Sunt așa de trist și de frustrat când scriu, încât nici nu pot să leg cuvintele ca lumea. Eram de dimineață cu băieții pe uliță, prin mahala, partea veche, cu case mari, frumoase, curți pe măsură și animăluțe ca la fermă. Unul are capre, altul găini, altul vaci, dar toți au cai și câini. O,…… Continue reading Mama Baloo
In Praise of Romanian Tradesmen
As is well known across two continents, we remodeled our kitchen. It took about six months, during which time I got to know the company’s entire crew of tradesmen. I documented the whole saga elsewhere. I tipped them well; I even gave them bottles of decent bourbon. All for nothing. I don’t think they worked…… Continue reading In Praise of Romanian Tradesmen
Elogiul bricoleurului român
Cum prea bine se știe pe două continente, am remodelat bucătăria. A luat vreo șase luni, timp în care am cunoscut toată echipa de meseriași de la companie. Am documentat totul aici. Le-am dat ciubuc, i-am cinstit, degeaba. Nu cred că au lucrat nici mai bine, nici mai repede. De multe ori mi-am adus aminte…… Continue reading Elogiul bricoleurului român
Murături
Trecut-au vremurile în care stăteam cu prietenii și vorbeam despre boli, despre dureri de oase, despre colesterol, zahăr, tensiune. Acum vorbim despre război. Despre foamete. Despre minciuni, ură, prostie, și manipulare. Îmbătrânim într-o lume care, în loc să se facă mai bună, a început să o ia înapoi. Pentru cei din generația mea, parcă sintem…… Continue reading Murături
Drob de pește
Am pornit de la rețeta fetelor de la Savori Urbane. Ingrediente rețetă chiftluțe de pește la cuptor: 400 g file de pește (crap, cod, merlucius etc) opțional: 50 g somon afumat sau 4-5 fileuri sărate de anșoa 2 fire ceapă verde sau o ceapă mică (veche) 1 ou 1 felie de pâine înmuiată și stoarsă…… Continue reading Drob de pește
Cuiul – jurnal de apocalipsă
Acesta este un post foarte lung, din categoria Jurnalelor: Jurnal de Covid 1 – 4, Jurnal de Apocalipsă … se pot citi numai Începutul și Sfârșitul. În rest, este viață, cu bune și rele.
Ana – Funeral
I was entrusted with putting together a visual tribute using photos and videos from Ana’s funeral. The final video turned out to be quite large, so to make it easier for everyone to access, I uploaded it to my blog. Since the video includes copyrighted music, I chose to host it on my website to…… Continue reading Ana – Funeral
The Nail
Journal of The Kitchen Apocalypse
This is a fluid post; it will be updated every time something else happens. And many things happened … so many things …
Poop: The Proof That We Are Still Alive
There are many ways to measure a life. Some people count years.Some count achievements.Some count disappointments.Some count challenges. I think a more honest method is this:You count your poops. Because as long as you poop, you are still here. I poop, therefore I am. Still involved in the complicated contract between food, booze, joy, and…… Continue reading Poop: The Proof That We Are Still Alive
Barely Existing
Day after day, I realize that I’m not really living. I barely exist. When I lost my job, people rushed in with comforting phrases: “It’s a blessing in disguise.” “Something better will come.”“Everything happens for a reason.” (I heard that one before three years ago – the words are still hollow). And none of them…… Continue reading Barely Existing
The American Athlete
A view by yours truly, in regards to NBC’s broadcasting style The American Athlete is perfect and always deserves a gold medal. Sometimes mistakes are made, and the American athlete loses said gold, not because he or she is not the best, but by mistake, of course, never because a competitor was better. The only…… Continue reading The American Athlete
A Day That Refused to Be Boring
Dear Diary, Today was one of those days. Good and bad. Mostly both. At the same time. It started at 3 a.m., when I woke up to go to the bathroom. Which is a good thing: better to wake up than the alternative. But, stupid me, I checked my email because that bloody phone is…… Continue reading A Day That Refused to Be Boring
Water Fit Class
Alma was rippling with enthusiasm: “Oh my Gooood, water aerobics feels amazing.”Tanti Cici, buried in snow somewhere in Canada: “I’m going, so why aren’t you going?”Irina, at me, with her verdict-delivery tone: “You need it. You’re going!”And me, defeated by the Anvil Chorus of demand: “Fine, fine, I’ll go. Just leave me alone.” It took…… Continue reading Water Fit Class
Clasa de Plutit
Alma își unduia entuziasmul: “Mvaaai, ce bine e la gimnastica în apă.”Irina, cu tonul ei de verdict: “Îți trebuie. Te duci!”Tanti Cici, dintre nămeți, din Canada: “Eu mă duc, tu de ce nu te duci?”Iar eu, învins de corul lor: “Bine, bine, mă duc, numai lăsați-mă în pace.” A durat trei zile până am reușit…… Continue reading Clasa de Plutit
Friends, Farewells, and Running with Toddlers
On a Saturday, at 12:30 p.m., we got invited to a parastas scheduled for 1 p.m. (a memorial service held in remembrance of the departed.) It was for a lady of only 50, taken far too early by cancer. That is all I will say because it is not my story to tell. Her closest…… Continue reading Friends, Farewells, and Running with Toddlers
Kitchen mishaps
Our kitchen remodel has turned into what some might call an expensive, chaotic ordeal, filled with contractors, blunders, and surprising delays. The so-called “kitchen apocalypse” is supposedly chronicled in a separate post (click on post to see it). What I have here is merely a questionable summary with a few main points. What we supposedly…… Continue reading Kitchen mishaps
Turmeric Baguette
For Rita Like any “serious” culinary blog, a recipe always begins with an epic tale, because who doesn’t love a good yarn while waiting for the dough to rise? As I ponder a riveting story that might put you to sleep, here’s the recipe. Ingredients for 4 baguettes 800 g Organic King Arthur Bread Flour…… Continue reading Turmeric Baguette
Playing With AI
I eagerly dove into the captivating world of AI-generated images, and here’s the wonderful journey I’ve experienced! (Intro generated by AI) While “wonderful” might be a stretch, it’s definitely been funny and intriguing! Yours truly, joyfully celebrating the delight of pencil sketches! Well, the doodle may be a stretch to call it a sketch, but…… Continue reading Playing With AI
Un Crăciun (2025)
Doamnelor și domnilor, Crăciunul e după colț, Românul se pregătește. Americanul, și el, face foc, dă cu fum, deși nu e voie. Dar Americanul știe mai bine și ignoră primăria și sfaturile ei “de stânga”. Tot cartierul miroase a foc de, sper, lemne, miros oarecum toxic, gâdilând memorii, readucând tristeți și bucurii.Dar românul nu se…… Continue reading Un Crăciun (2025)
A Very Romanian Christmas in the Land of the Free
Ladies and gentlemen, Christmas is right around the corner, and The Local Romanian is putting on his game face. The American neighbor is out there too, cranking up the fire pits and creating a ton of smoke, even if the City declares “no burn days.” The American neighbor doesn’t care, he knows better. The whole…… Continue reading A Very Romanian Christmas in the Land of the Free
