Thursday, July 29, 2010

Another day

I'm grateful for another day to live life. I guess I am of the age where this sort of "live-in-the-moment" stuff is popular; I know that I never thought I'd be one of THOSE people, but, hey, I really am grateful for so much.
It's a beautiful day, the temperature is bearable (not many of those days this summer, for sure). I have the good fortune to be able to spend the day lounging in the pool, doing some "fluff" reading, so I'm going to take advantage of it.
I know I'm lucky.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Summer's Bounty


It seems that most days, the things I'm often most grateful for are the plentiful, fresh ingredients I have at my disposal to eat and cook.
I love food; I love to talk about, read about, create with, and enjoy food. So this weekend, with all the rainy weather, I thought it would be a great time to use up the many beautiful vegetables and herbs that arrive each week in my CSA box. I'm spending today cooking some terrific dishes. I'm not very good at photography, but here are pictures of this delicious bounty.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Let's talk about sleep.

As a person who has always struggled with sleep, I am really grateful for both the quality and quantity I've been able to get this summer. I think part of my success is that I've finally managed to stick to a "sleep schedule." For the most part, I have learned (the hard way) to be very consistent about bed times, even in the summer. Now, the next 3 weeks will test that, as I need to resume a late-night-theater schedule. But I have to say, overall, this summer has been great for getting quality sleep.
That doesn't mean I don't feel tired--far from it! Actually, the more I have to do, the more I want to sleep. But I'm guessing that's primarily a psychological thing--I'm a lifelong procrastinator.
Anyway, here's to sleep!

Thursday, July 15, 2010

A bevy of birds

Wow, were the birds going crazy at your house last night? Granted, we had thunderstorm warnings, but there were battalions of birds doing aerial battle last night! They started out with just loud chirping, but soon, large flocks were zooming from one place to another in our back woods and yard. It seemed like a bird version of "West Side Story" was playing out in the trees! What's up with that???? Was it like that where you are?

Delicious


Yes, I'm again appreciative of my bounty. Woke up craving blueberry cornmeal pancakes. I had them for the first time two weeks ago at a beautiful little place on the Upper West Side:
So I whipped up a batch for myself--instant gratification. I'm lucky enough to have had all the ingredients on hand, and the time to do this.
Yes, I know I'm lucky. And I'm grateful.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Talk about lucky!


Again, I'm reminded of how lucky I am. Got to spend the day with daughter #3 looking at new apartments. Such a grown up. So mature. So amazing. Working hard at what she loves. I want to hold on, but I'm happy to see her doing so well.
Tomorrow I get to look at a space for daughter #1's wedding. How cool is that? It looks beautiful on the website, and I think it's going to be perfect. Again, a lucky day.
Dinner tonight made from ALL fresh, local ingredients--some from the Farmers' Market, some from my CSA box, some from a local bakery. Delicious, easy, filling--I am so lucky to have such abundance.
The air is cooler, the sun is setting--I know how lucky I am.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Here it comes again

Is it the summer night air? Is it the position of the moon? Is it a chemical imbalance? Whatever it is, this melancholy comes on suddenly. I'm filled with a longing, but can't define what it is I'm longing for. I'm drawn to sentimental movies and music--quirky romances. That's not my usual MO. I avoid sentimentalism. But when this mood hits, I obsessively watch the same films and wallow in the sentiment.
Sometimes, if I concentrate on it, I move from mere melancholy into deep sadness. But that's not the norm.
Anyway, it's here right now and I'll do my best to avoid sinking deeper. I've developed a growing fondness for wine, so I think I'll have a glass. I know, I know--alcohol doesn't help. But I'm only going to have a glass, and I know that's my limit. I'm watching a movie, enjoying the brief cool-down, and thinking and feeling a lot. It will pass.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

What does summer sound like?

There are certain songs that can take me back to a specific time and place. There are some songs that just scream, "Summer!" Of course, there's the obvious songs ABOUT summer, like, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ahhmiuyko0, or, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsHuV3Aj1os.


But there are also songs that don't mention summer at all--they just FEEL like summer. Here's one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwOU3bnuU0k.

Another one for me is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5ouOa9k0gE


So what does summer sound like to you? What songs say, "summer?"

Friday, July 9, 2010

Better now

Okay, I'm over my whining. Reasons to be grateful today:
--the sun is out, but it's not BLASTING hot.
--the sky is perfectly clear--good day to read in the sun.
--pool is waiting when I'm done doing chores.
--all 3 of my terrific girls have spoken to me, willingly, in the past 24 hours.
--good movies on tv later.
--as usual, I have more than enough of everything in my life. Grateful, grateful, grateful.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

If I'm so lucky...

...why am I complaining? I started this blog to make myself more aware of all the good things I have going in my life, to help me become more appreciative. And yet I find myself wanting to whine a bit. So I'm just going to go ahead and get this out.
Upon returning from a lengthy, completely self-indulgent vacation, I found two weeks' worth of dishes still sitting on the counters, dried puddles of cat urine caked on the floor, unrinsed recycling items scattered about. Come on, really? It's not as if life was so busy here while I was away. The other member of the household admitted to spending most of the time golfing and gambling. So, I'm miffed. I can tell I'm going to stew about this for awhile. Better for me to write it out instead of verbalizing my disappointment. Sheesh.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

First

I'm posting in orange today to express the HEAT coming off of the pavement outside the window of Starbucks. It's 102 degrees in NYC, and there is nowhere to escape the steam. I've got 2 hours until my airport transport arrives, and I thought I'd write about how fortunate I am.
For the past 8 days, I've been enjoying a solo trip to NYC, just wandering, seeing art, soaking in atmosphere, eating great food, and observing humanity. I am so lucky to be able to afford a trip like this. I am so lucky to see the things I've seen. I am so lucky to be comfortable, financially and emotionally. This city can be overwhelming. People everywhere. There's no way to know what they're thinking, doing, living. It makes me long for home, yet it makes me so grateful for the chance to be here and see what a big, wide world we share.
Eavesdropping is easy in New York--on the subway, on the bus, in the coffee shop, on the street. You hear snippets of conversation and you're reminded that others have their own lives, their own concerns, their own desires. I NEED the reminder that the world does not, in fact, revolve around ME. For this reminder, I am grateful.
The first night I arrived, the air was clear, much cooler, and the city smelled like life. When the sun goes down, the city seems to vibrate. I love that sense that SOMETHING is happening. Once the heat hit, the feeling changed drastically. Everyone seems beaten down; instead of just going, you think about whether or not it's worth venturing out into the heat. NY does a great job of providing air-conditioned buses and trains, but getting to them is painful and draining. I've never visited in the fall, but I think I'll try it sometime.
I realize this post is unfocused; that's because I'm trying to get down all the thoughts I've had for the past 8 days. I'll post again when my head is clear. Mainly, I just want to state and restate: I am grateful. I am one lucky chick.