Thanksgiving 2022

Thanksgiving reflections in an eventful year.

In the books. Reflecting back after the mad cooking spree, and thankful for many things...

A literal full plate. It is food security, economic security, family and emotional security. I know how very fortunate  am to enjoy those, and wish for, and must work for, others to have the same.

A metaphorical full plate. Part of this assumed persona/account was borne of trying to figure out how to balance it all. I continue to work on that, but realize that is an embarrassment of riches.

I took some big - for me - risks this year, and found soft landing spots. Even when I failed, which I experienced in one area for the first time, too. And that, getting to the other side of that, made it a little less scary, allowed me to grant myself a little more grace. Though I disliked it enough to keep trying to avoid it.

I watched, and was able to be with, people close to me, and close to those close to me, decline, experience the beginning, and ending, of the close of life's circle. And that yields a wealth of lessons for how to live.

Wishing everyone a joyous, and meaningful, start to, and run of, this holiday season.

Gillbert

 A micro plastics filtering robotic fish.

Photo by Natural Robotics Contest.

(Tongue in cheek) statements that pain me a little to make:

1) The robots may save us yet.

2) Technology may save us yet.

3) The Millennials/Gen Z may save us yet.

Because my attempts to acquire only natural fabrics (to eliminate micro plastics entering the waterways via my waste wash water) have not been altogether successful... 

... Microfiber is not natural, but it makes for some very useful cleaning cloths - very helpful psychologically (and perhaps actually) during the pandemic. Soft cup bras generally are not made of natural fabrics either; bras are generally not made of natural fabrics...

I suppose there's at least some progress in my awareness of the issue. And, though not helping the washing situation, I am sort of mitigating the new consumption situation by my embrace of Buy Nothing.

So it's a good thing that Gillbert is on it in the meantime.

Happy Veterans Day

Reflections of a former toddler war refugee on Veterans Day.

Today, I consciously appreciate those who have served and are serving in military roles, including their families and loved ones.

Having once been a toddler war refugee, I have been grappling my entire life to reconcile where I am in the world with where I was, where I might have been, how I arrived here, and it is all inextricably intertwined with operations that were run by, and that created, veterans (including my own father).

The bear I stuffed during a recent lunch hour as part of a volunteer project for Operation Gratitude, sponsored by my employer.

That personal history led me to my college major - Political Science, with a focus on International Politics in the developing world - to study why we have military campaigns, and the promises of, and limits upon, diplomacy and state building. And, of course, it's all very complicated.

An underpinning of how I live my life today - why I was carrying my groceries in the late 90s in the sturdy bags that homeless people used to carry their possessions, and that the poor used in place of luggage,  eschewing plastic bags a decade before reusable bags were widely available - is trying to avoid the need for our country to enter into conflicts over resources. Sometimes it echoes of an isolationist approach, but it's not. The flipside of being once a toddler war refugee is being an international child, a kid who always knew there was a whole other world out there, with all its delights, to be engaged with.

So it's complicated, right? I don't want us to fight; I would love for there to be no more veterans. But then, there are the situations where I throw my hands up and yell at the newscaster, "Why aren't we DOING something?!" And I know that the doing part, even when it's diplomacy, requires more than talk, and the "we" isn't me, it's our veterans.

Instructions for stuffing the bear. Hopefully hugs transfer from the stuffer to the bear recipient.

So, Happy Veterans Day, and thank you.

Maybe it's just window dressing on corporate greed, maybe it does nothing to balance out my cosmic karma, but I love these types of projects, and I appreciate my employer for sponsoring them.

Meatless Meals Marathoning

Recent restaurant highlights in the predominantly vegetarian journey.

Segueing off the last post to highlight some recent  veggie or vegan meals from new-to-me restaurants in the neighborhood:

1) "Green" shakshuka at Effy's (@effys_cafe) on Marathon Sunday.

2) Mac 'n "cheese", Fruity Pebbles doughnut (from a couple of posts ago), but also Sissy's "egg and bacon" with truffle fries and light coffee, at @innocentyesterday on our early Election Day.

3) Farro bowl with "chicken" and beets, mango, and broccoli at Vegan Grill (@vegangrillnyc) on the weekend before Halloween.

Such tasty, and nearby, options! Back on New Year's Day 2015 when I decided to trial my predominant vegetarianism for however long it would take before it became too difficult - because, prompted by seeing "Blackfish" and having long concluded that vegetarianism was more in line with my values, I couldn't justify saying "I would, but I just don't think I could give up meat" if I had never actually tried - I really did not expect that 7 years out I would still be trying. Yes, I have a liberal "exceptions clauses" in my vegetarian policy, which is why I call my lifestyle "predominant vegetarianism," but my diet remains very much plant forward.

(What are the exceptions? (a) Minimize food waste, (b) human hosts before animal - I will eat whatever anyone who is kind enough to prepare me food sets before me; I don't make special requests at someone's home, (c) experiential exceptions - when traveling or experiencing new cultures, I will partake of dishes quintessential to that culture or region, ditto at a restaurant that specializes in, truly elevates to its highest form, a meat or fish dish - but not, as in most cases, where it is merely ok.)

As they say, it's a marathon, not a sprint. Also, every little change counts. 

Marathon Sunday

No bigger or better block party than the New York City marathon.

Perhaps my favorite Sunday in the city each year is Marathon Sunday - because it's just a 26.2 mile block party in New York City. The runners and wheelers are always inspiring, and everyone is supportive, and it's perfectly fine to yell out strangers' names off their jerseys and tell them they're looking awesome - catcalling turned on its head. 

There are small town-feel viewing parties on balconies and fire escapes and rooftops and sidewalks, and signs and placards and noisemakers and cowbells.

In the early years of living this far east, I had felt trapped in Yorkville; now I feel cocooned (and know to plan for the event) - my little corner becomes cozier and quieter and it's easier to try out new restaurants for brunch or lunch. Yet it still feels very connected to the other 26.2 miles of city neighbors sharing the same experience.

The essence of the small-town-in-the-big-city feel that drew me to my neighborhood.

Responsibilities and Rewards

Protecting truth and democracy can be hard work; hard work requires tasty fuel and deserves some reward.

Fruity Pebbles doughnut (vegan) at Innocent Yesterday.

Morning was spent finishing up postcards urging voters to get out and vote; yes, I favor one side over the other, and my cards were addressed to those most likely to be likeminded... the details about the tasty morsel in the first photo might give away my leanings (in case this whole blog hasn't yet).

The postcards went out days later than I had intended; it was a busy work week. But I committed to sending ten, so I did, and maybe they'll get to their destinations just in time for Election Day on Tuesday, if the mails go smoothly. Hey, we're all still just trying to do the best we can - I am still trying, anyway; maybe others are already back at their best and I'm just behind. So I will keep trying to forge ahead at my pace.  

After the post office stop, I went to meet Sissy on this unusually warm November day to vote early. Early voting is just such a wonderful option to have - a game changer! That some are trying to restrict it in other states is a travesty.

Mac 'n "cheese" with additional balsamic glazed roasted brussels sprouts at Innocent Yesterday. 

On reaching the voting site and finding a surprisingly long line, we opted for lunch first nearby instead, outside, hoping the line would shorten upon our return. We ate at Innocent Yesterday, a vegan cafe near our early polling site. I got the mac 'n "cheese" with roasted balsamic brussels sprouts - excellent, and could not resist the Fruity Pebbles doughnut - how pretty and delightful!

We gambled wrong, though, on the timing for the voting site. The polling line was even longer when we got back to it, but went fairly quickly. I suppose it's gratifying that so many people were out and exercising their rights. And it was certainly quicker and easier than 2020, so I can't really complain. 

Then off to Central Park so Sissy could photograph a tree that had caught her eye days before. And a swing around the Reservoir at my insistence for good measure with the leaf peeping. Gotta seize the opportunities when they come. And after my flurry of productivity yesterday, I deserve a chance to take in pretty Fall colors, darn it! Especially when it feels like this year has flown by.

Lastly, back to Yorkville and toward home, a hunt to find ingredients for my contribution to a dinner party tomorrow evening. Dinners are back, socializing is back. The pandemic changed some things, many things, but some of the nice things are back the way they were before ...

... And how fortunate are we for the enduring things. For science, for sanity, for truth, for compassion, for democracy. Endeavors and values to exalt and cherish, and protect.