Desert Magnolia

My friend and colleague MT is amazing. She's going through another special hell right now with yet another surgery on a leg that has been through, well, hell, already. And then some. See she was cruising along just fine with her new knee (did I mention she's already had a knee replacement in this leg???) when she opted to walk down some carpeted stairs, and then things just got complicated. And she ended up jacking up* her ankle to the point where it needs to be rebuilt. *technical term used when there are lots of gory details but really, why go there when our active imaginations are already fully engaged... Today was her surgery. I haven't heard yet how things went, but really, she could use some warm thoughts. And this weekend we'll be delivering some yummies to help her get through. Thanks guys! [Update on MT: I saw her yesterday, and she's on the mend! She's surrounded by her sweet pack of dogs, a cat named Jack, and a good supply of pain meds....

Why? Well, does there really need to be a reason? And what tea master was sitting around one day trying to come up with awesome variations on the tea theme and said, "I think I'll combine a nice Earl Grey with some steamed milk, add a little vanilla syrup, and for a top note add some Blue Eyes floral"? I really don't care the rationale behind the decision, I just completely, fully and wholeheartedly support the invention. I big pink puffy heart London Fogs with Blue Eyes. Cheers!

When G.G. was sorting through the mail the other night he stopped, then started to chuckle. And then he handed me an envelope in which a Jury Summons was contained. He chuckled because he has been called twice, and I have never been called. And for some reason he thought that wasn't right, or fair, or something. Well, I got mine. But it turns out I need to ask them a favor. To postpone my civic duty until after the holidays. Because before the holidays I am responsible for planning and overseeing and/or executing all year end marketing and PR for our little company, as well as publishing our final edition of an e-pub that now distributes to over 300K people each edition, so it needs to look good. And not have spelling errors and stuff. And then when that e-pub flies? I'll be flying, literally, to Providence, then to Europe and the Middle East. There's a lot to get done before I go, and I'm desperately hoping that our jury management system accepts my reque...

I tried to think of a clever title for this post but I can't. I'm simply out of clever for the week, I think. So what drives me crazy...is trying to be environmentally responsible, and trying to to eat right, and trying to learn about and replace personal care products that contain parabens. Just parabens right now, though as soon as I'm done cleaning house and getting paraben-free products they're sure to come up with something else that gives us cancer, mimics estrogen in our bodies, and/or is responsible for the deforestation of our precious Amazon. Or all of those. Please don't mistake this for a whine, because it's not that at all. Nor do I feel virtuous when I toss a plastic container into the recycling bin; it's my responsibility to do that, and I get it. What I'm talking about is learning more and more about what we as a society have decided to add to our foods, our lotions and potions, etc., and wondering what the hell we're thinking? ...

We've collected, or they've collected us, a group of really cool friends through the years. They run the gamut, these friends, and span every conceivable profession with the exception of psychiatry, though one of our friends has gone back to school and will be a practicing psychologist specializing in grief management once she gets through. Our friends are diverse, professionally as well as culturally, which makes for good conversation and spirited debates from time to time, as one might imagine. Two of these friends have been cohabbing for over a decade. A DECADE. He was married before, and apparently suffered so much emotional trauma during the breakup he vowed never to repeat that ever again.  She was also married before, under difficult circumstances, and divorced. She tried to save someone who wasn't ready to be saved, so when she left she was empty and sad. So when they got together and the sparks ignited and then they pursued their relationship and then they move...

The whole Primal Body, Primal Mind thing? Well, it's cool. I started out with an 'ok, I'll kinda try this and see how I feel' approach, and am steadily adopting more and more of the eating habits. G.G. has been uber supportive, though he's admitted he probably won't be going all out Primal because he does love his carbs, and eschewing them completely doesn't feel right to him right now. But our meals are now reflecting the approach more, and an awareness has been born that can only continue to flourish as positive results warrant. Things I've noticed: I'm sleeping better. My energy levels seem to be more even. My emotions are more level, too, which is never a bad thing. I'm not craving carbs. Seriously not, which is the biggest surprise to me. I haven't yet wanted to veer into a grocery store parking lot, purchase the biggest bag of chips that I can find and have a carb orgy in my car. I just haven't. I've realiz...

My morning began well, then progressed to better, then just continued on into awe.some. The propellant from better to awesome? A vanilla latte from The Grove. Andrew smiled at me as handed it to me, and I noticed he'd designed an absolutely beautiful, intricate leaf pattern into the foamy top. It made me grin like a loon, then thank him profusely for taking the time. Because we both knew he could have just plopped the lid on my cup and I'd never have known. But he didn't. He took the time, and for his effort received an enormous, appreciative grin. And then he grinned back and admitted that sometimes just a little gesture on someone's part can make a huge difference in a day. He was right. Thank you Andrew.

Really. I didn't really realize I was doing it, the breath holding thing, but I was, I really was. And I didn't know how I would react when my girl, who has been to hell and back with her knee injury/recovery, made her first college goal ever. To win a Big East Conference game against University of Southern Florida.  Time elapsed when she made the goal? 89:28. And with :32 left in a rainy, ugly, scoreless game, my daughter stayed composed, set her shoulders in that very cool way she does when she's sure she can do it, and put that ball in the net. She made it look easy. But we all know what it's taken to get her to where she was standing in front of that goal, rain pelting down, in a Big East Conference match in Tampa Bay last weekend. It was one day short of two years since she got hurt, and boy did she get that bad monkey off her back with style. And when that ball went in the net? I completely lost it. Completely. See, she was closer to her dream, a...

We're booked into a 'charming, 19th century style hotel with modern amenities' close to the Eiffel Tower. Which means we'll have somewhere to crash at the end of our days while exploring Gay Paris...which is a good thing. As I've read more of Primal Body, Primal Mind, I'm struck by how it's resonating for me in many ways. It's making more sense, and I'm trying to figure out how I might incorporate its wisdom into everyday life. But I'm pretty sure I won't be heading into a strict non-carb diet before our big trip - that would be silly. I fully intend to enjoy our big getaway, and if there's an occasional pastry involved, so be it. Knowledge is a funny thing, though. Once Pandora's box is opened, it's awfully hard to shut it again.

You hide. From the outside world mostly, but mostly you just 'be' and putter and water the garden and go for runs and do some yoga and do some laundry and nest a little and rewatch the season finale of True Blood, and then rewatch Vicky Christina Barcelona, and then go to the library, and then watch your daughter's soccer game on the college network and then rewatch your favorite Kathleen Madigan standup routine and then go to Trader Joe's and before it all (on Friday after work) stop on the way home and get a mani pedi. Oh, and while I was at Trader Joe's my friend JL called and I answered and because of her I tried some new crack yummy snacks- chile mango (dried), and wasabi wow trail mix. Holy yum! Those mean people who looked at me with angry eyes because I was talking on my cell at the hallowed Trader Joe's? Must not have realized that I was getting purchasing advice from my very good friend and fellow eclectic food lover or they would have just kept o...