Category Archives: What I'm doing

My latest venture

Jan 7 2012

Home Today, Portlandia, Wired, and Reading

Instead of getting up, getting out, and making a difference today, I was home getting over a stomach ache and sinus situation. This can best be described as not fun. It was almost dawn before I went to sleep, and I’m just starting to feel better. It has been a full day of 7up, orange juice, vitamins, and anything to help. The challenge to this day was the amount of downtime I had. You know that feeling of wanting to do things but not being able. That one. Not fun.

Tonight was the beginning of the Portlandia season.

Can hardly wait to see what the writers have put together for this year. Based on bits of information from those who are on the writing staff, it should be good.

The home network went through a major upgrade and is now spinning faster than ever. I’m delighted to have had the courage to seek change. And change, as is constantly reaffirmed to me through life experiences, is a very good thing. My former ISP provider was not delivering the goods no matter what I tried. The download speed was very low, and I knew this by the trouble I was having with some movies. So, I did what I had to do…conducted a speed test, wrote down my data for up and download, then researched the other major ISP provider here, got their stated download and upload speed data, and then gave them a call. After a new ISP and modem were in place, I conducted another speed test, and the results were exactly what I had hoped for.  Phenomenal.  And as someone who loves streaming online content, mostly movies, entertainment and lifestyle just got an upgrade.

The weather here has been La Nina blissfulness. So mild. I’m enjoying getting physically active after a little Winter hybernation fest. It feels good to get back in my fitness routine, especially yoga.

How did it get so late so quick? Think I’m turning in to finish reading Rumors of Water by L.L.Barkat, a book on writing. It is very stream of consciousness and about the world around the writer/how it should inform the content. It’s a fast not especially layered read that does have some entertainment quality to it and suggestions for writing, but it’s not a book that you can pull off the shelf and practice that thing with that activity from it. The chapters are short, based on every day life, and analogies are drawn to writing based on daily life. For me, it essentially is a peek inside the writer’s mind, how content is found from daily life. It’s an easy read.

So nighty night, sleep tight. Dream, fly, evolve.

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

Jun 23 2009

Over the Sniffles, Back to Writing, Indian Heaven, Essential Oils

Okay. My little cold thing is gone. I suspect it’s from being exposed to other humans and their viruses. But it wasn’t so bad. Just a snively, annoying, runny-nose cold with a little loss in stamina. At the pace I have been going lately, it’s probably a good thing to slow down a bit and rest some. I remember having a bizarre dream last night, so things are getting back to normal. I have bizarre dreams, then to remember them means all is normal again. Me. My weird dreams. Remembering them. Life as usual.

Speaking of weird dreams. I haven’t abandoned the Novel-in-Progress. It has been umm… simmering. I read the first chapter at the writers’ conference I attended and asked for feedback which was very helpful. I’m working on it tonight and will post revisions plus more soon. Really, I will.

So I hope to photograph the wildflowers in bloom on Mt. Adams this week. I’m feeling more up to it now, and the weather is improving. It was warmer today but sultry. That muggy, icky feeling with a haze in the air.  Merlin would definitely enjoy the trip, and I would feel  better with his company. I’ll post some photos here when I have them. The Gifford Pinchot is so beautiful, alive, and peaceful in summer! It is an enchantress if ever there was one! I’m really looking forward to my trip. It’s about a half hour up to the next mountain valley. I’m headed to Lookinglass Lake which provides a mirror image of the background in the lake.  I’ll get photos of that, too.

So, for the naturalist out there who like essential oils, this is for you. Small spray bottle + water + lemongrass essential oil (or your choice. Eucalyptus is nice, two)  = great friend in a steamy shower, room air freshener, bed/furniture spray (lavender is nice for this), and steam sauna spray. So absolutely delicious to the senses!! Citronella oil in a light carrier oil like almond (!) or jojoba oil makes a great, natural bug repellent. Almond oil is a great massage oil. Scent it in small batches to massage or moisturize dry skin. Tea tree is nice in shampoo in the summer. It makes your scalp tingle and is also an antiseptic/good in salves like vaseline or bees’ wax/olive oil. Essential oils are nature’s gift to us. Enjoy them!

-Patricia

Feb 12 2009

Long Day, Valentine's Day, a Real Meal, and Rockin' the Bob

Day is done. Longer day than I expected, but sometimes friends need help.  Glad to provide a little assistance.  A friend of mine is just beginning the National Board journey and needed some help reading her essay for the application and such.  No problem. People have read so much of my writing going through this process, I’m thrilled to read for someone else. I’m almost done, and now that I can see the end in sight and not freaking out about finishing in time, I’m enjoying it. But…I will be glad to finish.  There are other writing projects that I want to put more time into…namely my own writing.

So tomorrow is Friday and the last working day of the week.  My students will be writing poems with Valentine’s Day candy hearts with curt, little expressions on them simply for fun…to enjoy writing…as it should be…for pleasure, for fun, for amusement, to scratch your creative itch, to tickle your muse.

I’m rockin’ the new haircut with fabulous, edgy product included.  Nothing perks up the girrrl in me like a good cut and new hair product. Just to say….

So dinner at my house tomorrow night will be special because it needs to be.  It’s been a while, and I do love a good home-cooked meal.  I’m thinking chicken tikka masala or  do some country cookin’.  Hmmm….yeah, I think the country cookin’ just won out.  It was the home-made biscuits.  They have the most electoral votes when deciding what’s for dinner.  Usually, what’s for dinner isn’t such a big question, but since I haven’t had a dinner the entire week, it’s pretty special at this point.   So I love to cook, am great I’m told, but I’m not in the kitchen all the time. Just enough to enjoy it.

Here’s wishing you a wonderful Valentine’s Day.  May people be kind to you. I’m beginning to fall asleep and feel blessed to be happy and content.

G’night.

-Patricia

Jan 14 2009

The Lull before Frozen Bums

Here in Glenwood, we’ve enjoyed a week of balmy, spring-like temperatures…40′s and 50′s.  The east wind returns soon, and it’s cold bums all around.  I’m sure there will be foot upon foot of snow to go with it.  It has been a nice break in the weather.  I have actually popped in and out without a jacket for the last few days!  But it’s back to Under Armour, jackets, boot things with wool socks, and gloves…country chic.

Tonight I needed domestic tranquility, so I do what I always do when I need to reconnect with my domestic goddess side…I bake.  This was my first time baking ginger bread cookies which were truly amazing, orange- flavored, chewy, and spicy.  Merlin and I enjoyed several with milk and saved the rest for tomorrow.

I think I’m getting another cold.  This has been the winter of colds for me.  I have had the stomach flu eight times now, and I think I have a ninth coming on.  It only lasts twenty-four hours, but it’s so annoying and draining.

I’m also reaching the end of my work on National Board certification and will soon have more time for my own personal writing.  I can hardly wait!  There are poems and stories that I want to write!  The ideas have been swirling around in my head as they do during  winter, my “Winter Dreams” after F.Scott Fitzgerald’s story by the same name.

Off to bed.

-Patricia

Dec 31 2008

Chullo Progress, Power Lines, General Tso, and Teaching

The chullo is coming along nicely.  I knitted for a few hours tonight to relax and get it going.  Good times.  It’s so relaxing making something cool like a  chullo and watching a movie.  Merlin crashed by me in the big, comfy chair having sweet puppy dreams.  I love to listen to him dream.  My chullo is variegated purple with cream, ribbed ear flaps and trim.  It’s looking pretty sweet.  I’ll be sure to post a photo when it’s done. There’s something about lovely, hand-knitted hats and scarves in the winter…and even something more about making them myself the way I want.  Snowing just adds to the mix and makes it even better.  Which brings me to…I never want to knit any other time of year except maybe late fall…It’s a winter-ish thing that I do and do well.

So the electrician and the utility people arrived, and I left.  They had to turn the power off to do the repairs, and, well, I had writing to do.  So I took up residence at Dopio’s in Hood River, worked on my writing for several hours, and then enjoyed a wonderful lunch of General Tso chicken from The Golden Rose.  They do make THE best General Tso I have ever had.  And even better, it’s consistently good.  I have had General Tso many times a year there for at least seven years now, and it’s always superb.  I’ve made it a point to try General Tso at all the Chinese restaurants in the area as an experiment of sorts, but no one came even close to The Golden Rose’s version of General Tso…for what it’s worth. Yes, I’m love Chinese food and am quite good at making a delish chicken teriyaki meal.  Chinese cuisine is just so healthy for you!

And it’s still snowing.  Looks like the snow level is going back up tomorrow.  I’m putting in my request for a little blue sky, balmier temps, and time fora  leisurely walk for a bit of exercise.

As for time well spent, yeah, I have accomplished a lot towards my portfolio for National Board Certification.  I’m beginning to feel like I’m going to make it!  There’s some planning I need to do for the last leg of the journey…three more assignments to plan, carry out, and write up.  Then it’s time to pack up and send it on it’s merry way.  All that’s left is studying for the test at the assessment center which I’ll take this summer.  This gives me ample time to prepare.  What a journey this has been!  It’s not for the faint of heart.  It’s mountain climbing, fellow teachers.  But for those who need those  big challenges in their careers to stay vibrant and making significant gains, it is so worth it.  Once done, I am turning my attention towards writing.

Until later,

-Patricia