Completion

I am happy to report that the masters degree is finally finished. All that remains is to deliver the five copies of the thesis to the Registrar first thing Monday morning along with all the associated paper work, the last step which will bring this endeavor to a welcome and satsifying end. This is long overdue. I should have finished it up in 2007 upon completion of my research, but alas became distracted at that time with work and sundry other things and before I knew it, three years had passed before I began to consider seriously the data analysis and writing. Sure, at various points along the way I tinkered with this or that, wrote a paragraph or page here or there....but the serious work didn't begin until May of this year. Despite the distractions and delays, it's a great feeling to have this thing behind me.

Panang Curry

Panang curry(with beef and topped with fresh diced chilies and Kaffir lime leaves) from a few nights ago. Served with steamed rice and lightly wilted watercress (cooked with garlic and tomatoes).

Monday Blurb

Off on sick leave today due to pesky allergies. Something wicked is blooming and I would love to discover what and kill it. I hope too the rain and showers will soon clear the air of whatever nefarious pollen has done me a mischief.

I have given a lot of thought lately as to where I am in life and where I want to be. For quite some time now I haven't been entirely happy with the present state of things and have recently resolved to make some changes for the better. I've explored some options and put a few things in motion so if all goes well, 2010 will be a year of change, of calculated risk in pursuit of greater happiness.

Travel Bug

One would think that having spent a good part of December in Honduras, followed by a long week there in February, the travel bug would be cured for the time being. Unhappily (only from a certain point of view) such is not the case. The urge to travel abroad has returned stronger than ever. I want nothing more than to strap on the hiking sandals, throw on the backpack, and disappear for a while into some little corner of the world. It is there where my soul is the happiest.

Chicken Adobo

Chicken adobo made a couple nights ago. I used a three step cooking method for the chicken (boil, fry, simmer) which left the chicken super tender. Served with sides of bok choy and shitake mushrooms and rice topped with fried garlic.

Dinner: February 25

Stir-fried beef and bok choy in a spicy sauce along with fried rice, into which I added a handful of fresh Thai basil.

Chu Chee Curry

A shot of the chu chee curry I made a couple weeks ago. The fish was cod, which worked very very well. The only substitution I would make would be to sprinkle kaffir lime leaves over the dish when done and not cilantro as pictured here. Cilantro worked, but lime leaves would fit the overall composition just a little better. Happily I found the leaves today during a trip to an Asian market in Virginia Beach...so guess what's on the menu again tonight? :)

Espanol

After several years of it remaining little more than a good idea left unfulfilled, I enrolled in a beginning Spanish course at a local college back in January. While the class has been a bit of work, I am thoroughly enjoying the time; not since the anthropology courses of the distant undergradute years have I taken a class as rewarding and as interesting as this one. I regret waiting three or four years to finally begin the language after deciding I want to learn it, but as they say: better late than never. While I feel as though I am learning a lot, I harbor no delusions about becoming fluent in the near future; that aspect is probaby years away. And that coming to pass only with regular and diligent study and practical use of the language.

Proof

Just proof for the more incredulous that we did receive snow here in Virginia a few weeks ago.

Back

Remarkable how long it has been since my last post. Certainly doesn't seem as though that many months have passed since I last posted the usual nonsense on here.