Category Archives: Road Trip

May 21 2012

Dr. Neil Gaiman…that’s what, Writing day, PNW Grayness, Next Roadtrip, and What You Must Promise to Read

Dr. Neil Gaiman. Has a nice ring to it doesn’t it? Well, this author has delivered a commencement speech to future artist of the world that is both informative and chocked full of artistic wisdom that anyone who creates or is inspired to create should watch, listen to, and learn from. I am inspired by Neil as a writer. His speech encourages artist that no matter what, make art. His examples tickle the imagination. And when he said this in the video that follows, I instantly thought of Stephen King. Why? When I read his book On Writing, he wanted to write while in a body cast after a car accident. This image, this sense of devotion to craft has never left me. It is etched indelibly in my mind for all times, and now Neil has added the caption, Make Art! no matter what. Two of the most powerful statements on writing that a writer can ask for. So, aspiring artists at all levels, watch this, take notes, and learn from a masterful writer.

Yes, it’s very good to be Mr. Gaiman. Now he’s gone and won the Ray Bradbury award for his Dr. Who episode. The man lives a charmed life, but his talent as a writer is transcendent. I’m glad he’s getting the recognition he so justly deserves.

It is a great writing day here in the PNW. Gray overcast skies, occasional showers, yes, perfect. The sun isn’t shining, the warm wind isn’t blowing, and there is nothing beckoning me to the great outdoors, which in the Pacific Northwest, is indeed pretty great. Instead I’m as content as a rabbit in its warren. Writing, organizing, getting ideas, revising… the recursive process that is writing. Some days are fruitful, and some days I may as well be taking my muse for a walk.

Yesterday was dim sum with a group, and it was pretty terrific for restaurant food. Next weekend is my annual May road trip to Seattle’s Folklife Festival. This usually includes a trip to Pike Place Market, a Mariner’s Game, and dancing/enjoying the events at Folklife which includes my annual strawberry shortcake. This year I’m also including a trip to Victoria, B.C. as it is about time that I go instead of continuing to say that I want to go someday. Someday is here. There will be pictures to follow and a journal of this adventure.

I am reading The War of Art by Steven Pressfield as an eBook. I have bookmarked and highlighted something on just about every page! Writers…it is a must read, seriously, just do it! It was recommended to me, and I continue to be thankful for this book. It knocks down barriers that you’re not even aware of until you read this. Very personal, insightful, informative book on what it means to be a writer and how to keep writing.

I have blogged.

Jul 11 2009

Forest Meets Desert, Yay Me Pizza, the Morning Workout, Beautiful Sockeye Salmon, & Merlin Update

Yesterday was my day to take my test for National Boards which meant driving over the Yakama Indian Reservation and then to the city of Yakima beginning at 4 a.m. which I did. I took a four and half hour written test on computer. To make it more of a challenge, I couldn’t sleep the night before, actually fell asleep at 3 a.m., and the alarm went off at 4 a.m. Seriously.  But it’s done. I slept like a babe last night.  The most enjoyable parts? Seeing a coyote run across the road in the desert on the reservation and then seeing three herds of wild horses on the way back. The herds looked strong with many foals, some nursing. Then I always enjoy visually surveying the mountains on the line…the point where forests end and desert begins. It’s amazing to me how the landscape changes to desert.

The women at the assessment center were wonderful and sweet as well. When leaving they told me I HAD to celebrate being done and then celebrate again when I receive my scores in late November/early December. Very kind. So celebrate sensibly I did. I made a tomato/spinach/feta pizza last night and watched a movie. The movie, Brazil, was worthy of the garbage. If it wasn’t a Netflix dvd, that’s where I would have put it. Trust me, I have filed more than one dvd there that wasn’t to my liking. The pizza was amazing good. I bought a cheese pizza from a local store, loaded it up with sliced tomato, rough chopped spinach, and sprinkled on a carton of feta, baked, and then dusted with parmsan, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. A vegetarian delight.

This morning was exquisite. I rose early, checked the yoga schedule, and headed to the gym with the intent of seriously working out. And that I did. Three and half hours of gym time left me glowing. To begin, I had the absolute best yoga class everrrrr this morning. She was divine. I gave it my all. The music was perfect. And my friend was there! We had a chance to chat about exercise before class began. It was lovely. Then a half hour of intense cardio.  I ended my gym day with aromatherapy steam, hot tub, and swimming lots of laps letting my thoughts be like clouds drifting by. Now most people would not put that much into their daily exercise, but me…I love working out. I love the way it makes me feel mentally, physically, and spiritually. The longest I have worked out has been four hours. So three and half is good for me.  Then quick stop at the Saturday market and then the grocer before coming home to pick up fresh veggies, chicken, and fish, the stuff of my existence.

The meat department was putting out the most beautiful Sockeye Salmon fillets ever! Ugh! Beautiful! I commented on them, and they said that if I bought two pound the price was half! And that they were fresh!! Gah! Yes! So I now have enough salmon to last me a month! Tomorrow, I’m cedar plank smoking it. That is the absolute best way to enjoy it. Seasoned and smoked on cedar planks equals an unrivaled slice of northwest heaven. Cedar planks are soaked for four hours in water. Then the fish portions are placed on top. I season them with lemon pepper, garlic powder, seasoning salt, and a little ginger. Then put them on the bbq with a packet of cedar or hickory chips to smoke in flavor, put the lid on, and let it go for about 20 minutes. Then flip on the plank, season, and smoke another 20 minutes. Check for doneness which it usually is by then. I like my salmon moist and flanky, not cooked to complete dryness. I’ll vacuum pack and seal most of it but absolutely enjoy it for dinner tomorrow. Beautiful, beautiful fish. Then soon I want to go crabbing before summer ends. I have a place I like to visit on the coast where I catch big dungoness crab. It’s great! Outdoors on the water and hauling it these lovelies make for a wonderful day. Think I’ll get a room and spend the night. I so enjoy the ocean as I grew up on it and feel quite at home there. One day I’ll return to the ocean most likely to retire.  I love the sound of water and being near the ocean. The most pleasant experience for me to relax is to read on the beach while the ocean sings in my ear.

Just a quick note about Merlin. He’s doing quite well now, getting around normally and seems to be settling down a little which is absolutely what I had hoped for. He’s with me for life, and I want to love him forever. Having him neutered was emotionally hard for me, but it was the absolute right thing to do. I would rather spend his days loving him more and loathing him less at times. He’s a part of my life, and I’ll enjoy him more this way.

Here’s wishing  you a wonderful summer day and living in such as way as to make your heart light and your soul glad. It’s never too late to live your best life.

-Patricia

Apr 5 2009

From Vancouver, B.C. to Home in a day

It has been a long day driving back from Vancouver, B.C. to get here tonight at a reasonable hour. Tomorrow will be here soon enough, and I have to be up early. My face is a little sunburned as it was sunny on the way back, and I’m a little nauseas from it. I’m very fair skinned, and this was the first real sun that I’ve had this Spring.

My time in B.C. was good. I enjoyed being with my daughter and son-in-law and enjoyed the privilege of being in their home for a few days. I admire their warm, fun, and playful relationship.  Great couple. They are so blessed.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen two people so right for one another.

So it’s getting late,  and I need rest in the worst possible way. More tomorrow.

G’night,

-Patricia

Apr 4 2009

Last day in B.C., Over the moon and dreaming, and Music please

Last whole day in Vancouver, B.C. It has been a blast! Lots of walking about, shopping, teas, dining out, playing with a love bird, visiting, and sleeping. I’ll be headed back to the states by ten a.m. after brunch for the long journey home. I suppose I’ve been a good house guest as I have been invited back for other things this summer, like music festivals. I’ll be back soon. Vancouver rocks my socks. The people are so nice, it’s beautiful, and artsy.

So tea.  I’m enjoying Tangerine by Tea Leaves. Very aromatic, no tannin bitter after taste.  Very nice and smooth. I had curry again for dinner tonight, butter chicken. I will probably smell like curry for a day or so! Very exotic. Finger cymbals will probably “ting” when I walk by, but it was so delicious. Really got a thing for good curry and good Asian cuisine of which I have enjoyed both since being here. Glad my daughter’s of the same persuasion. Went for a very relaxing walk after dinner,  listening to an audiobook, fiction of course. That was really pleasant…to walk,  look all the blossoming things, some very fragrant, and listen to a great story on my iPod. Then I met up with my daughter and son-in-law for chai. End of a very lovely day.

So now I’m winding down for the night. Trading indie/alternative musical artists and songs with my daughter. It’s like musical trading cards. Something we do. Best of dreams to you. Much love.

-Patricia

XOXO

Apr 3 2009

Successful Tea Quest, Marketing, and Chinese Hot Pot

The tea quest today was a huge success. I now have three more black tea blends from a great tea store that does tastings and recommendations and one green tea from an Asian market.

I really liked Madhatter, Eros, and Tangerine from Tea Leaves. Their website is www.tealeaves.com. Wonderful store! It is my go-to place for tea. They brew samples for you and make excellent recommendations. The things you learn from these fierce tea women is amazing! But I save some tea factoids for another day. Then to the Asian market to buy things for a hot pot for dinner, and I bought more green tea. So I’m sufficiently tea-stocked for months to come.

My sweet daughter and I went to the Granville Island public market. I saved us a seat while she got us curry. It was amazing good! It was wonderful to sit and have lunch with her and talk about illustration which is her heart’s desire and her very good life here. It’s a great place to live especially with my son-in-law who I simply adore. They are perfect for one another.

Then there was shopping for Chinese hot pot at the Asian market. Chinese hot pot  is very similar to fondue only better. You prepare all of your pot goods ahead of time on platters: tofu, boc choy, mushrooms, asparagus, green onion, and such. Then make the broth, add vegetables, udon noodles, meat if desired, and cook while you sit around the pot perhaps watching a movie or talking. Then dish up what you want into a bowl, hit it up with your choice of sauces, and enjoy.  For traditional hot pot, use chopsticks. The heating element is a single burner butane stove that just sits on a coffee table. It’s fun, very healthy eating, and something different. It’s especially nice when it’s cold.  I made the first brew of Eros with Chinese hot pot, and I liked it very much. But tea preferences are a personal thing.

So that was today. More tomorrow and then the trip home.

G’night,

-Patricia

Apr 2 2009

Road Trip to Vancouver, B.C., Books, Gaming, and Future Tea

Before crossing the border, I needed a bathroom break. Hey, it happens. And what do you think magically appeared out of nowhere? A Barnes and Noble! Poof! Just like that. So I went in. And helped myself to a very nicely appointed lavatory, coffee and cheesecake, and an armload of books and magazines. Always say “yes” to books! That’s my motto. And then I happily resumed my trip to the next stop, the CanAm border crossing. And here’s a picture of the arrival at the CanAm border.  The border patrol dude was a bit of a dick, but then I was on my way.

Once over the border, traffic was flowing great until someone got the idea to REVERSE the two lanes on my side! Now instead of having three lanes of traffic going my way, there was now one with two coming at me! Yikes!

As I reached Vancouver, B.C., there was a motel named The Sandman. Couldn’t help but think of Neil and imagined copies of The Sandman by every bed side, big picture of Neil in the lobby, and wall art of the illustrations in each room.

I did remember the driving thing in Vancouver. If you need to turn left in  oncoming traffic, when the light  turns red, turn or be honked (and worse) into oblivion. That’s right. Run the red light and turn left. What’s not to love!

Then there was this guy on the street in Vancouver. I have no idea what his deal was. He was just standing there, doing like vogue moves from the 80′s. Seemed random and funny at the time. So I took a picture. Love street performers! They’re the spice in life.

Okay, off to dinner out and rest for tomorrow’s tea quest. Vancouver has a nice selection of tea shops, and I’m going to go/taste/select something new. I also collect tea and have quite an assortment of teas back at the homefront.

G’night,

-Patricia

Apr 1 2009

Spring Break, Road Trip, Tatooes, Books, and Library

Hi all, and it’s the end of another day. Wow. I have been a whirlwind of activity today, ticking off the final hold outs on the to-do list before taking to the road to Vancouver, B.C.  I’ve been properly exercised and car maintenance complete, writing project due dates met, yep. Life is good. Now to other things that I enjoy.

A Spring storm is blowing away outside, and I’m tucked warmly, comfortably in bed thinking about, I don’t know,  nothing terribly complicated. The sound of the rain on the roof, perhaps, and how relaxing it is.  I have been making an effort to just relax and recharge over the past few days as school, the schedule, the rigors, and finishing National Boards has all played its own role in draining the last ounce of energy out of me and leaving me wrung out and at a  deficit.  So, my focus has been getting healthy with my time on break.  Summer vacation will soon follow.

I heart books. Books have always been there for me to enter new worlds. I was reading some pretty heady stuff before I was out of fifth grade, reading for pleasure. Things like Arthurian Legends, Treasure Island, A Thousand and One Arabian Knights, Shakespeare, the KJ version of the Bible, Huck Finn, etc. I have always enjoyed reading. In high school, it was Dune, F451, Salem’s Lot, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Asimov, and such. I was a very active-minded, adventurous kid, so reading really helped me to have amazing adventures in an otherwise trying adolescence. But this started it all. I have been an active reader at least since fifth grade. That’s when I can remember always reading after school. And library was a safe haven for me. My free time was spent in a library somewhere…school, public. I have spent my free time in libraries since my school days. I love being in libraries surrounded by books, reading, perusing. It’s the best. I can remember discovering in school that I could go the library at lunch time, which I did often to sit and read whatever my heart desired. Then in the summer, I spent many days at the public library cruising the stacks finding great things to read. During my college years, again in the library and much of it for pleasure. Now, it’s a library or a bookstore combing through books to read. Most often it’s now a bookstore as I want to keep the books I read.  So it’s safe to say that lost in a good book is where you’ll find me. Now some sleep.

G’night,

-Patricia

Mar 28 2009

Earth Hour, Twittering, Movies, and Road Trip

So today’s Earth Hour…one hour to think about mother earth and all she does for us. I think she deserves our love and attention year round. We give our moms that much, and earth mom gives us many important things, too, that collectively create a sustainable living environment for us human types.

Here in the PNW the notion goes that you leave is as good or better than you found it meaning do not deplete the land and leave it.  Respect and work with the land, air, and sea.  When land is logged here, two trees are replanted for each harvested tree.  Fish counts are monitored and seeded with fish hatchery raised salmon  to maintain healthy, viable levels of salmon.  Clamming is monitored and digging seasons are open or closed depending on abundance.  Natural resources are managed and cared for. Leave it as good or better than you found it. Please be responsible in your decisions that impact the earth.  Care for the earth and its inhabitants. There’s only one earth, and we’re all counting on it.

Today was a day of restfulness for me. My strength meter indicates a need for recharging my life source, so I eat and sleep until I feel more like myself. Today I twittered and watched two movies, Waking Ned Devine and Maid of Honor, both passing good. So now a bit of bed blogging and web surfing to end my day. Some things done today, some will wait, so mostly a leisurely pace today. It usually takes me a few days at the beginning of Spring Break to regain my strength. Then I get on with traveling, etc.

This coming week takes me to Vancouver, B.C. namely Granville Island for some time with family and getting out and about for daily  walks, visiting tea shops and book stores, having new dining experiences, and talking with the locals. Merlin will be boarding with his nice kennel caretakers who walk him several times a day, play music for him,  provide play time, and aroma therapy. It’s really a vacation for him, too.  The family I am visiting are bird people, and that’s it. They have parrots and aren’t comfortable with other animals around. I’ll be sure to blog a bit while there.

G’night,

-Patricia

Mar 7 2009

Power Outage, National Boards, Watchmen sans Spoilers

So it’s a windy, power outage kind of day in Glenwood.  I’m not feeling especially H.D. Thoreau-like today. Wasn’t especially interested in running the generator this morning to make my own electricity. Some days yeah, some days not so much. So I packed up the laptop and headed down the mountain to Hood River.  I passed two utility trucks and the sheriff heading up to Glenwood. So it will probably be a while before it is restored.  The power was off for an hour when I bailed out of there.  Instead of weathering the very windy storm, Chinese for dinner caught my fancy and off I went.  The restaurant, The Golden Rose, has the best General Tso ever. Based on how much they gave me and how much I ate, I can infer that there will be  Chinese leftovers for days, and these are leftovers that I will actually eat.

So today I am doing the last of the rough draft writing for National Boards. It has been a long haul, and I’m weary. Finishing is a feat in and of itself.  So here’s to the beginning of the end.

Watchmen! I went to see it last night and was pretty much mesmerized the entire time. I was actually looking at other aspects of the film.  I especially liked the cinematography. The film was especially well-shot.  Seriously. The special effects I thought were also well done. The only thing that mildly annoyed me were the many flashbacks to explain the back story. That got a little annoying having to stop and unravel and reconnect. Too much of a good thing, you know?  They made the movie skip a bit like a bad cd.  The soundtrack so rocked me!  I sang softly to myself throughout most of the movie.  Costuming was absolute perfection. It distinctly had a comic feel to it. It is very violent and a bit gory at times, and I’m squeamish, but still liked it.  (I just looked away if it started getting to me.) But it wasn’t senseless violence. It fit into the plot, and the characters would have done what they did.  It all fit.  This will become a dvd in the eclectic floor to ceiling home library. Highly recommend seeing this one.

Okay, to my writing.

-Patricia