Girls Live Here.

28 January.

A Day in the Life.

Morning sunshine, tea in bed, a walk around the neighborhood, book club, beer can chicken, rhubarb and blood orange pavlova & drinks at the Whistling Shop.

18 January.

I think one of the most interesting things about attending a funeral are the people there and their stories of the connections they have to the lost loved one. Of course i knew my grandfather was an extraordinary man, but the little anecdotes and the people who showed up unexpectedly were what really got to me emotionally. People come out of the woodwork who expand stories of what his passage from San Francisco to India during WWII was like, and how once he helped bend some rules as an underwriter to help out a colleague, or how he made it a point to know every single person's name and where they were from at his church. Family travelled from upstate new york to attend the service and seeing them was one of the first things to make me lose my composure. I was so overjoyed that this part of our family was there that i hadn't seen since i was six years old, and it meant so much to share the day with us bringing back so many great memories. Funerals are hard, and this was no different, but what surprised me most was what bits of the day really moved me most.

A lot.

(Grandpa on the far left, with his brothers and sisters)

A lot has been going on in my life lately, and now it's found me having to go back home to the states for the second time in the past month to attend my grandfather's funeral. He died last week on the 11th day of the 1st month of the year at 11 o'clock. Lots of ones, a number i've always been fond of, and a day i always remember because it's one of my best friend's birthdays and the inverse of my birthday, something we always got a kick out of -- 11/1, 1/11. Whenever i'm home and things are feeling hard i tend to hang around the kitchen more than usual, and nothing has been different this time. In the past 12 hours i've made an olive oil cake, brownies and chocolate chip cookies. But really, the thing i'm most excited about is Marcela Hazan's trusty Bolognese Sauce that is simmering away. Best after having bubbled for at least five hours, it's even more satisfying because it has a few more steps than your typical simple pasta sauce. Tomorrow we will eat it as a family, and there's not much more that could make me happier right now.

London Life.

Brunch and booze and card games for bad people.

Mishkin's.

Last weekend i finally made it to Mishkin's, a place that bills itself proudly in gold letters on the windows as serving meat loaf, gin and salt beef. Pretty much my ideal. We sat at the bar and were served by the lovely and knowledgeable staff who LOVE gin. We sampled the hot dog, the reuben, fried brussels sprouts, matzo ball soup and delicious gin drinks. I kind of don't want to even tell anyone about it. But, i guess i'll let you in on it.

Little Things.

Something i really enjoyed while i was home was opening the fridge and having hard boiled eggs there for the taking. My mom boils them up at the beginning of the week, and they're the best on hand snack with a bit of salt and pepper. I miss this.

David Chang Knows What's Up.

David Chang's Lucky Peach is something i eagerly await each time it comes out. It's a magazine... but written in such a personal way that will have you sucked in and cracking up every few minutes. This spread is simple, but rings so true. Listen to him.

Instant.

The End and the Beginning.

The last two months of this year have been trying. Sometimes it feels like life throws you lots of things to juggle just to see how you'll handle it. 2012 is going to be rough, but at least i'm a bit prepared this time around.