African Vanilla

Two very fun people will be in Kenya and Tanzania (Zanzibar) this summer. I'd like to follow. Unfortunately, I don't have enough companionship nor ability to take the heat. Instead, I'm envisioning possible culinary creations that fresh vanilla beans from Africa could find themselves in (thank you SF!, I'm holding you to this promise, but if you have trouble with customs, I'll understand ;D).

Dancing through my head:

• fresh vanilla bean ice cream
• pear clafouti
• Rose vanilla bandung (must think this through a bit more on whether flavor combo isn't strange)
• Vanilla biscuits with rose jelly
  
• Scallops in savory vanilla cream sauce (w/ a touch of cayenne pepper)
• fresh fruit glace w/ bourbon vanilla caramel
  

Homily on Love of JC

The priest spoke about the friendship between him and a man from opposite ends of the social, educational and racial spectrum. Their one and only necessary common ground for a rewarding friendship was their love of JC. Now that I think about it, that would be the best common ground for any kind of relationship as we look to manifest God's love in this downright ugly world, transforming what is, to what ought to be. Yeah, I didn't mean to get religious, but I realize that my voracious appetite to know God will be forever unappeased, so it's always great to be hungry together?!?

Truffle oil isn't real?

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/16/dining/16truf.html?ex=1336968000&en=1f35ed4e1a199e88&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
Did you know this? I didn't. Never trust the word "essence" in products again. So much to learn in this world. No wonder I was confused eating real truffle dishes and neither smelling nor tasting what the white truffle oil promised. I still have at least half a bottle from that Thanksgiving years ago, but only use it in simple pasta and cream sauces that could be enhanced with the flavor.

Installation to Visit and on Beauty

Definitely going to check this out in June: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/15/arts/design/15stor.html?ex=1336881600&en=dd8cbbf98a5e84db&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Are there certain fundamental characteristics of what we, collectively, see as beautiful, or is beauty really just in the eye of the beholder and influenced by society? Can something be simultaneously hellishly beautiful, beautifully hellish, and hell ? Should beauty torment (different from "can")? From a Christian point of view, what is beautiful?

Let's not just talk about theories. I'm more interested in your perceptions.

The Chrissy Aesthetic

from Oxford English Dictionary 2nd Ed. 1989 (OED) Aesthetic 2. The philosophy or theory of taste, or of the perception of the beautiful in nature and art.

When my friend C (who is quite fashion forward and stylish) goes shopping, she sometimes spots an item and thinks "that is sooo Chrissy", but can't put a definitive finger on what that implies, except that it's something pretty and special. In fact, I don't know what I like until I chance upon it. Everyone has a personal style these days. It's fashionable to be different, and I'm no exception. I think the reason that you can't really define my aesthetic is because it's ever evolving, constantly shaped by: present mood, new memories, fashion ideas on the runway, acquired knowledge, etc. Possibly, it's my refusal to be defined, nailed down, and categorized. Or perhaps it's because I'm a tireless aesthete. After all, I do adore James McNeill Whistler (in addition to 99^8 others).

from OED 2nd Ed. 1989 Aesthete: One who professes a special appreciation of what is beautiful, and endeavours to carry his ideas of beauty into practical manifestation.

Edward Hopper's 'Nighthawks'

Edward Hopper is most known for his paintings on isolation. Some appreciate'Nighthawks' because it starkly shows the loneliness that comes with urbanization (and I would include some forms of technology), while others dislike it for precisely the same reason. What can we learn about the hopes of the four figures within the diner? No one looks at the other. But do they want to look? Do they wish to speak with the stranger next to them, or would they rather stay lost in their own thoughts? To put it shortly, is it a scene of loneliness or chosen solitude?

That brings me to another question. Is it natural to be isolated? What if we lived more closely to nature and less in artifice?

Dreams are broken and destroyed, but, by our very nature, we always come up with new dreams. Perhaps that is one connector: everyone dreams. No matter how broken we become under the weight of life, we continue to trudge through each day, waiting, working, wishing for the fulfillment of our desires.

Redirection of Blog

Ok, so I want to slightly revamp the original direction of this blog (did I have any? thank you RA for constructive comment :D). Maybe I'll just stick in some tidbits of thoughts or observations that cross my mind.

Those who think they know me are ever surprised at what they find out over the years. Reminds me of "You Don't Know Me" by Ray Charles.

Perhaps it's the spring--> summer transition, but I'm getting way inspired and romantic. Sigh, butterflies, goldfinches, snow-white swans swimming on a glistening lake past a flowering crab apple tree.

God made everything in this world and said it was good. Only with the entrance of sin have things gone wrong. Nature is good. So good that I've been very good about those morning or evening jogs for a chance to absorb the surrounding glory and be repeatedly awestruck.