Summer discoveries

Ha! I have managed, after much too long, to access my account. Let the summer blogging begin!

Let us hope that after such a long hiatus from thesunsbirthday that I shall have something interesting to write about this summer. My plans for the season are simple: a babysitting job for two gradeschool children and one highschool student. No performances planned as of now, but my heart aches to step on stage. In place of a summer musical, I have bought an acoustic guitar, which I shall learn as well as I can. And I shall read. Oh, I shall read.

So far, I have read Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, and In Defense of Food, by Michael Pollan, and am currently enjoying Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. Alas, the first time I picked up the latest novel was four years ago as an obligation of my English class. Having read much more classic literature since then, my mind is more attuned to the language and am thus enjoying it much more. In fact, as I write this I think in classic English prose, for I watch Becoming Jane. I must admit, though her British accent is not perfect, I still admire Anne Hathaway and take great pleasure in knowing that her name, like mine, is spelled with an E. Until later, at which time I promise a much better post, I send my love and affection.

Ice cream makes many things better

Yesterday was the one month anniversary of my first official car accident. I know this does not seem to fit in with the rest of my blog... running the back end of a car into a basketball pole is neither delightful nor something to be celebrated, but I assure you-- it was an incredible learning experience.

The shock of such an experience is something that can be remembered forever. The noisy "crunch" and the awful jerk of the car is enough to make one a more cautious driver. Though if that wasn't enough to make one reevaluate one's driving skills, the bitter silence of my father's dissapointed stare and the embarassing week of driving around with a busted tail light is certainly a good reinforcement of safe, concious driving. Luckily, no one was hurt and a replacement piece was able to be found without breaking the bank too badly. I am truly lucky-- though this wasn't the first time a car has been damaged by the basketball pole in the front yard!

The event was filled with interesting and funny moments. I was lifted up by my mother's forgiving smile and a high five. She actually congratulated me on making it through my first driving accident! My brother was quiet and understanding as I drove him to football practice... late, of course... though we did blow off some steam by playing Believe Me Natalie by The Killers very loudly as we made our way there. The condolences of my friends (for my missing tail light) were helpful and many shared stories of their first mishaps. My best friend (and now boyfriend) even surprised me my showing up with my favorite ice cream (black cherry) at midnight... we sat on my front porch and enjoyed our melting treat (milkshake style) under a starry sky.

It certainly is amazing what one can learn in just one month. One's view of the world can change so much; all of a sudden everything seems even more precious and beautiful. I assure you, I am a safer driver than before. Or at least, I'm trying to be! Who knew so much could come from a silly car crunch?

Just being here is winning

Dearest friends,
I would like very much to like to apologize for the utter lack of postings over the last few days. Honestly, I have been rather busy and unable to think of things interesting enough for all of you, whom I desire never to bore :)

That said, let's get down to business.


Part of the reason I have been so fantastically preoccupied is my involvement in a musical called The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee which is the inaugural production of the theater group SUA Summerstock. It is a silly and lighthearted show that is great fun to be a part of. The show is set at THE 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (go figure) where 10 school-aged children put everything on the line to win the opportunity to compete in the national spelling bee. I have the pleasure of playing Miss Rona Lisa Peretti, the delightful and charming host of the bee, who loves her role ever so much because it reminds her of her glory days... 22 years ago when she won the 3rd Annual Spelling Bee. The show deals with the pressures of prepubescence, family matters, the trials of making friends, health related issues and awareness as well as many other hilarious, if often overused or perhaps misused themes of life (honestly, how many cliche stories have you heard about sharing your dessert to make a friend? You won't find that here...). I would recommend that you come see it. You have three opportunities to do so: August 13th and14th at 8:00 pm, as well as August 15th at 2:00 pm. It will take place in the "old gym" at St. Ursula Academy in Toledo. Keep an eye out for me, I'll be the one in the hot pink power suit.

The most incredible part of this show is its production. This cast, crew and production staff is surprisingly composed entirely of high school students ages 16-18 (with the inclusion of an adult moderator... who is sometimes more of a kid than the rest of us). Imagine a group of about 24 people coming together and putting on a show just because it's what they love to do. Perhaps that happens all the time in community theater, but how often are the producers, directors, tech crew, and actors ALL unprofessional kids?? Naturally, this freshness comes with the price of inexperience, but there is certainly no lack of learning going on, especially since we have the support and guidance of several local schools, especially our host school. Oh, and trust me, there is absolutely no lack of talent either! The dancing, singing and acting is superb, and I can testify to that myself. For me, this is a lifesaver, for I was dreading the day I would have to end my high school musical career. At least I have one more chance to perform with a family-cast of high school buddies, a motley crew of the best theater-loving (if not obsessed) chiquitos. I love them all and am blessed to be a part of such an amazing show.


For more information about really super awesome, totally worth your while show, visit the SUA blog at http://suasummerstock.blogspot.com/.

Love that lycopene

I have decided it is officially my favorite time of the year. Why? Because the tomatoes are ripening in my neighbor's garden! Tomatoes are my FAVORITE food and they are truly the best when picked right off the plant... warmed by the sun, the skin breaks under your teeth and a flood of sweet, slightly tangy juice gushes out, revealing the soft insides... Ah, the taste of summer...

Another reason tomatoes are so perfect is that they are so darn good for us! The little labels you find on ketchup bottles saying "cancer-fighting antioxidants" aren't lying; the carotenoid called lycopene as well as the levels of vitamins A, C, K (and a whole schlew of other good stuff) in tomatoes have been found to reduce one's risk of colon, pancreatic, and prostate cancer. Tomatoes also help to prevent cardiovascular disease, improve cholesterol levels, reduce inflammatory and blood-clotting tendencies, and make people happy! (I'm not even kidding-- eating a diet full of vegetables and fruits has been proven to lower stress).

Tomatoes are extremely versatile, which is another reason I love them! They come in many sizes and colors, so they are beautiful as well. Tomatoes are my culinary dream, and these are some things I love to do with them:

1. Tomato sauce: Easy, delicious, and good on anything. Try making your own marinara by sauteing onion and garlic in olive oil, adding a whole bunch of chopped tomatoes (leave the skins on for the best taste and nutritional burst) and your favorite herbs such as oregano, basil, rosemary, or whatever inspires you. Feel free to add more to the saute, such as olives or mushrooms.

2. Caprese salad: This is Italian for big, fat tomato slices topped with mozzarella cheese (fresh- not that pasteurized stuff), drizzled with olive oil, and sprinkled with fresh basil and other herbs. Mmmmm.

3. Fattoush: A Mediterranean salad which is a mix of pita bread, lemon juice, olive oil, and largely chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and an assortment of other delicious, fresh produce.

**By the way, the lycopene in tomatoes is absorbed even better by your body when it is eaten with some sort of healthy fat, as in olive oil or avocados. Cooking tomatoes has also been shown to draw out more nutrients, and for some reason, the combination of broccoli and tomatoes is a hearthealth boosting super star team!

4. Gazpacho: A Spanish soup, served cold, which has a base of tomatoes mixed with stale bread, green peppers, cucumber, olive oil, garlic, wine vinegar and salt. Try making your own for an exotic culinary adventure!

5. Salsa: You know what this is, but have you ever made it yourself? The best salsa I have ever had was a home-made (plus the sodium levels weren't through the roof).

6. Tomato bread pudding; My mom has this awesome dessert recipe. It is such a surprise to have a tomato tang in a dessert!


Along with these dandy delights, there are some tomato treasures I still want to try making myself:

1. Bruschetta: A tomato spread on crusty baguettes. This just screams "fancy"

2. A tomato tart of some sort: Perhaps one with cheese and fennel (another thing I've been meaning to try my hand at).

3. Roasted red pepper soup: Doesn't that just sound delicious?

Curry: An Indian dish I have yet to try. About time, I think.


This summer, please, please, please, pick and eat a tomato for me!

For all the good stuff about the good stuff in tomatoes, check out the WHFoods website at http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=44

Les etoiles, les etoiles

"Map 4 shows the constellations of northern spring, southern autumn, for 8:30 PM for the month at the top between declinations 60 degrees north and 60 degrees south and from right ascension 06h 30m to 13h 30m. For each hour thereafter, the sky shifts one hour to the right. The ecliptic crosses the celestial equator (zero degrees declination) at the Autumnal Equinox in Virgo. The Milky Way, centered on the Galactic Equator, the mid-line of the Galaxy, runs from right center to lower left. The "Praesepe" in Cancer is the Beehive Cluster. (The constellation outlines are not necessarily the same as those on the photographs in the Stars pages.)"

Maps from Stars, Scientific American Library, J. B. Kaler, Freeman, NY, 1992, copyright © James B. Kaler. All rights reserved. These contents are the property of the author and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the author's consent except in fair use for educational purposes. Thanks to Stan Wyatt for the initial inception.

Honestly, I can hardly decipher the meaning of this map and its explanation from http://stars.astro.illinois.edu/sow/cm5.html, but I absolutely love looking at the stars! That's it! Added to my summer bucket list is learning to read star maps and finding constellations in the night sky.

For new information every day about the night sky visit StarDate online: http://stars.astro.illinois.edu/sow/cm5.html.

Today's "weekly tip" from StarDate:

"July 14, 2010
Look for the planet Venus to the upper right of the crescent Moon this evening. Venus is the brilliant "evening star." The true star Regulus is to the lower right of Venus, completing a beautiful triangle in the western evening sky."

Happy star gazing!