Pearl #37 ~ Today is 11.16.2012

Yesterday, I got bangs.  This morning I noticed that my kalancho plant at work has two little blossoms in bloom!  Later, I watched this TED talk and now I'm inspired:

Pearl #36 ~ Food Series: Inca Trail Jello

In what can only be described as mesmerizing Incan magic, the porters watching over us during our trek along this ancient path were able to produce some of the most delicious food!  Among that food was jello!

Now, anyone who's made jello will know that it takes time and a cooling mechanism in order to get the jello to set.  How these guys did it when we were packing up and moving to a new location every day and had no electricity is beyond me.  But then, they also did the trail in half the time it took us to do it, carrying our bags for us and setting up our tents and waking us at the crack of dawn with the welcome call, "Coca té, señoritas, coca té!"

Believe you me, this was not your grand-dad's Inca trail trek.  Eat your heart out, Hiram Bingham III!

Pearl #35 ~ We're Gettin' Away!

Hubby and me in front of the Milwaukee County Courthouse, having just gotten married!

Ohmygoodness!!!  I just found what I consider to be the perfect get-away spot for Hubby and me to celebrate our anniversary!  And I booked it.  Immediately.  Here's the low-down, without giving too much away:

• It has charm and whimsy and eccentricity all in one.
• It reminds me of Robert Wyland, a childhood favorite.
• It is in Wisconsin and has a definite Wisconsin essence throughout.
• The price is right.
• There is a zoo.
• There are antiques.
• There are Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
• There will be many photos.
• I will blog about it after the fact.
• There may be pirating.
• They're buying breakfast but we're cooking it, and, well, paying for it.
• This will be a fantastic get-away.

Okay, that's all the dirt you're getting since this blog has yet to go viral and I'm pretty sure the two people reading it know Hubby (not that I think you'll spill the beans or anything) and I think I'm going to keep it a surprise.  He knows he's being kidnapped for the weekend and that we will be exchanging gifts - or maybe buying gifts there - but nothing more than that.  Stay tuned, all will be revealed after October.

This will be a pearl of an experience for sure!  Yay for four years of marriage!

Pearl #34 ~ Happy Anniversary to Us!!

Hubby gives me a victory spin on the day we got married - 08/25/08

Astonishingly, Hubby and I celebrated our fourth wedding anniversary this past weekend!  We were actually at a beautiful wedding on a lake in central Wisconsin, so we didn't do anything too fancy for ourselves.

This led to what I believe is a brilliant idea:  While I am a huge fan of our anniversary, we have still not mastered the art of celebrating it.  I tend to talk about our anniversary for weeks leading up to it, asking Hubby what he wants to do, how he wants to handle the whole gift exchange thing, when we're going to take time out to celebrate.

That last bit is the main point.  It's not so much that I want to do something super fancy like take a huge trip or eat a decadent meal or spend gobs of money, although I'll acknowledge that I do like to do things that are super fancy like all of the above.  The gift isn't the biggest thing on my agenda, either, though I'd be lying if I said I didn't want anything.  I do.  I like gifts, both giving and receiving.

It's mainly that I want this day to be special.  Acknowledged.  Celebrated in its own right.  Officially.  Not shared or tacked on to any other sort of event or happening.  I want to be able to say, "This is what we did for our anniversary."  Because four years of marriage is a big deal, you know?  And we should treat it as such.

That's what led to our brilliant idea. Because, you see, we've actually already celebrated our anniversary.  We've gone to Discovery World, which was on our list of to-dos for awhile; we saw our favorite band at Irish Fest and danced in the rain to their music (a waltz, no less); we did a little antique shopping and ate lobster; we took impromptu anniversary pictures while dressed all pretty at our friends' wedding on a lake.

But none of it was "officially our anniversary celebration" (although Discovery World was semi-official.  Don't ask me to explain the difference.  It's a super girly impractical and emotionally-based differential.  You either get it or you don't).

And we haven't exchanged gifts.  Haven't even purchased them yet.  Haven't even decided whether we will purchase them, or whether we'll make them, or whether we'll pick them out together while on some excursion.  But mark my words, there will be gifts whether big or small.

So here's what we decided to do to prevent this annual ambivalence that seems chronically tied to our anniversary.  Don't get me wrong, we've had some great anniversary celebrations so far.  Dinner at a Turkish restaurant followed by a play last year was sublime, and probably the best we've done at "officially" celebrating so far!  But we struggle to decide when and where and how we will officially celebrate.  Inevitably, we wind up celebrating and exchanging gifts a month or two after the fact.  Last year, we stretched it out and exchanged gifts in three stages as they arrived in the mail (we're big online shoppers).  Really fun, actually!  We might keep some of that going.

So, to satisfy my need for all things official, we have decided to have an anniversary weekend.  A get-away.  Time for just the two of us (and maybe our future kids) set aside apart from our daily life to celebrate our marriage and the accomplishment of preserving and nurturing it for yet another year.  Because that's the way it should be.  This will also help us with our goal of exploring the place in which we live:  visiting new towns in our state, trying new experiences in our community, and exploring our extended back yard.

We haven't chosen where our get-away for this will be yet, but it will most likely be in October sometime, since that's the first we'll have available.  What can I say?  It's a busy time of year and there are a number of non-anniversary get-aways scheduled between now and the end of September!  But mark my words, an official anniversary weekend is in the works.  And there will be gifts, especially the gift of each other, together, celebrating our marriage.  Officially.

Happy Anniversary, Hubby.

Pearl #33 ~ Food Series: Fallen Angel

One of the best steaks of my life.  It had a cilantro sauce that couldn't have tasted better!

You may think that all we do when we're together is eat good food and take pictures of our blissful expressions while doing so.  It's true that this is a core pillar of our friendship.

I'm a steak lover.  Steak is my favorite food and in my nearly 30 years I have tasted some amazing steaks.  A handful, though, are a cut above the rest.  Literally.  These delectable cuts of meat hover in the recesses of my memory and set the bar of comparison high for the (hopefully) many future steak encounters yet to come. 

The steak at Fallen Angel in Cusco, Perú, was one such steak.  Topped with some sort of cilantro-based sauce, this piece of meat was cooked to perfection and managed to excite

every. single. tastebud.

To top it off, I was with the best of company.  The now infamous (at least in the realm of this blog) HubbyBubby was at my side enjoying one of the best steaks of her life.  The table had fish swimming under a plane of glass.  The décor and experience of the place convinced one that they had entered an other-worldly domain.  Perhaps that's the secret.  This particular steak was quite literally out of this world.

***

 

Pearl #32 ~ Ambering Days

The Summer Sun got old yesterday.

You could see a subtle shift in her appearance, the fringe of her golden frock tinged with amber like the cheese gets on the frozen pizzas in my oven. The darker crust speaks to you, saying it’s not quite done, but keep watch or it will burn.

So speaks the Summer Sun’s smile, it’s ordinary frivolity now paired with an almost imperceptible nostalgia.

There’s not much time now; the days are shortening and soon the cool breezes will be crisped with Winter’s soft whisper promising her return.

Soon.

The Summer Sun got old, but she does not regret it. She was strong this year and played her role well. She’s ready. Ready for this year’s turn at autumnal wisdom; the sweet, humming absorption of the year’s final warmth; the refreshed anticipation of harvest bounty; the comforting swath of flannel and jeans and jackets; the reflective pause before sipping a hot cider; the congratulatory pull of the quilt over her head as she lays down to sleep.

And rests.

The Summer Sun got old, but she’s not done yet. It’s only August, after all, and she still likes to play. She’ll come with us to the lake next week, she’ll dance at the last festivals, she’ll help us build another campfire, she’ll rise early with us as we go back to school invigorated for another year’s work.

Yes, the Summer Sun will still play with us.

As she does, the amber fringe of her dress will deepen, spreading along the folds of her skirt, continuing to soften its sparkling hue into rich caramels until, one morning, when we wake to greet her we’ll say to her,

“You look different, somehow.”

Autumn Sun will point to the red and orange leaves and invite us to wander the pumpkin patch with her. As we pull on our boots and take our first steps forward with our new friend, a final laughing summer ray will warm us as if to say,

“Catch ya next year!”

***

Pearl #31 ~ Food Series: Shrimp Soup Hideaway

HubbyBubby and I broke away from the crowd during our visit to Arequipa, Perú, and we discovered this delectable little hideaway with some of the most incredible seafood soup I've ever experienced.  And that strawberry daiquiri was nothing less than bliss in a cup!

Pearl #30 ~ Moving On

Well, I did say this blog is an experiment.  Yes, it's August 23rd and I'm only on my 30th pearl.  That means that there are at least 335 pearls for me to post by January 25th, 2013.  The challenge is looking a little more daunting now than it did in January of this year, when I was inspired and unemployed, with all the time in the world to dedicate to a blog.  The thing is that I didn't dedicate my time then, just as I haven't dedicated a whole ton of time in the five months I've been employed at my new job.

But here's the thing about me.  I'm a processor, a muddler, a mulling-things-over-before-I-execute kinda gal.  This can be good and this can be bad.  It can result in severe procrastinational tendencies but it can also mean that when I get around to executing, I've thought through many of the pitfalls, found solutions, plotted out an efficient and workable plan.  Packing for a vacation is a good example.  Rarely do I start packing ahead of time, but I start thinking about packing about a week out, if not more.  I mean, I already know what I'm planning to wear to my friend's wedding in Oregon in September, so the worst of that packing scenario is already resolved and I've still got a full two weeks before I leave!  

Pearl #29 ~ Food Series: La Rosa Nautica

If you read my earlier posts, you've seen me reference my favorite restaurant in Peru, La Rosa Nautica (which I just discovered also has a location in Colombia!) and you've heard the story about how the first time I ate there I met President Toledo, only about two weeks before he left office.

Pearl #28 ~ Excerpt from Walking With Inkas

This is an excerpt from my travel blog, Walking with Inkas, and was originally written on July 12, 2006.

Printer Girl

Summary: The internship ends in a week. It's been fun and I've learned a lot, but I look forward to returning home and figuring out the next stage of my life.

Pearl #27 ~ Excerpt from Walking With Inkas

This is an excerpt from my travel blog, Walking with Inkas, and was originally written on June 12, 2006.

And Then Lima Was Home

Summary: Skipped church and went against all good motherly advice not to talk to strangers or follow them to unfamiliar locations. Thank God! Also took in an art show, some ocean air, and some sweets (mmm, gelato) while making new friends. An altogether musically charming weekend.

Pearl #26 ~ Excerpt from Walking With Inkas

This is an excerpt from my travel blog, Walking with Inkas, and was originally written on June 5, 2006.

One Month and Counting

SUMMARY:

June = winter, keeping tabs on presidential elections, reanalylis of Pisco Sour, and starting the rule of "six degrees of separation" with six potential Peruvian friends in an attempt to meet the entire country by August.

Pearl #25 ~ Food Series: Drink Chicha, Avoid bad Chifa

These pictures are from my 2006 trip to Perú and fit into the newly created food series.  I didn't think they warranted their own separate pearls, but collectively they represent the many wonderful food moments that I experienced during that trip, including those that are not illustrated like eating a delicious Alpaca steak in Aguas Calientes and trying Anticucho (cow heart) on a whim one Sunday afternoon.  Delicious, but the heart is definitely a tougher muscle than others, and it resulted in a chewiness that I don't like nearly as much as the meat in my favorite Peruvian dish, lomo saltado.

Pearl #24 ~ The Land of 4,000 Potatoes

I realize that I've been focusing a lot on the excerpts from my 2006 trip to Peru.  But in both my trips to Peru, I had some of my most memorable culinary experiences ever!  In a land that's reputed to grow more than 4,000 varieties of potato, how can you not expect its food to be wondrous?  So, I'm going to present a new series of pearls with my favorite food moments (some with illustration).  I'll start with Peru, since there are many and that fits with my current theme.  For starters (appetizers? aperitivos?), here are the ones already mentioned in previous blog posts:

Pearl #23 ~ Excerpt from Walking With Inkas

This is an excerpt from my travel blog, Walking with Inkas, and was originally written on May 30, 2006.


. . . continued from Pearl #22

After an hour and a half of sleep, I dragged myself out of bed to pack up and get ready for weekend activity number two: Ica. When I knocked on Jared's door, he chose sleep over travel, so I hailed a cab and headed off to the bus station to meet Brianna and Max without him. It was probably better that way, since our trip was very much of a "let's go to Ica and see what it's all about without any prior plans" type of trip. Jared likes to be more organized in his travels, and we probably would have driven him crazy with our approach to Ica. Not that we were completely spontaneous. Max and Brianna had taken care of the bus and hotel ahead of time, and we had some ideas about what we wanted to do.

Pearl #22 ~ Excerpt from Walking With Inkas

This is an excerpt from my travel blog, Walking with Inkas, and was originally written on May 30, 2006.


. . . continued from Pearl #21

After checking out and getting my weekly workout on the walk back home (I inevitably buy too much to carry comfortably, but it's good for my arms), Jared and I got ready for the rodeo! Angie's mom was driving us, and arrived just as I finished putting the frozen items away. We hopped in the car and headed off, stopping at the El Polo mall to pick up some of Angie's new friends from the gym that she goes to. Turns out these friends had made some other friends the night before . . . two European world travelers that happened to be passing through Peru! It took me a while to get the details, but after learning that they didn't speak Spanish, my interest was piqued. 

Pearl #21 ~ Excerpt from Walking With Inkas

This is an excerpt from my travel blog, Walking with Inkas, and was originally written on May 30, 2006.

Memorial Day Weekend

SUMMARY:

Had a great Memorial Day weekend, starting with sleeping in on Saturday and heading to Wong--much more than just a grocery store. Followed Wong with a trip to the Rodeo, followed by a barbeque at the intern house, followed by a night out on the town (although we missed the Marines by a hair). Went to bed at 3:30 and got up at 5:00 to head to Ica for an overnight trip full of sandboarding and winery tours. Some reflections on my new political status in light of the upcoming presidential elections and a thank you for my first two pieces of snail mail that arrived at the Embassy and are hanging in my cubicle to make it look a little more homey!

Pearl #20 ~ Picture Pearl-fect

Peru's tallest mountain, Huascaran, in the very center.  I took this picture on my first flight into the country.

Following up on Pearl #15's comments about how pearlicious it is to revisit my Pearl-uvian (now I'm really branding myself, aren't I?) moments from 2006, it occurred to me that I have pictures to accompany my original blog posts!  They didn't make it into the Walking With Inkas blog, but they made it into my Facebook albums after the fact, so I decided I'd pull some of those that are relevant to the stories I've already posted.  Moving forward, I'll try to integrate them into the actual posts.  Enjoy!

Pearl #19 ~ Excerpt from Walking With Inkas

This is an excerpt from my travel blog, Walking with Inkas, and was originally written on May 25, 2006.

. . . continued from Pearl #18

As I near the end of my second weekend in Peru, I'm beginning to feel much more secure and am starting to find more kids my own age to play with. As nice as the full-time staff at the Embassy is, it's been fun getting to know some of the other interns and summer hires this week. Jared and I have been seeking out others "like us", and have found a couple kids of Embassy personnel that are just here for the summer. Two other interns arrived yesterday, too, so all of a sudden we've compiled what was referred to by one guy as a "gaggle of youngsters"! 

Pearl #18 ~ Excerpt from Walking With Inkas

This is an excerpt from my travel blog, Walking with Inkas, and was originally written on May 25, 2006.

 

General Impressions and What-Have-You

SUMMARY:

Survived my first earthquake ever and am beginning to feel much more secure. I'm making friends with the other interns (as they begin to arrive) and the Marines. A couple reflections on my experience so far and life in general, and I'm finally caught up on the blogging! Lots to look forward to in the coming weekend . . .

Pearl #17 ~ Excerpt from Walking With Inkas

This is an excerpt from my travel blog, Walking with Inkas, and was originally written on May 25, 2006.

. . . continued from Pearl #16

On Sunday, I had my first visitor in Peru. My friend Rotney, who is half Peruvian, was in the country visiting his relatives, and we had made plans to meet up before leaving the States. The details were kind of sketchy due to my limited communication mediums here, but I had his flight time, and figured there couldn't be too many flights coming from Cusco at the same time. I called my favorite taxi driver, Carlos (He has a great selection of music that he blares at top volume as we groove down the Pan-American highway! He wants to go dancing sometime, so stay tuned for future developments (don't worry, I'll be safe about it)), and we headed to the airport. I didn't expect to feel so excited over seeing a familiar face so soon in my trip, but I was! Rotney and I just became friends about six months ago, through school, but he's a great guy to hang out with and I would recommend him as an international travel buddy any day!

Pearl #16 ~ Excerpt from Walking With Inkas

This is an excerpt from my travel blog, Walking with Inkas, and was originally written on May 25, 2006.

. . . continued from Pearl #14

On Wednesday evening, I got to go to my first reception, at none other than the DCM's house. It's as luxurious as the Ambassador's house, although less museum-like and more homey. I could definitely enjoy the perks of either of those jobs. I'd especially enjoy the personal drivers. As I tell people here, my driving in the States isn't that great. No way do I want to drive in a foreign country!

Pearl # ~ Food Series: How I Committed to Being an Omnivore

Pearl # ~ Food Series: My Top Five Steaks. Ever.

Pearl # ~ Food Series: Churros Around the Corner

Pearl #15 ~ Past Pearls Are a Present Pearl

It's already May 8th and I still have 360 pearls to go before January of next year, but at least I'm posting, and I have been picking up the pace thanks to republishing my previous blog posts, written during my internship in Perú in 2006.  And I have to say, that while each of those posts contains descriptions of "pearls" from that experience, the process of re-reading my posts has been a pearl in itself!

Pearl #14 ~ Excerpt from Walking With Inkas

This is an excerpt from my travel blog, Walking with Inkas, and was originally written on May 25, 2006.

The First Week, Part II, and Beyond

SUMMARY:

Finished the check-in process at the Embassy, which involved running all over the Embassy, scheduling appointments and meeting almost everyone, including the DCM (Deputy Chief of Mission), who's second in command after the Ambassador. Asked for work to do and am now on my way to becoming the Microsoft Access guru at the Embassy (never learned it before)! Attended a reception at the DCM's house, where I had my first Pisco Sour and met Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for WHA Charles Shapiro. My friend Rotney came to visit for a night. We met the President of Peru (Toledo) and had an Ambassador sighting to make the most of Rotney's short time here and start the week off right.

Pearl #13 ~ Excerpt from Walking With Inkas

This is an excerpt from my travel blog, Walking with Inkas, and was originally written on May 23, 2006  

. . . continued from Pearl #12

By Monday morning, I had been listening to Jared toss around acronyms fluently and mention names of other people at the Embassy. I was eager to get to work, and woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed with my business attire all pressed and laid out the night before. I was too preoccupied with the enormity of the fortress-like building to be too nervous about the intense investigation of our shuttle van as we pulled into the employee lot. Every vehicle that enters the compound is locked in this iron cage (along with its occupants) and submitted to a thorough investigation that includes looking under the hood and in the trunk and running a special kind of swab along the vehicle to be tested for traces of explosive materials. If everything clears, the gates open and the vehicle carries us the remaining 50 feet to the employee entrance situated under by a large cast iron seal of the U.S. Embassy in Lima, Peru. You can imagine the size of my eyes as I stepped out of the van.

Pearl #12 ~ Excerpt from Walking With Inkas

This is an excerpt from my travel blog, Walking with Inkas, and was originally written on May 23, 2006

The First Week, Part I

SUMMARY:

Have to relearn the alphabet with all the acronyms at the Embassy, but I got a "@state.gov" email address, so that's pretty neat. Jared, the other intern was a great host and we mainly spent our first weekend sitting around getting to know each other. The security on the house and at the Embassy is intense! It's fun having classified access to certain places, though. On my first morning, I got to attend a meeting at none other than the Ambassador's house! I enjoyed the coffee and banana bread and stole a napkin with the official Department of State seal as a souvenir. In general, I'm getting settled in and am learning fast, even getting used to the traffic!

Pearl #11 ~ Excerpt from Walking With Inkas

This is an excerpt from my travel blog, Walking with Inkas, and was originally written on May 18, 2006

Flying South

SUMMARY:

Got to O'Hare, just in time, but then my flight was delayed. Enjoyed people-watching and sipping coffee to relax (I know, that's not how caffeine's s'posed to work) after a hectic week of moving. Made a few friends on the way down, including a Brazilian business man who offered to show me around Rio di Janeiro, and a girl named Jessica as I took my first steps on Peruvian ground. One of my bags got lost, but my driver was waiting with my name on a sign (another life dream accomplished!) to take me home.

Pearl #10 ~ An Excerpt from Walking With Inkas

This is an excerpt from my travel blog, Walking with Inkas, and was originally written on May 11, 2006 

Expectations

SUMMARY:

Alright, the nervousness is gone for the moment, now I'm excited. Here are my expectations.

Pearl #9 ~ Orion of the Multicolored Belt

Today's six-word memoir:  The first step is showing up.

Reuben, our guide, shares his infinite knowledge at a ruin along the Inca Trail.

On our last morning on the Inca trail, the porters woke us earlier than usual with their standard wake-up call, "¡Coca té, señoritas, coca té!"  Let me tell you, there is nothing like an Incan trail porter shaking your tent and offering you coca tea to make you want to climb out of your sleeping bag.

Pearl #8 ~ An Excerpt from Walking with Inkas

This is an excerpt from my travel blog, Walking with Inkas, and was originally written on May 10, 2006

The Eve of Peru

SUMMARY:

Getting nervous about leaving, but it will be okay. I can do it.

Pearl #7 ~ Llamas in the Stars

View from the Inca Trail, day 3

Our third day hiking the Inca Trail was complete, night had fallen.  I was looking at the amazing collection of stars on display, so similar to those back home, and yet so foreign.  No dippers to be found in the southern hemisphere, but the Southern Cross plays almost the same role - that beacon of familiarity winking down at us as if to say, "Welcome, visitors from the north, we're glad you came."

Pearl #6 ~ An Excerpt from Walking with Inkas

This is an excerpt from my travel blog, Walking with Inkas, and was originally written on May 7, 2006

One Week to Go . . . A Dedication

SUMMARY:

Thanks to everybody who has supported me throughout the years, and shared in my little adventures. We're off to Peru!

Pearl #5 ~ Live Every Moment

Today's six-word memoir:  I'm wearing my Inca trail pants.

Perú has been on my mind lately, I'm not sure why.  But it's clear that there's a pearl or two begging to be recorded.  I should clarify, there are two Peruvian chapters in my life so far.  The first was the summer of 2006, when I had the incredible opportunity to travel to the "Land of the Inkas" for a three-month internship with the Department of State.  I know!  Who does that?!

Pearl #4 ~ Forrest, This One's for You

Today's six-word memoir:  We were like peas and carrots.

When I started this blog, I knew there would be some periods of silence, and that while my goal was to write "daily-ish", there would be some days where I post multiple "pearls" and some where I post none.  That's just the nature of taking on a project like this, and as long as I get to 365 pearls (We're gonna keep it 365, even though it's a leap year, okay?) by January 25th, 2013, I'll be satisfied.

Pearl #3 ~ Not Every Dish is a Delicacy

Currently reading:  The Jefferson Key, by Steve Berry and 2666 (book 1 of 3), by Roberto Bolaño
Today's six-word memoir:  All things happen for a reason.

As legend has it, I was about two years old that fateful day.  I was with my dad, mom, and grandma in our backyard, enjoying what must have been a beautiful summer day.  I don't know if Dad was working in the garden, or what, but wherever he was, he discovered a great big juicy night crawler.  Now, night crawlers are pretty fascinating with their ability to change genders and grow back body parts that got cut off and multiple hearts and all.  Not that I knew any of that stuff back then.

Pearl #2 ~ Plaza Bib-Rambla

Listening to:  The clocks ticking in the silence

Today's six-word memoir:  Oh to walk Granada's streets again!

Looking through to Plaza Bib Rambla from The Alcaiceria 

When studying abroad in Granada, Spain, one of my favorite pastimes was wandering the streets, most of which were cobblestone, and all had this wonderfully uninterrupted rhythm of life happening as it does day in and day out.

Pearl #1 ~ Tim

Today's Six Word Memoir:  Live every moment to the fullest.
Listening to:  Smile at the Fishies, Tim (2002)

I always considered Tim a little brother, mostly by default because my sister and I grew up playing with him and his siblings and spent so much time at his house that they became an extension of our own family.  Being three years older than him, I was closer to his older brother and sister than to him, but he was always there, a piece that completed the puzzle.

Shout Out to My Peeps! . . . Really? I Just Wrote That?

First, I want to extend a HUGE thank you to all my amazing family and friends for your support!  Yesterday, when I was working on preparing this blog, there were about nine page views, most of which were my own collected over the last several months.  Today, the number was up to 122 between yesterday and this morning!