6th Annual Pancake Day Party

You've heard the story, right? As a junior in college studying in London I discovered the holiday Pancake Day. Around the world people celebrate Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday by getting drunk and lifting their tops for plastic beads. The English eat pancakes. On the first Pancake Day (for me) I celebrated with a few friends after trying to find pancake mix and being consoled by an English friend that we could make it from scratch. Since then, we've been celebrating by inviting a bunch of people over to whatever little apartment we were living in and making tons of pancakes. It's so simple, but somehow brings so much joy and fun. I think that's why people keep coming back to our party and have started hosting their own. Bo's far surpassed mine the first year she had her own party. It has become a Sanchez signature holiday that we look forward to each year. I hope you had a great Pancake Day, wherever you were. You're invited over next year.

Logan and Kim were our first guests. They asked if there was a prize for coming first. It was the honor of knowing you were first.
I think Chocolate Chip were the most popular due to the swarming amounts of children. But, the English pancake enjoyed increased popularity and curiosity. Waffles replaced crepes to great success and ease.
We didn't really have toys for the kiddos. They had to use what they could find.
MarioKart on the Wii was a huge success.

see my name, below

I've been doing a bit of writing as of late. I've also been whizzing through the chronicles of narnia. I'm beginning to feel that those tales are almost canon and when I'm done with the last book it will be equal to having read through the Bible. The writing, though, has been varied and started much like my work with Drake Magazine started. Freshmen year we quietly sat in Olmsted and tried to blend in at the initial Drake Mag meeting. I had zero story ideas and learned the next year that most freshmen ideas were jokes when the meet adjourned. A couple months ago, I was seated, slightly low in my chair and a bit pulled back, at a pitch meeting for one of the departments of Portland Monthly Magazine. I had zero ideas and didn't say much except to add that my church had laid off a couple people when one editor threw out the idea of the unitarian church shutting down for a month to save money. "What happens when God goes broke?" was the story idea. Later, when the editor who had the idea was laid off I was asked to report on and write the piece. That same week, I got a rushed email asking if I could report on the regional barista champion that afternoon. The week after the assistant editor glided over to my intern work station, smiled politely and asked if I could write a piece on renting versus buying in Portland. Here's what I have learned:

The Jehovah Witnesses have volunteers doing door-to-door ministry worldwide, amounting to 1.5 million hours of service each year.

There is a salt from Tanzania that cannot be imported to the US. It is part of the winning signature drink created by Portland barista champ along with Indonesian cocoa powder.

A foreclosure on your block could bring the value of your home down by up to 10 percent.

Some pastors are more willing to lay off staff than take a salary cut. They also laugh at the idea of cleaning the church's toilets. Other pastors think it is unjust to lay off a staff member when no one else sacrifices.

The national barista championships are being held in portland march 5-8. At the competition baristas make four espressos, four cappucinos and four of their signature drink in 12 minutes while seven judges look on.

I've also learned a bit about cooking bacon, drinking Spanish wine grown in Oregon and Star Wars. It was a surprise that I got to write this early into my internship. The editor-in-chief is really stoked on our group of interns. They've even allowed us to check out keys to get into the office. I am noticing that after three years of academic papers and reading, I'm having a hard time being clever, witty and the like, but hopefully I'll regain it. Until then, feel free to ask my about any of the above topics. I've had to become a quick expert on each.

mail surprises

Looky what came in the mail for me today. When I saw this album at Everyday Music on the listening wall I had that strange sense that I had seen it before. I was hesitant, though, because it felt like it could be a hoax. I slipped on the headphones and flipped the cd over to see that it was produced by Sufjan Stevens. Of course. And as the trumpets started playing and a small choir sang, I thought the Welcome Wagon must be Sufjan in disguise. I listened until my ears started itching (not in any metaphorical sense. I guess you can't trust public headphones anymore.). I decided to be prudent though I had the last of my Christmas money singing along in my wallet. When I got home, I did a little research to see if the album was a joke or a farce. Turns out it really is by a pastor and his wife who are sort of learning music along the way. The pastor is named Vito, possibly of "Vito's Ordination Song" on Greetings from Michigan: The Great Lake State. That must be common indie knowledge. I'm game. It will at least tide me over until Sufjan releases the next in his 50 states project. I hear Oregon is pretty cool.

Singing along this afternoon while doing dishes I decided I need to find someone willing to make this kind of music with me. I'm accepting applications starting now. And if you are interested in feeling pleasant, check out The Welcome Wagon on AsthmaticKitty.com.