Monday, June 16
The weather has been amazing with blue, sunny skies and warm temps. I was in a great mood. I went to work for a few hours in the morning, to get through some imminent deadlines. Then I enjoyed lunch with a few of my co-workers before finishing up my day in the office before heading out to the zoo to help my co-worker pour our wines for our distributor’s northwest wines tasting for the local trade. There was a pretty good turnout and I saw several colleagues – it was nice to catch up with familiar faces in the Portland food and wine world. It would have been even more nice if I could have seen some of the animals at the zoo. There were a bunch of wild rugrats running all over the place on my way out, all on their final leg, soon to tucker out, and I decided that was animal enough for me.
After, I scooted on home to change, put my hair in pigtails, and get to the Tualatin Island Greens golf center. I bought a new glove and a medium bucket of balls. I went through my drills, confident in my consistency. Only my second time out since September, I was pleased with the level of improvement in my swing since my great lessons last summer and fall. I challenged myself to reach a pin about 85-90 yards ahead. All five of my shots ended up within 2-5 yards of the pin. I don’t have a driver, but I use my 3 wood for my long tee shots. I consistently hit five balls straight down the fareway for about 275 yards (where each ball eventually rolled and ended). I was pretty psyched – and all because I was consistent. My challenge on the course has often been figuring out the right club and knowing how long and consistent I’d need to hit that club. I finally felt like I’m getting a better feel for each club and for my ability to successfully hit each club. It’s a pretty cool discovery.
I then drove to Safeway in King City to pick up some groceries. I was in the mood for a taco salad – for it, I bought fresh tomatoes from Canada (no salmonella scare there – these maters had been cleared); butterleaf lettuce with radicchio; pitted black olives; a colorful medley of organic peppers; organic tortilla chips and a can of organic black beans. I bought a nice cilantro and garlic chipotle salsa that I knew would make for a nice ‘dressing’. I already had a Mexican blend of cheeses at home.
I also bought local organic raspberries that looked amazing; white nectarines; gluten-free waffles; lite orange juice; organic pickles to take with me to work for lunch; and a couple of Amy’s frozen gluten-free bowls. I love grocery shopping, so I get a sense of great accomplishment when I write up my shopping lists and cross them off as I pick out the items on the list. I get a recycled sense of accomplishment when I type it out, too. I know, I really need to find a new hobby.
I unloaded the groceries and immediately made my taco salad. It was more than satisfying. It was everything I needed to end my perfectly happy day. Good flavors, sustenance, just the right portion, and just the right balance of crunchy and soft and supple. The butterleaf was the perfect lettuce to use. I had a small glass of orange juice to go with it.
An hour or so after dinner I did about 150 crunches. I finished with a cup of Yogi Chamomile tea and relaxed.
I didn’t get any writing done – I wanted to work on my book edits and some of the northwest themed poetry I’ve been writing. I had been thinking a lot about food for some of my poems, with nettles and fiddlehead ferns topping my list of poetic vegetation. But writing, more than anything else in my life, can’t be forced. I need to figure out how to better balance my day to fit in my job, exercise, golf, cooking and yes, when able, writing. It’s a challenge to dedicate the time I need for my writing. I try not to let this get me down and, instead, aim to be proactive with the time I do get. It’s always all about striking a balance. Which is normally exhausting just thinking about it. I fantasize about having more time, all of the time. And cash. I’m just sayin.
