Adventures in Apartment Living

by Jennifer Maugle

Many of us have had the opportunity to meet some interesting and sometimes disturbing characters living just doors away. This is especially true when living in apartments under shared roofs and I am not even about to tackle landlords. Regardless of where you live, you have to wonder if you ever truly know your neighbors. Prior to taking the plunge and purchasing a house in 2007, my husband (then boyfriend) and I cohabited in a 2 bedroom apartment located in the northern suburbs of Philadelphia. We called this place “home” for five years and we can recall both good and not-so-good memories.

First, a quick recap of good memories and experiences: a fairly inexpensive place to live, use of pool and tennis courts (none of which we utilized – ever), free gym, numerous parties and gatherings with family and friends, we got got engaged while living here, and in our final years of apartment living we were privileged to have the company of good friends living just down the hall. This allowed for many hangouts, movie nights, dinner dates and more.

But let’s move on to the not-so-good memories, shall we? Sometimes when I look back on our time there, I have to just shake my head and laugh (and feel blessed to have the home we now live in). As anyone who lives in or has lived in an apartment knows, there could be a variety of characters (um, neighbors) to deal with or come across.

Enter “Eddie”. Eddie, his significant other, and their baby boy moved in across the hall from us and seemed like a nice enough, young family. I was asked once if I would ever babysit (they did not know me whatsoever) and when I said, “No, I am 27 and have a full-time job”, they were surprised and thought I was actually 17. As they settled in across the hall and time passed, we began to notice the distinct smell of pot coming from their apartment, the hallway and landing of the staircase. I realize that this probably isn’t an uncommon thing but it still irked me that it was seeping under our door fairly often and oh the fact that they lived with a small child who was inhaling second hand weed.

We soon realized this wasn’t much of an issue compared to what was about to happen. Fast forward to the time when our good friends and neighbors had their car stolen right out of the parking lot beneath their window. I probably shouldn’t go into great detail but suffice it to say we all know who did it or at least who was associated with the incident. The car was found in northern New Jersey, stripped of its parts.

Let’s continue. Who doesn’t get annoyed by bugs and infestations? Well we did, that’s for sure. It was bad enough when the cockroaches began parading under our front door from across the trashy-smelling neighbor’s apartment. We sprayed and killed them one by one and even came up with names for some of them: Cocky (the original), Jocky (the quick one), Stocky (the slow, dumb one), and Papa Roach too. Not surprisingly, when the tenants moved out and the apartment was cleaned, we didn’t get any more roach visitors.

However, the worst was yet to come. One day, we noticed that we were starting to get bites and welts all over our arms and legs. They didn’t itch too much but it was summertime so we just thought we had a mosquito or four stuck somewhere in our bedroom, sucking our blood in our sleep. Well, as the bites didn’t go away and we never found any mosquitoes, we weren’t sure what was going on until one night when we put a bedroom light on in the middle of the night. Much to our shock and dismay, we saw a plethora of little brownish-black bugs crawling on our bed as well as on us(they were too light-weight to even feel). I about lost it. To make a long story short, we had a nasty case of the bedbugs. We had pest control come numerous times to treat our apartment and our possessions (these buggers are incredibly hard to fight). We had to throw away our bed (where the bedbugs infest, multiply and leave black spots of excrement under the mattress edges) and sleep on our futon in the living room for approximately two weeks. How and why did these blood suckers come to us and where in the world did they come from? Who knew that bedbugs actually existed in real life and not just in the catchy kids’ phrase “Sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite”? We eventually learned that they came from a recently evacuated apartment down the hall. Articles about bedbug invasions began
appearing all over the Internet and the news, especially being an issue in New York. They were easily being brought over unknowingly from foreign countries, becoming an issue for hotels and travelers, bedbugs attaching to luggage and so on. Although they pose no major threat of disease or harm, they are highly annoying and difficult to get rid of. Bedbugs my friends, are not cool.

And what would apartment living be without the danger of fire? It was around midnight one evening when the smoke alarms sounded out in the halls. We didn’t immediately rush up and outta there given that these things tend to go off for no apparent reason or because some juvenile decided to pull the alarm for fun. After too many minutes went by without it being shut off, I started to worry and opened our door to the hall to peek out. Smoke! Lots and lots of smoke! My significant other and I promptly went down the three flights of stairs and outside to where everyone else was. I seriously considered taking our cat with us but I was persuaded to keep her inside and that everything would be fine (although we didn’t truly know). As we passed one of our neighbor’s doors, we noticed it was slightly open and discovered that it was the source of all the smoke. We stood outside chattering with other residents as four township firetrucks pulled up to assess the situation. In they went and out they came a bit later with our neighbor, in a state of much confusion and/or drunkenness, wearing nothing but tighty whiteys and a dull look in his eyes. I don’t think he had a clue as to what was happening – we later found out that he fell asleep with items burning on the stove. Class-act neighbor right there.

I could go on and on with other stories such as the children who shot BB guns outside at each other (and put dents in cars in the process) or the time I came home from work to find helicopters swirling overhead and police cars and ambulances staked out all over the place (there had been a shooting in the apartment building next door). Or, amusing stories about our male neighbor who enjoyed blasting his Britney Spears techno music with the lights off except for his rotating party lights ball. Or the fact that we had another neighbor truly named Chuck Norris who drove a jaguar.

We had five years worth of interesting apartment living I must say. I look back and laugh now but also thank my lucky stars that we were able to get out before anything else happened. We are very thankful for the home we now own thirty miles north of Philadelphia. Home owning is a whole other bag of stories but I’ll save that for some other time. For those of you currently living in apartments or other community-based living arrangements, hopefully you’ve had better luck than we have. If you’re holding out to make an eventual house purchase – good luck, you will get there! And remember, sleep tight my friends … and don’t let those bedbugs bite!

The Tale of My Imaginary Boyfriend

By: Karina Reeves

Like any child growing up in the 1970’s, I adored Sesame Street. But one thing always bothered me: why were Big Bird’s pals always just missing his best friend, Snuffleupagus I didn’t understand that he was Big Bird’s imaginary friend. I thought they must just have bad timing.

Fast forward 30 years and springtime had just thrown me my own Snuffleupagus. It all began on the dating website plentyoffish.com. I was browsing to see what kind of single men were located near me in New Jersey, using it as my Internet catalog of potential suitors. One day, while perusing my”catalog” I received an email from a very cute New Jersey guy who said he was hurt and disappointed when he saw I had viewed his profile but chose to move on without a word. I don’t know what it was about that email or profile but I couldn’t resist sending a saucy reply. And so our little mating dance was born. Little could I have known how something so spontaneous and simple could end up being anything but simple.

Ron was 36 and worked in the mortgage industry. He was funny, smart and I couldn’t wait to meet him in person. Almost immediately, I couldn’t remember what my life was like before he touched it. He became the first person I spoke to each morning and the last one I spoke to each night.

As we got to know each other, he told me he was up for a promotion and wanted to wait a little before meeting in person. Usually this would be a deal breaker but I was drunk on that romantic springtime air, so I went along. I broke my Internet dating rule, which says if I don’t have a face-to-face meeting after 5 conversations (whether texts, emails or phone calls) then I say goodbye because we’re wasting each other’s time. It doesn’t matter the reason because the bottom line is that the person is obviously not serious about meeting me.

With each text, email and phone call, time progressed—as did our feelings. Yes, there were red flags here and there but the good feelings were so good I told the doubts to “shut the hell up”. I’m guessing it became an addiction that I couldn’t live without anymore. Our conversations were so constant that often times I wondered how either of us got anything done but that kind of intensity can’t last forever. Ron sent the first “good-bye” email saying that we shouldn’t talk anymore because I deserved more than what he was willing to give me. It wasn’t fair to me and I wholeheartedly agreed. On paper it read more like a love letter than a good-bye and made me cry, but he was right—I did deserve more but I had hoped the “more” would come from him. It felt like such a complete cop out and I grieved for what could have been. Why was he ending it? Because he might have to relocate across the country if he got this great promotion? Who cares? I would be thrilled for him and would be fine taking it slow and seeing where these feelings could take us, even in a long-distance relationship. But it wasn’t fine with him. I moped around through the horrible springtime days with their fragrant flowers and disgusting blue skies hoping this rotten mood wouldn’t last forever.

Three days hadn’t gone by when Ron contacted me asking how I was. He was miserable and realized he was falling in love with me. I was ashamed to admit it but I felt the same way but that’s completely crazy! We couldn’t be falling in love! We had yet to meet in person. I had finally met a man that I could be myself with…except at that moment I wasn’t able to throw myself into his arms and revel in this news. Now that he has realized he’s fallen for me he had to meet me, right?

Wrong! After a month of more than 1,000 text messages, countless calls and emails I began to ask him the same question. I began to push and apparently one night I pushed too hard. He was pissed. HE was pissed?!!! What about ME? This time I wrote the love letter, I mean good-bye email. He replied with an “I love you but you deserve better.” Again, very true! And again, after a couple days Ron contacted me to say he missed me. The dance began again. Well, no one can say I’m not an optimist. They could say I’m naive (and, probably have) but, I thought we had a chance.

I was 37 years old and had been alone for a long time not unhappily but felt it would be nice to have someone in my life. I thought a little time with Ron was worth more than a lot of time with anyone else. He didn’t believe me. He said that the women in his life had said the same thing but hadn’t meant it. Well, not me. Anyone who knows me knows that I would rather be alone than with the wrong person. My mother always said that there are worse fates than being alone and she (as usual) is right. I told him real relationships were about compromise but apparently I was the only one willing to do so.

I hoped he would find out about the promotion soon because my patience and understand were nearing their end. Then one day he called very upset. He got the promotion and leaving New Jersey for the beaches of San Diego. He shared how he has worked his whole life to get here but didn’t understand why it didn’t hold the joy he thought it would. (Oh, I know you hear the swell of music but don’t get too excited.) He was committed to his plan and even love wouldn’t lead him off course. He cried as he delivered that news as if to let me know that it hurt him just as much as it did me. Because of the promotion he was emphatic never to meet because it would ruin everything. He would be a “goner” (his word) and trash his plan. Was I just slapped in the face or am I just that powerful a force? He loved me so of course, I would ruin his life. Who knew I had that kind of power? I felt confused and lost.

Inevitably, I began asking myself the usual questions: How did I get here? How could I have let myself get into this situation? It seemed so cliche. Who would have imagined a person could truly fall in love with someone they had never met, never touched, never would meet, never would touch, never would kiss? Not me. The ache I felt to see and touch him was nothing compared to the pain I felt knowing that he never really loved me (or, at least not enough) and that I had to let whatever this was…go. How is it possible that I had a broken heart if we’d never met? Sometimes I still ask myself that question when he pops into my mind.

You see, meeting through the Internet begins quite harmlessly. It’s safe, fun, uncomplicated and can quickly become a set-up for heartbreak. It allows you to feel open and free with the ability to truly be yourself because you’re behind that virtual wall. As we get older we tend to guard ourselves more when we are out in the face-to-face dating world but lose all common sense when browsing the Internet catalog of dating. I know I’m not the only person that fell head over heels for a Snuffleupagus.

I learned many things from my experience with my imaginary boyfriend. Even though I wasn’t seriously looking for a relationship somehow this man made me want to see where the journey would take me and it was fun (at least at first). I entered the experience honestly and with the truest intentions. Ron? I can’t speak for him. I can only speak for myself and some of the thoughts I’ve had over the past year. Yes, possibly this was just a game to him but for what purpose? I could torture myself thinking that the countless times he had told me he loved me were lies, but why? Is it so wrong to cherish the sweet and beautiful words he spoke and wrote to me? What good would it do to doubt what he had said to me? We wrote each other thousands of texts, emails that read like love letters and had sweet phone calls that lasted hours. I prefer to think what we shared was beautiful and so right in so many ways but not for what either of us needed or wanted at that moment in time—but it does not lessen the importance of it in our lives.

What do I feel about my Snuffleupagus a year later, as the aphrodisiac of spring re-emerges? Do I still love him? Am I still broken-hearted? As unbelievable as it probably sounds I did truly love him and the experience changed me. The one thing that I will tell you is that I love myself a hell of a lot more than before Ron entered my world. That’s the true love story here. Living through this bizarre love affair made me realize the love for me had to come from within myself before it could ever be found with someone else. I fell in love with myself and that will be a love that will never hurt me.

If I could tell Ron anything today it would that he was right. I do deserve more and the man that eventually catches me will be a very lucky man!

Karina Reeves has been a Marketing professional for over 15 years.  She now is turning some of that time toward her writing with humor, grace and a style that is all her own. Karina can be reached atkarinareeves@yahoo.com

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Overcome Grief By Strengthening Your Heart Chakra

By Alicia Parks

It’s been nearly a decade since I broke up with my boyfriend. Well, actually it’s been more like 8 months, but it’s certainly felt like an eternity. As time continues to pass and the wounds struggle to heal I’m becoming impatient with how long it’s taking to just get over it already! Is there a cure for a broken heart – other than time?

Strengthening Heart Chakras

There are the temporary fixes: ice cream, drinks with friends, a shopping spree (be it electronics or clothes), more drinks, more ice cream, and the random cute rebound. Or, the less than classy approach: angrily cutting up the pictures, burning gift and mementos into a roaring bonfire hoping the smoke will cloud the present and blur the past.

Then today in yoga, the instructor focused on the heart chakra. We moved through a series of heart openers to create space in the heart center: space to give and receive love. By my third back bend I had lost it. I gave in and let the tears flow. I felt a sudden moment of peace for the first time in months.

The heart chakra is the center of our harmony. When this energy point is balanced we feel loved and able to give love more freely. When this energy is imbalanced we feel closed off to love. The body can actually physically begin to draw more inward to close off and protect the heart center when this energy is low. However, when this energy point is balanced the heart center will open and the sternum will lift, shoulders will draw back thus allowing the energy to flow more openly.

Chakras are seven energy points within the body from the tail bone to the crown of the head. Each point is a spinning wheel of energy and depending if the energy is low, high or balanced, the spinning wheel will either be low and small, or increasingly fast and large.

The first chakra resonates at the base of the spine and is the color red. This is the center for being grounded. The second is the center for nourishment and is housed near the genitals below the navel. Its color is orange. Next is the yellow energy wheel in the solar plexus and the center for intention. The heart center is a green color. Above that is the throat chakra which is blue in color and where we find expression. The third-eye point , insight, is purple in color or depending on text could be a light blue color. Finally, the crown chakra-believed by some to be a white or clear energy or a purple color is where enlightenment, wisdom or higher spiritual knowledge is housed.

Since chakra energy is simply about finding balance, when our heart chakra is suffering from heart-ache, loss, grief or a recent breakup, perhaps focusing on charging this energy could be an alternative to time. Though many of us seek quick fixes to pain or inconvenience, a lesson in patience could be welcomed relief.

After a series of yoga classes in which I continued to focus more on the heart center through spine-strengthening sequences like cobra, locust and floor-bow to heart openers like camel and backbends I was able to let more and more go each time. Though I still have some healing to do, I believe very much that I gained a huge edge on my path to healing my heart. We may never fully understand why some relationships work and some don’t but at least there’s another option to healing.

Heart Openers

There are several beautiful options in yoga for opening the heart center. It’s simply a matter of leading with the heart, strengthening the core and spine and releasing tension hidden in the neck and shoulders. The simplest way to open the heart is proper posture-ensuring that shoulders are drawn away from the ears and down the back while pulling the naval to the spine (engaging the core).

In a standing series, taking a slight backbend while in Tadasana (Mountain Pose) is a simple and gentle option. Backbends are an effective way to open the heart as well as bring a bounty of energy into the body (which is why heart openers are best served in the morning and not before bed).

My breakthrough heart opener was in Urdhva Dhanurasana (wheel) and my continuous challenging heart opener is Ustrasana (Camel). It’s important to ensure the body is properly warmed up before engaging in heart openers since these poses require good core and spine strength. Opening the hips first (with poses such as Eka Pada Rajakasana (Pigeon)) will allow a more gentle and deeper benefit from heart openers. Other options include Dhanurasana (Bow Pose), Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (Bridge Pose), Bitilasana (Cow Pose), Matsyasana (Fish Pose), Salambhasana (Locust Pose), Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose) and even Urdva Mukha Svanasana (Upward Facing Dog).

For a gentle sequence after waking I recommend beginning with a few Sun Salutations starting with Balasana (Child’s Pose) moving on to Cat-Cow movement and on to plank pose. From there draw back to Audo Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog). Take a few deep breaths through the nose and slowly arrive to Uttanasana (forward fold). Slowing arrive to Tadasana (Mountain Pose) and take a gentle back bend. Release to Uttanasana then back to Tadasana with a back bend and flow through this a few times. From Uttanasana step back to high plank pose again and then release all the way to the ground on the belly. Inhale into Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose). Exhale to release and then inhale into Salambhasana (Locust Pose). Exhale to release and flow through these two poses a few more times. Take time between each movement and then release back Balasana (Child’s Pose) to focus on the breath and the energy in the heart chakra. Come back to Cat-Cow movement and then come to standing on knees. Close the sequence with a long, slow flow into Ustrasana (Camel) pose. Take up to six full inhalations and exhalations before letting go and slowly find a seat with eyes closed. Absorb the energy created and released around the heart center. Acknowledge any emotions that may have come up and know that which no longer serves no longer has a hold on the heart center.

“Learn, grow, live… And then write about it!” Alicia started her path to wellness and environmental leadership at Wild Oats, following college graduation with a degree in journalism. Her passion for natural living, environment, and wellness set the foundation for a future with Aveda where she is currently a marketing manager and manages the yoga program for staff and students. She is a certified yoga instructor and received her training through Core Power. Her favorite pose is handstand, though she is still working on mastering it. Her writing is a continuous practice, much like yoga, and began when she published her first book at age 12 called, “What Mothers and Fathers Do Best.” She is a proud mother of a 6-year-old boy, Tyler, the source for her inspiration to live in the moment-be mindful-be gracious and flow. Tyler is currently publishing one book a week, his latest being the “ABC of Animals.”

Read Alicia’s other article, “Getting Back to the Yoga Mat“.

A Look At An Old New Chapter of Love

Elle Mathews

I was fresh out of high school and ready for a new chapter in my life. Most of my friends went away to college but I chose community college for the first two years. I wanted to save money plus I didn’t have a clue where I wanted to go yet. There were many things I didn’t expect when I started this new chapter in my life. I didn’t expect the classes, especially community college, to be harder than high school or that I wouldn’t easily make friends. I didn’t expect that I would change majors and I certainly didn’t expect to be in a two year relationship. During high school, I didn’t study half as much as I did, I had a good amount of friends and my relationships were two boyfriends in 10th and 11th grades that both lasted about three months.

My new life chapter ended up being a lonely and confusing time but my newest HE was there to pick up the pieces. In the beginning the relationship was new and exciting. He took me out to dinner practically every other night. He would buy things for me that I didn’t ask for and we went to places that I never had been. He showed me how wonderful someone could be treated. But then after awhile, something happened. I began to see we were on two different paths in our lives. Even though he was only three years older then me, (he was 21 and I was 18) he was a couple of stages ahead of me in his life and it started to show. He was finished with college, had a decent job and made decent money. Plus he made extra money working some weekends at a local store. I had just started college, had a part time job and struggled to even pay my tuition. He established himself by the age of 21 and I had no idea what my future held. We tried to find things in common. He thought my friends were immature. I thought his friends were boring. When I went to parties with my friends, I would get lectured about underage drinking. Then I started relying on him for too much. He melted away my problems, fixed anything that was broken and bought me anything that I wanted but couldn’t afford. He even got me a part time job where he worked on the weekends. I convinced myself that I needed him to do almost everything for me to the point where I felt vulnerable without him.

I look back at this now and I don’t believe his intentions were to belittle or control me but to secure his place in the relationship. He was trying to prove to me that I needed him and he succeeded. He wanted so much for my affection that I feel he took it too far. After he broke up with me, my confidence and independence were shattered and it took me awhile to get them back. I learned to never rely that much on a person again. Because life is full of trials and tribulations, I must experience them to live. I just don’t have to do it alone.

The ironic part of it all was that in the end he cheated on me with a “friend” that we both worked with at the store. They were engaged within a couple of months. Working there was a daily reminder of what he did to me until I went away to college six months later. I was humiliated in front of all my coworkers and I went through one of the hardest experiences of my life. The one person who would give me the world for my affection became the one person that hurt me the most.

Elle Mathews is currently trying to break into a field that fits her interests and inventive mind. She has a passion for the performing arts, writing, video editing/TV production and creativity. She can’t get enough of beautiful scenery and wants to see the world. Elle is experienced at dating and online dating and has much to share with our readers. Elle is always up for learning and trying new experiences.

By Elle Mathews

I guess it all started when I was in junior high school.  His name was Chuckie. After fifteen years I still remember like it was yesterday. I still remember how my heart was beating twenty miles an hour.  I was hoping he couldn’t hear it pounding through my chest. We were outside my house under the last streetlight on the block. I came up to his neck so I stood on the curb while he remained on the street. He didn’t move. He didn’t make a sound. Our faces were only inches from each other. His breath smelled like musty spearmint. I closed my eyes. The urge to jump out of my skin was so powerful that what happened next was a blur.  It happened faster then it started. When we finally stepped apart from each other, I tasted his breath on my lips. The only word I could say when it was over was bye. He stared at the ground then hopped on his bike. He didn’t say a word. Then suddenly I woke up from what felt like a dream. Why wasn’t he saying anything? Did I not do it right? I tried to go over it in my mind. But it was still a blur.  Did he have a manual on this subject that I didn’t know about?  Did I not follow it?  As these questions were screaming in my head, he looked up directly into my eyes  He smiled. Not just a smile, but one that melted away the now ridiculous analytical thoughts in my head. I fell back into my dream. At that moment the earth could have opened up and tried to swallow me whole, but it would be too late. I was on a cloud floating too far away from the ground.  It was my first kiss and after fifteen years, I remember it like it was yesterday.

That was the beginning.  It was the beginning of a journey towards a first love, heartaches, and the eventual introduction of online dating. Since there isn’t a course like Love 101, I learn only from my experiences. Even if I continue to find Mr. Wrong, I’m still finding that I’m learning more about myself and what I want in a relationship and in a companion. I find that after heartache, I come out stronger and apply that strength towards everyday life. With every new relationship, touches, feelings and words are more passionate then the next. I don’t take love for granted. I cherish every single one of my relationships with friends and family. In the end it’s all about the journey, not the destination.

Elle Mathews is currently trying to break into a field that fits her interests and inventive mind.  She has a passion for the performing arts, writing, video editing/TV production and creativity.  She can’t get enough of beautiful scenery and wants to see the world. Elle is experienced at dating and online dating and has much to share with our readers. Elle is always up for learning and trying new experiences.

By Ryan Matty

10. Pumpkins are nature’s medicine ball. Pumpkin “lifts” are an all natural way to get buff using nature. Pumpkins can weigh anywhere from 1 to 100 pounds, so if you can, use them to work out.

9. Pumpkin Pie is a great post-lifting snack because it contains simple and complex carbohydrates, as well as minimal protein to re-fuel your body after you lift weights.

8. Carve a pumpkin and watch a scary movie for a great fall date night with your significant other. Use the resulting Jack O’ lantern as a lamp for when you are scared of the dark during the movie!

7. Tired of your average morning cup of coffee? Try pumpkin pie spice creamer in your coffee, or pumpkin spiced ground coffee beans. You will get the caffeine kick and the great taste of fall in your mug at the same time.

6. Need a fancy centerpiece or bowl at the dinner table? Try a hollowed-out pumpkin filled with gourds, pine cones, or whatever you like! Be creative.

5. Toast pumpkin seeds for a low-fat, high-protein snack. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Toss seeds lightly in an oil of your choice and apply salt, old bay seasoning, cinnamon and sugar, or any other seasoning you’d like and bake for about 30 minutes. This is a great snack or healthy salad topper instead.

4. Pumpkin puree, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and a pinch of sugar folded into plain yogurt makes a tasty, healthy dessert. The fiber in the puree, and protein in the yogurt will satisfy hunger craving or sweet tooth and keep you full for quite some time.

3. Bath and Body works makes a great pumpkin spiced hand soap for die-hard pumpkin aficionados! If you need pumpkin to infiltrate every part of your life, than try pumpkin hand soap.

2. Check your local beer store for a pumpkin flavored beer. Fall in a glass! Dogfish Head craft brewery of Milton, DE makes a great example of this style. The pumpkin flavor and malt backbone is balanced nicely by the hop presence in the beer.

1. Sorry Campbell’s and Progresso. Homemade pumpkin soup is the perfect dinner on a cold fall night. A quick internet search can yield a variety of recipes, but I have a basic recipe you can follow. (You can make this vegetarian if you like, but I use meat):

Start by sautéing 1Tbsp of olive oil on medium high heatSlowly add sausage chunks and brown them (Vegetarians use Boca Sausage)
Add 1 medium chopped onion and sautee with the onions.
After browning, deglaze with ½ cup of Sherry.
In a separate pan, melt 1 TBSP of butter and add flour to make a roux. Add that to the meat/onion mixture.
Slowly add 1 container of vegetable stock or chicken stock along with 2 cups of water. Mix well.
Add one 16 oz can of pumpkin puree. Bring to a simmer.
Slowly add heavy cream until desired consistency.
I use the following spices, and you can adjust amounts accordingly: Sage, Ginger, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Salt, and Pepper.
To garnish, you can add a small handful of toasted pumpkin seeds.

Always a science person, Ryan Matty works as an Analytical chemist at a major Biotechnology Company. He holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Environmental Science and is currently pursuing a Master’s of Science in Environmental Science. In his spare time, Ryan enjoys golfing, lifting weights, hiking, flag football, company softball, watching Steelers football, camping, and jogging. He tries to be green so he practices what he preaches. He drives a VW Golf TDI and eats a healthy, organic diet. In addition, Ryan loves good beer and what the craft brewing industry has done in the last 25 years. His favorite season is Autumn.

Read more articles by Ryan Matty: Ten Great Beers You Must Try.