As My Old Troupe Leader Used to Say... "Be Prepared"

A record-breaking heat has swathed America this July, and there’s no place hotter than the US Congress. All the political wrangling over the debt ceiling has left constituents right smack in the center of the crisis, glued to our televisions, checking for resolutions on the internet with still no word. The heat broke in Denver today, though as of yet there’s been no such luck in Washington. I took advantage of the relatively balmy temps to venture outside my air-conditioned office to visit with some potential clients; a listing and two home buyers. The seller is concerned about where their home value may (or may not) be headed, the buyers are worried job security: one a librarian, the other in the health & beauty industry, and of course that factors into their home buying scenarios. It has been tough out there in the virtual realty world and people are understandably nervous.
On my way home, I made my pilgrimage to Costco. Wandering around the aisles I noticed there were flats piled high with “emergency” items: stacks of powdered milk, eggs, mini-generators powered by the sun and ready to charge a cell phone, perhaps a Prius. I’m not much for the concept of living in fear, in fact I am mindful to release as much of it as possible in my daily meditation, but it was very clear to me how fearful we've become. And why shouldn't we be, after all? I tried to remember where it all began, this abject fear, and what had I learned in my life that had prepared me to get through it. *Lightening bolt* I had been a Girl Scout and I took that vow into my girlish heart.

On my honor, I will try:
To serve God and my country,
To help people at all times,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law.

As the thunder broke and the rain slapped down upon the Costco roof, it struck me that everyone seems to be preparing for different things…
• I’m prepared to make more (time), save more (money), give more (love) and spend less (time worrying).
• I’m prepared to take life as it comes without feeling the need to control all the crazy stuff that’s going on around me. It’s not like I ever could, but I’m not as tempted to try.
• I’m prepared to give myself as much credit for being who I am as others seem to give me. (The word fabulous does come up on occasion.)
• I’m prepared to work harder, be braver and dance along the edge of whatever my own little slice of greatness may be.
• And I’m ready to fall in love again… I think.

(Wow. I’ve gone all Pollyanna on myself, I didn’t see that coming.)
What I am not prepared to do is give up. I’m not prepared to live in fear of this life or of the world beyond. I may be afraid, sometimes petrified but I refuse to live in fear, no matter what the Congress does. Oh, and I will continue to cook beautiful things the bounty of my garden and freeze them to enjoy through the winter, but I will not hoard canned goods!
Now if you’ll all make an apple pie circle and join hands with me while we recite the Girl Scout Law…

I will do my best to be
honest and fair,
friendly and helpful,
considerate and caring,
courageous and strong, and
responsible for what I say and do,
and to
respect myself and others,
respect authority,
use resources wisely,
make the world a better place, and
be a sister to every Girl Scout.

Lodo's Culinary Wonderland.

Spring fever hit Colorado, creating the perfect opportunity to stroll away a sunny afternoon with virtuoso chef and Foodswings owner, Brian T. Jacobson. First stop, coffee at Paris on the Platte; Brian swinging in with his energy as fresh and delicious as the food he cooks. Dipping biscotti into double espresso, we talk food, spices and the five essentials I must have in my kitchen. Brian leads me down the spice trade routes and into my very own culinary Age of Discovery. We speak of Dutch West Indies Trading Company, talk of blends, balance and the culture of cardamom. Trading the secrets of pepper and hanging on his every word, and armed with my vintage parasol, I’m restless to sojourn in the sunshine. Under the umbrella of a turquoise floral print, I link my arm in Brian’s and saunter up Little Raven to the Savory Spice Shop.

Savory is the love child of Mike and Janet Johnston, who in 2004, opened their hearts and their spice cabinet to bring some big flavor to downtown Denver. More than 140 original recipe seasonings, small-batch-blended on-site, bear names like Pikes Peak Lemon Pepper and Lodo Red Adobo. Sidled up next to the blends are rows of exotic and common (like me) spices from around the world. Freshly ground and sold in large or small amounts, you can buy just what you need or as much as you like. Brian’s current favs are Berbere Ethiopian Style Seasoning and an Italian Black Truffle Sea Salt that smells of an earthy heaven. Whispering together about the mixes and the meats to rub them on, Brian leads me to a wall of infused sugars in flavors like lavender and vanilla bean. My mind was racing with my taste buds chasing after in a flush of excitement I rarely feel… the urge to cook. Following that urge just got easier as Savory premieres their new Food Network TV show, “Spice & Easy” this month.

On advice from the chef, which is close to doctor’s orders, I throw some Herbs de Provence Sea Salt, Bohemian Forest European Style Rub and Cherry Creek Seafood Seasoning into my canvas bag, pay the winsome clerk and we breeze out the door. Heading south on 15th Street toward Market, and feeling oh so European, Brian stops mid-step in a brain-storm, cooking up ideas for the Biennial of the Americas. Heading up the cuisine committee for the July event, he’s alive with ideas on whom and what should be included in month long celebration.

When Telluride Inside... and Out editor Susan Viebrock told me about Evoo Marketplace I didn’t get it. A store that only sells oil and vinegar? I couldn’t wrap my head around the idea… until I walked through the door. Located in one of Denver’s oldest buildings at 15th & Market, light streams in the high, arched windows, bouncing off the polished steel canisters called “fusti.” These rows of fusti hold some of the finest extra-virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars from across America and around the world. The concept is try before you buy. We made our way around the shop mixing flavor infused oils with complementary vinegars and dipping delicious bits of bread from The Denver Bread Company to taste our creations. Each combo delivers excitement, both in flavor and the things you choose to blend. I particularly liked the Roasted Garlic oil with a Meyer Lemon balsamic, and the Blood Orange oil with Dark Chocolate vinegar. EVOO owner, Mick, is very customer-centered, sharing his passion and hospitality with ease. I think the only words that came out of my mouth that half hour were “OMG”.

The perfect finish to our lovely day was a stop at Tag Restaurant on Larimer Square for “Social Hour”, with Baja Tacos, Da Bomb Sliders and the Mojito of the Day.

With the grill heating up and the fresh summer produce headed your way, I’m thinking a trip around our Culinary Wonderland makes parking in Lodo worth it!

A COUGAR AND HER SPOTS

A COUGAR and HER SPOTS
I’m in rehearsal, which is usually no big thing, but this time it’s for the iconic role of Mrs. Robinson in the upcoming production of The Graduate. When the thirty-six year old Anne Bancroft signed on to play the role, I doubt she knew she’d let the cougar off the leash, but standing, silhouetted in the threshold of Benjamin’s doorway that’s exactly what she did. Like the ‘door slam heard round the world’, as Nora walked out of A Doll’s House, Mrs. Robinson flung open wide ‘the bedroom door that would not close’. Both characters changed the world’s perception of women but Bancroft’s portrait of female sexual power post-40 is a tall pair of stockings to fill.
The play blends the biting, beautiful humor of the Buck Henry screenplay and story elements from the original Charles Webb novel. These changes affect Mrs. Robinson most directly, and bring a keen balance of hope and bitterness to her character. Societal views have changed a lot since 1964, especially toward women. How will these script and perspective changes affect an audience so familiar with the only Mrs. R they’ve ever known? Is it possible for me to create an original performance from such an original character? We shall see… As I pack my script and notebook, heading east toward the theatre; I recall a fitting quote from Ms. Bancroft herself. "I am what I am because of what I am and if you like me I'm grateful, and if you don't, what am I going to do about it?"
---Here’s to you Mrs. Robinson.

THE GRADUATE February 12- March 14, 2010
Aurora Fox Theatre 9900 E Colfax Ave
6 miles east of the State Capitol in Aurora, Colorado.

Fri & Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2:00
For tickets call 303 739-1972 or visit www.aurorafox.org