Muenster (aka Susan)

Muenster is a cheese from the United States, not to be confused with the French variety, Munster.

"Soozie Boozie Bo Boozie, Banana Fanna Bo Moozie, Fee Fi Fo Foozie, Soozie"!  In all fairness to Susan, she did not get the cheese alias of her choice.  I forced her to use Muenster because whenever I eat Muenster cheese, I think of Susan.  The reason this is the case is that I had NEVER heard of Muenster cheese before meeting Susan.  She introduced me to it.  I love it and I always think of her when I enjoy it.  She had no choice in this matter.  Muenster cheese IS her cheese alias.  I don't think she was happy with it because as she put it, "it is not a very exciting cheese".   Still, I couldn't let her have any other cheese, because, well, I just couldn't.

How do I know Susan?  Susan was my roommate during my dietetic internship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN. There were 16 interns in our class and we received a list before the internship started that included our names and where we were from.  I, being from California, thought I need to call someone from "over there" to see if they want to be roommates so they could look for a place before we had to move in.  So I went down the list and saw Susan was from Virginia Beach, VA.  That seemed close to Nashville so I called her.  I got her answering machine and left a message saying, "Hi, I am in your internship program.  I was wondering if you want to have a roommate from California?" (I guess I thought I was special for coming so far).

Later she told me she was a little wierded out, but when she called me back she said, sure lets be roommates.  She was a hard read and didn't sound that excited, but what could I say at that point?  I then asked if she could find us a place in Nashville since she lived so close and she laughed because she didn't think a two day drive was that close.  I think I ended up picking out our apartment, blindly from CA, but that is how our friendship started.

After chasing 3 mice out of our apartment during the first week we lived together, we officially bonded.

Since then we have traveled together, visited each other many times including being the Maid of Honor in each of our weddings and helping out after the births of our first children. We have maintained our "distance relationship" for over 16 years.  Susan stayed in Nashville for about 10 years after we finished our internship and has moved around the Southeast since then.  She hasn't made it to California yet, except to visit, but I am hopeful.

Soozie Boozie, I am so excited to see you again and so glad you are part of this event!  See you soon!

Gruyère (aka Eileen or "Sister")

Oh Sister!  

On the trip, you will hear me refer to "Sister" when taking about or to Eileen (Gruyère).  At some point when we were working together in 2000, we jokingly started calling each other "Sister" and it has stuck in a way that is very fun, but somewhat embarrassing when inadvertently used at inappropriate times!

My relationship with "Sister" started my junior year in college when both of us were knee deep into our nutrition major.  We were primarily classroom friends until we both participated in a 10-week nutrition research internship in New York City during the summer before we graduated.  It was that experience that started our long term friendship.  Since then our close proximity and same profession has allowed us to maintain a very close friendship.  Even our dietetic internships were close:  she was in New Orleans and I was in Nashville.  We took that opportunity to visit each other and have fun each other's cities.

Eileen is most likely the friendliest person I have ever met.  When I say that, I mean it literally as she has more friends than most people I know!  It is because she is so good at being a friend, one can't help but enjoying her company.  To my advantage, Eileen is also very generous when sharing her friends. I have met some FABULOUS people through Eileen, a few of whom have become such good friends to me that they are part of this trip (Brie, Laughing Cow and Nacho)!

Eileen, I want to thank you for sticking with me over the years and being my "Sister".  I have enjoyed going through every phase of my adult life with you and look forward to celebrating that in AZ!!!!

Parmigiano-Reggiano and Gorgonzola (aka Michele and Anna)

Michele (Parma-Reg) and Anna (Gorgonzola) came into my life during the same time period. We, along with Dana (Asiago) and Tracy (Havarti), are sorority sisters.

Anna and I pledged the sorority at the same time, were fast friends and ultimately became roommates for one year during college.  Anna was an Interior Design major and I remember being so "jealous" watching her do her homework.  While our other roommate, Tracy (Havarti), and I stayed up all night studying physiology, Anna was up all night building and decorating model homes out of foam board and felt material.  She moved to the Pacific Northwest after college and now works at an architectural firm there (please correct me if I am wrong, Anna!).  I don't think I have seen Anna since we graduated from college....I am SO excited you are on this trip and I CANNOT wait to catch up and hear about the last 17 YEARS!!!!

Michele was (I guess still could be considered) my sorority "Big Sister".  She did her job as "Big Sister" well, during our college days, by keeping me grounded.  She always lived (and probably still lives) her life very true to herself.  She didn't worry about the small stuff, and brought me perspective when I most needed it.  When things got tough, all I had to do was spend some time with Michele.  She wears her positive attitude on her sleeve and you can't help but absorb some of it when you are around her.  As with Anna, it has been way too long since I have spent time with Michele.  She and her husband Joe were at my wedding, and I don't know if I have seen her since....and that has been 13.5 years!  Parma-Reg, I can't wait to absorb some of your sunshine.  See you in AZ!

Havarti (aka Tracy)

"Havarti has a buttery aroma and can be somewhat sharp in the stronger varieties. The taste is buttery, and from somewhat sweet to very sweet, and it is slightly acidic. When left at room temperature the cheese tends to soften quickly."


Hmmm, when Tracy is left at room temperature she softens quickly too!


When my parents helped me move into the dorms as a freshman in college, my dad disappeared for a while.  Upon his return he told my mom and I that he ran into a high school classmate of his who was moving his daughter into another dormitory across the way.  I am sure he wanted me to connect with that person, but I was way to overwhelmed to make that happen.  Little did I know that a year later Tracy and I would be sorority sisters and eventually lifelong friends.


I remember the exact occasion when I first met Tracy.  I was a sophomore in college, had just pledged my sorority and was hanging out with Asiago (last post), who was the pledge coordinator.  We were working on a sorority related project and Tracy, who had already joined the sorority during the year prior, was working on the project as well.  We were sitting on the floor in Asiago's apartment and I asked Tracy where she was from.  She replied, "in a town northeast of Redding".  Having grown up in Redding, I asked her which town?  She assured me I hadn't heard of it, and I assured her I probably had.  The conversation ended with us figuring out that our dads were friends from high school and had known each other for over 20 years!


Now I can say that Tracy has been one of my closest friends for over 20 years.  We ended up as roommates in college, bridesmaids in each other's weddings, even worked together for a short time when she was finishing up her surgical residency.  Our kids are the same ages and on a recent trip to visit her our daughters had the BEST time together.  It was very fun to watch.  Five hours is just too far away.


I am so excited to get to spend some quality girl time with Tracy as we haven't done that in years.  Life has certainly put a hold on that until now!

Asiago (aka Dana)

"Asiago is an Italian cow's milk cheese that can assume different textures, according to its aging, from smooth for the fresh Asiago (Asiago Pressato) to a crumbly texture for the aged cheese (Asiago d'allevo) of which the flavour is reminiscent of Parmesan. The aged cheese is often grated in salads, soups, pastas, and sauces while the fresh Asiago is sliced to prepare panini or sandwiches; it can also be melted on a variety of dishes, including bagels. Sometimes Asiago is treated as interchangeable with the parmesan and romano cheeses in some cuisines."

I met Dana soon after I started dating her brother when I was a freshman in college.  Dana's brother is NOT Kenny, so obviously that relationship ended, but Dana and I became very close during the time I dated him.  Dana has a very strong Italian heritage, learned Italian in college and visits her cousins, who live in Italy, regularly (at least it seems like it to me).  As one can see, Asiago is a VERY appropriate cheese alias for her. When I go to Italy, I am going to plan it around one of Dana's trips, for sure!

It is because of Dana that I joined AOII at UC Davis and my most fun memories in the sorority all include her. I have never laughed so hard than when I was with Dana and we are guaranteed a good laugh as long as she is on our trip! Although years go by without our paths crossing, we can always pick up where we left off when we get together.  I am so excited you are going to be a part of this transition in my life!

Fontina (aka Bridgit, Birdy or Bird)

"The original Fontina cheese from Italy is fairly pungent and has quite an intense flavor, although cheeses labeled Fontina that are produced in other countries tend to be much milder. The Danish version is particularly common in US grocery stores, and can be distinguished from Italian Fontina by the red wax rind (Italian Fontina has a natural rind due to aging, which is usually tan to orange-brown); Danish Fontina is much less aged, and therefore semi-soft and much milder than its Italian counterpart".


Very interesting.....but what is the commonality between Birdy and Fontina, you ask?  Pungent?  Not how I would describe my sister-in-law on a normal day, or any day for that matter!  I would, however, describe her as having an intense flavor for unique style.  Since I have known her, Fontina pushes the outer limits when choosing clothing combinations, paint color, and decore...in a good way, of course.  She definitely has an eye for flair and can pick out the most unique items for her home.


Fontina is married to my brother Scott.  A few days ago they celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary but I have known her much longer than that. Scott and Bridgit's relationship started when they "went together" in 6th grade.  I don't remember how long that lasted, but I do remember a day, years later, when Scott and I were in high school.  I didn't realize at the time that Scott had kept in touch with her, but that day, Bridgit, with VERY TALL bangs, showed up at our door step.  She held a wrapped gift in her hand and asked me to give it to my brother.  I remember feeling a little territorial, and wondered who the heck this girl was, with such tall bangs, thinking she was important enough to give MY brother a gift!

Much to my chagrin, they ended up at the same college and started dating "again".  However, by the time they got married, I was very excited to gain her as a real-live, honest to goodness sister!


I have so enjoyed getting to know Bridgit over the last 15+ years and bonding at family functions.  A few years ago she coordinated a very fun girls trip to Las Vegas of which I was honored to be a part.  (I am pretty sure I mentioned this trip in Provolone's post).  She is creative, has great ideas and is helping me add  some flair to this trip as well.  Her calm demeanor is a necessity to stay married to my brother, however I appreciate it more than I will ever be able to express. Thank you, Fontina, for your never-ending support and all you do to help keep me sane and focused. This trip and my life would not be the same without you in it!
(P.S. I just had to post the bangs picture, I hope you forgive me!)

Feta (aka Sophia)

"Feta is an aged crumbly cheese, commonly produced in blocks, and has a slightly grainy texture. Only those cheeses produced in a traditional way in some areas of Greece and made from sheep milk, or from a mixture of sheep and goats’ milk (up to 30%) of the same area, may bear the name "feta"."

Crumbly? No. Grainy? I don't think so. Greek? No.  Hmmmmmm.....I love Sophia and I love Feta, but based on the cheese's description there are no other commonalities I can find between the two!  

I have known Sophia as long as I have known her sister Kristina (previous post).  Because Sophia is a few years younger than I, it wasn't until we worked together one summer, when we were both in high school, at my dad's Der Wienerschnitzel, when we really got to know each other and became close friends.  

College brought each of us to the Sacramento area, where, initially, we led pretty separate lives.  Over the last  15 or so years, since we started our careers, our lives have become densely interwoven into a web of mutual friends and experiences which have allowed our friendship to flourish.  Now we live walking distance from each other and I consider Sophia one of my closest confidants.

Due to the fact that there are so many, seemingly unrelated connections Sophia and I have, I am going to list them as there are truly too many to explain in detail:

1. Sophia and Kenny (my husband), having both graduated from Sac State around the same time, lived in the same dorm at the same time and have mutual friends in common.
2. One of Sophia's closest friends growing up (Bridgit, next post) married my brother Scott, and is now my sister-in-law.
3. Sophia's cousin and I went to UC Davis at the same time and now I am friends with her roommate!
4. This really counts as two:  I invited Sophia to sub for my bunco group a few years ago and it was hosted by one of the teachers she worked with at the time. AND Sophia is in a bunco group with a friend of mine's friend who I had always heard about, but only just met through Sophia.

I feel as if I could  add more, but I fear it could get a little boring, so I will stop.  I am sure we will think of more while we are in Scottsdale.

As I wrap up this post, I must thank Sophia for all of the support she has provided me over the years and especially since our kids were born.  Her son is 6 months older than Max and her daughter is a few months younger than MacKenzie.  Her physical help with the kids and emotional support for me has come at times when I have needed it the most.  Because we live close, see each other frequently and grew up together, Sophia is truly the closest thing I know to be a sister at this point in my life.  Thank you for taking part in this experience.

Kasseri (aka Kristina M)

Kasseri is a medium-hard pale yellow cheese made from unpasteurized sheep milk with very little, if any, goat's milk mixed in, in Turkey and Greece.

Not only because it is a Greek cheese, (Kristina is married to a Greek), Kasseri is an appropriate cheese alias for Kristina simply because it starts with a K as does her name.

I have known Kristina and her sister, Sophia (next post), for most of my life.  They grew up in a house just down the street from the house in which I grew-up.  I remember meeting them one day when I was on a walk with my mom and my two brothers in our neighborhood.  I must have been around 8 years old at the time because I recall the youngest of my two brothers was in a stroller and not even a year old. Kristina and Sophia were also on a walk with their mother that day and she was pushing their brother in a stroller who was not much older than my youngest brother.  The realization that this new family had a child my age, a second child close to my 1st brother's age, and a third child close to my 2nd brother's age is very clear in my mind. 

Because our families lived in such close proximity for such a long time, we had a very close, informal relationship.  All of us, including our parents, spent a lot of time at each other's house.  It was the kind of relationship my mom didn't worry about cleaning the house before her mom came over and vice versa.  In fact, it was rare if anything we did together was planned ahead of time.  It was always, "let's stop by Kristina's house and see if they are home"; or they would pull the car over on their way home from something and end up staying for dinner at our house.

One very clear, bonding memory I have with Kristina when we were young is when we had planned to meet two of the neighborhood boys for a picnic in a fort they had built in the gully behind Kristina's house.  The boys had invited us the day before and I remember being excited.  I was young enough that my mom was still cutting my bangs; she cut them the day of the picnic and they looked horrible.  Despite crooked bangs, Kristina and I went on the picnic.  I think the boys teased me, I got embarrassed and left before we got too far into the picnic.  Kristina was not affected by them as I was and tried to get me to stay.  I remember wishing I could be more like her in those "uncomfortable" situations.

Because Kristina is "slightly" older than I (sorry Kristina), I looked up to her like an older sister .  I think it is because, growing up, she was the "oldest" person I was close to (I have no older siblings or cousins).   As a result, I constantly compared myself to her. Whatever she was doing, I wanted to do too.  Especially when she was in 6th grade and I was in 5th and she got boobs!  

Writing this blog reminds me how much I love Kristina.  She is still so confident and comfortable no matter what the setting.  She is always smiling, knows how to have fun and makes everyone around her feel comfortable.  When Kristina is at the party, you know it is going to be fun.


There are few people who I can go for months, even years, without seeing and still feel as comfortable as I do with Kristina.  Thank you for giving up your trip to Greece this year to join the Grilled Cheese experience.  I am so honored you are going to be a part of all of this.

Provolone (aka Becky or "Beck")

According to Wikipedia, "Provolone is today a full-fat cows milk cheese, with a smooth skin."

Of all the Panini Sisters, I have known Provolone/Becky the longest.  My dad and Becky's mom's are siblings and Becky is the only female cousin I have on that side of my family (out of 8 cousins there are only 2 girls). Becky is 7 years younger than me. She was born within a month of my second brother, Steven. Growing up, Becky and I were not really close, but that was mainly due to our age difference. We saw each other frequently at family functions, but I was more of the "mother hen" over all the cousins until Becky and Steven graduated from high school. 

I will never forget the first real "girl" talk Becky and I had. I think she was close to graduating from high school, but she might have been older. We were in a car together at the Sacramento Airport. Becky had gone through a rough time during her early high school years but had come out of it all of a sudden and never looked back. When we were alone in that car, I asked her about that time in her life and was so impressed with her story. I remember thinking she had grown up.

Becky graduated from Chico State, moved back to Redding and married Joey, who was in my high school class. They were dating during the time of my 10-year high school reunion and Becky attended the reunion with Joey. At the time it was hard for me to wrap my head around her being at "my" 10-year reunion (it seemed like she had just graduated herself!), but as the evening wore on, I thoroughly enjoyed her company and was happy she was there. In my mind, that was the beginning of our current relationship/friendship.  


That was 12 years ago. Now, our kids are about the same age, her's being slightly older, which has brought us a lot closer. A few years ago Becky and I had the opportunity to join my sister-in-law (you shall "meet" her in a later post) for a girls weekend in Las Vegas' Caesar's Palace. The highlight of that trip, after a leaking toilet mishap and Becky's savvy negotiation skills, was our upgrade to the 1,380 square foot Absolut Vodka-inspired suite that sits atop Caesar's Palace overlooking the Las Vegas Strip. Needless to say it was quite a trip and one that I can only hope to top with our Grilled Cheese experience!


As far as Becky's connection to Provolone?  Hmmm....this is one that is not as obvious. She is certainly NOT full fat, and I am pretty sure she avoids cow's milk, but she does have smooth skin!  


Thanks for joining the trip, Beck. I am so glad to have you as my cousin and I can't wait to see what you negotiate for us in Scottsdale!  Love You, Ju

Cheese Aliases

Over a month has gone by since my last post, and with 25 women committed to this trip I'd better get introducing!  We have 15 weeks left before our trip, so I will post more than one per week to fit everyone in.

In the interim, the idea was proposed, and all jumped on board, for each of us to come up with a "cheese alias".  Each Panini Sister has chosen a cheese to be associated with throughout this Grilled Cheese experience.  The creativity in which each cheese was chosen exceeded all of my expectations.  Whether they realized it or not, each women chose a cheese that reflects their personality in some way, shape or form and I am very excited to point out those similarities!

I will title each "introductory" post with the chosen cheese and somewhere within the blog identify the commonalities between the respective woman and the cheese of their choice.

Stay tuned, the first, Provolone, is on deck and ready to be posted.....

The "Grilled Cheese" Philosophy

When I was little, going out to eat was a rare treat.  Even though my dad owned a fast food restaurant, (a der Wienerschnitzel), he never brought dinner home and we NEVER ate out at restaurants unless we were out of town.

When we did eat out, I was like a kid in a candy store.  The process of ordering my food was a really stressful experience because I never knew what to order.  I didn't ever want to "waste" such a special opportunity on an entrée that I could have at home.  So I would pour over the menu and try to figure out what I "should" order by narrowing the items down to those that weren't available to me on a regular basis.  I don't ever remember enjoying anything I ordered and I was always disappointed.

I can fix in my mind, numerous occasions where I watched the grilled cheese sandwiches walk by with their butter coated, perfectly grilled sour dough bread and processed cheese oozing out of the sides onto the steak fries laying on the plate and wished I'd ordered that. Although my mom made grilled cheese sandwiches for us at home; the slightly overcooked whole wheat bread with minimal butter and half-melted cheddar cheese was no match.  But for many years, because it was a "regularly available" food item, it never dawned on me that I "could" actually order the grilled cheese sandwich when we ate out.

I distinctly recall at some point I decided to "rebel" (against who or what I have no idea, because I was never forced to order or not order anything) and I ordered the grilled cheese sandwich.  I just did it. I remember being excited about it and I was NOT disappointed.  I was happy and proud that I made the decision for no other reason than that was what I wanted.  I didn't "should" all over myself, which is what I tend to do, even now.  I ordered grilled cheese sandwiches for a long time after that and it reaffirmed to me that there doesn't always have to be a good reason for doing things. Sometimes, we just know what we want and need to go with it.

Going back to this experience each time I am challenged with a decision is the "Grilled Cheese Philosophy" (GCP).  I use it to help me make decisions when there is no right or wrong answer; when no one else can help me because they do not see through my eyes, and when the pros and cons don't help much either.  I use it when the answer isn't clear or I don't have a strong gut feeling about which way to go.  But I most often use the GCP when I am having a hard time choosing the option I think I "should" choose, but for whatever reason don't want to.  I actually ask myself, "What is the grilled cheese in this scenario?  Which choice am I going to be happy with, no matter what vs. what might I possibly regret?"

For example, I most recently used the GCP to help me decide which color to paint the inside of our current house.  I "knew" what color I wanted to paint the walls and the painter was trying to talk me into a different color.  He even went so far as to paint two walls in my house, one with "my" color and one with the color he thought I would prefer.  Both looked fine.  His wasn't bad, but I still liked mine.  He thought I was going to hate my color once the entire house was that color, but I wasn't so sure.  What finally got me was when a friend came over and definitively agreed with the painter.  It was at that moment, I realized "my" color was the grilled cheese.  Even though she agreed with the painter, I didn't.  I couldn't put my finger on it, but I didn't care, I knew I would be mad if I let them talk me into a color when I knew I really wanted the other one.

Finally, my GCP was instrumental in helping me choose the hotel we are staying in for this trip; hence the name of the trip.  I have had the notion to plan a trip like this to celebrate my 40th birthday for over 3 years; and the idea of relaxing with my favorite girlfriends and staying in the most exclusive hotel has always been the basis of the experience.   When the actual planning started, I found myself getting caught up in details that took me down paths that were very far away from my original notion.  I eventually got back on track and the travel agent and I were narrowing down our hotel options.  (Yes, there are other hotels in Scottsdale that are a little bit less expensive and might have offered more or less of a "package" deal for us.)  However, when I gave it the grilled cheese test, the Hyatt won, hands down, no question.  I don't want to drive by the Hyatt on our way to x-resort and regret that we didn't pay a "few" extra dollars to go all the way.  This is my GRILLED CHEESE!  Thank you for sharing it with me.

Stay tuned to learn more about the fabulous women you will be meeting on this trip and how they are special to my life.....

 

First Post

Blogging.  I can't believe I have decided to start blogging.  I don't follow any blogs, so forgive me if this is not up to blogging par.  The idea of starting a blog came to me today as a solution to a "problem" I have been contemplating for a few weeks.  The fact that I am jumping on this idea without much thought is uncharacteristic of me, but I am excited about it and had a moment, so here I am.
This year, August 27 marks my 40th birthday.  To celebrate, I am planning a relaxing vacation for myself and have invited all of the women who have played the role of a "sister" to me at some point during my 40 years. My goal, which is one that I have had for a few years, is to reconnect with as many of these important girlfriends as possible (many of them I haven't seen in years) and celebrate our friendship.
Earlier this year, as I developed my invitee list I realized I have many "sets" of friends, as do most of us, including those who I met when I was 4 and 5 years of age and with whom I grew up.  I decided to include them all and came up with a list of 62 women.  I was blown away by this number and excited to see who would be able to join me on this trip.
As of March 15th, 24 of them have confirmed.  What an honor!  Almost 1/2 of the women, whom I consider to be the most important in my life, are going to join me in celebrating 40 years.
The "problem", to which I refer above, is how to introduce all of these women to each other before the trip.  There is so much I want each person to know about the important role each of them have played in my life.  I want each person to see everyone else through my eyes.  Is that possible?
That is where the blog comes in.  I realized, it might be fun for me to blog about each of the women going on this trip.  It would give me the forum to write about each friend and introduce them to the rest of the group.  So here I am starting a blog.
There is so much more I want to say, but it is way passed the time when I needed to go to bed, so I am going to stop for now.  Stay tuned.  Future posts will explain my "Grilled Cheese Philosophy", introduce each of the women who have committed to my 40th birthday vacation, and much more I am sure.....