Saturday, September 24, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Saturday, September 10, 2011
A little perspective
I went to Boston last night on a comfort mileage run - one where my upgrades were confirmed. I had a lot of ticket value to use up and this seemed to be a good use of an otherwise chore filled weekend.
I needed a little distance from my not so stress free life right now.
It worked.
I walked the common, went on a photo tour of beacon hill, had a nice relaxing breakfast and lunch. I could have gone with someone, TH for example, but it felt good to go by myself.
I missed her terribly when I had a frappe at Algiers. I want to take her to see the glass flowers at the natural history museum. However, this time it just didn't work out.
We'll be back next month. We will make it back to Cambridge - frappe together and walk the Arnold Arboretum, but today by myself was perfect.
Friday, September 09, 2011
A harbinger?
Seen at miles 4 and 6 today. I am so over training for the MDI marathon and I am sure you are sick of me bitching about it.
Monday, September 05, 2011
Sunday, September 04, 2011
Friday, September 02, 2011
Thursday, September 01, 2011
1 september 2011
It's the Labor Day weekend here and without kids and back to school obligations, it just becomes another farewell to summer weekend. We have been pretty lucky - most weekends we have had nothing to do.
Nothing.
And. It. Was. Awesome.
We spent a lot of weekends with our friends at their house on Orcas Island. The house reminds me of the house I grew up in and the house my brother now owns - Northwest classic with soaring windows and lots of wood beams. The house also has a garden - one that had been neglected for so long but called out for a little love and reorganization. Clearly someone once had loved this garden as it was full of perennials and beautiful - oh so beautiful. Beds made with river rock, a bit crooked, a bit rustic, but with good bones. The garden is away from the house, in an area that gets lots of sun and wisely enclosed with a deer fence.
We spent a few weekends making plans, pulling weeds, moving plants, mulching and spreading wood chips and made a garden for our friends. The weather here has not been so cooperative, so things are not as big or magnificent as we had expected, but we have an idea of what is to come.
And now we rest- we take lots of naps, walk dogs, cook good food and walk on the beach. Other than weeding and picking peas, lettuce and kale, we can sit back and enjoy a garden that will once again, be loved and tended.
Maybe the same will happen with my blogging.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
Towards the end of the month
First of 3 20 milers done, sangria drunk, dinner catch up with a dear friend and the smell of ripe blackberries hitting the warm trail...
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
One day next year
We'll be able to look at today and wonder what the fuss was all about. Until then, life is just shit.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Tuesday, August 09, 2011
Monday, August 08, 2011
Sunday, August 07, 2011
Friday, August 05, 2011
Thursday, August 04, 2011
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
Monday, August 01, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Life and Death 2.0
This evening, I briefly saw a friend of mine at a food blogger event.
She is one of the most ebullient people I know. Tonight she was very distant and standoffish, and definitely not her cheerful self. She excused herself and left early.
Soon after, I sat down at a table with friends and checked my "streams" It was then that I saw a Facebook post mentioning the passing of Kim Ricketts, literary event promoter and genuinely amazing person. I was shocked, not just by the devastating news, but also in the delivery. RIP via Social Media? Do we no longer send black edged cards announcing the passing of family or friends? That is too slow and requires postage. We now do things quickly, instantaneously, and sometimes without thought. Like it or not, life does happen in 140 characters or less - but is it always appropriate?
My memory is filled with the exact place, time and delivery of the news of the death of loved ones. When I was little, I grew to dread the middle of night telephone calls that usually meant that someone back home had died. Later, we would receive telegrams and letters expressing sorrow. It seemed to prolong, yet at the same time soften the blow of loss - 6000 miles and staticky phone lines help, along with a touch of youthful innocence.
Making phone calls to family and friends after the death is also something I have grown accustomed to. After the death of TH's father, I remember sitting with the phone book in my lap making call after call. I hoped that the phone would ring and no one would answer so that I could hang up. I was relieved when I heard a friendly voice would pick up on the other end. The first words are the hardest, and I dread silence on other end - wanting to fill the gaps of comprehension.
I cannot say enough about the grace of my friend who while consuming her own grief and shock, did not announce to the world her mourning and loss. She is a class act.
We all have our ways of processing loss and expressing grief. I did post on my Facebook wall about my shock of her death and my sadness. She was an amazing person that had the knack and gift of building a community of food lovers, chefs and writers. I read others' twitter streams and realize that having an one to many conversation about loss is how they deal with grief. This is something I cannot do well in 140 characters or less, I need more bandwidth.
I will honor Kim by continuing to cherish books and the written word. TH and I will toast her with hot cocoa and wish you all had had the good fortune to have crossed paths with her.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
I am in on the Gulf coast of Mississippi today. We passed through many towns flattened by Katrina. It was the furthest East on the coast I have been since the hurricane. I wish I could say that there is a lot of coastal resilience here. It is hard to rebuild when insurance companies deny you claims. It is hard to rebuild when your livelihood is gone. It is hard to see so many vacant lots where grand summer houses once stood. It is a lot different from New Orleans, it is homey (apart from the casinos) and life is slower here.
Rebuilding takes time, community, money, faith, compassion, patience and hope. Things will never be the same here, the sea and the wind are powerful forces and we should forget that.
I still can't talk about Japan, this time it cut too close to home.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Haiku for Sunday
My upgrade to Dallas hasn't cleared. It won't, hipsters are thronging to Austin for sxsw. Have at it.
Clunky boots
Musky patchouli
Twitter haikus in short
bursts
My evening will be spent in a casino in Bay St.Louis, MS. Don't feel sorry for me, because hopefully on Saturday, I'll be spending my lunch time on the Ile st. Louis in Paris.
I still can't write about Japan.
Sorry.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
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