Desert Magnolia

Realizing the dream of having both of my offspring graduate from college and be on their way to gainful employment and, hopefully, rich lives, has been amazing. I am proud beyond words. I am relieved. I am absolutely certain they will go forth and conquer, and I can't wait to witness their journeys. Son has already begun to carve a path in the academic world, and has weekly stories to tell of the experiences he's having as he's done so. Firmly ensconced in the Middle East, he has managed to rise quickly in the ranks of his university, and appears to be loving his work, though it can be maddening at times. He's whittling down his student loans, and is now considering grad school at some point. Daughter will begin her job right after Labor Day. She'll be working in NYC in a highly respected cancer center, and will be playing a role managing care for her patients. She is excited, a little nervous, and mostly anxious to begin this next big phase of her life. Th...

Here in New Mexico we take our green chili seriously. We love it. We talk about it endlessly, we await each new harvest with great anticipation, and then we do what we do, in our own special way when it's time to bring it home. First, there is choosing the temperature. This process requires conferring with the local roaster, reading recent articles about the heat of this year's crop, then deciding which way to go. This year we got Hot, which, we were told, is really Medium Hot. Second, there is the roasting. This requires waiting in line, usually in sweltering heat, while a sweaty roaster person dumps the chili in the roaster and begins the process. They adjust the flames a few times, monitor the progress of the roast, and when it's just right, they dump it into a plastic garbage bag they've put into a box, then twist the top of the bag shut, then hand it to you to take home and do with it what you wish. Third, and this is where most of the variations occur, the...

So, I just now, just two minutes ago, hit SEND, and off went my final final exam, to my Clinical Counseling professor. I reread it. I proofed it. I grammar and spell checked it. I pondered whether to append, addend, edit, or amend it, and in the end I just hit SEND. A former colleague of mine once said with our writing (much like art), we need to know when to call it good, when to stop, when to say enough is enough and leave well enough alone lest we inadvertently, in our perfectionism, create smudge ugly, the product of over working and over tinkering. I don't think I'm in danger of smudge ugly in this case. I just really hope I hit the high points that my prof will focus upon when it comes to grading this bad boy. ...fingers crossed ...foot tapping ...wondering if maybe one more pass would have been a good idea... Nah, it's in. I'm good. Let the cards fall where they may now. Hugs, Stevie

I am having a terrible time getting motivated for my final final review push. Which should be happening NOW! So far today I have....made brownies and a fresh cherry/peach crunch for a dinner party we're going to tonight; done a load of laundry; flossed and brushed really really well..better than usual; played with the kitties; checked my email accounts (some legit work stuff, but still...); finished up a small client project; checked Facebook (why I don't know- same stuff every single day it seems...); followed a link to a really cool vintage clothing site where I actually added several very romantic and pretty tunic style blouses to a cart, which I subsequently deleted); now written a blog article. Seriously. I know how much I need to focus, I really do! I just feel like avoiding it a little tiny bit longer. And you know I wouldn't reach out for the much needed kick in the pants if I thought kicking my own self in my own pants would work. I know from experience th...

At the beginning of this semester I decided to head back into omnivore status from Primal status in terms of nutritional choices. After 2 1/2 years of vilifying grains of all kinds, most sugar, spending inordinate amounts of time conjuring up ways to wrap things to create sandwich-like foods, and boring every single one of my family members and friends with the idealized Primal approach, I threw in the towel. I had begun to dislike meat. I had begun to have fantasies about toast and the occasional tortilla. I thought long and hard about making the change, and then went for it. I began heading in a mostly plant protein vs animal protein direction, and have settled on the Mediterranean Diet. Diet is a misnomer; it's a way of life, sustainable forever. It's ridiculously similar to the way I ate growing up. It's deliciousness with lots of fresh veggies, herbs, lean proteins, plenty of good fats (olive oil, avocado, nuts, coconut oil), and the approach produces beautiful, a...