Wordless Wednesday: Cherry Blossom Lantern
Posted on 28. Apr, 2010 by Deb.
This lantern is found along the tidal basin and is lit during the Cherry Blossom Festival.
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Teaser Tuesday: Reckless
Posted on 27. Apr, 2010 by Deb.
I haven’t played this Meme before, but saw it at Melissa’s Book Blog, so I thought I’d play along….
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Instead, there was Thibault. A cipher. A con man. Or much, much worse. Deals that didn’t happen. Relationships that didn’t exist. What kind of man did all that? What was it he had to hide?
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How do you put away something that is as true to you as the beating of your own heart? how do you put the truth behind you?
Reckless, by Andrew Gross.
Want to know more about Andrew Gross? Check out the interview in All Things Girl. Want to know more about Reckless? Listen to Andrew tell you about it:
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Sweet Dreams
Posted on 27. Apr, 2010 by Deb.
I love turn-down service. To come back from dinner and find my bed ready for me to climb between the incredibly wonderful frette linens. And there was chocolate on my pillow!
(Hotel Palomar, Chicago)
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Blast from the past
Posted on 25. Apr, 2010 by Deb.
Thanks to a flurry of email exchanges today, I made a visit to the Wayback Machine. I looked up something I had written and realized that I have been blogging since 09/28/2000.
Wow.
I took some time and read through some of the older postings. I found a link to the first post I made for “World Without Weblogs” for World AIDS Day, organized by Brad of Brandlands who passed away this past year. Hard to believe I’ve followed folks like Zeldman and Jim McCormick and Eric Brooks for almost 10 years. Back then, there weren’t very many blogs and the blogging community was pretty small. This was long before Twitter and Facebook. We all “knew” each other. Everyone supported each other’s writings and the ability to read so many personal stories was comforting and refreshing.
During the first three years of my blog, I met people like Lee and Melissa through my blog – people that have become some of my best friends.
I also found the logo from All Things Girl from 2004. With the 10th Anniversary of ATG coming in August and a re-design scheduled for the September issue, it’s exciting to see the growth.
2004
Current Logo – Revealed Oct. 2007
New Logo – To begin with redesign Sept 2010
I hope you’ve had a good weekend. And have a great week. I’m traveling tomorrow….
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Making Salmon Croquettes
Posted on 24. Apr, 2010 by Deb.
Earlier this week when I was visiting my parents. My dad is doing an amazing job taking care of my mom. Between my parent’s friends, my sister and I, we are trying to keep them stocked in food so that my father can spend his time with my mom. She was the person who cooked most often.
We sat in the living room chatting and suddenly my mother said “I want salmon croquettes. No purchased, but the ones like I used to make. My mother’s recipe. Except, she can’t make it for me. because she’s dead.” Who can resist such a sad need? I offered to make them this weekend.
To discover that converting a recipe from the 1940’s to 2010 isn’t exactly a piece of cake. The most challenging part? There are no unsweetened bran flakes on the market that do not have raisins in them. So I did what any good daughter would do: I picked out the raisins.
Directions:
Open 4 cans of boneless, skinless salmon (it comes with skin in larger cans, however, I don’t want to pick out the skin and bones). Add two eggs, a 1/4 of a chopped onion, salt, pepper, and flour. Form patties. Roll in crushed bran flakes (minus the raisins!). Place in a skillet of HOT oil and fry 3 minutes on each side.
Now. My mom wanted creamed gravy along with the salmon croquettes. I used the leftover oil to brown flour, added more pepper and milk….
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What kind of creative spirit are you?
Posted on 23. Apr, 2010 by Deb.
I attended a tele-seminar on Tuesday night conducted by Laura Hollick - and have been meaning to share the results of a quiz I took prior to attending the seminar:
You are on a journey. You are searching to find your purpose and heal all the pieces that have disconnected you from your truth. Your great power is your desire and passion for learning and discovering. You might take this quality for granted, but know that it is desire and passion that creates worlds. You are ripe to burst into a new level of awareness and launch a dream that has been held within you forever. When you feel safe you have a childlike openness which keeps your mind young and healthy. There may be lots of questions swirling around within you right now, write them all down on a piece of paper and release them to the wind for every single one will be answered as you continue on your journey.
Your greatest challenge: While you are on the journey to know and discover who you really are you can feel lost and confused. The journey can feel tiresome at times because you might think it would be easier if you just had all the pieces. But, your challenge is to trust your process and know that it is unfolding perfectly with your best interest at heart.
Your greatest opportunity: You are on the journey of discovering your true purpose. This is the opportunity of a lifetime. You are on track to ignite a dream held deep within.
Your call to action: Trust yourself as you continue to move forward on this journey. Keep moving forward even when you can’t see where you are going. Think of a situation in your life where you need to trust yourself more. What would you do if you did trust yourself? Do that now.
Always a little freaky when you do a quiz and it turns out to be pretty spot-on. What about YOU? What kind of creative spirit are you?
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Wordless Wednesday: Bay Bridge
Posted on 21. Apr, 2010 by Deb.
San Francisco to Alameda, Bay Bridge, April 2010
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Personal History Lessons (and the people behind the facts)
Posted on 19. Apr, 2010 by Deb.
Yesterday was the 68th Anniversary of the Doolittle Raids. Mere months after the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese, 16 B25-Mitchells were FLOWN off of an aircraft carrier to bomb Tokyo. These were not planes built to be flown off of carriers…And the crews knew there was not enough fuel to get them back to the ship, but only enough to hopefully get them to China.
When I visited the USS Hornet this past week, I said a quiet prayer for these amazing men. I was standing on the dock where they stood. Wow. (The Hornet, by the way is the 2nd Hornet that was put into commission sometime in 1944, the 1st Hornet was sunk by the Navy after being severely damaged in a typhoon).
Two years ago, I was blessed to go to luncheon and symposium that the surviving Raiders and their families attend. In reading through the news of the most recent reunion held this past weekend in Dayton, OH, I was sad to read that three of the gentlemen in the raids have passed away since 2008, and of the eight surviving Raiders, only four were healthy enough to travel and attend. There are eight survivors now.
I’m sad when I think of the sheer volume of stories that will never be told, never be heard, as we lose this generation. Will future generations remember what these men and women did during WWII, or will it become simply a paragraph in a history book? I feel so blessed that I have been able to chat with veterans of this generation, hear their personal stories, be reminded that there is more to war than a series of events, but that there are real people behind it.
I’ve seen some of the criticism about the new HBO Series The Pacific. I remember talking to George Pelecanos as he was beginning to work on the project back in 2008. Some say it’s not about the war, it’s really about the men in that Marine Battalion. I understand that people want to know about the war, what happened in the Pacific Theater. And I want to know the facts of what happened in Guam, and the Guadal Canal, and Pearl Harbor and Normandy and Berlin and London. But I also want to know about the people, because we lose so much when we fail to look beyond the facts.
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Wordless Wednesday: MUNI Musician
Posted on 14. Apr, 2010 by Deb.
Blind man playing music in the MUNI/BART entryway, San Francisco, CA, April 2010
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Acceptance
Posted on 10. Apr, 2010 by Deb.
In my seeking for higher voices (besides the amazing folks around me), I have discovered Tonya Williams of Just B Living. I signed up for her (free) Series called “14 Days to a Lighter You”. Today is day four, and in addition to her emailed message, there was a link to this blog post (a portion of which I’ve quoted)
Our bodies and our lives are forever changing. We are all energy that is continuously flowing. When we fight with our reality through non-acceptance, we are blocking the energetic flow of the universe.
This is why dieter’s get stuck in a negative cycle of gaining and losing. They continuously focus on what they don’t want – the weight. They are afraid that if they accept their wonderful bodies as they are now, it will never change. However, the opposite is true. If they will trust the divine intelligence of the universe and understand that very few things in life are permanent – including weight – then acceptance may come easier.
Permanence is rigid. It does not bend. It breaks easily. It is a block to creativity. This mindset stands between you and your ideal body. Think of things that we deem as permanent – death and, well, come to think of it, nothing in life is permanent, except maybe Sharpie’s.
When you believe in permanence, you lose. You believe things won’t change. And then you spend your time fighting with reality, and as Byron Katie says, “To argue with reality is to argue with God, and you only lose 100% of the time.”
But, acceptance….acceptance is love. It allows for transformation. It fuels positive energy. It flows. It puts you at peace with yourself, and peaceful people don’t stuff down their feelings with food, and if they do, they know that it isn’t permanent. The next moment is an opportunity to start over.
Self-acceptance causes you to be an ally with yourself, instead of your worst enemy. When our bodies and minds work together, amazing things happen. Acceptance means that you accept the now but you are also excited about what is to come, not afraid of what the future holds.
This is one of the best things I’ve read all week. I am certainly the queen at self-flagellation and in recent weeks I’ve realized that it has to stop. I am a long believer in the fact that we are capable of stretching our spirits and polishing up our souls if we are willing. But I wasn’t looking at all the wonderful things in my life and all the positive things I do, I was only looking at my failures. It’s a horrid cycle to get into, and when you are there in the middle of it, you just can’t seem to find a way out.
I know that there is a way out, though. And it isn’t going to be easy, but it’s doable. And it isn’t going to be possible if I continue to criticize myself for anything negative; I have to accept things as they are and also accept that I have the power to change.
Christine Kane had advised creating a weekly “minimum habit requirement”:
4. Create an MHR.
MHR stands for “Minimum Habit Requirement.”
Instead of trying to change everything at once, pick one small new habit and make that your Minimum Habit Requirement each day. A 30-minute work out, for example.
Your MHR is the starting point of your newfound proactivity. The goal is to simply experience the creative energy of choosing a habit and sticking with it.
via Christine Kane’s How to Turn a Set-Back into a Come-back (Part Two)
My goal for this week was to get back into the gym at least twice this week. Today was the third day this week that I’ve made it. My body is sore, but a really good sore that reminds me that my muscles love to be worked and that my body really is more energetic when I move it. The first day back, I was feeling really wonderful about being there until a group of stick-thin women headed into the Yoga area. Then I gave myself a little talking to: why would I beat myself up for having this curvy, wonderful body? It isn’t perfect, but it’s something that can be worked until it’s in the best shape that it can be. I don’t have the stick-thin body type and though I can lose a little around the middle, parts of me won’t decrease unless I have breast-reduction surgery. I LIKE my curves – they are wonderful. And being back in the gym will enhance that wonderfulness, make me feel more energetic, and continue to make me feel strong and healthy.
What about you? Are you stuck in the cycle of only seeing your flaws? Or are you striving to accept your reality as you make your life better?
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What Are You Eating?
Posted on 08. Apr, 2010 by Deb.
Yes, I submitted my breakfast yesterday to What Are You Eating Right Now? , an interactive experiment from The New York Times. I found the presentation absolutely fascinating.
And yes, this is a typical at home breakfast for me. Yes, that is All Bran/Fiber One in the bowl (with some strawberries). Yes, I LIKE All Bran. Really. I’m also on a berry kick. Strawberries and Blackberries and just beginning to come into season and are enticing and sensual and rich in delicate flavors. (Blueberries, however, are lagging and still taste a little on the dull side).
What about you? What do you like for breakfast?
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Three Little Letters: G Y M
Posted on 07. Apr, 2010 by Deb.
When I made my long list of things that need to be done on Sunday morning, there were several big tasks that are going to require a planned approach. Among these are:
- Spring cleaning my closet (and dresser)
- Culling through my books and sending some to Half-Price Books
- Outlining my latest novel idea
- Outlining a series of short stories that I agreed to write with a girlfriend
- Going to the gym
Yes. They are all daunting tasks that are going to require time and focus.
Today, I decided that I would go to the gym. It’s a lovely gym. Honest. It has a great pool, steam room, sauna, wonderful free weights and a wide selection of cardio equipment. And the locker room is wonderful – with blow dryers and towel service. I was successful in the past with a gym routine when I kept a packed bag that was ready so that I could get up, grab it, and go. That bag isn’t packed yet.
I went back from my office into my bedroom to get dressed for the gym. I began to extract workout tanks and bike shorts and got distracted by one of the other tasks on my list: cleaning out my dresser and closet. When I say extract, I mean find a somewhat matching outfit. After I got dressed and was putting in my contacts, my phone rang.
It was a client with a problem.
The initial solution to the problem was simple: if you do not spell the website address correctly, then it will not show in your browser window. It led us to a longer discussion, though: SEO, the status of several other projects, and brainstorming to improve the projects and share more business. As we talked, I walked past the laundry room and I realized that there was a sad little pile of towels that needed to be folded; something I could do as we brainstormed.
And now, I sit here with my umph to go to the gym a little less umphy. But I do know that if I go, the ability to start taking big bites out of all of my elephants will become easier. Because working out gives you more energy.
Hope you are having a wonderful Wednesday!
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Higher Voices
Posted on 06. Apr, 2010 by Deb.
The first day back from an extended trip seems to pass more quickly than other days. I was successful with the completion of more than a dozen things on my laundry list, though taking bites out of some of the bigger tasks is going to be harder and take a heck of a lot more time.
Today is dedicated to all things creative. I am heading over to Melissa’s for coffee (and a snack of course). We discuss our open projects and brainstorm ways to complete them along with new projects to consider. We also spend some of our time discussing where things stand on All Things Girl, which is seeing an increase in energy with the promotion of Roxanne Ravenel to Senior Editor. Being around creative people, even if it’s just via email as we plan things, really energizes me to new energies and inspires me to pursue my creative goals.
In Part Two (I mentioned Part One last week) of Christine Kane’s post “How to Turn a Set-Back into a Come-back“, she suggests that we do just that:
7. Immerse yourself in higher voices.
You’re blessed to be living in a time when you can access any spiritual teacher or success guru in the world. Audiobooks, downloads, articles, books and blogs. Give yourself time each day to renew your mind and get stoked by higher voices. It will train you to think yourself into your comeback.
Christine is right. There is incredible access to higher voices in 2010. In pursuit of re-energizing myself…of growing…of finding my courage and my faith…. I have come to realize that these higher voices are all around me. My friend Lee has been a part of my life for more years than I can count on both hands now, and I have always looked to her as a spiritual guide and teacher. She is one of those voices. And spending time (in person, on the phone, via email, via the quiet pursuit of surfing the web) with creative people like Melissa and Roxanne and Lorissa (our ATG Founder) and so many other people in my life is a way to immerse myself in some higher voices. When I have the doubts, the lack of self confidence, the feeling that my ideas are silly or not worth pursuing, I get the gentle encouragement I need, even if they don’t know they are doing it.
So the questions to ask today: what higher voices are you listening to – and are they inspiring you? And are you living a life that can be a higher voice to those around you? What can you do today to inspire, support, gently guide and lift up the world? Probably more than you think….
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Laundry List
Posted on 04. Apr, 2010 by Deb.
I was fortunate to spend a portion of my time in one of my favorite places these past few days: the Courtyard of the Hotel Monaco.
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(this photo taken in September 2008; not much has changed since then)
I didn’t get to spend as much time there as I would have liked, but part of traveling over a holiday weekend and having family obligations means less down time. In a typical trip to DC, I would have planned to stay through late Sunday or early Monday. With my mom’s illness, I needed to be home for lunch. But I digress.
The spring air combined with a much needed cocktail got my head wrapped around what needs to be accomplished during the month of April. I set about doing a bit of woolgathering and discovered that my wish list is quite long. Still, I allowed my mind to wander as I sat in the garden and thought about work and wants and needs and the need to reintroduce some creativity back into my daily life. Brief moments aren’t conducive to a real brain dump, so I saved that until my flight home.
After breakfast was served and I was enjoying my 3rd cup of coffee, I sat with pen and paper and begin listing everything that had gathered in my mind. When you end up with a laundry list of to-dos and must-dos, getting a real control over it can be a task so daunting that it’s almost paralyzing. As overwhelming as it can be, the only way to make progress is to break it down into chunks and eat it like you would an elephant: one bite at a time.
April is going to be an interesting month. I already had the beginnings of heavier than usual travel and with the (potential) new contract, that means three days a week on the road. It’s the kind of travel I like: solid contract with the ability to find my way around a new town and make it “mine”. Granted, I’d love that city to be a city like DC, but to be honest, I’m thrilled with wherever work takes me. (I can tell you that there is no Kimpton Hotel in this city – there isn’t even a single Hilton Property in the town!).
Just keep good thoughts headed my way as I break down my laundry list into those manageable bites and set out to conquer the little piece of my world!
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On the Road Again
Posted on 02. Apr, 2010 by Deb.
After months of being a bit of a homebody, I’m on the road again and the rest of this month looks to be pretty busy, which, overall, is a good thing. I won’t begin to bore you with the details of work, just know that I love at about 98% of what I do and always prefer to be busier than not busy. I got word today on a new contract and I’m thrilled. I’m always flattered (and thankful) when an old client recommends me to someone and they become a new client.
This week, work has brought me to DC, which is my favorite place to be. I won’t be able to get out and do all the things I’d like to do (I don’t think I will make it to Arlington Cemetery this trip), but I did get an opportunity for some things.
After a rough winter, DC was blessed today with clear skies, light winds, temperatures in the low 80’s, and unadulterated beauty. The crowds are pretty intense with the peak of the blossoms and a holiday weekend. But I was blessed to be able to see the true beauty that Mother Nature offers us in the Spring.
Hope you are well. It’s long past my bedtime.
