Produce and Bowling and Citizens, Oh My!

Originally posted 6.26.07

Just thought I would share some random miscellaneous stuff that I have been up to lately. Nothing earth shattering. Just some fodder for the fans.

First, I am proud to say that I am now actively supporting local agriculture by participating in what is called a CSA program or Community Supported Agriculture. Basically, I pay a local farmer $18 a week to bring produce to a pick up point every Tuesday. I don't get to pick what I am going to get but that makes it more fun - a little like Christmas. Every Tuesday morning I anxiously await the email telling me what my share of the crop will be. Today I picked up 4 ears of corn, 4 tomatoes, 2 red onions, 15 red potatoes, 3 squash/zucchini, 1 bunch of carrots, 1 cucumber and a bag of wheat berries (which are supposed to be unprocessed wheat and can be eaten like rice). Not bad for a week's haul right? And the best part is Farmer Frank uses sustainable farming methods to work land right here in Phoenix. So the food is better for the environment and better for me and I am helping to support American farmers and the local economy. I am loving it!

And speaking of supporting Americans. (not a smooth shift but it is a manageable leap) My friend and coworker Nandini just recently became a US citizen. I had the privilege to attend her swearing in ceremony and let me tell you - it moved me more than I expected. The pomp and circumstance was a tiny bit cheesy - President Bush giving a little pretaped video speech, video taped fireworks with Lee Greenwood's 'Proud to be an American' playing in the background. But seeing a room full of people who were so excited to be called an American Citizen made me proud to be one too. I don't always agree with our politics but I love my country. It was nice to be reminded and a little ironic that it took a room full of people born everywhere but here to remind me.

What I am also proud to be a part of is my very own bowling team. They made me captain. I think mostly because it sounded like a lot of work but in my mind, I like to believe it is because the other two people on my team, Bruce and Randy, recognized immediately my leadership genius. We had never met before we became a team but we bonded quickly in our awfulness and are, by far, the absolute most exuberant team on the league. For the first few series, every time one of us would get a strike we would huddle and jump up and down like we had just heard Bob Barker call our name and tell us to come on down. We have a ridiculous handicap (team handicap is 276 - 106 of which belongs to me) and we are having a pretty good night to break a hundred. But we have a blast! And we are steadily improving. Last week I bowled a 139 and a 144 (before the handicap). Thanks to our lovely handicap, that moves us into 5th place for the league. The best part about it is they award prizes by gender and since it is myself, 3 or 4 other girls and then a whole lot of gay men, I am practically assured a prize. I like to win.

I also feel compelled to mention that I tried Indian food tonight with my good friend Nanci and my new friend (her brother) Dennis. I was a bit nervous going in as I have a delicate palatte and really, I'm not an entirely adventurous eater. But I have to say I loved it. I got good recommendations from my friend Nandini (New Citizen) and ate so much Chicken Tandori and Indian bread and some rice and vegetable thing and some creamy yogurt based thing with cheese and vegetables in it and creamed spinach. I think I may never be hungry again.

That should keep the gossip columnists busy for a while. Not that anyone is gossiping about me. And not that I could control what they gossip about even if they are.