As some of you may know...

As some of you may know, I am kind of a nerd for Iceland. My trip there earlier in the year left me with an incredible sense of awe and appreciation for this small, mostly secluded North Atlantic island. It has been six months since I got home and I still have a sense of wonder and excitement about my trip. I have been incredibly lucky to have been able to travel as much as I have. But I cannot remember a single trip that has left me with such a sense of inspiration, even after I return home. The build up to a trip is always exciting and new. But sometimes the trip home leaves one with a sense of exhaustion and disappointment. Not so with Iceland.

In appreciation of this trip (and in recognition of the omnipresent holiday season) I am going to start adding my daily journals from the trip to this blog (and thanks to the mostly over-zealous interconnectedness of EVERYTHING ELECTRONIC and facebook, my facebook page too). I hope these will help my audience of two people enjoy the wonders of Iceland as much as I did. Of course, there is nothing like experiencing something for yourself. But this is essentially free (minus the always-too-large-for-what-I-get-compared-to-other-companies-Comcast-bill). So, keep an eye out over the next few days/weeks/months/years for these.

Also, I am thinking about switching away from AT&T for my mobile service. Ideas?

And Happy Holidays.

Iceland

My trip to Iceland starts tomorrow. I will be posting pictures and some commentary at http://lotrr2010.wordpress.com and will probably post blog entries here when I return.

Also, I found an old journal I kept when I went to France in 2006. It was pretty interesting (even though I am biased since I wrote it). I will be posting those entries here when I return from Iceland too.

I guess I better start packing...

Still Looking

Have you ever felt like you are looking for something, but don't know what it is? And you know you will never find it. But you look anyway?

I think, while planning my trip to Iceland, I have become aware of this feeling. One where I know I am looking for something, an experience, a moment, a sight, a feeling. But I don't know what it is. And I don't know how to find it. And I know I won't find it. But it is ok. It will be alright. I will have fun. And I will create lasting memories and experiences. But I somehow feel like it will be less than I am looking for.

I have had the dream of visiting Iceland for the past five years or so. And it frightens me. Not the country, but being able to make a dream turn into a reality. I am scared that it will not be what I think. But then I remember that it is a new experience, one that most people will never have. And it will become a part of me. Just like every other trip has. It will help shape the rest of my life. But will realizing a dream make it less important to me? Or make me feel like I have no where to go? I don't think so. I think it will make me a better person. And I will find a new dream. And I will keep replacing those attained dreams with other dreams until I die or dream the unattainable.

I'm not sure where this all came from...

Iceland, here I come!

Ok, so it is finally time to get some plane tickets and start planning my trip to Iceland!!!!!!!!!!!

I saw this today and was very excited.

If anyone has any suggestions, other than "have a great time," please let me know!

Thai Green Curry

Well, I invited a couple of friends over last night for dinner. And I got many more than I expected. And I was happy to have them. I cooked up my Thai Green Curry, which is one of my favorites, along with Thai Red Curry and Thai Yellow Curry.

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:
2 Chicken Things (bone-in) per person
1/3 Carrot, Sliced per person
1/4 Bell Pepper, 1-inch squares, per person
1/5 Yellow Onion per person
Coconut Milk (1 can per 5 persons)
Fish Sauce (just enough to hint at the taste)
Green Curry Paste (1 Tablespoon per 4 persons)
Salt and Pepper
Chicken Broth or Stock (about 4oz per person)
1/2 Lime per person
Handful of Cilantro

Method:
1. Sear the Chicken Thighs (salt and pepper each side) in a little olive oil, set aside.
2. Saute the veggies (with a little salt) in a little olive oil, set aside.
3. Cook the curry paste in a small amount of coconut milk until well dissolved, add the rest of the coconut milk and return all veggies and chicken to pot.
4. Add warm chicken stock, fish sauce, a little cilantro, and the juice of one lime (to taste).
5. Stew for 30-35 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste.
6. Serve with jasmine rice.

White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies

DO NOT FOLLOW THE RECIPE ON THE BACK OF THE GHIRARDELLI BAG.

Instead, use 2.5 cups of flour (instead of the 3 listed), otherwise they get too dry. Enjoy!

Food

I think food is more interesting than politics. And way less disappointing. So, instead of writing about politics once in a blue moon (which apparently is coming up soon), I'm going to write about food instead.