Sent and Tried

At last week's Minnesota Young Food Professionals' happy hour, we made food resolutions for 2015.

How self-referential.

For this first post of 2015, I'll review two of the goals I made for 2014. The first goal was to send 52 pieces of mail. Pieces of mail actually sent? Twenty-four. But some of them were pretty sweet, like this package I put together for +Garnet Bruell.

A box full of letters, motorized sushi, and "A little sugar from your MN sugar mama."

The second goal was to try 52 new things. I counted forty-one new activities tried. Here's a selection:

• Attend and judge Pundamonium.
• Get a piercing.
• Paddle board.

Am I doing it right? (Photo credit: +Kate Elahi) 

• Get advice from an attorney.
• Call 911.
• Visit an impound lot.

I saw a couple cars like this. (Photo credit: Neil Turner)

• Buy and use a state parks permit.
• Take a solo road trip.
• Take a parkour class.

Check out that dive roll.

• Interview candidates for a serious job.
• Precept dietetic interns.
• Help plan a conference.

Pin the Dots. #hnmn14 #UMNExt

A photo posted by @jastrd on Aug 19, 2014 at 6:01am PDT

• Raft through rapids.
• Attend a Baptist church.
• Spectate B.A.S.E jumping.

Busy #BridgeDay BASE jumping and rafting. #WhatUpWV #GoToWV

A photo posted by @jastrd on Oct 18, 2014 at 9:32am PDT

• Attend a BareBones production.
• Sing Sacred Harp.
• Write, share, and perform original poetry.

Many thanks to everyone who assisted me, wittingly or not, in a working toward this goal. And a special shout-out to +Susan DeBlieck, who spontaneously checked in with me about both goals. You'll get a piece of mail this year, I promise!

What I'm Excited About #6

The Cold: Good-bye cloudy skies, hello crisp air! This is the Minnesota weather I signed up for.

Dad and grandkids.

The Collaborations: I'm lining up a couple peeps to write guest posts for this blog. I also asked a friend to collaborate on a poem with me – I have no idea how that's going to go, and I'm super interested to find out!

The Condiment Clean-Up: I am on a mission to extinguish all the condiments in my refrigerator by January 20th. The other week, I made a dressing with the remaining chipotle peppers, curry powder, and fennel seeds. That went real nice with the endless sweet potatoes and beets I roasted for holiday potlucks.

Lot of chipotle, but the curry and fennel came through.

The Coming Year: I know already what some of transitions will be (moving once or twice, my parents leaving the country), and I know that unexpected challenges will arise. But all in all, the unknown opportunities of 2015 are so beguiling.

What are you looking forward to?

What I'm Excited About #5

Includes the following:

Visual recipe by Stacy Stanley.

• Tapping URSA: A black IPA made by Fulton with Mighty Axe Cascade Hops? I'm there. 
• MNYFP December: A mini-launch of the Minnesota Food Charter next Wednesday at Gigi's Cafe, hosted by Donald Warneke and (who else) Eric Sannerud. For details and to RSVP, bop over to the Facebook event.
• Visual Recipes: Local artist Stacy Stanley records recipes, illustrates them, and shares the creation. She recorded my recipe for, well, something tasty and will be posting the result on her blog, 
• Condiment Clean-Up: I am on a mission to extinguish all the condiments in my refrigerator. Today I defeated a small bottle of Maruso Soy Sauce.

What are you looking forward to?