Lost in a book

I’ve rediscovered my love of reading.  Once again, I feel like that little kid sitting on the floor of her pink bedroom.   My long and sometimes ashy brown legs would be stretched way out against the light green carpet.   I was lost in a book.

I remember this intensely pleasurable reading taking place during the summer of my childhood.  My mother, a school teacher, would be home with us during the long summer months.  As soon as we mentioned that we were bored, Ma would say Bored?  Ok.  Go get your things.  We’re going to the library.  Her tone suggested that we were in some sort of trouble.  I loved to read so I was always a little confused by this parental display.  She piled her 3 kids into the back of the green Chevy Nova and off we went. 

The authors of my childhood were Beverly Cleary, Maya Angelou and Judy Blume.  Not too long after that I discovered James Baldwin.  I don’t remember my mother scrutinizing my stack of books which is why I could slip in James Baldwin at a fairly young age.  At that time children were really children.  This was before cable and the only source of corruption was the Brady Bunch, Threes Company and Fat Albert.  Even if my mother saw me reading James Baldwin she probably thought I was trying to learn about my black history.   

Somewhere along the way I lost my love of reading.  It probably started with all of the volumes of required reading for college and graduate school.  This was followed by jobs that required more reading.  When I got home in the evenings, the last thing I wanted to do was deal with more words.   But I kept reading anyway.  There were moments that I enjoyed but it felt a lot like laundry.  The main difference is that I could remember a time when I loved reading and that memory buoyed me along from book to book. 

It made no sense for me to approach a book like a kid trying to get through a plate full of peas. So I stopped trying.  I would read what I wanted and when I wanted.  I would read an article here and a blog there.  Sometimes I would read parts of books with no goal of completion.  This went on for a few years. 

Last May, I was with my walking buddy Arlene and we decided to visit a new library we noticed passed on our way to Arabia Mountain.  We casually walked around the library marveling at the architecture.  Eventually we got to the books to check out their selection.  Suddenly I had this urge to read which took me by surprise.   I ended up choosing Jonah’s Gourd Vine by Zorah Neale Hurston which was first published in 1934.  I loved the wonderfully flawed main character of preacher John Pearson.  The dialect was challenging and delightful.

I then turned to my own bookshelf for the next selection, Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin.   I savored every word.  When I finished the last chapter, I declared once again that Baldwin is the best.  Now, I’m reading Anne Lamott’s book – Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life.  She has some very practical suggestions that I find quite helpful.  I’m amused by her use of lavish sarcasm.

I continue to read as I can.  I take my time.   I lay across my bed with only a night lamp on and sometimes I burn a candle.  And the sensation is the same as it was a long, long time ago.   

Rediscovering Reading at the Stonecrest Library, Lithonia, GA

Flying

I love to fly. I love the feeling that I'm going somewhere and doing something different. I also like being really high up in the sky. I can't believe how different the world appears from this perspective. The clouds look thick enough to lie upon and the land like one big geographic puzzle. It's a new way to see the world. I think most people love this part of flying.

Of course, there are some aspects of flying that I find terrifying. Turbulence or rough air reminds me that I'm 30,000 feet in the air – trapped in a metal contraption with wings. I consider that something could go wrong. I might just plummet to the earth. Strangely, I have learned to appreciate this part as well. I’m trying to go somewhere and do something different but fear and anxiety want to hitch a ride. And that’s ok with me because I’m still going. I just acknowledge them and get on board.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

  Photos from Iphone en route to Philadelphia, July 2011.

Know Thy Neighbors

The strata recipe (below) comes by way of my next door neighbor, Reshma.  We live in a townhome community and our houses are joined together.   For the first few years, we would have conversations from our driveways.  Our earliest conversations were easy as we both work in the same field.  Then, gradually we got to know each other on a more personal level.  We've even compared notes on the dating situation in the ATL and agree that we might just need to get the hell on up on out of here if we wanted a real relationship or wanted to get married.

A couple of years ago, Reshma invited me over for my birthday and fixed me some of the Indian foods she grew up eating.  I raved about the food.   Reshma didn't think it was a big deal.   A couple of months ago, I was standing outside her door on my way to walk Brandi and chatting about nothing but then ended up telling her about a tribulation I was working my way through.  She fully understood.  We parted and I felt better.  I had walked almost a house length away and she called out to me Karen, I really am very sorry that you are having to go through this.  Even from that distance away, I could sense her deep concern.  I forgot my exact response but I do remember having tears in my eyes. 

For almost 6 years, we've watched our community grow.  We moved into a brand new community when some of the townhomes were still being built.  I found it strange being among the first set of settlers living amongst unfinished 3 story houses and the eery quietness.   It was nice when all of the homes were finally completed and occupied.  To this day, I remember when our community came to life with the sound of children playing in the street.  I've been here long enough to watch some of these kids graduate from high school.  And now there are still a good number of kids around, some whom we wish would grow up a little faster and quit all of that crying and hollering. 

We've been talking about getting a few neighbors together for a long time.  Well...Reshma would talk about it and I would agree that she should have something at her house.  One day Reshma sent out an invitation to her home for a Sunday brunch which included three other homeowners. We all happen to live side by side.  Nitesh and Jaimini are newlyweds and moved into the community within the last year.  Then there's Rhonda who has lived here as long as Reshma and I.  We all accepted.  It was a wonderful.  Reshma is an exceptional hostess for all of the right reasons one might expect.  She's also a great cook and that is my preference when invited over for a meal. 

She fixed breakfast strata (recipe to follow), rosemary potatoes, orange-cranberry scones (store-bought), fresh berries with vanilla, honey, and cinnamon yogurt, and vanilla almond granola.  There was also tea, coffee and OJ.

Unfortunately, the photos from the brunch did not come out very well but I thought I would include them anyway. 

Reshma’s Vegetable and Chicken Sausage Strata

(adapted from several strata recipes from food.com and Epicurious.com)

Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed
9 eggs
3 links of chicken sausage (no casing), diced
1 large onion, cut into 2 inch long thin strips
1 large bell pepper, cut into 2 inch long thin strips
3 1/2 cups milk
2/3 cup parmesan cheese, grated
1/4 tsp nutmeg
½ tsp cumin
1 clove garlic (finely chopped or pressed)
1/2 tsp salt
fresh ground pepper
1/2 tbs butter, softened (to grease baking dish)
Approximately one loaf of ciabatta bread
1 (6 ounce) jars marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped.
3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated

Directions:

1. Heat oil in medium skillet over medium heat.

2. Add peppers, onions, sausage and sauté until tender and onions have sweated a bit, about 6-10 minutes. Then add garlic. Press all liquid out of thawed spinach and add to skillet. Add the artichoke hearts.

3. Add nutmeg and cumin. Cook for another minute and then remove from heat.

4. Beat eggs in a large bowl until frothy and add milk, salt, pepper.

5. Grease a 13x9 baking dish with a small amount of the butter.

6. Cut bread into 1 inch cubes. (8-9 cups of cubed bread should result)

7. Layer half the bread cubes, then half the sautéed vegetable mixture, and half the cheddar cheese.

8. Repeat layers in order, ending with cheddar cheese.

9. Cover dish and refrigerate overnight. (It needs 8 hours in the refrigerator)

10. Remove from refrigerator and uncover 30 minutes prior to baking.

11. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

12. Bake for 1 hour until golden brown on top and firm in center, a knife inserted in center will come out clean.

13. Let rest 15 minutes before serving.

Your Life Calling You Today

Your Life Calling TODAY with Jane Pauley is a series of human interest stories of people making drastic career and life changes later in life. The series is sponsored by AARP and runs on the Today Show. I’ve caught a few of them while getting dressed for work in the morning.

Although the series is aimed at baby boomers (those born 1943-1960), I believe that anyone can glean from these pearls of wisdom. It is a reminder that no matter where you are in life, reinvention is always an option. If you find yourself unhappy, bored, depressed, unmotivated, lost or unchallenged – do something about it. It’s your life.

Even for a young graduate making their way in the world, you may feel 100% sure about what you want to do for the rest of your life. Just keep in mind that with experience, events, knowledge and time - one day you may feel 100% sure that you no longer want to do that very thing that you were once 100% sure about. If you are young and you have no idea what you want to do, there’s nothing wrong with that either. You don't have to feel pressured into selecting the perfect job for friggin forever!     

Here are some of my favorite quotes from Rick Rittmaster whose life was calling him.  View his story here. 

If we are feeding our soul it is going to be green and vibrant and growing.  If we are not engaged in the alignment of things that really give us life we dry out.

I didn't have a plan or a roadmap but I was committed to paying attention. 

As odd as it may sound, to me it was full of God's grace.  I got to exercise my gifts and skills in a way that I never could have envisioned before.

Is your life calling and will you answer? 

TGIF (Thank God It's Fall)

Fall is my favorite season. I like everything about the Fall. The colors, the coolness and the start of the holiday season. My favorite holiday, Thanksgiving, is in the Fall. It is the one holiday where nobody really wants anything from anybody other than their love, friendship and maybe their food.

I enjoy walking in the Fall. I like the chill in the air and the crunchy sound of leaves beneath my feet. There’s this wonderful woodsy smell in the air that shows up in the Fall. I expect the alluring sweetness of the Spring vegetation. Yet, I’m still surprised that its Fall decay also provides a welcoming and pleasant aroma.

I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house. So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air. - Nathaniel Hawthorne 

One of my favorite walking places is Arabia Mountain. I mean walking in a Henry David Thoreau kind of way. The trail goes on forever behind neighborhoods, into woods, alongside streams and amidst wildflowers. I’ve gone there with my walking buddy Arlene. We talk, we walk and pause to admire a flower, leaf or tree. I’m not one to walk trails alone mostly for safety reasons.  Besides, I tend to get creeped out rather easily. Alone, any of nature’s sounds trigger a sensation that something is after me -  like a Freddy Krueger or a crazed wild boar frothing at the mouth.

An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day. - Henry David Thoreau 

I like the sense of transition that Fall brings. As children, my mother would send us on several trips to the basement to retrieve our Fall and Winter clothing. My mother would also take down her light and summery yellow and white kitchen curtains. I remember watching their whimsical movements against the air when the windows were open. In the Fall, their brown and white replacements were sturdy and protective against that same air.  In my own way, I do the same. I move clothes from one bedroom to another. I place a Fall wreath on the front door and just below, two planters full of mums.

Autumn - the reprieve from Summer. - Mike Garofalo

I like that things are coming to a close. I’m grateful for the seasons of life. We need things to begin. We need things to end.  And Fall is that reminder.  Thank God for the Fall.

Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile. - William Cullen Bryant 

Arabia Mountain Trail - Fall 2010

Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all. - Stanley Horowitz 

To Die All Alone

Karen, I really don’t want you to die all alone. This is what someone at work has said to me way too many times. Let’s call her Gladys. I’m always stumped when Gladys says this to me. I guess I look stumped because Gladys always adds, I’m serious Karen, I think you are attractive and a very nice lady and I would really hate for you to end up all alone. Oh, that’s better. I feel so much better now.

Gladys and I talk about a number of things at work, including men.  Gladys loves to ask me about my dating life. I would liken it to the way a parent checks in on their child about homework– especially the child that has proven that she does not like homework. I think Gladys wants to keep dating on the forefront of my mind. She’s actually told me that I’m not trying hard enough to meet someone. She says this in a not so jokingly way. She’s sort of laughing but her expression lacks humor. Her eyes are a bit narrowed as she looks me up and down.

Much later in the day, I try to come up with some great one-liners to shut Gladys up. After 2.5 minutes, I give up. I give up because I would rather be doing something else. I give up because I won’t remember that particular one-liner in the moment. There are many one-liners that naturally come to mind in the moment. None of these would be appropriate in a professional setting. Besides, I like Gladys. She isn’t the anti-Christ.

What do people generally mean when they say that they don’t want to die all alone? I’ve never thought about dying alone. I don’t spend much time thinking about dying except when I’m about to board an airplane. Even in the midst of turbulence, I’m pretty resolved that death would be pretty quick. But anyway, I’ve never associated being unmarried with dying alone. Maybe the phrase holds no more value than the words of a dumb donkey.

Dying alone could mean that when I take my very last breath on this earth, I will not have a husband sitting bedside, lovingly looking into my eyes as tears slowly fall from his eyes. If that’s what dying alone means - than most people, regardless of their relationship status, will die alone. If one were to look at the statistics, women outlive men by 5-10 years. This applies throughout the world. This means that most women, throughout the world, will definitely die alone.

Dying alone could mean that I will live the rest of my life without being married or partnered in some way. So, in a weird way, Gladys and others aren’t talking about dying but living alone, especially as I enter the Fall and Winter of my life. I guess this is where the image comes in of a woman alone in a house with a bunch of cats. I’ve never thought that securing a boyfriend, partner or husband was an unattainable feat. However, to be in a healthy, stable, and lasting relationship with two like-minded individuals with similar values…that just might take awhile. I admit it might take some longer than others especially if they aren’t just dying to be married.

And just the other day, several weeks after I started writing about this, Gladys and I were talking. This time, it was actually about work. As I turned to leave her office she says to me, Wait a minute Karen, now just hold up…just what is going on with your dating! This time, I whipped myself around. I leaned over her and with the crazy face said, I know Gladys, I know…you just don’t want me to die all alone! I get it!!! Rather meekly, Gladys says, Well…I’m sorry Karen…I didn’t mean to offend you. I’m sorry. She looked confused.  I gave her one last look.  Regally, I turned and walked out the door.

Sunday Mornings

So, it is Sunday morning. And it is quiet. I’m in my bedroom and the only sound I hear is the cool air coming through the ceiling vent. When you live in Atlanta, and it is July, that is one of the most beautiful sounds to hear.

Most Sunday mornings for most of my life was spent in church. At times, I’ve wondered if I might have been born in church even if my birth certificate says some hospital in Baltimore. Somewhere in my late thirty’s, my church attendance had severely fallen off. If I had the ability to step out of myself and really see myself objectively, I would have seen this coming. Years before that, I had stopped hanging onto every word that the preacher said, and more importantly, realized that nothing bad happened to me if I didn’t. Obviously, this would affect what one would do on a Sunday morning.

This particular morning I feel good. The last few days, I’ve been upset off and on by a variety of happenings not worthy of the stroke of a pen. Ok, who am I kidding? I took my pen and wrote all about it -angrily, aggressively, hopelessly and tearfully. On and on I wrote, but at some point, I turned the corner. I had to. Just let it go.

When I wake up feeling this good, I try to hold on to it as long as possible. After all, it is Sunday morning. I don’t have to be bothered today. I can easily put myself in time out away from people, place and things –a joy easily afforded to me as one who is single. Of course, this also means staying away from all forms of media with its weird interpretations of life. So why not cook, write or both? John Gunther said that all happiness begins with a leisurely breakfast.

This Sunday morning, I fix French toast and bacon. I make the French toast from the wheat bread I just bought from the DeKalb Farmer’s Market. The bacon, I cook in the oven which makes life easier for me and enhances its flavor. I top the French toast with fresh blueberries, half a sliced banana and some cinnamon maple syrup. I pour a little orange juice into a small glass. I brew some Kenyan coffee, also from the farmer’s market.

I sit at my kitchen table in silence and slowly enjoy every morsel. I look at my balcony. I should get some pansies for the balcony planters. I’ve had this thought since March. There are a number of planters sitting on my deck. Some are stacked and empty and others are full of dirt or full of weeds. It’s an organized mess. I shift my eyes away from that project because I am in time out. I look at this tree that begins just outside my back door and whose branches fully extend over into my balcony. It then continues up to the third floor and obstructs my view of the courtyard from my bedroom window.

On many Sunday mornings I’ve thought about this tree. I remember when the tree didn’t and couldn’t reach the second floor. When I moved into this new community over five years ago, I was aware of the tree but didn’t think much about it. It was nothing to me. It was just like all of the other trees in my community. I would often think how sparse, how insufficient and how poor the greenery of this place. They should have done a better job in planning. But that was my perspective then and I was fully ignorant. I didn’t take into consideration time and it is always a great revealer.

So, it is Sunday morning. It isn’t so quiet anymore. I’m back in my bedroom. There is the sound of the air from overhead, the laundry rhythmically swishing back and forth, and of course, the talking tree.

5K, Just a Week Away!

I am a week away from my first 5K.   I am participating in the Ben Does Life Running tour.  I'm excited about the run except for the starting time of 10 am.  Ben doesn't know...he just don't know.  He don't know that it is too doggone hot to start running at 10 am in the ATL.  But this is Ben's first 5K running tour so it is ok if everything isn't perfection.  I am going to support the tour because the premise of Ben Does life is that if you hate your life...do something about it. 

I thought I would share a few journal entries about my running struggles and triumphs.  I capture just about everything in my journal.    I have one other blog about this personal goal.   

November 18, 2010

Yesterday was weird for me.  I felt completely insane at times.  Irritated, anxious, mad, etc.  Probably the best part about yesterday was getting in my 4 mile run/walk.  I can't call it a 4 mile run yet.  ...this is the longest time I've sustained this activity longer than a week or two.  I think this started for me back in September.  I must say I'm fascinated with the process of becoming a runner. 

January 2, 2011

The weather should be nice enough for me to jog at the park.  Time to get back into a work out routine.   I woke up feeling like I need to lose weight and feeling heavy.  So-- time to do something about it.  I was on a good roll until I started working* about a month ago.

*For most of 2010 I had been laid off but was able to work contractually from home.

March 6, 2011

The last few weeks I've increased my distance for my walk/run.  Maybe I should just call it running.  I'm up to 5 miles and about half of it is running.

May 1, 2011

I reached a milestone with my running.  I jogged 1.2 miles without stopping.  I am accepting that to reach my goal of running a 5K at the end of June I am going to have to exercise (i.e...run) a few days a week when most days I am not going to want to do that.

May 11, 2011

After work (yesterday) I went to the park to get in my exercise.  I had much trepidation because it was about 90 degrees outside.  The hour before I kept going back and forth about going.  I can barely imagine myself running.  In the heat?  OMG!  But the realization that I had was that I will always come up with an excuse not to exercise on a particular day.  So I went.  I completed 3 miles and incorporated more walking and was glad I had my water bottle in hand.

May 17, 2011

I went jogging before work with good 'ole Brandi.  She is extra when I'm trying to jog.  I mostly jogged from here (home) to Home Depot and back (~2 miles).  It has been unseasonably cool so it felt great outside.

May 28, 2011

I've been consistently running 2 miles.  This morning I want to take it a little further.  *Maybe 2.5 miles?  We'll see. 

*I ended up running 3 miles.  When I was in the second mile, I said to myself, I think you can do another mile.  And I did.

May 31, 2011

How did Monday get here so fast?  My weekend was fabulous.  I mean it.  I ran 3 miles twice!  The first time was much easier than the second.  Yesterday, it was just too hot.  I realized that if I am going to run outside at all I will need to be finished by 9 a.m.  Yesterday, I started at 9 a.m.  I feel quite accomplished.  Yesterday, I willed myself through each mile because I was sooo uncomfortable.  Between each mile I got a sip of water.  Soon, I'll be running five miles.  I can see it quite clearly now.  But no pressure.

June 16, 2011

I ditched Brandi today.  Like I said, she can be Xtra.  Xtra is not what I need when I'm trying to run.  So I left her at home and went to Mountain Park around 6:30 a.m.  There was this older gentleman running in an opposite direction from me.  The first time we jogged past each other, he looked up and gave me a big smile.  When we passed each other during my second mile, he looked up with surprise and said Hey!  I just smiled back at him.  At the start of the third mile we passed each other again and he said...Well...Alright!!!   This time I laughed.  When I was close to completing the fourth mile he started clapping as I approached and said...Great job!  I said, almost done!   He nodded with approval, clapped some more and said again, Great job!  I completed 4 miles, another milestone, and it took me about an hour.  

If I can do it, you can too. 

Have a Happy Life

Gerber Daisies

And you too can have a happy life!  Meaningful relationships, satisfying employment with sufficient income, spirituality, goals, hobbies and entertainment are all key to my happy life. 

Another minor thing that makes a major difference is my home.  At the end of the work day,  I always feel a sense of relief and joy when I pull into my driveway.  My home is my inner sanctum and I have intentionally designed it that way.  This is one, of many, wonderful things about being single.  You have total control over creating the home and life that you want for your self.  It is all on you.  I say this in the spirit of Toni Morrison who said, "If there's a book you really want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it."     Being single has its rewards and this isn't being said or written about enough.  But as I was saying, or in summary, I've discovered that an important part of having a happy life is creating a beautiful home for yourself where you want to return to at the end of a long day.

There are a lot of simple things to do to create a happy home for yourself.  I don't think that your home has to be Spic and Span clean but there should be order.  Everything in your home can't be out of place.  My mother would say, Karen, everything has a place.  She would say this as she handed me my shoes, my backpack and everthing else that I deposited daily in the kitchen after school. So, just multiply this by 3 to account for my two sibblings.  I guess that is why she would also shake her head back and forth and ask the Lord for help...Lawd...have mercy! 

It's also nice to have plants and flowers around.  Even if you don't have a green thumb, you can purchase flowers every now and them and stick them in a vase with water.  Just yesterday, I purchased 6 Gerber Daisies for $5.78 from the DeKalb Farmer's Market.  Actually, they were in bunches of 3 for $2.98.  That is cheaper than a happy meal.  I placed these pink daisies on the mantel of my fireplace.  That'll make me happy for about a week. 

Scents are also important in a home.  Beside my daisies on my mantel is my oil burner.  I'm always burning something.  I have candles and oil burners in my living room and in my boudoir (my private lady suite AKA bedroom).   My favorite scents are lavender, vanilla and eucalyptus mint.  All of these are calming.  Sometimes I burn a little eucalyptus mint in the morning  just to help me get going.

Oil burner beside daisies

There is something to aromatherapy.  One day, not long ago, someone came into my office at the end of the day and talked about all of their work troubles for about an hour.  Because of this, I left work late and felt moody from listening to all of their troubles.  And these weren't even troubles when you think about what troubles are in the real sense of the word.   Being disturbed, I stopped by the CVS on my way home and picked up a new candle which was a mixture of lavendar and sage.  Once I made it back to my sanctuary, I laid on my sofa and burned my candle.  An hour later, I was back to normal. 

Make your home a part of your happy life.

5K, here I come!

I've always wanted to be a runner and I've always wanted to be a swimmer.  Recently, I've taken on running.  The swimming can wait as this may involve psychotherapy.  Let's just say that a swimming instructor physically forced a terrified child, head-first, into the deep end of the pool.  I guess that was how the YMCA taught children who can't swim, to dive, back in the mid to late 70's.  As I said, psychotherapy. 

I want to make it clear about the type of runner that I want to be.   As of today, I have no desire to run in half marathons or marathons.   I have no desire to time myself.  Running a 5K here and a 10K there without stopping would be quite sufficient.  This is my goal today.   One day, I may want to do more.

About 2 months ago, as part of this goal, I decided that I would participate in the Ben Does Life tour  when it comes to Atlanta on Sunday, June 26.   I thought that was realistic since I could comfortably walk 5 miles.   In the last few months, I would run at least a third of it.  My strategy was similiar to the Couch to 5K running plan.  So, I could possibly complete a 5K without walking.  If only I believe.

Initially, when I made a conscious decision to jog longer than half a mile, I remember exactly how I felt.  Sluggish, slow and annoyed.  Sluggish and slow, because I was.  Annoyed, because I didn't want to feel sluggish and slow.  I wanted to go jogging off into the sunset like I had been running for years.   But that's not how it works.  One great piece of advice given to me from a colleague and friend was that I should jog at a really slow pace.  She said something like... Karen, c'mon...like for real...technically you could jog at a slower pace than you currently walk.  That made a whole lot of sense to me and it works. 

When I'm running, I'm aware of demoralizing thoughts such as BOY ARE YOU SLOW, MAYBE YOU SHOULD STOP, WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS, YOU ARE WAYYY TOOO BIG TO BE RUNNING, I BET YOU LOOK RIDICULOUS AND SOMEWHAT FLICTED...etc, etc, etc.   I no longer worry about these thoughts or chastise myself for having them.  That's just fear and disbelief talking.  They do a whole lot of yappin initially in protest of change.   Besides, thoughts come and go.  All I need to do is to just keep running.  And I do.

The place where I am in training is Mountain Park Park.  And yes, it is really named Mountain Park Park.  One of my friends who lives close to the park told me about it.  I love it.  There are all kinds of friendly people there of different ages and skin hues.  Just the other day a tall, white fellow with beautiful grey hair in his sixties or seventies jogged past me and waved his hand and said...Hello there!  It was almost as if we knew each other.  I want to be like that twenty years from now.  I want to be jogging past people, enthusiastic, vibrant and saying hi to people I don't know. 

The park gets great useage because of the trails, baseball fields, tennis courts, skateboard park, soccer field and playground.  The 1 mile multi-use paved trail has 1/10 mile distance markers and that is great for what I'm trying to do.  This is one great use of public dollars.

On this particular day, I spent the first mile leisurely walking and taking photos (see below).  I then jogged the next two miles without stopping.  The last mile I walked and smiled like a fool.  It was approximately 1:08 pm, Sunday, May 15, 2011 when I finished 4 miles.  When I started the first mile at 11:55 am, I had no intention of jogging 2 miles.  However, I have consistently jogged 1-1.5 miles without stopping the last two weeks.   This time, I had reached a particular stopping point and decided to keep going.   It was a pretty simple decision.  Just keep going.  5K, here I come!

The starting point.  Most distance markers are partially hidden. 

A visually appealing pond that sometimes smells weird and stinky.

Maybe its the ducks...

This photo of the skatepark was actually taken several months ago.

Baseball fields down to the right

A lonely little stretch....

Playground and soccer fields.  A visible distance marker!

Just through the trees on the left is the public library.

My favorite distance marker...I'm close to finishing a mile.

Exhaling in Memphis

  

A view of the hotel from the park



So I needed to get away. In my getting away I found myself in Memphis, Tennessee.  There are quite a few details and nuances about why I needed to get away and how I selected Memphis.  Blah, blah, blah....  That's a story for another time and another day.   Frankly, I find it boring, you know, those things we generally complain and ponder about.  What matters is that this is what I needed.  In fact, I will do this more often.  

 

A beautiful live plant arrangement

I thought I would blog about my solo visit to Memphis because I think a lot of people are afraid to do unfamiliar things, especially solo. I use the term solo instead of alone. Often when people use the term alone, there is the connotation of sadness, pity or despair. Solo has more to do with a decision or choice...therefore coming from a place of empowerment.



Me and the plant

I stayed at the Courtyard Marriott at Jefferson and Main Street. This hotel was really nice. The interior design was modern and welcoming.  The color schemes belonged to the brown, organge and gold family.   In the lobby, there was a really nice scent which I associated with a spa moreso than a hotel.   And scents matter.   There were beautiful plant arrangements throughout the hotel. 

 

My room was really nice.  The bed was super comfy...

Another view of my room from my bed...

Once settled, I went searching for food.  It was early evening - cool and breezy.  I decided I needed to walk.  Walking is a great way to unwind and force your body and mind into relaxation.  It was about two miles to and from Beale Street.  Along the way, I stopped by Walgreens and picked up a candle, postcards and snacks.  Once I got to Beale Street, I discovered, rather suddenly, that I was exhausted.   Then there was all of this loud music blaring from the various clubs, bars and restaurants.   I scurried away in the direction of my hotel.   There, I had a delicious dinner of burger and fries.   

I decided not to have a planned schedule for this getaway.   I had a general idea of things I wanted to do.   However, the overarching goal of this getaway was to relax, write and experience something new.   So, I moved about intuitively.  

 

I lit my candle and took a  hot shower.  I put on my favorite PJs. I sat in my bed with my herbal tea.  Then, I exhaled.   

Lessons Learned from my Dog

  Have expectations and be attentive....

Mama said there'll be days like this...there'll be days like this...

Chillin in the sun is good...

But an idle mind is the workshop of the devil!!!

Express vulnerability and need...

Grands have so much to offer...starting with a comfy lap

Sharing a meal is good for the soul...

Be a good companion...

Respect boundaries...we all need space

Be innocent and young at heart

Express your cool...in a healthy way...

Sometimes hang back and let others shine...

Just be...

Brandi is a Beagle - Pit Bull Mix that I rescued from DeKalb County Animal Control when she was estimated to be about 6 months.  She was described as a Beagle- Mix.  When I got her home and observed her over the next few weeks, it occured to me that she sure seems muscular and her color and patterns sure seems to hint at Pit Bull.  I wasn't worried, by the time I came to this full realization, she had been in my home for several weeks and not once tried to kill me. 

Interestingly, people either see her as a Beagle or as a Pit Bull.  Oh...what a pretty beagle!  Or they have a look of terror and cross the street...Is that a Pit Bull?!?!??!?!!!   Most men will proclaim that she is 100% Pit.  In fact, one guy wanted to know if I would like to breed Brandi with one of his Pits.  This was at the Applebees when I went in to pick up my order from the bar.   He must have seen me blocking Brandi from jumping out of the car before I went inside.  Bizarre.  I don't even know your name. 

Once, when walking Brandi in front of the shopping plaza near my house, I noticed this truck following me.  I decided not to give any eye contact and walked a little faster.  It sped up a little.  I wasn't too worried as the parking lot was jam packed with people and cars.  Finally, the woman driver rolled down the window.  Excuse me ma'am, my husband and I were having a debate...he says you got yourself a Pit Bull and I told him that's a Beagle!   Uhh...you do know that women don't like trucks creeping alongside of them while walking alone? 

Brandi is approximately 3 years old and is living in the lap of luxury.  Just look at her.