Last of the Year

So 2009, you were hated by many of my contemporaries. Loved by very few.

Well you know what? I'm kind of indifferent towards you.

I can tell you that the last half of 2008 (right after October-) was not a good year. I lost a really special person, and that loss even more profoundly destroyed one of my most dear friends lives. She didn't deserve that.
So when 2009 came into town, I was looking forward to it.

But really 2009 you were a vanilla year. I saw a steady, horizontal, flow of experiences. There were many more good times- nothing really BAD happened. The good things entailed a nice surprise regarding work- which in turn made me really love my job that much more than I already had. Also I had the opportunity to make some great new friends, and get closer to other people whom I had not previously been actual friends with. In August the hub and I took a nice vacation to California...And the holiday season, while whirlwind in it's come-and-gone madness, was pretty nice. Actually it was better than nice because I was able to connect in a nice way to so many of my family members. Somewhere along the way family has become really important to me and having so many chances to see people who are so important to me was a great experiences.

I suppose 2009, that you were a good year- for me at least.

But that isn't really good enough. I want a STELLAR 2010. Some goals (no, not resolutions- because for me a resolution is incredibly cliche, and really I have higher hopes than just an average resolution).

Some things that are on my agenda.

1) Clarinet lessons. Yeah, I'm not kidding. I'm signing up on Monday to be part of a Clarinet Choir, supplemented by a private lesson every other week. As mentioned in a previous blog, I WILL play 'Rhapsody in Blue'.

2) Burlesque classes/Pin-up photo shoot. I don't know why I'm so drawn to the brassiness of Burlesque. Maybe because I am not conventionally beautiful, and that style of 'tease' is more in line with my "look"? I don't know...The pin-up photo shoot is just for shits and giggles. I don't want to over think that one. Oh yeah, and it's all fun and silly stuff to be a part of. And one day when I tell my grandkids to LIVE their LIVES! and not let the little petty stuff get to them, I'll have the brass to back up my balls!

3) Improv classes. For a while I've wanted this. And while between work, and clarinet lessons, and the gym and art work, and having a life this might be hard to work in- I'll make it happen. Perhaps in the spring once I've done a few other things on my list. Plus I'm kind of funny. It'd be nice to see if I can move that to ACTUALLY funny.

4) Travel to Portland. I have an awesome friend who lives there and has invited me out many times- As soon as I can find a weekend, and get a flight- I'm there. Not only is it a great city for picture taking, I hear the food, culture and nightlife are spectacular! Also in general I'd like to travel EVERYWHERE. For now I'll start with Portland.

5) Have my last birthday of my 20's in Vegas. That isn't really optional. I want to go out with a bang on this one. My partner in crime is even interested. We'll hopefully be able to nail that one down soon. SO scary by the way. A whole new decade? Whoa.

6) Read. A LOT more. And not just chick-lit and fluff (but I still want some of that...there is a third book in a trilogy that I'm reading with the third installment due out in June! Can't wait!). The classics are what the focus of this goal is. I want to be so enriched with literary masterpieces that I could teach a class. I crave it. If anyone has book suggestions I'll gladly take them. I plan to start with a few of my favorite books (that aren't really impressive since they're right off an 8th grade summer reading list- but whatever it's not Twilight (not that there's anything wrong with that either!), that I are definitely worth re-reading. 'Like Water for Chocolate', 'Brave New World' and 'The Great Gatsby'.

7) Find a cause to volunteer my time for. I am hoping to be really busy- but not so busy that I forget that it's important to "be the change'. Just saying that I want to volunteer is great, but doing it is WAY better. I am thinking that I'd like to volunteer a few times a month at a senior center. Maybe help with arts and crafts, or look into having Samson (my associate), be a visiting pet since most of these facilities don't allow their residents to have pets. He's so sweet and good with people it might be nice. Who knows.

8) Steadily practice yoga/meditation, not just a few times a week for 20 minutes.

Thats it for now, but it's all part of my plan to live a 'succulent' life. It starts now. My cousin- in- law threw that at me in an email and it's really resonating with me. It's part of a book that I'm planning on getting. I'll have to reference the book title/author so I can make sure to get a hold of a copy.

       Morgan Park, 12.09

   Yosemite National Park, 8.09

    The Hub and a big pine cone on the way to Yosemite, 8.09

   Redwoods, Yosemite National Park, 8.2009

               Redondo Beach CA, 8.09

         Los Angeles CA, 8.09

 

       San Francisco, CA (Haight/Ashbury), 8.09

 Photo by the Hub, Chinatown SF, CA 8.09

Losing your way, and coming back again...

Lets make one thing clear-

I am a work in progress.

That is all.

For now.

my leg, summer 09.

Pictures from Cookies/Samson's new Do'/Snowday!

Cookie baking can be fun- Especially when you know that they're being sent off to people who will particularly appreciate them. This is the follow up to the last blog.

Pictures below of the Oatmeal Cookies, my awesome dog Samson's new haircut, and the heaps of snow we got this past weekend. Enjoy!

Above: Fresh whole spices: Star Anise, Carsdamom seeds, Cinnamon and Cloves- I had extra pre-ground from another recipe so I threw that in...Below is the mix...smells divine!

Below is the whole wheat flour, salt and baking soda, and then below that is the earth balance and sugar...not so interesting.

Then  the oats! Yummy oaty goodness!

Oaty....yum.

Sugar and spice and everything nice....

Doughballs!!!

Finished product. Yum! Also, really pretty (if I do say so myself...)

And here is my fuzz face. First to pictures are "before" shots.

 

And here he is all nice and groomed! Super cutie!

He's a spunky little guy. :)

As you can see, from one of the pictures above, there was a lot of snow this past weekend. It's December, we're in the Western Hemisphere in the North East part of North America- that means Winter weather! It's going to snow at some point. People behave like maniacs. I had to go to the market to get ingredients for my cookies and what not- people were stockpiling food and batteries like it was going to be the storm of the century!

Oh well, I suppose with the media-madness making everyone fuss and worry it's to be expected. Here are some shots I got on Sunday (which was cold, but absolutely beautiful!)

Glen Cove Mansion, 12.09

The hub and I. Being silly. 12.09

 Pyrbil Beach, 12.09

Pyrbil Beach, 12.09

 Pyrbil Beach,  12.09

Pyrbil Beach, 12.09

Pyrbil Beach, 12.09

Pyrbil Beach, 12.09

I happen to really love the beach during the winter. There isn't a specifically different look, aside from the fact that sometimes there is snow and or ice, and it's almost always deserted. I just love it.

This week is Christmas week, so there is very little I can do with work, So I have some time to continue practicing my clarinet and crafting. Once I'm totally done with my cookie baking, I will move on to painting and crocheting. And somehow I'll fit in time to organize my office.

While I'm sure that I'll get another opportunity to write more, if  I don't I wish everyone a happy, and blessed Holiday.

Cookies, Crafties and Music oh- my! Also, doo-goodery.

So I am baking today. Cookie baking(Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal, Chai Spice, and Peanut Butter!).

All the cookies will be vegan. On my facebook I solicited to friends that if they were interested in having me send them cookies. I got about 6 people who were interested. Now I don't mind that the offer only got a lukewarm response. (Could you imagine of all 300 of my "friends" responded that they wanted cookies? I'd be poor from buying all of those supplies, and mailing them all out!! YIKES!)
But today will be so fun- I'm especially excited about making the chai spice cookies. It's a nice change from the usual sugar/butter holiday cookies(which are always ALWAYS awesome), but the spice keeps the theme intact.As mentioned in my last blog, this helps me heal. Usually doing for others does that. Also the smell of cookies baking in a warm house when it's particularly blustery outside always makes for a nice afternoon.

Speaking of doing for others...I have yet to actually volunteer. And it's on my radar- But really every opportunity to help out is inundated with holiday do-gooders. Which is awesome. But you know what? People are still homeless after Christmas. And still hungry after the New Year. I think that I can commit to once a month volunteering at both a homeless shelter (clothing or food assistance) and being a volunteer or companion at a Senior Center. But this is AFTER the dust settles from the Santa-suck ups. It don't want to have to wait in line to help people. I know that after the holidays there is a much greater need to help so I'm going to. I want to see if any of my friends would want to do that with me. Back in November my friend Jessica and I volunteered at the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary. It was not only a lot of fun, but really rewarding. There are probably more than a few of my friends who'd like that feeling. We'll see.

*Just so this is known, I am only publicly discussing my intent to volunteer because putting it out there holds me accountable. Not that I wouldn't do it if I didn't say so on the internets- but things so easily get forgotten and put off. Generally it's tacky to parade around ones good deeds. And really, volunteering isn't so amazing. Everyone should do it so it's kind of akin to advertising that I washed my hands after I went to the bathroom.*

What a day...I'm also excited because of the Hanukkah party I'm going to later! There will be latkes and dreidel, and fun!! Michael and Jason (my hubs uncle and uncles husband) always have the most wonderful gatherings. The trek to Brooklyn is always worth it to be in there cozy and warm home. I'm bringing cider with mulling spices, a crudites, and my camera! Hmm, I wonder what I'm going to wear. (This is only half joking, I think that I am out of my autumn clothing and need to find my warmer Winter sweaters!)

So far on my list of to-do, I've practiced my clarinet for about 25 minutes. NOW I have to go to the market to buy some missing ingredients, and get to work. The day is starting to catch up with me and I refuse to be caught off guard like that!

Glen Cove, 11.09

Glen Cove, 11.09

Glen Cove 11.09

The life and times of a whirl-wind revolutionary

Winter has set in.

The days are shorter, and colder. Bitter cold. Bone chillingly cold.

But that doesn't bother me. I am in the process of becoming something truly great and wonderful (what that is I don't know yet, but eventually it'll happen and I'll just know it!)
 So the weather is never troublesome or upsetting to me . It's raining? Big deal- I'll get an umbrella and my galoshes. It's cold? I'll bundle up and make sure I have my tea. Human beings ability to adapt is what has kept us alive (amongst other things) for the past couple thousand years.

I am not letting this season get me down. It's not easy though because I am not immune to the down side of the season. I am more easily perturbed, more lazy, and definately a sucker for 'hibernating'. This isn't like the way a bear hibernates (waking in the springtime all svelt and ready to chow down). I'm talking no holds barred eating, and laying about. It's bad. Lately I've been eating a whole onslaught of terrible things and then just as soon as I have vowed to go to the gym, I fall into the worst kind of food coma. The television-food coma. All those great things on TV to DVR!!! Of course I need to watch them before the DVR gets full! OF COURSE.
For now none of it has shown up on my butt. And I suppose the few times I have made it to the gym *read: once a week*, have staved off the extra calories...But it's not about that. I'm a masochist who needs to get into tip top shape by January first. I'm running a 5 mile race. I've said it in too many public forums AND to my boss, and co-workers. Nothing will motivate you like having a blabber mouth and being a stickler for integrity.

Also, I miss my family. Not that I was ever a clingy home-body. I have a really solid relationship with both of my parents. Never one to over share, they don't know (or need to know) about some of the more detailed and interesting parts of my life (you know, the parts that make stories juicy, jokes funny, and most sailors blush....). But we're close never the less. The reason why I miss my family is because most of the time, I don't feel that I have one. And it's made me a bit cynical.My parents got divorced a little more than three years ago. It's fine, and they're better apart- but they both got remarried so fast, that I hardly have gotten used to them being apart. To make matters worse, I live really far from them both. My mom is 3 hours away, and my schedule doesn't allow for me to see her that often, and my dad is in Florida. Both of them have these new lives, and even though I'm grown- I miss having time together as a family. It's happened a few times, and it's be AWKWARD. Thats because of the new additions to their lives being there. Not that they aren't nice people- They just aren't my family.

So now when I see people getting married, I think to myself, "gee, it's either them or me who's getting divorced". Yuck right? I have to work at making that thought turn into something else. FAST. It's ok to feel negatively of course, but I send that right along. I need to burn some mental sage. 

And now I have a plan to balance out all of this bear-like behavior.  It is my CHOICE to not let the season (and sadness about my parents divorce) make me fussy and unpleasant. It's my choice to get closer and closer to ok with the twists and turns of my life.

Part of my revolution to change the world and make it better, includes changing myself and making ME better.

To change the world all you have to do it make choices. I am choosing to boycott certain companies (as you may have seen in a previous blog), and making certain food choices, to make the world better. To make myself better I am committing to living a colorful, and real life. I welcome all the blessings and interesting people and things that will come into my life. So be it. The next year is going to be life changing for certain. In a most positive way!!

On top of my photo-hunts (which will increase in frequency since I have taken some days off from work and plan on making excellent use of them), I will also be finishing more of my projects that have been stowed away for over a month. Finishing a few paintings, fabric projects ( a bunting inspired by a fellow blogger) crocheted cuffs jewelry, new years cards and finally getting a proper portfolio together. I always get so motivated, but lately something has been making me feel the need to 100% follow through. Which isn't always the case so it's a nice change.On top of that, I am going to aim to be a runner. Not because of the goal to run a marathon, but because it's not something that I had ever thought that I could do.
And I'm re-learning the clarinet. For the next few weeks, before I sign up for lessons I am practicing half an hour ever day. When I have proper lessons I will most likely practice for longer, but not every day. We'll see.


So part of my revolution is making time to heal myself. Not a bad step. It's important to take care of yourself, because if you don't who is going to? Sometimes it's not about healing, but enriching. Which is just as important. When you aren't wounded you still have to grow and better yourself.

Speaking of taking care of ones self, I took tomorrow off. Mostly so I can bake all sorts of goodies to send out to people. SO tonight I will make some holiday cards(why buy when you can hand make right?), and get the ingredients together for my bake-a-thon. Pictures to follow. AND tomorrow night I'm going to an awesome Hanukkah party (also pictures to follow).

DID SOMEBODY SAY PICTURES? See below for some more pictures from my portfolio.

Park Ave, 12.09

Technicolor Christmas, NYC 12.09

 

Riverside Park, 12.09

Multicolored, Broder house 11.09

 

Mucha, Broder House 11.09

old bones, Broder house, 11.09

Golden Nipple, Broder house, 11.09

Sea of LOVE <3

The past few days have been a complete and total unabashedly overflowing SEA of LOVE!

And I'm not complaining!

Thursday, was my sister in laws birthday. Her favorite food is sushi and wanted that for dinner. So the Hub and my favorite place for sushi is Kotobuki in Roslyn. Not only is it the best sushi on Long Island, it's almost for certain the best sushi you can get outside of Japan. I have never had better, and will probably not have better until I (eventually) get to travel to Tokoyo. But I digress...
So we had a really nice evening just the three of  us. I ordered seaweed salad, a veggie roll, and spicy salmon. Amazing. And I had a few piece of sashimi that didn't sit on the table long enough for me to take a picture of. Toro and Super White Tuna. Yum!

After dinner we had some cake- which was AMAZING! A chocolate fudge concoction from Whole Foods. Delicious! Because I limit the dairy that I consume you have to understand that this was worth it.

It was also nice to spend time with her as everyone having crazy schedules doesn't allow for us to get together that often.

Here are some picture from that evening- including a card that I made for her using some beautiful oragami paper, paint, and of course, LOVE...Hope you enjoy!

Then here comes dinner (below)

 

 

Then Friday was a mellow night, which is great. Matt and I needed a quiet night in.
Saturday was a family event (my youngest cousins Bat Mitzvah!!).

My father, his new wife and son (adopted not a blood relation), and my grandparents all came up to be a part of the event. It was absolutely beautiful- and getting to see your family is always a good thing. Even if your family is a mish mash weird patchwork family. Which mine has become. More on that on another blog.


*** NOTE***

This blog was started on December 11th...and finished 6 days later.