Thursday Thirteen #9

Something quick and easy for this week's Thirteen. I've been too busy to get creative. Just a few things you may not know about me.

Thirteen Random Things About Me

1. My favorite fruit is kiwi.

2. When I can see the stars in the sky, I always have to find the Big Dipper. It makes me feel grounded to know it's always up there.

3. My initials spell a swear word.

4. My favorite soda is Diet Dr. Pepper. It used to be Diet Coke with Lime, which still comes in a close second.

5. I used to be a poor cook. Then I stopped relying on recipes and started experimenting, and now I think I'm pretty good at it.

6. I was my high school class valedictorian.

7. I'd rather spend money on a good meal than a CD.

8. I'd rather buy a new pair of shoes or a cute bag than buy a good meal.

9. My favorite color is red.

10. I look great in brown.

11. Fresh flowers make me smile, whether they're on my table or in a field.

12. Any movie with dancing in it is sure to be on my list of favorites. Yes, I like to live vicariously through those who have that talent.

13. The smell of vanilla or baking cookies can erase any hint of a bad day for me.

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First Day Fun

Day one on the new job went down without any major hitches. There was orientation information galore, computer set up, email account creation, meetings with one of my supervisors, lots of new people with names I have to remember, desk choosing and settling in. Tomorrow will be more of the same. It wasn't much to talk about, but I did have an interesting encounter.

I sat in the conference room with a group of newbies like myself, waiting for the first orientation session to start. A young woman walked in and sat down across the table from me. She looked very familiar and almost immediately my stomach started doing flip flops. She interviewed me for a position at another company several months ago. Slide after slide flipped by while fidgeted in my chair, playing out the possible ways this could all go down:

1. She remembers me as the totally unqualified, dull candidate she interviewed.

2. She remembers me as the totally unqualified, dull candidate who totally bombed the editing exam portion of the interview and then badgered the HR department for weeks hoping for a second interview.

3. She realizes she'll now be working closely with said unqualified, dull candidate who bombed the editing exam and is, at this moment, trying to figure out how to tell our supervisor they've made a HUGE mistake.

4. (Oh God, please let this be the one...) She has no recollection of me, whatsoever.

It turns out she did totally remember me, although we tactfully avoided any drawn out conversation about my interview. She did mention that she's starting a new job because the other company just went through a series of layoffs, though. Turns out that however well I may (or may not) have done, I was better off not hearing back from that company. Now let's just hope I made a better impression and did better on that test than my worried old mind will let me believe. Otherwise, I'll be calling my old boss and begging for my job back.

Sunday Scribblings: Smart Gut

Prompt #71: Decision

I'm a control freak. I like to plan. I need to know what will happen next, so I analyze and re-analyze all of my options. When opportunities present themselves, I'm not generally one to jump in with both feet and start paddling. I'm more of a toe-dipper. I like to test the waters, feel for the temperature, lick my finger and gauge the wind, before I decide if I should take the plunge.

This hesitancy to act, my desire to consider all the possibilities and make the right decision based on informed and thoughtful deliberation, has held me back from a number of experiences in my lifetime. When I realize this has happened, I slowly and methodically work my way back to the place I believe I was meant to be. But I do it on my terms, in my own time. I make my plan and I forge forward. I'm not one to do things on a whim. I test the fates and spit in the face of destiny. Destiny who? I make my own destiny.

But I wish I were two-feet jumper. I wish I could see an open door and walk through it without a moment's hesitation. I wish I could make a decision and stand confident in my choice. I wish I could see opportunity and jump on its back, riding it like a dolphin into the sunset. I want to trust my instincts, but I'm not sure I even know what an instinct is. So I've been testing the waters of my gut.

Doing a little innocent job searching, just to see what was out there, I came across a few positions that sounded promising and decided to take a chance. I sent off my resume and cover letter and then let it go. When an email requesting an interview landed in my inbox about a month later, I decided to call the number and set a date. I had my suit cleaned and I put on my best face. With nothing to lose, no need for a new job and no pressure to do well, I decided to relax and let my personality shine through. I answered questions with confidence and looked my interrogators in the eyes. And when I didn't hear from them for a week and a half, I decided to followed up. I made certain these people knew who I was. Even if I didn't get the job, I made the decision to give the Universe every opportunity to bring something new and challenging into my life.

I'll be starting my new job tomorrow, all because I chose to decide instead of sitting back and letting opportunities pass me by. It turns out my gut's a lot smarter than I give it credit for.

Mi Vida Local: What I Learned

Although my commitment to eating more locally produced foods didn't stop on Wednesday when the calendar flipped to August, the Mi Vida Local experiment did. If I'm completely honest with you all, it didn't go as well as I had hoped. My trip mid-month messed up my farmer's market schedule and left me eating less-than-local for much of the last two weeks. I did the best I could, given the circumstances. But being the perfectionist that I am, I'm disappointed in my performance.


My experiment wasn't a complete wash. Here's what I learned:

• Even in the middle of summer, when local produce is plentiful, eating locally isn't always convenient.


• Eating locally might not be convenient, but the benefits are worth the trouble.


• Even if I can't eat locally for every meal of every day, eating locally grown and produced foods whenever I can is good for me, good for the environment and good for my tastebuds.


• Creative cooking is a great way to wind down at the end of the day.


• Fresh herbs make food better.


• Ripe tomatoes taste sweet and tangy. Sliced up and sprinkled with a little bit of salt and pepper, they make a great snack.


• Bulk buying at the farmer's market isn't a great idea when you're cooking for one and don't have the time or space to can or freeze the leftovers.


• Trying a vegetable I've never tried before is what I consider an adventure these days. Purple peppers, swiss chard--now that's living on the edge.


• Paying a little more for peaches and tomatoes that actually taste like peaches and tomatoes is well worth cutting back on lattes and lunches out.

So even if I didn't meet all of my goals during Mi Vida Local, I know that eating locally can be done. I'll continue to eat locally as much as possible. And next year I think I'll take it up a notch. I'm planning to buy a small freezer so that next summer I can put away more fresh fruit and vegetables for the winter months. I'm already thinking about how I can expand my backyard garden. And I just might venture into canning territory if all goes well.

*Thanks for the prompt Jen!

Thursday Thirteen #8

During my recent visit with my family, I realized that, despite its many drawbacks, there's a lot to love about the town I grew up in.

Thirteen Things I Rediscovered While
Visiting My Hometown

1. The light breeze that blows off the lake is the most refreshing breeze there is.

2. Thousands of fireflies sparkle in corn fields like earth-bound stars.

3. The stars in the sky are so plentiful there's little room for darkness.

4. Open green space is valuable, beautiful and necessary.

5. Just because land is available doesn't mean you should put a house on it.

6. An entire morning and most of the afternoon spent chating with a good friend or your little sister is time well spent.

7. Even the most innocuous events and comments can become major drama.

8. Fireworks displays are more exciting with a crowd of kids around.

9. Having a support system of friends and family is a blessing that should be cherished.

10. Running into old friends brings back memories--some pleasant, some better forgotten.

11. Toasting marshmallows in a back-yard bonfire gives me warm fuzzies.

12. The things you try hardest to get away from are often the things you come back to time and again.

13. Small towns are full of people with big hearts.

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The Big Reveal

I've been hinting around at some good news and it's finally time to let the cat out of the bag.

Drum roll, please....

I got a new job!!! I'll be working for a bigger company that's closer to home doing technical writing more exclusively and for more money. It's an all-around win-win situation! I start next Monday, and I'm very excited. Except for when I'm totally nervous, second-guessing my decision, or feeling sad to leave my current co-workers. But I know it's a great career move and I'll be better off in the long run. It's just overcoming the initial resistance to change that's slightly stressing me. I'm equal parts overjoyed and overwhelmed. Wish me luck!

It's Crazy!

Things are a bit nutso around here. Work has been absolutely crazy. And when I say crazy I mean I-just-worked-12-hours crazy. For a job that is normally 8-hours-on-the-dot, not-very-stressful, leave-it-at-the-office easy, things have been off the chiz-ain since last Monday.

I've been working on some new essays in what little free time I've had, though. I went to my first writing group last week and I (stupidly? naively? bravely?) volunteered to be on the hot-seat next month. Now I have to decide which piece I'm going to offer up for feedback (which means reading and editing several essays until I'm happy with something).

I'm heading home to visit the fam this weekend and I'll be meeting with two women about two very exciting projects while I'm there.

With all that on my plate, I'm not sure how much I'll be posting for the next week or so. You'll hear about all the good stuff as I hear about it, though!

Creative Concoctions

Mi Vida Local has me getting creative. When I'm shopping at the farmer's market, my eyes are always bigger than my appetite during the week and I end up having to come up with recipes to use up my purchases before they start going bad. Here are a couple of the concoctions I've come up with this week.

Green Bean and Feta Salad

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lbs. fresh green beans, trimmed
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1/4 cup crumbled feta
1 TBSP olive oil
3 TBSP balsamic vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced
salt & pepper to taste

Instructions:

Put about 1/2 inch of water in a large pot and add beans. Boil about 5-7 minutes until beans are tender but crisp. Drain and cool.

Once beans are cool, place in large bowl with cover and add feta and onions. In a small bowl, mix the olive oil, vinegar and garlic. Cover and shake until well combined. Pour over the beans. Toss lightly to coat and chill. Best served after several hours.

---

Balsamic Eggplant and Tomatoes with Mozzarella

Ingredients:

1 medium eggplant, sliced into 1/4 inch rounds
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
4 oz. mozzarella, cut into small chunks
1/4 basil leaves, torn
1 TBSP olive oil
1 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Grill eggplant until tender. Place cooked slices in a large bowl and add tomatoes and cheese. Drizzle with olive oil. Pour vinegar over the mixture and add basil. Add salt and pepper to taste. Toss gently. Serve at room temperature or chill.

Enjoy!

Thursday Thirteen #7

We've had quite the hot week here, although it's cooled down nicely today. Enjoy this week's Thirteen!

Thirteen Things I Do When It's Almost
100 Degrees Outside

1. Worry about the electric bill.

2. Suck it up and turn on the AC anyway.

3. Sleep on the couch because I'm too cheap to turn on the upstairs window unit, too.

4. Stay up later to read, write and/or watch TV because it doesn't feel like bed time if I'm not in bed.

5. Drink a lot of water and get up a dozen times during the night to pee.

6. Quickly learn to water the plants in the container garden first thing in the morning so they don't shrivel up during the day.

7. Stare longingly out the window and wish for a nice cool breeze so I can stand to go outside.

8. Remember what it was like this winter when I was wishing for hot summer days.

9. Enjoy the time with my lazy kitty, who seems to prefer the empty bed in the hot upstairs to the cool joys of the couch downstairs.

10. Make easy meals that don't involve turning on the stove.

11. Watch the grass in my yard grow inches each day without any remorse for letting it go. I could die out there mowing!

12. Let my hair air dry so that I don't have to turn on the hair dryer.

13. Be thankful I have a job that keeps me inside in the air conditioning all day.

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Sunday Scribblings: Living Memories

Again, I know it's Monday and I'm just getting around to posting (and writing, frankly) my Sunday Scribblings. What can I say? I'm a rebel. I'm also fighting the urge right now to do a major cleaning in the kitchen. But since I haven't done my writing today, here I am pondering how in the world I'm going to use "slippery" in an entry. Guess I better get started.

Prompt #67: Slippery

"Living Memories"

"I've lived more than seven decades," the woman said as her granddaughter brushed the thinning silver hair that covered the older woman's head. "I can barely remember my name some days. But on the good days, I can remember moments in a world that no longer exists." The young girl, sensing something important was about to happen, put down the brush and came to sit on the stool facing her grandmother.

"Memories are slippery suckers," the grandmother said. "They slide into my mind and then, before I can grab hold of them, or even bring them into focus, they slip right out again." She reached her thin and age-spotted hand out as if trying to hold onto a particular moment in time.

"Some days they're slower than others," she continued. "Some days I can see them clearly, the moments I thought I'd lost forever. They crawl around for a while so that I can get a good look at them and then they mosey away with a wave and a smile. Those are the days I feel young again. I see pictures of my parents before age settled into their bones. I see my first love sitting beside me at the Diner. I see your mother the day she was born."

The young girl leaned forward, putting her chin on her folded hands, her elbows on her knees. "What was she like, Grandma? When she was young, what was she like?"

Her Grandmother gazed into the air over the young girl's shoulder, willing the memories to visit today. The granddaughter could see the effort in her grandmother's face and she reached out to touch the old woman's knee.

The touch seemed to bring the woman back to present, but it didn't bring with it the answers her granddaughter wanted. "Some days they'll stay for tea," she said, as if she'd never been inturrupted. "They'll tell stories that invite other memories to join us. On those days, the memories don't like to go home. They claw at the creases in my brain, holding on for dear life as they fall, sliding gradually off the cliffs of my mind." She grimaced as if she could feel the fingernails of memories sliding through her cerebelum. The girl stayed silent now, waiting on whatever her grandmother needed to tell her. Answers didn't come when she asked questions anymore. Now they came whenever her grandmother had them. The young girl knew she had to always be listening or she might miss what it was she needed to hear.

"On slippery days, they pass in and out of the rooms in my mind like eels through the water. I try to catch them; I do what I can. I smooth-talk them and bribe them, but they just won't have it. No gift will lure them into sticking around. So on these days I resign myself to their slipperiness and hope for a sticky day tomorrow."

The old woman closed her eyes and breathed deeply, but the young girl waited, hoped. When her grandmother opened her eyes again, she looked directly at her granddaughter. The young girl held her breath. And then she got what she was waiting for.

"You are just like your mother," the grandmother said. "She gave you everything she had. When I look at you, I see her. You are my only living memory."

Mi Vida Local: Week 1 Round-Up

Week one of Mi Vida Local has gone well, with just a few small bumps in the road. I've learned a few things that should help me get through the rest of the month:

1. I have to plan. When I don't, I end up needing a mid-day snack at work and heading to the Royal Farms for a granola bar and Diet Dr. Pepper--two no-nos this month. Next week: Prepare fruits and veggies for easy snacking and pack more in my lunch bag during the week.


2. Eating locally for a while makes the stomach super sensitive to certain foods. A quick trip to a fast-food place (another no-no) for a super-late dinner after a long day was a really bad idea. Next week: Prepare dinners (or ingredients) early in the week, for quick heating or cooking on late nights. If eating out is a must, I'll stick to local restaurants (not fast-food) and call ahead for take-out.


3. Necessity is the mother of invention. I've been using all of my creative cooking juices, coming up with some new recipes and rediscovering and altering some of my old favorites. Next week: Find and create some new recipes BEFORE I go to the market, which will keep me from scrambling at the end of the week to use up all the produce I bought.


4. If you plan to freeze produce for the winter months, make sure you have plenty of room in your freezer. While it wasn't a requirement of my local eating experiment, I'd gotten the great idea to preserve and freeze fruits and veggies so that I'll have them later when they're not so plentiful. Unfortunately, my best intentions to reduce my non-local eating this winter were stopped in their tracks when I realized I didn't have room in my tiny freezer for all the vegetables and fruits I wanted to put in there. Next week: Pull out that dehydrator and dry some fruit instead of freezing it. Next year: Look into buying a small chest freezer so that I can stock up on farmer's market fresh produce for the winter.

I haven't been completely successful this week in sticking to my local-only rules (with the allowable exceptions). But I'm learning a lot, and I'm enjoying the challenge to change my habits. Next week I'm going to be better about planning, which should help me avoid the non-local traps I've fallen into this week. Stay tuned!

Thursday Thirteen #6

Thirteen Things I'm Doing to Amp Up My Writing Routine

1. The 14-Day Challenge to write something creative for at least 30 minutes every day.

2. Joining a Creative Nonfiction writing group that meets once a month in my area.

3. Sending in my dues for the local writer's association so that I can attend regular meetings and network with other writers.

4. Scheduling time for my writing each day so that I can't make excuses and procrastination doesn't take over.

5. Using prompts like Sunday Scribblings and First 50 Words to motivate me when my muse isn't talking to me.

6. Reading those writing magazines that are piling up in my magazine rack.

7. Doing more market research to find publications that will think my essays are worthy of their printed pages.

8. Stepping out of my comfort zone to promote my writing and editing services to anyone and everyone I come in contact with that might need them.

9. Pursuing a really exciting writing opportunity that might lead to a published book.

10. Surrounding myself with people, places and things that encourage and inspire me.

11. Stretching my imagination and pursuing every idea through at least a shitty first draft.

12. Talking to more writers and networking more.

13. Taking chances on myself. I'm contacting editors I've worked with in the past in hopes of getting future assignments, and I'm stepping up to challenges that I wouldn't normally take on for fear of not being good enough.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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*Thursday Thirteen graphic courtesy of Karen

A Writing Routine and a Positive Rejection

Yesterday was the beginning of my second 14-Day Challenge. While the first one started off well, the exercise fizzled out at the end. I'm sorry to say that I wasn't successful in kick-starting my workout routine. The good news is, I was more successful than I've been in months at motivating myself to exercise. And I think I figured out that the real goal where exercise is concerned is to establish a routine of getting up earlier in the morning. Working out in the evenings after work just doesn't happen regularly. I make all of the excuses in the book. But when I was working out religiously in the mornings, I had less excuses and more energy. I'm sensing a third 14-Day Challenge in my future.

In the mean time, I'm concentrating on my Writing Challenge. I’m in a particularly creative mood these days, and seem to be quite motivated, which may skew my challenge results a bit. I won’t spend the money before it’s in the bank, though. I’m planning each day’s writing ahead of time, so excuses and procrastination can’t keep me from reaching my goal of at least 30 minutes of writing each day. And what better motivation to keep writing than the kind rejection I received in my mailbox yesterday:

While [your essay] didn’t fit our needs right now, I appreciated your courage and candor, both in grappling with the body/weight issue and writing about it. It needs to find a place in print and I’m sure it will. Thanks for thinking of us.

Who wouldn’t want to keep writing and sending out their stuff after getting encouragement like that? Of course, now that I’m re-reading it, he doesn’t directly comment on my actual writing, does he? Still, it was just what I needed to kick-start my new writing ritual.

Stay tuned for some story and essay samples, if all goes well.

Capricorn at Heart

Prompt #66: What's your sign?

I'm a Capricorn. This doesn't really mean much to me. I'm not a regular horoscope reader. I don't call Chloe for my daily reading. According to Horoscope Universe:

Capricorns never repeat their mistakes. They are very careful, slow, practical and thrifty. Their reserved personality can cause problems in their relationships. They are faithful to their family and loved ones. Their personality is also kind and affectionate but is suppressed by shyness. Trying to be perfect in everything they undertake, they often miss great opportunities because of insecurity in their abilities. Careful planning and insuring against any negative outcome is a must for all their deeds. Capricorn is ruled by Saturn. Capricorn's nature can be easily changed when they are loved or respected by other people. Capricorns are good brokers, politicians, economists and bankers.

Does that describe me? Yeah, pretty closely. Particularly the "very careful, slow, practical and thrifty" part. I'm also shy, but affectionate and kind. I'm a perfectionist who doesn't take risks because I'm afraid of failure and insecure about my ability to be successful in the thinge I choose to do. I tend to take on only those challenges that I'm certain I can handle, which often means I'm not living up to my potential. I do see these characteristics shift when I'm surrounded by people who love me and support me. I am not, however, a banker, broker, politician or economist. Neither do I believe I'd be much good at these things. And I highly doubt I'd actually enjoy myself doing them.

While I've never been much of a believer in astrology, I used to read my monthly horoscope in Seventeen and wish it would come true. Eventually, though, it occurred to me that they were nothing but generalizations and open-ended suggestions for my future. I think that astrology has some merit in the sense that the time of the year in which we're born influences the development of certain personality characteristics, but I don't think there are people out there who can tell me what my future holds. And I don't think that the month I was born in determines definitively who I am and who I will become. That's my choice to make.

Did I Really Commit to This?

Mi Vida Local starts tomorrow. I've been thinking about this challenge for more than a month now. I've even been living "la vida local" to some extent since the beginning of June. But with tomorrow looming as the official start of "mi vida local" month, I'm starting to get cold feet. I'm staring longingly at my last Diet Dr. Pepper and wolfing down a bag of Twizzlers, both of which will be completely off limits for a month.

I'm trying to think about all the great foods I will be able to eat, and all the fruits and vegetables I'll be packing away in my freezer or drying for later in the year, when the fresh stuff isn't around anymore and I'm tempted to buy one of those tasteless grocery store tomatoes or a bunch of imported bananas in December. I've been enjoying eating locally these last several weeks. The pleasure of eating has returned. I've actually lost a few pounds without fretting about food or counting calories. And the farmer's market has become my favorite weekend hangout.

But now, the intention of this challenge seems to be backfiring. With the strike of midnight marking the beginning of the end of life as I've known it--the convenience of one-stop grocery store shopping; the assuage of my sweats addictions with ice cream and chocolate and other processed non-local treats; the use of my spare time for things other than cooking, blanching, freezing, drying and otherwise preparing food--I'm momentarily wishing I hadn't committed myself to this project. The intention was to motivate myself to go a little further and try a little harder to live a local life. That's where I want to focus. Not on what I'm going to be missing out on, or how I'm going to manage to afford locally raised free-range meat on my limited budget. It will work itself out. Of that I'm sure. But whatever happens, and however I feel about this challenge in the coming days and weeks, be sure that I'll be sharing it all here.

TBR #6 - Still Plugging Along

I'm still on track with the TBR Challenge. I honestly can't believe that I'm managing to finish a book each month. Mind you, other people in the challenge average around 8 books each month, so the competitive streak in me feels like a bit of a failure. But in all honesty, I'm really proud of myself for sticking with this challenge for six months. It gives me hope that I can actually finish 12 books this year (and if I'm lucky, a few extra for good measure). I'm having a hard time staying away from the bookstore, but at least I'm plugging through the books on my shelves. Slow and steady wins the race, right?

For my sixth TBR Challenge read, I chose Me & Emma, by Elizabeth Flock. It turned out to be a great story, but at first I wasn't so sure. Flock told the story through the main character, Caroline, an eight-year-old girl from the country of North Carolina. Caroline lives a hard life, but she and her younger sister depend on one another to get them through the toughest of times.

I have to admit that I was a bit put off in the beginning by the voice Flock chose to give Caroline. Getting into the vernacular was a bit difficult at first and the narration in a child's voice seemed forced and uncomfortable in the first few chapters. Then something changed. Whether I was able to adjust and become more comfortable with Caroline's voice, or whether Elizabeth Flock's ability to hear Caroline truly improved, I can't really say. But in the end, I was not only pleased, but surprised, by the outcome. The story just wouldn't have been the same if Caroline didn't tell it.

Next up: Digging to America, by Anne Tyler. And as an added bonus, I'll be reading the newest collection of essays by Anne Lamott, Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith.

Thursday Thirteen #5

I went to a meeting for a local writer's association last night. This is not something I'd normally do for a number of reasons, some of which are: 1) I'm awkward in situations where I have to make small talk with people I've never met before; 2) I break into cold sweats in such situations; 3) I have a deep-seated belief that I have to be liked by everyone, and inevitably I get an "I don't like you" vibe from someone in said new group. So, just in case I needed an out, or someone to talk to during awkward moments of silence, I called up a friend and convinced her to come with me. Below are the reasons I'm glad I have good friends who will help me step out of my comfort zone when I'm stuck in the quick-sand I like to call fear.

Thirteen Reasons I'm Glad I Stepped Out of My Comfort Zone (Thanks, Jess!)

1. I got to eat brie and fruit for dinner.

2. I got eat this dinner at a really cool cafe'/bar in one of my favorite parts of the city.

3. I met some really nice people who also happen to write.

4. These people are also really excited about writing, which makes me excited about writing.

5. It just so happened to be Open Mic night, so I got to hear these writers read some really great writing.

6. Listening to other people's stories was inspiring and motivating.

7. Hearing other writers talk about their successes gave me hope that a successful writing career really is an attainable goal.

8. I found a community of writers that I can be a part of.

9. These writers are encouraging and supporting of other writers.

10. There was a sense of mentorship among them that I've never experienced in a group of writers before.

11. I didn't feel like I'd have to compete with these people (although I'm sure after a few meetings I'd find myself doing it subconsciously anyway).

12. I got to talk about books and writing for hours without boring my non-writer and non-reader friends.

13. I realized that fear is no reason to stay home when you want to get out and get involved.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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"Mi Vida Local" Rules

In preparation for my Local Eating Experiment, I've been paying very close attention to what I eat and where it comes from. It turns out that, while local produce is plentiful this time of year, eating locally won't be as easy as I had expected.

Many of my cooking staples are canned or bottled and they don't come in "fresh and local" versions. Think chick peas, kidney beans, olive oil and soy sauce. Then there are the dry ingredients that I can't seem to find local versions of no matter how much I try: flour (and bread and pasta), sugar, and rice. I've even asked local bakeries about their flour and sugar purchasing, and they all get these ingredients from other states. The closest I can get is one state north or one state south, and then I'd have to have it shipped to me anyway, defeating the whole "local" purpose.

Finding local dairy products has been a major chore, too. I've found local cheese at a nearby Whole Foods, and at one of my local farmers' markets, but I can't seem to find any local milk or yogurt. I'm going to ask around at the market this weekend to see what else I can find. As for meat, I've found a local farm that also raises beef and various poultry, so if I'm in dire need of animal protein, I know I have a source. Trouble there is, the cost may hinder me from indulging. Local, organic, naturally raised meat doesn't come cheap. Thankfully, I don't eat much meat anyway, and sacrificing it for the sake of my wallet won't make me too crazy. A couple of pounds should last me all month.

So far it looks like if my little experiment turns into a lifestyle (which is my long-term plan) I'll still be buying a good amount of food from the local grocery stores. For the month of July, though, non-local purchases will be extremely limited.

I've come up with the following rules for my experiment:

1. Purchase produce from the farmer's markets only. If I can't find it there, then it's not in season and it's not local. This means no canned veggies, no frozen veggies and no bananas, mangoes or avocados. I'll have to get creative with my recipes, but I'm ready for the challenge. If I can make Swiss Chard tasty, I can find plenty to do with the variety I'll be able to find during the month of July.
   


2. Purchase bread from local bakeries only. They may not get their flour locally, but most of the bakery owners I've talked to swear that at least the rest of their ingredients are local. I'll have to take their word for it. And at least I'll still be supporting local businesses.
   


3. Avoid canned and frozen foods. This includes canned and jarred sauces, soups, cand fruits and vegetables, multiple-ingredient condiments (i.e. salad dressings), and canned meats, to name a few.
   


4. Avoid processed foods. On this list of no-nos are prepared desserts, processed cereals, and packaged meals and snacks. While I don't buy much in the way of snack foods these days, I do tend to rely on frozen meals like Lean Cuisines and Smart Ones, or frozen veggie burgers. They make easy workday lunches, and quick dinners when I get home late. But the more ingredients in a food, the more "cumulative miles" it has likely traveled by the time it gets to the grocery store. So for July, I'll have to plan ahead for dinners and make my lunches from leftovers.
   


5. Buy only locally raised, organic meat. I'm even going to avoid the meat already in my freezer for this month. If I want to eat meat, I'm going to have to shell out the cash for non-corporate meat. Eating local isn't my only reasoning for this. I'm feeling more and more guilty about eating animals that were raised by factory farming (otherwise known as concentrated animal feeding operations or CAFOs). Luckily, I live near a bay, where crabs are plentiful this time of year. Now if I can just find a local fish market that actually sells local fish.
   


6. Buy local dairy products where they're available. Since I know I can get local cheese, I'm not allowed to buy Kraft or Land O Lakes. I also know where to get local eggs, so I'm limited to those. I'll do my best to find local milk and yogurt, too. But if all else fails, I'll have to head to the dairy case at Giant.
   


7. No canned or bottled soda or water. My Brita pitcher and Pur faucet filter will be getting plenty action in July.

Of course, I can't have rules without exceptions:

• I found a free bread machine on Freecycle, so I'll probably try my hand at making my own bread at least once this month. This will obviously involve a few exceptions. Flour, yeast and other dry baking ingredients will have to be purchased from a grocery store. I'm still investigating my options in this area. I'll be avoiding any "special" ingredients that I can't get locally, though. If it's not essential for the recipe and it's not local, then it won't be in my bread.
  


• I can use three of the basic pantry ingredients that I already have as much as I like: spices, vinegar and oils.
  


• I can use a limited amount of canned beans (one can per week). (I might give dry beans a try, instead, but I've never had any luck with them. They always stay crunchy, no matter how much I soak them.)
  


• I'm allowing myself the use of ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise, which I already have in the fridge and which I only buy a couple of times a year. No bottled salad dressings, though. Those I have to make from scratch if I want them.
  


• I can also purchase (or use already purchased) rice, couscous and quinoa. I don't eat much of any of these, and I'll get them from the bulk bins for good measure. I'll avoid pasta for the month.
  


• As for cereal, I'll buy rolled oats from the bulk bin, too. I'm an oatmeal lover, anyway, so this won't be too much of a change. At least I won't be buying the flavored, processed, packaged instant stuff like I usually do.
  


• If I can't find a local milk/yogurt producer, I can get them from the grocery store. The yogurt has to be plain and in large containers, though. No processed, flavored stuff in single serving packages.
  


• If I go out to eat, which I rarely do, I'll stay away from fast food and chain restaurants. I'll also investigate local-food restaurants in my area and do my best to patronize them. (My Love is very picky!)
  


• When I visit my family mid-month, I get a 4-day reprieve. I'll have little say in what I eat, but I'll encourage local options when I can and stay away from non-local stuff as much as possible.

It seems pretty complicated when it's laid out like this, but the gist is really quite simple: eat locally as much as possible and be more aware of where my food comes from and how it gets to my table. Wish me luck!

Pesto Magic

Since I started enjoying the pleasures of local produce in May, I've rediscovered something that I didn't realize I'd lost: my love for food. Don't get me wrong, I hadn't stopped eating. I'd just stopped eating well. I don't mean I'd stopped eating "healthy"—although I did that, too—I just mean I'd stopped eating good stuff that has flavor and satisfies. I'd fallen into the rut of quick-fixes and the same-old-same-old. But not anymore.

I spent two hours in the kitchen this afternoon, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I made pesto galore—parsley and basil and cilantro versions of the famous sauce. I bought fresh herbs at the market on Sunday and knew I'd never use them all for garnishes and cooking, so I experimented with the food processor and some olive oil. I came up with some tasty sauces, sealed them in freezer bags, and stuck them, well, in the freezer. And this winter, when I pull out one of those little pesto packs, thaw it in warm water and toss it with some pasta, I'll remember tonight and smile, knowing that on the day I packed that tasty treat away I was thinking of the winter night I'd enjoy it. Delayed gratification at its best.

Sunday Scribblings: Secrets, Secrets, Secrets

I recently discovered sognatrice's bleeding espresso, although I can't quite remember how, and through her I discovered something called Sunday Scribblings. In preparation for my 14-Day Kick-in-the-Booty Writing Challenge, I thought I might jump onto the SS band-wagon. I can use a prompt every now and then, and the more writing goals I have, the more successful I'll be at writing. Every. Single. Day. For fourteen days straight (and then, hopefully, every day after that, too). So for my first Sunday Scribble, I have a secret. (Please disregard the fact that today is, in all actuality, Monday. Look, I haven't started the challenge yet, OK?)

Prompt #65: I have a secret...

I'm dying to talk about some things that are going on in my life, but for now, I have to keep it quiet. Suffice it to say that opportunities are opening up for me in some different areas and I'm excited to see how things play out. In the mean time, I'm doing my best to be prepared when things start moving forward full tilt. That means a lot of writing, reading, learning and preparation.

Through all of this, I've learned something interesting about myself. When I don't have any deadlines or objectives looming on the immediate horizon, I find myself being lazy and getting discouraged. It's just the opposite when I know (or expect) that I'm about to become completely overwhelmed. When I anticipate being busy, I always feel more motivated to get things done. I jot ideas, write queries and take on new projects. I get excited about the prospect of being so busy I don't have time to eat or sleep. (Yeah, right! As if I'd ever go without food or sleep, but you get the idea.)

Strange how it works that way. You'd think it would be just the opposite. If only I could find a way to bottle the "productive mode" so I can take a sip when I start to slack off. For now I guess I'll have to take advantage of this motivation and energy when it comes along. So today I'm acting on that creativity that's stirring up instead of sitting on it. Of course, next month, who knows.