7 Lists of 7 Things

I follow another blog called Kate’s Corner. Recently, Katie posted her “7 Things Survey.” The lists inspired me to write up my own. I thought this would be easy. I was surprised how hard it was to give meaningful answers! Enjoy!

7 things I plan to do before I die. . .
1. Hike to Havasu Falls in Arizona
2. Visit Ireland, Portugal, Spain, and Italy
3. Write an essay for “This I Believe”
4. Own a bakery
5. Design my own house
6. Write a cookbook
7. Be a grandmother

7 things I can do. . .
1. Cook almost anything
2. Make quilts
3. Paint and wallpaper
4. Throw a great dinner party
5. Organize
6. Sew
7. Cross-stitch

7 things I cannot do. . .
1. The “splits”
2. Calculus
3. Physics
4. Style hair
5. Knit (not well anyway)
6. Touch my toes
7. Vulcan salute (think “Live long and Prosper”)

7 attributes that attract me to the opposite sex. . .
1. Sense of humor
2. Smart
3. Kind
4. Positive outlook
5. Righteous
6. Likes cats
7. Can cook

7 Things I say most often . . .
1. “El!” (my husband’s nickname)
2. “Kat!” (my daughter’s nickname)
3. “Shut up!” (as in “no way!”)
4. “Groovy”
5. “Planning, this is Laura…” (how I answer the phone at work)
6. “Get out!”
7. “I was listening to NPR today…”

7 Favorite foods. . .
1. Chocolate
2. Cheese
3. Peanut butter
4. Tomatoes
5. Cinnamon
6. Pasta Carbonara (or anything Italian)
7. Cupcakes

7 Books I Love . . .
1. Route 66 Railway (my husband’s upcoming book—due out in mid-October)
2. To Kill a Mockingbird
3. Funny in Farsi
4. Laughing Without an Accent
5. Life of Pi
6. Skippyjon Jones
7. All of the Anne of Green Gables series

The Artistry of Omar Vizquel

I am a baseball fan. I love the game. My love of the game was tested in 1994 when Major League baseball went on strike. After the World Series was cancelled, I lost interest in the game. Around the same time, I became a mother so I was occupied with other activities.

When we moved to Northern California in early 2000, the San Francisco Giants had just finished their new baseball stadium. Elrond and I watched their opening day game on television, and we became Giants fans that day. In 2005, the Giants acquired an amazing shortstop—Omar Vizquel. He is a joy to watch on the field—he makes dazzling plays with his signature style. He is also easy on the eyes! He is my all time favorite baseball player.

Last Christmas, just five days after my accident, Elrond gave me a Giants baseball jersey with number 13 and “Vizquel” on the back. He also gave me Omar’s book Omar! My Life On and Off the Field. While I was recovering, I read his book and learned about the personal side of him. As it turns out, he is just as dazzling as an artist off the field.

On September 4th, the Caldwell Snyder Gallery opened an exhibit of Omar Vizquel’s paintings. Here was my chance to meet my favorite ballplayer in person! Elrond surprised me by making reservations for us to go.

In the afternoon, we arrived at our hotel that was just a couple of blocks from the gallery. It was a gorgeous afternoon in San Francisco—warm and breezy. We walked down to the gallery around five o’clock. When we walked in, we saw all of his gorgeous work—oils and watercolors in both vibrant colors and dark muted tones. Omar took the time to speak to all of us about what inspired his work. He took questions from the crowd—of course Elrond was brave enough to ask him about the inspiration for two of his watercolors called “Take Me With You #1 and #2”. Earlier this year, Omar was injured during Spring Training and needed knee surgery. He had to sit out the season until mid-May. He said he felt depressed and empty, like a skeleton. Baseball was like a beautiful woman going to a party. It seems as though the skeleton pleads “take me with you!”

Other Giants players and luminaries were there: First baseman Rich Aurilia, Second baseman Kevin Frandsen, Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow (“Kruk”), Comcast SportsNet reporter Amy Gutierrez, Managing General Partner Peter Magowan, General Manager Brian Sabean, and Chief Operating Officer Larry Baer. The people watching opportunities were as much fun as looking at the art. I took pictures with Omar and Ritchie. Elrond took pictures with Kruk and Amy. It was a blast. Toward the end of the event, Omar took the mike and sang along with band. He also did a little salsa dancing with some of the ladies. He was such fun to watch. As we were leaving, I worked up the nerve to talk to Omar. I told him how much I liked him as a player and how my dear husband bought me his jersey and his book. I told him I loved his art and to keep painting. It was one of my best days.

After the event, Elrond and I walked up to Chinatown to have dinner. We relived the whole evening while eating our almond chicken and steamed dumplings. When we were finished, they brought out our fortune cookies. My cookie had the following fortune:

Indeed, one of my dearest wishes did come true.

I Feed People

Recently, my husband and I had my co-worker and his wife over for dinner. I cooked the Indian recipes I learned during a class I took in San Francisco. I set a beautiful table—although, it was nearly ruined 10 minutes before my guests were scheduled to arrive. My curious cat Atticus jumped up on the table to inspect the full water glasses (he loves water) and knocked one of them across the silk tablecloth and pashmina shawl I used as a runner. I promptly threw them in the dryer and everything was good as new in 15 minutes. Good thing my guests were running late.

I learned to cook with my grandmother. She was a great cook and loved to cook for her family. She was patient and never stressed about the mess I made in her kitchen. After I was married, I started collecting cookbooks, reading them like some people read novels. That was 19 years ago. I am a good cook and love to cook for people. While some people cook only because they have to eat, I cook as a hobby. I love to cook for people. I love to see people enjoy what I cook for them.

My latest volunteer project also involves food. My friend Stephanie Meineke and I are co-chairs of the I-HELP program at St. George’s Episcopal Church. I-HELP (Interfaith Homeless Emergency Lodging Program) offers single men shelter, food, and support though the gracious, generous, and continued support of over 60 Monterey County churches, synagogues, temples, and religious organizations including St. George's. I-HELP has never missed a night of offering services for the homeless in its 15 years of operation. What a great program! On the third and fifth Thursdays of the month, the volunteers at St. George's provide a meal, conversation, shelter and breakfast to-go for 25-30 homeless men. I get the same satisfaction cooking for these guys as I do cooking for my friends.

It is who I am—I feed people. It feeds my soul.

• LL