Recovering

I found this super-fascinating to do, and even more interesting to read on other people's journals-- this especially after some recent events got me thinking. I have a *lot* of education in my background, but very little money, comparatively. I remember always being super-envious of people who had new (non-value-village) clothes and walkmans growing up, and later whose parents helped them out with college. On the other hand, my mom is a college professor and we had a full-on private library in the house I grew up on (which was never above sixteen degrees in the winter and had unfinished rooms with concrete floors in parts of it, thank everything for dogs on the bed to keep warm), as well as five acres and constant trips to museums and that sort of thing. I admit to not being too clear on the idea of 'class' (Tillie? Marvin?).

It also helps me look at my money issues more clearly. I remember hearing the term 'financial abuse' as a revelation, one time.

From What Privileges Do You Have?, based on an exercise about class and privilege developed by Will Barratt, Meagan Cahill, Angie Carlen, Minnette Huck, Drew Lurker, Stacy Ploskonka at Illinois State University. If you participate in this blog game, they ask that you PLEASE acknowledge their copyright.

Bold the true statements.

1. Father went to college
2. Father finished college
3. Mother went to college
4. Mother finished college (Well, she's just finishing her doctorate now, but she went pretty damn far the first time)
5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor.
6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers. (I think, not entirely sure on the idea of class)
7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home.
8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home.
9. Were read children's books by a parent.
10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18
11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18 (Wait, ballet at 6 and horseback riding at 13 count as two)
12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively. (But through choice, as a hippie nudist-type, and I can speak academic english at will, which is at odds with the grubby-landscaper-layered-is-she-homeless? look I have after work as well as my recreational clothing)
13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18.
14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs.
15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs.
16. Went to a private high school.
17. Went to summer camp.
18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18.
19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels. (no campground more than $10 a night for us!)
20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18.
21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them.
22. There was original art in your house when you were a child.
23. You and your family lived in a single-family house.
24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home.
25. You had your own room as a child (Two rooms to myself between 15 and 17, for a total of more personal space than most Vancouver one-bedroom apartments)
26. You had a phone in your room before you turned 18.
27. Participated in a SAT/ACT prep course.
28. Had your own TV in your room in high school.
29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in high school or college.
30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16.
31. Went on a cruise with your family.
32. Went on more than one cruise with your family.
33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up.
34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family.

!!!!

athomechef makes me so happy.

One More

For those of you who liked watermelon radish, have you ever tried lo bok? It's a chinese radish (diakon is the japanese version) that's pretty similar in taste. It's usually local, in season, and is 19 cents a pound at sunrise produce right now.

I wanna try these two:

Braised Beef and Radish
2 tbsp (30 ml) oil 1 large Oriental radish, peeled and cubed
2 lbs (1 kg) Stewing beef 1 tbsp (15 ml) Oriental Five Spice Powder or 1-2 Star Anise
Water Soy sauce or salt to taste
Heat oil in a braising pot, add beef and brown well on all sides. Add radish, spice powder and water to a depth of 1 inch (2.5). Cover and simmer gently until meat is tender. Adjust seasoning using salt or soy sauce to taste and serve.
Makes: 4-6 servings

Pickled Oriental Radish
1 lb (500g) Oriental radish, peeled and thinly sliced 1 tbsp (15 ml) salt
2 cups (500 ml) white vinegar Pinch salt
1 clove garlic, crushed 2 ¼ cups (550 ml) white granulated sugar
Combine radish with salt. Toss 5-6 times every five minutes for 20 minutes. The salt will draw the moisture from the radish, so the finished pickle will be crisp. Meanwhile bring vinegar to a boil and add salt, garlic and sugar. Simmer gently until sugar is completely dissolved. Rinse radish and pat dry, place in sterilized jars and pour hot brine over leaving ½ inch headspace, and seal. Allow jars to cool and then refrigerate. Pickles should be ready to eat in three to five days, keep refrigerated.
Makes: 2 pints