tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80359045686859275402024-03-05T08:42:00.577-08:00Looking for the Joy in Simple ThingsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8035904568685927540.post-41177950506599435122010-11-16T14:53:00.000-08:002010-11-16T14:55:18.543-08:00This weekend...a little late.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqL_xmsIa5mYhLL8YoV1KcgYB3xfUGo2LyV2lQdEHTt6pip4gU3HsVNcehAqLpvdchy1MHHWRkElTVPIRsDspG0DJPzTEvsT_s614MDpeA8PbDZhYE1lLqHuDLFWu-NtuFT9kDJY6xl-Fm/s1600/DSCN2951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqL_xmsIa5mYhLL8YoV1KcgYB3xfUGo2LyV2lQdEHTt6pip4gU3HsVNcehAqLpvdchy1MHHWRkElTVPIRsDspG0DJPzTEvsT_s614MDpeA8PbDZhYE1lLqHuDLFWu-NtuFT9kDJY6xl-Fm/s400/DSCN2951.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Strolling through Palermo.</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tVRDgEp46Reb-ekMSNHZ5D1l-9wFo5FtjXzXuA6uwwNyn9pHGYcO5pq8TxsFneuPsXYc17CwBw5FfGAWsKRMGeJXqRYTQ-EZjCqYVlISxb3ag2rzUXBlJRazOCwz9Q0rq_F0PYLOVo1p/s1600/DSCN3306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tVRDgEp46Reb-ekMSNHZ5D1l-9wFo5FtjXzXuA6uwwNyn9pHGYcO5pq8TxsFneuPsXYc17CwBw5FfGAWsKRMGeJXqRYTQ-EZjCqYVlISxb3ag2rzUXBlJRazOCwz9Q0rq_F0PYLOVo1p/s400/DSCN3306.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Horserace.</em></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY43IUNMuQJNcuibk4uHE2aasfntF0mSFOTDks_JxziPDUbNFyLftwpVjoDDn06VPz6ZZT1faUGnvB0W35iA1LkWnjxGMa253BVegMLTg1wTLCRdO7bt3o9-jakYYW1yJM6kb67tU1KhPs/s1600/DSCN3302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY43IUNMuQJNcuibk4uHE2aasfntF0mSFOTDks_JxziPDUbNFyLftwpVjoDDn06VPz6ZZT1faUGnvB0W35iA1LkWnjxGMa253BVegMLTg1wTLCRdO7bt3o9-jakYYW1yJM6kb67tU1KhPs/s400/DSCN3302.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Gorgeous trees letting the light in</span></em>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmU7SENEhcdcFSwGvlCFmiThz4BZo6dso8ZcnNpaQZcPBt3GIaZUddzr2k5RZ41jaiYwIfeBgsQ0AkV_QOOOWs5tvKdvJm-gFVVHVtSAAhjzceSygLszAL-dSaisGpAW2k5sbzdjBni9J/s1600/DSCN3315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmU7SENEhcdcFSwGvlCFmiThz4BZo6dso8ZcnNpaQZcPBt3GIaZUddzr2k5RZ41jaiYwIfeBgsQ0AkV_QOOOWs5tvKdvJm-gFVVHVtSAAhjzceSygLszAL-dSaisGpAW2k5sbzdjBni9J/s400/DSCN3315.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Jacaranda.</span></em></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Weekends in Buenos Aires have a magical way of flying by and dragging on at the same time. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I wouldn't trade them for anything. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Over the weekend we...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Went to the Gran Premio horse race where I ate kettle corn and lost a 20 peso bet on a horse named El Bullanga.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Had a long brunch with fresh squeezed orange juice and architectural sketches on placemats.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Started and finished <em>The Sun Also Rises</em>. (How had I not read this before?)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Visited the barrio chino for peanuts, tofu and hot sauce.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8035904568685927540.post-49872871190980283482010-08-11T14:21:00.000-07:002010-08-11T14:23:00.512-07:00Since we last spoke...<div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6aFEkdziptypZJKF5usSOu-YCp6rEi9B92hvCVGaHqUZLaoAVpTW55Nq5HUB7xotPbVCuIQGcze7h6fSjqZjJHnuniIIAjT08jUrcqW3DcoCeWDaQ-uaR3nqL_xwlwJ_ULT7rLw-NIPe/s1600/DSCN2621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6aFEkdziptypZJKF5usSOu-YCp6rEi9B92hvCVGaHqUZLaoAVpTW55Nq5HUB7xotPbVCuIQGcze7h6fSjqZjJHnuniIIAjT08jUrcqW3DcoCeWDaQ-uaR3nqL_xwlwJ_ULT7rLw-NIPe/s320/DSCN2621.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">We traveled to Mexico for a lovely wedding.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">I've given a eulogy at the funeral of my brilliant, adorable grandfather.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">We've packed and moved out of our Phoenix apartment.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">I've swam in the Atlantic ocean and eaten at my favorite restaurant in SF.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Two grandmothers have been visited and the best of friends have made me laugh.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">I've witnessed my mom's uncontrollable giggle fits, drank beers with my dad, and taken a roadtrip with my brother.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Oh, and we moved to Buenos Aires.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">It's been a crazy rollercoaster these last few weeks. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">I'm so glad to be here in Argentina, and am trying to soak up every. single. minute.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8035904568685927540.post-72799500014864400692010-06-07T14:20:00.000-07:002010-06-07T14:20:53.302-07:00Over the weekend...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We barbequed with good friends.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Went to bed early.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Stayed out entirely too late.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Treasure hunted in thrift stores.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rode bikes late at night.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Prayed that our car's A/C would miraculously start working when PHX hit 110. (Yep, that didn't work.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Floated around the pool looking up at the light reflected off the water and dancing on the orange trees.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9jHR8KUggxFQRr8-a5izTlJcfTLjIW8HLc55z1dWqLs?feat=blogger" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3PegUvbG54rm3riXRokL6I47JuFzDiDzltDVVHh2bixcYr1A9XDiSpTxaGvMcXNAllFv-1Cuvro6okvzlg8RJ_Iacet4w855rqeUSz0JH9DqeTPQ2MSyE2gnlAb54M2H38jUvEQLyWYd/s512/DSCN1267.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Red bird of paradise.</em></span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Happy Monday!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8035904568685927540.post-81154667260824506022010-06-04T08:10:00.000-07:002010-06-04T14:40:12.270-07:00Do you hear that? It's my heart fluttering.<div style="text-align: center;">Oh, me.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Last night I bought a big airplane ticket.</div><div style="text-align: center;">To a big, beautiful faraway city.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Kev and I will be spending this fall in Buenos Aires.</div><div style="text-align: center;">From August to January.</div><div style="text-align: center;">While he studies, I'll be working. Very remotely.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We've rented a sunny little apartment and are settling all of the details now.</div><div style="text-align: center;">August 6th can't come soon enough.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVKvuEt68NP2ZDU4pHAiPnIdWh_XXhjhofcKvd8eIPh1kocNFHTri1f1QU0ZOVNeb9jRBF3YGlbfSYOsDZK7Y6opjFZkVhlKO2zHanrz0lgYqS6p8jPOgfUsxJQOqjVJ9OTQVwXEEsucI/s1600/ba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVKvuEt68NP2ZDU4pHAiPnIdWh_XXhjhofcKvd8eIPh1kocNFHTri1f1QU0ZOVNeb9jRBF3YGlbfSYOsDZK7Y6opjFZkVhlKO2zHanrz0lgYqS6p8jPOgfUsxJQOqjVJ9OTQVwXEEsucI/s320/ba.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Buenos Aires. via </em></span><a href="http://weheartit./"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>weheartit.</em></span></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8035904568685927540.post-62633720586621619382010-06-03T18:35:00.000-07:002010-06-03T18:39:44.850-07:00When treehuggers live in hot places...<div style="text-align: center;">We survive the heat sans A/C for as long as humanly possible.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Apparently, this is too long for wine.</div><div style="text-align: center;">A bottle of '67 Rioja that we'd been saving slow cooked in the desert.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And when the climate gives you bad wine...<br />
...you make tinto de verano.<br />
(This is a classy way of saying wine + Sierra Mist)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Much more refreshing for dining al fresco anyways.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGaZJuwQQ3P-NfwI81ZFgLR6fohMw0soERH-nFyIPz0onPP3Aqnch8iBX7dLd5qDL79OHEKJv8UpLNMm2wgCuk_N4WJximM5FADoOl4eplbw2nB0A24xSKOeFtu5T0YEG06pmpGpsrPO4d/s400/DSCN2502.JPG" width="300" /><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Last night's dinner + tinto de verano + gorgeous night weather.</em></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8035904568685927540.post-61927858551026738372010-06-02T15:43:00.000-07:002010-06-02T15:43:36.663-07:00Beauty in the face of poverty.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFfjCQaiFSZmc3A8Kz45pglOdzEqVlpUMyqv1dO8QEawmLX0yVxVTkpCaQnwkG-MJdA4rWHEnrSnfHg5PsT7iSrL3YLxPS5d4L4ybRMVRZgXjE2-U9_U5Q51w0IzrtoOZU-_ARYJcYf9A/s1600/1275406988-favela-painting-8-528x220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFfjCQaiFSZmc3A8Kz45pglOdzEqVlpUMyqv1dO8QEawmLX0yVxVTkpCaQnwkG-MJdA4rWHEnrSnfHg5PsT7iSrL3YLxPS5d4L4ybRMVRZgXjE2-U9_U5Q51w0IzrtoOZU-_ARYJcYf9A/s400/1275406988-favela-painting-8-528x220.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.archdaily.com/62689/favela-painting/?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzEmail&utm_campaign=0&utm_content=383045">This</a> is an art project taken on by two Dutch gentlemen in the 'O Morro' favela outside of Rio di Janeiro. </div><div style="text-align: center;">What a beautiful way of giving the people another reason to be proud of where they come from.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8035904568685927540.post-4224089241634123262010-06-01T20:35:00.000-07:002010-06-02T07:42:55.083-07:00Over the long weekend...<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">We marched for human rights in Phoenix.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Drove to Tucson and stayed with a friend at the Rattlesnake Ranch.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Hiked the desert at sunset.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Visited the San Javier Mission, Nogales and AZ wine country.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Grilled and toasted the day outside under sparkling lights.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Inhaled a heavenly slice of banana creme pie at <a href="http://www.hotelcongress.com/">my favorite Tucson hotel</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvuPWEJn0UqbpOtHKd049vgjrQ_79OVUTshWFPnfL-tG5dDPhwFI4BUSUlkFNo9oVU2VuP-uJci2TuVhFJOFR5IyM2rIvEPe-4Ts8-NB6r7YWkH4eDTVQK21-7Fe-Xblbkpun3Cwjmb-d/s1600/DSCN2432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvuPWEJn0UqbpOtHKd049vgjrQ_79OVUTshWFPnfL-tG5dDPhwFI4BUSUlkFNo9oVU2VuP-uJci2TuVhFJOFR5IyM2rIvEPe-4Ts8-NB6r7YWkH4eDTVQK21-7Fe-Xblbkpun3Cwjmb-d/s320/DSCN2432.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">March against SB 1070. A stream of people four miles long.</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1VutvIEkEqIA6HkXTK6TQzdtoA0PYBVvmGDBXykFTR5PVIZ9_7YbpSHs2izAcaQKoTf39h-xLIo8To9zj8St8TCtgy3OtNTjGzzz1zJvffE9jiBBKT3Dz-VYkcXWnApGYR9mmvBrUnNXu/s1600/DSCN2442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1VutvIEkEqIA6HkXTK6TQzdtoA0PYBVvmGDBXykFTR5PVIZ9_7YbpSHs2izAcaQKoTf39h-xLIo8To9zj8St8TCtgy3OtNTjGzzz1zJvffE9jiBBKT3Dz-VYkcXWnApGYR9mmvBrUnNXu/s400/DSCN2442.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Tucson desert hiking.</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTi0WSRgrbeepCGc6Xqhmg2kcRKQsA0G7lro7L26A-3QcCIIzikBu6sw_9rpm30gHkRQJr2DyT6NI2eXkHiDkpnffWyaZi1yiuOnd-hiAWoFtSTAzBI_fGG-JXV_rWD3qdRZRCD5tDw_30/s1600/DSCN2461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTi0WSRgrbeepCGc6Xqhmg2kcRKQsA0G7lro7L26A-3QcCIIzikBu6sw_9rpm30gHkRQJr2DyT6NI2eXkHiDkpnffWyaZi1yiuOnd-hiAWoFtSTAzBI_fGG-JXV_rWD3qdRZRCD5tDw_30/s400/DSCN2461.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>San Javier Mission.</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhssOjGUv0fEjqJZ0Y69A4zYrUtgw_txv5zVrEq1RBrPrfHBIkMcJgdSl_RGtMRbkjBw1go4BZmpH3F7pvUfZwNYEMeuOy2U8c69BSxgwTHEkDCYOYaWXjJ_lNPrqOGCEcLL0qTEICUtsLW/s1600/DSCN2467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhssOjGUv0fEjqJZ0Y69A4zYrUtgw_txv5zVrEq1RBrPrfHBIkMcJgdSl_RGtMRbkjBw1go4BZmpH3F7pvUfZwNYEMeuOy2U8c69BSxgwTHEkDCYOYaWXjJ_lNPrqOGCEcLL0qTEICUtsLW/s320/DSCN2467.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Mural at the Nogales border.</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_xwrPljc73K9t9Sm4JHuLSFK4cCGhXnhuhvaL7Z7sC8jd-GCnREuZfUnqa9Lv5mliQG5ni6IaawZWQsQZFRuU4OSgRaxNY7EaAPaQsSiL7pt1K05eg4zW_KcjDi4s83q_tarOC9fYMgf/s1600/DSCN2476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_xwrPljc73K9t9Sm4JHuLSFK4cCGhXnhuhvaL7Z7sC8jd-GCnREuZfUnqa9Lv5mliQG5ni6IaawZWQsQZFRuU4OSgRaxNY7EaAPaQsSiL7pt1K05eg4zW_KcjDi4s83q_tarOC9fYMgf/s320/DSCN2476.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Wine tasting.</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">If only all weekends were three days long.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8035904568685927540.post-2890101293776103812010-03-24T15:14:00.000-07:002010-03-24T15:14:24.014-07:00I want to be remembered...On Monday I read the most beautiful <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/03/22/margaret.moth.tributes/index.html?iref=allsearch">tribute</a> to Margaret Moth, a woman I had never heard of.<br />
She was a camerawoman for CNN in the world's warzones. She was a camerawoman before there were camerawomen. She was gutsy, funny and full of life. I cried as I read what her colleagues had written as a tribute to this trailblazing woman. If people remember me in any of the ways that Margaret was described, I will have led a successful life.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8035904568685927540.post-48176984692042812332010-03-10T12:51:00.000-08:002010-03-10T12:52:05.696-08:00In this lifetime...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBHtK7DGxVFkzY3ugmPZr_IoiGbIGS4NJ_-alfhLGnJ0G_bwJTUClOKLRDFgkuDHqmGRJAc-EUs_uhuieh8YNxE3lUesfdRYEtKfIsSbVG7JK6sNwdRzony_xqeu7Ii0awa3aJ7TU1zjc/s1600-h/northernlights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBHtK7DGxVFkzY3ugmPZr_IoiGbIGS4NJ_-alfhLGnJ0G_bwJTUClOKLRDFgkuDHqmGRJAc-EUs_uhuieh8YNxE3lUesfdRYEtKfIsSbVG7JK6sNwdRzony_xqeu7Ii0awa3aJ7TU1zjc/s320/northernlights.jpg" vt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Northern Lights found </em></span><a href="http://www.iww.is/art/shs/pages/thumbs.html"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>here</em></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>.</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdNoGwFay6pbOGq_J3CMkiH_if971YuuvkkLt_iWtx3TEmFMMnWCK7Q_nbibr3knydLERBdlmt5GhqQOUS9qwb3x-cPf0Vd3x4irddrA0ETA26EM2JlfBAJrOHltZn3TTQyfApxuXSj91/s1600-h/bioluminescense+ohjoy.org.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdNoGwFay6pbOGq_J3CMkiH_if971YuuvkkLt_iWtx3TEmFMMnWCK7Q_nbibr3knydLERBdlmt5GhqQOUS9qwb3x-cPf0Vd3x4irddrA0ETA26EM2JlfBAJrOHltZn3TTQyfApxuXSj91/s320/bioluminescense+ohjoy.org.jpg" vt="true" /></a></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bioluminescent beach via </span></em><a href="http://www.ohjoy.org/"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">www.ohjoy.org</span></em></a><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">.</span></em></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">I would love to spend an evening or more under the Northern Lights, and go for a night swim in bioluminescence. </div><div align="center">Both are on my life goals list, and both seem so magical and otherworldly.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8035904568685927540.post-77324761102887231162010-03-08T18:25:00.000-08:002010-03-08T18:25:44.444-08:00Over the weekend...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMK1LxkmdtOFH4dRPa36m1y118oNIGVwO9YGu2Pso3fA1WQfy4De1RuatpZZad929V1EyWRmIRvM2CQvmvcVzrJ_uD6z8jgA_v-A19nhhsRjoVWz_3VslnDeq4zrbUzLTEHVcO8EZnFIzw/s1600-h/DSCN2151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMK1LxkmdtOFH4dRPa36m1y118oNIGVwO9YGu2Pso3fA1WQfy4De1RuatpZZad929V1EyWRmIRvM2CQvmvcVzrJ_uD6z8jgA_v-A19nhhsRjoVWz_3VslnDeq4zrbUzLTEHVcO8EZnFIzw/s400/DSCN2151.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Bougainvillea + Sunshine</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tueVGq7lOOS0duVrpkgSmfUZEdeQ84-3T97oN2FFLcB9qEM8N7LsPIObweq9U2b5Pgl0MbSA_nkBjdwMO7klwxIDEXVfbNYc3-bsYWtNQ3E33HjriTIeegyLSYUlDzI5j1hOvkISrPh6/s1600-h/DSCN2154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tueVGq7lOOS0duVrpkgSmfUZEdeQ84-3T97oN2FFLcB9qEM8N7LsPIObweq9U2b5Pgl0MbSA_nkBjdwMO7klwxIDEXVfbNYc3-bsYWtNQ3E33HjriTIeegyLSYUlDzI5j1hOvkISrPh6/s400/DSCN2154.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>shadowy self portrait + wild flowers</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3Kq478uXhUh-PDxyvNm2EFJsa9AnvEBX2zy4WliwK3YhEAs9UhJz-f6uKAwnqLrYlBt_5qH5jgJTLs9vuNHOY3M55ryDurSXAYwkcadUyyU6VtfWW6jqKNZa8qEPC24JLodvv9pgvqyI/s1600-h/DSCN2157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3Kq478uXhUh-PDxyvNm2EFJsa9AnvEBX2zy4WliwK3YhEAs9UhJz-f6uKAwnqLrYlBt_5qH5jgJTLs9vuNHOY3M55ryDurSXAYwkcadUyyU6VtfWW6jqKNZa8qEPC24JLodvv9pgvqyI/s320/DSCN2157.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">up close</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxlmsERn4zhuuBbLi_d725E1-QCda0zCOsIdsZUnunp2Ta__l0wN5lv5WfZcebEPxtoMI_j3BCyreRJqX8Xcfs70ryXar6vJIAeQPt0U1-wnni6yagjMOjbsCwZuwPdPVe9HTweZaly0h1/s1600-h/DSCN2160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxlmsERn4zhuuBbLi_d725E1-QCda0zCOsIdsZUnunp2Ta__l0wN5lv5WfZcebEPxtoMI_j3BCyreRJqX8Xcfs70ryXar6vJIAeQPt0U1-wnni6yagjMOjbsCwZuwPdPVe9HTweZaly0h1/s320/DSCN2160.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">making friends with neighborhood cats</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnK97gXIn83JteJHhhQdYN1mn4IOsdVoRHaUARVk8t4orZlr80jLAETHiml3ohqnFwdy_PmlyDa0J3tMIeBbvpIKvmvzeQVPajlv7ft60ZqwaksKEF2Lx_muiMZQQ564HbCjGYKa_PUjnA/s1600-h/DSCN2163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnK97gXIn83JteJHhhQdYN1mn4IOsdVoRHaUARVk8t4orZlr80jLAETHiml3ohqnFwdy_PmlyDa0J3tMIeBbvpIKvmvzeQVPajlv7ft60ZqwaksKEF2Lx_muiMZQQ564HbCjGYKa_PUjnA/s400/DSCN2163.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>rain in the courtyard</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGP2_8qDL8jwfg1xOxZA5712cF8MhFF0myKo6copQr4MmbevQk-kDzTkyd7JNNy8DMi9wTb5D7-8rFBHPSBKxDZcXB2bElEBRBtnibJFim9rUeUFGzIZphfrBVxKbCKThd49v8vA_vu0UO/s1600-h/DSCN2169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGP2_8qDL8jwfg1xOxZA5712cF8MhFF0myKo6copQr4MmbevQk-kDzTkyd7JNNy8DMi9wTb5D7-8rFBHPSBKxDZcXB2bElEBRBtnibJFim9rUeUFGzIZphfrBVxKbCKThd49v8vA_vu0UO/s400/DSCN2169.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>flooded yard</em></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">This weekend gave us everything we needed. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunshine and long walks. </div><div style="text-align: center;">A rain-filled day perfect for snuggling in, eating soup and cleaning house.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We sent packages to good friends and went to see the new Alice in Wonderland. In 3-D. At the IMAX.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> I feel old admitting it, but it was pretty intense seeing anything that huge. Beautiful movie, though.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8035904568685927540.post-33106665293060624902010-03-01T18:15:00.000-08:002010-03-01T18:16:38.488-08:00Love songs and percocet.I hurt. My shoulder is full of surprises.<br />
This song makes me so very happy, though.<br />
It's the ultimate love song.<br />
<object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sRA5S59KjwY&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sRA5S59KjwY&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8035904568685927540.post-91238967666446421682010-02-24T16:12:00.000-08:002010-02-24T16:12:16.493-08:00Today I am thankful for...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8iNa7WcLNWGoS6q572KXZf99Ba473XSQrq6_lBSWhqNTzOn6BFbwdnDDwwU9a6ZrxWANCoND7zOq3gmGiyfTamiS7iq2PO2suhWjX4-JZLfZ1eWTqxuYtdRF6MImDRLCS8oknMMRUD5u/s1600-h/phx" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8iNa7WcLNWGoS6q572KXZf99Ba473XSQrq6_lBSWhqNTzOn6BFbwdnDDwwU9a6ZrxWANCoND7zOq3gmGiyfTamiS7iq2PO2suhWjX4-JZLfZ1eWTqxuYtdRF6MImDRLCS8oknMMRUD5u/s320/phx" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chewy oatmeal raisin cookies with an extra dash of salt.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Water served at room temperature.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Man-scented deoderant.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The bougainvillea outside my window.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Roasted cauliflower.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My dad's visit to Phoenix over the weekend.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8035904568685927540.post-3212601835924128512010-02-23T17:31:00.000-08:002010-02-24T13:40:49.371-08:00Lessons learned from sugery, part 2.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today I washed my hair in the bath tub. With one arm glued to my side (more out of fear of intense pain, than due to actual intense pain) and a red keg cup in my free hand, I struggled with my innate clutziness. It was frustrating. I fought down my instinct to let the right hand assist the left. I dropped cupful after cupful of water on my matted hair until it was wet enough to add shampoo, then awkwardly lathered, one-handed. We were nearly out of conditioner, and extracting a quarter-sized blob into my hand felt pretty close to a miracle. That's when it struck me: I was kinda enjoying myself.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8035904568685927540.post-65624194862451553682010-02-22T14:00:00.000-08:002010-02-22T14:00:44.736-08:00Lessons learned from surgery.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-0VMHRYRSbv-tk7zZat9ifC3wA5L4mZ-fcF1zbj3j7b0smijp0KFL_JKHK_byXS17dxvAeoNBIcRyrtbjfJ_NyjKOxnPPHvYgMPm7pcf25m5rdFSjDlRt1t2ZTV2Ijkg0RgzVjHAbi6c/s1600-h/Photo+29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-0VMHRYRSbv-tk7zZat9ifC3wA5L4mZ-fcF1zbj3j7b0smijp0KFL_JKHK_byXS17dxvAeoNBIcRyrtbjfJ_NyjKOxnPPHvYgMPm7pcf25m5rdFSjDlRt1t2ZTV2Ijkg0RgzVjHAbi6c/s320/Photo+29.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Shoulder, three days post-op</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>On Friday I had surgery. My first. I had no idea what to expect. Well, I expected pain. And that I would probably wish for my mom to be by my side (even though I'd reassured her countless times that I would be fine. Really, fine). The procedure would stitch up a cartiledge tear in my shoulder, hopefully giving me back a relatively pain-free yoga practice. It has been so long.<br />
<br />
I did not expect to learn so much from this surgery, especially in a groggy, pain pill-filled somnambulant state.<br />
<br />
Pulling off the gauze and pressure wraps from my surgery I was overwhelmed with nausea, light-headedness, chills. I was sore, sensitive, raw. My husband gently, gently unwound the bandages. Carefully he helped ease me into a warm bath and sponged the iodine and adhesive off of my aching shoulder. He clumsily tied my hair back and passed a warm washcloth across my face, easing the sleep out of my eyes. I sat, slumped, swollen, and weary while he took care of me. And he did the same all weekend--making me exotic varieties of smoothie when I didn't feel like eating real food, helping me carry the same four pillows back up and down the hallway as I grew restless sitting in one place, and never once complaining.<br />
<br />
I did miss my mom this weekend. She is the most nurturing person I have ever met, and I am always happy to have her near. But this weekend I fully realized that marriage has made me a part of a new family. A family of two. With much love and much respect in our hearts, we will take care of each other through the painful times and the sweet times. And occasionally be surprised when they are one in the same.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8035904568685927540.post-58162686522394113452010-01-27T16:24:00.000-08:002010-01-27T16:25:29.800-08:00Together at Last<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8MX4zx50W1DIXeVBhteYwTmkGMYCUdPR-PGUeQyBfuNPszlsq-8e8xnOOHXJvOoqZI-uK_R4z1a6CHTM9671IBS0ht2ezrN4N22oxZRZxblXOH6xcZ2G9fanUd3rr0OcTP-1cKuqjs4OT/s1600-h/100_4777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8MX4zx50W1DIXeVBhteYwTmkGMYCUdPR-PGUeQyBfuNPszlsq-8e8xnOOHXJvOoqZI-uK_R4z1a6CHTM9671IBS0ht2ezrN4N22oxZRZxblXOH6xcZ2G9fanUd3rr0OcTP-1cKuqjs4OT/s320/100_4777.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my bike. She's a real champion. A friend.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She is strangely unnamed.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She's just joined me in the desert along with the rest of the belongings that we'd left languishing in storage until we had the time to drive them cross-country.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We finally moved into an apartment that is reasonably sized for two full grown human beings and has more than one closet. <br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am ecstatic. <br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are still boxes strewn about, but it already feels like home.<br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8035904568685927540.post-3464493592715296002010-01-14T15:11:00.000-08:002010-01-14T15:11:09.202-08:00Zen Desk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBqzNHF0SFSEVEFplb3Z0udGEwYDXzasG-Z5rkEoyciGe1aOZlcAyGsMGSc36tIQA6RbXyCxDBsd6DVvstwFCG6XgI3gg2AGD8J2hm3RqRL11Bivjwu2UpVONz9cPyNP2Zd6fjPgWQhjiQ/s1600-h/tumblr_kp23uwFMBy1qzun6yo1_400_large.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBqzNHF0SFSEVEFplb3Z0udGEwYDXzasG-Z5rkEoyciGe1aOZlcAyGsMGSc36tIQA6RbXyCxDBsd6DVvstwFCG6XgI3gg2AGD8J2hm3RqRL11Bivjwu2UpVONz9cPyNP2Zd6fjPgWQhjiQ/s320/tumblr_kp23uwFMBy1qzun6yo1_400_large.png" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image via </span></em><a href="http://youaremyfave.tumblr.com/"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://youaremyfave.tumblr.com/</span></em></a><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">This afternoon after fighting the procrastination and non-productivity beasts for a few hours, I cleaned off my desk at work. My inspiration came from <a href="http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2010/01/a-secret-to-happiness-clean-off-my-desk.html">this</a> post by <a href="http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/">Gretchen Rubin</a>, the happiness guru. <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And you know what? She was right. I feel more calm and ready to tackle tomorrow's work day already.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Now on to unpacking that suitcase that I've been neglecting....<br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8035904568685927540.post-17934393024292620862010-01-12T12:59:00.000-08:002010-01-12T12:59:51.207-08:00Beautiful Mind<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3QAOt7f3pcs5J-c-y1U5Z-TbyNLc3qSJ09BQgVVmq-nnirwFdnP3zR1wy0CDOEHnd13oboOWKk_woZLmGEm9-ZdTaMVM8JGWI48TE2j6dZBhCZ4UQXIIEXIKpXH1b1Cgud6jilKQwcBw/s1600-h/kimpeek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3QAOt7f3pcs5J-c-y1U5Z-TbyNLc3qSJ09BQgVVmq-nnirwFdnP3zR1wy0CDOEHnd13oboOWKk_woZLmGEm9-ZdTaMVM8JGWI48TE2j6dZBhCZ4UQXIIEXIKpXH1b1Cgud6jilKQwcBw/s320/kimpeek.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div>Over the holidays, Kim Peek, the inspiration for the movie 'Rain Man,' passed away. His <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/27/us/27peek.html">obituary</a> in the New York Times has been popping up in my mind ever since. They said that Mr. Peek had "an astonishing skill that allowed him to read facing pages of a book at once — one with each eye — he read as many as 12,000 volumes. Even more remarkable, he could remember what he had read."<br />
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His story is a reminder that there is so much that we still don't know about the miracles and mysteries of life. And so much that we shouldn't judge.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8035904568685927540.post-41351760135170043012010-01-11T15:32:00.000-08:002010-01-12T12:50:08.806-08:00And just like that...<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVUbaKYzWKXni8SxHTe2wq0jNFMmpL1k381hgxtagirW93CfddkAYYEScvGdPvmZTjpzB04UH2QYb8tn8QRwmaqqGVHU7KqVeecOU_F-5AuAKDvojK9WprBZWEdl0XyQV4Oa4hH_EtQPE/s1600-h/beautiful2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVUbaKYzWKXni8SxHTe2wq0jNFMmpL1k381hgxtagirW93CfddkAYYEScvGdPvmZTjpzB04UH2QYb8tn8QRwmaqqGVHU7KqVeecOU_F-5AuAKDvojK9WprBZWEdl0XyQV4Oa4hH_EtQPE/s320/beautiful2.bmp" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Photo found <a href="http://www.weheartit.com/">here</a>.<br />
</em></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My blogging hiatus has come to an end.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Think I got a bit overwhelmed by the combination of travel, holidays, work, and the Best of 2009 list.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Very, very excited about 2010 and the goals I've set for myself. Maybe more on that to come...<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">One of my resolutions involves dusting off the beautiful sewing machine my parents gave me for Christmas last year and re-learning how to sew. Marisa's project over at <a href="http://newdressaday.wordpress.com/">New Dress a Day</a> has been seriously inspiring. My obsession with thrift stores can be justified if I can remedy ill-fitting pieces.<br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8035904568685927540.post-45553278544362660212009-12-16T15:02:00.000-08:002009-12-16T15:02:27.139-08:00Blog Find of the Year: Smitten KitchenThis year I moved to Phoenix. Because it is where my husband is, and because home is where the heart is and he's my heart, it's now my home. It flows like a romantic logic problem, but it makes sense, right? Now that I'm out here, I seem to have more time on my hands. I am still working east coast hours, which means I start very early and end fairly early, too. More time is a beautiful thing. But in a new city (especially one that sometimes traps its residents indoors with 115+ heat), it can feel a little bit lonely. <br />
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And when I get lonely, I like to eat. So while my husband is toiling away at grad school and I'm holed up in our teensy apartment, I'll cook elaborate meals that I never would have had the time to make a year ago. <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/">Smitten Kitchen</a> is my go-to for what's for dinner. Deb, the genius behind the blog, writes in a casual, hilarious way that makes me feel like I've been talking to a good friend about <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2009/01/mushroom-bourguignon/">mushroom bourguinon</a> or <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2007/10/pumpkin-butter-and-pepita-granola/">pumpkin butter</a>. It takes the intimidation right out of serious cookery. She's not super rigid about instructions or measurements. In fact, she makes me feel like even though I have a tendency to forget whether I've already put in 2 tsp or sugar or 3, or added baking soda instead of baking powder, whatever I'm making is going to turn out ok. It always does. <br />
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<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh997g6ZEV9i-cbPgOSCGL-8xGe9IFRUX6DS5q-evQEo7EfhoTpdE_phUu0iRUWLChbFZ6X0Jw6id871u0QH995EkhaoAUkA3siqX3xbrwhmGRdgmD8-enjzvCa8fDVDFynF77vkLExNjNa/s1600-h/cookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh997g6ZEV9i-cbPgOSCGL-8xGe9IFRUX6DS5q-evQEo7EfhoTpdE_phUu0iRUWLChbFZ6X0Jw6id871u0QH995EkhaoAUkA3siqX3xbrwhmGRdgmD8-enjzvCa8fDVDFynF77vkLExNjNa/s320/cookies.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Deb's </span></em><a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2009/02/thick-chewy-oatmeal-raisin-cookies/"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Oatmeal Raisin Cookies</span></em></a><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">. Heaven.</span></em><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8035904568685927540.post-30992777052943143192009-12-14T15:05:00.000-08:002009-12-14T15:06:19.384-08:00Best Workshop 2009My feet have really been dragging on this post. I think I was scared off by the word "conference," which to me represents long hours on aching feet. Work stuff.<br />
<br />
So, instead, let's discuss the drawing class I took back in January, as it was a workshop of sorts. The class took place over the course of four Monday evenings in an ill-heated art studio in Charleston. They were a gift to myself. A gentle nudge to keep myself inspired.<br />
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There were four of us in the class. Two wildly talented kids and a mother with children my age. I struggled at first to realize that, while the others had more refined skills than me (and probably just more skills in the art department, period), there was nothing <em>wrong</em> with my drawings. They were just mine. <br />
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It was intensely relaxing and perspective-altering to sit down for 90 whole minutes and focus on trying to capture what I saw on paper. After each class I felt like I'd just finished a yoga practice. Calmer. More focused. Like I was interpreting the world a little bit differently. Just thinking about it makes me want to go home and sketch...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8035904568685927540.post-16144880728657833232009-12-08T05:28:00.000-08:002009-12-08T05:28:28.661-08:00Best Night Out 2009 - Everyone I Love in One RoomOne of the greatest things about weddings--aside from marrying your best friend--is the bringing together of friends and family. Everyone you love in one room. My best friend from elementary school with whom I used to prank phone call my fifth grade teachers involved in a deep conversation with my World War II fighter pilot grandfather. My nine year old twin cousins dancing with the man that introduced my husband and I nearly six years ago in Costa Rica. Just thinking about it I get teary eyed. It makes you want to bar the doors and keep everyone in the reception hall forever.<br />
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After our reception the party got rowdier. It shifted one block down the street to our neighborhood bar, a dark, somewhat stinky, incredible dive. My husband and I were exhausted, in every sense of the word. Our getaway car took us to a hotel and we began peeling off the wedding garb. We lay on the bed, and in any other circumstance, there's no way we would have gotten up. But we looked at each other and the thought of our best friends at our favorite bar was enough to propel us out of the hotel room and to the curb to hail a taxi. <br />
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When we arrived, there was a five second silence as the doors swung open and then everyone started to cheer. The bar was packed with familiar faces from all the eras of our lives. It was magic.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8035904568685927540.post-37483341574301884432009-12-07T03:17:00.000-08:002009-12-07T04:40:20.019-08:00Best Article 2009 (aka my exact thoughts, better-articulated)Back in October, Jonathan Safran Foer wrote an article entitled <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/magazine/11foer-t.html?_r=1&pagewanted=1&ref=magazine">"Against Meat"</a> for the New York Times. Reading this piece felt like partaking in one of those late night conversations with someone you've just met, where they're explaining their philosophy on music or pizza or gun control...and you can't seem to speak because everything that comes out of their mouth is your exact thought. It's a kind of magical feeling, where no matter how insignificant the topic at hand, you feel like you've found a kindred spirit.<br />
<br />
Becoming a vegetarian was a personal choice for me, and I don't bring it up much. The last thing I want to do is force my opinions on anyone else, or make them feel judged. Heck, I ate meat for 25 years. Mr. Foer better-articulated the reasons that I decided to stop eating meat, and gave me a resource...a beautifully written article that I could point people towards when trying to explain my point of view.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8035904568685927540.post-16920226366726314232009-12-04T08:33:00.000-08:002009-12-04T08:33:06.082-08:00Best Restaurant Moment of 2009: An Ode to Pho<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPd6t-ZBP0R0rSGElfUith9J5ojILYKmIDdWR0YlVgGwd0XddO-k3DYCt0bA2F6yavB9_OwwLGs2n9bvpwtEtmDPMew1Q9vo6TKVAAydBlHB7VRTXRcFW4RgTZTr92LELv4gBWGORREkBh/s1600-h/DSCN1498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPd6t-ZBP0R0rSGElfUith9J5ojILYKmIDdWR0YlVgGwd0XddO-k3DYCt0bA2F6yavB9_OwwLGs2n9bvpwtEtmDPMew1Q9vo6TKVAAydBlHB7VRTXRcFW4RgTZTr92LELv4gBWGORREkBh/s320/DSCN1498.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://lookingforthejoyinsimplethings.blogspot.com/2009/09/4-months.html">Anniversary noodles</a> at Pho Thanh</span></em><br />
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</div>Never in a million years would I have imagined that I would crave hot Vietnamese soup during hot as hell Phoenix August. But the craving did strike, and I thank God that it did. <br />
<br />
Pho is a magical thing. The soothing, rich, flavorful broth. The tangled mess of thin rice noodles. The plate heaped with bean sprouts, fresh herbs and limes to mix in. The arsenal of sauces; some spicy, some savory. I could go on and on.<br />
<br />
The diamond in the rough that stole my heart this year is a restaurant called Pho Thanh. From the outside, it doesn't look promising--it's set in a dingy little strip mall in north Phoenix. I've fallen in love with their incredible vegetarian pork entrees, savory soups and perfectly seasoned vegetables, and we find ourselves coming back more and more as the weather turns cold and soup seems to be the only thing to satisfy.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8035904568685927540.post-86026935432870868102009-12-02T19:47:00.000-08:002009-12-03T06:11:34.757-08:00Best Trip of 2009The old suitcase has gotten a really good workout this year. My ability to add or subtract 2-3 hours from the time displayed on my Blackberry depending on where I am on any given day has become uncanny. Delta employees in the Charleston airport have started to recognize me and ask me when I'll be back through. Work has put me in many cities over the last 11 months, and while I hate being away from home and husband, along with the dreaded exhaustion that comes with work-related travel, I love my mini-adventures on the road. The friends I've made over the last 27 years have scattered far and wide, and I can usually manage to meet up with a good one for beer or coffee in every town. Seeking out good local spots is an obsession of mine that I get to indulge whilst out of town--local breweries, eateries, specialties. But that's work stuff.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2u1_TapoSPcSSkjLijQqV24tQ0MNzxolGMyt32AZtb4Gmpd9oEztRKN_t2Gl8b51gtJfEHoaiXwO6gGpR5fvxetg9-KdyO7t06KKriX9U4-lKU3S_Iar48r6tXGmF_wLdOqLGX-Fpgl7/s1600-h/sevilla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2u1_TapoSPcSSkjLijQqV24tQ0MNzxolGMyt32AZtb4Gmpd9oEztRKN_t2Gl8b51gtJfEHoaiXwO6gGpR5fvxetg9-KdyO7t06KKriX9U4-lKU3S_Iar48r6tXGmF_wLdOqLGX-Fpgl7/s400/sevilla.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">El Alcazar, Sevilla</span></em>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_U9DFi1fU1RZAoc805SE06TH0dLHnIJN-JISQDLHE1GmK3yqhAuslUJCBZe5PgB3JaVGoKL5FPNm3PE4ylSCi7AXfMaADAmyK7zA3_HCuVt4IrJvRXxiGVGRZtOMKarMavf9zyr3axA3/s1600-h/lagiralda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_U9DFi1fU1RZAoc805SE06TH0dLHnIJN-JISQDLHE1GmK3yqhAuslUJCBZe5PgB3JaVGoKL5FPNm3PE4ylSCi7AXfMaADAmyK7zA3_HCuVt4IrJvRXxiGVGRZtOMKarMavf9zyr3axA3/s400/lagiralda.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">La Giralda and touristy trinkets.</span></em><br />
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</div>I have two Best Trips this year. The first was my honeymoon in glorious Spain. After a semester in Sevilla during college, I fell deeply in love with Spanish culture and Spanish language. Making it back to Spain was on my "To Do Before I Die" list--and there was no better time. Twinkling lights in Spanish squares on hot summer nights with pitchers of sangria and my new husband. It doesn't get much better than that in my book.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZCLacWQ6iByB4niKtuaT9GrA5JDLw5kx2m1yxXghosqWmZ6j2__TOgVaUspFg3S6BJynJeQNGnhgLw9Yeju43YCn3r9PaaSeatD7nEETz_sZrO6s2jUb39-WgCmsh-ksPBLJlRku8ML_/s1600-h/DSCN1118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZCLacWQ6iByB4niKtuaT9GrA5JDLw5kx2m1yxXghosqWmZ6j2__TOgVaUspFg3S6BJynJeQNGnhgLw9Yeju43YCn3r9PaaSeatD7nEETz_sZrO6s2jUb39-WgCmsh-ksPBLJlRku8ML_/s320/DSCN1118.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Late night in our old stomping grounds. (Seattle)</span></em><br />
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</div>The other Best Trip was to Seattle for our west coast wedding reception. There was a lot of love in K's parents' backyard, and a lot less stress than there was on the big day. We did all of the important Seattle things--drank Mac N Jacks, ate Thai food, visited the old neighborhood, danced at the Little Red Hen...and all with the best of friends.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8035904568685927540.post-51557767133790364032009-12-02T15:21:00.000-08:002009-12-02T19:33:08.883-08:00The Best of 2009 Blog ChallengeOnly <a href="http://lookingforthejoyinsimplethings.blogspot.com/2009/11/inspiration.html">recently</a> did I stumble across the <a href="http://www.gwenbell.com/blog">blog</a> of one Ms. Gwen Bell, but she has already inspired me to make big changes, follow my dreams, and try my hand at asskicking (in a non-violent way). And so, I will be participating in her <a href="http://www.gwenbell.com/blog/2009/11/30/the-best-of-2009-blog-challenge.html">Best of 2009 Blog Challenge</a>. I'm pretty excited about it to be honest, as I look forward to ruminating on the year as its end draws near and blogging about things that I maybe wouldn't have thought to blog about otherwise.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0