I'm in the process of either writing out proposals to speak at workshops in our corner of the world or being accepted to said workshops and I must say, it's an interesting notion of trying to sell one’s self. It's all for good reasons of course, unlike others who try to sell themselves in other ways. I've already been accepted to speak in New York's solid waste conference and a second one is on tap for here in Maine. The subjects are focused on sustainable waste management: my love, my passion. Why wouldn't you want to know what happens to your trash?
Speaking of new opportunities on the horizon, the start of a new year always brings new hopes and new challenges. For 2017, not only do I wish to fall back in love with running and swimming, but I also have high hopes for new and important acquisitions. A house is what I've been lusting over for the past six months or so. But the house is a means to an end. It's the dog in the house that I really want. The man can either enter my life or not.
Almost three years after starting a blog about being chronically single and not much has changed there! The current challenge I face is letting one go that never belonged to me in the first place. In yoga this morning, our teacher said "the heart is a vulnerable, beautiful and terrifying place to live." Unfortunately, my heart is where my brain lies. I'm currently listening to Pandora and a Goo Goo Dolls song just came on. Ironically, it is the exact same song I was listening to when I found out my 8th grade boyfriend made out with someone else. Funny how life just doesn't change much, only the way we look in the mirror and where we move.
And speaking of humorous musings; I've just spent the past 30 minutes searching online for backup to my theory that we are set up to fail in relationships from an early age. It's highly possible it's just me but growing up, I read books and watched movies that urged people to go out and get the person they felt deeply for. These days, with texting and lowered levels of communication among members of our own species, gestures and proclamations of interest and adoration are considered off-putting and stalker-esque. In these movies and books, men are allowed to do stupid and excessive things for the women they love but when it comes to women doing the same things, putting themselves out there and making the "grand gesture", we are put in the "Run Away!!!" column. Like I said, maybe it's probably just me.
A heart in a body not well taken care of can only get you so far and I want to go all the way in all my endeavors. This means better eating habits! Damn you resolutions. Limited to no caffeine, alcohol, carbs (minus those incredibly tasty tortillas made by my brother-in-law as I was on my way to catch a plane in Austin) and none of my arch nemesis; sugar. Happily, I've made smoothies consisting of banana, chia seeds, superfoods powder, yogurt, spinach, cinnamon, whole ginger and milk for breakfasts, steak and spinach salad for lunch to raise iron and soup at night to keep me warm. Three days in, so far, so good! I even managed to avoid drinking at a good buddy's birthday party last night. Fruity muddled fizzy water is just as good as a Manhattan...said no one ever. It's the thought that counts!
As for my brain health and inspiration, a couple nights ago was First Friday Art Walk. I left work a little early to catch some art before aforementioned friend's party. I found one venue's show to be particularly wonderful. Kingspoke, just before Monument Square, was showing recycled art through their connection with Maine Center for Creativity. There were plastic water bottle bees and milk jug flowers, milk carton fish and a woven 20+ foot long "Presumpscot River," made up of strips of blue plastic bags, ribbons and more scraps. the result was all very wonderful. MECA was having a show as well and had some incredibly well-made hutches and one particularly cute mini wooden chair. It was Thos Moser-style but much more sincere and alluring. Another stunning show was at the Portland Public Library. They were showcasing Portland Press Herald's 2016 best newspaper photos of the year. You can find the collection here: http://specialprojects.pressherald.com/photosoftheyear2016/ Food was provided, in part, by Forks Food Lab on Parris Street. If you don't know about them yet, you must have missed one of the best food parties of the year in September. Sorry about that. There was a bike pedal powered apple cider press, wall to wall people, music, tons of food and everyone's favorite party-goer: beer.
So that's enough of the highs and lows of a Portland winter day for today. Stay warm, eat good food, be nice to others and put yourself out there. I find that there is literally no other way I can be, sorry I'm not sorry...
Speaking of new opportunities on the horizon, the start of a new year always brings new hopes and new challenges. For 2017, not only do I wish to fall back in love with running and swimming, but I also have high hopes for new and important acquisitions. A house is what I've been lusting over for the past six months or so. But the house is a means to an end. It's the dog in the house that I really want. The man can either enter my life or not.
Almost three years after starting a blog about being chronically single and not much has changed there! The current challenge I face is letting one go that never belonged to me in the first place. In yoga this morning, our teacher said "the heart is a vulnerable, beautiful and terrifying place to live." Unfortunately, my heart is where my brain lies. I'm currently listening to Pandora and a Goo Goo Dolls song just came on. Ironically, it is the exact same song I was listening to when I found out my 8th grade boyfriend made out with someone else. Funny how life just doesn't change much, only the way we look in the mirror and where we move.
And speaking of humorous musings; I've just spent the past 30 minutes searching online for backup to my theory that we are set up to fail in relationships from an early age. It's highly possible it's just me but growing up, I read books and watched movies that urged people to go out and get the person they felt deeply for. These days, with texting and lowered levels of communication among members of our own species, gestures and proclamations of interest and adoration are considered off-putting and stalker-esque. In these movies and books, men are allowed to do stupid and excessive things for the women they love but when it comes to women doing the same things, putting themselves out there and making the "grand gesture", we are put in the "Run Away!!!" column. Like I said, maybe it's probably just me.
A heart in a body not well taken care of can only get you so far and I want to go all the way in all my endeavors. This means better eating habits! Damn you resolutions. Limited to no caffeine, alcohol, carbs (minus those incredibly tasty tortillas made by my brother-in-law as I was on my way to catch a plane in Austin) and none of my arch nemesis; sugar. Happily, I've made smoothies consisting of banana, chia seeds, superfoods powder, yogurt, spinach, cinnamon, whole ginger and milk for breakfasts, steak and spinach salad for lunch to raise iron and soup at night to keep me warm. Three days in, so far, so good! I even managed to avoid drinking at a good buddy's birthday party last night. Fruity muddled fizzy water is just as good as a Manhattan...said no one ever. It's the thought that counts!
As for my brain health and inspiration, a couple nights ago was First Friday Art Walk. I left work a little early to catch some art before aforementioned friend's party. I found one venue's show to be particularly wonderful. Kingspoke, just before Monument Square, was showing recycled art through their connection with Maine Center for Creativity. There were plastic water bottle bees and milk jug flowers, milk carton fish and a woven 20+ foot long "Presumpscot River," made up of strips of blue plastic bags, ribbons and more scraps. the result was all very wonderful. MECA was having a show as well and had some incredibly well-made hutches and one particularly cute mini wooden chair. It was Thos Moser-style but much more sincere and alluring. Another stunning show was at the Portland Public Library. They were showcasing Portland Press Herald's 2016 best newspaper photos of the year. You can find the collection here: http://specialprojects.pressherald.com/photosoftheyear2016/ Food was provided, in part, by Forks Food Lab on Parris Street. If you don't know about them yet, you must have missed one of the best food parties of the year in September. Sorry about that. There was a bike pedal powered apple cider press, wall to wall people, music, tons of food and everyone's favorite party-goer: beer.
So that's enough of the highs and lows of a Portland winter day for today. Stay warm, eat good food, be nice to others and put yourself out there. I find that there is literally no other way I can be, sorry I'm not sorry...