tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91774438640032516702024-03-13T05:03:46.062-05:00Twenty Ten ThirtySweating the small stuff (but trying not to) since 1980.Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04752563846205334617noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177443864003251670.post-49405957267139622682017-04-20T15:50:00.003-05:002017-04-20T15:50:55.286-05:00New Home for TwentyTenThirtyIt's official - I'm now blogging on Squarespace.<br />
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Check out my new home here: <a href="https://www.twentytenthirty.com/">https://www.twentytenthirty.com/</a><br />
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Wahoo!Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04752563846205334617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177443864003251670.post-31340051219263436532017-02-12T16:11:00.001-06:002017-02-12T16:11:19.687-06:00Long time, No SeeWell, hello!<br />
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It's been a while since I've posted. I've been busy moving my blog to a new platform. It'll be launched soon, I promise, with lots of new content and exciting news!<br />
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Stay tuned!Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04752563846205334617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177443864003251670.post-68991297662162356772016-11-21T17:50:00.003-06:002016-11-21T19:09:38.025-06:00An Exercise in ContemplationI'm an avid reader, and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> is my favorite app for exploring new books and authors. I also tend to be quite a slow and careful reader (I make it through maaaaybe a book or two a month on average), so I am usually highly selective about my books, and I have no problem abandoning a book before I finish it if it hasn't captured me. Who has time for that?! Not me, Ms. Slowy McSlowReader!<br />
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My selective book vetting doesn't necessarily mean I have a discerning taste in books -- it just means that I like what I like. Sure, I read my (small) share of "high-brow" books, and my reading materials span a diverse range of genres, but darn it all if I get a hankering for some cheesy chick lit or low-common-denominator popular fiction, then I'll go ahead choose that sillier selection, and I'll do so without any hesitation or guilt.<br />
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One of the reasons I enjoy Goodreads is because of the reader reviews, and I often rely on those reviews as I vet my next book choice. While I've read many reviews, I've never written one of my own. Because the truth is, not only am I a slow reader, I'm a slow, ploddy writer too. Therefore, I just haven't wanted to mess with the time, energy and brain power it takes to crank out a decent book review. Plus, I generally don't want to risk sounding like an inarticulate, shallow-headed moron. Silly fears, perhaps -- especially since I never much care if I sound like an idiot here on the blog -- but real fears all the same.<br />
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All that said, I recently read an article that talked about <a href="http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/you_can_be_more_productive_without_sacrificing_happiness" target="_blank">the importance of contemplation</a> as a means to fuel productivity and happiness. One quote that stood out from the article is <b><i>"The most productive and successful people tend to find ways to force themselves to think more deeply." </i></b>Reading that article was a little bit of a wake-up call for me. Was I missing a greater sense of fulfillment by failing to take the time to reflect after finishing a book?<br />
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It didn't take long for me to answer that question with a big fat YES, yes I WAS missing out. Because, truth be told, lately I've been feeling quite a vacancy in the "fulfillment" and "meaning" buckets of my life (what else is new...oy). So, if taking a little reflection time to write a book review might help me to capture a tiny taste of contentment, no matter how fleeting, I decided it was worth the time and the risk of sounding like a simpleton.<br />
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Since reading that article, I've written not one, but TWO Goodreads reviews. I painfully (and embarrassingly) overthought my first rambling, lengthy review - especially considering it was a somewhat fluffy memoir about weight loss. The writing of my second review came much more freely and easily -- a brief reflection on a piece of historical fiction. Neither review is particularly deep or scholarly, however, if you are interested in reading them, you can check them out <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1793105243?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1802188961" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Ultimately, the resulting end product of the written reviews isn't really the point at all. The point is, simply by partaking in the exercise of focused reflection and writing, I did somehow feel more connected, engaged and in-tune with myself and with world-at-large, if only for a limited time.<br />
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Of course, a contemplative practice need not be solely for the sake of crafting a book reviews. My writing here, after all, is one big deep think practice at purposefully digging beneath the surface, to work out my shiznit, and explore new angles and perspectives. And given my continued struggle with finding and maintaining any sense of productive focus and sustained feelings of happiness, maybe it would be good for me to start challenging myself to do this contemplative writing thing with a little more discipline and frequency.<br />
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Challenge...accepted.<br />
<br />Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04752563846205334617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177443864003251670.post-79049548802991094422016-10-21T16:39:00.004-05:002016-10-21T16:51:06.193-05:00Friluftsliv...that "Free Air Life"Norwegians embrace something called <i>Friluftsliv</i> (pronounced free -loofts-liv) which to the best of my understanding, means to be fully uplifted and enchanted by nature. The literal English translation of <i>Friluftsliv</i> is "free air life," but there is no single word in English to fully capture its essence and authentic meaning.<br />
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<i>Friluftsliv</i> seems to be considered a code of life and a way of being in Norway, and according to <a href="http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/blogs/how-friluftsliv-can-help-you-reconnect-with-nature" target="_blank">this article</a>, this in-depth appreciation for and exploration of the world outdoors is even taught in "folk" high schools (though I'm not sure exactly what a "folk" high school is all about).<br />
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Last Sunday was an absolutely beautiful fall day here in Minne, with the colors peaking and the air still warm and inviting. I am the first to admit that I'm not the most at home in the great outdoors. <i>Friluftsliv</i> is not instinctual for me. I'm not one for bugs and dirt, and I have turned down invites to camp without a worry for what I might miss as I opted to stay at home with wine in hand while streaming Netflix. But I could not pass up a day outdoors last Sunday, breathing in fall with all of my senses, without a concern for clock time or my incomplete checklists of tasks and to dos. Time well spent need not be monitored.<br />
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So, I laced up my running shoes run the 10-mile path around the Chain of Lakes (#56 on my <a href="http://twentytenthirty.blogspot.com/p/2016.html" target="_blank">2016 List</a>), to capture some of the spirit of Minnesota Fall as best as my iPhone camera lens would allow, to let myself be completely captivated, curious, inspired and swept up by nature.<br />
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I took over 100 photos...and here are just a few of my favorites. An ode to Autumn. An attempt to walk the path of <i>Friluftsliv</i>, if only for a taste.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">On the way to Lake Harriet near Dupont</span></i> </div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The last stretch before the Lake Harriet ped and bike path</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lake Harriet, with some of the MPLS skyline peaking through</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lake Harriet</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lake Calhoun pedestrian path</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">An Isle in the Lake of the Isles</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Colorful branches shade the Lake of the Isles</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lake of the Isles lilypads</span></i> </div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lake Calhoun</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">More fall foliage along Lake Harriet</span></i></div>
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<i style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lake Harriet ped and bike paths</span></i></div>
Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04752563846205334617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177443864003251670.post-53776834822176427342016-09-27T22:15:00.003-05:002016-09-27T22:22:50.773-05:00The American DreamFor those who know me personally, you may know that earlier this year, B and I bought a house. I am immensely proud of this, an "American Dream" type of milestone that, for a while, I thought I could never reach. As a long-time, self-proclaimed homebody, home ownership is the single element of the American dream that I have most wanted to make a part of my reality.<br />
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A decade ago I was living in expensive Chicago and trying to enjoy my young, urban life, doing my best to decompress from 60+ hour work weeks, while trying (and failing) to keep my head above the waves of my personal debt, waves that had been ripping and swelling since I turned 18.<br />
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Although I had a job and a career that paid decently, I was always playing 'catch up' with my credit card bills, car payment, cell phone and utility bills, and chipping away that effing expensive student loan, the loan that made for damn certain I would start my adult life in 5 figure debt. My credit rating was pretty deplorable, like a D grade or something, and I think the only reason it wasn't totally flushed down the toilet was because I paid that damn student loan on time each and every month, the only bill I managed to never pay late thanks to auto pay, my only financial saving grace.<br />
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At this time in my life, several of my friends were starting that very grownup journey of buying their first homes, either with their life partner or completely on their own. Given my frustrating financial situation, I resigned myself to the looming reality that homeownership was likely never going to be in the cards for me, not with my ocean of debt and my difficulty reigning it in. I was envious of my monetarily stable friends, and shameful of my financial failures.<br />
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Still, I never threw in the towel on eventually getting my financial game on track. I finally got fed up enough with juggling my debt, so I read some books on personal finance, and I set up a strict monthly budget and excel spreadsheet to track my expenditures (it's actually the same spreadsheet that I still use today -- I tried Mint.com, but I am better with a more 'old school', self tracking approach). I scaled back on 'extras' and immediate gratification purchases, putting that saved money toward paying off each of my debts, one at a time (Thank you, <a href="http://www.daveramsey.com/blog/how-the-debt-snowball-method-works" target="_blank">Dave Ramsey and the Debt Snowball Method!</a>). I started setting aside the tiniest amount of savings each month. Getting out of the red and into the black was my laser focus, and would be for the next few years. It sounds a lot easier than it actually was.<br />
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And then finally, a few years later, homeownership started to seem like not such an 'out of reach' idea after all. I had practically eliminated my credit card debt and car payment. I was still on track with that student loan (that I finally paid off not too long ago), and I even had some legit savings.<br />
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I'm proud that I cleared my personal debt, born from a combination of my young, stupid mistakes and sheer, unavoidable necessity. It took sacrifice, it took planning, it took hard work and sticking to my demanding (but ultimately well-paying) career path, and it took time (years!), but I persevered. I can't imagine if I'd be able to do it if I were graduating from college today, with the ever inflating cost of education, or if I had chosen a different, if not more noble career path, like public service or the arts. But, that's a completely separate topic, and one where I have MANY strong opinions.<br />
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Fast forward to today, and my financial life (and pretty much my whole life) is a different story. Now living in Minne, I'd describe my living situation as 'urban light' and the cost of living is much more sustainable than Chicago (but it's still a bigger city...). My survival budgeting and money saving practices born in Chicago days have become long-term, indestructible habits. B and I were able to pay up front and out of pocket for our very classy (IMO) wedding soiree in 2014, and last year I was even able to take a small break from the necessity of the 'corporate hustle' to re-evaluate my interests and goals (and perhaps surprisingly, it turns out I actually like a lot of aspects of the 'corporate hustle' and it's nice to discover that on my terms versus financial necessity). All the while, I saved funds to pool with Bs to put toward a down payment on the house we purchased together earlier this year.<br />
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My home. My little piece of the American Dream, one that I am so thankful to have, and that I will not take for granted.<br />
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Welcome to our house!<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Closing day (2 days after my 36th! birthday!)</span></i></div>
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And...I even planted that little potted herb garden that I wanted so much. Next year we're expanding our 'farming' to include tomatoes and other veggies.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Herbalicious!" Nothing smokable here, just basil, mint, rosemary & parsley.</span></i></div>
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And, don't get me started on the laundry list of cool house projects (mostly outdoor given the warmer months) that B has taken on! Turns out my husband is a pretty handy fellow, lucky (braggy) me!<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our outdoor movie projection screen. It's going to get a big work out this football season!</span></i></div>
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<i style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our new firepit, designed and installed by B. S'mores, anyone?</span></i><br />
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<i style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">B's first major project as a homeowner - staining the deck, matey's!</span></i>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04752563846205334617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177443864003251670.post-36075619914435632352016-08-24T19:55:00.004-05:002016-08-24T20:01:18.297-05:00A Hefty PourI love to learn about wine. In fact, 6 of my items from this year's edition of <a href="http://twentytenthirty.blogspot.com/p/2016.html" target="_blank">"The List"</a> are wine related. Now, here we are, two-thirds of the way through the year, and I can finally check off one of these wine related items, which is to visit a winery I've never been to before. In fact, I can check it off twice!<br />
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Over the past few weeks, I've had the pleasure of visiting two wineries I have never before visited, including Fenn Valley Vineyard in SouthWest Michigan (not far from where I grew up), and Loma Prieta Winery, located in Los Gatos, CA (less than an hour from the Santa Cruz coastline). Here's a little taste of my two very different (but both enjoyable!) experiences.<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.fennvalley.com/" target="_blank">Fenn Valley Vineyards</a></b><br />
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At the beginning of August, B and I took our annual excursion to visit our families in Michigan. My family lives in SW Michigan, and my sister and brother-in-law were visiting from TX at the same time, so it was also a little bit of a family reunion of sorts.<br />
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Because B doesn't get loads of time off, we built in a little quality vacation time for just the two of us in the midst of the swirl of family. To accomplish that mission, we rented an AirBNB overnight on a sailboat at the Yacht Club and Marina in Saugatuck. Saugatuck is a charming little Lake Michigan Coast town, with plenty of cute shops and restaurants, and of course, the Lake. I can't say that we'll ever take up residence packed tightly in a tiny v-birth sailboat for a night again in the future, but we LOVED drinking bubbly on the bow, watching the sunset across Lake Michigan, and soaking up a wholly new-to-us experience.<br />
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Fenn Valley Vineyards is just a short jaunt from charming little Saugatuck, tucked away in the Lake Michigan countryside, and we decided to check it out before reconnecting with my mom and step-Dad back "inland." With the slogan "The Lake Effect Everyone Loves," Fenn Valley has been a premier coastal MI wine producer for more than 4 decades. Along with a variety of reds and whites, they also produce the famous "Michigan Cherry Wine" and even boast a few sparklers, which is a favorite style of mine (and probably a favorite style of ALL true wine lovers!) In fact, they day we visited Fenn Valley, they were disgorging their latest sparklers and had to close a portion of their operations to the public (they do daily wine production/facility tours) due to the natural CO2 release from the disgorgement. I guess that makes sense -- don't need anyone passing out due to lack of Oxygen!<br />
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My "everyday" wine drinking palette tends to prefer dry, high acid, citric white wines, so when we completed our tasting, it was a little surprising that my favorite wine of the day was a <a href="https://store.fennvalley.com/product/late-harvest-vignoles/" target="_blank">2012 Late Harvest Vignoles</a>. Apparently, weather conditions contributed to a very unique harvest that year, that ultimately resulted in an unusual, yet deliciously fragrant and sweet vintage. It was a nice, unexpected departure from my "usual", and a tasty reminder to allow myself to stay openminded and explorative when playing in the infinite possibilities world of wine. <br />
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If you find yourself in MI, I recommend a visit to Fenn Valley. The tasting fees are low, and the pours are HEFTY. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon!<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">That's me and my hefty pour at Fenn Valley in SouthWest Coastal Michigan!</span></i></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.lomaprietawinery.com/" target="_blank">Loma Prieta Winery</a></b><br />
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Just days after B and I returned to MPLS, I hit the road again. This time, I was off to the West Coast where I was hosting a bachelorette party for one of my oldest and best(est) friends, WJ. WJ lives in San Francisco, adjacent to Sonoma and Napa, which are arguably among the best wine valley regions in N. America and the world, and I've been lucky to spend a tiny little slice of time in both regions during past NoCal visits. Napa and Sonoma were both in the mix as potential locations for our Bachelorette weekend; however we ultimately decided to take a different tactic for the weekend and head down the coast to Santa Cruz for the weekend instead.<br />
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We had a "wild" bachelorette weekend in the literal sense that we spent a lot of our time soaking up nature, with an awesomely rejuvenating hike through the redwoods of <a href="http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=666" target="_blank">Nisene Marks State Park</a> and getting our Namaste on with a private cliffside yoga session overlooking the Pacific. But it wouldn't be a #NoCal bachelorette without a winery visit, so we made sure to carve in time to visit the gem that is Loma Prieta.<br />
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Loma Prieta sits in the midst (and mist) of the Loma Prieta Mountain, about 45 minutes outside of Santa Cruz, in Los Gatos. The day we were there, the weather was an uncharacteristically warm 80 degrees, and the views stretched to infinity, offering a perfect setting for an afternoon of wine drinking.<br />
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Loma Prieta is considered a "boutique" winery, due to its limited production (less than 3K cases. For comparison sake, the Mammoth Mondavi sells MILLIONS of cases annually). Ironically, LP is the LARGEST producer of "Pinotage" in N. America.<br />
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For the uninitiated (which included me until a few weeks ago) "Pinotage" is a hybrid grape that was first born in S. Africa, in a marriage of Pinot Noir and a grape called Cinsault, which originated in Southern Rhone, France. LP does a fine job with this special hybrid. I especially enjoyed a unique <a href="http://www.lomaprietawinery.com/2014-sparkling-pinotage-blanc-de-noirs-alta-mesa/" target="_blank">Sparkling vintage (2014) Blanc de Noirs </a>so much that I bought a bottle for WJ and her "fancy" (aka fiancee), and then I MADE THEM OPEN IT the night before I flew home, just so I could have a glass. Y'all already know I'm "Klassy-with-a-K" like that!<br />
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If you find yourself in Santa Cruz...or in San Fran...its well worth the trip to this, perhaps unexpected little winery outside of the "classics" of Napa and Sonoma that you may already know and love. Need more convincing? Just check out the views!<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blue Skies, smiling at me at Loma Prieta Winery (hey! That rhymes!)</span></i></div>
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Cheers, mates! I can't wait to check a few more of my wine related items off my 2016 LIST!Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04752563846205334617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177443864003251670.post-60540578090450156942016-07-18T00:07:00.002-05:002016-07-18T01:33:53.297-05:00Hello, World.I've been pretty anxious lately. Out of sorts and off kilter, and feeling a bewildering mixture of completely 'blah' and apathetic in one breath, and then oscillating to feeling oversensitive and highly emotional in the next breath. So, what's it going to be, mind? Do we care, or don't we?<br />
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I've been sweating <a href="http://twentytenthirty.blogspot.com/2016/07/the-small-stuff.html" target="_blank">the small stuff</a>...and <a href="http://twentytenthirty.blogspot.com/2016/07/the-big-stuff.html" target="_blank">the big stuff.</a> Some days, I just want to hide from the world and take a long nap or just veg in front of the TV all day and escape my reality until it's time to go to bed again. And, truth be told, some days I've done just that. Yay, depression and anxiety.<br />
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Today, I woke up on a trajectory of bland escapism. I had a bad dream last night (a dream that I can't even remember now), and when I woke, I felt a hollowness in the center of my body, the one that murmurs and hypnotizes, "eh, who cares if you don't do anything today...it doesn't matter"...immediately followed by feeling of low grade despair that threatened to set in a as a result of that 'nothing', hopeless feeling. Good old apathy with its sidekick, sadness.<br />
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But, I got up and I made myself a cup of coffee, and for some reason I felt that today was a day that, for my own sanity and peace, I really needed (NEEDED) to "fake the funk" and ignore the shades of blue and gray vibrating in my head. Honestly, I'm not sure how I managed to <a href="http://twentytenthirty.blogspot.com/2015/07/escaping-hijack.html" target="_blank">escape the hijack</a> and convince myself that, yes, it was a good idea to get up, get moving and do anything (ANYTHING at all!) rather than retreat from all action and the blurred incentives of vitality, but I did. I got my ass right on up. And, I ended up having a pretty productive and enjoyable day, culminating in a bottle (ahem 2!) of wine with my husband out on the deck, under the twinkle lights of the stars above (or, more noticeably, our Amazon-ordered outdoor hanging globe lights) amidst a summer cool Minnesota evening.<br />
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My day wasn't anything exciting or extraordinary. I sorted through a lot of boxes left over from the move, and I worked on some household organization while B was busy sharpening his carpentry skills outside in our beautiful backyard, building custom University of Michigan Cornhole boards for our housewarming party coming up next Friday (and hey, if you live in the TCs, you know us, you were missed on the original invite, and you wanna come par-TAY next Fri at our place, please reach out! We'd love to see you! We're contemplating whipping up some Jell-o shots, like we're 21 again! Hey, we don't have kids, so this type of partying is a rational conclusion! Plus, we have a hot tub and a fire pit! Yessss!). We took a late lunch break for some Jimmy John's and DQ...and several hours later we enjoyed a late night dinner of grilled chicken and homegrown basil and tomatoes for a Caprese salad (and those 2 bottles of wine), along with a lively phone call to my older sister, E. Simple pleasures.<br />
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I also decided, in my desire to set a new course for my weary and muted mind, that today was a good day to get to <a href="http://twentytenthirty.blogspot.com/p/2016.html" target="_blank">2016 List Tackling</a>. So, this evening, I headed to Yoga by Candlelight at <a href="https://youryogamn.com/" target="_blank">my yoga home here in Minne.</a> I'd never been to the candlelit practice, though it's something I'd wanted to exeprience (#14 on the 2016 list).<br />
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Through the years, especially since moving to Minneapolis, practicing yoga has become one of my reliable safe havens, a place where I can go to feel connected to the world, to reintegrate when I'm "out of body" and all over the map with my anxiety. And tonight, yoga by candlelight offered just that.<br />
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To be fair, the candlelit class was a lot like regular yoga. Class commenced at 7, so the sun was still seeping in through the skylights, and the candlelight itself was more of a footnote than the main idea (not surprising at this time of the year). Still, I found myself practicing with a group of people that I don't always see in the classes I attend regularly. I think that practicing with those "new to me" people, that energy shift, was just what I needed.<br />
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At each yoga practice, we are encouraged to set an intention or a dedication for our practice that day. I usually pick a person I care about to dedicate my practice to, or a way of being that I'd like to encourage in myself (like "peaceful" or "empathetic"). Today, the words "hello, world" were what my mind mustered. In my mind, "hello, world" meant that I wanted to focus on engaging with the world and with my emotions, rather than defaulting to ignoring those feelings, to hiding.<br />
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During savasana, our candlelit teacher read "<a href="https://allpoetry.com/poem/8534703-The-Guest-House-by-Mewlana-Jalaluddin-Rumi" target="_blank">The Guest House.</a>" This poem was exactly what I needed to hear at this point in my life, on this day. The Guest house is about accepting all of our emotions and feelings, good, bad and apathetic, and welcoming in the lessons that each of those emotions has to teach us. However unpleasant, we invite the experience of those emotions in, to learn from those feelings... and then we move on..."to make room for some new delight" (as the poem says).<br />
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So, here we are. I'm going to flow with it, to float with it. To let go, and welcome whatever it is that surfaces.<br />
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"Hello, world."Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04752563846205334617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177443864003251670.post-14230416884774939112016-07-15T23:01:00.002-05:002016-07-15T23:28:13.665-05:00The Big StuffI'm going to cut to the chase...it's been a rough summer.<br />
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The world seems to be in some sort of maddening tailspin of pain and suffering, rampant with unbridled and age-old racism, bigotry, oppression and terrorism, filled with a self-righteous overpopulation that often seems more focused on being "Christian, white and right" than on living with compassion and love and prioritizing common ground, equality and human kindness to all. This summer alone we've been witness to Philando Castile, Miami, Brexit, Nice, Dallas, Trump and Pence...and a list of other global human driven atrocities that grows longer by the day and by the hour.<br />
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But, I'm not completely hopeless about the big stuff. I know that our world is resilient and capable of positive change. I know that we can find our way to more peaceful, compassionate and equal footing for everyone.<br />
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I don't know the answers, but I know that change at least starts by acknowledging the realness of the problems we have and their complexities, by having deep and productive conversations about important issues <a href="https://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/white-fragility-why-its-so-hard-to-talk-to-white-people-about-racism-twlm/" target="_blank">even if they make us uncomfortable</a>, by <a href="http://citizenshipandsocialjustice.com/2015/07/10/curriculum-for-white-americans-to-educate-themselves-on-race-and-racism/" target="_blank">educating ourselves</a>, and by getting involved in our communities and <a href="http://www.mnchurches.org/respectfulcommunities/interfaithprogramming/BlessedRamadanSigns.html" target="_blank">showing love and compassion to one another</a>. Being a bystander and an apologist is not an option for me. I plan to be a part of those big, important next steps. "One foot in front of the other." It's time to move forward.Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04752563846205334617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177443864003251670.post-4511450442779455182016-07-15T22:56:00.003-05:002016-07-18T00:58:03.835-05:00The Small StuffI'm going to cut to the chase...it's been a rough summer.<br />
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This is a personal blog, so I'm going to talk specifically about one of my own, individual challenges. The small stuff, if you will. I acknowledge that my personal challenges seem petty, pale and insignificant in comparison to the pain, suffering and injustices happening to people all over the world.<br />
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At the end of the school year, I was laid off from my guidance counseling assistant job and the school that I so thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated. In more specific terms, I was "<a href="http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/bumping-right.html" target="_blank">bumped,</a>" which I guess softens the blow a little, because I know that the people I worked for valued my hard work and abilities and did not want to see me permanently pack up my office and leave.<br />
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Last year I left my job on my terms, ready to leap into the unknown, eager for change and excited for the possibilities. This year, I left on someone else's terms...the motivation that revved me up last year is harder to muster up...and right now I'm feeling a bit adrift.<br />
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Adrift...but not hopeless. I've learned a lot about myself this past year and that I am more resilient and capable of change than I previously thought. I know that eventually I will find my way. I have some ideas on my next steps, and now it's a simple matter of <a href="http://rfqk.com/chasing-rabbits.html" target="_blank">choosing one rabbit to chase</a>."One foot in front of the other." It's time to move forward.<br />
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But that's just the small stuff...</div>
Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04752563846205334617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177443864003251670.post-86999820763636250012016-04-10T19:28:00.001-05:002016-04-10T21:45:01.978-05:00Self Care & Self ReflectionThree months ago, I took the first steps down an entirely new career path when I accepted a guidance counseling assistant position at a public school in St. Paul. Specifically, I oversee the standardized testing that occurs at our school, I manage student records, and I even have the opportunity to advise students on certain topics -- but I'm not a licensed counselor, so my opportunities in that realm are a bit more limited.<br />
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My past three months working in education have been an incredibly fulfilling and enlightening experience. My position provides me with a looking glass into several directions I could potentially pursue if I ultimately decide to build a long-term career in education. I've had people ask if I plan to someday become a licensed counselor, or would I ever want to consider teaching and get a teaching licence, or perhaps I might eventually pursue a position at a district level versus supporting a specific school, or maybe even venture into political pursuits or policy making that focus on education improvement (I do have many thoughts on testing now!). And yes, I've let my mind wander and ponder what each of these paths could look like. But, it's all a bit premature, given I'm so completely new to this world and I have a lot to learn.<br />
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However, for now, I'm trying to focus on my current responsibilities and do them to the best of my abilities without getting too swept up in the excitement and stress of identifying the next big achievement goal. A key lesson from my career pause, after all, is to stay present in the "here-and-now", <a href="http://twentytenthirty.blogspot.com/2015/09/we-plan-god-laughs.html" target="_blank">to live fully in each moment without getting too caught up in a specific narrative</a>. It can be fun to dream, sure, but I have a tendency to get swept up in those dreams only to then to inject unreasonably high expectations and stress so that those dreams shift into more of a nightmarish territory.<br />
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It's not always easy to stay present, and I do find that now that I'm working full time again, I fall victim to some of my old and exhausting habits. My perfectionist inclinations and my inner control freak have followed me into my new career path. Those traits did not magically disappear just because I left the "high powered" world of corporate strategy and consulting. However, now I am much better about catching myself when these tendencies surface, and guide myself to a gentler, more caring state of mind.<br />
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In December, just before I started my new job, I chose to end my "career time out" with a Yoga retreat to Tulum, MX with my yoga studio. For 5 days, I had the incredible gift to practice self-care in an epic, inspiring, natural paradise, to reflect upon the big risk that I took when I left my job and finally allowed myself to imagine a very different sort of life, and redefine what "success" means for me (hint: it's not about "stuff" or income brackets).<br />
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Returning to that state of mind that I captured during my time off and during the Yoga retreat helps me to reconnect with my true intentions for the kind of life I want to live and the person I want to be. When I find the stress kicking up and the worry sinking in, I remind myself to "float down the river", <a href="http://twentytenthirty.blogspot.com/2015/11/always-in-transition.html" target="_blank">to embrace the ambiguity and transition</a>, and to relish in each messy, beautiful, chaotic, glorious moment.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Seaside Selfie. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> Lighter in mind, body (by more than 25# at the time this photo was taken...even more now!) and spirit than when I first left my job at the end of May, 2015.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Easy breezy beach side in Mexico.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Here I am, climbing a Mayan Ruin</i></span>.</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">I captured this majestic sunrise my last morning in Tulum. </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">What a perfect way to end one chapter, and begin another.</span></i></div>
Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04752563846205334617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177443864003251670.post-40728384317598962472015-12-29T22:44:00.001-06:002015-12-29T23:59:11.072-06:00Aloha! A Throwback to the HI LifeB and I took a Hawaiian Honeymoon to Maui back in March, wherein I checked off a grand total of 5 items from my <a href="http://www.twentytenthirty.blogspot.com/p/the-list-2015-is-compilation-of-100.html" target="_blank">2015 List</a>, plus 2 bonus items.<br />
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And now here we are, some 9 months later, and I still haven't written about our incredible Hawaiian Honeymoon. Heck, my friend <a href="http://mk52new.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">MK</a> (who inspired my list) has already written up her recent HI life experience via several posts (like <a href="http://mk52new.blogspot.com/2015/11/43-snorkel-somewhere-new.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://mk52new.blogspot.com/2015/10/46-surf-at-least-12-times.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://mk52new.blogspot.com/2015/09/53-stand-up-paddle-board.html" target="_blank">here</a>), and her trip was just a month ago. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if she wrote up her entries while she was still kicking it on the Big Island!<br />
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So here we go, better late than never. Besides, it's fun for me to reminisce about our <b>Maui Vacation (achieving #71 on the list)</b>, especially now that the weather here in Minne has turned snowy and blustery. Plus, I only have a few days left in 2015 before the 2016 listing begins!<br />
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Despite cooler than average temps and a decent amount of rain, we had a wonderful time, filled with adventure, new experiences, tasty treats, and plenty of Hawaiian rainbows (a nice output to all that rain). Here's a pictorial of some of the highlights from our romantic getaway.<br />
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B and I stayed in an ocean view room at the beautiful Westin Maui Resort & Spa on Ka'anapali Beach. The grounds are beautiful, and include a parrot that says "Aloha." We had a terrific stay.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yC_tMkAYHhg/VoMh6Jwn9mI/AAAAAAAABaM/Y7e-A5pcBnU/s1600/2%2BWestin%2BMaui%2BView%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yC_tMkAYHhg/VoMh6Jwn9mI/AAAAAAAABaM/Y7e-A5pcBnU/s320/2%2BWestin%2BMaui%2BView%2B2.JPG" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k-iwKP4DjsQ/VoNJf-mFNCI/AAAAAAAABcI/Tgz191fWAe8/s1600/P1020937.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k-iwKP4DjsQ/VoNJf-mFNCI/AAAAAAAABcI/Tgz191fWAe8/s320/P1020937.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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We had fun checking out the <a href="http://www.whalersvillage.com/" target="_blank"><b>Whaler's Village</b></a>, a cute little shopping and restaurant district right next to our hotel. This is a view of the Whaler's Village from above, taken from our hotel room balcony.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DbyLl9xbqyI/VoMh9Q2C19I/AAAAAAAABaY/QF4mgSKc9tI/s1600/2%2BWestin%2BMaui%2BView.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DbyLl9xbqyI/VoMh9Q2C19I/AAAAAAAABaY/QF4mgSKc9tI/s320/2%2BWestin%2BMaui%2BView.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We also enjoyed exploring various sites along the beach. Check out B, the surfer, and me, the hula girl :)<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3r4Ll9ruxvI/VoMiW3nsvfI/AAAAAAAABak/nghcNaW0jq4/s1600/3%2BKa%2527anapali%2Bbeach%2Bwalk%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FVSxvk19Sa4/VoMia037xpI/AAAAAAAABaw/ryfl2Zkz2QI/s1600/3%2BKa%2527anapali%2Bbeach%2Bwalk%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FVSxvk19Sa4/VoMia037xpI/AAAAAAAABaw/ryfl2Zkz2QI/s320/3%2BKa%2527anapali%2Bbeach%2Bwalk%2B2.JPG" width="240" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NIjdCb1hllM/VoMifp3ZyeI/AAAAAAAABa8/oiLEBILWmP4/s1600/3%2BKa%2527anapali%2Bbeach%2Bwalk%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NIjdCb1hllM/VoMifp3ZyeI/AAAAAAAABa8/oiLEBILWmP4/s320/3%2BKa%2527anapali%2Bbeach%2Bwalk%2B1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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One day, we drove out to have a late lunch at the famous <a href="http://www.mamasfishhouse.com/" target="_blank"><b>Mama's Fish Hous</b>e</a> located on Maui's North Shore. It was absolutely 100% worth the hype! Next time we visit Maui, we think we may stay at the Inn at Mama's, just so we can eat at the Fish House every single day. Mmmmm!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Umbo88VOp1M/VoMjSYeH-NI/AAAAAAAABbI/h567NoJaX8Q/s1600/4%2BMamas%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Umbo88VOp1M/VoMjSYeH-NI/AAAAAAAABbI/h567NoJaX8Q/s320/4%2BMamas%2B1.JPG" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gTqvWaU0vw8/VoMjWlS3t1I/AAAAAAAABbU/b_UvIjKGMRM/s1600/4%2BMamas%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gTqvWaU0vw8/VoMjWlS3t1I/AAAAAAAABbU/b_UvIjKGMRM/s320/4%2BMamas%2B2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We had fun exploring various parts of the island in our Jeep. The photos below are of <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60633-d6652823-Reviews-Sun_Yat_Sen_Park-Kula_Maui_Hawaii.html" target="_blank"><b>Sun Yat Sen Park</b></a> in Upcountry Maui, The<b> <a href="https://mauiwine.com/" target="_blank">Ulupalakua Vineyards/Maui Winery</a></b>, and the famous <a href="http://www.to-hawaii.com/maui/attractions/lahainabanyantree.php" target="_blank"><b>Banyan Tree</b></a> on Front Street in Lahaina.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AuD-m3KdTN0/VoMkzKi9faI/AAAAAAAABbg/hq0M1WXbPo4/s1600/5%2BDrive%2BSun%2BYat%2BSen%2BPark.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AuD-m3KdTN0/VoMkzKi9faI/AAAAAAAABbg/hq0M1WXbPo4/s320/5%2BDrive%2BSun%2BYat%2BSen%2BPark.JPG" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Ru0Tht9pxE/VoMk3dTieHI/AAAAAAAABbs/BKyQm1C7D7Q/s1600/5%2BDrive%2BUlupalakua%2BVineyards.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Ru0Tht9pxE/VoMk3dTieHI/AAAAAAAABbs/BKyQm1C7D7Q/s320/5%2BDrive%2BUlupalakua%2BVineyards.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_guh5s3ljhw/VoMk7lEUXYI/AAAAAAAABb4/KrzcJAZLUsM/s1600/5%2BFront%2BStreet%2BBanyan%2BTree.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_guh5s3ljhw/VoMk7lEUXYI/AAAAAAAABb4/KrzcJAZLUsM/s320/5%2BFront%2BStreet%2BBanyan%2BTree.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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My friend LWH recommended we check out the <b><a href="https://www.feastatlele.com/" target="_blank">Feast at Lele</a></b>, a Polynesian Luau that explores the culture and cuisine of several Pacific Island nations. One of the dancers looked just like my cousin, which added to our enjoyment of the evening. <b>Going to a Luau was #73 </b>on my 2015 list.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DlKkLtSSTPw/VoNLAo4et1I/AAAAAAAABcU/EoW6tA9DwFg/s1600/6%2BFeast%2Bat%2BLele%2B3.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DlKkLtSSTPw/VoNLAo4et1I/AAAAAAAABcU/EoW6tA9DwFg/s320/6%2BFeast%2Bat%2BLele%2B3.JPG" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oYW8MixTwmg/VoNLGCvVlDI/AAAAAAAABcg/Pm8w9lBdaEY/s1600/6%2BFeast%2Bat%2BLele%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oYW8MixTwmg/VoNLGCvVlDI/AAAAAAAABcg/Pm8w9lBdaEY/s320/6%2BFeast%2Bat%2BLele%2B2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We also took in a day of <b>snorkeling (#72 on my list)</b> and <b>whale watching</b>. During our snorkel, we <b>swam with sea turtles (#75)</b> -- one even swam right up next to me -- I had to hurriedly swim out of the way so it wouldn't collide with me! Whale watching was also a wonderful experience. We were in Hawaii at the end of Humpback whale season, after the whales had their babies, so little whale families were surfacing often. In fact, the experience was so cool that I retroactively added "go whale watching" as a Bonus item (#104) on my list.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V7RGrBGRqpo/VoNOva-mUmI/AAAAAAAABcs/leBUjxwvKv4/s1600/7%2BSnorkel%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V7RGrBGRqpo/VoNOva-mUmI/AAAAAAAABcs/leBUjxwvKv4/s320/7%2BSnorkel%2B1.JPG" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X5B_gUROSPM/VoNO4s6X1HI/AAAAAAAABc4/64qA8TlDGog/s1600/7%2BSnorkel%2B4.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X5B_gUROSPM/VoNO4s6X1HI/AAAAAAAABc4/64qA8TlDGog/s320/7%2BSnorkel%2B4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RUPGsY0Q2G8/VoNO8IAGjlI/AAAAAAAABdE/KQMDrWnRBN8/s1600/7%2BSnorkel%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RUPGsY0Q2G8/VoNO8IAGjlI/AAAAAAAABdE/KQMDrWnRBN8/s320/7%2BSnorkel%2B2.JPG" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eLt1KQVidcY/VoNO_MUVFJI/AAAAAAAABdQ/ssZiWQFh5dU/s1600/7%2BSnorkel%2B3.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eLt1KQVidcY/VoNO_MUVFJI/AAAAAAAABdQ/ssZiWQFh5dU/s320/7%2BSnorkel%2B3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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One rather eerie activity we did was visit the <b>Nakalele Blowhole</b>, a naturally occurring wonder that has claimed several victims, its retreating water sucking in unsuspecting lives through the blowhole. We kept a good distance. Safety first...<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mm2zM2JDj1I/VoNRENpaevI/AAAAAAAABdc/aRJW-4bRzNo/s1600/8%2BNakalele%2Bblowhole%2B%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mm2zM2JDj1I/VoNRENpaevI/AAAAAAAABdc/aRJW-4bRzNo/s320/8%2BNakalele%2Bblowhole%2B%2B1.JPG" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aCzXqw686fA/VoNRHugnwxI/AAAAAAAABdo/tKXy9XD0n-8/s1600/8%2BNakalele%2Bblowhole%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aCzXqw686fA/VoNRHugnwxI/AAAAAAAABdo/tKXy9XD0n-8/s320/8%2BNakalele%2Bblowhole%2B2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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One of the most fun activities we did during our vacation was to <b>zipline</b>. I can't believe this one wasn't on my list either, so hey, what the heck - I added it as Bonus item #105. We ziplined with the <a href="http://www.flyinhawaiianzipline.com/" target="_blank">Flyin Hawaiian</a>, Hawaii's longest zipline adventure! The trip also included a surprise 4 wheeler ride up to the first zipline - so much rain and mud made four wheeling the only way we could get to the start of the course.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JJYA_nGlO9A/VoNaDDpREnI/AAAAAAAABek/eZHBgLuEyIw/s1600/9%2BZipline%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JJYA_nGlO9A/VoNaDDpREnI/AAAAAAAABek/eZHBgLuEyIw/s320/9%2BZipline%2B1.JPG" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tlJahWzkuV8/VoNaK_jFGAI/AAAAAAAABew/dqwAB0Co5M8/s1600/9%2BZipline%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tlJahWzkuV8/VoNaK_jFGAI/AAAAAAAABew/dqwAB0Co5M8/s320/9%2BZipline%2B2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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B and I also traveled the <b><a href="http://roadtohana.com/" target="_blank">Road to Hana</a> (#74 on the list)</b> an incredible adventure that we enjoyed, but mutually agreed that once was enough (switchback city! The ride is a nail-biter.) Here are just a few of the stops we took along the way...<br />
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Generally speaking, the whole drive felt like being in the movie, Fern Gully. 50 Shades of Green! So lush!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hAJ63rvvaoc/VoNVSfFaDzI/AAAAAAAABd0/0YO6fc0kybk/s1600/10a%2BRoad%2Bto%2BHana%2BFern%2BGully.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hAJ63rvvaoc/VoNVSfFaDzI/AAAAAAAABd0/0YO6fc0kybk/s320/10a%2BRoad%2Bto%2BHana%2BFern%2BGully.JPG" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xfwTXhFFI-w/VoNbVL-SJiI/AAAAAAAABfU/jaXeWietYZM/s1600/P3090383.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xfwTXhFFI-w/VoNbVL-SJiI/AAAAAAAABfU/jaXeWietYZM/s320/P3090383.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Early on, we stopped to see <b>Three Bears Falls</b> for a few brief snaps. We had to park up a hill and hike back down the twisty turny road to see it, but it was worth it.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vuxqe43Q5DQ/VoNVr9DHEEI/AAAAAAAABeA/PG6FavzeYNA/s1600/10b%2BRoad%2Bto%2BHana%2BThree%2BBear%2BFalls.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vuxqe43Q5DQ/VoNVr9DHEEI/AAAAAAAABeA/PG6FavzeYNA/s320/10b%2BRoad%2Bto%2BHana%2BThree%2BBear%2BFalls.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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While we were waiting for the Lava Tube tour to open, we checked out the <a href="http://mauiguidebook.com/road-to-hana-maui/road-to-hana-sites-to-see-maui/kahanu-garden-piilanihale-heiau/" target="_blank"><b>Kahanu Botanical Gardens</b></a> and ancient sacred temple. A picturesque stop that was worth the visit. Also, watch out for falling coconuts!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m2l08EUIN-E/VoNVzhkDLKI/AAAAAAAABeM/Csirk3kgKwQ/s1600/10c%2BRoad%2Bto%2BHana%2BKahanu%2BGardens%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m2l08EUIN-E/VoNVzhkDLKI/AAAAAAAABeM/Csirk3kgKwQ/s320/10c%2BRoad%2Bto%2BHana%2BKahanu%2BGardens%2B1.JPG" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SUJ-UdaVjz0/VoNV2193bfI/AAAAAAAABeY/49U2uGoQ1pA/s1600/10c%2BRoad%2Bto%2BHana%2BKahanu%2BGardens%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SUJ-UdaVjz0/VoNV2193bfI/AAAAAAAABeY/49U2uGoQ1pA/s320/10c%2BRoad%2Bto%2BHana%2BKahanu%2BGardens%2B2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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The <a href="http://mauicave.com/" target="_blank"><b>Hana lava tubes</b></a> were awesome. Do it. Trust me. 'Nuff said.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XlS24UPIGtI/VoNarWof-0I/AAAAAAAABe8/5gj3ThPyuE0/s1600/10d%2BRoad%2Bto%2BHana%2BLava%2BTubes%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XlS24UPIGtI/VoNarWof-0I/AAAAAAAABe8/5gj3ThPyuE0/s320/10d%2BRoad%2Bto%2BHana%2BLava%2BTubes%2B2.JPG" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mbn27-9vQtw/VoNaulylsKI/AAAAAAAABfI/Z6rpKKX6BbE/s1600/10d%2BRoad%2Bto%2BHana%2BLava%2BTubes.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mbn27-9vQtw/VoNaulylsKI/AAAAAAAABfI/Z6rpKKX6BbE/s320/10d%2BRoad%2Bto%2BHana%2BLava%2BTubes.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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We got a bit ambitious and took a hike on the <a href="http://www.unrealhawaii.com/2013/04/pipiwai-trail-to-waimoku-falls/" target="_blank"><b>Pipiwai Trail</b></a>, a climb of nearly 100 vertical flights of stairs, according to my Fitbit. The hike included the rather ominous sign listed below, and an incredible stretch of bamboo forest that seems to appear out of nowhere and ends with a waterfall. Cool!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zxl_n9A7D18/VoNbfQoaAzI/AAAAAAAABfs/pEWo_N8H-R0/s1600/10e%2BRoad%2Bto%2BHana%2BPipiwai%2BTrail%2BWarning.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zxl_n9A7D18/VoNbfQoaAzI/AAAAAAAABfs/pEWo_N8H-R0/s320/10e%2BRoad%2Bto%2BHana%2BPipiwai%2BTrail%2BWarning.JPG" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v_3rtU-ifNA/VoNbkcXRA6I/AAAAAAAABf4/o-kOTe2jVZQ/s1600/10e%2BRoad%2Bto%2BHana%2BPipiwai%2BTrail.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v_3rtU-ifNA/VoNbkcXRA6I/AAAAAAAABf4/o-kOTe2jVZQ/s320/10e%2BRoad%2Bto%2BHana%2BPipiwai%2BTrail.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Just beneath the Pipiwai trail hike are the famous <b>Seven Sacred Pools</b>. Sometimes sharks swim in them - yikes! But fear not, the pools where quite dry when we were there...so no sharkies. Confession time: By the time we got to the pools, we were on nature overload, and I admit, we didn't stay long.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oKUwEge4DuI/VoNyilbFmsI/AAAAAAAABgg/YaPEjwFMgCw/s1600/P1030365.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oKUwEge4DuI/VoNyilbFmsI/AAAAAAAABgg/YaPEjwFMgCw/s320/P1030365.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sh4flRbWp8s/VoNbvTdFa2I/AAAAAAAABgE/xeqrYWB2D1E/s1600/10f%2BRoad%2Bto%2BHana%2BSeven%2BSacred%2BPools.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sh4flRbWp8s/VoNbvTdFa2I/AAAAAAAABgE/xeqrYWB2D1E/s320/10f%2BRoad%2Bto%2BHana%2BSeven%2BSacred%2BPools.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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All in all, and as you can see from the photos, we had a spectacular honeymoon. Aloha, Hawaii, until we meet again!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uNbjKPo5Hf8/VoNeaugCH6I/AAAAAAAABgQ/12qyB-a7Duk/s1600/1%2BAloha%2BSign.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uNbjKPo5Hf8/VoNeaugCH6I/AAAAAAAABgQ/12qyB-a7Duk/s320/1%2BAloha%2BSign.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04752563846205334617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177443864003251670.post-86889994411636619712015-12-28T19:00:00.003-06:002015-12-28T19:01:49.115-06:00Adulting (aka a Somewhat Boring Post about Long Term Fiscal Planning)Money Money Money. Money.<br />
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I've thought about money here and there over the past several months, ever since I <a href="http://www.twentytenthirty.blogspot.com/2015/06/stopping-clock.html" target="_blank">left my job</a> back at the end of May. Funny how that works, once the money train stops a-choo-chooing, it suddenly becomes a top of mind topic.<br />
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While I was more than prepared with savings especially set aside for my time away from working professionally, I couldn't help but think about my net worth, and how I would secure my future.<br />
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So, I decided to step up my investment game with the help of a professional financial advisor (#12 on my <a href="http://www.twentytenthirty.blogspot.com/p/the-list-2015-is-compilation-of-100.html" target="_blank">2015 List</a>).<br />
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I ultimately decided to work with a trusted family advisor who managed my grandparents' estate, and one particularly arduous task on my to-do list with said advisor was to finally get around to consolidating my retirement accounts set up through my various employers over the years.<br />
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So...okay, YAY for my (ultra limited) 'savviness' and investing in my employer retirement plans, meeting at least the match, and for saving every last piece of mail and paperwork associated with said investments from the last 13 years in a couple of big file bins...and BOO for basically doing absolutely NOTHING else to help my future self financially (like, I never even opened any of the previously mentioned mail -- I would receive it and eventually get around to throwing it in a file bin to "deal with later." Yep, financial genius here).<br />
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Let's just say it took a long flipping time to get my financial house in order to finally consolidate my moolah. All in all, I started the process in July, which included a lot of sleuthing, making frustrating phone calls, and sorting through mountains of paperwork and old mail to make sure I had everything I needed, and I only just finalized my new consolidated account, like 3 weeks ago.<br />
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I freely admit I dragged my feet along the way and didn't necessarily bank a lot of confidence with my new advisor who might think I'm kind of a moron (true), but I'm glad that I finally got my act together to take care of my biznaasss.<br />
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I now feel like a bonafide successful grown ass woman, with a legit financial planner and a positive net worth (until we buy a house, that is...), and a clear understanding of WTF is actually going on with my hard-earned benjamins. It's also comforting to know that I'm on track for saving for my retirement, despite this little career pause.<br />
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So hey. I adulted. It was boring, it was frustrating, and it involved me having to buckle down and think through some important decisions regarding my and Brian's future and use my brain when I thought I'd spend this whole down time period letting it atrophy (kidding...a little!). But, it was also empowering and freeing to see the fruits that I've worked so hard for all of these years -- knowledge is power!<br />
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No more adulting for me for a while now (kidding again...a little! winky face! ;))Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04752563846205334617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177443864003251670.post-68360385195660396152015-11-17T22:00:00.004-06:002015-12-19T10:40:04.561-06:00Small (and Tasty) Wins I love cheesy grits. I'm not sure when I first discovered this love of mine, but it's a love that has endured for several years now, and I've always wanted to learn how to make them at home.<br />
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For some reason, I always thought that making grits would be super hard, so I put off figuring out how to do it myself.<br />
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I'm not a total moron in the kitchen -- though my previous statement about grits being a tough dish to make might suggest otherwise...because it turns out making grits is incredibly simple.<br />
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Also, did you know grits and polenta are the same darn thing? Really, I swear I'm not a total idiot in the kitchen.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Grits = Polenta. Who knew?!? Oh, YOU knew??? Smartypants!</span></i></div>
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Late last week while perusing Pinterest, I found a delicious sounding recipe for <a href="http://www.slenderkitchen.com/recipe/basil-parmesan-polenta" target="_blank">Basil Parmesan Polenta</a> via a zippy, fun and healthy little website called <a href="http://www.slenderkitchen.com/" target="_blank">The Slender Kitchen</a>. So, I decided to make it, thus checking off #11 of my <a href="http://www.twentytenthirty.blogspot.com/p/the-list-2015-is-compilation-of-100.html" target="_blank">2015 List</a> to make grits. #goals<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>From the stove top to my gullet. Omnomnom!</i></span></div>
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The basil parmesan grits were a delicious accompaniment to the bone-in strip steak that B made and the phenomenal bottle of Horse & Plow 2013 Farmstead "Old Vines" Red wine (thanks for the recco, <a href="http://shop.southlyndale.com/store/" target="_blank">South Lyndale Liquors</a>), all served up while binge watching <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/15/arts/television/aziz-ansari-on-acting-race-and-hollywood.html" target="_blank">Aziz Ansari's</a> equally delicious, uber insightful, new original Netflix series called <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bFvb3WKISk" target="_blank">Master of None</a>. We are party animals.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I wanted to get the TV in the background showing our Netflix selection, </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>but the TV glare....and my lacking iphotography skills...oy.</i></span></div>
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Hey <a href="https://instagram.com/azizansari/" target="_blank">Aziz</a>, in the extreme likelihood that you stumble open my blog, just wanted to let you know that you're invited to our humble abode here in MPLS ANYTIME for my Basil Parmesan grits, bone-in steak, mid-priced vino ($20 range) and semi-intelligent conversation on human truths, theories and observations. Also, do you like cats? Meeow!Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04752563846205334617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177443864003251670.post-63178713289236572782015-11-04T09:27:00.004-06:002015-11-07T07:59:36.721-06:00Always In Transition<br />
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<i><b>"Humans [are] transitional beings - beings who are neither fully caught nor fully free but are in the process of awakening...I'm in the process of becoming, in the process of evolving...I'm creating my future with every word, every action, every thought."</b></i></div>
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<i>- <a href="http://pemachodronfoundation.org/" target="_blank">Pema Chodron</a></i></div>
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I love this excerpt from Pema Chodron's book, <i style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shambhala.com/living-beautifully.html" target="_blank">Living Beautifully with Uncertainty and Change</a>, </i><span style="text-align: center;">which I'm currently reading. It's a powerful reminder that we are all transient; nothing about our lives is permanent nor guaranteed. </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">I find a mix of both peace and apprehension with the knowledge of my own fluidity. It's easy to cling to certain perceptions and ideas we have about ourselves, both good and bad. It's a clear cut solution to set very specific goals and begin the steadfast march along a specific course of action. My natural tendency, my go-to inclination, is to attempt to control and corral the world around me.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">I don't think I'm alone in this desire to want to control, to keep things fixed and comfortable. The irony is that, in that effort to control everything, when the world inevitably throws a wrench in our carefully laid plans, we often feel anything but easy breezy.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">While it is scary and challenging to "let go" and "just be," I am learning that it is extremely empowering to grant myself the freedom to flow, to change my mind and views as I gain new insight from the world around me, to lean into the obstacles and explore new routes rather than resist them simply because they were unexpected. </span><span style="text-align: center;">I am learning </span><span style="text-align: center;">to accept the world as it is (in all of its infinite chaos), and me as I am (and my infinite chaos), while inviting in the room to evolve, to grow, to change.</span><br />
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Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04752563846205334617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177443864003251670.post-76382343702824010612015-09-27T17:05:00.001-05:002015-09-27T17:20:41.250-05:00"We Plan, God Laughs"<div style="text-align: center;">
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It's been just about four months since I left the corporate gig, and these days, I am a BUSY little bee! While I still find time more time than the average working bear to flop and laze (you might recall the "flop and laze" is pretty much the <a href="http://www.twentytenthirty.blogspot.com/2015/06/living-la-vida-low-key.html" target="_blank">defining characteristic</a> of my early weeks of FUNemployment), I now have quite the packed calendar. </div>
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Four months ago, I could never have guessed that where I am now is where I would be. Oh, I had ideas...but reality was quick to remind me of the pure TRUTH of that old Yiddish Proverb, "<b>We plan, God Laughs."</b><br />
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I'll let you in on a little secret. <b>I am a burgeoning oenephile </b>(though that is not really a secret to those who know me well). While I've imbibed in wine for many years, it's only been in the past few years that I've gotten more passionate and committed to learning the details and intricacies of the wonderful world of wine (especially those delicious sparklers!) In fact, I was SUPPOSED to begin a semester long, in-depth wine professional/sommelier certification program this fall...but <b>my program was cancelled</b>. I signed up for the program before I quit my job, so when the program was cancelled, I was bummed, to say the least. Sure, it's just a temporary road block and I'm exploring other programs (and keeping my eye out for this program to potentially start up in the winter), but that program was meant to be my fall anchor and provide the momentum to launch of a whole new career! <b>Now what was I supposed to do?!</b><br />
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In the absence of a formal wine program at my finger tips, I decided the least I could do was visit a few new wineries, my own little independent study. <b>I visited a Minnesota Winery (#79 on my <a href="http://www.twentytenthirty.blogspot.com/p/the-list-2015-is-compilation-of-100.html" target="_blank">2015 List</a>)</b> called <a href="http://www.warehousewinery.com/" target="_blank">Warehouse Winery</a>, conveniently located right here in the Twin Cities. While the space was cool, and it was fun to learn about Minnesota's cold climate grapes, including those grown in the St Croix river valley, I wasn't in love with the wines themselves. Additionally, I just returned from a brief vacation to San Francisco to visit my friends W+D and drink plenty of wine. <b>My trip to SF included a day sojourn to Napa, where we visited not one, but 3 new-to-me California wineries (#81 on my list).</b> We decided to focus on bubbles for the day and visited <a href="https://www.domainecarneros.com/" target="_blank">Domaine Carneros</a> (my favorite of the 3), <a href="http://www.chandon.com/" target="_blank">Chandon</a> and <a href="https://www.mummnapa.com/" target="_blank">Mumm</a>. After our day of wine tastings, we even managed to score a table at <a href="http://www.thomaskeller.com/bouchon-bistro-yountville" target="_blank">Bouchon</a> for dinner in the chichi Napa town of Yountville. Bouchon is a Thomas Keller restaurant, and I soon learned he is kind of a big deal chef. Dinner at Bouchon did not disappoint and was a great way to close out our Napa day trip.<br />
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I am also filling the void by hitting the fitness beat hard. I've always enjoyed working out, but it was something I consistently downgraded and sacrificed back in my consultant days in favor of bending over backward for demanding clients and colleagues on projects that really didn't fire me up. Well, <b>now that I don't have that pesky JOB thing to deal with, I'm working out 5-6 days a week, and sometimes twice in one day. </b>My workouts include <a href="http://www.orangetheoryfitness.com/" target="_blank">OTF interval training</a> 2-3 times a week, running 2-3 times a week (gearing up for the <a href="https://www.tcmevents.org/events/medtronic_twin_cities_marathon_weekend_-_october_2-4_2015/10_mile/" target="_blank">Medtronic TC 10 Mile</a> race next weekend), and practicing yoga 1-3 times a week. Also, over past 6 weeks or so, have cleaned up my eating quite a bit, and am on a 40+ day streak logging my foodstuffs into MyFitnessPal. My newfound healthy habits seem to be paying off. <b>In fact, I've lost 21 lbs since I left my career at the end of May. </b>I haven't felt this strong and healthy in years!<br />
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Perhaps the most unexpected development is that <b>I have a JOB</b>(ish)! I'm currently volunteering four afternoons a week at a <a href="http://www.education.state.mn.us/MDE/SchSup/ESEA/TitleIPartA/" target="_blank">Title I</a> Saint Paul public secondary school, serving as the Stage Manager for the Fall Musical production of Little Shop of Horrors. What's funny about this is that I have ZE-to the-RO experience working in any kind of theater. Thankfully, I'm an enthusiastic learner, I have plenty of experience volunteering with kids, and I'm pretty tight with the director (he was a groomsmen in our wedding). I'm learning a ton, and I even had the opportunity to meet with a professional stage manager to help me learn some of the ropes. Essentially though, I'm an extra pair of hands to help further the efforts of a theater program that has limited resources, and I want to do the best job I can to make a positive contribution.<br />
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The most fulfilling thing about volunteering with the production so far is, of course, the kids.They are fricking awesome, and I love them. They are so passionate and fun, and it's a thrill to get to know them and share this learning experience with them. According to some of the kids, <b>my selfie game is strong, my outfits are on fleek, I'm way younger than they thought I'd be, </b><b>I'm not too annoying, I'm sort of cool, </b>but <b>I really cannot dance. </b>Hey, I'll take what I can get! I also now know what "BAE" and "THOT" stand for. I'm a little behind on today's slang, but nothing like hanging out with 6th thru 12th graders to get up to speed.<br />
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So, that's where I am now. <b>Each day, I'm growing more comfortable with <a href="http://www.eomega.org/article/life-without-the-story-line" target="_blank">living life without a storyline</a> </b>(Pema Chodron's words, per the link) opting instead to do my best to roll with ebbs and flows of life versus trying to commandeer and manipulate every darn little thing to my liking and resisting life's natural currents and inevitable obstacles. It's not easy, but I am happy to be learning to live in this more open-minded way, a way that acknowledges that <b>my life's script is one of infinite fluidity</b>, never to be set in stone. I feel more free, more empowered, and more aware of new opportunities and paths that I might have otherwise overlooked; paths that have perhaps been there all along, just waiting for me to be ready to explore more freely. And the journey continues...Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04752563846205334617noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177443864003251670.post-78888543104864515292015-09-02T17:24:00.000-05:002015-09-02T18:20:35.768-05:00The Great Minnesota Get TogetherDo you know what time it is? It's time for the State Fair! This is the only acceptable answer to such a question at this time of year. That is, if you're from Minnesota.<br />
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These Minnesohhhtans, they are vee-ary seeerious fair goh-ers, don'tchya know! Also known as the Great Minnesota Get Together, aka the Great Minnesota "Sweat Together" since the temps almost never fail to rise up into the 90s at the time of the fair (and this year is no exception, extra entertaining given that a week ago the temps were barely scraping the 60s), the festivities last a sweat-covered, mullet-infested, fried-and-doused-in-butter, greasy-and-gluttonous 12 days, wrapping up each year on the unofficial last day of summer, Labor Day.<br />
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Attendance is basically "required" if you live in here in MN, lest you want your state residency status revoked. At least that's what we were told when we were issued our MN driver's licences 3 years ago. Like I said, Minnesotans mean business.<br />
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Confession time - B and I purposefully opted out of the fair tradition last year. We had a lot going on getting ready for our wedding, and neither of us are big on crowds. However, this year we wanted to regain our residency status, so we plotted out our plan to tackle the fair.<br />
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We graced the fair with our presence last Friday afternoon (before the heat and humidity rolled in, I might add!), and met up with our favorite fair-going veterans, Aaron and Heather. These two born-and-bred MN locals are seasoned pros, and we were more than happy to tag along and follow their lead.<br />
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B and I had a pretty short fair to-do list, and might I add, highly manageable for our one-and-only afternoon of planned attendance for MN State Fair 2015. It turns out many Twin Cities locals will hit up the fair multiple times (A+H are going 4!!!! times I think?!), and as such, the multi-trippers tend to have a more intricate and detailed list of "fair requirements" to complete. B and I though, we're "one and done." Multiple visits to the fair are not our jam, so we keep our list short and sweet.<br />
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Here's what we tackled:<br />
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<b>Visit the baby animals. CHECK!</b><br />
This was a key item on my list. I have an odd love for barnyard animals, and if there is a place to see barnyard animals, it's the fair. To meet this requirement, we decided to bravely visit the "Miracle of Birth Center", where the sows, heifers and ewes birth their young. I don't do "biology", so I didn't actually want to SEE a live birth, but I did want to see the brand new babies! At the time of our arrival, a sow was nearing the end (hopefully) of her labor, having birthed 17 (!!!) little piglets and counting throughout the day. Thankfully, there was a big crowd around Momma pig, so no up-close lessons on the miracle of birth were learned. BUT, we did see day-old piglets from another sow momma (below) - and I even got to pet one (squeeeee)! We also saw fleecy new little lambs (a few pictured), and baby calfs (90# at birth, whoa baby! sorry I forgot to grab a calf pic, but they were pretty adorbs too).<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h7_GOwfJepc/VediSX5YpdI/AAAAAAAABVw/sVWGejFC7bk/s1600/State%2BFair%2BPiggies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h7_GOwfJepc/VediSX5YpdI/AAAAAAAABVw/sVWGejFC7bk/s320/State%2BFair%2BPiggies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">So much cuuute! B, do you think Timmy and Little Cloud would be cool if we got a baby lambie or piggy? It could sleep in the bathtub!</span></i><br />
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<b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Kay_of_the_Milky_Way" target="_blank">Visit Princess Kay (of the Milky Way) and her "butter bust." CHECK!</a></b><br />
I kind of forgot about this one, so visiting Princess Kay and her literal butter bust was a late add to the checklist (thanks, Heather, for the reminder on this one). In typical Molly fashion, I didn't take a photo, so a description and a link will have to suffice. Each year at the fair, a new Dairy Princess is crowned "Princess Kay of the Milky Way". The winner and finalists sit in a frozen glass room for all to see while a sculptor commemorates her...in a butter bust. According to Wikipedia, sculptor Linda Christensen has been the official butter sculptor at the fair for nearly 40 years! The lucky ladies then get to keep the sculptures at the conclusion of the fair. What she does with it then, I do not know. Wrestle in it? Bathe in it? Butter a thousand baked potatoes? Bake a thousand cookies? Popcorn party? Lordy. Can you say "high cholesterol"? How about "heart attack"? Peep the link in the header above for more specs on this cray tradition, yo.<br />
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<b>Ride a Ride. CHECK!</b><br />
Ride a ride at the Minnesota State fair also happens to be <a href="http://twentytenthirty.blogspot.com/p/the-list-2015-is-compilation-of-100.html" target="_blank">#57 on my 2015 List</a>, and I'm happy to say that I can check that one off...forever. To complete my mission, I selected the "Giant Slide" that you ride down on a potato sack type contraption. It seemed innocuous enough, and everyone, including the little kids appear so fun and fancy free gliding effortlessly and eagerly down the slide. For my part, I screamed the whole way down. I was the only one screaming. I think I scared small children with my hollering. Also, I almost slid into the wall at the end. So, there's that.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Highly accurate reenactment of my Big Slide adventure. </span></i></div>
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<b>Play Midway games. CHECK!</b><br />
Not surprisingly, this was a Brian-specific item on our combined list. He loves anything with a little bit of a competitive edge. We bought enough tickets for a handful of Midway games, but alas, the glory of the win would not be ours...well, Brian or mine anyway. The old hands, Aaron and Heather, nabbed a few small prizes. We played a ring toss, a ball toss and some other throwing type game, I think. Sadly, we spotted Skee-Ball after all of our tickets were spent, though I would have been happy to ante up if B had insisted. He is a former Skee-Ball Wizard, after all! (true story, apparently he was like a baby phenom or something, and once won so many tickets playing as a little kid that he commanded quite an audience!) I'm pretty sure a name candidate for B's future memoir is "I was Once a Skee-Ball Wizard."<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">B and A, trying to win the big bananas.</span></i></div>
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<b>Eat all of the things. CHECK! CHECK! CHECK!</b><br />
Nothing quite says "State fair" like stuffing your face with all things fried, greasy, salted and handheld and getting wheeled out on a gurney when your clogged, buttery heart skips a few beats. Some people like to get experimental at the fair and try all the <a href="http://www.mnstatefair.org/fun/new_food/" target="_blank">new food things that debut each year</a>. I prefer to go for the classics, which for me include beer (just regular, not the <a href="http://liftbridgebrewery.com/beers/mini-donut-beer/" target="_blank">mini donut beer</a>), cheese curds, <a href="http://www.startribune.com/how-corn-king-conquered-state-fair/128718843/" target="_blank">Corn Roas</a>t, fried pickles and <a href="http://www.sweetmarthas.com/" target="_blank">Sweet Martha's Cookie</a>s. I did branch out and try a bite of Heather & Aaron's Tikka-on-a-Stikka and the Chicken Samosas from <a href="http://hotindianfoods.com/find-us/" target="_blank">Hot Indian</a> -- both very nom-nom-worthy! I kind of wish I had gone back for my very own Tikka. However, considering I ingested more than 2000 calories at the fair, according to MyFitnessPal, maybe it's better that I refrained. Egads!<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">B posing in front of Sweet Martha's. That "cone of shame" contains 15 chocolate chip cookies, and is the smallest size available. We ate all the cookies in 5 minutes flat. We are the champions.</span></i></div>
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And that, my friends, is how we earned back our MN residency cards at the State Fair. What are YOUR favorite fair attractions and foods?Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04752563846205334617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177443864003251670.post-40487997589499567812015-08-19T19:27:00.001-05:002015-08-19T19:47:37.807-05:00Going the distanceAfter nearly 4 weeks of travel, I'm back in the "Minnie Apple" for the foreseeable future. I spent a fantastic 2.5 weeks in Michigan visiting friends and family, with a brief stop back in MN before departing on a long weekend to Vancouver BC to run the <a href="http://www.seawheeze.com/" target="_blank">Seawheeze</a> half marathon and have a kick ass weekend with a great group of runner gal friends, new and old. Incidentally, this also checks the box for #52 on my <a href="http://twentytenthirty.blogspot.com/p/the-list-2015-is-compilation-of-100.html" target="_blank">"100 Things" 2015 List</a> to run a destination race.<br />
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The race itself was simultaneously a high point and a low point of the weekend for me. The course was breathtaking (and not just because I was running!), with the first half winding through the vibrant and eclectic Vancouver city proper, and with the second half scrolling along the perimeter of the rocks, trees and cool, deep turquoise waves and mist that define the Stanley Park seawall. In hindsight, I wish I had taken photos of the spectacular course during the race, not to mention the awesome entertainment along the course (synchronized spinners! bands floating on platforms in the harbor! bubbles! dancers! mermaids!). However, just completing the run took an intense slice of my focus and effort. Unfortunately, despite my consistent and diligent 10 weeks of training leading up to the race, I fell severely short of my time goal and finished the race in a disappointing 3+ hours.<br />
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Prior to this race, I've never been the victim of the dreaded "runner's stomach." Unfortunately, I can claim that feat no more. I felt great for the first 12 or so kilometers, but disaster grumbled and threatened soon after. Let's just say it felt like a true gift from the running gods to spot, right before the start of the seawall portion of the race, a full restroom facility with NO LINES, shining like a lighthouse beacon to this lost sailor, visible just beyond a lineup of porta potties. Strangely enough, I also witnessed a stream of runners waiting for said potties, because HELLO, there was a REAL BATHROOM with NO WAIT just 50 steps over yonder! What are you crazies doing in that long line to enter those stinky caves of despair?!<br />
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I'll leave out the dirty details (runners know what I'm talking about)...but I will say that little side trip not only added several minutes to my time, but really zapped my energy and my confidence for the remainder of the race. After dealing with my stomach woes and rejoining the race, I became keenly aware and overly focused on my flaring plantar fasciitis, my aching joints, my hunger, that super loud talker behind me who wouldn't shut up...and my inner monologue took a turn to the dark side.<br />
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I won't lie, I almost (almost) broke down and cried during those final kilometers of the course, disappointed because I couldn't go the distance. Until I realized that wasn't true at all, I just wasn't going to be able to do it according to my original plan, training and vision. Instead, I knew had to reinvent my vision to match my current circumstances. In this case, that meant to turtle-style the remaining kilometers of my run...slow, steady, breathe in and out, one foot in front of the other, even if that meant a slow walk. I gave myself the best pep talk I could muster, allowed myself to receive energy and inspiration from the beauty of nature that surrounded me, and I managed to very slowly chug along for another 3k or so before giving into an even slower shuffle/walk for the final 5k.<br />
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Sometimes sh*t happens (and sometimes it literally happens...ahem...oh, eff it all, I should delete that but I'm NOT GONNA). Let's try this again...sometimes life has a funny way of not giving a crap (oops, I did it again) about our carefully laid plans. And when that happens, we can choose to roll over and give up...or we can choose to adjust our plans and go the distance anyway.<br />
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I chose to go the distance.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">LM and me (pre-race) in front of the Olympic Cauldron at the Vancouver Convention Center, </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">sporting our freshly applied Lulu race tattoos. (photo credit to CWK!)</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">That's me! Day before the race, with the seaplanes and the Vancouver Harbor as the backdrop.</span></i></div>
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Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04752563846205334617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177443864003251670.post-34304025147393082802015-08-05T20:55:00.000-05:002015-08-20T12:17:19.856-05:00## Hashtag BLESSED (and also hashtag sorrynotsorry for that obnoxious hashtag) ##Greetings from the Mitten State! I do apologize for not putting up my "out of office" so to speak, and leaving my blog to collect dust for a couple of weeks (as if that hasn't happened before!) I'm nearing the end of an 18 day Michigan trip, bouncing around along the I-94 corridor. I haven't been "home" to MI for a stretch this lengthy since I moved away to Chicago 9 years ago, and it has been such a pleasure to have more than a second to spend with my MI friends and family - and it still doesn't feel like enough time!<br />
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Brian joined me for the first half of the trip. We drove to MI together, with a quick overnight stop in the CHI to pick up our friend Matt. I dropped the fellas off in New Buffalo, a cute little beach town just inside the MI border, where they met with 8 of Matt's friends in a rented "beach bungalow" for Matt's bachelor weekend, complete with plenty of steaks, golf, boating, gambling and beach time. During their dude bro weekend, I spent some time near South Haven to camp with my sister and brother-in-law in their beast of a camper, and to celebrate my sister's birthday at their campsite, along with a gaggle of family members. I'm rather impressed with myself to say that, during my time camping with them, I successfully managed to slow down time enough to enjoy a beach side sunset, and a sunrise run the next morning before heading south down the lake to pick up B.</div>
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I picked B up on Sunday, and we spent a better part of the week at my Mom and Step-dad's in Portage. B had to work during the day, but joined in the festivities in the evening. My mom and I made him carrot cake cupcakes for a belated birthday celebration that night (they were pretty delicious!!) The next evening, B and I trekked back out to S. Haven to have dinner with my sister, brother-in-law and dads. The next day, I was in S. Haven AGAIN, sans B this time since he was working, but with my mom and step-dad, to enjoy one last get together with sis and bro-law before they packed up their camper to make the long return to their home in TX. And for our final evening together on the Westside, I took B on his first trip to Bell's Brewery (home of OBERON), and we treated my two early twenty-something cousins and their gorgeous gals to brews and dinner. Of course, we also had plenty of trips to Meijer throughout the week - one of my strange addictions every time I come home to MI!</div>
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The two of us headed to A2 on Thursday to celebrate my mom-in-law's 65th birthday with dinner at Pizza House. We also spent some time enjoying dinner with one of my BFF's and her husband, and the next morning, we also squeezed in a 5K that this same friend organized, before heading to the D to attend a #geekwedding of a neighborhood friend of B's from childhood. The wedding was plenty of fun, with a geek theme mashup of everything from Dr. Who to Star Wars to Video Game couples. Bonus, the in-laws were also invited to the wedding, so it was a great chance to continue to enjoy some extended family time.</div>
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After dropping B off at the airport on Sun, I had the pleasure of grabbing brunch with a friend from my childhood, who I haven't seen in ~17 (!!!) years. Serendipitous circumstances made our brunch possible -- neither of us lives in SE MI, but we both happen to be in the area at the same time, and it was such a treat to catch up.</div>
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Following brunch, I headed back to the Westside, to again stay at my Mom's for a quick stop-over. My mom, stepdad and I gabbed way into the night while enjoying a couple of beers. Although our late night beers (and the wild rainstorm that night!) made for a somewhat extra challenging 9 mile run the next morning, it was well worth it.</div>
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I'm currently at my Dad and step-dad's in Gun Plain, and I will be here until tomorrow evening before I head off to a girl's weekend near Holland, at a lovely home right on Lake MI. We've been enjoying plenty of QT here in the "country", including some time on Pine Lake Beach, a private little beach that is only for the use of those who live in my Dad's neighborhood, along with some kayaking and also some running around the lake. We've enjoyed a few nice meals, including dinner out with my aunt and cousin last night at a little Plainwell Brewery. And today, my dad and I went into Kzoo to volunteer at the Food Pantry, where I helped to bag groceries for those who came in for food. Tomorrow, we'll squeeze in a final kayak around the lake in the AM (and maybe I'll fit in a run), and a trip to the movies in the PM to check out the new Amy Schumer flick.</div>
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I cannot express how wonderful it has been to spend time with so many different loved ones over the past few weeks. Clearly, one of the voids I've been feeling has been related to the absence of family, and my heart is now so full. #BLESSED, y'all! I cringe cringe CRINGE when I see people type that trite little ##, but EFF it, right now I can think of nothing more fitting. Life is damn good!</div>
Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04752563846205334617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177443864003251670.post-15155913290696957632015-07-23T05:08:00.000-05:002015-07-23T05:13:24.966-05:00Witching HourIt's the middle of the night and I am wide awake. I woke up well over an hour ago, overheated in the summer of my bedroom, pillow too warm and comforter too heavy, further aggravated by my two large and furry cats, one outstretched on each side of me and both leaning heavily and against my shoulders, slightly pinning me down and making it difficult for me to turn over. Why they choose to flank me in this way each night, instead of B, is a mystery.<br />
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It's a common scenario that plays out almost every night around the same time, and usually results in me turning over the pillow to the cool side, gently nudging the kitties for a little more room, usually until at least one of the fluffballs gets annoyed and relocates. I then roll to my side and tuck the sheets and comforter between my knees and position myself so that one leg is elongated beneath the covers and the other is bent atop the coverings, open air. Feeling cooled and realigned, I can fall back to sleep within minutes...unless the little mind gremlins of witching hour decide to wreak havoc.<br />
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B and I leave for MI (via a brief Chicago stopover) tomorrow. The anticipation of the forthcoming itinerary has jolted the on-switch in my brain (in a good way! I'm excited for the events ahead!), and I am therefore wide awake.<br />
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Back in my working days, this scenario of witching hour sleeplessness would have revved up a cycle of understandable anxiety.You know, the kind where you tell yourself "I have to wake up for a long day of work in 4 hours, go back to sleep! SLEEP already!" Consequently all of that worry about not sleeping just haunts you even more. So then another hour creeps by...and another...with the night eventually ending with the decision to just get up and start the day well ahead of schedule (which can sometimes be empowering...until the inevitable crash at 10am), or the (even worse) alternative, finally falling into the deepest sleep ever, just minutes before the stab of the alarm clock. Either way, it's a given that day ahead will involve venti plus levels of caffeine infusion.<br />
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My alarm is set to wake me at 7:15 for an early workout followed by a morning of household chores and final trip preparations while B gets a half-day of work in before we hit the road. Despite a busy morning followed by a 6 hour drive to Chicago, I haven't cycled into the sleeplessness dread and gremlin mind takeover scenario. After all, I don't have a stressful day of demanding clients, meetings and heads-down analysis ahead (packing toiletries doesn't take a lot of brainpower), I'm more well rested than I've been in years so a little lack thereof tonight isn't that big a deal, and I'm a wizard at sleeping in the car. Something about the hum of the highway and a reclined front seat knocks me out every time I take a lengthy road trip.<br />
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It's a little feeling of victory, actually, to know that even though sleep has eluded me tonight, I've eluded the mind gremlins of witching hour.Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04752563846205334617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177443864003251670.post-76992182822183032502015-07-15T22:36:00.002-05:002015-07-15T22:41:13.692-05:00Escaping a HijackYesterday, I cried. No obvious reason presented itself in the moment, except that my brain decided I needed to open up the tear valves and relieve the shock waves of pressure I put on myself - an imaginary, illegitimate pressure caused by momentary cases of malfunctioning circuitry inside my head.<br />
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What gives? I have temporarily eradicated any work-related pressure, and all the other external peripherals suggest I should be, by all accounts, enjoying a carefree ride, at least for the near term. And yet it seems my brain is on a constant search for ways to get me all worked up. Such is life when an anxiety disorder is always running in the background, like a useless, oversized, preloaded computer program, wreaking semi-(un)predictable havoc on an otherwise smoothly running system.<br />
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My tears lasted just moments, and B helped me to pull me out of my drive-by-funk and had me laughing and smiling again in no time. I recently learned that <a href="https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/openforum/articles/the-90-second-pause-1/" target="_blank">intense emotions have a biological life expectancy of about 90 seconds</a>, and my mini anxiety tornado and its short-lived trajectory before dissipating into the cloud recesses of my mind suggests this new found knowledge just might be accurate.<br />
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It's a compelling little rule of thumb, <a href="https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/openforum/articles/the-90-second-pause-1/" target="_blank">The 90 Second Rule</a>, that even the crappiest and turdiest of feelings can let go just as quickly as they grabbed hold in the first place...particularly if we are conscious enough to pull the plug on the negative circuitry to keep the pattern from reocurring. In related news, this rule on the biology of emotions was discussed in Jill Bolte Taylor's book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/My-Stroke-Insight-Scientists-Personal/dp/0452295548" target="_blank">My Stroke of Insight</a>, which I haven't yet read, but is now on my must-have read list after watching her incredibly popular and compelling <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/jill_bolte_taylor_s_powerful_stroke_of_insight?language=en" target="_blank">Ted Talk</a> of the same name (it's well worth the 18 minute view).<br />
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"Curiosity" is a cognitive behavioral tool I often use to help quell the potential for an "<a href="http://www.danielgoleman.info/the-brain-and-emotional-intelligence-an-interview-with-daniel-goleman/" target="_blank">amygdala hijack</a>" and the resulting deep dive into the abyss of destructive thinking. I've learned to read the signs that I'm about to get sucked into a black hole of my own making. Usually, it's a mix of biological responses (tightness in my chest, a feeling that my body temperature is rising) combined with hyperbolized self talk in the form of catastrophizing and/or speaking in absolute terms ("never" "always" "best" "worst"). If I have the awareness to recognize these signs, then my next step is to allow myself to be a curious observer to my emotional experience. I like curiosity as an approach, because by definition, curiosity is all about genuine, open-minded, non-judgmental exploration. Approaching my emotions with curiosity keeps me from getting caught up the negative hype of the annoying shock jock deejay that is waiting to hijack the turntables that are the hemispheres of my brain.<br />
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So, I slipped a little this time around, and opened the door to a temporary hijack. But, even when things are good (which they, like, SO are right now, omg) the anxiety program is always running in the background, waiting to hijack my system. Diligence, practice, therapy, awareness, curiosity...that's what helps me to escape a long term hijack.Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04752563846205334617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177443864003251670.post-83082608279790085112015-07-08T00:47:00.001-05:002015-07-08T01:10:59.612-05:00It's Not Exactly "Eat, Pray, Love"...I'm not traveling to Italy. Or India. Or Bali. My big enlightening will unfold (hopefully it will unfold, anyway!) right here in Midwest Minne, with a few jaunty, Western-centric excursions to Michigan, British Columbia and Mexico, and possibly a few other destinations dotting the map as well.<br />
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I'm not in the midst of a divorce. Au contraire mon frere! Quite the opposite for this newlywed!<br />
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I do not make my living as a writer. No one is paying me for my dazzling prose as I get down and dirty with my amygdala. Very few people are even reading my words (about 9 readers, according to my Google stats -- don't worry, I have no clear way to know who you are, though I can educate a guess that one my mother, one is my sister, and one is my husband...). No matter, since I'm mostly writing for my own amusement anyway versus attempting to achieve some sort of sense of posterity.<br />
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However, just as Ms. Gilbert detailed in her acclaimed <a href="http://www.elizabethgilbert.com/books/eat-pray-love/" target="_blank">"Eat, Pray, Love</a>" memoir, I too am searching for that elusive thing called <i>purpose. </i>My version of the journey is just a bit more "everyday average gal", and with considerably less wit, lacking in the charm or any level of profound insight.<br />
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Here's where I'm at so far on my magical journey to enlightenment, give or take a few steps and stumbles:<br />
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Step 1: Wear stretchy pants daily and watch a lot of TV. Sometimes do laundry, and try not to forget to feed the cats.<br />
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Step 2: Feel guilty for wearing stretchy pants and watching a lot of TV daily. Even though I'm doing other stuff too. Come on now, with the Netflixing four straight episodes of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1280822/" target="_blank">Drop Dead Diva</a>. Good lord, it's a cancelled Lifetime show, for the love of Pete! Bad, bad Molly!<br />
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Step 3: Screw the guilt! When else will I ever get to sit around and just wear stretchy pants and watch a lot of TV? I don't have any kids! I don't have any major time or life commitments! And, I worked my butt off for years to earn this lazy payout, and I'm going to relax and enjoy it already, dammit! <br />
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Step 4: Cycle back and forth between Step 2 and 3 for a bit.<br />
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Step 5: Consult with therapist about the discomfort I feel for not being more 'productive', and not knowing clearly what I want, because hey, I mean it's been over a month now, where's my enlightenment already??? Discuss many important truths that stem from this pain and discomfort, including its origin and its pervasiveness. No Balinese gurus for me, I have the wisdom of my licensed psychologist, thankyouverymuch!<br />
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Step 6: Noodle on themes from therapy, including observing my emotions and reactions without such harsh self judgement and criticism, accepting that I can love who I am, just as I am right in this moment, full of flaws and conflicts and stumbles (e.g. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s-rRMUl04I" target="_blank">maitri</a>), inviting in my own preferences as being valid, even if they differ from the preferences of others, and generally reflecting on the impermanence of, well, <i>everything.</i> And what the heck, let's share these vulnerabilities of mine in a public digital forum!<br />
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Step 7: Did you read step 6? Shit's heavy. I think I better stay on Step 6 for a while, before I try for step 7. And when I do start to tip toe onward, let's be honest, Step 6 is going to be a tandem effort with all other steps, from here on out.Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04752563846205334617noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177443864003251670.post-21747841691818695632015-07-01T09:25:00.000-05:002015-07-01T09:27:25.471-05:00Month One Recap - Running, Sock Puddles, Par 3s and a Sense8 PlugHow is it July already? June's collection of sunrises and sunsets felt like a flip book, each day a page, turning so effortlessly! While I am still recovering from years of over stress and under concern for what I really want and need to navigate this topsy turvy life maze, the key word is that I am, without a doubt, recovering. And, I'm just beginning to rustle the dust and debris off my psyche, to see what's been hiding underneath.<br />
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Health-wise, I'm back in the habit of taking daily vitamins along with my regular meds, which currently consist of plenty of allergy cure-alls, sine mine have been HORRIBLE this year. My little old lady, days-of-the-week pillbox, featuring adorable lady bug renderings on each day box, has been a huge help informing this daily habit (Thanks, B, for picking up that little treasure for your old lady wife!) I'm drinking more water, and I'm getting a full 8 (plus) hours of sleep each night. I'm also meeting with my therapist every week to help me remember that I am allowed to take this time off for myself, that I am worthy of it, and that it's ok to focus on my wants and needs, first and foremost. She helps me with that pesky negative self-talk and quieting those raucous voices that have a tendency to bucket drum and drone and hiss and tsssk inside the old noggin.<br />
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During "week the second", I started incorporating daily workouts, and for the past 3 weeks, I've worked out at least 5 times a week, including a mix of 3-4 outdoor runs (I'm training for the <a href="http://www.seawheeze.com/run/about.html" target="_blank">SeaWheeze</a> half marathon in VC, BC this coming August), along with 1-2 interval workouts at <a href="http://www.orangetheoryfitness.com/" target="_blank">OrangeTheory</a> (btw, I am obsessed with OTF! And I can tell it's helping to amp up my running game). On my "off" non-workout days, you'll find me at the driving range or more recently, practicing Yoga at my <a href="http://www.youryogamn.com/" target="_blank">favorite studio</a>, where I started up again this past week.<br />
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I am so happy to be running again, and what's especially great about training for a race and not working is that I can fit in my longer training workouts on my favorite lakeshore paths and trails during the work week (usually heading out around 9 or 10 am) -- which means I can avoid the work crowds and the weekend warriors that pack the trails during the early mornings, evenings, and weekends. It's glorious to have my favorite running paths (almost) all to myself!<br />
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I am reading a fair amount, though to be honest, nothing all that noteworthy as of late. I keep my reading list up to date on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>, and if you're a big reader and a Goodreads lover like me, then look me up and we can swap titles. My sister just got me a copy of <a href="http://gretchenrubin.com/" target="_blank">Gretchen Rubin's</a> new book on forming happy, healthy habits, and I'm looking forward to digging into that. I promised my sister I'd read it before we meet up back in MI later this summer (I'll do my best, E!), so I'll probably get cracking this weekend. The book found its way to me with a perfect sense of timing, since I want to use this time off to form new habits that will bring more peace and satisfaction to my daily life.<br />
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Speaking of new habits, aside from the ones I've already mentioned, I am working on embedding a daily/weekly household chore routine into my life (thank you, Pinterest, for helping me to put together what appears to be an eventually manageable maintenance schedule). Right now, I'm hit and miss on locking down the chore endeavor. But, that's ok. I'll get there, and I want to get there, because having a clean, orderly home makes me feel like I am taking care of myself, and Brian, too. For the record, Brian is not "off the hook" with chores even though I'm not working, nor did he expect to be, and he is great about pitching in on the weekends (and is still the go-to chef in our house). But I like being able to take more of the pressure off during the work week now that I have the time, so that when he gets home, we can relax together, free of the visual noise of a sink full of dirty dishes or an abandoned sock puddle on the floor (defn of sock puddle: a pile of socks, usually mine, that builds up at the foot of the couch when I inevitably kick them off while watching TV).<br />
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I'm starting to jump into new(ish) hobbies and interests with more fervor than I could muster up during my work work work life. For the past ~4 years or so, I've been a passive learner of golf, with sporadic trips to the driving range, and a loosey goosey commitment to the sport. I've gotten to the point where my driving range record is not always horrible, and B took me to golf my 9 holes at a nearby par 3 course. We opted not to keep score (thank goodness!), and although I lost 6 balls (yeah, that's right -- 6 balls lost on a par 3!), I still had a blast and cannot wait to get out their again for another 'whack' at it. I've got the name of an instructor, so I plan to get in a lesson this July to help me adjust my swing, which I've been told is actually pretty good, but I have a tendency to hit a little left, and as a lefty, this means I'm leaving my club face a bit open. And, now that I've finally been out on a course, I have learned that I need to pay a lot more attention to reading distance and adjusting my swing accordingly -- for the record, my revised new favorite club is the pitching wedge. I knew it was versatile, but now I "get" it with much more clarity than before with all of its pitching and and chipping prowess!<br />
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In June, I also took a somewhat unplanned trip home to MI. I've got a big trip planned for late July/early August (for 2+ weeks!), but my grandmother died at the end of May (during my last weeks at work, just to add to the stress of my final days), which lead to this added sojourn to the homeland. Our family opted in favor of a smaller, family affair a few weeks after her death (versus a big church funeral), in part to allow some of my family abroad more time to arrange and make the trip. The memorial included a really nice family lunch and a visit to the cemetery to visit my grandmother's grave, and the graves of other family members as well. While death is never easy, I'm so happy my grandmother had 99 years on this earth, and I shared just a few small threads from her life in my <a href="http://twentytenthirty.blogspot.com/2015/06/to-gram-with-love.html" target="_blank">previous entry</a>.<br />
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Let's see, what else in June...Oh yeah, I ate a lot of ice cream and I watched a lot (lot!) of television - so much that I earned an Xbox "achievement" badge for using Netflix 7 days in a row. I didn't even know that was a thing, and I have an inkling that maybe I shouldn't add that achievement to my LinkedIn profile. Yes, I admit I am a completely TV junkie. TV and reading are my reality escape methods of choice. Anyone looking for a summer TV reco? If so, check out <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKpKAlbJ7BQ" target="_blank">Sense8</a>, one of the newest Netflix original series, developed by the famous <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wachowskis" target="_blank">Wachowskis </a>(of Matrix fame). The series chronicles the lives of 8 people from different walks of life and from around the world, who discover their lives are interconnected across many dimensions, and in extraordinary ways. Their rare and unusual connection is seen as a threat to some circles, and they learn they must work together to stay in tact (e.g. not get killed). The reviews I've read about the series are polarizing, and I fall firmly on the "like" side of the fence, though at times the sex and violence is a bit much for my taste, and it took a good 4-5 episodes to lay the foundation (e.g. a bit of a slow start). I do have to give an especially rave review for whoever is in charge of the music for this series -- powerful stuff! Is Sense8 available as a Pandora Station? I must investigate this!<br />
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...And that, my friends, is more or less how I rocked month one. More adventures, big and small, to come!Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04752563846205334617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177443864003251670.post-69772499605041730082015-06-29T21:57:00.002-05:002015-06-29T23:07:53.262-05:00To Gram, With LoveOn May 21, 2015, after 99 years of life, my maternal grandmother, <a href="http://www.langelands.com/obituary/Rose-H.-VanDussen/Grand-Rapids-MI/1511428" target="_blank">Rose Van Dussen</a> passed away. About a week and ahalf ago, my sister and I traveled home to Portage for a family memorial lunch, and for a trip to Rosedale Memorial Park Cemetery, where my grandmother was laid to rest alongside my grandfather, Russell, who died 20 years ago.<br />
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Langeland Family Funeral Home provided my grandmother's final arrangements, and as a part of their service, they put together a very sweet memorial <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67wXskn2WLw" target="_blank">video</a> using photographs that my mother shared, and they also created physical memory books with the photos for my mom and aunt. I'm not sure if the video will be permanently available online, so I wanted to create a little digital memorial on my blog to honor my grandmother. Here are some of the photos (not in chronological order), along with some accompanying tidbits about her life.<br />
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Here is a photo of my grandmother when she was a little girl in Manistee, MI. Rose was the oldest daughter to Walter and Cassie Jarka, and she had 3 younger siblings, Kathryn, Robert and Bernice. I don't have a great side-by-side comparison photo, but I can tell you that the family resemblance is strong -- I looked just like my grandmother did at that age!<br />
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In 1940, Rose married my grandfather, Russell, a self-made business man, who put himself through college in part by playing piano at bars and jazz clubs. I still remember going to my grandparents as a little kid, and my grandpa would play Tiny Bubbles on the piano, among other musical stylings. My grandfather especially loved a good celebration, and I think he helped to bring my grandmother out of her shell. This photo was likely from a New year's eve celebration, or some other holiday party, maybe even a celebration related to the family business, American Cordage Co. (formerly on Wealthy St. in Grand Rapids, MI), which my grandfather co-founded. My grandmother was a partner in the family business, and kept the books for the business for many years. How glamorous they both look in this photo!<br />
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My grandma enjoyed traveling, and as a family, we took several memorable trips over the years. I earned my International flyer status at the ripe old age of 3, when my grandparents took my parents, sister and me to Spain to visit my aunt (their youngest daughter), uncle and cousins. It would become part of the family lore that, following that trip, I would refuse to swim in lake water, announcing that 'I only swim in the Mediterranean.' We also took trips as a family to Disney World (with my cousins), as well as trips to Vegas (my grandpa loved Black Jack), So Cal, and Hawaii.<br />
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My grandma also enjoyed fine dining, cooking, Michigan Football (her brother, <a href="http://obits.mlive.com/obituaries/grandrapids/obituary.aspx?n=Robert-W-Jarka&pid=174277890" target="_blank">Bob</a>, was a wolverine and so am I, of course!), and watching golf. She LOVED Tiger Woods in his heyday! In fact, in the early 2Ks, my grandmother went out and bought a Buick Rendezvous, giddy with the knowledge that Tiger was the Buick spokesperson. My grandmother's guilty little indulgences included ice cream (she could always count on me as her dessert partner!), and a glass of wine or a cold domestic beer.<br />
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I was the youngest of the 4 grandchildren, and I loved going up to East Grand Rapids to visit my grandparents. Look at how cute my grandmother and me are in this photo! It's one of my favorites. My grandmother was so proud of all of us grand kids.<br />
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Speaking of the grand kids, this photo is of all four of us with my grandmother, my mom and aunt in front of my grandparents' house.They had a charming little house in a beautiful neighborhood, just across the street from Fisk Lake. My grandmother stayed in that house, with the help of her housekeeper, Goldie, the neighbors who looked in on her, and my mother's weekly visits, until well into her 90s. She would eventually move to Portage, where she could be around more people in a retirement assisted living home (and be safer with the medical and care staff close at hand) and where my mom could more easily tend to her and visit with her on most days.<br />
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This photo is from my sister's wedding shower in '08, and includes my sister, mom, aunt, and grandmother. While my grandmother was unable to attend my wedding years later, I'm so happy she could be at E's wedding.<br />
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Although my grandmother could not attend my and Brian's wedding this past October, we stopped by to visit her on our way back to Minnesota. I feel lucky that Brian got to meet her several times over the years. She loved hearing about our adventures in Chicago, in Austin and eventually in Minneapolis, and I enjoyed telling her about the happenings in our lives.<br />
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Gram, I will miss your smile and your spark. You had an undeniable presence, and a certain sass and spirit that can never be matched. Your legacy lives on in your two strong and independent daughters, your four grandchildren and your three (so far) great grandchildren, and I know you loved us all very much. I love you!<br />
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Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04752563846205334617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177443864003251670.post-79601565557845961602015-06-22T17:09:00.001-05:002015-06-22T17:25:58.876-05:00Fortune cookie wisdom"Unless we change direction, we are likely to end up where we are going."<br />
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Truth!<br />
<br />Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04752563846205334617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177443864003251670.post-29478375926930399802015-06-14T18:59:00.001-05:002015-06-15T10:16:41.281-05:00Living La Vida Low KeyI forgot what it was like to wake up each day feeling energized instead of exhausted, and full of hope and possibilities instead of dread and anxiety. It's amazing that after just 2 weeks, my outlook on life is so completely different and so much more positive. I actually had no idea it was possible to feel so...free! So liberated! I know that my "funemployment" is finite (my pockets aren't that deep), and I fully intend to enjoy it to the fullest extent that my circumstances allow.<br />
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Even though I'm no longer working, the weekend is still my favorite time of the week, given Brian and all of our friends are busy doing the M-F hustle. And this particular weekend, with its balmy pre-summer breezes and abundance of sunshine, was "on fleek", as the kids say (are the kids still saying that? Or is it onto the next?) Anyway, B and I started off with pool time with a good friend at her condo. A quick mo-so check informed us that <a href="http://vicsminneapolis.com/" target="_blank">Vics</a>, a nearby wine bar/restaurant with a fab outdoor patio was giving away FREE bottles of rose to those who could supply the magic words - and we knew the magic words! And just like that, our evening was planned. After a lazy afternoon of lounging poolside, we took it to the outdoor patio, where our one free bottle of pink quickly turned into 3 subsequent bottles of "interesting whites" and plenty of appetizers. It's been a while since I've had such a fun, spontaneous and tipsy night! And rather miraculously, nary a hangover the next morning.<br />
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On Sat, we took advantage of free movie passes that B scored through work to check out the dinos with some friends of ours. My quick and largely uninformative review of Jurassic World - horribly hokey, yet highly entertaining, though not as good as the original Jurassic Park. I was tickled with nostalgia that JW resurrected many elements of the original JP score, because I love me a well-scored movie. So few movies seem to have great scores, opting instead for a soundtrack of trite, syrupy <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/10/living/death-of-hipster-birth-of-yuccie-feat/" target="_blank">#yuccie</a> tunage. So. All in all, I'd say JW was worth the cost of entry (free, heh). Following the flick, we hit up <a href="http://tintompls.com/" target="_blank">Tinto Cocina+Cantina</a>, a new taco and tequila bar that popped up recently in Uptownfor margs, guac, dinner and good conversation.<br />
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Today, B and I slept in, and then brunched at a neighborhood staple, <a href="http://www.thelowbrowmpls.com/" target="_blank">The Lowbrow</a>, before hitting up the driving range where I rocked my 7 iron (I did not so much rock any other club, ahem). Is it possible to play an entire round of golf with one club? Well, if I were forced to pick once club, it would be seven all the way. We are now enjoying a peaceful evening around the homestead, and may fire up the latest season of Orange is the New Black a little bit later.<br />
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All in all, nothing too wild, nothing too extravagant on deck this weekend, but I don't need wild and extravagant. It's these simple, casual and breezy summery weekends, with a blend of downtime and fun with friends, and always with a bottle (or 4) of wine, and a touch of serendipity, that bring me the most satisfaction. Oh, yes.Yes, I could get used to this!Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04752563846205334617noreply@blogger.com0