some recent reflections and happenings.

Wow, it's been a long time since i posted.

But the master's thesis is in the mail (!!!!!) after six weeks of working endless wee night hours on it each day, so that frees up my time ... briefly. I just got hired at trader joe's, which is finally opening a new store here in Louisville. I start working for them next week. I'm still at the Montessori school, and I applied for a two-day-a-week position at the local Waldorf school teaching a parents' day out program two mornings a week. I broke up with dbf a couple weeks ago. Unexpectedly, old issues (of his), unresolved. Amazing how the tables turned, and now i'm a fabulous single woman again (wondering if she should go to a sperm bank ... only half joking ....). I am sprucing up the apartment and changing the chi. Antiquing, putting out yard sale treasures. A pumpkin. I'm looking for a roommate. I'm painting the room former dbf has been currently occupying, awkwardly, the one that was going to be the classroom :-( I found lace curtains at a yard sale and I'm going to paint my room a shimmery gold (think, metallic gold marker). I have baked blueberry muffins and chocolate chip cookies from scratch, and zucchini bread is on deck.

I met a good blog friend, who's local, at the farmer's market (that was lovely, cate). The weather is much cooler here at night, I have to shut the windows in my room. I bought yarn today!! For a pair of knee socks for me. And I bought a book that has a pattern for a dog sweater for my beagle. This past weekend, I went to our local art fair and got many bars of soap to pair with dishcloths for gifts. I also bought myself two gorgeous multi-wood cutting boards from a regional craftsman and a pair of earrings made from red sea-glass. Splurging a bit has been good after the stress of the last few weeks. Are there still unpaid bills? Yes. But this was necessary. Especially as I have nothing major coming up for the next months to spend money on. I am dreaming about an Alaskan cruise next summer. I've been slowly switching my dog and cat to organic food brands. I've been snacking more and cutting down my own grocery bill by eating smaller quantities of really healthful, REAL FOOD, stuff. I've been eating ... ovo-lacto vegetarian. I will only eat eggs/yogurt/cheese produced locally and responsibly. I can't believe how much I'm currently enjoying grass-fed, non-homogenized yogurt from a regional organic producer. My body is feeling more full, longer. For lunch today, I had a grilled goat's milk cheese sandwich with local tomatoes. I'm thinking about switching my vegan Earth Balance with nasty palm oil to real butter. I hardly use butter. I sub bananas for butter when baking. I'm reading some Sally Fallon and agreeing and disagreeing with her. I still don't think I can eat animals, even "happy" ones. I'm done with labeling myself, though, even if my vegan friends hate me for it. Meals overall are getting simpler, last night was quinoa with tofu and sauteed veggies and steamed kale, tonight was quinoa and steamed kale with tahini. I have to steam the kale just right. It's still not my favorite. It's local kale though and not too bitter. Snacks are local apples and almond butter. Lots of stove-topped popcorn with olive oil, too. Smoothies. With chocolate almond milk, honey, kale, flax seeds, maybe some peanut butter. Eating right feels great. I wish I could do more yoga ... have to carve out time for that. Getting back to the Y starting tomorrow. I've lost about 8 pounds on the scale, many more in inches (4 on my waist!) over the past couple months. It's slow, but it's progress. Hoping the fall and winter are quiet, overall. Slow. I'll try and pop in more often.