Lights, Love and Latkas

This past Thursday I tried a slightly different potato pancake recipe.  Instead of just deleting the eggs, I used a homemade egg replacement combo, which consisted of water, olive oil and baking powder.  I found it on a recipe when I googled vegan potato pancakes.  I DO think it made the pancakes fluffier than I remember them being when I simply deleted the eggs.  The end all on those are that no matter what you do to them, they are disgustingly greasy (no matter how many paper towels you drain them on), yet yummy all at the same time.  I am sure our home, and ME will smell like a greasy spoon for a few more day.  In keeping with just a little tradition, it was worth it.

We had fun at our Chanukah Vegan Feast night, and James brought a new female friend.  Between dinner and after dinner sweets, I gave each person at the table 2 scratch off lottery tickets and wouldn’t you know, the “new girl,” won 40 bucks!  She also tasted potato pancakes and applesauce for the first time.  She may or may not remember James for ever, or James’ friends, but I bet she will remember the time she went to some strange people’s home for a vegan Chanukah dinner and won 40 bucks!  FUN!  Derek went home with presents for him, and Mishell and though there are still a few nights of the holiday left, I feel very complete.

I had a wonderful afternoon celebrating the season with Rita yesterday at Big Bear.  A favorite person, a favorite veggie burger on a Friday afternoon.  Much needed and much enjoyed!  If anyone has ever spoiled me TOO much, it would be Rita.  Thank you are not at all sufficient words for your overwhelming thoughtfulness and generosity, Rita.  I LOVE my presents but always know and remember it is your company I treasure most.  I must tell you again, that I KNOW you are on the upswing, after a very tough year.  I can’t wait to have you back in class again, soon, and I will be playing Cher for your return 🙂

Locals looking for something to do outdoors in this insanely beautiful weather, can opt to visit the Woodstock Festival this weekend in Sunrise.  A yearly event for as long as I can remember, there are many crafty items and holiday gifts to find there.  Tomorrow morning is also the Parkland Farmer’s Market.  I am hoping to do Woodstock this afternoon and the  farmer’s market tomorrow morning.

Yesterday, I finally got a chance to catch up on my DVR and watched the episode of Oprah, from a couple of weeks ago, about John of God.  WOW.   Here is a man, in Brazil, with the power to heal people in very non-traditional ways.  Though I have the ability, and actually enjoy, watching surgeries and some things that might be too graphic for others, I DID have a hard time watching some of this.  Surgeries with no anesthesia, nasal probing, eye scraping…very, very hard to watch, but at the end of the hour (actually about 41 minutes when you fast forward through the commercials) I felt even more strongly about what I already believe.   There is no way to separate the body from the mind…and miracles can happen if we truly believe.  For me this is not a religious belief.  I was very much on the same page as the reporter, Susan Casey, who went to Brazil to cover this story.  Though I wanted to believe, I had to see with my own eyes.  Though I can’t travel to Brazil,  Susan, who happens to be the editor-in-chief of O Magazine and also  just wrote a book called The Wave (which has NOTHING to do with this, and everything to do with people who ride 100 foot waves!) did a fabulous job of getting very, very detailed footage.  As the skeptic from Harvard, who also visited (to disprove this guy) expressed, having witnessed John of Gods work, he will never ever look at life the same and recognizes that we all matter much more than we think we do and we are all basically energy, traveling in this body that has been given to us and love really does heal and conquer.  If you haven’t seen this story and happen to stumble upon the opportunity to learn about what’s going on down there in Brazil with this guy and his “casa,” check it out!

I am anxiously awaiting some new music that I bought for classes.  Wish the CDs had arrived yesterday, so I could put on something new this morning, but they will be a welcome treat this coming week.  For me, a new CD, new sneakers, a new outfit, almost anything new makes class that much more fun.  I will be sure to have some sort of stretching and relaxation time built in to every class I teach between now and the New Year.  This time of year, whether we realize it or not, we all need to squeeze in some “ahhhhh” time.   It is not only important for our minds and souls, but also for our bodies, which tend to get tight and more prone to injury during stressful times.  Wherever you are as you read this, remember to take some “ahhhh” time for you!

Have a wonderful weekend.  Susan, happy rather belated birthday!  I am sorry I missed it.  I can’t wait till you are back in class, too!