I was never born with a silver spoon in my mouth or I guess in my case a pair of silver chopsticks. Each year, there are approximately 3.8 million trees that are used to manufacture of about 57 billion
disposable pairs of chopsticks in China, according to statistics from
that nation’s national forest bureau. Yikes that's a lot of trees!
On my last trip away, I followed the lead of a friend and bought myself a pair of portable stainless steel chopsticks for all the sushi I love to eat!
Many of my friends enjoy food....they are self defined foodies and I myself enjoy delicious food especially in the company of my friends!
Food plus the love of food was the inspiration for these stainless steel dessert spoons that I created over the holidays. Each spoon is hand stamped with the word 'love' in a different languages.
No matter what the language it is in ....or what the dessert will be, it's all to be enjoyed!
Do the earth a favor an in the new year bring your own chopsticks when you go out for Asian cuisine!
Liu Xiaohang, Greenpeace
Students in Beijing assemble a “disposable forest” to highlight the deforestation issue.
As we are closing in on another year I'm reflecting on what kind of year it's been. What are some great learnings this year? What made an impression on me? What will I change from this year forward?
It's a meter of measure once a year...but everyday is a great adventure! It feels...almost complete. There is always one more thing...one more adventure one more project to pursue - one more day.
Sometimes people focus on all the bad, all the horrible things that are happening in the world, the crisis, trauma and pain. Some people will complain about anything and everything.
Don't get me wrong we all get dismayed at times, the world dishes out some terrible things some days.
My memories are about the things that make me laugh and smile. The wonderful people that are in my life. Through it all life is good...
My Mom was recycling and reusing before I even knew what 'being green,' was all about. We used to try to be very cognizant with what we were using or if we were being wasteful. I know there is SO much more that I can do and everyone can to be more green in our lives.
Yummers!
I'm on another 'green' mission...this one is more so with health and fitness. The weather has cooled off and I find myself being more 'couch potato-ish' than active. It seems like I need to shake up my my habits and replace my eating/fitness routine with some new ones.
My Daily Green Drink
Spinach was always Popeye's elixir and I've found myself drinking a smoothie concoction myself everyday! It's my new food fitness trend. High in fiber, low calories and rich in vitamins!
In a blender, I mix a variation of ingredients. Sometimes I really mix it up, but usually it's either a leafy green, spinach or kale, with a fruit variety (pineapples, mango, orange, or apples), juice from either half a lemon or a lime and topped off with 2 TBSP of hemp seeds then it's either ice or almond milk. Options: I have added ginger root or cucumber, sometimes even a red pepper.
Every year my friends and I get together to celebrate the beginning of fall and to share a meal together. Usually, the meals are from our summer gardens and we create these amazing dishes from our garden harvest.
This year my garden was meager in it's offerings and not as robust as years before, however, we did have a harvest dinner and some of my friends harvested from their gardens while others like myself, harvested from the local markets.
We had a number of offering from our friends. I'm taken the liberty to name some of these <friend you are certainly invited to rename your dish if you like ;o) >
Pina Salsa for the Chirozo & Roasted Chicken Quesadillas
Naranja Janga Salad
Conan the Bavarian Apple Torte
Put the Pinas on the Colada
Our meal was delish! We also had a skype in guest and a surprise visitor which was WONDERFUL!
How much I enjoy just eating and 'breakin' bread,' with my friends.
It's my version of 'Chuck's Day Off,' the show on FoodTV where this chef takes a day off to cook for his friends. My friends brought wonder dishes! Thanks friends! We will do this again!
It is surrounded by mountains, rainforests and the ocean and known many names. God's country, Metro Van, salt water city but in all it's a urban adventure full of discovery. It has been over two decades since I've lived there and yet it seems like only yesterday with my rediscovery of the city where my career started.
There were so many things to see and revisit, Gastown, Chinatown, Granville Island, English Bay....and Kits. Walking, biking, sailing... Every turn seemed like my memory banks were on overdrive!
I had very little when I first lived there and made even less, yet it was one of the BEST times in my life!
"The greatest inspiration is often born of desperation." - Comer Cotrell
I spent a lot of time on the beaches learning to play guitar. It was a great way to spend an evening and watch the sunset. Walking through my old stomping grounds I was elated and thrilled to be there again. My friend laughed at me as I hollered out memories like a person with uncontrollable turrets!
Negitoro-
Chopped albacore tuna belly, spring onions and toasted garlic bread
Go West...Magnetic West
Is it the air? The energy? The water? Great friends and family? Yes all of it - plus the food.
The food there was FANTASTIC! It is foodie's paradise! I remember how I fell in love with Sashimi and sushi when I first moved to Van and it grew from there.
We ate and walked and ate and walked. It was the best Van dining I've had in a long long time.
The steak breakfast was REALLY GOOD! Yummy!
This one is dedicated to my WEST END friend :o) Thank you!
A couple years back i was hooked on thin crust pizzas made in wood burning ovens. I had enjoyed them in Italy and Peru and wanted to recreate that delectable treat in my home oven. It was disappointing only to find that my home oven probably wasn't hot enough.
I even searched online for solutions to disconnect the thermometer of the electric stove so I could get the 'right' temperature for the perfect pie!
There was a NY pizza pie fanatic who posted step by step instructions on his blog. It was a bit extreme and for obvious reasons I didn't do it.
Then there was the fleeting thought of building a cob oven! A friend of mine is a chef and he seems to like it! It looked easy enough....but where would I put it? and what would the neighbors think?
Maybe when I live on my 'hobby farm' or the 'beach house' on the ocean...yes, that's when I'll build one.
Sure there are numerous places I could go and enjoy pizza made in a wood burning oven, but it's not the same as making it yourself!
I use a super hot pizza stone by letting it heat up in my oven set to 550 degrees. Working
quickly with the dough, the sauce and the toppings I slip the pie in the oven for about 5 minutes watching closely sitting next to my oven tv.
It's very satisfying to enjoy a homemade hot
pizza pie from the oven!
For the last two weeks, I've been relocating ladybugs that have found their way into my home and gingerly transported them back to the great outdoors. I haven't really noticed them until this fall. Do they come out in volumes in the fall? Are they taking vacay in my warm house? They are certainly welcome to visit!
I know that in many cultures, ladybugs are a sign of good luck and prosperity. Ladybugs free you from your day to day problems.
The scientific name for a ladybug is Coccinellidae. Apparently the dots on the back of a ladybug signify how old the lady is....wow....didn't know that!
Ginger
Nope, not talking about Prince Harry or the moviestar from Gilligan's Island (p.s. one of the best shows e-va!) It's about the plant. The rhizome that I adore. Every year, I'm trying something new and this year it's growing Gin-Ga! Ginger ginger!
I started to grow ginger as my new fall project. It was something I read about and curious to see if it was possible. They said it would take 10 months! Lo and behold, it's only been a few weeks and I have sprouts! http://www.tropicalpermaculture.com/growing-ginger.html
Everyone at work is thinking about the flu shot....this is the first year I'm thinking no flu shot and sticking to some natural remedies. Ginger has antiseptic qualities and are known to provide an immunity and natural protection.
I'm still not sure how I will 'harvest' the plant or just let it grow grow grow!
Mmmmm.....what next? Ginger ale?
Well, I'm working on a avocado pod....I'll let you know how that works out.
It's not often that we have the opportunity to see a genius in our lifetime. I'm sure there are many of them out there. People that may seem eccentric, driven, sometimes obsessed with a search.
I think Steve Jobs was a brilliant visionary that had so much to offer. We owe much to his inventions, he leadership and fearless motivation. I've been thinking much of what he's accomplished in such a short time. I remember his first computer.
Some of these excerpts are a collection from my friends posts.
In Honor of Steve Jobs who passed away....What an amazing and inspirational man he lived to be. Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma-which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
Jobs’ memorable Stanford speech:
"When I was young, there was an amazing publication called The Whole Earth Catalog,
which was one of the bibles of my generation. It was created by a
fellow named Stewart Brand not far from here in Menlo Park, and he
brought it to life with his poetic touch. This was in the late 1960′s,
before personal computers and desktop publishing, so it was all made
with typewriters, scissors, and polaroid cameras. It was sort of like Google in paperback form, 35 years before Google came along: it was idealistic, and overflowing with neat tools and great notions.
Stewart and his team put out several issues of The Whole Earth Catalog,
and then when it had run its course, they put out a final issue. It was
the mid-1970s, and I was your age. On the back cover of their final
issue was a photograph of an early morning country road, the kind you
might find yourself hitchhiking on if you were so adventurous. Beneath
it were the words: “Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.” It was their farewell
message as they signed off. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. And I have always
wished that for myself. And now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish
that for you."
All over the news today, they were talking about the NASA satellite falling from space and about to enter the atmosphere tomorrow. It's supposedly the size of a school bus and could break up into a zillion pieces when it enters the atmosphere and showers down to earth. They still can't pin down where it will fall...but it's not north america...whew!
Mmm...to be hit by a piece of the satellite, I wonder what the odds are? The odds are small but how small.
There was a woman, Lottie Williams, who claimed she has been hit by a piece of space junk in the past. Imagine that!!
Not to worry, according to Mark Matney, a scientist in the Orbital Debris Program
Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, the odds that any of
the 7 billion people on Earth will be struck by a piece of the soon-to-fall satellite is 1 in 3,200. "The odds that you will be hit … are 1 in several trillion," Matney said. "So, quite low for any particular person."
I've always admired Anderson Cooper and his courageous journalism for CNN and Anderson 360. The places he had traveled to and the stories and images that he has brought to the world are incredible.
I was watching the new Anderson Cooper talk show this week and he interviewed his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt. I didn't even know that she was his mother!
Gloria Vanderbilt has endured a fascinating life. She is an iconic heiress, a painter, actor, must, designer, model, writer, entrepreneur and a survivor. There are a number of people I would admire for their grace and GV would have to be added to that list.
September is always a time when we slow down get ready to go back to school. The evenings are cooler and we start gather our harvest and prepare to hibernate. This September has been extremely warm! We have enjoyed plus 30 temperatures and it seems like summer is finally here!
September 12, 2011 was the Moon Festival and my family were all together on the weekend to enjoy a meal together and celebrate. Probably only second to Chinese New Years this holiday is very significant in Asian culture.
Our family have our own harvest festival, usually in the gathering of apples and the production of apple pies...factory style! Every fall we pick apples from my Dad's two apple trees and make a dozen or more pies, peel apples and freeze them for future apple crisps and other delights. This year the young nephews were also taking part and learning about how to make Mom's special pies.
Every once in a while I re-evaluate my eating habits and search for new ideas. This was an article that I came across which I thought was an interesting experiment for a family seeking to eat healthier.
I do go vegetarian at least one day a week with my 'meatless Mondays.' Consume fresh fruit, red peppers and veggies for snacks throughout the day and drink copius amounts of green tea and water.
I'm considering trying this Leake family experiment. I've have to think it through a bit more... and see if it's doable.
The Leake Family Experiment
In an effort to force themselves to consume more cautiously, the Leake family set some temporary guidelines: no refined grains or sweeteners, nothing deep fried, only local hormone-free meats and organic fruits and veggies and absolutely nothing out of a box, can, bag, bottle or package with more than five ingredients listed on the label.
In a 13x9-inch baking dish, to make the brine, whisk zest, lime juice, vinegar, sugar, salt, chile, and adobo sauce until blended.
Remove peel from jicama with a large knife. Cut jicama into 3/4-inch-thick slabs, and cut slabs into 3- to 4-inch sticks. Place in brine, turning sticks to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 6 hours, up to 1 day.
To serve, remove sticks from brine and sprinkle with cilantro, if desired.
Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.
Over a year ago, I was interested in making a penny stove. It is light, portable and extremely efficient in fuel usage. I scoured my "youtube university" and found many versions of the popcan stove alias penny stove. I had polished the can with such vigor that I could see my reflection on the surface. The one I made looked a bit more like a flying UFO.
The portability of the stove would make it a 'no brainer' for cyclist, hikers and just the typical weekend warrior. Some people have vowed that they have traveled Europe and over week long backpacking trips with this little portable gem. I haven't tried that yet...but it was still a great invention and fun to make!
It would only take a couple tablespoons of fuel to make tea for two. People have cooked full meals with this stove. I pulled out the stove tonight and set it a blazed! Works like a charm! I totally forgot about it until today!
We are moved when we see someone hurting, suffering, or feel compassion for people we don't know at all. We have seen evidence of people who will risk their lives for others, for another living creature or for someone they hardly know at all. The seed of kindness and compassion is hardwired in us all.
Reaching out and connecting with our others is how we will survive. Nurturing our relationships that provide emotional and physical well-being brings deeper meaning to our lives.
Cooperation, collaboration and compassion is also the basis for survival of other species in nature.
The out pour of emotion and compassion for Jack Layton from Canadians this past week has been is insurmountable. We believed in his dream, his honestly and passion. I was moved by his compassion.
We are not judged by what we do, where you've been,...what you own or where we live. We will be remembered by our compassion, our relationships and our humanity.
Sometimes you hear about something or meet someone who makes you re-think what you do or what you know. In our society, competition, getting ahead, is the message for success. Real success not about competition but about compassion. In nature, species who collaborate and cooperate are the species who succeed. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=forget-survival-of-the-fittest
When I was flying back a few weeks back I caught 'Soul Surfer' on the plane. I had wanted to see this flick but not one wanted to see it with me. They said, 'girl surfer goes surfing, loses arm to shark, gets back on board, surfs again....don't need to go see it!" Anyhow, I did enjoy it and it was the start of a surfing movie marathon!
I just saw 'Northshore' and even though it's a bit dated (1987), the story line weak, it features some of the best surfers. Okay, I admit, it was full of cheese!!
I chuckled at the surfer neon gear but loved the idea of making a board and learning to surf. I'm totally amped about the art and the design of boards. It also made mention of understanding or reading a wave, (part science, part art) which is also in a book I'm reading called 'The Wave' by Susan Casey.
Another film I saw again was 'Blue Crush'...LOVED this film! It was GREAT!
The Fitness Test
When I was in grade school we would annually do this Canadian Fitness test and I always struggled with the flexed arm hang section. It's also the name of a band that my print making instructor played in.
I'll have to find a bar to 'test' my flexed arm hang abilities but I did find another test.
After a few weeks away on a fantastic vacay of hiking, climbing and relaxation I'm back sitting at my job day in and day out. Trying to keep the fitness up!
Tonight I decided I would get back into fitness and tried a number of self tests. I'm in the 'good' level for this one (military style)...whew!
Pushups for Men and Women
How many can you do? Men should use the standard "military style" pushup position with only the hands and the toes touching the floor. Women have the additional option of using the "bent knee" position. To do this, kneel on the floor, hands on either side of the chest and keep your back straight. Do as many push ups as possible until exhaustion. Count the total number of pushups performed. Use the chart below to find out how you rate.
Push Up Test (Men)
Age
17-19
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-65
Excellent
> 56
> 47
> 41
> 34
> 31
> 30
Good
47-56
39-47
34-41
28-34
25-31
24-30
Above average
35-46
30-39
25-33
21-28
18-24
17-23
Average
19-34
17-29
13-24
11-20
9-17
6-16
Below average
11-18
10-16
8-12
6-10
5-8
3-5
Poor
4-10
4-9
2-7
1-5
1-4
1-2
Very Poor
< 4
< 4
< 2
0
0
0
Push Up Test (Women)
Age
17-19
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-65
Excellent
> 35
> 36
> 37
> 31
> 25
> 23
Good
27-35
30-36
30-37
25-31
21-25
19-23
Above Average
21-27
23-29
22-30
18-24
15-20
13-18
Average
11-20
12-22
10-21
8-17
7-14
5-12
Below average
6-10
7-11
5-9
4-7
3-6
2-4
Poor
2-5
2-6
1-4
1-3
1-2
1
Very Poor
0-1
0-1
0
0
0
0
* Source: adapted from Golding, et al. (1986). The Y's way to physical fitness (3rd ed.)
I find the concept of time travel fascinating, to be able to venture into the future, back into the past. Movies have milked this theme at least a dozen times, even television has with the series the "Time Tunnel".
I'm not always sure of Woody Allen films but his lastest offering is worth a look, if you're passionate, love art and the city of Paris. I found the characters fascinating and the dialog was smart and witty. People sometimes have an illusion that a life different from theirs would be much better.
We all dream of another place, another life. As of late, I've also had some of those dreams as well...more of an escape from my work world. Sometimes I think our worst enemies are ourselves, we talk ourselves into and out of most things.
Sometimes I think life sends us in different directions only to see how we will react or handle a situation.
Mosquitoes and Listerine
In the last few weeks, mosquitoes have taken over the outdoors! There is little relief if you like to spend any time outdoors. The weather has been spectacular the last few days and I've resorted to a concoction of Listerine...yup...Listerine which I would never use as a mouthwash cause it's yucky but is a wonderful repellent for skeeters.
Listerine has Eucalyptol which is a derivative of Eucalyptus oil, a natural repellent that is often found in natural repellents on the market.
I did think about using oil of lemon as well, but I didn't want to smell like sunlight detergent. There was always the option of using garlic... it keeps the vampires away too!
Here is a link that I followed for a solution to spray on the deck.
L versus...
When I was in 8th grade we read an amazing story called, "Leiningen Versus the Ants" by Carl Stephenson. It is a classic short story that was published in the December 1938. I didn't know it was published so long ago, but the story made a strong impression on me when I was growing up. Leiningen never gave up...he defended his house to the end and was innovative in creating ways to fight off the ants.
For the last 48 hours I've felt a little bit like Leiningen, perhaps, not to the extent of the war or battle that he fought but it was my own combat. Trying to figure out how these flying red ants were getting into my home. Wondering where, which crack or crevice they had made into a freeway to my home. Using a vinegar solution to wash out their trails for future ants to follow. Checking the yard for ant condos or new constructions underway. My CSI skills were in full force!
Today I contacted an exterminator for some professional help. She said that the bugs were extra resilient this year and everyone...EVERYONE was fighting a similar war with bugs and stuff. Maybe I'll sleep better now. Time for some ant music....
Rock on...
Over 15 years ago, I started rock climbing, I took the courses, learned the knots....and loved it! Climbing is a physical and mental challenge, it taps into your strength, endurance, agility and balance. Then work took over, and it was all about indoor climbing from then on. I forgot all about outdoor climbing until a weekend in Jasper.
WOW, it was MAGNIFICIENT! I remember when I first started climbing it felt like re-experiencing what toddlers must experience when they crawl around. You just become so tuned into the surfaces and subtle pockets and holds that seem invisible just a foot away is suddenly so clear and obvious! Stick! Go!
Climbing challenges you to make decisions, to plunge ahead and dynamo! It's a good training ground to expand your horizons and try new things! I've been on a new adventure!
Spiderman School
My little nephew has always been a climber. He used to hang off of the pedestal sink in the bathroom when he was just learning to stand and he instantly gravitates to jungle gyms. Lately, he's been focused on going to Spiderman school which my sister promised him when he became a 'big boy!' Well, he's wearing his big boy pants now and R and I will probably take him out when he's older.
Right now he has absolutely no fear! I asked him on the weekend what he needed for spiderman school and in his cute little voice he said, "a suit and a mask!" Then I added, " I think you'll need a harness and a helmet too!" He said I don't need a "hell-mitt, that's for bikin'" I smiled and can't wait to take him out....first, I have to find a full body harness for my little superhero!
Free Falling always reminds me of rock climbing because I went to a climbing tournament and this was one of the songs they played over and over.....
It's not about creating an emergency food supply or flipping over the latest, raw food diet. It's not even about getting 5-10 servings of fruit and vegetables in every day. It's rediscovering Mom and Dad's dehydrator...and what a joy it is!
I've been looking at all the wonderful things that can be dehydrated and my favs are still the fruits. Strawberry chips! Especially, mangoes!
I've also made beef jerky and potato chips! I'm on a mission to discover some new foods to bring on hiking trips that are nutritious and delicious! Open for your ideas and recipes if you have some to share!
Time Well Spent
I was thinking back to when we ran outdoor education courses and had kids look at what they would spend their time at if they were in a survival situation.
What order would you prioritize your needs in a survival mode?
Choices: Water food shelter First Aid fire
Remember the Rule of 3's
This is 3 minutes without air, 3 hours shelter and fire. 3 days without water, and so on, applying to many different aspects. In reality, a person could go for about 2 to 3 weeks without food, but that is only until (at the end of the 3rd week or so) they will die due to starvation.
Sometimes I'm really not sure where my inspiration comes from? Movies, characters, books? Tonight, it was from a little green man who sounds like Grover and looks like Mr. Mayagi from The Karate Kid. I found myself peppering my presentation with quotes from a Star Wars character (totally unplanned). The quotes were fitting and my Yoda imitations drew a hearty laugh from the crowd.
"Do or do not; there is no try."
"Named must your fear be before banish it you can."
“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”
Lately, I've found myself in a state of flux and I turn to Yoda for some Jedi wisdom.Ah, if name the fear I only could...mmm.....
I was out with a very good friend of mine today, who reminded me of a book that was quite popular a couple of years back, called, " The Five People You Meet in Heaven," by Mitch Albom. The novel is a chronicle of the main character's meeting of about 5 people in heaven who were pivatol in his life. People come and go in our lives every day.
Sometimes you don't even realize the impact of your words, kindness or effect of your presence in someone's life. I thought about who my Fab Five would include and I know there have been many more than 5 influential people in my life.
Walk On
I attended a U2 concert this week and like the first one I attended in Vancouver the Joshua tree this one was full of soul, heart and inspiration. I was moved by the lyrics, melodic melodies and of course the band. I always found that they sang songs that bled from their souls and with such depth.
I have so many favorite songs from U2 but the one that hit deep this week was Walk On (from their 2000 album, All That You Can't Leave Behind). The song was written about Aung San Suu Kyi, a Burmese activist who was sentenced to house arrest in 1989 for protesting her government. Earlier that year, while walking with some of her supporters, soldiers blocked their path and pointed rifles at them. Suu Kyi kept walking, despite orders to stop. The soldiers threatened to shoot her, but didn't. Her actions have been closely monitored by the government, but she remains an influential leader and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. She was released and freed in 2010.
Carry On Luggage
The only baggage that you can bring is all that you can't leave behind. There are so many people that I know who have 'good hearts,' who always strive to do the right thing, working with what they have and doing the best with what they've got. These are everyday 'invisible heroes and heroines' that I admire. They are the underdogs, the unpretentious, the unsung superstars.
Sure there are people that I know in this world who just want to be rich. Others want the fame. For me, it's not about wanting to be rich, I'll leave that for someone else.
I'll end this post with one more favorite from this album, the first time I heard this song I was captivated, I think this is a brilliant tune - under appreciated! Just close your eyes and listen to the song the video doesn't do it justice. It's a happy song!
The Epic of Gilgamesh- an ancient text +4000 yrs old
If our bookshelves are a collection of our knowledge and experiences, then each of us should have walls of books beyond our homes. My siblings are always chuckling and teasing me about the things that I hold onto, sometimes without consciously thinking about it. Point in suit, I had old text books from my first science degree on my bookshelves up until last week.
It wasn't that I would eventually reread those textbooks. Genetics, organic chemistry and medical sociology are not a common subject matter in my day to day conversations. I thought about why I held onto them for such a long time. Moved them from place to place only to crack them open on occasion and to dust them off. I know now I kept those textbooks to remind me that I did study these subjects and at one time did know this information well. I do find myself using my science knowledge from time to time....especially during 'Jeopardy'!
Do you keep books to reread or just to remind yourself of what you've read? What's on your bookshelf? Right now I'm reading, "The Brain That Changes Itself." Fascinating!
Keepers
Some of my books are a collection of my passions in life, sailing, photography, art and design. Other books are of my travels. Where I've been and where I want to go....Then there are the novels, how to do books and the sketch books and journals. These ones are the keepers!
Years before Lady Gaga belted this tune on the airwaves this was one of my Mother's favorite wise sayings. When my first nephew was born she noticed how he was so particular about certain things. How he liked his blanket, it had to be certain way one side specifically facing him. She often said that about me!
Today and everyday I'm so grateful for the lessons that my Mother has taught me. I see her lessons repeated in my nephews as I watch them grow up. My sisters and I have all chuckled at our 'born identity' and how we have adopted so many of our Mother's traits.
Salt of the Earth
My Mother is the salt of the earth.
'The salt of the earth' was first published in English in Chaucer's Summoner's Tale, circa 1386, although Chaucer undoubtedly took his lead from Latin versions of the Bible:
"Ye been the salt of the erthe and the savour"
The Chinese character for heart always makes me smile. It looks like a smiling face. My Mother has a great sense of humor and makes me smile.
Selfless passionate soul. Proud to call you my Mom! In honor of Mother's Day we celebrate all Mother's and the wonderful lessons they share with us with all of their children!
We are a week away from the most extravagant wedding since Princess Diana and Prince Charles almost 30 years ago. I have to admit I'm a bit of a sucker for royalty and things related to it. I don't need to follow every minute detail but I do like to follow significant events. Despite crisis, mockery and ridicule, the royal family continues to endure and survive with so much elegance and poise. I do admire their tenacity and integrity. We all have our own struggles no matter who we are and where we live.
I think in the last month I've watched three movies that are 'royal' in nature. The academy nominated 'The King's Speech,' was so well done! I'm glad that Colin Firth won the Oscar and many other accolades for his portrayal of King George VI. Then there was also Helen Mirren's flawless performance as Queen Elizabeth II in "The Queen." The other film I saw was 'Elizabeth' with Cate Blanchett. Extraordinary!
Will you be up at 3 am to catch the broadcast of Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding? I probably won't but I will enjoy to see it. They look like an awesome couple together and I wish them all the blessings from afar!
I will live vicariously through the glut of royal wedding coverage in the following week. So practice your 'royal wave,' from the wrist as Tracey Ullman points out and put on that tiara on April 29th, 2011!
Here is a what we might be expecting from the wedding: <this makes me smile!> Keep cupping the air!
I don't usually get attached to things, especially inanimate objects. However, I do take very very good care of my things and maybe by doing so I breathe some 'life' into things.
When I sold my first car after 13 years, I remembered turning around as I was walking away and asked the guy who was buying it if he had a garage to keep it in. He smiled and said 'yes, I'll take good care of it, you sure did.' It was just reassuring to know it was going to a good home and was in good hands.
I think that was the first time that I thought about inanimate objects and the 'lives' they lead after me. I know it's really nothing, nothing with feelings, thoughts or connections, but I can't help but wonder about the 'karma' and life it has beyond.
Eye Land
I've sold three cameras recently, the first one to a bartender. I laughed when he said he wanted to negotiate a lower price and pay me in beers at the bar. He was interesting young man full of ambition and energy. He was about to celebrate his 25th birthday and wanted a camera to capture the milestone. I had that camera for over 8 years and it has recorded a few milestones for me as well as experiences from traveling.
I sold the video camera to a woman who was traveling to Winnipeg in a week to visit her ailing brother. She said he was dying from cancer and wanted to get a video camera to record some memories of him. I felt sad for her and her plight ahead.
The Nikon SLR (I had for over 20 years) was just sold to a fashion week photographer a couple of days ago. It was interesting to know that camera would be used and appreciated in another life in another role and yes, maybe traveling around the world. I'm sure each lens will capture more images and memories with it's new owners. I'm happy to let go of these things that have been a part of my life.
In a course I was teaching this week, a guy talked about how difficult it was for him to let go of the past and how he hangs on to everything and felt stuck. I spoke about how we need to evaluate what 'things' are valuable in our lives and to make sure you take time to include them in your life. Let go of some things that don't matter, but things that are important, keep them close.
