On Peculiarities of Vegas

During my 2 years living in Vegas, I have stumbled upon a couple of amusing, peculiar and sometimes disturbing sights

Friday, early morning. A sofa in the middle of a parking lot. Trust me, it was NOT there last night! 

OK, you might not see very clearly, but THAT black thing in the center is a BOOT on a metal stick. It's been there for 4 days. And it does not seem to be going anywhere 

Send me some of peculiarities YOU have noticed!

A Cookie MASTER, not a Cookie Monster

I have decide that this specific post deserves to be in 2 languages, English and Russian due to the effort I had put into making the actual reason for the post and the tastiness of the outcome. 

Ramadan is at the door (actually, it has already started in most countries) and I could not help cooking the most traditional Moroccan cookie - Shebakia. It's a sesame cookie, coated in honey, crunchy, chewy and very exotic! In two words - it's quite one of a kind. Here I must warn you in case you are rushing Google for the recipe (which by the way are ample out there) - it's NOT an easy and quick thing to make. Above all, it requires crafty hands and patience. 

Honestly, I have NO idea how I had managed the task successfully, given my natural lack of both mentioned virtues. But this is the good news for you - you CAN do it, too!

I will not bore you with a very detailed  step-by-step cooking process, so, I skip the dough mixing stage and jump straight to the fun part. 

This is what I started with (well, almost):

This is the minimum requirement, easily achievable: 

This is how you begin shaping the Shebakia:

Don't ask me to explain how exactly the cookie gains its lovely flower shape, but this is the result you are striving for:

And then again, and again, and many more times over again: 

A close-up: 

Then you fry the to-be cookies in oil: 

When they become lovely deep golden color - dip them in hot honey (yes, I know, A LOT of honey and A LOT of oil - but trust me - TOTALLY worth it!): 

Taram! Please welcome - Shebakia, 

the ultimate Moroccan sesame cookie! 

  

P.S. Recipes: the wonderful and WORKING (I tried) recipes are here: http://cookingwithalia.com/index.php?option=com_zoo&task=item&item_id=185&Itemid=110 
(yields about 35 cookies)
and here: http://moroccanfood.about.com/od/tipsandtechniques/ss/How_to_make_Chebakia.htm - please mind the amounts as this recipe yield about 4 pounds of cookies!   

On Palm Trees in Vegas (a promise to a dear friend)

It might sound surprising, but there are people who have never seen palm trees. I mean real, naturally growing or man-planted and carefully looked after. Personally I  don't even consider palm trees as real trees. But I have promised my old friend to share the wander I was given to observe day after day, without giving proper credit.

So here I am, sharing Las Vegas palm trees and cacti with the World.

This is my favorite park. Actually, it is the ONLY place I can call park here: )

Those stings seem to be its flowers or fruit. As you see, I am not much a flora knower 

I like these pineapple looking palm trees!  

These appear during the vegetation, attractive but hardly eatable.

Now, don't ask, just enjoy the looks!  

An Inspirational Quote

For the past week I have been fighting - quite unsuccessfully, needless to say - my own laziness and the "block". With a lot on my mind, plans and projects buzzing in my head, I created and re-created day plans and weekly time sheets to pursue to help me become the me that I would be satisfied with and that I could be proud of.   

   

Now, here are pieces of mind that gave me that final push to stop dreaming and start doing:    

and this one: 

"Success is peace of mind 

which is a direct result of self-satisfaction 

in knowing you did your best 

to become the best you are capable of becoming."

John R. Wooden

Keeping my fingers crossed for all of us starting something - it will inevitably work out just perfectly if we do not stop going for it! 

On Spring and Flowers in Vegas

When I just came to Las Vegas, I was horrified by many things. First of all, the heat. I am pretty sure that Vegas can boast of the driest and most heating heat possible in a populated city. And you better pray there is no wind! Otherwise, you are baked - or roasted, whichever you prefer - alive by the Sun and the burning wind. 

   Then came another unpleasant realization: there are no "real" trees here. Only cacti and palm trees. And a variety of coniferous trees, too. But they don't really count as trees in my perception! 

   And when I was told that Spring is a lovely time in Vegas - I had serious doubts. Now that I have lived through two Springs in Vegas, I can actually confirm - Spring IS lovely here in Vegas! 

Oleander is everywhere and blooms throughout spring and summer - evening air is delicious here! 

Surprised as I was, there are real roses in Las Vegas! The wonderful China roses are my favorite - they bring up childhood memories, when my grandma used to treat me to a teaspoon of China roses jam when I had a sore throat. It was the best treat on Earth! And quite possibly - still is.  

A Mimosa tree - Quite a lot of it, actually. One just  below my balcony.  I am so grateful to it every time I get the chance to breathe in it's distinguished sweetness!  

                                             
Pink Acacia tree. Can you imagine?! I could not believe my eyes when I saw it! My home town is flooded with blooming acacia in spring and it certainly was nice to kinda, connect to that, in a way. 

This is my favorite Vegas tree so far. It has dark red leafage from spring to fall,  it turns bright fairy-tale red in fall  and it blooms pink in spring!! What more can I wish from a tree! 

                                  

Sorry for the blurry pics - I'll make better ones 

and post them a bit later! 

Finding these along a high-way (and all roads here are like high-ways) was like finding a well with cool clear water to a thirsty stranger! Lovely, lovely real field flowers in the midst of a city in the desert.   

                       

               

These are common representatives of the so-called desert landscape around here. They come in a variety of colors - orange, violet and white. I prefer orange ones :) 

And these are huge leafy trees with adorable and unusually tropical flowers. I guess I should do a bit of research to provide the names for the plants that give me so much pleasure! 

On pools. Swimming pools.

I have always been drawn to swimming pools. My girlish fantasy home was a mermaid 's palace, still with a pool! My Dream Home has a blue deep swimming pool in my back yard,  naturally.

   I have swam  in all but the Arctic Ocean! 

But recently I had a totally mind-boggling experience! 

I walked on the bottom of a huge empty pool. Felt like the bottom of the Ocean! Or a grave?... 

Author's Block, is it?

Whether you ARE an author or just making it through life, we have all experienced a so-called Author's Block - when you have thoughts, ideas, desires, interests, projects that excite you, books you want to read, languages you do not give yourself the chance to study properly and many other such like things that make your life richer, healthier, happier, fuller and generally worth living, but you don't have the inner strength to share them or even worse - indulge in them. And you go on for days living in this state of hibernation, growing more dissatisfied with yourself, more irritable and intolerant to the ones you actually love. Some call a deeper stage of the Block "depression" and for whatever the reason, find it easier to give in to the Block, instead of pulling the butt up and spend time you otherwise would have just wasted in feeling sorry and angry with yourself, doing ONE thing that you have been wanting to do for weeks! 

   I suggest get a dog!! No other pet would do for the purposes of this conversation. 

You have to walk a dog 2-3 times a day, buy - or better cook! -  for it regularly.  This should help keep you in tone - which is a start! While walking the dog, you will see people, eventually will start saying Hello to them, you will pass by shop windows which could call your attention, or you can even read while your dog is enjoying itself in the park!

  So, get a dog!! And just to make it clear, by "get a dog" I mean "adopt" one. 

  Keep it up! As soon as you start, you will actually realize that the proverb is right - First step is half the battle! 

  

McDonald's Apple Pie Day

Good Morning to a McDonald's Apple Pie for breakfast!

Here is my version in 5 easy steps :) 

1) Peel and chop 2-4 apples. Put them in a pot, sprinkle with a teaspoonful of ground cinnamon, half teaspoon of cloves, add 1/4 cup of water, some sugar or honey to your taste and cook on low-medium heat until soft and mashy, so to say. Stir constantly. Up to 10 mins, I'd say. Then let it cool completely.






2) 2 same-size puff pastry sheets (not necessarily pre-cut in triangles, like mine). Cut into squares, circles or any other shape. But make sure to have each piece doubled! Put some of apple mix on one piece of pastry and cover with the other. Make sure the edges are pressed tight, no air bubbles inside and no mixture is coming out!  


3) Freeze the to-be pies for at least an hour. I left mine in the freezer overnight to have them done for breakfast :)


4) In a pot/pan pre-heat a generous amount of cooking oil. Fry the pastries on low-medium heat for about 6 mins. You would want flipping them over when golden on one side. You will know it's done when pastries become your preferred color :)
  
                                 

5) Enjoy while hot with coffee, tea or anything else you might think of! A good idea is to sprinkle the pies with ground sugar. Or whipped cream ;) 

                    

 Sign up who agree :) 

The Driving Test Mystery

Everybody knows, no matter where you come from, that driving is not an issue here in the States. All it takes is a driver's license :)  

   Getting a driver's license is relatively easy (with minor exceptions, as you are about to learn).

   So, to start things off, you download the Driver's Manual from the web-site of your local DMV (that's Department of Motor Vehicles). It's free, explicitly detailed and comprehensible. To learn or not to learn is totally up to you. The bottom line is that you have to pass a written test on driving rules and regulations. In Nevada the test consists of 50 multiple choice questions. There is no time limit for the test. A waiting line to pass the written test was a surprise, though :) 

   If you are lucky (or smart ;) ) to pass the writing test, you will be issued an Instruction's Permit, which allows you to drive a car in the presence of an experienced driver with a valid license. The Permit is valid for 1 year during which you better pass your driving test and get the real driving license. 

   Oh, you'll love scheduling your driving! The DMV is open 8am to 5pm, which makes it fairly difficult to avoid being late for work on the day of the test. "Why not taking the test on Saturday?" - might occur to a logically-minded person. Unfortunately, you are not the only smart one around and Saturdays are all booked a month or more ahead... 

   Anyway, here is where the Bermuda Triangle mystery steps up. 

You have your driving test scheduled. But you have to show up with your car. It does not matter if the car belongs to you, your friend or your boss - you have to have a car for the test. 

   Now, look carefully: 

   1) I am a newcomer; I do not have close friends who would agree to give me their car.

   2) I am a newcomer, I do not have a valid driver's license yet and even if I buy a car - how in the world am I supposed to drive it to the DMV for the test without the license??? 

   Fun, huh?  That's exactly what I said. In a far less pleasing manner, though ;) 

Update: I came across a beautifully written post comparing DMVs in Ukraine and the US in real-life detail. I hope you will find it as amusing and INFORMATIVE as I myself did! 
http://lanos.com.ua/forum/index.php?/topic/35327-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0-%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B5/
   

Telephone Numbers Maze

   What is it about the telephone numbers here?

I mean how come I sign a contract with a mobile connection provider, buy a new number and very soon it turns out that my new number used to belong to someone else before me?!

   Why do I think it had belonged to someone else, you may ask? Well, because I keep receiving phone calls from various and numerous persons and entities at least once a day, asking for that other person. The worst thing is that all the callers require explanation, keep asking "Why?" and "How come?" and invariably require a new number to reach that other person. How should I know?! Don't get me wrong - I don't mind communication or helping people out when I get the chance. But 3 times a day? When I am at work? Having to repeat the same message word-by-word over and over? No, thank you.  

   So, what is this? Does it work the same way Fashion does? Is there a barrel at the end of the World where all the abandoned phone numbers pile up? And when the barrel is full, it is turned upside down, cracked open again and the old numbers are distributed among the craving ones? 

   For the suspicious ones, trust me - I am not the only victim of this system. My friends, members of my family - we all suffered from the same inconvenience... Very inconvenient :) 

   Back in Ukraine, the worst that could happen to your phone number was that someone dialed a wrong one and got through to you instead. Which is OK, right? We have all been there - no big deal.     

     Meanwhile, feels like I am being taught another lesson of patience :) 

Birth control in the US

One of the first (and luckily one of the very few) issues I have encountered here in the States is the unavailability of birth control. I do not mean condoms - those are as available as anywhere. Well, still not as much as back in Ukraine. There you can get them in ANY store, literally. 

I am talking about the pill. Though there is great variety of pills (just as back home), depending on the required hormones, preferred type, or whatever else, you need a prescription to get it. Now, hear me clear - a prescription from your gynecologist. Yes, to get your birth control pills. 

Look, I know my irritation may come as a surprise for the natives here. No offence. But this rule came as a surprise (NOT the most pleasant, you can trust me on this) for me, only 3 months after I had arrived to Las Vegas.  And let me explain why.   

In Ukraine, you do not need a prescription to get your birth control. Seriously. Walk in any drug-store and choose from behind the counter assortment. Your personal choice may depend on the price ($10 to $50 per 1 month supply), on the brand name, on the producer, on the hormones it contains, on the type of pills you prefer or on the color of the box. Totally up to you. And there is no limit per person per purchase, either. Nobody cares what you are buying! (concerning birth-control, do not generalize, please) 

Of course, any normal-minded and reasonable girl (such as myself) in need of birth control would first go and consult her OB/gyn on the matter and follow the doc's recommendations as to which pill to take. 

While here in the US buying the pill is a pain... First, you should find yourself an OB/gyn which is whole other story in itself, as you all know. Then you have to make an appointment and wait or it (for up to 2 weeks, if you unlucky). Then you get to meet the doc, take the prescription and pay for the visit. The bottom is that you have to pay for the prescription. Pay for a piece of paper! Not even for any service, really. This is insane...   

Oh yeah, almost forgot, there is always the matter of insurance, too. But that novel demands time and persistence to put to paper :) 

So, now do you see how much easier this matter in Ukraine is?  

All I want to say now is that after going through this process once, I got a prescription for the whole year! Now I am protected, supplied and not looking forward to the next ob/gyn visit. 

      

1 year in America

Hello everyone, 

It's been 1 year since I have moved to America from Ukraine. 

It has been a very exciting year, full of events and new experiences. Oh, all the experiences! 

And though my English has hardly improved, I feel it is time to switch to writing in English. 

Just to give the Americans (and anybody who would stumble over this blog) an idea of HOW much DIFFERENT it is living here :) 

Thank you for stopping by!
Enjoy your stay and I hope to see you back sometime ;)  

Озеро Las Vegas

Невада - это пустыня. Не как Сахара, а без песка. Каменистая пустыня. А вместо песчаных дюн (ну, как в фильмах "Star Wars", "Жемчужина Нила" или "Клеопатра") у нас горы. Ну, или хотя бы холмы.

Так вот представьте, среди этих холмов, в пустыне, далеко от центра Лас Вегаса, есть оазис, созданный руками человека. Точнее, руками множества подрядчиков :) 

Величественные сочно-зеленые  пальмы вдоль зеркального полотна дорорги без единой выбоины, четкие указатели с умом расположены на правильном расстоянии от поворотов, практически полное отсутствие встречных машин.

И эта, так сказать,  "дорога из желтого кирпича" ведет в сказочный среди-земноморский городок на берегу озера.

Ага, вот именно - ОЗЕРА! 

Озеро Las Vegas - это еще одно чудо техники и продукт наличия денег. Оно искусственное. Не в смысле пластиковой воды, а в смысле, что его на этом месте и в помине не было, пока кому-то не пришла светлая мысль его здесь создать.

И вырос оазис. С фешенебельным отелем,  казино, небольшими водопадами, кафе-шками, сувенирными магазинами и даже полянкой для пикников (!!). Это сказочное место называется деревней  Montelago.   

Однако, при всей очаровательности этого местечка и моей личной признательности создателям, есть кое-что, что не оставляет меня равнодушной на подъезде к Montelago Village. 

Понимаете, вся территория вокруг Lake Las Vegas  - абсолютно "другой мир". Во-первых, потому что все постройки и необычная для Невады зелёность кардинально диссонируют с окружающей пустыней. Ну, как океанский лайнер или пиратская каравелла посреди Сахары или джунглей Индии. А во-вторых, возникает чувство, что это мир для очень состоятельных людей, и это заставляет неловко ежиться :)  

Но все эти глупости сразу вылетают из головы, когда сидишь на траве на берегу озера!    

Православная церковь в Лас Вегасе

В прошлое воскресенье я побывала на службе в православной церкви в Лас Вегасе. 

Первое впечатление - светло. В отличие от наших мрачных церквей, без окон, с гнетущей атмосферой, тут светло! Свет льется из витражей в куполе. Нет полумрака. Есть воздух! Так спокойно и торжественно. 

Стоят стулья. И пожилые люди сидят. 

Устройство церкви почти не отличается от наших церквей. Иконы в определенном порядке, заупокойные, Николай Чудотворец, Божия матерь, свечи продаются при входе. 

Служба тоже порадовала современным английским языком. Не шекспировским, или древнегреческим :) И ВСЕ понятно, а не только Отче Наш (и то понятно только потому, что наизусть знаешь...). У нас же стоишь на службе и с трудом догадываешься, о чем речь. Особенно обидно, когда Евангелие читают. Ну что ж это такое? Вы же для людей читаете! Так читайте так, чтоб понять можно было... Так вот здесь все более чем понятно.  

И была проповедь. Мирским языком :) У нас же проповеди - редкость. 

Еще интересный момент. Причастие. 

Когда священник вынес чашу для причастия, он предупредил, что к причастию допускаются ТОЛЬКО те, кто готов. Часть подготовки составляет сама служба. То есть, нужно выстоять ВСЮ службу. А те, кто пришел под конец (таких было большинство, естественно) - не допускаются. 

По-моему, это здорово. 

Причастие - это же не просто так. Нужно поститься, исповедаться, службу простоять и так "заслужить" благословение. А не "с разбегу", как говориться. 

Еще о различиях. Можно заказать молитву о нехристианине. Дома нельзя было. Нужно было написать имя христианина "с родными" - и тогда молиться будут за всех его родных. А здесь просто - пишите имя того, за кого хотите молитву заказать. Не важно, какой человек религии. 

И еще: нет прайс-листа на услуги церкви!! "1 имя - 5 грн." - как дома. Здесь на вопрос "Сколько я должна?" ответили "Сколько хотите". 

И хотя на корзинке со свечами указана цена, никто не считает деньги. Просто кладешь их на поднос рядом и берешь свечки. Вот так...   

А вот как я красила яйца в свою первую Американскую Пасху

Сначала были коробочки с краской. 

Состав: пакетики с 5 цветами
              кулёчки для окрашивания
              подставки для окрашеных яиц


Т.е. ВСЕ, что нужно для того, чтобы сделать окрашивание яиц чистым, незапятнанным и во всех смыслах стирильным процессом.        

      


Инструкция: 
1. Поместить сухое, остывшее вареное яйцо в пакетик

2. Выдавить в пакетик 4-6 капель краски

3. Плотно закрыть пакетик и "обвалять" яйцо в краске

4. Выдавить окрашенное яйцо из пакетика на заранее приготовленную подставку 
5. Посозерцайте красоту руковторную :)