Friday, March 29th, 2013

Good morning!  Much to their dismay, the pups were due for a bath yesterday.  The above picture shows them approximately 15 minutes post bath.  They were scrubbed - Sofie twice - and then conditioned with coconut-scented shampoo & conditioner.  They were both dirty rats - especially Sofie - and need to look & smell their best to go to Chatham tomorrow. 

Have a wonderful day!!

Carpe diem,

J

Thursday, March 28th, 2013

Good morning!  I'm officially in the homestretch.  My ACE final draft is due next Thursday.  I've finished my first & then made enough updates to get a 2nd draft.  Now I've given my 2nd draft to my friend Karen to read.  After Karen reads it, I'll give it to 2 other friends in my lab to read and then finally I'll swap with my friend Dane to look for typos.  It's really happening, folks.  Slowly but surely.  Hopefully I'll still remember how to do experiments when the time comes to get back to lab work ;)

Yesterday Bear helped me correct my first draft (see above).  Then this morning after I took the 2 doggies to the big Park I went running (see bottom photo). 

This morning the cutest thing happened in the Park today.  Bear found an OLD, stiff, yellow lab that he just loved.  He was jumping in this poor old dogs face, licking it's muzzle, and getting into play stance over and over.  The old dog wagged it's tail a little and was very patient but not until Bear started barking in his face did he start hopping around, too.  He got into the oldest, stiffest, puppy play stance I've ever seen and then he and Bear chased each other around.  It was seriously like the cutest thing I've ever seen.  The old dog's owner agreed. 

That's all I've got for you, today.

Carpe diem,

J

Wednesday, March 27th, 2013

You know what the old vegetarian substitution for ham & eggs is? 

YAM & EGGS!!!!

I've been waiting all last night to write that joke.  Seriously though, I had a random dinner last night.  I had a yam & eggs (in case you didn't realize). 

I was so tired when my alarm went off that I didn't realize I turned it off and actually succeeded in getting up until I was in the bathroom. 

Carpe diem,

J

Tuesday, March 26th, 2013

I'm a little perturbed this morning, actually.  See, it appears we've had a bloom of mice of late.  Brian saw two mice in the past 2 days - one of which he described as "fat."  NYC mice don't get fat...that mouse was a pregnant mouse.  Then yesterday as I was pulling out some more traps from my "doom drawer," a mouse stuck his head out from behind the oven.  Pissed.  I'm pissed.  So I set my traps, caught one last night, then this morning there were droppings EVERYWHERE.  I was horrified so I sprayed every counter with a vinegar-based cleaner (I'm not sure which is worse in my food, bleach or mouse droppings).  I let it sit for about an hour, then came back in with the cleaner and thoroughly disinfected everything. 

PISSED.

I trashed our dish drying rack, b/c, you guessed it, droppings on the bottom of the rack.  We are on a strict wash + dry + put away schedule now.  There have never been any droppings in the cabinets so I think we're good there for the time being.

I would complain more, but this is just the reality of living in NYC in an old building.  Literally every person I know has mice.

I'll tell you what I'd like to do, I'd like to borrow someone's good mousing cat.  A week with a good mouser and I think my problem would be alleviated for the time being.  With my luck, if I went and got a cat and it would suck at mousing but be awesome at terrorizing Bear & Sofie and making our apartment smell like cat.  

That is the only update I have for you besides that it appears to be spring-ish outside.  The daffodils & crocus are coming up and blooming in the Park.

Carpe diem,

J

Monday, March, 25th, 2013

Good morning!  As has been my usual Sunday evening routine, I made some soup for my lunch for the week last night & a little something to go with it. 

For lunch I made my tomato, bulgur, & chickpea soup that I made last week.  It's just SO good and SO easy and SO cheap.  Diced tomatoes, an onion, a few garlic cloves, a can of chickpeas, and bulgur (which is like $3 for a big box - and this is NYC).  I probably feed myself lunch on about a dollar a day because sometimes it stretches for dinner, too.  I also made this great thing pictured above. 

I'm really a big fan of "breads" that have sugar in them and go well with coffee.  Although I will say, I restrained myself from having this for breakfast with my coffee today (but am taking some for a mid-morning coffee break snack).  During last summer I made so much zucchini bread/zucchini muffins etc...that it was ridiculous.  I probably made like 10 batches over the summer...not kidding. 

This is coconut bread.  I love all things coconut.  I put some dried coconut flakes on my chocolate gelato last evening.  I put it in my oatmeal sometimes.  The possibilities are endless.  I like to use the unsweetened dry flake because  I like the taste and texture better.  Crunchier than the sweetened crap that comes in a bag. 

So this isn't healthy, nor am I counting it as a "vegetarian" recipe but here goes:
Coconut-Lime Bread
2 large eggs @ room temperature
1 1/4 cup milk (I used skim) @ room temperature
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups flaked, dry, unsweetened coconut
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted or melted & browned
butter for coating pan
zest of 1 lime

 In a large bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, salt.  Then add the coconut & cinnamon and mix just enough to combine everything. 
Melt your butter & brown (if you like) in a small saucepan.   Whisk together with eggs, milk, and lime zest.  The reason you want your eggs & milk @ room temperature is because they will re-solidify your melted butter if they're too cold...it was annoying.  Combine with dry ingredients until just mixed (don't over-mix...bad things happen...what...I'm not sure). 

Butter your pan (loaf or cake) and then dust it with flour.  

Bake at 350 degrees for...honestly I have no idea...enough time that it's becoming goldeny brown on the edges and a tester stick comes out clean. The reason I have no idea is because I don't keep track and our oven is so hot that I take 50 degrees off any temperature that a recipe gives me.  That's what happens when your oven is from 1985.

Peace,

J

 John & Paul (L-->R)

 Paul & Brian

 Paul & Brian

 Tom, Matt, and Paul (L-->R)

Sunday post!  I post on Sunday because I don't want any more minutes going by forgetting about this great Birthday trip.  About a month ago I decided we just had to go up to Cold Spring, NY to go hiking.  It has a great reputation as a getaway for the summer, but I think he was less than psyched about hearing this plan in late February.  I planned it anyway and a bunch of us headed up to Cold Spring yesterday morning to hike, eat, and eat some more. 

It started at 7am Saturday morning.  We got up, fed & walked the dogs, then headed over to Tom & Victoria's house in Hoboken.  It was super frustrating because, like usual, nothing in NYC is done easily.  The Path was delayed for forever because of some track problem in Journal Square.  When we finally we got to Hoboken, Tom, Matt, Brian and I headed to Bagel Smash for breakfast, which was, I'm really not kidding, the very best bagel egg sandwich I have ever had.  It's hard to beat Noah's, which is in Chatham, NJ (Brian's hometown) because Noah's really does a good bagel & has excellent cheese, but Bagel Smash did it.  

Bagel Smash is a hole in the wall.  Not big enough for 4 people to stand comfortably inside.  They take your order and then they smash the bagel and flatten it out then toast the outside.  The cheese - excellent.  The execution - not sloppy at all - excellent.  I wanted another one immediately after I finished the first.  Hot cup of coffee and then we all packed into Tom's car and headed up to Cold Spring.  John & Paul were driving from Brooklyn and meeting us there.  It took about an hour and 20 minutes - very reasonable. 

Super easy to find the trailhead - I was shocked that so many people were out hiking on a random March Saturday.  I was also shocked that there were dogs - this hike was extremely difficult - I have no idea how a dog could have made it.  I read that we were supposed to give ourselves 3.5-4 hours to finish a 4 mile roundtrip hike.  I could not believe it but once we started I was completely unsurprised. The weather held out - it was about 45 degrees and partly cloudy.  A bit windy sometimes. We were hot because we were working so hard, though. 

This was, by far, the most difficult hike I've ever done.  It was a solid mile of rock scrambling to get to the first summit lookout.  It was most definitely dangerous in some points.  There is NO WAY the dogs could make it up.  In fact, it would be dangerous for us and them to bring them.  My arms, hands, and legs were aching by the time we reached the third summit.  The guys were having a great time.  The kept telling me it was the most fun hike they've ever been on.  I agree - but also think the trail would be a bit safer if they installed some ropes here and there. 

It was exhilarating, though, and the views were quite breathtaking.  I'm just envisioning September/October/November views of all the red, oranges, and yellows.  It would be tick central that time of year, though - one bad part about hiking in the Northeast.  When we got to the top, we hung out and ate some chocolate & had some water.  The rest of the hike was much easier but still included a lot of rock scrambling & up and down hills.  I still kind of can't believe the hike was only 4 miles.  It felt like 6 or 7. 

Near the end of the hike the trail kept us in the woods and along a stream.  We kept coming upon these old, abandoned stone houses.  They were so cool.  Only the foundations remained and they were coated in vines and ice-cicles. 

After the hike we went to Cold Spring Depot for some lunch.  It's pictured during a much nicer month than when we went.  They have this whole outdoor seating area to eat at during the summer months.  We started with some potato skins (non-vegetarian so I did not indulge).  Then everybody got burgers & fries with beers and I got fish & chips - which were very, very good.  A side of vinegar based coleslaw on the side was a good addition. 

After lunch we went to Moo Moo's Creamery. 

I got a waffle cone with mint fudge oreo ice cream.  Awesome Awesome Awesome.  Brian had a dutch chocolate milkshake. 

Then we drove home and Tom dropped us at the Path station.  We got back to our place at 7pm.  11 hours is a pretty long time for the pups but nothing was ripped up and there were no accidents.  Hooray! 

It was just the best day.  I'm so happy that Brian's 27th birthday was so much fun and that everyone could make it.  Good times.

We definitely want to head back during the summer and possibly all rent a house together.  Victoria - Tom's wife - had to teach so she couldn't come on Saturday.  Allison, Paul's girlfriend, was visiting with her sister who was in from out of town, and Nigel, John's girlfriend, just moved to Philly for a grad program.  We would bring all of the dogs - Tom & Vic's dog is Kojak - an enormous 90 lb goofy gentle-giant of a boxer.  John's dog is Kevin, the female American Bulldog - screw gender norms, America!  And then obviously our dogs.  This town is totally a dog paradise.  I would love to hike with Kojak and Kevin because then I wouldn't have to worry about Sofie & Bear getting eaten by predators.  Kojak definitely scares any of them away. 

Kayaking is really big there, so maybe we could all rent kayaks and take the pups out on the water.  You KNOW how Sofie & Bear feel about water - especially Sofie - she's a little water rat.  Kojak once accidentally dunked her at a pool party last summer.  She was resilient - didn't even want to get out. 

Carpe diem & HAPPY 27th Birthday to Brian!!!!

J

Friday, March 22nd, 2013

Good morning!  Look!  The flowers are just starting to come up for Spring!  This has been a heck of a week.  For the majority of it, I was just...."off-kilter."  You know what I mean?  Every morning when I woke up, I was exhausted.  Every night when I went to sleep, I was exhausted.  The week went by slowly, which would have been nice if I was doing fun things, which I was not.  Tomorrow we go to Cold Spring to hike with some buddies for Brian's Birthday.  So excited! 

The ACE is gettin' me a little down, man.  One minute I think my ideas are great, and the next, I'm thinking they're going to take one look at my proposal and kindly tell me to leave.  Yesterday I cut out my entire 3rd aim.  Then 15 minutes later I put it back in and left work feeling like I'd salvaged it.  This morning I woke up and immediately knew it was wrong.  It's all wrong.  I'm going to trash it.  Sometimes in science, you gotta know when to let go and Aim #3 - I need to let go.  You're not testing what I want you to test and you're potential outcomes...well....they just aren't that important. 

I'm getting myself all psyched up to pump up aims 1 & 2, and then...well my friends, we submit...and then we wait.  And then if we're lucky, we get the chance to get grilled by a group of faculty.  Here's to getting grilled. 

Carpe diem,

J

Thursday, March 21st, 2013

Good morning!  I thought I'd give you guys a look at the "view from my office" this morning.  It's not a corner one with floor-ceiling windows, but it's pretty good ;) 

Usually I have oatmeal, but on my walk with the pups this morning I just had the biggest craving for diner food.  Brian was sniffing around the kitchen when I was cooking breakfast and I told him about this craving, which prompted us to to ask, "what would be your last meal if you're last meal was at a diner?" 

I think if it were my last meal - I would obviously eat like a cow.  I'll give you Brian's answer first:
- Chocolate milkshake
- Coffee
- Glass of cold milk on the side (a lot of dairy, evidently)
- Pigs in a blanket - (he made a point to say "crispy, juicy sausage wrapped in light, fluffy pancakes" - somebody's salivating LOL)

Mine was:
- Coffee
- 2 eggs over easy with salt & pepper
- crispy hash brown with ketchup
- buttered rye toast
- (here's the kicker....the thing that makes it last meal worthy) an enormous warm biscuit with honey butter. 

Is there anything in this world better than a biscuit?  No.  I say NO!

I didn't have a biscuit this morning, but I did have 2 eggs over easy (I flipped them without a spatula and didn't break the yolks! Score!), with buttered rye toast + coffee. 

I'm so excited for the weekend.  Cold Spring. Cold Spring. Cold Spring. Cold Spring. Cold Spring.

Carpe diem,

J

Wednesday, March 20th, 2013

Ah!  So happy that we're into the 20's for March days.  I'm counting down the days until warm.  So DONE with winter. 

That top photo is my lunch yesterday.  It's reheated tomato, bulgur, and chickpea soup that I topped with a bit of feta.  So DELICIOUS.  I thought the soup was lacking a little salt, so the feta really makes it perfect. 

This morning we went on a small adventure in the Park.  We saw this lady ahead of us that is...sigh...sweet but just can be a little annoying.  No, you know what?  It's not her, it's me.  I'm solitary most of the time.  I'm introverted.  I like being alone.  I especially like being alone in the morning.  When people want to walk and chat, it just kills me.  I'm fine with it once in awhile, but for the most part, I just like to have some peace & quiet.  The peace and quiet of the mornings in CP are kind of the only thing that keep NYC bearable for me.  So, to avoid her, I took the puppies on a trail in the woods next to the main walkway she was on.  Then I noticed a path leading up to Belvedere Castle.  We ran up all these steps and then got to the top, where the second photo under the soup was taken.  A lovely view over the duck pond and, you can't see it, but the baseball fields on the Great Lawn. 

I brought their kong today because sometimes I think they should be dogs and play fetch.  I also like to keep them from obsessing over chewing sticks too much.  Bear is such a bully about the Kong.  The kong bounces in all sorts of different directions when you throw it, meaning that whoever is running closer is the one who usually gets it.  Every time Sofie gets it, Bear harasses her until she drops it and then he carries it around for about 5 minutes barking anytime anyone gets close.  He's obsessed with the kong.  Eventually he tries to bury it in the snow or some mulch and I can grab it and throw it again.  The Kong is that little red thing in his mouth.  After we came home I was so ready to not go out again but I decided to get my run out the way and now I'm so happy I did. 

Time for me to get to work on this ACE thing! 

Carpe diem,

J

Tuesday, March 19th, 2013

No offense March B-day people whom I love (Brian, Sarah, Bear), but your month totally sucks.  I woke up this morning at 6, and it was just raining, slushy from all the snow last night, windy, just terrible weather.  The minute I opened the door to go outside Sofie put on the breaks.  She looked at me with the biggest puss 'n boots eyes I've ever seen. 

The message was clear - "I have no desire to walk around in this mess.  I'm hardly even awake and you're going to drag me around in the slush? I think not." 

We walked around a few blocks.  Once I was really out, I was very glad I was not on my way to the Park.  There was about an inch of melty snow everywhere.   Raining pretty steadily.  Dark.  Cold.  Wind.  I brought them back in where they ate their breakfast and then settled down to sleep again.  You can never sleep enough when you're a dog.  I, on the other hand, trudged off to the gym to run 4 miles on the treadmill + some pushups and plank. 

I think the above picture is kind of sweet.  Every morning when Brian leaves for work.  Sofie lays patiently next to the door pretty much until I leave.  She likes to listen for who is outside the door.  Bear likes to watch me while I'm in the kitchen fixing breakfast for myself.  You never know, a grain of oatmeal could get dropped on the floor. 

I'm very excited for this weekend.  You know why?  Because it's Brian's BIRTHDAY!  We're going to go to Cold Spring and hike Breakneck Ridge and eat burgers (veggie for me ;-)) and drink beer with some friends.  I'm counting down days to the weekend. 

Carpe diem,

J

Monday, March 18th, 2013

Good morning!  In last night's post, I promised I'd tell your more about my weekend.  I ended with the party + pizza 2am on Saturday night. 

Sunday morning we slept in - *shocker*  Brian suggested we trek up to 86th street to go to the Bagel Mill (awesome egg sandwiches) and take the dogs to Carl Shurz Park dog run.  I always check the weather before I go places because I don't mind really cold or rainy weather, I just like to dress appropriately and be prepared.  Well Sunday I did not.  It was freeeeeezing out.  We trekked the whole way up there, let the dogs play.  Then went to the Bagel Mill, where I became numbingly cold waiting outside with the dogs.  It was a bit painful - we suffered.  Then we made out way all the way back to 71st street where we devoured our egg sandwiches & warmed the cockles of our souls.  I made some of the vegetables in the bottom photo  - roasted cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and broccoli in coconut oil drizzled with tahini and shaken with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.  Delicious. 

Then I went to the gym and ran 11 miles on a treadmill.  Brian played drums at home for a few hours.  This was the longest run I've ever done on a treadmill.  It was possible because the ACC men's Conference Championship was on ESPN and it was a GREAT game.  They were lighting it up from 3 (both teams) and there were something like 15 lead changes in the first half alone.  I did this cool treadmill workout where you make every mile faster than the one before, so by the last 5 miles I was below a 7 min mile pace.  I came home and immediately ate a huge, salty, buttery sweet potato and salad with feta & walnuts. 

Then we walked the dogs again and got stuff for dinner. 

I made a spicy tomato sauce with red pepper flakes, onions, garlic, bay leaves, crushed tomatoes, basil, oregano, and cumin.  We tossed it with whole wheat pasta, which I am coming around to, and parmesan.  Brian added homemade meatballs. We scarfed our pasta while watching the Walking Dead.  Which, as I said, is my favorite show. 

For this week, I made my first attempt at Chunky Tomato Soup.  (That's the top photo).  Jeez, I cooked a lot yesterday.  This is vegetarian recipe #8 (I think.

Vegetarian Recipe #8 - Winter Tomato Soup with Bulgur and Chickpeas:
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
2 small onions - diced
3-4 garlic cloves - minced
olive oil - enough to cook your onions and garlic
5 cups water
salt
pepper
1 14 oz can chickpeas
1/2 cup bulgur wheat

Sauté your onions and garlic in a soup pot in your olive oil.  Add the whole can of tomatoes (if you like smoother soup, you can process them in a food processor beforehand - I did not because I like it chunky).  Cook your tomatoes down for about 10 minutes.  Then add your bulgur wheat, water, and the chickpeas.  Taste the soup and add salt and pepper.  Bring to a boil then cook down for about 30-40 minutes.  The bulgur will puff up and become tender. 

This recipe is adapted from the New York Times Recipes for Health from Martha Rose Schulman.  (I added the chickpeas....because everything is better with chickpeas). 

Carpe diem,

J

Hi, folks!  Another great weekend here on the home-front.  On Saturday I didn't work out - I was going to sleep in but then I decided to go to the Park with Brian and the pups.  We walked them all around on our usual route - it's amazing how much more crowded it is on the weekends & at 8 instead of 6.  It was PACKED with dogs.  You have to watch the pups way more carefully because they can kind of disappear in all the hubbub. 

We stopped by Cafe Fresco on the way home to get coffee + egg sandwiches.  One of my favorite things about the weekend is egg sandwiches.  I never eat them during the week but there is almost nothing better than 2 eggs scrambled on a toasty, doughy bagel coated in salt and garlic, topped with melty american cheese and ketchup.  So delicious.  I then had to go in to work to finish my experiment from the week.  To use the FACS machine (Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorter) I have to sign up for time earlier in the week.  It's usually booked through each day during the work week and I do not like to be rushed.  I hate thinking that people are in front or behind me and feeling like I have to rush around and don't have time to adjust things.  For that reason, I usually do FACS on the weekend when it's more available.  I should totally tell you guys what FACS is - it's kind of the most important tool immunologists have...besides mice. 

A FACS is a multi-million dollar machine made by a company called BD.  Maybe other companies make them, but everybody uses BD brand ones.  There are 2 FACS machines on our floor and they're shared between like 8 labs, which is why they're so crowded all the time.  They weren't available about 20 years ago and they've changed science - completely.  Some genius guy developed the first FACS as part of his PhD.  Seriously?  Genius. So say you have a cell.  Remember I told you about them before?  You're made out of them.  Well there are different things that stick to the outsides of them.  Those things that stick to the outsides of them are sometimes proteins and lipids (fats) and sugars, and mixtures of sugars and proteins (glyco-proteins).  Those things help the cell function the way it needs to.  Immune cells have different things stuck to them than neurons or intestinal cells, or heart cells. Well in immunology, we often want to know 1.  What's on the outside of a cell and 2.  How much of said thing is on the outside of the cell.

^That's a dendritic cell.  It's a type of immune cell that engulfs (eats) pathogens (like bacteria or viruses or parasites) and shows them to other immune cells.  They're REALLY important for a proper immune response to happen. 

^That's what a FACS looks like.  It's about 4 feet long and sits on a big table and you put your sample in on the right hand side where that glass tube is.  The blue part is where all the lasers are.  It's connected to all kinds of lubricants and other containers of buffering fluids that keep it "wet."  You constantly freak out that you will break the expensive thing that everyone relies on.  Another reason why you do not like to be rushed.

To figure that out, we use antibodies that are "conjugated" (connected to) a fluorescent molecule.  That means that when you shine a laser of a certain wavelength onto the fluorophore, it emits at another wavelength that travels through a tube and is read by a detector.  Ok, we'll try that again in English instead of Physics.  You know that paint that glows in the dark?  It's inside those stars that you put on your ceiling when you were a kid (or that you gave to your kids to put on their ceilings).  Those things also glow when you shine UV (ultraviolet) light on them.  You know why?  Because they're full of molecules that absorb UV light (which is a component in day light - hence why you get sunburned), and emit light in a yellow-ey greenish hue. 

Ok, so an antibody.  It "recognizes" things that cause an immune reaction.  When you get infected with....say...Rhinovirus (aka the virus that causes the Common Cold), you have antibodies that get made that recognize Rhinovirus and eliminate it.  Antibodies are proteins.  They're shaped like the letter "Y."  You make them, your dogs make them, rabbits make them, mice make them.  They circulate in your blood looking for pathogens.  They're important for your body to fight off pathogens.  They're extremely specific.  So an immunologist once thought.  "Hmm...maybe we should inject proteins into rabbits and collect their antibodies.  That way we could stick some fluorescent molecule on that antibody then expose those it to cells that we think will have the protein we originally injected.  If the antibody sticks, that means that the cell has the protein.  We can tell whether it has it by shining a fluorescent light on it and seeing if it glows. 

Well now we have TONS of different fluorescent molecules that get "excited" or emit light at different wavelengths and by different lasers.  We expose cells to those antibodies, see both 1.  what sticks and 2.  how much sticks by putting it into the FACS machine.  The FACS machine shoots tons of different lasers at it (like between 2 and 12 depending on how baller (expensive) your FACS machine is).  If you were wondering...we have 2 baller FACS machines....b/c we're Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center....and we're important.  Then the detector detects the colors that shine in response to those lasers.  Some nerdy computer programming guy or gal wrote a program to interpret what the detector sees and that's what shows up on your computer screen.  It's very nice/cool. 

So...that's what I did on Saturday. 

Then I went to a party at my friend Karen's house.  She just moved in with her boyfriend to an apartment in Brooklyn near Prospect Park.  I ate a TON of gorgonzola cheese and toffee and they had some kind of DELICIOUS punch that was crushed raspberries, pomegranate seeds, simple syrup, mint, lemon & lime juice/zest, vodka, and champagne.  It was seriously SO GOOD.  I need to learn the ratios.  We got home at around 2 - enough time to eat pizza at some shop full of drunken, inappropriate Saint Patty's people.  I was not really drunk because mainly I ate so much cheese.  Parties are still super fun but no longer cool to get wasted - because now you're just a sad drunk - no longer funny.  That time has come and gone (at least with work friends ;)

Anyway.  I have more to tell you but I've bored you enough for one night. 

Carpe diem,

J

Friday, March 15th, 2013

Good morning!

This was a little something how my night went last night.  Sarah came over.  Brian made us dinner - homemade penne vodka with parmesan.  Then we had a little chocolate.  She forced Bear to snuggle and we watched "Say Yes to the Dress."  Brian read articles about the stock market and got about a square of chocolate. 

The other picture is a new path in the Park I've been enjoying lately.  I'm a big fan. 

Happy Friday!

Carpe diem,

J

Thursday, March 14th, 2013

Good morning!  Sorry I forgot to post yesterday - I ran in to work and completely forgot!  I haven't had any Park pictures for you lately - it's just been so dark that it's just starting to get light by the end of the walk.  Good things have been happening.  I've been about 30% stressed for my ACE lately.  I would equate that to "30% of my thoughts when not directed on focusing on doing something are ACE thoughts."  I'm in the middle of a big experiment, making it a little tough to focus on the ACE.  To work on the ACE, I really need full days of concentration.  i.e. I need to have nothing else to focus on for the day - to just sit, and be in the zone, and work.  The reason for this is that I really need a mental warmup to get thinking my best.  I go through about 30minutes to an hour of marginal concentration before I'm really working effectively. 

Yesterday I knew I had about 2.5 hours after lunch that could be devoted solely to the ACE.  I didn't want to waste any of that time so at the end of lunch, I turned off the light in my apt (I go home for lunch), and just sort of silenced my mind for about 10 minutes.  I repeated that there was nothing else to check or work on or finish to sidetrack me once I got back to work.  When I got back to my lab, I was really ready to go and focused-in right away.  I think I'm going to make this a regular thing. 

I also got news of my ACE committee - that is - the group of faculty that I'll give my oral presentation to in about a month.  They'll be responsible for reading & critiquing my proposal, grilling me at my oral, and then ultimately deciding on whether I pass or not.  I'm very happy with my committee assignments - they are all nice, normal (seriously you don't know how important that is), and reasonable people.  They will be interested in pushing me but not bashing me.  There is one lady who I kind of admire named Inez Rogatsky.  She specializes in signaling at HSS (The Hospital for Special Surgery - one of our affiliates).  She's kind of a baller and knows a TON.  She's a real intense woman of science.  She also will most definitely be the one to convince.  She'll be the one who really grills me - I've seen her in action.  I'm a little scared of her, but also very excited to get to know her better.  My committee head is Theresa Lu.  She's also at HSS and I have a great relationship with her because I TA'ed for her this year and got to interact with her quite a bit (she runs the fundamental Immunology course for 1st years).  She's kind of a saint.  She is a physician, sees patients, runs her own lab, runs Fundamental Immunology, and serves on ACE committees.  She cares about grad students, which is not universal among principal investigators at non-university research institutions like MSKCC, HSS, and Weill Cornell.  I'm happy to have her be my chairman. 

Anyway, that's all for now. 

Carpe diem,

J

Tuesday, March 12th, 2012

Good morning!  Another really dark, rainy morning prevented you from getting a picture of the Park.  It was definitely too dark to take a picture of anything.  It was also raining fairly hard for most of the run.  You all know how I feel about rain - not so bad - so this morning in the Park was really lovely.  It was super quiet because there was almost no one out.  I saw about 3 people the whole time.  It was mildly creepy when I got to the Park but I figured that no rapists or serial killers want to do their dirty work in this much rain.  (JK, I brought pepper spray and my fishing knife - pepper spray to get them off and the fishing knife to remind them not to try any funny business again.....).  You gotta be smart and not go traipsing around Central Park in the dark without anything to protect yourself.  

I like to think I'm tough but I'm so, SO not. 

Anyway, I had a really nice, quiet, peaceful, dark walk in the Park followed by 6 miles at my gym, followed by oatmeal!  AND we have a talk at 10am today so I'll be sure to have a mini-croissant or two + coffee :)  I <3 carbs.  Especially buttery carbs :(

Have a great day!


Carpe diem,

J

Monday, March 11th, 2013

Good morning!  Fantastic weekend here in NYC!  Gorgeous weather & nice adventures. 

If you'll recall, Friday was a blizzard. 

No, seriously....a blizzard....

On Saturday, we met Brian's mom & her friend for brunch at Fulton Pub - one of our favorite places.  It was 55 and sunny.  I wore sunglasses.  I really wanted the pancakes but I did not want the pancake carbs so I got a cheddar omelet with a nice, big arugula salad on the side.  It was delicious and I was not one bit disappointed that I passed up the pancakes.  It was a wonderful lunch & great catching up/hearing about Costa Rica!  Brian's mom also brought us some Costa Rican coffee.  Now we have Hawaiian from my parents trip and Costa Rican from Brian's.  What I want to know is when do I get to start going to these places?!?!? 

After lunch I ran 7.5 miles in a t-shirt & shorts and did Ab-Ripper X - which is a fitness DVD that I love.  It was glorious.

On Sunday we tried the Costa Rican coffee - it was delightful.  I won't ponce on about the cedar notes and smoky goodness but it was really, really, good coffee.  We haven't tried the Hawaiian yet because we need to get it ground. 

Then we went to the Bronx to get some legit Italian food in little Italy.  The way there was just too stereotypical.  It was just too much!  When we got off the subway there was immediately a guy selling pit bull puppies out of his jacket in front of a shop that exclusively sold pigs feet.  TOO MUCH!  We wandered ridiculously through the Bronx for awhile until we reached Fordham University & Little Italy.  People were looking at us like we had 3 heads - not kidding.  Brian walked me by the house that he lived in when he lived in the Bronx and when we intercepted Little Italy everything changed.  It became like a little quaint town you'd run across in the suburbs somewhere.  Really cute & charming.  Lots of people out drinking espresso outside cafés, waiting in line to get brunch, and meeting up with family for a Sunday meal. 

We walked around for a bit - so many great looking restaurants.  Then we went to Tino's, which was Brian's favorite place to go when he lived there.  We got chicken parmesan, rice balls with gravy (marinara), and spinach lasagne.  They gave us big chunks of crusty bread to get all of the last bites of sauce.  I suspended vegetarianism for the day and ate it all - and it was the most incredible Italian food I've ever had.  Ever.  Period.  The cases at Tino's were filled with cheeses, prosciutto, olives, anchovies, and hot food.  They also were making pizzas in the back in a little brick oven. 

After we ate lunch we went to Palomba's Bakery.  We split a Cannoli and each had a cappuccino.  It was loud and charming.  The café was filled with big families having a Sunday treat - all speaking different languages.  Everyone there spoke Italian and called us "hon," and "sweetie," and brought us our food on a little silver tray.  I know I'm raving a lot but I really love Cannoli's in general.  This cannoli, though - was, again, the BEST cannoli I've ever tasted.  The ricotta filling with smooth, sweet, thick, and had just a little bite.  It was absolutely incredible.  I mean, this place was the real deal.  I would traverse pigs feet stores every weekend if it meant I got a cannoli from Palomba's.  We savored our cannoli & cappuccino and then got a half pound of cookies to take home.  Before we left, we stopped at one more bakery and got a small loaf of jalapeño cheddar bread (which we ate all of later that night - swathed with big hunks of butter). 

When we got home we took the dogs on a big walk, then watched The Walking Dead - which is a show I'm obsessed with.  I ate a sweet potato for dinner and then went to bed. 

I was still full this morning. 

Carpe diem,

J

SNOW!!!!!

Carpe diem,

J

*UPDATE*

*My Dad has informed me to remind you to remove the paper towels from the cookie tray prior to roasting the chickpeas*

That is all...

J

Thursday, March 7th, 2013

Good morning!  I know.  This photo is nothing to write home about.  but the meal I made last night was GREAT!  I tried something new - the Kasmati rice + the stewed lentil & tomato curry was not new - just as delicious but not new.  The topping, on the other hand, was new. 

I won't count it as one of my "15 new recipes" because it's not quite a "recipe."  I topped my stewed lentil, tomato, and carrot curry with oven-toasted chickpeas. 

I went on to eat the entire can of oven-toasted chickpeas.

They make a great topping for a whole range of things and I think they'd even be good as a little appetizer for a party.  They have a pleasant salty crunchiness to the shell and starchy on the inside - which is potato like and delicious.  Here's how you do it.  

Oven-Toasted Chickpeas:
Rinse canned chickpeas in a strainer
Place 2 paper towels down on an oven tray
Spread chickpeas on top of the oven tray and shake them around until they're mostly dry
Press down lightly on top of them with more paper towels to dry further
Top with olive oil or coconut oil and shake them around so they're all evenly coated
Top them with herbs & spices of your choice (this is where you can get a little creative - summer?  fresh thyme, rosemary, sage; in the mood for middle eastern? curry, turmeric; potato? salt and pepper)
I used a bit of salt + smoked paprika because i love both the color & taste & smell of smoked paprika
Roast at 400 for 15 minutes, shaking frequently until they're a bit browned and crispy on the outside.

Enjoy!

Carpe diem,

J