You can take the girl out of California…

Conversation with an old friend:

Me: So, if I’m staying here indefinitely, I guess that means I really live here.
Friend: Yeah, it kinda does.
Me: Does that mean I have to register to vote here?!
Friend: Yeah, it does.
Me: But… I still feel like a Californian!
Friend: Some people may adopt their new homes, but even if you never live in California again, you will always be a Californian.
Me: Yes, that’s true! … But my kids won’t be!
Friend: True, it’s not a nationality – you can’t pass it along!
Me: But that’s so SAD!

...but you can't take California out of the girl.

Searching

Erica, with whom I am acquainted in real life, and who bridges my California-East Coast divide, was diagnosed with leukemia two years ago and has recently relapsed. This means she is very much in need of a bone marrow donor. In fact, Erica and her sister Jaci made a song about the search for a donor. If you're not on the registry, consider joining, not only for Erica, but for the random stranger out there who's life might be saved. Next time it might be someone you know. (Also, if you're on the registry and your contact information has changed, make sure it's updated!) And please, re-post/ pass this along to people you know.

Productive Procrastination

In honor of Spring Break (which is really a misnomer because it is NOT spring in New England, no matter what the calendar says!) and Purim, Sunkist Miss presents some fun and productive ways to procrastinate (at least if you share some of my interests). These are a few of my favorite things:

1. Geography as procrastination. It’s a map game! Addictive and educational. Perfect for your local internationalist, and anyone else who likes to know where other countries are. (Hint: it helps if you turn the sound on. I know the noise is annoying, but it is useful for knowing when you are getting things right or wrong).

2. Free Rice. Seriously, this is a great procrastination tool for those who are verbally inclined (not that we know anyone like that!). And it’s a feel good game, because as you play, you donate rice to the World Food Program (paid for by ads, of course).

3. Beverly Hills Chabad. Say what?! Yes, really. So, maybe normal people don’t sit around learning leyning when they’re procrastinating, but who ever said I was normal? Anyhow, this is an awesome resources – I kid you not, it’s an online tikkun! How cool is that?! (Yes, you can also check out Bible ORT, for a verse-by-verse dissection, but for basic tikkun functionality BH Chabad is totally the way to go!).

Happy Purim!

District of Columbia v. Heller

The Supreme Court today heard the oral arguments for the case examining DC's handgun ban and the 2nd Amendment. The last time SCOTUS heard a Second Amendment case was in 1939. This one is going to make history folks. It's worth keeping track of.

Here are two articles on today's proceedings: the first is from the Washington Post, and the second from the New York Times (there's also a link there to CSPAN's audio of the arguments). When available, transcripts of the oral argument will be on the SCOTUS website.

Check it out. No commentary from Sunkist Miss today. Just bringing you the news.

Amor con sal, chile, limón

Querido lector (Dearest Reader),

I have written previously about cilantro as the secret to Mexican cooking. Today, I share with you the other key, the trinity: sal, chile, limón (salt, chili, [and] lime).

This trio can be found on every table, your regular daily condiment, as common as table salt is here. It is a also a refrain you hear anywhere that food can be found. No “and” necessary. It is a phrase unto itself. Siempre así, “Sal, chile, limón.”

Last night, I prepared mango the proper way – seasoned with sal, chile, limón – for dessert, and it was such a treat. Just the right combination of sweetness with a kick.

Love with a sprinkling of sal, chile, limón,

Sunkist Miss