Argentina

Wow! So I'm back from Argentina. I had such a great time. So much has happened that it seems like a year ago since I updated this blog. If you have never been to Argentina, I recommend you make plans to go there on your next trip. December through February is a great time to go since it is summer there. When we left Buenos Aires it was about 85F and when we arrived in NYC it was freezing. What a shock to the system. But I still have the warmth of the sun inside me and I'm tanned. The vacation feeling will take some time to wear off. OK, so where do I start? I think obviously Buenos Aires deserves to be at the top of the list of greatest cities on earth. Portenos are the politest, friendliest, and possibly most sophisticated (in a casual way) people I've ever met. If you're from NYC and you are used to the variety and luxuries of a highly cosmopolitan city, you will be captivated by Buenos Aires. If on the other hand you are the nature type, the country is full of wonderful places to explore like the Iguazu rainforest (the most spectacular falls you've ever seen!), the Valdes Peninsula (a magnificent wildlife sanctuary), and the Glaciers in Patagonia. The food is generally really good, especially if you are a big meat eater. I was very impressed with their traditional pizza, made with onions. However I recommend that you stay away from the large diner type places on the main avenues in Buenos Aires like Avenida Cordoba and Avenida Corrientes as these tend to have very poor fare. Knowing Spanish is not absolutely necessary, but I did find that getting around was much easier if you do speak Spanish. The locals are also very friendly and because we spoke Spanish we were able to socialize to a greater degree. And the milongas (tango parties) are not to be missed! I came back home determined to learn the tango. It's so sexy, old-world, and fun!

Ritual: Year-end Reflections

At this time of year I spend many moments reflecting on the events of the past year, the people that have touched me, the things I have discovered, my triumphs and defeats. Its also a time when I like to reassess the course of my life and reevaluate my short term goals.

This was a particularly illuminating year for me. I like to think that as every year passes I gain a deeper understanding of myself and others. Sadly, a phenomena I constantly encounter is the inherently selfish nature of my fellow human. It is difficult for me to presume that we act primarily and always with our own interests in mind even when the circumstances dictate that we do otherwise. My family and friends always chastise me for this naivete. They tell me to get over it already and finally realize that in this society there is far less altruism and cooperation than rampant competition which can sometimes socially and psychologically wreck its victims. Despite ample evidence to the contrary I believe that most of us still care about our behavior as it affects others and attempt to live in a compassionate and ethical way.

This year I have seen both extremes and I am gratified that there are just as many altruists as there are egoists. In a city like NY we are constantly confronted with both types. I'm involved in the nonprofit world and I see many people who donate vasts amounts of their wealth and time to the causes they believe in. Unfortunately the number of individuals in this category is quite small. But I also know that many of us do small acts of goodness everyday, privately and anonymously.

As the year closes I want to continue to believe in the dignity and benevolence of my fellow human. And in my daily acts and my personal aspirations I want to exemplify these characteristics as well.

Indulgence: Our Christmas Dinner

For our Christmas dinner I planned a menu with a focus on flavors reminiscent of my childhood. I also included a few ingredients that have become favorites over the years. Holiday dinners are for me and my family a time to celebrate with our favorite foods so we don't have a typical or traditional menu. We abstain from the traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas meals that include turkey, ham or cranberry sauce as we don't really like these things. Instead we plan meals full of ingredients and flavors that indulge our palates. And since I do most of the cooking I like to keep it simple.

This was the menu:
Avocado and Mango Salad with Passion Fruit Vinaigrette*
Feta Puffs
Bruschetta with White Beans and Walnuts
My Special Seafood Paella
Warm Brownies with Vosges Wattleseed** Ice Cream and fresh Raspberries

The recipes for the first three dishes can be found at Epicurious. The paella is a recipe I have developed. It's one of my favorite dishes for the holidays because it has such a beautiful presentation and the flavors are wonderful.

* The passion fruit concentrate in this recipe is very difficult to find, even in a diverse place like NYC. The best place to look for it is in ethnic markets or online. Latin markets tend to have it in stock. For a milder flavor you can also use fresh passion fruits which are becoming more available at gourmet markets. However nothing beats the passion fruit concentrate. You will become addicted to it.

** I could devote and entire post to the remarkable wattleseed. The flavor is sublime and must be tried in order to really appreciate it. It tastes like chocolate, vanilla, coffee and hazelnut, without the bitterness of chocolate and coffee. It is also highly nutritious. I hope this entices you to try it.

Ritual: Zen Retreat at Home

This year I finally finished redecorating my living room. My next decorating challenge will be the bedroom. Our kitchen and library are already in progress and my husband is responsible for decorating both of these rooms. Although we consult each other on the main thematic elements for each room, anyone can immediately see the dramatic differences in our styles. I like to mix bohemian and Victorian elements with an underpinning of Asian motifs. My color palette is extensive yet subdued, in contrast his style is monochromatic yet far from simple. He adds depth to the monochromatic scheme with pops of modern art and the geometric patterns of the fixtures and furniture.

In bringing to life our visions of each room we considered it's utility as well as our creative and spiritual goals. We wanted to create spaces that indulged our senses and celebrated our values while serving as sanctuaries for our private lives. In order to do this we are only keeping things we love. And now we only purchase for our home things we consider beautiful and well-crafted. When you shop in this way you make far fewer purchases which helps maintain your home simple, clean and free of clutter. Each room also has one or two elements which can be the object of a meditation, a brief daydream or an inspiration. Our home is now an oasis of serenity, a place where we can unwind, and be truly at peace.

Lapis Lazuli, 1885-86
James McNeill Whistler, American, 1834-1903
(a print in our living room)

Restorative Sun: Make Time this Week for a Stroll in the Sun

Photo by Scott McKay at pbase.com

The winter is a wonderful time to focus our energy inwards, develop our creativity through introspection, and to nourish our bodies with rest. It is also a time that can be highly stressful as the holidays overwhelm us with commitments towards family and friends. We often overindulge in food and drink during this time and skip our exercise routines. I have never been into the gym but I have always loved to walk everywhere. On a typical day, during warmer weather, I would walk at least an hour a day. Coupled with my almost daily yoga routine this was enough exercise to keep me fit. However, when winter approaches I succumb to a certain fatigue that I am unable to overcome...until now.

After some contemplation I realized that I was missing out on my daily walks. During daylight hours I was usually stuck at my desk at work, like most people, and when I finally left the office it was pitch black outside and I just wanted to get home quickly and hibernate. Well this winter I made a commitment to take a walk during my lunch hour. On most days the weather is nice enough to do this. It has really made a difference for me. I return to my desk rejuvenated and ready to take on the next task. Another activity I really enjoy in the winter is ice skating. In my family we have a tradition of going ice skating on Christmas day. This is a great way to burn off the previous evening's excess calories and it's so much fun. For many of us not getting enough exercise during the winter may be the cause of our fatigue and winter doldrums. We also tend not to get enough sun during this time of year causing most of us to have a deficiency of vitamin D (the sun is our principal source of vitamin D). This deficiency increases our risk of lung cancer, heart disease and a host of other illnesses according to a new study done by researchers at the University of California, San Diego which appears in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. So take a walk in the sun for your health this week.