Events! Neato Stuff! Yowza! BAM! POW!

Alright. I'm going to try really, really hard to be a better blogger. It can be my New Year's Resolution (along with "look good in bridesmaid's dress, come hell or high water"). That said, this particular post is a short but satisfying quickie. A literary afternoon delight, if you will.

Recently, my super-friend Amey did the most selfless, yet masochistic thing ever. In Amelia's honor, she has founded a nonprofit organization to ease the financial burdens felt by we cancer parents. It is called Amelia's Journey Foundation, and you can find the website at http://www.ameliasjourney.bbnow.org/. Coming up this Saturday, January 15th, 2011, AJF will be holding its first fundraising event - a night of music, live auctions, and fun at Higher Grounds in Hallowell, Maine. For more information, visit the Amelia's Journey Foundation website, or friend them on facebook. Be there or be square, nerds!

So Amey, this is one of many public "thank yous" from me to you, you rocking supershero*. If paperwork is eating you alive, I'll come to your rescue.


*I made this up all by myself (I think). Feminists, feel free to use it all you wish.

Hello Again! Like My New Bling?

Weird. It’s been so long since I’ve even thought about this blog. So long, in fact, that I forgot how to log in to it. Then I got this email today saying that I had won some sort of “Best Leukemia Blog 2010” award.


Umm. Thanks. I hope that my new blog bling isn't some sort of computer version of MRSA.

I guess we should get some kind of award for our hellish past year. So, thanks for the handsome badge I’ve placed over yonder. Thanks for reading, voting, selling your souls or whatever you've done to get me on this list, and my apologies for neglecting you for these many months. Thanks for accepting my snarky writing style. Above all, thanks for caring about my family. I will get y’all up to speed…

Chicken Tagine with Middle Eastern Couscous and Spinach

What is one to do when the freezer's only animal-based protein is a lonely pair of chicken thighs and there are four mouths to feed? Stretch it with beans and vegetables!

This North African-style stew is full of warm spices, and unlike the last tagine I had from a fellow student, isn't tooth-achingly sweet. The combination of spices, legumes, and fruits meld together for a well-balanced winter meal, and all of the ingredients are things I had on hand.

FYI - As is, this recipe is approachable for a child's palate. If made for adults, it would benefit from a little heat. We like Brother Bru Bru's hot sauce, which is African in style and works well with this dish.

Wristband Update

To date, Amelia has wristbands in the following states:

Maine (obviously)
New Hampshire
New York
Ohio
Indiana
Texas
New Mexico
Oregon
Colorado

Not too shabby! 41 states and 6 more continents to go...

A mere ten clams will get you half of this

fabulous pseudo-earring set!

Want to see your state/country represented? Email us!

Back to School - Welcome Back Brain!

As this week ticks by, I find myself in a unique time warp* – Monday is Amelia’s second first day of kindergarten, or, were I a film writer, “Kindergarten, Part Deux: Mom Regains Brain Function”.

My most sincere wish (aside from my other sincere wish a few paragraphs down there ) is for Amelia to get to school and think to herself “aha! These are my people! Mom has never been so FUN! Oh my eyes, what have we been missing?!”


Really. No teary Jen collapsed in the dust (or in our case, gray slush) left behind the rapidly departing school bus. It has been far too long since Amelia has had normal kid-time, and too long since I’ve had the ability to be off-duty for a few hours. I have a little secret, you see…

Come closer.

Reading For a Cure

I stumbled upon a really cool fundraiser today, and wanted to share with you all. A fellow bibliophile, Wendy of the blog CaribousMom, has organized a pledge per book drive for pediatric cancer research. As some of  you may know, the funds allocated for research of childhood cancer are paltry, at best, especially compared with the huge campaigns benefitting breast cancer research (pink egg timer or license plate, anyone?). Now, all causes are worthy ones, and advocates of adult cancer awareness have done a superb job of rallying together. The fact is, many folks just don't know that 1 in 330 children are diagnosed with some form of cancer before they reach the ripe old age of 20. They don't know that cancers are the leading cause of non-accidental death in children. Frankly, they don't know how much this sucks. So let's tell them!

Amelia and I have pledged to donate $1 for each book we read throughout 2010 to the Pediatric Cancer Foundation, via Wendy's campaign. It's not much, but every little bit helps, right? Want to join us? Mosey on over to Wendy's blog and review the details (it's simple, really). Start reading, and leave me a comment, so I can thank you personally.

I'm starting my reading year with:

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
(by Junot Diaz)

Geek Love
(by Katherine Dunn)

How about you?

Happy New Year and the First Recipe for 2010!

In the Southern US, New Year’s fare traditionally includes Hoppin’ John, a stew of black eyed peas (for luck), and collard greens (to symbolize money). This year, my family needs not only luck and money, but good health. In hopes of bestowing this trinity on ourselves (and all of you) with the coming New Year, I’ve evicted the traditional hog jowl or hock from this recipe, and turned into a lovely, healthful vegetarian salad. It’s delicious!


Happy New Year to you all, and Bon Appétit!