The iLife '09 Sourdough Debate

If you haven't noticed I'm a little bit of a tech geek. Don't get it twisted and think I know code or design. I just have an interest in utilizing the latest technology to express myself digitally by way of said blog. I was a bit hesitant to rebuild this page, since I initially deleted all my entries starting from as far back as 2006. In retrospect I now wish I wouldn't have done so.

Although the material at the time was probably insignificant, it has affected the overall development of said blog. The truth being that I'm not an interesting person, but it would have been interesting to capture chronologically the growth, development, and metrics of my personal site. Yup... I am a geek! I know this is in no way fascinating to you, but to me it's like the science experiment taking place in my refrigerator at the moment. More on that in just a second.

See I've always enjoyed "experiments" per say. I have a very analytical mind, and I enjoy watching things evolve. So when I think about the mistake I made in just obliterating my previous blog page, it makes me wonder if that is how God felt when he decided to flood the earth for 40 days and 40 nights, and make Noah float on a boat just so we could start all over. Okay maybe it's not the same. What I do mean though is that as humans naturally we tend to progress and by deleting all my work prior to the last evolution of my site, I can no longer account for the progress that has occurred across this site.

So what's the point you ask? Well you see I've thought about switching from my current free site host Blogger to the server I am already paying for by way of Apple's Mobile Me subscription. That would mean that this entire page would look completely different. I'm really jazzed up by the thought, but at the same time I'm afraid I'll screw it up and lose my work forever. Decisions... decisions.... if you've ever experienced this dilemma please chime in. I'm still a novice so I don't think I'm ready for a major switch and want to keep the transition as painless as possible. Otherwise if it's becomes to much work I will hit Ctrl+Alt+Delete, and that's never a good thing.

Now about the science experiment in my fridge. I am in the process of growing a culture (starter) for sourdough bread. I am on the second week and have made sourdough twice, but the bread didn't have the sort of sour tang I was going for. I'm hoping with time the bacteria and yeast in my starter (that's the fancy baking term for experiment - but not really) will continue to develop like a fine cheese. Here's a few pics from my iPhone of the starter and the end result of an afternoon baking session last weekend. I was disappointed I didn't get the right crust, but I figured out the problem and now know not to put too much steam in the oven for an extended period of time.

Oh... If you didn't notice yet, I'm also a cooking geek. I told you I was very analytical!

God is good.

It's funny how at the start of a new year you stop to think about all the things you did (or didn't do) in the past, and how you only hope to change for the better. The Jewish New Year is tomorrow and it just so happens that I'll be celebrating my 32nd birthday as well.

As I've gotten older; the significance has changed from the number of years that I've achieved in my age - to the number of years I'll have left to achieve those things I've always hoped for myself. I sometimes wonder how my mother felt on the day that she gave birth to her first daughter, and I question what feelings of achievement (or any lack of) she may have been pondering over at the time.

By 1977 my mother had already moved to a foreign land, had been married for nearly five years, and already had one child (my brother).... all this at the modest age of twenty-eight years old. Hear I am; four years beyond that age and still wondering when I will find time to do it all. It's only fitting that with this birthday, I make a resolution instead of a wish.... A resolution to go after all the things I've been too afraid to do or too busy to stop and go after. NO more excuses.

It's a new year and I am grateful for what God has blessed me with, but more thankful for the lessons he still has yet to teach me.

a new life in nine months...

It only takes a total of about 40 weeks to create a life and to gain a diploma in the Culinary Arts. In the event you thought I was going to say that I was pregnant... guess what.... I'm NOT! I am though going to be starting a new life in the semi-familiar world of food, by taking a full immersion chef program at the French Culinary Institute.

I am BEYOND excited and very much looking forward to the world of possibilities post-graduation. I don't intend to make any major life changes in the immediate future, but the door is wide open for whatever life throws my way. The quest for the meaning of true happiness begins now!

I start in approximately three weeks, and in the meantime I am still trying to figure out how to pay for the whole thing. Obviously I'll be picking up some debt along the way, but I can't imagine not having to. If anything the cost of tuition is certainly going to be worth it in the end, especially when I invite you over for dinner.

Wish me luck!

so much to say... never enough time to say it

Remind me to tell you about that one time when I decided to chase after my dreams, get into MORE debt, and pursue the meaning of life. Oh wait.... that happens almost everyday.

More news coming up at 11..... stay tuned.