Month: January 2014

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Love/Hate relationship with TripAdvisor

As if the amazing selection of reviews wasn’t overwhelming enough, I recently discovered how to use the question forums and regional experts. I had basically solidified my plan for a full 24 hours in the Luberon village of Gordes, then two nights in the more pristine and poodle-y Aix, with day trips to Arles or Marseille as desired.

But now, I feel like I’m totally effing it all up and maybe I should have consulted these experts first … oy vey!

I’m being dramatic – I am sure my plan is still fine – but this definitely makes me want to do more, and it feeds my tendency to overanalyze my decisions! But I have to remind myself that this part of the trip is purely about food, wine, and wanderlust – not squeezing in every site, town, or museum. I just need to decide how best to wander 🙂

Family Reunion in the Sunshine State

This past weekend, Chuck and I met my sister, her wife, and my Dad in Florida to see my extended family for the first time in – I don’t know – 4 years? It was a great visit, and Chuck met most of my relatives for the very first time. (I think it’s safe to say that he was a hit!)

We also drove a few hours north to visit members of Chuck’s family, and stopped in adorable St. Augustine for lunch along the way. As luck (and my Facebook habits) would have it, one of Chuck’s old platoon sergeants noticed one of my check-ins while visiting my family, and called to let us know he happened to live right in the area! So, we got to reunite with him and his family too.

All in all, a fun (albeit exhausting!) weekend down in sunny Florida.

 

Culinary Delight #11: Ginger-Tomato Salmon with Coconut Jasmine Rice

#tbt to last night’s dinner! Ginger-tomato salmon with coconut jasmine rice. I think it’s a keeper!

Coconut jasmine rice (Start making this first):

1 cup jasmine rice (though I had basmati rice handy and used that instead)
1 1/4 cups chicken stock
3/4 cup coconut milk
1 tsp sesame oil (I used olive oil)
1/4 cup pre-sliced green onions
1/4 tsp sea salt

Place the rice, stock, coconut milk, and oil into a saucepan, and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer 18-20 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender. Fluff with a fork, then stir in the salt and green onions.

GInger-tomato salmon

2 cloves garlic (I just threw in a heaping teaspoon of minced garlic)
2 tsp ginger paste
1 cup chicken stock
1 cup coconut milk
1 1/2 lb salmon fillets, skin removed
1 (14.5 oz) can petite diced tomatoes, drained
1/4 cup pre-sliced green onions
Salt & pepper to taste

Preheat a large saute pan on medium-high for 2-3 minutes. Place garlic, ginger, stock, and coconut milk in pan and bring to a boil. Meanwhile, season salmon on both sides with salt and pepper.

Add tomatoes and salmon to the sauce, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cook 8-10 minutes, basting fish with sauce occasionally, or until the salmon is 145 degrees (or opaque and separates easily). Place salmon and sauce on rice, then sprinkle with green onions and serve!

The real question is where to have our home base in the South of France: Avignon, or Aix-en-Provence?

I need a Provence expert!!

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This week…

… has had two main focuses (foci?): Europe, and grad school applications.

Euro-planning is going surprisingly smoothly. Flight is booked, as is our EuroStar from London to Paris, and our hotel in Paris. I’m still working on lodging in London and Provence, and the train from Paris to the South, but I’m hoping to wait until we get some of our bonus points on the AMEX card we opened a few months ago. Otherwise, I’m trying not to over-plan, but we do have a pretty decent itinerary set. I only wish we could add more (and go to Italy too!)

It’s kind of funny… everyone says that they speak English in Paris, and no one has the patience to deal with your weak American attempts at fitting in. But I have e-mailed at least two hotels in Paris, in my crappy French, and gotten perfectly nice French responses. It could be different over email, but maybe I will get to practice some French over there after all!

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As for the grad school apps, I have decided to apply for two Master’s programs that are available on-campus and online (the degree will not specify that it is online, so that is nice, for those who may stigmatize that approach.) I don’t know for sure that I will actually end up enrolling, but I’d like the option to, if I am accepted. My plan for now is to get to Japan, get settled, give job-hunting a solid shot, and then make a decision about the degree based on what I find. I don’t like the idea of paying for a degree or acquiring debt, but I also don’t like the idea of getting back to the States and wishing I had taken better advantage of that downtime to remain competitive and improve myself.

I know that when I struggled finding work in NC, it was because I was either overqualified for most positions, or underqualified due to lack of a Master’s degree. If I need to specialize, and I have free time at my disposal in Japan, that may be the time to close that gap and get out of the awkward in-between phase! Of course, Lord knows where we’ll end up in 3 years, or what my goals will be at that point… but (money aside), it can’t hurt to acquire more education, right? Plus, these particular programs will help steer my resume in the direction I would like it to go – on paper at least.

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Slow down… and Smile!

I wanted to share this post from one of my Facebook friends this morning. It’s a beautiful reminder of how we should be living lives, every day.

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“As I hurried past a homeless man this morning, he started saying what we have all heard before, “excuse me, can I get a…”

Before he finished, I said “Sorry, I’m late,” and kept walking without a turn in his direction, only to hear him say behind me “… little smile.”

As I finished my walk to work feeling very small, I realized I could only apply this moving forward: Slow down, people may not be asking for quite as much of you as you assume.”

Yesterday, I lost my not-so-lil’ nephew, Dante, just 5 years young. He recently developed a rare lung condition called spontaneous pneumothorax, which caused a rapid decline in his health. He was the best dog, baby, friend, and “Bear” my sister (or anyone) could ask for. Just a big old ball of fluff and goodness. I am sure many of us can relate to the sadness my sister is going through right now. Losing a family member is truly one of the hardest things. Rest in Peace, Dante.

Spring EuroTrip… BOOKED 😊 It’s felt surreal for so long – I can’t believe we finally did it. No going back now! #england #france #paris #provence #travel #excited #broke