Funemployment continued...

I am no longer keeping track of how many business days I have now been out of work. But last week there were some interesting developments and let me start out this post by saying I am 99% certain I will be entering a trial employment period tomorrow with a solo practicioner. I only say 99% because we haven't discussed the dollar bills, y'all. I do not anticipate getting an offer that is low. I think the offer will be fair. And so long as it is fair, I'm going to give this trial period my best shot.

Enough of the boring unemployed attorney talk. Let's get to the fun stuff. Last week was Valentine's Day. So much love in the air! Pfft! We do not "celebrate" Valentine's Day. Let me take a moment to be super cheesy here and just say that I love my hubby every day. No Hallmark holiday required. BUT. I did wake up early enough to make his current favorite soup, a lovely red lentil and coconut soup. This was my gesture to show him that I loved him eternally, as chopping jalapenos and onions first thing in the morning is not the most fun thing to do. I put it in the crock-pot so it would be nice and ready when we got back from the Field Museum. Have I mentioned I live in a bomb-ass city where there is a lot to do (often for free)?? Yeah. I do.

It has been quite some time since we visited the Field Museum, as well as the Art Institute of Chicago which I wrote about a few posts ago. In fact, the first time we visited both was when we came to Chicago after eloping. So, it has been almost 10 years since we visited these fine establishments.

I highly suggest that when you visit any of Chicago's museums, you devote an entire day (or 2) to each one. I promise you won't get through the entire museum in one day. I also suggest you wear comfortable shoes and sit down often. These museums are rather large and no one wants to visit a museum with a grump. So sit, please.

First, let me introduce you to Sue.

You'll find Sue on the first floor welcoming all visitors to the Field Museum.

Here's Sue's buddy the Pterodactyl. I honestly have no clue if he or she has a name.

When we visited the Field Museum we only went through 3 exhibits. We went to see the Lions of Tsavo (and saw much of the Mammals of Africa exhibit along the way), The Grainger Hall of Gems, where I got my sparkly fix, and Inside Ancient Egypt, where I got my "Ancient Aliens" fix.

Please bear with my sense of humor...

I couldn't resist. I love to say "wild ass."

I'm thinking the guy on the left looks like a wild ass. The guy on the right is trying to act like he doesn't know the other guy.

Ok, on to the sparkly stuff. Let me say these photos do NOT do the jewels justice. I mean these jewels were amazing. A.MAZE.BALLS.

this was one of my favorites. it really did look like it was on fire.

Again, the photo could not capture the rainbow that was glowing inside this opal.

This was my hubby's fave. He could totally relate to some dinosaur treasures.

 Again, there were magical rainbows pouring out  of these gems!! It was AMAZING people!!

Ri-DIC-ulous.

Finally, we went to see the mummies in the ancient Egypt exhibit. I did not take pictures of the mummies because I think it's kinda rude to take pictures of the dead. Yeah, and it's kinda rude that they got dug up in the first place so that we could peer at them centuries later. But that's another soap box...

Totally Ancient Aliens shit!! I love that show.

I'm pretty sure these include instructions on how to build a structure that will open up a worm hole to allow space and time travel...

 This last pic was snapped mere moments before we got yelled at that the museum was closed! ruh-roh!

Proof that humans did not build the pyramids...

Peace out people! Hope you have a fabulous week. Try the soup I linked to. It is spicy and comforting after a day at the museum. xoxo

creamy vegan potato soup

i am always skeptical of any vegan recipes that claim to be "creamy." while i admit i have not fully given up dairy i have noticed that the more i eat a whole food, plant based diet, the easier it is on my digestive system. this recipe impressed the skeptic in me and i HIGHLY suggest you look past the word "vegan" and give this recipe a try.

i didn't follow Jenna's recipe to a T, simply because when i cook i don't really measure my ingredients, and i didn't have 5 potatoes. i added some pinto beans and spiced it up just a bit.

my take on her recipe:

1 spoonful of virgin coconut oil
1/2 large yellow onion, diced
3 stalks celery, chopped
2 large handfuls of baby carrots, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, minced
3 large russet potatoes
1 can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
sea salt
fresh ground pepper
bay leaf
dried thyme
dried red pepper flakes
4 cups (1 box) of vegetable stock
2 cups unsweetened almond milk


in a large pot, heat the coconut oil over medium heat. add onion, celery and carrots. saute. just before translucent add the garlic, a generous pinch of salt and pepper, thyme and the bay leaf. saute until soft and translucent. add the veggie stock and bring to a boil.

add potatoes and boil for 15 minutes.

remove the pot from heat. take 2 cups of the soup mixture, being careful not to include the bay leaf, and pulse in a food processor. add the mixture back to the soup and turn pot back on low. add the almond milk, pinto beans, salt and pepper to taste and generous pinch of red pepper flakes. warm thoroughly.


I hope you can see the difference in the veggies. The first photo is right after I added the veggies to the pot. The photo on the right is when I added the garlic salt and pepper.

BOIL THEM TATERS!

MAKE SURE TO REMOVE THE BAY LEAF BEFORE SERVING. 

Enjoy! xoxo

lessons in certainty...the uncertain

day 6 of unemployment: today i am making a vegan creamy potato soup. potato soup and the rain are the only certain things for today.

every week hubs and i go to sutra study on wednesday night and every week i am challenged. each week the teachings touch on something i am dealing with. last night we talked about attachment and desire for certainty. obvi what i'm dealing with now is my unemployment/underemployment. currently i am unemployed, but i know soon another project will come along. but the big picture is i am underemployed. and that is the part that is so hard to accept. i admitted last night that i am angry. i feel like i deserve to have a permanent position where i can get on with my career and have the financial ability to buy a home or start a family.

as i said this very thing out loud, i was then reminded that even if i had that position there is no guarantee i wouldn't be fired, laid off, transferred or that i am even physically able to have a baby. and i had to admit that i recently had a conversation with my hubby's uncle who said in all his years, even he is waiting for his life to settle down.

so i learned my lesson that there is no certainty in life. and waiting for that perfect job to live my life is foolish.

in the meantime, as always, i am grateful for what i have today, this moment. i have my health. i have a roof over my head to keep me warm from the slushy rain and snow that has been coming down all day. i have some yummy smelling potato soup on the stove to warm my belly later. i have my wonderful hubby who encourages me and loves me.

i am also very thankful i live in such a cool city that i get to go to the art museum and admire amazing art (for free if you are an Illinois resident!). here are some pics i took in my "Ferris Beuller's day off" adventure. Sans Cubs game, sans Ferrari.

starting out with some impressionists...

Eve. she doesn't look so bad!

 Moving on to the Modern wing of the Art Institute of Chicago. Opened in 2009.

i love shit like this - interactive, meaningful and fun

yes, i ate a piece. a carefully selected red candy. tasted like cherry.

Jackson Pollock

Mao wearing blue eyeshadow. Andy Warhol.

Ha!

Back to the ancient stuff...

Who knew the creature from Where The Wild Things Are existed in 8th century Asia?

Dragon!

proof that my dog is an ancient breed of chubbylapdogness

New Year, New Me!

I'm sure you're snarkily commenting to yourself, "New Year? it's February." Yes. I know. February. It is well past time to say "new year" but alas, I am late. Oh, well.

It IS a new me. I can say so with confidence because I am currently on Day 4 of being unemployed and having a fabulous time! Last year I could barely make it to Day 2 without having a nervous breakdown.

For those of you who may have just stumbled upon this blog and maybe you are once again snarkily commenting to yourself "Day 4? Whoop-di-do," here's a "previously on..."  I'm a contract attorney. I work on temporary assignments. Sometimes they last for a week, sometimes months. But when I was new to this, I was in a bad place in my life and NEEDED certainty from a job. So when a day or two would pass and I wasn't already lined up for a project, I'd freak out.

Today is Day 4 and there is nothing lined up. Except for a visit to the museum tomorrow because a) I'm unemployed and have nothing better to do, 2) it's free, so why not, and C) it's hubby's day off and we rarely do stuff like that, so why not.

So what's changed? My outlook on life. Cliche. But true. I recently re-discovered Buddhism and it has changed everything for me. I am excited about learning about the teachings, the sutras. I try to apply them to my everyday life, not just my Sundays. It's hard sometimes, being a lawyer and a Buddhist. But I'm always searching for balance in that part of my life.

Mostly I am just grateful for what I have today, this moment. Today I have these beautiful golden beets that I roasted for what I hope to be a lovely beet and hummus stuffed pita dinner. Aren't they beautiful?

Roasted beets:

4 medium to large sized beets
coconut oil
dried thyme

pre-heat oven to 425 degrees
wash beets
pat dry
cut enough foil for each beet
put a small dab (1/2 tsp maybe?) of coconut oil on each beet
sprinkle dried thyme on beet and wrap beet in foil
place the beets on a baking sheet
bake in oven about an hour and a half, checking with a toothpick. toothpick should easily slide in and out of beet.
while beets are still warm but cool enough to handle the skin should easily peel off.

i will be making beet and hummus pitas with some greenery and balsamic vinegar. Enjoy!

Chicago in White 2012

I am a little late getting this post up. I have found that when I am feeling good I do not have the urge to write. I need to find a way to stay motivated to write even when I am happily busy with life.

Back in August a friend and I went to the "Chicago in White" event. This is actually the second time I participated, but last year it was called Diner in Blanc. Apparently there was a small matter about whether this event was affiliated with the original Diner in Blanc that started in Paris, and the Chicago organizers changed their name. Whatevs. It's a lot of fun albeit a little bit of hard work.

If you've never heard of either of these events, I describe it as a flash mob picnic. You sign up and get assigned to a "Head of Table." This person is your coordinator of sorts. You get to pick a meeting spot, you meet up with all your wares and your date. Then after everyone gets together they announce the location. Back in 2011 it was in the Daley Plaza. 

This year it was overlooking the Chicago River at the Merchandise Mart.

The hard work comes in where you have to bring everything. I mean everything - table, chairs, tablesetting and of course, your meal and beverage.

That also means you have to carry it to your meeting spot, ride the CTA to your destination and set everything up.

That's my date, Jyothi, holding the flowers for our table decor.

But I find that's part of the charm of this event. Everyone comes with their goodies, sets up, they have a lovely dinner and then they disappear without leaving a trace. Allegedly. The rules are you take your garbage with you and dispose of it at home. But as we were leaving (both years) many a trash bag could be found overflowing the public sidewalk trash cans. Some people just can't follow the rules...well me included. Oh, I bring my trash home with me, I just break the rule that says no alcohol. I mean, come on. This is a French-inspired event. They invented having a little wine with your picnic, right? "Keep it classy, San Diego" is my motto when drinking at this event.

Just a little spread - figs and cheeses, nuts, a spinach souffle...

The signaling of the start of dinner - waving your white napkin.

Oh, did I mention everyone wears all white and the tablesetting should be all white? Hence the name...

Me and Jyothi, along with a couple of girlfriends I met from last year's DeB.

It truly is a lovely evening. I think everyone should try it once. These events can be found in other major cities. Check one out!

*****
The lesson from last year was to simplify everything from the meal to the tablesetting. There was just too much stuff. They now offer catered everything - from table and chair rental to restaurants packing up a picnic for you, but where's the fun in that?

The only food I prepared this year was the phyllo wrapped asparagus, a recipe I found on pinterest! The rest was very easy to set up -cheeses, fruits and veggies.

I changed up the recipe a bit, as I tend to do to suit my likings. I did not prepare the mayo dipping sauce and I used a parmesan inside the wrap and then spread a dill goat cheese on top.

My first time using phyllo dough - I didn't need it to look perfect so I guess that's a good thing.

Decisions, decisions, part 2

Ok, it has been awhile since I've written, but there have been a lot of things happening in my life. Small things, small changes. Most of them are on the inside, how I think, how I am trying to change the way I view my life. These small changes are adding up.

The first thing that happened was I made a choice. I've said it before. I wake up every day and decide to be happy and decide to have peace in my life. I (try) to think positive thoughts and act in positive ways and as a result I am attracting positive things. I am also trying to be as grateful as I can  for who and what I have in my life. This is a change in the way I used to think, which was a focus on what I thought I lacked in life: a better career, financial ability to buy a house and start a family. Instead I am thankful for steady, temporary work, our awesome apartment and the family and friends that are in my life right now. Right now, all I ask for is for happiness and prosperity.

We are still very much in debt and probably always will be due to my student loans. I used to worry that we would never be able to afford a house or a family or to travel the world like we want to. What silliness to worry over. What a waste of my energy. I have asked for prosperity and slowly but surely we have found financial stability. Bit by bit, we are paying off some of the debt that we recently incurred over the past few years. I just crossed off a huge debt from my "owe" column and it felt awesome. This was a debt that I had been worrying about for about 6 months. But since my change in attitude, I found ways to save up and last week I wrote that check. The funny thing is, neither me or my hubby have been working extra to save up and we weren't going without anything either. The money just seemed to be in our account after about six weeks. I asked for prosperity and we are being given what we ask for.

I will also say that both hubby and I are on a bit of a spiritual journey. This past year was a tough year for us. I had a job that I absolutely loathed and it took me a while to have the courage to leave. Right after I made that choice, my grandmother passed away. Both of us have sisters who are very ill. All of this culminated with us having a lot of questions about what do we believe about life, who are we as human beings and questioning what we believe about God. We decided to attend a Buddhist temple in our neighborhood and on Saturday mornings I am taking an introductory class. I am also reading a lot of different material on living a simple life, including a book a friend gave me as a birthday gift, Choosing Simplicity. I feel at peace and most days I have an inner joy that I haven't had in a very long time. That being said, I acknowledge that my spiritual journey is just beginning and the path is narrow.