two persimmons

I dream of dinner parties

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A stranger’s to-do list, found in a cover at a used book store.

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I love my new home. I think it’s gorgeous.

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Normal People - Sally Rooney

This was a nice and quick read. I enjoyed it but couldn’t help but be frustrated with Marianne for not being sure of her worth and not seizing her chances to be happy with Connell. When I get frustrated by communication breakdowns in stories- books or movies- it inspires me to become a better communicator myself. I guess that’s a strength I’ve developed, communicating openly and honestly with others so any issues can be tackled out without hurt feelings. 

Anyway. It’s nice to read books that aren’t set in the U.S. and I did enjoy this one quite a bit. 

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The Great Alone - Kristin Hannah

A love story and compelling reason to see Alaska. I really enjoyed this coming-of-age, coming-into-onesself book. I could very nearly see the Alaskan landscapes Hannah described, and it was so hard not to skip ahead in times of suspense to see what the narrator’s next moves would be. A wonderful piece of modern literature overall.

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In Shock- Dr. Rana Awdish

This book is, I feel, essential for any healthcare provider working in direct patient care to read. Dr. Awdish makes beautiful insights as to how we should treat patients with compassion and most of all empathy. In a profession where a person’s worst day is just another day for you, it’s so easy to lose sight of patient perspectives. All you can do is be patient and keep doing what you entered the profession to do- dedicating yourself to others, helping them grow past the roadblocks in their lives.

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The Girls- Emma Cline

I read this book at my roommate’s recommendation. I loved Emma Cline’s writing style and creative, metaphorical way of structuring a story. I particularly loved a line describing the sound of a burger being pressed into a park grill as a “bored, wet sizzle”. “Bored and wet” is exactly how I’d want to describe that sound, were I able to pull that from my brain. 

I appreciate authors who put a name and concrete description to things I can’t, and I think that’s why I found this book compelling. 

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(via https://open.spotify.com/track/4PdLup4OaCGktZG8cvbkBz?si=5e8W7Xq7TV2cvIaV7yA_uA)

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The average American likes meat, sports, money, porn, cars, cartoons, and shopping. Less popular: socialism, privilege-checking, and the world ending in 10 years.

Rolling Stone’s Matt Taibbi

Astute insight as to why Trump voters seem to be putting on blinders. It’s easier to indulge and enjoy, I understand that temptation.

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(via https://open.spotify.com/track/1t4pPnbkOjzoA5RvsDjvUU?si=bTBffNHNTSqjNENs15Er8w)

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For me?

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Bagel in the sky, San Francisco, CA

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The beautiful beaches and tidepools of Half Moon Bay, CA

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Buttery sponge cake, strawberry and orange compote. Cake from Mastering the Art of French Cooking

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I got scammed out of 90$ trying to buy Outside Lands tickets on Facebook, and PayPal dismissed my claim pretty much right away. I have screenshots of a conversation admitting to scamming me and in which the person sent screenshots of made up emails from PayPal, and screenshots of conversations with other people the scammer targeted. I should have been way more skeptical of this person, unfortunately I was being contacted by another scammer through message at the same time and was so eager to get out of that conversation with a scammer I recognized that I fell into a different trap.

This super sucks. To anyone trying to buy concert tickets, don’t do it online without meeting someone. For OSL especially, meet up with someone in the Bay to get their physical wristband. I learned the hard way there are no “etickets” which can be sent through Ticketmaster. If someone offers to screenshot their tickets just end the conversation with them. Don’t send money before having the ticket in your hand and don’t trust anyone posting tickets for sale on Facebook! I hope nobody else is put in this position like I was.

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Beautiful tomatoes from the Baltimore Community Garden in Patterson Park. 

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Fried Green Tomatoes

-4-6 sliced green tomatoes

-2 c full fat buttermilk

-2 eggs

-2 c self-rising flour

-1 c medium cornmeal

-1/2 tsp garlic powder

-1/2 tsp onion powder

-1 T salt 

-2 c vegetable oil

-1 c butter

Salt tomatoes and let them sit for 5 minutes, rinse and pat dry. While waiting for them to sit, mix buttermilk and eggs to create a wash and whisk together dry ingredients in a separate bowl to create a dredge. Coat tomatoes in the wash and then dredge them.

Bring the vegetable oil and butter to a sizzling heat in a cast iron pan, so they are melted together and appear homogenous. Cook tomatoes 3-4 minutes per side.

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The capacity to blunder slightly is the real marvel of DNA. Without it we would be anaerobic bacteria and there would be no music.

Lewis Thomas