Inner strength

I hope I have the inner strength to get through this

So today I'm grateful for . . . A strong support system to remind to take care of myself first & foremost
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the small stuff

have been thinking a lot about the small stuff and how to be grateful for it on a daily basis. i've realized that i can plan all i want about how i want my life to be but that i really need to learn to let go of the *planning* and be more focused on the the good parts of my life rather than on the things i'd rather be different. all things being equal, my life's pretty fucking amazing and i have an amazing partner and relationship that is incredibly fulfilling. sure there are things that could be better but if i can focus on the good and the goal of a stronger relationship then it will be easier to work towards making them what i'd like them to be rather than how i don't want them to be.

so today i'm grateful for . . . the small moments i get to share with my family and the woman i love

so it's been awhile . . .

it's been quite a while since my last post as life has taken over and change has been afoot. the last year and a half have been the best and the hardest of my life personally & professionally but i'm still here to get out of bed every day & put one foot in front of the other.

i was reading facebook this morning and someone posted this question: If you could magically change one thing about yourself what would it be?

my response was that i wished i could just relax into life and learn to trust that what is supposed to happen will happen as opposed to trying to make it be what i want exactly when i want it. this has always been an issue for me and is interestingly the part of myself that i find hardest to reconcile and let go of in my personal life especially given that this trait is what makes me successful in my professional life. it's an interesting oxymoron and one that causes lots of internal strife for me.

but after a few other people responded to this question, someone wrote: I have to say that I want to do a better job of acknowledging being grateful EACH day for some of the most obvious things in life: health, family, friends and love.

it reminded me that i used to end each blog post with something i was grateful for and found myself coming here immediately to write *this* post. so here i am recommitting to documenting something each day that i'm grateful for to remind myself that life is good and that the universe will take care of me as it sees fit as long as i manifest what i want and trust that it will come to me if it is supposed to do so.

so today i'm grateful for . . . still having the most amazing love of my life wake up in arms

YES, WE DID!

i'm still in a state of shock mixed with an overwhelming sense of relief. i am still stunned to say that i live in a country that has elected (by an overwhelming majority in both popular and electoral votes) a black president. i look forward a time of healing to make amends for the divisive politics of the last 8 years. i have a huge amount of respect for the graciousness of mccain's concession speech. but obama's speech was just awe-inspiring. (in case you missed it, watch or read it again) i had goosebumps the whole time he was speaking. i am pleased that he acknowledged that change will not come immediately. his ability to set expectations and keep the momentum will be pivotal to his success.

on a sad note, 3 more states decided that i shouldn't be allowed to marry my partner. boo hiss!

so today i'm grateful for . . . the chance to believe and hope again

big news . . .

From 1134 Listing Pics

so the house sold! i signed closing papers this am and it should all be recorded/funded by wednesday. what a relief! now mac and i can focus on our house and getting that to be what we want it to be.

thought i'd share the news.

today i'm grateful for . . . an 11th hour offer that was close enough to get the house off my hands and a great gf that made it look great enough to sell

Food ...

so a friend of mine recently posted this and i had to do the same. mac says i talk about food the way people talk about politics (which i do with some passion too as anyone who's watched a debate with me can tell you ... thank you bd!)

Here’s what I did for the Omnivore’s Hundred:

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.

The VGT Omnivore’s Hundred:

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese (flesh of a boar)
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root Beer Float
36. Cognac with big cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried Goat
42. Whole insects I really cannot see why this is on this list????
43. Phaal - Indian Curry dish - I’ve had curry but not a traditional curry dish, I would say
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu (japanese dish, it’s a pufferfish.. no way, no-how)
47. Chicken tikka masala - Ry and I are on the hunt to find and try… hopefully soon.
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi - japanese pickled sour plum, apparently good for whatever ails you, especially a hangover.
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frog’s Legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost - Brown cheese from Norway -
75. Roadkill - Now that’s just silly
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake -

So Here’s what I did for Slashfood’s Top 100:

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at Slashfood’s post linking to your results.

Slashfood’s 100 must-eat American foods

1. New York pizza
2. Hoppin’ John
3. New Mexico green chile
4. Homemade buttermilk biscuits
5. Tasso
6. Whole Main Lobster
7. Calabash-style shrimp and hushpuppies
8. Kansas City barbecue ribs
9. Hot glazed Krispy Kreme
10. San Diego fish tacos
11. Cheese curds
12. Key lime pie
13. Philly Cheese Steak
14. Memphis pork BBQ sandwich
15. Lowcountry boil
16. Huckleberry pie
17. New England clam chowder
18. Boiled Peanuts – makes me homesick to think about …
19. Buffalo burger
20. Eggs Benedict
21. Pastrami on rye
22. Corned beef and cabbage
23. Pancakes with maple syrup
24. Everything bagel with cream cheese and tomato
25. Thin Mints (preferably frozen)
26. Frito pie
27. Potato knish with mustard
28. Silver Queen corn on the cob
29. Soft pretzel from a street cart
30. Fresh-picked blueberries
31. Sourwood honey
32. State fair funnel cake
33. Chesapeake crab cakes
34. Candied yams
35. Oyster dressing
36. Snow cone or snowball
37. Wild Alaskan salmon
38. Sautéed morels
39. Persimmon pudding
40. General Tsao’s Chicken
41. Frozen custard
42. Italian sausage with peppers and onions on a hoagie bun
43. Chili dog
44. Buffalo wings with blue cheese
45. Spam musubi
46. Saltwater taffy
47. Fluffernutter sandwich on Wonder Bread
48. Black and white cookie
49. Frybread
50. BLT with thick-cut applewood bacon
51. Baked beans
52. Pumpkin pie
53. Collards with vinegar and Tabasco
54. Tex-Mex fajitas with skirt steak and sautéed peppers
55. Fried green tomatoes
56. Succotash
57. Shrimp and grits
58. Hot water cornbread
59. Barbecue chicken pizza with red onions
60. Chicken fried steak
61. Carnitas burrito
62. Apple butter
63. Geoduck
64. Soft-serve ice cream cone dipped in chocolate shell (especially Dairy Queen)
65. Pecan pie
66. Catfish supper at a church or firestation
67. Oysters Rockefeller
68. Homemade cranberry sauce
69. Pimiento cheese
70. Moon Pie washed down with R.C. Cola
71. Pickled watermelon rind
72. Cracker Jacks at the ball game
73. Smithfield ham
74. Meatloaf and mashed potato blue plate special at a diner
75. Chicken and waffles
76. Po’Boy
77. Green bean casserole with French’s fried onions
78. Stuffed sopaipillas
79. Turducken
80. Shad roe on toast
81. Sweet potato casserole with or without marshmallows
82. Cioppino
83. New York cheesecake
84.Pan-fried river trout
85.Jambalaya
86. North Carolina pig pickin’
87. California rolls
88. Burgoo
89. Penuche fudge
90. Fried peanut butter and banana sandwich (the Elvis)
91. Scrapple or livermush
92. Elk medallions in red wine reduction
93. Muscadine grapes
94. Cheeseburger at backyard barbecue
95. Open-face turkey sandwich
96. Burgoo Chicago deep dish pizza
97. Cobb salad
98. Peach pie a la mode
99. Macaroni and cheese with Tilla - mook sharp cheddar
100. Root Beer Float

now most people know i'm a food hound. i love to cook, shop for food, talk about food, read about food, you name it. so it should be no surprise that this list looks like it does.

enjoy ... pass it along. and for pete's sake, eat something!

so i know it's kinda ridiculous but . . .

life's been a little nuts. we've spent that last few months settling into the new house and doing some improvements. we're finally getting the yard to where we'd like it and even had a housewarming party a few weekends ago. work's been absolutely nuts and i have a *huge* project going live one week from today. yeah, i know ... and we're still scramblin' to get it done.

this past week we went to tampa for my mom's big 50th birthday celebration. mac got to meet the whole fam damily! as expected, they loved her and she seemed to come out unscathed. it was very nice to be able to show her where i grew up and what schools i went to and have her experience my grandmother's cooking. i think she's got the full picture now and still seems to want to stick around. yay! i get to go meet her mom in a few weeks and we're hoping it goes as well.

we hit our 1 yr anniversary last week before we left. i can't believe it's been that long and it also seems ridiculously short given all that's happened in the last year. i could never have predicted that we'd be where we are today back then but i guess that's part of the good stuff. it took us both totally by surprise and it's been a very nice ride so far.

the house still sits on the market. i'm about to pull it off & rent it. i need to start making the $$ stretch a bit more and just can't afford to have it sit empty any longer. anyone know of someone looking to rent a cute house send 'em my way pls.

so today i'm thankful for . . . an amazing year with an amazing woman and a great life to boot

my newest love . . .

so this morning after a short night of sleep we were awakened by the delivery guys bringing our new range. isn't she pretty? i know, i know. only a total nerd would be excited at 730 in the morning when someone brings a new range. we've been debating about getting a new one since we moved into the new house. there was a new one there but we didn't like it. it was huge and just not *us*. so when it turned out that mac's house needed a new range, we decided to get ourselves the one we wanted and take the one in the new house over to her place. worked out nicely given that we finally sold our wolf cooktop and wall oven we'd bought at christmas. they were beautiful and our *dream* appliances. we found a slamming deal on 'em on craigslist and took a gamble and just bought 'em. turns out there was no way to configure the new kitchen to accommodate them so we had to sell 'em. got our $$ back out of 'em and spent 1/3 on the new range. it's so pretty. this to go along with the new dishwasher we got at best buy the other day.

in other news, my house seems to be getting a good amount of traffic. we'll see what happens. we had an open house last weekend and will have another sunday the 22nd. mac's house is minutes away from being done. the renters move in on thursday . . . yes, *this* thursday. it's really coming together. we're looking forward to being able to focus on our place and start to get settled in here soon. it's been very nice to be able to enjoy doing all these projects together. we just laugh at all we've accomplished and still managed to have fun while setting a kitchen sink at 3 in the morning!

so today i'm thankful for . . . a beautiful house to share with a beautiful woman

i feel so untalented . . .

check this kid out . . .


he's pretty amazing for a 2YO.

the house is officially on the market . . .

so the house got officially listed yesterday (ML#8054351) and today was the broker's open. good reviews and the house is already being shown. phew! let's hope for the best.

thought i'd share the good news.

so today i'm thankful for . . . a great real estate agent and a great stager

it's done! . . . well almost

so we've got the house *done* enough to list. check out the pics. mac did an amazing job of designing this complete remodel. i couldn't have done it without her. as many of you have read, we started this project in the first week of march and, although we - ok well, *i*, have a few things to finish up it looks like we're ready to list the house. yay!

here are some pics of the finished project - i'll post here later when the house is listed so everyone can send it to all their friends & family to find a buyer! i'd love to keep the house *in the family* so to speak ... just too cool of a house to let go of completely. we've put a lot of heart & soul into this project. would hate to see someone come in & destroy the house.

anyways ... on that note ... here are the pics:



today i'm gratefule for . . . an amazing experience

big news . . .

so big changes are a-foot . . . what else is new, right? well, the big news is that mac and i bought a house together and we've moved in. my house is days away from being finished and listed by our fabulous real estate agent and mac's house seems to have rented. we moved in last weekend and are doing our best to settle in as we split our time working on our respective places. the new house is very cool and has a great story. it's only a few blocks from each of our current homes so it's nice to stay in the 'hood. we found it while out on a dog walk one night. mac will tell the long-winded story that makes me look bad but i'll keep it short and say i wasn't pleased to be walking as far as we ended up walking that cold rainy late night. but in the end it all worked out since we, in fact, now the owners of that cute house we happened upon. it's a super-cute 1924 bungalow that has only been owned by 3 families (including us). it was built along with the house next door by a brother and sister with their families in the middle of what was an apple orchard then. most of our neighbors have lived there since before i was even born so it's nice to live on an established block. the dogs seem to be working out their issues in a new space which is nice to see as well. i promise to post some pics soon and for those of you that are local, i'm sure the summer bbq season will be happening very soon.

in other happenings, mac and i took the opportunity to get away for the weekend for some much-needed r&r/quality time. my officemate was nice enough to take the pug for the weekend and boo came along for the ride. a friend of mine scored me *fantastic* seats to the storm home opener and we had a blast at the game. drove up on saturday and explored some of mac's old neighborhoods after having lunch at red mill burgers. after a quick stop at the hotel to shower and drop off the dog, we headed over to the kingfish cafe for a cocktail then off to key arena for the game. one of mac's friends met us for the game and then we headed back to the kingfish for dinner. we had a brief heart attack when boo was nowhere to be found in the hotel room upon our return. turns out he'd been a bit of a noisy nelly and they'd taken him to hang out at the reception desk. he was in his glory and just having a ball. we enjoyed a lazy morning on sunday before heading to meet some of mac's friends for brunch at a mexican place in the fremont 'hood (forgive me for not remembering the name). then headed back to portland.

we're already making plans for our next trip up so we can go to another game and check out the "American Sabor: Latinos in U.S. Popular Music" exhibit at the experience music project. all in all, it was a great weekend and has been a whirlwind of a couple of weeks. the work has been hard but the house is coming out great and our new house is amazing already. we are so pleased.

today i'm grateful for . . . an amazing partner which whom i get to share a home and many adventures

today's distraction . . .

happy popping!

no i'm just drunk . . .

i'll post more about the trip & being home soon but just had someone send this to me and i had to share!



enjoy!

greetings from the land of mosquitos . . .

so i'm finally back stateside although not quite home yet. i arrived in tampa, fl last night after a *long* day of traveling. my flight out of amsterdam was delayed by 4 hrs and that made me miss my connection in atlanta. so then i had the pleasure of sitting in hartsfield for another 3 hrs after going through customs. yay! luckily, in amsterdam i started talking to a cute older gay male couple that were also headed back to tampa. i ended up having dinner with them in atlanta and exchanging contact info. they had been together 23 yrs and were just plain adorable.

today i slept in a bit and got some laundry done and then had lunch with my grandparents before meeting my mom for a mani/pedi. my grandmother is hosting a family get-together on saturday evening so i can see the whole fam damily in one fell swoop. so far the guest list is at 30 . . . and that's just *immediate* family. did i mention i'm latin?

anywho, i'm pretty ready to be home. am counting the hours till sunday night. at least i'm back in cellphone range again and i've been able to talk to mac and send txts again. it's hot as hell here. i think it hit 90 today and of course the mosquitos are out in full force. i've been bitten 6x since i've been writing this post alone! ugh!

so today i'm thankful for . . . making it back safely and being able to go home soon!

almost home . . .

today is my last full day in europe. have met up with the cooleys and the myers in amsterdam and have been having a great time. we're in a coffeehouse . . . actually our third of the day . . . warming up from the chill outside.

went to the anne frank house this am . . . what an awe-inspiring experience. there was a secondary exhibition in the museum called "free2choose". i'll do some research on it when i get back and post a link.

tomorrow i'll spend all day traveling back through atlanta to tampa. on sunday, i'll head all the way home to portland. not soon enough . . . have had a ball but am definitely ready to sleep in a bed for more than 2 nights in a row. and i can't even begin to describe how much i miss mac and the dogs.

today i'm thankful for . . . fun friends to travel with and a great trip.

the tour is finally *over* . . .

so the tour is finally over and, while i had a good time, i am definitely ready for slower pace. the last few days have been quick and we have seen a lot but nothing i have really absorbed too deeply. the day in venezia was nice. the rain seemed to hold out for most of the day and we had a very charismatic city tour guide. we saw the highlights (the rialto, piazza san marco, il doges palace, did a gondola ride) but the highlighth has to be the guggenheim museum. i got to see my first kandinsky and pollocks in person and i cannot even begin to describe how amazing that was.

the next day we headed to lake como and did a cruise on the lake. the rain did *not* hold out that day and most of our cruise was rainy and foggy. we had a quick stop in bellagio for a coffee and then back on the boat and then the bus to our hotel. the tour planners had provided our tour directors with the wrong address for our hotel. so we had to backtrack up a very windy steep mountain to finally reach our hotel at approximately 9pm. it was worth it as we landed in a beautiful family-run hotel that held dinner for us. it was by far the best meal we had on the tour. the downside is that it made our trip to milan for the train approximately an hour longer than we'd expected. so the next morning, groggy and still raining, we headed back down the windy mountain road and hauled ass to milan. we literally *ran* for the train. we got our 27 ppl on board as the doors were closing. 5 hours later we arrived in rome.

the first night in rome we headed back into the city for a night bus tour. then did all the highlights with a city guide yesterday. the vatican was beautiful as was the colosseum and then the pantheon. we headed to the spanish steps then back to meet our group at the trevi fountain. we had dinner near the fountain and then headed back to the hotel as the rest of the group left around 4a today.

i hopped a shuttle from the hotel and then a train and then the subway and finally landed at my hotel around 1030am. luckily my room was ready. it's clean and seems safe enough so i can't really complain. i've spent the beautiful day roaming around at my own pace. found an irish pub and had to hop in (thinking of you ryan as i drank a guinness). am on my way to piazza navonna to get some lunch and just sit.

will try to post tomorrow when more internet cafes are open. head to amsterdam on tues and very much looking forward to some familiar and friendly faces waiting for me there.

i miss mac more than i can say. i've tried to call every day even if only for a few minutes. suki is back home with her and i'm missing her too.

today i'm thankful for . . . the fact that i'll be home in 7 days!

italy is amazing . . .

so in the last two days, we've been to firenze and bologna. firenze was beautiful. we went to il duomo & the ponte vecchio. did some shopping and today we drove 6 hours to jesolo di lido just outside of venice. we stopped in bologna. we saw the oldest university ... the oldest building was built in 1088. have had some fantastic food and wine. have yet to have a bad glass of wine.

tomorrow we're heading venezia and doing a gondola ride. should be fun. the tour ends on sunday the 13th. then i stay in roma for another 2 days before heading to amsterdam.

today i'm thankful for . . . the fact that it stopped raining

greetings from cinque terre . . .

so it is day 3 and we are in cinque terre. yesterday we left nice and made a stop in monte carlo, monaco for a few hours. we visited a parfumerie and then crossed the border into italia. we spent the night in sarzana and after dinner we went looking for the *disco bar* and instead found the bowling alley. it was full of teenagers and there was disco music playing but no dancing. we decided we should play a game. it was fun but i woke up this morning with a sore shoulder. well worth it tho.

this am as we headed out it was raining. felt like portland honestly. it did start to rain harder later but it has now cleared up and the sun is out. we are spending the afternoon here before heading back by train to la spezia to head to firenze tonight.

am having a good time but starting to get a bit tired of the pack mule/tour mentality. am definitely looking forward to 2 quiet days on my own schedule in rome.

have spoken to mac each day and am missing her like crazy. am looking forward to being home with her.

today i am thankful for . . . clearing skies and good seafood.

the eagle has landed . . .

so i have landed in nice, france and it is a beautiful day. have already visited the museum of modern art and am off to kill 3 hours watching the waves roll in from the mediterranean. i could think of worse ways to spend an afternoon. my mom arrives with the rest of the group around 3p and we head to italy tomorrow. i called mac from the hotel this am to let her know i had landed safely . . . of course it took me 30 mins to figure out how to make a call but i worked it out.

more soon ... i will try to post as often as i can.

today i am grateful for . . . a beautiful day on the french riviera