ADK Journal aka why the hell did I buy so much squash?

Silver Lake, NY.  A little piece of heaven and my annual girl getaway for many years.  Most years Pilar or Alli or Molly make some sort of daily journal or art book filled with quotes and moments and every year I go back, flip through them, and lament that I didn't do the same. 

Silver Lake

Thursday:

The boathouse, with girls!

On the ferry.  I text pilar, she says, don't eat - we are waiting for you!  Arrive, eat snacks and wine, chat with Jim, Judy, and Blas.  Pilar's thumb is big from slamming it in a car door!  Blas has the boathouse this year so we stay in the big house.  Boo on Blas.




Friday:
Wake up and get my morning coffee.  Have it on the porch, listen to NPR.  Read my book.  Pilar again tries to fool me into a hike which means climbing a mountain.  I say NOOO.  No.  Swim a lot.   Judy goes to town.  Judy gets into an accident.  Seafoam car DOWN!  Judy ok.  Now there are only grey hatchbacks in the driveway.  Phew!  Seafoam was messing things up.  Pilar and I walk to the bog.  Monica seems to be dying, she is very thin for a cat.Pilar goes to bed at like, 6pm.  I stay up and drink liquor with Blas and Jim.

Reading in the boathouse

Saturday:
Wake up to Penny sitting on my bed staring at me.  Finally get up.  Blas turns down the Healthblats for mountain climb.  Very unlike Blas. Brooks no show; this makes Pilar sad.  I read.  Have coffee on porch.  Pilar and I go on a long walk to Judy's cabin with Penny.  Take a swim off Judy's dock.  Pilar makes awesome BLT sandwiches.  Pilar and Blas Guffaw at me for drinking at 1pm.  Do Yoga with Pilar in the yard.  Swim.  Read.  Judy packs a picnic and we all get in the little motor boat (except Blas who canoes).  We stop at the Healthblats dock (ok I really don't remember their real names...it's my pet name for them for years b/c they are always exercising and everyone calls them that now).  Get to the beach on other end of Lake.  Have baked brie, rum & tonics.  When I look at us we look straight out of the 60's.  We are very cool.  Go back, make dinner and then a bonfire with smores.  Everyone hates my game "Ghost" but they hate Pilar's game more.  Pilar goes to bed at 8pm.  Blas and I stay up and enjoy the fire.

Sunday:

Rainy day!  Penny is scared so we put on her thunder jacket.  Coffee on the porch.  Read.  Drive to Lake Placid and see "The Help."  Pilar tries to teach me how to use Itunes.  I hate you apple.  Blas makes us dinner - fish burritos (everyone is very amendable to my weird eating restrictions).  Jim says, "who would name someone Benny Anders?" and Blas responds, "this coming from a guy who named me Blas Nadal."  I giggle.  Teach everyone Balderdish.  They like this better than the other games.  Judy wins.  Pilar actually stays up.  Amazing.

Monday:
Coffee on the porch.  I pack.  I am sad.  Get some last minute sun and hugs all around.  On the way home I stop at a local farm and buy a bucket of squash.  It was only 3 bucks but now I'm like, wtf did I do that for?  I've been eating squash ever since.

Till next year my happy home!

Top 5 GoT Males

If I were stuck on a deserted island, and that island happened to be westeros, and there were only 5 males left on westeros, who would I wish them to be?

Here they are, in order:
#5:  OK YES!  I admit it.   Theon Greyjoy.  It isn't Theon the book character, it's Alfie Allen.  Whatever.  I'm embarrassed ok?  I mean Theon, he's so damn hateable.  But Theon without a shirt is so...so...melty.  Let's move on.

More my vision of Snow than HBO

#4:  Jon Snow. Duh.  And Robb Stark.  Double Duh.  /sigh.  Team Robb or Jon?  Who are you?  I'll take both, but only because #3 I lose on just by picking him, but I would not have known it because MARTIN SECRETLY WROTE GAY characters.  He tricked me for like, 5000 pages.

#3:  The Knight of Flowers.  Before I knew he was gay.  And even after.  It's fine.  He can hang around on the island for me to look at (oh, and btw, tv show Loras is not at all like Loras in my head.  Loras in my head is beautiful and much better eye candy than tv show Loras-the-wimpy-i-can-barely-hold-a-sword-guy).

#2:  Jaquen H'ghar:  I mean, who doesn't like your everyday awesome assassin dude?

#1:  Rhaegar.  He really doesn't seem as bad as they make him out to be.  I mean, the poor guy was just trying to protect his dad.  Sure his dad was a crazy burning son of a bitch king, and Rheagar was a proud asshole but he wasn't inherently evil.  At least I don't think he was.  That's my belief and I'm sticking to it.

Robert Baratheon and Rhaegar at Ruby Ford

Yet another reason to love goodreads....

Cut and Paste reviews!  It's been forever since I've done a book update, here are my top 5 in the past...long time:

A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I am very sad to think that I won't be returning the the world of westeros for another few years.  Opening this book (or in my case turning on the kindle) felt like coming home after a long time away. I really dragged out finishing this because I was happy reading it.



This is no FfC.  Every chapter was engrossing, every story moved the plot forward.  Things started to come together - but not in the way you would expect -- In a way that smacks purely of Martin.  Several surprises even though you know the parallel timeline in FfC.  Several shockers as only Martin can do.



Fantastic read! 











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Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


First book I've read from this author and there is some pretty cool stuff in it. 



The good:

amazing depth of characters

well developed world

stand-alone fantasy

well written

nice pacing

emotional

a lot of "grey" or in between actions and morals, very interesting perspective on all manners of good and evil



The not so good:

I want more of this world!!  Give me more than one book, please!!!

A little formulaic/predictable in places but did not detract from enjoyment

Some "too tidy" threads



This one got added to my all time favs.  Very easy to read quickly, it's a page turner.  Interesting and new fantasy themes with easy to relate to characters, and ones you really care about.  Fans of Martin's series would enjoy this book a lot.



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Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The only bad thing I can think to say of this book was that it was too short.  Quite possibly the most enjoyable read I've had in years - an allegory tale yet one that is completely entertaining, lovable, and fun as it stands.  Reminds me a little of Oz and Where the Wild things are with adult wit and insight.



I read one review that stated this is for hardcore Rushdie fans and I couldn't disagree more.  I've cracked a few of his books and haven't been intrigued so when a friend handed me this one I felt obliged to try it out.  I am now looking for more Rushdie to read.  Fast paced, fantastical, extremely well written (the kind of book that reminds you that there are REALLY amazing authors out there) and with a lot of heart, I recommend it to anyone who needs a reprieve from serious but still needs a book with a lot of brain.







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Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I will echo Naz's sentiment on this one which is, "why haven't I read this book until now????"



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Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Biography by Marion Meade

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Reality TV has nothing on Royal England.  I'm convinced that any King named Henry is destined for an amazingly scandalous tenure on the throne.



When I started reading it I felt the material was a little dry and academic.  As it got into the meat of the drama I forgot that I could not hear Eleanor's voice at all (she left no letters, poetry, etc. so the author does not try to recreate her tone as she has no proof of what it was).  By the end I appreciated the succinct and very meticulously researched and detailed account of her life.  Without overtures or guesses into how Eleanor really talked, spoke, or interacted I have in my mind a clear picture of her - the author succeeded in making this a well documented and accurate account of her life.



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Veggie It Out!

This weekend I was chatting with some friends while they were grilling and we had a discussion about fake meat.  I'm prone to eat it when there is a grill around but otherwise I never really crave the fake stuff.  There are times when I've salivated for a burger but they are minimal and a lot easier to surpass then wanting a cigarette.

Anyway, I mentioned how some vegetarians (who don't eat bacon) really don't revel in the fact that they are eating veggies.  They bland out their pasta or grains and then wonder why it's so hard to adjust.

In an effort to assist, I am offering my sunday dinner...and it's also meatless monday!  So YAY for veggies!  BLOW out the flavor!  They are good for you and so versatile!  Also, a glass of wine with your veggie meal doesn't hurt.

AJ's Roasted Zucchini with Indian Spices
AJ's Lemony Quinoa with Parsley and Tomato

Okay so I'm gonna make this easy for you because I'm tired.  Forgive the slightly medieval cookbook way of writing this (you know, minor if any measurements, slightly vague directions...)

For the Zuchs:

• Dice Zuchs, lightly coat with olive oil
• Put on roasting pan and sprinkle with 1 tsp red pepper, 1/2 tsp cumin seed, 1/2 tsp fennel seed (make sure you grind these seeds up fresh, either in a spice grinder or a motar and pestal)
• Sprinkle over zuch, heat for 18 mins. @ 450'

This is HOT!  Serve with yogurt or ricotta w/ mint.

For the Quinoa:

• Dice and saute onion and garlic
• Roast your quinoa (I make my quinoa like a risotto, hence the following directions)
• Add 1-2 tsps lemon zest
• add some chopped tomatoes
• Add warmed veggie stock slowly, cook through, adding as you go.  (usually 1 cup quinoa = 3-4 cups veggie)
• Add 1/2 tsp salt (ONLY if using homemade veggie stock.  Do not add if adding storebought)
• cook it through, about 15 mins.  Toss in parley, and juice of 1 lemon

And finally - pour the wine, sit down, and relax.