While in NC, my mother gave me a copy of a book her book club had finished recently: Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. After finishing it rather quickly between my flights back from Cary and my Tuesday babysitting, I found I had exactly the same opinion of it as my mother's group. It was a poorly written book about a fascinating and inspiring story.
But...not to say it's not worth reading. Upfront, the bad writing irritated me til the last. But I actually felt soothed and rather superior after being given the easy chance to identify so many ill-constructed sentences, and thus it worked itself out.
Ill writing aside (and the fact that had it been in the hands of, say, John Krakauer, it would have been full of sharp and poignant drama), it was a very good book. It's the story of a guy who's just turned thirty and has nothing concrete going at home, and who is a serious climber. He joins an expedition to K2'S summit with the vow to honor his sister who died at 23 by doing so. But he is thwarted by one of his teammate's injuries, and in his disappointed haze he drifts into an extremely remote Balti (a tribal group in Pakistan) village. Here is so impressed with the hospitality and inhabitants that when confronted with the village's lack of any school at all, he promises to build them a school. And for Mortenson, a promise is a big deal.
The rest of the book builds on this initial promise and his strugges to make it a reality. There's drama in the US (coming up with donars, a bit of romance), drama in the big Pakistani cities (buying supplies, finding a hotel), and drama in the countryside (villages squabbling over who gets the school, weather issues, many more). But what really kept me going was the calm but persistent message that if we only devoted our strength to making education possible for everyone in places like Pakistan, this would be fighting the "war on terror" in the most effective way possible. Mortenson is a compelling figure, his strengths downplayed if anything here, and one who truly - unlike so many who are billed as such - proves that anyone with conviction can make a difference. The message is relvant, humbling, inspiring and empowering.
...I just wish it was not so poorly written.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Adventures in Domesticity
So today, I baked a cake.
I hadn't baked in awhile before this; I think the last baked good my mixer whipped up was the cookies for my class at the end of the semester. Maybe some pizza dough. But tonight, for some reason, I was in the mood.
Now, it wasn't necessarily the ideal time for baking. Since it was sweltering outside this afternoon, the house, and the kitchen in particular, was quite warm. Turning on the oven did not help this situation. But I perservered, and went about choosing a recipe - for chocolate cake, at Andy's request. Those that looked easiest and most reliable (New Best Recipe, Alice Waters, etc) all required buttermilk that I didn't have, so I resorted to the Bittman's chocolate cake recipe in How to Cook Everything. Now, while Bittman is without rival in terms of giving ideas, the general gist, the bones of a meal, I know from experience his baking recipes aren't the best out there. So I didn't have hopes that it would come out perfect.
So I measured, and mixed, and measured and mixed more. The damn recipe required THREE BOWLS, two mixers and innumerable other utensils. A one-bowl cake it was not. But whatever...and it was actually quite satisfying to whip the egg whites and fold them in, and see the batter become amazingly airy. The batter went in pans, then into the oven.
Now, if you know me well, you probably know I'm really sensitive and particular about my baking reputation. I made both the filling and the cake layers for Andy's birthday cake twice to make sure they would be good, and I made Andy take credit for a failed batch of oatmeal cookies when he gave them to his class. Granted, I have obstacles that aren't my fault - a terrible oven and a limited budget - but I always feel like my mistakes, whether in taste or appearance, reflect directly on me, and thus i hide them.
So when I realized I had put both the stick of butter meant for the cake AND the one softening for icing in the batter, I was rather upset. And though the cakes did set, they were aesthetically unappealing and prone to crumbling. And then the icing I made according to Bittman's specifications was too thin. And when I assembled the cake, the top layer split *spectacularly*, making for sort of a San Andreas Fault cake.
My initial reaction was not to ever show it to anyone outside the apartment. But then, upon tasting it and realizing it was fine in that regard, I decided that no one would judge me for its appearance if it brought chocolatey joy to the taste buds. So I brought it to Andy's, and I even got a few compliments.
I'm not sure what the point of this is...I guess the story is kind of, in retrospect, an allegory* about other failures of confidence on my part. My work in classes? Fine. Certainly up to task. But when it fails to meet my standards, to be perfect, I don't want anyone else to see it as I feel it reflects directly on me. Or in teaching. Or whatever.
But I brought this imperfect cake out, and everyone was glad to have it. So maybe this is a new leaf for me.
* So one of my huge pet peeves, discovered lately, is when children's media improperly defines words and concepts for young kids - ie, when Arthur defined a rhetorical question as "a question you ask even though you already know the answer." Um...no. So Melia is in a musical version of 101 Dalmations this summer, and we listen to the soundtrack all the time in the car. And the lyrics in the opening song contain the following: "Listen to our puppy allegory/that's another word for funny story." Umm...no it's not. At all. So annoying.
I hadn't baked in awhile before this; I think the last baked good my mixer whipped up was the cookies for my class at the end of the semester. Maybe some pizza dough. But tonight, for some reason, I was in the mood.
Now, it wasn't necessarily the ideal time for baking. Since it was sweltering outside this afternoon, the house, and the kitchen in particular, was quite warm. Turning on the oven did not help this situation. But I perservered, and went about choosing a recipe - for chocolate cake, at Andy's request. Those that looked easiest and most reliable (New Best Recipe, Alice Waters, etc) all required buttermilk that I didn't have, so I resorted to the Bittman's chocolate cake recipe in How to Cook Everything. Now, while Bittman is without rival in terms of giving ideas, the general gist, the bones of a meal, I know from experience his baking recipes aren't the best out there. So I didn't have hopes that it would come out perfect.
So I measured, and mixed, and measured and mixed more. The damn recipe required THREE BOWLS, two mixers and innumerable other utensils. A one-bowl cake it was not. But whatever...and it was actually quite satisfying to whip the egg whites and fold them in, and see the batter become amazingly airy. The batter went in pans, then into the oven.
Now, if you know me well, you probably know I'm really sensitive and particular about my baking reputation. I made both the filling and the cake layers for Andy's birthday cake twice to make sure they would be good, and I made Andy take credit for a failed batch of oatmeal cookies when he gave them to his class. Granted, I have obstacles that aren't my fault - a terrible oven and a limited budget - but I always feel like my mistakes, whether in taste or appearance, reflect directly on me, and thus i hide them.
So when I realized I had put both the stick of butter meant for the cake AND the one softening for icing in the batter, I was rather upset. And though the cakes did set, they were aesthetically unappealing and prone to crumbling. And then the icing I made according to Bittman's specifications was too thin. And when I assembled the cake, the top layer split *spectacularly*, making for sort of a San Andreas Fault cake.
My initial reaction was not to ever show it to anyone outside the apartment. But then, upon tasting it and realizing it was fine in that regard, I decided that no one would judge me for its appearance if it brought chocolatey joy to the taste buds. So I brought it to Andy's, and I even got a few compliments.
I'm not sure what the point of this is...I guess the story is kind of, in retrospect, an allegory* about other failures of confidence on my part. My work in classes? Fine. Certainly up to task. But when it fails to meet my standards, to be perfect, I don't want anyone else to see it as I feel it reflects directly on me. Or in teaching. Or whatever.
But I brought this imperfect cake out, and everyone was glad to have it. So maybe this is a new leaf for me.
* So one of my huge pet peeves, discovered lately, is when children's media improperly defines words and concepts for young kids - ie, when Arthur defined a rhetorical question as "a question you ask even though you already know the answer." Um...no. So Melia is in a musical version of 101 Dalmations this summer, and we listen to the soundtrack all the time in the car. And the lyrics in the opening song contain the following: "Listen to our puppy allegory/that's another word for funny story." Umm...no it's not. At all. So annoying.
Friday, June 12, 2009
My Little Sister Graduates
Wow.
She's so...old. I'm sure this sounds cliche, but...it's just the last in a series of events that make me see that my sister is in charge of her own life, is grown-up. She looked so pretty tonight (though I could barely see her from my seat), and I'm so happy for her. The summer after I graduated was one of the most memorable of my life. I hope the same for her.
I don't talk enough about my sister. It always pains me when I mention her and people say "I didn't know you had a sister!" Kat is really wonderful. Since a young age she's been more comfortable with and aware of who she is, and while she's been prone to her share of poor decisions, she's remarkably bold and lively. As someone who appeared outgoing but was really very timid in many ways at that age, I'm constantly amazed by her. She's a great friend, loyal and supportive, and a great sister. She's her own self. She's never tried to be like Ben or me, or actively not like Ben or me. She's Kat, for better or worse, and she knows it, and she's awesome.
Andddddd...she's coming to Madison in August! I bought her a trip out there for graduation, and I'm really excited to have so much time to hang out. Kitten and I have never really had much time just she and I, and it will be a nice change. Plus, it's cake to find places that don't card, so can buy her her first (American) beer).
Congratulations, Katherine. Your older sister thinks you're a remarkable person, is proud of you, and loves you very much.
(PS - It's humid as BALLS here. Ugh.)
She's so...old. I'm sure this sounds cliche, but...it's just the last in a series of events that make me see that my sister is in charge of her own life, is grown-up. She looked so pretty tonight (though I could barely see her from my seat), and I'm so happy for her. The summer after I graduated was one of the most memorable of my life. I hope the same for her.
I don't talk enough about my sister. It always pains me when I mention her and people say "I didn't know you had a sister!" Kat is really wonderful. Since a young age she's been more comfortable with and aware of who she is, and while she's been prone to her share of poor decisions, she's remarkably bold and lively. As someone who appeared outgoing but was really very timid in many ways at that age, I'm constantly amazed by her. She's a great friend, loyal and supportive, and a great sister. She's her own self. She's never tried to be like Ben or me, or actively not like Ben or me. She's Kat, for better or worse, and she knows it, and she's awesome.
Andddddd...she's coming to Madison in August! I bought her a trip out there for graduation, and I'm really excited to have so much time to hang out. Kitten and I have never really had much time just she and I, and it will be a nice change. Plus, it's cake to find places that don't card, so can buy her her first (American) beer).
Congratulations, Katherine. Your older sister thinks you're a remarkable person, is proud of you, and loves you very much.
(PS - It's humid as BALLS here. Ugh.)
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Summer Wish List
So summer is underway! So far so good...I'm working for the Allen's again, getting to be more active, eating tasty fresh (sometimes grilled!) food, and generally not being in school. It's nice.
But as we all know, summer does not last forever. So...here's a list of some of the things I want to do before it's over. Suggestions welcome.
- See more movies (including but not limited to Up and The Hangover
- Spend more time on the Terrace than last summer
- Head an ice cream crawl of State Street
- Go to a Dells water park
- Get a tan
- Hit the Farmer's market at least every other week
- Make cocktails with fresh ingredients
- Get back to NH to see friends
- Take an overnight trip somewhere nearby
- Go to Chicago to see Maeve and maybe finally some of the tourist sites.
- Spend a day at Devil's Lake
- Go to the Zoo (with my friends, not the girls)
- Keep the house neat
- Get regular exercise
- Go to at least one free concert
- Go boating as often as possible
- Bring my sister out here for a week or so
- Finish my Caroline paper
- Organize my papers
- Read at least 3 Victorian novels. Hopefully more.
- Fix my bike/get a new one
That's all I got for now...I'm sure there's more though. Let me have it if you got additions.
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