What I did this week...

well... the last 2+ weeks...

5. Exercise an average of 3 times per week (9/429) -ran in Central Park (14 March 2011)
-exercised 3 mornings (15 March 2011) -ran in Central Park (16 March 2011)
-exercised 3 mornings (18 March 2011)
-ran with Karen in Riverside Park (18 March 2011)
-ran with Rafa in Riverside Park (21 March 2011)
-ran up 17 flights of stairs 6 times with Rafa (24 March 2011)
-ran in Central Park (26 March 2011)
-ran in Central Park (27 March 2011)

Central Park's Reservoir

I forgot how much I love running...

9. Hang out with a friend once a week (3/143)
-Lacey at G-Bar for dinner (15 March 2011)

14. Attend/host a game night once a month (2/33)
-game night at Susie and Carl's (18 March 2011)
-hosted an impromptu game night with Carl, Rafa, Kelly, and Susie (25 March 2011)


We should really call them "Dominion Nights" - I mean, honestly, are we really playing anything else?

17. Put 10% of each paycheck into savings (1/66)
-3/24/2011 (yay for automatic transfers :)

20. Have a Portuguese-only hour at least once a week (1/143)
-with Rafa (22 March 2011)

46. Spend 20 minutes filing paperwork each week (1/33)
-at work (23 March 2011)

69. Contact a family member (not immediate family) each week (1/143)
-called Aunt Dawn (21 March 2011)

Dinner for 1 (with leftovers, of course...)

52. Try out one new recipe each month (1/33)
-Mexican Lasagna (27 March 2011)


I didn't quite follow a recipe, but instead, combined what I liked about a few different recipes I found online, used what I already had in the fridge, and completely guessed on amounts :)

Ingredients:
-frozen corn (~1/2 cup)
-frozen spinach (~1 cup)
-meatless ground beef/soy protein (~3/4 cup)
-1/2 can of black beans
-can of diced tomatoes
-portobello mushrooms, sliced (~5 medium-sized)
-1/2 yellow pepper, sliced
-onion powder
-garlic powder
-black pepper
-crushed red pepper
-taco sauce
-whole wheat tortillas (~4)
-shredded cheese, mexican blend

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Sauté frozen vegetables and ground soy protein over medium heat in an oiled pan until thawed
3. Add mushrooms and yellow pepper
4. Add black beans and diced tomatoes
5. Season to taste with onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, and crushed red pepper
6. Add taco sauce and mix well


7. Cut tortillas in half to make half-moon pieces
8. Spread a small amount of sautéed vegetable mix onto bottom of 8x8" square casserole dish
9. Lay 4 halved tortillas on top, straight edge facing out toward the sides of the pan


10. Spread half of the sautéed vegetable mix on the tortillas and generously sprinkle shredded cheese
11. Repeat steps 9-10, using the rest of the sautéed vegetable mix


12. Bake in oven for 10-12 minutes, or until melted cheese is golden-brown
13. Remove from oven and serve hot! (I enjoyed mine with some fresh avocado :)

~4 servings

U! S! A!!! U! S! A!!!

28. Attend 6 different (professional) sports games (1/6)
-USA vs Argentina soccer game at the Meadowlands Stadium with Rafa (26 March 2011)

Final Score: USA 1; Argentina 1

Someone from Rafa's class at Columbia arranged the whole thing (a huge group of them even rented a cheese bus and got to the stadium hours early to tailgate)


It was a really fun game, especially getting to see one of the best players in the world, Lionel Messi on Argentina (with his bright orange shoes, it was hard to miss him - his ball handling and control was so smooth, it almost seemed like he was just taking it easy - every time he got the ball, you could almost feel the collective "oh, no..." from the US fans)

one of the many decked-out soccer-loving patriots
never have a I heard so many U! S! A! chants and cheers, even on the trains from Penn Station!

The only downside was during the bag/body check, the woman told me I couldn't bring in my reusable metal water bottle :( so I had to throw my awesome, green, tilted, dented, favorite, grenade-looking water bottle that I've had for 3+ years into a garbage can... I don't even really understand why... it was completely empty... I guess Meadowlands stadium isn't into being eco-friendly...

Even without my camera...

I'll still post my adventures from the past few weeks!

Working from the bottom up of my list...

95. Buy and do/complete a "Wreck This" Journal.

I've bought mine, and I started playing around with it. But it's challenging because I have such a hard time wrecking a book!! I'm trying to do everything so neatly and perfectly. It's designed to get messy and fun, to foster creativity. That's why I bought it. I need to let go!

My work in progress - progressing through the book, progressing to get messier.

81. Go to the beach in winter.

A mistake!! As my mom often says, "I thought I made a mistake once, but I was wrong." It turns out I was not at the beach in winter. It was the first day of spring!! Although a gorgeous day (which I will hopefully someday post the photos of), it does not count!

But, I spent a wonderful and silly day with my sister. It consisted of climbing rocks, sliding on rocks to step into the freezing ocean, and rescuing my sister from the statue that tried to eat her. I can't wait to put up the photos.

80. Visit all my family members.

• Meg: 3/18/11 - 3/20/11

What a wonderful trip! I had a blast with my sister. From running along Riverside Drive, playing Dominion at Suzy and Carl's, a drag show at Lucky Chengs, a sister night with Thai food, to a glorious day in Montauk. I want to go back, and spend more time with Miss Meg. Maybe 20 days?

66. Try a new restaurant an average of once a month. (6/33)

1. Tribes Alehouse - Mokena, IL; 3/5/11
2. Famous Dave's - Bolingbrook, IL; 3/8/11
3. Booeymongers - Washington D.C.; 3/15/11
4. Ghana Cafe - Washington D.C.; 3/16/11
5. Community Food & Juice - New York, NY; 3/18/11
6. Lucky Chengs - New York, NY; 3/18/11

I met a friend from high school at Booeymongers; it's a cute sandwich chain in the D.C. area. Yummy cheap sandwiches. I was happy!

Ghana Cafe was delicious! Vegetarian African food. I loved everything I ate! Highly recommended if you are in D.C.

I walked by Community Food & Juice all the time when I lived in NYC - easily twice a week. I finally ate brunch there by myself one day during my Manhattan visit. Organic, free range, local ingredients, and delicious food

Lucky Chengs is a drag show/restaurant that my sister will hopefully post about when she gets the photos off my camera. The food was ok, the show wasn't great, but our waitress and my company were wonderful.

So far, I'm learning I need to photograph more of these experiences. It makes everything more interesting and authentic!

Working backward...

25. See a movie in a movie theater once a month (1/33)
-saw Lincoln Lawyer with Rafa (21 March 2011)


thoughts:

• a little unexpected (it's not often that you find out the guilt/innocence of the accused in the first half hour)
• a little uneven (is Mick a swindler or someone to sympathize with?)
• some cop-out writing choices (being evil "just because" is not a reason)
• great acting moments/realistic-feeling relationships
  

What I did this week...

9. Hang out with a friend once a week (1/143)
-dinner with Susie and Carl at Il Buco to celebrate the end of Rafa's finals week (11 March 2011)

Incredible food, but way too expensive without the help of a giftcard (Thanks, Dreamyard!!)

9. Hang out with a friend once a week (2/143)
-impromptu neighborly hang out with Taro and family: buffet lunch at Indus Valley...


and playing in the remarkably kid-friendly Book Culture (13 March 2011)


27. Post a Go Make That Face! picture once a week (1/143)
-13 March 2011

Check it out!! http://gomakethatface.blogspot.com/

Wait...he can come to school tomorrow?

On Thursday, a new student joined my class. I wasn't quite expecting him, so I sat him in the nearest available seat, across from P. Immediately, the new kid started ragging on P, making fun of every shape he drew, laughing at him, nonstop harassing.

Now, P is the sort of kid that trouble follows; he gets called to the dean all the time, often gets into fights, and came to school high most of last semester (I have him 9th period, so I usually saw him sober). Yet, P was staying fairly calm. I mean, I saw the anger boiling in his brain, practically coming out his ears, but he wasn't saying anything back.

When the new kid asked to go the bathroom, I went to P - he immediately said, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" I said, "No, wait, listen. I really, really appreciate how mature and patient you are being. Keep it up for the rest of the period, and come talk to me then about if this seating arrangement is something you can handle or if it needs to change."

P kept it up, even at the end - I was talking to the girls about watching a documentary on pregnancy and birth. P said, "I couldn't watch that. I might throw up." Of course, the new kid started at him, "What? Man up! Are you telling me you never seen that before? Come on! Be a man!"

After the new kid left, I said, "It's not going to work is it, P?" P shook his head vehemently, "Naaaah, miss." I thanked P again and told him I would give him 4 merits for all his effort. Then I called his parents. His mom answered, and when I told her the story, you could hear her smiling through the phone: "P did that? Tell his father!" When his dad got on the phone, he was so excited: "Wait, he's not in trouble? He can come to school tomorrow?"

I didn't have P the next day for class (half-day), but when I saw him in the hallway, he didn't say anything, just engulfed me in a big hug and went on his way.


15. Make 1 positive phone call to a student's home each week (1/143)
-PS (10 March 2011), for maintaining a mature, patient, and calm demeanor in a stressful situation