"Community" versus "Society"

Do you ever find "community" to be a buzzword? I do sometimes. I think that people exchange the word "society" for "community," purposely or not.

I have been interested in the concept(s) of community for years now and especially after studying conflict resolution in grad school. Now that I work in a local non-profit, I use the word often. But I often think...which community? What are we all talking about? Now, I studied geography in undergrad for a reason; I think that place and one's sense of place is very important in life and in history. However, when I heard about the Glenwood, the Greensboro or the Guilford County communities, I think, Wait, those are locations, boundaries--not necessarily communities. I guess that on a small enough scale you can get away with it? I've hear a lot about but have not been active with the Glenwood neighborhood, but to me it seems like community could be used to describe this--yes--geographic area. I was going to write "local community" at some point but I thought it seemed vague...and it does. But, that's why I now like it because it could refer to one of many local communities. Great, now I'm going to obsess over what "local" means. Me and my semantics.

So, does someone's level of activity, or affinity, or something like that make them a part of a community or not? Is it your address? Have you ever felt like someone labeled you as a part of a community that you did not feel connected to?

I guess that when you use the word, you know what you are talking about. But is your meaning of "community" really being conveyed to whomever it is you are talking to? It may be since many people may accept the nebulous meaning of the word. Still, people feel like they are a part on one community or another or of many communities--jut like culture(s). So, when you bring up community, are you referring to that person's community? The group that that person has strong enough ties to that he or she is very active in it or wants to be?

There was a book (ahem, chapter in the book) I read a while back that seemed to ease my anxiety on the idea of community. I can't remember the title! Ok, now off to comb through my old bibliographies...

To sing and to cry and to smile a million-fold.

The great thing about knowing a considerable amount of language(s) different than your mother tongue is that it opens a totally different world for you. Or different worlds. Not just culture in general. I suppose you could enjoy the food, dance, sport, and nuances of a culture without knowing the language. But when it does come to language as we think of it, understanding foreign languages opens a whole new world of music. New songs to cry, laugh, dance, and sing to. Those more tangible or visible aspects of culture I just alluded to could be in addition to the telling rhythms and instruments of a particular culture and though you may understand the lyrics, it may still seem foreign to you. It just sounds that way.

But (and I say this as an American), when you hear an R&B or pop-y or rock or pop rock song in another language and you understand it and it make you cry...are you glad?! I can't shake the dilemma-ish feeling of being super glad that my translation skills made it past Top 40 wherever in the world and feeling exhaustingly emotional over the actual lyrics.

Yay, YouTube! =) Keep learning foreign languages. It will help you understand English better. Bis spaeter and see you later.

Ain't no low acid, this is fresh-squeezed!

The early bird gets the fresh-squeezed orange juice.

Last week I finally learned a bit more about Iron Hen and found my way there for a simple and filling breakfast.

And because it was me, I couldn’t order a breakfast meal or one biscuit or Danish; I had to make a meal out of sides. I got the fresh-squeezed orange juice* (and I am glad to pay the premium), a biscuit, and some home fries.

I had to resist putting in my Bojangles order of an egg-and-cheese biscuit. Not that I go to Bojangles that often, but I know that it’s that over-the-top combination of eggs and cheese that I will love until the third bite (after which I gottawannaneeda cleansing fast). I’m glad that I got out of the house early enough so I could get lost on Cridland for at least 15 minutes. I’m pretty used to seeing Cridland from driving on E. Wendover but I’ve never ventured past the intersection. Before discovering the location of Iron Hen, Cridland and Wendover’s shining glory for me was the Dunkin’ Donuts. Yet, I have never actually been in that DD location…

I really need to eat more fruits and vegetables.

The biscuit was large and in charge; I couldn't finish the whole thing so it was biscuit for lunch, too! The home fries were amazingly perfect; they weren’t too oily and if I can confirm that they aren’t prepared on the same surface as the bacon, ham, etc., Iron Hen just may need to stock up on the potatoes because I’ll be there.

*I suppose I became addicted to fresh-squeezed orange juice in Macau this summer. I got it as often as I let myself from Hyper Gourmet because, even with the exchange rate in my favor, I thought it cost a pretty pataca.

Beans on Buns

I need to figure out why Summit-anything in Greensboro is called “Summit.” I need to know the origins of such things! That knowledge is my life-force (or is it life-source?).

Oh, and my other motivation to make do every day is a good home-made veggie burger. Ok, not home-made, because though it seems like it would be easy enough, I’m not trying to make any anytime soon. I am still dealing with my cupcake-hangover.

I used to default to the burger section of menus at restaurants because I figured that there would be a veggie burger option. Soon enough, though, I got irritated by the fact that these “burgers” were most likely the Boca or Morningstar Farms variety. Sometimes, the restaurant would point out the brand with no shame. Alright, alright, there shan’t be any shame (oh my goodness I didn’t know that “shan’t” was a real contraction); the restaurant is just trying to cater to that set of customers, right? They gave us something! Um, yeah.

Well, if you do like I do and go to Five Guys and complain that even their grilled cheese sandwich is, um…not good…you really can’t complain. Some places just may not take the initiative to create dishes that are vegetarian or vegan. Now, one often enough finds dishes that happen to be vegetarian or vegan and are also pretty complex, even haute, or just plain great. Is that just being lucky?

Anyhow, before I depress myself too much, I know that what makes me happy is when I see that a restaurant has an in-house made veggie burger. Even if the restaurant used the same basic ingredients or flavors as a Morningstar or Boca mushroom or black bean burger that would be fine with me because those flavors ain’t that bad. Perhaps the worst thing about those frozen patties is just that—they’re patties. They are “veggie burgers” to be categorized with the other burgers on the menu. If we called it anything else, it would just be a sandwich, right? But, who makes sandwiches with patties that aren’t hamburgers? Oh, sure, there are chicken patties, yes, yes. Hmmm…can we just call it flavor-fun on a bun? Because, you know, all good sandwiches come on buns. Of course.

Last week I tried two, count ‘em, two veggie burgers of the house at The Summit Station and from Hogan’s Groovy Gourmet. Both were very different and very flavorful on non-competitive levels. The buns were different, the patty ingredients were different, and the toppings were different. Yes, even the veggie burger can have variety beyond “Grillers,” mushroom, and black bean.

The Pinto Burger at The Summit Station.

Can I have fries with that?

Oh, English.

I just Googled "football cupcakes" for some images to inspire me as I plan a Super Bowl menu for tomorrow. I was a bit confused/peeved that some of the first images were of little soccer balls on the cupcakes and it took me way to long to realize that, oh yeaaaah..."football."

*Sigh* Cupcake-inspiration-searching is serious, people! Every second counts!

Patronizing Greensboro

I'm finally going to go grocery shopping today for what seems like the first time in 2010! I've mostly been stopping in here and there to get one of three things: celery, powdered sugar, or Clif and Full bars.

What well-rounded meals!

In fact, I finally made my way to Harris Teeter this week and bought out the entire shelf stock of one brand of powdered sugar. This, folks, is apparently how I prepare for winter storms.

One of my resolutions--or, let's just say "goals" now--was to eat what I already had at home in the pantry and fridge. So far that's meant a lot of pasta and cupcakes, but, boy, it's been a fun, carbalicious ride.

That's also meant that I haven't eaten out a lot lately, which is great. My main problem was eating out for lunch during the work week. On the one hand, I felt bad for spending so much money on lunch every week that I didn't even realize until the 5 bucks here and 10 bucks there became too-many-bucks at the end of the month. On the other hand, I felt bad because I wanted to try out new restaurants in the area, try something new and pump some of my money into the local economy. I don't know how much my one lunch would help, but it made me feel good to think about patronizing an establishment.

Wow, "patronize" has a bad connotation.

Anyways, I have been craving some Greensboro eats forever but kudos to me for just saying "No!" Here is a list of some things that I yearn for and will at some point reward my self with. Try them out!

1. Salmon sushi and vegetable fried rice from Bamboo Grille.
2. Grilled cheese sandwich and house chips from Jay's Deli.
3. Caprese pasta at Vito's.
4. Vegetable boxty from M'Coul's.
5. Wildflower Witbier from Natty Greene's.

Ok, the last one isn't a food (but I love it) and, honestly, the first two from Bamboo Grille and Jay's Deli are the things I yearn for so much that it hurts.

Well, I'm saving money, really starting to appreciate the art of the grilled cheese sandwich (vegan fail) and "treating" myself to the above.

Oh, great. The Super Bowl is tomorrow. I gotta shop now! All the bean dip in Greensboro is gonna run out!

Good morning!

"La inflamacio'n de precio"

Estoy leyendo este articulo y al terminar esta frase, "Siete años después, las discográficas lloraban por un cambio en la política de precios, una que al menos les permitiese ajustar la inflación," you lei' la u'ltima palabra como "inflamacio'n." Que fuerte. haha At least I know that my vocabulary is that much bigger--cognate or not--and that I remember el vocabulario me'dico que aprendi'...*sigh* Pobrecitos.