My Father, My Hero

When I was eleven my father passed away and tomorrow marks the 12th Father's Day without him. In honor of the holiday I wanted to offer some words of thanks and love for him. To start I think y'all need to know the story of who Zvi Minc was.

My dad was born in Israel to a survivors of World War II. His father, a pain-in-the-neck man who despite his many flaws was a powerful figure who fled Poland when the Nazis approached, joined the Red Army and after the war fled Russia to settle in Israel. His mother, a woman I barely knew, a survivor of Auschwitz and crippled by bad health including diabetes that progressively ruined her ability to walk and made her blind. My dad was their oldest son and the 1st of 4 children. While they never were happy that he and his family lived in the US, their pride in my dad were beyond obvious. My grandmother died 7 months after my father. It might have been here health, but from the wailing during the entire week of the funeral, a broken heart would be a very valid diagnosis.

After growing up in the kibbutz, he went off to the military with hopes of flying in the Israeli Air Force. While his sight was good, it wasn't good enough and in the end he was assigned to be a mechanic for the Air Force rather than a pilot. While a turbulent time in Israel, his service ended before the Yom Kippur war and as young Israelis have been doing for decades, he traveled to the United States. While he and his current girlfriend went with a group to tour the Poconos Mountains, he met my mom a fellow kibbutznik, and their courtship began. After briefly dating, Israels neighbors surprised it by attacking on Yom Kippur and reservists all around the world, like my dad, headed back to Israel to do their part in defending their country. Corresponding while they were apart, ultimately they decided to get married.

While there is much more I can say I will fast forward at the kind of father he was. Eventually, after settling in Dallas, my dad decided to start his own business using his experience as a mechanic and a job he had as an appliance repairman. As the owner and sole employee of QuikService, my dad was very successful: he did quality work, at a low price and treated his clients with respect. They thanked him with numerous referrals and fierce loyalty. He went to work early, but routinely he would be done by three so he could go play tennis or racquetball with friends before coming home in time to spend the evening with his family.

I often wondered why he didn't work harder and really follow the "American Dream". With how much his clientèle loved him he could've easily gained more clients, charged a little more and found a way to earn more profits. The answer is very simple: he was happy with what he did and he found a better way to spend his time.

That's why, despite being gone these 12 years, my dad continues to teach me a valuable lesson and is a hero of mine. He knew the value of working hard and doing his job right to support his family. We were never lacking something we needed and even got some of things we wanted. We were able to travel to Israel often among other family vacations. He always had time to play games, help us with schoolwork and show us endless affection. He was compassionate, but always firm in one thing: we had to the best we could do to improve ourselves primarily through education. For a man who never took a course in college, he was extremely well read and self education and because of this knew how important it was for his children to do well in school.

If that's not a life lived well, I'm not sure what is. He was successful in his own way, while enjoying life and being an incredible father. I miss him every day and though he's gone still love him dearly.

Thank you Abba for everything.

My dad during one of our few trips to Israel together shortly before his death

My dad and my mom, very much in love, during that last visit

My dad and I, not sure when and where.

He was a cute kid... hope I got some of the genes!

Flawed Democracy? Dictatorship? Upcoming Civil War? All the Above?

Seems Nikolas Kristof reads my blog--ok, ok I can dream can't I? I imagine he either read the many other blog posts like my last one or more than likely had a lot of the seems thoughts as the ones I expressed. Makes sense since I am a devoted reader to his column. Whatever the motivation for his most recent column, it seemed to be a good follow-up to the concerns I have over the US response to the recent Sudan elections and the upcoming referendum.

I wanted to pull out three quotes from the column, but since one of them is kind of long, I recommend just reading it. Oh wait, you're here persumably for my commentary so read this before/after... thanks!

“If the result of the referendum is independence, there is going to be war — complete war,” predicts Mudawi Ibrahim Adam, one of Sudan’s most outspoken human rights advocates. He cautions that America’s willingness to turn a blind eye to election-rigging here increases the risk that Mr. Bashir will feel that he can get away with war.

“They’re very naïve in Washington,” Mr. Mudawi said. “They don’t understand what is going on.”

As I fear, despite the relatively blood-less elections Bashir will feel emboldened by his new found *cough cough* "legitimacy" (excuse me while I cough up a lung) that he'll believe he has a mandate or the power to forcibly keep Sudan together regardless of next year's referendum for southern independence. Seeing that the referendum is likely to pass overwhelmingly any such action would lead to civil war as Mudawai suggests.

Although as Kristof says, "On the other hand, a senior Sudanese government official, Ghazi Salahuddin, told me unequivocally in Khartoum, the nation’s capital, that Sudan will honor the referendum results."

Perhaps American "diplomacy" is working and while the elections were not free or fair in the least, Bashir will be content to be the "legitimate" (here comes that coughing again) leader of Sudan without the oil rich south. From all the commentary out there that sounds unlikely, but I suppose let's keep our fingers crossed?

Kristof ends the article with a statement that may sound like the same old calls for action, but rings more true now: "My own hunch is that the north hasn’t entirely decided what to do, and that strong international pressure can reduce the risk of another savage war. If President Obama is ever going to find his voice on Sudan, it had better be soon."

Did we need Obama to act and appoint a special envoy a lot sooner in order to deal with ICC backlash in 2009? Yes. Have we done far too little to respond to recent violence in Darfur? Yes. But now more than ever do we need leadership by the United States along with other international actors to prevent a civil war? YES!

The adminstration plan to simultaneously be lukewarm regarding the election's legitimacy while continuing to defacto legitimize a genocidal dictator by engaging him as a negotiating partner may be a gamble that pays off. Even if that is the case, though, holding Bashir's feet to the fire (while we hold Obama's) will be necessary to keep him from another of his notorious 180s next year.

If the gamble doesn't work out, than alternative plans must be made to avoid civil war AND Sudan will at least for now will be stuck with Bashir and the NCP. But to end here's a bonus quote that made me vomit a little (see if you can keep down your lunch):

“Even America is becoming an N.C.P. member. No one is against our will.” -President Omar al-Bashir, indicted war criminal, suspected instigator of two genocides.

Legitmizing the Devil

I know this sentiment isn't unique, but I still have to ponder "out loud" here. Our government has made the decision to continue working with Omar al-Bashir despite many concerns from the EU, AU and the Carter Center about the voter suppression and vote rigging. Even a State Department spokesperson said, "This was not a free and fair election. It did not, broadly speaking, meet international standards."

The key motivation seems to be that the US has decided that getting through the elections in order to maintain the CPA time line and be willing to accept an illegitimate president indicted of war crimes and quite possibly guilty of genocide continue to be a chief diplomatic partner in ending the genocides and conflicts he and his cronies are responsible for.

With tensions as high as it is, a delay or cancellation of the South Sudan referendum would surely crush already fragile relationships between Juba and Khartoum and likely create more violence if not a return to war. So our hope is to indirectly legitimate liar, murderer and rapist as president of Sudan in the hope he honors an agreement to lose control over a significant amount of land and oil next year.

While I sympathize with the State Deparmtent's desire to keep the CPA together in order to prevent things from getting worse and therefore not being more aggressive in refusing Bashir's illegitmate legitimization, who the hell believes we're going to be able to trust him or his NCP government next year anyway?

Though I'm still a huge Obama supporter, for Sudan we need far more than hope to get change.

The Big Graduate School Decison!

As anyone who is connected me through Google, Facebook, Twitter or that novel realm of real life knows, I’ve been struggling with my decision on where to go for graduate school. Last Monday I attended the first of my two admitted graduate student visit days at American University. From my pre-application research and visits I had a strong feeling that American was my top choice and overall the visit day reaffirmed this.

After a long day of engaging in enthralling conversations with professors, current students and other potential incoming student I was sold. Throughout the day politely, but repeatedly various employees of the university reminded us if we pay or have paid our deposit we can get first priority in the registration process. Trying to be responsible I shunned their tantalizing offer and put off a commitment until visiting George Washington University on Friday.

I figured this second visit day would be primarily a formality and told myself unless GW really impressed me, I would drop my 400 dollars to American and begin to plan the next two years in the far northwest of Washington DC. Well surprise surprise, GW managed to do just that. While American still had my heart, GW enticed my brain with their emphasis on job skills and more robust career services.

Torn between these choices I did the only rational thing I could… ran to the Trader Joe’s near the GW campus, stocked up on snacks and proceeded to locked myself in my room with a quarter. With George’s head gracing one side of the coin and an eagle, American’s mascot on the other… it was easy to know which side indicated which school. I was tired on Friday and it was late by the time I got home so I only managed to flip the coin 37 times with 21 of those in favor of GW. Despite work on Saturday and Sunday I was able to squeeze in far more flips per day: 163 on Saturday with 90 for American and 147 on Sunday with 80 toward GW. After a short work day yesterday I ended up with a grand total of 562 with a spot on 281 for each school. I perhaps definitively proved the 50-50 probably of getting heads and tails with a quarter, but obviously some higher being was telling me I had to make up my mind in a less irrational way.

If you’re reading this the suspense might be killing you as it has me for the past few days, so I’ll get serious and let anyone who might impatiently want to know already: I have decided to go to the School of International Service at American University enrolling fall 2010 and probably graduating sometime in 2012 or 2013.

In the end how did I come to this decision? Well after consulting everyone I could and make an elaborate comparison chart ranging from curriculum to professors (including whether or not they’re foodies) to location to my thoughts on the mascots and girls of both schools. As mentioned above the choice came down to a program I liked far better, but didn’t give me overwhelming confidence about the job hunt versus a program that was acceptable, but did far more to reassure me my lovely degree in international development would produce some type of income. For my lovely chart, American was the clear winner and almost everyone who was kind enough to look at it knew I had made my decision already, but of course I continued to agonize for a few more days.

Finally after speaking to a few DC contacts who work in the fields I am interested in, I was comforted that there was no significant difference of job prospects and both programs are highly respected. After sleeping on it a few nights and all this input, I decided that regardless of the resources available the onus will be on me to find a job and if I’m going to be investing in a graduate program I want it to intellectually fulfill me as well as providing me important practical skills and contacts.

I’m going to follow-up with a post about all those people I want and have to thank for this process, but I wanted to express why I made my decision more for my own benefit, but also for those who were curious. There is definitely much more to, but I’ll spare you for now.

The new School of International Service building. This is where I will be living for the next two years

Recipe-Peanut Butter Apple Muffins

After making my chocolate chip muffins I started to think what else I could make in muffin form. This morning having run out of bagels, cereal and all other breakfast foods and not wanting to go to the store on an empty stomach I decided to whip up muffins. Instead of repeating the chocolate chip ones I diced up some Granny Smith apples and peanut butter chips to make these yummy things. To be honest I prefer my chocolate chip ones so far, something about chocolate is hard to resist! Also in attempts to offset the moisture of the apples I think I may have used too much salt and I also didn't bake them quite long enough. Both easy things to fix though. The recipe below is with some 100% guaranteed changes I'm going to make.

The only other complaint I have about this experiment was that the taste of the peanut butter and the apples aren't as highlighted as I wish they would be. Of course I'm going to try again and I'll post any huge updates. I broke one of these open and added some honey to make for a sinful early afternoon snack... enjoy!

2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 teaspoon baking powder

4 teaspoon cinnamon (split into 2-2 teaspoons)

1/2 teaspoon salt (split into 2-1/4 teaspoons)

2 large egg

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

1/2 cup milk

2 teaspoons vanilla

2/3 cup rolled oats

2/3 cup diced and peeled Granny Smith apples

2/3 cup peanut butter chips

1. Preheat oven to 400°F
2. Peel and dice apple (took me little over a half of a big apple)
3. Toss apples with 2 teaspoons cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon salt and oats
   
4. Toast apples and oats while preparing the rest of the muffin batter. If you time it right they should be ready when the batter is ready, but I would keep a watchful eye that they don't burn. If the oats are becoming golden, it's toasted enough.
   
5. In a bowl whisk together the flour, the sugar, the baking powder and the remaining cinnamon and salt.
6. In another bowl whisk together the egg, the vanilla, the butter, and the milk, stir the egg mixture into the flour mixture until the mixtures are just combined, and stir in the oats and the chocolate chips.
7. Divide the batter among 12 1/2-cup muffin tins and bake the muffins in the middle of the oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean. Unless your oven regularly burns things, opt for 20... my muffins seemed done at 15, that was a huge mistake for me this time
   Just going in
   5 minutes
   10 minutes
   15 minutes (looked done to me, this is where I made my mistake)
   
   
8. Transfer the muffins to a rack, let them cool slightly, and serve them warm.

Hypersenstivity Meets Kindergarten Pettiness

Apparently conservatives are making Dan Rather their latest target for claiming comments he made on Chris Matthews show as racist. While I was never a big fan of Dan Rather and I absolutely disdain Chris Matthews I just have to take a moment to break from my usual commentary on international affairs to tell conservatives to shut up on this one.

Dan Rathers said President Obama ” … couldn’t sell watermelons if you gave him the state troopers to flag down the traffic.”

OOOO he mentioned our black president in the same thought as watermelons! Guess what, Obama also likes basketball and I like money. So apparently I hate black people and I'm furthering the negative Jewish stereotype.

While perhaps it can be (and apparently is) argued this was a poor choice of words. I don't think so, I think this was just another of Dan Rather folksy (and silly) sayings. Being post-racial or trans-racial or whatever you want to call it is being aware of your place in a multi-racial society. its embattled history and work whenever possible to create connections and opportunities that celebrate both differences and similarities. Being a post- or trans-racial society does not mean policing ourselves not to say things that have vague random similarities to racist comments.

He didn't say Obama loves watermelons because he's black. But y'all are making stupid comments because you're petty conservative commentators. Oooo, I said it. Now shut the fuck up.

Am I Grown Up? 6 Months In DC Update

Six months from today, on a sunny Friday afternoon at the end of August I arrived in Washington DC in an effort to practice my conviction and find work set in my activist passion. While it hasn't been an ideal ride, I've learned a lot, made a handful of good friends, a few I would even dare to say great, and in the end I have more or less begun to carve out an "adult life' for myself. Since I haven't done this in any substantial way since moving here, I figured I would give y'all an update. If you want to know why and how I decided to come here two weeks after returning from Uganda (and quitting a job) you can check out my slightly dramatic entry Here goes nothing....

The internship

Immediately as I landed in DC, I had a voice mail for an internship with a legislator's office on the Hill, so I quickly rushed to my friend Cassi's place, researched that representative and had my first interview since my renewed job search! First night in DC and one interview down, not bad right? I was exploring a few options aside from a straightforward job hunt including AmeriCorps, another GI-NET internship and the Hill. In the end that first interview amounted to nothing, but my first Monday in DC, I had another interview on the Hill yielding an internship starting the next day. Until December I answered phones, opened and inputted mail and provided tours at the Washington D.C. office for Congressman John Boccieri.

While in Uganda my continued struggled to decide whether I was better suited and more interested in advocating toward greater international development, promotion of human rights and an end to genocide or if I wanted to contribute through research on those goals. Quickly through my experience on the Hill, I realized my niche would ultimately be research. That being said, and while I may have offered my fair share of groans over opening mail and answering phones, it was definitely a wonderful experience being on the Hill for three months. If anyone at the Boccieri office reads this, thank you for that experience!

Housing

Rewind, so I stayed with my friend Cassi when I first arrived and for that she is someone I am hugely grateful for making this move possible. On that first Sunday, through a friend, I found a room in a house in north Silver Spring (along the DC metro red line for all those folks not familiar with the region) and while the house was a bit further out then I would have preferred, the roommates seemed nice and it was a brief walk to the rail. Before my first week was done, I had moved in and over the months have maybe myself a cozy room with extra furniture provided either by roommates or the landlord.

Job number 1

So that internship ended in December and since this is a full 6 months update you might be wondering what am I doing now, aside from living in my room in the big blue farmhouse with borrowed furniture. By the end of my first month here, I got hired to work part time at the National Abortion Federation hotline. So while I'm celebrating 6 months in DC, I am coming up soon on my first six months there. I might've never imagined I'd be working on a pro-choice hotline, but its been an incredible experience. I have always felt strongly about my pro-choice and feminist beliefs and aware that financial restraints continued to de facto make it impossible for women to exercise their full reproductive rights. Not to mention low income women who are unable to exercise these rights further feel the economic squeeze when they have an unplanned and perhaps sadly unwanted extra mouth to feed.

Can't say counseling is my strongest talent, but I've heard positive feedback from co-workers and patients. I hope its sincere because overall I love the job and really hope I am making at least a small difference for the women (and men) who call into the hotline. I can't go into too much detail for confidentiality reasons, but I've helped counsel dozens of people who have had been victims of domestic violence, been raped, conflicted morally about their decisions to have (or have had) an abortion and/or simply caught in an unexpected situation and overwhelmed by the fact they are pregnant. I have had to struggle with women to help them get funding for a procedure that irregardless to your or my feelings they believe is necessary for them to take care of their existing family, finish school or to cope with the difficult circumstances surrounding the pregnancy.

Throughout all this, I want to toss out a big thank you to the women (and men, I'm not alone!) at NAF for helping me survive and hopefully succeed at this job, but for also for becoming some of the great friends I mentioned before. Although we sometimes to cry from the horrendous situations we're confronted with or scream at the absurdity of the system we and these women are living in, y'all have some much passion for the work along with joy to the office. I have had many profound conversations associated with reproductive health, but also with my passions in international development with y'all along with many many laughs over absolutely ridiculous things. I have learned so much from everyone and from this and though I doubt I will be doing work directly connected to the work of NAF, long term, I will always proudly fight for women's rights particularly reproductive justice.

Job number 2

A few weeks ago you may have heard about (or shared in experiencing) the insane blizzards that hit Washington DC. Go figured, the life-long Texan who spent the bulk of his time outside of Texas in equally balmy Israel and recently Uganda comes to DC and experiences his first winter and it blizzards... a few times. Most people kept telling me DC winters are quite mild when I arrived. When it started to snow the first time in December, I was told this is rare for DC and that same weekend I got stuck in downtown while at the hotline and spent the night on my friend Danny's couch. (Danny, again: thank you, thank you, thank you!)

During the most recent blizzard I was at home and stayed at home so I didn't end up on a friend's couch, but we did lose power and with it our wonderful friend: heat. By the end of our snowy weekend I could see my breath almost everywhere in the house despite drinking gallons of hot tea (luckily our gas stove survived the outage) and wearing half my wardrobe.

Why am I talking about all this during the section called "Job number 2", well I wanted to add in the mention of my first real winter, but also during the fun indoors time I was beginning to hate, I got a phone from Clare at TrakServices. On a whim and out of necessity I sent my resume to a temp agency that kept advertising on a job list I subscribe to. She asked me to come interview that following Monday, the next day I was offered my first assignment and Wednesday I started. While temp work doing mainly data entry sucks (I tried to be articulate, but sucks really is the best word for it), the additional income is really fantastic.

So what now?

For a few reasons, when I arrived to DC, I started to work on my grad school search and application process. I guess a mix between job impatience, my total academic nerdiness and my renewed vigor for international affairs I wanted to get myself back in school! Starting tomorrow (March) until the end of April I should be finding out about grad schools. Meanwhile I am still seeking out and applying to various subsidized, free or paid programs overseas including a Peace Corps application I foolishly keep putting off. I keep considering directly volunteering with a local organization overseas and most seriously been thinking of returning to Uganda out of a slightly higher familiarity. I'll write more about that soon!

Of course the job search continues, though while I wait to hear from grad schools I have cooled the hunt greatly. Through more experience overseas and/or school I hope to be able to get work in international affairs for a few years and with that experience enter a PhD program to ultimately teach and research how development can be practiced in order to prevent conflict. You can read some more about that here, but I'm sure I'll be writing more about it soon.

Obviously a lot more I could write about and perhaps I will, but for now I should go to bed. Working two jobs requires me to sleep when I can! Ask me questions if you want to and I'd happily answer them and please visit DC. I may be busy with everything, but I'll make time to give you a personal tour of the Capitol among other things. There's always a couch/bed for any of you wherever I am.

Thanks for everyone who wished me well or who have helped me during my time here. I could write a whole long entry on who I need to thank and why... which I may very well do soon, but for now if you read this just assume yourself sincerely thanked!

Death of an American Icon: Hummer 1992-2010

This morning as I rushed to work, enduring the harsh cold of this particularly dramatic DC winter, I learned of the sobering news: the beast of the streets, the tamer of the wild, the car of those who dare to dream the American dream, the Hummer brand will no longer bring forth new manifestations of the beloved H2 and H3 onto the roads. We may call you an American icon, but I would be so bold to say we have lost an American hero… one not of flesh and blood, but of steel and of quickly burnt mass quantities of gasoline.

You were many things to many people and I think it is only right someone offers a few words on your behalf. While we were never directly introduced, I, your secret admirer, will take the initiative and offer this farewell. You represented a way to obtain all we wanted and desired as Americans through extravagant consumerism.

When men all over this nation asked, how I can exert my dominance over other men, the road and Mother Earth herself, you answered the call. Businessmen who wanted all to believe that while they may don the suit and tie and enjoy sushi with you on the weekdays, on the weekends they shot at animals, chopped wood and climbed mountains all from the comfort of your luxury cabin blasting Toby Keith ballads. No one could doubt their burliness, craftiness or their manhood with you by their side. Keys to unlock and unleash you were like a passport to the exclusive club of the gods!

For the past decade, young boys mocked on the playground for playing too much with the girls, enjoying home economics or failing to keep pace in PE could look to you and your promise. As long as they one day bought, leased or rented you, no one could accuse them of being a sissy or a weakling. You represented immediate strength and southern charm. Even in pockets of liberalism where elites mocked you, a man driving you drew quiet contempt and admiration. Whispers of the mysterious man bold enough to guzzle gas in this economy invoked the jealousy of lesser men and the affection of the ladies.

In the end, that promise was what made you synonymous to the American dream and ultimately cemented your place as among the great American heroes. In an age of supposed global warming and petro dictators, you proved Americans or at least the patriots among us, had the balls to give the finger to reality and charge full force toward our dreams. Saddam bombed America and you showed us the path to triumph over terrorism. The path was expensive and the refueling stops constant, but with you as our co-pilot we knew the ride would be filled with ignorant bliss.

On behalf of all Americans who will now never know the joy of instant artificial status through owning a brand new you, I say farewell secret friend. I hope the harsh words of mocking I often uttered as I parked my Toyota Echo next to you were understood as a mask covering my true feelings. May you have your rightful place in Heaven together with Ronald Reagan running over small helpless creatures.

God bless America and may we find the courage to ride forward in history without you. Rest in peace, Hummer, rest in peace.

Apple pie only wishes it was as American as you, dear friend.

Recipe-Chocolate Chip Muffins

Been thinking about adding a food element to my blog since along with everything else mentioned here cooking, baking and eating are big passions of mine. I'm going to share recipes I've created, adapted or tried and my general comments about them.

Original recipe: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Chocolate-Chip-Oatmeal-Muffins-12765

* are changes to the recipe, described in detail below

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup brown sugar *

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon **

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 large egg

1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted***

1/4 cup milk

1/3 cup rolled oats, toasted lightly

1/3 cup white chocolate chips ****

1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips (next time I hope to use unsweetened for better contrast)

1. Preheat oven to 400°F
2. In a bowl whisk together the flour, the sugar, the baking powder, cinnamon and the salt.
3. In another bowl whisk together the egg, the butter, and the milk, stir the egg mixture into the flour mixture until the mixtures are just combined, and stir in the oats and the chocolate chips.
4. Divide the batter among 6 paper-lined 1/2-cup muffin tins and bake the muffins in the middle of the oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean.
5. Transfer the muffins to a rack, let them cool slightly, and serve them warm.

Comments: Overall I loved this recipe. Chocolaty like I wanted, but not overpowering. Oats give it a heartier texture, but I thought the muffins were fairly moist. Most of the negative reviews on Epicurious complained of dryness, but I didn't have a problem. Perhaps the double amount of chocolate offset dryness.

Planned changes: Next time I plan to add some vanilla (many reviewers suggested this), unsweetened chocolate rather than semi-sweet and perhaps a bit more oats. I might also try whole wheat flour, though I am a bit worried that might suck a lot of the moisture. Maybe a little extra butter and the vanilla will offset the flour?

*I used brown sugar rather than white because I find it sweeter and more flavorful

**Whenever I bake cookies (or in this case muffins) I add cinnamon if it makes sense because I love that extra flavor

***Do NOT follow the Epicurious recipe to cool the butter. I did this and while it didn't ruin the recipe, I forgot butter congeals quickly and it was a mess. I've never had to do this for other recipes and I don't see why it is necessary for this one

****The original calls for walnuts and if you're a walnut fan by all means use them. I didn't have walnuts and I don't like nuts in general all that much so I decided to use the extra dose of chocolate and went with white to add contrast and a slightly different chocolate flavor.

Decade Goals

Things I want to accomplish by 2020. If any of these are common goals and you want to team up... let me know!

1. Go back to Africa at least once

2. Go to Asia or Latin American

3. Survive a triathlon

4. Write a cookbook

5. Get something published

6. Receive a masters degree

7. Go on a road trip

8. Have a successful garden

9. Cook a 5 course gourmet quality meal

10. Volunteer/work in a refugee camp for at least a week