Email chain between me and Brandon this morning:
EG: Lalalalalalalaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! I am going to win a grammy
BG: I'm not quite sure if you're eligible.
EG: BUZZ KILL.
BG: Not to say that you aren't talented, but you haven't even released an album
EG: WHO NEEDS A GRAMMY ANYWAY. I AM UP FOR AN ACADEMY AWARD FOR BEST ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK TO THE MOVIE OF MY LIFE.
BG: When did you film said movie? Was it a documentary? If you haven't started filming yet, am I cast as the husband because I'd be perfect for the part?
EG: Oh, we are ALREADY making the movie. There is an elf who follows me around. I do testimonials/interviews on my lunch break. And stuff.
BG: Sounds very legit. Almost scientific.
EG: Well. You know.
BG: Is the elf the cameraman? Because that could lead to a lot of low angles which could make you look a little domineering. You might want to have him stand on a stool or something.
EG: You are way over thinking this. Obviously.
It's Wednesday. Lighten up people.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Current obsession: breakfast
I have never been a big breakfast person. For many years I skipped breakfast or had a banana and coffee. I was on an instant oatmeal kick for several months until I found some sort of worm/bug inside and decided I was not that desperate for protein.
But recently I have been craving breakfast. I am not talking about a bowl of cereal. I am talking about a great heaping portion of pancakes, waffles, french toast, potaoes, bacon or biscuits and gravy. I am talking about the kind of breakfast that makes your house smell for the rest of the day or leaves your clothes with a lingering smell of syrup. Maybe it is because I have seen a few breakfast blogs lately or perhaps because I work less than a mile from the legendary Katrina's where breakfast portions are served for people who can eat like Kobayashi.
I am one of those confused breakfasts eaters. I usually crave the savory foods like potatoes and bacon, yet can't resist the idea of a sweet breakfast food. I never waste my time on any egg product, because I know I could make that at home.
On Sunday I began my 28th year (actually, is it technically the 29th year? Since you complete a year before you count it? Whatever.) I was visiting my grandparents in the Bay Area and they took me to birthday breakfast at Stacks in Burlingame. I had coconut pancakes (with bananas and macadamia nuts) and a side of bacon. It was like heaven.
On my way home I made an impromptu visit to see my sister who was eating at Sweetwater in Downtown Sacramento where they have all you can drink mimosas during Sunday brunch for $9.95. Um, yes please? While I did partake in the mimosas, I didn't eat there this time because two breakfasts would have just been unnecessary. But you can bet I will be going back there.
For now I will try to be content with my homemade breakfast creation. My sister (who has a degree in nutrition) thought it might help me to control my eating if I had a bigger breakfast. So one day I used what was in the fridge to come up with my turkey pepperoni, pepper jack cheese, egg and English muffin creation. It has just a little bite to it and it is very filling. It comes in at just about 300 calories.
But even now (at 1:15 in the afternoon) I am dreaming of waffles and home fries, sourdough toast and orange juice, and dreaming of my next change to go to breakfast.
Suggestions in the Sacramento area?
But recently I have been craving breakfast. I am not talking about a bowl of cereal. I am talking about a great heaping portion of pancakes, waffles, french toast, potaoes, bacon or biscuits and gravy. I am talking about the kind of breakfast that makes your house smell for the rest of the day or leaves your clothes with a lingering smell of syrup. Maybe it is because I have seen a few breakfast blogs lately or perhaps because I work less than a mile from the legendary Katrina's where breakfast portions are served for people who can eat like Kobayashi.
I am one of those confused breakfasts eaters. I usually crave the savory foods like potatoes and bacon, yet can't resist the idea of a sweet breakfast food. I never waste my time on any egg product, because I know I could make that at home.
On Sunday I began my 28th year (actually, is it technically the 29th year? Since you complete a year before you count it? Whatever.) I was visiting my grandparents in the Bay Area and they took me to birthday breakfast at Stacks in Burlingame. I had coconut pancakes (with bananas and macadamia nuts) and a side of bacon. It was like heaven.
On my way home I made an impromptu visit to see my sister who was eating at Sweetwater in Downtown Sacramento where they have all you can drink mimosas during Sunday brunch for $9.95. Um, yes please? While I did partake in the mimosas, I didn't eat there this time because two breakfasts would have just been unnecessary. But you can bet I will be going back there.
For now I will try to be content with my homemade breakfast creation. My sister (who has a degree in nutrition) thought it might help me to control my eating if I had a bigger breakfast. So one day I used what was in the fridge to come up with my turkey pepperoni, pepper jack cheese, egg and English muffin creation. It has just a little bite to it and it is very filling. It comes in at just about 300 calories.
But even now (at 1:15 in the afternoon) I am dreaming of waffles and home fries, sourdough toast and orange juice, and dreaming of my next change to go to breakfast.
Suggestions in the Sacramento area?
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Time is made up
On a recent family trip my brother opened the airline magazine and was flipping through the pages when I heard him say “Who made the time zones? They must have been really drunk.”
If you have spent any time examining the time zones yourself you would probably agree. They are arbitrary lines drawn on a map. My puny human mind has a difficult enough time thinking about the fact that it is tomorrow in Australia, but then add something like Daylight Savings and I am REALLY confused. That random Saturday in the fall is not actually longer and the day in spring is not shorter. You can’t make time disappear, you can only call it something different. On that point, it is not actually tomorrow in Australia. It is actually the same exact time there as it is here, right? Or are they in the future? No wonder people are confused about time travel. We can’t even agree on being in the same present moment.
For part of the year Arizona is the same time as California. For the rest of the year, it’s not. You can leave the Chicago area and drive east for 15 minutes and you will have lost an hour. We went on a cruise last Christmas and when we landed in Puerto Vallarta they told us that Puerto Vallarta was in a different time zone than the ship was observing. So please ignore the time on shore and use your preset watch to be on ship time. Is that even legal?
Then there is television. When I was younger I never understood why TV shows were advertised as “8pm, 7pm Central.” I always felt sorry for those people in the Central time zone that had to watch their shows at the wrong time. Then I met a friend from Iowa and we got into a debate about what was television “prime time.” Those poor central people have been tricked their whole lives into thinking that prime time starts at 7 when the rest of us who are not land locked know that it really starts at 8.
And speaking of prime time, now we get to where this all started in my head—the Olympics. We complained that we had to watch tape delayed versions of the Beijing Olympics, but at least that made some sense. Now here I am, in the very same time zone as Vancouver, and I am watching the Olympics on tape delay. Yesterday I heard a radio news report at 5pm (PST in case you are wondering) announcing that Lindsay Vonn had won the gold medal for downhill racing. Immediately following that news report was an NBC advertisement for the race, posing the question “Can Vonn overcome her injury and win Olympic Gold? Find out tonight (when we show you the tape delayed and edited version of the Olympics, LIVE 3 hours ago).”
You east coast people get to watch anything tape delayed before the rest of us. But then live, nationally televised sporting events often favor the west coast. When games are on past 9 or 10 pm, I wonder if anyone on the east coast is even watching anymore.
Life was easier when the world was flat and we traveled only by land or sea. With travel that slow we didn’t have to think in terms of time zones. I am guessing that it never occurred to Columbus and his homies that the people at the other end of his flat earth were experiencing night time while he was enjoying lunch in the sun.
And if you have bothered to even get to this point in my long, convoluted rambling about why time, time zones and time travel confuse me, you now understand how tiring it is to spend 5 minutes in my head.
If you have spent any time examining the time zones yourself you would probably agree. They are arbitrary lines drawn on a map. My puny human mind has a difficult enough time thinking about the fact that it is tomorrow in Australia, but then add something like Daylight Savings and I am REALLY confused. That random Saturday in the fall is not actually longer and the day in spring is not shorter. You can’t make time disappear, you can only call it something different. On that point, it is not actually tomorrow in Australia. It is actually the same exact time there as it is here, right? Or are they in the future? No wonder people are confused about time travel. We can’t even agree on being in the same present moment.
For part of the year Arizona is the same time as California. For the rest of the year, it’s not. You can leave the Chicago area and drive east for 15 minutes and you will have lost an hour. We went on a cruise last Christmas and when we landed in Puerto Vallarta they told us that Puerto Vallarta was in a different time zone than the ship was observing. So please ignore the time on shore and use your preset watch to be on ship time. Is that even legal?
Then there is television. When I was younger I never understood why TV shows were advertised as “8pm, 7pm Central.” I always felt sorry for those people in the Central time zone that had to watch their shows at the wrong time. Then I met a friend from Iowa and we got into a debate about what was television “prime time.” Those poor central people have been tricked their whole lives into thinking that prime time starts at 7 when the rest of us who are not land locked know that it really starts at 8.
And speaking of prime time, now we get to where this all started in my head—the Olympics. We complained that we had to watch tape delayed versions of the Beijing Olympics, but at least that made some sense. Now here I am, in the very same time zone as Vancouver, and I am watching the Olympics on tape delay. Yesterday I heard a radio news report at 5pm (PST in case you are wondering) announcing that Lindsay Vonn had won the gold medal for downhill racing. Immediately following that news report was an NBC advertisement for the race, posing the question “Can Vonn overcome her injury and win Olympic Gold? Find out tonight (when we show you the tape delayed and edited version of the Olympics, LIVE 3 hours ago).”
You east coast people get to watch anything tape delayed before the rest of us. But then live, nationally televised sporting events often favor the west coast. When games are on past 9 or 10 pm, I wonder if anyone on the east coast is even watching anymore.
Life was easier when the world was flat and we traveled only by land or sea. With travel that slow we didn’t have to think in terms of time zones. I am guessing that it never occurred to Columbus and his homies that the people at the other end of his flat earth were experiencing night time while he was enjoying lunch in the sun.
And if you have bothered to even get to this point in my long, convoluted rambling about why time, time zones and time travel confuse me, you now understand how tiring it is to spend 5 minutes in my head.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
The pilgrim
Ever since I lived in Spain it has been my dream to walk the third most popular Christian pilgrimage in the world—the Road to Santiago. The Spaniards simply call it the “Camino.” The Camino starts in the Pyrenees in southern France and travels through northern Spain until arriving in the town of Santiago de Compostela. Travelers can begin anywhere on the path, but to earn the official certificate you must walk at least 100km or bike 200km.
Pilgrims wear a shell and carry a passport to mark their travels. Along the road they sleep in hostels and homes specially designated for pilgrims. At any time there are hundreds or thousands of people making this journey.
In 2003 I planned to walk to Santiago in time for an Easter arrival. Due to a family emergency my walking partner had to return to the United States and I spent my spring break instead in Fuengirola, enjoying the beach with great friends. But every year since then my longing to make this pilgrimage has grown greater. I have met many people who have made the journey and each time I am more inspired. I want to spend a week or a month living simply, praying, meeting people on a spiritual and literal journey, accepting the hospitality of others and sharing my love in return. I want to travel the same road that other Christians have traveled for over 1000 years and experience for myself what so many others have experienced.
I want to be a pilgrim.
I know that many life circumstances will keep me from completing the Camino for many years. But that does not have to prevent me from being a pilgrim. This is the first time in my life I have been so disconnected from Catholic life. For the first time in 27 years I am not attending CCD, Catholic school or university, working in a youth group or teaching in a Catholic school. This is the first Lent where there has been no structured Lenten theme laid out before me. To be honest, I miss it.
I am searching for greater faith in God and in myself. I am looking for deeper meaning and purpose. And so this Lent I am dedicating myself to being a pilgrim, right here in a suburb of Sacramento. I can embrace the same principals of simplicity, love, hospitality and prayer in my own life. I can make each day part of my spiritual journey.
In the tradition of pilgrims who could not make a “real” pilgrimage, I will choose the labyrinth as the symbol of my journey. The labyrinth, when done properly, can be a mimi-pilgrimage. Every time I experienced one has had a different impact on me.
For those of who observe Lent, I wish you a blessed journey. And for those who are tired of my more serious posts... the light hearted eringirl will return soon!
Pilgrims wear a shell and carry a passport to mark their travels. Along the road they sleep in hostels and homes specially designated for pilgrims. At any time there are hundreds or thousands of people making this journey.
In 2003 I planned to walk to Santiago in time for an Easter arrival. Due to a family emergency my walking partner had to return to the United States and I spent my spring break instead in Fuengirola, enjoying the beach with great friends. But every year since then my longing to make this pilgrimage has grown greater. I have met many people who have made the journey and each time I am more inspired. I want to spend a week or a month living simply, praying, meeting people on a spiritual and literal journey, accepting the hospitality of others and sharing my love in return. I want to travel the same road that other Christians have traveled for over 1000 years and experience for myself what so many others have experienced.
I want to be a pilgrim.
I know that many life circumstances will keep me from completing the Camino for many years. But that does not have to prevent me from being a pilgrim. This is the first time in my life I have been so disconnected from Catholic life. For the first time in 27 years I am not attending CCD, Catholic school or university, working in a youth group or teaching in a Catholic school. This is the first Lent where there has been no structured Lenten theme laid out before me. To be honest, I miss it.
I am searching for greater faith in God and in myself. I am looking for deeper meaning and purpose. And so this Lent I am dedicating myself to being a pilgrim, right here in a suburb of Sacramento. I can embrace the same principals of simplicity, love, hospitality and prayer in my own life. I can make each day part of my spiritual journey.
In the tradition of pilgrims who could not make a “real” pilgrimage, I will choose the labyrinth as the symbol of my journey. The labyrinth, when done properly, can be a mimi-pilgrimage. Every time I experienced one has had a different impact on me.
For those of who observe Lent, I wish you a blessed journey. And for those who are tired of my more serious posts... the light hearted eringirl will return soon!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Boxcar kids
Behind my home is a wetland preserve. There is a body of water (larger than a creek, smaller than a river) that is home to birds, beavers and according to the kid next door, timberwolves. At dawn and dusk the birds sing and squawk and I am filled with a great peace at being so close to nature. Between our fence and this water there is a path that I walk with the dog and I feel lucky to have such a retreat literally outside my gate.
As I walked this path yesterday I was reminded of an experience I had only a few miles away in the creek behind my childhood home. My sister and brother and I and our neighbor friends packed our bags with snacks and treats and spent a whole summer day pretending to be orphaned children living in the woods. (I am fairly certain I drew my inspiration from the Boxcar Children, because those books were awesome!) We traversed the same 200 yards of creek over and over again, looking for a safe place to have lunch and set up camp. We imagined stories for ourselves and made rules for our little community...
The last four days in the Sacramento area have been glorious. While places like D.C. have been digging themselves out of snow piles, we have been enjoying temperatures in the upper 60s. (Don't say anything about global warming. We had snow in December for the first time in 30 years and there is an equal chance that next week we will be have a deep freeze or 2 inches of rain!) I have taken every opportunity possible to be outdoors, especially running with the dog or just to stand for a moment in the winter sun.
This weather, combined with my boxcar kid instinct, make me want to be a kid again, if only for an hour. One thing I regret about being an adult is that I have become a little too practical and a little too structured at times. I wish I could crawl through the grass without worrying if my pants will get dirty. I want to wade through the water without concern if I will have to buy new shoes. I want to enjoy the day without thinking about what chores I should be doing in the house. I want to experience the day, not just live through it. Children do this well--they live. Like my kid-neighbor, I want to believe in animals that do not exist here and have imagination and joy bursting from inside. I want to be inspired by the earth that has been gifted to me and truly experience every moment I have in it.
As I walked this path yesterday I was reminded of an experience I had only a few miles away in the creek behind my childhood home. My sister and brother and I and our neighbor friends packed our bags with snacks and treats and spent a whole summer day pretending to be orphaned children living in the woods. (I am fairly certain I drew my inspiration from the Boxcar Children, because those books were awesome!) We traversed the same 200 yards of creek over and over again, looking for a safe place to have lunch and set up camp. We imagined stories for ourselves and made rules for our little community...
The last four days in the Sacramento area have been glorious. While places like D.C. have been digging themselves out of snow piles, we have been enjoying temperatures in the upper 60s. (Don't say anything about global warming. We had snow in December for the first time in 30 years and there is an equal chance that next week we will be have a deep freeze or 2 inches of rain!) I have taken every opportunity possible to be outdoors, especially running with the dog or just to stand for a moment in the winter sun.
This weather, combined with my boxcar kid instinct, make me want to be a kid again, if only for an hour. One thing I regret about being an adult is that I have become a little too practical and a little too structured at times. I wish I could crawl through the grass without worrying if my pants will get dirty. I want to wade through the water without concern if I will have to buy new shoes. I want to enjoy the day without thinking about what chores I should be doing in the house. I want to experience the day, not just live through it. Children do this well--they live. Like my kid-neighbor, I want to believe in animals that do not exist here and have imagination and joy bursting from inside. I want to be inspired by the earth that has been gifted to me and truly experience every moment I have in it.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Why Starbucks is my third favorite company
I didn't think it could get much better than the Starbucks holiday cup--that beautiful red piece of art that serves up warm, holiday cheer from Thanksgiving to Christmas. I practically shrieked when I got my first one of the season. I swear it makes my drink more special. I didn't think it could get any better...
...and then this happened:
Part of my save money and calories plan was not to go to Starbucks anymore. But when I heard about this cup I HAD to go. Look at that thing of beauty! Who knew that taking away the green logo and replacing it with a heart would evoke such JOY in me?! THAT CUP IS CUTE AND I HAD TO HAVE IT.
I don't care if people accuse Starbucks of being a evil big business. I don't care if you think Peet's is better. I don't care if Peet's IS better. I love Starbucks because their cups make me happy and no one else makes me a Grande Nonfat Toffee Nut Latte is (by the way, I don't know what toffee nut is, I just know it is delicious).
Starbucks came out with those delicious breakfast sandwiches and now they have those beautiful cupcakes and donuts with the sparkly sprinkles. They sell the perfect mugs and cute seasonal stuffed animals. They have comfy couches and wi-fi and I recognize people when I go inside the store. Just going into Starbucks makes me happy!
Then why is Starbucks my third favorite company? Because as much as I love the holiday cup and now this adorable heart cup, Apple and Google are genius. The iPhone, the iPod and any Apple computer are pure beauty. I want to bow in their presence. And Google rivals their brilliance with every web-based program they introduce. I am obsessed with all things Google. So Starbucks is relegated to spot #3. But I am telling you now, if they release a Shamrock cup, they may just shoot to #1.
...and then this happened:
Part of my save money and calories plan was not to go to Starbucks anymore. But when I heard about this cup I HAD to go. Look at that thing of beauty! Who knew that taking away the green logo and replacing it with a heart would evoke such JOY in me?! THAT CUP IS CUTE AND I HAD TO HAVE IT.I don't care if people accuse Starbucks of being a evil big business. I don't care if you think Peet's is better. I don't care if Peet's IS better. I love Starbucks because their cups make me happy and no one else makes me a Grande Nonfat Toffee Nut Latte is (by the way, I don't know what toffee nut is, I just know it is delicious).
Starbucks came out with those delicious breakfast sandwiches and now they have those beautiful cupcakes and donuts with the sparkly sprinkles. They sell the perfect mugs and cute seasonal stuffed animals. They have comfy couches and wi-fi and I recognize people when I go inside the store. Just going into Starbucks makes me happy!
Then why is Starbucks my third favorite company? Because as much as I love the holiday cup and now this adorable heart cup, Apple and Google are genius. The iPhone, the iPod and any Apple computer are pure beauty. I want to bow in their presence. And Google rivals their brilliance with every web-based program they introduce. I am obsessed with all things Google. So Starbucks is relegated to spot #3. But I am telling you now, if they release a Shamrock cup, they may just shoot to #1.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
The water cooler
When I was a teacher one of my favorite parts of the day was the 20 minutes before school started when my teacher friends gathered around the coffee pots in our tiny little kitchen. We chatted about politics, sports, television shows and family life. It was sort of a transitional moment—not quite work, not quite play—as we waited for the school day to begin. The coffee pot was our water cooler, the place where we gathered to share friendships (and gossip).
This morning as I was making my single cup of coffee at my new job, I suddenly missed those moments. Maybe it is because a morning like today we would have been chatting about last night’s episode of “Lost.” Maybe it is because I saw friends from my old job yesterday. Maybe it is because enough time has passed that suddenly the happy memories that I was afraid would awaken sadness in me are now filling me with joy.
I realize how important the water cooler is. I never really understood that saying much before today, but I think I am starting to get a sense. Humans are social beings and we need community and camaraderie. While the proverbial “water cooler” may be actually be a coffee pot or outdoor smoking spot, the idea is that people need interaction with one another. I work in a building full of private offices or small offices with few people. But if you pay attention, there are often people yelling through open doors or milling about in public spaces. I would venture to guess that your work place is the same.
For as much as the boss would prefer that we were working (maybe that’s why we don’t have a water cooler here!?) there is value in a gathering place. We all have them in our public, professional and private lives. They are the places where we form friendships, nurture relationships, flush out theories about fictional television shows and—you know you do it too—talk, talk, talk about gossip.
Where is your water cooler?
This morning as I was making my single cup of coffee at my new job, I suddenly missed those moments. Maybe it is because a morning like today we would have been chatting about last night’s episode of “Lost.” Maybe it is because I saw friends from my old job yesterday. Maybe it is because enough time has passed that suddenly the happy memories that I was afraid would awaken sadness in me are now filling me with joy.
I realize how important the water cooler is. I never really understood that saying much before today, but I think I am starting to get a sense. Humans are social beings and we need community and camaraderie. While the proverbial “water cooler” may be actually be a coffee pot or outdoor smoking spot, the idea is that people need interaction with one another. I work in a building full of private offices or small offices with few people. But if you pay attention, there are often people yelling through open doors or milling about in public spaces. I would venture to guess that your work place is the same.
For as much as the boss would prefer that we were working (maybe that’s why we don’t have a water cooler here!?) there is value in a gathering place. We all have them in our public, professional and private lives. They are the places where we form friendships, nurture relationships, flush out theories about fictional television shows and—you know you do it too—talk, talk, talk about gossip.
Where is your water cooler?
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