A bonus of living in the Seattle area is having unlimited access to Pike Place Market. It's the epicenter of yumminess. (Yes, I'm pretty sure that's a word.) It has everything - jars and jars of pickles, honey and jam; boxes upon boxes of fruit and veggies; barrels and barrels full of sugary sweet treats that would make Willy Wonka himself green with envy; layer atop layer of trays filled to the brink with mouth-watering baked goods; and a never ending supply of fresh (and sometimes flying) seafood. Combine that with an eclectic array of fine dining restaurants and enticing sidewalk cafes and there you have it - the EPICENTER OF YUMMINESS.
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“You've got bad eating habits if you use a grocery cart in 7-Eleven okay?” -- Dennis Miller
How many times have you judged a book by its cover? Discounted something - or, worse yet, someone - based on appearance? How often have you looked down on a person because of his or her hairstyle, choice of wardrobe, or financial status? And how many times has money, body size, or age influenced your opinions?
Please note - I'm not pointing any fingers. I'm just as guilty as most people.
But one has to wonder... Every time we ignore someone based on outward appearances, what gift are we missing out on? What precious gem lies buried under that exterior layer that we aren't allowing ourselves to see? What type of talent is brewing beneath the surface, just waiting to erupt?
If we continue to judge based on looks, we may never know.
If I've learned anything over the years, it's that all beings - big, small, fat, thin, dark, light, educated, uneducated, lawyers, doctors, janitors, painters, unibrow or no unibrow - are unique. Each and every soul has something to contribute to our world. Everyone and everything is worthy of respect. Of appreciation. And of admiration.
Every being deserves to be - unconditionally and irrevocably - loved.
When I first saw Susan Boyle, I judged. A bit. Probably not as much as some people - I didn't pull my lips back in a sneer, didn't click my tongue or shake my head, didn't belt out a sarcastic, "Yeah right!" But I did, just for a split second, think, Seriously??
Well, Susan Boyle - you taught me a lesson. You taught everyone watching you on Britain's Got Talent a lesson. And, I hope, you taught the entire world a lesson.
It's no secret that dogs are perhaps the happiest beings on the planet.
In fact, anyone that has ever owned a dog has, at one time or another, wished they could be more like their canine companion.
Come on. Admit it.
It doesn't take much to please a dog. A bone. A throw pillow. Some kibble. Maybe a squeak toy. A lush patch of grass...
The great thing about dogs is that, unlike us humans, they don't get bent out of shape when something doesn't go their way. Sure, they're just like us. They have desires, needs. They want things. They dream. An extra scoop of dog food, please. A spot on the bed, not on the floor beside it, would be just great, thank you very much. And, by the way, I'd really like to try a bit of that steak you're eating...
Desires. One thing I've noticed about our girls is that they actively pursue their desires. Take our lab mix, Dehlia, for example. Every day, without fail, she'll circle the table while Chris and I eat dinner. Round and round. A whimper here. A whine there. All in a pathetic attempt to get a handout.
It drives us nuts.
In all honestly, it's probably our fault that she does this. Because, once in a blue moon, she'll actually score a treat. Chris will have a rare moment of weakness and toss her the leftover crust from his pizza. Or I (in my usual state of gracefulness) will drop an entire hot dog on the floor - bun and all. Those days, in Dehlia's mind, are very good days.
But then there are the days - most days, actually - when dinner time will roll by completely uneventful. Chris will clean his entire plate, and I'll accomplish an amazing feat by not dropping anything edible on the carpet. On those oh so dark days, Dehlia will leave the dinner table completely empty-handed. Or empty-bellied. However you want to look at it.
But does it throw her? Does it put her in a bad mood? Does she pout and whine and moan and throw a doggie-temper tantrum? Does she toss her paws in the air and bark, Why God? Why? No. She'll simply, gracefully, and with as many good-manners as she can muster, return to her spot on the couch, where she'll continue doing whatever it was she was doing before dinner time. (Napping, watching TV, chewing on her bone, etc., etc.)
Now, when I don't get something I want, I'm not that agreeable. I get irritated. Moody. A bit depressed. And yep - even bitchy. (Oh, my poor husband.) And sometimes I'll even toss my hands in the air and ask, "Why God?! Why?"
Lately, in an attempt to become a happier and more content person, I've turned to our dogs. Studied them. Learned from them. Learned a lot from them.
Dogs appreciate their surroundings. They appreciate the good they already have. Sure, if something better comes along, then great. Grand. Wonderful. Bring it on, they seem to say. But if nothing at all exciting happens on a particular day - if all they do is eat their standard meal of kibble and lay on the floor instead of the bed, if they don't get to go on that walk they were looking forward to - they're still happy. They're still content. And, most importantly, they're still in love with life.
How often can any of us say that? How often have disappointments brought us down? Made us bitter, angry, resentful? How many times have we let money, relationships, careers, and body-images keep us from enjoying life?
I'll admit it. For me, I've let it happen far too much.
Dogs are resilient. Hard to keep down. In fact, more often than not, you can't keep a dog down. Even the homeless dogs I've worked with in the past were far more happy than most people I know today. Sad, but true.
No, it's not bad to have desires. It's not bad to have wants and needs. And it's certainly not bad to have dreams. But when we let the outcome become more important than the present, when we let the results dictate our point of happiness, that's when we're in trouble.
Life is meant to be good. It's meant to be enjoyed. And it's meant to be lived. Fully, completely, no holds-barred.
All that's important in life, I've learned from my dogs. And I'm continuing to learn from them. More and more. Everyday.
In the end, they've been my greatest teachers.
** As a side note, this is possibly the funniest thing I've seen in a long time. In fact, I laughed so hard when I first saw it that I think I pulled a muscle in my neck. Enjoy!
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"I like driving around with my two dogs, especially on the freeways. I make them wear little hats so I can use the car-pool lanes." -- Monica Piper
In honor of the super-beautiful weather we've been having here lately, here are some colorful shots of the gorgeous flowers down at Pike Place Market. Enjoy! :)
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"I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck." -- Emma Goldman
How great is my husband?? I mean, how many guys would let their wives parade them around the city while snapping picture after picture of them??
Lucky for me, Chris is one of those guys. I can't even begin to say how much I appreciate his support. Honestly, without him I don't know where I'd be.
Here are the first few shots edited with my brand spanking new software - Adobe Photoshop CS4.
Thanks, Chris, for letting me practice on you. Love you. :)
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"We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love."
Ah, Thursdays. Sweet, sweet Thursdays... Perhaps my favorite day of the week.
All due to a television show.
I try not to watch too much TV. Honestly. And I'm proud to say that, on my days off, I don't touch the remote control. I read. I go to the gym. I write. I take pictures. I edit pictures. I play with our dogs. I dink around on the computer... (Okay, okay - I have a bit of an internet addiction. But I'm working on it. I swear.) But I rarely find the need to turn on the TV and subject myself to daytime television. I watched my fair share of soaps during college and have, fortunately, beat that obsession out of my system.
There are only three shows that I watch religiously.
One is Dexter. The premise of the show is completely clever and unique, and I love the mysterious aura that surrounds the main character. The struggle to be good. The want and need to rise above the evil that has embedded itself into his very being. I know some of you may be asking, Really? A show about a cuddly serial killer? Are you serious? But it works. Believe me.
My second fav is a sitcom - The Big Bang Theory. This show is special because of its slapstick comedy. Its wonderfully crafted characters. And Sheldon. Enough said.
Now, for the big finale. My absolute favorite show of all time - past, present and, I feel safe to predict, the future - is... Supernatural.
This amazing series started in September of 2005 and has kept us riveted ever since. For the past four years, Chris and I have found ourselves glued to the TV every Thursday night. (Including one Thursday night during our honeymoon when we locked ourselves into our St. Pete Beach hotel room at nine o'clock on the dot so we could see what mischief the Winchester boys had gotten into that week.) Brillantly written, the storyline follows two brothers on their ultimate quest to save the world from evil. Demons, vampires, ghosts, goblins - this show has it all. Even angels. (Thank you, Season Four.) The writers are clever. The actors engaging. Supernatural has everything - humor, drama, thrills, chills, horror, hope... I could go on. And on. And on. And...
Anyway. Since it's late Thursday night and I can barely keep my eyes open, I'll just let this clip explain the rest. Enjoy.
Winchester boys - I heart you. ;) ____________________________________________
"I hope your apple pie is freakin' worth it!" -- Dean Winchester (via Jensen Ackles)
For reasons unknown, she didn't like me very much. And, as a result, I grew to despise her. In fact, the only time I was ever over at her house were the times when my parents would take long weekend trips down to Omaha, Nebraska. I would be banished to "Grandma's", where I'd spend most of the time eyeing the clock and waiting for Sunday night.
Any good memories of my time at that house are few and far between. In fact, I can count every one of them on just one of Mickey Mouse's four-fingered hands. (And that's still a finger too many, if you catch my drift.)
As much as I hated going to her place, there were a few things in that house that I was mildly obsessed with. Her library. Her office. Her dogs. Her wildly overgrown backyard. And, last but certainly not least, her refrigerator.
My grandmother was an obsessive refrigerator decorator. Her refrigerator door was always covered in layers and layers of pictures, newspaper clippings, magazine articles, artwork from her "other" grandkids, and magnets from almost every business in town. It used to fascinate me. Whenever I'd go to get something from the icebox, I'd be sidelined by the many messages / images displayed on that giant slab of steel: a picture of my cousin, Buffy, sitting on my grandmother's lap; a newspaper article about the nursing home where my grandmother volunteered; countless pictures of her dogs, Juno and Bonnie; a magazine cutout of a beautiful bouquet of flowers; a recipe for pecan pie...
But my favorite thing on her fridge, the one thing that marked me for life and acts as one of my only three good memories of my time at my grandmother's house, was a quote. I was around six or seven when I first saw it, and the phrase immediately seared itself onto my brain. To this day, I regret that I never made a copy of that aging brown piece of newspaper. I don't even remember the quote word for word. But every day, the gist of those words flows through my mind.
It went something like this: You are trading a day of your life for this moment right now. You can spend it as you want. But remember, you will never get it back. Once the sun goes down, this day will be gone forever. You can squander your time, or use it wisely. It's up to you. But you can never get this day back.
Again, that wasn't word for word. And from what I remember, the actual saying was much longer. But as a child of seven, I was fascinated by those words. By the mere fact that each day was mine to spend however I wanted. It was a haunting message, one that scared me at first. I remember feeling an immediate need to rush around and accomplish as much as I could: read every book on my shelf; walk my dog, Holly; play kickball with Matt Pridie; swim an extra ten laps in our pool; ride my bike up to Washington school and back; start tap dance classes; spend an extra half hour every day pitching... I literally ran myself ragged for awhile.
Now, as an adult, I'm not that frantic. Well, maybe I still am, to a degree. (Chris will test to this.) I still feel a need to run around and make every second of every day count. To this day, I feel like I'm slacking if I sleep in on Saturdays. A lazy weekend at home without accomplishing anything makes me cringe. If I could have it my way, I'd be going-going-going all the time. Nonstop. Doing as much as I can with the time that I have. Because, you know, you trade a piece of your life for each day and, once the sun sets, you never get it back...
Whew.
This past Sunday, Chris and I were fortunate enough to catch an episode of Joel Osteen called "Redeeming The Time." As I listened to him speak, I was reminded of that newspaper clipping on my grandmother's fridge. I was immediately intrigued.
During his sermon, Joel made the point that life is too short to focus on anything but the positive. That to give our attention to anything but our visions, goals, and passions is, in reality, only harming our progress and keeping us from realizing our dreams. Holding on to past heartaches, bitterness, and feelings of resentment only brings more of those feelings and situations into our lives.
He encouraged those of us tuning in to redeem our time. To focus on the positive aspects of our lives and forget the negative. To not spend one more day stewing in thoughts of lack and self-pity. To leave the past where it belongs - in the past. And, most importantly, to let go of any and all regrets. He made the point that disappointments are inevitable, but misery is optional.
It was such a profound sermon and, even though I don't consider myself religious, I was completely moved by his words.
Every day we grow. I've come a long ways from that naive seven-year old who used to stand mesmerized in front of her grandmother's refrigerator. And this past Sunday, as I listened to Joel Osteen's sermon, I grew again. No more will I waste one minute of my time feeling offended, bitter, angry, hurt. Never again will I involve myself in negative musings regarding our world, politics, inter-office relations, etc. If something isn't between me and my goal, I refuse to give it my attention. I'm going to start redeeming my time.
And maybe I'll even stop despising my grandmother. _______________________________
"Today, many will break through the barriers of the past by looking at the blessings of the present. Why not you?" -- Steve Maraboli
There, I've said it. It's not that I can't cook. I can whip up manicotti, prepare a full-blown Thanksgiving dinner, and stir up homemade chicken noodle soup from scratch. I know how to boil an egg, chop onions, and peel a potato. It's not that I don't know how to do it. It's that I hate to do it.
I'm by no means a domestic goddess. Standing in the kitchen for any longer than it takes to toast bread leaves me feeling stir crazy. (No pun intended.) My trips through the kitchen are short and sweet: nuke water, put in tea bag, leave. Grab bread from fridge, toss in toaster, wait one minute, butter, leave. Fill pot with water, place on stove, set to boil, leave, get husband to do the rest... You get the idea.
I'm also not very good at grocery shopping. (Please note - I love all other shopping: clothes, shoes, jewelry, home furnishing, etc.) I can spend close to 200 dollars at the market and, after I've come home and put everything away, still not find anything to eat. Actually, let me rephrase that - I can find something to eat, but I'd have to cook it first. Yuck. Not interested.
Since it's only Chris and myself, and our work hours are crazy-crazy, we normally don't put much thought into dinner. Our usual routine consists of either stopping through the drive thru at Arby's, grabbing a couple of burritos at Q-doba, or snagging a few feet of sub from Subway. On weekends, we often find ourselves at the Crystal Creek Cafe, Bonefish Grill, "The Big Burrito" (not the real name of the Mexican restaurant we like, but I can't remember how to spell it, nor can I pronounce it to save my life), The Fortune Cookie, Red Robin, or Big Daddy's.
Yikes. Thank goodness we live in the land of plenty... (There are no shortages of good restaurants in the Seattle area.)
So, in an effort to rehab not only our eating habits but our spending as well, Chris and I have challenged ourselves to a 30-day, no-eating-out-at-all policy. Over the weekend, we made a list, stopped at the store, stocked up on groceries, poured through cookbooks and on-line recipe sites, re-visited the store and bought more groceries, and finally put everything away - with a promise to eat it all before it rots. (That was another one of my problems - buying food, not wanting to take the time to cook it, eating out anyway, and then ultimately tossing the rotten fruit, veggies, meat, etc. in the trash.)
We're now on day four and, I'm proud to report, going strong. Weekend meals consisted of healthy chicken stiry fry, chicken burritos, and roast beef sandwiches. (And not Arby's-style roast beef, but Lisa-style. Wink, wink.) I scrambled eggs for breakfast on Saturday, and actually stayed in the kitchen long enough to clean and scrape the dishes. (And that's saying something, let me tell you!)
Will we make it a full 30 days? I think so. It is, after all, all about having the right attitude. (Not to mention the right cookbooks. ) BON APPETIT!
** For other undomestic goddesses like myself, here are a few cookbooks that have really come in handy:(Thank you, Ellen and Tonya!)
This is the plight of the cat that was left at our clinic this past week. An adorable orange tabby, this frisky little guy had not only a loving disposition, but the cutest face and perhaps the longest tail I’ve ever seen. Who wouldn’t want him?
Well, apparently someone.
As sad as this situation is, it’s (unfortunately) all too common. This is the second abandoned animal that I’ve had to surrender to a rescue in the last three months. Pathetic? Yes. All due to a lack of responsibility on the owner’s part? Absolutely. Luckily for this furry-faced feline, he had someone to speak on his behalf. He now has a new hope. Most homeless animals aren’t that fortunate.
So, with that being said, thank GOD for animal rescues / shelters! These wonderfully selfless organizations not only take in lost and forgotten animals, they do so with big, wide open arms! (Homeward Pet in Woodinville, Washington is a prime example of one of these facilities.) These places are phenomenal, and such a help not only to the animals they find forever homes for, but for rescuers (like myself) who sometimes feel like they’re at their wits end with humanity.
Maybe that’s why Chris and I dote on our girls so much. As former animal rescue volunteers, we’ve seen first hand the stress and hardship homeless animals go through. Heard their wordless whimpers, looked into their pleading eyes, and felt the beat of their hopeful hearts. Volunteering was always such a bittersweet experience for me. My least favorite thing to do and most favorite thing to do - all at the same time. I’d always leave the animal we were caring for with a heavy heart, wishing with every ounce of my soul that there was more that I could do. And today, after dropping off my most recent charge, I felt that same tug on my heart. Struggled with that same feeling of sadness and anger and determination.
There has to be more that I can do. Somehow, someway, I’ll figure something out. I will. I have to.
As for now, I’m keeping my fingers crossed for the little orange tabby that no one wanted.
How did you get one of your scars? ** I don’t have any scars.
How did you celebrate your last birthday? ** Dinner at the Main Street Ale House. Yum.
How are you feeling at this moment? ** Relaxed. Great.
How did your night go last night? ** Wonderful. Pleasantly surprised to find a “Harry Potter” movie on. (Seriously! It made my night - I’m a huge fan...)
How did you do in high school? ** Good. I was more concerned with getting it “over with.”
How did you get the shirt you're wearing? ** Visited the campus. (Gerogetown University)
How often do you see your best friend? ** Every day - he’s my husband.
How much money did you spend last month? ** I have no idea... We bought a new computer, so probably more than the usual.
How old do you want to be when you get married? ** Already married - at the sweet age of 28.
How old will you be at your next birthday? ** 32 years old :)
NINE WHAT'S:
Your mother's name? ** Kathryn What did you do last weekend? ** Hit the gym, visited the salon (Seven, if you’re in the area - amazing place!), had dinner with my husband’s cousin and her family in Seattle (such fun!), and watched Grand Torino (WOW!).
What is the most important part of your life? ** Chris and the girls, photography, writing, doing what I love...
What would you rather be doing? ** Nothing, right now. I’m very content.
What did you last cry over? ** That Sarah Mclachlan ASPCA commercial... Gets me every time.
What always makes you feel better when you’re upset? ** Our dogs. My husband. (Chris has a knack for brightening up my day.)
What’s the most important thing you look for in a significant other? ** There isn’t just one thing... I adore Chris’ passion for life. I love his loyalty to me and the girls. I can’t get enough of his off-the-wall, dorky sense of humor. I get giddy when I see him smile. The sound of his laugh is music to my ears. I admire his strong work ethic. And I’m proud of the obstacles that he’s overcome, and all that he’s achieved in his life.
He’s the perfect man for me. :)
What are you worried about? ** Honestly? Nothing. Worrying only gives you more to worry about.
What do you usually have for breakfast? ** Green Tea or Coffee and toast.
EIGHT HAVE YOU’S:
Have you ever liked someone who had a girlfriend/boyfriend? ** Sure - who hasn’t??
Have you ever had your heartbroken? ** Yes and no. At the time, I thought it was my heart that hurt, but after all was said and done I realized it was just my pride. Chris is the first person that I've truly been "in love" with.
Have you ever been on a zip line? ** Not yet, but we’re planning to this Fall. :)
Have you ever done something outrageously dumb? ** Um, who hasn’t?? ;)~
Have you ever been back stabbed by a friend? ** Again, who hasn’t?
Have you ever had sex on the beach? ** Private info...
Have you ever dated someone younger than you? ** Only by a year or two.
Have you ever read an entire book in one day? ** Yes, several times. I’m a book nerd. :)
SEVEN WHO’S:
Who was the last person you saw? ** Chris
Who was the last person you texted? ** Don’t text.
Who was the last person you hung out with? ** Chris and the girls
Who was the last person to call you? ** April
Who did you last hug? ** Chris
Who is the last person who texted you? ** See above answer.
Who was the last person you said "I love you" to? ** Chris, of course.
SIX WHERE’S:
Where does your best friend live? ** Chris is my best friend, and he lives with me.
Where did you last go? ** Fly? Virginia. Short trip? The store.
Where did you last hang out? ** Home, in front of the fireplace. Mmmm...
Where did you go to school? ** East High
Where is your favorite place to be? ** Wherever my family is. But the beach / ocean is a verrrrrry close second. On the beach with my family is bliss.
Where did you sleep last night? ** In my bed.
FIVE DO’S/DOES:
Do you like someone right now? ** Do you mean like like? I like like my husband. And I just like a lot of other people.
Do you think anyone likes you? ** Hope so.
Do you ever wish you were someone else? ** No. What would be the point?
Do you know the muffin man? ** You mean the one who lives on Drury Lane? No.
Does the future scare you? ** Not at all. I’m excited for the future. It just keeps getting better. :)
FOUR WHY’S:
Why are you best friends with your best friend(s)? ** He’s fun, loving, loyal, funny, smart, intelligent, handsome, adventurous, open-minded, spiritual, generous, kind-hearted, smells good....
Why did you get a myspace? ** I like Facebook - great way to reconnect with old friends.
Why did your parents give you the name you have? ** I have no idea.
Why are you doing this survey? ** For fun.
THREE IF’S:
If you could have one super power what would it be?? ** I’d love to be able to fly.
If you could go back in time and change one thing, would you? ** Nope. I love the past (the good AND the bad), because it’s brought me to where I am today.
If you were stranded on a deserted island & could bring 1 thing what would you bring? ** My husband.
TWO WOULD-YOU-EVER’S:
Would you ever get back together with any of your ex-boyfriends if they asked you? ** Nah.
Would you ever shave your head to save someone you love? ** Sure. Hair grows back. People don't.
ONE LAST QUESTION
Are you happy with your life right now? ** Extremely.
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"Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength, mastering yourself is true power." -- Lao-Tzu
