just find it...

craving sushi in your neighborhood? looking for the closest nail salon?

Choose Happy

so i was having a bit of a rough monday (and tuesday). i felt a bit melancholy - sad to be inside and not outdoors in the warmth of the california sun...and maybe a bit tired from the measly one hour time change...

while trolling around health and wellness blogs i came across this entry about being happy and positive. after my initial reaction of "yeah right, whatever..." i read the three main points. here they are in short form:

Step 1.
Stop complaining.
Step 2:
Cultivate an attitude of gratitude.
Step 3:
Hang out with happy people.

my spirits lifted - it made sense - i can choose happy dammit! read more...

no i am not pregnant!

...nor am i ready for that major step in my life. but i did take a keen interest in watching the new documentary, the business of being born, by abby epstein.

i believe this is a film that all women ought to see - it raises awareness and important issues about natural child birth versus hospital births. i was most impacted by the bits and pieces from cultural views and historical backgrounds of birthing. this film is more than an alarming review of the increasing number of caesarian sections in the US, it unabashedly reveals so much about a subject that most of us prefer not to talk about (let alone witness) -- child birth.

and yes, i did cry when i watched the film...

beyond medical concerns about complications and fetal monitors, the film talks about the process of birthing as a rite of passage, a natural event that our modern society prefers to schedule, numb and shorten.

i am torn about natural child birthing (we are talking no epidural, no doctor, just midwife and your family). the question addressed is fear: fear of pain, fear of complications, fear of uncertainty. more and more women (and their doctors) are afraid of the pain - they aim for the quick solution. just get it out. but i am not so sure that is the right answer. the pain is part of the experience, and maybe it should be felt...

hanging out

i adore kitties...big and small. here is a big one i had the incredible opportunity to "meet" in south africa while on safari. that's all i had to say...while hanging out...

back in the game

here is a familiar question i ask myself often - where does the time go? - it goes quickly.

with that - eat, love and be merry is what i say! so i was spending my very lazy sunday morning watching a few of my favorite cooking shows. my new fancy is jamie oliver, his show, jamie at home is an entertaining treat.

he whipped, whazzed, and popped up a delicious recipe of pappardelle with slow-braised leeks and crispy porcini pangrattato. i marveled at the yummyness that took over my mouth. my only regret was in overdoing the pasta - those timers can be tricky!

if you have not already, see the movie juno.

the rave reviews go up and all over the place, check out what the wsj had to say:
It's a comedy of crisp, mordant wit and quietly radiating warmth, as well as a coming-of-age story with a lovely twist -- you can't always spot the best candidates for maturity. WSJ film review

and of course, one must comment on the music. it's brilliantly fresh! this has to be one of the most innocently sweet song i have heard in a long long time...
http://www.shadowplaystudio.com/juno/

All I Want Is You

by Barry Louis Polisar

If I were a flower growing wild and free
All I'd want is you to be my sweet honey bee.
And if I were a tree growing tall and greeen
All I'd want is you to shade me and be my leaves

All I want is you, will you be my bride
Take me by the hand and stand by my side
All I want is you, will you stay with me?
Hold me in your arms and sway me like the sea.

If you were a river in the mountains tall,
The rumble of your water would be my call.
If you were the winter, I know I'd be the snow
As long as you were with me, let the cold wind blow

If you were a wink, I'd be a nod
If you were a seed, I'd be a pod.
If you were the floor, I'd wanna be the rug
And if you were a kiss, I know I'd be a hug

If you were the wood, I'd be the fire.
If you were the love, I'd be the desire.
If you were a castle, I'd be your moat,
And if you were an ocean, I'd learn to float.

sunset

this is real. this is beautiful. this is bazaruto island, mozambique...and i was here in december...