Posts

It Snowed...in Georgia! Someone Ate My Shrimp...

-
Image
Although the second time it snowed in Georgia this winter, it was the first time that it snowed in Central Georgia. Honestly, I don't think many of us actually believed that it would as weather reports advised and even when the school districts posted notices of school closures today. As you can imagine, as I stepped outside at six this morning to say my morning prayers, I was delightfully surprised to see snow, peacefully falling. Shopai, my dog, woke up about this time. After wishing me a good morning, ran around in the dark trying to bite the flakes before making her version of snow-angels on the ground. What a wonderful sight. For Georgia, it was a decent amount too, I should wonder if it would stick around long enough for my nieces to see it after the sun comes up. It did and in the shades of the many trees surrounding the house, still some remains at 3 p.m. (I know, this post is up late.) The girls said that after the sun came up, Shopai was curiously looking at the sno
Post a Comment
Read more

Exploration 1: Probably the Best Vegetable Stew - EVER*

-
Image
There are many things I detest about winter. I hate that Christmas is unavoidable. I hate that it's cold (I am thankful that I'm now in the South where it's not as cold, however.) I hate that the days are shorter. I hate that the fruit available doesn't taste as good. And I hate that it becomes cold and flu season. I can't think of one person who enjoys getting and being sick. Before leaving to New Mexico I developed a dry cough. Because it was a dry cough I wasn't much worried about it. It was just annoying. While in New Mexico, one some nights it got slightly worse. The air was super dry there and I think it contributed to it. Regardless, I still put in a 4 mile run one afternoon. I hated myself for that afterwards. Let me rephrase, my body hated me for that afterwards. I don't like running outside, it tears up my throat. Although it wasn't cold, it was cold enough for my lungs to get angry. When I was a baby I nearly died from pneumonia so I hav
Post a Comment
Read more

Exploration 1: Fish...particularly - Salmon*

-
Image
Dear Sheleena, if you're reading this, you've visited this blog after I posted a new entry. The kick ass lasagna I told you to try out is in the previous post. Yours truly, Tyson. :-)  Speaking of that lasagna (have you tried it?) I just have one more miracle story from the miraculous dish from heaven. My two nieces, who I have not seen since before I left to New Mexico, finally came home last night from their personal adventures. Luckily for them, they arrived just before the last of the pasta was licked from the dish it was cooked in.  My nieces are picky - PICKY, when it comes to food. One likes cheese, the other does not. I know, who really doesn't like cheese? I think she might be an alien. One likes peanut butter but not jelly. One likes jelly but not peanut butter. One likes syrup and...you guess it, one doesn't. Despite their polar opposite likes and dislikes, there are a few things they do agree on.  They don't like vegetables. They especially do
Post a Comment
Read more

Exploration 1: It's All About Meat in This One!*

-
Image
I'm back in Georgia, back in the kitchen, & back in the apron. Alright, I am back in central Georgia, getting back into the swing of things. With that, let's drive right into this... Just like it's been said that someone who's an alcoholic can't take just one drink because by doing so they open up a dangerous road that quickly escalates into being wildly intoxicated. An alcoholic can't stop. This also holds true for me in regards to meat. What started out as an innocent by product of beloved foods, in no time at all snowballed into multiple cheeseburgers, steak, ground beef, and chicken. Even yesterday, with all my will power, I ended up reaching over and helping myself to a friend's chicken wings in addition to my meat-less salad. I know. I'm something of a disappointment right now. Vegetarian gone bad! I figure, since I'm already in this downward spiral I might as do it big. What WILL be the end of this run away food cart, is the Wor
Post a Comment
Read more

Exploration 1: Back Away From The Meat!

-
Image
New Year's Day I took a mini hike to the Jemez Hot Springs, located about an hour north of Albuquerque. It was a great way to connect with nature. Before we dive into it, I would like to wish everyone a very joyous new year! It's something of a remarkable thing each year when we gather with friends and family, if not alone, to reflect on the year that so quickly came and went. Years, time I suppose, are like wide rivers that approach a restricted passage. Everything moves so slowly, calmly if we are fortunate, then without realizing it the water has sped up and we're sailing at full speed down the same river. Then the water again finds it's opening and everything again slows down as the new year starts. In contrast to new year celebrations of my past, I brought in the new year in meditation. It was something of a last minute decision after a new friend that I made during this visit to New Mexico expressed he was thinking about driving to Santa Fe to spend NYE a
Post a Comment
Read more

Exploration 1: The Frontier, Le Bistro, Chimayo*

-
Image
I'm going to come clean...I haven't been cooking. I know, the shame! As much as I'd like to say that I haven't fell victim to holiday gluttony - that would be a lie. In addition, I knew before arriving into the Land of Enchantment that the battle to cook for myself was an uphill, if not, losing battle. My mom has been known to cook seldom as it is. I forgot that her new condo, as cute as it is, lacks a kitchen. I helped her moved into this new place last year and when I left there was a refrigerator, a sink, and a microwave. Not much as changed upon my return with the exception of a conventional oven. But I suppose that this is part of the journey. This won't be my last time to New Mexico or my final trip anywhere. It's important that I learn to navigate restaurant menus, including recognizing sacrifices when menu options don't satisfy my appetite as it used to. I live in the most gluttonous country in the world, I really should doubt I'll starve. Ho
Post a Comment
Read more

Exploration 1: Merry Christmas - from New Mexico!

-
Image
My first visit to New Mexico was during my sophomore year of high school. I moved to Albuquerque two days after my high school graduation. I graduated on a Friday. I checked into the dorm Sunday afternoon. I started my first college classes on Monday. It wasn't so much that I was super smart or eagerly wanted to get college going. It was more because that was my one way ticket out of the small, reservation town that I grew up in and I cashed it in the first chance I had. I regretted by decision about two weeks into it. I remember getting so homesick. I literally didn't know ANYONE! What was I thinking?! Even my first day of college was rough. I didn't have the resources that would be available in the fall. It was quite a perfect example of "sink or swim." I didn't even have an idea where the dorms were. I remember the taxi dropped me off in front of the UNM book store and I struggling to drag four heavy suitcases, with wheels, all across campus trying to
Post a Comment
Read more