(Me w/rutabaga and Harue w/potatoes)
(Fernando w/potatoes and me w/turkey)
(Fernando w/potatoes and Harue w/the turkey bag)
(Me, Harue, Fernando with our hors d'oeuvres)26 December 2008
Dinner
Harue, Fernando and I decided to have Christmas dinner together at her apartment. Bill and Yuki joined us. We left stuffed.
(Me w/rutabaga and Harue w/potatoes)
(Fernando w/potatoes and me w/turkey)
(Fernando w/potatoes and Harue w/the turkey bag)
(Me, Harue, Fernando with our hors d'oeuvres)
(Me w/rutabaga and Harue w/potatoes)(Fernando w/potatoes and me w/turkey)(Fernando w/potatoes and Harue w/the turkey bag)(Me, Harue, Fernando with our hors d'oeuvres)
Greek New Year Bread
To distract myself during the Portland snow days I made a loaf Greek New Year bread. The special ingredient is called masticha (which smells like pine and a little bit of sweetness like licorice), other wise the rest of the loaf would taste of orange and cinnamon. My Yaya used to make it, then my mom, and now I can say I've finally made a loaf. It turned out as tasty as I remember anyone making it! I think, though, my favorite part was adding the lettering: FG + KO 2009. My least favorite part was hiking with this baby from inception to the apartment in Madison (it made it, a little squished, but still in tact).
(Dough and masticha in jar)
(Freshly lettered)
(Baked. Pre-travel)
(Dough and masticha in jar)
(Freshly lettered)
(Baked. Pre-travel)Pictures of Snow at My House in Portland
These are two pictures of the snow as seen from my backyard. Note how the boughs of the evergreen trees sag in the second photo. They were covered in 1/4 - 1/2 inch of ice on Sunday.
(Saturday)
(Sunday)
(Saturday)
(Sunday)23 December 2008
Endurance, Will, Wit, Cleverness, Determination, Bravery, Insanity -OR- Escape from Portland
I’m back in Madison as I write this. It took quite a bit of…endurance, will, wit, cleverness, determination, bravery and insanity to get out of Portland. The original plan was to leave Portland on Sunday the 21st and land in Madison that evening. But, Portland and Winter joined in opposition. The weather also schemed against finals week at the college. On Sunday, the 14th, it began to snow as I drove my housemate Toby to the airport (she has moved back to Detroit and I miss her). I returned home in some treacherous conditions. When I reached the top of the hill—The Hill—I arrived at road and winter conditions I did not want to be driving in. I made it home without incident, parked my car under the carport, where it remains.
This is when the snow began. The college was closed on Sunday and it continued to snow until Monday. We had a few inches overall. My other housemate left for L.A. on Monday, chains on her tires…and yes. I spent the week trekking into school, amazed that Portlanders don’t plow or salt or sand, but instead have varying requirements for tire chains. I planned not to drive my car until the snow melted; there is no snow shovel at my house. I teach on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Tuesday school started at 9 instead of 8, and my class came for out final cleanup/workday. Our final critique was scheduled for Thursday. On Wednesday a big storm was predicted to arrive. School was closed, but it was a rather uneventful day; there was not much storm. On Thursday I woke up to dark. It began to snow heavily on my dark walk to school. It continued to snow big chunky flakes. Why did school stay open? Half of my students showed up with their projects (some half finished because school had not been open to finish the projects). The snow continued to fall and school closed at noon. I made arrangements with each student by phone to finish their projects and meet with me in January. Finals were anything but.
On Friday I trekked to mail some packages, check my email, and buy some groceries. School was closed due to more snow. On Saturday I prepared to leave on Sunday. I even baked a loaf of Greek New Year break (oh yum). I had very uncertain feelings about the likelihood of my flight, but I was packed and ready. I trekked to mail some packages, check my email, and buy some groceries again. On Sunday, the 21st, I woke up to check the status of my flight—CANCELLED! I called back to arrange an alternate flight. The soonest flight, which I was assigned to, was on December 25th, arriving in Madison around 11:45 pm. I cried. Oh did I cry! I spent that entire Sunday feeling awful, sad, hating snow and winter. I imagined myself alone and pathetic on Christmas Eve and Christmas day. The woman I spoke to told me to call back tomorrow to see if anything changed. It snowed and made frozen rain most of the day Sunday. On Sunday night/Monday at midnight I called (technically the next day). The woman was sure I had no chance, but then said, “Oh, wait, I think this is your Christmas miracle. I have a flight on the 22nd at 8:45 am. Can you be there?” Yes. I stayed up until 2 am packing up the rest of my things, preparing to get out. I slept until 3:30. I got up and out of my house at 4:30 and began. Keep in mind, it had been snowy and windy, I have no snow shovel, there is no plowing, it’s dark at 4:30, it’s cold, I live on a hill.
I had a plan. Everything I needed came with me. I have a big backpack for luggage, my purse, and a tote bag with Greek New Year bread. Coat, snow gators, scarf, gloves, hat. I left the house heading up my driveway. The wind was blowing and the trees clattered in their ice-coated states. The snow was drifted to my knees with an outer shell of ice, all the way up my driveway. I was gasping for breath by the top of my driveway. My heart was beating like crazy. I began my descent of 83rd Ave to Leahy, 84th, then Barnes. Nothing was plowed. The snow was slippery, and impossible to walk on. My bags were heavy and the snow kept shifting under my boots. I trekked down to the train. It was insane. I alternated between shoveled sidewalks (rare) and driven over road (typical)—tire tracks and 6 inches of snow. I got to the train. The red line that goes to the airport was not running because of frozen switches. Instead I had to take the blue line and transfer to a bus. I left time for all of this, so I was not worried about that. What I was not aware of was that I hiked 1.6 miles, with all my luggage, in the snow (distance verified on Google)!
I rode the train to the transfer, listening to some overly verbose, know-it-all mother and her severely flakey clan of subordinates. I was ready to slap all of them if I had not been so exhausted. I transferred to a jammed bus to the airport. The roads were to put it lightly atrocious. The bus, with its chained tires, full of people, still slid around. At one point we heard the bus driver yelp, “Oh crap!” with the terror of someone who means it. We then skid to a halt while we swerved. When we got to the airport things in my mind got easier. Already I had a great voyage behind me! The airport was crowded. I found a lone machine that would check me it, give me a boarding pass and let me be on my way without waiting in a long, long, long line. I went through security and headed to the gate. Soon after my arrival to the gate I noted that we had a delay of unknown length. Then a Northwest guy told us that perhaps, we might want to make a back-up reservation, err, just in case this flight to Minneapolis could not fly. We were all waiting for the plane—a flight to land from San Francisco. The conditions for landing were non-existent. So, I got on the phone right away. I noted that there was a flight to Detroit at the next gate and they were about to board. I went over to put my name on the standby list. I got an agent on the phone. She said that she could officially get me a seat on said Detroit flight. Done. I had a boarding pass printed out—no longer a standby (safe). We boarded the plane and sat there waiting. Eventually they announced that the runway conditions were dangerous and made us deplane. We could leave our luggage on board, though (a sign to me that they really were trying to leave). About an hour passed. They called me up to the desk and put a red dot on my boarding pass then made me board the plane and remove my luggage in case they would have to leave me behind for weight restrictions (if the short runway were cleared I could not go, if the long runway was cleared I could go). In the meantime I called the airline again and had a backup plan made for a late Detroit to Madison flight. I sat down and listened in on a Mom and Son. I talked to them a little. Two hours later we re-boarded the plane—everyone and the passengers with red dots! We boarded. The son, Michael, of Mom and Son was flying alone to his aunt’s and uncle’s for Christmas. It was 11:30 when we boarded. At 1:30 we were still sitting there on the plane. I was grateful for my 15-year-old companion. We talked and passed that time as fast as was possible. The de-icing took hours, literally. At 4 we pushed off from the gate and stood still for a while. I think everyone was uncertain to our actually leaving Portland. But at 4:30 we finally got further than pushing off from the gate. We taxied to the runway. Then we took off! Michael, my 15-year-old companion, asked me if I was happy. “Yes.” Then he told me that above the clouds it was always sunny. And, wasn’t that going to be nice? Yes. It was. It was 3.5 hours to Detroit. By the time we got to Detroit I was hungry and exhausted. Nothing was open. So I called Toby, told her I was in Detroit, and caught my flight to Madison. At 11:18 I was in Madison. I was foggy-minded, cranky, soar, and exhausted. But I made it. Yes.
This is when the snow began. The college was closed on Sunday and it continued to snow until Monday. We had a few inches overall. My other housemate left for L.A. on Monday, chains on her tires…and yes. I spent the week trekking into school, amazed that Portlanders don’t plow or salt or sand, but instead have varying requirements for tire chains. I planned not to drive my car until the snow melted; there is no snow shovel at my house. I teach on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Tuesday school started at 9 instead of 8, and my class came for out final cleanup/workday. Our final critique was scheduled for Thursday. On Wednesday a big storm was predicted to arrive. School was closed, but it was a rather uneventful day; there was not much storm. On Thursday I woke up to dark. It began to snow heavily on my dark walk to school. It continued to snow big chunky flakes. Why did school stay open? Half of my students showed up with their projects (some half finished because school had not been open to finish the projects). The snow continued to fall and school closed at noon. I made arrangements with each student by phone to finish their projects and meet with me in January. Finals were anything but.
On Friday I trekked to mail some packages, check my email, and buy some groceries. School was closed due to more snow. On Saturday I prepared to leave on Sunday. I even baked a loaf of Greek New Year break (oh yum). I had very uncertain feelings about the likelihood of my flight, but I was packed and ready. I trekked to mail some packages, check my email, and buy some groceries again. On Sunday, the 21st, I woke up to check the status of my flight—CANCELLED! I called back to arrange an alternate flight. The soonest flight, which I was assigned to, was on December 25th, arriving in Madison around 11:45 pm. I cried. Oh did I cry! I spent that entire Sunday feeling awful, sad, hating snow and winter. I imagined myself alone and pathetic on Christmas Eve and Christmas day. The woman I spoke to told me to call back tomorrow to see if anything changed. It snowed and made frozen rain most of the day Sunday. On Sunday night/Monday at midnight I called (technically the next day). The woman was sure I had no chance, but then said, “Oh, wait, I think this is your Christmas miracle. I have a flight on the 22nd at 8:45 am. Can you be there?” Yes. I stayed up until 2 am packing up the rest of my things, preparing to get out. I slept until 3:30. I got up and out of my house at 4:30 and began. Keep in mind, it had been snowy and windy, I have no snow shovel, there is no plowing, it’s dark at 4:30, it’s cold, I live on a hill.
I had a plan. Everything I needed came with me. I have a big backpack for luggage, my purse, and a tote bag with Greek New Year bread. Coat, snow gators, scarf, gloves, hat. I left the house heading up my driveway. The wind was blowing and the trees clattered in their ice-coated states. The snow was drifted to my knees with an outer shell of ice, all the way up my driveway. I was gasping for breath by the top of my driveway. My heart was beating like crazy. I began my descent of 83rd Ave to Leahy, 84th, then Barnes. Nothing was plowed. The snow was slippery, and impossible to walk on. My bags were heavy and the snow kept shifting under my boots. I trekked down to the train. It was insane. I alternated between shoveled sidewalks (rare) and driven over road (typical)—tire tracks and 6 inches of snow. I got to the train. The red line that goes to the airport was not running because of frozen switches. Instead I had to take the blue line and transfer to a bus. I left time for all of this, so I was not worried about that. What I was not aware of was that I hiked 1.6 miles, with all my luggage, in the snow (distance verified on Google)!
I rode the train to the transfer, listening to some overly verbose, know-it-all mother and her severely flakey clan of subordinates. I was ready to slap all of them if I had not been so exhausted. I transferred to a jammed bus to the airport. The roads were to put it lightly atrocious. The bus, with its chained tires, full of people, still slid around. At one point we heard the bus driver yelp, “Oh crap!” with the terror of someone who means it. We then skid to a halt while we swerved. When we got to the airport things in my mind got easier. Already I had a great voyage behind me! The airport was crowded. I found a lone machine that would check me it, give me a boarding pass and let me be on my way without waiting in a long, long, long line. I went through security and headed to the gate. Soon after my arrival to the gate I noted that we had a delay of unknown length. Then a Northwest guy told us that perhaps, we might want to make a back-up reservation, err, just in case this flight to Minneapolis could not fly. We were all waiting for the plane—a flight to land from San Francisco. The conditions for landing were non-existent. So, I got on the phone right away. I noted that there was a flight to Detroit at the next gate and they were about to board. I went over to put my name on the standby list. I got an agent on the phone. She said that she could officially get me a seat on said Detroit flight. Done. I had a boarding pass printed out—no longer a standby (safe). We boarded the plane and sat there waiting. Eventually they announced that the runway conditions were dangerous and made us deplane. We could leave our luggage on board, though (a sign to me that they really were trying to leave). About an hour passed. They called me up to the desk and put a red dot on my boarding pass then made me board the plane and remove my luggage in case they would have to leave me behind for weight restrictions (if the short runway were cleared I could not go, if the long runway was cleared I could go). In the meantime I called the airline again and had a backup plan made for a late Detroit to Madison flight. I sat down and listened in on a Mom and Son. I talked to them a little. Two hours later we re-boarded the plane—everyone and the passengers with red dots! We boarded. The son, Michael, of Mom and Son was flying alone to his aunt’s and uncle’s for Christmas. It was 11:30 when we boarded. At 1:30 we were still sitting there on the plane. I was grateful for my 15-year-old companion. We talked and passed that time as fast as was possible. The de-icing took hours, literally. At 4 we pushed off from the gate and stood still for a while. I think everyone was uncertain to our actually leaving Portland. But at 4:30 we finally got further than pushing off from the gate. We taxied to the runway. Then we took off! Michael, my 15-year-old companion, asked me if I was happy. “Yes.” Then he told me that above the clouds it was always sunny. And, wasn’t that going to be nice? Yes. It was. It was 3.5 hours to Detroit. By the time we got to Detroit I was hungry and exhausted. Nothing was open. So I called Toby, told her I was in Detroit, and caught my flight to Madison. At 11:18 I was in Madison. I was foggy-minded, cranky, soar, and exhausted. But I made it. Yes.
16 December 2008
Wintery Portland
I was wrong to think that moving to Portland would spare me the nightmare of Winter. But, it snowed a few inches and I find myself with car stuck in driveway, icy walk on a hill to and from school, plow/sand/salt-free, wind blowing, and temperatures dropping into the teens!
The school has been closed for two days and today it opened late. In our last week of the semester, we are wondering if we will have time for the final critique, or if the critique will be after I return from my winter break. It's supposed to snow tomorrow. And I wonder if I should buy some ice cleats--a thought I did not predict to think while here in Portland. Happily, I did not yet purge my deepest darkest Winter clothing.
The school has been closed for two days and today it opened late. In our last week of the semester, we are wondering if we will have time for the final critique, or if the critique will be after I return from my winter break. It's supposed to snow tomorrow. And I wonder if I should buy some ice cleats--a thought I did not predict to think while here in Portland. Happily, I did not yet purge my deepest darkest Winter clothing.
02 December 2008
Thanksgiving-oh!
Oh what a fast Thanksgiving break! I jumped on a Wednesday morning flight to Madison, Wisconsin, and the embrace of my sweetheart and friends. Oh! It was brilliant! Oh! It was cold!
I won't give a play-by-play of the trip, but instead of what I ate: 2 Fernando smoothies, wine, brandy, Gail Ambrosius chocolates (the Maharajah Curry blew my mind), lentils, cheeses, potstickers, pasta, pomegranates, Prosecco, a yummy biscuit, cinnamon-orange tea, mint tea, coffee and Thanksgiving dinner at Tracy and Mark's house.
Thanksgiving dinner was an amazing experience in part of the food: turkey, mashers, roasted root veggies, carrots in a fennel dressing, cranberry-orange sauce, fig and red grape sauce, creamed spinach, gravy of a veggie and non-veggie variety, 3 (count 'em: 3) kinds of pies (apple, cranberry-pecan, hickory nut) and assorted other wonders. I lost my mind after the initial glass of wine.
The truly amazing part of the dinner was the company. We shed tears and laughed and ate, drank, and sang songs and told stories. There were kids and grandparents and friends and friends of friends and everyone had a great evening. I dug on the place cards too.
And, like a dream, I found myself back here in Portland, teaching on Tuesday morning.
(My place card, now for my collection of mushroom photos)
(The Peruvian flag from Fernando's place card. It was so sweet that it made me get teary eyed.)
I won't give a play-by-play of the trip, but instead of what I ate: 2 Fernando smoothies, wine, brandy, Gail Ambrosius chocolates (the Maharajah Curry blew my mind), lentils, cheeses, potstickers, pasta, pomegranates, Prosecco, a yummy biscuit, cinnamon-orange tea, mint tea, coffee and Thanksgiving dinner at Tracy and Mark's house.
Thanksgiving dinner was an amazing experience in part of the food: turkey, mashers, roasted root veggies, carrots in a fennel dressing, cranberry-orange sauce, fig and red grape sauce, creamed spinach, gravy of a veggie and non-veggie variety, 3 (count 'em: 3) kinds of pies (apple, cranberry-pecan, hickory nut) and assorted other wonders. I lost my mind after the initial glass of wine.
The truly amazing part of the dinner was the company. We shed tears and laughed and ate, drank, and sang songs and told stories. There were kids and grandparents and friends and friends of friends and everyone had a great evening. I dug on the place cards too.
And, like a dream, I found myself back here in Portland, teaching on Tuesday morning.
(My place card, now for my collection of mushroom photos)
(The Peruvian flag from Fernando's place card. It was so sweet that it made me get teary eyed.)
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