Monday, November 19, 2012

It’s the most wonderful time, of the year - Blog Swap with John O'Brien



The Ohio BloggingAssociation All State Swap

On this day, bloggers from around the great state of Ohio are guest posting on one another's blogs as a way to help one another in our blogging community. I am happy to introduce you to John O'Brien of the blog Songs and Stories (along with other sites you can see at the bottom of this posting).  I hope you enjoy it.  It's a really sweet post.

Thanks, John!

Meanwhile, John was kind enough to publish my post on his blog, which you can see here.  Check it out!  There are plenty of pics!

For all the other bloggers participating, please check out Ohio Blog. Association yogi, Alicia Hansen (Poise in Parma), who is listing all of these great bloggers.  Check them out too!

- Kristian

It’s the most wonderful time, of the year


I can’t decide which holiday I like more.  Thanksgiving is family, food and football, but most of all, being aware of, and thankful for, all the gifts in your life.  Self-awareness is good; crafting gratefulness in the everyday little blessings take a bit more vision and banning of blinders. In a world that often can’t get further than the mirror, the touch of glass isn’t a window to your soul, it’s a door, if you can see past the pane. 

My folks are immigrants. Growing up we had no relatives in the U.S., but today I am so blessed as to have 17 nieces and nephews, aged 7 to 27.  Tho I have no kids, Christmas rocks! And hurts, in the space between breathing in and out.  They are my family, yet, I have no family of my own. Holidays are joy to my heart, and so piercingly painful, all in that same in and out.   

From a good wrastle to a good wine, memories of Christmas are what we are giving to these fun and funny kids, so they will associate the day with great laughter, great hugs and great warmth, all that family should be. We’re creating their past, before they grow to families of their own.

Mangiamoh (AKA Kristian) has a baby boy, just starting out.  Appreciate your kids, love them of course, but appreciate them, live in the moment with them. Create moments worth memories, for you, and for your children, full of love, full of guidance, full of laughter. Take lotsa photos, videos and record the memories you create. The moments will blur in the march of time, the feelings won’t.

It is Thanksgiving Thursday, also my birthday.  I am grateful, I am blessed; I am the last of my line. 


Starting out, circa 1970 
 .
 

Mom & Dad’s 50th Wedding Anniversary, 2010


Please share your story with me; thank you for allowing me to share mine with you.  Follow me, where I go:
 .

Monday, November 12, 2012

Getting out of the House



Julia and I are enjoying our bonding time with little Max...


 ...as he sleeps...


...stares...


...and occasionally poses.

Of course, much of this bonding has been occurring inside the home as generous friends have delivered us soup, pasta...

 

...and this gingerbread that I've topped with ice cream and ginger sugar.

Delicious!

We couldn't be more appreciative for all the help and assistance we've been given!

 ...............................................

But this past weekend with our recent unseasonably warm weather, we decided to get out of the house while we still could... 


...attaching the car seat to the stroller...


...and taking Max to some of the more kid-friendly parts of town.


 We even took a chance and went out to enjoy a rather leisurely dinner at Baker's Square...

 

...where I got this awesome Nacho Burger with jalapeno and tortilla strips...


...and, of course, we both got some pie.

Fortunately, Max didn't seem to mind.


.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Happy Voting Day aka Ohio's Light at the End of the Tunnel


I can't tell you how happy I am that the election is coming to a close.

 

From my 2012 festival journeys (this is in Shelby)...


 ...to my simple strolls in Oberlin...

...I have become overwhelmed by political advertisements.

Let's not even get into the radio, TV, magazine, newspaper, Facebook and YouTube advertisements!

When Max got the hiccups last night...


...I totally sympathized with him.

It's just all too much!

That's why I'm going to relax today and let the voting take its course (I already sent in my ballot last week)...


...while I enjoy a hot bowl of potato and meatballs.

Happy Voting Day, peeps!

.

Monday, November 5, 2012

To Try or Not to Try



I'm a true believer in trying new things.  

How else could you build your palate and know-how in the worlds of cooking and eating?


Take these frozen baby octopi, for example.

I knew I liked octopus because I've tried them before, but I had never cooked them before...


...so I decided to give it a go...

 

...and I made this flavorful chick pea octopus salad with them.

Delicious!

It's examples like this that make me excited when I see new products...


...like Buffalo Hot Eggs (can't wait to break these bad boys open).

But I guess there are also times that I may go a little far.

The other day, when my mom's dog scoffed at the cookie I tried to give him...

 

...I decided to try it myself.

It wasn't until I winced from the molasses (which I don't like) that I even thought about possible doggie ingredients (ie crude protein) that my body wouldn't care for.

Fortunately - apart from the glucosamine creme that probably helped my hips and joints - everything appeared kosher.

But now I know that I don't like molasses...

...not even in doggie cookies.
 

.

Friday, November 2, 2012

Mangiamo: An Intro


Since my birth in late 1973, I've been pretty much an eater.

Of course, this initially only meant milk and cereal products...
 .

...but with the help of various family and friends in my life (like Uncle Dave)...


...this would eventually lead to Oktoberfest burgers... 


...kick-ass sushi (Sushi Ting)...


...fancy dishes...


...and the occasional indulgent dessert.

In 2009, I met my current wife...


...(and perfect eating partner)...

 

...and our happiness inevitably led to family expansion (8 months pregnant)...


 ...bringing us a little eater of our own.

Of course, as I was in my initial months of life, he's been pretty much confined to milk these days...


 ...but we're going to keep nurturing him until he's ready...


 ...for the more adventurous dishes I already have waiting for him.


Needless to say, he's a little suspicious about all this.

...................................................................................................................................................

Welcome to my new blog, Man-gi-am-OH, a blog about food and related adventures in Ohio and beyond.
 
Mangiamo (mahn-gee-ahm-oh) means "let's eat!" in Italian.

So dig in!



.