Well, I missed a week. Keeping quite busy. In fact, I overdid it a little, and crashed. Have to remember to schedule self-nourishment when working with time management systems.
Tomorrow, we head north to Albuquerque and spend the holiday with David and Susan and Kaitlyn. Every year, I appreciate Thanksgiving more. The whole concept, of taking time to give thanks, is nourishing to self and world.
It helps that we have been relaxing about exactly how we celebrate Thanksgiving. We all like turkey, so we do a turkey. Side dishes are fewer each year, and the whole idea of rushing to get things right diminishes each year, too. I like cooking in a turkey bag -- less planning ahead, more moisture left in the bird. David is brining one this year. I'll be interested to see how that turns out.
We're too far from home to gather with family this year. We've all sent each other messages. We know we are thinking of each other, and that's enough.
May you all have as simple or rich a celebration as you wish this year.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Contrary Brin
What a beautiful morning!
I believe the Bush administration is about to receive one of my most rigorous blessings: "May you receive a clear view of your own faults" -- and not a moment too soon.
The moral is: Embrace CITOKATE* before CITOKATE gets imposed on you.
I believe in science. That means that testing one's ideas against reality is necessary to progress. To cut off error detection by avoiding criticism is to start on a path to perdition even more direct than the one lined by good intentions.
*CITOKATE stands for: Criticism Is The Only Antidote To Error, as developed in the blog of David Brin, at Contrary Brin
I seem to have drifted to Wednesday morning. The next entry is also new since last Wednesday.
I believe the Bush administration is about to receive one of my most rigorous blessings: "May you receive a clear view of your own faults" -- and not a moment too soon.
The moral is: Embrace CITOKATE* before CITOKATE gets imposed on you.
I believe in science. That means that testing one's ideas against reality is necessary to progress. To cut off error detection by avoiding criticism is to start on a path to perdition even more direct than the one lined by good intentions.
*CITOKATE stands for: Criticism Is The Only Antidote To Error, as developed in the blog of David Brin, at Contrary Brin
I seem to have drifted to Wednesday morning. The next entry is also new since last Wednesday.
Saturday, November 04, 2006
I am a Life Coach
Yesterday, we had our first follow-up call for the members of my Life Coach training group. Our facilitator, Kim Barber, pointed out that saying we were 'in training to be a Life Coach' is one of the ways we sabotage ourselves. All of us have the skills to coach, right now. She's seen them.
I admit, I have been a little skeptical that our training was sufficient. We had reading material and worksheets beforehand, and then a very intense three day seminar. But part of the reason we were there, is that we have all been coaching people all our lives. The training gave us more system to apply to what we already know, and the experience of having the tools used on us as well. It's all that's needed. That, and the ongoing work of finding the people we can best help, and making ourselves known so that they can find us.
If you are reading this, you know a lot about my history, and that I am a new Life Coach. Or I'm a newly official Life Coach. I AM a Life Coach. I am newly making my skill available for hire. And I have new techniques from my NorthStar training. I am, right now, a Life Coach, and in many ways, I always have been.
Thursday, I was talking to Tommy Angelo on the phone. It is my very great privilege that he has been a coaching mentor to me. He lists himself as a poker coach, and he approaches every game as part of a client's life, so he is effectively a Life Coach who approaches life through poker. If you are serious about poker, I recommend hiring him immediately at tommyangelo.com.
Anyway, I was talking to Tommy, and we were talking about coaching, and I said I had been somewhat catalytic in people's lives now and then. And he said, "Uhuh, yeah, right," normal moving a conversation along sounds, nothing unusual here, and then, hairpin voice turn, he said, "OBVIOUSLY! Absolutely! Of course you have!" Like 'What are you freaking talking about, understating your abilities like that!!!!' It was one of the most classic voice tone double-takes I've ever heard.
Thanks, Tommy. It was a good time for me to hear that.
If you have been reading this blog, you also know the changes I've gone through, and how I have handled them. You know that I am not perfect, and that I keep trying to become more truthful and compassionate. There's my evidence, in public. I am a Life Coach.
My professional site is: annaparadox.com.
May you all acknowlege and use your strengths. The world needs you.
I admit, I have been a little skeptical that our training was sufficient. We had reading material and worksheets beforehand, and then a very intense three day seminar. But part of the reason we were there, is that we have all been coaching people all our lives. The training gave us more system to apply to what we already know, and the experience of having the tools used on us as well. It's all that's needed. That, and the ongoing work of finding the people we can best help, and making ourselves known so that they can find us.
If you are reading this, you know a lot about my history, and that I am a new Life Coach. Or I'm a newly official Life Coach. I AM a Life Coach. I am newly making my skill available for hire. And I have new techniques from my NorthStar training. I am, right now, a Life Coach, and in many ways, I always have been.
Thursday, I was talking to Tommy Angelo on the phone. It is my very great privilege that he has been a coaching mentor to me. He lists himself as a poker coach, and he approaches every game as part of a client's life, so he is effectively a Life Coach who approaches life through poker. If you are serious about poker, I recommend hiring him immediately at tommyangelo.com.
Anyway, I was talking to Tommy, and we were talking about coaching, and I said I had been somewhat catalytic in people's lives now and then. And he said, "Uhuh, yeah, right," normal moving a conversation along sounds, nothing unusual here, and then, hairpin voice turn, he said, "OBVIOUSLY! Absolutely! Of course you have!" Like 'What are you freaking talking about, understating your abilities like that!!!!' It was one of the most classic voice tone double-takes I've ever heard.
Thanks, Tommy. It was a good time for me to hear that.
If you have been reading this blog, you also know the changes I've gone through, and how I have handled them. You know that I am not perfect, and that I keep trying to become more truthful and compassionate. There's my evidence, in public. I am a Life Coach.
My professional site is: annaparadox.com.
May you all acknowlege and use your strengths. The world needs you.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
I'm late, I'm late
This week went by like lightning. Mo continues to recover. Doug had some follow-up to the X-Prize to do, and then a lot of missed homework to catch up on. He returned from being with his father on Wednesday. I was really glad to see him.
Last night I was drooping a little at the end of the day. I've been busily doing my Life Coach homework every day. The stated assignment is to spend at least ten minutes a day in some activity that advances my practice, plus speak to one stranger about Life Coaching. I've generally been overshooting, of course. So, I was tired early, and I started to wonder why. Then I thought, oh, yeah, only a few days ago, I was utterly exhausted. This is not so bad. Nor so unexpected.
Also have two editing clients now. Both are good company and good writers, so I'm enjoying the work immensely. Excellent sign! It does absorb my attention and my time. I keep looking up and thinking, oh, right, lunch is a couple hours overdue.
Of course the biggest relief is that Mo is home and doing well. The doctors said his heart was shocked. It will take time to recover his stamina, and even to know how much of his capacity will return. He's making some lifestyle changes, always a challenge. But he has lots of support, and a strong will.
May you have the support you need when you need it.
Last night I was drooping a little at the end of the day. I've been busily doing my Life Coach homework every day. The stated assignment is to spend at least ten minutes a day in some activity that advances my practice, plus speak to one stranger about Life Coaching. I've generally been overshooting, of course. So, I was tired early, and I started to wonder why. Then I thought, oh, yeah, only a few days ago, I was utterly exhausted. This is not so bad. Nor so unexpected.
Also have two editing clients now. Both are good company and good writers, so I'm enjoying the work immensely. Excellent sign! It does absorb my attention and my time. I keep looking up and thinking, oh, right, lunch is a couple hours overdue.
Of course the biggest relief is that Mo is home and doing well. The doctors said his heart was shocked. It will take time to recover his stamina, and even to know how much of his capacity will return. He's making some lifestyle changes, always a challenge. But he has lots of support, and a strong will.
May you have the support you need when you need it.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
My Life Coach training completed last weekend. It was intense. I have effective tools for fast change now. And I know what it is like to have them used on me.
Then, when I came out of class, and turned on my cell phone Sunday night, I discovered that Doug's father had had a heart attack. Shortly after attending his father's funeral, Mo went to the hospital with unexplained pain. They tested him twice, found nothing, though the doctor felt something wasn't quite right. Mo was preparing to leave when he had a heart attack, in the hospital. No better place for it.
He's doing very well. They expected to release him today. Doug flew to be with his family -- was already on his way before I knew it had happened. I was really glad that our friend David was visiting, and helped and supported Doug through the news and with getting to the airport. Good friends.
On the way home on Monday, I was involved in a small fender bender when a car stopped suddenly in front of me on the freeway. The car in front of me hit the car in front of it. I hit the one in front of me when I was unable to stop in time. No one hurt, plenty of time spent on the police report and speaking to insurance companies.
Yesterday I slept a lot. Blogging totally slipped my mind. I think missing that deadline, like being involved in the accident, is one more thing I'm going to give myself a pass on. Yes, possibly I could have done better, given more foresight. And also yes, I did well enough. So there we are.
I know the life coaching is the work I was meant to do. I love the work, and I love helping people to discover and become their best selves. Much more information is available at my website. See: www.annaparadox.com
If change was easy, we'd already be doing it. Stagnation is easy, and it also binds us. Freedom takes movement, even through difficulties.
So this week I wish you the courage to follow your dreams.
Then, when I came out of class, and turned on my cell phone Sunday night, I discovered that Doug's father had had a heart attack. Shortly after attending his father's funeral, Mo went to the hospital with unexplained pain. They tested him twice, found nothing, though the doctor felt something wasn't quite right. Mo was preparing to leave when he had a heart attack, in the hospital. No better place for it.
He's doing very well. They expected to release him today. Doug flew to be with his family -- was already on his way before I knew it had happened. I was really glad that our friend David was visiting, and helped and supported Doug through the news and with getting to the airport. Good friends.
On the way home on Monday, I was involved in a small fender bender when a car stopped suddenly in front of me on the freeway. The car in front of me hit the car in front of it. I hit the one in front of me when I was unable to stop in time. No one hurt, plenty of time spent on the police report and speaking to insurance companies.
Yesterday I slept a lot. Blogging totally slipped my mind. I think missing that deadline, like being involved in the accident, is one more thing I'm going to give myself a pass on. Yes, possibly I could have done better, given more foresight. And also yes, I did well enough. So there we are.
I know the life coaching is the work I was meant to do. I love the work, and I love helping people to discover and become their best selves. Much more information is available at my website. See: www.annaparadox.com
If change was easy, we'd already be doing it. Stagnation is easy, and it also binds us. Freedom takes movement, even through difficulties.
So this week I wish you the courage to follow your dreams.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Busy Week
Hello, it's Tuesday. This week has gone very quickly. Doug has work, around his classes, helping to set up the computer network for the X-Prize Cup. I've had editing and more web work and more preparing the house to hold a home office. We seem much busier than we were just a couple weeks ago.
Doug is really grooving on the airport where he's been at work. It's a small municipal airport, and the people there really focus on flying. Balloons, airplanes, rockets -- we've had a flight theme running here recently. The earliest balloon flights date to the 1800's, the earliest airplanes were early in the 1900's. What a long way we've come.
I had my first experience proofing pages. Julie Czerneda sent me PDF pages for my story Shining Field, appearing in her anthology Polaris next year. That has to improve on sending physical pages back and forth. She has been great to work with. Very friendly and helpful. I had already enjoyed her writing. It's nice to enjoy her editing, too.
Thursday I leave for my in-person training. So this week is bound to go quickly, too. I'm liking being busier. It makes a nice change. Would it make a good lifestyle? I will have to see.
Doug is really grooving on the airport where he's been at work. It's a small municipal airport, and the people there really focus on flying. Balloons, airplanes, rockets -- we've had a flight theme running here recently. The earliest balloon flights date to the 1800's, the earliest airplanes were early in the 1900's. What a long way we've come.
I had my first experience proofing pages. Julie Czerneda sent me PDF pages for my story Shining Field, appearing in her anthology Polaris next year. That has to improve on sending physical pages back and forth. She has been great to work with. Very friendly and helpful. I had already enjoyed her writing. It's nice to enjoy her editing, too.
Thursday I leave for my in-person training. So this week is bound to go quickly, too. I'm liking being busier. It makes a nice change. Would it make a good lifestyle? I will have to see.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Calmer now
Doug said he could tell I was angry last week. I even left in a couple typos. Definitely out-of-character.
Feeling better now. Had more time with the subject. And, as further analyses come in, it appears that the legislation will make less difference. The most interesting effect has been that the publicly traded online poker services have been pulling out of the US market. The privately held ones have been remaining and assuring their customers of the safety of their money. Already some migration of players has shown in weekend traffic.
I've pulled my money out. I had other major projects going on, and was already considering leaving. I have poker topics I still want to turn into articles, and some articles already written. I don't know at what point I'll feel my material is too out of date to continue writing about poker, or if I will return to playing later. A lot will depend on how my other current games play out.
I've started distributing cards for www.dininglascruces.com. A few of the professional site cards have gone out, but largely as curiosities rather than advertising. My in-person training is getting close. I have worked and reworked the correspondance training items. Looked for other useful sources, and read additional material. Brainstormed a business plan and mentally rehearsed Life Coaching sessions. I'm as prepared as my will and available time can make me now.
At least until I think of something else to try.
A week from Thursday, I head for the in-person intensive. Then the time for preparation will be over.
Meanwhile, impelled by my anger about the poker restrictions, I took a closer look at some of the bills passed by the current legislature. By Amnesty International's accounting, the USA is now in violation of international law regarding the treatment of prisoners. Remember all those movies where the American heroes protest that their evil captors are breaking the Geneva Conventions? Well, it's now the US that has passed a law saying we won't follow the Geneva Convention if the president thinks we have a good reason not to.
I do not like having the government that supposedly represents me abridging human rights. At this point, our own government is creating more human misery and more fear than the terrorists they claim they are trying to protect us from.
I'm taking my first action, which is to complain in public. I will vote of course. And other actions -- as I find them.
May you have the courage to act for what you believe is right. I wish you this, even if we disagree on what that right may be.
Feeling better now. Had more time with the subject. And, as further analyses come in, it appears that the legislation will make less difference. The most interesting effect has been that the publicly traded online poker services have been pulling out of the US market. The privately held ones have been remaining and assuring their customers of the safety of their money. Already some migration of players has shown in weekend traffic.
I've pulled my money out. I had other major projects going on, and was already considering leaving. I have poker topics I still want to turn into articles, and some articles already written. I don't know at what point I'll feel my material is too out of date to continue writing about poker, or if I will return to playing later. A lot will depend on how my other current games play out.
I've started distributing cards for www.dininglascruces.com. A few of the professional site cards have gone out, but largely as curiosities rather than advertising. My in-person training is getting close. I have worked and reworked the correspondance training items. Looked for other useful sources, and read additional material. Brainstormed a business plan and mentally rehearsed Life Coaching sessions. I'm as prepared as my will and available time can make me now.
At least until I think of something else to try.
A week from Thursday, I head for the in-person intensive. Then the time for preparation will be over.
Meanwhile, impelled by my anger about the poker restrictions, I took a closer look at some of the bills passed by the current legislature. By Amnesty International's accounting, the USA is now in violation of international law regarding the treatment of prisoners. Remember all those movies where the American heroes protest that their evil captors are breaking the Geneva Conventions? Well, it's now the US that has passed a law saying we won't follow the Geneva Convention if the president thinks we have a good reason not to.
I do not like having the government that supposedly represents me abridging human rights. At this point, our own government is creating more human misery and more fear than the terrorists they claim they are trying to protect us from.
I'm taking my first action, which is to complain in public. I will vote of course. And other actions -- as I find them.
May you have the courage to act for what you believe is right. I wish you this, even if we disagree on what that right may be.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Angry
I'm really rather angry about having my ability to play online poker restricted. Last night, Senate majority leader Frist attached language making it illegal for US Banks to send money to online gambling sites to a port security bill. Since this is a Homeland security issue, Bush is almost certain to sign it into law.
It was a backhanded, last minute way to slip a new law through. Very end of the session, late at night.
I'm confused. Weren't the Republicans supposed to stand for more freedom? Where's my freedom to engage in mental contest by the free choice of all involved?
Weren't the Republicans supposed to stand for less government? Why are they pushing this regulation that will require new oversight bodies, vast additional paperwork from banks, and entire new ways of observing the actions of American citizens? Just to make sure we don't spend our money playing online poker? So, to protect you from online gambling, you'd like your government to track all your financial transactions?
OK, I've been angry about plenty the government has done recently. But this feels personal. It hits what I do with my free time, every week. It comes right into my house and interferes with my liesure and a tiny bit of my income.
And there are one hundred thousand other poker players who cared enough about this to join the Poker Players Alliance.
What I hope is that this, and all the other ways the current administration has been showing that it doesn't represent us, the people, will finally be enough for voters. And that the polls will resoundingly give at least one house back to the Democrats. Because this administration needs brakes and accountability.
Because I'm still hoping the system works. That voting can make a difference. That the opinion of the people still counts in this country.
Because if it takes more than voting to get our government to be OUR government again, it is going to be a lot more trouble.
It was a backhanded, last minute way to slip a new law through. Very end of the session, late at night.
I'm confused. Weren't the Republicans supposed to stand for more freedom? Where's my freedom to engage in mental contest by the free choice of all involved?
Weren't the Republicans supposed to stand for less government? Why are they pushing this regulation that will require new oversight bodies, vast additional paperwork from banks, and entire new ways of observing the actions of American citizens? Just to make sure we don't spend our money playing online poker? So, to protect you from online gambling, you'd like your government to track all your financial transactions?
OK, I've been angry about plenty the government has done recently. But this feels personal. It hits what I do with my free time, every week. It comes right into my house and interferes with my liesure and a tiny bit of my income.
And there are one hundred thousand other poker players who cared enough about this to join the Poker Players Alliance.
What I hope is that this, and all the other ways the current administration has been showing that it doesn't represent us, the people, will finally be enough for voters. And that the polls will resoundingly give at least one house back to the Democrats. Because this administration needs brakes and accountability.
Because I'm still hoping the system works. That voting can make a difference. That the opinion of the people still counts in this country.
Because if it takes more than voting to get our government to be OUR government again, it is going to be a lot more trouble.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
A week of webbing
Is it true that one week ago I had never heard of WordPress? Wow. Now I have two sites well under development. Many little steps taken toward building the restaurant review site and the life coaching site. Restaurant reviews are ready for public access at www.dininglascruces.com. The life coaching site will only go live after my training. I am enjoying playing with it, and it will be good to have it almost there upon my return.
The in-person part of my training is less than a month away now, and I am really looking forward to it. Doug keeps asking me if I want to volunteer at the X-Prize Cup, and I keep saying 'I'm busy'. Then we giggle. My training and his space event overlap on the calendar. It's really fantastic that we both get to advance our dreams next month. Our good friend David is coming down to give Doug company and support for the event. I'm taking a room in the highly luxe resort for the training. We'll both be richly sustained.
It has been rewarding to work the images and colors for the websites. When the colors and fonts come right, I feel bubbly satisfaction. It does tire me more than usual to continue to focus on how things look. It's not my favorite mode of grappling with the world. I feel all the happier to get back to words after the change of mode.
It's a good idea for me to get away from the computer screen in general. The weather has been beautiful recently. It's starting to cool. On September 21, I was walking to campus, and I felt a cool breeze. Instantly I thought that feels like Fall. Yup, right on time.
May you all find your projects coming together.
The in-person part of my training is less than a month away now, and I am really looking forward to it. Doug keeps asking me if I want to volunteer at the X-Prize Cup, and I keep saying 'I'm busy'. Then we giggle. My training and his space event overlap on the calendar. It's really fantastic that we both get to advance our dreams next month. Our good friend David is coming down to give Doug company and support for the event. I'm taking a room in the highly luxe resort for the training. We'll both be richly sustained.
It has been rewarding to work the images and colors for the websites. When the colors and fonts come right, I feel bubbly satisfaction. It does tire me more than usual to continue to focus on how things look. It's not my favorite mode of grappling with the world. I feel all the happier to get back to words after the change of mode.
It's a good idea for me to get away from the computer screen in general. The weather has been beautiful recently. It's starting to cool. On September 21, I was walking to campus, and I felt a cool breeze. Instantly I thought that feels like Fall. Yup, right on time.
May you all find your projects coming together.
A week of web design
Is it true that one week ago I had never heard of WordPress? Wow. Now I have two sites well under development. Many little steps taken toward building the restaurant review site and the life coaching site. Restaurant reviews are ready for public access at www.dininglascruces.com. The life coaching site will only go live after my training. I am enjoying playing with it, and it will be good to have it almost there upon my return.
The in-person part of my training is less than a month away now, and I am really looking forward to it. Doug keeps asking me if I want to volunteer at the X-Prize Cup, and I keep saying 'I'm busy'. Then we giggle. My training and his space event overlap on the calendar. It's really fantastic that we both get to advance our dreams next month. Our good friend David is coming down to give Doug company and support for the event. I'm taking a room in the highly luxe resort for the training. We'll both be richly sustained.
It has been rewarding to work the images and colors for the websites. When the colors and fonts come right, I feel bubbly satisfaction. It does tire me more than usual to continue to focus on how things look. It's not my favorite mode of grappling with the world. I feel all the happier to get back to words after the change of mode.
It's a good idea for me to get away from the computer screen in general. The weather has been beautiful recently. It's starting to cool. On September 21, I was walking to campus, and I felt a cool breeze. Instantly I thought that feels like Fall. Yup, right on time.
May you all find your projects coming together.
The in-person part of my training is less than a month away now, and I am really looking forward to it. Doug keeps asking me if I want to volunteer at the X-Prize Cup, and I keep saying 'I'm busy'. Then we giggle. My training and his space event overlap on the calendar. It's really fantastic that we both get to advance our dreams next month. Our good friend David is coming down to give Doug company and support for the event. I'm taking a room in the highly luxe resort for the training. We'll both be richly sustained.
It has been rewarding to work the images and colors for the websites. When the colors and fonts come right, I feel bubbly satisfaction. It does tire me more than usual to continue to focus on how things look. It's not my favorite mode of grappling with the world. I feel all the happier to get back to words after the change of mode.
It's a good idea for me to get away from the computer screen in general. The weather has been beautiful recently. It's starting to cool. On September 21, I was walking to campus, and I felt a cool breeze. Instantly I thought that feels like Fall. Yup, right on time.
May you all find your projects coming together.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Changes Afoot
Changes Afoot
Web changes are on the way. I've spent a lot of the last week looking into hosting and web design. I'll likely move this blog to a paid host within a few weeks. I'll redirect and post links at that time.
It's amazing how much time searching for a good template, or even a good template idea can absorb. I really enjoyed it. Kept being startled by the darkening of the evening sky. Not too many things let me lose track of time.
The other large absorber of my mindshare has been editing for Tommy Angelo. Take a look at Tommy's poker article archive and scroll to the bottom of the left column. I've been working with him since the beginning of 2006, and having a great time with it. He just finished his most ambitious article yet, Reciprocality, and it should be posting to pokerpages soon.
All of which has left little time for poker! It's a curious state, to be engaged in working with writing about poker, and yet seldom play. When I have played, the large intervals since my previous sessions have left me feeling unfocused and not at my best. Since it's far more fun to play well (and win, variance allowing), I have been thinking a bit about my meta-game. I'm not sure yet how to arrange my approach to poker to arrive at better results. Thinking about it is a good first step!
Meanwhile, if you are having poker difficulties, and you are serious about your game, I strongly recommend you talk to Tommy. Go to tiltless.com and find out about his program.
Now I have business cards to design and websites to plot.
May you enjoy your work.
Web changes are on the way. I've spent a lot of the last week looking into hosting and web design. I'll likely move this blog to a paid host within a few weeks. I'll redirect and post links at that time.
It's amazing how much time searching for a good template, or even a good template idea can absorb. I really enjoyed it. Kept being startled by the darkening of the evening sky. Not too many things let me lose track of time.
The other large absorber of my mindshare has been editing for Tommy Angelo. Take a look at Tommy's poker article archive and scroll to the bottom of the left column. I've been working with him since the beginning of 2006, and having a great time with it. He just finished his most ambitious article yet, Reciprocality, and it should be posting to pokerpages soon.
All of which has left little time for poker! It's a curious state, to be engaged in working with writing about poker, and yet seldom play. When I have played, the large intervals since my previous sessions have left me feeling unfocused and not at my best. Since it's far more fun to play well (and win, variance allowing), I have been thinking a bit about my meta-game. I'm not sure yet how to arrange my approach to poker to arrive at better results. Thinking about it is a good first step!
Meanwhile, if you are having poker difficulties, and you are serious about your game, I strongly recommend you talk to Tommy. Go to tiltless.com and find out about his program.
Now I have business cards to design and websites to plot.
May you enjoy your work.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Body, image
Body, image
We ate tonight at a new restaurant that had a full wall of mirror in the dining room. I haven't had a full length mirror to reflect in since we came to Las Cruces. As usual, I'd forgotten how solid my torso is.
I measure 42-38-42. Some ways off the designated 'ideal'. I do have trouble finding pants that fit well.
What I saw was not fat, but armor. Here's the layer covering my abdomen, shielding from the knife that has twice sliced from navel to bikini line. Here's the padding to cushion the impact next time my car gets rear ended. Here's this much distance from the cruelty of the world.
I live, as best I can, open to the world. Optimistic and ready to engage. Or so I thought. But here I saw, some part of me wants walls and protections. Some part of me is blocking and shielding and coating me in fear.
I've never dieted. My body stabilizes well, maintaining the same weight except under exceptional stress. I stayed, without effort, at the same weight for five years before that little car accident, then gained ten pounds, and have stayed there for the last four. The other period when I first went over my 'ideal' weight saw our family farm go bankrupt, my brother killed in a car accident, and more -- how can I see these pounds with anything but compassion?
Of course, I would like to be healthier. That is a separate issue.
All in all, I could only think kindly of that shape in the mirror. Yes, she's heavier than ideal. Yes, I could work on that. And yes, that's me and my history, my flesh, my choices.
Doug, bless him, said I looked great.
I think acceptance first, and change as it comes.
And may you all come to peace with your bodies.
We ate tonight at a new restaurant that had a full wall of mirror in the dining room. I haven't had a full length mirror to reflect in since we came to Las Cruces. As usual, I'd forgotten how solid my torso is.
I measure 42-38-42. Some ways off the designated 'ideal'. I do have trouble finding pants that fit well.
What I saw was not fat, but armor. Here's the layer covering my abdomen, shielding from the knife that has twice sliced from navel to bikini line. Here's the padding to cushion the impact next time my car gets rear ended. Here's this much distance from the cruelty of the world.
I live, as best I can, open to the world. Optimistic and ready to engage. Or so I thought. But here I saw, some part of me wants walls and protections. Some part of me is blocking and shielding and coating me in fear.
I've never dieted. My body stabilizes well, maintaining the same weight except under exceptional stress. I stayed, without effort, at the same weight for five years before that little car accident, then gained ten pounds, and have stayed there for the last four. The other period when I first went over my 'ideal' weight saw our family farm go bankrupt, my brother killed in a car accident, and more -- how can I see these pounds with anything but compassion?
Of course, I would like to be healthier. That is a separate issue.
All in all, I could only think kindly of that shape in the mirror. Yes, she's heavier than ideal. Yes, I could work on that. And yes, that's me and my history, my flesh, my choices.
Doug, bless him, said I looked great.
I think acceptance first, and change as it comes.
And may you all come to peace with your bodies.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Happy Tuesday!
Happy Tuesday!
Doug is due in class in an hour and a half. He has his first graded quiz today.
School is agreeing with him. He keeps saying things like "Whoa! I can do that on the way home from school!" and "I love this calculator!". All the signs are good.
This morning, we hope to catch breakfast at ChaChi's, which has become our neighborhood restaurant. Their menu is largely Mexican, with some nods to American style breakfasts. The waitresses are recognizing us now -- good food, good service, good prices, cheerful ambience. It's really everything you want in a neighborhood cafe. Easy walking distance from our doorstep, right along Doug's path to class, too.
This is part of my new 'update blog on Tuesdays' initiative. Our much anticipated web comic, Girl Genius updates at Midnight EDT Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday on the dot and without fail -- the Foglios must use some sort of automated posting software. Eventually, I will investigate and get myself one of those. Until then, 'updating on Tuesdays' means that some time between Monday afternoon and Tuesday evening, I will add a post. You can think of that as updating on Wednesdays, if you like.
May still post outside that period as well, when taken by inspiration. But you know how it goes -- when it comes to production by inspiration versus production by persistence, persistence wins about 9 to 1.
We took no particular notice of Labor Day weekend. Doug has class Tuesdays and Thursdays, so a four day weekend is part of our lifestyle now. Ah, we are living so well! Now to get some income to sustain our dolce vita!
As usual, September, with classes starting and temperatures cooling feels like potential and new beginnings to me. A better time to start new projects than January. And we certainly are!
May Fall bring you renewal, too.
Anna
Doug is due in class in an hour and a half. He has his first graded quiz today.
School is agreeing with him. He keeps saying things like "Whoa! I can do that on the way home from school!" and "I love this calculator!". All the signs are good.
This morning, we hope to catch breakfast at ChaChi's, which has become our neighborhood restaurant. Their menu is largely Mexican, with some nods to American style breakfasts. The waitresses are recognizing us now -- good food, good service, good prices, cheerful ambience. It's really everything you want in a neighborhood cafe. Easy walking distance from our doorstep, right along Doug's path to class, too.
This is part of my new 'update blog on Tuesdays' initiative. Our much anticipated web comic, Girl Genius updates at Midnight EDT Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday on the dot and without fail -- the Foglios must use some sort of automated posting software. Eventually, I will investigate and get myself one of those. Until then, 'updating on Tuesdays' means that some time between Monday afternoon and Tuesday evening, I will add a post. You can think of that as updating on Wednesdays, if you like.
May still post outside that period as well, when taken by inspiration. But you know how it goes -- when it comes to production by inspiration versus production by persistence, persistence wins about 9 to 1.
We took no particular notice of Labor Day weekend. Doug has class Tuesdays and Thursdays, so a four day weekend is part of our lifestyle now. Ah, we are living so well! Now to get some income to sustain our dolce vita!
As usual, September, with classes starting and temperatures cooling feels like potential and new beginnings to me. A better time to start new projects than January. And we certainly are!
May Fall bring you renewal, too.
Anna
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Exciting Times
Doug's first day of class went well.
Whoa! you say! Since when is Doug is school?!!!!
Good question. It all happened so fast. One day, NMSU, the University half a mile from our new home, announces a new Aeronautics Engineering degree. Doug discovers it, calls the college -- two weeks later he's enrolled, and Thursday August 24th -- surely a day that will live in perpetuity -- he took his first classes. My beloved husband is going to be a Rocket Scientist. I like it.
Do you know how often people say, "It isn't rocket science." I run into it about four times a week. I laugh.
Meanwhile, I have undertaken training as a Life Coach under Martha Beck. See her website here. I read an article by her, then a book, in June. In July, I read more articles and a second book, and decided I had to get in the training program. In early August, I took one of her seminars, and could verify in person that all I'd gathered from the reading held true, and this course absolutely resonated with my essential desires. I completed application to the program, and am doing the written preparatory work to the in-person training in October. I've never discovered a possible line of work that rang so right with me before. I want this very much, and I've been taking every step I can think of to see that it happens.
Like I said to Doug, I love that we are becoming the kind of people who reinvent themselves.
And so the leap we took in moving to Las Cruces progresses.
I know that these career paths are both the truest we have ever been to ourselves, and the ways we can best serve others. I am very thankful that we have had the courage and the guidance to reach this place.
And so I wish it for you: May you have the courage to do the work that fills your heart and best serves the world.
Anna
Whoa! you say! Since when is Doug is school?!!!!
Good question. It all happened so fast. One day, NMSU, the University half a mile from our new home, announces a new Aeronautics Engineering degree. Doug discovers it, calls the college -- two weeks later he's enrolled, and Thursday August 24th -- surely a day that will live in perpetuity -- he took his first classes. My beloved husband is going to be a Rocket Scientist. I like it.
Do you know how often people say, "It isn't rocket science." I run into it about four times a week. I laugh.
Meanwhile, I have undertaken training as a Life Coach under Martha Beck. See her website here. I read an article by her, then a book, in June. In July, I read more articles and a second book, and decided I had to get in the training program. In early August, I took one of her seminars, and could verify in person that all I'd gathered from the reading held true, and this course absolutely resonated with my essential desires. I completed application to the program, and am doing the written preparatory work to the in-person training in October. I've never discovered a possible line of work that rang so right with me before. I want this very much, and I've been taking every step I can think of to see that it happens.
Like I said to Doug, I love that we are becoming the kind of people who reinvent themselves.
And so the leap we took in moving to Las Cruces progresses.
I know that these career paths are both the truest we have ever been to ourselves, and the ways we can best serve others. I am very thankful that we have had the courage and the guidance to reach this place.
And so I wish it for you: May you have the courage to do the work that fills your heart and best serves the world.
Anna
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Group Nakedness
Group Nakedness
Check this out: From Cardplayer online:
195 Show Up To Paddy Power Strip Poker Tournament
John Young Wins and Bares More for Poker Charity
One day, many years from now, John Young will sit down and amaze his grandchildren when he tells them he once won the world’s largest strip poker tournament.
Young, of Slough, England, beat out 194 other hopefuls at the Paddy Power World Strip Poker Championships that was held at London’s Cafe Royal Saturday to walk away with £10,000, a specially commissioned Golden Fig Leaf trophy, and entry to the Paddy Power Irish Open where up to £2 million will be up for grabs.
In addition, Paddy Power promised to donate a further £10,000 to the charity of the winner’s choice, Cancer Research, after John, who was the last of the players to have any clothes, revealed all to the crowd.
The tournament kicked off at 1 p.m. as 195 hopefuls from more than 12 countries set out to keep their clothes on and carve themselves a place in history as part of a new official Guinness world record for the biggest strip poker tournament ever.
The event had originally been an April Fool’s story by Paddy Power earlier this year but, after receiving requests from all over the world to take part, the bookie decided to run the tournament for real.
Each player was given five items of clothing which they used to buy chips. As they lost their chips, they cashed in their clothes for more. Some even opted to strip from the bottom up and sat playing naked except for a cap.
The tournament may become a yearly thing.
OK, look at this. 195 people wanted the opportunity to play poker in public and lose their clothes. It was guaranteed that to have the best chance to win you would have to strip. And everyone but the winner would lose all their clothes -- that is how a poker tournament works. Then the winner took off his remaining garments for charity.
At least 195 people think differently about public nudity than we are taught.
195, that's quite a few.
Worth considering, next time the temptation comes to think people are all alike.
May you cherish your uniqueness.
Anna
Check this out: From Cardplayer online:
195 Show Up To Paddy Power Strip Poker Tournament
John Young Wins and Bares More for Poker Charity
One day, many years from now, John Young will sit down and amaze his grandchildren when he tells them he once won the world’s largest strip poker tournament.
Young, of Slough, England, beat out 194 other hopefuls at the Paddy Power World Strip Poker Championships that was held at London’s Cafe Royal Saturday to walk away with £10,000, a specially commissioned Golden Fig Leaf trophy, and entry to the Paddy Power Irish Open where up to £2 million will be up for grabs.
In addition, Paddy Power promised to donate a further £10,000 to the charity of the winner’s choice, Cancer Research, after John, who was the last of the players to have any clothes, revealed all to the crowd.
The tournament kicked off at 1 p.m. as 195 hopefuls from more than 12 countries set out to keep their clothes on and carve themselves a place in history as part of a new official Guinness world record for the biggest strip poker tournament ever.
The event had originally been an April Fool’s story by Paddy Power earlier this year but, after receiving requests from all over the world to take part, the bookie decided to run the tournament for real.
Each player was given five items of clothing which they used to buy chips. As they lost their chips, they cashed in their clothes for more. Some even opted to strip from the bottom up and sat playing naked except for a cap.
The tournament may become a yearly thing.
OK, look at this. 195 people wanted the opportunity to play poker in public and lose their clothes. It was guaranteed that to have the best chance to win you would have to strip. And everyone but the winner would lose all their clothes -- that is how a poker tournament works. Then the winner took off his remaining garments for charity.
At least 195 people think differently about public nudity than we are taught.
195, that's quite a few.
Worth considering, next time the temptation comes to think people are all alike.
May you cherish your uniqueness.
Anna
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
5 am events
5 am events
"Doug," I say, "I smell skunk. That means one of two things, and one of them is very bad."
"I was dreaming someone was using a lighter," he says. We stumble out of bed, no lights, I put on my bathrobe and go smelling around. Doug turns off the cooling system.
The smell is strongest in our bedroom and in the laundry room by the furnace. Doug finds a flashlight, and by its light I search the phone book.
I tell the woman who answers, "I smell skunk. It's strongest near the furnace."
"I don't know what we can do about that," she says.
I stop. What? "Ummm, doesn't leaking gas smell like skunk?"
"Oh no," she says. "We use ------." My sleep-fogged brain does not catch the name. "It's a very strong smell, a very bad smell, and very distinct."
"Not skunk?"
"No, ------. It's very distinctive. We can still send someone out if you want us to check."
"Let me check with my husband."
I report that they don't use skunk. He reports that the smell seems to be dissipating and he doesn't hear any hissing.
"I think we are OK," I say.
"The skunk is a very humble creature," she says. "But when it dies, everyone knows. Do you live in the country?"
"In town." I describe my neighborhood.
"I know where that is," she says. "The skunks go everywhere. Especially after a rain. And especially in the country. Call us back if you want us to send someone out."
"I will," I say. I smile, and let it reach my voice. "Thank you very much."
"Doug," I say, "I smell skunk. That means one of two things, and one of them is very bad."
"I was dreaming someone was using a lighter," he says. We stumble out of bed, no lights, I put on my bathrobe and go smelling around. Doug turns off the cooling system.
The smell is strongest in our bedroom and in the laundry room by the furnace. Doug finds a flashlight, and by its light I search the phone book.
I tell the woman who answers, "I smell skunk. It's strongest near the furnace."
"I don't know what we can do about that," she says.
I stop. What? "Ummm, doesn't leaking gas smell like skunk?"
"Oh no," she says. "We use ------." My sleep-fogged brain does not catch the name. "It's a very strong smell, a very bad smell, and very distinct."
"Not skunk?"
"No, ------. It's very distinctive. We can still send someone out if you want us to check."
"Let me check with my husband."
I report that they don't use skunk. He reports that the smell seems to be dissipating and he doesn't hear any hissing.
"I think we are OK," I say.
"The skunk is a very humble creature," she says. "But when it dies, everyone knows. Do you live in the country?"
"In town." I describe my neighborhood.
"I know where that is," she says. "The skunks go everywhere. Especially after a rain. And especially in the country. Call us back if you want us to send someone out."
"I will," I say. I smile, and let it reach my voice. "Thank you very much."
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Europe!
Our Europe trip was amazing! We started with a single night in London. I went down to Gutshot, the poker club whose website publishes my articles. (See my article archive - here ). The manager, Jim, made us very welcome. I'm glad to report that the food, beer and atmosphere are all excellent. I tried a little pot limit Hold'em, which is their most popular game. Mostly folded everything, just watching how it was different from the limit Hold'em I usually play. Interesting.
Then off to Barnsdale Country Club, where Mom had exchanged her timeshare for a week's lodging for six. Doug's parents, Mo and Lois, joined Doug and me and Mom and Larry there. The guidebooks say this is one of the less interesting parts of England. Well, all of England must be fascinating then! There were five tourable castles within 10 miles. Plus a lake, a nationally famous garden, loads of great pubs, bird watching and more. Mom went to all the castles, Doug and I satisfied ourselves with one. And we toured the Barnsdale Gardens -- beautiful, divided into little sections on a human scale. Geoff Hamilton, who had a tv show in Britain, designed much of it. Doug's distant Welsh cousins Ernie and Sheila came up to the country club, took a room for two nights -- we were very glad to get to see them -- and wanted especially to tour the gardens. They watched Geoff every week, approved of the way he was willing to get his hands dirty. Old Geoff's been gone ten years, but his garden lives on.
Then on to Finland! That was more restful, and by that time, we needed it! Mo and Lois remained in England. Mom and Larry and Doug and I flew to Helsinki, and then drove to the resort she had reserved there -- the Hannunkivi Holiday Honka. First we drove west into the Sunset. Many lakes, low rolling hills covered in pines and birches rising above them, stylish modern buildings in the cities, some very graceful bridges. Then we drove north into the sunset, which was a bit disorienting! The sun went below the horizon for only an hour or two while we were there. It was never truly dark. We rolled into our cabin at 11 pm, and it looked like 8, still light, out. It was a strange, floating feeling.
Our cabin had a sauna, and was by a lake. The cupboard above the sink had a mesh floor, so you could put dishes there to drain and dry. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. We enjoyed slowing down, trying the boats on the lake, walking into town. Generally a somewhat more luxurious form of camping.
One thing that interested me was that there seemed to be no fear of theft there. The resort left our room unlocked for us, and had paddleboats and rowboats sitting by the docks into the lake, for anyone to use. There were life jackets and darts and bikes, all unlocked, outside and freely available. It was only a mile's walk into town, where the library loaned Mom a copy of _The Old Man and the Sea_ on her signature, without asking for ID. Yes, we were somewhat out in the country. Still, what does it mean that people are so confident of each other there?
Our train from Helsinki left early Saturday morning. So we went into Helsinki a day before our reservation at Hannunkivi ended, and stayed one night there. We had time to take a walking tour and get a traditional Finnish meal. Hmmm, it appears their tradition is meat and potatoes. :-) Helsinki felt a bit like Portland or San Francisco, very clean, modern, great street market and parks, gorgeous Cathedrals and public buildings. The harbor had a mix of boats -- huge ferries and cruise ships, yachts, personal motorboats, and sailing ships, some with wooden hulls. Very cool. Wish I'd had time to shop, the stores looked great.
Then by train to St. Petersburg! That was by far the most intense part of our trip. The streets are hustling, the buildings are huge and most have decorative sculpture or columns, there are parks and monuments, an onion dome cathedral, canals and a major river. We took a walking tour our first night, and went into the Church of the Spilled Blood -- with the onion domes -- and the Hermitage art museum our second day. Our last morning, we just took our time getting ready to fly again. We had fantastic rooms at a B & B, hosted by the incredibly knowlegeable, gracious and English-speaking Natalya. I recommend the Assembly B & B in St. Petersburg highly. She taught us to drink vodka the Russian way. That's worth another story another day!
All in all, it was an amazing trip! And now we are glad to be home again.
May you all have the adventures that add savor to returning home.
Then off to Barnsdale Country Club, where Mom had exchanged her timeshare for a week's lodging for six. Doug's parents, Mo and Lois, joined Doug and me and Mom and Larry there. The guidebooks say this is one of the less interesting parts of England. Well, all of England must be fascinating then! There were five tourable castles within 10 miles. Plus a lake, a nationally famous garden, loads of great pubs, bird watching and more. Mom went to all the castles, Doug and I satisfied ourselves with one. And we toured the Barnsdale Gardens -- beautiful, divided into little sections on a human scale. Geoff Hamilton, who had a tv show in Britain, designed much of it. Doug's distant Welsh cousins Ernie and Sheila came up to the country club, took a room for two nights -- we were very glad to get to see them -- and wanted especially to tour the gardens. They watched Geoff every week, approved of the way he was willing to get his hands dirty. Old Geoff's been gone ten years, but his garden lives on.
Then on to Finland! That was more restful, and by that time, we needed it! Mo and Lois remained in England. Mom and Larry and Doug and I flew to Helsinki, and then drove to the resort she had reserved there -- the Hannunkivi Holiday Honka. First we drove west into the Sunset. Many lakes, low rolling hills covered in pines and birches rising above them, stylish modern buildings in the cities, some very graceful bridges. Then we drove north into the sunset, which was a bit disorienting! The sun went below the horizon for only an hour or two while we were there. It was never truly dark. We rolled into our cabin at 11 pm, and it looked like 8, still light, out. It was a strange, floating feeling.
Our cabin had a sauna, and was by a lake. The cupboard above the sink had a mesh floor, so you could put dishes there to drain and dry. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. We enjoyed slowing down, trying the boats on the lake, walking into town. Generally a somewhat more luxurious form of camping.
One thing that interested me was that there seemed to be no fear of theft there. The resort left our room unlocked for us, and had paddleboats and rowboats sitting by the docks into the lake, for anyone to use. There were life jackets and darts and bikes, all unlocked, outside and freely available. It was only a mile's walk into town, where the library loaned Mom a copy of _The Old Man and the Sea_ on her signature, without asking for ID. Yes, we were somewhat out in the country. Still, what does it mean that people are so confident of each other there?
Our train from Helsinki left early Saturday morning. So we went into Helsinki a day before our reservation at Hannunkivi ended, and stayed one night there. We had time to take a walking tour and get a traditional Finnish meal. Hmmm, it appears their tradition is meat and potatoes. :-) Helsinki felt a bit like Portland or San Francisco, very clean, modern, great street market and parks, gorgeous Cathedrals and public buildings. The harbor had a mix of boats -- huge ferries and cruise ships, yachts, personal motorboats, and sailing ships, some with wooden hulls. Very cool. Wish I'd had time to shop, the stores looked great.
Then by train to St. Petersburg! That was by far the most intense part of our trip. The streets are hustling, the buildings are huge and most have decorative sculpture or columns, there are parks and monuments, an onion dome cathedral, canals and a major river. We took a walking tour our first night, and went into the Church of the Spilled Blood -- with the onion domes -- and the Hermitage art museum our second day. Our last morning, we just took our time getting ready to fly again. We had fantastic rooms at a B & B, hosted by the incredibly knowlegeable, gracious and English-speaking Natalya. I recommend the Assembly B & B in St. Petersburg highly. She taught us to drink vodka the Russian way. That's worth another story another day!
All in all, it was an amazing trip! And now we are glad to be home again.
May you all have the adventures that add savor to returning home.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Cook Locally
Cook locally
We took a little time out last week to play tourist in our new home region. We had a local Visitor's guide, and followed one of the day trips in in. Drove over to Mesilla, the Mission era town on the edge of Las Cruces. Once Mesilla and Las Cruces were separated by the Rio Grande and the border between the US and Mexico. Then the river moved. Mesilla retains a lot of colonial Spanish flavor, with an attractive cathedral on the town plaza, and Mission style architecture around it.
Then we drove down to Stahneman's. They have 180,000 thousand acres of Pecan trees. We had just missed the tasting tour. The drive between the orchards is very gracious, especially where the pecan trees have grown to stretch arching branches across the road, in a fashion I usually expect from elms. Stahneman's has a spacious gift shop -- selling pecan gift tins, specialty foods, candy, ice cream, kitchen accessories and cookbooks. We browsed for some time. Naturally the cookbooks took a fair portion of my attention. Only a few days before, I'd said I wanted local recipes so we could start taking more advantage of the local ingredients. I settled on _The Aficionado's Southwestern Cooking_ by Ronald Johnson. It seems to be a classic, and I liked the way he talked about ways to vary the recipes. No photos, friendly attitude, solid food.
So, last night we followed his recipe to make Green Sauce. This may be the most New Mexican of New Mexican foods. We are only 80 miles from Hatch, the Green Chile capitol of the world. And the state question of New Mexico is 'Red or Green?' -- meaning, which color of chile sauce would you like on your dinner? (Of course you want chile sauce on your dinner, what are you thinking?!) When we crossed the border to New Mexico on our second trip here, and discovered that the convenience store offered green chili for the nachos, Doug said, "Ah! I'm home!" So of course Green sauce is where we started our New Mexico style cooking.
We had found frozen green chile purée at Costco in Albuquerque -- I'm sure they've never carried it in Oregon -- so of course we had to quadruple the recipe to match the volume of chiles. Costco, you know. So we had enough to simmer two and a half pounds of cubed and browned pork, plus some to use as salsa and several more packages to freeze. It was labelled 'Hot' and is it ever! The pork chili verde was excellent! Made a very nice dinner with broccoli and refried beans.
Other local specialties are pecans and honey. We've eaten a lot of pecans since arriving. I'll be looking for recipes for them. And there are lots of fruits and vegetables grown locally.
In fact, there's a farmer's market this morning, and I think I'll go.
We took a little time out last week to play tourist in our new home region. We had a local Visitor's guide, and followed one of the day trips in in. Drove over to Mesilla, the Mission era town on the edge of Las Cruces. Once Mesilla and Las Cruces were separated by the Rio Grande and the border between the US and Mexico. Then the river moved. Mesilla retains a lot of colonial Spanish flavor, with an attractive cathedral on the town plaza, and Mission style architecture around it.
Then we drove down to Stahneman's. They have 180,000 thousand acres of Pecan trees. We had just missed the tasting tour. The drive between the orchards is very gracious, especially where the pecan trees have grown to stretch arching branches across the road, in a fashion I usually expect from elms. Stahneman's has a spacious gift shop -- selling pecan gift tins, specialty foods, candy, ice cream, kitchen accessories and cookbooks. We browsed for some time. Naturally the cookbooks took a fair portion of my attention. Only a few days before, I'd said I wanted local recipes so we could start taking more advantage of the local ingredients. I settled on _The Aficionado's Southwestern Cooking_ by Ronald Johnson. It seems to be a classic, and I liked the way he talked about ways to vary the recipes. No photos, friendly attitude, solid food.
So, last night we followed his recipe to make Green Sauce. This may be the most New Mexican of New Mexican foods. We are only 80 miles from Hatch, the Green Chile capitol of the world. And the state question of New Mexico is 'Red or Green?' -- meaning, which color of chile sauce would you like on your dinner? (Of course you want chile sauce on your dinner, what are you thinking?!) When we crossed the border to New Mexico on our second trip here, and discovered that the convenience store offered green chili for the nachos, Doug said, "Ah! I'm home!" So of course Green sauce is where we started our New Mexico style cooking.
We had found frozen green chile purée at Costco in Albuquerque -- I'm sure they've never carried it in Oregon -- so of course we had to quadruple the recipe to match the volume of chiles. Costco, you know. So we had enough to simmer two and a half pounds of cubed and browned pork, plus some to use as salsa and several more packages to freeze. It was labelled 'Hot' and is it ever! The pork chili verde was excellent! Made a very nice dinner with broccoli and refried beans.
Other local specialties are pecans and honey. We've eaten a lot of pecans since arriving. I'll be looking for recipes for them. And there are lots of fruits and vegetables grown locally.
In fact, there's a farmer's market this morning, and I think I'll go.
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Counter Change
Counter Change
Right now, my counter is making me very happy.
We have a beautiful kitchen. The previous owners revamped it. The cupboard doors are hunter green, the counters, edges of the cupboards and door pulls are medium oak. They made a lovely backsplash of small green tiles bordered by oak trim, and covered the wall behind the sink in a pattern of stone tiles exactly to my taste. Mostly squares, a few diagonal seams -- just enough variation for interest without so much as to become gaudy.
One particularly gorgeous feature is the piecing of the oak boards in the corner. The boards run from the edge to the backsplash along all straight sections of counters. There is one corner. They meticulously fanned triangular pieces of oak to create an even and gorgeous transition from one facing of the strips to the next.
Now that Doug has repaired the under the cupboard lights, the whole counter glows in home magazine fashion. It really looks like a designer kitchen, photo-worthy, rich.
Using the kitchen instead of looking at it revealed a few problems. The space allowed at the end of one counter, where the water line to hook to an internal icemaker suggested we should put our refrigerator -- is actually too small to place any standard refrigerator, if you want to actually open the doors wide enough to open the drawers. The dishwasher is an inconvenient three steps distant from the sink. And, most ungracious of all -- the gorgeous wooden countertops were not waterproof! In the time between when we first saw the home, and when we took possession after closing, the area around the sink had darkened and waterspotted. Boards had separated from their neighbors and the gap had been filled with wood putty. The whole counter had aged, in a matter of weeks.
It's amazing how awkward it feels to work in a kitchen where you dare not get water on the counter. Every standard kitchen task becomes more complex.
Three days ago, I refinished a section of the counter. Sand, coat with polyacrylic, wait three hours, repeat. To a total of three coats, with a final sanding.
It's not perfect. I preserved some flaws too deep to be sanded out, and one section of the finish has a little pebbling. Yet that counter glows. I can fill a glass on it, without hyperattention to not spilling any. I can wipe it with a wet cloth, no harm done. I'm free.
So I'm now very happy about being able to do with a counter things that before I moved, I took for granted for counters.
That's the way it goes. We're often more appreciative of an improvement, than of the many blessings we're accustomed to.
I don't know how long I'll continue to be happy every time I wipe the newly refinished counter with a wet cloth. Most likely, in time, I'll forget how wonderful that seems to me now. But do I have to? Could I remember?
May you see one of your current blessings with fresh eyes.
Right now, my counter is making me very happy.
We have a beautiful kitchen. The previous owners revamped it. The cupboard doors are hunter green, the counters, edges of the cupboards and door pulls are medium oak. They made a lovely backsplash of small green tiles bordered by oak trim, and covered the wall behind the sink in a pattern of stone tiles exactly to my taste. Mostly squares, a few diagonal seams -- just enough variation for interest without so much as to become gaudy.
One particularly gorgeous feature is the piecing of the oak boards in the corner. The boards run from the edge to the backsplash along all straight sections of counters. There is one corner. They meticulously fanned triangular pieces of oak to create an even and gorgeous transition from one facing of the strips to the next.
Now that Doug has repaired the under the cupboard lights, the whole counter glows in home magazine fashion. It really looks like a designer kitchen, photo-worthy, rich.
Using the kitchen instead of looking at it revealed a few problems. The space allowed at the end of one counter, where the water line to hook to an internal icemaker suggested we should put our refrigerator -- is actually too small to place any standard refrigerator, if you want to actually open the doors wide enough to open the drawers. The dishwasher is an inconvenient three steps distant from the sink. And, most ungracious of all -- the gorgeous wooden countertops were not waterproof! In the time between when we first saw the home, and when we took possession after closing, the area around the sink had darkened and waterspotted. Boards had separated from their neighbors and the gap had been filled with wood putty. The whole counter had aged, in a matter of weeks.
It's amazing how awkward it feels to work in a kitchen where you dare not get water on the counter. Every standard kitchen task becomes more complex.
Three days ago, I refinished a section of the counter. Sand, coat with polyacrylic, wait three hours, repeat. To a total of three coats, with a final sanding.
It's not perfect. I preserved some flaws too deep to be sanded out, and one section of the finish has a little pebbling. Yet that counter glows. I can fill a glass on it, without hyperattention to not spilling any. I can wipe it with a wet cloth, no harm done. I'm free.
So I'm now very happy about being able to do with a counter things that before I moved, I took for granted for counters.
That's the way it goes. We're often more appreciative of an improvement, than of the many blessings we're accustomed to.
I don't know how long I'll continue to be happy every time I wipe the newly refinished counter with a wet cloth. Most likely, in time, I'll forget how wonderful that seems to me now. But do I have to? Could I remember?
May you see one of your current blessings with fresh eyes.
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