Garlic! And what of onions? There is a national dish, Yassa, which is onions, salt pepper spices, over rice. One part onions, one part rice. When will Senegal be ready for an onion festival of such proportions? In Wolof, the word for "garlic", and "question" are the same

A trip to the dentist today, to translate for a friend. The fish tank gives me comfort, as does the stack of magazines, and dull art. I pass the time looking at light dental reading. All the teeth are numbered, but start at eleven. What happened to one through ten? I try to imagine a child with ten baby teeth, five up and five below. Ah ha, the dentist arrives and he is French. He speaks enough English to say "We glue it. Pay later". Without thinking, I offer my friend peanuts on the way home.

"When I say friends I mean friends. Not anybody and everybody can be your friend. It must be someone as close to you as your skin, someone who imparts color, drama, meaning to your life, however snug and secure it may be."
- Henry Miller

"There must be an art to sharing your neuroses with someone else without frightening them away but showing your human weakness." "I think that's love"

Leaves and beds

I found a heart shaped leaf on the dirt path below the farmhouse. I picked it up and put it in my pocket, thinking I'd come back and put it above my bed, soon your bed too. A few steps later I saw that the leaf came from a branch, then a tree, full of heart shaped leaves. So many beds!

Modern Manhattan

Two shots Bulleit Rye

Two dashes angostura bitters

Splash of Grand Marnier

Dry vermouth enough to bathe a martini glass

Meyer lemon twist

One cherry

Shake the whiskey, bitters, and Grand Marnier with ice and pour over vermouth and twist. Add cherry and serve.

 

I see beauty in process oriented foods - shaken cocktails, shucked oysters, cracked crabs, steamed artichokes, and shelled peanuts. I especially enjoy the challenge of tackling these culinary projects in the remote locations and cramped quarters of backcountry ski huts and whitewater rafts. What's an unusual challenge you've undertaken lately?

Sleepwalker

I know how her feet would slide in these slippers
they're too long and puffy, like pom poms on a freshman.
But follow her legs up and see her graceful eyes.
If grace falls like a tree in a forest, sounding its presence
     whether anyone is around, then all we have to do
     is be
there.
And leave the cozy down booties beside the bed.