Last night, a friend came to dinner. I thought I’d try to make something simple. I’d seen a recipe in the Fine Cooking magazine last week that I wanted to try out: Meatballs in spicy curry peanut sauce.

The spicy meatballs recipe called for ground beef. I couldn’t find ground beef in my grocery store–it was full of individually-packaged cuts of meat–so I bought some turkey breasts instead. I cut them into one-inch cubes. I think they worked fine.  Here is the recipe (modified by me).

• kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• two or three deboned turkey breasts cut into one-inch cubes
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp of oil, more if needed. The original recipe called for vegetable oil. I used olive oil. I don’t know the difference. Olive oil worked for me.
• 4 cloves of garlic, coarsely chopped (Redd, I used my chopper ).
• 1 tbsp red curry paste, more to taste. (I used more).
• 1 cup canned coconut milk (refridgerate the can, don’t shake it. Use the cream from the top). I just used the whole thing.
• 2 tbsp chunky peanut butter. I used some peanut butter that I found at the Migros en bas. However, I am now on a mission to find a brand of peanut butter here in Switzerland with just peanuts.  Just peanuts in my peanut butter please. And maybe some salt. But that’s all. Less is definitely more.
• Some freshly-chopped basil for garnish.

Salt and pepper the turkey breasts.

Toss lightly in flour. Enough to lightly coat the cubes.

Heat some oil in a wok or fry pan. Just coat the bottom of the pan.

Fry the garlic for about one minute–until it is lightly brown. I used the stopwatch on my iPhone. I seem to use my iPhone for everything. It worked just fine. It got a bit gucky from the kitchen, but I just cleaned it later.  Remove the browned garlic from the pan and set aside.

Fry the coated, cubed turkey breast for about 5 minutes until they are lightly browned and just done- that is, the meat isn’t dry.  I fried my cubes in two batches. When the first batch was done, I removed them to drain on a paper towel. Then repeated everything with the second batch.

If there is no oil left in the pan, add a bit more. Add the curry paste and cook that for a bit in the pan. Stir to prevent sticking.

Add the garlic that you’d set aside earlier. Stir.

Add the coconut milk. Stir.

Add the peanut butter. Stir.

Cook and stir to get a uniform consistency.

Add more curry paste to taste.

Return the cooked, cubed turkey breast to the pan and simmer over low heat until everything is warmed up.

Transfer everything to a serving dish and garnish with the chopped, fresh basil.

WARNING: Don’t let things simmer too long. The sauce will curdle. SO PAY ATTENTION. When the sauce is smooth and consistent and uniform, TAKE IT OFF the burner.

We opened a bottle of Ermitage from Caprice du Temps (shameless plug) and ate this dish as an appetizer.

An improvement today. I dug out my rollerblades and cruised over to the gym. Total commute time: ten minutes.

Still took the elevator down six flights of stairs. When I got to the building with the gym, I clunked up one flight of stairs.

In the reception of the gym, I changed my rollerblades for my gym shoes and proceeded to jump around in a cardio course: Body Attack.

It was my first such course. I think I resembled a frog in a blender.

Arms up. Knees up. Heels up. Kick. Kick. Squat.

Repeat.

C’est fois, plus d’energie!

And encore une fois!

Take the elevator down seven flights of stairs to the parking garage.

Get in the car and drive 5 minutes to the parking garage at the gym.

Take the elevator from the parking garage up four flights of stairs to the gym.

Do a cardio workout on the reclined bike.

Is that Californian or what?

Granted, we did use the swimming pool after.  The reason we took the car is because we didn’t want to be wet and walking home in the cold wind.

So there.

I arrived in Lausanne last week. It was also my birthday. Bear’s mother made sure that I was well-equipped to live in Switzerland.

We also have a brand-spanking-new meat slicer. An industrial-grade meat slicer in fact. An important amenity here in Switzerland, with all that raclette and viande seche.

She threw in some fromage d’alpage (cheese from the mountains) and some homemade viande seche (dried meat). What more could we need?

En fin. I have arrived in Switzerland. It took awhile. About a year in fact. And it’s been a helluva journey. At the beginning of last year, I didn’t know Switzerland was my destination. I just knew that my life wasn’t what I wanted it to be.

In California, I felt like I was on the Titanic. I had almost a decade of decisions and momentum behind me and I could see the iceberg, I just couldn’t turn fast enough to avoid a disaster. (How’s that for a life metaphor?)

Regardless, in February 2009, I made the decision to leave California. That decision was tough for many reasons–most of them pretty personal–too personal for my blog (if you can believe that!). It was a tough decision none-the-less. Last May, my good friend from Yellowknife came down and helped me pack up my studio and kick my butt back to Canada.  (If that isn’t a good friend, I don’t know who is). We headed up to Alberta for my nephew’s graduation and my cousin’s wedding at the end of May.

I remember sitting at my Aunt’s kitchen table in Red Deer one weekend. When she asked how I was doing, I said: “I’m just surviving Auntie Ann. I am just surviving.”

And she just looked directly at me and said, rather pointedly: “It’s all a decision Jennifer. It’s all just a decision.”

And I realized it was exactly that. I wasn’t making many decisions. I had made some decisions. I even knew why I was making them. But, right then, right there in her kitchen, I realized I didn’t seem to be making the right decisions. To top it off, I was making decisions that seemed to benefit everybody around me, and none that benefited me.

I’d planned a trip to France for the month of June. I wanted some time off. Some perspective. (THAT was a decision to benefit me )

I was expecting to visit a few friends. I was expecting to have a holiday. I was expecting to get some perspective. I was expecting to return to Canada and Alberta and maybe even the Yukon to start a new life.

I visited Normandy and the D-Day beaches with my parents. I visited a friend from when I went to University in France. And, I visited a friend and former colleague from Turin Networks. We had a lovely time that week. We visited. We connected. Day-after-day, my friend seemed to challenge me to make some real decisions. To make a plan. And execute it.

So I did.

I made a six-month plan. It took me seven months to execute.  Granted, even though my goals were pretty clear,  I was pretty fuzzy on the how.  I had a lot of loose ends to finish (that’s a quilting reference for my mum).  And I needed to finish them by myself. I still have a few things to do.

But mainly, I am here. I am back in Switzerland. My friend (now fiance) and I decided we wanted to be in each other’s lives and I needed to be here so we could start.

To my friends and family who haven’t met him yet–please meet my fiance. His name is Ludovic. He is my bear.

On the way from Whitehorse to Healdsburg, I stopped to visit my friend in Smithers, BC. She has just bought a house there and is starting to become part of the community. It’s a time for change for everybody I know–or that’s what it seems like anyway. Regardless, I had left Whitehorse at 6h30 am that Thursday morning. I arrived in Smithers at her house at 12h15 am that night (technically, I guess it would be Friday morning).

She is a good friend and she waited up for me. I should have called my father as he was waiting up for me back in Whitehorse too. But, I think I was just so glad to have arrived, my friend gave me a glass of wine and we just started visiting.

We visited until 2h00 am and went to bed. We woke up and started visiting again. We planned a bit of an excursion to town. We went to a furniture shop where she showed me a few things she was thinking of buying. We window shopped along main street. At one point, we stopped to look at an outdoors gear place. I was looking at the gear in the window. She was looking at the guys in the store. I guess our version of window shopping was a bit different.

We stopped at a pottery place and she showed me the type of pottery she likes. We drooled over bowls and crockery. I wanted to buy her a house warming gift, but that was our first store. I thought we might find something more in another store. As always, in retrospect, I should have just got it then and there. Maybe I can order it online? I’ll have to investigate.

We were walking and shopping and talking. And talking and shopping and walking and across the way, we saw a makeshift structure on the opposite corner: The Moose Hut. And we could discern a lone figure sitting behind the counter. I thought we needed to investigate.

It turned out to be a German guy selling sausages: elk, bison, and pork sausages. What? No moose? How funny is that? It seems like a trick question: What do you sell at The Moose Hut? Elk, bison, and pork sausages. We just laughed. He offered us a taste. He cut up some pieces and put them on toothpicks and handed them over the counter. And we tasted. And honestly, they were quite good. My friend decided to buy one. I think she bought a bison sausage for her housewarming party.

He asked her if she wanted a bag. She just said, “No. I’ll put it in my purse.” And I snorted with laughter.

“Just what every good woman needs. A sausage in her purse!” When we got home, I took a picture to prove it.

And yes, we drank those two bottles of wine that night.

What do you need to know about my car? That’s it’s for sale.? That it’s a 2005 Honda Civic Si Hatchback?  That it has just over 82,000 miles? Oh…it’s also a 5-speed manual transmission.

I just had a minor service, they guys at Automotive Excellence in Cotati said it was in good condition.

I have all of the service records, including two services I had in Calgary, Alberta and Whitehorse, Yukon.

The blue book value is $8,445.

Here is the CARFAX Vehicle History Report.

For such a small car, it is very roomy. Surprisingly roomy. In fact, when I was remodeling the bungalow and I had to transport a fireplace, the guys where I picked up the fireplace stood around and looked at me and looked at my car and shook their heads and said: “No way. No way will you fit the fireplace in that little car.You need a truck. You definitely need a truck.”

I said: “Pshaw. P-S-H-A-W! I once fit three 17-foot sea kayaks on top, three people, and enough gear for a three-day camping weekend in a Honda Civic hatch. I bet I can fit in that fireplace. Besides, if it doesn’t fit in, it will fit on top.” (Did I mention it has roof racks?)

So these big burly guys stood around harrumphing and betting that I couldn’t fit the fireplace in the hatch, but once they saw that it would fit, they all crowded around to help. “Well I’ll be…” I  heard somebody exclaim. “I’ll be..”.

Regardless. Most of those 82000 miles are highway miles. I bought this car in March of 2005 when I lived in Healdsburg and worked in Petaluma, California (70 miles round trip, daily).  Then, I lived and worked in Healdsburg for two years with little or no driving.

In 2009, I took it on a road trip to Canada. I drove it to Calgary, Alberta, then to Whitehorse, Yukon, then back again.

It’s a good little car. I love my little car. If I weren’t leaving the country, there would be no way in hell I’d sell it.

Here are the specs:

• $8445 (KBB value)
• Complete and verifiable service records.
• Free of any major defects.
• Clean title history
• The paints, body, and interior have only minor (if any) blemishes, and there are no major mechanical problems.
• No rust on this vehicle.
• Tires match and have substantial tread wear left.
• Air conditioning
• Power steering
• Power windows
• Power door locks
• Tilt wheel
• Cruise control
• Dual front air bags
• ABS (4-wheel)
• AM/FM radio
• Single compact disk
• Moon roof
• Alloy wheels
• VIN available upon request.

To my friends and family who have inquired: “Nothing happening on your blog Jennie. What’s going on? Are you OK?” Thank you for inquiring. Yes. I am alive. I am fine. I’ve just had a lot going on.

At the end of January, I drove from Whitehorse, Yukon to Healdsburg, California. We’d sold a property and I needed to be in Healdsburg to close the deal. I stopped in Smithers for a day to visit my very good friend (good woman post to come). On Saturday, I carried on to 100 Mile House. On Monday, I got up as early as I could and started into Vancouver. I had to pick my older sister up at the Vancouver airport. (My sister pulled her Big Sister Card on this trip and said she was going to fly out and help me with packing and moving–even if I didn’t think I needed help). What can I say? She was right (as big sisters usually are). I’m glad she did.

Anyway, I picked her up and we carried onto my cousin’s house in Surrey, BC. We showed up around 3 pm. We visited for a while, then went for a walk along the waterfront. On the way home, we (my sister and I) decided we were going to cook dinner–so we planned a menu, went to the shops, bought the groceries, and cooked dinner. I think my cousin quite enjoyed it. She now says we can just show up anytime and cook her dinner.

DO YOU KNOW WHERE ALASKA IS?

Early the next morning, we drove the five minutes to the US border and crossed into the United States. The border guard kept asking: “Where are you from?” and “What is your purpose in the United States?” I told him three times that I was from the Yukon before I realized that he wasn’t hearing “Yukon”. He was hearing, “Utah”. When I finally realized that, I asked him if he knew where the Yukon was. He said no he didn’t. I’m not offended that he doesn’t know where the Yukon is, not too many people outside of Canada do.

But, I have explained it so many times before: “Do you know where Alaska is?” I put my left hand up in front of my face and splayed my fingers in a vague array of a map of Alaska. He nods but looks a bit affronted (probably because of my tone of voice, but I couldn’t help myself). I smiled to alleviate the annoying tone and put my right hand up beside the left and flipped it over mimicking the border of the Yukon and Alaska. “The Yukon is the Canadian part of Alaska.” And the light went on in his eyes (as it does when I mime this description). “Ah…Right. Way up north. OK.” He lets us through.

STOP! FOLLOW THE PLOUGHS

We stopped in Oregon for a break and something to eat. We actually stopped at Costco — to pick up healthy munchies for the road. And I practically danced out to the car in the parking lot with just one layer of clothing. I think I started singing: “It’s warm enough for one shirt. One layer! Wwwooohoooo!” I’ve been in the Yukon for three months and I wore a minimum of three layers at all times. I was never comfortable being so bundled up. All of those clothes restricts my movement.. My Mum would say: “You have to grow your own layers Jen. Grow your own built-in layers.” I told her that I already had 20 extra pounds of my own built-in layers. I am not comfortable in them either.

We carried on to Healdsburg (through Washington, Oregon, and Northern California.) We had to stop for the night in Redding because from all of that driving from the Yukon, the worst weather we encountered was in Northern California. The weather really was terrible. At one point, we were the one car behind three snow ploughs that were staggered across the highway ploughing snow. Then, all of a sudden, they just got off the highway. And I was stressed and anxious about not being the driver (even though my big sis drives in conditions like that all the time in Ontario). I was so stressed about the weather, that when I saw the plows exiting the highway, I literally shouted, “STOP! FOLLOW THE PLOUGHS!” because all I could think of was: The weather is so bad–EVEN THE PLOUGHS are leaving the highway. And non of the exits were ploughed. The snow was too deep for my wee Honda (even if I had snow tires). I just thought the weather was so bad, that the ploughs were leaving and ploughing the ONE exit from where we might actually be able to leave the highway.

My sister thought totally the opposite. She thought the were leaving the highway because it didn’t need to be plowed anymore.

She was right (as big sisters usually are) and we carried on. We carried on because there was a line of big trucks coming up at high speed right behind us and there was only one option–to keep going. And she was the driver. We kept going and we got through the snow storm and we stopped in Redding. Because I was so stressed about the driving and I’d stressed my sister and we just stopped and got off the road and out of the weather. The hotel was definitely worth

TREE DOWN

We finally arrived in Healdsburg the next day. We arrived to a two-ton tree that had fallen on Fitch Mountain Lookout. Well..not exactly on, but against. And, it could definitely have been worse. Three feet to the left and it would have been on top of the house. Regardless, it did do damage and we now have to figure out how to fix it.

In the meantime, we sold the other property (HealdsburgBungalow.com) and had to get all the personal property off that property and relocate, redistribute, or resell the household furnishings. Fitch Mountain Lookout got an update (which is nice). It is now a notch above what it used to be.

I had to sign papers left, right, and centre for the sale of the bungalow. Just when I thought things were finished, there were papers missed, or new forms. It was all a bit of a nightmare, but I think we got it all sussed. I’m quite relieved that it is done and off my plate. Moreover, I think I am just relieved that I am no longer responsible for half of the mortgage.

My sister was here for three weeks and was a godsend for help. And if she couldn’t help pack or move, she cooked us dinner. You gotta love somebody who can cook you dinner: exactly what you need and just when you need it. Have I mentioned that she is a pretty good cook? So, luckily, for three weeks, I enjoyed the wisdom and company and cooking of my older sister.  Thank you Redd. I enjoyed every minute of it.

Today was the first day I’ve had some time for myself. Today, I took a break. A break from my personal fixations and worries and stresses and I had a coffee and a great chat with Jennifer Becnel. We were talking about ideas for her website and family business: BecnelFamilyVineyards.com. I had a few good ideas for her site and she reciprocated some of her own ideas, perspectives, and thoughts for me.

Then, I thought I’d take a bit more time and make my first official blog entry of 2010.

Happy New Year everybody. Don’t forget to show up tomorrow at 11h am!!!

I sent an email with all the contact information. Let me know if I missed something.

Looking forward to meeting everybody.