it's OK :)

This was the sign that greeted me at the Oklahoma City Airport---I was impressed and nervous. I hadn't seen Jeremy in over 10 years and I was giving a reading at his Hillel. And it was the first time I was staying with a shomer shabbos family.

I wanted to give a good impression on all levels---as a poet and as a Jew. It's still difficult for me to see myself as the poet that I am...I still feel quite youthful and in the more I'm becoming stage than the I am stage. What I'm learning is that there are levels and I need to step up my own perception of myself to where everyone else sees me.

The reading went really well. I was very impressed with the planning and the diversity---community members, students, professors all came to Hillel for the 70th Kristallnacht commemoration. There was an amazing dinner before at Hillel---salmon, cous cous, and asparagus and the hospitality reminded me of Ohio. Or maybe that this is the way it is in a university town. And it made me want to be a professor more than I ever wanted to before. Spending the afternoon on Saturday with Honi solidified that. And hopefully, this will happen Sooner (get it?!) rather than later.

I'm exhausted and have lots more to say, but for now, know that everything is OK, in fact more than OK!

I Heart Cupcakes

as you can tell from the photo! This one is from Babycakes, a vegan bakery---yes, it's true, anything can be had at any time in New York---which is part of the magic and energy of this city.

The staff there is wonderful---since we (Mr. Rad who planned another rad night of mexican food with a bakery down the street, that I could see from the window so I knew something good was coming) were first time visitors, we got free cupcake tops (yes, you can technically buy half a cupcake!). Since I was able to sample 3 (the one I purchased---red velvet, plus the tops, chocolate and banana), I can say, the baking is solid, but some are definitely better---the red velvet and the carrot (which came from the free box they gave me as I was leaving!). So really, I got like 8 cupcakes for the price of one.

And they're kosher, so the box came with me to Drisha the next day (seemed like a much better place than for the roommates)---and then I had to call the bakery back to see who did the kosher certification and they gave me the number for their rabbi, who when I called him said he's the vegan rabbi and does the kosher certification for most vegan places in the city (including Blossom cafe) and he spent about 20 minutes on the phone talking with me about vegetarianism and kashrut--even told me to call him any time I have any questions about kashrut or anything else. 

Which is one of the reasons why I heart this city---the adventures that one can have on a seemingly ordinary Wednesday night. 

 

A Totally RAD Day

Everyone needs a RAD day. And Someone to make it happen. On Friday, it happened to me. A mystery subway ride into the city. Madison Park! Home of SHAKE SHACK! I love how New York is so veggie friendly. I had the 'shroom burger. Meat can kiss my fanny. This was better than a burger, though Mr. Rad was digging his no doubt. There were leaves falling and chipmunks and birds. And somehow, burgers and (not) made me swoon a little...

and then arm in arm we strolled to the museum of sex. No joke. There's a museum for everything. And while the animal exhibit was the most fascinating (homesexual penguin and monkey behaviors, reversing gender roles, panda porn), overall, there could have been much more done with human sexuality. Especially in ancient traditions---there's so much on sexual behavior in the Torah alone. But how could you not have fun at a place called the museum of sex?

And even more uptown we went to my favorite Japanese bookstore and cafe for some tea. And after finishing the tea, he pointed down from the windows overlooking Bryant Park, to the Pond! Ice Skating!

And after that, who doesn't want a taste of summer---drinking Soju from half a watermellow. We ladeled it out like soup in our tin bowls. It was a two handed affair. 

Lost and Found

Yesterday I lost my yoga mat on the subway---let me revise, the yoga mat that was left over from my last relationship. Why I had been practicing on my ex's mat, I have no idea. In the pocket was my favorite pair of red undies from a different ex. (Did I just write undies here?) But I felt lighter and joyful as I met the day after bartending before bed. It was a new day, and I was falling asleep knowing that part of my past was no longer physically present in my life. Then after a night of sleep, I started to think about the things we hold on to---the actual items and the ideas in our lives---that things won't change, that our body or our life situation will always be as it is. And that's so far from the truth. Every day is new---why should we heavy ourselves with yesterdays items, yesterday's thoughts? 

And now I get to pick out a new mat and new mat bag!!!

I had an invigorating yoga class this morning---the big kernel of wisdom: Love is wishing happiness for someone else. Yes, it is that easy. I have always thought love was a big deal, but when put this way, it seems easier---how could we not want others to be happy?

And then a great talk with Wendy about cultivating my passions for yoga and writing and becoming a more prosperous artist. Seriously, she's helped me come up with so many new options for a viable way to make an income as an artist. More will be revealed in the future as I begin to create that path, but for now, talk to her for yourselves.

And after the call, my flight and the Hillel email blast from the University of Oklahoma. I'm going to barrel into that voting booth this afternoon and carry good energy for our country...

Autumn in the Slope

It's been a quiet weekend. Made veggie lasagna and more banana bread---added chocolate chips and cranberries.

Went for walks both days and just laid low. Kicked around the leaves, watched the light fall through the trees. Turned off the iphone for a while. 

It felt good to disconnect.

It Was That Good

The other day I was walking by Madison Square Park and I had heard crazy things about Shake Shack---best burgers (not applicable) and best shakes (hell yes!) and lo and behold, there was no line. The weather was on my side. I was able to grab a chocolate shake in no time flat and head back uptown to Drisha (sans mittens) and enjoy my shake on the lovely N train. Was I making everyone jealous or was I nuts to be standing up, holding onto the poll, one hand with my shake and the other a Paul Auster novel?

~

Mums the word, say the flowers in my hair this week.

~

Susan at Drisha says Torah for the sake of Torah. And I think that's the best metaphor---anything only for the sake of itself. These are tough times. We need more moments just to live in them fully, but oh how hard it can be.

~

 Or not. 

~

An impractical milkshake on an inappropriate day makes me feel like I've somehow gotten away with something so delicious. 

Squash

I wonder where the name came from and if the vegetable is related to the verb. For dinner tonight, we roasted them with olive oil, thyme, salt, and pepper and added some goat cheese. Maybe this is a topic Ramona will explore...

and hopefully one Jillian and I will take on when we start our country girl/city girl food blogging next year. Lots of new and old projects in the works---

most excitingly is a trip to Oklahoma to read at the university of...I have been singing OKLAHOMA all weekend. Details will follow soon...

Lately, I've been just trying to keep a balance (hence tonight's mundane activities): yoga, drisha, bartending, writing, and family and friends. A lovely handful. This picture captures a few.

Week in Review: Red Rooms to Outside Rooms

I still can't find all the right words to talk about the reading at the KGB. It was still and strong. I've heard all of my readers read, but there was something more focused about this reading that has made it my favorite one thus far. Maybe it was the crowd, the small red room, the candlelight, or maybe that I could have a bourbon (which I've learned should not be added to chocolate chip oatmeal cookies if you don't want them to drunkenly spill into each other when baking---sorry, no pretty food pictures this time...)

Beth has started the good work of building the website---not quite finished yet, but feel free to take a sneak peak and let me know your thoughts. This is a project that is evolving---between the readings/yoga practices/and the 5K, I've raised about 1000 for rape crisis centers in New York, D.C. and Ohio. It's a small amount, really, but it's an investment in doing the work, of giving back to this planet of ours, especially now, how much healing is needed. Both the micro and the macro.

And tonight, after sitting all bundled up in a sukkah with my fellow Drisha artists, I realize how much I am surrounded by astounding women. Both the ones around the table, and the ones in spirit we invited in. My own personal ones that I am lucky for especially now---Amanda, Katherine, Sandra, Dages, Debra, and Elana. Thank you ladies for inspiring and nurturing the work we all do.

a summary of monday night

We rocked the KGB!

That's all you need to know!

More Apple Bread

This is the recipe I used, though this time I added candied ginger and cranberries and instead of oil, I tried Stoneyfield Farm's french vanilla yogurt after noticing they also have an apple bread recipe on the container.  I hope it's as good as I want it to be...esp. since this is the healthy version :)

Break Fast Salad

Red Leaf lettuce

hand picked apples

cranberries

bleu cheese

toasted walnuts

pumpkin chips

dressing:

walnut oil

apple cider vinegar

honey

salt

pepper

Apple Picking

The trip up to Stone Ridge Orchard was wonderful (more pics to follow). There's something about doing something yourself...even though I didn't grow the apples, I did pick them and last night I learned a new trick---add cinnamon when you bake apples, brie, and bread. This is a picture of this morning's work with the apples.

caught up upstate

I've been a little lax with the blog posting lately---blame it on being busier than normal or anything else you can imagine. I don't know if I actually am busier---though I have been traveling a little more than usual---Kent and Saratoga Springs (the new place I want to live). My friend Beth lives in a gorgeous old house and every week she goes to the mineral baths and fills up her water bottles from the spring. And she makes homemade everything. For dinner we picked arugula from her garden for the pasta! I've been noticing my cravings this autumn to going back to the land and the basics. This week I've made homemade pumpkin chocolate chip bread and butternut squash soup. Perhaps Jillian and Beth have made me more of a country Brooklyn gal than I realized, or perhaps the hearth mother Ramona spirit kicks in more intensely in autumn. This Saturday is apple picking :)

And I'm back to running. What can I say, give a girl a necklace and see what she'll do. Here's pictures from the race---the medal and the cupcake on Sunday afterwards from Spa City Cupcakes downtown Saratoga!

Grateful

I came home from Kent with so many words floating in my heart---new poems and new connections. I hope to post more in depth soon, but for now, check out Arlan at the Wick blog. I'm so lucky my roots landed here.

30 Love

I'm writing a book comprised of essays/fiction about love for my 30th birthday. For some reason, blogger isn't letting me paste it here so send me an email if this is enough of a tease...

Off to OH-10!

In a few days, I'll be in Kent for Wick and Why and Later readings! Check out the info on the side! 

The Canfield Fair

It's taken me a while to post these, but here they are---photos from one of my favorite places on earth, The Canfield Fair. It's a yearly ritual and elements from it often appear in my writing. The sideshow freaks are gone and there's a hell of a lot more to deep fry---my favorite being the s'mores this year (the same booth also had the deep fried cereal). Some improvements are much better; orange shakes as opposed to lemon, Alpacas and their knitted ditties, and some Youngstown area artists!

 And some things never change---the pumpkins! I have to eat the fries with vinegar and visit the apple barn and the vegetable oddities! I'm still trying to a work a Ramona poem in there. Also chocolate covered bananas and milkshakes!

Just returned from Molly and Piotr's wedding in Baltimore to park behind a bug with Ohio plates! And Mahoning County to boot! And the owner, lives in the building next door and went to Canfield High! Ohio is in my heart tonight as I type away at poetry submissions and cover letters for that elusive academic job market. Gasp! Fall is in full effect!

Oh, and that's my friend Melissa's dog Skylar with the sea horse chew toy that I gave her at her puppy shower! 

Thinking About Judaism This Fall

The air is beginning to have that hint of fall in it---there's a patch on my sidewalk where I can smell fall leaves (still there from last season on the ground?!). And Drisha is starting up again so in a way it's back to school time. In a few days, I'll be at The Canfield Fair looking at gigantic pumpkins. And I think I'll be bringing my Hebrew flashcards to hone up before I have to face Rabbi Berger after a summer off. Time for some vocab cramming! But I digress---I've been really into the Olympics---watched every night while bartending! And so this article on the Lilith blog caught my eye...

What did Delaware?

I don't know, Alaska! 

Enough of the cheesy geography jokes though today I'm ~virtually~ in Delaware and  I'm in good company today!

I'm on the Run!

I've decided to get back on track so to speak and run in the NYSCASA 5K! It will be my first race since high school so please consider making a donation and helping me reach my goal! My donations page is here!