Keeping a Schedule

Tuesday feeling like Wednesday was not good. It was easy enough to get over that disappointment quickly! I have too many other things I need to worry about like finding the energy for this month's calendar that is filling up quickly. Let me explain...

All of my Sundays this month are now spoken for. Three of the five Saturdays have been scheduled. Peppering the rest of the calendar are dinners with people I haven't seen in a while and have requested to see me. I have one wine tasting event and one Harley Davidson event for ladies only where Sharon, Bridget and I will learn about the history of HD, the differences in bike models, safety, etc. Sharon used to ride and is trying to get back in while the rest of us are going for enrichment.

Your pity is not needed or required. I am just trying to figure out how I will manage my energy. Adequate sleep will certainly be a factor in being able to enjoy everything. It's been a long time since I've carried a schedule like this. I was chastised for planning everything in my life and not leaving enough room for spontaneity. Well, the person who said that has been years out of my life. Realizing that what works for me may not work for other people. I work better when I plan. It helps me to visualize a sense of purpose and to manage my energy so that I may properly appreciate these experiences. There is enough flexibility for spontaneity. How do you think some of the stuff got on my calendar? I said yes.

The pendulum from no planning the last seven years has swung back to planning. I don't regret not planning. Some interesting adventures have come my way, but no planning has also left me standing on quivering ground. Instead of enjoying my journey, I've been wondering when the quivering will stop. That doesn't seem like a good way to be in the moment and enjoy the experience, is it?

I am not arrogant enough to think that all my planning will control The Big Spontaneous Event Called Life. What's that joke? Wanna make God laugh? Tell him your plans. No, I am no such fool.


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Keeping a Schedule

Taller Dome

I wrote this to a friend today:

My mind was focused too much on getting ready for my class which I loved. Every time I go there and walk around the store, I am in heaven. Every aisle...every gadget...every bottled or packaged ingredient makes me smile happily. I really don't feel like that in any other kind of store. Okay, I lied -- I love Sephora, but you get what I mean.

Part two of my knife skills class was this morning. It was a review of last week, a few more techniques and a lesson on mandolines which I appreciated. I have a mandoline but it is not as easy as the OXO version demonstrated today. Our class worked together to make grilled vegetable paninis and an apple slaw with cranberries. I had wine with mine, a nice reward for working in the kitchen for an hour and a half. Sounded good didn't it?

I left with a bag of goodies like a silicone brush, more jalapeno lemongrass dippy thing, a cooking magazine and the salt cellar/salt pig below. Making do with a small ceramic container was over. It was time for a more dignified container which I quickly filled with Kosher salt. Oh! I also bought a mini-loaf of banana bread that had baked in the oven during our class. That was not the cool part -- the owner/chef gave the price to the clerk and left the register for the culinary center to retrieve the choicest loaf with a taller dome shape on top. I was caught off guard with his thoughtfulness. Was it another way the universe giving the message that we're finding the best and giving it to you? I'd like to think so anyway.




While I was in the kitchen taking pics anyway, let me share the idea of Tickling Your Mushrooms. My stepmother told me years ago about tickling your mushrooms which meant using a mushroom brush to clean fresh raw mushrooms. Some people do use a kitchen towel or paper towel to get a job done; however, I am sure it is not as much fun. Dull moments are rare in my kitchen.


One of the stuffed mushrooms I had this evening and views my mushroom tickler. Yes, it makes me giggle and feel naughty, too.


BRILLIANCE...Here was a remarkable human being who left our earthly plane last week but not before he gave us a glimpse of heaven: You will LOVE LOVE LOVE this: The Last Lecture. It is a little over and hour, but you will be riveted. For a reprise and shorter version, please watch Randy Pausch here on Oprah.

Three of the many spokes of wisdom Randy shared were:

1) Brick walls are there for a reason: They let us prove how badly we want things.
2) If we do something which is pioneering, we will get arrows in the back. But at the end of the day, a whole lot of people will have a whole lot of fun.
3) If you live properly, your dreams will come to you.

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Taller Dome

Inspiration Beauty

Ideas in color raced through my mind like the bright jerseys during the Tour de France on my way to work. Ever since last week's baking, starting with the cupcakes and truffle candies, my creativity has been sparked. It hasn't been this active in a while. It seems to have come to life just when I despaired on my usual easy brainstorming skill. What does it mean? Why now?

One of the ladies at work brought gardenias in. She gave a few to another lady who gave Bridget and me each one. You could say that Beauty greeted me at my desk when I arrived. The fragrance danced around my cube area all day. It was quite heady at times. I loved it!



The highlight of my workday was going to lunch with Bridget at this Japanese restaurant for some Bento Box action. She had never been and enjoyed the variety of offerings in her lunch box. I was perked up by the wasabi and pickled ginger.

Here are just several of the images that were inspiring me today:













Yes, the ideas in my mind were that colorful and varied. Each idea was screaming in its attention-seeking. I was forced to get my sketch pad out and draw/write ideas. Never a dull moment.


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Inspiration Beauty