The other opinion.

There are two things you don't want to talk to me about unless you want to see me fired up: Ethnic Studies and Portland history.

My two loves have collided in a not so pleasant way.

First off, I'm an Oregonian. I was born and raised here. I love Oregon, love Portland and unless there is a really good reason, I'm never moving.

Second: I'm an American. I may not look like your typical Anglo blue eyed, blonde haired, or brunnette with fair skin, or even African-American but I am America. I was born and raised in the United States and enjoy all the luxuries and am for the most part proud of my countries accomplishments.

And finally, I'm Mexican-American. I was raised my parents born in Mexico who recently became American citizens. I lived in Mexico for 2 years out of my life. When you're 9, that's you're whole life, but when I turn 90, it will have been a blink of an eye. There are many feelings of comfort that arise from being Mexican. The food is familiar, the language and to an extent, the people, cuz many have brown skin like myself.

But I'm an Oregonian first, so this whole "street re-naming" saga going on in Portland makes my blood boil. Not because I'm turning my back on "my people" but because of viciously ignorant MoFos who assume that Cesar Chavez, due to the color of his skin, was an immigrant, a Mexican, an "other." I'm not saying that being an immigrant is bad. My parents were, and historically, if you *really* think about it, all of us were, especially those of lighter skin decent. But the fact that people are so ignorantly looking at this issue racially, and not giving it is proper voice because "he's not even from here", pisses me off. Look at it historically. Seriously people, especially in the South West back in the day, Mexicans didn't immigrate to the US, the darn border moved! Read a history book! There are people that don't know who Cesar Chavez is and that's ok. You should because he's a very important historical figure for the civil rights movement as was King, but its ok that you don't. I did a report on him when I was in 5th grade and continued to study his movement in my Ethnic Studies classes. Not only was he not an immigrant, he was an educated American. But due to his surname, the color of his skin, and perhaps his second language (Spanish) one assumes and his legacy gets dismissed . . . And you know what they say about people who assume.

I doubt anyone really reads this, and I'm sure I've ruffled a few feathers but this is my opinion: Do not re-name ANY streets in Portland after anyone. I don't even like Naito Parkway for gosh sakes! It's FRONT STREET! We are expanding, we are growing and the make-up of our city is changing. Obviously there are going to be new streets, new suburbs, pick on of those. Mr. Chavez was not from Oregon, not from Portland. We cannot change our history in order to reflect such. Name a new street for him and help shape the future of what Portland will look like years from now. I think that would honor him better than giving him sloppy seconds.

Easter Dessert

Ah yes. My favorite time of year . . . dessert making time. My SIL #1 and I were chatting yesterday about our love for the holidays. We, as a family, are not religious folk, but we celebrate hard just like the rest of them. We enjoy the holidays cuz is just an excuse to get together with our families (which in all honesty, we do anyway), plan an elaborate meal, and I challenge myself by making a dessert for the entire party. A few years back, our parties consisted of 6-8 people, give or take two. One was born, one passed away, etc. Now more recently, we've added about 6 more people! So making dessert has been quite the challenge. Do I make two pies? Do a make a large cake? What about cupcakes? I've been making dessert for about the past 5 years. My ex-bf hated sweets, but enjoyed pies so that was the first thing I made one Christmas, an apple pie and it came out pretty well. From then on, I was hooked. One Christmas for gifts, I made cookies and chocolate bars. As the years have gone by, I've slowly increased the degree of difficulty. For Kelly's Halloween party, I made a pumpkins spiced cake (so good, must make again!) and I was impressed with myself. Last easter, I made a Almond Cake with Lemon Curd sauce and fresh berries. Most of the recipies I'd get from magazines like COoking Light, Bon APpetite and Counttry LIving. NOw, I get most of my baking recipes, as well as just food, from daily plog post from the woman there on the right hand side, and then some. It's really broadened my horizons with baking and helped challenged and focus myself on the end result.
This past Sunday, I came a cross a dilemma. What was I going to make for 17 people, 4 of them children? I didn't qutie want to slave over the oven, and a couple weekends ago, I made a super rich tart (see previous blog) so I wasn't really going for super sweetness. On the "Goey" website, I came a cross a simple Easter ice cream recipe called Toffette-Tortoni It's just little cups of ice cream and cream with Sees Candie Toffettes mixed in the middle. I got to my SIL #1's house early and was welcomed by a little assistant. And I must say, he was a very good assistant. He measured out the things I needed and even pounded the nuts with a rolling pin while I caramelized the almonds.

After doing all the prepping and the whipping, I had to scoop it all into little cups and put it all back in the freezer and these were the results.

It's fun playing a 50s house wife. Signing off for now!

Baking is better than eating ice cream.

I've never been much of a depressed ice cream eater, so instead I think I found my new "Ben and Jerry's" and it's baking.

This past Saturday after about a month and a half of my brother and Kim having gotten married, we finally had a family dinner for them, us and a few close family friends. They had their own separate celebration at their home with their friends, but this one was intended for old family friends, you know those "second parents." The ones that have seen you through braces, weight fluctuations and different partners. The ones that say "I remember when you were this tall". Yep, that's what this Sunday was. Had I not been on dessert duty, had this not been my brother, had this not been a family event, I would have stayed home and probably tried the ice cream thing, but I'm glad I had the obligation to try a new dessert out on the family.

I got the recipe from a new food blog I'm reading called Sticky Goey Creamy Chewy
The actual recipe is called "Thank Heaven for Little Girl (Scouts) Samoan Cheese Tart and you can find it here, with better photos. I must say, it was quite the hit.

First, I bought the finishing ingredients on Saturday at Zupans. I had no idea "Dulce de Leche" was actually what us Mexicanos call "Cajeta". I should have gone to Hillsboro to get it (probably cheaper) and given it that Mexi-twist. Oh well, Italian Dulce did just fine.



It said that I could either use a food processor to destroy the Samoans or a ziploc bag. At first I used the ziploc, but then the bag ripped and there was still no destruction, so I opted for the blender:



Next, came blending the crumbs with butter:



So far so good. After the mix, I had to pack it all in the tart pan and chill for at least 30 minutes. While that was going on, I made the goey middle:


And then back into the fridge for more chillin' of 2 hours. After that, it was time to put the rest of the cajeta on top, the roasted coconut flakes and the chocolate.




And done!


Congratulations Renato and Kim!

Just say no: But I don't want to

It's sad but true. I have to stop running.

All my goals and my hobbies, *poof* gone due to what the doctor says "shallow hip sockets" as well as perhaps a tear in my joints or arthritis. All in my hips. It wasn't exactly the news I wanted to hear, but I knew it was coming. Gone are the days of intense training, gone are the long runs of accomplishment. Gone are the dreams of someday running a half marathon.

All gone.

But what do I get? Well, I get to discover new hobbies and perhaps focus on those more fervently like dancing. I like to dance, but I'd like to get better. What about cycling. Yeah, I could try that.

The other things I'd like to try out more would be my photography, my writing, and of course, my reading. I love to read. So yes, I will continue to train, but I won't be doing any of the runs. I'll just hop on an elliptical or go for a very hilly walk on the tread mill. I enjoy working out, but I hate the stigma that comes with it, that's why I liked the 10k training as a guise, but now I have to just suck it up and say, "yeah, I like to go to the gym. I like endorphins."

Hopefully backing off of the running will give me a full life without too much hip pain, perhaps a good 40 years before I need a replacement. Perhaps . . .

Happy Birthday Oregon! I love you!

150 Years! Wow, that's quite the achievement.

I haven't lived many places, haven't really quite visited that many places either, but no matter where I've gone, where I've lived or how long I've stayed, Oregon is and will always be my home.

I remember, when I was younger, we'd drive back from the airport, either from picking up a relative or dropping someone off. I'd sit in the back seat of the car and be mesmerized by the city lights reflecting off the Willamette River and I always knew I was home. That familiar passage: I-84 from the airport, to I-5 over the Markum Bridge to SW Portland, always reminded me that this is the place I've always wanted to be and was always meant to be. This scene repeats itself whenever I come from a far away place: Boston, LA or Mexico City.

People often move here and find their place, whether it be within the hippies, the preps, the anarchist, the granolas, or the pearl, the suburban mom, the new ages, they find their home.

And I know I've found home.

I'm home.

I love you Oregon, there is no state quite like you.

Simple Bliss

I usually try to restrain myself from compulsive purchasing. While I had roommates, it was easy to make up the money cuz rent was so cheap, but now, it's all on me. If I go over budget, I'm pretty much screwed for a couple months and have to constantly put things on a credit card, which I hate doing.
Lately, I've been really careful about large purchases. I mull them around and wonder "do I *really* need them or do I just want them?". Isaiah says it's ok to be selfish once in a while if you really want it. You deserve it, he says. Yes, I do think he's right, but I have to justify to myself if I really deserve it and need it. Obviously I want it if I'm thinking about this. That's how it's been these last few months: should I get a new flat screen tv, should I get internet, should I get a new computer, should I get cable.
Two weekends in a row I went to a tv store with my dad. The first time, he bought his new tv and I was "this close" to buying mine. Instead, I got a nice antennae to see if the digital converter box would work with it. Nothing. I get no signal. So I will have to get cable if I want to watch tv. So the decision as to when was ticking, but should I get a new tv with that? I mean. I have a nice large tv, but it's large and bulky and I'd like the space. Instead, I decided to get internet. I can watch anything I want on that and I'll hold off on the tv for a while. Then came news of the digital change over not until June! Who hooo! I won't have to get cable (if I want) until this fall. So I'm no longer worried.
So as the days rolled along, I got Anthropologies weekly emails. We're having a sale, it says, check it out. And there they were. The cutest red, low healed shoes mary janes I'd ever seen. They were pretty much half off. I thought about, oh, five minutes and ordered them. I quickly regretted it but figured I can return them.
Fast forward to Thursday. I get them mailed to work, I try them on and it's like these shoes were meant for my feet. They are perfect! They are low heeled, have a heal strap, are red, the toe box is wide enough and they are cushiony. I'm in love! I've worn them three days in a row already! I can't get enough of them.

Good thing red is my clothing color of preference!

Assassination Vacation-Sarah Vowell

It's been a while since I've done a post about reading. Well, that's because it's been a while since I actually *did* some reading. I'd been taking a break from the reading probably around the holidays. Once Thanksgiving is over, most things come to a halt except caroling and gift buying. This year was extra stressful due to the two weeks of snow we encountered. You'd think I'd just curl up in a ball and read, but instead I just watched tv and or got stranded at Isaiah's house watching tv (which is nice cuz he gets more channels than me.) Also, as most things go, I wanted to be "in the mood" for a book. I'm still reading Slaves in the Family, as well as still interested in The Historian, but none of them were peaking my interest . . . until I came across a CNN interview on Sarah Vowell's most recent book The Wordy Shipmates. This book is about her quirky, humorous and Jeapordy-like knowledge about the puritans pilgramage to the US. When I heard this, I thought Omigosh, this will be great for my brother, him being a history buff and all. Then I thought, wait, I'm a history buff too, this will be perfect for me too! Thus, on my one of two outings, I made it to Powell's. However, instead of The Wordy Shipmates, I got Assassination Vacation because it was on sale. I thought, well Renato's birthday isn't for another month, I'll just buy it now, plus maybe I can read it before I give it to him ;) And that, I am doing.
I love Assassination Vacation so far. I did not read it as religiously as I should have when I bought it, but starting last week, I just can't put the book down when I pick i up at night. also, I don't want to drag it to the gym or work, because I still want it to look new for when I give it to my brother, oh, next week . . . shh don't tell.
I must say, I'm really enjoying this book and Ms. Vowell is a great story teller of history. She takes her work and her commentary very seriously, but it's delivered in a way that is welcoming, like she's telling someone a story. She has an unhealthy obsession with Abraham Lincoln and cherishes road triping to historical sites. Ah, kindred spirits? Perhaps, but I suck at the kind of writing that she could do.
So if you're interested in history with a nice sharp tongue pick up Assassination Vacation where Sarah Vowell takes you through the four major presidential assassinations starting with Lincoln. And I must say, the timing is perfect because there was one such president inaugurated just this past week who is equally (probably not so unhealthily) obsessed with Lincoln as well.

p.s. I got internet at home and feels good. But I gotta control myself . . .