Creating space that reflects you back to you

One of my recurring goals since the divorce is to create a space that is cozy, decorated and somehow feels like me.  I just decided I want to do something I have always thought about.  I want to find a really nice, really large world map, and a US map and either have them framed, or in nice pull down thingys (like in Sleepless in Seattle).  I want a quilt rack.  I need to get a rug for under my kitchen table.  There is a place to start.

Months Later

I think I am ready to start writing here again.  So much has happened, so much has changed, and I am contemplating so much internally.  

Not tonight, but it will be good to get it all out.

I won’t make this public till the divorce is final, but I think I will be ready then, to integrate all of life and facebook and all of it here.  

I need to migrate the links.

I want this – a drool list if you will…

1) The Crislu – Floating Channel Oval Center Stone Bangle bracelet, in goldtone.  Its from their May 2008 collection.  Its just costume jewelry, but its beautiful. I clipped the add out of the magazine when I saw it. I had never heard of Crislu.  I didn’t buy it right away.  Now, apparently this particular piece is hard to find.

Usually when I fall in love with a piece of jewelry, its is exhorbitantly out of my price range.  The first time I love something reasonable ($125), it becomes hard to find.  I thought the internet meant you could be the queen of instant gratification for whatever you want (except girlscout cookies – the last truly controlled substance on earth)

2) Waterford Crystal White Wine Glasses

Thoughts

My dad died yesterday, February 2, 2009.  We are all processing.  Yesterday I was talking, today I am sleeping.

I think I need to come to terms with the fact that I am a slacker mom.  But the girl knows she is loved.

My relationship with my mother either always has been, or has become in the last year more complicated than I ever thought.

I am thankful for the people in my life who care about me.  I am blessed.

Amen

…..and all those who love mercy and do justice… say Amen.

From the inaugural speech…

 

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted – for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things – some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. 

our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.We are the keepers of this legacy. 

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. 

know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. 

 We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment – a moment that will define a generation – it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

 

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends – hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism – these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility – a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence – the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

 

 

Its the small things that make life good

• The girl is running around with a yellow cape over her nightgown while she paints a picture on a plastic folder.
• Someone special ordered a personal gift for me just because.  I am excited to see the details of it, and it feels nice to be thought about in that way that spurs random gifts.
• I have a weekend with stuff, but not too much stuff.
• Its cold, but the sun is shining.
• I am hungry and there is yummy food in the house
• I have a book discussion coming up.
• My family is doing well.
• I am having the best conversations of my life.
• I am getting joy out of cooking again.
• The book festival is on the horizon and for many reasons it looks like it will be the best year yet.
• I have good friends.
• I am settling down at work, despite swirling sands around me.

Menu Planning

appetizer:  california tomoato salad: tomatoes and provolone marinated in a zesty italian dressing

Spinach salad with red onions, feta cheese, and kalamata olives

main course:

Peppercorn pork tenderloin roast

Jasmine rice

broiled zucchini w/ parmesean

cold pea salad

hearty bread (sourdough rolls, or crusty french baguette) with pesto tapenade and dipping oils

Red wine

Update:  Dinner January 10, 2009 went very well.

One month ago today…

I smiled at the sun and encountered a greek stormcat.

New Years Resolutions

2009 promises to be one of the best years of my life.  I told someone close to me two days ago, “I feel like I am becoming the person I was always meant to be.”

My New Years Resolutions are practical in nature this year.  All the wonderfulness seems to be falling into my lap without much effort on my part.  So my resolutions are to put effort to the practical things to have my environment and life match the joy of my inner life.

• Clean out and organize every drawer and closet in the house
• Slowly, with thoughtful choices, redecorate my home
• Finally resolve my two major financial issues, making them right – preparing myself for more proactive financial planning in 2010.
• Have my home professionally cleaned, at least once.
• Get all my bills automated and scheduled, timed with deposits
• have a disciplined exercise routine – even if its only once a week, keep the commitment to it

The book list post

I read 33 books in 2008, which is slightly less than average for me.  But considering I started 6 books in Nov and Dec and couldn’t get into any of them, (must be me not the books)  I figure its all average for the year.  I have been keeping track of what I read since Jan 1, 1999 (after joining my first online bookgroup in August 1998 and realizing people did such things .

In 2008 the first four books I read, were also 4 of the top 10 books of the year.

Love is a Mix Tape – Sheffield
Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name – Vida
Eat, Pray, Love – Gilbert
The Thirteenth Tale – Setterfield.

The rest of the top ten:

Sailing in a spoonful of water – Joe Coomer
The Long Walk Home – North
After Dark – Haruki Murakami
Kafka on the Shore – Murakami

And then, there was the Twighlight Series:  (Twighlight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn).

I just started Mary Doria Russells  Dreamers of the Day after Christmas, and Today started a very promising book entitle – A cottage called Joye on a Streat called Easy.

This is the first year that 4 of the best are non fiction, I am generally much more a fiction reader.

But since this is the 10th year of my recording of the books, I thought I would recap my top 10 (plus 1) of the last 10 years:

Tortilla Curtain – TC Boyle
Midnight’s Children – Rushdie
My Year of Meats – Ozeki  (this one friends will remember is the one for which my review was actually published in the Desert Sun newspaper)
Sophies World
The Bone People – Keri Hulme
Enders Game (series)- Orson Scott Card
A Fine Balance – Mistry
The Last Sin Eater – River
Winters Tale – Helprin
Love Walked In – Marissa de los Santos
Tolstoy Lied – Kadish