Monday, April 25, 2011

Life and Death 2.0

Heartfelt

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.

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

second honeymoon

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.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Wednesday, March 09, 2011

Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Tuesday

Baby bassets, crocii, catching up with new/old friends, pancakes, beagles, did I mention baby bassets?

Sunday, March 06, 2011

now we are five
Ernest and Phracey turned five today. Geez, where has the time gone? I have had this blog longer than we have had Ernest. Everyday with him is different. Maybe we treat our animals as children, sainted objects of our affection and dote on them too much. Honestly, this dog is the love of my life. Everyday with Ernest is a new day - things to do, smells to smell and people to meet. His life becomes our life and this is not a bad thing.

I never intended to fall in love with a fifty pound basset hound with buns of steel. Nor, did I ever think we would be blessed to have built up a friendship with his breeder and her husband. Having them in our lives has also been a joy.

Ernest, may your curiosity, stubbornness, good nature and boyish good humor bring us all joy for the next year.
love,
nmom

Saturday, March 05, 2011

Saturday

A day that made me glad that I was not hurtling through the air @ 500 mph. We need more of those.

Friday, March 04, 2011

Tuesday, March 01, 2011

in a word

SPQR

Where I have been? In a word, everywhere. I have been stuck in a snowstorm in London, lounged in Rome, shopped for salt in Paris, ate pinxtos in Barcelona along with other comings and goings.

Never fear, my family still remembers what I look like and so does my dog.



I am participating in NaBloPoMo this month, partially to get myself back on track, but mostly because I need the outlet.

Bear with me.

Friday, December 03, 2010

Monday, November 29, 2010

11.29.2010

Going down is a lot harder than coming back up. Where's my advil?

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Saturday, November 20, 2010

11.20.2010



We spent the day putting square pegs into round holes. That's how we roll in these parts.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Friday, November 12, 2010

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

11.10.2010

Harvest

Yes, it is November, no we have not had frost.

The leaf shredder is here, but apparently 530 pm is not an appropriate time to shred. I guess I will wait until 10 am tomorrow, JUST TO BE NICE.

Other than that, life is good and is getting better by the second.

Monday, November 08, 2010

11.08.2010

threeHello Monday!

I have realized that what happens Monday really sets up my week - especially this past year. Can you believe that 14% of my week affects the remaining 86%? It does - trust me.

This week, so far, so good.

My week in bullet points!

* I shot a bunch of unappetizing pictures today of a dish my mom made. Guess what, I'm not the only one shooting yummy but unappetizing food.

* I made a bunch of delicious and beautiful food to go with the ugly, but very delicious food.

* I am realizing that there is no way on this earth that we can eat all I cook.

* My friends and colleagues either love or hate me.

* I have a pile of leaves larger than a minke whale waiting be shredded.

* I pray my shredder shows up tomorrow.

* I realize that life is too short to care about what you look like in a tankini.

* I am beginning to recognize that good enough is a proxy for finished.

* That you don't have to finish every book you start or remember everything in a book you read 10 months ago.

* and that 10 pm is a reasonable bed time for basset hounds and their apes

Saturday, November 06, 2010

Friday, November 05, 2010

Thursday, November 04, 2010

11.04.2010

Roaching in the fall
Every November 4, the weather should be such that a basset can roach in the sun.

Fantastic.

Wednesday, November 03, 2010

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

11.02.2010

Election returns are making me sad. Change takes time. Who do you think got us where we are?

Think.Before.You.Vote

Now think how much longer it is going to make changes mid stream.

We live in a want it now world, guess what the gov't doesn't work that way and privatizing, streamlining and thinking you can make things better usually inflates and reinvents the wheel.

Been there, done that.

Nm / head aching and heart sobbing

Monday, November 01, 2010

where I've been

What it is November already?

Where does time go?

Last month, I went to two of my favorite places in the world and a new place that I want to visit again and again...

shadow

Storm King Art center is outside of West Point, NY. I believe I could go there everyday of the year and be surprised by what I see in different light and different seasons.

The leaves on the Palisades Parkway were magnificent.


We went to Maine, via Montreal.

I got to meet Sophie and her mom. Meeting someone you have been interacting with on line for four years is a daunting thing. What happens if you don't click? Do you just walk away? Do you feign illness to get out of dinner you've planned a month in advance? What if the dog bites you? Montreal, I am enchanted by your city, your bagels and your dogs. Thank you.

Hi Sophie!

and then Maine....

What can I say about Maine?

I'm sorry we couldn't spend a lot of time together this trip. Next time, we'll be running your parks and kayaking in your kettle bogs.

mwah.

Lunch

(This picture was taken in New Hampshire, but shh don't tell anyone).

I'm participating in NaBloPoMo. You'll see more of me here, lamely, but still....

nm - six states, one province, and 1.5 cider donuts later....

Friday, September 24, 2010

falling down again



Fall is here in Seattle. It seems as if summer was three minutes long and boom we're into fall. I am home for a while. Not a long while, but long enough to get a few projects wrapped up and get ready for winter. In the last month, I have been to Zurich, Paris and Spokane. All great cities, but honestly, nothing beats home.

We spent a lot of the summer waiting for Godot, or in this case, the contractor to decide if he had time to do a job that he had bid out in early March. Turns out he didn't and like most things, except for open heart surgery and negotiating a plane ticket in Mexico, its easier to just go ahead and do it.

TH, and a cast of characters - did an amazing job of the project and pretty soon we can call it done. Nothing is done until the last paint can is put away.

Things I set out to accomplish this summer have slow slushy deadlines. Things will get done, in due time. Right now I think it is time for a nap.

Friday, September 03, 2010

vivid

I will admit that I have been a slacker in the blogging department as well as the photography department. The photography thing bothers me the most. I take a picture everyday, but have not been disciplined enough to upload them on daily basis. I haven't done a good job of thinking about my subjects or composition, I just point and shoot, be it my iphone (shut up) or our nifty new canon s90.

Next week I am taking a all day photo class with my trusty DSLR - I cannot wait. I am learning that shooting with a fixed focal length is okay. I don't know why this hadn't occurred to me before - I shot with a 50mm camera all throughout grad school.

It is good to go back to basics, n'est ce pas?

Wednesday, September 01, 2010

happy new year

In blues

I am here, don't ask why.

The last year to the day has been interesting, but nothing I want to repeat.

My friend Jan believes that the new year begins with the school year, all bright and shiny.

If you want a do over, this is it.

Happy new year.