The Bigger Picture

We were discussing profile writing in class today, after spending a week poring over the lives of Valerie Jarett, Sen. John Kerry, Jon Favreau and a dentist who disputes President Obama's legitimacy to hold office. Our professors asked us to critique the readings when the words came out of my mouth before I had fully processed them. "The people were bigger than the details of their lives."

And by this I meant, where they were born, who their parents were, where they went to school - yes it plays a part in the grander scheme of their lives. But it doesn't define them. What people do, makes them who they are.

People are bigger than the details of the lives.

Getting it right...fast

Health is an asset. You don't know it's worth until you lose it.

Freedom is a gift. We don't know it's worth unless it gets taken away.

To feel joy, happiness and contentment are exalted human experiences that we too often discount.

The people we love get taken for granted until it's too late.

Seize your life and all your blessings before they slip away like sand through your fingers.

An Evening at the Theater

The class went for the "mandatory" Shakespeare play at Folger Theater. The one Joe didn't attend because of a conflict of interest.

We looked so elegant, all dressed in black and high heels, me in flats to do my feet a favor.
The play was lukewarm, I'm not a big fan of theater. But I like Shakespeare for the writing. Strange?

The play was a Carribean adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing. There were a few funny moments. But mostly it was about sitting in a Shakespeare-stlye theater watching a performance of the master's work.

At the end of the play, we took pictures outside the Capitol. The bright light still glowing in the topmost part of the tower to signal that someone was still in session.

Weekend with the girlfriend

Puneet visited me this weekend. The two of us sprawled out in my uber comfortable room with food and gabbed about life, boys, the works. We walked down the street with large smiles on our faces and had lunch at an Italian restaurant - Cafe Paradiso. She had pasta. I had eggplant timbales or grilled eggplant with tomatoes. Then we watched Grey's Anatomy and ordered pizza. And then we still had energy so we took a walk to Iowa Ave. to visit a friend.

Time flies so quickly when you're having fun.

World wrap

Two nights ago, I went out for Ethiopian food with friends in Adams Morgan. Incidentally, we were a muticultural gathering of French, American, Korean and Indian people, partaking in food of the African continent.

And then the Turkish festival came to town. In a sea of champagne harem pants, sequined bodices, belly dancers and hot purple makeup, Washington celebrated the Ottoman state. Canopied stalls displayed glittery baubles and stuff. But the longest lines were at the shewarma stalls. Succulent meat wrapped in pita, rice-stuffed wine leaves and pickled vegetables. Americans, the Turkish and visitors who weren't either, enjoyed the Middle Eastern fare under the fall sun.

Writers and love make the world go round. Food and Skype brings the world closer.