Just Kids...

Patti Smith has a book coming out based on her relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe. Sounds interesting, as does she in this interview. My favorite part is when she mentions the sentence she wrote to describe her now deceased husband, Fred "Sonic" Smith. It took her a year to write the sentence.

Nah Right

The Wire. Best Show On Television Of All Time. Yep, that's a mighty big claim but if you've seen it, you already know it and if you haven't then I just did you a favor - Netflix it. Now. Better yet, go buy it because you are going to want to watch it again soon.

For the fans already out there, or even for you soon-to-be fans, here is the trailer for The Avon Barksdale Story documentary. Avon Barksdale is a prominent character in The Wire, but he is also a prominent and infamous real life character on the streets of Baltimore.

I was interested to learn that the real life Avon actually inspired two different characters from The Wire. Imagine what an interesting life story he must have- that they couldn't actually fit it all into one character so they had to create two.

Eat Humane

This website makes it a wee bit easier to make humane food choices. You can look up your local grocery store and see which of their offerings are the most humane; healthy for you and for the planet. You can also search for local restaurants who cook with healthy, animal and planet friendly foods but the list is not that extensive. At least, I hope so, since I want to believe San Diego has more than six restaurants in the whole county serving humane options.

But it's a start...

I Gots Skills

100 Skills Every Girl or Boy Should Master...

Wishful

I am wishing I could be braving the storm and nursing my cold here.

stormy weather

the rising of the storm

I hope you don't get blown away folks. I hope to post more regularly now that work is dying down.

The Rising of the Storm by Paul Laurence Dunbar

The lake's dark breast
Is all unrest,
It heaves with a sob and a sigh.
Like a tremulous bird,
From its slumber stirred,
The moon is a-tilt in the sky.
From the silent deep
The waters sweep,
But faint on the cold white stones,
And the wavelets fly
With a plaintive cry
O'er the old earth's bare, bleak bones.

And the spray upsprings
On its ghost-white wings,
And tosses a kiss at the stars;
While a water-sprite,
In sea-pearls dight,
Hums a sea-hymn's solemn bars.

Far out in the night,
On the wavering sight
I see a dark hull loom;
And its light on high,
Like a Cyclops' eye,
Shines out through the mist and gloom.

Now the winds well up
From the earth's deep cup,

And fall the sea and shore,
And against the pier
The waters rear
And break with a sullen roar.

Up comes the gale,
And the mist-wrought veil
Gives way to the lightning's glare,
And the cloud-drifts fall,
A sombre pall,
O'er water, earth, and air.

The storm-king flies,
His whip he plies,
And bellows down the wind.
The lightning rash
With blinding flash
Comes pricking on behind.

Rise, waters, rise,
And taunt the skies
With your swift-flitting form.
Sweep, wild winds, sweep,
And tear the deep
To atoms in the storm.

And the waters leapt,
And the wild winds swept,
And blew out the moon in the sky,
And I laughed with glee,
It was joy to me
As the storm went raging by!

Had Me At Hello...

Oh my... my weekend was grand. Saturday was super duper rad since I had a girl's day with my #1 girl, which is a rare treat. We went to an artist preview at The Fowler Museum. That part was just okay. The artist was a bit of a disappointment, but the people watching made up for it. We then headed out to do what we do best...eat. We went to the M Cafe which has been on my wish list for awhile and it was very yummy. It is vegan and macrobiotic and delicious and nutritious and all of that. Thumbs up and I look forward to going back. But the best part of the day, the part I had been looking forward to for days, weeks, months... was our trip to Babycakes! It finally opened in L.A. It was radically rad and just plain awesome. I had intended to take a picture of the bakery and of me in it but once I stepped in the doors that all went out the window. I was like a kid in a candy store- who happened to have access to a credit card. I got one of everything. No really, one of everything. Actually, two of some things. Everything was better than I imagined. My personal favorites, if I have to choose, were the Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwiches (seriously, they are ridiculous), the Cinnamon Donut and the Cinnamon Toastie. I brought home the monster box of treats for my family and hubby thoroughly enjoyed the Red Velvet Cupcake (he said the frosting is the best he has ever tasted) and the little bird enjoyed the Vanilla Cupcake and the Cinnamon Donut as well. I also geeked out a bit because I got to see the girl behind it all, Erin McKenna, behind the counter actually making the donuts. I have a bit of girl crush on her and feel like I practically know her since I have read her cookbook cover to cover many times now and I have been stalking her blog to find out about the L.A. opening. But I think I handled it all pretty well. In fact, my girl #1 made a point of telling me that she felt that I, surprisingly, maintained my composure pretty well. Me, sugar, girl crush - that recipe would normally result in me being a total spaz. Maybe I was all Zen'd out from the macrobiotic lunch or something. Anyway, the point of this rambling post is - Babycakes is Bananas! I love it. I am a little sad the treats are all gone but I have the cookbook to keep me company and I already have a repeat visit planned - February 6! This time with the bros.

mistakes, i've made a few

Things are very busy at work so I only have time for a brief post. We've all made mistakes. I think John Cleese has some interesting things to say on the subject and how to keep a positive outlook on a future that is inevitably going to be mistake filled.

2010 Resolutions

Here I am again with the lists. I cannot resist them. I love making my resolutions every year. I think I am pretty good at it. I make a list and keep it nearby and check it often to remind myself and hold myself accountable. I never succeed at everything on my list but that is not the point. I do not usually share my list with anyone except for my hubby. And I am apprehensive about sharing it here now with you. But I figured that fear was a good reason to post it. Get over it already. In fact, I am going to add it to my list of resolutions - If something scares you, makes you nervous -do it anyway. Plus, I know that sharing your resolutions with others makes you more likely to keep at them. So maybe you reading this will make me even better at keeping at this list this year. Now I am going to be honest (another resolution) I did omit something from the list that I just wasn't ready to share with the world. Baby steps.

So without further ado, here is what I'll be doing in 2010...

1. Stand Up Straight

2. Make Decisions

3. Be the Best Mom to Anita

4. Study Spanish

5. Eat More Vegan

6. Walk More (stop accepting that I no longer live in a good walking neighborhood as an excuse)

7. Meditate Regularly

8. Give Blood on Regular Basis

9. Be the Best Wife, Sister, Granddaughter, Niece, Cousin and Friend

10. Eat In Accordance With My Insulin Issues

11. Read/Study Science

12. Volunteer for Beach Clean Up with Anita

13. Take Pictures

14. Practice Daily Mindfulness

15. Work On My Expectations Of Perfection (seriously, let-it-go)

16. Commit to Gardening

17. Master 3 New Recipes

18. Listen to Music Everyday

19. No T.V. till 8p.m.

20. Eat at 10 New Restaurants with Tad

21. Take a Vacation

22. Floss

23. Be Honest and Forthcoming, No More Biting My Tongue or Little White Lies

24. Send a Card to someone 1x month

25. Say Yes, Do Something You Wouldn't Normally Do -Especially If It Scares You or Make You Nervous.

I think this list should keep me sufficiently busy. Here's lookin' at 2010 and crossing things off our lists...