Grief is a Bird
I’ve said it before, but grief is a bird. It’s a bird that comes and goes as it pleases. It can be unpleasant. Have you ever fully and truly welcomed grief? Culturally, we’re taught not to be sad. Hide your emotions in public spaces. (Though, I feel I’ve seen more than one list on the best places to cry in public in San Francisco. So, … Continue reading Grief is a Bird
The Confluence
2020. Collective trauma, global pandemic, racial upheaval, voter suppression. I’ve been thinking about the trees lately. It’s been very hard. I think about the Georgia O’Keefe quote, “If more people were trees, I would like them better.” I’ve reflected on the metaphor of confluence. The converging of different waters, different tines of the river. The confluence of the north and middle forks of the American … Continue reading The Confluence
Turkey Troubles
A round-about story: we wound up with a free 12lb turkey after a trip to the discount grocery store the week before Thanksgiving. On the drive home, I started to strategize a way to play Tetris with the items already in my freezer, but also with the addition of, well, a turkey. (I now know why so many neighbors have second refrigerators in their garages.) … Continue reading Turkey Troubles
Red, White, and the Election Day Blues
Current mood: existential dread. Cautious optimism. Dread, dot, period. All of the above. Current mood: unwavering hope. Oscillating between that natural hope for all to work out as it will and the worst case scenario. To be clear, I am not living in fear, but I am afraid. Even if I was living in fear, could you blame me? With 235,000 plus lives lost to … Continue reading Red, White, and the Election Day Blues
Pandemic Pancakes
If there’s a food that I crave that will likely not do well to go, it’s something like haemul pajeon. Well, anything fried really. When the recent craving struck, I went back and forth with wanting to make it will all purpose flour or to get creative with my new recipe development skills. So much stress over food, right? On a whim, I went with … Continue reading Pandemic Pancakes
Process > Perfection
Over the last month, I embarked upon an allergen free baking course with recipe developer Jeffrey Larsen, James Beard-award winning author of Gluten-Free Baking at Home. He let us in on a little secret – surprise, the class was really a guise for sharpening our recipe development skills. The challenge was issued that to become a better baker and chef, one must be skillful at … Continue reading Process > Perfection
Not Races
One of the senior members of my running club had a birthday this last week. She and her husband are both in their nineties, pillars of the club and the 1970s golden era of running. Notably, this also would have been a time when women were less visible on the racing circuit. Years ago, I distinctly remember having a conversation with her about the Boston … Continue reading Not Races
River
A photo-poem California You escape your current Corona By escaping to summits To sands To some impossibly becoming body of water California You’re always at edge Of winds shifting Upon refresh and refresh Again PurpleAir California Do you remember the days Of earthquakes and El Niño? When haze was not temperature Smoke not forecast California You’re always the verge of something Just about smokeline To … Continue reading River
Til the Next Aid Station
This is Day 175 of the quarantine. It seems as if my shell has just started to crack. Otherwise, I’ve been clumsily finding a way in it. A qua-run-routine. Running has been a balm of steadiness for me for the last 19 years. A method to the madness, they say, emphasis on madness. Perhaps if I didn’t have running, I would have cracked sooner. There … Continue reading Til the Next Aid Station
Puns and Puntarelle
Puntarelle this might be a life form from another planet? I procured this chicory from Soil Born Farms, which has a penchant for growing heirloom Italian vegetables. The classic preparation is to toss its center stalks with a umami-rich anchovy dressing. Continue reading Puns and Puntarelle
Sweet Leo O' Mine 