Looking back to look forward

What a crazy year.

My husband graduated with his Ph.D. in Cellular Biology after 5.5 years of working hard for it. I am so proud of him. He is working as a Presidential PostDoc now at Novartis in collaboration with UCSF.

I started a job with the American Heart Association in February. It is challenging, but my co-workers and volunteers keep me motivated to navigate through this challenging year. Anyone want to be a fundraiser in this economy? :) Matt found a great link about how to survive in this economy, and we are living our lives by the writer's suggestions to be creative and work harder through this.
http://calacanis.com/2008/12/04/the-120-solution/

When Matt graduated and I got my new job at the American Heart Association, we decided to move back to the Bay Area from Orange County. We moved in with his parents for a month so that we could find a place to rent. One month turned into nine months because we thought that we could buy a house if we were all willing to sacrifice personal space for a few months. My in-laws could not be better in-laws.

So, in November, we moved into our new house. While we were in escrow, the economy really went crazy and the world as we knew it changed. We vacillated every day between buying or not buying. As I sit in our new house, decorated for Christmas, getting ready for friends from Orange County to come stay the night, I am so grateful for the path we have chosen.

Matt and I have lived simply for a long time always with the future in mind. We continue to live simply, but we are starting to enjoy the present and all that we've worked toward. He is my best friend and my favorite person. I chose my partner well. This morning I am overwhelmed with gratitude that it is him that I wake up to every morning. I get to take care of him when he's sick, tease him when necessary, live the mundane day to day with, and love him always.

Our house is a refuge and a joy. We have been able to entertain friends at our house comfortably for the first time since we got married. This life is so much fun. Thank you, my husband!

Pep Boys

I must say that I hate the Pep Boys. My car was supposed to be fixed within one day and it was. I went to pick it up and drove to work, then it died. I had the car re-towed to Pep Boys. They fixed it, and two days later I drove off with the car. It died again! The problem they were fixing was fairly minor and they made it worse--now the car was dying. I took it in a third time and a week later they had it fixed. I had to pay them for each repair even though they didn't fix it. I had to rent a car because it took almost two weeks to finally get my car back.

I will NEVER give Pep Boys my money again.

Cornbread Stuffed Pork Chops

brine:
1 cup each salt and brown sugar
tbsp black pepper corns
tbsp mustard powder
dissolve in 2 cups hot apple cider vinegar
2 cups water
add pork chops in fridge for 2 hours

stuffing:
1 1/2 cups cornbread, crumbled fine
1/4 cups dried cherries, halved
2 tbs golden raisins
1/4 cups walnuts
2 tbsp fresh sage, thinly sliced
1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 cup buttermilk
mix and insert into the chops... don't overfill

cooking:
Sear the chops on HIGH heat on a propane grill for 2 mins, quarter turn and sear for another 2 mins. Flip for 2 more mins, quarter turn and grill for another 2 mins. About 140 degrees should be about medium once it rests.

Move to high rack and turn heat down and cook for another 2 mins for well done pork.

Recipe from "Good Eats with Alton Brown" on the Food Network