You all know how obsessed by food I am. A good friend says that we live to eat, while they eat to live. I say that our view of food as a luxury and not a necessity adds richness to our lives. Take that!
Well, these days, food has many of the qualities that compensate for the depressing news swirling around us. First, cooking is a relatively inexpensive activity. Second, cooking from scratch is incredibly rewarding, assuming you have a positive outcome. Third, cooking brings people together, whether it be your immediate family or friends. Fourth, if you screw up, you only have yourself and the recipe to blame, Not the economy.
So, I made homemade pizza dough yesterday. Ingredients: 2 pkgs. dry yeast (I wasn't sure one would work); 1.5 tsp. sugar; 1.5 c. water. Mix together and let sit in mixer bowl until yeast proofs -- appears foamy on top of the water. Start mixer with dough hook setting, add 2 Tbsp. olive oil; 2 tsp. kosher salt; and gradually add enough flour, slowly, so dough is not sticky but not hard, about 4.5 cups. Remove from bowl; place on floured surface and knead for 2 minutes. Put a little olive oil in bowl, make sure dough ball is covered in oil, then cover bowl with clean dishcloth and place in oven (NOT ON!) for several hours. This should make 2-3 crusts. For toppings, on one I put sauce, pepperoni and cheese; on the second I put thinly-sliced tomatoes, ham, pineapple chunks, rosemary, and cheese. Ya-um.
There's something incredibly satisfying about kneading soft dough. Just ask any child.
Other than that, life has been fairly crazy lately. Last week, our schedule went like so:
Thursday: Dr. Michael Thompson (author, Raising Cain) spoke at St. John's. Really great guy, despite the fact he used Princeton as an example of parents' ridiculous expectations for their kids. He advised that a child's success should be measured according to three factors: mastery, recognition, and connections. If a child has all three, he/she will be successful in school.
Friday: Valentine's Day party at Julia's school. Bought valentine's this year from Save The Children.org, which made them unique and worthwhile.
Saturday: Early, Ethan's Sectional Swim Championships at MIT. He did well, and St. John's won pretty easily (4th year in a row). From there to baby shower for my cousin Greg and his wife Lindsay, having their first baby in late March. Lots of cousins, so lots of laughing and fun. Saturday night, after last minute dinner-date cancellations, Bill and I took Julia to dinner with us. Incredibly, or not, we laughed the entire time and had a blast. Who knew? Not exactly romantic, but who cares!
Sunday: Off to Sunday River, in Maine, for skiing.
Monday: All day skiing, really fun. Oh, except for the part where Julia got lost. Well, not lost exactly, just separated from the rest of us. Here's the scoop: She skis too fast for me to keep up. But, here's the good news. She's not afraid to ask strangers to borrow a cell phone. So, we were reunited shortly, and lesson learned. She stayed in sight the rest of the trip.
Tuesday: Skiing not so fun because ice was beginning to set in. Kids did well -- we went with Bill's sister, Meg, and her family -- and everyone made it in for a great lunch. We couldn't help but notice how the economy is affecting everyone; the slopes were relatively crowded, but the resort itself was extremely low-staffed, e.g., second floor of hotel restaurant had no waitresses, so people had to wait and wait and wait for tables.
Wednesday: Rest. Reading. Cleaning the house. Making homemade pizza dough. Updating the blog.
Movie Update: The Reader: Excellent! Kate Winslet was amazing. I read the book years ago, when Oprah first picked it for her book club, but forgot most of the essentials of the story. Wasn't sure how I'd feel about the older woman/ younger man relationship, but it was done very well, with incredible care and superior acting. I came away with all the mixed feelings I think you were supposed to have for Winslet's character. I was totally drawn in by the strong emotions of the story and of the characters. I loved it.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
ReGifting and KenKen
Today's theme is Puzzles.It's far past Christmas and Hanukkah, but I promised a friend to write about ReGifting .... so here goes (more about KenKen below ....)
Not sure exactly when Regifting entered our everyday lexicon, but thank goodness it has, because sometimes it really works. For example, over Christmas vacation, we visited friends and brought along (as good friends will) presents for host/hostess and all invited children. Upon arrival and deployment of the gifts, we first learned that, in fact, no one was exchanging gifts for children. This should have been a sign that I was overgifting, but you know me, I carried on anyways. Didn't I get the memo? No, not exactly. I only got the first memo that said small gifts for children were being presented. Oh well, gifts for children are fun under any conditions, for the gift givers and gift receivers. Small gifts for grown-ups, not so much, unless the gifts are really small, and sparkling.
Then came my gift for the host and hostess. Knowing that they love Belgian waffles, and sure that I hadn't seen them in production at their vacation home (where we were), I thought it was the perfect gift for them. A standing, non-stick, bells and whistles Belgian waffle maker. Unbeknownst to me, the hosting family already had one at their vacation home, and, had I been on hand earlier that day (which I was supposed to be before I delayed my arrival), I would have seen it in use at breakfast time. So, not only am I now irrevocably late but I am noticeably not paying close enough attention to my surroundings.
Never fear, however, because as the waffle maker came out of the box, another guest promptly came to my rescue (unbeknownst to him, at the time) and said, "Is that a Belgian waffle maker? Wow. [My wife] has been looking for one just like that." Whereupon, the hostess (and I) said in unison, "Why don't you take this one?" Perfect! But, of course, there's always a but .... what to do for the original recipient? Well, talk went on and on and, long story short, the regifted recipient decided to get the host and hostess a Vinturi wine aerator. If you leave this blog update today with nothing other than my strong recommendation for the aerator, you will have been sufficiently enriched. Melissa gave us one for Christmas, and we never have wine without it; try it if you don't believe me. A nifty invention that actually works (picture above). You can thank me later.
Which of course brings me to the problem with regifting.
What you don't realize with regifting is that even when it's 100% successful, successful thanking is a completely different story. Whom and how do you thank? It's impossible if the regifted recipient doesn't know about the regifting to begin with. However, what about when the regifting is completely transparent, and everyone's in on it? I received a thank-you from the host/hostess who got the aerator, even though it wasn't from me. If you are completely logical, this makes sense. Follow the path of gifting and you realize that the originator should receive the thank-you. However, the actual giver of the aerator probably feels like he/she should also be thanked. And, the re-giver of the waffle maker probably feels like he/she should also be thanked.
So, I am here today to say .... All you gift givers, re-givers, re-re-givers ... Consider yourselves thanked!
Are you still with me on this one? If you are, then you may enjoy the following video about Kenken. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eik2syOmwSM
Kenken is a new puzzle that the New York Times has started publishing daily. It is a lot like Sudoku, only with computation added in. It comes in two levels, and isn't too difficult at the 4-square level. The computation and rules actually limit the available correct answers, making it a bit easier (I think) than Sudoku. Click on the Title of this Blog, and it should take you directly to the website. Click here and it will take you to the Times' puzzle. The "Easier" puzzle isn't too hard and not too addicting (because you can see how it would easily become too hard). I wish they'd use it at Julia's school, actually, to hone the kids' math skills. Hmmm..... Poor Julia!
And, before I go, how about all those Amazon Kindle users who received the [now] old version for Christmas? I bet they'd like to re-gift them for the new version that came out today! Sleek and beautiful looking ... now, if only it were less than a month's worth of wine, maybe I'd consider buying it!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
You Have Got To Be Kidding Me
Here's some of what we know about the Suleman octuplets, born in California on January 26th to 33 year-old Nadya Suleman:
1. She is single. She has six children (all the result of in vitro). One of the six is autistic. Nadya and the six children all live together in the "family home" with Nadya's parents. Her mother has been caring for Nadya's older six children (ranging in ages from 2 to 7 years old) for over a month while Nadya has been in the hospital.
2. According to her mother, Nadya is "obsessed" with children and "wanted one more girl." As an aside, Nadya's mother also has stated that her daughter has no more embryos left, so no more children.
3. The babies are all reportedly doing well, though their mother is unable to touch them. They were born 9 weeks early, and their intestines (among other organs, I would guess) are still developing.
4. No exact numbers on cost of octuplets' medical bills. However, in 2006, average cost of one caesarean birth in California was $22,762; in that same year, a single premature birth led to an average hospital stay of 25 days and cost $164,273. Doing the math..... leads to (2006) cost of $1.3 million for eight premature babies (assuming only 25 days in hospital after birth).
5. Suleman has hired a publicist, currently making the rounds from Larry King to all the morning shows. The publicist is going to earn every penny she charges to Suleman -- probably a contingency fee, like a commission charged by an agent (or lawyer).
6. Here are some of the benefits other high-multiple families have obtained:
-- Chokwu Octuplets in Houston, TX (born 1998) live in a donated 6-bedroom home.
-- McCaughey septuplets from Iowa (born 1997) received a donated 16-room home, a 15-passenger van, Gerber baby food, and a lifetime supply of Pampers.
-- Jon&Kate Plus 8 family (sextuplets added to existing set of twins) have received -- as part of reality TV show -- numerous freebies in addition to payment, tummy tuck (Kate) and hair plugs (Jon).
We can stop on that note.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME????? This is like a reality "Enquirer" story gone completely wrong. This is the baby equivalent of Dennis Kozlowski's looting of Tyco (remember gold-plated bathrooms and the Roman toga party for his wife?) or, more recently, of John Thain (Bank of America)'s $1,000.00 wastebasket.
Nadya Suleman's story demonstrates the invasion of our society's excesses into every single corner of our lives. No limits, no self-restraint, no rational thinking, no planning for the future, no intervention by those capable of carrying out limits in the form of recommended guidelines, and very limited public outrage over the whole episode.
However, there is hope. You do get the feeling that people everywhere, in America and around the world, are beginning to feel more comfortable voicing outrage over this situation. The initial shock over the birth of 8 children (the publicist's line on "The Larry King Show" was that the "real" story here is the complete joy and elation everyone felt at discovering the existence of an 8th child when only 7 had been previously detected -- I guess 7 is just average, while 8 pushes the births into true record territory?) has given way to shaking heads and truly hard questions concerning everything from cost -- dollarwise and healthwise to both mother and children themselves, to risk and doctors' obligations under such circumstances.
The questions being asked are frighteningly similar to those being asked about the investment banks, the collateralized mortgage debacle, and Bernard Madoff. Where was the S.E.C. ? (Why did the fertility doctor disregard all guidelines and assume such risk?) Where were Moody's, Standard & Poor's, and the other investment rating authorities? (Where is Suleman's fertility doctor, by the way? Does he/she have a sole practice without any involvement whatsoever from other doctors or care providers?) How did Madoff remain so relatively untouched by authorities despite specific knowledge by others of his scheme? (Didn't anyone take into account that Suleman already had 6 children and wasn't married and was "obsessed with children"?)
I love babies. I don't believe in limiting the number of children one family may have. I strongly believe in social programs that protect children, both born and unborn (let's hope we don't find out that Suleman is a chain smoker). I believe in preventing known risks to children and to people generally. I also believe in protections for investors, and in the responsibility of oversight authorities to provide oversight in the form of guidelines and minimum standards.
I am thankful to Nadya Suleman for one thing. The babies' octuplet-ism has enabled them to almost completely dislodge the media from their 24/7 coverage of our oncoming economic slaughter. Maybe the publicist got it all wrong. Maybe complete and total diversion is the real joy of that 8th baby...!
1. She is single. She has six children (all the result of in vitro). One of the six is autistic. Nadya and the six children all live together in the "family home" with Nadya's parents. Her mother has been caring for Nadya's older six children (ranging in ages from 2 to 7 years old) for over a month while Nadya has been in the hospital.
2. According to her mother, Nadya is "obsessed" with children and "wanted one more girl." As an aside, Nadya's mother also has stated that her daughter has no more embryos left, so no more children.
3. The babies are all reportedly doing well, though their mother is unable to touch them. They were born 9 weeks early, and their intestines (among other organs, I would guess) are still developing.
4. No exact numbers on cost of octuplets' medical bills. However, in 2006, average cost of one caesarean birth in California was $22,762; in that same year, a single premature birth led to an average hospital stay of 25 days and cost $164,273. Doing the math..... leads to (2006) cost of $1.3 million for eight premature babies (assuming only 25 days in hospital after birth).
5. Suleman has hired a publicist, currently making the rounds from Larry King to all the morning shows. The publicist is going to earn every penny she charges to Suleman -- probably a contingency fee, like a commission charged by an agent (or lawyer).
6. Here are some of the benefits other high-multiple families have obtained:
-- Chokwu Octuplets in Houston, TX (born 1998) live in a donated 6-bedroom home.
-- McCaughey septuplets from Iowa (born 1997) received a donated 16-room home, a 15-passenger van, Gerber baby food, and a lifetime supply of Pampers.
-- Jon&Kate Plus 8 family (sextuplets added to existing set of twins) have received -- as part of reality TV show -- numerous freebies in addition to payment, tummy tuck (Kate) and hair plugs (Jon).
We can stop on that note.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME????? This is like a reality "Enquirer" story gone completely wrong. This is the baby equivalent of Dennis Kozlowski's looting of Tyco (remember gold-plated bathrooms and the Roman toga party for his wife?) or, more recently, of John Thain (Bank of America)'s $1,000.00 wastebasket.
Nadya Suleman's story demonstrates the invasion of our society's excesses into every single corner of our lives. No limits, no self-restraint, no rational thinking, no planning for the future, no intervention by those capable of carrying out limits in the form of recommended guidelines, and very limited public outrage over the whole episode.
However, there is hope. You do get the feeling that people everywhere, in America and around the world, are beginning to feel more comfortable voicing outrage over this situation. The initial shock over the birth of 8 children (the publicist's line on "The Larry King Show" was that the "real" story here is the complete joy and elation everyone felt at discovering the existence of an 8th child when only 7 had been previously detected -- I guess 7 is just average, while 8 pushes the births into true record territory?) has given way to shaking heads and truly hard questions concerning everything from cost -- dollarwise and healthwise to both mother and children themselves, to risk and doctors' obligations under such circumstances.
The questions being asked are frighteningly similar to those being asked about the investment banks, the collateralized mortgage debacle, and Bernard Madoff. Where was the S.E.C. ? (Why did the fertility doctor disregard all guidelines and assume such risk?) Where were Moody's, Standard & Poor's, and the other investment rating authorities? (Where is Suleman's fertility doctor, by the way? Does he/she have a sole practice without any involvement whatsoever from other doctors or care providers?) How did Madoff remain so relatively untouched by authorities despite specific knowledge by others of his scheme? (Didn't anyone take into account that Suleman already had 6 children and wasn't married and was "obsessed with children"?)
I love babies. I don't believe in limiting the number of children one family may have. I strongly believe in social programs that protect children, both born and unborn (let's hope we don't find out that Suleman is a chain smoker). I believe in preventing known risks to children and to people generally. I also believe in protections for investors, and in the responsibility of oversight authorities to provide oversight in the form of guidelines and minimum standards.
I am thankful to Nadya Suleman for one thing. The babies' octuplet-ism has enabled them to almost completely dislodge the media from their 24/7 coverage of our oncoming economic slaughter. Maybe the publicist got it all wrong. Maybe complete and total diversion is the real joy of that 8th baby...!
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