Calling All Language Nerds.....

Whew. That was some hiatus there. Three weeks have flown by. That's how long I've been unemployed and it feels like I haven't had the time to sit down and delve into some "Staci" projects, one of them being blogging. Needless to say it's been on my mind. A lot of things have been on my mind, which is not in the least bit unusual. All in all, having the opportunity to spend my days the way I want to spend them has been nothing short of comfort for my soul. Yesterday I spent all day at the beach with someone I have known for a long time but just recently ran into about a month ago. He and I had a pretty enjoyable 8 or so hours. (Not ALL at the beach...lol.) I forgot what the pulse of the city felt like. Riding public transportation and being amongst the strange and colorful characters of a big city, even though I live here, I kinda felt like a tourist. I used to get in my car, drive to work, work with two people, come home and hang out or talk to my people. Anyway...it was a a fun and entertaining social scenario. We took lots of notes. he he. I took some pictures. After the jump....

As for the language nerds....I am trying to find out if Sanskrit is one of the oldest languages. I know ultimately it's somewhat theory but I'm curious to know the scientific theory. What irks me is that when I do some research on google the only pages that I get from my query are those of answer.com or hubpages.com or yahooanswers....blah blah blah. Thank you but no, I don't want the uneducated opinion of a bunch of commoners (no offense, I'm a commoner as well when it comes to topics of discussion that I haven't been schooled on.) Anyway....I've been stubmling across a language called Tamil that some people are saying is the oldest language. I had never even heard of it. Ok. Unfortunately that's all I've got today. I continue to promise to beef up my blog. As in fill it with more quality and substance. Don't lose hope (blogwise) on me yet! Still working on that "structure" in my life to blog once a day, do my Spanish lessons daily, go to the gym, check some things off my list and plan my journey to Costa Rica. I'm such the procrastinator, I haven't even bought my ticket yet. Grrrrr.....Ok, I'm off to Great America!

Chilean Goodies!

In the spirit of cultural exchange, my friend Sara, whom I met because I stumbled upon her expat blog about her daily life in Santiago, Chile, sent me a package of goodies! I sent her a bunch of chocolates and stuff she missed and well, I got some really cool stuff. Tidbit of random information.....we share the same birthday. Yep, Januaary 9th. Which makes her cool right off the bat! lol. Thanks Sara! You can find her blog at http://whatsarasays.blogspot.com/


Items in the picture:

Ambrosos Gomitas (sp?) which are gummy dolphins; Merquen (spicy stuff, or the only spice); drink packet mixes which I have yet to try (update when I do); Carezza Chocolate bar; Sahne-Nusse chocolate bar; Tuaregs which I believe are coconut and chocolate; Capri chocolate bar (which I have already devoured); and in the front the beautiful beautiful jewelry that I LOVE! I'm not sure what the red ones are on the left but they are very very cool, and the bracelet in the middle is Lapis Lazuli, a Chilean stone and the silver ones are Mapuche, a Chilean indigenous group. I pray to the jewelry gods that I don't lose any! Thanks again SARA! I hope to make it to Chile in the next year!

Fancy Pants BBQ and Salsa in Humboldt Park

For your viewing pleasure. Sunday M had a "Fancy Pants BBQ" in Humboldt Park and it was QUITE lovely. It was just as it sounds. We wore dresses and the boys dressed their best and the spread of food and spirits was pretty, gourmet, fancy and honestly, reminiscent of a Vanity Fair photo shoot. You know how I love Humboldt Park and could go on and on.....but I won't this time. I've inundated you with far too many words today. I think I'll wait till tomorrow to share the Femi Kuti experience with you. Anyway.....not only did we have a BBQ BUT I ventured on down to the Puerto Rican and Cuban salsa ensemble. A group of Latin American men assemble a speaker, background music and a five piece or so salsa band EVERY day in the summertime and just jam out, drawing a decent crowd. I love that 60647 is a hispanic hood. I might "look" like the stereotypical juera, but Facebook told me I'm Latina and I believe (what do I term Facebook? It? Them?) it! ha ha ha. Anyway....yea, I'm a juera living in the hood. And I love it. Oh and after the pics and video I've posted my recipe for the most amazing potato salad I've ever had (and served at the BBQ).





G and K (?) posing for the photo shoot....ha ha.

VIDEO:


Fancy Pants Potato Salad Recipe:
SERVES 4 -6

INGREDIENTS:
* 2 cups potatoes, diced, cooked and drained
* 4 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
* 1/2 cup celery, diced
* 1/4 cup green pepper or red pepper, diced
* 1/4 cup onion, diced
* 1 tablespoon dill relish
* 2 teaspoons dill weed or dill seeds

Dressing

* 1/4 cup mayonnaise
* 1 tablespoon ketchup
* 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
* 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
* 1 teaspoon sugar

Directions

1. Cook potatoes.
2. Combine in large bowl,potatos,bacon crumbles, celery,onion,green or red
peppers, dill relish.
3. Add dillweed or dill seeds and stir well.
4. In a small bowl combine mayonnaise,ketchup,chili powder,worcheshire
sauce,salt, black pepper and sugar. Stir well.
5. Pour dressing over potatoes and stir to combine.
6. Chill 30 minutes to 1 hour before serving.

National 40 Oz. Week

Ok Ok Ok....so this is only at one restaurant in Chicago and it started on Monday. I've scolded myself twice now on the timeliness of the news and events I report on my blog. But I'm posting it anyway....to encourage the blog "triggers" (similar to the triggers that kept me in the daily "work" habit. Always remember, human beings: creatures of habit.) Oh and, well you know I'm a festive supporter and hobbyist of the occasional 40 oz. beer habit, because of what it stands for, and well, because I like beer! This is an article that was posted on www.thrillist.com/chicago

National 40oz Week
June 29-July 5 at the Fifty/50, 2047 W Division St, btw Damen and Hoyne; Wicker Park; 773.489.5050


Often by the time official recognition comes it's long overdue: it took 18 years after his tragic assassination for MLK to get a holiday, and secretaries struggled with hateful oppression for decades before Russell Stover negotiated a day of coconut-filled reparations. Finally giving the most economical of beverages its day (or week) in the sun, National 40oz Week.

Starting tonight and running seven days strong at the Fifty-50, National 40oz Week's a celebration of the 40's special place in American culture, commemorating everyone from those who've fallen in the hood to those whose taped hands helped them fall in their hoodies. Each night rocks a different $5 40oz selection (Olde English, St. Ides, Big Bear, etc) along with other malt liquor-themed discounts and tomfoolery. Some highlights:

Colt 45 'Works Every Time' Launch Party: Scoop up gratis Colt 45 merch Monday while you gorge on half-priced wings, pulled pork sandwiches, and the jalapeno/habanero "Hell Burger", which comes with a side of studying for the GMATs.

Four Courses to Freedom 40oz Dinner: On Wednesday night 25 bucks gets you four courses (stuffed mushrooms, cheese fries, fried chicken, baby back ribs w/cornbread) painstakingly paired with four different 40oz pours selected by a real live sommelier, 'cause how else would you know what to pair with the earthy, oaky notes of '09 King Cobra?

Cubs vs 40oz party: The first inning of Friday's Cubs-Brewers game will be spiced up with Jameson-spiked shots of Mickey's while the rest will feature $6 Mickey's Irish Car Bombs and a 6pm showing of Rocky, after which the Mickey's (and Mickey) will have you ready to eat lightning and crap thunder, but hopefully not until you get home.

Appropriately, they're wrapping things up Sunday with Schlitz Hangover Day, helping you rebound from exercising all your freedoms with $8 Schlitz-infused "Wobble Stopper" bloodies and half-priced biscuits and gravy w/ thick-cut maple-glazed bacon, meaning the only hateful oppression you'll struggle under is having to go into work the next day.

Let the endless Saturdays begin.........

I swear I knew damn well it was Wednesday yesterday. And the day before that was Tuesday. But all day Tuesday I was telling people in public to have a good weekend. What an asshole right? *shame* It was the same on Wednesday. Every day is becoming a Saturday ALREADY? Has it been THAT easy for me to slide right into the non-working world after being at my job for TWELVE years? Particularly since I'm known to be the structured-know-where-my-next-paycheck-is-coming-from type of person (always refer back to the erratic non-static quixotic neurotic if in doubt). I'm not all that worried about it though. Maybe because I DO know where my next paycheck is coming from. (Good ole' State of Illinois). Or maybe it's because I FINALLY recognized that change is good and when it happens it's time to just move on and continue forward and try something new. I'm thinking it's a combination of the three. Has anyone else lost their job of long time recently with the economic downturn? Switched careers as a result? What was your experience? New job? My goal in the end is to NOT return to the 9-5, M-F, office job located outside of my home. If I have to do bookkeeping 40 hours a month from home and work as a bartender three days a week for 10 hours (yes, outside of home, but not in an office 9-5 M-F) or nanny 3 days a week or pimp my cats out to a cat calendar......whatever it takes to NOT slave to the clock and live my life for me.....I'm going to try REALLY hard to find it. If anyone knows of any good professions or jobs that have worked for themselves or friends that are at home jobs....PLEASE let me know. Oh and there are several job descriptions that have caught my eye as of recently that I'm interested in pursuing or finding out more about: Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing; grant writing; social media writer; hmmmmm a few others but I can't recall them at the top of my head lying in bed at 10 a.m. BUT my dilemma lies in the fact that every job I see posted for these career paths require extensive experience. How does one gain experience in a field where everyone wants an experienced employee? What ever happened to training? How do I gain experience?

On celebrating my new found freedom, I went to see Femi Kuti yesterday at Ravinia. I'm going to post this in a separate posting. I think I'm learning my style of blogging. I think I like to keep topics separate so as not to overload the reader. What do you guys think? Is that a good idea or does it really matter?

Blog ketchup........

Wait, no I mean catch up. Ha ha. But it was cute right? Or just silly. Whatever....

Every day is a struggle. I mean psychologically about this "journey" I'm taking for three months. It shouldn't be this big of a deal. It's only three months. And all in all, even if I just sit on my ass in one spot the whole time (not a chance....I've got too many stars in my eyes....I want to see everything) I'm STILL saving money and getting away for awhile. Nevertheless, I'm going to miss my family, my friends, my cats, my plants, my bed, my apartment, the food I can just go to the store and get, my stupid car, and my city......among other familiarities. So that is at the forefront of my mind daily. On the other hand, I am getting excited doing research about being able to work in exchange for places to stay at some really beautiful ecological conservation projects.....some in the Caribbean, some in the cloud forest, some near Osa Peninsula......I really want to stay on a dairy farm. Is that weird? It's been a nice fantasy of mine to want to stay on a farm for a few days. I am from the Midwest you know. lol.

Some summertime events coming up in the Chi that you might be innerested in (yes I intentionally spelled that wrong).

* Femi Kuti is playing at Ravinia next Wednesday! Get your tix. We have a large group going and we plan to get there when the gates open at like 4 p.m.

* My general neighborhood (meaning Logan Square, Humboldt Park, Palmer Square) is getting more and more attention. On July 11th the Tour de Fat Chicago will be in Palmer Square (two blocks from my house) in honor of........FAT TIRE!!! For all of you saying "huh"? Fat Tire is a delicious yummy best beer in the world (in my opinion) that is brewed in Colorado but is a Belgian Ale. The fest features Mucca Pazza

and Sean Hayes, Squirm Burpee Circus, The Daredevil Chicken Club and The Sprockets. I'm not sure who the rest of these are, you could probably google it but in any event, it's free, and it's outdoors and it's in honor of Fat Tire. What more could you ask for? It's a fund raiser for West Town Bikes and you can register at 9-10 and then there is a bike parade from 10-11 and the ad says "commence revivalation" from 11-4. Get out there all you bike people!

And now a photo to share with you the shits and giggles of Chicago summertime fun. Every once in awhile, the OE 40 oz. MUST be busted out. To all my homies that love to indulge in the 40 oz. OE, the wife especially.

Sugar.......and I don't mean it as a term of endearment.......

Argh. I know I know...I don't blog for a week and now I've got about twenty things to blog about. This will be a recurring theme. Get used to it. My nature is erratic. I've learned to come to terms with this.

Anyway...my dentist told me to stop drinking beverages with sugar in them. She clued me in to the fact that ALL (yes, all) beverages on the consumer market, save for the flavored waters or plain water itself, have RIDICULOUS amounts of sugar in them. She urged me for the health of my teeth. However, there are MANY other health benefits of kicking the sugar habit. I don't think people really realize HOW MUCH sugar is in EVERYTHING you buy to drink from the store.

Fact: There are TWELVE (12) grams of sugar in a tablespoon.

If you are like me, and believe me, I haven't ruled out the possibility (in my hypochoncriatic mind) of being pre-diabetic or something.....I don't think I can live ENTIRELY without sugar. I gave up the Lipton Tea, the Sprite, Pepsi, even freakin APPLE JUICE, those 16 oz. bottles have like 40 grams of sugar in them. BUT....when I drink my tea or coffee, I usually use TWO (2) tablespoons of sugar. That's 24 grams of sugar! Just think how much sugar is in KOOL-AID. One cup of sugar......well 8 oz. is one cup. Sixteen (16) tablespoons are in one cup. You are going to have to sit down for this one. If there are 12 grams of sugar in one tablespoon and there are 16 tablespoons in one cup.....yep....do the math....I can't even believe it myself. There are 192 grams in one cup of sugar. It's enough to make you keel over now.

Check out the labels of the beverages you buy at the store. A can of Pepsi has like 50 some grams of sugar. That's FOUR tablespoons of sugar in that little ass can of soda. Even Gatorade has too much sugar in it!

Drink Propel or flavored water. Propel only has 6 grams of sugar in it.

I hate to freak people out, but you should take it as informational, a precaution, something to think about, and this is just some information I pulled from the internet:

Diabetes - "Diabetes is due to the body's inability to maintain a constant level of sugar in the blood, as it should. (If you drink a lot of alcoholic beverages....there's massive amounts of sugar in those too). People with diabetes are more likely to have a heart attack or stroke at a younger age. In addition, they may be at a greater risk for a decline in mental function - brain decay or dementia. Full Article at www.neurology.org/cgi/content/full/63/4/E9

Not only is sugar found in high levels in beverages, but check your food labels too! A research found that people consume (depending on what they eat) upwards of 207 grams a day, that's 52 spoonfuls and four times the recommended daily limit. If you eat packaged and processed foods, check the labels! Sugar may be addictive, withdrawal occurs. Sugar also causes cancer. Women with the highest blood sugar levels increased their chances of pancreas, skin, womb and urinary tract cancer. Also leads to premature aging.....messing up your skin.

Last for now....eating too much sugar can also contribute to arterial damage. High blood sugar causes LDL cholesterol to oxidize. When oxidised it encourages plaque deposits in our arterial linging causing the blood vessels to clog leading to heart disease, the number one killer. (2nd article www.netdoctor.co.uk/dietandnutrition/toomuchsugar.htm)

I'm only 33 I swear. But thinking about my family's health history (pardon my French) freaks me the fuck out.

Ok that's enough for now. I've got more happy things to talk about. Just thought you should pay attention to the sugar you intake. If anything, knowing what you are putting into your body is never a bad thing.