Belated Birthday Tribute to Rusty!

On August 19th Rustycat turned 11. It's almost surreal for me, since I got him when he was 6 weeks old. Back then he fit in my palm, was hyperactive and could somehow climb walls and get into the highest places in my apartment. I got him in college, and my roommate was allergic, so this bundle of kitten energy was in solitary confinement in my bedroom. This was in upstate NY. Did I mention I got Rusty at the library in college? Yep, the librarian had collected the litter that had taken up residency in the vacant trailor across the street. Rusty's mom had 3 legs. So Rusty's definitely a streetcat by nature! Born into a trailor park by a 3-legged mom. Love it.

After that we moved in with my parents. Rusty proceeded to scratch up my mom's new couches while we were out, so it was back to solitary confinement for the little guy. He's always been a smarty though, and somehow managed to squueze himself out the bottom of the bedroom door pretty often. My mom hated it, but secretly, it made me love him so much more.

From there I went to Australia for a semester and in those few months my mom fell in love with Rusty. Never having a pet in the house, she was not used to having to clean up after one or chase one away from garbages and stuff. After she got past this, she saw... he really just wanted love. Since he was weened away from the 3-legged mom too early he's always had a thing for cotton shirts. Specifically, licking them and sucking them (if you let him). Mom would let him and I think it reminded her a bit of her babies and how they used to release themselves into her chest and cuddle up with the comfort they could only feel with their Mommy.

Since then Rusty and I have lived:
- In an apartment in North Massapequa, where I moved after college. I was dirt poor and didn't have A/C and Rusty - all 15 pounds of thick hair - would literally pant like a dog from the heat.
- In an apartment in Astoria, Queens, with 2 other cats. It was here that Rusty learned how to be the dominant animal in a sea of wanna-be's.
- In a house on Castro Street in San Francisco, where Rusty had a cat door and wopuld bring us home 'treats' to show his love... specifically, live mice. He'd come in and stand in front of the TV - putting on his own little show - and spit out the mouse and chase it all over the house.
- In an apartment on 30th St in SF where Rusty came home with half his face slashed open and had to be rushed to the emergency room for 18 stitches.
- In an apartment on Harper St in SF, with another cat door so he could come and go as he pleased. It was here that I learned living on Castro Street had an interesting affect on Rusty. He started bringing another neighborhood cat home, through the cat door. I'd come home and an hour later the two of them would run out from the back of a closet and leave together. It was great. I didn't know the cat's name so I called Rusty's new girlfriend Esrella. Turns out Estrella was a MARTY, and Rusty - apparently - is a gay cat. Go Gays!
- In an apartment in Seattle, where Rusty really started to mellow out, and for once seemed to enjoy spending more time inside, with me, than outside with the kitties in the hood. It was here that Rusty got a crystal (like a kidney stone) stuck in his tiny little penis and came close to dying. This was also when I stood back and really understood how much love I have for this little furry being.
- In a Jeep Wrangler driving cross-country when I moved to NY!
- In a studio apartment in Chelsea (NY), which was only slightly tight until I rescued Rusty's sister, Sadie. Studio apartment + 45 lb pitbull = very little fun for Rusty.
- In a much larger apartment in Brooklyn, where he seems happier than ever and loves his new Father figure, Jeff. Here he is more loving than he ever has been. He seems very healthy and likes all the space we have, even if he does have to share it with Miss Sadie, who likes to position herself right in front of the water bowl so Rusty can't get to it.

To Rusty! My first 'baby' and 10 years of changes and challenges, spent together...

Recipe of the Week: Lemon Sole with Spinach, Olives and Tomatoes

I'm not even done with my first helping of this and I'm hooked. This is crazy easy and tastes so fresh and light and lovely. This flavor combo is amazing. I got a recipe off Epicurious and switched it up. It's perfect for 1 person, and can easily feed 2. The quinoa and sauce make tasty and healthy leftovers. YUM!

Most of this is verbatim on Epicurious, but I've included my additions and changes...

2 garlic cloves, sliced
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup Chardonnay or other dry white wine
1 (28- or 32-oz) can whole tomatoes in juice
Fine sea salt to taste
10 pitted kalamata olives
1/4 cup packed fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup capers
1 .61 lb lemon sole fillet (to be exact)
5 oz baby spinach
2 cups cooked quinoa (*Make the quinoa after you put the fish in)

Preparation

Make sauce:
Cook garlic in 2 tablespoons oil in a heavy large deepish pan over moderate heat (on stovetop), stirring until softened - 1 to 2 minutes. Add wine and boil until reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Add tomatoes with juice and capers. Break them tomatoes with a spoon and gently simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 20 minutes. Add sea salt and pepper to taste and remove from heat.

Prepare fish while sauce simmers:
Preheat oven to 400°F.

Finely chop olives and basil with a knife.

Lay fish fillet, skinned sides down, on a work surface and season with pepper. Spread the basil/olive mix over the fillet and spread evenly. Beginning at narrow end, roll up the fillet.

Bake fish:
Arrange fish roll, seam sides down, in an oven-safe medium casserole dish. Drizzle with remaining tablespoon oil and bake, uncovered, in middle of oven, until fish is just cooked through, about 18 minutes.

In a dinner bowl, spread a light layer of baby spinach. Spoon 1/2 cup quinoa on the spinach. Cut the fish fillet in half and place 1 half on the quinoa. Spoon the tomato mixture around the fish to your liking.

Then smile, cause you eatin' gooooooood tonight. :)

Inspiration, Ziggy Marley style

I was listening to this when I was playing in the woods this past weekend, and it felt like it reached out to me and shook me a little bit. Since I'm cranky today I wanted to remind myself of the positive message behind this. Courtesy of Ziggy Marley, lyrics to Rainbow In The Sky:

there's a rainbow in the sky all the time don't be blind
there's a rainbow in the sky all the time don't be blind don't be blind

said you I'm living in my fantasy
but is you who are blinded from reality
the material world mean so much to you
you just can't get what I'm telling you

there's a rainbow in the sky all the time don't be blind don't be blind

cause in a town called sorrow there was joy
yes and there I met the painless tear
freed he expressed emotions that egos fear
my life is full of colors yeah my mind is clear

there's a rainbow in the sky rainbow in the sky

found I mercy in every sunrise
I am born again from the womb of the night
all I have I have left behind
minds' eye eyes eye a light will shine

there's a rainbow in the sky all the time don't be blind don't be blind
rainbow in the sky rainbow in the sky

Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health

The rest of my trip to California was lovely. We had our annual sales conference so I got to catch up with everyone on my team. We had lots of laughs... too many silly things to recount here. My flight back to NY was delayed and I got home around 2am Friday morning, and then had to turn right back around and take a noon train to Grand Central to head up to my retreat weekend at Kripalu in the Berkshires. I have been SO looking forward to it, and I am so happy to say my experience there blew away all my expectations! Here is a link to Kripalu, which includes information on the program I took (R&R): http://www.kripalu.org/article/118/



Kripalu is nestled way out in the woods in Massachusetts. You take a train from Grand Central (~ 2 hours) and then a car for another hour. It used to be an Ashram, where a real Guru lived and guided about 13 disciples on Buddhism. Today it's a retreat center where you can unwind and take yoga classes and lectures on eastern traditions like meditation, holistic living and Ayurveda living/eating. I took the R&R program, which gave me the opportunity to drop into any yoga classes or lecture I wanted. Or not to... and to wander the gorgeous grounds. The weekend included dorm living and all meals. The meals are uber-healthy and they have a huge selection of organic, vegan delights at every meal. I spent my time there wandering in the fields, reading on the great lawn, taking yoga classes (including YogaDance - so fun!), taking an intro to Arurveda, getting Craniosacral Therapy and a Shiatsu massage and talking to a lot of other like-minded people. I left smiling at every stranger and much MUCH calmer than I've been in a long time. And feeling really, really happy. I just bought a new camera last week, so I had a lot of fun playing with it. Here are some silly shots and then some great photos (check out how amazing my new camera lens is!) of nature. If I appear incredibly giddy and happy, well... it's cause I was :)

California Dreamin'

I have this really rediculous habit that's going on 5 years and shows no sign of slowing down. I go out of town for a few days, fall in love with the grass on the other side, and want to be there, where it's greener. As in, live there. Immediately.

On Wednesday I flew into LA for some business meetings. The weather was so perfect and it seemed like the flowers had bloomed just for me. Everyone was so happy to see me every where I went. I was happy and loving life. Don't worry, I am not about to insert BUT here. It just kept being perfect. I got to see Reb, Gabe and my boyfriend Zev. Zev's head grew flat on one side so he's in this little helmet. But damn - he doesn't care! He's the happiest, cutest baby I've ever seen. Check that little guy out...






The car rental place gave me a convertable PT Cruiser and I put the top down and drove through the canyon. I ate a beautiful raw salad for lunch. I shopped at Nordstrom. I even saw Perez Hilton. I was in heaven. I decided... I need to move back to California and I think I need to move to LA.

Saturday I flew up to SF and drove up to Marin. I got a little hotel room for the night and woke up, went to a stellar Iyengar Yoga class (2 hours!) and then Amy and Christine drove up there and we hiked around the Mt Tam area. The hike was so perfect and it seemed like the flowers had bloomed just for me ((intentionally sounding familiar here)). Check out some photos of the fog creeping over Mt Tam...





I wrapped up my hike and drove back to SF, over the Golden Gate bridge (which was being rushed by a thick blanket of fog that was flying right over the mountain and surrounding us) and I decided... I need to move back to California and I think I need to move to Marin.

You get my point. This is how I originally got to SF back in 2000. And exactly how it went when I moved to Seattle. And then again when I moved to NY. And somewhere in the middle of all that I spent 2 weeks in Spain and decided I was quitting my job and moving to Barcelona to learn Spanish and teach English. I will say that's the only one I didn't follow through on, and had I actually done it I doubt I would have regretted it.

It would be really nice to live in Marin. I could have a mountain in my backyard and a bunch of very nice hippies to do yoga with and even garden with. You'd think by now I'd be able to stop here since I recognize this pattern, but the truth is, this is how it's always worked for me. And I like when I get these bouts of spontenaety, excitement and anticipation. I am, true to form, your little rolling stone after all.

Recipe of the Week: Grilled Japanese Eggplant with Citrus Miso Sauce

I'm in that place my heart longs for all the time... good old San Francisco. Last night Kerry hosted a delicious dinner for me, Amy and Christine in her newly purchased loft in SOMA. The place looks incredible and the food was wonderful. Kerry cooked 'Suzi Food' for us. It's nice to feel the comforts of 'home'!

In addition to some red quinoa and an asian stir fry of bok choy, crimini mushrooms and snap peas - all fresh from the farmers market - Kerry whipped up this recipe she got off foodnetwork.com. I love it and can't wait to make it!

Grilled Japanese Eggplant with Citrus Miso Sauce Recipe courtesy Bobby Flay
Show: Hot Off the Grill with Bobby Flay
Episode: Vegetable Spring Rolls

3 tablespoons miso
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoon sake
2 tablespoon water
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup lime juice
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh ginger
4 Japanese eggplant, sliced lengthwise
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Combine all ingredients except eggplant and salt and pepper in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Let cool. Preheat grill. Season eggplant with salt and pepper to taste and brush with miso sauce. Grill for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, basting with marinade.

Camping at Clarence Fahnestock State Park

We found our favorite camping spot! Benefits include:

- Less than 1 hr north of NYC
- Beautiful campground (if you have the right spot... more on that later)
- Appalacian Trail within 1 mile
- Boat rentals. Pretty lake that you can row on to little private island!
- Dogs alowed
- Area is pretty remote and not congested
- If you're bored or - as we would have it - rained on, there's a Movie Theater about 20 mins away and a Walmart! A great Mexican restaurant also in nearby town (20 mins).

There are a few things that can make camping here more successful.

- Choose your campsite wisely. There are a few loops where the sites are squeezed really close and there's more of a party atmosphere. We actually had a site in this area and we fell asleep to the family of 20 blaring Mexican music and building a giant fire with lots of help from their friend, Mr lighter fluid. They were very nice , I just was hoping to hear the wind or howling wolves or something of that NATURE.

Jeff and I scoped out the sites and in the case we visit again (or you are a lucky person searching for info on this). The more remote and cooler sites are 16-22, 30 and 40-41.

- Have what you need before you get there. If you don't you'll have to drive about 10 miles to get anything - ice, water, food, etc

Here are some photos of our play in the woods...

My Urban Garden

Traditionally I have not had a green thumb. If it was green, it was just because it was covered in mold. I have killed every plant I've ever touched... until now!

Dez and Kevin gave me seedlings and a little Indoor Herb Garden greenhouse for Xmas. There were these little tiny pots to plant Chamomile, Marjoram and Thyme seeds. I kept them well-watered and with plenty of light, and 3 months later I am so excited to present... My urban herb garden...






I am humbled! This was one of the best gifts I've ever gotten (hint hint). I love my beautiful little plants and love how they've flowered too. Time to eat 'em!

Recipe of the Week: Halibut in Thai Curry Sauce over Fresh Corn Polenta

I got this recipe off of Whole Foods' website and it's to die for! It's really easy - only 2 pots (one for the polenta, one for the rest), really healthy and well-balanced. I highly recommend it. The fresh corn in the polenta is so yummy! If I make it again I'll probably add a bit more red curry paste to make it spicier. I'm keeping this one for my next dinner party. It's very impressive.

Halibut in Thai Curry Sauce over Fresh Corn Polenta
Delicate halibut simmered with tender crisp zucchini and red bell peppers in a Thai-inspired coconut red curry sauce is served over an Italian staple, fresh corn polenta. Simple to prepare, the creamy polenta is a perfect balance for the spicy fish. While the halibut is delicious, feel free to substitute perch, salmon, snapper or grouper.

Serves 4
Fresh Corn Polenta

4 cups water
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup polenta
2 ears corn, kernels removed (2 tablespoons reserved for curry below)
2 tablespoons butter

Coconut Red Curry Sauce

1 to 3 teaspoons red curry paste, or to taste
1 can (15 ounce) coconut milk
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
3 tablespoons fish sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2/3 cup chicken or vegetable stock
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 medium zucchini, chopped
2 medium red bell pepper, chopped
8 ounces cremini mushrooms
2 tablespoons corn kernels, (reserved from above)


1 1/4 pounds halibut, skinned and cut into 4 pieces
In a heavy medium saucepan, bring four cups salted water to a boil. Slowly add polenta and whisk continuously for one minute. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 20 minutes, stirring periodically. Add corn kernels to polenta and cook 5 more minutes. Remove from heat, add butter, and mix well.

While polenta cooks, combine curry paste with coconut milk in a large heavy skillet and simmer on medium low heat for 5 minutes. Add basil, fish sauce, brown sugar, stock, lime juice, reserved corn kernels and chopped vegetables. Simmer for 4 more minutes. Add halibut and simmer, covered, for 10 more minutes or until halibut is opaque and cooked through, flipping once. Set aside and keep warm.

Serve halibut over polenta with curry sauce ladled on top.

DANIEL

For Jeff's Bday I took him to dinner at Daniel... www.danielnyc.com

This is one of Daniel Boulud’s first restuarants in the US. If you don't know of Daniel, you can read about him on his site. He's a classicly trained and internationally renouned French chef. The dinner was incredible. A true 5 star experience, with incredible food and service. We did a tasting menu with wine paring for each course. They tailored it to our dietary restrictions (eat fish, no meat). It was SO GOOD! At the end of the dinner we asked if they could run through the menu they served and they printed them up for us! Here it is... ahhhh....



I would highly recommend this for a special meal, but be warned it does not come cheap. Fortunately, my man is worth it :)

I also used my Starwood points to get us a room at the W Union Square for the night. I am a huge fan of Starwood and they take really good care of me every time I stay in their hotels. This time they gave us a complimentary upgrade to a corner suite overlooking the park! Just lovely...









And to put a cherry on the top of this fudge sundae of a bday celebration, I treated Jeff to his first pedicure - and look, Mikey liked it!!!!



Life is good!!!

Wubba's Paw

Sadie needs Prozac! She is obsessed with licking/sucking her paws. She got the back one all narly from licking too much so Jeff suggested we put a sock on it. So I did, and I put a rubberband around her ankle to hold it in place. I'm thinking the ruberband was too tight. 2 days later and I've taken the sock off and Sadie's paw is HUGE!!!