Indian Spices

The day after a holiday in the middle of the week just sucks. Plain and simple. In my mind, I was thinking it was the weekend or another Monday. It took a few minutes to reorient my internal timeline. Um, how is that accomplished exactly?

Resolved issues and organized things at work. Snoresville. I am afraid that if I have too much fun at work, they'll start charging me for admission. The entertainment factor is low at the moment so there is no chance of that happening. Better chance of me getting my acrylic nails taken off. Now that's funny...

CNN.com had this disturbing article on Indian Hindu widows and how they are ostracized by their families and forced to live like pariahs for the rest of their days. Most make the traditional pilgrimage to the holy city of Vrindavan. They cannot remarry and are considered financial burdens and not worth anything. Their heads are shorn bald, forced to wear white, live without dignity by begging and living in the streets, essentially waiting to die. What kind of society still subscribes to such a barbaric tradition while progressing with bullet speed towards technology?

Kathy and I had already planned last week to eat at The Taj tonight for some Indian fare. There were a few bites of my Matak Paneer where I thought of those wives who helped create the exotic taste of the dish I was enjoying. Did they end up making the journey to Vrindavan? I'd like to think not. I said a silent thank you for the women who help shape the meal I was eating. Women whose ingenuity in mixing the spices resulted in the complex and exciting taste of India.

Indian Spices

Invisible Pea Soup

Summer is definitely getting in gear in Florida. The humidity is so palpable which makes the heat oppressive. It's like walking through invisible pea soup. Forget about having good hair days. Air conditioning is my best buddy!

Thinking back on our staff meeting today makes me chuckle. Bridget and I were very quiet, the temp talked more than both of us and my boss said what he needed to say while wondering who deflated our balloons. At 2:30pm, his expectations were just set a little too high. Ha!

E-mailed with Yummy who seemed in better spirits. He is on the hunt...dragon hunt, that is! Here is his new blog chronicling his dragon hunting adventures with his best friend, Anton: True and Wonderfull and can be found under AGOL Fascinations on this page.

They are taking this Friday-Saturday-Sunday to finish "the walk". Something like 40 miles spread over three days. There better be protein bars, water, ibuprofen, neosporin and sunscreen in those backpacks! Anton is geeky about packing like some Asian Goddess we know so I feel comforted he will have everything he won't use, but thinks he will need on the trip.

Kathy picked me up for a curry dinner at our new favorite Indian restaurant (or "Ruby" as Yummy says) off Fowler called The Taj. It was two for two. Both meals we've had there have been delicious! I have some left overs for dinner tomorrow night. Yummy had this advise for us: Remember to drink lots of beer, and try to get into a fight if you can for the authentic experience. Sadly, no beers and no fights, but plenty of girl talk. Maybe next time.

I was sharing with Kathy about my aspirations to be a television personality. We discussed this "thing" I have with how people/strangers relate to me. Kathy has known me for over nine years and has seen how people approach me about my make-up or hair, how I get remembered in restaurants and places and how free people seem to feel in approaching me. I've had "mini me's" in other women wanting to emulate things about me. People often ask me my opinion on places and restaurants. I do project a "brand" about me that has become so ingrained, I don't think about it anymore. It sounds very self-bloating, but I have witnesses. There is only one place I can think of to really take advantage of that "thing" and that is television.

The past few days has me coming up and forming an idea of a cooking show I already have a name for and other shows I would enjoy doing. I've taught cooking classes before and my guests enjoyed the experience and have come back for the same class. Kathy hit me with an idea so obvious, I could smack myself silly. (Shaddap, Angie!)

She said I could make some "programs" and put them on youtube. Face it, I don't have any real professional experience (yet) and this would be a way for me to practice, perfect and showcase my goods. And it would be cost effective! If I asked nicely, Tawny's husband who has worked on productions for public television could film and edit it for me. Truth be told, he's offered it to me years ago, but the show would be aired on public access on cable which is free. Now to get into more TV friendly shape and script my show(s)...

Invisible Pea Soup

AGOL Takes UK: Beer Sandwich

My hips were aching a bit this morning so with ibuprofen and a little rest, I was back to myself again in the afternoon. Yummy and I spent some time listening to Radio Four. I had begun to look forward to listening each day. The variety of programs and topics were intellectual candy.

Anton and Anna came around in the evening and picked us up for a proper curry night in England. We started off at two pubs which were all packed and then took a cab to Ashok in Hove. We ordered more beer for the curry coming to us. We ordered different dishes we could all share, not all spicy either. My palate thrilled at the different tastes!

When we were curried out, we made our way to another pub, but had to leave since it was closing for the night. (It was Sunday!) No worries, there was a perfectly good boozer around the corner. More pints and half-pints for all while sitting in a section of the pub.

It was fun to watch the volley of words between Anton and Yummy, affectionate ribbing of longtime friends. I gave them fodder with mentioning to Anna earlier in the evening that Yummy was wearing the new cologne I gave him, Vera Wang for Men. Wang and derivatives of were bandied about. The main thing was that they all concurred that it smelled very nice.

We had a great time with Anton and Anna. They were explaining to me the open houses (about 100+) for art exhibitions during the Brighton Festival starting the day I am leaving back for Tampa. I would've loved that tour! You just knock on the doors of homes participating and people show you their art in their homes.

We went home after the beers. Anton and Anna had to go into work the next day while Yummy and I made plans to go to a town called Lewes.

AGOL Takes UK: Beer Sandwich