chibiuk

Man and his dog on Flickr.

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 20:36:53 -0400

Man and his dog on Flickr.

Air plant jacuzzi time on Flickr.

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 09:25:00 -0400

Air plant jacuzzi time on Flickr.

Peonies by my bedside on Flickr.

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 02:53:15 -0400

Peonies by my bedside on Flickr.

French fry octopus! on Flickr.

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 07:47:37 -0400

French fry octopus! on Flickr.

"After learning my flight was detained 4 hours, I heard the announcement: If anyone in the vicinity..."

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 23:43:49 -0400

“

After learning my flight was detained 4 hours,
I heard the announcement:
If anyone in the vicinity of gate 4-A understands any Arabic,
Please come to the gate immediately.

Well—one pauses these days. Gate 4-A was my own gate. I went there.
An older woman in full traditional Palestinian dress,
Just like my grandma wore, was crumpled to the floor, wailing loudly.
Help, said the flight service person. Talk to her. What is her
Problem? we told her the flight was going to be four hours late and she
Did this.

I put my arm around her and spoke to her haltingly.
Shu dow-a, shu- biduck habibti, stani stani schway, min fadlick,
Sho bit se-wee?

The minute she heard any words she knew—however poorly used—
She stopped crying.

She thought our flight had been canceled entirely.
She needed to be in El Paso for some major medical treatment the
Following day. I said no, no, we’re fine, you’ll get there, just late,

Who is picking you up? Let’s call him and tell him.
We called her son and I spoke with him in English.
I told him I would stay with his mother till we got on the plane and
Would ride next to her—Southwest.

She talked to him. Then we called her other sons just for the fun of it.

Then we called my dad and he and she spoke for a while in Arabic and
Found out of course they had ten shared friends.

Then I thought just for the heck of it why not call some Palestinian
Poets I know and let them chat with her. This all took up about 2 hours.

She was laughing a lot by then. Telling about her life. Answering
Questions.

She had pulled a sack of homemade mamool cookies—little powdered
Sugar crumbly mounds stuffed with dates and nuts—out of her bag—
And was offering them to all the women at the gate.

To my amazement, not a single woman declined one. It was like a
Sacrament. The traveler from Argentina, the traveler from California,
The lovely woman from Laredo—we were all covered with the same
Powdered sugar. And smiling. There are no better cookies.

And then the airline broke out the free beverages from huge coolers—
Non-alcoholic—and the two little girls for our flight, one African
American, one Mexican American—ran around serving us all apple juice
And lemonade and they were covered with powdered sugar too.

And I noticed my new best friend—by now we were holding hands—
Had a potted plant poking out of her bag, some medicinal thing,

With green furry leaves. Such an old country traveling tradition. Always
Carry a plant. Always stay rooted to somewhere.

And I looked around that gate of late and weary ones and thought,
This is the world I want to live in. The shared world.

Not a single person in this gate—once the crying of confusion stopped
—has seemed apprehensive about any other person.

They took the cookies. I wanted to hug all those other women too.
This can still happen anywhere.

Not everything is lost.

”

- Naomi Shihab Nye (b. 1952), “Wandering Around an Albuquerque Airport Terminal.” (via awelltraveledwoman)

Bill and John: More Than EverA beautiful love.

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 22:11:59 -0400

Bill and John: More Than Ever

A beautiful love.

"You teach people how to treat you by what you allow, what you stop, and what you reinforce."

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 21:57:39 -0400

““You teach people how to treat you by what you allow, what you stop, and what you reinforce.””

- – Tony Gaskins

Grilled flatbread. Summer dinners on Flickr.

Fri, 31 May 2013 00:38:13 -0400

Grilled flatbread. Summer dinners on Flickr.

Boston 2013

Thu, 30 May 2013 19:45:00 -0400

Nothing like a week vacation time to pep up some out of winter jadedness!

I ventured over to Boston for the first time over Memorial Day weekend, figured i’d 1) never been there and 2) should support our beloved historical city that’s gotten knocked about recently.

Incredible grace and spirit after the Boston Marathon bombing.

We had the terrible luck of rainy weather for the majority of the weekend. I’m sure it feels similar to Cleveland in the summer—lush, green, and sunny—but it was a no go for the weekend, which gave it sort of a dreary feeling in photos. We refused to be stopped so armed with a hooded soft shell jacket and my trusty duck umbrella we still walked all over the city.

Overall, I really liked Boston. It felt like a more digestible NYC with a slower pace. Even better, I felt like the people there were real, and somehow comfortable with themselves in a much less flamboyant way you may see in other big cities. Does that make sense? To put it another way, I would feel pressure to be very fashionable or have a full face of makeup on in say NYC or LA whereas I didn’t feel it as much in Boston.

Even better, my older brother drove up from Connecticut the last day I was there and it was really good to see him. I think last time I saw him was in September for my wedding.

THE EXPERIENCE //

Lodging
We opted to go with a vacation rental from Homeaway.com instead of an hotel which I thought was great. The owner was nice (although could be a bit flaky in the set up before our visit) and gave us recommendations on where to go and even saved a visitor parking spot in her residential area so we could park our car for the duration of the trip while we explored the city using the public transit. We stayed in the South End on a brownstone lined street. Way to feel like a local.

Sites
Freedom Trail
We took a tour complete with tour guide dressed in historical garb. He was so into the history that he made it engaging for the group. We would even get add on people that would try to slip in during the tour. About 1.5-2 hour walk through Boston. Follow the red brick trail throughout the city. Highlights include graveyard with John Hancock, Paul Revere, and Samuel Adams, Boston Massacre site, Boston Commons, and ends at Faneuil Hall.

Boston Aquarium
Currently under construction but still worth a visit especially on a rainy day.

Boston Museum of Fine Arts
Loved it here. Currently has a couple great exhibits: Art of the Samurai and Blue and White ceramics.

Eats
Orinoco South End
Venezuelan cuisine not to far from where I stayed. Their flan was the perfect end to a good meal.

Quincy Market Historic Square
Touristy, but worth at least a visit. Kind of like a food court/hall from a mall with some more upscale options. Recommend a lobster roll and clam chowder from Boston Chowda. That’s why you came, right?

B&G Oyster South End
Probably the best meal I had on my trip. Fresh raw local oysters on the half shell, an amazing clam chowder. They seem to specialize in fish but for some reason we got the lobster roll (STILL GOOD). Had a good time sitting at the bar, watching the chefs work.

Tremont 647 South End
Good solid eats. Went for brunch and got rhubarb french toast. Watch out for the giant sides of bacon.

Legal Seafood All over Boston
So I hear this is a must go, if you’ve never been to Boston. Local chain restaurant specializing in seafood. Portions were plentiful but expensive. Not a place you’d go for character but great for groups and a good solid meal out. Had the raw platter (raw oysters, clams, shrimp cocktail, and half a lobster) and the cioppino.

South End Buttery South End
Upscale brunch and has a takeout area for drinks and pastries. Packed when we went but still got a table in decent time.

Mike’s Pastries North End
Boston’s cannoli place…although too bad neither me or Jinu like cannolis. Instead we got a red velvet whoopie pie and a “lobster tail” (flaky pastry filled with mascapone and ricotta filling). Both were good and surprisingly light for all the filling. In hindsight I should’ve probably gotten the tiramisu (one of my favorite desserts) but we were also trying to sneak it into the movie theater as a reprieve from rainy weather. Finger food only in that situation…

Kaze Shabu Boston Commons
Totally random, but this is what you do when you start getting hungry angry (aka hangry). You go to a shabu shabu place and order the limit of what your stomach can handle. Eat it all and then commence warm fuzzies for the rest of the night. Asian comfort food!

————————————————————

A note of picture taking…

I’ve noticed that i’ve started taking less pictures of my trips and just in general. Maybe something to do with wanting to enjoy my experience rather than staging a photoshoot out of everything?

Hanging out w/ my older brother last day in Boston. on Flickr.

Sat, 25 May 2013 22:11:58 -0400

Hanging out w/ my older brother last day in Boston. on Flickr.

Being hangry (hungry + angry) means my eyes order way too much...

Fri, 24 May 2013 23:58:10 -0400

Being hangry (hungry + angry) means my eyes order way too much food for my belly on Flickr.

Boston Foodie on Flickr.

Thu, 23 May 2013 20:08:18 -0400

Boston Foodie on Flickr.

That Lovin' Feeling

Sun, 19 May 2013 20:03:00 -0400

Weddings galore this weekend!

Brings me back to how I felt last autumn when I married my husband, Jinu. I remember feeling that new love giddiness from the beginning of our relationship all over again. It was incredible to share our happiness with our family and friends and i’m hoping that this weekend’s now married couples felt something similar.

I will say, it was really nice not having to go up for the bouquet toss since now i’m not elligible. Woohoo!

Congrats my lovely friends!

Playlist:
Listening to: Pretty Girl Rock . Keri Hilson
Reading: Bringing Up the Bodies . Hilary Mantel

Minions visit my office! #despicableme2 on Flickr.

Mon, 13 May 2013 11:32:07 -0400

Minions visit my office! #despicableme2 on Flickr.

Progress! Finally put a shelf up on the office wall. Now to...

Sun, 12 May 2013 23:36:40 -0400

Progress! Finally put a shelf up on the office wall. Now to tackle the rest of the office… on Flickr.

At Cleveland Flea … Made a terrarium! on Flickr.Made an...

Sat, 11 May 2013 10:36:28 -0400

At Cleveland Flea … Made a terrarium! on Flickr.

Made an open air terrarium

Sunday morning dart gun fights with my nephew on Flickr.

Sun, 05 May 2013 10:40:40 -0400

Sunday morning dart gun fights with my nephew on Flickr.

First Listen The Great Gatsby

Thu, 02 May 2013 21:54:00 -0400

First Listen The Great Gatsby:

[CLICK ABOVE FOR LINK]

From NPR. Pretty much what I expected from Luhrmann, very glam and loud for the most part, and a bit emo. Oddly, my favorites are the more moody tracks.

Young and Beautiful . Lana del Rey

Over the Love . Florence + the Machine
…although I lose the lyrics, maybe over sung a bit?

Hearts a Mess . Gotye
Makes me want to take another look at Gotye’s music as a whole…got over saturated by “Somebody That I Used to Know”. I could listen to this on repeat.

…I thought i’d like Andre3000 and Beyonce’s cover of Back to Black more, disappointed. Feels like an ’80s throwback cover? I was hoping for a more somber version ala Alanis Morisette did with the acoustic version of You Oughta Know. (See example below)

You Oughta Know (Original) Alanis Morisette

Acoustic version from MTV Unplugged

See?

Air plant blooming on Flickr.

Thu, 02 May 2013 18:31:18 -0400

Air plant blooming on Flickr.

This week’s market blooms. on Flickr.

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 17:36:26 -0400

This week’s market blooms. on Flickr.