Lookin Great in 2008 and Doin Good as Grandma Would

In a burst of good ideas the hopes for next year have just been born. Slightly premature we won't be able to take them home until this coming Tuesday, but that's alright. My current mantra, "What Would Grandma Do?" is excited to see the evolution of putting the "What" into action. We look forward to growing Spiritually, Physically, Financially, and Artistically in 2008. We will be making lots of good choices to take good actions that pertain to the 4 categories of growth.

For the past 6 months I have been just keeping my head above the roiling waters of adulthood using the dog paddle and sometimes the life bouy otherwise know as mother's checking account. The days of paddleing and using the life bouy are going to end in 2008. I will, instead, become a synchronized swimmer. I already have the cap so I'll pull it on and practice holding my breath while madly sculling and pointing my toes toward high heaven.

Meanwhile, I'll keep contemplating French Farm culture and Physics. It's amazing the things one thinks about while working in retail.

Multiples

1) There was a pack of old men on the bus yesterday. Their voices were like worn down sneakers trudging down a gravel road or like how I would imagine grumpy, yet freshly fed hyenas would sound. Muttering about the rain and about the best way to get a free ride.

"Have you had that green apple flavor kind?
No, I don't drink that shit. Give me the real stuff.
What do you think of Jose?
How 'bout Jack?
Heh heh heh."

2) Pot-bellied, wood burning stoves, very black with a kettle on for tea.

3) Mountian Dulcimer practice.

4) Yoga Zone with Jen and Jeanie.

5) Notions make suitable ornaments for the lovely 5 footer Noble Fir who has taken his place next to the butter yellow velvet armchair.

6) Murray McMurray mail order fowl.

Those were the good ones, these are the bad:

not enough postage, not enough pasture, not enough Smog, and too many crazy ladies who make messes in the fitting room.

Friend of the Month

Since moving to Seattle one of my goals has been to make one new friend a month. This friend must become more then an aquaintence. So far things have been turning out for the best and I have been learning some good and bad things.

Dear Lauren was October. Our meeting was a practical intervention of the divine in the aqua walled breakroom at Anthropologie in the University Village shopping center. Not only did we both study art, but we also both went to NYCAMS, only a year apart. She knows Clark Street Cafe, the Promanade, the greenery of 28th Street, Gloria, and John Silvis. Our meeting was a stoke of great luck.

Mr. November was that foxy boy from All Aboard 2nd Hand Furniture Store. We first met in September, but it was not until November when he fit in the program. We met becuase of a butter yellow velvet armchair. Now with several visits and a beer or 2 at Prost later friendship with Mr. November remains undefined and at a projected low. He has reminded me that the ability to ask good questions is a very important quality in a friend. I still like the chair better.

On the first of December my monthly friend called me out of the blue just as I sat down for lunch. Jo Ellen has just moved to Seattle and got my number from a mutual friend who thought I'd be a good person so call. The next day we met for coffee and I took her to church. It was good of God to provide in a moment when I didn't know who to be friends with next. If only getting a phone call at the opportune time would happen more often.

I should take their portraits and then at the end of my time in Seattle host a party with all the friends. I think it should be a barbeque and each person must bring with them one of their good friends. There will be hotdogs and coleslaw.

The End

विष thinking

Curried lentil soup with carrots, orange bells, onions, celery, garlic, parsley, ginger, cumin, chicken broth, pepper and of course, lots of curry powder

Garlic Parsley Muffins

Vanilla Yogurt with blueberry cinnamon sauce

Then you have a few glasses of wine and wait for the boy from the furniture store to call.

You think the soup is ready, but the carrots and lentils are not quite tender enough.

After 2 muffins and another glass of wine you think, "well maybe it's alright if the lentils and carrots are not done enough?"

Cheers to another delicious dinner consumed alone!

By the way, being alone is a good/bad idea.

When alone I begin to think about things in a way I never do while with others. I think about ways to lighten my earthly load (i.e. which handbags I can live without.) I plan out menus for meals I would like to have and invite the people I would like to meet. I think about patterns to weave the lightness the spreads out from my toes into. Sometimes I think about how hard it is to be living and how lovely blooms of crimson would look in the bath water. But, then again, each sunrise calls a new day into being. Each new day brings new possibilities to do good or to stamp out the bad.

Good Manners

I work retail. I do judge a womans character by the way she leaves a dressing room. Scattered hangers, inside-out blouses, undone buttons, and various bits of refuse on the floor all point to someone who is generally careless and selfish to a fault. This is the kind of woman who lets her child cry for extended periods of time in public. She does not look you in the eye and tries to return things that have been worn and washed. She is not to be trusted.

One the other hand, a woman who brings her clothes out of her dressing room on their hangers and hands them to the fitting room attendent is someone who deserves a home made pie, a fresh peach, or even a warm hug along with a cup of tea. It is a good idea the be that woman. Pick up after yourself. Button those tiny buttons. Be a considerate human.

It is also a good idea to listen to Rosie Thomas and Smog while at home, alone for the evening, yet again.

It is a good idea to enjoy a fried egg with toast and orange juice for dinner.

It is a good idea to write letters to humans you love. Use real ink and real paper and 41 cents. It will be worth it.

Munching All Around

First you order Tahini stuffed French toast with pineapple lemon sryup along with the Buddha Belly scramble with feta, whole cloves of roasted garlic, bits of tofu, and spinich. There are also some mashed potatoe pancakes, whole wheat toast with homemade raspberry jam and lots of coffee.

Be sure to share.

Next, while at Pikes Place Market, taste everything: chocolate pasta, 18 year old balsamics, raw honey, local apples, aged gouda, blended goat cheese, peppered jerky, and rubarb jam. Smell the teas, the clams, the flowers, and the lavendar hand creams.

Pop in for a Russian turnover and then go a few doors down for some Fair Trade espresso.

Happy Hour time is time for being an Irish pub and sampeling some local brews.

Now for a dinner of appitizers at The Palace: goat cheese fondu with grilled sourdough paired with an apple, arugula, and almond salad. There are also marionberry martinis.

Then spend some time walking all about until you happen to end up and another pub to top off the day with a glass of chocolaty porter.

Perfect!

Toast!

flour
yeast
warm water
honey
milk
oil
salt

mix
knead
rise
punch
shape
rise
bake

slice
butter
eat
perfect

WWOOF

Two days ago and very small "dog" nearly attacked me on an evening jog. It was making a beeline for my ankles and yapping up a storm. Fourtunatly I was able to leap to safety.

Today at work a middle aged African-American lady was cradling her "dog." It looked more like a pint-sized bean bag with fur and I nearly wanted to eat it.

When I was born my father had a Rodesian Ridgeback named Rex. He was red. His legs, they were 14 yards long, his ears, so very wide and around the world in half a day upon him I would ride.

My most recent good idea is to become a Willing Worker On an Organic Farm. I could go all over the world, but mostly I am in terested in the UK, Sweden and Denmark, perhaps Japan?

We shall see, we shall see...

Meander

verb

1. To follow an indirect route or course, especially on with a series of twists and turns.
2. to move in a leisurely way, especially or because of a lack of motivation

noun

1. a slow leisurely walk or journey
2. a twist or bend in something, especially a river or path or street
3. an indirect course or route, esp. one that twists and turns
4. an ornamental design, popular in ancient Greek art and architecture, made by a continuous line that forms square shapes by doubling back on itself

This reminds me of right now. I should go to bed and read up on my Greek mythology.

Wild Mountian

Resturants in houses with mismatched silverware

Clear afternoons when you can see the mountians

Yellow velvet chair

Old man pumpkin faces

Real Like

*not all things that are really liked are in particular good or bad ideas, some are simply ideas.

Lisa Loeb's glasses in her music video Stay "I Missed You"

When Red Bull is acctually necessary

Cashmere lounge pants

Turning on the heater for the first time this year

Yellow Velvet Armchair

"Third time's a charm."

Never having learned phonics