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I’ve just come off an extra long holiday weekend ... during which I spent a lot of time at home. 

I thought about going on a road trip adventure. It would be fun! Explore a new place, meet new people. I even asked several friends for input on where I should go. But then, when it came time to make travel decisions, I didn’t want to leave. 

I have been on a hundred thousand miles of adventures over the past 4 years. At times I wanted to run away from my reality, and planning excursions was my constructed way to safely do so. I needed and enjoyed each one. In a sense, every time I gave myself freedom to explore, I was giving myself more space to live.

But this weekend, each suggestion of a new destination gave me less confidence that leaving is what I wanted to do.

Because at this moment of life, I am a quieter, contented, happy person who thought it may be equally nice to stay home .... then as I thought about being home and as the weekend unfolded, I realized staying here was the better option - not because my home is expertly appointed or a destination, but precisely because it’s not. 

My home is comfortable, cozy, and clean. It has some   cluttered corners and stuff on shelves that really should be donated. I’ve somehow managed to acquire too much furniture. I have pictures of favorite moments and people - some need to be updated or added. It’s the home I created for myself and that I come back to when I’m tired and done with everyone else. I can be happy or sad here without having to explain why. It’s the place that I feel safest and most at peace, and where I am most honest, vulnerable, and open.

I know I’ll run off on some grand adventure in the near future. But for now I’m glad I spent this weekend at home. 

Test Kitchen

I truly enjoy food - basically everything about food in general - and especially the notion of preparing food ... Cooking. I love the idea that a type of plant or animal can be prepared in such a way that it tastes like something else, or simply tastes like the best version of itself. I like that I can have seemingly endless options for tastes and textures by changing only a few inputs. I enjoy trying foods from cultures different from mine - most of my favorite flavors and dishes are Middle Eastern or European.

Recently I've embarked on a bit of an endeavor to change the types of food I eat. I have basically removed processed and commercially canned food from my diet while purposely adding in a focus on fresh, whole foods. I have also begun purposely avoiding sugar, alcohol, and caffeine. I have found I feel inordinately better when I make healthier food choices ... Which leads to a better mix of lifestyle choices as well. 

My friends are the beneficiaries - at least I hope they view themselves that way - of this new focus on healthy eating. As I have developed my ongoing list of new foods to try they are the sounding board, taste testers and food critics who help me know what plates to keep and which to toss. The test kitchen is open ... This is fun :)

long weekends and short weeks

Over last weekend (a "long" weekend with the nice holiday tucked in), I took a little bit of my otherwise pressurized time and did a few things that, for me, are out of the ordinary ... and here are some recaps, in no particular order ...
I watched local news.  If you're wondering what station, at what time, during which segments; don't.  I turned on my local news network at several different points over the weekend.  I wonder whether the "good" anchors were on vacation (since I don't know who the regulars are, I couldn't say).  But the people giving the daily news were, generally, awful.  One anchor cracked up laughing ... at nothing.  Or something she wouldn't share.  I guess important news stops over holiday weekends ... which begs the question:  what were these people doing on the air?  Laughing, I guess.

Next, I went shopping, or, shall I say "returning."  I went to a store for the express purpose of returning two items I had previously purchased.  Overall, it was a happy experience:  I gave back two shirts I did not want, and the cashier promised me my money back.  That second part is what took me by surprise.  On the day I went to the store and purchased my items, the money was immediately slurped from my sad debit account.  But, upon returning those very same items, I was informed that the funds would be returned to my account within three days.  Here is my suggestion to retailers: You will make more friends if you standardize your processes.  Option 1:  Take my money immediately upon purchase; and return my money immediately upon return.  Option 2:  If you want to keep "returned" money for three days, then consider letting me leave the store with my goods, then taking the funds from my account three days later.  My suggestion:  Option 1.

Lastly, reading.  Oh, wait; I do this all the time.  There was nothing different about last weekend's reading, other than it was for slightly fewer class periods (score!).  If you've read my blog in the past, you may have seen a post about Week 4 of the semester.  And, this week was it.  Take a look at that post to see my thoughts about that.

I hope your summer is wrapping up nicely; that your fall is healthily approaching or underway.

Cheers

fireworks and furniture

Happy Independence Day!  This is an important time to remember our nation's history, and also to look forward to the goals and dreams ahead.  In addition to taking some time to reflect on the deep and lasting issues that come to the fore today, I am intrigued by our nation's response to this holiday for several reasons:

First, it is the only national holiday that Americans refer to by its date:  "Happy 4th of July!"  Never do we say "Happy 1st of January,"  Happy Fourth Thursday of November," or "Happy December 25."  Why do so many refer to this holiday only by its date?  Is it because it is one of few U.S. holidays that falls on the same date every year?  Or perhaps because we spend so much time concerned over our calendar, it is enough for us to remember that today is a holiday ... and we don't get far enough to remember what the day commemorates?

Second, stores run sales for no apparent reason.  I understand why there may be sales near Fathers Day and Christmas.  People give and, more importantly, receive gifts in conjunction with these days, so of course people who sell goods would spend more energy trying to ensure that the gifts purchased come from their stores.  But, store sales because it's Independence Day (or, as they advertise it:  because it's July 4th)?  Especially the furniture stores ... How does the founding of a nation coincide in any way with buying new bedroom or living room set??

Third, and perhaps most important:  There are fireworks.  I cannot begin to explain the childish glee I have when fireworks are overhead.  Now, I need to make a distinction.  I love a good (or even mediocre) fireworks show, mostly for the colors, but also because I appreciate the care and preparation to create the show.  I am not such a fan of sparklers, poppers, etc., which are handed to young children, who are too scared, or not scared enough, to use them without hurting themselves or someone else.  But I do love the fireworks.

I hope you enjoyed a restful or exciting, but overall happy, day this July 4.