That's My Best

Soul Pancake

2011-12-18T22:56:00.000-06:00

Web site I enjoy these days:

From the Twitter description, Soul Pancake is a place to speak your mind, unload your questions, and figure out what it means to be human. Divided into three parts, a would-be surfer can 1) ask and discuss various philosophical questions, 2) partake in some activities like snapping a photo of your feet standing still or write about the first time you head mind blowing music or 3) dive into perspectives by some interesting people.

Refreshing. Fun. A great way to take your mind off of the mundane banality of everyday responsibilities and annoying stresses. I mean we all need a little soul pancake once in awhile, right? I prefer mine with real maple syrup and not that artificial HFCS crap. Just saying.

Life in a Day

2011-12-04T02:12:00.000-06:00

We measure our days in 24 hour increments. A day can pass in an instant or drag on for, what feels like, forever. We wake up, go about our tasks, work, move through the mundane and the exceptional with equal awareness or lack thereof. In between, there are amusements and distractions. If lucky, there are also moments of transcendent joy . . . time spent learning, growing, connecting with the world and those around us. Then we sleep and it starts all over again. In the grand scheme, a day is a blip. You blink and time has moved on.

But what is really in a day? What if we could take one day, one random day, and document it from the vantage point of hundreds of people around the world? What would we see?

This is exactly what you will find in the documentary Life in a Day. Incredibly rich and engaging, the film reveals the universal moments for all of humanity -- morning ritual of waking up and getting ready for the day, the tasks of acquiring food, going to work, etc. Then there are births, deaths, accidents and surprises. Video taken by so many was woven together to tell a story of us and who we are. The story of a single day on this planet reveals how much we share while also illustrating our interesting differences. From the very first scenes, I was pulled in. For those who make a habit of studying society, culture and human behavior, Life in a Day provides enough thought starters to keep you busy for awhile. Check it out and let me know what you think of it.

The Past Versus the Future

2011-08-08T00:09:00.000-05:00

I didn't attend my 20 year high school class reunion this weekend. The timing of this event landed, most unfortunately, about six days after we moved to Seattle and 4 days after I started a new job. With all of the driving, flying, packing, etc. it just ended up to be too much to justify yet another trip and all of the expenses that go along with it. So, I did not RSVP and I did not go.

Over the course of the weekend, I found myself thinking about my classmates, hometown and the reunion gathering with both sadness and a little regret. Memories of fun times mingled with a certain odd and lingering melancholy. Unable to put my finger on my nagging feelings, I've wrestled with a notion that stretches beyond mere interest in being part of the celebration and catching up with everyone. Truth be told, many of the people from high school that I would want to keep in touch with, I already do via Facebook. I don't like that I missed out, but this pain in my heart isn't really about that.

No. Mine seems to be much more of an existential angst. A pull and tug between past and future and I'm living somewhere in the in-between. My soul feels unsettled by all this new and different. As humans, I'm convinced we are all moored to the familiar places and people we've grown close to and accustomed to. Someone recently told me that it is our habits and routines that provide us with our self-identify. What happens when we no longer have the known frame of reference and we have to carve a new set of rituals and routines? An identity without an anchor is a tough, tough thing. Then, it is followed by the pull of a history of who I once was. The remembrances of past consciousness cuts jaggedly across the quest for a reinvention of sorts. I'm not who I was. I'm not yet who I want to be. I am. I'm not. Who am I?

I realize this probably all reads like some crazy Nietzsche-type rambling. I get it. I also realize this too shall pass. It is momentary and fleeting. In two weeks, two months, two years, my ego will once again be intact, my soul once more anchored and my identity fully formed with fully ingrained habits and routines. Ahh, relief. To feel comfortable and whole. But, with this wholeness comes the dull and itchy sense that discomfort leads to growth and self-discovery. Ok, and now I could pull in a whole Harry Potter reference of soul's in separation and cursed objects and well . . . I'll just end it there.

Maybe this is the way it always goes. The past remains in constant and continual battle with the future. Both of them pull at you but is it possible to exist comfortably in both states at the same time?

Enough Nietzschean angst for the night. I need to go watch Entourage.

My Bestest beyond all the Restest.

2011-08-01T09:57:00.001-05:00

This is ghost/visiting writing Dee coming at you from the interwebs.....I know, I haven't written in a long, long while.

Ok, so this blog is supposed to be about "MY BESTS" and the truth is, I haven't even written about one of my BESTESTS BESTS!

My sister and I, like most siblings, have had our ups and downs. We have fought, made up, fought again, had differences of opinion, and had so many belly laughs along the way that it would be impossible to count them all...even if you had an abacus. It is hard to be a sister. I have surmised that it is probably the most complicated relationship in my life. We can be hard on eachother at times...but....there is so much love there. I don't think there is anyone in my family who has supported me more throughout my life than my sister has. She is the only one who has been with me through it all.

I was very sad to see her leave Minnesota. I don't think I told her that, but I should have. I should have sat her down and said that I didn't appreciate her enough when she was in close proximity to me. I should have told her that I wanted more laughs that make us pull over to the side of the road because we can't drive through the tears. I should have told her that the little things about her, like her nods of understanding during a long talk over a cup of coffee, mean the most to me. I guess I just always thought that she would be here ready to hang out whenever we could find a chance. Now that I have to hop a flight to see her and she is farther away from me....well, I get all welled up just thinking about what I haven't said to her.

Even though I will miss her, I am SO EXCITED for her next great adventure. She is doing what I want to do. She is doing what most people want to do in this life. She is throwing out her net into uncharted seas so she can discover what is there. She is taking a plunge (and she isn't even plugging her nose!) into the deep, looking for more. It is wonderful. It is brave. I am so very proud of her. I want her to find meaning and joy and adventure in this new life. I want everything for her that you can want for someone that you love so very much.

I want everything for her. EV-VER-EEEE-THING.

I am booking my ticket, Sweet Friend, for a long talk and a cup of coffee. I can't wait to see you again!

Road Trippin

2011-07-26T23:24:00.000-05:00

Mr. Oz, lil doggy Ozy and I are road tripping to our new home this week. We are taking a big step and moving to Seattle, WA. Good-bye harsh Minnesota winters and hello drizzly and cloudy temperate climes. The whole moving thing has been one interesting ride thus far and I'm sure it will only get more interesting as the days and weeks ahead. But, as some of you can attest to given your personal proximity to me over the course of this past year . . . it was time for a change. Life's far too short to live in "we should's" and "what if's." Best to drink up life like water shooting out of a garden hose on full blast. There have been several events in the recent months that have caused me to pause, take stock of my own happiness and reflect more deeply on who it is I am and who it is I want to be. All of this soul searching has led me to a new path of exploration, personal growth and a strong desire to break out of my comfort zone. While it will likely be challenging, I think it will also be liberating. I think this quote/story from Wayne Dyer does a nice job of summing up some of my thoughts on the topic:

The Bushman in the Kalahari Desert talk about two "hungers."
There is the Great Hunger and there is the Little Hunger.
The Little Hunger wants food for the belly; but the Great Hunger,
the greatest hunger of all, is the hunger for meaning...
There's ultimately only one thing that makes human beings deeply and profoundly bitter,
and that is to have thrust upon them a life without meaning...
There is nothing wrong in searching for happiness...
But of far more comfort to the soul...is something greater than happiness
or unhappiness, and that is meaning. Because meaning transfigures all...
Once what you are doing has for you meaning, it is irrelevant whether you're happy
or unhappy. You are content—you are not alone in your Spirit—you belong.

— Sir Laurens van der Post from Hasten Slowly, a film by Mickey Lemle

So, with that . . . off we go!

The last few weeks have been crazy. I left my job of 5+ years with a really awesome company and wonderful colleagues and friends. I accepted a new job with another cool company working on a fun brand in a category that I absolutely love. Mr. Oz and I got our home ready to put on the market, we took a house hunting trip and are in the midst of packing up for our journey to the Pacific Northwest. Whew.

As this blog is all about documenting My Bests, I guess I feel compelled to say that Minneapolis is certainly a big ole Best for me. It is just a wonderful city filled with a relaxed and progressive vibe, great art, tasty food, beautiful scenery, hard-working and down to earth people and, well, I just love it. It's tough to leave, but am hopeful that I will find another BEST in Seattle and can then lay claim to living in not one, but two, amazing cities. Oh how I will miss this place. Of course, I will continue my blogging adventures from my new locale and will include my new-found favorites and, if need be, my not so favorites.

One really neat aspect of taking a long road trip is compiling the tunes and various audio books we plan to listen to on the 22 hour ride out. Mr. Oz and I have sifted through many options for the perfect road trippin entertainment. Here is what we have so far:

The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan -- some fantasy yummy with mystical creatures thrown in for good measure

Unfamiliar Fishes by Sarah Vowell -- Oh Sarah, you zany historian you.

Unconditional Confidence: Instructions for Meeting Any Experience with Trust and Courage by Pema Chodron -- Pema is a Buddhist teacher who specializes in expanding consciousness through meditation and positive thought. Seems perfect.

Cryptonomicon by Neil Stephenson -- this is a sci-fi book that has been on my must read list for some time now but haven't gotten to it.

I think we have plenty if you throw in a few podcasts here and there, but am open to other suggestions you might have. Any others I should consider?

Linchpin

2011-07-01T22:35:00.000-05:00

I've been reading the book Linchpin by Seth Godin and find myself highlighting a lot of the passages. So many pearls of wisdom . . . Seth writes a lot about the importance of being remarkable. Work, he proclaims, should be the employee's "art." It is about moving beyond mediocrity and investing more emotion. It is about going well beyond just showing up and, instead, making waves. Very inspiring stuff. Here are just a few of the passages I've made not of so far:

"The cause of the suffering is the desire of organizations to turn employees into replaceable cogs in a vast machine. The easier people are to replace, the less they need to be paid. And so far, workers have been complicit in this commoditization. This is your opportunity. The indispensable employee brings humanity and connection and art to her organization. She is the key player, the one who's difficult to live without, the person you can build something around."

"Consumers are not loyal to cheap commodities. They crave the unique, the remarkable, and the human. Sure, you can always succeed for a while with the cheapest, but you earn your place in the market with humanity and leadership. It's certainly possible for a shopper to buy food more cheaply than they sell it at Trader Joe's. But Trader's keeps growing, because the combination of engaged employees, cutting edge products and fun brings people back. Even people trying to save a buck. The cheap strategy doesn't scale very well, so the only way to succeed is to add value by amplifying the network and giving workers a platform, not by forcing them to pretend to be machines. The fickle nature of price-shopping consumers is bad news for many companies, the companies that tried to be the cheap at all costs, because now they must figure out how to make a profit from expensive, unique disobedient employees. Those are the only two choices. Win by being more ordinary, more standard and cheaper. Or win by being faster, more remarkable and more human."

I like the idea of our own humanity pushing us to deeper connection not only with those around us, but also with our own sense of purpose in our professional lives. Thank you Seth.

Authentic Narrative

2011-06-21T19:59:00.000-05:00

Just because I like this . . .

“Story is the underlying basis for our lives—the underpinning that guides our actions,” says futurist Duane Elgin, author of Awakening Earth. “Authentic narratives empower us to see the big picture of the human journey and a clear pathway ahead. Instead of a time of despair, this is a time of transition and there are ‘beacons of hope’ drawing us into a promising future.

Language Revolution Yo

2011-05-16T18:34:00.000-05:00

Language is a living thing. It morphs and bends, builds and undulates. New words are born and some words die. Some are twisted to work in different ways, in completely unique forms and uses. With this in mind, I'm determined to be a language revolutionist. My quest -- to spark a wave not unlike the bouncing beach ball wave that happens in stadiums during large sporting events. I want to identify a new word that takes off and alters the very fabric of society. Seriously. This is my dream.

I will, from time to time, try out my new words on y'all. While I want your feedback, what I REALLY want is for all of you to adopt my new language and spread it far and wide. I want to hear it on the streets and on t.v. I want Matt Lauer to use it on the Today Show and Tre Park and Matt Stone to include it in an episode of Southpark. C'mon. We can do this! Inventing language . . yipee.

OK, so here are a few for you to chew on.

Glug. Not a new word, I know. But consider using it in a different way . . . as a noun. So, when you go to the 7-Eleven and get a Big Gulp or you buy one of those 24 ounce sodas. That is called a Glug. Used in a sentence, "I drank a whole glug of that Dr. Pepper this afternoon and now I have to pee." Glug as a noun is an awesome word.

Maybe it would be more palatable if I put it into a bigger context?

Walking into a coffee shop, I approach the counter and order.

Me: "Hi, I'd like a glug of non-fat latte with hazelnut please?"

Coffee shop employee: "What? Excuse me? You want what?"

Me: "A glug . . . you know, the biggest size you've got. The kind of drink you can just chug and glug."

Coffee shop employee: "Ahhh, yes. A glug. Got it. I will now change my menu and call our large size, a glug."

Me: "Thanks!"

You in?

Here's another one. We've all heard of a Blackberry, right? Not the fruit. The smart phone thingy that business-people types use to send emails and check stock reports and stuff. Of course, some refer to the Blackberry as a crackberry due to users' seeming addiction to the technology and instant access. I see your crackberry and raise you a Dingleberry. We need to start referring to Blackberrys as Dingleberrys people. I won't go into all my reasons why, but I think it works. It hangs. It dangles. It dingles. It's like that thing you can't shake.

Thank you for your consideration. Remember, you heard it hear first.

My business cards with new title of "Language Revolutionist" will soon be printed.

Apparently Australians Are Known for Their Licorice

2011-05-14T15:31:00.002-05:00

Did you know that Aussie's are really good at making licorice? I wasn't aware of this until very recently when I was out doing some shopping with my friend J-Hawk. She bought a bag of some "fancy" licorice and offered me a sample. OMG. It was divine . . . intense fruity smell, soft and pliable texture, flavorful burst of strawberry in my mouth. My interest was piqued. I grabbed the bag and saw it claimed to be the finest of Australian licorice. Now, I know the Aussie's are great at many things including Olympic swimming, Crocodile hunting and throwing shrimps on the barbie. I had never heard of their prowess at making confections and sweet treats.

My favorite brands, thus far, are Kookaburra and Darrell Lea. In my research, I found that Darrell Lea has been making licorice since 1927 AND it is fat free and low in salt. See below for excerpt from online review in case you don't believe me:

Since 1927, Darrell Lea has been creating delicious and unique soft eating liquorice for Australians. The finest ingredients are combined to produce a soft treat that is 98% fat free and low in salt. Liquorice, with its nourishing qualities, is great to enjoy any occasion and Darrell Lea soft eating liquorice is best enjoyed straight from the bag.

Hey, it has nourishing qualities. Yeah it does.

I absolutely love discovering things like this. Makes me feel like I'm on the cutting edge . . . a trendsetter who is way "in the know." Unfortunately now I am addicted to the stuff. Every time I go to the store, I look for this delightful Australian licorice. I have a stash at my desk at work, in my car and at home. Word must be getting out and sales must be up as I've seen more and more stores carry the candy. However, the down side of this is also more out-of-stocks. Just today I was in Target and where there were once six facings of Darrell Lea licorice, all I saw was empty space. Target was completely OUT. Gone. None. What did I find instead? Market Pantry 'Aussie-style chewy candy.' Target is making their own Australian licorice, er, "Aussie style." It's not really Australian you see. It only pretends to be. Poser.

Ok, Ok. I bought it. It tastes good. Dammit.

Oh and Wiley Wallaby also makes an Australian Style licorice. Also tasty, but manufactured in Perham, MN.

If I worked for Twizzler, I'd be looking into the secrets of Aussie licorice making ASAP. Those Aussie's must be stealing share. Who knew the licorice category could be so competitive?

Thank you Australia. I salute you.

Weekend Get-Away

2011-04-24T20:55:00.000-05:00

To celebrate our upcoming 3 year wedding anniversary, Mr. Oz and I took a little weekend get-away to the Wisconsin Dells. For those of you familiar with the Dells, you may have images of indoor water parks, theme rides and various touristy establishments burned into your memory. Places like this may come to mind:

While we saw plenty of this kind of stuff, we didn't stay at a theme park filled with screaming kiddos. Not this time. Instead, we went here: Sundara Inn & Spa. It. Was. Awesome. I suppose its not for everyone. If you don't like relaxing spa treatments, spacious villas equipped with tranquil lighting, music, comfy robes, big ole jacuzzi and related amenities, well, than this place would not be for you. If you are into all that stuff, then you might like it.

Now, I'm not a child-hater. Really, I'm not. I love kids, especially cute little babies when they are all "goo goo" and "ga ga." But, I have to say, it was really nice to stay at a kid free resort. Quiet. Peaceful. My guess is this would be a welcome retreat for parents who just needed to get away from the little tykes for a few days. To ensure the peace is preserved, Sundara posts signs notifying people to leave their electronic devices in their room and to silence cell phones. Again, bravo. I'd highly recommend booking a spa treatment. I had an 80 minute organic facial and it was pure heaven.

Was good to leave our everyday behind and escape even for a few days. Renewal of spirit amidst the cheese shops and water slides? Yes, it can be done. Try it if you are looking for a some quality quiet time.

The Dream Society

2011-04-22T21:58:00.000-05:00

I've been reading a good book called The Dream Society by Rolf Jensen. It's one of those books that disguises itself as a business book, but is really much, much more. I'd call it a philosophical exploration of life and the purpose of work within one's life. Lots of stuff to ponder particulary if you are, in anyway, struggling with questions of meaning and career. For Jensen, the dream society is a utopian view of what work will (or should) look like in the not too distant future. He describes the dream society as "a new society in which businesses, communities, and people as individuals will thrive on the basis of their stories, not just data and information." As this quote may indicate, Jensen places a great deal of emphasis on the power of stories. Dreaming and stories are of utmost importance in the future state he conjures up. It is linked to innovation and forward progress; necessary to create and breakthrough with new technology and products.

Much of what Jensen has to say reminds me of Marxist theory from my grad school days. He sees Marx's vision of revolution and dynamic change of the means of production as something occuring in the here and now. Workers hold intellectual capital and their knowledge. It is this, and not the productivity of machines, which fuels the dream society corporation.

Here is the best part of Jensen's book for me, so far (I'm about half way through it). He writes about success and the concept of "hard fun." It's not just about a paycheck. We've all heard that before, right? Well, Jensen goes on to assert that success is really about finding challenging and meaningful work. In Mazlow's hierarchy of needs, the need of idealization or "the search for a purpose beyond oneself" is critical. Again, the idea of finding a higher purpose in your professional life is not anything terribly unique or new. Where Jensen diverges a bit from the usual sentiment is how he links this concept of idealization to the notion that companies, in order to survive and prosper, absolutely need this. It is not optional. It can't be just a passing fancy for a handful of troubled workers. Everyone has to subscribe to this and foster it within the corporation in order for the corporation to make it. The dream society requires focus on self-actualization through the acquisition of meaning and the transfer of that meaning onto that which we create and put forward into the world. Without this, we will never achieve the dream society Jensen imagines for us. Okay Jensen. I'm listening.

Heavy stuff. Important stuff. Stuff worth thinking about. What dreams do you have for yourself? For your family? For your work? Are you in control of your own means of production? If not, who or what is? Have you found, for yourself, "a purpose beyond" yourself? Is it possible to connnect this purpose to real dollars and a livable wage or is Jensen just a big, fat dreamer?

I'm not sure, but I'd like to give the dream society a little visit and see for myself.

The Stress is Messing with my Sleeps

2011-04-18T21:54:00.001-05:00

Stress. We've all had it. We've all been there. Sometimes, try as you might, you just can't shake the worry and anxiety. It creeps into your brain, plants its little roots and takes hold. Such has been the situation with me lately. I am experiencing restless sleep. Last night I could not fall asleep. Tossing and turning all night, no position was comfortable. Finally, I just gave up and got out of bed at 4am. Why not? My mind was ceaselessly racing with the litany of tasks I needed to accomplish at work, household chores and other such ridiculousness. Seriously. Annoying.

So, I know what you are asking. "Why so stressed panda bear?" Well, first I have a lot of #h*$ going on. Transferred to a new role at work so have new projects, team members, boss, deadlines, etc. Still doing some of my previous job as my successor is not set to take over until May. Two jobs? Sure. Not that I'm doing either one terribly well or anything. I guess it really is true. There is only one of you and, darn it, you just can't split me or clone me. Maybe someday modern science will figure out how to genetically replicate someone so corporations can just make their own work force and only have to pay one person's salary and benefits. I wonder if the government would step in and regulate this practice or if they would just assume positive intent and let the free market system work it all out on its own. Not that this blog is a critique of capitalism run a muck or anything. I'm just sayin. Bygones.

Where was I? Oh yes, stress due to work. Been traveling lately. Spent all last week in Austin, TX (for work) and have a trip to Arkansas this week, followed by Florida next week and back to Texas the week after that. Wrap it all up in Phoenix at the end of May. All for work. Too much travel also stresses me out. I really hate the packing, coordinating, TSA security lines, bag checking, flight delaying (I'm referring to you Delta youknowwhoyouare), rental car renting, hotel staying, etc. Sure, it's lots of fun when you are on vacation, but as a weekly activity it leaves a lot to be desired. Hey, this isn't the 1970's when air travel was cool and passengers could smoke in the cabin whilst hoisting back highballs of scotch and soda that just kept flowing from happy, pretty ladies who tended to your every request. Now you're lucky if you get a small plastic cup of Diet Coke and some complimentary pretzels while they cram you in like sardines and the overworked flight attendants barely flash a smile (Again, Delta, c'mon). bygones.

What else? So, my beloved doggy Oz had surgery a few weeks back. He had some eye issues and his cornea wouldn't heal properly. Developed 'melting cornea' syndrome which essentially means degenerative tissue loss. He was in danger of losing his eye so we did what any adoring pet owner would do. We forked over bank for a tissue graft. Medicines and check-ups followed (and are still following), but he seems to be healing well and almost back to his naughty little self. Sigh. Still, worried about him. Worry.

Tax day?!? Need I say more?

Then you have Japan tsunamis, earthquakes, the rising price of gasoline, Libya, the firing of Gilbert Godfrey as the voice of the Aflac duck. I mean, how much can a person take?

My solution. Read stories like this one on the interwebs. It suggests "Try to isolate what your thoughts are telling you and see if they are reasonable. If not, question your thoughts - why am I thinking this? Is this necessarily true? You will soon be able to monitor your responses and thereby reduce stress." Hmm. Isolating my thoughts? Why didn't I think of that. Isolate this Insomnia Connection.com. Then there is this whole fight or flight thing. Cortisol build-up. I'm a walking time bomb.

I long for a simpler time when anxiety was a distant and infrequent visitor. I want to move to Costa Rica and make tiki torches to sell to tourists by day and pour delicious libations for them to drink at night. I want to see the stars lit up in the night sky and feel the cool tropical breezes. Rat races are for the rats.

I guess I'll just drink a glass of wine and take an Advil PM and see if that works. Hamsters need to stay off the wheel for a night. Must. Get. Sleep.

Trippin

2011-04-04T22:15:00.000-05:00

Sometimes, just sometimes, people be trippin.

Yo.

Flash Mob Phenomenon

2011-04-02T16:16:00.000-05:00

Been pondering the strange flash mob phenomenon as of late. Trying to wrap my head around the popularity of the seemingly spontaneous outburst of a large group of people into semi-choreographed dance or song numbers. Why are people drawn to this concept? What, at it's core, is so appealing about this type of activity? I suppose, on the surface, the novelty of it all can help to explain the initial interest. You started to see these mob dances pop up everywhere a few years ago in train stations and college campuses. It was fun and inventive. Then, others took on the flash mob concept and started to use it to make political statements and social commentary on topics such as anti-bullying, pro-choice and human rights. Nothing like getting corporations and govt. officials to take notice of a special issue like 100+ people jumping up in synchronized movement to the beat. Now, it seems, academia and cultural observers have taken to analyze the "movement."

No surprise that a mass activity like flash mobs might spur on some critical assessment. But, what does it mean? I mean now Howie Mandel hosts a show on one of the major t.v. networks entitled "Mobbed." The premise is simple: find someone who wants to tell off a neighbor, quit a lame job or ask his girlfriend to marry him, organize a flash mob and then make a statement in a big way. Uhm, ok. What gives? Is this our age's version of plane writing in the sky? Have we realized the ineffectiveness of driving around neighborhoods with a blaring megaphone? Are we all going flash mob?

Considering this phenom a bit further, I boil down the lure of the flash mob to a couple of fundamental human needs or desires. First, we like to belong to something bigger than ourselves. We want to be a part of the action and in the know. Taking part in a cause or event provides us with a sense of purpose and meaning. I think this is one reason why people join churches, clubs and teams. Secondly, it's about making a statement. Getting noticed and having an impact. We are more than the sum of our parts and a flash mob illustrates this idea in a tangible (and rhythmic) way.

Another metaphor for a life well lived . . . Get in the action. Be a part of something bigger than you alone. Engage in the world around you even if it only lasts the length of a 3 minute song. Don't be afraid to wave your arms around a little bit. Who cares who is watching. Make a statement.

Good stuff. Now here's a flash mob for your viewing pleasure:

Aperture and Perspective

2011-03-26T20:01:00.000-05:00

Spent the day at a beginner's digital photography class at the Minneapolis Photo Center. I've had my DSLR for well over a year and was perpetually shooting in auto mode. Without the proper understanding of my camera's functionality, my pictures were completely hit or miss. Enough was enough. Time to learn about all the wheels and buttons, the settings and definitions for things like f-stop or aperture, shutter speed, ISO, etc. While I definitely have a lot more to learn, I feel much more knowledgeable.

In photography, the camera is often able to capture things that the naked eye doesn't even realize is there. We filter out so much and so quickly. It is only when our surroundings -- the world around us -- is frozen in a still image that we can fix our gaze on it in any meaningful way. The act of pausing and reflection is forced. Similarly, you might take a photograph of a person or thing and, in a certain light or at a specific angle, it is too dark or out-of-focus. The background may be blown out with harsh light. The subject hidden in shadow. While a more expensive lens or sophisticated camera can compensate and make a rough image far more crisp, it can only do so much. Similarly, a trained photographer can reach into his or her bag of tricks to turn the bad picture into a decent one. Of course, there are also software packages where a crummy digital image can be edited to a reveal something much better than originally downloaded.

All of these factors aside, the only way to truly improve the photo, without the use of modern technology, is by physically moving to a different spot in order to see the image from a fresh, new perspective. The photographer has to change their view for the picture to clear up and come into focus. A few inches to the right, a turn to the side, a couple steps back and 'voila' a beautiful, perhaps even transformative, picture appears.

Life is like that too. Stuck in one position -- one view -- can be crippling. Sometimes we need to take a step or shift our perspective in order to see something brilliant. Point our eyes upward to the sky and there is immense grandeur. Move your viewfinder and compose a picture where your subject is not centered, but rather hanging out on the edge of your frame. What does the rest of the world look like when we aren't at the center of the universe? Lay down on the ground and what comes into view then? What are we missing by staying in our auto mode? There is so much more to contemplate and learn when we play with the dials, change our aperture and take a few well chosen steps.

Leaves of Grass (and Flowers)

2011-03-20T19:38:00.000-05:00

Spent the weekend hanging out with my parents. Although much of their visit was altogether low key, we had fun just relaxing, going out for breakfast, doing some shopping, etc.

One highlight for me was our trip to the Como Park Conservatory on Saturday. While warmer weather has descended, snow remains on the ground. Spring may still be in the distance (I'm not holding my breathe), but inside the greenhouse gardens of Como, it is in full force.

We walked through the more tropical climes, soaking in the fresh plantings and smells of dirt. Ferns, palms, all matter of spice & fruit trees can be found here. Allspice? Yep. Mango tree? Uh huh. Spotted banana trees and even a cacao tree otherwise known as food of the gods. Check out those pods:

My favorite, however, has to be the Sunken Garden filled to the brim with brightly colored flowers such as Oriental Lily, Peonies and bleeding hearts. Just being there took me back about 3 years to Mr. Oz and my wedding day. We were married in the Sunken Garden on a particularly cold and windy Spring day and I recalled the experience as if it were yesterday. Such a great place filled with wonderful memories.

Happiness rating = 9.

So, only about half way through my 30 day Happiness photo experiment (I haven't posted on this consecutively, but I think this is day 14) and already clear patterns are coming to light. After already establishing that the state of being happy is a bit elusive and probably not too sustainable. I'm much more comfortable with words like content and satisfied to describe my state of being versus full-on happiness. That said, I find "happy" tends to exist much more when recalling some past event versus a present moment. Hindsight, it seems, provides a buffer from any previous bad feelings or less than positive thoughts and calls forth mostly the good stuff. Distance, in the sense of time, does, indeed make the heart grow fonder. Interestingly, anticipation of a future event also causes unusually high levels of happiness. The intrigue as to what will happen gets those endorphins pumping too.

Conclusion: past and future serve as happiness catalysts. What then of the here and now? I am less happy in the present, or so it would seem. Do I just not really know how good things are until they have passed me by? This assumes, of course, that things really are good and I have no real reason or suspicion to doubt otherwise. Pulling slightly back from me as an individual, are we as humans constantly reminiscing and pining for those glory days that somehow appear even better in the warm glow of nostalgia? And likewise, is it just human nature to keep yearning for that ever-elusive "grass is always greener" ideal hiding just around the corner? How can we be more mindful of what we have in the present moment? Unlocking this may just be the key to sustainable happiness.

Is The Blog Dead?

2011-03-16T19:58:00.000-05:00

Blatant re-post of content found on my friend's blog, fimoculous.com. One person's answer to the question, "is the blog dead?" I liked it so much I had to share here. The concept that blogs represent yet another evolutionary rung in the ladder of communication progression, well, it resonates. As a culture, we are continuously looking for the faster and easier, the less taxing form of conveying information so blogs are being outdone by abbreviated Twitter feeds and Facebook 'like' buttons.

Love what the author says about the lacking thoughtfulness and engagement that some of these newer forms of info sharing offer us. Yes, it's fast but is it fulfilling? Me thinks not. The comment on two-way engagement is also hitting on some of my own difficulties in maintaining an active blog "life." When I start to feel like I'm just talking to myself, it feels a little creepy. Scroll to the bottom for some recommendations on blogs to check out.

Would love to know what you think. Read on:

Is blogging dead? I don't want it to be, which is another reason I tried to revivify this blog, which was about 10 years old and staggering around like a zombie. In my opinion, there should be room in our online discourse for blogs like this one -- offering a consistent, often thoughtful perspective, collecting and observing things of interest to its readers. But being consistent, thoughtful, and observant requires effort and time, and it requires the same of its audience.
And that, I think, is why blogging, for the most part, appears to be moribund: Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, Reddit, etc., are media that have evolved such that there is no expectation of prolonged engagement with pieces of content on the part of their writers or readers. Consider the recent widespread use of the shorthand "tl;dr" (too long; didn't read). This dismissive assessment is commonly interpreted as fair, expected criticism of the author, not the reader who offers it because he couldn't be bothered to read the content simply because it was long, regardless of its undiscovered merits. The media that are replacing "traditional" blogging value brevity above all, so much of the incentive to write anything that is both long and thoughtful diminishes (since few will bother to read it), and the self-motivation required to do so will only increase over time.
It's funny to be talking about blogging -- which for its entire lifespan has been dismissed broadly for being superficial and narcissistic -- as being a besieged outpost of well-developed, thoughtful writing, but I think that's exactly what's happening. It's no one's "fault" -- it's just the natural evolution of popular content production and consumption towards the most frictionless state: from books to periodicals to personal websites to blogs to Twitter to the Like button. When a medium comes along that's easier than clicking the Like button -- maybe thinking you Like something -- you can be sure everyone will speculate about and then bemoan its death before moving on.
But, even blogging isn't dead yet. There are some people out there who are still committed to the form, even if it seems no one else is, regularly posting smart, thought-provoking analyses and observations of their respective interests. A few that come immediately to mind:

Joanne McNeil at Tomorrow Museum
The brilliant Danah Boyd, whose research and insight into social media and youth culture is unmatched
Geoff Manaugh at BLDGBLOG, who is at once reportorial and speculative
The visionary architect Lebbeus Woods
Errol Morris and his "too long," multi-part monographs, some of which are probably the best things ever published originally on the web

And there are others who take the time to put together coherent, original posts:

Star Wars Modern, where I'm not always sure what's happening, but I appreciate the effort involved
Nav at Scrawled in Wax, usually correlating academic concepts of post-modernism with pop culture
Amy at Amy's Robot, who has been writing witty, thoughtful posts on pop culture and politics for NINE YEARS. Collaborators (like me) have come and gone at that site, but Amy is still there. Someone oughta be reading her.

A confession before I continue: for every one of those sites I mentioned, I have often found myself getting the gist of a post, thinking "that's a good insight," and then skimming the rest of it. Does that matter?
Continuing, let me also mention some more widely read sites that I think demonstrate originality and effort:

John Del Signore at Gothamist, whose humor brings color to stories without obscuring them
The Big Picture photo blog, started by a developer at the Boston Globe who is now launching a similar project for the Atlantic
Yeah, what the hell -- I'm leaving it on this list: even Boing Boing can be pretty good sometimes, when it's not being a caricature of itself...
Maybe you have your own suggestions to share in the comments

And lastly, if you miss Fimoculous now that it's zombified, just replace that section of your brain with Pop Loser, which I've been ripping off mercilessly for the last month and which strikes me as the blog that is the spiritual inheritor of this one.
Will any of these blogs still live in 5 years? Will new ones rise to take their place? So far, trends appear to indicate no: aggregation, automation, voting up, "liking," etc., seem to be resulting in a hivemind where thoughtfulness is replaced with promulgation and sameness. Maybe we need a "link aggregator in reverse" that shows the links of interest to you that everyone else like you hasn't Liked yet.

Not Really a Haiku

2011-03-15T23:22:00.000-05:00

Earthquake, tsunami, wreckage, devastation, loss . . .

I watch the news. I read the stories. My heart aches for the people of Japan.

The threat of further suffering as nuclear plants appear poised to melt. It's too much to take.

What can be done?

Each year, it seems natural disasters wage war.

Has it always been like this or is this a recent phenomenon? Maybe we just have modern modes of instant communication to thank for all of this wonderful news.

If a tsunami strikes in Japan and no one is there to record it, did it really happen?

No more recording, I say. The revolution will not be televised.

No happiness photo today I'm afraid.

Sometimes Happiness Needs a Vacation

2011-03-14T19:35:00.000-05:00

It's hard to say good-bye. Simply put, death sucks.

This past week has been a mash of different emotions, at moments deep sorrow and then the occasional memory eliciting a smile or laughter. Happiness doesn't come around much in times of such permanent loss. Perhaps happiness, like so many stressed out and busy workers, needs a vacation once in a while?

In happiness's absence a consistent and continual vacillation between sadness and bittersweet comfort takes over -- comfort in the knowledge that the physical pain of terminal illness has ended, solace in sharing the tears with others who are experiencing the same grief at the same time and in the same way, sincere appreciation that my life was touched by someone so special.

Saturday was spent celebrating the life of one who did so much in her all too brief 38 years. Her time on this earth was cut short, but her memory will forever be with those who knew her. I was blessed to be among those who called her friend. Some of my very best friends from high school were there too. Lots of stories, warm remembrances and buoying up of spirits . . . while our good friend was not physically present for this photo, her presence and her spirit was felt by each one of us.

Do-It-Yourself Salad

2011-03-09T21:07:00.006-06:00

Happiness photo experiment - Day 13

Mr. Oz and I decided to take a break from the kitchen and go out for dinner tonight. We probably do this once, sometimes twice, a week although typically these outings are relegated to the weekend. Now, you might think a twice weekly restaurant outing is kinda extravagant, I mean we are in an economic downturn, right? Well, we aren't necessarily living high on the hog as we tend to stick to local haunts such as a nearby Irish Pub, burger joint or a variety of QSR's (that's quick service restaurants for the acronym challenged :) ) As much as I like a fine dining experience, we are certainly not above the occasional run to Jimmy John's, Chipotle or this evenings hot spot, Ruby Tuesday's. You know what you are going to get so two thumb's up for consistency AND you get some decent food for a decent price. Anyway . . .

Why am I rambling on about all of this you might ask? Tonight's photos come straight from the belly of the Ruby Tuesday's beast. I present for your viewing pleasure, our salad bar creations.

My salad

Mr. Oz's salad

My fine friends, a good salad bar makes me pretty happy. There are a few reasons for this:

1) Fresh vegetables. I don't get enough of them. Somehow it always seems like a wise choice to get loads of fresh veg when I'm at the grocery store, but we can never eat it and it often goes bad. Enter the salad bar. You plate it up and no risk of spoilage. Chilled nutrition at my disposal.

2) Variety of choices and toppings. Lettuce is all well and good, but the true merit of any salad bar is its wealth of sides and accompaniments. Choices, choices, choices. Are there ever enough choices in life?

3) And, the most important factor is the customization. No single person likes their salad the exact same way. A salad bar allows for unique personalization of your plate to suit your individual palette. You can get the portions, textures, flavors and colors just right. Me? I'm a 'equal balance of greens to toppings' kinda gal. I like to throw on some garbanzo beans and a little cheese . . . cottage cheese on the side. Mr. Oz, he likes a heap of blue cheese dressing on his mass of spinach leaves. We each get what we want to our specifications.

There is a metaphor for life hidden somewhere in this salad bar post but I'm too full of broccoli and croutons to think clearly and pull it out.

Happiness rating = 4.

Doppelgangers: A Study of Happiness Contrast & Similarity

2011-03-08T21:47:00.007-06:00

Happiness Photo Experiment – Day 12.

Today’s entry is a study of contrasts. Two images of a similar nature, one representing – for me – sweaty palm, heart palpitation, anxious displeasure while the other puts me in a state of blissful serenity and calm relaxation. Oddly enough, I experienced both of these in the same day. It’s the doppelganger of happiness. The Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

First, you have the anti-happy photo depicting the examination table at my doctor’s office. Happiness rating = -3

While I don’t necessarily dislike my doctor (she’s actually a very lovely lady), I really dread going to the clinic even if it is for a very mundane visit like today’s trip. Six months ago my doctor changed a prescription med I was taking and asked me to come back so she could check everything out. I guess she wanted to make sure my blood was still red and my urine was still . . . ah, you get the picture. It was easy. But, why do I always feel like my just walking in the door shoots my blood pressure about at least 10 points? I'm not even scared of needles. I think it has something to do with the fear of what my doctor might tell me -- fear of the unknown. There is also this vague feeling of not being fully prepared, kinda like the pre-finals feeling in college when you studied a lot, maybe even all night, but aren’t quite confident that you will do well. You know what I’m sayin?

But, no need to fear. All is well with me from a physical standpoint!

Now, we have the mucho gracias happiness photo of the massage table which I just laid upon for a delightful 60 minutes! Ahhh . . . so nice. Happiness rating = solid 7.

A few months back I signed up for a membership at Massage Envy. For a low monthly fee I receive an hour long massage each month. It is a great stress reliever. Tonight I asked my therapist, Marissa, to focus on my neck, shoulders and back and she went to town. I’m slightly embarrassed to admit that I fell asleep. Yep. Don’t even want to think about whether or not I snored or involuntarily did anything else crude. Nevertheless, this table represents a lot of what is good and right in the world.

Funny how two objects, so closely related in size, appearance, weight and color and general styling, could evoke such different and extreme emotions. They both are situated in small, closed door rooms where it is eerily quiet. Hey, you are even asked to undress in each of them from time to time. Ok, now I'm freaking myself out.

I guess it isn’t the object, but what surrounds it, and the meaning and memories we connect to it, which is the true predictor of our happiness (or eventual creep out).

Are there any two objects, so closely related yet oh so far apart on your happiness meter? If so, please share.

Washing Away Winter

2011-03-06T15:49:00.008-06:00

Happiness photo experiment -- Day 11.

Today's images document my trip to the car wash. There is something oddly cathartic . . . well . . . I guess . . . sorta spiritually cleansing about getting a car washed. At just a basic level, it's fun to drive in and experience the cycles of rinse, soap, scrub, rinse and dry. You just relax, crank up the latest R&B dance track from Usher and let those machines do all the work. Removal of grime and those salt crusted dirt barnacles from my auto gives me an almost indescribable sense of accomplishment -- like I'm showing Mother Nature who's boss. Take that winter! Pow. You may have dumped 12 feet of snow and left sheets of ice in your wake. Your bitter cold winds may chill me to my core, but, for a few bucks and few short minutes, I can wash you away. Ha.

Participating in the transformation from dingy to shiny, from worn to fresh, is restorative. It's progress. It's the phoenix rising from the ashes to live anew. Good smells (personally, I love the fake 'new car' scent) and sparkling chrome are emblematic of renewal and hope. And, here in the upper Midwest, when you go to the car wash in March, it signals Spring is just around the corner so hang on for just a little while longer.

Happiness rating = 5

No More Fear, No More Pain

2011-03-05T21:36:00.003-06:00

Don't let fear stand in the way of exploring your full potential. Don't let fear stop you from being happy. This is the message of a recent Stepcase Lifehack article entitled "What Stops Us From Exploring, Developing and Maximizing our Potential?" I agree with a lot of what author Craig Harper has to say here.

Boiling down Harper's points into a single take-away, I came to the conclusion that nothing outside of myself can point to, or otherwise, make me happy. No matter how hard we look, no object and no other person, no external validation, has the power to induce happiness. This can only come from inside ourselves. We decide. Thus, happiness, is in our control. It is the ultimate in self-determination. No matter what life throws at us, regardless of how we were raised, where we went to school, our IQ, the clothes we wear, our sexual orientation, the religious affiliation we subscribe to . . . ugly, beautiful, poor, rich, white, black . . . none of that matters or is directly correlated to real, honest-to-goodness, unadulterated happiness. How liberating.

Of course, some might argue that being blessed with good looks or a sizable bank account may help in the getting happy department. Perhaps. But, I think we have all witnessed enough episodes of Dr. Drew's Celebrity Rehab or read plenty of front page headlines of troubled trust fund kids to know that all the money and power in the world can only get you so far.

I love this excerpt from Harper's article. I think it says it all:

. . . You can’t change other people but you can change how you behave and react around them. You can’t alter your level of natural ability (potential), but you can determine how much of that ability you tap into, exploit and develop. You can’t change your past but you can change the way you let it influence and impact on your present and your future. That is, you don’t need to be limited by, defined by or determined by your history (as many people are). Your history doesn’t necessarily tell you anything about your potential and is often a poor indicator of what’s possible for your future. If you’re like many, then your achievements – or perhaps lack of achievements – are more a reflection of your fear (to take a chance and get uncomfortable) than they are a reflection of your potential.

And finally, don’t allow your self-limiting, over-thinking, fear-influenced mind to stand between you and happiness. You are good enough, talented enough, courageous enough and definitely worth it.

Now to shift gears ever so slightly . . .
Yesterday, a high school friend of mine, Deb, died. The news was, and continues to be, sad and shocking. Her passing was sudden and she left this earth far too soon. Only 38 years old and seemingly full of life, Deb has left an indelible imprint on me and on so many others. When a death comes so out-of-the-blue, it sends waves of anger, regret, despondency and confusion. Like a tsunami, these emotions crash into and onto your soul. The question is always "why?" Why her? Who now? Why this? There are never any satisfying answers. Absolutely none.

While I had lost touch with Deb over the years, we had, in the last few years, re-connected via Facebook. I don't know everything about her life, but in our brief communication, I surmised that she had dealt with a lot and battled some demons both all too real and quite possibly, even some, imagined. Deb faced pain in more ways then one and, perhaps, sought relief to abate and numb some of the pain she felt. Luckily, she had someone -- her life partner Linda -- by her side who brought her joy and comfort. Although I never met Linda, it is apparent from all I've seen and read that she and Deb shared a life and a strong love. But, this is where my Harper's article and the tragic loss of my friend Deb connect for me. Although I cannot even begin to claim any true knowledge or understanding of how my friend felt, I do believe that the hurt she experienced contributed to her passing and no objects or people, no matter how beloved, could bandage the wounds which cut so deep. And this, I feel, is the single and most significant tragedy of them all.

“Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings in heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy.”

Wherever you rest tonight Deb, I hope peace and comfort and true happiness have found you and lay beside you as you sleep. You will not be forgotten. You will be missed.

Oh Baby

2011-03-03T20:38:00.005-06:00

What could epitomize happy more than a cute little baby? I'm partial to this particular baby, my new nephew Elijah. He is almost 2 months old. I catch myself pulling out my phone and looking at these pictures at least once a day. Every time I do, it makes me smile. Happy rating = 8.

In the Psychology Today e-zine article "What Babies Can Teach You About Happiness," author Karen Salmansohn calls babies little "Zen Masters" who "have a greater expanded consciousness" than adults. Our significant lack of brain cells, as compared to babies, means grown-ups focus on the wrong things, are more inhibited and, thus, are less happy than babies.

Salmansohn goes on to claim that "A baby's brain is also better able to notice beauty and experience delight wherever it wanders-being fully appreciative of the new, and present in the now. You've heard of the Buddhist concept of "beginner's mind?" Well, a baby is blessed with the ultimate beginner's mind!" I can totally get behind this. Have you ever observed a baby while they are observing the world around them? They embody this awe and wonder. It's pretty amazing.

While I'm not sure about all of the science and talk of neurotransmitters, it makes sense that a baby would be happier than me. I mean, they don't have to go to jobs, pay bills, deal with standing in line at the DMV, wash dishes or clean toilets. Those babies leave all the unsavory tasks to their moms and dads, right? OF COURSE, babies are happy! Plus, they get to wear all of those awesome, fuzzy footy pajamas. And they can look forward to the day when they are grown up and able to fully enjoy the musical stylings of Justin Bieber and drive their parents crazy by coming home with faux hawks and ear piercings.

So, how do we tap into this state of happy baby Zen Master? Well, Salmansohn would urge us to meditate. To only see the world again with the delight of a child we just need to quiet our mind and be still and . . . there it is again . . . this topic of mindfulness. I may have to invest in a bouncy seat and hang a mobile above my bed.

Anticipating Is Half the Happy

2011-03-02T20:47:00.003-06:00

Had a rough day today. Nuff said.

My happiness came in the form of an email from Mr. Oz. It came in the "thick of the ick." After throwing out some not-too-subtle hints, I was surprised to get a note announcing that he had made reservations for us to stay at Sundara Spa in Wisconsin for our anniversary weekend in April. Giddy jubilation ensued. This place looks wonderfully tranquil. I can hardly wait.

Promise of a fun anniversary trip involving pure relaxation in a pristine nature setting? Priceless. Happy rating = 8!

Happiness is Learned & Borrowed

2011-03-01T20:58:00.004-06:00

I subscribe to a Twitter feed from Ode Magazine which promotes itself as an online community for intelligent optimists. I'm not sure I am a community member or just hanging out in the periphery as a wanna-be member, but nevertheless, I find the articles provocative and engaging. Ode tends to focus on issues of spirituality and nature and the junctures at which we, as a society, intersect these arenas. Ode is on my 'must read' list each week. I spotted an article on the topic of happiness, and just had to include here.

French psychiatrist Christophe Andre has made his life's work studying happiness. Below are just a few excerpts from the article that struck me as particularly relevant to my experiment in isolating and rating happiness.

Ode Magazine: Professor of happiness

What about now? Do you experience moments of happiness?
"It's hard work but it's pleasant. You've got to put your mind to it. Working on happiness acts as an anti-depressant.

You can spend an evening with friends and only realize once you get home that you had a good time. That means you've missed your moments of happiness. You need to realize that there are many opportunities to be happy. You have to realize: This is enjoyable, this is a nice moment, I'm having fun, this is a little bubble of happiness. I know people who have a nice weekend and cannot be happy because on Sunday afternoon they're already starting to think about going to work on Monday. And at work they're thinking they're not happy because they don't see their children enough. Those people never have their minds in the present. You have to tell yourself: I'm going to enjoy this for a moment. My child is here and I'm going to stop thinking about my work. I'm emptying my mind and listening to what my child has to say.

"This can be learned. The English call it 'mindfulness.' Concentrating helps; meditation is very good. It takes hard work every day, but it works. Happiness can be learned. It's within reach. When I get too nervous, too excited, too eager, then I know I need to rest and take a walk. When I walk, I need to stop occasionally and look around. Look and be open; absorb nature.

Happiness is about the little things. Happiness tends to be calm and peaceful. You don't jump up and down with happiness, but with joy. Yes, there is such a thing as intense happiness, but it doesn't happen often in one's life. Striving toward absolute, huge, oceanic happiness, le bonheur fou, can be discouraging and distract you from little happiness."

Why has there been such a strong focus on being happy and living a good and conscious life in recent years?
"The interest in happiness emerged at the same time as the interest in health. Now that Westerners don't have to worry as much about pure survival, they're much more interested in the quality of life. But there's also a long-term trend here. Happiness also is part of democratization. Since the 18th century, everyone has a right to happiness. The American Constitution speaks of the pursuit of happiness.

"Nowadays, happiness is a topic addressed by the consumer society. Happiness is everywhere, which of course leads to a deeper interest. This is undoubtedly because the need for meaning is more keenly felt since the role of religion has declined."

What is the purpose of happiness?
"It has no purpose—only that you're happy. It gives you a more interesting life. We don't live for happiness, but life is possible, beautiful and rich because it exists. When we're happy, we don't think about tomorrow; we enjoy it here and now. And we're only able to do that because we know that there could be more suffering tomorrow. Happiness is only possible against the background of death; only we human beings know that we're going to die, and that in itself is a good reason to strive for happiness.

"You could also say, 'What is the purpose of life?' Everyone gets to decide that for themselves. But, again, meaning and happiness are not the same thing. A big hero of the Nazi resistance has given a lot of meaning to his life, but that doesn't mean he's a happy person. To paraphrase Diderot: Happiness is a state of well being you wish would last forever."

Here is a photo of Mr. Oz taken at a recent wedding of our dear friends, Tammy & Jason. Reflecting on moments when I was fully present and experiencing the now, this image certainly captures one of those times. It was a beautiful day filled with expressions of love and good wishes and this is what I see when I look at this picture. Mr. Oz is one of the happiest people I know. When I'm having a bad day, his cheery demeanor and optimism rubs off on me. Somehow, I am able to borrow his happiness and make it my own. Thanks babe! Happiness rating = 9.

A Tiny Bit of Tolle

2011-02-28T21:30:00.004-06:00

One of my favorite thinkers and authors is Eckhart Tolle. His books, "The Power of Now" and "A New Earth," are some of the best meditations on mindfulness and consciousness that I have read. A powerful aspect of Tolle's teachings is his understanding of how our ego often gets in the way of our true happiness. We get so caught up in what we have, who we are and how we define ourselves and, by doing this, we lose sight of just 'being' and living in the current moment. We fail to embrace the life we have and, instead, replace it with constant striving and seeking. I'm tired of the perpetual cycle so in honor of jumping off the hamster wheel, I say enough is enough. What's wrong with inner peace, quite confidence, celebrating mere existence? Why must there always be more to get and gather? We all could use a little more Eckhart.

"Don't Seek Happiness. If you seek it, you won't find it, because seeking is the antithesis of happiness."
— Eckhart Tolle (A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose)

And, on that note, here is my happiness photo - Day 7. I was living in the moment while enjoying my martini at Chino Latino. :) Rating = 4.

Recycled, Renewable Happiness

2011-02-27T21:03:00.003-06:00

Much of my day was spent in the depths of a PowerPoint abyss. If I took a picture of my computer screen, it would have rated a negative 12 on the happiness scale. Luckily, my day is ending with the Academy Awards. All that red carpet glitz and glamour never fails to inspire awestruck wonder, albeit slightly jaded. Hollywood can transform a so-so day into a fantastic escape. Oscar's aside, happiness did surround me today as I toiled. My cute puppy, Ozy was my faithful companion. My little shadow following me from room to room, Ozy barks to get my attention so I'll make some room for him and he can cuddle up in my lap. He's a snuggler.

I didn't have to take a photo today. Just recycled one of my many Ozy pics. Ozy's sweet mug is a renewable resource of pure joy and unconditional love!

Happiness rating = 8.

Savor The Experiences

2011-02-26T21:55:00.005-06:00

"The secret of life, a growing number of researchers are telling us, isn't in the symbols of success, but in participation in experiences that stir you. That's where you have the best chance to increase your happiness." -- Joe Robinson, Don't Miss Your Life: Find More Joy & Fulfillment Now

Happiness Photo Experiment, Day 5

Some days, happiness comes in abundance. Today was one of those days for me. Saturday, in and of itself, has an advantage over the rest of the week as there is usually little to do beyond relaxation, minor household chores and errands. Fewer deadlines. Fewer 'must do's' and 'gotta go's.' Alarm clocks are silenced in favor of sleeping in until your body tells you it is time to wake up. There is a slower rhythm, a pace marked by cups of coffee, fresh laundry, walks with the puppy. The day moves more slowly. Ah, Saturday . . .

A pedicure can be a perfect equalizer to the general chaos of life. While some may find the ritual of foot scrubbing, callous scraping and toenail painting to be a frivolous waste of money or an unnecessary luxury, I consider it therapeutic. It's an experience to savor. A treat. Happiness rating = 5!

I have to admit, through my experiment thus far, the term 'happiness' hasn't quite settled in with me. It feels to be a bit of a misnomer. When I find the reduction in worry, stress, negativity and pain to be greatest, words like content, comfortable, balanced, satisfied and joyful seem, somehow, more appropriate. Happy remains a lofty or too fleeting state of being. It is something strived for, but rarely attained. Now, comfort and contentment . . . these can linger and cling. Maybe happiness is a myth and by ceasing to believe, we liberate ourselves to stop constantly trying to find it and we just enjoy the experiences of where we are and what we have.

Putting the Spring in My Spring Roll

2011-02-25T21:48:00.004-06:00

Happy photo experiment, Day 4.

Today was, well, let's just say it wasn't filled with an overwhelming amount of happiness. Lacking sleep, way too jacked up on caffeine (4 shots of espresso) and far too much group interaction at work left me feeling frazzled and generally grumpy. Of course, the fact that it is Friday did make it a little less painful. Nothing like the anticipation of weekend rest to provide a halo of optimism. To be honest, at the end of the day, I wanted nothing more than to go home, put on my pajamas and crawl into bed. This was not to be as Mr. Oz and I had previously made plans to go out. Longed for hibernation would have to wait and I am a happier person for it. We had dinner at this cute little Thai, Vietnamese restaurant called Rice Paper with some great friends of ours -- The 'Etts. The 'Ettes are a duo consisting of Brett and Yvette. Get it, the ETTS! Yvette's daughter Jessie rounded out our dinner party where dishes of crispy tofu puffs and tangy coconut shrimp intermingled with spring rolls and the cool crunch of cucumber and mango salad. I've been to Rice Paper before and it is definitely worth checking out. The food is light, the ingredients clean. They specialize in sauces, everything from ginger, scallion, lemongrass, curry and, my personal favorite, peanut sauce. Our evening made the shadow of a difficult day just melt away like the snow on a sunny Spring day. The flavors conjured thoughts of warmer weather and, for that, this photo rates a 7 on the happiness meter.

Travail

2011-02-24T23:37:00.002-06:00

Happy photo experiment: Day 3

How do you represent the happiness that comes from seeing and catching up with wonderful friends over good wine & tasty food at a cool, new restaurant? Well, I decided to sum it all up with this photo of our collective glasses of wine. Generous pours of fine libations were just one of the many highlights at Travail, a little culinary adventure hide-away in Robbinsdale, MN. This place is unique in that the chefs are also the waitstaff and hosts. Everyone pitches in. The kitchen is all open so diners can see the action behind the scenes. The menu is deceptively simple yet refined and complex in the use of different flavors, textures and tones. I would highly recommend the dessert tasting menu -- chocolate peanut bars, sour cream ice cream w/ dried cherries and maple granola, lemon tart with brown butter dippin dots, Yuzu poached pears with hazelnut ice cream and Yuzu foam . . . oh my. Loved laughing with my friends. Great way to end a long work day. Rating = 7.

Happiness In Pill Form?

2011-02-23T19:49:00.004-06:00

Happy photo, Day 2. This is my team at work. Lovely ladies. Look at their happy, smiley faces. We were taking a moment out of the busy day to celebrate a birthday with some yummy treats and laughs. Happiness rating = 6. If this would have taken place outside of the workplace setting, the rating would have been even higher.

On an unrelated note, I just saw a preview for the movie "Limitless" starring one hotty, Bradley Cooper and fine, fine actor, Robert DeNiro. The premise seems simple. Man somehow gets his hands on a super pill which renders him limitless (get the connection to the title). Apparently, he has boundless intelligence, strength, agility, power, sex appeal and sense of smell -- ok, I made that last one up, but it probably goes without saying that this pill would heighten the senses, no? Not sure where Robert DeNiro's character comes in, but he has something over on Mr. Bradley Cooper. There are quick flashes of guns and car chases. I think Bobby maybe wants the pills for himself or wants to use Bradley's superior skills (and gorgeous teeth) for some nefarious dealings. Either way, the preview poses the question "If you could have this limitless ability, would you do it?" I guess there is supposed to be some big moral lesson in here somewhere, but on the face of it, I would say my answer is "Yes!" What I would like to believe is this super pill could also improve compassion, sense of respect and general human kindness. Why would it only make your bad attributes stronger and not your good ones? Oh, Hollywood . . .

Upon reflection, this movie does sorta tie into the topic of Happiness. Can this fictitious super pill make one hot Mr. Bradley Cooper any happier than he already is? Can we find true happiness in some thing, external to our own sense of self. Feels like super pills and the like just serve to validate us briefly and the more sustaining happiness comes from how we feel inside.

Now, can anyone tell me where I can get my hands on this super pill? I have a big couple of weeks and could use the help.

Cuz It Makes Me Happy

2011-02-22T21:32:00.003-06:00

The pursuit of happiness. We all strive for that perfect, utopia otherwise known as Happy. But, what is it and is it truly attainable? And, when we have it, do we really know it? This topic was the recent focus of an article in Fast Company magazine. Apparently business schools and corporations are jumping on the happiness bandwagon in a big way. Among other tidbits of wisdom, the article claims that "marketing happiness could be one of the few ways businesses can still appeal to people in a manner that feels authentic."

The Corporate Pursuit of Happiness

I am intrigued. Could happiness be the last bastion of white space territory that business has yet to fully co-opt? Or, when it comes right down to it, has happiness always been at the heart of every marketing plan and ad campaign? Aren't we all trying to get a little sliver of happiness and aren't companies looking for ways to give it to us (for a price)?

Either way, I liked the research highlighted in the article. For the next 30 days, I'm going to take 1 photograph each day of something that makes me happy. I will rate my level of happiness on a scale from 1 to 10, 1 being only slightly happy and 10 being over-the-top, giddy with happiness. I will post these each day on this blog. At the end of this experiment, who knows what patterns and insights I might find. It might tell me far more about my own understanding and relationship to happiness than I could ever imagine. Whoa. Scary.

Here is my first happiness photo:

My morning coffee treat. It makes me happy. On a scale from 1 to 10, I would have to rate this a solid 3. I look forward to it each day. I'm not going to lie. It cheers me up.

Random

2010-09-18T22:43:00.002-05:00

Feeling very random lately. Random and boring, I suppose.

I probably have stuff to write about, but all of it feels so inferior. So, instead, I will just ramble with a litany of unrelated thoughts and random observations.

The television show Mad Men is so well done. The writing, art direction and acting is superb. The creators of that show have absolutely nailed the 1960's in a way that few, if any, previous shows have been able to do. I love the many layers and the understated and subtle approach to character development. Nobody is exactly who they seem, yet everyone is perfectly who they are. I am in love with this show. Arguably the best thing on television right now.

For me, Fall is the season for change and big decisions. Many people claim Spring is the time for renewal and new beginnings. I think it is really Fall. I reflect on this time of year, I recall the giddy anticipation of going back to school, Fall sports, smell of burning leaves, apple cider and Halloween. It is also the season when I have purchased a house, quit one job and started another, moved in with my now-husband. Life changing stuff happens in the Fall. Wonder what my next big move or decision will be? Think it is time for a change. I'm due.

Been traveling for work recently and just got back from a week long stint. Stayed in some places that I really enjoy. Philadelphia is interesting. Society Hill area of town, with all the cobblestone road, Greek columned, stone buildings, is just dripping with magnificent history. Finally saw the Liberty Bell. It rests in a glass building and no longer resides at the top of Independence Hall. Seems kinda sad, just hanging there by itself and all out of context from its historical beginnings and lore.

Also was able to spend some time in Austin, TX. I had never been here before. Now, prior to my trip to Austin, my impression of the state of Texas, was not very positive. I had only ever been to Dallas and Houston, both of which are -- in my humble opinion -- less than spectacular. Now, Austin is something else entirely. First, it was quite lush and green. The vibe was laid back. Bohemian art culture meets college town meets professional & upscale meets cool music scene. I feel in love! Austin completely reversed my dislike of Texas. I think I could actually live in that town.

Work has been incredibly intense the past month or so. Causing stress and anxiety. Spurring reassessment and evaluation. With nothing at all concrete in mind, I'm thinking a lot about the true meaning of happiness and whether or not it is possible to live a totally happy life. Happiness is not overrated and life's too short.

Tomorrow Mr. Oz and I are starting a week long cleanse and diet regimen. Lots of pure protein this week and then mix of protein and vegetables. Sounds awesome, right? Bet you wish you could do it too. I'll try to become a regular visitor of my own blog.

I'm literally falling asleep as I type. Eyes droopy. Nod, Nod, Nod. Done.

More random thoughts later. G' night.

Pizza Farm

2010-08-12T20:36:00.011-05:00

A couple of years ago, my friend Jess told me about the Pizza Farm. At first, I was not sure what to think of such a place. Was it a farm house made entirely of pizza boxes? Could farmers actually grow pizzas from the soil? Despite growing up in a tiny farming community in the middle of North Dakota, even this was something I had never heard of. What, pray tell, was a Pizza Farm? Jess explained. The Pizza Farm is a real farm tucked back in the fields of Wisconsin where, every Tuesday night in the summer months, they bake lovely pizzas made fresh from ingredients they produce themselves. It was local food done with great care and attention. Once I understood what this mythical place really was, I knew I had to check it out. Unfortunately, on most Tuesdays I am at work. This makes a mid-day trek to rural Wisconsin somewhat challenging. Enter, my summer Stay-cation and a whole week of leisurely time just perfect for a pizza adventure.

Jess and I made our plans and hopped in the car on a tragically hot and steamy August day. We set out to find this gem of pizza nirvana. A couple hours later, a few pit stops to take in the local scenery and we were there. Eureka! We found it.

The farm is just a few miles outside of Stockholm, WI. You will find no signs directing you to the location. They don't advertise. They don't have to. Our arrival at 5pm was fortuitous as several hungry visitors preceded us and had descended like a swarm of locusts. As we got in line to order, several more ravenous guests were flanking us to the right and left. This place was certainly popular. Jess and I arrived just in time and were able to place our order quickly after spending a few minutes studying the chalkboard menu. The pizza options reflect the bounty of the land -- onion, herbs, eggplant, beets, fresh tomato. They have sausage made from "happy pigs" and cheese made the milk of cows and sheep residing in the pasture just a few clicks away. Add in a few delights like kalamata olives and you have yourself one delicious pizza.

It only took about 10 minutes for us to get our pie. They have 2 big wood burning ovens going and, apparently, dish out about one pizza each minute. Don't expect any fancy sides or accompaniments. It's just pizza. They don't even sell beverages and they don't have plates or napkins. Everything is bring your own and you take your trash with you when you leave. There are some nice open spots of grass where you can throw down a blanket, catch some shade and enjoy your food.

I would highly recommend making a Tuesday trip to the Pizza Farm. Bring a little salt and pepper with you (pizzas could have used a little seasoning), grab a 6 pack of beer or a bottle of wine and take in this sustainable and satisfying culinary find. Oh, and if the pizza alone doesn't hit the spot, there is a great little pie shop in Stockholm where you can pick up some yummy baked goodness.

In my next life, I want to live on a Pizza Farm and grow a Pizza Garden and maybe, just maybe, I'll have a Calzone Community of my very own.

Lovin

2010-07-31T17:44:00.003-05:00

These shoes are hot!

I really don't know where and, for what occasion, I will wear them. Does it matter? Nah. I am of the belief that shoes are art for the feet. Sometimes it is enough to just try them on and admire them. Occasionally, you have to buy 'em and adore them. These beauties will rest comfortably in my closet. When I have a bad day, I will pull them out and wear them around the house. Their animal print, sassy red leather, stacked heel and all-around sexiness will make me feel better.

Where does this come from? Is it a by-product of playing dress-up with my Barbie as a child? Are we hard wired to love shoes from the moment of conception? Hmmmm.

Sick, right?

High Tech + High Touch

2010-07-25T22:07:00.004-05:00

Remember this post back in April?

Yeah, well I totally caved and bought myself an iPad. After months of witnessing all the cool functionality and convenient access, I just couldn't hold out any longer. Less than a week into the experience and I have been struck by:

The helpful calendar settings. I can view an easy-to-read overview of my workday schedule on one side of the screen and get all the relevant details of where, who, when and why on the other side. It shows me who accepted meetings I have called and who declined. I also like the weekly and monthly views.

Excellent visual clarity and richness. Colors are vibrant. Photos look amazing.

Reading my Kindle books has never been better. With the Kindle app, I can view any of my downloaded books and the device syncs up so if I jump on my Kindle at a later date, it automatically knows where I've stopped. It's also very easy to highlight sections or take notes. Just simple drag and you are done.

The go-anywhere, do anything benefits can't be beat. Mr. Oz and I were out visiting friends this weekend and used some downtime to check airfare and plan a weekend getaway for this Fall. A few clicks and I was able to book our airfare and reserve a rental car. I felt super productive.

I'm sure I'll discover more fun features in the days and weeks to come. My one complaint would be the rude treatment I received at the first Apple Store I visited when I decided to purchase the device. No one would help me and, even when I asked someone for assistance, I was brushed off. Luckily, the next store I went to was much better. Just because Apple products are in such high demand, it doesn't mean good customer service should go by the wayside. High tech deserves high touch and being nice to people will never be obselete. Apple would be wise to remember that small fact.

A Little Piece of Americana

2010-07-17T15:46:00.003-05:00

What to do on a hot and humid summer night? Well, we decided to go old school and hit the Cottage View Drive-In, one of the last remaining drive-in theaters in the greater Twin Cities metro, possibly the entire upper Midwest. I can't claim to know if this is actually true, but I did feel like I was taking a cruise in the way-back, Marty McFly time machine, ala the Delorean from Back To The Future fame.

It was pretty darn cool. Mr. Oz and I grabbed the pup and shoved off round about dusk. The theater's website warned us to get there early in order to avoid getting one of the bad spots right up in front of the screen. This would cause unnecessary neck crankage and, no doubt, partial paralysis and tremors. Shivers. No thank you. Of course, on our way we stopped to pick up a few snacks -- Twizzlers and Mike & Ike's. Isn't that standard drive-in movie fare? We also packed a cooler full of soda. Loads of high fructose corn syrup and bug spray in tow, and we were off.

Fortunately, we arrived in time to secure a respectable spot in mid-range of the screen yet adjacent to the concessions and restrooms. $8 per person for a double feature. Those are like 1978 prices, right? After some puppy play time and always fun people watching, the sun set and the movies began. Now, I remember back in the day you'd get these wonky sound boxes that attached to poles so you could hear the movie playing. Not anymore. Today's drive-in is much more modern. Just tune your car radio into a specific station and turn it up. It's not Dolby surround sound, but it does the trick. I also recall going to the drive-in with my parents and hiding out under a pile of blankets in order to smuggle a few extra bodies in for no charge. Nice example my parents set, eh? It was kinda thrilling, in a 007 spy thriller sorta way. Mr. Oz and I did not do that on our trip to the movies. We paid. Maybe next time :)

For those of you who might live near a drive-in, I highly recommend adding a visit to your Summer to-do list. Something about it felt timeless and classic, dripping with nostalgia and hearkening back to an almost forgotten era. A little slice of Americana. I have to think that in the not to distant future, the drive-in theater will be no more. We'll all be watching downloads on our Smartphones or accessing films via a direct comm link surgically implanted in our cerebral cortex. Drive-in's don't strike me as a money making venture, but rather a way to cling to a small glimmer of a past where, in retrospect, life seemed easier, more tranquil and far less complicated. Who knows, maybe they are or will make a comeback. What's old is new again. Whatever happens, I'm glad I got to experience it one more time.

"Besties of Last Week" Award -- 6.21.10 Edition

2010-06-28T19:10:00.007-05:00

Back with more Besties y'all. Did you miss me?

Past week's winners are . . .

Brazilian Blowout

A few weeks ago, I asked you, my dear blog readers, to weigh in on the hair question hanging over my head. Should I try this new, hair smoothing process and join the ranks of the frizzy and fly-away discontented? Do I drop the considerable cash outlay in the hope of experiencing a straighter and sleeker do? Well, my friends, I did it. I made that appointment and last week it happened. After 90 minutes and some close encounters with a 450 degree flat iron, my dream was completed. It looks pretty good too! I've washed my hair a few times already and still it remains smooth and silky. It is supposed to last for 3 months so I will report back with the longer-term results. We'll see . . . here is the before and after.

Before [super wavy, sometimes out-of-control, frizzy in humidity and generally unkempt]:

After:

Oh, Canada

Over the weekend, Mr. Oz and I had the distinct pleasure to spend several days with my family at a cabin on Lake of the Woods in Ontario, Canada. Beautiful weather. Amazingly tranquil location far, far away from the hustle and bustle of the world. We did not have cell coverage or internet service, no t.v. and few distractions other than fishing, sunning, playing games and enjoying some fine adult beverages. It was great to forcefully unplug. Of course, there were a lot of laughs all around as well as some tasty food including a fish fry consisting of fish caught by my family the previous day! The abundance of wildlife is also quite incredible. We saw a bald eagle and the elusive Whistle Pig. That's right. Whistle Pig. Look it up. It's a real animal.

My sister and her husband were excellent hosts. They rolled out the red carpet treatment for us despite all of the work it must have taken to prepare and clean up afterward. Thanks Scribble and Mr. Scribble! Thank you Canada and your crazy socialist medicine, maple leaves and strange obsession with the Queen. It was awesome, eh.

Jon Stewart & The Daily Show Rips on the Government

This speaks for itself. So hilarious and yet so provokingly truthful. Someone recently told me that in a nationwide poll, Jon Stewart was named the most trusted person in the media. I tend to agree with this, but also am filled with sadness that a satirist and comedian is who we have to go to for an accurate reporting of our news. Is it wrong to believe that our leaders should stand on their principles and move forward with the things they promised? Or, do we relegate this to the stuff of pure naivety and misguided hope? When do we stop allowing ourselves to be pandered to and duped and, instead, insist on follow through and "change we can believe in?" While many things in this world are nuanced shades of gray, integrity is not one of them. Either you have it or you don't. I, for one, am still hopeful that these promises will be kept. I believe in you, Mr. President. Do you believe in us?

"Besties of Last Week" Award -- 6.13.10 Edition

2010-06-16T20:42:00.017-05:00

Introducing a brand stinkin new feature, blogettes: my "Besties of the Week" award! This award goes out to the someones or somethings that, by their mere presence and introduction into my life, have come to my rescue, made me smile, delighted my soul or otherwise brought me resplendent joy at some point during the week. It is very simple. No further criteria has been, or will be, put in place for this award. It remains purely subjective and will be handed out at my discretion. No bribes will be accepted, but occasionally I may give special consideration to nominations (and those who are extra special nice to me, you dig?! :)

The "Besties of Last Week" go to (insert drum roll here):

1) Ozy the Wonder Pup For his naughty antics and oh so cutey cuteness. Yesterday he was particularly adorable. Here he fell between the couch cushions while napping, but he is too tired to care. Love him!

2) The double-play -- Sudafed Severe Cold Formula & Advil PM
When sickness hit me hard last week, these bad boys come through and helped to relieve my sinus pressure, congestion and helped me sleep. I believe I've found the perfect medication cocktail and, thankfully, I'm starting to feel like myself again. Summer colds be GONE! There is no room in the inn for you. BTW, I prefer the non-ephedra variety as I don't like the jittery feeling that often accompanies said product.

3) Season 3 of the Fox TV hit thriller, 24, starring the one and only Kiefer Sutherland

This may appear old and dated. I realize Season 3 of 24 originally aired back in, oh say, 2003-04. Ok. But, I've been watching the back catalog of episodes and am completely loving it! Jack Bauer is brilliant. He's tough on crime, defies bureaucracy, believes in outcome over process, remains loyal to those who go the extra mile for him, takes matters into his own hands and KICKS BUTT. The dude doesn't eat or sleep. In a 24 hour period he can survive plane crashes, track and kill terrorists, isolate a killer virus, kick a heroin addiction and prop up the bloated federal government in all its glorious inefficiencies. Man. Now that I think about it, the only difference between Jack Bauer and me at work is he packs heat and I do not. Just kidding.

I do pack heat.

Bygones.

It seems ironic that Fox television, well known to be a hot bed of right wing nut jobbery, produced and aired this show. There are so many corrupt government officials to be exposed and clearly the whole intricate web of agencies and support personnel are inept, Bauer standing out as the one exception. But, in the end, Jack always saves the day. He's a one man Patriot Act. I'm already onto Season 4! Yay!

So, there you have it. My list of Last Week's Besties. Who knows what, or who, will make the cut next week. Hmmmmmm . . . Nominations anyone?

Goats And Friendship

2010-06-13T22:23:00.005-05:00

Spent some time visiting with an old friend this weekend. She and I went to high school together and, over the years, had been in contact intermittently. Back in the day, we were the best of pals and spent many a summer's day riding our bikes with banana seats around the quiet streets of our small North Dakota home town (*population 955 counting cats and dogs), swimming in the local pool and just being kids. I would venture to say, she ranks as the friend I've known the longest. Funny, how that goes. You share your childhood memories and adolescent dreams with someone; they know your secrets and you know theirs. They've got the dirt on you. You remember them when . . . the antics and tribulations of misguided youth. Ahhhh. Then, you grow up. You go to college, get jobs, lose touch. Life goes on, I suppose. But, sometimes you get second chances to see your childhood friend and recall fondly how it once was. You laugh. Hopefully, neither one of you has changed so much that you've forgotten who you were as friends together. It's a wonderful thing to pick up that kind of friendship. It might never be the same relationship, but it still feels nice to appreciate the people you have become.

I experienced this. My friend, let's call her Jane**, is a mom to three adorable kids. She is married and lives about 40 miles from me on her very own hobby farm. She's into antiques and growing her own vegetables. Jane is pretty darn cool. She has goats and chickens, apple trees and makes a killer pasta salad.

**name changed to protect the innocent goats.

See Jane's goats:

See Jane's chickens:

Man, it was good to see Jane. Period.

Friendship comes to us and we choose what to do with it. Do we forget it? Do we nurture it? Do we take it for granted? Do we embrace it? I'd like to be the type of person who cherishes it and relishes the amazingly, unique qualities that make my friends special.

Hey, if you are reading this right now, you are probably my friend. Thanks. You may not have goats, but you are still pretty great. :)

Should I Get A Brazilian?

2010-06-11T22:13:00.007-05:00

I'm not talking about hiring a South American pool boy for the summer. Sorry.

This one goes out to the ladies . . . have you heard of the latest hair craze, the Brazilian Blowout? This technique is not to be confused with a Brazilian bikini wax. That is a whole other hair situation. I'm talking about the hair on the top of the head.

Brazilian Blowout

I first encountered the Blowout when I met a friend of mine for dinner a few weeks ago. Her hair looked amazing -- shiny, smooth and very healthy. When I complimented her on her lovely locks, she immediately told me about this treatment she had done a few weeks earlier. Apparently, the Blowout is all the rage. A chemical free, protein process that coats the follicle and removes frizz. I did some research and spoke to a few stylists to hear more about it. What I've heard has me intrigued. From all reports, the treatment works well and lasts for several months. Now, I have naturally curly hair that is prone to wild frizzy badness from time to time. Many annoying minutes are spent each day trying to tame the rat's nest I call my hair. I long for mornings where I don't have to spend time brushing and blow drying my hair straight or taking a hot flat iron to it just to get rid of all the fly-aways. Ugh.

Although it is a little on the spendy side, I think I might have to give the Brazilian Blowout a whirl. Whadd 'ya think? If it's good enough for Nicole Richie, it's good enough for me.

Northshore Images

2010-06-05T15:14:00.011-05:00

Mr. Oz and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary by taking a trip to the Lake Superior's North Shore. The weather was somewhat cold and rainy during our 4 day visit, but we still had a wonderful time exploring and kicking back. Covepoint Lodge in Beaver Bay, MN proved to be the perfect place for our getaway. Quaint and quiet, the lodge offered us a chance to relax in-between hikes, road trips to nearby towns, dining out and shopping. I'm always impressed by the pristine shoreline and abundance of greenery here. It feels much more like a seaside resort than a spot by a lake, so when you can't get to the ocean, this is a fantastic alternative.

I took a lot of photos of the local scenery.

Patio overlooking the lake at Covepoint Lodge

Love these deck chairs!

The coast line near Grand Marais, MN

Mr. Oz checking out the park rules at Judge C.R. Magney State Park

On the trail toward Devil's Kettle Falls

The Falls!

Where Are The Iced Tea Pioneers?

2010-05-24T19:10:00.004-05:00

A couple of things to share today with you my dearest blog-heads:

I try not to comment too much on the weather. It just seems far too pedestrian and cliche (translation = lame) to do so. Oh sure, I offer up the occasional post about the change of seasons or the frozen tundra which caused me to slip, fall and break precious bones. But a rampant diatribe on weather just isn't my usual thang. My usual attitude toward weather is one of general disregard. It's always there. It changes. It comes and goes. I try to be prepared for things like rainstorms and blizzards, but beyond that I have called a truce with weather.

An exception must be made today as the thermometer mercury hit a high of 98 degrees in the upper Midwest. It is hot and oh so humid around these parts. We are talking typical August weather in late May. What gives? I got the air conditioning fired up and house sealed up tighter than the sutures of Pamela Anderson's latest breast augmentation (Pam, if you are reading this, take no offense). What really troubles me about this unusual turn of weather is how quickly it moved from "so cold I can't take it" to "so hot I can't stand it." I crave balance. I desire not breaking out into an ugly sweaty mess as I walk into work and start my day. I want an end to all things sweatness related. Mother Nature, please consider keeping us at a temperate 76 degrees with sunshine and partial cloud cover and a gentle breeze thankyouverymuch.

Which brings me to my next topic. Iced Tea.

Love it. Do you love it? Huh? Do you? Do you?

I think iced tea, and tea in general, screams ritual so it goes without saying (but I'll say it anyway) that people have definite opinions about when, how and where they drink their tea. You can point to the East India company and likely thank those dirty, colonizing Brits for helping us see the value and enjoyment tea brings. The U.S. South certainly deserves some of the credit for carrying on the tea tradition albeit iced cold and refreshing. Now, some only drink tea in the summer. I don't trust these people. Their ability to so thoroughly compartmentalize their beverages frightens me greatly. I bet these people also alphabetize their DVDs and color code their sock drawer. I hope none of my blog-heads fall into this category. If so, please take no offense. You are lovely and wonderful and surely there is a special place in heaven for you and your kind.

For me, tea is a year round thing. Mr. Oz renewed my love of tea by making it a staple in our home. He has been known to whip up pitchers of the stuff and likes to add his own twists like pomegranate juice or berries. I say we need more versatile beverages like coffee and tea. You just don't hear about people grinding up some bean or plucking some leaves and steeping it in liquid to create a new beverage. This is ingenuity and creativity at its most basic and its most profound. I mean who does that? Imagine the trials before they got to the tea we know today? Imagine how much bitter, nasty, unconsumable, vial crap folks had to endure and, yet, they had a vision to carry on and persevere. Incredible.

I don't think we have that type of fortitude anymore. If it's out there, it's certainly not being recognized and touted as it should. We need more tea pioneers. We need more crazy people who steep things in boiling water and drink it down with gusto. There is a life metaphor in there somewhere, but I'm just too damn hot to figure it all out and wrap it a nice neat bow. Viva La Tea!

And, I bet you thought I was going to start in on the Teabag Movement, eh? Fooled ya.

Robert Frost is dead wrong.

2010-05-03T16:14:00.004-05:00

This is Abysmal...and lately, well, I have been thinking that Robert Frost has it all wrong in Mending Wall.

There is something splendid about a wall.

Yes, yes, Robert (or shall I call you Bobby?) you are all apple orchard and your neighbor is all pine so you don't have any problems because trees don't move from one home to the other in the night. I GET THAT, believe me.

But Bobby....let me ask you this...how would you feel about a wall if your neighbor had say...about half a dozen kids and say....three dogs. How would you feel about a wall, Bobby, if you had to clean dog shit from your garden, your lawn furniture, and the side of your grill? How would you feel about a wall after finding chew toys in your rose bushes and dirty diapers (drug over by the dogs, no doubt) at the foot of your back porch steps? And the constant barking....Bobby, how would you feel about that?

How would you feel, Bobby, upon entering your back yard only to see the children scatter from your woods and smell the distinct odor of burning leaves? How would you feel about a wall if you found chips in your new siding from bb gun pellets? What about those tracks in your garden, the early morning dew brush of fur on your green beans? What about the bicycle track from one corner of your yard to the next? Surely, Bobby, a wall could prevent that?

And then, dear Bobby, how would you feel if you discovered that the neighbor's kids broke into another neighbor's house in the night and stole all of his beer from his garage? How would you feel about a wall if you discovered that those same kids got drunk and puked all over the alley next to where you planted your strawberries? Would you then, dear Bobby, desire a wall...a great big fence with glorious ivy or clematis clinging to it?

There is something that loves a wall, Bobby - ME.

Goodbye To My Spencer Bob

2010-05-02T18:02:00.005-05:00

It is with a heavy heart that I type this post. Last week, after a 4 year struggle with random seizure attacks and painful arthritis, my kitty cat Spencer left us. It was very difficult to let him go, but as they say "it was for the best." Don't really quite understand what that means exactly, but think it has something to do with hoping he is pain-free and no longer plagued with sickness.

Spencer "Bob" was a wonderful cat companion. He came into my life when he was just a baby and I had first ventured out on my own after college. My big move as an independent, bread-winning adult and I found myself virtually all alone in a city I did not know. Back then, I was living in a crappy 1 bedroom apartment on the wrong side of the tracks, just barely making enough money to pay my rent, put gas in my car and buy groceries. Loneliness laid on my pillow like an unwelcome house guest. I needed a friend. I needed something to take care of and watch over and come home to at the end of each tough day. Spencer and I found each other. He was the handsomest little boy and I loved him dearly.

I will keep with me so many fond memories. When he was just a little guy, he loved to sneak into the bathtub and drink from the faucet. You see I had a constant drippy tap. Spencer would enter and a few minutes later emerge with a wet slick on top of his head, utterly pleased with himself. Like all cats, he enjoyed getting into boxes, playing with paper and general mischief. But, he never got into too much trouble. For many years, he was my shadow. Content to curl up in my lap or lie next to me, he would signal bedtime by bounding into the blankets and then would proceed to wait for me to join him. He loved to cuddle and would often scratch at the covers until I lifted them up to let him underneath. There he would find a warm spot and sleep away. Roommates would come and go, but Spence remained, ever loving and always near.

One sunny summer morning, I couldn't find Spence. After looking high and low, I noticed the screen on my second story living room window was missing. Peering out and down, I spotted my cat lying on the grass below. About 4 feet from him was the missing screen. My mind instantly went to replay a scene where my cat road the screen down 2 stories not unlike a surfboarder hanging ten on the ocean waves. Scolding him from up above, I yelled for him to "stay put" and ran to make sure he was o.k. Spence just looked at me with that cute, furry face and big eyes as if to say "what are you getting all upset about? I just wanted to get out for a while." He was fine if not a bit shell shocked.

In 2006, Spencer suffered a grand mal seizure. I rushed him to the emergency vet where they were able to stabilize him. Countless tests and medications, I.V.'s and trips back and forth to specialists . . . feeding tubes, online research, second opinions and more tests . . . through it all I never found out what caused the illness or why it clung to Spencer so strongly. There were several months where it looked like he might lose his battle. But, he hung on. We hung on. I had my buddy back, but he was never really the same as he once had been. The medications made him jittery, non-social and somewhat lethargic. He could no longer do the things and enjoy the life he previously had. Nonetheless, Spence and I had our time together and I continued to love him the best I could.

The past years saw many changes. We added some new faces into our tribe. Mr. Oz and his feline vixen, Sophie. Most recently Ozy the wonderpup has joined the clan. Through it all, Spencer remained a tough and constant presence. He stood guard and in his eyes I could, from time to time, see a flicker of the cat he once was. As time marched on, these times became fewer and further between. He moved less and grimaced more. Although he still loved to eat, he no longer wanted to leave his small room where I tried to keep him sequestered from the chaos of life and the mauling puppy.

As sad as it was for me to say good-bye, it was even harder to see him lose his zest for life. He had become a shell of himself and I couldn't allow it any longer. The burden was lifted and I made the decision to give him peace and dignity, to release him from his sadness. I stayed with him at the end and my eyes were the last eyes he saw as he drifted away. This gives me comfort. I hope he knew how much he was cherished and loved. I hope he knew how much he meant to me and how he made my life a better one, particularly in those early, lonely and trying years when it was just he and I in our grungy apartment.

Fittingly, the days following Spencer's passing were gloomy and filled with rain. I take solace in this as it seemed nature was mirroring my sadness and weeping a little bit along with me.

For those of you who love animals and have pets, you'll understand that they become a part of the family . . . an extension of unconditional love and a connection to the lifeforce of the universe that surrounds us. They are sweet and guileless, innocent and reliant upon you for their every need. They give us so much but it is our privilege to care and love them. It makes us less selfish, more attuned to others, more giving and infinitely happier. For this I am grateful. It was an honor to be Spencer's mommy. I will miss him. Always.

For those of you who never had a cat or dog or aren't big animal lovers, I hope someday you will know the joy pets can bring into your life. They truly are wonderful and good for the soul.

Good-bye Spency, my handsome boy, my furry baby. There will never be another cat like you in this world. May you rest in peace. Always.

iPad Musings

2010-04-17T22:27:00.005-05:00

April 3, 2010. A day that will go down in geekdom infamy. This is the day that Apple released the long awaited iPad. My husband, known in some circles as Apple fan boy, was among the first purchasers of this nifty toy. He ordered it online and eagerly awaited its arrival via FedEx. This day rivaled Christmas morning as Mr. Oz's level of anticipation and excitement reminded me of young children waking up at 5am to find presents from Santa under the tree.

It is now April 17 and I think he's pretty much been glued to his iPad ever since. I feel a little bit like a woman scorned and have come to understand how significant others must feel when his or her spouse cheats. Perhaps it is less painful when the object of your partner's affection is made of silicone and not flesh and blood? Is an A4 processor better than a heart?

But, what is up with the name? iPad. Clearly there were no women on the development team. It conjures up commercials for feminine care products and sanitary napkins for those heavy data flow days. Surely, there could have been a better name choice out there. Was iTab already taken? Now, I must admit I've gone for test drive on the iPad and it is a fun little gadget. Lately, I've taken on the role of semi-early adopter, so will, undoubtedly, get one at some point. Being the informed consumer that I like to think I am, I did some digging to see what made Mr. Oz fall so head-over-heels, deeply in love. Here is what he said:

Q: What is your favorite thing about the iPad?
It's sheer utility and all the things I can do with it. Versatility. I can surf, read a book, watch a movie, listen to music, play games and I can do all of it instantaneously. The battery lasts all day so I don't have to keep it plugged it. I can be completely untethered. There is really no end to the possibilities.

Q: How is this different than a laptop?
Well, it's lighter -- 1 lb. -- and it's much smaller so I can carry it with me. And, there is a new Macbook that has 10 hours of battery life, but up until the iPad there was really nothing with as long of a battery life for what it can do. Netbooks can't even approach it. And, it's 'touch' so no mouse needed.

Q: Any concerns in being one of the first purchasers?
When I read the reviews, they were all glowing. That reassured me. Any concerns I had with being a beta-tester, went away completely on day 1. It blew me away. I didn't have any lag or crashes. It was great.

Q: What do you wish the iPad did that it doesn't currently offer?
I wish it used flash because a lot of sites use flash. The iPad doesn't display flash. I believe Steve Jobs has a problem with how flash uses processor power and burns the battery down. It doesn't work well with the iPad software. Probably even more so, I wish that sites, in general, didn't rely on flash so much.

A card reader slot would also be a nice add.

Q: Favorite apps?
The Kindle app is probably my favorite. Shout out to the Amazon.com folks. I can read a book on my Kindle, my iPhone and now my iPad and if I sync my devices, they will bookmark where I left off and I can pick it back up at the same point on any of these. Sketchbook Pro is also a fun one. It's cool to have a sketch pad at my fingertips. It has a lot of options.

Q: What advice do you have for anyone interested in getting an iPad?
Get one!

There you have it. Mr. Oz on his new favorite "gal."

I'm jealous of hardware and software. Have I officially entered the new millenia? Is this a sign of an impending apocolypse? Steve Jobs, what will you have for us next? I'm too scared to even think about it.

Fundamentally, We Are Different

2010-04-12T23:03:00.004-05:00

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about the seemingly arbitrary rules that we have as a society and why these rules came about. One such "rule" is the 5-day work week. Who devised this little gem? When was it decided that a typical week should consist of five days of work and then 2 days of rest? Without doing a lick of research to delve into this further, I would hypothesize that some business owner or industry captain made this one up. Or, better yet, the robber baron, capitalist autocrat tyrant -- let's call him Mr. Moneybags -- really wanted his employees to work 24/7. He devised the first, second and third shifts as well. More than likely, Mr. Moneybags was also the one who came up with child labor AND unfair labor practices. It was only when some group of organized workers (or other justice wielding entity) picketed and demanded some rights that the work week shrunk from 7 days to 5 days. That was as far as Mr. Moneybags was going to go. Enough was enough.

So, now we are years beyond the scuttlebutt between Mr. Moneybags and his pesky striking workers. How far have we gotten in this amount of time? We still have the arbitrary five day work week. Why? You'd think in this day and age we would have moved beyond the simple structure of punching the clock. I suppose in some small ways we have evolved . . . ever slightly. I know there are books on this out there -- "The 4 Day Work Week" being one of these. I really like the concept of working a day less each week. What if we all rose up and demanded such a thing? What if the 4 day work week became the norm, the new standard? It only seems fair that we balance out the amount of time spent working with the amount of time we spend resting and playing.

This thought somehow made me think of the role of government in our lives. I made some comment on Facebook that we should petition our congressman to help legislate the 4 day work week. Although I was merely jesting, one of my friends replied that this was just one more thing we would rely on the government to fix for us. I have been pondering this thought ever since. And this, dear blog readers, is what I came up with: perhaps the fundamental difference between those who take a more liberal bent to politics -- call them democrats if you will -- and those who are more conservative (i.e. republicans), is not the disagreements about pro-life or pro-choice nor is it about raising taxes, spending on social programs or even public health care. Nope. At the core, the difference is this: those who take a more liberal stance do so because in their heart of hearts they hold a certain pessimism toward humanity and our ability to care for one another as we should. Left to our own devices, liberals believe we wouldn't necessarily fulfill our duty of helping one another out. Conservatives, on the other hand, seem to believe that, if left to our own devices, things would be o.k. Survival of the fittest if you will . . . let the marketplace dictate how/when we act, let private industry adjust itself to supply and demand. I trully think this is the core philosophical difference between the right and the left. When you look at it from both sides, there is some merit and truth to both views. Both are essentially flawed but well intentioned. One wants to see the best in humanity realized but doesn't think we can do it alone. The other wants to be left alone and hopes humanity can rise to the occasion and demonstrate it's best.

I believe that, in its ideal, the government is there to protect and care for its people. They are the watchdog to make sure that we all have the right to pursue our own happiness. And, perhaps more importantly, I believe that we as humans often lose sight of this when we are caught up in elements of power and financial gain. Sometimes, the government needs to step in and right the wrongs. Now this doesn't mean that they should meddle in every single thing. We don't have to have a law for everything and I'm certainly not advocating laws of morality or value-based legislation. No. Instead, I'm thinking about Mr. Moneybags and how he is all about making more money to fill his bags. He wouldn't want to jeopardize his future profits by, oh I don't know, putting in proper ventilation or heating in his factories so his workers can breathe clean air and not freeze to death. He also wouldn't want to put more costly safety measures into practice or give people an hour for lunch or time off when their kids are sick. Let's see . . . what else wouldn't Mr. Moneybags want to do?

I think the recent Wall Street failures and economic struggles have shown us that when government stops regulating our human compulsions toward greed and power, really REALLY bad things can happen. We can't fight our own human frailties. Perhaps the best we can do is try to curtail them by putting checks and controls in place for ourselves.

Government is far from perfect. FAR from perfect. Afterall, politicians are human too. But, wouldn't a 4 day work week make us all just a little bit happier? Maybe that is the cure all to everything . . . work less, play more.

Dear Oprah....

2010-04-10T19:28:00.002-05:00

Dear Oprah,

This is Abysmal. I know that I haven't always been good to you. I know that in the past I said some terrible things, like how I was going to sue your magazine for plagerism and how I thought that you can't possibly "know anything for sure" - I know...I know...I have been critical. And I'm SORRY that I work too late and don't have time to watch every episode.....

But....

But....

I buy your magazine. I have even purchased items from your sponsors...from the "O" recommendations.....I have gone so far as to read books that you have told me to read.....I am a closet fan. And let's face it, you are a GAHZILLIONAIRE.

So. I need you to know. My Ipod has died. It has DIED, Oprah! I cannot lose weight without it. Could you contact your angel network or whoever else you have control over...like maybe even Bill Gates... and get me a new one?

Love, Abysmal.

P.S. Don't make me go to Ellen with this issue.

Google This

2010-04-05T22:33:00.006-05:00

Decided to google my blog name tonight. That's My Best just happens to be the second hit when typed up as all one word with no punctuation. As I perused some of the other options, I found an interesting site filled with cartoons. Some of them were clever so thought I'd share.

This one reminded me of a post documenting Ozy's strange fascination with the litter box. Now I know why he is so enthralled. It gives him power! Couldn't agree more with this one. Seems, these days, we really have very little choice within our democratic system. We can choose lame option #1 or lamer option #2. The two party approach, despite all the vitriol and venom, pundits and pandering, masks a harsher reality of sameness, monotony and no true change. I, for one, was hoping for a change I could believe in, some big shake-ups and new thinking. Where is it? Although I believe the healthcare reform bill is a step in the right direction, it certainly didn't go far enough in curtailing the insurance companies greedy practices and leveling the playing field for everyone. When will we learn that capitalism and political power don't necessarily equate to justice, liberty and human kindness? Do we conform or cry out in muted protest? Sad. Sad. Sad.

And, on a completely unrelated note, Ozy turns 1 tomorrow. I probably need to get him a doggy cake, no? Happy Birthday cuddle pup!

Welcome to the Zombie Den

2010-04-01T23:02:00.004-05:00

Medical update: Just finished my full course of antibiotics and things are looking up. My congestion, wheezing and general malaise have all calmed down and now I only sound moderately like a cat purring when I breathe. While I'm not ready to claim full victory over pneumonia, I feel as if I've turned the corner and got this infection on the run. Let's hope my re-visit next week confirms my amateur prognosis. I figure who needs years and years of medical school when you have watched as many House episodes as I have, right? Love that show. Love Hugh Laurie, but I digress.

When one is faced with the prospect of battling illness, the most immediate and logical step to take is celebration with cocktails and zombies -- not necessarily in that exact order. The best place, and perhaps only place, in Minnesota for said festivities is Donny Dirks Zombie Den in NE Mpls. This place used to be Stand Up Franks. No chairs or stools. People stood and drank their stiff drinks and they liked 'em that way, dammit. In the past year, the joint has been transformed into a hipster style palace to all things undead. The walls are covered in a smoky glass tile with the occasional zombie head sticking out for artistic effect. The dark scene stands punctuated with animal print carpet, flashy chandeliers and televisions playing re-runs of old (and not so old) zombie flicks. 28 Weeks Later happened to be on when we were there. The drink menu boasts such lovelies as The Dark and Stormy, a fine looking rum concoction, and the Voodoo Zombie. What is a Voodoo Zombie, you might ask? Well, according to our server "it is really a typical voodoo drink." What that means, I'm not really sure. It does have a lot of booze and an assortment of random fruit juices so I guess that is what voodoo drinks are all about.

It's a pretty cool place if you like to stare at zombie faces whilst you sip your libations. Who doesn't?

For a slightly different vibe, I would recommend La Belle Vie lounge or LBVL as the cool kids like to call it. I met my good friends Poodle and ALO there for an after work cocktail and man was it terrific. It feels very posh -- like upper West Side Manhattan townhome with a doorman kinda sophisticated. I was immediately taken with the interior and then I took a look at the drink menu. Their ubber mixologist, Johnny, laid down some delightful concoctions. My first was the Tangerine Sidecar. Yummy. Then I put myself in the capable hands of Johnny and asked for his recommendation. He poured up something called the Ides of Spring (I think that is what it was called) all mystifyingly good with some citrus and fresh ginger. Johnny, you had me at sidecar. If you are interested in reading more, check out this blog documenting the taste-by-taste trip through the LBVL drink menu. Funny!

I will certainly be visiting La Bell Vie again soon. It ranks as one of My Bests to be sure.

So, there you have it. My adventures in liquor are in no way an indication of a problem. I don't NEED to drink, I choose to drink. It's all medicinal really. Whatever the marvels of modern pharmacology don't kill, the bourbon and vodka, vermouth, cava and bitters are sure to take care of. That which does not kill me, only makes me stronger.

The Re-Birth of Scribble Coincides with Spring.

2010-03-30T15:55:00.004-05:00

Abysmal Scribble is in DA HOUSE! What is up bloggettes? For those of you who aren't familiar with my work, I am a blogger and thus, you are the bloggettes. And since my blog's very sad demise in the summer of 08, apparently Sweet Lis has been missing my SCHPICE (imagine I'm saying it like Matthew McConaughey says it in A Time to Kill- speaking of spice.....whew, hottie. I don't care if he does have unusually short arms - look it up, everyone is buzzing about it. Bygones.)

I am known as Abysmal Scribble, as Dee, as Sister, as the Destroyer of Worlds (wait a minute....that last one doesn't apply to me.....but it should...mu ha ha ha ha ha) and I am here to entertain with my antics and maybe, if I can summon it, my wit.

Is it a coincidence that my re-birth coincides with Spring? I think not. Spring IS new beginnings.

It has, indeed, sprung upon us, ladies and gents. You know what that means? The smell of grilled meats in the air. Ice cold bevies in your hand. Tulips popping up. Your next door neighbor will be out washin' his car, showing off his alabaster calves beneath his plaid shorts. Dogs will be freely sniffin' each other's butts at the dog park. After a long hibernation, cankles will be making an appearance. Birds, returning from the south, will shit on your car as they come home - but that doesn't matter, because it is Spring and you can get a car wash. Baseball is here! (Which means hot dogs and beer and for some, thicker cankles.) Bicycles and golf balls and outdoor seating and windows rolled down with the wind rushing through your hair....

Can you smell it? Sniff.....ahhhhhh. Spring is here. This is what the Black Eyed Peas must have been thinking about when they wrote "Imma Be" - Touche, will.i.am. "Imma Be livin' that good life. Imma be livin' that good, good life."

I'm planning on getting' out there and causing some trouble so that I have some spice to add to Sweet Lis' blog and thus, your life, Bloggettes.

You are welcome, in advance.

My Lungs Are Filled With Cotton Candy

2010-03-21T21:48:00.004-05:00

I have pneumonia. Pneumonia looks like this:

These are not my lungs. These are stand-in lungs. Prop lungs, if you will. But, I had a chest x-ray today and I can honestly say that my lungs do look very similar to above image. Apparently, one should not have cotton in one's lungs. I have this horrible image of bacteria growing like an infiltrating vine or kudzu in the fabric of my air sacs, hooking nasty tentacles and taking root. Very disturbing.

I had a nebulizer treatment at Urgent Care this morning and now I am on all sorts of medication. Prednisone, which is a steroid, is going to help open up my collapsed airways. Levaquin is a hard core antibiotic to kick the kudzu right outta my lungs. According to many online reports, this drug has been known to cause many negative side effects. Upon prescribing it, the doctor warned me that it has been reported to cause tendon rupture in some patients, primarily the achilles tendon. OUCH! I'm really not looking for that to happen so will probably call my original doctor to get a second opinion on that one.

So, for those of you who want to keep track at home, Winter has dealt yet another punishing blow. She has laid the smack down on me yet again. In short, Winter is pissed.

In doing my research, I ran across these words of wisdom on how to cure pneumonia naturally. It made me laugh but then I started coughing so I stopped laughing.

Intro: If you have a fever, sore throat, a chough, chest pains, chills, aching muscles, and enlarged lymph nodes then you probably have pneumonia. Follow these steps to cure pneumonia naturally.

Step 1: To cure pueumonia, you should rest and never leave the house. Have someone watch over you to help take care of you. Pneumonia is very serious; you should probably go to the hospital.

Step 2: When you first get sick, consume a lot of fruit juices and then start consuming vegetable juices after a few days. This can help cure pneumonia naturally and prevent you from getting worse.

Step 3: Consume some cayenne to help break up the congestion.

Step 4: To cure pneumonia naturally, drink a lot of water and tea. Flush out your system with these healthy fluids. Goldenseal tea is probably the best option available to help cure pneumonia naturally.

Step 5: Eat a lot of fruits and veggies along with some fruit juice. Vitamin C is very important in getting better.

Step 6: Rest. Stay in bed and do not do a thing. Working, doing chores, and exercising should all be put on hold until you are 100 percent better.

Step 7: To cure pneumonia naturally, avoid milk, flour products, and sugar until the pneumonia is gone. These items can help increase the thickness of your phlegm and slow down healing.

Step 8: Use a humidifier to help moisten the air where you spend the most time.

Step 9: To cure pneumonia naturally, avoid alcohol and smoking. If someone in your house smokes, ask them to smoke outside until you are better.

Step 10: Keep your feet warm. Soak them in a foot bath to help pull blood away from the chest.

Tips: To cure pneumonia naturally, you should eat a healthy diet, drink plenty of fluids, rest, keep your feet warm, and consume a lot of vitamin C.

Warnings: If your pneumonia gets worse, you should see a doctor immediately.

I like how the first step is to never leave the house and have someone watch over you and you should go to the hospital and then at the very bottom it reads you should see a doctor if it gets worse. Wouldn't going to the hospital require you to see a doctor? Also, wouldn't it require you to leave the house?

Oh and I didn't change the spelling. This is how I found it.

I need to go now and drink fruit juices, soak my feet and eat cayenne pepper a.s.a.p.

Dining In

2010-03-20T19:17:00.015-05:00

Tonight was a stay-at-home and eat-in night for the Oz's. We decided to try a new recipe -- Italian Sausage and Potato Soup -- which first hit my radar when my good buddy, Hollow Squirrel, posted about it on her blog. I bookmarked it and waited for the perfect time to give it a try. Reviewers on allrecipe.com likened this to the Zuppa Toscana soup available at the Olive Garden. A few embellishments, a little spicy kick and about 45 minutes later, viola, delicious and creamy soup! I would make this one again. Probably add some red pepper flakes to give it a bit more heat next time, but all in all, it was a satisying meal.

Ingredients

1 pound Italian sausage (we used hot turkey sausage)
3/4 cup chopped onion
1 slice pancetta bacon, diced (our love of bacon urged us to add not 1, but 3, slices)
1 1/4 teaspoons garlic, minced
1 cube chicken bouillon (we used 16 oz of chicken broth and reduced water to 2 cups)
4 cups water
2 potatoes, cubed
2 cups kale, rinsed and julienned (substituted 3 cups of fresh spinach)
1/3 cup heavy cream

Directions

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).

Place sausage links on a sheet pan and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until done. Cut each link in half lengthwise, and then into 1/2 inch slices. Set aside for later.

In a 4 quart saucepan over medium heat, saute the onions and the bacon for 10 minutes, or until onions are almost clear. Add the garlic and saute for one more minute. Add the chicken base OR bouillon, water and potatoes and bring to a simmer for 15 minutes. Add the kale, cream and reserved sausage, simmer for 5 more minutes and serve.

Took the opportunity to play with my camera a bit and document the cooking process.

Onions, bacon and garlic sauteing in a 4qt. saucepan.

Add cubed potatoes and chicken broth.

Dice the cooked sausage into 1/2 in. pieces and add to soup mixture.

Add spinach and 1/3 cup heavy cream.

Success!! Bon Appetit

Spongmonkeys!!!!

2010-03-20T11:16:00.003-05:00

For some ungodly reason, I've had this jingle stuck in my brain for the last few weeks. I'm not sure how it came to be implanted or how I can release it. So, like any good friend, I am unleashing it on my many -- as of last count 2 -- blog readers.

In my search for more information to try and understand this insane commercial, I found this. Apparently these annoying creatures are known as spongmonkeys and, of course, originated in Great Britain. Those damn Brits! Why are they always filling our heads with nonsense like The Spice Girls and spongmonkeys?

Now I wonder if you would consider these spots "genius advertising" or not? I suppose one should look at the ROI Quiznos received as a result of airing the ads, but for sheer entertainment value, I'd probably rank it fairly high. Spongmonkeys . . . . you either love 'em or hate 'em, BUT will you buy your next lunch from an establishment that boasts levitating, shriveled rats as spokesvarmints? Errr, probably not.

Quiznos kinda sucks anyway. When is the last time anybody ate at a Quiznos? Seriously.

The Things The Snow Left Behind

2010-03-16T22:21:00.005-05:00

Went for a walk tonight. It was a real walk. It involved sneakers and pavement and locking my door because I would be gone so long that prowlers could enter and steal my shit. Well . . . not literally steal my shit cuz I flush that down clown, but ya know what I mean. I had moments, in my meandering through the neighborhood, where I nearly forgot about my broken ankle. My foot is feeling good, at least good enough for me to go for a long-ish stroll.

Some curious things I saw on my walk included all of the rubbish that is visible now that the snow is gone. There are some nasty remnants out there. I saw LOTS of cigarette butts. LOTS. Also spotted (and avoided) plenty of dog turds. PLENTY. There were random empty cans and bottles, what looked to be rabbit droppings -- perhaps it was fertilizer. As I continued on my journey, it became a game to see what the strangest thing might be. Banana peel. Sock. Fast food wrapper. Then my eyes caught a glint of metallic in a nearby patch of dead grass. Cell phone. Yep, somebody done lost their cell phone. I kept on on walkin. The phone probably doesn't work anymore. Hopefully some poor squirrel can snag it and use it to call his homies or order up a pizza. Squirrels deserve cell phones too. Why should humans get all the good stuff?

I know there is a metaphor here. The things that people leave behind. Renewal of life dredging up past transgressions and the like. I was just happy to be out in the fresh air enjoying the smells and sounds of Spring and grateful my hoof no longer hurts.

On a completely unrelated note, I have recently grown weary of this blogging thing. Thinking about packin it in and just going back to my good ole paper journal. Something about physically writing, putting pen to paper, that just feels right and therapeutic and soul purging. I don't know. I guess when I pour my thoughts and questions into my personal journal I am somewhat reassured by the fact that no one, only me, reads it and gives a damn. Only me. By its very nature it is a solitary, private action. This blogging thing is oddly public and strangely voyeuristic. It's like walking around inside with the curtains open. You get the feeling people are watching but no one stops and knocks on the door to say hello. That's creepy. Here I become too easily impacted by the lack of response. The whole deal is set up to create a feedback loop, so when nothing happens and no one jumps in the water, it seems more sad, more lonely and more isolating than my personal journal experience could ever feel. I'd rather feel alone and able to tell it all to no one than feel exposed in a crowd (or, in my case, a handful).

Odd, eh?

Why did I just ask that question?

Time To Spice It Up!

2010-03-15T21:02:00.006-05:00

This blog lacks flavor. I'm looking to kick it up with something a wee bit saucy. What this blog needs is some spice. Now, I suppose that could mean a variety of things. I'm not talking online porn, although a few well placed and completely appropriate images of one Robert Downey Jr. are not entirely out of the question. Now that is spicy!

To amp up the flavor profile I thought about dedicating my blog to spicy foods from around the globe. Unfortunately, I'm kinda a wimp when it comes to heat on the taste buds so my content would be severely limited. You can only write so much about ketchup and mild curry stir-fry, right?
No, no, no. What this blog needs is a fresh perspective, a slightly twisted outlook that might, on occasion, cause spontaneous peeing of the pants due to intense laughter. I'm talking about a GUEST BLOGGER! Yeee Haw. Hang on to your knickers ladies and gent, the Abysmal Scribble is on the prowl and coming to you at a 'That's My Best' posting in the near future. I invited Scribs to lay it down and take no prisoners. Let's hope the muse strikes her soon and she graces us with some guest blogger spicy goodness.

I'll be here as well to drop a line and, if you are lucky, some more Robert Downey photos. :)

Oh, and we'll try the bold font for the visually impaired fans out there. Shakin it up in 2010.

Over and out.

An Ozy Retrospective

2010-03-14T21:09:00.001-05:00

It's been awhile since I posted an Ozy update. He's nearly a year old and the time has flown by. So many milestones for our little furry baby -- yes, that's right -- I called him a furry baby. He's almost completely house trained and only has the occasional "accident" now and again. Ozy graduated from puppy training school (albeit not at the top of his class), had his first professional photo shoot, all of his shots AND continues to defend his homeland from the tyrannical reign of all socks. Socks, after all, are his sworn foe. I suspect Ozy believes the socks are swallowing our feet and he doesn't appreciate that very much.

Some of the OzMan's favorite things include: chewing on jumbo beef tendons (otherwise known as Flossies), trying to lick our feet just after we get out of the shower, chasing our cat Sophie, laying on his bed in front of the fireplace, playing fetch with his rope bone, eating ANYTHING, going for walks so he can sniff and sniff and sniff some more, fighting socks, barking at us when he demands our attention, watching videos of himself (seriously!), going for car rides, burrowing under the comforter and cuddling up, doing his little swimmer strokes on the carpet after he is released from his kennel, greeting strangers every chance he gets, playing with his doggy friend Daisy, trying to eat dryer lint -- did I mention he eats EVERYTHING?

I thought it would be fun to do a little photo retrospective and show images of Ozy over the past year. Man, he sure has grown!

Newborn puppy Ozy:

4 Weeks Old Ozy:

11 Weeks:

4 Months:

7 Months and his ears shot straight up!

9 Months (oh, that's my sister holding him):

11 Months and lookin kindy grumpy. Notice the ears are now floppy again:

"Memories, like the corners of my mind . . . misty water colored memories . . . of the way we were . . ."

Today was another milestone moment for both Ozy and his owners. We attended our first exclusive party. Only Boston Terriers allowed. I joined the Twin Cities Boston Terrier group which gets together monthly for play groups. It was utter mayhem. About 15 Bostons running around, butt sniffing, peeing, barking and having the time of their little doggy lives. Ozy loved it. At one point, he literally had froth coming out of his mouth due to all the excitement and sheer exhaustion. Gross, I know.

I tried to capture some of the moments, but these photos don't due the sensory experience any justice. The echo of barking, the smell of urine, cannot possibly be recorded. Oh how I wish it could.

Needless to say, we got home and Ozy crashed. Running with the big dogs takes a lot outta a guy. Whew. What a wonderful weekend!!

Don't Be Fooled. Spring Is Not Here Yet.

2010-03-13T22:59:00.001-06:00

Spring, it seems, is upon us in the upper Midwest. All of the piles and piles of dirty snow are slowly melting away revealing soupy, muddy messes. My dog is having a wonderful time splashing in puddles and sniffing all that the snow banks had kept hidden for so long. Of course, Ozy's joy becomes our sorrow when he runs madly into the house only to leave paw prints on the carpet and sofa. Sigh. Spring, oh how we've missed you.

As much as we would like to welcome the sunshine and temperate clime, I simply can't. You see, I am nobody's fool. I refuse to be lured into a false sense of complacency by this trixy weather. Oh sure, it's all light winds, soft rains, 50 degrees with birds twittering in the soon-to-be budding trees. I can actually see grass. What a cruel temptress Mother Nature is. She plays with our emotions. No sooner than we start busting out our bermuda shorts and SPF 30 and, BAM, we'll be hit by a blizzard. Oh, don't you know it. So, I urge all of you to guard your feelings well. Don't open yourself up to the happiness of Spring just yet lest you be burned.

On that optimistic note, I'm sure you have all been dying for an ankle update. Last I blogged, I was about to get my air cast off. Well, it's been 2 weeks without the cast (8 weeks total since I broke my ankle) and things are o.k. The first week found me limping and getting around quite slowly. Unfortunately, I still had a lot of swelling and by the end of each day my whole ankle and foot were puffed up to roughly the size of a Ford Focus. Apparently, this condition is known in the medical circles as pitting edema and it is a common occurance in healing of lower extremity fractures. Good times.

Anyway, the past week has definitely been better. I'm able to walk much better and navigate the stairs. My swelling has subsided a bit, but not entirely. For those who are visually inclined, here is a photo of my foot today. Note, this is after a day of moderate activity where I was able to keep my foot elevated for several hours. It gets much worse when I don't elevate my foot:

In case, you think this looks normal. It isn't. I typically don't wield cankles of this proportion. Just so you can get a sense of what usual looks like for me, here is my right ankle. Notice the sharp dimensions of bony protrusion, the definition around the foot and ankle. In other words, the non-cankle like appearance:
Yes, I know, I know. I could use a pedicure. I actually got one the day I removed das boot. It was heavenly. However, I think another pass through the foot scraper would be helpful. Skin does not do well when confined for 6 weeks in an air cast. I'm just sayin.

Another fun thing is I can't really fit into too many of my shoes yet. The puffiness keeps me confined to Uggs and the like. Today was truly a milestone as I was able to get a sneaker on for the first time. Hip, hip hooray! Who knows, maybe in another few weeks I'll be wearing 3 inch high heels . . . . NOT!

North Loop Restaurants

2010-02-27T22:20:00.000-06:00

Despite my gimp leg, I have been able to get out and about. This week found me in the North Loop area of Minneapolis, otherwise known as the Warehouse District. For Twin Cities foodies, this is where it's at these days. Yummy-ness abounds.

First stop was Bar La Grassa for some birthday celebrating with the lovely Alison and Anne. Opening up in the Fall of 2009, I've heard nothing but good things about the Isaac Becker and Josh Thoma restaurant. The fare is sophisticated Italian with a unique flair. Delicious bruschetta and fresh pastas highlight the menu.

The space is dark wood, low lights with high, open ceilings. Elegant yet incredibly comfortable, La Grassa boasts an interesting scene of urban after work happy hour goers and the older suburban set. At one point, we swore we saw David Hasselhoff lingering by the hostess stand. Later, it seemed Father Time was hanging at the bar drinking a gin martini. John Forsythe anyone? Yep, he was there too. Ok, not really.

Come hungry and, better yet, come early. If you don't have reservations, you will definitely be hard pressed to nab a table after 6pm. My friends and I enjoyed a number of taste treats. The seared sea scallops were a great way to start our meal, but my favorite thing, by far, was the soft egg and lobster bruschetta. Oh my. This would make a killer breakfast. La Grassa, you had me at goat cheese and white truffle oil.

Today, Mr. Oz and I returned to the area and had lunch at another North Loop spot just a door down from La Grassa -- Be'wiched Deli. I would recommend.

The Be'wiched folks give the same attention to the choice of ingredients and flavor compliments as you would find in any high end, gourmet restaurant. They take the sandwich to a whole new level. Fresh. Spicy. Chewy. Move over Tom Colichio, Witchcraft has some competition.

For Mr. Oz it was all about the pastrami. I tried the roast beef, havarti, onion jam and creamy horseradish on a ciabatta. Next time I'm going to have to try the egg salad which, apparently, is to die for.

So, that's my restaurant 411 y'all. Enjoy!!

Skeleton . . . And Not the Bony Kind

2010-02-24T21:10:00.000-06:00

Been watching the winter Olympics this week and am amazed by the displays of athleticism and skill. My favorite sports, thus far, have to be alpine skiing and figure skating. My fear of high speeds and being out of control kick in and I break out into cold sweats whenever I watch those zooming skiers or the high flying snow boarders.

Some of the events, well, I just don't get 'em. The first is ice dancing. Artistic? Yes. Drama-filled? No doubt. Cool costumes? Ah ha. But, overall it seems to be more ballet than sport. And then there is the whole skeleton and luge deal. A dude DIED on a practice run. At what point does a person decide they want to go head first, 90 miles an hour, down a curved frozen track? How does someone get into this? Can you imagine the parental response to a small child's request to start practicing skeleton? No thanks.

"Mommy, I want to do the skeleton."

"What is that?"

"Well, I dress up in spandex and a helmet. Then I lay on a sled and fly head first down a track of sheer ice at almost 100 mph with little or no control over my own body."

"Hells to the No!"

Wouldn't it be cool if they just took the summer Olympic sports and turned them into winter Olympics sports? Swimming and diving outdoors in the cold? Gymnasts competing on a frozen balance beam and parallel bars? Javelin throw with ice spears? What about beach volleyball? Now, that would be something worth watching.

Go USA!

Das Boot and the Curious Case of the WTNs

2010-02-21T16:09:00.000-06:00

My oh my does time fly when your bones are mineralizing. Only 1 more week left wearing Das Boot, otherwise known as my air cast. I call it Das Boot because, well, whomever invented it must be a Nazi. And, while I recognize the helpful nature of its immobilizing properties, one cannot deny this molded plastic, foam and velcro'ed apparatus is truly an implement of torture. It really is. But, alas, soon we will part ways and I will not shed a single tear.

Last night I was wondering how it will feel to finally be walking on my two feet again without the assistance of my boot. Will I be able to put weight on my foot? Will my ankle swell up? Will it hurt? Will I need to use my crutches again? Right now I am all 'wait and see,' but am a tad nervous. Upon my doctor's advice, I've started to do some easy stretches. Flexing and pointing my foot and attempting to rotate my ankle has not been easy. The muscles are incredibly stiff. Luckily, I have my new found friends in the Facebook 'Broken Ankle' group to help me through. Apparently, there is a Facebook group for everything including bone fractures.

On a somewhat related note . . . . I'm contemplating starting my own Facebook group for people who really dislike their neighbors and would prefer to rant in a passive aggressive manner to their spouse and blog readers versus actually confronting the situation head on and doing something about it. Might need to work on the group name, but you get the gist of it, no? You see, I have a WTN situation otherwise known as the curious case of the white trash neighbors. They are a younger couple -- maybe late 20's -- who moved into our townhome complex about 4 months ago. At first, everything seemed great. They were nice enough -- waved hello when coming and going, smiled on occasion, did not wield pitchforks or axes, etc. They have a dog so there were a few moments when we would make casual chit chat while passing each other as we took our dogs out for a walk. No issues. Everything was fine.

Then winter hit and my annoyance level grew. First it was the dog situation. For some reason, the WTNs (aka white trash neighbors) like to stake their dog out in the front yard for stretches of time rather than take her for a walk or stand out there with her while she does her business. Now, I will admit that I've used a stake and lead with Ozy a few times in the summer months when it was really nice out and he was just dying to hang in the sunshine. But in the sub-zero dead of winter with snow piled a mile high? No way. I'd drive by and see this poor dog sitting outside shivering. Sad. It kinda reminds me of the old junkyard dog who's plight in life is to stand guard over trash. To compound this troubling scene, the WTNs don't clean up after said dog. Instead, poop piles dot the landscape of their front yard, which just happens to be connected to my front yard. It is disgusting. Seriously, poop clumps are everywhere. And, in case you wanted to get the full visual of junkyard, the WTN dude drives this old, rusted out white pick-up which is always sitting in their driveway. Now, far be it from me to criticize someone's choice in automobiles. Of course, not everyone can drive a nice car. I get it. BUT, this thing is about 2 seconds away from the junk heap. He fires it up in the morning and the rust bucket practically backfires. Can you say car up on blocks? Can you say eye sore? Yep it is.

So, you get the drift. Am I being too harsh and critical? Should I just live and let live? They make their choices and I make mine, right? Just as I was beginning to feel a little mean, the other night Mr. Oz and I were hanging out just watching a movie in the comfort of our living room when we hear this booming bass pumping. Heavy metal music blaring and literally vibrating the walls. The WTNs must have been having a party. I can appreciate wanting to let loose on the weekend, but the decibles were outta this world annoying. Ugh.

So, I ask you, dear blog readers, what is to be done? Do we suffer in silence and continue to pour out anger on the interwebs? Should we reach out to the townhome association and file a complaint regarding the dog turd situation and, perhaps, the noise if it continues to be a pattern? Do we just look for an opportunity to talk directly to the neighbors (and by "we" I mean Mr. Oz)? Or, better yet, maybe we should just pull up stakes and move?

Help, I need advice.

My Amigo

2010-01-23T17:55:00.000-06:00

Broke my ankle last weekend. I blame winter and her frozen sheets of death covering the ground and choking all forms of life. I am really thankful there was no one with a video camera around when I went down. I shudder thinking about the possible visual replay of my fall all flailing and bouncing, twisting and shouting. Broken bones suck. They really do. First there is shooting hot pain, then swelling, then comes more throbbing pain. X-rays, storm trooper boots, crutches, bruising, more pain and imprisonment in your house for days on end are just some of the fun things one can experience after a broken ankle. But, such is life on the tundra of upper Midwest ice age-ville.

Since I have what my orthopedist calls a "middle of the road" fracture, I must keep my foot fairly immobile over the next couple of weeks in order to avoid surgery. Apparently, the rest of my ankle and foot look o.k. so if the break starts to heal and nothing shifts out of alignment, I'm good to go. This past week I've been confined mostly to my bed and couch. Due to the conveniences of modern technology, I've been able to work from home. Due to the wonder of modern pharmacology, my pain has been relatively dulled. Have you hugged your pharmacist today? You really should.

While I've been trying to stay positive, I have to admit a few moments of craptacular annoyance and depression have befallen me. I really can't complain as it could have been SO much worse. However, now and again, I lament my immobile situation. I get antsy just being at home and laying around doing nothing. There's the whole ordeal of taking a shower and going to the bathroom. Not being able to easily access things, get myself a glass of water, take my dog outside, etc. Bums me out. After 6 straight days trapped inside, I finally got to leave my house today. Mr. Oz patiently helped me into the car and took me to the mall. He ran in and procured one of these bad boys:

Yep, that's what the old folks call The Amigo! You too could use one of these if you should happen to become incapacitated or otherwise crippled. You just need to hand over your license and away you go just scooting about the shopping center. It doesn't go too fast, but there's really no need to play Indy 500 with The Amigo. She might not have power, but the tight turning radius can't be beat . . . able to cut through tight store aisles and round displays like crazy. And check out that handy basket. Sweet, no?

Seriously, it was nice to not have to crutch my way around. If that was my only option, there's no way I would have been able to go out. But I felt like an idiot. I mean, this electric scooter business is for senior citizens, right? What am I, 90? I got over it, but still.

First stop . . . GNC for a big bottle of calcium pills w/ Vitamin D. Momma needs to build some bone bridges y'all. I figure if I pop a couple of those calcium nuggets everyday, I'll be right as rain in no time. Second stop, Barnes & Noble for some magazines to occupy my time whilst I lay in bed and moan. Third stop, coffee shop. Latte = milk = calcium = bone building goodness!

At the end of my mall visit, I was almost sad to part ways with The Amigo. We had grown tight. My prowess at the wheel was bordering on mastery. Amigo, you truly became my friend. I'm sure I will see you again soon. But, not too soon.

Fallen Heroes

2010-01-12T22:06:00.000-06:00

Have you heard about baseball home run record holder, Mark McGwire? Well, it appears Mark fueled his power hits with some muscle enhancing juice (i.e. steroids) and he has finally admitted to cheating. In his announcement, McGwire was all sadness and regret. A few tears may have leaked their way out as he spoke of the difficulty in coming forward and sharing the regrettable news with his family and friends. In the same breathe, McGwire seemed to back peddle a bit as he tried to convince us that he was a proven home run hitter in his high school, college and minor league years -- pre roids presumably. He would have us believe that the performance enhancing drugs were not a factor in his stellar at bat performance. What?! Sorry, I ain't buying it. And then there is Tiger Woods. I won't even get into that whole situation.

Sports are not necessarily my thing. I'm not what you would call a baseball fan. I am familiar with the game and appreciate the history, it's slower pace and reliance on the strange combination of power, patience and precision. Baseball includes a great deal of tradition and pride. McGwire, like so many other recent players, has diminished the legacy of baseball as America's favorite past time. Beyond this, what I'm really disturbed by is the loss of heroes. Listening to the radio this morning and hearing the news of McGwire's fall from grace, I thought of the little kids who may have once admired the player. Perhaps they are older now -- teens or young adults. Maybe they wore his jersey, collected his baseball cards, idolized McGwire for his amazing feats on the field. To many, he was a hero . . . someone to emulate and look up to. He represented possibility, effort and hope. Not anymore. Same goes for Tiger. Turns out he's just a guy who had a cocktail waitress in every city.

Who are our heroes today? Do we even have any? Are heroes the stuff of Greek mythology and science fiction? Is it wrong to impart such high expectations onto a mere human? Is this too much of a burden to place on one individual? And, why does the fall of yet one more "hero" trouble me so greatly? I think we all need role models, people to look up to and pattern ourselves after, gold standards to measure ourselves against. It is in the light of comparison to these admirable examples that we are able to identify our own shortcomings, seek to make improvements and become better people. When we have no one to emulate, how low does our own bar drop?

Now, I'm not suggesting that we don't have great people walking among us each and everyday. We do. Beloved family, loyal friends, trusted colleagues, volunteers, kind neighbors are all around us. These people are heroes in their own right. Perhaps we need to talk more about these behind-the-scenes heroes, focus on the everyday and little acts of beauty in the world all around us. Stop focusing on these mega-stars and sports gods. They only seem to disappoint us in the end. And I, for one, am sick and tired of being continually disappointed.

Cooking Up A Batch of 'Hell Yes'

2009-12-29T17:51:00.000-06:00

Happy Holidays everyone!

I hope each of you had a joyous Christmas and/or Hanukkah celebrating with loved ones. Part I of my holiday concluded with some hang time with the in-laws and all the sibs, nieces and nephews from the Oz side of the equation. We also enjoyed digging out of snowstorm madness '09 which left a ton of that frozen white water outside our door. It's mighty cold out there and each time I leave the house to take the dog out for a potty break, I visualize flipping head over heels on the ice rink that has newly formed in my driveway. Guess I need to go buy some skates and practice my triple sow cow. Olympics here I come! Or, perhaps the much more likely scenario is broken bones, me in the hospital, laid up in traction. Sigh. Sorry, no blind holiday optimism. Here you will only find stark, dark pessimism. Cheers!!

Part Deux of the festivus for the rest of us will be kicking off in North Dakota. Mr. Oz and I are headed to my parents tomorrow for a 3 night visit. All the clan will gather to ring in the New Year and open up the gifts that Santa couldn't quite deliver on Christmas Eve cuz he was stuck in a snowbank. For some reason, I felt the need to volunteer my cooking prowess (and I use this word sarcastically). I will be making the New Year's Eve feast. In preparation, I've been scouring my cookbooks, online recipe sources and hitting up my foodie friends for suggestions. After much hemming and hawing, I finally landed on my menu -- a four course extraveganza. BTW, what is the deal with the phrase "hemming and hawing?" What does it really mean anyway? I just typed it and had to stop and consider, for a moment, the origin of this phrase. What does it mean to "haw?" Is it like sawing but only with your mind? I need to do some research on that one. But I digress.

Back to the holiday feast . . . I decided to take it up a notch, an extra step if you will, and add in wine pairings. What has gotten in to me? I know, crazy. We will be starting with a lovely salad comprised of roasted butternut squash, endive, apple and blue cheese. Next course will be a french onion soup gratin. Third course is an herb crusted beef tenderloin with port sauce. I'll be making some sort of potato & vegetable side to accompany the beef. We will end with a chocolate mousse cheesecake. Much like the contestents on Top Chef, I don't consider desserts my forte so I will be picking up this cheesecake at the place that knows what they are doing. The Cheesecake Factory, of course. Wine pairings include a light & crips Savignon Blanc to start, a fairly robust Pinot Noir to go with the beef and then a Saracco Moscato 'd Asti with dessert. Sadly, the soup will have to share it's wine pairing with the salad. Poor soup. Always the bridesmaid and never the bride.

All this menu planning has gotten me in a cooking mood. The last few days, I've been trying out all sorts of things. My experimentation is appreciated by Mr. Oz as he gets to eat all of my trials. I'm not so sure he like all the dirty dishes, however. Did I mention Mr. Oz does the dishes? Tonight is roasted potato leek soup from the Barefoot Contessa's Back to Basics cookbook. Nothing beats a warm, creamy soup on a cold winter night.

I'll report the success or failure of my feast in my next post.

Until then, Happy New Year!!

Holiday Shopping

2009-12-16T19:22:00.000-06:00

Hi, my name is Lisa and I am addicted to online x-mas shopping.

Over the past few weeks, holiday purchasing online has been among my greatest joy and pleasure. True.

While some may say this form of shopping is impersonal, isolating and does not allow the shopper to fully experience the seasonal sights, sounds and smells (think evergreen trees and baked goods versus sweaty Mall Santas), I counter online shopping is incredibly convenient. Yep, convenience trumps all. Here is my general overview of "traditional" holiday shopping: Slogging through snowbanks and braving the icy cold only to spend countless minutes circling crowded parking lots looking for an open spot. Throwing elbows scrounging for the best deal . . . limited choices because stores only want to keep the best selling items in stock . . . after hours of hunting and searching, pure frustration sets in . . . solution = various gift cards.

Now, let's compare this old way with the evolution of holiday behavior: Comfy, cozy in flannel pajamas . . . relaxing with laptop on the couch with a fire roaring . . . . Amazon.com wishlist searches, researching the perfect gift by entering in facts and personality traits of your gift recipients, personalized & fun gift ideas, free shipping (hooray!!). No need to leave the house, saving money on gas and reaping the benefit of hours I can spend doing other fun stuff like baking cookies, drinking martinis or watching Glee (double hooray!!!). Seriously. Why would anyone choose to purchase their gifts any other way?

Plus, how great is it to come home from work each day to a bounty of packages on one's doorstep?

Here are just a smattering of gift ideas that I may, or may not, have purchased online this season: Who doesn't appreciate a toasty, warm towel when exiting the shower? This is the perfect baby gift when the parents are Sci-Fi, Star Wars geeks!

Hello! Cheese of the month club!! Tasty.

I Recall Central Park In Fall

2009-11-11T21:13:00.000-06:00

New York is a fun place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there. Spending a long weekend in the hustle & bustle of Manhattan leaves me exhilarated and exhausted all at the same time. No matter how often I go, I can never quite get over the pace, throngs of people, constant assault of sounds and smells. There is a frenetic rhythm to the city. A hum. I'm drawn into it like a moth to an incandescent light bulb, but my introverted nature screams for quiet. The idyllic setting of Central Park exists in the in-between. On its outer edges, the city spins and spits. Inside the insulated protection of the park, calm takes over. People seem softer, happier, lighter. Outside the Park is all business and motion. Inside, it melts away under an insulated cocoon of flora and fauna. The trees keep the madness at bay.

Fall is the absolutely best time to see the Park. It might arguably be the best time to visit NYC. Great walking around town weather. SOHO shopping, West Village stroll. Fine dining, the perfect bagel to start the day, a lusciously long pour of Prosecco to cap off the night. Subway rides. Scouring Canal Street for the best deals. Cocktails made the old-fashioned way. Trying to hail the Cash Cab and win big. Chelsea Market. Walking the Highline. Soaking in the ambiance and history. Gramercy Park desserts. The Natural History Museum. Coffee shops. And, of course, Central Park in Fall.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

2009-11-02T20:03:00.000-06:00

I admit to having a small problem . . . a slight obsessive, compulsive disorder whereby I startle at odd moments gripped by the fear that I have left a hot iron plugged in at home or the front door unlocked or accidentally forgot to put on my antiperspirant after showering. I've had these strange attacks at random. Once I had nearly completed the 25 minute drive to work when I was overcome by the sense that I had not closed the garage door upon exiting. I debated for a couple of minutes on whether or not to go back home. Finally, faced with the knowing assurance that I would wrestle with hopeless uncertainty all day, I drove back home only to find the garage sealed off tighter than drum.

What is this all about? Why do I have these compulsions? Is it normal? Am I normal?

An off shoot of the issue describe above is my frightening habit of occasionally "zoning out" when driving. Entranced in some daydream, pondering a nebulous situation at work or simply drifting into the lyrics of a song playing on the radio, I sink into my own head and drive completely on auto pilot. Now, mind you, I am awake. My eyes are open. I am functioning at the wheel. But, I go so far into my own thoughts that one quick alteration in my visual field or a sound can snap me back into a jarred state. In that split second, my fight or flight response system kicks in and over-rides my conscious, rationale, logical mind. In this momentary panic, I've been known to jump medians and perform u-turns thinking that I was inadvertently driving the wrong way on a freeway off-ramp. Seriously. I've done this. And, it scared me so bad I nearly crapped my pants.

Again, I ask, is this totally and utterly insane? Have others out there experienced this strange phenomenon of being totally awake and performing tasks but, somehow, not being fully present. Is it lack of sleep? Stress? Old age? Am I in the early stages of dementia?

OK, so just to set everyone's mind at ease for fear that I may be a danger to you and your loved ones on the road. I'm 99% fine. I've only experienced this strange moments a couple of times and I've been able to control my little urges to change 3 lanes of traffic, jump police squad cars and run red lights. It's not quite as disastrous as you might believe it to be. But, it does make me wonder what causes this behavior. My husband says I'm "in my head" too much and I need to focus. But, I like my head. My head is a happy and productive place to be. Well, most of the time it is.

And I bet when you started reading this post you thought I was going to blog about my dog again. Ozy is my OTHER obsessive, compulsive habit.

New York State of Mind

2009-10-27T21:50:00.000-05:00

Sadly, I do not have the Ozy photo shoot proofs yet. I keep checking my email to see if they have arrived. Of course, the photos will be shared assuming I will not be violating any copyright laws in the process. Scribble, let me know if that looks to be a problem as your are all the keeper of the halls of justice and what not.

Super excited to report an upcoming trip and looking for suggestions on places to go and things to do. My friend Poodle and I have decided to exit the Twin Cities (stage left) and hit the Big Apple. We leave next Thursday for a 4 day, 3 night stay in NYC. Our plan is simple really -- enjoy the Fall ambiance, do a little shopping and check out some fantastic restaurants. I hope all the walking we have planned will cancel out the eating as we will be cutting a culinary swathe through Manhattan for schnizzle.

We are staying at a boutique hotel in Gramercy Park which seems to be a pretty good location and launching off point. Thus far, we have three places on our radar as 'musts.' These include Hearth, Gramercy Tavern and the Pegu Club. Aside from that, what other ideas come to mind? I think is is safe to say that both Poodle and I are fond of art, music and history (aka museums). Fine dining, tasty cocktails, window shopping, celebrity sightings and just kickin it also top the list of common interests. We are not really into the nightclub scene, sporting events, NASCAR and stinky cab rides. The Museum of the City of New York might be kinda cool as the city definitely boasts an interesting past. A stroll through Central Park, a visit to the NY Public Library or the Metropolitan Museum of Art? Broadway show? Hmmm. So many possibilities.

You Ought To Be In Pictures

2009-10-22T20:56:00.000-05:00

My magnificent furry baby, Ozy, had his first official and professional photo shoot this evening. Sara Beth Photography specializes in animals. Her work is absolutely amazing and truly captures the personality of each pet she photographs. She's running a holiday special which includes an in-studio photo shoot, $50 print credit and 25 holiday gift cards. Ozy was pretty well behaved, but he could probably use a few pointers from Tyra Banks and her America's Top Model crew. The good thing is, unlike other supermodels, he was VERY motivated by food. The word "treat" grabbed his attention.

I should have the proofs in a week. I'm particulary excited to see how the photos turn out of Ozy wearing a red, winter scarf. Red, after all, is his signature color.

Bevy of Bitchy Comments

2009-10-17T00:00:00.000-05:00

Lots of topics to cover. Been awhile.

1) Swine Flu (aka H1N1 virus). This is certainly NOT one of my Bests, but you can't shake a cat by its tail these days without running into a news story talking about the dreaded strain of flu. A couple weeks back, I was taken ill with some sort of bad bug. I'm not sayin it was H1N1. I have no idea. I didn't go to the doctor, primarily for fear that I would find out I had it and would then subconsciously allow my negative, paranoid thoughts to slow down the healing process. I'm superstitious like that. Anyway, the Oz household was stricken down into a violent pit of sickness. Aches and coughs, chills and no thrills.

While I'm not a medical doctor, CDC authority or the like, I think we've only seen the tip of the iceberg on this nasty virus (and the associated media coverage, fear mongering, marketing push for those ugly face masks, etc.). Many schools are reporting outbreaks and are shutting down. Years from now, I wonder if/how we will look back on these dark days and be able to pinpoint our children's idiocy on these few weeks of missed school due to the Swine Flu. I'm just sayin. When I was a kid, we might have had the random and infrequent snow DAY. Never did we have the Swing Flu WEEKS. It's like another summer vacation for these kids. I say put the face masks on, load up on vitamins and zinc tablets and get some book learnin kiddos. It's good for your immunity. It's good for America.

2) Conferences. The week after I recovered from my flu-like symptoms, I traveled to California for a work-related conference. I have very mixed feelings about these types of events. On one hand, I appreciate hearing what some of my peers and colleagues are doing -- new ideas, inspiring examples of great work, thought provoking tidbits. On the other hand, I find it to be mostly a big waste of time when over half the content is simply regurgitated blather from last year's snooze fest. It can be somewhat laughable to hear these presenters boast about their cutting edge [insert: methods, technology, trends, programs, brilliance] when, in fact, it is nothing but old, tired, dried up, yesterday's news. Seriously. Tell me something new and interesting before I scream people.

This is the scene. Big screen. Stage. Powerpoint. Lots of round tables to seat the dwindling and rather unenthusiastic conference goers. Sigh.

OK, now at the risk of sounding terribly crabby, I see the problem as one of old guard versus new upstarts. The folks who plan these events, the ones that find the topics and speakers, tend to be the stalwarts of the Old Guard, the 20, 30+ year veterans who's hey day has passed by. To this group e-mail communication is still a baffling and enigmatic operation, social networking sites are just something those "crazy kids" are into, and Twitter is oh, so cutting edge. Give me a break. There is better, faster, cooler, more relevant stuff happening out there and maybe in 5 years we'll see someone stand up at one of these conferences and predict its arrival after its already come and gone. It makes me crazy. What we need is an UNconference. Something radically different. Let's bring in speakers who don't do what we do each and everyday. New blood. Shake it up. Who's with me?

I also hate all the sales pitch b.s. I have to wade through. It's just a big solicitation forum. This time I did the clever thing and "forgot" my business cards at home. Oops. Sorry. I can't give you my card. How about I just take your card and I call YOU if I'm interested. P.S. Don't wait by the phone or hold your breath.

3) Staycation and Home Decorating. Upon returning from the conference, I took a week to stay home. That's right. My very own staycation. I just needed a break from it all, time to take a few deep breathes and inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale. Ahhhhhh. Because one can only do so much sleeping and reading, I took on a few home projects. My living room was in need of an extreme home makeover and I don't have the luxury of Ty Pennington coming over and blaring into his bullhorn. I had to make due. A couple trips to Home Depot and I had a quart of paint (Behr, Oyster) and sundry supplies. In one afternoon, a small wall went from a crimson color to a creamy shade of pearl white. Then my inner Genevieve kicked in and I did something incredibly zany -- I posted my couch and chair for sale on Craig's List. In a matter of minutes, I had a hit. Someone was interested! YEAH! I was emboldened to hit the Pottery Barn and order the furniture I had been secretly coveting for quite some time.

This change up represents a wave of tiny transformations I've been experiencing lately. I don't know how it happened or when it started, but I've moved from a red wine lover to a white wine appreciator. What? How? I know. My last vino selections fall in the camp of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc and not the usual Zinfandel and Pinot Noir. Similarly, my living room palette is sliding away from the dark shades and into a spectrum of neutral hues -- ivory, natural, chocolate brown, oat. Am I turning over a new leaf? Has my body been inhabited by Nate Burkus? I'm not sure. What is next? Will I lose the taste for red meat? Become a vegan? Go totally organic? Move to a commune and raise my own goats? I can't really say.

4) Preview. I'm tired. Need rest. However, I have much more I'd like to share. I'd like to post on the sometimes controversial topic of animal neutering, the always painful theme of divorce (no, not mine), horror films, cider and window treatments. I'm sure the anticipation will rage inside you for a full minute or two.

P.S. Don't wait by your PC. Don't hold your breath. It's been over a month between my last post and this one so I can't really tell you when I'll get to these subjects.

Preliminary Bucket List (pt. 1)

2009-09-12T10:34:00.000-05:00

Things I need to do before I die:

1) Participate in a super sweet flash mob dance. Well, right?
2) Hot air balloon ride -- the kind where you pack a picnic, drink champagne and such
3) Go to the Olympics. Summer, winter, it really doesn't matter. It would just be fun.
4) Take a vacation that is longer than 2 weeks
5) Make a longer bucket list with cooler things to do before I die.

Technology Addicts Unite!

2009-09-10T21:29:00.001-05:00

I've turned into a complete tech gadget collector. I blame my husband. He is forever sending me links to stories about the coolest, newest, most amazing inventions in the world of computers, music players, video contraptions and the like.

I used to be a practical user of technology. I had a home PC, a basic cell phone, a first generation iPod and a simple television/DVD player. It was easy and uncomplicated. I was happy. I didn't know any better. Wasn't paying attention. Life was good. Since meeting Mr. Oz, things have changed. Gone are the days of my distant relationship with all things tech. Now we have a wireless router with multiple computers and printers all networked together to form a spider web of connections & conversations. I have returned to my roots of Apple and am now a proud Macbook Pro owner. I have an iPhone and brighter, fancier iPod. There is also a xbox which Mr. Oz has converted into a media center where we watch our movies and television shows. Nintendo Wii, bluetooth, external hard drives, jump drives, instant messaging, texts, Blogs, Facebook, Twitter . . . you name it we have it, use it, love it. Well . . . mostly love it. We are better, faster, smarter. This is life on the Internet superhighway and I'm driving a powerful convertible. Top down. Hair blowin in the wind. Weeeeeee.

OK, so occasionally I become despondent with the ubiquitous presence of metal, microchips and interfaces. I long for real, face-to-face interaction versus the sound-byte tweets and chirps of data. Sigh. It is in times like this, when I'm at the end of my virtual cord, that I need to take stock of all the benefits of our modern conveniences. I'm good. We're good. We couldn't possibly need another gadget, another megabyte, nothing. Just when I think the limit has been attained; our gadget collection has reached its maximum capacity, well, then Mr. Oz sends me another link. Apple's launching the next generation iPod nano. So? Big deal, right? Well, the new version boasts video recording capability, built in FM radio and a pedometer. Wha, wha, what?!

Drool.

I want it.

I want it in orange.

Help.

I need help.

Blatent Re-Post of Some Funny Stuff

2009-09-07T11:52:00.000-05:00

My sister's blog is HILARIOUS! Many of her posts leave me rolling on the floor in gut-bending laughter. I find myself going back to re-read them when I need a moment of humor. Anyway, this last one was so funny, I wanted to re-post here and share with those of you who don't have access to it. Here ya go. Enjoy!

Oh and sister, I hope this doesn't violate any infringement, copy write type laws or anything. Please don't sue me. Thanks.
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This is my letter to the Sam's Club sample lady who confronted me this weekend OR, as I would like to call it, What I Should Have Said, part one.

Dear Sam's Club Sample Lady,

I was shopping in your store this past weekend. Perhaps you remember me, I was the girl pushing the cart, knoshing on the previous sample lady's goods (chicken salad on a whole wheat cracker) when I rolled up to your table and was reading the sign on the front of your cart when you looked up at me and said, "Why don't you chew and swallow what you have in your mouth now before you start taking something from my table." You said it with a sneer of disgust, as I recall. Remember me? I would hope so. I would hope that this little phrase isn't something that you say to all of the Sam's Club shoppers. Perhaps the fact that I looked horrified is enough to jog your memory.

Well, I've got a few things to say to you. First, I'm certain it did not occur to you that I had gotten up early that morning, drove nearly 4 hours and golfed nine holes before I got to Sam's Club to run a few quick errands so I could get home as soon as possible in order to do more chores that I had neglected over the weekend - thus, I didn't have time to stop and eat for most of the day? I don't suppose it mattered to you that I was famished.

I don't suppose it occurred to you that I was merely reading the advertisement in order to discover what strange breaded meat you were, in fact, slicing while I chewed the previous sample and that I had no intention of partaking of said breaded cod strips covered with some weird ketchup based sauce.

Frankly, neither of the above really matter. What matters is that you were hired to do a job....a very simple job, hand out food to would-be purchasers. Yeah, that is right, Blue Hair, I'm talking about you. I'm pointing out that in order to do your job, you don't need a high school degree or college degree. You don't even have to know how to read or write. All you have to know is cut, place on napkin, serve and smile. That is it. I believe it is a fair statement that you aren't even capable of that. You JUST couldn't help yourself, could you? You had to comment. You had to blather on as though anyone with a brain in their head gives a rat's ass what you think. You had to turn some screw - maybe the one that was formerly lodged in your cold, dead heart? Well, I got news for you, Raisin, nobody wants to buy fishsticks from stuck up grannies who don't have enough sense to keep their shitty comments to themselves. If I wasn't such a nice person, I would have gotten medieval on your old, wrinkled ass.

And further, the girth of your behind leads me to believe that you, also, should walk away from the table every once in awhile when your mouth is still full. After all, one who lives in a glass house, should not throw stones.

Tour of Treasures

2009-09-06T09:12:00.000-05:00

As your trusted Interwebs soldier of fortune, I am always on the lookout for new haunts and happening places that appeal to higher (and sometimes lower) tastes & sensibilities. When I can find said places in my own backyard, well, all the better. A few places recently hit my radar in the Southwest suburbs of the Twin Cities: JJ's Coffee & Wine Bar in Eden Prairie and Pairings Food & Wine Market in Minnetonka. Are you seeing a theme? Food, wine, coffee? Uhm, yeah. If you are in the neighborhood, I urge you to check out these little gems.

JJ's Coffee & Wine Bar lies just off Hwy 5 West as you are cruising from EP into Chanhassen. Take the Mitchell Rd. exit. Tucked back in a fairly nondescript suburban line-up of banks, nail shops and fitness joints, you would at first liken it to a Panera Bread wanna-be. It has a bit of that feel, but with a very respectable wine list, sample of simple yet tasty noshes and specialty coffees and teas. Oh yeah, and they also have pastries and breakfast items.

I can tell you that the food isn't the most incredible you've ever had, but what it lacks in stellar cuisine it makes up for in quaint & comfortable ambiance. The neutral palette of stone, dark wood and fabric makes for a pretty cozy resting spot for either a lazy weekend afternoon or an after work retreat. There are several overstuffed chairs and booths to snuggle up in, order yourself a creamy latte or glass of Pinot Noir and just relax. They also boast free WiFi (bring your laptop and catch up Facebook and blog reading!) and a drive-thru for coffee and such. By chance, I ended up stopping in the night of their "soft" opening so they were still working out some of the kinks. I spoke to the owner -- the actual JJ herself. She was super helpful and solicited input on the menu, drinks and overall concept. She immediately struck me as someone who deserves success. To that end, I hope all 4 of my blog readers, go and check it out sometime soon. :)

Mr. Oz and I were out running some weekend errands the other day when we decided to stop into Pairings: Food & Wine Market. Right off of Hwy 62 and Shady Oak Road, Pairings appears grocery store like. I didn't know what to expect. Was it an upscale deli? Wine shop? Restaurant? Speciality gourmet store? The answer is YES, all of the above. The place is divided into two sections. On the left you have a D'amico-like restaurant where you belly up to the counter, request your choice of made-to-order sandwiches, salads, pasta or wood-fired pizzas. You get a number, sit down, and they bring your food to you when it is ready. This counter is flanked on one side by a fine array of fromage in the cheese case. The other side holds a variety of gourmet nibbles and treats. On the right, you can veer off into the wine shop. Once inside, you'll find much more than wine . . . Pairings boasts one of the most extensive beer selections I've seen in these parts. Do they have rare Trappist Ale made by Belgian Monks? Yep. How about batch crafted hoppy ales from teeny-tiny breweries that no one has even heard of yet? Ahh, yep. We could have spent an hour exploring this place. The fun thing is if you order some food and plan to dine in at the restaurant, you can buy your wine or beer and take it over to the food side. No corkage fee. Just pour and drink.

Of course, I bought some tasty bits at the shop: Ames Farm single source honey, a Voiges chocolate bar, a nice slab of Bucheron goat cheese. Mr. Oz and I had lunch. While he dined on Sicilian sausage pizza, I tried the Asian curry pasta with chicken. Seriously good food. By the way, I HIGHLY recommend Ames Farm honey. Holy man. It is a sugary, sticky delight and pairs up well with tangy goat cheese spread on a cracker. Thanks for showing me the light Anne!

This concludes the Twin Cities Tour of Treasures for now. Bon Appetito!

Fear, Love and Stasis

2009-08-30T19:16:00.000-05:00

I believe there are three main forces at work guiding how we humans engage with the world around us. These subconscious and ever-present forces drive us to do the things we do. The first is fear. When it comes down to it, fear is a pretty strong motivator. The fear of failure could push us to wake up each day, put one foot in front of the other, and make something happen, while a fear of success could keep us from truly reaching our utmost potential. Oftentimes when I find myself upset, anxious, worried or scared, it takes only a few moments of self-reflection to realize that I'm probably reacting out of fear. Prejudice is a symptom of fear. Wars are born from fear -- fear of what "the other side" might do to us first, fear of the unknown, fear of an end to our way of life, etc.

The second, and much more enticing force, is love. I use the term love in an all-encompassing kinda way. Love might be phrased, more explicitly, as unwavering and overwhelming acceptance, appreciation and good will. Although love can take other forms such as Eros or romantic, sexual love, I'm primarily focusing on the Agape version. Agape has been defined as "divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, active, volitional and thoughtful love." A mother's love falls under this category. Not easy to come by. When you have it, hang on to it and cherish it. When you don't have it, keep looking and don't give up. It's that important. So much of what we do is in response to, in quest of, in reaction toward, this powerful force. As the old adage goes, we do crazy things for Love.

The third force could probably be best summarized as the force of Stasis. I think of this as the continual search for balance and comfort; the status quo maintained. This is about satisfying our instinctual needs and basic desires. Food and shelter would qualify as aspects of this Stasis. We want to survive and need creature comforts to do so. I think Stasis has gotten us into a lot of trouble. As humans we often reach Stasis and have all of our physical concerns taken care of. This is where the other two forces kick in. Whether it is at the urging of Fear or Love, we get greedy. We want more. We get more. Suddenly, our Stasis is thrown off kilter. We are over indexing on plush, easy, carefree, glittery, new and better when we really didn't even need or want anything else in the first place. When this happens, Stasis is lost. In the immortal words of Britney Speers, "Oops, I did it again."

So why all the reflections on these invisible yet important forces? Perhaps it is on my mind because I spent a lot of time out of Stasis this weekend attending various fairs and festivals with friends and family. First up was a trip to the state fair -- the great Minnesota Get Together. Upon entering the gates, me and my band of hungry foot soldiers cut a swathe of feverish gorging on bad-for-you, deep fried, stick enhanced, fantastically carnivorous delightfulness. It was a never ending feast. We left an array of empty cups, dirty napkins and greasy wrappers in our wake.

The next day found us doing similar damage at the Renaissance Festival. Although somewhat more subdued, the Ye-Old event ignited more encounters with jumbo smoked turkey legs, bread bowl chowders, cream puffs, pickles and mead (not necessarily in that order and not all consumed by moi). Yes, I drank mead -- it's a rather tasty beverage made from fermented honey. Who knew? Well, all this consuming made me stop and consider what it was all about. Sure, the motivation was to have fun, spend some time in the sunshine enjoying the last, fading glory of summer, share some laughs with my sister, brother-in-law, little bro and hubby.

This is the third year that Mr. Oz and I attended the state fair. The fair was the scene of our memorable third date so it's become a tradition of sorts. There's nostalgia, entertainment, the lure of people watching . . . all of these are fine reasons. When in Rome, one has a need to experience Rome in all its sensorial glory; soaking it in, tasting its salty, sweet, bitter and briny wonder. But, what about my theory of fear, love and stasis as forces behind everything we do? Well, I think for me, my Stasis jumped completely out of whack. I've taken it too far. I'm in too deep. What I haven't quite figured out yet is whether Fear or Love is to blame for my actions. What hole am I trying to fill? What am I trying to outrun? I need to regain my sense of Stasis and get back into balance, stat.

Cleansing, healing, calming, re-centering are words and deeds I must become intimately familar with. Sounds a little too "Jack Handy's Deep Thoughts," perhaps. Sometimes a corn dog is a symbol of fear, a sign of self loathing, a lack of appreciation and a profound imbalance. Sometimes, just sometimes, a corn dog is just a corn dog.

Just Call Me Crazy Stage Mom

2009-08-28T09:54:00.000-05:00

It's official. I've fallen in love. I'm declaring it to the world today. This is not just some passing fancy or silly crush. Nope. I'm head over heels and seriously obsessed. My husband knows about it too. He's not upset. He understands. These things happen. The fact that I have found this love does not diminish the adoration I have for my dear husband, no not in the least. What can I say? I love my dog! He's just THE best little puppy . . . so cute, so cuddly, so devilishly smart and, of course, extremely naughty.

Last weekend, found us hanging by a local lake with one of our Besties, J-Hawk. Chilling on the shore, people watching and kickin it provided ample photo opportunities. J-Hawk has this sweet camera and amazing eye so she got to snapping. Ahhhhh, little Ozymandias, how adorable, right?

I'm going to investigate puppy modeling agencies cuz this guy needs to be in magazines, on billboards, gracing the front of various dog food packages, perhaps on the cover of Dog Fancy magazine . . . seriously. He's gonna be a star. I hope I don't become like one of those whack job stage mothers who pimp out their children and get all Joan Crawford "no more wire hangers" on them. That would be bad. I just want to see my boy realize his dream of super fame, riches and what not.

OK, that reminds me. Did anyone seen the movie Bruno this summer? If you did, you can appreciate the comment about Stage Mothers. There is a particular scene where Bruno is casting for little children to take part in this offensive commercial. As he explains the premise of the video to the would-be child stars' moms and dads, the plot gets stranger and stranger. He asks things like "so, your child would be dressed up as a Nazi and torturing another child with a sword while flames are surrounding him. Would that be ok.?" All the parents are like "oh, sure. That is fine." WHAT?!? Although Bruno (aka Sasha Baron Cohen) may not be everyone's cup of tea, he sure does know how to put a spotlight on some of our society's more insane habits and practices. Love it.

But I digress. Anyone know the name of a good agent so I can get my dog into some Hollywood movies?

Dining Out

2009-08-16T23:18:00.000-05:00

As many of my loyal (3 of you) blog readers know, I occasionally like to check out new dining establishments, take pictures and offer up my reviews. This weekend, in between running errands and lazing about, I had the opportunity to try three new spots in the Twin Cities.

On Friday night, the hubby and I had a date night of sorts. We wanted sushi and just happened to have a $50 gift card to Tiger Sushi 2 in Minneapolis. About a month ago, we attended a SidewalkDog.com sponsored 'sushi with your poochie' event at Tiger Sushi 2. Upon arrival at this dog-tastic shin-dig, we were greeted with the news that we won a gift card. Yippee!! The patio just happened to be overrun with dogs and their owners -- it was wall to wall yips and yaps and not an open seat to be found. Sadly, this meant we did not get any sushi with our poochie. Well, this weekend we went back. I had read some mixed reviews about the place online, but came in with an open mind and empty stomach. Tuna Tataki tacos were yummy but my crunchy salmon and tuna roll was . . . well, it smelled kinda fishy. Mr. Oz enjoyed his sushi combo platter, but wasn't blown away by the freshness. All in all, it was a fine meal and I might go back for happy hour or something.

The ginger infused martini was superb though! Delicious.

On Saturday, we hit this new frozen yogurt place in our hood. Freeziac is the first of its kind in the Twin Cities. Patterned after the popular west coast chains, Pinkberry and Yogurtland, this place is a veritable cornucopia of flavors and add-your-own toppings. They boast a selection of about 8 yogurt flavors with a mix of both tart and sweet varieties. You grab your cup and fill 'er up. Next you can add a wide array of crunch toppings, fruits and sauces to make your treat complete. The yogurt is weighed and you pay by the ounce. It's not cheap, but it is oh-so-delectable and refreshing. I high recommend Freeziac. I'll probably be there at least once a week doing my part to keep the place in business.

Finally, today my friend Jess and I had dinner at the latest contestent vying for the title of 'Worlds' Greatest Hamburger Joint.' Smashburger in Golden Valley, MN has been open for several months now. There's been some talk of it in the local press. Of course, I had to check it out. When we arrived, luckily the line wasn't too long. A few short minutes and we had placed our order and nabbed a table. Just as our food arrived, the line grew and trailed out the door and half way around the block. So here's the good and the bad about Smashburger:

Pros:
If you are a fan of In & Out Burger, you'd like Smashburger. The flavor and portion size reminded me of the infamous West Coast chain quite a bit.

I ordered the Twin Cities Smashburger and Smash Fries. What the place lacks in imaginative product naming, it makes up for in taste. This burger was awesome! The meat piles out over the sides of the bun, cheese dripping so much I had to switch over to a fork and knife tactic before I was even half way through.

Smash fries are yummy.

Cons:
The dining room is not necessarily configured in the best way. The order line cuts a perfect swathe through the middle of the restaurant in such an awkward way. Patrons hover over you as you eat making you feel very claustrophobic. It's really quite annoying.

The prices are a little high. I had a burger, fries and root beer for a little over $11. I suppose it beats gourmet restaurant prices, but for all the cramped and claustrophia vibes, I'd expect under $10 to be more appropriate.

This concludes my impromptu restaurant review. I'm no James Beard, but hey, I also don't charge my dear friends (readers?) a subscription fee for my pearls of dining wisdom. Eat at your own risk people.

The Rumor of My Demise Has Been Exaggerated

2009-08-13T22:01:00.000-05:00

No, I didn't drop off the face of the planet. I'm still here. Alive and kickin it old school since 1972. It may seem as if I've abandoned my post. Little Ozy the wonder pup has been occupying a great deal of my time these days. Man, he's a handful. We have dubbed him the Boston Terrorist due to his high energy and obsessive, compulsive disorder when it comes to shoe laces, pant legs, shoes, leaves, magazines, dirty clothes . . . basically anything he can fit in his mouth. On a related note, he's developed a hankering, how shall I say this, a mad frenzied and abnormally focused taste for the cat poop (otherwise known as kitty snickers). GROSS. I know!! He cannot get enough. Apparently, once you try it, your hooked -- well, at least if you are a puppy.

Don't worry. We are on the case. Mr. Oz and I have stepped up our game significantly. Diligently we guard against the fiendish cat poop eating behavior. We've become much more frequent kitty litter box scoopers. Mostly we keep the door to the litter box room closed whenever the puppy is roaming free in the household. We bar him from the space using a cleverly devised system of baby gates, zip lines, counter leevers and pullies. Well, mostly just the baby gates, but I REALLY like the visual of a fully rigged up townhouse.

This whole thing has not been easy for the two cats. They are seriously bummed by the presence of the bitty canine rampager. Spencer, our debilitated, slow, fat cat, cannot get away fast enough. Ozy pounces on him, batting and barking, jumping to and fro in a crazy kind of doggy, devil dance. Spencer mounts a meager resistance, occasionally tapping Ozy on the head with his declawed paw. Sad. The good news is Ozy quickly tires of Spencer due to his general lack of engagement. Sophie, on other hand, holds extreme fascination for Ozy. Sophie is our lithe, vocal, dominant diva cat. She's the boss. Well, Ozy is quite territorial. Whenever Sophie is near, it is on like Donkey Kong. Ozy lunges and barks out amplified aggression. Sophie responds with big hisses and growls. Ozy moves forward. Sophie jumps the baby gate and taunts from the other side. It's enough to make a peace loving animal owner want to run away. Calgon, take me away!

Sigh.

Since bringing home our cute little pup, I've developed my own slight obsession. I wouldn't liken it to be on par with Ozy's desire for cat poo, but it might be pretty close. I am completely into Cesar Milan, otherwise known as The Dog Whisperer. That guy's got mad skills. I want to do what Cesar does. He rehabilitates dogs; he trains people "I am the Dog Whisperer." Love him. What I find, as I watch Cesar perform his miracles, is the overlap between dog psychology and human psychology. In the pack driven world of dogs, someone is always trying to establish dominance. In the absence of dominance, there is chaos and crazy. The goal is calm submissive state. People are like this to. They want to be led. Without clear leadership, everything goes to hell. With leadership, things are relaxed and seemingly effortless. This, of course, assumes the leadership is fair and just and not some insane dictator out for blood. Good luck with that, I say. Like dogs, people are motivated by "treats." We need to feel like we have a purpose and balance work and play. Dogs too need to feel they've worked for something before they are rewarded. Maybe I should write a book about how people are like dogs and tie it to organizational psychology. Hmmmm . . . OR, maybe not. But, it's kinda fun to think about.

We have enrolled in puppy class. I'm hoping I'll learn how to channel my inner pack leader and be more like Cesar. In the meantime, no more kitty snickers for Ozy. Bad doggy. Bad.

Social Media is the New Punk

2009-07-19T13:46:00.001-05:00

Social Media is the New Punk

Posted using ShareThis

Lego My Alter Ego

2009-06-12T22:21:00.000-05:00

I want an alter ego. Beyonce has Sasha Fierce. Sasha is Beyonce's stage persona when she wants to get all crazy and aggressive. Offstage, Beyonce is mild mannered and sweet. Onstage, Sasha is a bat out of hell. Sasha wears a titanium glove on one hand. It is very robotic. It is fierce. I want to be fierce. I want a titanium glove for my hand so people stare and wonder if I'm part machine because I'm so damn fierce. When I'm at work, I could be fierce. When I'm at home, not fierce. I like it.

Remember Garth Brook's alter ego, Chris Gaines? Chris Gaines was Garth's alternative rocker side. According to his 'fictional biography' Christian Gaines was born 10 August 1967, dropped out of high school to form a band called Crush, remained dormant for several years after the death of the band's lead singer, released his first solo album, Straight Jacket, won four Grammys, was involved in a serious car accident in 1992, had numerous plastic surgeries and remained reclusive until the release of his last studio album Triangle in 1996.

WTF?!?

Why is it that only celebrities can have alter egos? When non-celebrities adopt alternate personalities, they are labeled schizophrenic, psychologically unstable and just plain old coo koo. Right? Yet, for celebs its just another day at the office. Enough. I'm not having it anymore. From now on, everybody gets another personality. There will be no ridicule, no scorn, no interventions and trips to see the doctor to procure brain softening medicines. If you want to be a robot handed, laser-pointer obsessed, slicked back hair, super freak with a ninja complex . . . go for it! Whatever floats your boat I say. As for me, I'm still working through the details of my alter ego. The fictional biography is in process. Where was my alter ego born? What were my fictional parents like? How did I become who I am today? Tough stuff creating a totally new person who is me, but really isn't me.

I can tell you one thing. My alter ego does not do dishes, she doesn't clean toilets or do laundry or any of that domestic caretaking. She stays up all night, hangs with the wrong crowd, never plans. She doesn't feel guilt or worry. She's fearless. She's bad ass.

I'm Back

2009-06-11T21:01:00.000-05:00

It's been a long time since I wrote anything here. Not going to do a laundry list of reasons. No excuses. I've received some hate mail and threats (you know who you are!). My brother says that everyday I don't blog, the terrorists win. Dammit. I didn't know my blog posts were a vital part of keeping America safe and our freedoms intact. If only someone would have told me sooner I may have been able to stop some of the atrocities our nation has faced in the recent years. Or . . . maybe not. I mean, could I really have stopped George Bush from being elected president all by myself? Probably not.

I guess I just haven't felt inspired. My Mojo went on hiatus. As I reflect upon the lack of muse, I come to the conclusion that I've been feeling a bit complacent these days. This, compounded with new puppy frenzy in the household, is keeping me from rambling on and on and on here.

So, I'll start with some puppy photos and stories. We'll take it from there.

We picked little Ozymandias up from Brian's Bostons on Friday, May 22. It was a perfect day for a road trip through Wisconsin. Our little baby boy Boston greeted us happily at the door, tearing across the living room carpet, plopping down a stair and skidding across the hard wood floor. He immediately gave us wet, puppy licks and kisses. So cute! We fell in love instantly. He had us at hello. The 4+ hour ride back home was a little rough at first. Ozy wanted to climb up and around everything, look out the windows and wriggle around. Once I realized this was not going to work, in his little doggy crate condo he went. From there on out it was smooth napping.

It's been almost three weeks since we got the little guy. Our days have been filled with potty training -- going poopy outside = unbridled enthusiasm and peanut butter flavored liver treats. YUM! We also manage to fit in some play time, food time, cuddle time and nap time. Mostly Ozy likes to chew on things. He LOVES shoes, my hair, our hands and feet, shirts, pants (any clothing really), bags. You name it, he'll chew it. Little did I realize . . . new puppies have razor sharp, piranha teeth. Ouch. I'm trying to channel my inner Cesar Milan, be the pack leader and stop the naughty chewing. So far, my efforts are somewhat weak. Mr. Oz is definitely the pack leader and I'm a mere lackey to his authority. Little Ozy knows this and plays upon my weakness. Sigh. No respect.

So, the puppy is growing like a weed and happy as a lark. Unless, of course, you try to stop him from enjoying a biting frenzy. Then he barks and huffs and goes ballistic. Tough life being a pampered pooch.

The other day I was listening to my XM radio in my car ride home from work. Some talk show was offering self-help advice and one of the topics stuck me right in the ribs. The host asked one of the callers what new thing they had learned that day. A day without learning something new, she said, is a day without food or water. Hmmmm. This made me consider how many teaching moments I encounter each day and I simply don't take the time or attention to notice. I decided to take a few moments at the end of each day to ask myself the simple question: what did I learn today?

I've definitely been learning a lot about puppies. There is all kinds of behavioral psychology going on when trying to train an animal. We are getting a lot further with the positive reinforcement of the good behavior than the negative impunity with the bad behavior. Love trumps anger. I am learning to set aside my frustrations when Ozy has an accident in the house, or chews something that he shouldn't. He's just a puppy and doesn't know any better. His instinct is to bite stuff. He doesn't know how or why he should warn me when he needs to go potty. Patience is a virtue. I'm trying. We are learning a lot about each other, Ozy and I.

Today I learned a soft voice and even temper are more likely to be heard than a loud, blaring siren. I learned to take a breath before proceeding, to look before I leap, to relish the joy which combusts when kids and puppies meet. I learned to give the benefit of the doubt and a large coffee in the morning won't always cure a case of the tireds. I learned to stay out of the way of someone when they are obviously having a bad day. Oh yeah, and I learned that my blog posts are a weapon in the war on terror. I'm a patriot dammit. Go USA!

Summer Tunes

2009-05-14T20:31:00.000-05:00

I drove home from work tonight with my windows down and sun roof open. A chill in the air and a brisk wind whippin did not stop me from enjoying the sunshine and promise of summer. I cranked the radio as I sped along the highway and realized my playlists are tired and worn out. They need to be rejuvenated and refreshed. I'm talking about a little mix of chilled out sweet escape & tranquility spiced up with a dash of dance frenzy and wicked 100+ degree beat blasting ear assaulting business. I consulted the online oracles. Prompt downloading and Itunes purchasing ensued.

This stuff will rock you fer schure!! Not in any particular order . . .

Single Ladies - Beyonce

I See You Baby - Groove Armada
Superstylin - Groove Armada
** You might as well get the whole damn album, The Best of: Groove Armada, and save yourself the trouble **

Out of Space - The Prodigy

House of Jealous Lovers - The Rapture

Tainted Love - Soft Cell

One More Time - Daft Punk

Poker Face - Lady GaGa

Paper Planes - M.I.A.

Electric Feel - MGMT

Business Time - Flight of the Conchords
Hurt Feelings - Flight of the Conchords

Rites of Spring

2009-05-05T22:29:00.000-05:00

Spring is definitely in full swing here in the upper Midwest. And with the advent of any seasonal shift there are rites, rituals and traditions that must be attended to. You don't want to anger the gods of the equinox, right? Ok, I just made that up, but whatev.

First, there is Spring Break. A time honored rite of passage involving debauched antics and general mayhem. Now, I feel I'm a bit too old to partake in the typical Spring Break activities Daytona Beach style. We all have to make sacrifices and mine just happen to be no more wet t-shirt contests (cough). Instead, Mr. Oz and I took a few days and hit the West Coast for some rest and relaxation. Orange County is beautiful in the Spring so we hit the beaches and found a few patches of sun. Actually, we both got a sunburn. Must remember the SPF 50 next time. We celebrated our one year of marital bliss by strolling down the Huntington Beach pier, taking in the surf and sand, shopping, hanging out with some great friends, In & Out Burger, Newport Beach harbor tour, Yogurtland, Disneyland, more strolling, romantic anniversary dinner and then back home again. It was excellent!

The next ritual is Spring Cleaning. Yep. Gotta scour, scrub and sweep the casa until it sparkles and shines. Call me crazy, but I do get a sense of pleasure from a clean house. The problem is the house never quite stays clean. I think 2009 is the year when the Oz's invest in a house cleaner. Anybody have any recommendations?

For me, the next ritual on my list is walking around one of our wonderful 10,000 lakes. This weekend I did just that with my pal Laura. She and I met up early Saturday morning and hit the trail around Lake Calhoun. I had to bring my camera to document some of the Spring awesomeness! The weather was perfect. Sunshine, a slight breeze, the right amount of "crisp" in the air, the fragrant mix of budding trees and new grass filled the air. Renewal, life and new beginnings . . . I love Spring!

The tree in front of our house is budding out with these gorgeous pinkish, purple flowers. I think it is a flowering crab tree, but I'm not sure. I'm not a horticulturalist in real life but I do play one on television. Check it out:

Makes me wonder why we save our resolutions for the New Year. Why don't we make resolutions in the Spring when newness abounds and nature is getting off to a fresh start? Wouldn't that make more sense than making promises in the cold, dead of winter? I'm just sayin.

Speaking of new birth. Here is an updated picture of Ozy. The little guy is 4 weeks old. Only 3 more weeks and he'll be coming home.

Saying No Is Like Butter Fat

2009-04-19T16:20:00.000-05:00

Gearing up for our 1 year anniversary trip to southern California. I could not be more ready to get away and enjoy some time relaxing. It has been a hectic couple of months and, as it usually goes in times like these, balance desperately needs to be restored. Nothing quite like a get-away to kick start the restoration.

In the past I've used this forum to declare my renewed dedication to health & wellness. Have to admit both the health and the wellness have recently taken a backseat to stress. Working long hours, poor food choices, restless sleep and sporadic exercise has taken its toll. It's just not worth it. Sometimes I wonder what drives me to get into these situations, but a need to please and take on too much is definitely at the top of the list. Learning to say no can be a challenge but one that has many rewards. By placing self-imposed limitations, things become pretty darn clear and priorities tend to rise to the top like butter fat separating from milk. Mmmmmmm ... butter fat. You know what they do with butter fat, don't you? They put it in ice cream. Yep. Deliciously tempting, decadently rich and sweet, ice cream. I'm not talking about the cheap, imitation stuff either. This would be the good stuff. The ice cream that coats the inside of your mouth and tongue with a uniquely satisfying velvety feel of buttery goodness. Ice cream. Another thing I need to say NO to. No. No. No.

So, every time you get a request to take on another project, volunteer for yet ANOTHER fund raising event at your kids' school, work on the weekend, take a trip with your third cousin (twice removed), sign up for that store credit card so you can get the 15% off your purchase THAT DAY, help your neighbor overhaul his transmission . . . just ask yourself two questions 1) What is your intention in taking on this activity/task/request? In other words, why are you saying "yes"? 2) Assuming your motives are positive and not stemming from a sense of guilt or burden, ask yourself what you, personally, will get out of the experience? Will it help you grow? Develop yourself in someway? Enrich your spirit? Bring joy to your life? If the answer is no, then I think you should say NO. Is this selfish? Is it wrong? Maybe. I think saying "no" more often, might just be the most unselfish thing you can do. Imagine the time you would have left over to give your loved ones? Your kids? Your spouse? Time for yourself to renew and recharge?

Saying no doesn't mean you don't care about people and their needs. It doesn't mean you are a lazy slacker. Quite often, it can simply mean, you are putting yourself, or the needs of those closest to you, first.

What do you think? Is saying "No" more often a good thing or no?

Now, I will leave you with these questions and this . . .

Updated picture of little Ozy. His eyes are open but look a little glazed and hazy. I'm sure the world is one big blur to him. As each day passes, we are even more excited to get him home!

Could you say 'no' to a face like this? I don't think so.

Birth Announcement

2009-04-09T21:53:00.000-05:00

Pictures of the new Boston Terrier pup -- Ozymandias Osborne -- otherwise known as Ozy. Yes, Ozy Osborne! Lil Ozy was born on Monday, April 6. Happy belated birthday puppy! We are so excited to bring you home on May 22nd! This weekend will definitely include some puppy prep work. Need to get a crate, bed, food & water dishes and toys, right??

Hopefully we'll get occasional picture updates, so keep checking back to be overwhelmed by the adorable cuteness.

Forcing Spring To Show Itself

2009-04-05T18:11:00.000-05:00

You wouldn't know it was Spring by looking outside my window this morning. There was snow on the ground. Yes, snow . . . snow in April. Oh, it's been known to happen around these parts. So sad. I decided that if Spring wasn't going to come to MN, then I would just find Spring and bring it to me, by force if necessary. First things first, a little Spring cleaning. Sweeping, dusting, scrubbing. While to the untrained eye my cleaning tactics may have resembled a usual set of household chores, it was, indeed, Spring cleaning. Why? Because I labeled it as Spring Cleaning and once you slap a label on something it just IS. Harumph.

Next, I hauled myself over to the local market and picked up some sunny, bright, colorful and Spring-tastic tulips.

For me, tulips are a tried and true sign of Spring. Once you see their lovely green shoots poking through the still semi-frozen ground, you know Spring has sprung.

Now the next activity may not sit right with everyone out there. But, I feel full disclosure is in order. It is MY truth dammit and let the chips fall where they may, I say. So desperate for warmth and sunlight, I took my pasty and pallid self to Catch-A-Tan and nabbed a little artificial sunshine. Ok, Ok, before you start sending me comments about the health risks of UV rays, just know that I don't hit the tanning beds on a regular basis AND I only exposed myself to a mere 6 minutes of the evil death rays. These 6 minutes were glorious and hot. And, while I lay baking under the artificial light I let my mind drift to images and hopes of a real Spring . . . the kind that doesn't involve grocery store tulips and fake sun. Sigh.

April Fool's Horoscope

2009-04-02T20:39:00.001-05:00

A long time ago, in a weak moment, I must have signed up for a daily horoscope service. Ever since, I've gotten an email each day foretelling how I should think, act and feel in that 24 hour period. Mostly I ignore these messages and delete without opening. There is just so much junk mail a person can handle in a single sitting. Delete is my friend. Plus, I like to roll the dice. Livin la vida loca, baby. But, once in a while I play a little game with myself. I see the horoscope flashing brightly in my inbox but choose not to read it UNTIL the next day. That's right . . . I throw caution to the wind, live my life and THEN read about what I SHOULD have done. Thumbing my nose at the Fates, I blindly choose free will over, well, cheesy predictions.

Here was my horoscope for yesterday:

Your horoscope for April 1, 2009 Friends, neighbors and relatives could be feeling especially stressed out and explosive today, so this is not a good day to initiate intense communications with them. Keep your conversations with others light and inconsequential. This is a great day to stay home and read, especially since your mind is particularly receptive to unusual ideas. The Internet, as well as videos and TV documentaries could be most informative.

Whew. Good think I did not initiate any intense communications yesterday, right? I wonder if this horoscope meant to say "You could be feeling especially stressed out and explosive today?" Cuz I was all angst-ridden and crab-a-licious yesterday. Unfortunately, I did not watch any videos or TV documentaries which, apparently, could have helped me regain my calm composure. Videos and the World Wide Web (Ted Stevens says it's a series of tubes, ahem) might have sparked "unusual thoughts." Hmmmmm. Would these unusual thoughts been happy thoughts or angry, depressing thoughts? The vague use of the word "unusual" seems to be a huge ass cop out on the part of the horoscope writer. "Unusual" could be good or bad, no? I wonder if watching a documentary about government endorsed torture programs or global warming or serial killers would have calmed the apparent stress eminating from the friends, family and neighbors surrounding me?

Also, I think this horoscope needs to be a little more specific when it endorses videos. I mean, I could have hopped online and watched the Chocolate Rain dude on YouTube over and over again. Would my horoscope knowingly recommend such activities? Not if my horoscope really cared about me, it wouldn't.