Day 708 – Day 714

One Amazing Experience: Week 3

I tasked myself with doing something culturally minded this week, so Nicole and I went to the Museum of Art to listen to a lecture by Dr. John Marciari, Ph.D., Curator of European Art, and Dr. Nicolas Reveles, Director of Education and Outreach for San Diego Opera.  The lecture covered the visual and operatic interpretations and trends of the New Testiment’s Salome, who is famously shown receiving John the Baptist’s head on a charger in nearly all artistic representations.

By Bernadino Luini:

Hitting all the notes of the “cultural experience,” I was able to learn much more about Salome in general, but I was also taught how and why her representation changed over periods of time.  The gents who presented were good for a chuckle (especially Dr. Reveles, who yes, was fittingly adorned with a dapper argyle sweater vest) and just as expertly informed as one might expect.

This is not the first lecture I’ve been to at the museum, but what I think was most encouraging this time was that I felt genuinely inspired when I left.  Not only did I want to engage myself in my own artistic ventures, but I also wanted to learn more, to insert art and art history back into my repertoire.  The next day I looked at some classes at the local community colleges, but night classes seem to be much less in demand than when I was an undergraduate student.  I’ll find something, though.  I find it difficult to meet people with like interests, and I think taking a class might be a wonderful way to do that, even if not at a traditional college.  Meanwhile, I’ve looked into some of the free courses available online from various universities across the country because who doesn’t like free education?  I’m looking forward to being able to take a class socially as well as academically, but while I wait for something to fit a working individual’s schedule, I know I can expand myself creatively on my own.

And so, as one might predict, this next week I challenge myself to do something blatantly creative in a new or resurrected way, meaning I cannot cook a clever meal or do a fancy hair and make-up routine because I do each of those all the time.  No.  I challenge myself to draw on inspiration of past artistic drives in an effort to reinstitute them in my life.  I challenge myself to not only feel creative, but to actually create.

Day 699 – Day 707

One Amazing Experience: Week 2

Over the last couple of years,  as I’ve worked toward figuring out what I enjoy and about what I am passionate, I have learned a great deal – where I like to go, what I like to eat, how I like to be, but I realized there are a couple experiences I have always loved that have lost themselves a bit.  Many people do not know I am a painter, and that is because I do not really paint anymore.  I also do not read that much anymore.  I suppose it is possible to sometimes get lost in discovery a bit, and time is a constant factor, but conscious of this, I know I need to figure out a way to include art and the arts back into my life in a more recognizable way.  I really want more peace and mellowness in my life, and the arts is how I’ve found that since I was a little girl.

With that, the amazing experience I am going to share this week is taking time to read on a Saturday night.  Reading is a big deal for me right now.  I am an English teacher, for crying out loud, and I do not read that much.  I used to all the time, but once I got into grad school and started a more active life as an activist, I still read, but literature disappeared.  I grabbed my copy of Dracula I picked up while studying this summer and decided to continue on with it.  Snuggled up in an armchair, I appreciated the simplicity of what has entertained people throughout history – reading.

I’ve thought of setting a goal of at least a book a month, and Nicole giddily announced when I told her I want to read more, “We can have a literary circle!”  (God love her for calling it a literary circle rather than a book club).  For now, I am just going to try and read.  I am so pumped on it, actually.  There is so much I want to devour.  And, actually, I likely will take Nicole up the literary circle, or more precisely, as she said, a line, since we are two because she is a wealth of literary knowledge, and I know I will get a lot out of discussing with her.  It’s going to be wonderful.

My goal for next week is to do something culturally charged.

Day 696 – Day 698

One Amazing Experience: Week 1.

The best feeling is to have several amazing experiences from which to choose for this week.  On Tuesday, I made sandwiches, and Marky and I went to the Natural History Museum to look at dinosaurs, skulls, and possible earthquake scenarios.

I also got to spend some time with lovely friends this week, which included homemade tofu tacos from Nicole – divine.

Unfortunately, some of the week’s amazingness was lost in being a touch sick.  A little more than a touch, actually, but goodness to find a way, I almost made my entire amazing experience for the week be sleep.  A reluctant insomniac, early to bed with actual sleep to follow is the single positive note of undertheweather symptoms.

One experience, though, beat them all, and as might become predictable, it happened in the classroom.  There are a few teachers for whom I have nothing but the greatest respect and admiration.  Teachers whose practices I try to emulate.  One of them was my classroom next door neighbor last year.  Don is a brilliant, kind, and artistic English teacher who cares deeply for his students and holds them to high standards.  More than many teachers I run into, he does not like to leave his class in the hands of others, but due to some unfortunate family circumstances, he needed a couple days off, and I  had the privilege of being trusted with his class.  In his sixties, Don still sports the long hair of his youth and somehow mixes the bohemian and organized in his classroom strategies.  He speaks with soft purpose, and leaves saying, “Peace,” but he means it is the truest sense of the word.  At the end of the sub notes:

Not only was I so excited to work with his students because I knew the material was going to make for excellent discussion and challenge the kids (which it did – so awesome.  We finished a writing assignment on “The Lottery” and read and discussed the feminist piece, “Survival Ship” – loved it, and the kids were both thoughtful and hilarious), but I also felt like I was able to help someone out who truly needed it, and that will always make for my most amazing experiences.  Peace.

Day 657 – Day 695

A little love from the last month…

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I indicated I had an idea for my blog in my last posting, which was to document my P90X journey because it really is a life-changer, and it represents me taking the next step toward making sure I stay happy and healthy.  The experience is going great.  I’m in my sixth week, and I feel way stronger and more energetic.  I’ve lost weight and inches.  I can fit into clothes I couldn’t six weeks ago, and shopping is already way more fun.

I’ve also changed my eating habits dramatically.  I started that process last summer.  I still faltered here and there, but I’ve made an effort to educate myself more and am being more successful this time.  My family has a history of obesity, heart problems, high cholesterol and blood pressure, and diabetes – all things I was not looking forward to, and some of which I think were quite close.  I was starting to get sick based on the foods I was eating, making me think diabetes was around the corner or possibly even already here.  In changing my habits, I feel more peaceful in my entire being.  It’s amazing how much what you put into your body affects everything from your appearance to your energy to your health to your mental state.

I think I will still share some videos and whatnot, but probably not for a little while, so meanwhile, I have another new idea.  As anyone can notice, I am blogging on PSL much less.  To me, this is fantastic!  This is what the point of the blog was.  I am so much happier and fulfilled than I was almost two years ago that I do not need the daily reminder that life is beautiful and worth living.  I know that now, and the value of my pushed observation of the simple and elaborate fascinations in the world in the earlier days of PSL has left a lasting impression, helping me continue to see beauty all around me, all the time.

Last week, I went to a movie by myself.  A simple bucket list item, but I’ve accomplished it now, and it was awesome actually.  Here’s the real kicker, though.  Even a year earlier (in fact, probably even six months earlier), that night would have been a bummer.  I was supposed to go out on a date, but the guy cancelled last minute.  I knew my friends were unavailable, so I got dressed up and took myself out.  I would have sulked before.  I am not responsible for the flakiness or thoughtlessness of others, but I am responsible for how I feel about myself and whether or not I choose to enjoy my life or let it drift by.  I am thrilled to be at a point where I realize and implement that concept.

This is not to say I don’t bum out anymore.  I do.  As a sensitive person, I am just a susceptible as ever to hurt feelings, insecurities, or self deprecation, but I find I am much more able to kick myself out of it now.  It was and continues to be a conscious effort.  Happiness does not just fall for me.  I seek it out.  In keeping with my new stage in life, but realizing I still need to make that effort, my single New Year’s Resolution is to have 52 weeks of amazing experiences.  This means, I am committing myself to a minimum of 52 “I love what I just did” moments.  I believe there will be a large range and a new understanding of what “amazing” means, and I look forward to exploring that.

Happy New Year everyone.  May your 2012 be filled with personal triumphs, peace, happiness, and love.

Day 633 – Day 656

I’ve been a bit off Project See Life because I’ve been focusing on my food blog, but the last month has been lovely, and I have new idea for what I’m going to be adding on here.  Meanwhile, here are some of my favorite shots from the month.

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Day 632

Minimum day and lunch with my dear friend Tammy.

Plus!  Vegan chocolate that tastes delicious.  Amazing, I know.  Incidentally, there’s plastic wrap underneath that.

Day 631

Fuzzy flip flops.  I am flip flop fanatic.  If I could get by everyday only wearing flip flops, I would, and I kind of do.  When doing a ton of cooking, standing barefoot on tile is hardly an option, shoes – no, slippers – too hot, fuzzy flip flops – perfect.

Day 630

I’ve been really excited about cooking healthy foods that I can actually share with others.  Really, I’m so pumped about my new blog, so I’m thinking about it with everything I put in my mouth.  It’s way fun!

Day 629

It’s Halloween, a favorite around these parts, and I loved passing out candy, which I’ve never done, and I suck and did not take a single picture today, so instead, please enjoy Amy Lee singing “Sally’s Song.”

Day 628

Yes, I am very excited about The Next Iron Chef, Super Chefs.