Friday, August 27, 2010

A Few of My Favorite Things

Travel, Lattes, Independence
This was taken on my trip last year to visit Calle in New Zealand. After a 3-day sailing adventure that we went on together, I got to spend a lot of time exploring by myself during the day when she was at work. It was a nice, sorta independent time, but also with the comfort of knowing I would be going to hang out with someone I really enjoyed in the evening. The other thing I really like about this photo (besides the very artful pattern the barista made for me) is that I love lattes. They're like comfort food in the mornings. I love having a latte and watching people walk by the window. Or while reading a book.  It  makes me slow down and appreciate the peace of the moment.

Bling, Rain, Dogs, Flowers, Family
I adore shiny things. So these raindrops were like special sparkly treasures. It doesn't rain that much in Colorado, so I always enjoy it when it does. I was dog-sitting at the time for two huge, lovable, fluffy Old English Sheepdogs named Cromwell and Hastings. (Awesome names -- I feel like I should cultivate a British accent just to hang out with them.) And there's always the sentimental side when I see or take flower photographs. When we moved to Colorado my grandma on my Dad's side used to come and visit. She grew prize-winning orchids in her basement and had a fascination for alpine tundra flowers. I think she went on every guided nature walk that Rocky Mountain National Park ever offered. And I think she cataloged every possible variety of flower there. When we moved her out of her house she literally had a dozen+ boxes of flower photos (not shoeboxes, think bigger, like a box that would hold a shelf of books). So I've seen a couple flower photos in my lifetime...and I guess I didn't fall far from the tree if I'm also taking them.

Bike Rides, Outside, Autumn
The picture above was taken on a bike ride around Dillon Lake with my buddy, Becca.  We happened to be there on the perfect day to see all the Aspen colors -- and it was sunny too!  Can't get any luckier than that.  I can't describe how much I like riding my bike.  It's the best tax return investment I've ever made.  Riding is when my brain processes through most of those sticky thoughts or bottled-up things that I don't easily let go.  Being outside is a part of that.  I like the feeling of huge open space and nothing over my head to hold it all in.  It lets those sticky, bottled-up bits just float right out.  Plus I think I might be part plant or something because I feel better when in the sunshine.  I like exercising, too, because it lets me be a little less careful about what I eat (or it used to - sigh) and I'm always chasing that feeling of coordination and fitting into my space that comes with it.  I prefer to ride by myself most of the time because I'm terrible at pacing and hate holding people back.  Plus from the articles I read on riding it seems like there's a pack order and a social/physical obligation to contribute to the pace by taking the lead sometimes.  That would totally defeat the purpose of me letting my brain unwind.

Split-Aparts
I know this is a cheesy picture, but I look like I was the page of some magazine!  The sepia tones, the symbolic "new view" of opening the curtains, the way the beautician did my hair, the fact that I don't look too chubby, etc.  All nice work from the photographer.  But this really symbolizes being a part of a team. I like working together and accomplishing something bigger than you could by yourself.  Those little things you learn from other people -- little on the fly tidbits or the new ways to see something -- fascinate me.  And marriage is the ultimate team, right?  The two of you against the world?  Before I get to carried away, I better move off that topic, but you get the basic point, right?  Just one more thing -- apparently the notion of split-aparts is something I got from a movie I don't remember ever seeing.  I'm terrible at remembering movies.

Ice Hockey, The Path Less Traveled, Art
This is a statue of a jazz band in the wintertime in Reykjavik, Iceland.  Nobody goes to Iceland in the winter on purpose, right?  Most tourists go in the summers for all the outdoor activities.  But for this atypical tourist excursion, I went with my women's ice hockey team.  I love ice hockey -- it can be quick, physical, strategic, and still a finesse game all at once.  The women's teams I have played on seem to be very interested in setting up plays and learning to work together (men's teams seem to be more about the physical and individual glory).  Sadly, for the Iceland tournament, my team didn't do any scoring on the ice (hee), but we do have some great stories to tell!

And that's how I arrived at the new image at the top of this blog page - it's almost all of my favorite things all smushed together into one collage.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Time For a Change

We saw Julie and Julia recently.  I was jealous (or inspired). Now that I'm done with the Bridezilla project, it sounds fun to have a new project and it even sounds fun to have a deadline.

But what to do?

I sorta half-heartedly started this type of thing with the 5280 magazine's top restaurant review. I blogged about the meals we had out. This was fun (and I might continue) but it's been over done, I suppose. And I currently have no set schedule or goal.

I should learn to cook. It looks fun, and I sure do like to eat. Even thought that's been done, I could pick a different cookbook that sounds more fun to me. Like the Moosewood Cafe (their book for cooking at home) or the Coyote Cafe cookbook. I could get a cooking series show on DVD (I think I saw the Giada De Laurentiis and the Rachel Ray series at Target) and cook the things they make. But Iggy is already a great cook and he seems to like cook the evening meal. And, honestly, I don't see me sticking with this one for very long.

I've wanted to learn to garden too. But we're getting close to winter, and I'm sure I'd lose momentum. Plus the wait to see anything is somewhat incompatible with my need for instant gratification.

I like doing home improvement projects, and I have quite a few of those on my list that I'd like to do. But probably half of those are the "hire a contractor" type as opposed to the do-it-yourself type.

I've seen some cool photo blogs where they take a picture a day. That might be fun. But what sort of goal to set?


I love riding my bike, but I'm such an amateur that I'm fairly certain I have nothing to say on the subject. Besides, that's one of those things that's more fun to DO than to TALK ABOUT.
I've always loved reading -- and I'm in 2 book clubs. The problem with that is that right now I read so sporadically I rarely finish the books in time for book club. And my book clubs tend to pick best seller types, so those tend to be over-reviewed. I'm not sure I'd have much original to add.

I thought about trying my hand at creative writing today...and after all, this is a writing medium. I saw some interesting ideas all over the place (for example: 100 ideas, Writing Forward). But, again, what goals/timeline?

Thoughts? Advice?

Maybe I don't need a project...I'm behind at work anyways (but that's a constant state).