texas, y'all.

that's where i am.
taking a few weeks off.
but then, i'm also doing these cooking classes. they're fun!

haven't been on the internet much, which is refreshing.
so call or email me on the gmail if you want to reach me.
love the blackberry.

in between all the rattlesnake wranglin' and cow tippin' i've had time to go check out 'dancing with the stars LIVE' featuring none other than joey "woah!" lawrence, joey "*n'sync" fatone, joey "nkotb" mcintyre, AND drew "nick's less famous and short brother" lachey. boy band heaven. and tomorrow night my brother will arrive in the state and together with the fam we will sojourn to the yearly spectacle/eyesore that is my sister's end of the year dance recital. she's good...but not everyone else is. then it's taking advantage of the love my parents to do the half-way meet and greet, and drive from san antonio to san marcos (the meeting point switchoff) to drive to austin. mom's dropping me off at jef-with-one-f's for a party he's having, and then i must not get too drunk, because i have to teach a cooking class at 2pm on sunday.

not missing new york right now. and it's been raining a lot so it hasn't been too hot. and i don't think i've gotten much of a tan.
i'll have next week with the girls to work on that.

good run today.

so instead of running a 10K or even 5K, chelsea and i met up for brunch in carroll gardens, followed by much browsing and enjoying the lovely day. during our talks, i was re-reminded of my favorite part of the 'learning to read' sesame street video i had when i was very little. and happily, i found the clip on youtube. please enjoy!

frustrated rumblings in my tummy.

i wrote these on 6/3/07, some nyc frustrations coming to a point. ballpoint, to be exact.

(in short):
i guess, if i were being honest with myself, i'd say right now i'm feeling a bit: confused, frustrated, annoyed, pissed off, lonely, aggravated, lost, found, on the bring of discovery.

struggling to make a connection.
thirsty for it.
quite.
p a r c h e d.
----

NY makes you care about things that don't matter, but makes you think you care about the things that do. because we make a difference when we drop loose change in a cup and we make an impression with our hot new shoes. we make a statement wearing our large sunglasses while we sip a fair trade coffe from our reusable mug. we fervently recycle, shop at the greenmarket, and buy from only the chicest (most exclusive) local designers. we support the theatre and are patrons of the non-profits. we buy organic sheets and visit foriegn lands. we have dinner parties, drink until we puke, and go back to bed. we bought our shit on sale. we throw it all away, when we move across the country, in search of a different kind of life.

-----

interesting-- to seem/feel (all of a sudden) lost, a stranger in your own life. perhaps not an entirely new or original way to feel, but nonetheless.

questions.

wanting to feel meaningful and purposeful-- making a difference is relevant. and sometimes in NYC, it is enough to get you stuck and be staisfied with stagnation and minor progress and setbacks. the currents feel strong, but the ebb and flow is weak, so it takes you moments to feel trapped in a vast ocean, but months, years, to actually feel as if you've moved from the shore at all.

i want to touch people with words, thoughts, and actions. with food, feeding, tasting, thoughtfulness. i want to speak in languages and find the spirit of my ancestors, and i want to be needed.

in this moment, i guess i'm wigging out because i feel trapped in a version of my life that isn't so bad, but at the same time, doesn't fulfill what i want out of my life. i hate that it comes down to money, to energy, to oil and coal, to food stamps, and presidents we never wanted, and deaths not worth the cost. why can't we fill our tanks with sunshine and be fulfilled enough with smiles, and warm glances, butterflies in our stomachs? why can't we pay the rent with love and kindness, and buy food with happiness? maybe then they, too, would become commodities, no longer special. we would find more emotional value in a frown, and life would be a different (yet again) shade of grey.

reposted from emails and posts.

hey y'all,

i'm teaching a few cooking classes out of my mom's house this month. i'm also doing one specifically for 20-somethings. i'm trying to get the word out on that one, as i don't know a ton of young people in austin, so if you do or your live in/near austin, please pass the info on to anyone you think might be interested. thanks so much!

it's going to be a ton of fun-- food, apron-wearing, beverages, and great people!

here's the info on the class, and the rest of the details are on the website:

basics and healthy cooking on a budget for 20-somethings
thursday, june 28 - 6:30pm to 9:30pm - $35 (register w/a friend and each pay only $30)
• looking to add a few extra recipes to your date-night or potluck repetoire?
• learn what basic ingredients and tools to keep around the kitchen-- and how to use them.
• learn some tips to stretch your dollars further.
• featured recipes include: minted watermelon gazpacho, baked tofu w/spicy peanut sauce,
moroccan spiced chicken, roasted potatoes w/rosemary, chocolate pudding, and more!
a meal and refreshments will be served. class limited to 12 students.

website: www.ajataharimarsh.com/food/cookingwithaja.htm

can't make this class? there are 3 other classes being offered throughout the month (this one is just the cheapest).


xo,
aja