wow.

there is so much going on that i can't begin to go through it all.

happy first of march! exactly 2 months more until my no-fun adventure with hodgkin's lymphoma hopefully comes to an end. that alone is enough to make me want to jump up and down for the rest of my life. seriously.

my first book discussion on images of america: greeks in queens took place at the bayside historical society last friday (thankfully, time flies, especially during chemo week when you're stuck in a sleepy-haze). i had the best time and met a lot of great people. here's some photos...

it was quite fun. between events like this and friend-based fun about to happen, i couldn't be happier. it'd be great if chemo was over already!

really, chemo sucks cuz you want to end it as soon as possible and as a result, you stay home more. but i'm making plans to go (and be) out all the time come springtime.

it can't come fast enough.

so please, if you have any ideas of fun activities (new york based or otherwise, cuz we all know i am NOT staying home) please let me know. whosthatgamine@gmail.com

can't wait to catch up on your blogs now!!

the whole truth.

see that photo?

please look at it clearly.

yes.

i did it :)

i published a book.

lookie- my name's there...

this is what i've been toiling over/relishing/going crazy over

since i've been back in the states.

i am so happy-

that this opportunity presented itself to me,

and that my love of writing/history/photography/

and piecing everything together

has bought this to pass.

so...yes.

just a na-na-na-na-poo-poo

to the people who fueled my fire

and pushed me to accomplish yet something else

that is freaking amazing.

and it's just the beginning :)

learn more about my signings, reading and events, here

and thank you so much

for your kind e-mails, comments, texts, and snail mail.

you

are

fantastic!!

warmest,

globetrotting gamine

over and out :)

back to greece

(shot by me- greece on the beach, baby)

i hope that those of you who know me...
or who have been following my blog
(thank you! I love you!)
can realize that this picture was taken
way back in Greece.
This was the beach, and spot--
where the LML (love of my life, in case you haven't been following ~:)
wondered outloud finally...

why wasn't I writing anymore?
Why didn't I start?
You used to love it-- what's wrong with you?

My ex-job had been what was wrong with me
and until the very moment this picture was taken
that hadn't been realized.

So with the help of a beach
in Greece
under the sun
with my hubby...

I went back to my roots :)
Quite literally.

kalamata- it's not only olives

"so, i'm greek, right?"

one of my most favorite lines from 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding'.

being a Greek means that if your family had the means, you've had summers in Greece at least once in your life.
I've had about 20 summers in Greece, give or take.

being a Greek means that you have to travel to Greece at least once after you get married...be it to another Greek (which is preferred by most hardcore Greeks, or wanna-be hardcore Greeks) or to a xeno (which means a non-Greek).

have fun trying to bring a Greek who doesn't speak, read or write Greek down to Greece to meet your family- especially if you're married. Fortunately, we didn't have that problem.

Our only problem? Where will we pick up our breakfast before we get to the beach?
LML and I had two requisites for summers in Kalamata- constant access to the beach and some R&R throughout the day.

done and done.

I remember that there were days we would go to the beach twice- in the morning and then during sunset. It was beautiful to watch the sun setting high in the sky while swimming...floating in the arms of your one and only.

The 45 minute walks to get to the beach, and back were also crazy worth it- probably because of our never-ending conversations. We loved walking by cafenia (cafes), watching the tourists (haha), snapping pictures (me- and LML telling me not to because we'd look like tourists)... and the amount of exercise we got between all that walking and all the swimming would lead ultimately to...

gelato.

Now, i don't have any pictures of the gelatos we would get. Why? Because the last summer we were there, my camera decided to kick the bucket about one day into our one month vacation.

Oh, Gelato.

Our nights consisted of: waking after our ciesta- getting all dolled up and hitting a different cafe for coffee or a beer (we'd sampled all the beers in kalamata during our last summer there)...or hitting the hookah cafe on the beach and watching the bellydancers... or going for the most incredible pizza in the world at Pizza Roma.

Ho. Ly. Cow.

Holy Pizza.

food...beach...swimming...r + r...what else is vacation all about?

love me,
the globetrotting gamine

"seek happiness"

happiness.

shot in greece.

where i'm from.

love me,

the globetrotting gamine

warm weather menu

dear bloggie loves,

i have not, by any means

given up my cooking...

though i will say that my baking

has fallen to the wayside!

i figured that i should post up pictures

for you to know

i am still experimenting

and keeping an extensive portfolio

on what i've created

as well as ideas...

above is a photo of my (organic) fried tofu...

pure extra virgin olive oil from the mountains of Kalamata..

organic bread crumbs and shredded parmesan cheese substitute

made from rice (ORGANIC!!)

it was flippin' awesome!

ah...

brocolli rabe sauteed

in that olive oil from Kalamata

and roasty, toasty garlic

and a pinch of sea salt

(adjust to flavor)

don't be afraid to experiment with different recipes...

how else are you going to learn, right?!

stay healthy, my friends!!

love me,

the globetrotting gamine

10 hobbies- then and now

• scrapbooking
• cooking
• collecting vintage postcards
• photography
• writing
• organizing offices
• creating inspiration notebooks
• blogging
• wine and cigars
• travelling

hobbies, then:

• tae kwon do
• reading
• creating inspiration notebooks
• journaling
• all things cinema
• all things leros, greece
• daydreaming about the future
• piano
• organizing family photos
• ballet

eh. somethings don't change.

Visions of Kalamata, Greece

I had a friend once who told me, "There's nothing in Kalamata but olive trees!"
I asked her if she got off the cruise ship she'd been on and she told me no.

How are you to know what is ANYWHERE unless you explore?

I didn't know then that I was going to marry someone from Kalamata. (well, i KIND OF did, because I'd been crushing on LML since I was 13 and i just *knew*)...so for our "honeymoon" we went to Greece again but for the first time together.

I fell in love with Kalamata.
It's part city, part country and part awesome beach vacation.

Not that we were able to go swimming the December we went.

see, that's the town square. during tourist season, it's filled with little tables and chairs in front of the coffeehouses, all the shops are open and people are just spilling around on the way to some appointment or the other. It's a hop, skip and a jump from the country OR beach. Love it.

That's me in front of the train station. Though I haven't been on it, I've heard it takes you to Olympia...where I also haven't been yet, though LML has.

I can't wait to go!

Welcome to the beach/boardwalk/marina area. The beaches are awesome.

These pictures really make me want to whip out that camera again.

Anyone want to teach me how to use a darkroom?!

LML's Grandfather's old bicycle on the rooftop.

Though I don't tell LML all the time, I can't wait to go back

but at the same time

there's so much world to see!

is there anywhere in the world that is the most special to you?

i'd love to hear your stories <3

mystery of the vasilopita

welcome

to the mystery of the vasilopita post.

i'm greek. 100%, as LML is.

our parents are 100%.

what happened ancestreally, before them-

Egypt has been mentioned

but moving on...

have you been paying attention? KIDDING!

So to wiki-sum it up:

what is a vasilopita?

wikipedia definition:

On New Year's Day families cut the vasilopita to bless the house and bring good luck for the new year. This is usually done at the midnight of New Year's Eve. A coin is hidden in the bread by slipping it into the dough before baking. At midnight the sign of the cross is etched with a knife across the cake. A piece of cake is sliced for each member of the family and any visitors present at the time, by order of age from eldest to youngest. Slices are also cut for various symbolicall people or groups, depending on local and family tradition. They may include the Lord, St. Basil and other saints, the poor, the household, or the Kallikantzaroi. In older times, the coin often was a valuable one, such as a gold sovereign. Nowadays there is often a prearranged gift, money, or otherwise, to be given to the coin recipient.

Many private or public institutions, such as societies, clubs, workplaces, companies, etc, cut their vasilopita at a convenient time between New Year's Day and the beginning of the Great Lent, in celebrations that range from impromptu potluck gatherings to formal receptions or balls.






Saint Basil's Feast Day is observed on January 1, the beginning of the New Year and the Epiphany season known as the Vasilopita Observance.

the question remains: WHAT HAPPENED WITH OUR VASILOPITA?

so my Father picks up the Vasilopita a day in advance every year. His nameday (and my nephew's nameday, is on New Years Day)
Daddy gets very organized. He writes everyones name on a strip of paper, grabs some toothpicks, and arranges everything around the vasilopita. We're supposed to cut a piece for each member of the family, the house, the Saint and God.

Whoever gets the lucky coin, which is wrapped in foil carefully and baked into the pie before buying it- is lucky the entire year of the entire family.

If it's the house, God, Saints, it's all good.

if it falls to the youngest members of the family, still good.

But this year?

No one got it. No ONE.

It was not there.

Unless, I eated it?

Would you go back and complain?

LML's suggestion: let's just say I won :)

I love him :)

love me,
the globetrotting gamine

what to do with soggy tomatoes

an interlude before beginning my kind diet journey...

what do you do with soggy tomatoes?

don't throw them away...

cook with them,

or make them half a meal ;)

Tomatoes and Eggs

(like am omellette, but Greek-Style)

1- cut up your soggy tomatoes and throw them in your wok or frying pan with extra virgin olive oil!

2- adjust egg amount to however many people will be consuming the delish-dish. i use a lot because sometimes i make a sandwich the next morning for myself.

don't you love my plates? on sale at century 21 back in 2005- when we got married!

3- shake whatever you think appropriate into the eggs. a pinch of salt, pepper, oregano and garlic powder for me.

add to your tastes.

4- my favorite part- beat the eggs into submission.

5- they should look something like this when you're done

6- if it's too juicy, get rid of some fluid. if not, throw in the eggs!

it's a party in there!

7- flip flop the eggs and tomatoes until it looks like most moisture has been absorbed.

LML likes the final product piece-y but an omelette-like way is good, too!

it's all the same when it's taking up residency in your stomach...right?

what's the weirdest thing you put in an omellette?

love me,

the globetrotting gamine

Kalamata, ( Greece )

Greek Menu, circa 2006

LML and I used to go to Greece every summer. In these past few years, things have come up complicating our schedules...but we still look back to some of our favorite foods- EVER!

 The above photo is what we call a "pikilia". I like to think of it as a little bit of heaven. On the beaches of Kalamata in Greece, when you order an ouzo (an uber-strong licorice flavored liquor) they bring you a tiny- or larger, depending on how you're feeling and what you're willing to spend- platter. What is the platter filled with? Seafood, french fries, pita, vegetables, maybe a meatball and a tiropita (or cheese pie...yum yum). HEAVEN.

Above. Oh, above is a picture of fresh figs. Practically just picked off the tree figs. There are no words.

Our favorite restaurantin Kalamata is called Argo. These are the samplings of what we would eat while we were there. I'm not a big meat-eater, at all, but sometimes you have to make sacrifices.
Especially when it tastes the way my Grandma's used to!! Love love love!

I'd love you guys to share some menus with me. I will feature them- and you!- if you'd like to e-mail me at whosthatgamine@gmail.com

Happy Dining!

Love me,
the Globetrotting Gamine

views from the acropolis/parthenon

picture perfect. bring lots of camera discs :)

love,
globetrotting gamine

if you're travelling to the acropolis...

*pic of me and my niece at the top, 2000*

three tips if you're travelling to the acropolis...

keep in mind that you have to wear comfortable shoes. it's quite a hike!


make sure you pee before you begin that hike...


bringing toilet paper with you is helpful! believe me....


hope i helped :)

Inspiration: Travel Article!

I was here and got so excited! If the link doesn't work, I'm so sorry. Here's the paste of the article from gogreece.com :)

Oct 9 2007


Travel between Greece and Egypt. The ancient Greeks and even the ancient Minoans managed this route without difficulty. But modern times are different, and what should be a simple connection by water is a challenging journey.

Every once in a while, an enterprising ferry company will operate a ship between Crete and Egypt, but these ventures seem to be short-lived. And while some commercial shipping travels between Athens and Cairo, the average tourist won't book on a freighter.



So you can imagine how my ears pricked up in the breakfast room of the Hotel Ionion in Piraeus when I heard an Englishwoman announce to someone else that she would be taking a sea journey to Egypt later that day.



"How?" I blurted out loud, gulping down a bite of honey-soaked loukorides that should have been savored like all of its other cousins that morning. She was kindly willing to share her table and share her secret.



Over many years of travel to Egypt, she had discovered that while Greek ferry companies don't always offer the journey to Egypt, Cypriot (Cyprus-based) ferry companies invariably do.



And where else do Cypriot ferries go? The Greek islands, making connections relatively easy.



So, that morning in Piraeus, she was embarking on a ferry to Rhodes. At Rhodes, she was joining up with Louis Cruises, which would go first to Limassol on Cyprus and then on to Port Said, the seaport of Cairo, in Egypt.



Since flights from England to Greece are inexpensive, she was managing the journey for less than 200 pounds or about US $300 at that time.



I contacted Louis Cruises and a representative confirmed for me that they do offer one-way transit. However, they don't offer reservations for one-way trips so you can't book these slots ahead.



In the unlikely event of a complete sell-out, the worst case scenario is that you might end up with a few extra days to spend in Cyprus - a fascinating destination in itself.



Plus, the vessels for the Louis Cruise truly are small cruiseships rather than ferry boats - you'll have an acceptable cabin and even entertainment on your journey.



So if one ancient civilization just isn't enough for you on your trip, there's finally a way to inexpensively combine both Greece and Egypt on the same trip.



Important:

Remember you may need a visa to visit Egypt even if you don't need one for Greece. Check with your country's authorities prior to your visit.



Also, if you are disembarking in Egypt, you will be processed differently than as a passenger remaining with the ship for the return journey. For one thing, you will need your passport, which might otherwise be kept by the ship until your return to Cyprus.



Cyprus, as of this writing, is still using the Cypriot pound and posted prices will be in that currency. Click here to find a currency converter.



If you don't want to go by ferry, you can fly directly to Cairo on Olympic Airlines from Athens.

Airplane Food

Dear BloggieFriends-

I was four when I started to travel back and forth from Greece with my family. I am sad that I don't have any pictures, but do you KNOW what it was like on the planes back then? Especially Olympic Airways? We were packed into the plane like sardines in a can. People SMELLED. And once the food rolled down the aisle by a nasty Greek Stourtist, you wanted, or most likely DID, throw up.

Ew ew ew. Every summer, me and my sister DREADED getting on that plane. Upon arrival, we dreaded going back home. It was beyond ridiculous, and beyond nasty. What the hell was that we were getting served? I swear, once people started lighting those cigarettes on those flights (i.e. I have never smoked, nor enjoy the smell of one smoking) it was the happiest moments, because we'd be smelling something else other than God Knows What. (it really was)

At least the foul odor of cigarette smoke masked everything else. One foul smell outdoes another?

When they said it was moussaka, was it really that? Why couldn't we tell where the eggplant was? Ew. Thank God new wonderful airlines like Continental and Jet Blue have actual food. Blessed be, someone heard my prayers.

But to recap, P U.

Check out the Greek guy named Basil for the song, Flying on Olympic. Lol

Love,
MG

Inspiration: woman's world magazine

As I've mentioned before- I love magazines. I read every magazine I can get my hands on because I know there is SOMETHING in there that will be of value to me. A recipe, a quote, a thought spoken by a designer. But, every time there is a new issue of Woman's World out, I throw one at LML and smile. When he asks what, I say gimme. He laughs at my magazine obsession.

In Woman's World magazine (article excerpt below from 12/14/09), there is always an article about health tips from around the world. (World's Healthiest Women) and this month there was an excerpt about Greece. Lower your bloog pressure by slowing down. It says the following:
"Greek people's calmer lifestyle is a big reason why they're 96% less likely to have high blood pressure than Americans! Chronic stress leads to high levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which constricts the blood vessels and raises blood pressure, says Steven Jonas, M.D., author of 30 Secrets of the World's Healthiest Cuisinees. Relaxing can reduce your cortisol levels by 10%, lowering your systolic bloof pressure by up to 30 points."

No offense to Woman's World and Steven Jonas...but if you've ever travelled to Greece, you have known this. The lifestyle there is not as it is here. There, they work to live. Here in America, we live to work. Greeks enjoy their coffee in the morning, break from work for a siesta mid-day, and go back to work in the afternoons. Siesta is when they (we) recharge for the happenings of the nighttime. Greeks are always getting together with their friends, family...going out to eat, checking out new places, going over new ideas and gossip.

It's what keeps us (Greeks) young.

So Mr. MD Steven Jonas- sorry. Us Greeks knew all about relaxing and our healthy lifestyle way before you did. What other reason would be for us to be labeled as leisurely, happy and healthy folk?

It also could be a reason why we're still going strong- we are one of the world's oldest cultures. Is the secret in our diet, lifestyle, education, likes and dislikes?

You be the judge :)

(and please don't have high blood pressure...blogging is a good way to ease stress!)

Love,

MG

Overwhelmed

Often times, I am convinced that everything comes full circle. What goes around, comes around. Sometimes, faith and hope should take over... at least when you fly by the seat of ones pants. Wish I could fly by the seat of mine.

Today, without my camera which LML has chosen to take to work with him- my 'office' (dining room table) is a mess. What does that mess include?
* Piles (5 different ones) of envelopes to various locations.
* A pile of to-do lists and paperwork
* 5 v. different magazines
* A half drunk cup of coffee

( As I write this, I am listening to Martha Stewart saying that she's been to Kalamata. I miss Kalamata, Greece)

Continuing on with my list:
* an empty vase now filled with pens
* a box of new envelopes
* glue and mod podge
* a picture frame I am on the second phase of crafting
* my doggie-apparel prototype
* lemon juice (for the water i have finished as per my nausea. No, I'm not pregnant. Why do people always believe I am pregnant when I am nauseous?!)
* Pictures to scan

This is nothing compared to what my desk looked like an hour ago. Researching is hard work, especially when you need an assistant. I was thinking of hiring my sister as one, but that would be a total nightmare.
Why?  I know we would never get anything done. ? There is always so much to be done that it is too overwhelming. Being nauseous doesn't help, waiting on pending paperwork does not either. Ridiculous. I envy the people who are more productive throughout the course of the day than I am. I am off to sketch and piece together a pre-prototype for my next piece.

Still have not done anything for the business except getting my first prototype done, while the dog next door, barks barks away.

More later on, lots to say! Hope you're well and having a good day!

MG