A Letter

Photography by Bucks County Frames available on Etsy.com

August 30, 2009

Dear Perfection, She types and wonders if this will be a good-ahem, I mean a most excellent post.

You and I, we've been at this thing for far too long. Surely in those earlier formative years, you led me to see my full potential; godspeed, pushing me beyond my comfort zone academically and socially, only to now become a paralyzing hindrance.

You see, "Idea" doesn't like you; you create seemingly insurmountable obstacles for her with great frequency. You know that way you do what you do, you and your minions "Anxiety" and "Doubt". And, you know what else, I bet it was you, way back when, you invited "Depression" into our lives with deliberation and total disregard for her lack of hospitality. What a wretched guest! She has surely overstayed her welcome here. My family doesn't like her-well the ones who acknowledge her presence; they like to tip-toe about minimizing both the presence and perilous impact of the pachydermatous one. How do I feel about her? Well, that simply goes without saying- of course, when she's here I don't do very much talking, I don't do very much of anything.

And "Art", sighs and sulks-"Art" and I, we...well we're in love, "Perfection". And, you just don't understand a love like ours...because...well, it is based on this intrinsic connection that we two share. There's a symbiosis in the way she and I move and breathe, think and connect, one which exists and flourishes in spite of your objective stranglehold. We will continue to be together and we will bring forth great things from this blissful union which lovingly includes "Idea", "Happiness", and even "Abandon"-on rare occasion. There, I said it! Cleansing breath. Are you okay? 'Cause, I'm okay...I actually feel pretty damn good. I certainly hope you're okay though, because...well, before you completely back off, I'm gonna need your discerning eye for a moment whilst I tweeze my brows.

What's in your mental out-box today?

Inner peace

PS: I spell-checked about 4 times and re-read 4 more than that. How ironic it would be to denounce "Perfection" in a most imperfect display; surely she'd think me reprehensible.

A Dream: Woman With Birds

Art: Woman with Hens by Brenda Rose on Etsy

The haunting sounds of visceral moaning awoke me, and there she sat, this faceless woman, at the far northeast corner of my bedroom, legs splayed. I sat up and nudged the dream man, but nothing. I stared frightened for a few more seconds before I rose and grabbed my robe. Hesitantly, I approached the strange, faceless woman; realizing her girth, knelt before her. She pulled the end of her pale blue gown up above her wobbling knees and exposed the lock-in double handles of an industrial deep-fryer basket. Wide eyed, a bit of nausea sets in along with that painful temple throbbing that preceded my usual histrionics. Gingerly, I untangle my hands from each other and grab hold of the handles. She smiles excitedly, okay madly and nods in a way that indicates I've done something good. Now, I nod too-not really in agreement, more like the insane nervous shaking in the rest of my body has now made it to my head.

As she continues to labor-I guess that's what you'd call it, I can feel the intermittent breaks in the suction-like hold her pelvic floor has on the fryer basket; indicating she is contracting. And, suddenly the hold breaks. I instinctively pull; only, there's no cathartic birthing howl. Wait! There's no woman either! It's just me alone, on the floor of the far northeast corner of my bedroom with the lock-in double handles of an industrial deep fryer basket full of animated dead birds with "X"s for eyes in my grasp. Had any weird dreams lately?

Peace

The Buzz: Chocolate 2008

Chocolate 2008 is my latest "Buzz"-worthy film pick. This film combines the martial art film norms; vengeance, the gang, the girl and the deadly showdown with a solid storyline that is, at times, touching.

Zen- played by my new, next life wife, Yanin Vismitananda is the autistic daughter of Zin; Thai gangster, "No. 8's" love interest (read: possession) and her forbidden Japanese lover, Masasahi (Hiroshi Abe ) He's pretty hot too.

The story follows Zen and Zin, taking refuge in a Thai ghetto and living above a Muay Thai school. The mother, Zin spends most of her days bedridden with cancer, Zen spends hers toggling between obsessively watching the young Muay Thai students from the window and various martial arts films. It is from these fervent observations Zen's talent to mimic martial arts masters is discovered and honed by her cousin and sole companion Moom.

Together Moom and Zen take to the streets to earn money for Zin's chemotherapy treatments by collecting from a ledger Moom discovered in Zin's belongings. The ledger however, belongs to "No. 8" and, in the process the word of Zin's whereabouts gets back to her jilted ex-lover. Eeep!

Get all of your guilty snacks in order before you hit start, this film is action-packed from beginning to end and, the choreography is phenomenal. The fight sequence between Yanin Vismitananda and "Epileptic Boxer" Kittitat Kowahagul is equal parts martial arts and B-Boy moves, I actually screamed! This film was thoroughly enjoyable, I'm looking forward to more work from director, Prachya Pinkaew, my Thai Quentin Tarantino. Chocolate 2008 is in Thai with English subtitles, it is available on Netflix.

Peace and a good film

Current project: Inspiration India

Last week, I received this fun package of ephemeral bits and bobs all the way from Secunderabad, India courtesy of Etsy friend, Nutmeg Click. The pieces have been sitting out as you see here whilst I draw inspiration for their final resting positions in a mixed media art collage. And today, I am ready to begin. What are you working on?

Peace and art

Puerto Rico, my heart's devotion...Part Two

I'm back with the results...phenomenal! My trial run was a success. In fact, the only thing I'll change for the holidays is the addition of olive oil in the masa. I've included it already in the recipe below. The absence of animal fat made for a less than clean removal of the cooked pastele and I'm a bit of a presentation whore. As if there was such a thing as a pretty pastele!

I think you'd probably die if you consumed the uber-filling fattening Malta alongside a plate of yellow rice and pasteles, but that doesn't stop it from looking like a grand idea! I picked up a 6 pack of these babies to help set the mood whilst slaving...er, I mean preparing the dish.

Pre-drained, frozen, cubed and later marinated in a bit of fresh sofrito juices extra-firm tofu.

Last step before the final dollop, wrap and 45 minutes of bubblin' salted boil

Vegetarian Pasteles makes 10-12

Masa:

2 large green plantains

3 very green bananas

1.5 lbs Yucca root

1 large Russet potato

Peel and cube the bananas and plantains, placing them in a large bowl of salted cold water while you grate the potato and yucca root. Then, add the cubed bananas and plantains to a food processor, puree and mix with the grated mixture. Add salt to taste and replace the fat from your non-existent meat filling with olive oil, your masa is ready once it is the consistency of cooked oatmeal.

Filling:

1/3 lb extra firm tofu well drained, frozen, thawed and cubed

2 medium bell peppers cubed

4-6 sprigs fresh cilantro

1/2 medium white onion cubed

1/2 cup chick peas

1/3 lb extra firm tofu cubed

1 15 oz can tomato sauce

a pinch of fresh saffron threads

3-4 cloves garlic

3 Morningstar farms bacon strips

1/2 cup olives with juices

Tomato sauce, tofu chick peas and olives aside, puree all of the above ingredients in a food processor. Add enough olive oil to coat the bottom of a large frying pan and add mixture cooking over a medium heat until all ingredients have cooked down. Slowly add your tomato sauce and cook the mixture for about 30-40 minutes on low heat allowing all of the flavors to meld. Remove from heat, add tofu, olives with juices and chick peas and cover. Allow the mixture to sit until cool (or overnight which is recommended.)

Preparation:

Beckon your minions, parchment paper, aluminum foil (or string if you're really bad ass) and begin the layering process as follows: Add 1/2 cup of masa, spread it out on the parchment paper. Add 4 tbs of filling in the center, bring all four sides up a bit with the end of your spoon or spatula and add a final large dollop of masa to cover. Wrap in parchment paper like a present, flip and then wrap again with aluminum foil (y'know if you're not bad ass).

Cooking:

Bring a pot of salted water to a rolling boil and add your pasteles allowing them to cook for 45 minutes. Give a few minutes to cool, it'll make for a cleaner unwrap especially since the vegan recipe is lacking almost all of the fat in the original . I learned this the hard way-hence the not so sexy photos.

Enjoy!

Peace, roots and culture