What's a PBB?

 

Wednesday, August 29, 2012 – What's a PBB?

What a difference a good night’s sleep can make.  I got up early today, i.e. shortly after 7, which I would have considered decadently late less a year ago.  The weather was so refreshing when I walked outside to pick up the newspaper that I decided to alter my usual routine of oatmeal, email/newspaper, workout at Lifetime.  Instead, I wolfed down a PBB and was out the door within minutes for a morning walk. 

In case you’re wondering about that PBB….  If you said peanut butter and banana, that wouldn’t be a bad guess.  In fact, a peanut butter and banana sandwich would make a good PBB.  In my lexicon, PBB is pre-breakfast-breakfast, the mini-meal one eats prior to eating the “real” breakfast.  Today was the perfect occasion for partaking of a PBB.  I didn’t have time for oatmeal and green tea, but I needed to hydrate and get some healthy protein and carbs into my system before I went for that walk.  Hence, the PBB.  The main requirements for a PBB are:  quick to prepare; quick to consume; doesn’t involve tearing open an energy bar wrapper. 

For example, today’s PBB consisted of a microwaved egg (spray a small shallow bowl with olive oil, crack an egg into it, cover with waxed paper, zap for 33 seconds), served on top of a toasted piece of whole grain bread.  Garnish with a generous spoonful of salsa, and you’ve got a PBB!  Remember to sip a glass of room temperature water (quicker to swallow than the super-chilled stuff) along with the meal. 

Thus fueled, I was on my way by 7:45 a.m., while most of my route was still in the shade.  After sucking in a few lungs full of the crisp morning air, I cranked up my speed and started pumping my arms.  It didn’t take long to settle into a rhythm as I traversed the hills of Mantua, our subdivision, which bears no resemblance to its namesake city in northern Italy.  I enjoyed a thoroughly delightful walk, free of school buses, trash trucks, and road kill.  A mere 25 minutes later, I was back at my front door, filled with a sense of physical and mental wellbeing, and ready to tackle the challenges of the day ahead. 

Speaking of challenges, there were a few.  I declined Elliott’s invitation to this afternoon’s pity party, an event I suspect was precipitated by my placing an order for one of those medical alert devices.  He insisted he didn’t need one; I thought it would be a good idea for those times when I’m not velcroed to his side.  Seriously, there are many times when he’s on his own and there’s no one within shouting distance.  I see it as a way for him to maintain his independence, but he obviously thinks there’s a stigma attached to wearing one of these devices.  However, it will be on a wristband, like his watch, so it won’t be as conspicuous as those pendants I see people wearing.  We chose this particular service, called Medical Guardian, because it includes a GPS-based locator.  It works anywhere in the country, so we’ll be able to take it along on our San Francisco trip. 

Home Again!

 

Wednesday, August 29, 2012 – Home Again!

I'm finally back in the FCPS cyber-universe – same user name and email address as before.  It feels so good to be home.   How did this all come about?  Last week, in a moment of temporary insanity, I wanted to run away from home.  Instead, I signed up for the FCPS sub system.  Actually, it took a lot longer than a moment to go through the sign-up process at the HR office.  I had to get fingerprinted, I had to hand in the results of my TB test, and I had to fill out pages and pages of documents for FCPS and Homeland Security. (I’m still not quite sure how listing the names and birthdates of all of my children and step-children will keep the country safer.  Or maybe they just want to send them all birthday cards?)  And this is what I had to go through after teaching in the county for the past 20 years.  What kind of torture do they have for brand-new employees, I wonder.  But I jumped through all the hoops and I’m now officially available to sub.  In fact, I’ve already booked my first two customers, Georgi and Marcela.  I guess I’d better practice getting up early again! 

Sleep, Interrupted

 

Tuesday, August 28, 2012 – Sleep, Interrupted

The good news – I finally had a chance to sit down and spend an hour looking through the latest “O” magazine.  The bad news – it was from 1:15 to 2:15 a.m. in the waiting room of the INOVA Emergency Clinic in Fairfax City.  The good news – I brought home a much more comfortable patient whose problems were easily resolved.  We finally got home and settled down to sleep shortly after 3 am.  Elliott kindly insisted on sleeping in the guest room so his 6 o’clock phone alarm (a medication reminder) wouldn’t awaken me. 

But that’s not the end of the story.  More bad news – While the plan was good in theory, Elliott didn’t hear the phone alarm go off at 6 a.m., although the phone was right beside him.  I heard it through the closed bedroom door and got up to turn it off and wake him up for his medication.  But good news prevails.  I went back to sleep afterwards and stayed asleep until my own alarm clock rang at 8:30.  I am so, so glad that I’m not working this week!

Like many people, I do not do well without a good 7-8 hours of relatively uninterrupted sleep at night.  The next day tends to be excruciating and I avoid looking in the mirror. On days like today, my poor visage needed help beyond the scope of lipstick, blush, and a good concealer.  I needed a minor miracle, or at least a product that provides full-face camouflage.  Oh, brilliant idea alert!  It just occurred to me that stores have already started to display their Halloween merchandise.  A mask is just what I needed.  Too bad we had to rush out for an appointment with the surgeon who did Elliott’s eyelid surgery.  We were already running late, so I grabbed my giant-sized sunglasses and Winnie (Elliott’s walker), and ran out of the house.

My sleep deprivation immediately manifested itself with a surprise slide down the front steps.  I was hauling Winnie at the time, and Elliott was waiting at the top of the steps for me.  You see, it’s my job to help him get down the stairs safely.  Hmm.  Do you see something wrong with this picture? 

Don’t worry.  There was no serious damage done to Winnie or to me.  As for Elliott, the doctor said his eyes are still showing some post-surgical inflammation and prescribed antibiotic eye drops.  After the appointment, we stopped at Wegman’s to pick up edible supplies for the upcoming California trip (cans and pouches of high-protein tuna and sardines for me; bags of high-sugar marshmallows for Elliott).  Do you think they have food in San Francisco? 

Isn't It Time to Go Back to School Yet?

 

Monday, August 27, 2012 – Isn’t It Time to Go Back to School Yet? 

It’s Monday, and not just any Monday, but the Monday before Labor Day.  As a long-time teacher in Fairfax County, I know what that means.  Today is the day that teachers report back for a week of workdays prior to the start of classes.  

For me, this presents a major challenge.  I can’t imagine not being there with all my AHS colleagues for Professional Development Week.  All weekend long, I was preparing for this day.  I washed my AHS tote bag.  I selected my pencils.  I tried on my AHS polo shirt.  Confession time – I even printed out the daily schedule of Professional Week activities.  At the same time, I promised Elliott that I wouldn’t set my alarm clock for a ridiculously early hour.  I told him I wouldn’t pack a day’s worth of food and beverages into my lunchbox.  And just to be on the safe side, I begged him to hide the car keys.  Just don’t forget where you put them, I added. 

I’m glad to report that I met the challenge.  While scores of my friends were pulling into the AHS parking lot this morning, I was still sound asleep.  The sun was barely over the horizon, but they were in the red and white cafeteria, reconnecting over muffins, bagels, donuts, fruit, O.J., and other carb-laden treats.  By the time I awoke, they were well on their way to a sugar high that would last at least a couple of hours. 

It’s a good thing I didn’t have to get up and go into work this morning.  Last night, I didn’t get to bed until nearly 1:00 a.m.  I stayed up with Elliott, who was still struggling with the side effects of the pharmaceutical stew he consumes on a daily basis.  I had to make a late run out to the 24-hour pharmacy, and when I got back, I was so wide awake that I started snacking – on healthy stuff, of course, like Trader Joe’s new “light” guacamole (guac + yogurt = yum).  Once things had calmed down with Elliott, I needed to get a good night’s sleep.

When I eventually got up around 8:30 a.m. and sat down to eat breakfast, I was thinking of my AHS colleagues and missing them terribly.  I was missing the warm greetings, excited chatter, and the rush of adrenalin that accompanies the start of the school year.  If things had been different at home, I would be there with you still.  But I know I made the right decision. 

So, on this day when I didn’t go back to start a new school year, I did all the things that are now part of my daily routine, such as checking Elliott’s medical status, monitoring his morning meds, and showering with my shower-buddy.  Then I headed over to Lifetime to work out and take a second shower.  Since I got such a late start this morning, it was officially afternoon when I finished up.  You know what that means:  I was feeling serious hunger pangs.  But before going home for lunch, I had to stop and pick up a few important grocery items. 

Speaking of food, which I do quite often, I realize that I acquired my frequent grocery shopping habit when we lived in France and my kitchen was equipped with a mini-sized refrigerator.  It wasn’t a problem – I had plenty of time and easy access to local greengrocers, plus a thrice-weekly farmers market.  Even though we moved back to the U.S. nearly 25 years ago (gulp), the marketing habit obviously stuck. 

On today’s list:  from the supermarket salad bar, containers full of broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, and purple cabbage – to dip into hummus, add to a salad, or roast with olive oil at dinnertime; and a bag of Werther’s Originals, those creamy, buttery hard candies –for you-know-who to stash in his secret hiding place.  His supply was running dangerously low.  I keep telling him that he’d feel better if he ate more healthfully, but to no avail.  Today, for example, I offered him some of my delicious lunch, but he turned me down.  I just can’t understand how someone couldn’t love a protein-packed mixture of quinoa, chickpeas, and Trader Joe’s Punjab Eggplant, straight out of the refrigerator.  Mmm, the combination of chilled and spicy is so delectable.  I savored every single bite.  

The Adventures of Las Tres Amigas

 

Thursday, August 23/Saturday, August 25, 2012 – The Adventures of Las Tres Amigas

Let’s travel back in time, to last Thursday, and join Las Tres Amigas (Marcela, Helena y Robina) for “Un dia en DC.”  I apologize for any missing accent marks – I have no idea how to find certain ones on this keyboard.  Furthermore, my Spanish skills have gotten quite rusty.  Since I’m no longer in the classroom, I’m not practicing on a daily basis anymore.

Actually, before Thursday’s adventure with my AHS friends, I had to make a quick dash out for an early-morning errand.  A certain silver-haired gentleman, who shall remain unnamed, accidentally left his cell phone at the C2 (Gary’s company) open house we attended in Reston on Wednesday evening.  Thanks, Eleanor and Gary, for noticing it, bringing it back home, and alerting us promptly so we didn’t have to drive up to Reston to retrieve it. 

Anyway, once that was accomplished, it was time for the exciting part of my day to begin.  Las Tres Amigas gathered first in McLean and then set out together shortly after 10 a.m.  Alphonso, Marcela’s husband, was at the wheel for our drive along the scenic George Washington Parkway into the nation’s capital.  We had a three-pronged plan of attack for the day in DC: 

1. NMAI (National Museum of the American Indian)
2. NGA (National Gallery of Art)
3. Jaleo (a Spanish tapas restaurant).

As soon as we approached the NMAI, it was apparent that the summer season was drawing to a close.  There were hardly any tourists in sight on the streets and the museum itself was delightfully crowd-free.  Now is the time for locals to reclaim their city.  

Marcela, Robin and Helen at NMAI

At the NMAI, we focused on two special exhibits.  The first, A Song for the Horse Nation, examined the role of the horse in Native American history and culture.  As I explored this fascinating and wide-ranging exhibit, I kept thinking of ways I wanted to share the wealth of information with my students (the ones I don’t have anymore).  I was so enthusiastic that I probably subjected Marcela and Helen to much more than they wanted to hear.  Note to my AHS ESOL colleagues:  this exhibit would be a great destination for a field trip, or if that’s not possible, try to use the excellent website in your classroom. 

I’ve included a few photos, but I won’t even attempt to describe everything we saw in the exhibit.  After viewing the Horse Nation exhibit, my brain was so stimulated and my senses were so saturated that I was barely able to concentrate on the second special exhibit.  This new installation displayed toys and games from various Native American cultures.  I’ll definitely plan a return trip so I can appreciate this exhibit properly. 

This decorative horse mask is made of porcupine quills.

Instead of having lunch at the museum’s Mitsitam cafeteria (which features food from Native cultures throughout the Americas), we refueled with quick, over-priced espressos and lattes at their coffee bar before walking out into the August sunshine.  My newest sombrero came in very handy as we made our way across the National Mall.  If you’ve been on the Mall in DC this summer, you’ve seen the massive renovation project going on there.  At this stage, it still looks hideous, but the good news is that it’s scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.  We ignored it, and the scaffolding that currently covers the façade of the National Gallery’s East Building, en route to our next destination. 

The NGA’s West Building is filled with fabulous art, but we pretty much ignored that because we wanted to devote our limited time to the shop, one of the best museum shops I’ve ever seen.  With the tantalizing array of posters, puzzles, jewelry, and more, Las Tres Amigas were like kids in a toy store!  And thank you, Marcela, for commemorating this day with beautiful bangle bracelets for all of us. 

From the museum shop, we rushed up Seventh Street to Jaleo and arrived just in time for our 1:30 p.m. reservation.  Jaleo, one of the restaurants in the empire of celebrity chef José Andrés, has long been one of my favorite eating establishments.  I love the Spanish cuisine, and I love the concept of tapas.  Fortunately for us, Jaleo had extended Restaurant Week by continuing to offer a 4-course prix-fixe menu for $20.12.  What a deal!  Here are just a few of the highlights from our meal:  endive filled with oranges, goat cheese and almonds; an imaginative red beet and citrus salad with blue cheese and pistachios; espinaca a la catalan (spinach sautéed with raisins, apples and pine nuts); crispy fried calamari with a lemony sauce; and salmon on a bed of Mediterranean vegetables (reminiscent of ratatouille).  Of course, we shared everything, and lingered over a trio of delicious desserts: cool apricot sorbet sharing a dish with the creamiest vanilla and strawberry ice creams; orange infused flan; dark chocolate mousse with hazelnut ice cream.  It was a perfect meal in a perfect setting for Las Tres Amigas. 

Thoroughly satisfied, we left Jaleo and set out for a leisurely stroll to a nearby metro station.  Just by chance, along F Street, we came across the Thursday afternoon Penn Quarter Farmers’ Market, where I introduced Marcela to okra.  I guess it isn’t popular in Argentina, but because of my southern background (my mom grew up in Atlanta), okra has been part of my life since childhood.  Mmm, fried okra was an occasional tasty treat on visits to Atlanta and, later, to Texas.  However, my method of preparing okra is a little different, probably more Sephardic than southern.  Here’s what I do:

Sauté some thinly sliced onion in olive oil until it’s transparent and soft.  Add a chopped garlic clove and sauté briefly (don’t brown it).  Add 1 lb. okra (either sliced or whole) and sauté a few minutes.  Add 1-2 chopped tomatoes, fresh or canned, with their juices.  Season with salt, pepper, and cinnamon.  Add 1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar.  Cover and simmer 15-20 minutes, until okra is tender.  Sprinkle with chopped parsley. 

If you have any favorite okra recipes to share, please do so.  

Thanks to Marcela and Helen for the lovely day.  And thanks to our transportation providers, Alphonso and Matt.  I'm looking forward to more adventures with Las Tres Amigas!

Who's that Bracelet Lady?

 

Friday, August 24, 2012 – Who's that Bracelet Lady?

It’s taken me 62 years to get to this point, but I am now an official “bracelet lady,” i.e. one of those women who wear stacks of bracelets.  Yes, slowly but surely, I’ve abandoned my minimalist stance on jewelry. 

My first ear piercing, which took place in my doctor’s office, dates back to my high school years.  All through college, I favored dangly ethnic earrings with colorful beads.  Soon after college graduation, I got a “real” job and stopped wearing earrings altogether. I assumed the holes had closed up and gave away my entire earring collection.  Eventually, when I was in my thirties and looking for new means of self-expression, I resumed wearing earrings (no, the holes hadn’t closed completely).  On rare occasions, I would add a strand of pearls, or a delicate gold chain around my neck.  Then came my engagement/wedding ring (a dual-purpose band). Over time, I added three more rings, all of which I now wear constantly.  But aside from my watch, my wrists remained bare until a few years ago. 

My first bracelet purchase was a delicate construction of silver and gold wire, acquired during a girls’ trip to Shepherdstown, WV.  Every year since then, I’ve added a couple of bracelets to my collection.  Each has its own special associations with a particular place, event, or friends.  Although the collection was growing, I tended to wear each bracelet solo.  But look at me now after yesterday’s self-decorating spree at the National Gallery of Art.  (And please note that I did not purchase ALL of these bracelets yesterday.)    

A big thank you to Marcela for the crystal-studded bangle, a momento of our wonderful day in DC – more about that in my next post, tentatively entitled The Adventures of Las Tres Amigas.  As you can see from the photo, I’ve learned how to pile on several bracelets simultaneously and I’m reveling in all the jingly, jangly, shiny, sparkly, gleaming, glittery fun of it all.  I also suspect that this new development is tied to the recent change in my work status; it signifies my liberation from the classroom.  Imagine trying to write on the board with so much hardware clunking around on my wrist.

Now that I sport stacked rings and bracelets, why not go ahead with multiple earrings in each ear?  Several female friends and acquaintances, all quite respectable, have them.  Or could there be a belly button ring (small and tasteful, of course) in my future?  Weigh in with your opinions, please. 

The Medicinal Effects of Drunken Noodles

 

Wednesday, August 22, 2012 - Medicinal Effects of Drunken Noodles

I’m feeling deliriously happy after a late lunch with friends at Elephant Jumps, a terrific little Thai place.  Drunken noodles – yum – my new anti-depressant.  Has anyone ever studied their medicinal effects?  If you’re in northern Virginia, you’ll find the restaurant on Gallows Road (best not to think about the reason for the street name), just north of Route 50.  

Robin, Hee Sang, Evelyn, and Cindy

I would gladly spend the rest of the afternoon hunkered down at home, rooting out bits of garlic from between my teeth, but we’re due in Reston shortly.  A friend’s government contracting company has taken off in the past year or so.  They recently moved into new and larger quarters, and they’re celebrating with a big open house.  Congratulations, Gary!  Eleanor, Gary’s wife, said there would be “heavy” hors d’oeuvres at the party.  I wonder if they’ll have any drunken noodles.