Day 338: Oregon’s Buddhist Teas, Gluten Gut, Kinder-Nightmares of Jaws & The Beach Volleyball Workout

Wednesday, August 20

This morning I was a little sluggish.  It was gray outside, overcast,  with more rain in the forecast.  It was cool out, a nice break between 100+ temperatures at the end of last week and the forecasted high 80′s low 90′s forecasted for the end of this week.

I had an especially busy day at work and got caught up on a lot of projects.  It rained all morning.  I had Amy’s Kitchen green tamale with black beans for lunch, a new favorite.  I’ve been drinking Diet Coke lately, which I’m not too pleased about.  I’m a water drinker, but I think water has been boring me, or something.  Perhaps I should pick up some Vitamin Water for a healthier change.  I’m not really a juice drinker because of all of the sugars and calories. 

I do drink hot tea, which, I enjoyed a Tazo tea this morning.  I have been drinking just Yogi tea for a long while, as I love the quality, that it’s organic, and the health benefits.  Today, I had the Ōm Tazo tea.  It was delightful.  It’s a blend of high-grown organic Darjeeling green and black teas with natural flavors of cucumber and peach.  No wonder I love this! 

The package reads (and I transcribe this without permission):
The word Ōm is frequently seen on prayer wheels, stones and flags as you walk through the Himalayas.  To merely say it releases a vibration of peace.  Imagine what happens when you drink it.

Oregon packages great teas, what can I say!  Tazo is based in Portland and Yogi is based in Eugene.

Once again, I was the last to leave work at 6:45 p.m.  I locked up and listened to my 80′s New Wave CD.  I’ve been loving the Roxy Music song “More Than This” and have reminisced on how much I love Bryan Ferry.  Perhaps I should just go ahead and get a friggin’ I-Pod.  I am probably the last person on the planet who still listens to CDs.  Yup, I even travel with my Disk Man.  What can I say?  I like tradition.  And antiques, apparently. 

When I got home, I changed and walked over to the gym.  I ran for 30 minutes, which felt really good. Here’s a crazy thing.  When I was at my yoga class on Sunday, I caught a profile glimpse of my body in the mirror and my belly was still uber swollen from gluten contamination a week ago.  Gluten Gut.  It was crazy.  It disgusted me, as I’m used to having a flat, strong stomach.  Well, this evening, I caught a glimpse of my body in the mirror at the gym, and my stomach was flat again.  I lifted up my shirt just a little, I was the only person in the gym, which is usually the case, which I really, really love, and sure enough my stomach looked normal again.  There was the usual little pooch, which I affectionately call my Buddha Belly.  But, all in all, it was healthy again.  I sighed with relief and then cranked the speed up on the treadmill.

For dinner I made an organic, gluten-free brown-rice super thin-crusted pizza with fresh ingredients, including wet mozz, minced garlic, a little tomato sauce, which I topped off with fresh basil when I pulled it out of oven.  I poured a glass of refreshing limeade and then made a small crab salad with organic, fresh ingredients – white cabbage, butterleaf and radiccho lettuces, red onion, green onion, cilantro and lime topped with a lite Caesar dressing by Annie’s.  I was satisfied with my dinner.

After, I enjoyed a cup of Yogi Indian Spice tea with a Pamela’s brand gluten-free shortbread, chocolate chip and pecan cookie.  My Yogi tea fortune on the tea tag read:  Share your strengths, not your weaknesses.

I watched Jaws 2 this evening, as one of the local channels is doing a week of Jaws movies.  I can’t help it.  It’s been years since I’ve seen these movies.  And, it has to be said, the first one was by far the scariest.  The music , the suspense and even the shark put all other sequels to shame.  In Jaws 2, the shark looked so fake that I wasn’t even scared.  I laughed.  That’s right.  I laughed at the fake man-eating great white killer shark.  Still, if I had to jump in the ocean tomorrow I’d crap my suit.  I’m just sayin’…

I lit some sweetgrass incense to relax.  I just love the wonderful scents that I have.  I watched the women’s beach volleyball in Beijing.  I sware.  I said the same thing after the Athens Games.  I’ve got to start playing beach volleyball.  They have the best bodies!  Super abs.  That’s what I want.  Misty May-Treanor and Kerry Walsh, the American women volleyball pair, are my idols!  I am going to do 150 crunches tonight before bed.  No.  Make that 200.  I can do that.  I’m training for beach volleyball.  It’s summer.  It’s the Olympics.  I just need to find a beach that’s not as far as the coast.  And a tall partner.  And time.  If only I had more time…

Read Full Post »

Day 337: Dinner at Red Hills & Remembering Jaws

Tuesday, August 19

I woke up to a rainy morning.  The rain was good and definitely needed out here in the northern Willamette.  I stretched and went downstairs to get in ten solid sun salutation yoga poses and 100 crunches.  I ate a half cup of cantaloupe for breakfast nd felt refreshed.

On my way to work, I headed over to Target to get materials to create place cards for our wine dinner on Saturday.  I was going with a green leaf theme.  When I got to the office, I had a meeting regarding our wine dinner over lunch.  I brought Amy’s Kitchen green tamale with cheese, which is obviously gluten-free. 

In the afternoon, I met a former colleague, a wine broker from mid-Atlantic, at winery.  We tasted through our line up and then I gave him a quick tour of the cellar.  After, we drove the back roads to Dundee and had dinner at Red Hills Provincial Dining.  It has such a beautiful dining room, much like a California bungalow, with old dark wood siding and built in cabinets, etc.

I ordered the Montrachet small plate to start, a single roll of warm goat cheese and herbs wrapped in grape leaves, and replaced the crostini with sliced apple and celery, for a gluten-free option, which also came with whole roasted garlic and marinated olives.  It was delicious.  We selected a bottle of Scott Paul Pinot noir.  And then I ordered the duck confit for dinner with chicken sausage and mixed vegetables.  The food was truly delightful.  And because it was cold and rainy, it was comfort cuisine.  They had an amazing ice cream and sorbet selection – I had to have four tiny scoups because I wanted to try them all!  It was hard enough to narrow it down to four flabors.   I was able to decide on the fig sorbet, cherry chocolate praline, lavender ice cream and pomegranate coconut. I finished with a cup of decaf cappuccino.

When I got home, I watched Jaws on television – the only horror movie that really ever scared the crap out of me because, well, shark attacks can actually happen.  I remember swimming on the swim team as a kid and I was six years old and I stood stoic on the block ready for my race when my mother, who was timing in the next lane, called over, “think of Jaws.”  Child abuse!  By the time the started shot the cap gun, I was shaking the whole 25 meter length of the pool.  The pool was shaped like a “Z”.  I was swimming free style.  As I approached the end where the deep top of the “Z” was, to my left, I peered over and could have sworn Jaws was in there coming for me!  I never paddled and kicked so hard in my life.  Needless to say, I won the race.  Got a blue ribbon.

Read Full Post »

Day 335: Return to Brunch, Yoga Union & the Battle with the Ants

Sunday, August 17Alas, another morning of ants welcoming me in my kitchen.  It’s been pretty ridiculous.  I couldn’t deal.  So, I took the water bottle, sprayed the trail, wiped up the casualties, and then sprayed a corner baseboard with Raid where the persistent ants seemed to seep through.

 

I had to get out.  I met the girls, Susan and Kerry, at Everett Street Bistro for brunch.  We had’t had brunch in ages.  And I hadn’t seen them in forever.  We had lots to catch up on.  I ordered my scrambled eggs with mushrooms and a side of rosti potatoes, with a glass of orange juice.  Then I gave Susan her present.

After, we walked up to our favorite shop, Anthropologie.  There were so many adorable things, from pajamas to cute fall sweaters.  I practiced incredible self control and left before getting too tempted.

I drove up Hawthorne to go to Yoga Union for the hot yoga class.  I had been longing for yoga since before I left for Montana.  I hadn’t practiced in so long – except for some sun salutations here and there.  It was a really tough class for me.  My muscles shook, barely holding some of the positions, but it was a welcome challenge. 

When I got home, I was ready for another challenge.  To combat this militant ants needed to be pushed out for good.  So, I moved furniture, I vacuumed the floor up, all along the baseboards, sucking up any crum of kitchen glory, or from the kitties’ dishes, and then washed the floors to remove the scent of the original ant trails.  Next, I sprayed Raid along every base board where the ants had been bunkering.  I pulled out the trash can, that had a major infestation – it was pretty gross, and I hauled it outside to do the proper fumigation.  It would have to get washed out over the weekend.  Meantime, I would have to dispose of food in the garbage disposal and carefully throw things away, mindful of what has fallen to the kitchen floor and gone unnoticed.  Nope, I would have to be more careful.   

I sat down for a little while to rest.  I took a much needed shower post hot yoga and this mad cleaning session.  It was still very hot in my apartment, the humidity unbearable, and the shower cooled me off significantly.  I made a pizza with a gluten-free rice and potato crust I had never tried before.  I heated it up in the oven and then removed it to brush it with olive oil, and then I topped it with a thinly sliced heirloom tomato,  wet mozzarella, and goat cheese soaked in olive oil and basil, with garlic and red pepper on top, finished with sea salt and black pepper.  I baked it for about ten minutes.  It was incredible.  I ate half of the small pizza.

 

I then made a delicious salad of butterleaf and radicchio lettuces, white cabbage, topped with heirloom green tomato, and a fresh salsa made of diced red tomato, green onion, red onion, cilantro and lime.  Finally, I topped it with fresh crab claw and drizzled a creamy Caesar dressing by Amy’s Kitchen, careful not to use too much dressing.  It was amazing.

 

I have just thirty days left for this blog, just a month.  Have I even begun to find love in all of its manifestations?  I can’t help but wonder about this.  It’s the purpose behind this journaling journey.  It’s strange.  I think I have found plenty of love in my life.  I am lucky.  Blessed even.  Apart from the seemingly mundane actions of my daily life, I have found my share of good things, things that I have come to love.  I know it’s not the same as finding the kind of love you share with that special someone, I’m not even convinced I am supposed to be with one someone.  But, I have come to appreciate the other loves of my life - my gluten-free life, my artistic-creative life, my dear friends who continue to show me how good life is when you have a cadre of soul sisters, and my long-distanced family back east who have made my phone my second heart beat.  Yes, I have lots of love in my life.  Lots of good love.  And I do know when to count my blessings.

 

Before I went to bed I checked in on the ant situation.  They were nowhere to be found.  This round, I won.

Read Full Post »

Day 274: Afternoon at the Zoo, Pigtails on the Driving Range & A Writer’s Woes

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.

 

Read Full Post »

Day 261: Responding to a Sinus Infection

Tuesday, June 3

I was sick just three months ago!  What’s going on??  I believe when we fall to illness it’s a sign that something’s wrong. 

I once read that when you have a sore throat it’s your body subconsciously responding to withholding something you need to tell someone, or when you’re not feeling like you’re being heard, and your throat is holding what’s backed up, literally what’s unsaid, and your immune system reacts to it the same way it would attack an allergen or toxin that enters your body.  There was a term for it, that’s slipping my mind…

There are many health challenges for those living with an autoimmune disease.  You’re more at risk for getting sick.  I haven’t been taking my one-a-day vitamins, I really haven’t been getting enough sleep each night, and I haven’t been taking my other immune enhancing supplements, like my probiotics.  What’s worse, I have been stressed.  Put all those variables together and I should not be surprised that I got sick.  Clearly, I need to get balanced.

I never went to sleep last night.  It was probably one of the worst nights of my life!  I continued to get so congested that my whole face, jaw and teeth hurt!  I couldn’t get comfortable and it’s just impossible for me to sleep when I cannot breathe.  I began to feel like I was suffocating.  What could that mean?  I mean, if a sore throat is the result of not able to say what you want to say, then does suffocating mean you couldn’t reach your prana* in yoga class?  (*prana is sanscrit for “breath” and is similar to “chi” in Chinese – it’s the life energy that runs through all things).

Anyway.   I kept getting up to drink water, then to go to the bathroom, then to go back to bed, over and over again.  Until I called my mother at 4:45 in the morning (it was 7:45 east coast time).  I just needed to hear her comforting voice.  I don’t do sick very well.  I admit I morph into a mamma’s baby.  I need to be taken care of, I need the comfort and sympathy.  I can’t help it.  That’s just me when I’m sick.

But mom didn’t sound super concerned and told me that I should just try to get back to bed, and try to sleep for a couple of hours.  So that’s what I did.  I tried.  And I managed to squeeze in one meager, hazy hour of moderate sleep.

I finally gave up and went downstairs and made myself a nourishing bowl of gluten free oatmeal and a cup of Yogi India Spice tea.  I turned on the Today Show and then called a doctor’s office within our insurance network to try to get an appointment.  I was still very painfully congested.  I administered 45 more drops of the Wellness supplement.  It’s important to keep that going.  At some point over the course of the wee hours in the morning, I tried out a sample of Nasonex that my allergist gave me.  It didn’t do a thing.  So I needed some serious relief.

I managed to schedule an appointment for the afternoon, the nurse actually squeezed me in, and then I got to work.  I checked email, responsed to a bunch of emails, worked on editing brochure copy, and wrote up a draft for a press release on the winery construction project.  I actually got a lot of work done, considering I was feeling like road kill not yet dead.

I eventually left for my doctor’s appointment and headed over to a nearby cake decorating shop to pick up a cake top decoration for a co-worker’s birthday cake.  On my way back home I stopped by Safeway and used a gift card my mom had sent me, which was so nice.  I bought some essentials, including KleenEx with aloe lotion and cocoa butter cream with vitamin E for my very raw and irritated nose and upper lip – thanks to all the rough tissue I had been using.  I also picked up more Riccola losenges.   And then more orange juice and fresh cherries.

I had called in an order of chicken pho with rice noodles from Pacific Breeze.  I brought it home and enjoyed the super comforting heat and flavors of the soup.  And then it was back to work, checking and responding to emails.  I took my first antibiotic for my sinus infection.

FREE TIP:  I must say the cocoa butter was the best thing I had ever used on a sore, raw nose from too much tissue action!  I used to use Nose Better, but it would sting and it was too gooey.  The cococa-B plus v-E not only did not sting, but it soothed almost immediately.  My face is less red and irritated because of it.

I was slowly opening up, the congestion still there but not quite so bad.  And my throat was still sore, but again, not like the night before.  I was able to use my neti pot, with salts from the south of France, now that my sinuses were opening up.

Later, I made myself Amy’s Kitchen Tamale Verdi in cheese.  I had a few gluten free flax and corn chips.  I drank a cup of Matcha green tea with orange blossom honey.  I felt like I got an even balance of healthy food and plenty of fluids, sustenance rich in antioxidants, omega 3s, the kind of stuff that boosts your immune system and helps fight inflamation. 

But by the evening I was really hot and dazed.  I took my temperature and had a 100.8 fever.  I only had two Tylenol, which expired in May.  I was tired and groggy.  I had some fresh cherries and a cherry-raspberry popsickle, which was soothing to my burning, raw throat.  I then took three flax seed oil supplements and another dose of Wellness herbal drops.

On the news, Clinton simply stated in her speech tonight that she would make no decisions tonight.  She didn’t concede, nor did she indicate whether or not she would accept the Vice Presidential candidate for Obama’s ticket.  18 million votes was pretty amazing.  I was proud of her.  It wasn’t an easy campaign and she did really well.

I tried to meditate and clear myself a little so that I could get some restorative and much needed sleep.

Read Full Post »

Day 259: Farewell My Mandolin, More Books on Writing, Fine Brew Pub Cuisine & A Thankful Haiku

Sunday, June 1

Well, June opened with a cool, crappy weather day.  I got up with some really good intentions for how I should spend my day.  I thought about going to either a yoga or a pilates class at Yoga Pearl, followed by a sauna and steam at Löyly.  Then, I was going to meet a Craig’s List buyer to sell my bluegrass mandolin.  Then, I thought I’d go to the Writer’s Dojo.  But, my day unfolded a little different.

I met the Craig’s List buyer at Powell’s downtown and we made the exchange.  He was very nice and we chatted for a bit about the instrument.  He wore an Oriole’s jacket and I told him I was born in the same hospital as Cal Ripken, Jr.  That was a good sign!  He’s from Bethesda, Maryland – not far from where I grew up.  I told him that I tend to get attached to things and that I was a little sad to sell the mandolin, but, I was happy it was going to someone who was going to play it.  It’s a pretty instrument and should be played.  It was just sitting in the corner of my aparment, silenced.  He was sweet – he said he’d email me to let me know how the mandolin’s doing.  Then, a nice quick cup of coffee at Peet’s to chat about mandolin classes and music books.  The money I made from the sell, which was a bit less than what I paid for it, will go into my savings account.

I then went back to Powell’s to peruse the writer’s section.  I finally picked up a copy of Elizabeth Lyon’s book Nonfiction Book Proposals Anybody Can Write.  I have heard much praise about Anne Lamott’s book on writing, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life.  I also picked up a used copy of The Art of Nonfiction by Ayn Rand.  And finally, I got a copy of Barbara Kingsolver’s book of essays, Small Wonder.  I really dislike writing short fiction and so I want to develop my essay writing skills.

As I was walking down 11th Street in the Pearl, not sure where my footsteps should take me, I approached the new Deschutes Brewery Pub and noticed my co-worker and her husband.  They waved and I smiled.  It was a pleasant surprise!  I went inside to say hello.  They kindly asked me to join them.  It was really wonderful. 

The design was very spacious, open with great seating areas.  There’s a large, round table on top of a barrel with cool barstools around it.  There were a few wooded arches between seating areas with really cool carvings.  It was very rustic and yet very beautiful.

Deschutes did not have their low gluten beer available anymore – to my dismay.  So, I ordered a glass of Oregon Viognier.  I was handed a gluten-free menu, which was nice.  I ordered the sausage, duck prosciutto and salami appetizer with pickled veggies and a side of french fries – that were cooked in a fryer that does not fry breaded foods.  So, it was all safe and very good late lunch.  Probably the best pub food I’ve ever had, next to Old Dominion Brewery in Ashland, Virginia.

My friends ordered a beer sampler and really liked the brews they tried.  They each ordered a different brew with their food.  After we settled the tab, I went to the front concierge and asked if I could fill out a comment card to request they keep the low gluten brew (it’s like 90% gluten free) on the menu, and even pleaded they create a 100% gluten free beer to have available.  They sold out of their brew in two weeks – I would say that indicates there’s a market for it!

After, I drove back home and headed to Whole Foods at Bridgeport Village.  My mom had sent me a nice gift card.  I picked up my cosmetic night cream, daily moisturizer and toner, since I was running low.  I found gluten-free mini blueberry muffins by Kinnikinnick.  I also found cinnamon raisin bagels by Enjoy Life, which I’ve picked up there before.  Amy’s Kitchen has a new product, too, the gluten-free Tamale Verde in two versions – black bean and cheese.  I was so excited!  Amy’s also now makes a gluten free personal pizza, which was very exciting, as well.  I also picked up Yogi tea in Cammomile and Stomach Ease.

I had the Tamale Verde in black bean for dinner.  It was fantastic!  I made a cup of Yogi Cammomile tea and kicked back  while I flipped through my new books.

My sister informed me she was sending me a check for my L.J.S.W. Fund -which made me laugh, but I honestly appreciated.  I worked on a customized haiku for her, which I am going to put into a design and then frame it for her. 

Read Full Post »

Day 247: Taking Care; Staying Focused and Mindful; & Feeling Gratitude

Tuesday, May 20

I woke up to a cool, rainy morning.  My windows were open and the room was refreshing.  I did not sleep very well last night – part of the blame was that I couldn’t get comfortable, the other part my “allergies”.  So, I allowed myself ample time to wake up.  My sinuses were still killing me, my eyes were swollen, red and itchy. 

I kept progressing with some major projects in the queue for work.  I have been really pleased with the design work I’ve been coming up with, and thus have enjoyed the process.  The day flew by with very focused work.

I am pleased with my diet, as well.  I had a gluten-free cereal blend for breakfast, including Perky’s Nutty Flax and Enjoy Life’s Cinnamon Crunch Granola topped with fresh, organic strawberries and Silk Light Vanilla soy milk.    I had a cup of Yogi Detox tea mid-morning, as I read in a naturopath’s newsletter the need for spring cleansing and detoxification.  For lunch I enjoyed a can of Pacific Food’s Organic Savory Chicken & Wild Rice Soup and a bottle Vitamin Water.  For a snack, I had an organic local apple spread with Kettle brand crunchy peanut butter.  Finally, for dinner I had the second half of my Amy’s rice crust pizza with fresh organic buffalo mozzerella, yellow tomato and basil.  I also had a small organic Romaine salad with red cabbage, grape tomatos, sweet yellow pepper, pumpkin seeds.  I drank about 7 glasses of water and finished my evening with a cup of Yogi’s Bedtime tea.

Focus is my mantra.  I am making a concerted effort to improve my diet, to follow it carefully and to forego dining out, if needed to insure gluten-free relief.

My belly remains slightly swollen.  I have the dermatitis herpetiformis, the associated rash with Celiac disease.  It’s on my belly, on my shoulders, on my forearms and hands, and on the inside of my knees.  Luckily, it’s not too bad.  I’m not depressed, and I haven’t really had anxiety, other than that which comes with financial stress.  The incline of the price of gas doesn’t help – there was one station in the region that climbed up to $3.99 a gallon.  This is very troubling to me.  I’m going to start seeking coupons online and I’d really like to garden this summer to save some money, as well.

After work I went to the gym and got on the exercise bike for 40 minutes.  I hadn’t had a cardio workout in a few days, so this was really nice.  It felt good to get the bloodflow going.

I tried to organize my writing – I am trying to send off some prose and poetry for publication.  My hope is to make some extra cash and build my resume of published work.  I feel really good about the quality of my latest work.

In the spirit of doing nice things for myself, I decided to take a shower this evening.  Okay, that might sound weird.  But I never take showers at night.  And that’s not good.  It’s vital to rinse of the dirt and oils from the day.  I remember Rinpoche this spring mentioned this was very important when practicing Tibetan Buddhism.  It’s a meditative, respectful way to end your day, to cleanse your body and spirit.  I was having significant congesion, runny nose, sinus pressure and itchy, swollen eyes.  The evening shower really helped to clear me.

After drying off, I applied a comforting Derma-E moisturizing, antiseptic cream with tea tree oil and vitamin E to my body, especially where my rash has been.  It was very soothing.  I applied an herbal, organic facial mask and sat on the sofa with a heated lavendar-rosemary-sage shoulder wrap, an aromatherapy, heat-massaging pillow.   This was good.  This was very, very good.  I breathed in slowly, meditatively, mindfully.

I watched the evening news to see the results for today’s elections.  For the primaries, Obama took Oregon, Clinton took Kentucky.  Obama is a couple hundred electorial pledged delegates’ votes ahead, marking a milestone.  I am disappointed for Hillary, and for American women, but it ain’t over just yet.  Either way, this is by far the most exciting political election I have ever experienced!  History is in the making and change is certainly on the cusp.

Another interesting election was for Mayor of Portland - popular and young candidate, Sam Adams, easily took that win.  It was a grassroots campaign.  He’s smart, innovative, progressive and committed to making Portland an even better city.  Needless to say, it’s been an engaging political night in Oregon. 

By the time I finished this blog, I was breathing clear, calm and relaxed, truly ready for restorative sleep.  And thus I must feel gratitude.

Read Full Post »

Day 245: Shooting Hoops, Gluten-Free Pizza Margherita & An Ayurvedic Foot Soak

Sunday, May 18

I got to bed later than intended last night.  3:00 a.m.!  So I slept in this morning.  I had left the window open and a cool breeze gently passed through.  I finally got out of bed just before noon. 

I watched the X Files movie on t.v. and ate a nice, light salad.   I’m looking forward to the upcoming sequel.  It’s going to be a great summer movie season!

I got caught up on my blog and other writing projects.  When the movie was over, I took the trash out and drove over to Cook Park, near Tigard High School, to shoot hoops at the basketball courts.  Three guys asked if they could join me.  They seemed to be my age.  The one guy’s wife sat on a blanket near us and read a book.  They were all very nice and I enjoyed the fun and excercise of shooting baskets.  I did pretty well, considering it’s been awhile since I touched my basketball.

After, I drove over to Fred Meyers in Sherwood and did my weekly grocery shopping.

When I got home, I put an Amy’s rice crust gluten-free pizza in the oven.  When it was nearly finished cooking, I added orange tomato slices, buffalo mozzarella and fresh basil.  When the pizza was ready, a added some red a black pepper and enjoyed a few slices of this pizza – the best gluten-free version I’ve had since my diagnosis.  This made me realize that how I prepare it makes all the difference – and that means the mozzarella and basil, a la margherita.

This evening I worked on pulling quotes from an old UC-Davis vineyard management text book for my novel. 

Next, I pulled out a big bowl and added about a half cup of Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Buttermilk Bath Soak and Better Botanicals Dead Sea Bath Salts with an Ayurvedic herbal blend of roses, sandalwood and jasmin.  I added warm water, just under hot, and filled the bowl.  The smells were lovely.  There were pretty little rosebuds floating in the mild buttermilk-sea salt-herbal soak.  I decided the kindness I bestowed to myself at Loyly on Saturday was a good thing to continue.  After the relaxing footsoak, I used a pumice stone to remove dead skin from my feet.  I then used an all natural nailpolish remover to clean the remnants of my San Francisco pedicure.  I cleaned up the toenail beds, too.  After drying my feet, I slathered cardamom foot butter on my feet and put on thin socks.  My feet felt great! 

It’s important to take the time to pamper yourself.  I will sauna every now and again, include a 30 min massage here and there, and will pamper myself at home with lovely facial masks, foot soaks, aromatherapy, Ayurveda, and then, of course, meditation, yoga, and exercise.  I am working on improving my diet and will cut back on drinking alcohol.  I really want to maintain a happy, balanced lifestyle and it truly begins with taking care of yourself. 

Read Full Post »