Day 353: Pondering Trees

Thursday, September 4

Dark, overcast skies vanished and just like that summer was back!

It had been an unbearable short run of fall like weather.  I’m not ready for that just yet.  We had such a late start to summer this year, I want to hold on to every sunny moment while it lasts. 

But, the coming of fall is undeniable.  The most obvious warning sign, aside from the cooler, overcast days, was the shortened days.  It’s already getting dark out at 7:45 p.m.  Now that’s depressing!  I love my longer days of summer on the west coast.  There’s nothing like early July and sun still shining at 9:45 p.m., slowly melting and not yet dark at 10:00 p.m.  It’s delicious.

The other warning sign – football season.  And I love football season.  I just can’t believe we’re already there.  I left work early to learn more about my new lease situation at the property management office where I rent, then grabbed my Redskins ball cap and headed over to Upper Deck in the Pearl District.  I ordered a margarita and watched my hometeam lose to the Giants. 

I then met some friends at Park Kitchen for a cocktail and appetizer.  I had the Summer Sazarac and cold melon soup.  We then walked back to the Pearl District for the First Thursday art walk.  Kerry met us in the middle of what looked like a street faire.  Not quite as wild and random as the Alberta Arts.  But still mesmerizing. 

I ended up seeing a painting I really wanted to buy at Last Thursday for the Alberta Arts walk last week.  She wanted cash.  I didn’t have any.  So I didn’t buy the painting.  But, as fate would have it, this artist had a booth this evening, she still had the same painting.  And, I had cash.  She went down from $125 to $75.  It was a sign.  Everything happens for a reason, no?

I bought the painting. 

Kerry and I walked toward Olea.  I put the painting in my car and we grabbed a table outside.  It was a glorious evening.  We had views of pretty trees.  The scene reminded me of Paris.

I looked up at the beautiful leaves and thought – wow, soon they will all fall!  I wanted to capture a shot of the foilage, in its full greenery, while it still lasted.  I guess I was feeling sentimental.  I love trees, afterall.  I often paint them and write about them.

Again, a scene not too far off from Paris:

Well, my photos don’t quite give it justice.

At Olea, I just had a glass of water and a salad.  It was a Caesar salad minus the croutons.  Instead there was quinoa.  It was interesting.  I was mostly delighted by the pleasant evening, which was cooling considerable.  I was excited to get home to hang my new painting in my meditation room.

And that’s just what I did when I got home.  The colors matched perfectly – shades of nectarine and aquamarine make up my Tibetan-inspired mediation room.  The glare on the painting photo is unfortunate, but I was too tired to figure out my tiny digital camera.  It was an issue with the flash.

Yes, trees have been indeed on my mind.  The growth.  The beauty.  The cycle of life and death.  The roots.  The branches.  The leaves.  Am I an Aspen?  A Cypress?  An Olive tree?  A Cherry Blossom?  Or a Dogwood?  A Palm?  I’m not sure.  What tree am I?  A good question, I ponder while I sip on Yogi Bedtime tea and read a little more of my book.

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Day 347: Out with the Old Bras, In with the New

Friday, August 29

I had a long, tiring week, coming off only one day off this weekend.  I have a comp day to use, and I’ll likely use it when I go home for vacation in a few weeks.  Alas, Friday was finally here, meaning I could sleep in.  You gotta appreciate weekends if only for sleeping in.

After a morning full of meetings, I went to the winery for a photo shoot.  And then I worked on a bunch of projects before taking off for the long weekend.  I was the last to leave.

I purposely made no plans for tonight.  I drove to Washington Square Mall and parked at Macy’s.  I was a woman on a mission.  I was long overdue to replace my bras.  I had been wearing the same three bras for three years, rotating them.  I know better than that.  I know the importance of maintaining good breast health, and that includes replacing bras when they are worn, to ensure continued, proper support.  I also know that 80% of women are wearing the wrong bra size. 

So, rather than make myself a slave to over-priced Victoria’s Secret, I went through the many rows of bras at Macy’s.  I picked out 18 bras to try on.  I picked out bras by Vanity Fair, Warner’s, Maiden Form and Calvin Klein.  After trying them on, I narrowed this down to my top eight.  I carefully returned the ten rejections to their hangers, and lined them up on the rack outside of the dressing room.  I went back out to search for the eight bras I liked in two different sizes.  My old size no longer fit properly, so I needed to figure out which of two new sizes would work better for me.  It took me awhile to locate the bras.  After trying two on, I discovered my new size.  And this was life changing!  All but one of the bras was wireless, which was like a revelation.  They were just as supportive and less restrictive.  No metal poking into your skin under your arm.  The six bras I picked out were comfortable, cute, they fit perfectly and they were on sale!  I also bought a garment bag to use in the washer, which promises to protect lingerie.

I spent two hours picking out bras!  That was crazy.  I hurried to the Origins counter to pick up some powder.  I matched a compact with my former Clinique powder.  I was happy.  I am now fully switched over to Origins, make-up wise.  Well, Origins and Aveda.  It was already 8:30.  I was tired from being at the mall and and I was getting hungry.

When I got home, I put on the television and the movie The Cinderella Man was on.  I had never seen it before.  I listened to it while I was in the kitchen making my dinner, a mixed greens salad with white cabbage, heirloom tomato, red onion, cilantro, a little lime juice and shrimp sautéed in olive oil, butter, garlic, red pepper, salt and pepper a little more lime juice, topped with a light gluten-free Caesar dressing.  I had a cup of Yogi’s Bedtime Tea.

I picked up, again, The Virgin Blue and started picking up reading it where I had left off.  While I read, I listened to the news coverage about Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s choice for running mate, a little known Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin.  This not only was a bold and strategic move by McCain, but pretty brilliant.  Naysayers are saying it’s an insult to women, as a strategy to simply win over Hilary Clinton supporters and women voters, in general.  Be that as it may, it’s an historic ticket.  Plus, there’s no way staunch Clinton supporters would support a woman who supports the NRA, anti-abortion and other conservative issues.  This election continues to get more and more exciting.  It will be interesting to see how it all unfolds.

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Day 343: That’s Not My Mom & Dad, Is It????

Monday, August 25

The alarm clock, albeit a Zen gong, started ringing at seven.  Ugh.  I don’t like to wake up before eight.  But I had to be at the winery by nine, so there you go.  I dragged my sleepy bum out of my cozy bed and sauntered down the stairs for a bowl of Leapin Lemurs cereal.  What can I say, the sweet yumminess of gluten-free chocolate-peanut butter cereal clears away the early morning blues.I hurried along, feeding the cats, cleaning the litterbox, and getting myself ready for work.  I spent most of the day at the winery while a producer was filming segments for a video.  I kept the time to keep things moving along.  The last quarter of my day was at my desk busily working through a long line of emails. 

When I got home, I changed and went to the gym.  On my way, I stopped by my mailbox and opened up a letter from my uncle in Florida.  In it was a fantastic photo taken of my parents from the late 60′s or early 70′s.  My mom has this huge black chignon or beehive, a little red velvet dress, looking wiped out a la Amy Winehouse style, and she’s sitting on a funky sofa (with colonial images like George Washington on a horse!) next to my dad who looks handsome in a black suit, only his eyes are totally closed.  He’s either very, very bored and tuning out his surrounds, or he’s passed out!  On the coffee table in front of them are two empty cocktail glasses.  I couldn’t stop laughing. 

My uncle is hilarious!  He included a funny note with the photo.  I’m going to have to frame this photo!  While it’s funny to see my parents in this era, and questionably sober, it’s also just cool to see them in a moment that’s so honest and real – not perfectly prim, proper and posed.  I don’t have any other photo of my parents like this, at all.  I do believe it’s now my favorite.

It’s also quite remarkable how much I look like my mom.  Aside from the black hair.  When I learned that the photo was taken in 1971, it dawned on me that I am four years older than my mom was when that photo was taken.  She had an adopted three year old little boy (which explains why they look so spent!) and, they didn’t know it at the time, but their soon-to-be adopted little girl was about to be born.  I wasn’t even a thought in the universe for another three years.

I called my mom and learned that she has to now give herself insulin shots.  Her voice was hesitant as she mentioned this.  I remembered practicing giving oranges insulin shots when my diabetic grandmother was still alive.  I knew this day was coming.  Her pills never seemed to control her irratic blood sugar.  I have worried about this, which is so fitting.  My mother spends many waking hours worrying about her children.  It’s quite the role reversal, but, I have worried about her diabetes for awhile.  But, part of me was a little relieved.  I figured the insulin shots might actually make her feel better.  This, I decided, was a good thing.

I made a thick and very cheesy two egg omelet stuffed with crab for dinner.  I had a very leafy green salad for lunch.  So, I was craving protein.  I had two organic sausage links with my omelet.  I then fixed a cup of Yogi India Spice tea, which is so darn good, with one third of a Dagoba dark chocolate bar.  I also ate two Ener-G brand gluten-free donut holes.  My sweet tooth was calling. 

Alas, I noticed a few ants around my kitchen sink.  I was pissed.  I spent days cleaning up the kitchen to get rid of the buggers.  I kept mumbling under my breath, not again.

I flipped through the latest New Renaissance book shop catalog and dog-eared pages to listings on a couple events I’m interested in attending this fall, including Images & Inspiration from Tibet – a talk and slide show on Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse, a tradition providing many pathways to enlightened being, which is scheduled for Friday, November 7th.  Another talk that I marked was Spiritual Discourse with Anam Thubten Rinpoche, a heart-to-heart dharma dialogue and exploration of the truth that is always available to us.  This class is scheduled for Thursday, November 13th.

As I made a note on my calendar about these events, I thought about my spiritual compass.  I haven’t been going to mass, still.  It’s been a couple months.  Maybe even more.   But I am still hung up on the fact that the Catholic church will not allow persons with celiac disease to take a gluten-free host for the Eucharist.  This is so offensive to me.  As if people with celiac are just trying to make a stink.  The bread is a symbol, which mean it’s not literal.  Which means Christ isn’t really wheat, water and yeast baked to crusty brown perfection.  C’mon!  It’s a sacred symbol.  I might as well have been excommunicated, as far as I’m concerned.  I’m not able to let go of this.  Communion was such a sacred, deep connection I’ve had with my faith.  It really meant a lot to me.  There are some Catholic churches out there that welcome a gluten-free host for those in need.  But, unfortunately, not mine here in Portland.  So, I’m a little bitter.  I am more or less ditching church until I am able to take a gluten-free host for Communion.

Meantime, I am exploring other spiritual options.  This isn’t really to replace my Catholic faith, but to keep my heart, mind and spirit refreshed and fulfilled.  I miss going to Mass and feel a void in my life, but I’m taking my own stand.  So, because I enjoy the philosophy and spiritual teachings of other faiths, anyway, I have been seeking out other ways to experience spirituality.  I had been on hold, spiritually, for awhile now, checked out, even.  Perhaps these Tibetan talks will feed my spiritual needs until the Catholic Church decides to be more inclusive to all, including those with celiac disease.

 

 

 

 

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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…

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Day 324: A Bee-stinged Lip, Press Checks & Cocktails Belating My Packing

Wednesday, August 6

It has been an overwhelming work week.  I have been trying to juggle many projects with deadlines while jamming things into a shortened business week, as I leave tomorrow evening for Montana – for a business trip.  I go through phases of excitement – like it’s on to a new adventure.  And then I return to my homebody mood of wanting to just stay put.  I am often on the fence when it comes to business travel – sometimes you just have to leap over to the ‘it’s a new adventure’ side and know you’ll return back to the ‘homebody’ side soon enough.

I got up this morning and went to the gym.  I ran for 25 minutes and then jumped into an invigorating shower.  I felt great.  I thought - might be a good idea to try to get up and get my workouts in during the morning.  It’s an energy booster that certainly beats caffeine.

I drove to Beaverton to do a label press check, and then stopped by a Starbucks because I forgot my gluten-free blueberry muffin in the microwave this morning.  I was starving.  I got a mango smoothie, a cup of mixed fruit and a tall cinnamon dolce latte with soy milk and a touch of whipped cream.  And then I was on my way.

It was already getting really hot out.  It would be in the high 90′s again, today. 

I had just a few hours to power work through a pile of projects.  I was stressed.  I put together a great new press kit.  I made myself a lunch two gluten-free tamales wrapped in corn husks and then a mixed greens salad with sweet red and orange peppers, an heirloom green tomato, pumpkin seeds and a soy based creamy dill dressing.

I had to leave in the afternoon to return for a second round of label press checks.  And a bee got in my car and when I swat at it, it stung me on the line of my upper lip.  While in Beaverton, I stopped by a Kinko’s-Fed Ex to send off the press kit I worked on.  I had to wait for almost two hours for the press checks.  It was pretty annoying, as I was to meet Claudia and Jessica for dinner at Sinju at Bridgeport Village.  I was starting to get stressed.  Finally, someone came out at 6:05 to show me a press check.  I ran out and drove on my way toward Bridgeport Village.  I even ran my first red light!

I got a grip and started to breathe.  Not worth getting into another accident!  It was hard to breathe meditatively when it was so damn hot out.  I was beginning to feel a little nauseous. 

I parked and met the girls thirty minutes late.  My lip was a little swollen on one side.  The girls teased if I got stung on the other side I’d look just like Angelina Jolie.

I went to the restroom to wash my hands then returned more refreshed, relaxed.  I was already breathing better.  I ordered a Maker’s Manhattan with a swirl of orange peel and a glass of water.  We ate some sushi.  And then I ordered a plate of soy-sauce free stir fried vegetables and seafood sprinkled with pepper.  It was really good.  And my swollen lip was shrinking!  Claudia was very generous to pick up the tab.

Next, we walked about 10 yards to Splitz wine bar.  Our other friend, Leigh, met us.  I had a glass of the Barbera D’Alba cooled down to about 58 degrees.  It was fun to chit chat.  I knew I had to pack, and yet, I still lingered.

I got home and ate the blueberry muffin that I had left in the microwave this morning.  I made a cup of Yogi Bedtime tea with some local honey.  The very last episode of Friends was on – and, of course, it made me cry.  God, now that was an era.My cats dutifully curled up next to me as I put off packing.  I had an idea of what I needed to pack.  It could wait until the morning.

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Day 321: A Cool Baby Shower, Cookbooks at Powell’s & My Gluten-Free Dinner Party

Sunday, August 3

This morning I got up and prepared a lovely Capresi salad with fresh, red Roma tomatoes, fresh basil from our garden at work, and wet, organic mozzarella drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and high quality balsamic vinegar.  I wrapped up the small baby gifts I got that went into one adorable gift bag.

Then, I showered and got dressed.  I drove out to the SE to friend Vonda’s house for our friend Karen’s baby shower.  You never know how baby showers are going to be.  I hoped that it wouldn’t be smug with lame baby games.  This was actually one of the best parties I had been to in a long time.

First, it was a brunch.  Vonda’s home is completely gorgeous!  I had a cup of Yogi lemon-ginger tea and sat next to Karen to get caught up.  She was a beautiful pregnant woman.  The other guests arrived and we all talked girl stuff.  Not just baby stuff, which we did chat about – and it was fun, engaging conversation, not the smug mommy-baby conversations some types of women befall to.  No, this was different!

We played a couple of games, but they weren’t lame.  We did a name game which was actually functioned to help Karen come up with a baby girl’s name.  We came up with some great ideas that she was actually excited about.  Then, we went around the brunch table, drinking bellini’s and mimosas, talking about the most mischievous thing we did as a child.  It was pretty hilarious, actually.  I told the story of how my older sister and I colored the bricks around the fireplace at our house in Pennsylvania. 

For brunch we had an amazing gluten-free egg fritata topped with fresh basil, my caprese salad, delicious summer baby potatoes (white and purple) in olive oil with herbs, which was fantastic, and then fresh strawberries and cherries.  It was really yummy. 

Karen opened presents, which was really great.  She got all kinds of good stuff.  I gave her a bunch of Burt’s Baby Bee products – like diaper cream, talc, buttermilk bath powder, baby lotion and a lullaby CD.  I really had a lovely time! 

I was going to go up to Yoga Union following the shower, but didn’t feel up to it.  Instead, I went to Powell’s and picked up two great cook books.  For forever and a day I had wanted this great soup book my friend Lota has.  I haven’t ever been able to find it.  But, today, I found an awesome soup cook book called The International Soup Book by Susan R. Friedland, editor.

There are plenty of recipes in this book that are gluten-free; and those that aren’t I can explore different gluten-free flour options.

Then, I got the book the Farm to Table cookbook: The Art of Eating Locally by north westerner Ivy Manning.   It’s a beautiful book with a chock full of recipes and hints, like meet the producer or an heirloom tomato primer, all organized by season.  Love it.

While at Powell’s, I ran into a kind of new friend, poet/artist/musician Jonathan, who I had met a few months ago at the Tea Zone.  Jonathan, because of our conversation, was diagnosed gluten intolerant.  I gave him some advice about eating a mindful, balanced diet.  We chatted for a bit and agreed to meet up soon at the Tea Zone to catch up.  I really like his spirit and feel grateful to have a new male friend!

I met Kerry at the Park Blocks.  It was our intention to play bocce.  But the courts were totally filled up and so we just sat on a bench and people watched.

I drove home to clean up and get ready for my dinner guests, the Dashmores.  I vacuumed, emptied the dishwasher, cleaned the downstairs bathroom, then began setting the table.  I put beautiful orange and purple tulips in a vase and placed it on the table with my crystal grape cluster table decorations.  I chilled the wine, pulled out and polished glasses and welcomed them after six.  We sat in the living room and noshed on the gluten free baguette I pulled fresh out of the oven, served with the triple cream Camembert, the Irish hard cheese and the herb goat cheese, sprinkled with dried berries on the cutting boards.  We sipped on the Italian Soave, a light, crisp white wine with good acidity. 

 

 

Next, we sat around the table and I served a mixed greens salad with the heirloom grape tomatoes which added jeweled colors of yellow, green, purple, red and orange, topped with pumpkin seeds and a creamy dill dressing.  I pulled out the focaccia pizzas that I had brushed olive oil all over with my basting brush, then sprinkled some sea salt and added on wet buffalo mozzarella.  When I pulled the pizzas out of the oven I topped with fresh basil from our garden at work. 

 

 

 

I semi-chilled the Barbera D’Alba, as Italian reds need to be served slightly cool.  It was all delicious.  I was very pleased with this gluten-free option!  The pizza was the best I’ve had since having been diagnosed with Celiac disease.

Then, Capri jumped up at the chair at the other head of the table because she clearly needed to feel like one of us.

Next, we ate Tobleron and dark chocolate with Argyle Blanc de Blanc bubbly.  We laughed and talked about high school, which prompted me to pull out my yearbook.  It was a fun evening.  Reminded me that I want to entertain more often.  I love to cook for others, and now armed with my new fabulous cookbooks, I was going to plan more intimate dinners in at my place.  My dining room looked absolutely lovely.  I was very happy, indeed.

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Day 318: Hold Your Own Spirit

Thursday, July 31

 

“I am brave; I am bold; I can hold my own spirit.” – Yogi Bhajan (from Yogi Tea)

Today I saw a segment on the news about a Sex & The City type of documentary where thirty-something single women are redefining love – that is, dating and marriage.  There are more and more women who are rejecting tradition and choosing independent lives.  Many are not necessarily ruling out relationships, but rather, are more interested in having a special someone without being forced into an institution that they don’t believe is sustainable.  It looks really interesting to me.  It made me think of the quote above.

 

I am not against marriage.  It’s just, at this point in my life I don’t know if it’s necessary for me.  I don’t get lonely living alone.  I’m so used to it, that it’s a quiet, meditative comfort.  I actually used to get scared when I first lived alone.  Part of me worried that some bad man would break in while I was sleeping at attack me.  It was pretty irrational.  But, part of me worried that I’d get too comfortable on my own.  I don’t live in fear anymore.  And I sleep really soundly, actually. 

 

I used to have the same fantasy as every other single, heterosexual woman, the very one that was drilled into our pretty little pigtailed heads at a very tender age – that some handsome prince of a man would show up on his fiery steed and take me away, off into the sunset, where a shimmering castle awaited us, along with a closet full of designer ball gowns, Manolo glass slippers, and Harry Winston tiaras. 

 

Some women chase that dream with a fervor that’s borderline clinical.  Some women learn a different story, or create a new story. 

 

Some, like me, retell this story in this kind of fashion: smart, strong woman goes off to college, graduates, spends time in Europe, meets and falls in love with very smart, Harvard graduate, but then they break up, so she eventually moves on, then begins writing a novel, quits her corporate job to manage a wine shop, follows her passions, follows her passions, follows her passions and moves to the west coast to work for a winery, reconnects with her old love but, sadly the relationship comes to an abrupt end, she mourns but eventually gets back up and finishes her book, then, along with meditation and yoga, builds a stronger, happier, even more secure self, moves into a townhouse, by herself, decorates it just as she likes, travels, and continues to follow her passions – sometimes she’ll meet a really nice guy and date, and it will likely not turn into a happily ever after, and that’s just fine – because she has lots of friends and maybe, if it’s meant to be, she’ll find someone to share all of that good stuff with, but if not, that’s okay, too, because she can always adopt a child and write another book.

 

It’s wonderful to be able to write your own rules to this game of life.  You don’t have to color within the lines.  You don’t have to roll the dice or spin a wheel and go in the direction that you are told.  You can go freestyle.  And still get the prize at the end of the game.

 

Yeah, I am brave.  I am bold.  And I can hold my own spirit.

 

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Day 314: IPNC Recovery, Grocery Shopping & Good Gluten Free Eats

Sunday, July 27

I woke up at 8:15 a.m. with a heinous headache.  I had a blast last night but imbibed a little too much bubbly.  I threw my stuff together, dressed and headed back home.  On my way, I dropped off my IPNC pass for another co-worker to use it for Sunday events.

 

As soon as I got home, I dropped my bags on the floor in my living room, tossed my pillow on the sofa and fell asleep until noon.  The three extra hours of sleep saved my life.

 

I abruptly got up and made a list of things I needed to do.  I headed over to Walgreens to pick

up ant traps.  There was a trail from the dining room window heading to the cat food dishes on the kichen floor.

Then I stopped by Safeway and Whole Foods for specific groceries, which included gazpacho, gluten-free corn bread, heirloom tomatoes, lump crab meat, lettuce, strawberries, grapes, cantaloupe, and these amazing new gluten-free, organic crackers by Mary’s Gone Crackers in Black Pepper (made with brown rice, quinoa, flax seeds and sesame seeds).  I also picked up smoked halibut spread by Gerard & Dominique Seafoods based in Woodinville, WA.

 

When I got home, I opened up the halibut spread and gluten-free black pepper crackers, which was delicious!  I watched the movie Ten Things I Hate About You with Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger on one of the regular networks.  Meantime, I worked on my novel revision.

 

Later, for dinner I had gazpacho with lump crabmeat, topped with roasted corn salsa and fresh cilantro served with organic tortilla chips.  For dessert had a Klondike Slim-A-Bear vanilla bar in a bowl with fresh organic strawberries, and two small Glutino Dream Bites chocolate cookies with fudge middles, followed by a soothing cup of hot Yogi Tea in Indian Spice with local honey.  I relaxed and continued working on my revision notes for my book.

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Day 292: A Leak, Packing & My At-home Spa

Saturday, July 5

When I woke up, I had PBS on, the Oregon Public Broadcasting station, and watched a wonderful program I hadn’t seen before called “From the Top at Carnegie Hall”, about an 11 year-old Korean-American violinist.  She was brilliant!  At one point tears emerged, as I get so touched by such beauty.  I really get moved by such aesthetics, and just fill with wonder.  Amazing.  She’s so young, so gifted!

I spent most of the day cleaning. I hate leaving the house for a week or more without cleaning, as I don’t particularly like returning to an unclean home. There has been a weird pipe leak in my second bathroom upstairs, just under the toilet. I put a rolled towel behind it, to be safe. But, I am a little wary of leaving for a full week. I just hope it doesn’t get worse or burst. It looks like there needs to be calking to the pipe behind the toilet. I’ll have to have the property management company take a look at it when I get back.

After I cleaned and got a head start with packing, I tidied myself up and met Susan at Bridgeport for noodles at Zao. She’s getting over a bad cold, and after two days hanging out with her, my throat was starting to hurt and I was worried that I was picking up what she had.

After we ate our soup and drank our tea, we walked in and out of a few shops. I ended up picking out a very cute madras purse on sale for $19.99 at J-Crew, along with a t-shirt and tank top, all for under $44.00. There were all kinds of sales, but I was very good and didn’t splurge or go nuts.

I went home and finished packing.  I tried to unwind with a cup of Yogi chamomile tea, while I dipped my tired feet in a foot soak with a buttermilk bath powder and Dead Sea rose salts – it smelled heavenly and made the water super silky soft.  My feet just felt amazing!

On television, the repeat SNL episode was on with Jon BonJovi guest hosting and appearing on the Vinnie Vedeci sketch – which was hilarious.  For months my former co-worker Jen and I would randomly announce out loud “Jon….Bon JOVI!” in our best Vinnie Vedeci accent.  So damn funny to us eye-talians.

I was tired and needed a good night’s sleep. I was already feeling sad for leaving my kitties, worried about my upstairs bathroom leak, but excited for a week’s vacation in a beautiful, remote place. I hoped to get some really good writing in! 

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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.

 

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