There are few holidays that I feel like I have a direct connection to.  That is why I choose to celebrate Pi Day.  It is a day that represents not just 3,14(15!), but also creative nerdiness.  By celebrating Pi day I acknowledge that Math has done great things for me, and much more than I will ever do for it. 

My tango with Math started out tumultuously.  I didn't really take notice of Math until Geometry started playing, and I didn't become friendly until Calculus came up.  Even then my attachment to Math was very mild.  It wasn't until we started listening to Discrete Math, Induction, and Functional Programming together that I started really caring about Math.  At the same time, however, Math started dancing with all of the cool people,  In fact, too cool for me because Math now dragged me across the floor with moves that I couldn't keep up with.  I gave Math a stern talking to about slowing down and taking the time to really understand people, rather than racing for a nonexistent finish line.  With great patience, passion, and persistence Math and I have developed a relationship that allows us to learn from the other when we reach an impasse.  I may not be the greatest mathematician, but I can earn Math's respect.

On this Pi Day I celebrate that Math and I are comfortable enough with each other to look each other in the eye and dance. 

I have been a bit of a Grinch this year, but I did enjoy a massive cooking project. I believe that I set a personal record for number of ingredients used.  I am proud that everything was done at the correct time, in the correct amounts, and that I coordinated the kitchen neatly.  

I love making pies, and this Cranberry Apple Pie was one of my best pies ever.  It was tart with just the right amount of sugar; it was full of flavor; and it was a beautiful shade of deep red.  There were two apples that not only taste good, they were necessary for texture and holding the filling together.  The remainder was cranberry, half of which I sauced first.  Sugar, spice.  I put in a couple of spoons of cornstarch in, and if I make this pie again I will add chia seed to make the filling to gel better. 

34 ingredients used for dinner - Toasted Buttermilk Bread, White Onion, Onion Powder, Garlic, Butter, Thyme, Fresh Rosemary, Oregano, Celery, Lentils, Organic Chicken Sausage, Firm Tofu, Curry Powder, Onion Powder, Garlic Salt, Cayenne, Chili Powder, Teriyaki Sesame Sauce, Parsley, Soy Sauce, Milk, Egg, Broccoli, Apple, Baked Sweet Potato, Vegetable Broth, Carrot, Zucchini, Water, Pie Crust Mix (I cheated, not quite from scratch), Cranberries, Granulated Sugar, Brown Sugar, Cornstarch, Tangerine juice and rind, Cinnamon, Ginger Powder, Grated Ginger. 4 hours of time