I predict a lot of salads in my future.

Day 4 of feeling great - so far, so good.  I had a momentary panic about figuring out where to go to lunch today to celebrate something with a coworker, but then my smart partner in crime reminded me that sushi is fine.  So the coworker and I enjoyed a lovely sushi lunch in the park.  And last night after wandering around adult night at the local children's museum slightly tipsy and starving, PIC and I discovered a delicious rice chip type concoction which blew me away. 

Fake meat is not okay (sadness = no more 'chicken' salad from DC Vegetarian, no more Morningstar 'chicken' nuggets, no more tofurkey sandwiches).  But real turkey is good, and I secretly really love turkey. 

I ate half the package of turkey last night
(not eating carbs makes one pretty hungry!)

I also not-so-secretly love bacon which is totally fine.  Coffee is fine, whole milk cheese is fine, Breyer's ice cream is fine and as I already mentioned, wine is fine.  The jury is still out on whiskey, but I'm giving it a try tonight just to see what happens.  (So far, so good.)

But yes.  A lot of salad in my future.  Three cheers for Portland summer farmer's markets!

Lots and lots of tots. And then there were none.

Operation Get Healthy began with a naturopathic appointment to assess fatigue and chronic stomach pain a few weeks ago, a potato and gluten intolerance diagnosis on Thursday (plus no dairy within 4 hours of grains - I KNOW, right??), followed immediately by a blow-out gluten, potato and dairy/grain-filled weekend in homage to all the food I will not be eating for the next month while I try this diet out to see if it helps.

so long, tots... you will be missed -

but bacon? luckily, you got the green light

In addition to lots and lots of tots, there was Ken's Artisan Pizza (Bay Area peeps, think woodfire oven + Arizmendi) AND homemade woodfire oven pizza (not our woodfire oven, sadly but obviously), beer, egg tortillas, enchiladas and chips/salsa, and lord only knows what else.

There were also lots of vitamins and minerals: gluten and potato-free B complex (special order only), two times the fish oil, four times the vitamin D, cordyceps mushrooms for "frolicking" (doctor's words), thyroidinium 4CH drops for energy, and mineral replenishment via calc fluor cell salt "until it stops tasting good" (doctor's words).

this is just for the morning -
I'm gonna need one of those weekly pill boxes

After the blowout weekend, Monday morning I especially felt like crap.  A great way to start the experiment!  (I should probably note at this point that the doctor recommended this, in so many words - she is really wanting commitment and encouraged me to get it all out before starting the diet full force.)

I started Day 1 checking labels on everything and narrowing down my options.  Breakfast was a kale/spinach/peanut butter/West Soy soy milk smoothie (soooo good, trust me on this), lunch was plain black beans and rice, afternoon snack was Trader Joe's dried mango and dinner was a beet/tomato/goat cheese/walnut salad.  And wine.  Wine is OK, did I mention that?  THANK GOD, wine is OK.

as seen in Everyday Living, best $5 investment I've made all year

Monday night I made it through the Mountain Goats concert without yawning too much, and this morning I woke up without an ache in my gut for the first time in... I can't even remember.

Let me reiterate that last point.  I've read and heard stories about chronic pain, where people just live with it for years thinking this is how life will be, and one day they are relieved of said pain and it's like they've been given a whole new life.

I'm not saying I've begun a whole new life.  I'm just saying that this morning I woke up without an ache in my gut, and I can't remember the last time that happened, and I smiled. All day today I was very aware of having no pain.  It was interesting, and it made me happy and sad all at the same time.

Food today included an egg scramble of sorts this morning, yogurt/fruit/almonds for lunch, an apple for a snack (note to self: take a jar of peanut butter to work), homemade parsley hummus and veggies pre-run, and another beet salad type meal for dinner post-run.  And wine.  Of course. 

beet greens, stems, cumin/cinnamon walnuts, goat cheese... and wine - YAY wine

Something in the vitamin/mineral concoction made me a bit hyper-sensory today so I have a call in about that (I suspect it's just my brain adjusting), but gut-wise I still feel fine.  Totally fine.

Honestly, I don't think anyone I know, not even those closest to me, has any idea of the extent of my chronic discomfort over the years.  I'm excited to see what the next few weeks bring.  I hope for lots more energy - and lots of interesting new recipes!

Or three glasses. And a little help.

be crafty: part one
an old atlas, some photos
and a glass of wine

Summertime, when the 3Q goals are easy.

We're not quite at the end of 2Q but it's close enough.  To sum up the last 3 months:

• laugh more - check (helps when you live with someone who comes up with "a priest, a rabbi and a penguin walk into a bar - the bartender says, "what is this, a JOKE?"")
• cook more - check
• spend more time outside - check... enjoying the local scenery with lots of walks home from work, lots of running in the park and cemetery (is that rude? I can't decide, it's just so peaceful and pretty)
• anything on The List - not quite yet 

And a week early, I bring you the next 3 months:

• practice patience
• get healthy
• be crafty
• anything on The List

The first was developed after the aforementioned volunteer training.  I have a seriously low tolerance for people who monopolize conversations, think the rules everyone else follows do not apply to them, and have little or no respect for others.  Not only do I have a low tolerance, I have a non-existent poker face and no brain-mouth filter in these situations.  This is a problem in general.  I need to work on it.

The second is from a recent possible diagnosis of gluten, potato and combo-grain-and-dairy intolerance.  Did you know that potato is in everything?  EV. ERY. THING.  Including low-fat everything, which goes against the habits I've developed over the last ten years.  On the plus side, I now have a license to eat full-fat yogurt and drink whole milk; on the minus side, I need to build in an extra 20 minutes for each run.  I'm a bit sad about it but I'm trying to treat it as a fun experiment, at least for the next four weeks while I try it out and see if I feel better.  Worst case scenario?  I develop the most kick-ass recipe for gluten free soy cheese pizza this side of the Mississippi...!

The third is because every time I am crafty, I have a lot of fun. Period the end.

The unspoken goal is to blog more during my food intolerance experiment.  I've run across interesting and helpful blogs on food intolerance in other random searches, and I hope to be able to post some supportive experiences, interesting recipes and/or helpful information for the next diagnose-e. 

And here... we...  go!

Which leads me to 3Q goals.

class for volunteers
way too many know-it-alls
shut up already

spending two full days
with twenty chatty cathys
makes me crave silence

it's true what they say
patience is a virtue but
so is common sense

don't understand how
you have something in response
to everything said

A case of the Tuesdays.

waffling between
wanting recognition and
not giving a shit

not sure what is worse
working nine plus hours or
mandatory fun

At least I was productive.

oh, insomnia
how have i soooooo not missed you
let me count the ways

Picking up where I left off.

Hello, Spring! (Well, "Portland Spring," which of course means it snowhailrained on all the blooming daffodils and crocuses today.)

I have neglected these quarterly goals for a few months. A few months plus an entire quarter, in fact. There have been reasons, mostly good ones too, and I'm fine with my neglect. But it's time to get back on the horse. So to sum up the last (almost) six months:

• write something, anything, every single day - I am certain that I did this, although I cannot vouch for the quality of anything produced outside of work-related writing
  
• reduce my energy bill by $3 every month - November's was lower, I didn't pay attention to December's, and starting in January I cut my energy bill in half, so: check!
  
• re-establish my gym routine - since October I've been eating better, cooking more, and getting various types of exercise but I think I've realized that the gym is BORING and running is BORING so I'm investigating alternatives... all my clothes are still too big though
• anything on The List! - get published: check! New Zealand: check!
  

2Q2012 goals, coming to you a few weeks early, are notably less quantifiable but just as important as any other goals I've developed. Each one is inspired by special people in my life and I hope to be able to report back on success in three-point-five months.

• laugh more
  
• cook more
  
• spend more time outside
  
• anything on The List! I missed #11 again, darn it, but #12 and #30 are looking pretty good... and I finally fixed that pesky #16
  

And here... we... go!

Despite the 2.5 hours of work I put in tonight...

"you have a great life!"
(comment on recent pictures)
i have to agree

My favorite new set change pasttime.

(title: because i (sometimes have been known to) actually DANCE at shows)

portland hipster crowd
i have some important news
i'm cooler than you

(title: a gentle reminder)

present open fun
every single bloody day
lather rinse repeat

(title: thank you for the perspective, electro-pop drummer who screamed this before launching into an Animal-inspired drum intro to a song)

best quote heard this week
"life fucking RULES, am i right??!"
yes, you are so right

________________
The last is brought to you by the drummer from Sun Angles, who opened for Brainstorm last night. After a particularly awful day I begrudgingly dragged myself out just to see Brainstorm. Entry was $5, beer was less than that, I'd seen them before, I knew they were fun and I knew I needed that. I ended up in a wonderful mood.

Both bands are AH MAY ZING live but their recorded stuff is not nearly as interesting, so get out and see them if you can.

And yeah, this life thing? It FUCKING RULES. We are all very lucky, so be sure to live it.

Can I get the icon in cornflower blue?

never a good sign
monday pour on a thursday
tgtif

And crossword puzzles, and pizza, and whiskey...

best birthday ever
rain - wind - sun - hike - beach - sand - snow
thank you, universe

One step closer to Ludditeville, USA.

it's quite challenging
not letting technology
get the best of me

Odes to LA.

snowing this morning
got sunburned this afternoon
air travel is weird

i don't like the mall
but even worse than the mall
is the so cal mall

he won't stop talking
OMGSTFU
god i hate people

punk kids come inside
and pump hand sanitizer
i've seen everything

Friday five.

Lots of interesting "lasts" have happened - or are about to happen - this week. Here are five, in no particular order:

• Last time I will take a moon photo from my stoop.
• Last time I will hear my neighbor hack up a lung at 6am.
• Last time it will take five minutes to walk to Fred.
• Last time I will pay Comcast any more of my money for the foreseeable future.
• Last time with the crazies on the bus ride in, and last time for the free MAX ride home.

And many more to come. Change is good.

I'll take "option C" for 200, Alex.

a wise man once said

"hate the game, not the player"

… i don't like either

Friday five.

I attended my first Festivus party this year and listened to many of the guests air their grievances.  It was amusing and I meant to put together my own list at some point this month...  But truth be told, I don't have a lot of grievances right now, especially not with people I interact with regularly (which is what I think you're supposed to focus on). 

Far be it from me to shirk silly traditions, though.  Over the past week five things did occur to me, and so I bring you five grievances in no particular order:

• the fact that "bi-monthly" can mean "twice a month" OR "every other month"
• people who cancel meeting invitations after the meeting date/time has already occurred and they've already verbally cancelled the meeting
• email confirmations that confirm your request to unsubscribe from email notifications (followed closely by email unsubscribe requests that "may take up to 2 weeks to process" - really? it's THE INTERNET!)
  
• sub-par cookies in the break room
  
• the fine print that no one ever reads, that says you can't use both Groupon coupons for yourself if you purchase two at the same time

So yeah, that's pretty much it. 

Here's to a 2012 filled with exciting changes, adventures and good times - and an even shorter grievance list!  Cheers, friends.

I need a harder list.

I'm going to go on the official record and cross off #31. It's work-related and technically, I published it, but it means I can add professional writing to my resume and that's really all that matters to me.

Next up: #27! Five weeks and counting...

Belated Friday five.

A roundup of five bands I saw (or didn't) this month, in chronological order, begins now. Hold on to your hats!

December's musicpalooza started with Mumford & Sons. The music was amazing as expected, but it was at an arena, the light show was ridiculous (who are you, the Stones?) and the section where we sat bounced. And not in a Crystal Ballroom fun kind of way - more of an "um is this really safe?" way. I can say that I saw them, but I have much better memories of sitting on my couch in my pajamas streaming their various live performances. (Now get off my lawn?)

The next show was my absolute favorite show all year, as I've previously alluded. Astounding energy, great crowd, great venue. Before Time to Pretend, there was this song. And it was good. I will officially follow them to the ends of the earth. As long as the show is in Portland.

I'd halfheartedly gotten tickets to The Joy Formidable and Grouplove the following night but honestly, after the Dandy Warhols, my partner in crime and I were not in the mood. We stayed for a few songs and then spared our ears from the rest.

Finished up with last night's AgesandAges show at the Doug Fir. Always a good time. Always.

Really excited to check out some of this stuff next year. Musicpalooza 2012, here I come...

There is much internet controversy about the last five syllables.

i am pretty sure
this work thing is for the birds
(the really dumb birds)