my latest tweet.

What I'm about to say may be more appropriate for Twitter, but I'm not into that, so:

I've gone for a few rainy bike rides this summer, and I have to say, they can be so refreshing, lovely, and thrilling. I rode my bike to my housesitting home last night, much later than planned, and of course it started raining the second I left the house, and I was not prepared for the rain. But it was so great! I rode fast, and the cool rain felt great accumulating on my exposed skin...It's the small things, you know?


That might have been too long for Twitter.
Oh summer.

May is Bike Month in NYC

I'm a big fan of the theory of Bike Month. Borough and city bike rides, events, information sessions and classes, along with great weather and a celebration of the official end of the hibernation season in New York City. But, you know what? May happens to be a month that seems to go by in a heartbeat, and for one reason or another, I completely missed out on Bike Month. I think I had dreams of riding around with friends, getting friends acquainted with bike riding, taking the Women's DIY bicycle repair and maintenance class, but all I did was what I always do. I rode my bike to the places I ride my bike to, and that was about it.

The one thing I can report is that I decided to be smarter about my bike riding. After Rob's near death experience (nah, not really) on the Manhattan Bridge, I decided to commit to wearing a helmet.

My explanation behind my stupidity on this matter:
My friend Angela visited and she couldn't believe how many beautiful and cool people there were in my neighborhood. I think I felt more part of this cool crowd without a helmet, because there are so many people that don't wear them, and look cool on bicycles. I mean, most people look dorky in a helmet. And, I don't like the heat of helmets. I'm a sweaty person to begin with, I don't need to keep the heat in.

Last fall, I bought a helmet, and vowed to wear it every time I went out on my bike. I left it at school one day and did not take it home for..more than 4 months, maybe 6. I had never really looked at myself in the mirror in it, so I didn't know how actually stupid I looked, but I just hated it.

Then Rob fell and vowed to buy a helmet after hearing similar stories of people flipping over their handle bars like he did and had become paralyzed. Whoa. So, despite convincing myself that statistics didn't really prove that helmets save lives, I decided it might be better not to bet my life on that. While Rob was looking for a helmet, I found a white one that reminded me a little of the white jammer! helmet that I had growing up...although that helmet was really ugly and spent more time on the handle bars than on my head-it was early rebellion of a town law put in place when I was 10 years old..but I liked this white helmet, and it had a good shape, more of a skaters helmet rather than the sporty racers bike helmets. I figured it would reflect the summer sun's rays better than my current red helmet. I spent the money and I have worn my helmet every time.

A week after I bought it, I left it hanging on my handlebars after rushing to the Jay St train, avoiding the weekend G train. I figured it would be gone but thankfully Caitlin checked it out and retrieved my helmet for me. What a great friend.

Anyway, I am now convinced. Why take the risk of not wearing a helmet?! And celebrate Bike Month, every month-especially if May passed you by...I guess those are the great morals of this story.

What I've been up to..

So, of course, it's been awhile.
That's how we do.

Anyway, I got into grad school, and also applied to Grad School..Brooklyn College. I think I will change my major, which apparently, I can do very easily. Booyah. Now no matter what I'm doing next year, I'll be doing something...


I'm getting the summer window boxes started. Pansies, Juliet Grape and Orange Pixie Large Cherry tomatoes, Globe Amaranth, loose leaf red lettuces, spinach seeds started. Thyme, Parsley, Strawberry, and Pansy transplanted from last year's boxes.

I cleaned out my out pots today. 1 part bleach, 10 parts water. Definitely a chore.

I ordered a grow light after feeling like I couldn't wait for Rob to build me one, and apparently, it was delivered March 5th, but I haven't seen it...my seeds could really use the light. So, another's on the way... I'm excited to have one year already under my belt with these boxes, I have an idea of what works and what doesn't, and I got started pretty much on time for the May 15th frost-free date. This year you can expect: an herb box, an edible flowers box, a vegetable box and either(!) another vegetable box or an ornamental, butterfly attracting (hopefully) flower box.


The internet is being fussy as usual, but I was going to post a picture of the cake that Jen made in honor of Abe a few weeks ago. It was the cake his wife, Mary Todd, made for him and apparently, it sealed the deal for Abe, except vegan-ized. And let me tell you. That cake worked like a charm. I fell in love with Jen every time I tasted it. It is the most amazing cake I've ever had, and you know, I'm more of a chips than cake kinda gal.

Resolutions.

For those of you who know me, you most likely already know that I love New Year's resolutions. For those of you who don't know me, now you know. And here's why I love them so much: Fall and early winter are tough seasons for me, mentally, emotionally, and physically as well, because there's less sun for me to run, bike, visit friends, and be (slightly more) spontaneous.. I'm an active person, I need the sun. Anyway, I schlep through fall (sans my birthday week which is a momentary distraction from the increasing schlep) and by Christmas time, I'm ready for a change. So, in that regard, the completely arbitrary holiday of New Year's-I kept joking New Year's Eve that I wanted to reschedule New Year's til sometime in the following week because that worked better for me, Pat thought it was really funny-is less so. I use the opportunity, like many of us, to make changes to in some way, better myself or the people and places around me.

Without further ado, here are my Resolutions for 2009:
(in no particular order)

*be more positive, at work and at home
*explore the possibilities of my next career move
*keep up running
*do more projects, especially quilts
*be a better roommate-do my part
*practice patience
*go on more adventures
*host/have/go to more gatherings
*do not bring plastic bags from grocery stores, bodegas, liquor stores, etc into the home.
(Funny story: the other night I ran out to get a few things at the supermarket for dinner, and forgot to bring a bag, so I carried my kale, broccoli, red pepper, mushrooms, and maybe one other thing home in my arms. I ran into a friend too, and though it was odd, I felt great, like I had harvested it myself..)
*don't let tension or stress get the best of me
* BLOG MORE.
*travel more, little trips, big trips, trips into the big city....
*make more mail to send to friends
*take classes, go to readings, lectures, take part in the many opportunities of this great city.


Well, I'm usually pretty good with resolutions until the summer when I get lazy and everything tends to go out the window, but by then I'm happy and joyous in the warm sun...but hopefully publishing this online will cement these..there's also one I didn't mention here, because it isn't appropriate, but those of you who know me also probably know what it is.

Wooo, 2009!

NEW DIG CAM (pronounced dige-cam)

Here's a strawberry and a pansy plant, that has survived more than a few nights below freezing. I think I'm going to pot them up and bring them indoors for the winter. (Sorry for the reflection and screen in this picture)

Old Man Casey, that Old Man Casey, he just keeps eating, he just keeps sleeping, Old Man Casey, that Old Man Casey, he just keeps snoring along... (sung to the tune of Old Man River)

These are the first pictures taken on my new camera. They aren't very good. But I'm hoping that this new camera will keep me on my toes with taking pictures and posting some of them, and by default, keeping me more up to date on blog posts!

A Lovely Welcome Home

So, I just got back to Brooklyn after a lovely holiday spent with family in Metuchen NJ and Kenilworth NJ. Highlights: a new dig cam, a very sweet but chubby beagle more affectionate than the last time I was home, giving presents, waking up late every day, delicious food, and some really nice family bonding time...
So, I was lucky enough to get a ride back from Rebecca and her mom, which I was so thankful for because I lugged a whole new set of items back to Brooklyn. So, here it is, just after 11am on Sunday, the 28th of December, and everything is already put away, and it feel good.

SO...
While I was putting the last things away, I heard outside several blue jays making a ruckus. I peeked out the window, and the sight was simply incredible. To me, the bird lover, anyway. I spotted 4 blue jays, all screaming at this one mockingbird, who I guess had crossed into their territory, I don't know. So, I felt bad for this mockingbird, then all of a sudden, another mockingbird came to his aid in a nearby branch. Then a few sparrows flew over and perched in a nearby tree. And then a beautiful male cardinal flew down to a branch near the mockingbirds, and hung out with the bullied bird for about 5 minutes. After a time, the blue jays quieted down and became distracted by other things, but I just thought it was an incredible sight, and a great welcome home to Brooklyn.

And since I do call this blog Right Out My Window, I thought it'd be an appropriate story to share.

I AM thankful for this blog.

Umm, so...hey, what's up?
How you been?

So, no one reads this, but one reason for that is because I haven't posted in a really long time.
Summer was so good though. I miss riding to the Rockaways. As always, pictures to come I hope..my camera has been missing the piece of the battery charger I have lost. Luckily, some solid pictures exist on Robert Bolesta's camera.

So today was Thanksgiving and one thing I was thankful for today as I spent the day in Metuchen and Kenilworth NJ was the weather! It was overcast and slightly damp and not too cold, it was the perfect weather for a Thanksgiving meal. I made stuffed mushrooms to fill the turkey void, and they were a big hit with me and (filled the void REALLY nicely) the fam as well. Here's the recipe:

VEGETARIAN STUFFED MUSHROOMS

24 med. size mushrooms
2 tbsp. olive oil
4 tbsp. grated onion
1/2 c. diced celery
1 tsp. dill weed
1/2 tsp. dried parsley
1/8 tsp. red pepper
8 oz. Gruyere cheese (1 c. grated)

Mince mushroom stems. Heat oil in skillet and saute mushrooms with onions and celery over fairly high heat, stirring often. When vegetables are tender and moisture has evaporated, lower the heat, add herbs and cook a minute longer. Let mixture cool a bit, then stir in the cheese.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees; grease a baking pan. Heap filling into mushroom caps and place in pan. Bake 10-15 minutes. Serve hot. May use Swiss cheese in place of Gruyere cheese. 24 servings.

-cooks.com

NOTE:
I have to admit, this isn't exactly how I did this. I got the correct measurements for the cheese, celery, onion, spices, (and though I bought dill, I totally forgot about it until after cooking them), but the mushrooms were funny. The A&P was out of stuffing mushrooms, and most others, so I bought portabella caps, and a box of mushroom slices, and used half the box on the first go, and it only filled two caps. SO, I made more, with the correct measurements again, the rest of the shrooms and 1 portabella. That filled 3 more. So, I don't know what the recipe here tastes like, but what I turned up with was great.

Thanksgiving is a really good holiday.

Happy Thanksgiving.