Because I am working at one of our events tomorrow (Saturday), today I am home early from work. It is a wonderfully sunny afternoon. Cricket is pleased to be sitting on the windowsill, listening to and watching for birds after months of plastic-covered windows. And other than the birds, my fingers tapping the keyboard, and the occasional sound of my carbonated water fizzing, all is quiet.
As it turns out, I LOVE the quiet. I don't remember liking silence in the past - I always found more pleasure in having music playing. I'm not sure why or when that changed - but I think it most has to do with a sense of "quiet scarcity" as a result of being overstimulated by the never-ending information stream that is modern life.
Last night we attended a sold out lecture on brain science and well-being at the U. The speaker discussed the brain, the mind, and the body, and just how critical the integrated functioning of these parts is to the well-being of individuals internally (physically, mentally, emotionally) and interpersonally (in relationships with all aspects of the outside world). He talked about the fact that our identities have become so based on the physical (material) and external (info stream) world that we often end up incredibly out of touch with ourselves and others because of a lack of "integration." His recipe for integration is to be mindful about honoring differences and promoting linkages with others and ourselves, as it will in turn lead to integrated brain functioning.
Clearly his philosophy can't be summed up in one paragraph, as he has written several books to make his points (and to make a ridiculous sum of money, undoubtedly). I have one book that my office promotes to parents that I haven't finished reading yet - The Whole Brain Child. It is very accessible and empowering. To learn more, and to be surprised by a personal video introduction to his site, check out: http://www.drdansiegel.com/home/.
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Friday, April 25, 2014
Friday, April 18, 2014
Travel Quilt
So I've got an idea that is kind of ambitious.
I have been thinking that while we're in Europe I will pick up a bit of fabric in each city to integrate into a quilt that could be like a memento of our trip. I even thought of embroidering squares representative of experiences (like the eiffel tower - kind of cutesy but would be fun!).
And then I got an even more exciting idea.
I can't stop thinking about how cool it is going to be to stand in the central square in Brussels in the midst of giant flower mandala. Each year the pattern is different, and rather complex. So NOW I'm thinking that maybe I could make a quilt based on the design of the carpet of flowers that we'll be seeing. I'm sure I'd have to simplify it, but could still capture it. I haven't seen any images of what this year's will look like yet - I'm thinking that they keep in under wraps until the Friday that it is constructed.
Samples from past years are below, for your viewing pleasure. Aren't they cool?
I have been thinking that while we're in Europe I will pick up a bit of fabric in each city to integrate into a quilt that could be like a memento of our trip. I even thought of embroidering squares representative of experiences (like the eiffel tower - kind of cutesy but would be fun!).
And then I got an even more exciting idea.
I can't stop thinking about how cool it is going to be to stand in the central square in Brussels in the midst of giant flower mandala. Each year the pattern is different, and rather complex. So NOW I'm thinking that maybe I could make a quilt based on the design of the carpet of flowers that we'll be seeing. I'm sure I'd have to simplify it, but could still capture it. I haven't seen any images of what this year's will look like yet - I'm thinking that they keep in under wraps until the Friday that it is constructed.
Samples from past years are below, for your viewing pleasure. Aren't they cool?
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| 2004 |
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| 2008 |
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| 2012 - I wish they had a picture like this for ever year! |
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Obsession
Happy hump day!
I keep thinking that I'll post more often and then don't get around to it. For that, I apologize.
What have I been doing? I have largely been obsessed with our trip, although I think I'm running out of checklist items, given that we are still a bit more than 3 months from our departure date. So far we've booked all of our hotels and two of our three trains. Since we're booking early, we've been able to pluck up great cheap hotels and the cheapest train fares. Next up, checking out local entertainment, any special events taking place, and cool restaurants and bars. We did book standing-room tickets to be "groundlings" at The Globe for a production of King Lear. Get this - the actor playing King Lear was the butler on Fresh Prince. Gotta love it.
But alas, obsessive planning is a bad habit of mine, and thus I haven't really been running, cooking, blogging, reading (with the exception of Rick Steves, of course!), and have hardly embroidered a stitch in the past month or two. So I've got some catching up to do on those fronts.
We have been watching a lot of movies lately, and I have a few to recommend:
Good Ol' Freda - streaming on Netflix, about the Beatles' secretary who was with them from the beginning to the end. Fascinating woman, very interesting perspective, very cool documentary.
Somm - streaming on Netflix, about a little cohort of friends who are preparing to take a prestigious Master Sommelier exam. It is unbelievable to watch these guys identify wines based on smell and taste.
Also, I finally saw American Hustle. It was GREAT. And whatever you do, don't see Gravity. It was so so terrible - very trite.
I keep thinking that I'll post more often and then don't get around to it. For that, I apologize.
What have I been doing? I have largely been obsessed with our trip, although I think I'm running out of checklist items, given that we are still a bit more than 3 months from our departure date. So far we've booked all of our hotels and two of our three trains. Since we're booking early, we've been able to pluck up great cheap hotels and the cheapest train fares. Next up, checking out local entertainment, any special events taking place, and cool restaurants and bars. We did book standing-room tickets to be "groundlings" at The Globe for a production of King Lear. Get this - the actor playing King Lear was the butler on Fresh Prince. Gotta love it.
But alas, obsessive planning is a bad habit of mine, and thus I haven't really been running, cooking, blogging, reading (with the exception of Rick Steves, of course!), and have hardly embroidered a stitch in the past month or two. So I've got some catching up to do on those fronts.
We have been watching a lot of movies lately, and I have a few to recommend:
Good Ol' Freda - streaming on Netflix, about the Beatles' secretary who was with them from the beginning to the end. Fascinating woman, very interesting perspective, very cool documentary.
Somm - streaming on Netflix, about a little cohort of friends who are preparing to take a prestigious Master Sommelier exam. It is unbelievable to watch these guys identify wines based on smell and taste.
Also, I finally saw American Hustle. It was GREAT. And whatever you do, don't see Gravity. It was so so terrible - very trite.
Friday, April 4, 2014
April's Fool
It is Friday! I am happy about it despite the fact that I have to work all evening tomorrow for our annual gala, and also despite this...
Yes, that really happened on April 4th.
BUT it is FRIDAY and I am grateful. And after our gala tomorrow night, our hectic special events season will be over. Wow and yay. This means I will return to cooking and blogging again!
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| our street, several inches later |
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| looking out the window |
Yes, that really happened on April 4th.
BUT it is FRIDAY and I am grateful. And after our gala tomorrow night, our hectic special events season will be over. Wow and yay. This means I will return to cooking and blogging again!
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