Telling the Truth: Growing up is Hard

Weathering the storm...

This has been a difficult month. I am trying to remember that challenges bring about opportunities for growth.

Three hard things:

1. Andrew was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He's doing really well and we're confident he'll be fine and know we'll both be better than ever from this in the long run. Still, surgeries and chemo aren't usually part of the plan in your 2oies.

2. One of my best friends, who has been far away from me, is facing a divorce. It is hard to imagine my beautiful friend being hurt and feeling alone. I am proud of her for being so strong and getting herself out of a bad situation.

3. A couple we are friendly with just lost their baby the day before it was due. A lovely, radiant mom-to-be and her husband who was already the doting dad. They did everything right--it is so senseless and tragic. My heart is broken for them.

I have never felt older. I know life works in cycles of ups-and-downs and am quickly learning that things don't always go as expected. Changing and adapting to new circumstances is part of growing up... I have an internal debate about to blogging about these things. I decided I to be honest today rather than write about the flower arrangement I made this morning or the gingerbread I made last night.

The Pleasure of Growing Up

I had a wonderful birthday! I love being 27 so far. It really is an elegant sounding age. I think the truth is I prefer odd numbers.

Highlights from the last few days:

*Andrew got me a Eee PC because he wants me to write a book. It isn't much bigger than a graphing calculator, so I'm trying to get used to typing on a smaller keyboard. It is very quiet and portable and I am currently writing you all from a hip coffee shop in downtown Santa Barbara. So far it really is proving to be Easy, Excellent, and Exciting. And a huge upgrade from my 2002 dinosaur desktop computer.

*We went out to dinner at The Palace Grill, sharing an indulgent platter of well-spiced seafood. It was a lively Cajun spot, where the staff and patrons sing songs together; they passed out the lyrics to It's Amore while we were there.

*We took a moonlit walk on the beach. The sand was still warm and all the white caps in the ocean were glowing under the moon. The best things in life really are free.

*Lots of wonderful phone calls and messages from people I love. I am a keeper of friends--near and far, but mostly far it seems. Watch out folks, if I pick you, you will be mine forever!

*My best girlfriend in town, a southern gal from Kentucky and a talented baker, presented me with my very first Red Velvet cake. It was delightful--I also got a DVD copy of Steel Magnolias so I understand the significance of such a Southern delicacy.

*I bought myself a new orchid with the TJ's gift card I won. And then I purchased a new pet: A lovely blue and red Beta fish. He is extremely happy and is currently going by Sparkles, aka "Sparks." I bought Fluffy, my goldfish, exactly a year before. I've heard fighting fish are much hardier.

*Pottery class was very informative--and challenging! I've gone to the studio hours twice so far and am still working on centering my clay on the potter's wheel. I stare in awe at the people who whip up masterpiece planters and vases in mere minutes. When I asked for some tips, a talented older guy told me the squat, lopsided piece I was working on and rather proud of--my best bowl yet-- was "beyond repair." I laughed and felt better when he said the same thing about one of his huge, impressive vases.

What is new and happy in your lives, readers?

*I'll add pics at a later date--my digital camera is still broken.

More Good News--BYOB pays off

Just say no thanks!

It finally happened. I won the $20 gift card drawing at our local Trader Joe's. I've been bringing my own bags to the store for the last few years...and we shop there almost 2x a week. The odds should be good, right?

Well, sadly, the USUALLY friendly workers (lovely folks at our Oregon TJ's but here it's staffed by flirty college students who notice each other--not the customers) rarely offer me a raffle ticket as a reward for bringing my bags.

I try to be polite and not be a bother--but this time...I spoke up. And the girl checker was out of them. So I went to the front and had to get one.

On the ride home I told Andrew how it felt good to finally ask for a ticket. And that I win every contest I enter and that I would have won already if I did this before.

The next morning I had a voice mail from TJ's with the good news!

Just say: yes please!

I like bringing my own bags anyway. I buy them from my favorite stores Mana Foods(Maui) and New Seasons (Oregon) represent! They are so much easier to haul--canvas straps on your shoulders vs. plastic cutting the circulation off your fingers--or paper bags splitting and prematurely showing off your purchases. And I have less clutter piling in the cabinets. And of course it is now fashionable to be "green."

Happy October

Reasons I feel like celebrating:

I woke up to rain. Hooray! It is currently cleaning the dust and ash off of the leaves--we finally got some homework/coffee shop weather around here.

It's my birthday month! I like the sound of being 27 waaaay better than 26. I'm ready. Bring it on.

I joined the posh Rec Cen at UCSB. I've been biking or walking there most days and am having some quality workouts. It has been WAY too long. Why must I always have to rediscover that working out makes me feel better in all areas of my life?

I've been purging major clutter from my home. And my strong affinity for light blue has disappeared--I'm over the "beach house" theme. Suddenly, I am drawn to black, whites, and reds. I rearranged the furniture in our bedrooms and am going for a more sophisticated look.

I've applied for some jobs I actually really want. And my little sis Lantana got a dream job I am living vicariously through.

It's squash season again.

I got out my paint can and slapped a fresh coat of glossy white on some dingy, chipped, multicolored wooden stools I've been collecting.

Figs! I recently picked some and they are my new fave. My body enjoyed them soooo much. Then I read they are super high in iron, magnesium, and calcium. I must have needed those.

I got one of my early birthday presents--Andrew signed us up for a pottery class with our good friends.

Oh, the same good friends regularly brew--and we were given a pack of the most rich, decadent, delicious homemade beer. One shared is indulgent enough.

I read an article about living simply that validated my lifestyle--we already are a one car family, don't have a home phone, don't have cable/tv, frequently buy things second-hand, and grow some of the food we eat. It made me feel pretty hip.

Tempeh Pizza

When I first got back to town I was craving pizza. We had just been to Portland where wonderful pizza abounds (our friends even have a few pizza restaurants). I realized I've never had good pizza in California. None of the pizza shops around here are gourmet or fresh enough for my taste. I've tried several and all the reviews I've read mention doughy, cheesey and otherwise bland pizza.

We even went out to dinner last week to try the pizza at a local brewhouse, because Andrew remembered the pizza being good. It was alright, but not great.

I asked my neighbors (who moved here from Boston) if they knew of any good pizza places. Nope. Homemade is the way to go.

Since I've been back from traveling this summer, I've been relishing my kitchen time. I love cooking. And I had forgotten: I know how to make pizza!

While home on Maui, I picked up some tempeh at the local health food store (I heart Mana Foods!). It really broke up my tofu rut. I found out that Andrew had never even tried it.

We're a mostly veggie household (pescatarian to be exact) so yummy forms of meatless protein are to be celebrated.

I was thrilled when my cousin sent me a link to a lovely blog called 101 Cookbooks. They were featuring a tempeh sandwich.

I made the TLT as featured... When I tried it I realized the way the tomatoes and the marinaded tempeh were prepared was worth remembering. Both were soooo delicious, I made a bunch extra.

And tonight we threw together a pizza with:

(Almost) whole wheat dough (TJs)
Bell peppers from the garden.
Oven roasted cherry tomatoes (yellow and red--from garden and farmer's market)
Goat Cheese (Mmmmmmmmmmm)
A sprinkling of mozarella
Tempeh that had been marinated in adobo sauce, balsamic vinegar, shoyu, maple syrup and olive oil from the Tempeh Lettuce and Tomato recipe.
parsley, basil, and oregano fresh from the garden

It was a great combo. Worth writing about even. And Andrew observed, "WOW, this is awesome sausage."

I think tempeh has become our latest household staple.

Love/Hate Oregon

Great microbrew can be found at the Blue Moon.

I just spent a week in Portland, Oregon, visiting old friends and returning to old haunts. While living there off and on for nine years I developed a very strong love/hate relationship with the place.

Things I love about PDX:

1. Very good beer
2. Great prices!
3. Trees and greenery are refreshing
4. Easygoing people (mellow drivers)
5. Charming neighborhoods (I love certain bubbles)

6. Farmers' Market

Will work for food (our old Saturday job).

Things I don't miss:

1. Smokers
2. Weather (though I was there for a perfect week)
3. Trees (somehow seem a bit dark and ominous)
4. Hipsters
5. Strip malls
6. Billboards

My highlight of the week was kayaking on Oswego Lake and seeing a catfish and a mink. And meeting handsome baby boy Finn!

Loving the Lake in perfect Oregon sunshine.

I've spent the last year really missing Oregon (well, mainly my friends who are like family) and longing for all the things I used to love. My visit made me realize that I like Oregon but I don't love it. I always knew in my heart it wasn't for me--yet, absence really can make the heart grow fonder.
After checking in with my past home, I'm feeling very ready to embrace life here in California.

Oahu Living

I just had an awesome trip visiting my little sisters in their island bungalow in the city of Honolulu. We took the Hawaii Superferry over from Maui with my dad which was a painless 3 hours in what seemed to be a floating airport lobby with a new movie theater feel. I'm impressed with the aged beauty of Oahu's mountains and the amazing views from the foothills. But it mainly did my heart good to see my little sisters, grown up and independent, taking on this new city as their home. I also had a great reunion with several of my best girlfriends from college who live on Oahu now. I'm proud to see how successful my friends have become. They're such healthy, beautiful, accomplished women.

My new boyfriend and my college girlies!

Great beaches, good shopping, city lights, evening walks, and a perfect little dog named Ollie. Life is good over there.