Sunday, August 29, 2010

Meet the monster tomato plant

We've had the strangest summer - unusually mild. It has meant fewer tomatoes - but this plant has gone crazy! It broke two different tomato cages. Now we're trying a three panel screen that used to hide the air conditioner. Hopefully, it will work.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Preconceived notions

We all have preconceived notions of who we are, what we do, and what we like.  But sometimes it pays to think about them a minute.  It all started for me when I was reading The Happiness Project - she has a resolution to Be Gretchen.  Now, you might be thinking Be Me?  how can I not be me? 

Well it all starts when I go on auto-pilot.  I default to my preconceived notions of myself.  I am a shirt and jeans kind of girl - um wait, except in summer when I wear dresses 6 out of 7 days.  I don't wear pink - um, well, 2 of those dresses are pink and so is my only cashmere sweater...  I like to cook - um, then why don't I cook more, why do I eat out whenever I can?  oh wait, I like to eat :)  I like to read - yes, yes, I do - I'm almost back on pace with 3 - 5 books a week.  I like to go to the movies - um, then why have I only seen 4 movies in the theater in the last 3 years?  I like to travel - yes, except not for work - or at least not every single week for work.

For a long time, I lost who I was.  I let someone else define it.  I need to make an effort to think about what really makes me happy, what I enjoy.  But when I am tired and overwhelmed, I fall back on those preconceived ideas based on who I was.  I guess I need to work on Be Me a little more.