Summer (July)

Summer is 3/4 over, Independence Day approaches, and my summer project list is woefully underfinished!

So far completed:
Research Proposal for Spring 2010 PPRI exchange (A comparative project of the Moroccan-origin Muslim and Jewish communities of Paris exploring identity)

Yet to do:
Decide whether to submit an abstract Aug 1 for an October conference
Write paper (about the intellectual history of Tariq Ramadan?)
Review Arabic grammar and vocabulary
Clean and pack apartment (figure out clothes situation, file/discard school papers, etc)
Figure out what I'm doing after June 2010 (PhD? Work? Temp jobs?)

As usual, I have chosen procrastination. I made disastrous muffins--it was an attempt at raisin bran muffins that has a bitter, lingering aftertaste. Possible culprits: use of oat bran instead of wheat bran, expired oat bran, or cheap molasses. *sigh*
On the bright side, I made fantastic fish: rainbow trout baked on a bed of green onions, marinated in chermoula and covered in lemon slices. I went to Bob's Seafood for the fish--good choice. Next plan is to try the fish at some of the Asian supermarkets to see how it compares in quality, price, and ease.

This weekend's plan involves copious amounts of barbecue with Mark S. I want to make some sort of sumac-flavoured kebabs, steak, grilled fruit, and s'mores. Should be a delicious 4th of July weekend, then off to Minnesota where it is always delicious!