchise or something! I miss you! Ah, well, they have another restaurant in NY, one more reason to visit, I guess. www.mamounsfalafel.com

what healthy looks like (venting session- warning!)

Lara — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 14:42:32 GMT

Warning, I need to vent. Feel free to skip this post, it will probably alienate and disgust half the population at least, but I really need an outlet! I am so sick of everyone's 'concern' about my wieght! Apparently, I'm just so skinny I couldn't possibly be healthy. Never mind that half my family are absolute bean poles, never mind that I have more energy than I have had in years and I am finally getting back a little muscle tone- I start my curl ups to help fix my baby-stretched abs and my husband (yes, even my husband who has discussed this ad nauseum) expresses his 'concern' about how thin I am. I'm 5"2 and light boned, and still nursing to boot- I'm SUPPOSED to be between 112 and 120. My doctors are happy with me, why aren't my friends? I eat the recomended amount for a nursing mum, maybe a fair bit more, if I'm really honest. "If you'd eat more meat, you'd get a little more fat on your bones" well, YEAH, probably, but why would I want to? It literally makes me feel sick and causes mood swings and low energy. I feel healthy, my energy level is good, if folks would get off my back I might even say I'm not very stressed about all life's little foibles that come up, but GGAAARRHHH!!!! Why does everyone feel the need to try and convince the world I've got some kind of disorder? It's called HEALTH people!!! Some days I feel like I need a bumper sticker on my forehead- "Yes, I'm healthy, ARE YOU?" Sorry, I'll calm down now. No responses necessary, but I really needed to get that out of my system.

What kids will say- multi cultural peanut butter sandwich

Lara — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 18:22:33 GMT

Heard in my home: mom, I want a quesedilla. we don't have quesedilla stuff, what else do you want? No, I only want a quesedilla. Okay, well we don't have any cheese- do you want peanut butter instead? yeah! Alright, and we don't have any tortillas, should we use bread? Okay. Now, do you want salsa or honey? Honey! Later that day, daddy asks: So what did you do today? my son: We made quesedillas!