Favorite Fruit of 2009: PERSIMMON aka Proof that I was deprived as a child.
I always knew that I was deprived as a child.
I’ve been convinced of it ever since an (equally) spoiled friend pointed out that her parents failed to buy her Barbie’s Dream House when she was 8. How could she possibly have made it to double digits without a multi-level pink abode? One can only guess.
Unfortunately, finding proof of similar deprivation has been difficult. I had Barbie’s Dream house. And Barbie’s Corvette. And all those other things children need to grow up well adjusted and happy. I know I should be content with this situation, however, everyone knows that “well adjusted and happy” is downright boring. Do you know any exciting, accomplished, famous, interesting, genius type people that are both well adjusted AND happy.
Right. I didn’t think so.
So anyways, I’ve spent the last few months searching for something I could point to as an egregious example of deprivation. Something that would allow me to say “Look! My parents were horrible too! I am scarred for life! Now give me a big advance for a memoir on my terribly difficult loving, secure, upper middle class upbringing.”
Well, wouldn’t you know, I stumbled right into the example I had been looking for on this otherwise dreary Tuesday morning. I squelched (the sky was the consistency of soup this morning and I took the train. but no umbrella. i’m an idiot.) into the kitchen area at work and… lo and behold was our weekly fruit basket. Amidst the standard apples and bananas were these odd orange things. They kind of resembled a pepper. But rounder. And softer. And not at all like peppers. I was confounded. “What ARE these??”
In the midst of my befuddlement, three of my coworkers came in – one from South Korean, one from Texas and one from Minnesota. They saw me and were about to comment on my amazingly frizzy, drippy state when they were distracted by the orange fruit. In chorus, they exclaimed:
“PERSIMMON!!!”
Per-what??
“Persimmon! They’re sweet but with a slight tang. With the consistency of a mango. You can eat them like an apple and bite right through the skin or peel and eat just the fruit. They are the fruit of the gods. Haven’t you ever had one?? We used to eat them in the fall in Dallas.”
“…and in Minneapolis.”
“… and in Korea.”
“um. No. Missed out on that one.”
So we ate one and it was, in a word, divine. Sweet. Juicy. A consistency somewhere between melon and mango. Appealingly orange. A little sticky on the fingers but totally worth it.
“I CAN’T believe you’ve never had Persimmon! Clearly you were deprived as a child”
“Why YES. Yes I was.”
( so yes. to recap, Persimmon is AMAZING. It is by far my favorite fruit of 2009. Also. I was deprived as a child. I expect a book deal any day.)
Persimmon! <via wikipedia>
Yes, I realize it’s November.
And that my 2009 calendar has more than a bit of excitement left in the last page and a half. The final contender for Favorite Wedding doesn’t compete until December. And the Favorite Christmas Market finalists are still being setup.
However, I am downright AWFUL at this posting thing so, frankly, if I don’t start listing things now, they will never be documented. And you’ll be left with nothing but my favorite German reggae of 2009. And no one wants that.
So, for the first of the Favorites of 2009… drum-roll please…
Favorite [High School Era] Visitors: Tara & Melissa
Honorable Mention: Bridget, a friend from “nerd camp” (i.e. Governor’s school), who met up for dinner in Leuven and Joe, a friend of BF’s, that I never met but apparently slept on our couch for 2 days and was described as “a chill dude.”
Duration of Visit: 7 days, 6 nights
Places Visited: Brussels, Leuven, Bruges and Paris
Connection: Fellow Seneca Valley alumni, I met Tara the summer before 8th grade at basketball camp and Melissa, a neighbor of Tara’s, at the beginning of 8th grade. (8th grade. Over 10 YEARS ago! Decade plus friends. CRAZY. )
Winning Traits: They didn’t win because they were old friends. They were the clear favorites because….
- They brought me THREE cans of Libby’s Spiced Pumpkin Pie mix. And Kraft Marshmallows. (two impossible to find commodities in Belgium)
- They shared my excitement/love/fascination with the Leuven Bread “Automoots” (i.e. the bread vending machine outside the bakeries)
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| Tara & I admiring the Automoot outside of Paul Daubijn Bakerij |
- They helped Lou & I sample some of our prized Westvleteren 12. And didn’t laugh at me when I explained how many calls I made to get the beer (100+). Or how many hours I drove for the pick-up (4).
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| Tara, Myself & BF with the World Famous Westvleteren 12 |
- They were amazingly self sufficient! Rather than make me feel horribly for having to work full days the week they were here, they explored over half of Belgium completely on their own. Walked into Leuven, took the train to Brussels, walked around Brussels, walked back from Leuven. And then walked some more at night when I met them for dinner!
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| Melissa in Brussels…. From Melissa’s Pics |
- They rolled with the distinctly European punches. When we got word that the Belgian rail employees were striking in the middle of their visit (thus canceling ALL train service in the country. including trains to Bruges. the #1 place they wanted to visit.) they were super brave and drove me to work and THEMSELVES to Bruges. And back. Without incident. Amazing.
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| “I got this.” |
- They saw more in Brussels & Bruges in two days than I have in two years!
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| The Mannekin Pis WITH clothes. I’ve never seen him so stylish. |
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| Pierre Marcolini bakery. Again, bakery. Not store. Read: SUPER fresh. |
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| They went to the to the top of the Bruges cathedral! |
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| I really need to see the view from the top of the tower for myself…. |
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| They toured “De Halve Maan” Brewery. |
- Melissa, i.e. MARRIOTT GOLD MEMBER, hooked us up with an amaaaaaaazing room for not one but TWO nights in Paris. As well as unlimited access to the Marriott Executive Lounge
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| Believe me, by Paris standards, this room was incredibly spacious. Downright luxurious. |
note: If you EVER get the opportunity to travel with a “road warrior” (i.e. a consultant who racks up lots of points with hotel chains), TAKE IT. We may or may not have had 6 or 7 cappucinos in the executive lounge. As well as 7 or 8 desserts. 4 appetizers. And a bottle of wine. A piece. For free. mmmmmmmm….
- Since BF was in Dallas with our camera, they let me borrow cameras AND took 100s of amazing pics on their own (Melissa gets total credit for all pictures in this post). Haven’t seen Tara’s yet but I’m sure I will be blown away when I do.
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| Pretending like I know how to use Tara’s Canon. I don’t. |
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| Tara getting what I’m sure is a fantastic shot outside the Eiffel Tower. |
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| Playing Paparazzi. |
Obviously, there was no competition in this category.
Instead, I leave them with one challenge: to outdo themselves by visiting next June!
Somehow I’ve managed to hear this song on my way to work EVERY day this week. Various stations, various times, SAME song.
Same German Reggae song. Yes, German. Reggae.*
Fortunately for YOU, this morning it was played on a station that broadcasts songs in such a way that the title scrolls across the radio. Otherwise I would have no idea how to look it up and share it with you.
So here you go. On the off chance you haven’t heard the musical stylings of German wannabe Rastafarian Peter Fox on your morning commute, I’d like to present “Haus Am See.”**
* Well, slightly Reggae. Peter Fox calls himself a “hip hop/reggae” artist but this song is much less reggae-esque than many of his others. But. I find the whole idea of German Reggae so comical that I’m sticking with it…
** Haus Am See roughly means “House at the Lake” in German.
“The returns on dollar assets, no matter how good they have been, are just not good enough relative to the returns you can get outside of the U.S.”
Although the article hints there is hope the dollar could get a boost as the global economy stabilizes, the overall outlook is grim.
This wouldn’t be THAT big a deal considering BF gets paid in Euros, BUT, we have a WEDDING to pay for in the next 8 months. If the Euro keeps strengthening that could translate into hundreds thousands of dollars of additional, empty expense.
BOO.
p.s. something when pretty wrong with that last post. I wrote paragraphs and paragraphs of witty, entertaining prose. Complete with pictures. Stunning pictures. And video. Oh the video! Awesome, dancing Germans video. Sadly, none of it saved/posted. And the thought of redoing it right now is daunting. So… I’ll fix that this weekend and commence with wedding news for the remainder of this week!
Much has happened in the last week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks (!).
Went to Alsace. Had a minor Mini accident (again). Had a visit from the mom. Played a convincing tourist in London. Checked out Barcelona for a long weekend.
Obviously, none of this was without issue. There was a crying scene (or two) at the airport that led to me asking to see the manager of Ryan Air (yes, me! asked to see a manager! i didn’t believe it either when the words just popped out of my mouth…) There were baggage issues. And key issues. And bus issues. And passport forgetting issues (for the record, England is a different country than Belgium…).
Among other things.
So where to begin?
How about pictures & videos? Everyone likes those. As the only pictures/videos I have online at this point are the ones from Alsace, we’ll start there.
First things first. Alsace. Where is it? And why would anyone go there?
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| From Year in Review |
Here’s the thing about my work.
When it’s bad, it’s very bad. But when it’s good, it’s grrrrrrreat (yes, Tony the Tiger great).
Today we are having an “Extra Muros” day. Which is basically an all day team building/day of fun somewhere outside the office. Last year we had it on the grounds of this old castle and I got to ride a horse. (It was the most fun I’ve ever had during work hours…)
This year, we are having our “Extra Muros” at “Bobbejaanland,” a Belgian theme park that looks a lot like Kennywood. I have no idea what sort of organized activities this will entail, but as long as I get to check out this King Kong ride, I think it will be a good day. (definitely better than the past week of writing a tax memo on US tax consequences of third tier partnership technical terminations… right.)
Seriously, click on this video. It’s awesome. I can only hope the ride is this, uh, high tech:
As an added bonus, work is funding a dinner at some cool restaurant and then a night of drinking & dancing (plus covering half the cost of a room for all those who should not be driving after said drinking & dancing…).
Like I said, when it’s good, it’s great…
When last we left our confused and utterly torn heroine & hero, they were caught between a rock and a hard place.
Or rather an overcrowded place, a sandy place and an expensive place.
Fortunately, just as the patience of their parents was about to expire, they were suddenly inspired. Lights went off. Bells rang.
(seriously, this little guy at on the top of the church in the Grote Markt rang the bell)
BF and I were sitting in our “happy place” – the Oude Markt in Leuven, listening to an impromptu concert by a group of friends armed with bongo drums, trumpets, acoustic guitars and a cymbal when a bride and groom walked past our table. Not THAT surprising – it was a gorgeous Saturday afternoon in summer – you’d expect lots of newlyweds to be taking pictures around town. But then they sat down at one of the bars with their small wedding party and ordered a few drinks.
In American English.
I looked at BF. “Ahh! Why can’t that be us?”
He replied. “It’d be nice. Too bad our families aren’t here.”
[Then the bells rang.]
Suddenly, I remembered, “But Kels & Dave are going to be here in May for their honeymoon.”
BF: “I wonder if I could get my [immediate] family to make the trip? They’ve been talking about it…”
Me: “I bet I could rope my parents & Aud into coming. You think they’d all approve?”
BF: “But what about extended family? And friends? What’s the point of getting married without them?”
Me: “Yeah. I don’t know. Forget it. Can we get married on the beach now?”
BF: “NO. No beach. No.”
Me: “Wait. What if we have a beach wedding here? Minus the beach. I mean something small. But long. We could do a tour of Leuven. And the rehearsal dinner at our favorite restaurant. And the ceremony & reception in Leuven. Followed by drinks in the Old Markt. And a brewery tour the next day. Or maybe a chocolate tour? You know what I mean? And we could invite family & friends with the understanding that many couldn’t come so we do a big party back in the US as well? Something low key? Informal. Church ceremony followed by cake & champagne & drinks & dancing in a park or a backyard? Our extended family & friends could still be a part of our big moment and we could invite EVERYONE without the pressure (or expense!) of a formal wedding? Whatcha think?”
BF: “hmmm… that could work, kid. That could work.”
********
So that’s The Plan.
Our mad idea.
Our crazy way for a girl who is, at best, ambivalent about weddings to have TWO weddings.
Our crackpot scheme to have the best of both worlds. An intimate ceremony in our personal fairytale town of Leuven. Days of showing our loved ones our favorite breweries and chocolates and cafes and parks and restaurants. Plus a casual, genuine, CELEBRATION with all of our important people back home in the US. A chance to say our vows in front of and dance with everyone.
Our attempt to keep our level of happiness with the whole process inversely proportional to the level of offense taken by family & friends.
Our way of getting married… in our own way.
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We’re going to try and have our cake and eat it too. (Actually, make that TWO cakes!)
More details to follow. As we figure them out. We’re still in the planning stages of the plan.
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| Crazy kids. With crazier ideas. |
Right. So. In the previous post, I mentioned the biggest hurdle we are facing in reaching the holy grail of wedding planning – the setting of the date – was winning the Numbers Game.
As I see it, we have three options. 3. Trois. Drie. Tres.
1. Suck It Up. We “suck it up” and invite everyone. All 350+ of our nearest & dearest. Plus our parent’s nearest & dearest and our parent’s friend’s nearest & dearest.
(+) We will be surrounded by everyone we know & love.
(+) No one is offended. Everyone is happy.
(-) I have panic attacks leading up to the big day and end up exhausted, frazzled and awkward around strangers.
(-) We eat ramen for the first two years of marriage to pay off the reception.
(-) If the celebration lasts 8 hours we will have approx. 1.4 minutes to spend with each guest. Ok for some, not so much for those people we only get to see a few days each year.
2. Barefoot in the Sand. We do a destination wedding at a beach resort in the Caribbean or Florida or Mexico or Hawaii. We invite 100 or so family & friends and have a 4 day beach vacation.
(+) Just the right size.
(+) At least 4 days spent with our best friends and close family.
(+) Offending of family members is kept to a minimum.
(+) Ocean! Sea breeze! Sun! Perfect weather! Tropical drinks! Tans! Snorkeling! Sailing!
(+) Fresh, delicious seafood & fruit for the reception.
(+) We’d only have to eat ramen for a few months after the wedding.
(+) EASY to plan. (call up the resort, explain you’d like a wedding, block off rooms for guests, show up, party.)
(+) It would be casual and, above all, fun!
(+) I love, LOVE, love, love, LOVE the beach!
(+) Who wouldn’t want to get married in paradise?
Gazebo? With palm trees? Sigh…
(-) Boyfriend HATES the beach.
(-) Boyfriend HATES sand.
(-) Boyfriend loathes the idea of a wedding that involves the beach and sand.
(-) Simply put, Boyfriend does not want to get married in paradise!
(-) To have my dream beach wedding I’d need a new fiance.
3. Love in Leuven. We invite family & friends for a wedding weekend (week!) in our favorite place in the whole world… Leuven! We’d get married in one of the amazing old churches and have the reception in one of the manor houses or our favorite restaurant or perhaps near the Begijnhof (a Unesco Heritage Site!). We could end the night with drinks in the Oude Markt and have a brunch & brewery tour the next day. Maybe a chocolate tour? Hmm…
(+) Everyone knows that both BF & I love Belgium. And we’re obsessed with Leuven. At last we’d be able to show our family & friends why.
(+) It’d be the epitome of intimate (maybe 25 friends & family from the US would be able to come? plus another 20-25 friends from around here?). More like inviting people to our elopement.
(+) It’d certainly be unique.
(+) We wouldn’t have to eat ramen unless we REALLY wanted to.
(+) We’d be able to spend quality time with friends & family.
(+) We’d get some amaaaazing pictures.
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| We could have the civil ceremony at the Stadhuis… |
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| We could take pictures in front of the library… |
We could get married in this church…
We could have the reception in the Groot Begijnhof area of Leuven…
(-) It would be a serious expense for friends & family.
(-) We’d offend a lot of people.
(-) Some of our closest friends & family would not be able to come.
Hmmmmm… tricky, tricky, tricky.
Fortunately, we have nearly come up with a solution. Nearly.
Details to follow tomorrow.
You know that ring I was gushing about in the previous post?
The shiny thing? Yeah. THAT one.
Turns out the the thing is a veritable beacon to family, friends, acquaintances… even strangers in stores.
They zero in on the sparkle and, as if programmed by some wedding obsessed fiend, immediately spit out “Ohhhhh! Did you set a date?”
To which I typically reply, “No, we aren’t sure yet. You know, Belgium and all.”
They all accepted the (admittedly lame) excuse for the first few months. Like Belgium was some sort of condition that had to be cured before giant halls and childhood chapels could be booked.
But. 10 months in (yes, 10!), we still do not have a date. Or a venue.
We’ve got a guy. And a girl. And a ring.
Isn’t that enough?
Apparently not.
If you ask either of our mothers they will exclaim in tones of mock (scratch that, genuine) consternation, “WHAT is SO difficult?? Check out a few locations, pick a place, set a date and we’ll all show up.”
And therein lies the problem. “We’ll ALL show up.”
If my ENTIRE family plus our close family friends all show up we’ll fill a half dozen pews at the church. Including aunts, uncles, cousins, family friends (including little kids) we’re in the 50-60 range.
Awesome.
Under normal circumstances, you would approximate the same number for the fiance’s side, invite 50 friends and have a lovely gathering of 150 or so of your friends and family.
Super awesome.
Except.
Except that BF does not come from “normal” circumstances. His was not the standard American family with 2.4 kids and a dog. His family would take up a dozen + aisles. Standing room only. Christmas mass style. How?
He is the eldest of 7.
His father is the eldest of 9.
His mother is the 5th of 16.
He has 90 first cousins. At last count.
His father is remarried and his stepmother has siblings who are close with BF.
Etiquette dictates that if we invite my entire family, we have to invite his entire family.
We’re talking 300+ people. THREE HUNDRED. 3-0-0. Like the movie. But even more terrifying.
And the’yd “all show up.”
I have a panic attack just thinking about it. Nightmares of tripping down the aisle in front of 300 laughing strangers. Of spending the entire reception meeting people and engaging in small talk ala “It’s so nice to meet you! Did you enjoy the salmon?” instead of dancing with friends.
Because that’s the thing. I’ve met maybe 20 members of BF’s extended family. If we do invite all of these people, I’m pretty sure there will be a quiz component to the invitation. Along with the RSVP, they will have to answer three simple questions. If they get any of them wrong, their acceptance of the invitation will be null & void. Or perhaps it will self destruct, Mission Impossible style. I still have to play with the details. I know the questions though:
1. Who is getting married? First & Last names please. (I’d be sure to not include my first name anywhere on the invite…)
2. Where do we currently live? (I may accept “Europe” but Cleveland or Pittsburgh will be an immediate disinvite.)
3. Where did we go to college?
+ Bonus question: What do we do for a living? (#3 could get tricky for some people so I’ll throw in a bonus question…)
Ha. Except it’s not so funny.
So. Yes. Our first hurdle in setting a date has not been the dreaded “Belgium” disease but rather the Numbers Game. How do we have the kind of ceremony we want, surrounded by the people we love, without offending anyone? And without going bankrupt?
It’s taken 10 months but we’ve come up with some options. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s discussion of said options.
Days & nights are still long here in the world of Int’l Tax, however, I have found a marvelous way to cope with the stress:
Over my lunch & dinner breaks I research, inquire upon and plot adventures to exciting places like Barcelona, London, Paris and the Alsace region of France!
Today’s booking? A (hopefully) lovely apartment for our big 4 day sojourn to Barcelona in October. Although they will most certainly destroy any of the sympathy I had garnered with my stories of long hours, check out these pics of the place:
(https://www.habitatapartments.com/en/barcelona/apartment/view/verdiamsterdam.htm)
AND. My favorite part, floor to ceiling windows with a small balcony:
I’ll be sure to report back on whether or not the place lives up to the pictures…
