fresh almonds

We have reached the time of year when I am starting to see some of the same produce in the markets that we saw when we arrived last May. It has really been something to see food in stores only when it in season. I guess you get this in farmers markets in the States (especially obvious in NYC, when you get nothing but apples and potatoes for about 5 months straight) but it is much more dramatic when every store only sells what is fresh. Plus you don’t forget and actually buy a peach in December, which is a real bummer. Also, the fruits and vegetables aren’t all creepily perfect as they are in the States. There are lots of heart shaped potatoes and tomatoes with lumpy tumors. The above picture is of fresh almonds. It’s early in the season, so the almonds inside are soft. You can actually eat the green part of the really fresh ones.

Completely changing the subject, I was wrong and the movie “Brokeback Mountain” is now being shown in Beirut. I think it’s the only place in the Middle East that is showing it, and it is currently playing at 3 theaters. I think I might like to see it here, rather than waiting to see it on DVD in Texas. No word on whether or not we’ll see “Syriana” over here, though bootleg copies abound.

For some reason, Lebanon set the clocks forward over the weekend, a week before seemingly everyone else. So until this coming weekend, we are ahead of EST by 8 hours. Lebanon also celebrated Mother’s Day in the middle of last week.

On the bird flu update, the minister of health has announced that “Lebanon is literally surrounded by countries plagued by the flu and so it is critical that we keep a strong grip on the domestic birds and prevent them from coming into contact with any migratory birds that are on the go again.”

I am eyeing the doves on the balcony with suspicion.