True Love - Living in the same home with someone who is learning a new instrument…and honestly loving the sour notes just as much as the sublime.

Leviticus 19:19 [REVISED] Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee: neither shall a garment mingled of ninety-nine percent cotton and one percent spandex come upon thee, especially such garments as are sewn into jeans. That shall be an abomination unto you.

19 years ago today, in the dark hours of the evening, I was stranded outside an impressively well-locked girl’s dormitory, in a strange city, 1300 miles from home, contemplating what tree I would be able to sleep under, when a wild-haired, brown-eyed beauty mercifully opened the door and let me back inside.

I remember being instantly taken in by her presence… and not just because she was rescuing me.

But little did I know, in that instant, how taken in by her presence I would be for years to come.

Thanks for opening so many doors for me over so many years, my Fire-Breathing Butterfly.

Told ‘rangutan I would blog my Chicago food from earlier this week. (In no particular order.)

Blackbird:
Crispy buckwheat crepes with hazelnut ‘cassoulet’, fresh ricotta, pickled baby carrots and grilled abalone mushrooms
Pinot Noir

Stetson’s:
USDA Prime Beef - Filet Mignon - 10oz with steamed broccoli
Zinfandel

Lou Malnati’s:
The “Lou” - Fresh spinach, mushrooms and sliced tomatoes covered with a blend of mozzarella, Romano and cheddar cheese pizza.
Corona

Bandera:
Sliced Leg of Lamb with Red Chile Sauce and Escabeche Salad, cornbread
Zinfandel

Greek Islands:
Taramosalata - a blend of cod roe with potatoes, onions, & olive oil
Melitzanosalata - Freshly roasted eggplant blended with garlic, potatoes, and olive oil
Tzatziki- -A creamy yogurt-cucumber-garlic spread flavored with lemon and pepper
Spanakotiropita - Layers of spinach and feta cheese baked in flaky filo dough
Amstel Light

La Strada:
Veal Scaloppini Milanese Caprese - breaded thin veal, field greens, tomato & mozzarella di bufala
Shiraz

The words Guru, Swami, Super Swami, Master, Teacher, Murshid,
Yogi, Priest,

most of those sporting such a title are
just peacocks.

The litmus test is:
hold them upside down over a cliff for a few hours.
If they don’t wet their pants

maybe you found a real
one.

–KABIR
Love Poems From God: Twelve Sacred Voices from the East and West

H: Do you see the raccoon in the tree out back?
B: Ugh, no. I don’t think I like raccoons.
H: Did you know in Italy they call them ‘little washing bears’?
B: Really? How sweet. Maybe I like them.

A recent “office profile” put the following question to me:

Question: What was your proudest moment as an 8-year old?

Answer: Checking myself into rehab when I finally realized I was hooked on phonics. (What child can resist the allure of a schwa after class or an occasional diphthong with friends?)

when I am asked to grammar check whether it is “a hermaphrodite” or “an hermaphrodite.”