I know nothing about this band except they're from Cincinnati. But, man, I heard this song and they had me at first pluck and beat.
Monday, December 07, 2009
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Morning light
A long distance dedication
When I was a girl, I used to listen to Casey Kasem's American Top 40. And I really loved hearing the long distance dedications. The kind of desperate and romantic situations evoked by these dedications...I ate that kind of stuff right up (hmm a part of me still does today...)
Last week, S posted a song to her Facebook profile and said she thought of me. When I saw that, a felt a thrill go through me. It wasn't a long distance dedication, but it felt something akin to one and I was taking it :-)
This was the song and I love this line in particular:
The force created by its (Earth) spin,is the force that stops the chaos flooding in.
Thanks, S. You made this girl's day with your dedication :-)
Last week, S posted a song to her Facebook profile and said she thought of me. When I saw that, a felt a thrill go through me. It wasn't a long distance dedication, but it felt something akin to one and I was taking it :-)
This was the song and I love this line in particular:
The force created by its (Earth) spin,is the force that stops the chaos flooding in.
Thanks, S. You made this girl's day with your dedication :-)
Saturday, December 05, 2009
I got pampered
I hosted a Pampered Chef party today. I think that is an official sign of female adulthood ;-)
It was a lovely afternoon. Four friends came over, two kids were very cooperative and stayed in their room and took care of themselves for a couple of hours, and J, my PC consultant, treated us to Satay Chicken Pasta Salad.
The pasta salad was so yummy.
We adapted the recipe to make it GF (it was already CF). I prepped a 16 oz bag of Tinkyada spirals taking care to cook it optimally. (Boil plenty of well salted water, put pasta in at full boil and boil for 1-2 minutes, cover and turn heat off and let sit for 20 minutes, drain and rinse thoroughly with cold water to stop the cooking process, then drain pasta thoroughly.)
Instead of bottled Asian dressing, J made her own using Bragg's, rice vinegar, vegetable oil, powdered ginger, and sugar. She eschewed the seasoning mix and used the fresh ingredients mentioned at the bottom of the linked blog post.
The finished dish was unrecognizable as being special needs. It absolutely looked and tasted like "pasta salad". Everyone agreed on this and J was excited to now have a GF dish in her PC repertoire. I wish I had taken a picture! It looked fab in the PC bamboo serving dish. But, I was too excited about digging in and once I tasted it, I was very focused on eating :-)
I also served deviled eggs, braised cabbage with onion, and the delectable chocolates. Also, cold jasmine pearl tea with agave, as well as, hot tea.
It was so relaxing watching the first snow of the season come down outside while chatting with friends and enjoying good food together. J was a wonderful "face" of the company. Warm, funny and down-to-earth.
It was a lovely afternoon. Four friends came over, two kids were very cooperative and stayed in their room and took care of themselves for a couple of hours, and J, my PC consultant, treated us to Satay Chicken Pasta Salad.
The pasta salad was so yummy.
We adapted the recipe to make it GF (it was already CF). I prepped a 16 oz bag of Tinkyada spirals taking care to cook it optimally. (Boil plenty of well salted water, put pasta in at full boil and boil for 1-2 minutes, cover and turn heat off and let sit for 20 minutes, drain and rinse thoroughly with cold water to stop the cooking process, then drain pasta thoroughly.)
Instead of bottled Asian dressing, J made her own using Bragg's, rice vinegar, vegetable oil, powdered ginger, and sugar. She eschewed the seasoning mix and used the fresh ingredients mentioned at the bottom of the linked blog post.
The finished dish was unrecognizable as being special needs. It absolutely looked and tasted like "pasta salad". Everyone agreed on this and J was excited to now have a GF dish in her PC repertoire. I wish I had taken a picture! It looked fab in the PC bamboo serving dish. But, I was too excited about digging in and once I tasted it, I was very focused on eating :-)
I also served deviled eggs, braised cabbage with onion, and the delectable chocolates. Also, cold jasmine pearl tea with agave, as well as, hot tea.
It was so relaxing watching the first snow of the season come down outside while chatting with friends and enjoying good food together. J was a wonderful "face" of the company. Warm, funny and down-to-earth.
Cover love
I can no longer remember the first time I heard a cover song. Or when I first learned that cover songs existed. I love a good cover. A cover song is inspired by love and artistry and community and sharing.
I came across the Beachwood Sparks cover of By Your Side via a Paste magazine article about the best cover songs of the decade. I liked it, and was further delighted that the original was a Sade song that I had never heard.
I had a huge listener's crush on Sade when she crooned her way into the hearts of so many 20 years ago. Her voice is marvelous...so beautiful and emotional.
I came across the Beachwood Sparks cover of By Your Side via a Paste magazine article about the best cover songs of the decade. I liked it, and was further delighted that the original was a Sade song that I had never heard.
I had a huge listener's crush on Sade when she crooned her way into the hearts of so many 20 years ago. Her voice is marvelous...so beautiful and emotional.
Friday, December 04, 2009
My plant
My heartleaf philodendron, the first plant to survive my hands, ever, has been looking like it needs a new pot for awhile.
When we bought our pumpkins, the place had some ceramic pots on sale so I bought one. I've been a little nervous about the transplanting because I've heard that the process can kill some plants. When I was finally ready, I put some potting soil into the new pot and then left it alone for a few days. The soil was really wet (it came from an already open bag sitting out behind the house) and I wanted it to dry out, as well as, get it to a hospitable temperature.
The deed is done. I had to break apart two of the roots which had grown together out of the holes on the bottom of the old pot. Ouch. I reassured the plant as best as I could as I bumbled and fumbled. It is quite responsive to this kind of communication :-) So far, so good. I do love this plant that has taught me quite a bit in its humble, wonderful existence.
When we bought our pumpkins, the place had some ceramic pots on sale so I bought one. I've been a little nervous about the transplanting because I've heard that the process can kill some plants. When I was finally ready, I put some potting soil into the new pot and then left it alone for a few days. The soil was really wet (it came from an already open bag sitting out behind the house) and I wanted it to dry out, as well as, get it to a hospitable temperature.
The plant has normally been kept in the kitchen in a spot where there is never direct sunlight. The new pot has been occupying this prime sun spot, but will be moved to a lower light area somewhere else in the front room. I am eager for my plant to start cleaning and clarifying the air in this room. I envision its babies populating each of our rooms eventually...
The deed is done. I had to break apart two of the roots which had grown together out of the holes on the bottom of the old pot. Ouch. I reassured the plant as best as I could as I bumbled and fumbled. It is quite responsive to this kind of communication :-) So far, so good. I do love this plant that has taught me quite a bit in its humble, wonderful existence.
Budget for the good stuff
Last night after dinner I trundled the kids over to our local chocolate shop for a re-opening celebration sale.
I am hosting my first ever Pampered Chef party this weekend (never would have thought it was my thing but had a lovely time at L's party at the beginning of the summer...her PC consultant, a good friend from college, turned out to live a few towns away from me, and so I am now having my own party...)
J, the PC consultant, and I talked yesterday and she will be demonstrating/making a Satay Chicken Salad Pasta dish (GFCF :-) She is only making one dish because it's a small group. I wanted to add a sweet component and out-of-this-world chocolate came to mind as a nice complement to the savory dish.
The choco shop came through (as it always does). I sampled the B.T. Berry Poinsettia pictured above and was deeply, pleasantly surprised. I am not normally a fan of berries mixed with chocolate, but this treat just burst with flavor and the texture follow was a perfect mixture of firm and creamy.
There will be 7 of us all together and only five in a box, so I picked up a second box of Peppermint Buttercreams. White chocolate peppermint ganache...sounds good (despite the fact I am also not a fan of peppermint and chocolate together!)
My mouth is watering... Have you had any outstanding chocolate lately?
Older now
Grant Lee Phillips singing Older Now. I love the mood he and the musicians and engineers capture here. Really wonderful. Warm, melodic, understated yet emotional. His is a name I've seen and heard, but I had never heard an actual song of his till now.
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Good health
I saw Dr. V yesterday.
He could tell by looking at my face that I was tight. So he had me sit in the chair and worked on my upper back. And, oh my goodness, I was like a sheet of rock.
When my upper back tightens up like that, I typically don't feel it. The good part of this is that it doesn't encumber my day-to-day life. The bad part of this is...how the frak can I not feel that?
I gave the good doctor a work out. Which is truly saying something.
And then it began. As I left his office, I coughed a few times. Rattly chesty coughs that brought up very small, but solid, pieces of phlegm. My responsiveness to Qi/energy work amazes even myself even after all these years. I had no doubt that this was a release of physical manifestations of emotional/mental "stuff".
A few hours later, during dinner, my nose started to run. Then, a whole mess of snot insisted its way out in a multiple tissue blow. And it stopped as quickly as it had come. Again, no doubt in my mind that this was a physical moving out of what had been stagnated energy turned into removable form.
This morning I woke up and felt pretty crappy. I had body aches, a headache and fatigue throughout the day, the symptoms kind of took turns, as if I were hopping on and off different colored horses on a carousel of change. Somehow, I thought, this is related to yesterday's treatment. Having stale, dead energy moving through you and out of you, well, it feels a lot like getting sick.
I was fully convinced by an episode of nearly projectile expulsion. I'll spare you the details. But, once it passed and I felt fine in that regard right after, I knew, again, that this was all part of a greater healing process.
By tonight, my lower back was in pain not felt 'round these parts in a long time. I remembered that V had encouraged me to do kick backs and I thought, those would totally help relieve pain in this area. But, I didn't do many, I was in the middle of dinner prep/eating.
V had mentioned coming in tomorrow or Saturday for follow-up. I may go tomorrow. I feel like there's some blockage in the lower back that could use a little nudge.
What an amazing reality. Intuitive healers, bodies that will work with and for you given half the chance, awareness of channels opening, and of my own role in keeping those paths as clear as possible, and energy, healing and healthful...swirling, flowing, inside and outside, connecting and abundant.
Good health, a good, clean, deep health, is something to consider.
He could tell by looking at my face that I was tight. So he had me sit in the chair and worked on my upper back. And, oh my goodness, I was like a sheet of rock.
When my upper back tightens up like that, I typically don't feel it. The good part of this is that it doesn't encumber my day-to-day life. The bad part of this is...how the frak can I not feel that?
I gave the good doctor a work out. Which is truly saying something.
And then it began. As I left his office, I coughed a few times. Rattly chesty coughs that brought up very small, but solid, pieces of phlegm. My responsiveness to Qi/energy work amazes even myself even after all these years. I had no doubt that this was a release of physical manifestations of emotional/mental "stuff".
A few hours later, during dinner, my nose started to run. Then, a whole mess of snot insisted its way out in a multiple tissue blow. And it stopped as quickly as it had come. Again, no doubt in my mind that this was a physical moving out of what had been stagnated energy turned into removable form.
This morning I woke up and felt pretty crappy. I had body aches, a headache and fatigue throughout the day, the symptoms kind of took turns, as if I were hopping on and off different colored horses on a carousel of change. Somehow, I thought, this is related to yesterday's treatment. Having stale, dead energy moving through you and out of you, well, it feels a lot like getting sick.
I was fully convinced by an episode of nearly projectile expulsion. I'll spare you the details. But, once it passed and I felt fine in that regard right after, I knew, again, that this was all part of a greater healing process.
By tonight, my lower back was in pain not felt 'round these parts in a long time. I remembered that V had encouraged me to do kick backs and I thought, those would totally help relieve pain in this area. But, I didn't do many, I was in the middle of dinner prep/eating.
V had mentioned coming in tomorrow or Saturday for follow-up. I may go tomorrow. I feel like there's some blockage in the lower back that could use a little nudge.
What an amazing reality. Intuitive healers, bodies that will work with and for you given half the chance, awareness of channels opening, and of my own role in keeping those paths as clear as possible, and energy, healing and healthful...swirling, flowing, inside and outside, connecting and abundant.
Good health, a good, clean, deep health, is something to consider.
Manatee musing 2.0
I'm feeling glacial. Rattling cracking accompanies the labor of an elemental water cycle . Beyond my sight, way under and below, the earth is razed and reshaped. Outside of me, the northern world rushes into contraction as the light and dark hew to the rhythm of the approaching Winter Solstice. But inside, even as the gravity of the most dark pulls me at my roots, I can feel it: the path of Infinity shifting from concave to convex again.
I know what some of the changes will be, some are still a mystery. Bear with me (or not) as what you see here reveals itself as altered or familiar.
There will be a new blog dedicated to documenting our homeschooling. I am envisioning a space where Cap and the kids might join me in co-authorship. It may require Blogger membership/be invitation-only. That is to be determined.
This blog will remain as is. For now, I will keep the "original" content (the posts that have come before). But, from here on in it will be make-no-mistake-about-it me-centric.
Recently, I've come to realize that my blog has grown itself to be a new organ within me. It processes information and emotion, it clarifies my blood and air, it beats and pumps and moves living material through me, keeping me warm. And healthy. And happy.
If you know me at all, you know that I am open. This is an essential part of who I am and how I am. As I continue my trip of self-reflection/-realization/-actualization (and it is a trip), I want my blog to continue to be the extension of my intuitive and un-self-conscious self that it has become...
Writing (and taking pictures) my way is a critical tool of communication and understanding for me. Sharing that with readers (kindred spirits and curious onlookers, alike), well, that's one of the things that makes life what it is for me.
But, this isn't every person's cup of tea.
So, I am decluttering and streamlining. Come here for me. For homeschooling/home life stuff, go to the other blog. Nothing is up there yet, but if you want to get it into your feeds, you can find it here: Every Day Eclectic.
Thank you for reading. For opening your heart and mind to me and welcoming me in. Peace and love to you.
Change is in my air. In my hair. In my lair.
I know what some of the changes will be, some are still a mystery. Bear with me (or not) as what you see here reveals itself as altered or familiar.
There will be a new blog dedicated to documenting our homeschooling. I am envisioning a space where Cap and the kids might join me in co-authorship. It may require Blogger membership/be invitation-only. That is to be determined.
This blog will remain as is. For now, I will keep the "original" content (the posts that have come before). But, from here on in it will be make-no-mistake-about-it me-centric.
Recently, I've come to realize that my blog has grown itself to be a new organ within me. It processes information and emotion, it clarifies my blood and air, it beats and pumps and moves living material through me, keeping me warm. And healthy. And happy.
If you know me at all, you know that I am open. This is an essential part of who I am and how I am. As I continue my trip of self-reflection/-realization/-actualization (and it is a trip), I want my blog to continue to be the extension of my intuitive and un-self-conscious self that it has become...
Writing (and taking pictures) my way is a critical tool of communication and understanding for me. Sharing that with readers (kindred spirits and curious onlookers, alike), well, that's one of the things that makes life what it is for me.
How does one keep from “growing old inside”? Surely only in community. The only way to make friends with time is to stay friends with people…. Taking community seriously not only gives us the companionship we need, it also relieves us of the notion that we are dispensable.
-Robert McAfee Brown
But, this isn't every person's cup of tea.
So, I am decluttering and streamlining. Come here for me. For homeschooling/home life stuff, go to the other blog. Nothing is up there yet, but if you want to get it into your feeds, you can find it here: Every Day Eclectic.
Thank you for reading. For opening your heart and mind to me and welcoming me in. Peace and love to you.
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Wakey wakey
Jumped awake at 4:45 just missing the P train. Lay back again in the dark and relaxed until I realized I might as well get up.
Jostled the children awake for a trip to the airport. Time again for Cap's (annual) "big" reading conference.
We determined east by the yellow tint to the lightening band on the horizon.
The air outside bit through their thin layers of cotton, a hole busted open at the knee of Sag's pajama pants.
We saw a man selling papers on a highway overpass. The children discovered a new occupation.
Sag became more aware that human life occurs while it is still dark outside.
They opted to stay awake once we were home. And are quite awake.
I'm easing in with a warm breakfast, warm tea, and a warm oldie.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Looking up
A thread in recent pics of mine that has caught my eye: looking up.
Two chiropractors, in two states, have given me the advice to "look up" more to help combat spine, specifically neck, issues. I remember being in Good Health after receiving this tip from Katina and noticing signs hanging from the ceiling to above eye level, over the aisles, for the first time and being awestruck. I wondered how much I'd been missing and was tickled to have a whole world above my up-till-then sightline open up.
In the last year, Vinny had x-rays taken of my spine which showed that a curvature in my neck has since corrected itself. Although the practice of literally looking up every time I touched a doorknob never stuck (the advice of the chiropractor I first saw when we moved to NJ whose x-ray showed that my neck curved in the wrong direction at the top of my spine), things have changed in my internal physical structure in the last few years.
I think there has been a correlation between my improved health, the personal and transformation work that have become a more focused part of my life, and the pictures that I take. In this still moment as my family sleeps and the light, weak as it is (only 3 weeks till Winter Solstice), grows and grows outside, I can feel it "in my bones".
As my vertebra have breathed, stretched, and realigned, I have gained expansive freedom. I push outward in new ways...my eyes now naturally look up and I so love what I get to see.
#1: backyard, the Wisteria has grabbed hold of the Japanese Maple. (Saturday)
#2: standing on my mom's block and looking up. (Saturday)
#3: holiday decoration, the yummy Thai place next door to my mom's, the owners live in her building and are really nice people. (Saturday)
#4: neon sign, 51st Street between 8th and 9th Avenues, noticed after leaving Shimizu (the chef is a friend of my mom's...the food was particularly fantastic this visit). (Saturday)
#5: dusky sky outside Terra where Elizabeth and I had had another verbal-intellectual-emotional jam session over Steaz and Thai iced coffee. (Sunday)
#6: breaking morning sky out my window...taking this shot led to this muse about looking up. (Monday)
Look up. Keep your chin up. (Re)align. See what there is to see.
Peace and love, fellow creatures.
Two chiropractors, in two states, have given me the advice to "look up" more to help combat spine, specifically neck, issues. I remember being in Good Health after receiving this tip from Katina and noticing signs hanging from the ceiling to above eye level, over the aisles, for the first time and being awestruck. I wondered how much I'd been missing and was tickled to have a whole world above my up-till-then sightline open up.
In the last year, Vinny had x-rays taken of my spine which showed that a curvature in my neck has since corrected itself. Although the practice of literally looking up every time I touched a doorknob never stuck (the advice of the chiropractor I first saw when we moved to NJ whose x-ray showed that my neck curved in the wrong direction at the top of my spine), things have changed in my internal physical structure in the last few years.
I think there has been a correlation between my improved health, the personal and transformation work that have become a more focused part of my life, and the pictures that I take. In this still moment as my family sleeps and the light, weak as it is (only 3 weeks till Winter Solstice), grows and grows outside, I can feel it "in my bones".
As my vertebra have breathed, stretched, and realigned, I have gained expansive freedom. I push outward in new ways...my eyes now naturally look up and I so love what I get to see.
#1: backyard, the Wisteria has grabbed hold of the Japanese Maple. (Saturday)
#2: standing on my mom's block and looking up. (Saturday)
#3: holiday decoration, the yummy Thai place next door to my mom's, the owners live in her building and are really nice people. (Saturday)
#4: neon sign, 51st Street between 8th and 9th Avenues, noticed after leaving Shimizu (the chef is a friend of my mom's...the food was particularly fantastic this visit). (Saturday)
#5: dusky sky outside Terra where Elizabeth and I had had another verbal-intellectual-emotional jam session over Steaz and Thai iced coffee. (Sunday)
#6: breaking morning sky out my window...taking this shot led to this muse about looking up. (Monday)
Look up. Keep your chin up. (Re)align. See what there is to see.
Peace and love, fellow creatures.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Pricey but tempting
A gingerbread house making kit that would be utterly safe for Gem to handle and consume...
Seasonal yum
Brussels sprouts. Sautéed and steamed with sweet onion, salt and oil.
It can (re)start with a word
Yesterday someone referred to me as "lazy". This person wasn't trying to hurt my feelings or call me a "name". They were speaking their truth based on observation and experience.
And, I am lazy. It's hard not to feel stung by the negative connotations and associations that come with that word, but it is possible. The word itself is neither bad or good.
Yet, I did feel misunderstood.
I can better understand my lazy self through personality studies. I tend towards being an introvert and a phlegmatic (both are personality types which are/appear "lazy" to others). Being lazy is far from being my whole picture. But, it (and my personality) is something I can focus some attention on in the next few weeks as I shift how I work on financial accounting, decluttering, and generally managing my household more effectively.
I found this piece via a quick Google search of lazy and misunderstood :-) Finding a different place to work on these aspects of my life will be a challenge (I spend a lot of time within this apartment!), but it's also clear to me that it would help. A creative puzzle, just the sort of thing my mind likes to occupy itself with...
I also found this piece which resonated because while I was having my time with the person who called me lazy, I felt at a loss for words. I did not wish to "get into it"...to share what I was thinking or feeling. It didn't feel possible to translate what was inside to outside. This was infuriating to the person I was interacting with. Did I look smug? Arrogant? Blank? I'm not sure.
And the process continues. I really liked the line in the first piece: "...I say combat because I'll probably never win the battle completely." That's honest. It's accepting the challenge while accepting (and loving) what and who it is causing the battle in the first place.
And, I am lazy. It's hard not to feel stung by the negative connotations and associations that come with that word, but it is possible. The word itself is neither bad or good.
Yet, I did feel misunderstood.
I can better understand my lazy self through personality studies. I tend towards being an introvert and a phlegmatic (both are personality types which are/appear "lazy" to others). Being lazy is far from being my whole picture. But, it (and my personality) is something I can focus some attention on in the next few weeks as I shift how I work on financial accounting, decluttering, and generally managing my household more effectively.
I found this piece via a quick Google search of lazy and misunderstood :-) Finding a different place to work on these aspects of my life will be a challenge (I spend a lot of time within this apartment!), but it's also clear to me that it would help. A creative puzzle, just the sort of thing my mind likes to occupy itself with...
I also found this piece which resonated because while I was having my time with the person who called me lazy, I felt at a loss for words. I did not wish to "get into it"...to share what I was thinking or feeling. It didn't feel possible to translate what was inside to outside. This was infuriating to the person I was interacting with. Did I look smug? Arrogant? Blank? I'm not sure.
And the process continues. I really liked the line in the first piece: "...I say combat because I'll probably never win the battle completely." That's honest. It's accepting the challenge while accepting (and loving) what and who it is causing the battle in the first place.
More wise words
How does one keep from “growing old inside”? Surely only in community. The only way to make friends with time is to stay friends with people…. Taking community seriously not only gives us the companionship we need, it also relieves us of the notion that we are dispensable.
-Robert McAfee Brown
Saturday, November 28, 2009
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