1.) Driving a tractor at Pillar's. SO FUN!!!
2.) Harvesting raspberries, purple beans, and runner beans. Like a treasure hunt (one of the best treasures ever! so yummy!!) The stuff we harvested was part of what we got to eat on a daily basis. I cannot express how much I adore eating foods I pick myself. It's phenomenal the difference in taste and just makes me so very happy.
3.) Picking a huge variety of salads for mix salad bags.
4.) Sowing lettuce seeds. So exciting to see little baby greens popping out of the soil and growing into lettuce plants.
5.) Planting cabbage plants. So satisfying to have rows of baby cabbage plants at the end of the day.
6.) Being one of 10 WWOOF-ers at Cambo with a fantastic mix of cultures: American, French, Spanish, Polish, Swedish, Swiss, and English. It was such a fantastically fun group! Not to mention the awesome gardeners we got to work with, one of whom became a very dear friend and invited me to join her family for Christmas. Just fabulous.
7.) Bonfire at Pillar's my first night there with 4 other workers. A great way to bond!
8.) Regularly making dinner with two other workers who lived at Pillars. We would take turns cooking for each other. Another great way to bond. =)
9.) Being able to walk to the coast when living at Cambo. Depart house..... arrive at beach within 7 minutes. Stupendous!!
10.) Cataloguing books! May seem out of place on a list regarding WWOOFing and in the context that I despise computers...... but it was really incredibly fun and fascinating to see so many books dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. They all felt like treasures! And some of the titles were uproariously funny. It ended up being a hugely entertaining task.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Trip Recap: Favorite People Interactions
Upon reflection of my year of traveling, I decided there were four people interactions I experienced that really blew me away. These are my best "people inspiring faith in the human race" moments....
1.) The random couple on the ferry from Malaig to Skye in Scotland who offered me a ride to Kyleakin when there was no public transportation. Amazing. Crammed me and my substantial bags into their small car, drove about 40 minutes out of their way to drop me off at the door of my hostel and wouldn't accept any money. I realized after they drove away that we hadn't even exchanged names or contact information, just went straight into chatting on the ferry. I kicked myself for not having given my email and offering any help / advice as the wife was training for a half marathon. BUT the world working its fabulous mysteries, I ended up seeing them in a restaurant the next day in a tiny town called Plockton back on the mainland (what are the chances??!! I was ecstatic!) Introductions were made and email addresses exchanged. Satisfaction!
2.) Couchsurfers I met in Cassis, who were not hosting me, but just two random people I met after I finished my hike along the cliffs. We were about a 20 minute walk from town center and I had asked them if they knew the hours for a little grocery store I'd seen. We ended up chatting for about 40 minutes, well past sun set. There was still a bus or two from town center that would take me to the train station, but the Couchsurf host very generously offered to drive me to the train station and wouldn't take no for an answer. The complication arose because his car only had room for one person, and he already had his Couchsurf guest. His brilliant solution was to take her to the train station first (about 5 miles away) drop her off, and then come back and get me, which he did willingly and enthusiastically. So appreciated!
3.) A Swiss family (parents and three daughters around 18-24, all French-speaking) I met at a Graham's Port tour in Porto, Portugal. We were the only ones taking the tour so we were all asking a bunch of questions and started chatting. At the end, we had a tasting, and originally the tour guide had me set up at a separate table from the family, but they invited me to join them so we just continued chatting. In the end, they invited me to their house in Switzerland to taste some of their amazing food (can you imagine, the main topic of our conversation was foods we find scrumptious that pair well with Port, and just delicious things in general) =) They gave me their contact info and we had an original email exchange but that is one of the trips that didn't have a chance to materialize before coming home . . . perhaps for another time . . . Inspiring!
4.) A man I met doing covoiturage (car-sharing in France) contacted me a week later to ask if I wanted to live in their house in Nice for three weeks and watch their three kids. What?! He said I seemed trustworthy. I'm very happy to hear that I inspire confidence in people, but I was still shocked! We'd literally spent maybe three hours together on the drive from Nice to Aix-en-Provence and the ride was shared with 4 other people (covoiturage is a website in France that allows people making trips to publicize their departure and destination, and others looking for rides that fit within the parameters can contact the driver and coordinate to join - it's such a splendid idea!) This was my first time using covoiturage so I had no "reviews" and the profile you create for yourself is super limited, basically just your name. I guess he could just sense the goodness spewing from me. =) The house and child-sitting didn't end up working out either, but I remain flattered by the offer. An intriguing idea!
1.) The random couple on the ferry from Malaig to Skye in Scotland who offered me a ride to Kyleakin when there was no public transportation. Amazing. Crammed me and my substantial bags into their small car, drove about 40 minutes out of their way to drop me off at the door of my hostel and wouldn't accept any money. I realized after they drove away that we hadn't even exchanged names or contact information, just went straight into chatting on the ferry. I kicked myself for not having given my email and offering any help / advice as the wife was training for a half marathon. BUT the world working its fabulous mysteries, I ended up seeing them in a restaurant the next day in a tiny town called Plockton back on the mainland (what are the chances??!! I was ecstatic!) Introductions were made and email addresses exchanged. Satisfaction!
2.) Couchsurfers I met in Cassis, who were not hosting me, but just two random people I met after I finished my hike along the cliffs. We were about a 20 minute walk from town center and I had asked them if they knew the hours for a little grocery store I'd seen. We ended up chatting for about 40 minutes, well past sun set. There was still a bus or two from town center that would take me to the train station, but the Couchsurf host very generously offered to drive me to the train station and wouldn't take no for an answer. The complication arose because his car only had room for one person, and he already had his Couchsurf guest. His brilliant solution was to take her to the train station first (about 5 miles away) drop her off, and then come back and get me, which he did willingly and enthusiastically. So appreciated!
3.) A Swiss family (parents and three daughters around 18-24, all French-speaking) I met at a Graham's Port tour in Porto, Portugal. We were the only ones taking the tour so we were all asking a bunch of questions and started chatting. At the end, we had a tasting, and originally the tour guide had me set up at a separate table from the family, but they invited me to join them so we just continued chatting. In the end, they invited me to their house in Switzerland to taste some of their amazing food (can you imagine, the main topic of our conversation was foods we find scrumptious that pair well with Port, and just delicious things in general) =) They gave me their contact info and we had an original email exchange but that is one of the trips that didn't have a chance to materialize before coming home . . . perhaps for another time . . . Inspiring!
4.) A man I met doing covoiturage (car-sharing in France) contacted me a week later to ask if I wanted to live in their house in Nice for three weeks and watch their three kids. What?! He said I seemed trustworthy. I'm very happy to hear that I inspire confidence in people, but I was still shocked! We'd literally spent maybe three hours together on the drive from Nice to Aix-en-Provence and the ride was shared with 4 other people (covoiturage is a website in France that allows people making trips to publicize their departure and destination, and others looking for rides that fit within the parameters can contact the driver and coordinate to join - it's such a splendid idea!) This was my first time using covoiturage so I had no "reviews" and the profile you create for yourself is super limited, basically just your name. I guess he could just sense the goodness spewing from me. =) The house and child-sitting didn't end up working out either, but I remain flattered by the offer. An intriguing idea!
Friday, June 28, 2013
Things that make me happy. =)
When I first thought of doing this post, I had no idea what a fascinating psychological experience it would be for me.
I was on a train, and started making a list of random things that make me happy. After my first barrage of thoughts were jotted down, I felt like my list was absurd and people might mistakenly think that everything makes me happy . . . so I decided to make a list of things that frustrate me. HOLY HELL!! The shift in my mental mood was immediate, remarkable and significant!!! When I was making my list of "happies" I was in such a good mood, smiling at all of these wonderful things that kept popping into my mind. I was truly and deeply content, reveling in my "happies."
When I started the list of "frustrations" I got through about three of them before I felt myself becoming really angry. Just thinking of things that frustrate me was getting me seriously riled up. I continued on until I had about 10 things written down and then I stopped and decided that was a horrible idea.
So I continued on with my list of things that make me happy, and I've just slowly added to it as a new item pops into my mind (and I plan to continue adding to it, making it grow indefinitely!!!).
I want to share my list in hopes that it can make you happy too!! Maybe there will be something on the list that you hadn't thought of before, but once you notice it, you can garnish a little extra joy from random moments in life (simple pleasures - I believe them to be critical for maximal happiness!). I also think it would be SPECTACULAR if people want to add their own "things that make you happy" in the comments section. Let's spread the joy!!!
So, without further ado, here is my List:
-hooks in toilet stalls so you don't have to put your bags/coat on the floor
-sunshine
-shade when it's too sunny!
-bright colors (and brightly colored anything: suitcases, shoes, shutters, doors, houses, roofs, etc. . . )
-quaint villages
-narrow streets
-cobblestones
-train rides (especially when reasonably priced)
-picinics (on the beach, in the park, in the forest, on a mountain, you name it!)
-well-behaved kids
-people being generous, kind, or caring
-smiles
-well-defined brachioradialis muscles =)
-"I'm Sexy and I Know It" song, video, and video spoofs (SpandyAndy)
-funny YouTube videos in general (especially Lonely Island songs or "Call Me Maybe" spoofs)
-music (all different kinds to match my mood, from mellow to "pump you up!")
-having that inspiring song at just the right moment in an endurance event
-seeing people complete goal races
-helping people complete goal races
-endurance events in general (especially triathlons, marathons, and trail runs)
-trail running
-hiking
-swimming (open water and pool - different joys!)
-biking where there is not a lot of traffic (Normandie is my biking heaven!)
-movies that make me cry or inspire thought, or make me laugh
-reading
-beautiful landscapes
-driving around Ireland, listening to my Dublin buskers' music
-painting
-knitting
-going to concerts (especially smaller, more intimate settings)
-CanCan Cabaret show in Seattle
-Seattle in general
-friends
-reunions with people after being seperated a long time
-buses that have screens to let passengers know what stops are coming up
-flowers
-taking pictures
-looking back through pictures and re-living moments that were special
-getting emails / letters / texts / phone calls /skype calls from people dear to me
-walking on the beach with soft sand (not frozen!)
-dancing like a crazy person, completely hyper and uninhibited
-receiving compliments
-giving compliments
-being able to do small acts of kindness for people
-seeing other people do small acts of kindness
-the FREE HUGS video
-blue sky
-clouds that have shapes to inspire the imagination
-different / noticeable textures in the sky / sea / land
-running high (from endorphins)
-completing a kick-ass workout
-getting my clothes completely sweat saturated from the stepmill
-problem-solving on my own (technology, finding my way in a new town, etc..)
-rain (as long as I'm not stuck in it when I don't want to be)
-comfy pants / clothes
-fun slippers
-brightly colored running shoes
-adrenaline rushes (sky diving, bungy jumping, motorcycle rides....)
-CHRISTMAS LIGHTS!!!!
-petting a cat that's purring
-playing with animals (especially 100+ pound dogs)
-supporting local, sustainable, organic (at its core, not industrial) foods
-Chaco Canyon and Thrive in Seattle
-tiramisu made just the way I like it (saturated "sponge cake" and light on the cream)
-wine, stinky cheese and bread - phenomenal combination.
-port
-muscat
-baking and eating oatmeal cookies
-cooking
-chopping vegetables
-getting my tax refund
-covoiturage
-couchsurfing & all that it entails
-traveling
-exploring new places
-moments of serenity
-being alone on a mountain trail
-snowshoeing
-snow (playing in it / being in a secluded, quite spot / having magical, peaceful snowfall / snowball fights / etc . . .)
-perfectly juicy, ripe orange (picked straight from the tree is a HUGE added bonus)
-exquisitely ripe and tasty fruit
-a really good night's sleep
-warm and cozy winter hat
-hot tubs
-spa days
-girl nights / bonding / talking late into the night
-Super Troopers (favorite comedy and Best Quote Movie ever!!)
-kahlua (with milk, mmmmmmmmmmm)
-a good hair day (aka: I don't have to do anything with it and I think it looks cute)
-nutella crepe
-pizza-making nights with friends
-getting real mail
-heat pads that warm up a bed before you get in (amaaaaaaaaaaaazing!)
-chivalrous men
-trying any variety of ethnic cuisine
-teaching group fitness classes
-people telling me I have infectious positive energy
-sleeping under the night sky
-taking off shoes after my feet have been captive for too long / too hot
-getting a hat wet with cold water when too hot
-smell of garlic and onion simmering in olive oil
-smells of nature (pines, lavender (hmmm, I may just make a "smells that make me happy" section.....)
-burying myself in warm laundry straight out of the dryer
-walking in winter wonderlands
-showers
-getting foot massages (any massage, really)
-fields of flowers (esp. the tulip festival!)
-other people who get really excited about life and cooking and food
-running through vineyards
-sharing a bottle of good wine with friends
-wine and cheese soirrees
-Seattle's wine and cheese festival
-handbags with pockets to keep my stuff organized
-being able to identify plants in nature
-creating a new and awesome recipe
-chatting for hours with friends
-eating food straight from the tree / plant
-driving without traffic (max 90 minutes)
-sunsets
-sunrises
-shooting stars
-flying in an airplane just above super fluffy clouds
-magnolia trees, cherry trees, rhododendrons, and forsynthias in bloom
-luggage racks on trains with space for my big bags
-pretending I'm on a cooking show when I cook and have all veggies pre-chopped =)
-vacuuming (the clean lines in the carpet after are so satisfying!)
-"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" song by Dublin busker
-Great Harvest Bread Company (Dakota bread specifically)
-running in the rain
-running in the snow
-when all 4 judges turn around on The Voice
-Justin Timberlake's appearances on SNL
-pristine white snow
-skyping with friends, especially when there is video connection - makes my heart happy!
-homemade jams
-making jam
-a bunch of fresh vegetables - esp. when its my meal!!
-trees blossoming
-springtime with everything in bloom
-autumn colors with all the reds and yellows - I adore this color combination and all the various shades from magenta to orange and more.
-bare branches with snow, beautiful!
-seafood (esp. mussels in white wine sauce, shrimp, crab, fish, scallops, all caught locally and sustainably)
-achieving a goal
-finding really good prices on material goods
-seeing "red numbers" by the FB messages or notifications
-seeing results of hard work (ie: goal time on a race, field of cabbage plants planted, etc . . .)
-stone houses or wood-frame (colombage) houses
-willow trees (esp. weeping willows)
-tile or slate roofs (or stone!)
-lavendar
-cologne (ie: noticing a man walk by who smells amazing!)
-karaoke with good friends
-moments of being completely and utterly hyper (and creating music videos in such a state)
-lychees, mangoes, pomegranites, . .. ..
-beating up a punching bag to de-stress
-seeing people I haven't seen in years and picking up where we left off
-seafood salads
-confit de canard
-margaritas (esp. Cactus' ritas in Seattle and their chips and salsa!)
-UW Campus (esp. when cherry trees in bloom)
-picking blackberries & having a BBQ on Mercer Island
-swimming in lakes (esp. Rattlesnake Lake)
-impromptu swims in lakes / sea with clothes on!
-renting a canoe from the WAC and paddling through Arboretum, on Lake WA or Lake Union
-sea kayaking
-TRX
-being able to do chin-ups
-singing without inhibition in the car (esp. with friends or family) =)
-being woken up by a sweet little child who comes in and gives me a kiss on the cheek
-having a little kid stop crying and come give me a hug when she sees me
-being adored by a little child
-laughing until I cry
-having a good cry
-treating people to a meal / coffee / dessert / etc . . ..
-having people treat me to a meal / coffee / dessert / etc . . .
-Blue Man Group performances
-Cirque de Soleil permanent performance at Disney World
-classical music concert, closing my eyes, and being lost in the music
-seeing a "hang" instrument being played
-wandering around a new city and getting "lost"
-being toasty warm in bed when it's chilly outside
-hot chocolate
-cuddling
-swing dancing
-surprise dates
-taking off my socks and being surprised to have my toenails painted because I hardly ever paint them and typically forget when they are painted =)
-seeing other people dressed in brightly colored clothes
-surprise birthday messages hidden around the house
-birthday song voice-mails!!!
-FB birthday wishes =)
-pictures of cute animals
-cute animals in general, "in the flesh," especially when I can pet them
-seeing a guy carrying flowers. . . he'll make someone's day!
-relief of peeing when you really have to go!
-libraries!!
-getting lost and completely engrossed in a good book
-HALF PRICE BOOKSTORES!! They are like crack for me. I cannot walk out with less than 6 books.
-Cookbooks!!! (looking at pictures of delicious food, and getting inspirations for new recipes)
-Recipe nights =)
-discovering a new and favorite recipe to add to my arsenal
-Gaelic Storm, Dervish (and Celtic music in general)
-Live Irish Music sessions at any pub (to be enjoyed with a delicious beer, OR maybe some Graham's Port!! =) yum yum yum and yay for music that makes you want to move!!!)
-Ceilidhs (most awesome dance party I've ever been to!! It's a traditional Gaelic social gathering with a prolific amount of twirling - soooooooooooooooo fun!!!)
-turning the page each month for a new picture in my snapfish calendar
-the way aspen leaves look when they rustle in the wind
-gawking at mansions
-just watching clouds drift by, feeling unhurried & tranquil
-bonfires
-making s'mores
-Golden Gardens in Seattle
-watching ducks. They just make my heart happy with their playful nature, the way they stick their butts up in the air to get food, and then after, wiggle their butts with vigor . . . I sound like a duck pervert, but I assure you, it's all innocent and good fun. =)
-in Seattle, when "The Mountain" is out.
-finding healthy, wholesome, local food when eating out.
-when a PT helps me solve a mystery that's been causing me pain for over a year.
-low hanging fog / mist in the early mornings
-how prepared public transport in Portland is for bikes!
-Tabor Bread, Laughing Planet, Tea Zone & Nicholas in Portland
-Forest Park and Washington Park (especially rose garden and arboretum) in Portland
-Foggy Lake hike and swim
-Cougar & Tiger Mountains and their wonderfully runnable trails
-planes (transport in general) being on time
-being able to splash water on my face and make my bed in the mornings without having to support the weight of my torso!! (so simple but so appreciated after months of being unable to do so)
-people using the passing lane appropriately! It almost feels miraculous!!
-my own freshly ground pepper from a TJ's pepper grinder!
-O Fortuna from Carmina Burana
-Completing crosswords
-Seeing strangers help each other
-Reliving parts of my travels when listening to certain songs or seeing pictures come up on my electronic picture frame
-Finding something after you think you've lost it - yay!
-80's Pop Pandora station. =)
-Progressing on climbs
-Motion sensor light working on my back porch so the light turns on when I come home - so simple but so very very nice!
-Cat Crap - this stuff is amazing!! (to de-fog lenses of glasses for those that are wondering)
-Days getting longer and riding home in daylight / sunrise. =)
-TJ's pumpkin ice cream with crunchy peanut butter - yum!
-Brian. And all the immeasurable joy he brings to my life.
I was on a train, and started making a list of random things that make me happy. After my first barrage of thoughts were jotted down, I felt like my list was absurd and people might mistakenly think that everything makes me happy . . . so I decided to make a list of things that frustrate me. HOLY HELL!! The shift in my mental mood was immediate, remarkable and significant!!! When I was making my list of "happies" I was in such a good mood, smiling at all of these wonderful things that kept popping into my mind. I was truly and deeply content, reveling in my "happies."
When I started the list of "frustrations" I got through about three of them before I felt myself becoming really angry. Just thinking of things that frustrate me was getting me seriously riled up. I continued on until I had about 10 things written down and then I stopped and decided that was a horrible idea.
So I continued on with my list of things that make me happy, and I've just slowly added to it as a new item pops into my mind (and I plan to continue adding to it, making it grow indefinitely!!!).
I want to share my list in hopes that it can make you happy too!! Maybe there will be something on the list that you hadn't thought of before, but once you notice it, you can garnish a little extra joy from random moments in life (simple pleasures - I believe them to be critical for maximal happiness!). I also think it would be SPECTACULAR if people want to add their own "things that make you happy" in the comments section. Let's spread the joy!!!
So, without further ado, here is my List:
-hooks in toilet stalls so you don't have to put your bags/coat on the floor
-sunshine
-shade when it's too sunny!
-bright colors (and brightly colored anything: suitcases, shoes, shutters, doors, houses, roofs, etc. . . )
-quaint villages
-narrow streets
-cobblestones
-train rides (especially when reasonably priced)
-picinics (on the beach, in the park, in the forest, on a mountain, you name it!)
-well-behaved kids
-people being generous, kind, or caring
-smiles
-well-defined brachioradialis muscles =)
-"I'm Sexy and I Know It" song, video, and video spoofs (SpandyAndy)
-funny YouTube videos in general (especially Lonely Island songs or "Call Me Maybe" spoofs)
-music (all different kinds to match my mood, from mellow to "pump you up!")
-having that inspiring song at just the right moment in an endurance event
-seeing people complete goal races
-helping people complete goal races
-endurance events in general (especially triathlons, marathons, and trail runs)
-trail running
-hiking
-swimming (open water and pool - different joys!)
-biking where there is not a lot of traffic (Normandie is my biking heaven!)
-movies that make me cry or inspire thought, or make me laugh
-reading
-beautiful landscapes
-driving around Ireland, listening to my Dublin buskers' music
-painting
-knitting
-going to concerts (especially smaller, more intimate settings)
-CanCan Cabaret show in Seattle
-Seattle in general
-friends
-reunions with people after being seperated a long time
-buses that have screens to let passengers know what stops are coming up
-flowers
-taking pictures
-looking back through pictures and re-living moments that were special
-getting emails / letters / texts / phone calls /skype calls from people dear to me
-walking on the beach with soft sand (not frozen!)
-dancing like a crazy person, completely hyper and uninhibited
-receiving compliments
-giving compliments
-being able to do small acts of kindness for people
-seeing other people do small acts of kindness
-the FREE HUGS video
-blue sky
-clouds that have shapes to inspire the imagination
-different / noticeable textures in the sky / sea / land
-running high (from endorphins)
-completing a kick-ass workout
-getting my clothes completely sweat saturated from the stepmill
-problem-solving on my own (technology, finding my way in a new town, etc..)
-rain (as long as I'm not stuck in it when I don't want to be)
-comfy pants / clothes
-fun slippers
-brightly colored running shoes
-adrenaline rushes (sky diving, bungy jumping, motorcycle rides....)
-CHRISTMAS LIGHTS!!!!
-petting a cat that's purring
-playing with animals (especially 100+ pound dogs)
-supporting local, sustainable, organic (at its core, not industrial) foods
-Chaco Canyon and Thrive in Seattle
-tiramisu made just the way I like it (saturated "sponge cake" and light on the cream)
-wine, stinky cheese and bread - phenomenal combination.
-port
-muscat
-baking and eating oatmeal cookies
-cooking
-chopping vegetables
-getting my tax refund
-covoiturage
-couchsurfing & all that it entails
-traveling
-exploring new places
-moments of serenity
-being alone on a mountain trail
-snowshoeing
-snow (playing in it / being in a secluded, quite spot / having magical, peaceful snowfall / snowball fights / etc . . .)
-perfectly juicy, ripe orange (picked straight from the tree is a HUGE added bonus)
-exquisitely ripe and tasty fruit
-a really good night's sleep
-warm and cozy winter hat
-hot tubs
-spa days
-girl nights / bonding / talking late into the night
-Super Troopers (favorite comedy and Best Quote Movie ever!!)
-kahlua (with milk, mmmmmmmmmmm)
-a good hair day (aka: I don't have to do anything with it and I think it looks cute)
-nutella crepe
-pizza-making nights with friends
-getting real mail
-heat pads that warm up a bed before you get in (amaaaaaaaaaaaazing!)
-chivalrous men
-trying any variety of ethnic cuisine
-teaching group fitness classes
-people telling me I have infectious positive energy
-sleeping under the night sky
-taking off shoes after my feet have been captive for too long / too hot
-getting a hat wet with cold water when too hot
-smell of garlic and onion simmering in olive oil
-smells of nature (pines, lavender (hmmm, I may just make a "smells that make me happy" section.....)
-burying myself in warm laundry straight out of the dryer
-walking in winter wonderlands
-showers
-getting foot massages (any massage, really)
-fields of flowers (esp. the tulip festival!)
-other people who get really excited about life and cooking and food
-running through vineyards
-sharing a bottle of good wine with friends
-wine and cheese soirrees
-Seattle's wine and cheese festival
-handbags with pockets to keep my stuff organized
-being able to identify plants in nature
-creating a new and awesome recipe
-chatting for hours with friends
-eating food straight from the tree / plant
-driving without traffic (max 90 minutes)
-sunsets
-sunrises
-shooting stars
-flying in an airplane just above super fluffy clouds
-magnolia trees, cherry trees, rhododendrons, and forsynthias in bloom
-luggage racks on trains with space for my big bags
-pretending I'm on a cooking show when I cook and have all veggies pre-chopped =)
-vacuuming (the clean lines in the carpet after are so satisfying!)
-"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" song by Dublin busker
-Great Harvest Bread Company (Dakota bread specifically)
-running in the rain
-running in the snow
-when all 4 judges turn around on The Voice
-Justin Timberlake's appearances on SNL
-pristine white snow
-skyping with friends, especially when there is video connection - makes my heart happy!
-homemade jams
-making jam
-a bunch of fresh vegetables - esp. when its my meal!!
-trees blossoming
-springtime with everything in bloom
-autumn colors with all the reds and yellows - I adore this color combination and all the various shades from magenta to orange and more.
-bare branches with snow, beautiful!
-seafood (esp. mussels in white wine sauce, shrimp, crab, fish, scallops, all caught locally and sustainably)
-achieving a goal
-finding really good prices on material goods
-seeing "red numbers" by the FB messages or notifications
-seeing results of hard work (ie: goal time on a race, field of cabbage plants planted, etc . . .)
-stone houses or wood-frame (colombage) houses
-willow trees (esp. weeping willows)
-tile or slate roofs (or stone!)
-lavendar
-cologne (ie: noticing a man walk by who smells amazing!)
-karaoke with good friends
-moments of being completely and utterly hyper (and creating music videos in such a state)
-lychees, mangoes, pomegranites, . .. ..
-beating up a punching bag to de-stress
-seeing people I haven't seen in years and picking up where we left off
-seafood salads
-confit de canard
-margaritas (esp. Cactus' ritas in Seattle and their chips and salsa!)
-UW Campus (esp. when cherry trees in bloom)
-picking blackberries & having a BBQ on Mercer Island
-swimming in lakes (esp. Rattlesnake Lake)
-impromptu swims in lakes / sea with clothes on!
-renting a canoe from the WAC and paddling through Arboretum, on Lake WA or Lake Union
-sea kayaking
-TRX
-being able to do chin-ups
-singing without inhibition in the car (esp. with friends or family) =)
-being woken up by a sweet little child who comes in and gives me a kiss on the cheek
-having a little kid stop crying and come give me a hug when she sees me
-being adored by a little child
-laughing until I cry
-having a good cry
-treating people to a meal / coffee / dessert / etc . . ..
-having people treat me to a meal / coffee / dessert / etc . . .
-Blue Man Group performances
-Cirque de Soleil permanent performance at Disney World
-classical music concert, closing my eyes, and being lost in the music
-seeing a "hang" instrument being played
-wandering around a new city and getting "lost"
-being toasty warm in bed when it's chilly outside
-hot chocolate
-cuddling
-swing dancing
-surprise dates
-taking off my socks and being surprised to have my toenails painted because I hardly ever paint them and typically forget when they are painted =)
-seeing other people dressed in brightly colored clothes
-surprise birthday messages hidden around the house
-birthday song voice-mails!!!
-FB birthday wishes =)
-pictures of cute animals
-cute animals in general, "in the flesh," especially when I can pet them
-seeing a guy carrying flowers. . . he'll make someone's day!
-relief of peeing when you really have to go!
-libraries!!
-getting lost and completely engrossed in a good book
-HALF PRICE BOOKSTORES!! They are like crack for me. I cannot walk out with less than 6 books.
-Cookbooks!!! (looking at pictures of delicious food, and getting inspirations for new recipes)
-Recipe nights =)
-discovering a new and favorite recipe to add to my arsenal
-Gaelic Storm, Dervish (and Celtic music in general)
-Live Irish Music sessions at any pub (to be enjoyed with a delicious beer, OR maybe some Graham's Port!! =) yum yum yum and yay for music that makes you want to move!!!)
-Ceilidhs (most awesome dance party I've ever been to!! It's a traditional Gaelic social gathering with a prolific amount of twirling - soooooooooooooooo fun!!!)
-turning the page each month for a new picture in my snapfish calendar
-the way aspen leaves look when they rustle in the wind
-gawking at mansions
-just watching clouds drift by, feeling unhurried & tranquil
-bonfires
-making s'mores
-Golden Gardens in Seattle
-watching ducks. They just make my heart happy with their playful nature, the way they stick their butts up in the air to get food, and then after, wiggle their butts with vigor . . . I sound like a duck pervert, but I assure you, it's all innocent and good fun. =)
-in Seattle, when "The Mountain" is out.
-finding healthy, wholesome, local food when eating out.
-when a PT helps me solve a mystery that's been causing me pain for over a year.
-low hanging fog / mist in the early mornings
-how prepared public transport in Portland is for bikes!
-Tabor Bread, Laughing Planet, Tea Zone & Nicholas in Portland
-Forest Park and Washington Park (especially rose garden and arboretum) in Portland
-Foggy Lake hike and swim
-Cougar & Tiger Mountains and their wonderfully runnable trails
-planes (transport in general) being on time
-being able to splash water on my face and make my bed in the mornings without having to support the weight of my torso!! (so simple but so appreciated after months of being unable to do so)
-people using the passing lane appropriately! It almost feels miraculous!!
-my own freshly ground pepper from a TJ's pepper grinder!
-O Fortuna from Carmina Burana
-Completing crosswords
-Seeing strangers help each other
-Reliving parts of my travels when listening to certain songs or seeing pictures come up on my electronic picture frame
-Finding something after you think you've lost it - yay!
-80's Pop Pandora station. =)
-Progressing on climbs
-Motion sensor light working on my back porch so the light turns on when I come home - so simple but so very very nice!
-Cat Crap - this stuff is amazing!! (to de-fog lenses of glasses for those that are wondering)
-Days getting longer and riding home in daylight / sunrise. =)
-TJ's pumpkin ice cream with crunchy peanut butter - yum!
-Brian. And all the immeasurable joy he brings to my life.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Change of Plans
Oh, life and its curve balls. I am a firm believer in "everything happening for a reason," even if it's not what we want, nor expect, even if we have a really hard time understanding why or seeing the good in a negative situation. I also firmly believe that if we put positive energy and effort into any endeavor, the end result will be positive, even if it's not what we thought it would be.....
My dad had a heart attack at the end of March and needs quadruple bypass surgery. After saying and typing it repeatedly, it's starting to feel real. He's doing OK now, home with my mom, resting and recovering, but I'm flying home on April 30th instead of June 30th to help take care of my parents after the surgery. I wish I could say the decision had been easy and thoughtless, simply what a good daughter would do to help family in need, but I struggled with this curve ball.
The hardest question was when to come home. There were times in the first few days after his MI, when he was still in the hospital, that I had the urge to get a ticket home right away. Few things have been harder in my life, than being on a different continent and hearing my father's voice after he received the news of the necessity for bypass surgery. In my 11 months of travels, I have had some desperate moments to give and receive hugs via skype or phone, but this one beats them all. How to hug someone in a hospital bed in CO when I'm in a suburb of Paris at 1 am??? Even the quickest flight couldn't solve that dilemma.
Not being able to magically transport myself home in a snap, the question persisted of when to fly home. Over the next week, I debated endlessly on the best return date, entertained lots of morbid thoughts, mourned the early end to my travels and adventures, and found the prospect heart-breaking of potentially never seeing some of my French family again. Lots of discussions with my parents ended in the April 30th choice.
I'm so very very thankful for the support system that materialized to take care of my parents. Between wonderful neighbors, friends, family and colleagues, the offers to help were so numerous that they made me cry. It felt like something out of a movie, but no, it's reality; it's the goodness that people are capable of, and it's a reality that uplifts me.
With this amazing support network and my parents returning to a semi-autonomic lifestyle, I decided to use the last month to visit all my French family (48 in total!! Fabulous, but difficult to squeeze into 1 month). So that is what I'm doing now. Hyper-speed visits around France. Yesterday was 6 hours of train to go from Clermont-Ferrand to Sarrebourg, and the rushed visits continue. It never feels like enough time, but at the same time, I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to see everyone again. Today, I got to help my uncle in the vegetable garden and it was GREAT! It's like really low-key WWOOFing. =)
My last international trip was to Rome between March 28th to April 4th (a trip planned pre-MI, that I'm also very grateful I was able to take). Holy cow! I felt like a kid in a candy store. The amount of ancient ruins in that city is mind-boggling. Just randomly walking along streets in the city, I'd repeatedly discover remains dating back 2000 years. I find that kind of stuff fascinating!! I spent all 7 days in Rome and still feel like it was insufficient. I also brilliantly, and inadvertently (severe brain-zap to blame) scheduled my trip over Easter. Brilliant, indeed! Add in the whole "new pope" aspect, and I got to see quite the crowds at St Peter's Basilica. Otherwise, seeing the Sistine Chapel was amazing, and my favorite places were the Terme di Caracalla and Appia Antica. I'll attempt to do Rome justice with its own blog post.
When I purchased my ticket back to the States, I was shocked and disgusted with the fact that round-trips are cheaper than one-ways. In four days of searching, using various search engines and individual airline websites, I found no one-way ticket cheaper than round-trip. WHAT is that?? Craziness. SO, logically, I bought a round-trip ticket. At first I was going to get the return for a week later and simply not use the return, however, I had an idea before making the final purchase. If all goes well with the surgery and recovery and I can find a random job or two to earn some money, I might be able to go back and finish the travels I had planned, and take the opportunity to visit my family once more. The thought is a bit soothing and extraordinary, and I will just have to wait and see, but as it stands I have a plane ticket from Denver to Paris on September 3rd. Only time will tell if I'll be on that plane!
My dad had a heart attack at the end of March and needs quadruple bypass surgery. After saying and typing it repeatedly, it's starting to feel real. He's doing OK now, home with my mom, resting and recovering, but I'm flying home on April 30th instead of June 30th to help take care of my parents after the surgery. I wish I could say the decision had been easy and thoughtless, simply what a good daughter would do to help family in need, but I struggled with this curve ball.
The hardest question was when to come home. There were times in the first few days after his MI, when he was still in the hospital, that I had the urge to get a ticket home right away. Few things have been harder in my life, than being on a different continent and hearing my father's voice after he received the news of the necessity for bypass surgery. In my 11 months of travels, I have had some desperate moments to give and receive hugs via skype or phone, but this one beats them all. How to hug someone in a hospital bed in CO when I'm in a suburb of Paris at 1 am??? Even the quickest flight couldn't solve that dilemma.
Not being able to magically transport myself home in a snap, the question persisted of when to fly home. Over the next week, I debated endlessly on the best return date, entertained lots of morbid thoughts, mourned the early end to my travels and adventures, and found the prospect heart-breaking of potentially never seeing some of my French family again. Lots of discussions with my parents ended in the April 30th choice.
I'm so very very thankful for the support system that materialized to take care of my parents. Between wonderful neighbors, friends, family and colleagues, the offers to help were so numerous that they made me cry. It felt like something out of a movie, but no, it's reality; it's the goodness that people are capable of, and it's a reality that uplifts me.
With this amazing support network and my parents returning to a semi-autonomic lifestyle, I decided to use the last month to visit all my French family (48 in total!! Fabulous, but difficult to squeeze into 1 month). So that is what I'm doing now. Hyper-speed visits around France. Yesterday was 6 hours of train to go from Clermont-Ferrand to Sarrebourg, and the rushed visits continue. It never feels like enough time, but at the same time, I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to see everyone again. Today, I got to help my uncle in the vegetable garden and it was GREAT! It's like really low-key WWOOFing. =)
My last international trip was to Rome between March 28th to April 4th (a trip planned pre-MI, that I'm also very grateful I was able to take). Holy cow! I felt like a kid in a candy store. The amount of ancient ruins in that city is mind-boggling. Just randomly walking along streets in the city, I'd repeatedly discover remains dating back 2000 years. I find that kind of stuff fascinating!! I spent all 7 days in Rome and still feel like it was insufficient. I also brilliantly, and inadvertently (severe brain-zap to blame) scheduled my trip over Easter. Brilliant, indeed! Add in the whole "new pope" aspect, and I got to see quite the crowds at St Peter's Basilica. Otherwise, seeing the Sistine Chapel was amazing, and my favorite places were the Terme di Caracalla and Appia Antica. I'll attempt to do Rome justice with its own blog post.
When I purchased my ticket back to the States, I was shocked and disgusted with the fact that round-trips are cheaper than one-ways. In four days of searching, using various search engines and individual airline websites, I found no one-way ticket cheaper than round-trip. WHAT is that?? Craziness. SO, logically, I bought a round-trip ticket. At first I was going to get the return for a week later and simply not use the return, however, I had an idea before making the final purchase. If all goes well with the surgery and recovery and I can find a random job or two to earn some money, I might be able to go back and finish the travels I had planned, and take the opportunity to visit my family once more. The thought is a bit soothing and extraordinary, and I will just have to wait and see, but as it stands I have a plane ticket from Denver to Paris on September 3rd. Only time will tell if I'll be on that plane!
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Nice, Villefranche, Menton.....
3 towns in one day is too much. Insufficient, but spectacular in each....start in Nice again, with a walk on the beach (see people swimming and am inspired to try also, so return to hostel for swimsuit), walk around Vieux Nice and Castle Hill (pictures of the water from this vantage point are ridiculously beautiful), buy food for picnic on the beach....yes you are going to get a detailed list. =) A fresh baguette aux cereales, fresh goat's milk cheese, super ripe and delicious cherry tomatoes, olives flavored with garlic and basil (holy shlamola, those things were amazing!!) Proceed to catch the bus at 1:30 pm (significant delays because of Carnaval - boo!) but finally make it to the beach at Villefranche around 2 pm. Picnic barefoot in the fantastic sun by the Mediterranean. Feeling very VERY grateful for life and all of its goodness at this point. But missing someone to share it with. Test the water, but it is painfully cold on my feet, so opt for the option of putting my shoes back on, rather than swimming in the sea. Ha! 'Petite Nature' yes. Catch the next bus to Menton and juuuuuuuuuuuuust miss the parade. Bummer. Get to see the last 3 floats heading back to the parking lot.....for next time, I suppose. Spend 2 hours walking around the Gardens, in utter admiration and picture frenzy of all the structures they created and decorated with oranges and lemons. Get a hot 'lemonade' (literally just fresh squeezed lemon juice, hot water, and honey) and buy fresh Menton kumquats! Woohoo! Walk around the Port and beach of Menton by night and catch the closing of the festival with the firework show. Actually much better than I expected! Had it synchronized with music and excerpts from "Around the World in 80 Days" (the theme of the festival this year, as it is the 80th anniversary). Lovely time! Catch a train back, along with masses of other people, but I'm surrounded by very good natured people, so it was a grand old time. Now off to bed to prep for last day in Nice tomorrow!
Saturday, March 2, 2013
First Day in Nice : Spectacular!
Amaaaaaaaaaaaaaazing day!!! So glad I didn't cancel my trip and rejoicing in the fact that whatever had invaded my GI system is gone. =) Started the day with a free walking tour of Nice, which concluded with a picnic in the sun on castle hill, bus to Eze (really charming medieval village), then bus to Monaco. Mixed feelings on Monaco....slightly disgusted by the absurdly excessive wealth flaunted in all of the yachts and ferraris and at the Casino, but also kind of fun to walk around and gawk. Absolutely brilliant blue sky and sunshine the whole day (walking around in a tee-shirt most of the day) but did have to sport the winter hat and gloves after sunset. =) Felt a little funny, but hadn't brought enough layers with me and the windbreaker was not cutting it. Also felt a bit funny walking around the casino in my typical workout clothes (and new 'poppy' running shoes) but it was all I had and I wanted to check it out. A sign outside said 'proper clothing required' and I was afraid I was under-dressed for entering. However, they said I was fine and it was apparently meant to keep people out who only have swimsuits on. Excellent. Even though I didn't gamble (after gambling $8 in Vegas in 2004 I've never been remotely tempted to gamble again) I did use the toilets in the Casino. Ha! Just because I could. And they had these crazy machines that clean the toilet seats after each use. Snazzy! Thus is my experience in the Monte Carlo Casino.
Friday, March 1, 2013
Nice is Nice!!!
Yes, corny title, but I just couldn't help it! Arg! And I'm back on an American keyboard and making mistakes left and right....this will be brief. Basically, all is good! I was going to cancel my trip to the South of France this morning at 3 am, when I was laying on the bathroom floor, exhausted from hours of being sick. With the wonders of technology, I was able to skype with my parents (while laying on the bathroom floor, thank you smart phone!!) to get some comfort and words of advice. They brought up the wise idea to cancel the trip to Nice and spend the next few days recuperating instead. Hmmmm, very sad idea, but indeed, very wise. The thought, at that point and time, of spending a similar night in a single toilet bathroom shared with a 16 bed dorm, was very unappealing, and enough to persuade me to agree with my parents' reasoning. HOWEVER!! I woke up this morning feeling pretty much miraculously better!!!! I severely hesitated, but my aunt helped me concoct a plan to allow as much recovery time as possible before my 5 pm flight. So when the time came for decision making, I felt recovered enough (and desperate enough to see Nice, Menton, Marseilles, and a friend in Aix-en-Provence), that I decided to go for it!! One of her amazing neighbors brought me to the bus stop, and I was off and running...or actually, bus-ing, then RER-ing, then plane-ing my way to Nice. And there was no desperate need for a toilet on any mode of transport!! Double Hooray! So now I'm off to take a nice and easy walk to explore Nice, maybe be bold and eat some chicken soup, then call it an early night to see if I can feel fully 100% by tomorrow. Fingers are crossed, this can happen!!!
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