Glued to the News in the Middle East

My brother-in-law works in Libya.  If you’ve seen the news, you know things there are unsettled.. to say the least.   We have heard from him, and he is now safely out of the country and on his way back home.  Thank goodness!  He was one of the last four employees to be evacuated – making us all a little nervous – and was only able to bring out one backpack. (Man.. what would YOU put in your “must go” bag?)

Knowing someone near this kind of activity makes you pay way more attention to what’s happening than you would normally. I mean, it’s personal, ya know?  So, needless to say during these last few days, we’ve all been glued to our preferred news sources waiting to hear the latest.

Deeper ponderings: Sometimes our jobs put us in harm’s way on purpose.  Firefighters, policemen, doctors and nurses (and so many others) face danger on a daily basis.  But, sometimes harm comes our way no matter what and quite unexpectedly. Either way, events like this remind us how frail life’s circumstances can be and how quickly things can change – for good and for not.

Prayers for safety for everyone.
Prayers for peace in this troubled area of our world.

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Food: Milagro Modern Mexican (STL)

The other day, Husband and I headed out for our second visit to Milagro’s.  We were looking forward to the wonderful food combinations we enjoyed the first time we were there.  (They have an awesome hot sauce on every table.  Not too hot, but perfect for a little kick!)

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Another Train Metaphor

I travel for work. Sometimes to faraway places.  Most recently, the faraway place has been Kenya, which is a wonderful topic for another time.  But today’s story is this:  it is time to get my next round of shots.

While I was waiting in the Infection Disease Center, I realized most of the people in the waiting room had similar characteristics. (NOT stereotyping, just noticing.) I asked the nurse what they normally treat in this clinic, and she said folks come here to get their antiretroviral therapy (ARTs) as part of their HIV treatment.  It’s what keeps HIV from damaging the immune system, but it is not a cure.

Later, I got to thinking how accessible ARTs and this clinic are for folks living with this disease.. at least in comparison to those living in faraway places like Kenya, Swaziland, South Africa, and so many others. Some people travel miles and miles to get their medicine, some don’t even bother, or worse, they are too sick to make it. They face issues as basic as no running water or reliable food supply. How can someone stay healthy in such an environment – let alone stick to a specific treatment for a longer life? Additional pondering on this topic available upon request.  ha!

This was taken on my way to the clinic.
And here’s how this all ties together (not a GREAT metaphor, but still)…

Trains take us places, they go near and far. They are the connection between what we need and what we don’t have: whether to bring people, medicine, and food closer or to transport resources and supplies to hospitals, homes, and hangouts. Every trip has a beginning and an end. So, what is it going to take for our “find a cure” journey to end?  How many stops along the way? What supplies do we need to take with us?  Who needs to come along?

I am confident this journey has an end.  People smarter than me are working on this at every level in our community, nation, and the world. Here’s for more energy, reliable guidance, and lots of resources for those working on this important health issue – both near and faraway.

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Food: Kota Wood Fire Grill (STL)

Sunday was dinner and a movie.  We saw the King’s Speech, which was really great (even for the second time) then headed to Kota Wood Fire Grill.  We went in and the place was packed… and soon realized the crowd was there to see a nearby show. At 7:03pm, the room cleared and we were one of a few instead of one of many. It was only a little bit weird. Ha!

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Food: Vin de Set (STL)

Yesterday was errand day.  Husband and I had a lot to check off the list including needing a notary..which we did. (Thank you, Notary Guy, for staying open late for us!)

Needless to say, I was ready for a nice, calm, relaxing and delicious dinner after all that running around.  H. picked Vin de Set, and I’m so glad we experienced this place.  They have been ranked best view of the city with its outdoor patio overlooking the St. Louis skyline.

The ambiance was beautiful, warm, and welcoming.  The wine list varied and not extravagantly overpriced.  We started with a cheese plate that was good. H. had duck confit and I had the steak au poive – both done beautifully. The service was patient, but not warm or particularly friendly. The chocolate bread pudding for dessert was dry, cold, and not worth the effort.

It was a price fixe menu for Valentine’s Day. We have so-so luck in these situations.  It seems you never get a good representation of the chef’s offerings. It’s a good sample, but not necessarily the best of the day. Having said that.. we enjoyed the entrée and ambiance enough to try it again.

Vin de Set, we’ll see you in the Spring.

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A New Family Frontier

The week, we started the journey to welcome a Little One into our family through adoption.  Yep, a new family frontier for us. We’ve done our homework, talked to other adoptive parents, and getting all the paperwork together to start this new phase in our lives.

And BOY is there a lot of paperwork.

This blog will not be all about babies, I promise.  But, this is the start to what could be a very exciting (and only a little be terrifying) adventure.

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Food: Vine Mediterranean Cafe and Market (STL)

Can you write a restaurant review with only one visit?  Hmm… It’s my first time writing about food.  Feedback welcome!

My husband and I ventured to a new St. Louis neighborhood today, South Grand.  This place has a great collection of ethnic restaurants (including a gelateria!) and several beautiful parks.

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Super Bowl Recipe: Chocolate Mint Bars

Chocolate and mint are a favorite combination in our house.  This is from the Cooking Light magazine, but shhhh… Don’t tell anyone.  It’s so rich and full of chocolaty goodness.  No one would guess the lighter parts of this recipe!

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Super Bowl Recipe: Hummus

My husband and I have searched high and low for the hummus recipe that we like.  This one has been a favorite for a long time.  We found it on About.com under Middle Eastern Food.  It’s going to be our healthier appetizer option for the crowd tomorrow.

Prep time: a mere 10 minutes.

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Super Bowl Recipe: THAT Dip

[Pictures soon to be included. Stay tuned!]

We were introduced to this recipe over the holidays.  My sister-in-law made it, and let me tell you.. it’s delicious!  Savory, hearty, and nothing close to healthy.  We’re going to be making it for the Super Bowl this year.  Can’t wait to introduce it to the crowd!  This was found on Real Women of Philadelphia (as in cream cheese). What follows has been adapted slightly.

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