i might be mentally ill (i need the eggs)

After just four weeks of dating R., I am even more convinced that the state of being enamoured with someone falls under the category of mental illness.

And to revisit my quest for the Trifecta, I must now ask, when do love and infatuation ever make sense? Feel good and inspire... sure, why not? But make sense?

Perhaps it is the Holy Grail after all.

things that make you go hmmmmm...

I'm currently meditating on Rob Brezny's advice to me (a Virgo) this week (though I think it applies to all people):

"The person one loves never really exists," said Arthur C. Clarke, "but is a projection focused through the lens of the mind onto whatever screen it fits with least distortion." Your assignment, Virgo, is to prove Clarke at least partially wrong. See if you can figure out a way to dissolve or elude your own projections long enough so that you can see the raw truth about a certain person you crave or adore or care about. Not a reflection of the dream lover who hides in your heart. Not a fantasy you wish your beloved would become. But the perfectly imperfect soul who is actually there in front of you.

We like to think that we are smart enough to not project and not to have unrealistic expectations in a budding relationship, but I think that part of being an imperfect and weak human being, is that we all naturally project our vision of what it means to be in love and in a relationship upon an adorable person who might be kissing us and telling us how beautiful we are, but that we may barely even know.

I'll tell you this, taking Rob's advice requires a heck of a lot of will power and re-training your brain how to think and react in these circumstances.

So is your loverboy just a man, or a love god? And as much as I like to think of myself as a goddess, am I, too, just a woman?

Dang.

marmalade lady

I just made some orange marmalade over the last three days. I had never done anything like this before, but with my abundance of citrus fruits I took home from the market last Saturday, I had to do something! And let me tell you... YUM!

I found the recipe online. Here it is (from Cooking With Amy):

Bitter Orange Marmalade
(more a formula than a recipe)

Ripe or unripe oranges
Sugar

Wash and dry the fruit. Cut unpeeled into quarters lengthwise then slice very thin crosswise. Measure fruit, place in a large pot and add twice as much water. Let stand overnight.

The next day, bring to boil covered then uncover and simmer 1 hour. Let stand 24 hours.

Measure the fruit and liquid and add no more than 1 1/2 cups of sugar per 2 cups of fruit mixture. Boil until it reaches the consistency you like, probably between 10 and 20 minutes or so, it will thicken slightly as it cools.

Sterilize jars in whichever method you prefer. (I wash them with soapy water then fill them halfway with water and microwave for about 5 minutes, until the water boils, remove with potholders and empty them just before filling.) Pour marmalade into hot jars and seal. If your jars do not seal airtight, just keep the jam in the refrigerator.

Now I just have to figure out what to do with these Meyer lemon and Persian lime slices (more marmalade? suggestions?)

say orange!

I volunteered at the Farmers' Market on Saturday for the Citrus Festival. Jacob, the pre-teen culinary impresario and my fellow volunteer, and I posed for a pic!

if you live in the Bay Area and like theater...

then go see My Children! My Africa! at the Marin Theater Company before it's gone!

Unbelievable acting and fantastic writing and a very timely message for our times and always.