{"id":398,"date":"2012-05-05T17:36:46","date_gmt":"2012-05-05T17:36:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/katiepfeiffer.com\/blog?p=398"},"modified":"2012-05-09T20:11:34","modified_gmt":"2012-05-09T20:11:34","slug":"all-things-taurus-part-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/katiepfeiffer.com\/blog\/all-things-taurus-part-3\/","title":{"rendered":"All Things Taurus Part 3-"},"content":{"rendered":"

May 8, 2012<\/p>\n

All Things Taurus – Part 3<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Several weeks \u00a0ago I attended a \u00a0riveting \u00a0 lecture by \u00a0 several \u00a0scientists \u00a0from the Monell Institute \u00a0titled I SMELL YOU SMELL \u00a0as part of the Philadelphia Science Festival. The Monell Institute is the world’s \u00a0only independent non profit scientific institute dedicated to basic research on taste and smell. \u00a0 As a \u00a0five planets \u00a0in Taurus woman, smell ( and taste) are crucial to me. \u00a0 When I was \u00a0little girl, I \u00a0wished I \u00a0could be the fairy of good smells. \u00a0I’d wave \u00a0my magic wand and make \u00a0everything \u00a0seem wonderful like \u00a0fresh flowers. \u00a0 The lecture \u00a0took \u00a0place in a darken cabaret \u00a0room \u00a0at the Society Hill Playhouse. \u00a0Three \u00a0scientists \u00a0talked about \u00a0the power of \u00a0smell and how it relates to \u00a0relationships, attraction and \u00a0illness. \u00a0 I ‘ve always \u00a0been fascinated \u00a0by the \u00a0subject of pheromones. \u00a0 I learned that \u00a0everyone’s \u00a0scent is different. \u00a0No \u00a0two people smell alike. \u00a0 Our \u00a0personal scent is like a \u00a0fingerprint. \u00a0 It \u00a0doesn’t \u00a0change \u00a0due to \u00a0diet or \u00a0hygiene. \u00a0 The scientists \u00a0debunked the myth that \u00a0a certain perfume \u00a0or oil with attract a man ( or woman) to you. \u00a0 \u00a0Maybe that’s \u00a0true \u00a0but I \u00a0have been in some \u00a0situations \u00a0where the lack of hygiene \u00a0has definitely \u00a0 a repellant. \u00a0 \u00a0Smelling \u00a0good has always \u00a0been important to me. \u00a0 My \u00a0favorite \u00a0soap is \u00a0Santa Maria Novella’s Melograno \u00a0soap. \u00a0Melograno is \u00a0Italian \u00a0for pomegranate. \u00a0This \u00a0soap is \u00a0 triple milled and is so gentle. \u00a0You \u00a0can \u00a0 use it on your face too and it last much \u00a0longer than regular \u00a0soap. \u00a0Made by \u00a0 Florentine Monks for \u00a0 600 hundred years, Santa Maria Novella products are \u00a0a personal \u00a0favorite. \u00a0 Heavenly!<\/p>\n

From smells to \u00a0tastes. \u00a0The last \u00a0few months I ‘ve \u00a0become \u00a0 obsessed with the Korean \u00a0dish- Bibimbap dolsot ( also \u00a0spelled bibimbop). \u00a0 Bibimbap dolsot is \u00a0basically \u00a0a hot rice dish with \u00a0meat and veggies. \u00a0 \u00a0My obsession \u00a0with Bibimbap \u00a0began when I first \u00a0had it at Giwa \u00a0in Center City \u00a0( Philly). \u00a0 \u00a0I \u00a0had an OBE \u00a0( out of body experience) \u00a0after \u00a0eating it for the first time. \u00a0 I’m not joking ! \u00a0I literarily \u00a0got high and was floating \u00a0out of my body for several hours \u00a0after \u00a0I \u00a0finished eating. \u00a0 I \u00a0 tried \u00a0the \u00a0dish \u00a0at several \u00a0other restaurants in Philly after \u00a0 Giwa. \u00a0 \u00a0There \u00a0are \u00a0 many more \u00a0restaurants \u00a0I need to \u00a0try bibimbap from , but so far Giwa \u00a0is the \u00a0best. \u00a0 \u00a0The dish is \u00a0served in a \u00a0cast iron \u00a0deep bowl which \u00a0arrives \u00a0all steamy and popping. \u00a0 The popping sound is \u00a0from the \u00a0bottom layer of rice \u00a0cooking and getting brown and \u00a0crunchy. \u00a0 \u00a0A sauce \u00a0made with\u00a0red pepper paste \u00a0 ( called gochujang)\u00a0\u00a0is \u00a0mixed in the \u00a0dish as you eat it. \u00a0 \u00a0 As \u00a0most of my \u00a0readers know, \u00a0when I \u00a0get \u00a0a idea into my head, especially when it comes to making a \u00a0certain \u00a0dish, I must make it and make it \u00a0right. \u00a0 \u00a0For \u00a0several weeks I \u00a0just \u00a0thought about \u00a0bibimbap. \u00a0 I \u00a0looked online and \u00a0at H-Mart \u00a0for the same \u00a0cast iron \u00a0bowls I was served Bibimbap in at the various \u00a0restautants. H-Mart \u00a0does sell these outrageously \u00a0heavy stone bowl \u00a0for around $30 a piece \u00a0to \u00a0make bibimbap. \u00a0But I ‘m \u00a0a cast \u00a0iron \u00a0woman. \u00a0I \u00a0finally \u00a0found a \u00a0food blog \u00a0that mentioned \u00a0cooking bibimbap in a cast iron skillet. \u00a0Hallelujah! \u00a0 \u00a0I \u00a0combined \u00a0several bibimbap \u00a0recipes and then \u00a0altered them \u00a0further. \u00a0 \u00a0I have \u00a0made this \u00a0dish \u00a03 times so far. \u00a0Once with \u00a0rib eye steak ( traditional). \u00a0One with Chicken and once with pork. \u00a0 \u00a0The first attempt \u00a0with rib eye steak \u00a0remains \u00a0my most \u00a0successful attempt. \u00a0 \u00a0I was able to get the \u00a0rice on the bottom crunchy. \u00a0One of the ways \u00a0in which \u00a0my bibimbap \u00a0differs \u00a0vastly \u00a0from the \u00a0bibimbaps I have eaten in the restaurants & \u00a0the \u00a0recipes I \u00a0found on line is \u00a0my \u00a0compulsion \u00a0to \u00a0season \u00a0each component separately. \u00a0 \u00a0Sadly, this \u00a0need to \u00a0have \u00a0more flavor resulted in severe rice failure on \u00a0my second and third attempts at \u00a0making the \u00a0dish ( the \u00a0goal \u00a0being \u00a0a crispy crunchy layer of rice at the bottom of the \u00a0pan). \u00a0 \u00a0I put \u00a0butter and \u00a0Swanson \u00a0flavor packets ( \u00a0chicken and vegetable) in the \u00a0rice water right before cooking the rice. \u00a0The \u00a0rice was \u00a0bursting with \u00a0flavor but I realized the butter made \u00a0the \u00a0cooked \u00a0grains \u00a0too \u00a0moist to \u00a0cook \u00a0effectively . \u00a0 \u00a0Egg was \u00a0served on \u00a0top of the Bibimbap \u00a0when I \u00a0ate it Tampopo ( raw \u00a0which \u00a0cooked as the \u00a0veggies,rice and \u00a0meat steamed) \u00a0and Koreana \u00a0( \u00a0cooked over easy) but not at Giwa. \u00a0 I \u00a0decided to \u00a0top my bibimbap with organic \u00a0duck \u00a0eggs I \u00a0bought \u00a0at the \u00a0farmer’s market. \u00a0By using \u00a0duck eggs instead of \u00a0regular \u00a0eggs, a deeper \u00a0depth of \u00a0flavor \u00a0was \u00a0achieved. \u00a0 I also \u00a0altered the \u00a0 sauce \u00a0made with the \u00a0gochujang \u00a0by adding \u00a0fresh \u00a0grated \u00a0ginger, more sesame oil and more \u00a0sugar than the internet \u00a0recipes listed. \u00a0 And \u00a0while I \u00a0have written previously about \u00a0my attempts to \u00a0become \u00a0vegetarian, I have fallen off the wagon. \u00a0I \u00a0decided \u00a0last \u00a0year that \u00a0my \u00a0body \u00a0functions \u00a0better on a little meat. \u00a0 I only buy organic \u00a0meat. \u00a0Maybe \u00a0someday I will become a vegetarian but not now.<\/p>\n

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In keeping with this theme of \u00a0this blog of ALL THINGS TAURUS, \u00a0I highly recommend \u00a0\u00a0F for Fake <\/a>\"\"\u00a0(written, directed and starring Orson Welles). \u00a0Mr. Welles was \u00a0a quintessential Taurus ( May 6th). \u00a0The \u00a0real reason \u00a0for \u00a0 viewing this “documentary” \u00a0 is not \u00a0to learn about the \u00a0famous \u00a0art \u00a0forger\u00a0Elmyr de Hory or \u00a0see \u00a0footage of Clifford \u00a0Irving the subject of the film The Hoax<\/a>\"\". \u00a0The REAL \u00a0reason to watch F for Fake <\/a>\"\"\u00a0is \u00a0the fashions \u00a0that Orson Welles’s then girlfriend Oja Kodar \u00a0models as she is \u00a0portraying the\u00a0fictitious muse of Picasso. \u00a0The two minute \u00a0“fashion show” \u00a0features \u00a0some very incredible \u00a0clothes. \u00a0A must \u00a0rent for any \u00a0fashionista.<\/p>\n

The \u00a0other Taurus I \u00a0want to mention in this blog is \u00a0filmmaker\/writer\/actor Lena Dunham ( May 13th). \u00a0 I really enjoyed Ms.Dunham’s first film Tiny Furniture <\/a>\"\"\u00a0 ( 2010) which was an instant \u00a0hit at the Sundance Film Festival when it premiered. \u00a0Her current HBO series GIRLS which \u00a0she \u00a0wrote,directed and stars in, features \u00a0some of the \u00a0same cast \u00a0from
\nTiny Furniture <\/a>\"\". \u00a0I \u00a0find Ms. Dunham fascinating to watch. \u00a0I \u00a0thought about \u00a0why I like her and find her \u00a0so appealing. \u00a0The answer was \u00a0of course, \u00a0right in front \u00a0of me. \u00a0It is the Taurus \u00a0factor. \u00a0She is \u00a0real and unpretentious. \u00a0She \u00a0looks like a normal person, not a Hollywood-glammed up \u00a0movie star. \u00a0She is \u00a0a little bit \u00a0chubby and isn’t afraid to \u00a0show her body \u00a0on \u00a0camera in \u00a0various \u00a0stages of undress. \u00a0 \u00a0She \u00a0 explores relationships and sexuality ( \u00a0due to the \u00a0intense simulated sex \u00a0scene the \u00a0series airs on Sundays nights at 10:30 p.m. EST). \u00a0Ms. Dunham’s \u00a0take on relationships and men is honest,refreshing and \u00a0of course witty. \u00a0I \u00a0heard her interviewed by \u00a0Terry Gross on \u00a0NPR ‘s Fresh Air yesterday ( May 7th). \u00a0 \u00a0 Although Ms. Dunham stated \u00a0clearly that the \u00a0character of Hannah isn’t \u00a0her, Hannah \u00a0does seem to possess many \u00a0Taurean tendencies ( like eating \u00a0cupcakes in the bathtub) and being kind of \u00a0 slow to “get it” at times. \u00a0Now \u00a0I myself have never eaten cupcakes while taking a bath, but \u00a0both activities \u00a0top \u00a0my pleasure list.<\/p>\n

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More things related to my Taurus:<\/p>\n

There are two films both available on dvd which deal with the subject of redemption and forgiveness. I love both these films. The first of these films is Flipped<\/a>\"\" directed by Rob Reiner based on the popular book Flipped<\/a>\"\" by Wendelin Van Draanen and the British independent film In a Day<\/a>\"\". Both these films deal with the relationship between a boy and a girl ( FLIPPED) and a man and a woman ( IN A DAY). Rob Reiner said of FLIPPED it is the best film he’s directed. I agree with him. The film although it is very Hollywood, is the kind of film that should be shown in school \u00a0to junior high students. The message of not assuming or making judgements based on appearances is important and crucial. How do these two films relate to Taurus? Well Taurus is a stubborn sign and I \u00a0have \u00a0been \u00a0guilty of assuming and making \u00a0judgements. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0My \u00a0assumptions \u00a0about \u00a0Korean \u00a0food \u00a0kept me \u00a0from a world of sensual pleasure \u00a0for decades. \u00a0 I \u00a0hope EVERYONE \u00a0 will see \u00a0FLIPPED. \u00a0 It is a \u00a0great film \u00a0for adults too.<\/p>\n

Recently, I \u00a0saw \u00a0a powerful documentary \u00a0which \u00a0lingered in my \u00a0head for days. \u00a0Elephant in the Living Room<\/a>\"\" directed by Michael Webber, follows Officer Tim Harrison as he struggles to deal with the exotic animal problem in Ohio. More and more people in the United States are opting to have wild and exotic animals as pets. This documentary examines this horrifying, sad , shocking and idiotic ( yes I said it) trend. \u00a0I \u00a0learned a \u00a0permit is not \u00a0required \u00a0to own an exotic\/wild \u00a0animal in Ohio but \u00a0 you \u00a0need of course \u00a0to have a \u00a0license for your \u00a0dog. \u00a0This is one of those documentaries that should be,in my opinion, required viewing to children in public schools every year they are in school( I would say starting with 4th grade children). In my opinion, it is a disgrace that hundreds of thousands of domestic animals are euthanized in shelters every year. Now there is this new problem of wild and exotic “pets”. I feel for Tim Harrison and his heroic efforts to save and place the abandoned and abused exotic wild life that he encounters on his job. \u00a0 I hope this documentary can \u00a0change the \u00a0state laws \u00a0regarding \u00a0wild\/exotic pet ownership.<\/p>\n

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I’ve previously \u00a0mentioned I how much I love CBS SUNDAY MORNING ( airs Sundays \u00a0at 9 a.m. EST). \u00a0It is one of the few \u00a0art & culture \u00a0shows on \u00a0a major Network \u00a0Channel. \u00a0 I \u00a0need to \u00a0mention \u00a0another \u00a0fabulous arts & culture \u00a0show called \u00a0 EUROMAXX ( Highlights). \u00a0 This \u00a022 minute show airs on \u00a0 Comcast \u00a0here in Philly on MINDTV on Saturday mornings at 7:30 a.m. \u00a0MINDTV is \u00a0the local independent \u00a0Philly cable station. \u00a0Euromaxx \u00a0is a German produced \u00a0show which features \u00a0what’s hot and \u00a0happening \u00a0in Europe. \u00a0Sadly, I’m either \u00a0on my way to the \u00a0gym or \u00a0farmer’s market or \u00a0thriftin ( yard \u00a0sales, flea markets etc.) \u00a0 on Saturday mornings so I often \u00a0miss \u00a0this \u00a0wonderful \u00a0show. \u00a0 It would \u00a0be great if \u00a0 MIND TV \u00a0would air this \u00a0show on Sunday mornings \u00a0before CBS Sunday morning.<\/p>\n

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And lastly- Thank you Town & country Magazine \u00a0for printing my Letter to the Editor \u00a0(May 2012) regarding the \u00a0Ali MacGraw \u00a0cover ( February 2012). \u00a0 Unfortunately, I \u00a0don’t buy the editor’s response \u00a0as to why they \u00a0chose to put a \u00a0photograph of Ms.MacGraw \u00a0from 1969 on their \u00a0cover while inside they have \u00a0recent photographs of her looking \u00a0fantastic at 72. \u00a0 I can smell B.S. a \u00a0mile away. \u00a0This may \u00a0be a revelation to \u00a0some people who think I’m naive. \u00a0The truth is \u00a0most of the time I \u00a0keep my mouth \u00a0shut because \u00a0I \u00a0have never been able to \u00a0 confront \u00a0a liar and get the truth at the \u00a0time I was confronting them ( I’m not \u00a0implying the editors of T & C \u00a0are liars). \u00a0 These \u00a0days I \u00a0bide my \u00a0time and \u00a0 know \u00a0that in time, the truth is ALWAYS revealed \u00a0in almost every situation. \u00a0That is the \u00a0epitome of \u00a0a Taurus \u00a0being patient!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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May 8, 2012 All Things Taurus – Part 3   Several weeks \u00a0ago I attended a \u00a0riveting \u00a0 lecture by \u00a0 several \u00a0scientists \u00a0from the Monell Institute \u00a0titled I SMELL YOU SMELL \u00a0as part of the Philadelphia Science Festival. The Monell Institute is the world’s \u00a0only independent non profit scientific institute dedicated to basic research…»<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[675,679,683,639,689,671,676,361,672,688,661,684,681,691,662,680,685,660,667,664,678,682,666,665,668,178,690,673,687,663,686,669,573,677,670,674],"class_list":["post-398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-ali-macgraw-town-country-magazine","tag-assumptions","tag-center-city","tag-documentary","tag-duck-eggs","tag-elephant-in-the-living-room","tag-exotic-animals","tag-farmers-market","tag-flipped","tag-florence-italy","tag-girls","tag-giwa","tag-gochujang","tag-h-mart","tag-hbo","tag-judgements","tag-koreana","tag-lena-dunham","tag-monell-institute","tag-olfactory","tag-orson-welles","tag-out-of-body-obe","tag-pheremone","tag-pheromone","tag-philadelphia-science-festival","tag-philly","tag-rice","tag-rob-reiner","tag-santa-maria-novella-soap-melograno","tag-smell","tag-tampopo","tag-taurean","tag-taurus","tag-tim-harrison","tag-tiny-furniture","tag-wendelin-van-draanen"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/katiepfeiffer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/398","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/katiepfeiffer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/katiepfeiffer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/katiepfeiffer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/katiepfeiffer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=398"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/katiepfeiffer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/398\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/katiepfeiffer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/katiepfeiffer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/katiepfeiffer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}