GenX

Weird food combos

~ MaryG ~ 4 Comments

What could you let go of, for the sake of harmony?

Sometimes you should let go of preconceived ideas of which foods go together and try things that sound weird.

For example, my husband makes (and claims to have invented) peanut butter and salsa sandwiches. I won’t eat those, but I do love cheddar cheese in apple pie. And have you seen Episode 1 of Season 3 of The Bear on Hulu yet? Was that a blood orange reduction and a large potato chip on a seared scallop?!? It looked pretty darn good.

You don’t think of peanut butter and pasta as being a good combo, but this recipe from NYT Cooking is a winner. It’s called “Cold Noodles with Sesame Sauce, Chicken and Cucumbers.” I didn’t have sesame paste (tahini) so I substituted natural peanut butter (as the recipe suggests) and it was good! I will try it again with tahini at some point.

I used a whole package (16 ounces) of linguine, rather than 12 oz like the recipe says, and it was fine.

Recipe attached as a PDF:

Cold Noodles With Sesame Sauce, Chicken And Cucumbers RecipeDownload

Back from the Brink

~ MaryG ~ 4 Comments

OK, I just watched Biden’s interview with George Stephanopoulos and I’m of two minds.

On the one hand, I’m worried that Biden thinks this whole thing is about him. If we lose to Trump, Joe will be just fine because ‘he tried his best.’ Yeah well, what about US?

On the other hand, he did remind me about his stature on the international stage. He held NATO together and even expanded it in defense of Ukraine. He’s accomplished many things — most importantly, he defeated Donald Trump.

So, here’s where I’m landing. If he doesn’t drop out and hand the Presidency and the nomination over to Harris soon, I want to see him involve her in everything. I want her prominently featured in the campaign. I want her leading the charge for women, and prosecuting the case against Trump (Kavanaugh hearings style) at every turn! I want to know that he’s truly mentoring her to takeover for him.

And yeah, he’s still old and mixes up shit, but it seemed more like normal old guy stuff, not like at the debate — where he seemed dementia-level confused.

My two cents.

Mini vacation

~ MaryG ~ 4 Comments

Describe your most memorable vacation.

Sometimes a one-nighter in your own area can be fun. I haven’t spent much time in Boston since I left my job, so it’s good to be back in the city.

The view of Cambridge from Boston’s Back Bay. The Charles River is reflecting the pink fireworks. That glowing dome on the left side of the horizon is M.I.T.

Happy Birthday to all Americans. We are 248 years old today. Long may we run. 🇺🇸

Art History 102

~ MaryG ~ 9 Comments

What’s your definition of romantic?

This prompt is giving me flashbacks to my college art history survey: the darkened auditorium, the slides of painting, sculpture, and architecture from the Renaissance to the 20th century, the occasional nap. I got a B in that class. Not bad.

The Romantic Period in art (late 18th century to mid 19th century) was characterized by “a focus on emotion, individualism, and the sublime. Artists of this period often emphasized intense feelings, dramatic compositions, and the beauty and power of nature.”

The first example of Romanticism in Wikipedia: “Wanderer above the Sea Fog” by Caspar David Friedrich, 1818

Based on that definition, I’m going to have to say that the Grand Canyon is the most Romantic place I’ve ever been.

My best Romantic photo from the Grand Canyon. It needs a title.
Here’s another one. Note the bird.

Pretty darn sublime, right?

Etsy and the Thank You Gift

~ MaryG ~ 10 Comments

How do you express your gratitude?

Usually saying “thank you” with sincerity is enough. Sending a handwritten note is always a good idea too.

In recent years, I’ve discovered some lovely options for personalized gifts on Etsy. My daughter first introduced me to it.

I got some cool monogrammed money clips for my son and my nephews, which they seem to love. I’ve purchased monogrammed leather luggage tags and I got my son a personalized leather tray for graduation, with his school’s seal. I ordered this necklace for a Cat Lady in my life.

Most recently, I ordered these all-natural handmade soaps with essential oils from a Canadian artisan on Etsy. I liked the soft, natural colors and the real wildflowers on the top of each bar. I used them as favors for people who attended my daughter’s baby shower. They were a hit. Guests enjoyed smelling all four varieties, then choosing their favorite. The personalized labels are a nice touch. (The back side of the label lists all the ingredients in each soap.)

My thoughtful daughter gave me this pretty blue crystal necklace with personalized packaging at the end of the party last weekend. It definitely made me feel appreciated. I’m wearing it today!

The Future

~ MaryG ~ 18 Comments

What are you most worried about for the future?

I’m most worried about a second Trump term, which seems quite likely following last week’s debate in which Joe Biden’s advanced age and cognitive decline were on full display.

It is my hope that Biden comes to accept this and allows the Democratic Party to nominate someone younger—who can more vigorously rebut all of the convicted felon’s lies—in the coming weeks.

I believe that a second Trump term would mean the end of the United States as we’ve known it. Women’s rights, the Supreme Court, democracy, and the climate are my main concerns. I think I’ve actually given up on the United States ever controlling its gun violence problem.

On a much lighter note, I wore the pink side of my reversible skirt on Saturday. We had a joyous family celebration of my son’s college graduation and my granddaughter on the way. I cannot wait to meet her! 💗

e-tron

~ MaryG ~ 10 Comments

Are there things you try to practice daily to live a more sustainable lifestyle?

We recycle, own an electric car, and stopped buying plastic water bottles. We don’t fly much or eat a lot of red meat. We had an energy audit of the house and added things like insulation and low-flow shower heads.

In the face of melting polar ice, rising seas, historic floods, and endless wild fires, it really doesn’t seem like enough.

Our new plug-in car in 2016