Black-Eyed Peas and Ham Hocks

Before I moved  here, I started observing and old southern good luck tradition of eating blackeyed peas for breakfast on New Year's Day.  My daughter and I tweaked it a little through the years, and now I serve it with filet mignon or some similar "choice" cut of steak. It's a great way to start the new year!

This recipe is super-easy. They cook overnight while you party (or not).  The steaks are easy to cook in the morning, make a few mimosas....AAAH!

Here's my recipe on my favorite recipe site:
Slow Cooker Blackeye Peas and Ham Hocks

Afterwards it should just be about time for the Rose Bowl Parade...

A Tremblor

A 4.7 magnitude earthquake hit us Sunday night. First there was the rumblling, then the shaking. It wasn't too bad, but I was surprised at my reaction - I moved out from under the ceiling fan but failed to go hug my flatscreen t.v.!

In fact, those of us used to these little shakes usually look at each other when they happen - it's a pregnant pause while we are deciding if this is BIG or just a minor shake. It's the determination of whether we just shake it off or perform the "drop and cover" reaction that we have learned. Lucky for us, most are the smaller variety, actually good news since they release the pent-up energy caused by the tectonic plate movements.

Of course, if I'm teaching, we all have to perform the proper protocol, covering out heads while scrunched under tables, then moving out of the building after the initial shaking stops. There is still controversy over the "triangle of life"   http://www.earthquakesolutions.com/id44.html
but it is widely refuted. Protect yourself and stay away from windows.  Not so easy, as two walls are big windows and the other two walls have no place for cover. Which is why covering one's head is a very good idea, if nothing else.

At school or work we do the right thing. At home, however, I find we often don't. Why? It's not as real with less people around? No one forces us to? Hmmm....I'm just glad Shadow, the wise feline,  knows to take cover in the best spots. Next time I'll just follow him.

Shadow Beni

Shadow Beni is my cat. We've been together since 2004, when I rescued him from a tormented existence as a stray near a rumshop. He loves hearing steelpan, as I was practicing when I found him. From the start, he was a well-behaved gentleman, sitting quietly in a grocery bag as I travelled home in various taxis, then using his litterbox unfailingly with only one demo.

He is named after an herb used abundantly in Trinidadian cooking - similar to cilantro but a bit more pungent. (HE, however, is not pungent!) At Christmas, he loves sitting under the tree, when he's not batting the ornaments off.

He "talks" often and has many funny adventures. One of his favorite playtime activities is to sit in a box while a human pulls him around, as if he is driving a car, resting his head on the edge, like a "cool dude." He also likes to pretend it's a plane - that requires a box small enough to pick up and wave around in the air (more difficult as he's getting bigger.)

While he's an indoor cat, he rules his domain by chasing away other strays who try to taunt him with his scary-sounding calls and his fluffed-up self. Also, he is an excellent bug-catcher. Tiny lizards, too, although I try to rescue them and take them outside before he gets to them. Once he even caught one and put it into his "toybox" with his other stuffed mice, balls, etc.

He's the softest cat I've ever lived with - perhaps due to his insistence on eating only Science Diet. He loves it and is not interested in other brands or in "wet" catfood. However, he enjoys the occasional bit of chicken, tuna, salmon, or cheese. Not much, mind you, but just a few morsels. Also vanilla ice-cream, melted and licked from a spoon.

Shadow just wanted me to introduce him as he has not yet perfected the art of the keyboard.

A/C

Living in the tropics can be fairly comfortable without air conditioning if you have enough breeze. In fact, my first 3 years here I managed with just one table fan...carried around to whatever room I was in. When I couldn't take it any more I spent some time at a nearby internet cafe (remember them?)

It's not just the heat; it's the humidity. (I swore I'd never live in Florida and here I am at the equator.)  By now, I've found the best products in deodorants, mosquito repellent, sunblock, and hair anti-frizz. Forget pantyhose.

Now, however, I'm all set. I have a/c in a few rooms at home, at work, and in my car.  At times, in movies or at work, a light sweater is needed because it's so chilly inside.  But I admit I miss my snuggly sweats and changing my clothes with the seasons. And boots.

Pan is My Life

First 4 years:  Arrive, live frugally, walk and "travel" (use maxis, taxis, no car). I was lucky enough to have a job held for me until immigration/work permit issues were finalized. But it meant running through all my funds. Lost weight (benefit.) In the months without work I learned how to get around fairly well, my ear got used to the Trini-flavored English spoken so I could understand most people, and I learned 40 tunes by ear so I could play with a well-respected steelband here: Invaders Steel Orchestra. The band was my family, my social group, my "work."

Once working on a regular basis, I was allowed to parcel out my vacation days in order to travel with the band to NYC, Miami, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic as cultural ambassadors for Trinidad and Tobago.  Somewhat flexible hours helped when the annual nightly practices began for Panorama, the steelband Olympics that ran concurrently with Trinidad's Carnival. (Late nights, every night. Minimal sleep for weeks upon weeks.) All this was amazing...I couldn't believe I was living my dream.

Some basic info   http://away.com/travel-do-trinidad-tobago-travel-guide-0184010001-sidart_200808_095826.html

Another blogger's experience (non-steelband Carnival)  http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Trinidad-and-Tobago/Trinidad/blog-378247.html

Trinidad and Pan  http://www.trinigourmet.com/index.php/trinidad-and-tobago-carnival-part-3-steelbands-and-panorama/

At Last

First installment: I hope I turn this into a habit. This is the latest adventure in my life, which has never been boring, thank goodness.  Maybe someone's interested in what it's like for an American to live in a young third-world country.

 I'll start with a bit of  history. After all, everyone wonders how I got here, to this tiny island nation situated at latitude 10 degrees N.

Sierra Vista, Arizona

When my daughter enrolled at the university she invited me to audition with her for the "steeldrum band" there. (We both loved percussion and had attended a concert a year ago where we couldn't stay put in our seats; we were jumping and jamming!) Just going through the audition was a great mother-daughter thing to do, I thought.  She was sure to make it; she picks things up fast.  I doubted I would.

To this day, I still remember looking at the notice on the bulletin board - we both "got in" - and I had one of those "gut reactions" that my life was about to change. How little did I know the tremendous extent of those changes!!!

In the following 5 years I fell in love with pan and pursued it passionately, steadily improving and moving up to the advanced band. It was a great thing to have found, as a single mom and new "empty-nester." Then, in 2001 we went to Trinidad, the birthplace of the steel pan.

http://uanews.org/node/4552