The Tale of Two Cities

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way—in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.
Charles Dickens, The Tale of Two Cities

On one side of the country, the sun's radiance beams unhindered by overcast, and the thermometer read eighty-five degrees as the golden chariot crosses the midpoint of her journey.  Her rays dance on the crystal expanse of the condo-side private pool.  If it's warmth grows tedious, the air-conditioning and thousand plus HD channels delivered through space via satellite to the wide screen plasma TV beckon me to comfort.  The spacious accommodations comprise, in-unit full washer and dryer, walk-in closet (just one of four abounding in storage), virgin plush carpets, balcony in the morning sun, and sprawling counter tops in the full-sized kitchen.  This is just the apartment complex: With lakes, mountains, exotic flora and fauna, and teeming metropolitan, nearly nothing is for want.  Sumptuous dinners at the finest establishments, choice beer, wine, and scotch with prices uninflatted by the state call for no yield or moderation.  The valley indeed is paradise.

In comparison, the spitting gray days, gripped tenaciously by six months of winter, pass as crystallized honey in a teeny, too cold apartment.  The cloistered quarters contain merely two closets, cluttered by shelves and too shallow for hangers, a crawl-space bathroom with after thought shower, and toy-sized refrigerator and oven.  The faded carpet for gets it's first colors and bears the scars on tenants long moved on.  A ten year old stereo takes the place of the thirty-inch flat screen; a second hand bicycle, the 2011 luxury sedan.  Pigeons besides great herons, seared salmon in balsamic reduction with oyster mushrooms replaced with pizza and beer from at the less than prestigious bar around the corner.  Cracking asphalt parking lot fills the back yard as opposed to the swimming pool.  The bleakness of the sober tones sharply contrast the vibrancy of the near ethereal hues of the former mentioned. 

So what if it was overcast and raining with 33 mph winds in Pgh--it was still one of the best days ever, biking with KG and Kenny.

In these two cities, I currently reside--one so basked in the glow of the heavenly surroundings that often it easy to see that indeed it is a piece of eternity, the other at times so far removed from what I identify as kingdom of heaven.  In one, nearly no effort is necessary to discover wholeness and happiness whether sitting at home or just yards from my front door; In the other, days are spent waiting and seeking for the joy I know so well in the other.  Whether running lakeside, hiking breath-taking ridges, or tanning by the pool in Phoenix, these actions and glamorized experiences reveal themselves at best mediocre without the ability to share them with those who embody the Kingdom of God in Pittsburgh*.  The contrasts between the pair exemplify "Paradise lost is Heaven found."


* These are just few of the folks I'm talking about, but LW did a great job explaining how we share life.


Postlude:
To be sure, any and all of my notions of black and white and binary, have always been shattered.  So know this is not saying Phoenix is hell and Pittsburgh is Heaven.  But rather it is another meditation, another illustration of being able to cling to that which matters and let go of that what doesn't.  Sunny weather, swimming pools, and posh apartments can bring happiness--but it's a meal of saltines and cheese food product in comparison to the lavish feast of authentic community, friendship, and life together.  


Before Kenny even came to Phoenix we began to pray that we would find where the Kingdom of God is breaking out--it's not at the fancy restaurants or VIP box at the Suns stadium, nor is it fully captured in glorious natural scenery.  We have found that the Paradise in this paradise, is group of diverse people struggling together through conflict, wrestling with theology, celebrating over engagements, new apartments, and new jobs, sharing life with one another and seeking God as one.  

City Profile: Phoenix part 2

Part 1 of the City profile looked at tastey locavorian restaurants.  But now I've finally made my way to the farmer's market and super stoked to share!

Our apartment is located in Chandler, so using the Chandler City website I was able to track down when and where the farmer's market was held.

"Fa" is highlighted cause I was searching for "farmer" and took a screen shot.

Don't live in Chandler, but elsewhere in the greater Phoenix area, check out Arizona Community Farmer's Market.  They list out where and when Farmer's Markets are happening all over Phoenix.

Nestled in the public square ordained by the elementary school children's art, the local farmers, jewelry designers, soap makers, and off course kettle corn cart, set up for picturesque market.  Here's what I discovered and the loot I brought home:

Chick-A-Bee Gardens Stand

I purchased eggs from these lovely people.  They had a photo album of their pasture-raised happy chickens, and told me about the farm, the chickens' names, and all about chicken farming!  Chick-A-Bee's really made my trip. 

Look at the beautiful eggs!

I scored a ton of local produce, bread, and even tortillas.

All this for ~$30!

The cherry to my farmer's market sundae was a frozen treat from Paletas Betty.  Their Fresa Con Crema was hands down one of the best things I've ever put in my face!

I needed to stop to take a picture before I ate it all.

So victory for the Farmer's Market!

Next up will be the delicious creation I make with the fresh ingredients I procured on this adventure.

Running Games: Urban Explorer

For the past few months I've been jumping back and forth between Pittsburgh and Phoenix, but I've maintained my running schedule.  This means running in a city I'm not so familiar with.

Running in Tempe was great!  I'd circle Tempe Town Lake, jog through the hip scenes, and see tons of other runners.  Our hotel was right on the lake between Tempe and Scottsdale, so it was easy to find interesting places to run.  Then we moved to the apartment in Chandler, which is much more characteristic of the rest of Phoenix and, as I am told, the southwest in general.  Perfect grid, square mile blocks of gated community, strip mall, and undeveloped lots.  It is as interesting to run around as staring at the wall in the fitness center while on a treadmill.  Add in the heat, and the treadmill definitely wins out.

But this is not a wah! on Phoenix blog--this is about overcoming obstacles that stand between me and being healthy.  And by golly, if boring runs aren't like the Great Wall of China to motivating me off the couch and into the outdoors.

Behold, one of my favorite running games: Urban Explorer.

The Urban Explorer never takes the same route twice, cares not about distance or time--only seeking adventure, jumps fences, follows dead end roads, chases pigeons, etc.

Here are the rules:
1) Do not map your course pre-run
2) Take no Garmin, no watch, and if you can handle it--don't even take an ipod
3) If you see something that looks interesting--be it graffiti, a pond, a hip-happening neighborhood, check it out!  Being in running gear is license to be inconspicuously nebby.  (Nebby for you non-Pittsburghers means curious or nosey)
4) Do bring your imagination and thrill-hunger!

I cheated a little when exploring Chandler--I looked up on Google maps to find the only non-square block nearby and headed toward it.

Sometimes what you find is fantastic, sometimes not so much.  As for my expedition of Chandler, AZ: The Good, the Bad, and the Smelly.

The Good:
I discovered this man-made pond stocked with fish, which attracted families and tons of different birds, making for quite a scenic little jog.  I need to make a nerd confession: I am a aviary-enthusiast.  I love birds!  Especially of the aquatic sort.  Some of my favorites that I encountered during this run were:

Snowy Egret

Blue Heron

Coot-look at it's awesome feet!

And of course-Mallards

The Bad (or hilarious):

Tail-wagging, wing-flapping, tongue-hissing attacking Canadian Goose.

As I approached the pond, a singular goose stood on the edge of the sidewalk near the pond.  Normally, these creatures don't strike fear into the hearts of mankind.  But on this particular day, when I came near, it started bobbing it head, then it started ruffling its feather, puffing out its chest and hissing.  At D-10ft, I slowed to a walk and just moved intentionally past it.  It hissed the whole time but that was about it.  Nevertheless, I got attacked by a Canadian Goose!

The Smelly:

For some tragic reason, a significant portion of the supplied fish had not quite thrived.  Therefore, at random points along the perimeter of the pond were foot deep, three foot wide piles of rotting fish carcasses.  Add a temperature of 85 degrees and it is worth holding your breath as you run on by.

Sorry, Marlin.

Beyond finding a great spot for bird watching, I gained a grasp of the land.  I figured out what stores and coffee places were in the vicinity, stumbled upon some art galleries and a fancy local pizza bistro, actually saw other runners, spotted more sheep grazing, and best of all, shaded sidewalk!  It's quite the commodity when running in Phoenix.

So whether it's Seattle, WA; Grand Forks, ND; Chandler, AZ; or your hometown--get out there and explore.  A little sense of adventure can awaken any boring run.

City Profile: Phoenix part 1

Behold the desert city, the valley of the sun: Phoenix.

My hubby, the business technology consultant, just moved into corporate apartment for a long term project in Phoenix, AZ (Chandler to be more precise), solidifying AZ as our winter home. Though, at his new found bachelor pad, he's filled the pantry so far with corn-oil-rich snacks like: Angry tarts and Doubl Stuf Monster.

Don't get me wrong, I love these sweet sirens as much as the next person. But it is this love that leads to over-indulgence. And this over-indulgence of high fructose corn syrup frenemies leads to obesity, diabetes, and poor life quality.

Furthermore, money spent on these nutrition-less treats from massive, global companies can be better spent at local bakeries on much better products.

Therefore, as new found residents of the Phoenix, we've begun to seek out becoming locavores of the Valley of the Sun.

The consultant life is that of profligate and wanton expense, travel, and schedule. As a result, my husband, (who needs a nick name for this blog...let's go with Kenny for a variety of reasons) Kenny receives a $50/day use-it-or-lose-it per diem for food. This encourages not only eating out, but eating out lavishly and gluttonously. Therefore, when I'm in town I demand we at the very least put the company's money to good work in the local economy by supporting local restaurants.

Eating Out Local

1) US Egg This is my go-to breakfast spot. OMG The protein pancakes alone make this place amazing. Family run and operated, you're welcomed like life-long friend. Standard morning tex-mex fare, diner grub, and my favorite: pancakes!!! Healthy options cater to all sorts of diets: Vegans Welcomed! Despite not knowing the source of the meat, I have nothing but love for US Egg.

$10-20 Breakfast for 2

2) Essence Cafe If one were to craft the mocha, the grass-fed beef burger, or the delicate crepe of my heart, it would be Essence. Fair trade coffee, local grass-fed beef, local produce, daily menus, and artistically created beverages, this cafe alights first in the cloud billows of my heart for affordable locavorism.

$$15-25 Lunch for 2

3) True Food Kitchen Alas, not locally owned, but rather a vision of Fox Restaurant Creations, True Food nevertheless strives to use local produce and meats--so it's better than not! Quite the posh establishment, this place oozes of the trendiness

of 'Slow Food' and 'Fusion Cuisine' and attracts the celebrity types like Grant Hill, who came in for pick up while Kenny and I enjoyed our lavish feast on Uncle D (that is, Kenny's company). However, what enticed me to yield my undying affection to True Food was "The Natural"

$$$35-50 Dinner Dinner for 2

4) Cafe Boa is the cross roads of Essence and True Food--truly local, green and sustainable practices, direct trade coffees, divinely delicious food plus all the pomp and circumstance of a place where White People would like to eat.

$$$35-50 Dinner for 2

These are the restaurants that are tried and true on my account. Over the next week, I'll be speaking more about being locavore in Phoenix. Stay tuned.