Tag Archives: obsessions

I haven’t yet used any Fadra’s optional topics of the day, but this one I can’t pass up: Where are you lacking trust in your life? (examples: church, government, work, family, etc.)

This past week I’ve been very emotional, mostly due to the rollar coaster ride of feeling of my cat Matilda disappearing for six days and my old man kitty having to be put down on on Wednesday. It would be an understatement to say I was a basket case.  Well, in this emotional state I talked to a couple friends and my hubby about the state of the country, mostly the state of our food supply because it at time enrages me.  I’ve educated myself for years about our food, it’s a really long story that I will only touch on, but it began with my passion for animals almost 20 years ago and I wanted to learn exactly how our food got from farm to table.  That was bad news….  A lots happened since then (the part I won’t get into here) but now there is so much more I know about food as  a whole and it sickens me what our government (FDA, USDA, etc.) allows in our food system.  I absolutely have NO trust in them AT ALL to feed us healthy food.  Right now heads of Monsanto are running the FDA and USDA, this is very sad and scary and we the people are going to have to take matters into our own hands by seeking out locally grown fruits and vegetables, finding our local farmers and ranchers for our grass-fed, free roaming meats and dairy products to ensure they are nutrient rich and not laden with chemicals, pesticides and hormones.  Many other countries have banned these things from their food, yet the US will not. I don’t know what the reasons are, we can speculate a number of things from lobbyists to big business to not wanting to change due to layoffs. Whatever.  I just feel that EVERYONE in this country should have the ability to walk into any grocery store and not have to worry about what’s in their milk, on their oranges. To me it’s very sad.

This is just a snippet of how I feel on this topic but you can clearly see that I don’t listen to the government about what’s good for us in the food department. Better re-think those Got Milk ads!

Times Up!
This has been my Sunday 5 minute Stream of Consciousness.

Want to try it? Here are the rules…

* Set a timer and write for 5 minutes only.
* Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.
* Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.
* Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post.
* Link up your post at all.things.fadra.
* Visit your fellow bloggers and show some love.

So, I’m 40! I’m not too surprised that I’m embracing it with love, I have been working towards this acceptance after all. I wanted to ring in this next decade in a BIG way, so off to Northern Cali I went. My first three days were spent alone in the Redwoods between Carmel and Big Sur California, one of my favorite places. Landing in San Francisco around 12:30 my first stop was Baja Fresh for lunch. I can’t help it, ever since PFMan and I lived in Vegas, years ago, I have loved BF and don’t miss a chance to eat the veggie burrito. Then down the coast I go. HWY 17 is spectacular, a curvy, tree-lined drive, just breathtaking. I arrive in Carmel to do some shopping for my stay. I’m determined to go veggie while I’m here so I stock my cart with organic produce, strawberries, asparagus, & pistachios. I’ve brought my herbal teas from home as well, oh and chocolate with sea salt:-). I turn down Palo Colorado Rd. to head to Don Loui’s. This image above is the point where Palo Colorado Rd. meets the Pacific Coast Hwy. Turning off down Palo Colorado was magical. See I’m a dreamer in the sense that I love environments that transport me, and when you turn onto this road you are placed immediately into towering redwoods, like a land of fairies. You twist and wind amongst the quiet giants, houses placed into the sides of the mountains like they’ve been there forever, all blending in with the trees, completely part of the forest.

Here I have my bag of goodies, camera & backpack (which was packed in my luggage and now used to haul only the few items I’d need for this portion of my trip), and up the mountain I go. Not too bad, about five steep switchbacks, with little treasures at every corner. Then the Dragon House appears, unbelievable! I’m through the Dragon house tunnel and onto the Rainbow House where I’m staying. Don, the innkeeper, is an eccentric. He’s been on this property since 1983. Then it was him, the land and a tent. The Rainbow house he built first. Yes, him and his son. Previously he was a contractor and landscaper by trade and it shows. Today there are 4 buildings, The Rainbow & Dragon House (rentals), his own home and an octagon above the rest with windows looking out over the mountain and Pacific Ocean, used for yoga and/or meditation. Beautiful, peaceful! He’s created many trails all around the property as well.

Though I highly recommend staying here alone, as a couple or small family, this is not for everyone. Forget a warm shower and none at all in the Rainbow House. Luckily I like going rough and dirty, ha. There is no oven and only a propane burner for stove top, and it’s QUIET (aside from the very loud frogs and owls at night:-). I like to think of the house like a tree house on crack, seriously! And since I like being transported, it was perfect for me, like a kid again.

So what’s a girl to do all alone in the mountains? Hike, hike, eat at her favorite restaurant in Big Sur, play words with friends, ha, take lots of pictures and hike some more. To my chagrin there was no big AHA moment or anything, just time with myself which in itself is a BIG deal for me. In my past being along has been very difficult. A good friend of mine text-ed me while there questioning how I was doing alone. He said he talks to himself a lot when alone, lol. Me too:-). And I did, much of it in my head, some out loud. But I was comfortable with it, the oneness, and that’s a BIG deal!

Please enjoy some of the many photos I took while on this part of my trip and look for a post on me joining the girls in Wine Country soon:-)!

Peace!

Previous trip to Big Sur with my honey:-)!

The PFFamily in Key West - May 2011

I was up pretty late last night, four glasses of wine not settling well in my belly. I read, actually finished my current book, A Modern Witch, and then turned to my I-phone for a little research on a couple of things I wish to begin in the new year.

Last year around this time I posted about how I’m really not into making New Year’s Resolutions. I still refuse to put that much pressure on myself, but I do have a laundry list of things I’d like to do, change, see, stop doing, etc.

Before I begin my list for 2012, let’s see how I did in 2011.

Things I will be working on in 2011:

Family – Feel good about this. We moved to the country and began homeschooling, lot’s of family time.
Travel – Good here too. We began our yearly family trip overseas with Ireland in March, road trip over the summer along with nine days in N. California with PFMan celebrating an early 15 year anniversary. We took two cruises with a highlight on one out of San Juan, taking us to Curacao, Dominica & Aruba. To round it out, we also took a couple of much needed camping trips, one to North Georgia, one to Ginnie Springs in North Florida. Ahhhh….
Positive energy & intentions – This a failed miserably, well not entirely because I still have intent and know my triggers to self destruction.
Eating clean -Did well for a few months only. I did really well with giving up coffee and drinking more tea. Got to August then crashed. Have to reboot this one.
Organization – This will be a never ending battle, lol.

So what about 2012?

There are many personal accomplishments I would like to achieve this year. In the kitchen I want to learn how to make Thai and Indian food, get better at meal/menu planning and stocking the kitchen, learn to make bread, start canning regularly, shop at farmer’s markets and from local ranches and farms more often and consistently. This year is the year to get the chicken coop and run built, I’d like to have 3-5 egg layers:-). Also, get the hydroponic garden started and plant the Meyer lemon trees. We’re thinking things like, sweet potatoes, lettuce, strawberries, green beans, tomatoes, cucumbers and herbs at least. Going along with natural/sustainable trend we need to get the compost reinstated too!

Other Personal plans: Begin yoga and stick with it, it WILL be tough for me but I must prevail. Part of the Self-help, positive energy & intentions theme. Thinking about Tai Chi as well. Michael and I will get bikes, the kids are just getting them on New Years Eve (we’re celebrating our family Christmas when we return from NY).

In the house we need to get the great room painted and focus on the meditation garden off the master bedroom and Asian decor in the master bedroom/bathroom. I need to get the studio organized too, both the Tails Collection shooting/office areas, as well as organizing the arts/crafts area for Addy and I. There is so much space to work with, so I will most certainly get a bit overwhelmed, ha.

Travel plans! To start off the year and celebrate my 40th b-day, I’m heading to Big Sur for three nights! Doing a hike-in and staying ALONE, to reflect and get centered, hopefully, ha:-). Then driving north to meet my girlfriends for some time in wine country. The kids and I have a 6-8 week road trip planned for the June/July. Heading back to Big Sur, taking 2ish weeks to get there, stopping in AL, LA, TX, AR, UT and CO. PFMan will meet us out west for a 10 day California Adventure, then the kids and I will head back. I CAN’T wait!! And cross our fingers for Vienna/Paris for the Holidays.

Now I realize this is super loaded, these are just top priorities, which change, we tend to be indecisive at best, or as I like to say, Perfectly Flawed. Some things may not happen, others may be added, but at the end of the day or year, it will all be another super adventure, surrounded by my PFFamily and that makes me smile.

Happy New Year everyone!
Buon Anno!
Ein glückliches neues Jahr!
Feliz año nuevo!
Bonne année!

Beautiful by Sprouted Kitchen!

I’m a blog junkie!  I’m a foodie, I love to perpetually learn new things, I’m ever eco-friendly and evolving.  Today I give you some of the food blogs I follow:

Sprouted Kitchen
Nourished Kitchen
Honey & Jam
101 Cookbooks
Cheever Sauce
Tasty Kitchen

Mangia!

I’m a U2 junkie! Yes, there have been years that they fell off my list of priorities while having kids and raising them, etc, but I’ve still managed to see them in concert 10 times since my first time in December of 1987! I still remember that show. We lived north of Orlando, the show was at the Tampa stadium. My dad was with me and my girlfriend Andrea, we had nosebleed seats to the right back of the stadium, so Bono was an ant. To this day I get chills at a show when they play “Where the Streets Have No Name”, because that was the opening song on that tour, The Joshua Tree Tour. The back drop glowed red, Larry came in with the drums, the guitars joined in and then Bono’s silhouette walked out, him in a cowboy hat. It was amazing! I’ll never forget it. Back then the whole stadium full of people would walk all the way to their cars, after the show, singing the lines to “40″, “I will sing, sing a new song”, over and over again – like magic.

Wednesday night in Miami, I saw show number 10. The 2nd now on their 360 Tour. The stage has come a long way since the Joshua Tree. Huge rocket ship contraption, total spectacle, incredible production! They are still the most amazing entertainers having upwards of like 75,000 people in attendance. Incredible! We had field tickets and managed to be about 5 people back at the catwalk, right where the bridge ended on several occasions, (it’s a moving bridge). We all went into a tizzy when Bono AND The Edge stopped right in front of us for about two whole minutes! Sigh!

Once again a magical experience. Counting the days until the next album and tour. Not too far off actually! The kids will go with us next time, Gavin is really into music and was bummed not to see it last night, but we couldn’t get seat tickets and the field is not the place for them yet.

I have many U2 stories to share in the future, I love to talk about them:-)!

Organizations supported by the band:

ONE
Amnesty International
Greenpeace

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Set List of the show in Miami, June 29, 2011.

Main Set: Even Better Than The Real Thing, The Fly, Mysterious Ways, Until the End of the World, I Will Follow, Get On Your Boots, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For – The Promised Land, North Star, Beautiful Day – Space Oddity, Elevation, Pride, Miss Sarajevo, Zooropa, City of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, I’ll Go Crazy (remix), Sunday Bloody Sunday, Scarlet, Walk On

Encore(s): One, Will You Love Me Tomorrow – Where the Streets Have No Name, Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me, With or Without You, Moment of Surrender

Peace!

A few on my Wish List:-).

Yes, I’m an addict. I have an absolutely crazy addiction to books, book lists and book clubs too, if I didn’t feel so easily intimidated by them. I have lists of books on-line, on my phone and other various places. I can spend hours roaming around a bookstore searching the covers for those I’m drawn to, reading summaries, smelling the newness of them, I know, I know, sickness. In Middle/High School it was Sweet Valley High and V. C. Andrews, now anything is fair game. In recent years I’ve developed a fondness for local independent book stores which I seek when we travel to other cities and states. Here, in St. Petersburg, trips to Haslams are what I crave. Haslams was born in 1933 to John and Mary Haslam and is now Florida’s largest new and used bookstore, a landmark. If you live here and enjoy reading you should really make the trip. They are located at 2025 Central Avenue,St. Petersburg, FL 33713.

I also love Voltaire Books, an independent bookstore in Key West.  It’s where I found the book Dewey almost three years ago now.  Oh, how I cried.  Books to me are like little mini adventures, you know how I love an adventure.  Haven’t I mentioned I’m a dreamer?  Books allow me to escape to another place all in my head.  Hmm?? To see what my current reads are, all you have to do is look to the sidebar on the right:-).

And, If you’re interested in getting to know more about independent bookstores, a great source is Indiebound.

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Having just returned home from a 7-day cruise to the Southern Caribbean out of San Juan, PR, PFMan and I have crazy travel on the brain.  I’m not going to tell you about our cruise here, that needs it’s own post and I’m still processing pictures:).  Let’s talk about places we want to go.

Here’s a few!

Santorini, Greece. Check out this traditional houses hotel in Oai, Santorini.  The Ikies.

Riviera Maya – Mexico. OMG, take a peek at these villas in Tulum, Mexico.

Soufriere, St. Lucia.  PFMan and I have wanted to stay at Anse Chastanet for over 15 years now.

See a theme here:)??  Open air, water views.  This is only a crumb, a teaser of places on our list!  More travel coming soon!

…

we go on a cruise:-).  So we’ve been on this extreme lean protein/complex carbs (6X daily) diet since Sunday the 2nd, amazingly have been doing very well.  PFMan and I have both noticed that we’re never hungry and never too full, our digestion is great, no issues & we’re both down about 4-5 lbs.  I’ve been doing a little Pilate’s, Zumba, other cardio and strength training, not as much as I need to, but way more than I was.  Feeling pretty good, but this morning we leave for San Juan to board a cruise, whooo hoooo & Holy food!

Of course we’ve known about the cruise for months, so when we began eating differently we knew this would be a curve ball.  We aren’t typical American cruise goers, taking two plates or more at the buffet, ordering two entrees at dinner.  We’ve always had our normal fill, yes dessert.  This time I’m going to try to temper it a bit more.  White egg omelette with veggies and no bacon, oh please give me strength, instead of my usual regular omelette loaded with veggies, cheese and bacon. Yes, drinking will be had, I love Margaritas, Beer, Mojitos and Bellini’s while cruising!  This cruise I will search out more activities, I know they have boot camps, Pilate’s, the gym.  YES I WILL!  I of course will share with you how I did when we return. (snicker)

For now I leave you with a few pictures from our last family cruise.

Bon Voyage!!

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Happy October 1st! It’s the month we begin to feel the temps drop a bit, the month of costume hunting and my favorite, scary movie watching. I know I’m a chick, but I love a good scary movie, and I’m not talking about the slash everybody to bits no plot scary movies, I like the mind messing ones like SAW. Don’t get me wrong, give me the old standbys like Halloween or Friday the 13th any day, but if they can also be mind provoking even better.

I love a good ghost tour, I love to watch ‘A Haunting’ and ‘Haunted’. I love to read Stephen King, Dean Koontz and even some Clive Barker (so twisted), Anne Rice too. I’ve always been intrigued by vampires (long, long before Twilight) and witches, things medieval, dungeons, caves, old crumbling buildings, goth…!

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The Stanley House staircase (The Outlook Hotel - The Shining)

I can’t remember a time that I haven’t loved scary things. I love night time, the dark, the sounds of the forest at night. When I was younger, I loved the Hellraiser movies, not as much now. Oh, and Nightmare on Elm Street too, again not so much now. Oh, how I love haunted houses this time of year. I was at the very first Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios, FL and this year they celebrate their 20th anniversary. I’m actually pretty hard to scare, I’m not a screamy girl, ha.

Tonight PFMan and I are having a date night at Busch Gardens Howl O Scream! I’m so excited. I love the music, the fog, the sounds of chain saws in the distance. Maybe I’m twisted:-) No, just love the emotion, the energy, the adrenaline of it all! I’m very attracted to these types of things. I really should be doing more extreme sports, lol.

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One of my most favorite movies!

I can’t be alone here, well maybe??  I want to know your favorite scary movie, or if you don’t like them at all, please humor me here:-).

I’ll leave you with some of my favorite horror/dark movies:

Whoooa, I have a confession, currently I’m a magazine junkie, and the awful thing about it is that I get them home and only read about a quarter of each of them. I do have really good intentions, I do! I can’t help it, I’m attracted to the pictures, the promise of great information and the recipes. I just subscribed to Everyday Food and Whole Living, yes both are from Martha Stewart. Love her, Hate her, Whatever!! Martha and her cronies have a plethora of information waiting to be absorbed into my brain. (Maybe it’s a Martha Obsession, I even listen on Sirius 112, hee).
Back to the current obsession, I’m standing in the grocery line and must grab the newest edition of Fine Cooking, it does talk about Thanksgiving dinner after all and we should all be preparing for that by now, ha. I also pick up and choose not to purchase the issue of Women’s Day, oh poo, it could have been Better Homes, either way, the cover is oozing with Halloween, love Halloween! Anyway, something must be done. I have stacks of magazines in several different locations now throughout my house and rarely go through them. UGH. I need help. You see this is an example of being Flawed, I’m again a hypocrite in touting being kind to the environment and I have a paper addiction. WHAT??? Know that in the end I will at the very least recycle these gems either in a bin or by sharing them with others:-) Oooo, they may even turn up in a future classroom for crafts. Now that’s Re-use if you ask me!!

Ok, that’s it for now, thanks for letting me get that off my chest, we’ll delve more in to my paper addiction (books) on another day!
Peace out!