Merry Christmas from Rivative!
Poem by Laura Modigliani
Holiday Stress Tips by NYU Employee Services
Fat Bastard Santa Game by Dave Benjoya
Blanchmanger over Capon Holiday Recipe
by Jeremy Parzen, Ph.D.
On the crumbling street she found the
albumen of her egg
BY LAURA MODIGLIANI
On the crumbling street she found the albumen of her egg
She scribbles her obligations and dues daily
On white napkin scraps and tiny neon post-its
And she scribes that his eyes are like hawks
pouncing on every detail
from the satin cheek of a small Asian girl
staring at the stranger beside her
(he sees in her veins the awkward limbs of winter trees roots breaking through cement sidewalks)
to the spotted sheets of tangled lovers
In the exposed-brick apartment above
A ringing in the cold air breaks her thought
As uneven nipples pop forth
From her nylon-lycra T-shirt
"I don't know what time I'll be home,"
She says to her cellular phone
"But there's some turkey in the fridge"
He tells her he saw a chick with cotton candy pink hair
sucking on a lollypop and driving a truck down 23rd Street
And he's seen the old lady with high heels and sheer stockings
eating McDonald's out of a paper bag
Closing the phone, she sips hot chocolate extra foam
From his extra thermos made of plastic and plaid
And he wonders if it's the drink or his presence
That flushes her pure snow skin
As he places four quarters in her hand
And takes one away
"We almost had a dollar," he says
She examines the white half-moons of her nails
She won't look directly at him when he speaks
Because she's afraid she'll be caught
soaking in a blue frothing ocean
suspended in time like a soaring seagull
eating morsels of inspiration
And she'll forget about the turkey.
KEEP IT SIMPLE
or
How to Not be Postal this Hoiday Season
by NYU School of Medicine WTC
Holiday Crisis Team
This holiday season may be more stressful because of the WTC disaster and the continuing threats of terrorism. The NYU Medical Center's Post WTC Disaster Team has organized a list of symptoms and suggestions to help employees and staff get through the holiday season and cope with stress and sadness.
Below are some helpful hints for identifying
stress reactions and some recommendations on how to handle them.
1. PHYSICAL REACTIONS
If you are experiencing . . .
* Heightened Sympathetic Responses, Adrenaline, Cortisol, etc.
* Physiological Stress Reactions
Try these suggestions . . .
* Exercise (e.g. Walk ½ hr/day, Workout)
* Drink Lots of Water
* Work on More Balanced Diet
* Diaphragmatic Breathing
* Try to get more rest
2. COGNITIVE REACTIONS
If you are experiencing . . .
* Attention Lapses
* Memory Lapses
* Trouble Concentrating
* Problems Making Decisions
* Intrusive Thoughts
* Problems Getting Organized
Try these suggestions . . .
* Prioritize Needs (Decide what's really important
to get done and what can slide; make lists of priorities)
* Write "To Do" notes for yourself
* For Nursing Staff: Institute extra checking of Meds
* Give Yourself Some Slack - Don't Take on Too Much
(e.g. Try to Simplify the Holidays this Year)
3. EMOTIONAL REACTIONS
If you are experiencing . . .
* Irritability, Moodiness
* Depression, Sadness
* Lack of Enthusiasm
* Increased Prejudice
* Disconnection From Others
Try these suggestions . . .
* Talk with Loved Ones or Sympathetic Colleagues
* Ask for Help
* Maintain Family Rituals/Traditions but keep them simpler this year
4. BEHAVIORAL REACTIONS
If you are experiencing . . .
* Agitation
* Flashbacks
* Nightmares
* Insomnia
* Disruption of Relationships, increased Arguments
* Increased Alcohol Consumption & Drug Abuse
Try these suggestions . . .
* Ask for help
* Do Stress Reduction Exercises
For more individualized suggestions, please call our
Confidential Helpline at 263-2966.
If you prefer a Spanish or Russian speaking
person to return your call, please indicate
when you return your message.
Blanchmanger over Capon
by Jeremy Parzen, Ph.D.
Serves 6
1 capon (approx. 3 pounds)
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 large carrot, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
1 large potato, finely diced
1/2 fennel bulb, finely diced
1 bunch Italian parsley, finely chopped
1 sprig rosemary, finely chopped
2 fresh sage leaves, torn
1 bay leaf
coarse salt
1 cup blanched almonds
2 large slices of country bread, crusts removed
1 tablespoon grated ginger
1/2 cup verjuice
1/4 teaspoon saffron stigmas, infused in 2 tablespoons hot water and strained
2 egg yolks, beaten
freshly ground pepper
2 ounces freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano (optional)
Place the capon in a large pot together with the celery, carrot, onion, potato, and fennel. Add water to cover. Add the parsley, rosemary, sage, bay leaf, and salt to taste. Cover the pot and bring to a boil. Boil over high heat for 5 minutes and then simmer for two hours.
When the stock is ready, remove the capon from the pot; remove and discard its skin and bones, and reserve its meat.
Soak the bread in a cup of broth. Crush or purée the almonds; cube the capon breast (reserving the other meat), and add the bread and capon breast to the almonds; continue to work for about a minute. Transfer the mixture to a large boil and slowly add the remaining broth; continue to work. Add the ginger and verjuice and transfer to a large pot; simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Slice and add the remaining capon meat and saffron. Continue cooking for about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and add the egg yolks. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the Parmigiano Reggiano and serve immediately.
• • •
Antiterrorist Christmas 2001 CD
There's still time to buy toys!
Rat in th' House
Hangover Prose and Poetry
by CARLOS, JOEY, GEENA, and MISSY T.
The 2001 Grape Harvest Report
by TOMMY VACCA
WHERE CAN I PARK MY CAR IN BROOKLYN?
