Frazzled - smile more

So, I am overwhelmed - at home, at work, at life.  I am tired, I am over-committing  myself.  In the face of overwhelming responsibilities (both externally and self generated), I tend to pile on more things I should do.  But last night, I did stop and enjoy a quiet moment.  I sat in the dark with a cold beverage and watched a small fire with Higgy.  That makes me smile more. 

Of course, today when I had to find a way to fit in all the things that I didn't do last night.... cranky!  I need to find some balance.

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.

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.

Feeling like the Grinch

Since I feel cranky and rather Grinch-like, here's some things that make me happy about the coming holidays

1.  Lights on houses, trees, fences and all other stationary objects
2.  Pecan tarts, Yummy Carmel Bars, Sugar Cookies, and Lemon Bars - the familiar holiday cookies.
3.  The first Christmas song after Thanksgiving (all the early ones don't count)
4.  Decorating the tree and the house
5.  Vacation days - use it or lose it - I end up with a few extra days at the end of the year

Where has the time gone?

It's been a busy few months - with many happy thoughts to keep me going...

• Spain - good food, long walks, and beautiful gardens, cathedrals and palaces - and art, wonderful art - enough for art overload.
• Birthdays - we've celebrated 7 in the last few weeks - lots of parties, cake and ice cream
• Parties - friends, food and dancing
• Friends - those near and far, old and new
• Books - not reading as many as I would like, but enjoying the ones I do read
  

Great (wee) White Shark

A few weekends ago, I took a day trip to Monterey and back to see a great white shark. The Monterey Bay Aquarium has a young male one. Before I thought sharks looked like they were smiling. Not anymore..

I heart Portland

A long weekend in Portland gave me a long list of things that make me happy...

• Friends - ones wonderful enough to fly across the country to spend a long weekend, ones fabulous enough to provide a ride to and from an delicious home cooked meal that could feed an army, and ones who hang out after work - sipping wine and sharing Thai

• Walking tours - those provided in books by Laura O. Foster and those provided by Portland Walking Tours, hill walks, a panoply of architectures, neighborhood walks, bridge walks, waterfront walks, fast walks, ambling walks

• Cupcakes - delicious from Cupcake Jones and amusing because we kept finding ourselves on the corner where the are located

• Waking up on my own schedule - sure it was too early, but after I woke up I could go back to sleep or doze, or get up - all based on what I wanted to do
  

• "Croquet" with bowling balls and sledgehammer, complete with period safari clothing

• Pouring beer for hours - it turns out I can enjoy a beer fest, I just have to pour the beer and be on the other side from the drunken hordes

I'd highly recommend walking tour books by Laura Foster,

• Portland Hill Walks: Twenty Explorations in Parks and Neighborhoods
• Portland City Walks: Twenty Explorations In and Around Town