I met my challenge :o) I moved the clutter elsewhere and have gotten rid of half the useless papers that kept piling up.
Tomorrow I’ll finish sifting through them to finish up, but at least my desk is clear and I can work without having a pile of stuff collapsing over me!
A past neighbor mocked my mother when she “organized” her house. Upon keen consideration, he made the observation that her organization method was really transfering one pile of stuff from one place to another. Somehow, that transfering activity had fulfilled my mother’s satisfaction plentifully —until he made that clever remark.
Admittedly, a little of her organization genes, I’m afraid, were as well transfered to me. I believe, however, that I have worked further towards really decluttering and clearing things. I know I do move piles from here to there, but they eventually find their place out of that pile…
Here I am at 4:35am writing entries. The birds are already chirping outside and twilight is now bringing the night to an end.
I’ve made a log of my sleeping times for the past weeks, but I haven’t been successful with the Steve Pavlina’s approach I posted a few weeks ago.
But it’s really been my fault, because I haven’t woken up at the same time in the morning but rather sleep through my alarm clock. Sometimes I turn it off, sometimes I don’t even hear it…
The only fact I know is that I feel much better the days I have gone to bed relatively early and have woken up early at the set time. I need to have more discipline to achieve this goal.
Getting myself to write about my Gala has not been. I think about her much, and I think that I need to write for my grieving. But I just go around it. I guess it just has to come when it has to. But the words have difficulty to come to me.
But something out of the ordinary occured. Earlier today, I sensed a deep feeling that I wanted to hold and embrace her. Knowing that tomorrow would be 4 months that had passed since she died, I thought to myself that I should wait until then. But instead, I reached for her urn and embraced her while I took a short nap. Afterwards, I placed it back and lit a candle.
Later on, I came across the calendar and realized that I had my dates mixed up. Today wasn’t the 28th but was the 29th! This left me perplexed; I still can’t put it quite together or maybe there isn’t anything to put together…
The thing now is that I felt the urge to write about it. And I want to continue to write about her, so I’ll always remember the little things —and the big things— that made her and that made me love her :o) I miss her so, so much…
Communicating with family and friends has greatly improved this year. So far, I have sent several emails with updates on what we’ve been up to. I’ve also set a couple of webpages so they can see our pictures.
Nevertheless, I still want to communicate in the form of a newsletter, but I’m still learning html, and I need further practice. Hopefully, I can send one before the next solstice in June.
A week ago —or maybe two :P—, we rearranged our studio to fit our desks better, but I just threw everything one on top of the other.
Today, one of my piles collapsed, and I kicked a mat and folder under my desk!! I can’t move! This needs to be decluttered, cleared, and organized by tomorrow. Oh! I’ll set myself a challenge…
Though I’ve had this place in my mental to-visit list, the beauty of the photograph and the power of the writing that Travelling Life transmitted in her entry has urged me to adopt this in my 43 places :)
It’s more like a backup for all my 43T entries, but it’s a start :o)
This is one of my favorite churches in all of Mexico. It’s beautifully ornamented without the characteristically ostentatious golden decor, very common in other churches.
It is just a few kilometers from Cholula and from Puebla, and it’s very much worth the side trip.
Japanese gardening has always intrigued me and inspired me as well. A decade ago, I worked at a hotel/spa where the garden was designed and supervised by a Japanese professional gardener.
What stuck in my mind was his knowledge about how all plants get along better with some and not so much with others: not that there are “good” or “bad” plants —nor even that they have to be similar plants. Simply, they grow and bloom and live better when surronded by akin plants. In other words, there’s chemistry between them, contributing for better energy flow and good feng shui.
I guess there’s a parallel with the humankind —and other species, too— that shall make us wonder of the choices we have made through our lives of the “plants” we have surrounded ourselves by.
...the refund has arrived!!
::jumps up and down and bounces all around:: ;)
Before opening the restaurant, we decided to start serving events on site.
We had a party at our place this past weekend, which helped us rehearse for our already-launched entrepreneurship. This was the culmination of hard work and planning. There are still many things to do, but this just got us rolling.
Beforehand, we brainstormed for the name, tag, and slogan. In parallel, I worked on the logo and the general image to be used until we were happy with what it conveyed. We proceeded to print business cards, and the business and its image have had wonderful acceptance so far. We next need to look into trademark and other legal issues. Meanwhile, I’m still working on the business plan…
We are very enthusiastic about this extraordinary project.
::sighs proudly:: :)
The party also served as a rehearsal for our business serving events. It gave us a much better idea of what we need or don’t need to do and what we can improve.
Outcome: 100% rain
Oh, yes, it very much rained poured on us this past Sunday. It hadn’t rained in a month here in Seattle, but such was our luck that it had to rain that day :S
Yet it never fails to amaze me how these misfortunes are not the whole picture but are, in reality, just one side of the coin. There’s that other side that will awe us if we pay attention and recognize it, instead of simply succumbing to our adversities.
Due to the rain —and some underestimating on our part of the actual time it was going to take us do everything—, we were running very late on preparations when our guests started to arrive. Nevertheless, they were such good sports. Not only did they withstand the constant rain, but they even helped chop onions, stir the potatoes, wipe the chairs, and poke the tarp to release the accumulated water before it fell over us!!
Naturally, we had a great time as we enjoyed the food, the drinks, and the company. This will indubitably make for a great anecdote in years to come :)
This site is amazing! It’s like having your photos in your computer! I just started using it for posting pictures of my watercolors with a group of people doing the same. But now that I got a glimpse of the extent and potential this site has, I’ll be using it much more and integrate with 43T and my blog :)
Whew! I really did major spring cleaning in the garden. I even removed moss from the concrete tiles.
I almost finished clearing all weeds in the plant beds. The ones in the grass… that’ll be another goal by itself!!
...was looong before it was renovated. Oddly, I came to a graduation ceremony —elementary school, some friend or family. I’m not sure if they hold this kind of events any more because this place can currently hold 10,000 people or so.
I’ve been here quite a few times. Of the concerts/shows I recall seeing here are:
They weren’t selling pastries :( Although most people see this place as a bar, we come in for coffee and a pastry every so often, so that was a bummer :S
...and I found it unique that this town was named after my homecountry!!
My grandmother’s family is from Chilpancingo (the capital city of the State of Guerrero). I spent most —if not all— of my childhood summers here with my grandparents.
There are no touristy places here that I recall. But, if you happen to make a stop en-route to Acapulco, I really recommend the food: the pozole is at its best here, particulary the green one with pipián. Everyone has pozole on Thursdays! The taquitos and the chalupas are also good. Oh, I could go on… Maybe they just bring back childhood memories, but this food is great!
PS
Not sure if they’re still somewhere —since I haven’t been here in many years— but if you happen to come across aguas frescas (fruit water drink), try the guanábana one. OMG! This one is even more refreshing than an horchata :)
Tepoztlán —or “Tepoz” as locals refer to it as a nickname— is just a very short trip from Mexico City or Cuernavaca, and it is absolutely worth it.
This is one of my favorite towns in all of Mexico. Very picturesque :) And with all the magnificent mountains around it, the energy is astounding!
I’m doing better on this goal, but I’m not quite yet drinking at least 2 liters a day.
I’m currently reading French Women Don’t Get Fat: The Secret of Eating For Pleasure, and the author introduces the idea of at least drinking one glass before bedtime and one after. She states that sleeping dehydrates the body. This is just the introduction; she will talk more about water later in the book.
So now, besides the glasses I drink everyday, I make sure I drink water right before and right after bedtime. I still need to keep better track of my water intake, but haven’t gotten that down yet :S
I believe this goal has now turned into a habit ;) We just go to a restaurant for takeout food and drive to Genesee Park with our doggie who really enjoys it.
This last time we went to Mount Baker Park, and it was beautiful as well :o)
I’m sure we’ll continue doing this througout the summer, but for now, I’ll check this goal as done.
I just finished a book on creating web pages for kids. I figured this would be a good start, but it turns out I’m not that much of a beginner ;)
Anyway, I need more practice to bring my pages to a minimum quality and to continue advancing on two/three goals that depend on this. I just wish I could be better at html to then go into css, xml, and even java. I’m a bit stuck :S But I’m shaking it off :S >S <) :)
As an HTML beginner, I started on this book to learn basic HTML. But maybe I’m a tad beyond beginner, as I already knew most of the information this book explains. But this would be my problem and not the book’s.
However, though the authors (son and father) try to make it amusing for kids, in the chapter explaining how to insert images, the son places three photos of the father: one normal, one with white doodling over his head and beard to make him look old, and one with some scratching and an “x” over his face! As an adult, I’ve seen worse things than this, but it concerns me that this is aimed for kids and particularly that this is seen as “funny”. There are other subtle references like this throughout the book. I was not amused.
looking up to a tree’s foliage, a branch and sub-branches make an “F”
three branches forming an “A” reflect on the pond below
This past Wednesday —the 2nd open day of the market— was bright and sunny :o) As announced in the program, Ambertide was playing wonderful music.
Many more people than the opening day were strolling around and picnicking in the nearby park. What a nice market!
Today they closed a section of Mount Baker Blvd (along Mioposto) to traffic and pedestrians because they were shooting a commercial —apparently for a Toyota Corolla.
Here’s a pic. It was the big thing in this otherwise peaceful park.
I’m watercoloring every day. I borrowed from the library Watercolor for the Serious Beginner and Watercolor Basics: Painting from Photographs to improve my technique.
Or maybe 60-40 on this restaurant. It has good food, great view (from inside the restaurant), and dog friendly (in the terrace).
The thing is this: we started great with some delicious bruschettas for appetizers and a salad to share accompanied with a glass of wine. The friendly waitress even offered a bowl of water for my doggie :o) So we were really digging this place —you know… the wine… and it was my brother’s birthday.
So maybe we got fooled building the momentum and expectations for the main plate to arrive… and it was OK, but not great. My pesto fettuccini was past dente and could have had more seasoning —it was a tad flat. And then for coffee they supposedly serve Caffè Vita’s coffee, but it was nothing like the real one :( You really have to try hard to prepare coffee this bad. I wonder if the Caffè Vita guys know about this.
Overall, it was OK, but they need to tweak here and there. Sometimes things go wrong on a particular day; it happens to all restaurants —or patrons ;) But it’s a place I’ll go back and try again.
Licorous is a place to indulge your palate and your senses. It is for the sybarite we all have within. The food here is meant to be savored in adagio ;)
I highly recommend the tuna, which is such a delicacy it almost disolves in one’s mouth. Absolutely delectable.
I went Sunday afternoon, and the place was very crowded. Nonetheless, we were able to browse comfortably and play around a bit with the computers. To my surprise —verging on dismay—, I observed how iPods are swiftly gaining terrain from the Macs.
It is a fact that, earlier this year, the former Apple Computer, Inc. dropped the “Computer” and became Apple, Inc. But when it so patent, so evident on the selling floor, you only hope for a long life for the Mac…
On a lighter note, I got a Mighty Mouse for my brother’s b-day here. It was the last one! Whew!
There’s something about open malls that lures me. I like the passing of people in open spaces instead of an enclosed one, and this place is very nicely kept. It’s nice to walk around.
Bring cash. We had to make a quick run to the ATM! I guess they don’t take credit cards because it’s so cheap here. Two of us ate for less than $20.
The food is good, and you could say the cook almost puts on a show as he prepares all the dishes for eating in and take-outs —amazing!
On a literally darker note, the place is quite filthy and not well kept :(
Good, reasonably-priced thai food in a clean, comfortable locale. The service was outstanding: very few times do you find a waiter genuinely at ease and eager without being pompous or pretentious.
The only odd thing was the ambience music: it doesn’t fall under the category of elevator music, but it’s a close relative ;)
Overall, it was a good dining experience.
—and maybe the last one— was about 8 years ago:
It was really exciting to go up the landmark of Seattle. The view was magnificent. But although I take heights pretty well, not so much moving structures. The Space Needle rocked a bit with the wind —I was told that was normal—, but that was not fun. It actually freaked me out a little.
I’d like to go back, but unfortunately that’s what I remember the most :(
It was a glitch, and now it’s working again! Whew!
I posted an entry twice to my blog. Trying to fix it in my blog, I deleted both entries. So I try to post it for the third time, and now it won’t post anything. I go on with other entries, and it won’t work either. I wonder if it’s just a glitch today at 43T or it’s a glitch in me ;)
I’ll give it up for today and start tomorrow fresh.
One month has passed since Uma’s last bath. I don’t believe she will ever enjoy it :( This demonstrates that she obviously has no Lab genes running through her veins and will not come near water unless it’s in a dish to drink.
In the tub, she acts as if I were torturing her or doing the worst thing ever. Well, with all the pampering she gets, it’s no wonder. I guess she puts up with it because she knows the “toweling” follows ;)
I’m checking this goal as ‘done’ since I keep her groomed on a regular basis and always have. I just slipped a bit after Gala’s passing. I want to trim her hair and get her ready for the summer, but that’ll have to be another goal…
...we bought a couple hamburgers and headed to the park. We threw a blanket on the grass and enjoyed our mini picnic :)
... actually the only tip I can give :P is to try the carnitas tacos. OMG!! The carnitas are quite tasty and crisp on a perfect-size double tortilla; add a rabanitos (radish) with lemon and salt to the side, and you’re set :o) It is one of the closest versions to Mexican food here in Seattle that I’ve tried so far —along with El Quetzal and my brother’s cooking :)
And I say the only tip I can give you, because I’m a regular there —I’ve been there at least 15 times—, and it’s the only thing I’ve ordered!! Tip for me: I really need to start trying other things in the menu.
A couple days ago, I came across this nice site where the host gives an open invitation to participate in this flickr group. So I’ll be painting —or photographing— something every day in May :)
...and I just picked up from the library Painting from Photographs for ideas and inspiration ;)
Last Sunday, the weather was fantastic, and we cooked a paella out in the backyard —out in the open as it’s meant to be eaten ;)
We enjoyed it with salad and wine and had a delightful evening in the company of friends :)
This will definitely have to be repeated!
Very well crafted and edited. His acting is superb; hers, a tad overacted but good nevertheless. An odd couple, but the story is so compelling it drifts you along.
My favorite part was when he blows bubbles —instead of depicting the typical smoke scene. How whimsical is that!!?? Fabulous! ;)
Today is the Opening Day for the summer of 2007!!
This was my very first time here, and I loved it. I’ll be checking in every Wednesday until October 31st. I just came back because it rained on us :( I hope it clears up soon.
As the program announced, Miles and Karina were performing live music. I really liked the ambiance, and I’m writing this just minutes after coming back since I’m so thrilled!
This will be a good way of backing up my 43 Things, Places, etc., plus I update my blog :)
