When Pain is All Around

Broccoli Bar in Brooklyn

After a very troubling day I was met last night at my outside door by a husband with a sack full of food, like a bridge over troubled waters.  Broccoli Bar on the corner recently opened in the same location as the debacle that was the Brisket Brothers.  This sounded odd but promising.  Any new spot nearby coming into cold weather is welcomed.   

I had mentioned interest but I could tell a restaurant named after a green vegetable was not top of P's lists of things to try.  But he did and it was great! The large bowl comes with all hot bar items, Rice Dumplings, Tempura, Stir Fry, BBQ, Pakora and rice.  Every bite was delicious and a new taste sensation.  I loved it!  We're not vegans but never did I miss the meat and I could not eat the whole thing.  You can get sauces and toasted crunch as well as pickled vegetables on top.  Those were super refreshing and a great compliment to all of it.  

I don't know if it was last night's blue moon, that some people were hung over from too many spirits the night before, the upcoming election or a bit of all but coworkers were especially riled up.  My dear friend the bully, had to call 911 for her husband who is suffering from Parkinson's and ran off the floor in a panic, visibly shaken and this was in the middle of a full line of customers.  I won't share with you the intense exchange we had before she left but I can tell you that it left me feeling the weight of her life.  Two of the other women also had high anxiety, especially the girl with Asperger's as she wandered around stating loudly how uncomfortable she is with taking appointments in-person inside the store, a forced policy that is happening even though most of the staff feels safety precautions are not in place.  I could be her psychiatrist at this point, I am so familiar with her triggers.  She just needs to sit and talk in order to calm herself but I couldn't be that girl for her today.  I felt bad but I was also caught in my own spiraling uneasiness.    Then later, the ride home felt downright ominous too.  Cars were running red lights, a new common behavior I see due to less cops on the road.  Coming down the street we used to live, a car was driving down the wrong way and another guy was backing up at high speeds toward me at another point.  When the road is wet at night it's harder to see bikes but I had more than a couple of close calls and got the feeling that the drivers are full of rage.  That they might not care if they did hit me.  I read later that night that a biker was hit and killed.  The driver fled the scene and left him for dead.  He was a hard working Mexican pizza delivery guy from Puebla, Ernesto Guzman, only 42 years old.  I hope that on this Dia de Muertos that he was guided home by the spirits.  I also wonder if all the soul's wandering the planet were trying to warn the living to be extra careful in the coming days.  

We'd Like To Know A Little Bit About You For Our Files

A few years ago the Census Bureau came knocking on our building for days in a row and would not relent. I'm pretty sure at that time no one who resided in the apartment below was a willing participant for giving personal information.  Those windows didn't look like they'd opened for 30 years or more. Finally, it came down to a shouting match between me from the 3rd floor and a clipboard holding warrior on the street below.  He demanded I come down to fill out his form,  that it was the law and he would continue to come until I did.  I had always assumed completing these forms was optional and just another way for the man to keep tabs on us in sneaky ways, so I threw them out.  When this intruder came pestering me like this, it felt personal.  I wouldn't do it out of spite.  I've always wondered, did everyone just do this willingly? Was I the only jerk that objected?  This year I read that you could indeed get fined and that you are obligated to provide the information, so I did.  I begrudgingly went on-line and filled it out for the household.  What time did you go to work in the last week?  What are the most important duties of your job?  This thing goes on forever and way beyond what I felt comfortable answering.

I cubed up some boneless pork, seared it and then added onions, garlic.  After that, full disclosure, I don't mind telling you I added a can of this La Victoria Enchilada Sauce.  It was a gamble because who trusts canned sauces plus it feels like cheating.  I just put a lid on it to let it thicken and marry.  It was super excellent!

I made a chunky guacamole for iceberg lettuce tacos.  I would highly recommend going this route for a super quick dinner and if you eat flour tortillas, even better!  To get this depth of flavor in such a fast turnaround is rare. 

And the Sky is a Hazy Shade of Winter

March 2nd of this year and what feels like a lifetime away writing this in September.  It snowed and was a slushy mess.  I had to take the subway to work on this grey wet morning.  And there I had these spicy sweet sticky chicken wings for lunch with a salad.  I tried to pile on the carrot sticks like that would make a difference.  The lunch attendant always reminds me I could take more.  I think we were allowed 6.  I then reminded her that when you come around this side of 50, your dumb ass bess not be eating 6 sweet, sticky chicken wings for lunch.  That I shouldn't be eating them at all but I can't get my shit together enough to pack a darn lunch.  By the way, the lunch girl has no interest in hearing my stories, or any problems I might have.  She makes it clear by landing the smack of her gum right on my words that possibly annoy her the most.   Then again as she hands me back my credit card while keeping her head turned as far from my eyes as possible, being sure to let go of it right before I have a grip so that I have to catch it mid air. 

Then later that night P made thick huge pork chops with his own baked beans, although I'm still not sure how he made them.  He made quick mention of adding spices and things.  The whole pile looks like it slid onto the plate trying to steal a base.  He said he's not great with sides but these were actually delicious.  And the pork chop was perfectly cooked, tender and well seasoned.

Hello Darkness My Old Friend

I'll never stop wishing for a better way to survive than riding into work in the beautiful morning and not coming out until night time. Not being able to witness the day, the weather, spend some time outdoors, and breathe in fresh air.  Even though, there was a gorgeous half moon that I failed to capture but was worth seeing this night.  Plus it's all quiet and still at night and when I'm biking I can just stop wherever and take it all in.  That's a cool thing.  I mean it's quiet because no one in their right mind is out in Red Hook by the water late at night.

And in the crisp cold morning I was able to watch a little of the construction on one of the new buildings I'm obsessed with that looks like Noah's Arc.  I still enjoy myself but spending whole days trapped inside a big box is no way to live your life.  Truth.

Since I had a little extra time in the morning before I left for prison, I made poached eggs over jacked up black eyed peas with fresh jalapeno slices for heat.