I didn't think I could do this, but I am! I've made chili - no chili powder, so I used some medium spice salsa. I made chicken with veggies, and I made some salads and things. I hate making salads.
I'm going to make chicken salad and then use those Korean lettuce leaves to make lil sammiches I think.
I went to costco, I've bought a lunchbox, I made yogurt. yep. Doing good!
The hardest part came when I had gone out for a midmorning appointment and ended up having lunch out. My friend Irina invited me over for dinner. (What to do?!) So I asked if she would let me help her make dinner so I could meet my goal. She did! Gnochhi!
School starts in a little more than a week. My schedule is BUSY, and I want to be ready!
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
New Challenge - cooking beginning 8/14, ending 9/12
Every day I will cook either dinner or lunch.
Tonight I think it's going to be eggs. I hadn't planned on this... although I could I suppose go grocery shopping. There IS a store in my building for goodness' sake! Costco tomorrow for spices and more.
Maybe this dude could come cook for me! (I love the cufflinks. Very classy.)
Tonight I think it's going to be eggs. I hadn't planned on this... although I could I suppose go grocery shopping. There IS a store in my building for goodness' sake! Costco tomorrow for spices and more.
Maybe this dude could come cook for me! (I love the cufflinks. Very classy.)
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Day 30 - I made it!
Well, it's been a long row. I suppose I won't have truly made it until I do this today. But here it is. The last day of the 30 day challenge.
So, I lived through a flood - didn't meditate for a couple of days although I couldn't tell you which couple because I may actually have still meditated between yoga class and doing meditations with my students and my friend. I also did this after surgery. (I didn't talk about it in the blog). I had surgery last week, and one of the things that helped was doing longggggggggggggggggg meditations - a twenty minute, a one hour, a three Buddhist song meditation. Whatever.
I've had amazing dreams, I've realized somethings about myself, I've found some of my dreams again.
ON the other hand, I'm not sure it has done more for me than focus me on what I truly want in my heart. The problem now is... what next? I guess it's not a problem, but a question. I've wanted to add somethings in my life for awhile, but I've resistant - riding my bike every day or going for a walk, no sugar, make my bed every day, put on make up every day, etc. Small things, I know, but mine nonetheless. I like the 30 day challenge. I'll start a new one tomorrow. I'll meditate today on what I want to add to my life. I know it won't be the outside things because with the weather and after surgery it's not possible - down the line yes, but not now. We'll see.
p.s. If there are spelling, grammar, or other errors, do be patient. I can't see after the surgery very well(lasek) so I'll fix those problems later! Here's how I'm gonna look for the next six months!
So, I lived through a flood - didn't meditate for a couple of days although I couldn't tell you which couple because I may actually have still meditated between yoga class and doing meditations with my students and my friend. I also did this after surgery. (I didn't talk about it in the blog). I had surgery last week, and one of the things that helped was doing longggggggggggggggggg meditations - a twenty minute, a one hour, a three Buddhist song meditation. Whatever.
I've had amazing dreams, I've realized somethings about myself, I've found some of my dreams again.
ON the other hand, I'm not sure it has done more for me than focus me on what I truly want in my heart. The problem now is... what next? I guess it's not a problem, but a question. I've wanted to add somethings in my life for awhile, but I've resistant - riding my bike every day or going for a walk, no sugar, make my bed every day, put on make up every day, etc. Small things, I know, but mine nonetheless. I like the 30 day challenge. I'll start a new one tomorrow. I'll meditate today on what I want to add to my life. I know it won't be the outside things because with the weather and after surgery it's not possible - down the line yes, but not now. We'll see.
p.s. If there are spelling, grammar, or other errors, do be patient. I can't see after the surgery very well(lasek) so I'll fix those problems later! Here's how I'm gonna look for the next six months!
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Call of the Goddess
One thing that has come up, abundantly clear, for me is that I am not a Christian. I am not something in particular, but I'm definitely not a believer that Jesus Christ was the redeemer and all those other words. I expect he was a good man, a man touched by G*d perhaps even. But was he the Messiah? Not in my mind.
What resonates for me so much is the Earth Based religions.
here is the Call of the Goddess:
I who am the beauty of the green earth and the white moon among the stars and the mysteries of the waters,
I call upon your soul to arise and come unto me.
For I am the soul of nature that gives life to the universe.
From me all things proceed and unto me they must return.
Let my worship be in the heart that rejoices, for behold, all acts of love and pleasure are My rituals.
Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you.
And you who seek to know me, know that the seeking and yearning will avail you not, unless you know the Mystery: for if that which you seek, you find not within yourself, you will never find it without.
For behold, I have been with you from the beginning,
I am that which is attained at the end of desire.
That definitely resonates for me.
What resonates for me so much is the Earth Based religions.
here is the Call of the Goddess:
I who am the beauty of the green earth and the white moon among the stars and the mysteries of the waters,
I call upon your soul to arise and come unto me.
For I am the soul of nature that gives life to the universe.
From me all things proceed and unto me they must return.
Let my worship be in the heart that rejoices, for behold, all acts of love and pleasure are My rituals.
Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you.
And you who seek to know me, know that the seeking and yearning will avail you not, unless you know the Mystery: for if that which you seek, you find not within yourself, you will never find it without.
For behold, I have been with you from the beginning,
I am that which is attained at the end of desire.
That definitely resonates for me.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Day 23 - All Acts of Love and Pleasure Are My Rituals.
I've been thinking / meditating on twelve step programs. There is a step that says We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of G*d as we understood G*d. I understand G*d as the giver of pleasure.
With that in mind, I'm writing one hundred things that bring me pleasure.
1. Laughter.
2. Seeing children dance ballet
3. the smell of jasmine surprising me as I walk by.
4. Aramis and the memories it brings me.
5. Red lipstick.
5. Earl Grey tea, hot.
7. Jean Luc Picard
8. When a song or a line comes to me and resonates deep down to my toes.
9. Being organized.
10. Butterflies.
11. Ennio Moricone - Gabriel's Oboe.
12. Yo Yo Ma - I feel the tears welling up in my eyes as I write his name. His work is so beautiful - it is like the heavens opened up and placed and angel in his arms.
13. Books that make me laugh out loud - especially when everyone else is quiet.
14. The smell of the woods at night.
15. Coffee in the morning.
16. My plants.
17. Lemon soap.
18. My grandma.
19. Aunt Ceil when she dresses up and works her sizzle.
20. Uncle Jimmy's corny jokes.
21. The old guy on 1% of anything. He cracks me up.
22. The sound of the gong on Daily Zen. com
23. My pink quartz stone.
24. Seeing my students work hard and laugh while they do it.
25. Boys with braces.
26. cowboys.
27. combinations that are odd.
28. Fizzy's purr.
29. The doggie wiggle dance.
30. turning the corner and seeing something majestic.
31. hugs.
32. The lasers at Harlem.
33. How Irina talks about poetry and her native Russia.
34. meditation.
35. Riding my bicycle.
36. blowing bubbles.
37. toys that have no purpose except to be moved around
38. logic puzzles that stump me and make me think really hard.
39. The music of - what's her name? Something Gardot. Wow.
40. The Korean ladies who have a soft spot for me and they smile big when I come around.
41. Books, books and more books.
42. Reading Spanish and understanding it.
43. Riding the bus and seeing something for the first time in a place that I've passed many times.
44. The birds that live in Ramon's back yard.
45. Watching Bee dance.
46. Kissing someone I love.
47. The wind in my hair.
48. laughing with Alana and Janet.
49. Flirting.
50. yoga
51. writing when inspiration hits me.
52. dancing to reggaeton.
53. the song One Love at the end of the EE workshop.
53. Rosso Fiorentino.
54. Beethoven's fifth arranged as salsa.
55. Ribbons
56. polka dots
57. designing things and then seeing them created.
58. the smell of roses on the vine.
59. basil
60. a cold glass of iced tea on a hot summer day.
61. a hot cup of cocoa on a cold winter night.
62. Rod Stewart and Dolly Parton "Baby it's cold outside"
63. Mr. Mohammed Yunus
64. blogs and meeting people from reading their blogs.
65. wimp.com
66. a good massage that almost hurts
67. sesame oil
68. the smell of Southern California
69. peeing
70. magnets that say stuff on them.
71. irony
72. George and how he has stayed so true to himself and his beliefs.
73. teasing Rod.
74. soft pillows and blankets
75. (I notice I'm having to pause and think at this point.)
art when it creates itself
76. Hearing someone read their story.
77. Standing up for myself.
78. finding creative projects to do or to have my students do.
79. surprise packages from people who love me.
80. British humor.
81. Saying something in Arabic and surprising people.
82. the Stations of the Cross in Malta.
83. really great sex
84. The way South African people use words.
85. Walking the dogs every night.
86. spinning with Rev Bev.
87. Lifting weights and how I feel after.
88. Henry.
89. silly little surveys and having fun answers for them.
90. When Lydia gets on Skype.
91. The bear that Emily gave me.
92. Reuniting with my sisters.
93. Maintaining my boundaries with my dad.
94. crying.
95. postcards.
96. being in love.
97. knowing myself and being kind to myself.
98. dancing salsa.
99. ambiguity.
100......
Below is a sculpture of a sculptor sculpting a sculpture.
With that in mind, I'm writing one hundred things that bring me pleasure.
1. Laughter.
2. Seeing children dance ballet
3. the smell of jasmine surprising me as I walk by.
4. Aramis and the memories it brings me.
5. Red lipstick.
5. Earl Grey tea, hot.
7. Jean Luc Picard
8. When a song or a line comes to me and resonates deep down to my toes.
9. Being organized.
10. Butterflies.
11. Ennio Moricone - Gabriel's Oboe.
12. Yo Yo Ma - I feel the tears welling up in my eyes as I write his name. His work is so beautiful - it is like the heavens opened up and placed and angel in his arms.
13. Books that make me laugh out loud - especially when everyone else is quiet.
14. The smell of the woods at night.
15. Coffee in the morning.
16. My plants.
17. Lemon soap.
18. My grandma.
19. Aunt Ceil when she dresses up and works her sizzle.
20. Uncle Jimmy's corny jokes.
21. The old guy on 1% of anything. He cracks me up.
22. The sound of the gong on Daily Zen. com
23. My pink quartz stone.
24. Seeing my students work hard and laugh while they do it.
25. Boys with braces.
26. cowboys.
27. combinations that are odd.
28. Fizzy's purr.
29. The doggie wiggle dance.
30. turning the corner and seeing something majestic.
31. hugs.
32. The lasers at Harlem.
33. How Irina talks about poetry and her native Russia.
34. meditation.
35. Riding my bicycle.
36. blowing bubbles.
37. toys that have no purpose except to be moved around
38. logic puzzles that stump me and make me think really hard.
39. The music of - what's her name? Something Gardot. Wow.
40. The Korean ladies who have a soft spot for me and they smile big when I come around.
41. Books, books and more books.
42. Reading Spanish and understanding it.
43. Riding the bus and seeing something for the first time in a place that I've passed many times.
44. The birds that live in Ramon's back yard.
45. Watching Bee dance.
46. Kissing someone I love.
47. The wind in my hair.
48. laughing with Alana and Janet.
49. Flirting.
50. yoga
51. writing when inspiration hits me.
52. dancing to reggaeton.
53. the song One Love at the end of the EE workshop.
53. Rosso Fiorentino.
54. Beethoven's fifth arranged as salsa.
55. Ribbons
56. polka dots
57. designing things and then seeing them created.
58. the smell of roses on the vine.
59. basil
60. a cold glass of iced tea on a hot summer day.
61. a hot cup of cocoa on a cold winter night.
62. Rod Stewart and Dolly Parton "Baby it's cold outside"
63. Mr. Mohammed Yunus
64. blogs and meeting people from reading their blogs.
65. wimp.com
66. a good massage that almost hurts
67. sesame oil
68. the smell of Southern California
69. peeing
70. magnets that say stuff on them.
71. irony
72. George and how he has stayed so true to himself and his beliefs.
73. teasing Rod.
74. soft pillows and blankets
75. (I notice I'm having to pause and think at this point.)
art when it creates itself
76. Hearing someone read their story.
77. Standing up for myself.
78. finding creative projects to do or to have my students do.
79. surprise packages from people who love me.
80. British humor.
81. Saying something in Arabic and surprising people.
82. the Stations of the Cross in Malta.
83. really great sex
84. The way South African people use words.
85. Walking the dogs every night.
86. spinning with Rev Bev.
87. Lifting weights and how I feel after.
88. Henry.
89. silly little surveys and having fun answers for them.
90. When Lydia gets on Skype.
91. The bear that Emily gave me.
92. Reuniting with my sisters.
93. Maintaining my boundaries with my dad.
94. crying.
95. postcards.
96. being in love.
97. knowing myself and being kind to myself.
98. dancing salsa.
99. ambiguity.
100......
Below is a sculpture of a sculptor sculpting a sculpture.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Day 19
Yep, almost 3 weeks. Do those few days count that I didn't meditate because of the flood? I go back and forth about whether I should start over but then I think what matters is today.
I did a meditation about how one's body changes over time.
I feel like my body isn't mine. I don't like that. What to do?
Above:
When I was happy and when I was struggling... which one is which?
I did a meditation about how one's body changes over time.
I feel like my body isn't mine. I don't like that. What to do?
Above:
When I was happy and when I was struggling... which one is which?
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Mother Nature Kicked My Ass
Turns out that flooding can stop me - not really the flooding but the other stuff - the four hour bus rides, the uncertainty of where I'll sleep, the exhaustion from trying to keep up with life in the midst of damp clothes, damp umbrellas, damp spirits.
I didn't meditate for about 4 days in the midst of all this - maybe 5. I can't remember. It was just overwhelming.
But I've been back to meditation for a few days. I've had some art projects come to mind, questions about life and G*d, curiosity about exercise in a new way.
I'm doing it. I'm just figuring some stuff out.
Right now - I don't want to waste my life.
That's all.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)