Monthly Archives: October 2010

An explorer in the world

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I haven’t been blogging recently, partly because I’ve been suffering from a bit of writer’s block, and partly because I’ve been busy – not just too busy to blog, but also too busy to do many of the traditional frugal activities that I frequently blog about. But the busyness has been good. I’ve been busy at work, but with a variety of interesting activities – giving and attending skills building workshops and trainings, preparing for conferences, organizing a staff retreat, finishing up a social marketing campaign. And in my spare time, I’ve been out having dinners and discussions with friends, attending lectures and community workshops and spending time with family.  I’ve taken some steps towards completing my annual fun goals list. I’ve started climbing again, I went to see a band play that had a big cult following around here but was completely new to me, and I’ve started planning my Hawaii trip. I also have some tentative plans shaping up for New Years which might include several of my “outdoorsy” goals. And I’ve been participating in activities that aren’t on the list, but which would certainly qualify as new and interesting.  When I think back to how difficult my last year was, I recognize now that I’m feeling back in the game, that is the game of enjoying life and feeling alive again.

I don’t often write about my job, but I want to write about it tonight. I work for an AIDS Service Organization, running a program for HIV positive people that provides skills to improve overall health, foster community engagement and facilitate involvement in HIV prevention efforts. I’ve learned so much from the participants in this program.  As a former social researcher, with an educational background in social justice, I really thought I knew the world, but I didn’t. I can’t believe how much I feel awakened by learning about other peoples’ perspectives and life experiences. What it’s like to live with HIV, and the variety of experiences within that category. What it’s like to live with stigma. What it’s like to have an addiction. What it’s like to lose your children. What it’s like to live on the streets. What it’s like to be gay. What it’s like to live with homophobia. What it’s like to be discriminated against at the hospital, or at work, or by the government, or by your family, or by all of the above. Broadening my depth and breadth of knowing the world has been such a fulfilling experience.  It’s a real awakening, and I’m grateful to the people who have shared their experiences with me. I always wanted to work in this field because I thought it would help me make a difference. But I think it’s made me a better person.

What could we want more than just to know our world? I want to be an explorer in life. That’s why I studied Sociology, because I found the world around me fascinating. Its quirks and strangeness intrigued me and I found the eccentricities of every day social life endearing. I adored the mysteries and curiosities of social life and wished to know it better.  How lucky I am, then, that in the past year of this work, I have learned so very, very much.

So this is a note to say, unequivocally, that life is not about the acquisition of stuff. It is not even about the acquisition of knowledge. It is about exploration, adventure, understanding. It is about learning, growing, being touched by other people, discovering a richness to life, learning about compassion.  At this moment, I don’t care if my world view is different from the mainstream. I don’t care if I haven’t passed the milestones of marriage, children, home ownership, or a corporate ladder.  I’m learning about the world, the people in it, and what it means to be human.  What could be better than that?

Another “double rainbow”

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Today I rushed out to my balcony to check out another beautiful, complete, double rainbow. I had to hold myself back from gushing, lest I get confused with double rainbow man.

It was so pretty, I had to share.  As I was watching, I noticed people walking to their cars or walking outside, their eyes focused on the pavement, completely missing the incredible things the sky was doing at that moment.  Truly, beauty is all around us, but it’s so easy to miss. It was just a reminder to awaken to what’s already here – to pay attention to the sky, the air, everything that surrounds us. We over-complicate our perfect world.  I don’t want to walk through this world asleep. I want to be awake, alert, and open to the miracles that every day life offers.

Butternut Squash and Caramelized Onion Pizza

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This pizza is mouth-wateringly good! It is a must try. Unfortunately I have no pictures to share, as my only major light source in my condo died today, so there is not near enough light to take an adequate pictures of this scrumptious, crispy pizza. Take my word for it that it looks, smells, and tastes delicious.

To make this, you will need the ingredients for the dough (flour, salt, yeast, oil, water).  For the toppings, you will need one butternut squash, two onions, a little mozzarella or parmesan cheese, kosher salt, black pepper and olive oil.

Directions:

To make the crust, follow the instructions for the best ever pizza dough recipe at “A Peek Inside the Fishbowl.” This thin crust recipe is better than any of the others I’ve recommended before. I love a super thin, crunchy crust, so if you feel the same, you will have to try this recipe.  The key, I think, is not to add any sugar.  If you do add sugar, you will end up with a very different product.

For the toppings:

Roast a butternut squash, whole, on a baking tray at about 350 degrees. Use a fork to prick the skin to let steam escape. Keep it in the oven for at least 45 minutes, and turn it just once.  When you think it’s done, the skin should be blistering a bit, and you should be able to stick a fork into the squash easily.

In the meantime, caramelize your onions in a sauce pan with olive oil and a sprinkling of kosher salt. It will take at least 30 minutes, perhaps longer, at a very low heat to get the onions just right.

Remove from oven, slice once down the middle, and scoop out the seeds/stringy part.  Peel it using a kitchen peeler (if it’s done, the skin should be soft enough that you can almost peel it off with your fingers.)  Cut into very thin slices so you end up with half-moon shapes.

When your pizza crust is ready, dress with extra-virgin olive oil.  You could also try a garlic puree.  I found the simple olive oil to be very nice.

Lay a single layer of the squash slices on the pizza and then add the caramelized onions.  Sprinkle a generous pinch of kosher salt and black pepper, and top with a little shredded cheese. I used mozzarella but I think parmesan would be lovely also.  But whatever you use, don’t overdo it.  Let the taste of the squash and onions shine through. A light layer is perfect.

Bake for 12 minutes at 450, and then broil for another 2.  I also added 2 extra minutes of cooking time off the sheet pan, directly on the rack, in order to let the bottom of the crust crisp up. So tasty!