This morning I am feeling as if I am finally sliding out of vacation mode. Nice time for the transition as tomorrow morning I have to head back to work. Three weeks more as a hair stylist, and then on to the next transition, to the position of receptionist. That's nine whole days of hairdoing. Not really an ugh factor, but I am just ready to put the scissors to bed. Before I left for vacation, I sent out the notice to my clients that 12/17 will be my last day as a stylist, so hopefully, it will be 9 busy days in the salon.
Last night E and I had occasion to meet Beth and Nerdstar. We went to Book Woman in Austin for a reading by Susan Stinson from her latest novel Venus of Chalk. Five links in one sentence, and three of those links are daily reads for me, so it was a lovely evening. I have been reading Susan's blog for more than a year now, so it was nice to meet her. Her energy is so very gracious and her achievements as a writer, primarily being published, were very inspiring. I bought her first two books, Fat Girl Dances With Rocks and Martha Moody, on a previous trip to Book Woman after I began reading her blog. I wanted to get Venus of Chalk sooner, but at the hint that she might be doing a Texas reading I decided to wait.
I learned about the reading before we went on vacation and I asked E if it would be too much to try to do so soon after vacation because of her crunch at work to get her magazine out and play catch up. She is always so quick to indulge me these whims, "Oh, a 2 and a half hour drive is not at all a problem", she gave me a solid sure when I first suggested it.
Once I confirmed with E that her first day back was going smoothly enough, I called Beth and let her know the plan. Leave Houston by three, hit Austin at 530, meet for dinner, then go to the reading. I had previously mentioned this to her and she said she and Nerdstar should be free to meet and join us.
We actually got there closer to 6, but we had a great meal at Austin Java. I had the avocado and crawfish salad and a cup of the roasted chicken soup. Just the right amount of zip, and pretty cheap. And let's not forget oodles of intelligent conversation!! The reading was right across the street, so it was also a convenient spot to dine.
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
Saturday, November 27, 2004
Whirlwind
What a vacation we had. After yesterday's 13 hour journey home, starting at midnight CA time and ending at 3 in the afternoon TX time, I was gaining my second wind. But not enough to blog anything about it. Just enough to jump online and clean out my mail.
I am going to wait to blog the details with some pics gathered along the way, not all 230 of them, just a select 10% maybe. We flew into San Francisco via Oakland airport on Thursday the 18th. Our first three nights was at Ethel's Garden, a lesbian owned b & b in the Castro. From there we drove around all of San Francisco and surrounding areas. We went up to the Muir Woods and walked through an awesome redwood forest. We walked our asses off even though we had a car. Everyone said no car in SF, but we really took advantage of having it and drove a lot.
One of the little jaunts was to a lesbian owned, women operated tattoo parlor. Yep, I got another tattoo on my ankle. Rocio was so very sweet and talented. If you click on the artist link at the tattoo link in the last sentence you can see Rocio and some of her work.
After getting the tattoo, we drove up the coast via HWY 1 to Mendocino. Think of seeing Sheryl Crow's 'Every Day Is A Winding Road' as it unfolds before you. The drive on a more direct route takes three hours. HWY 1 took us about five and a half hours. No cell service to call and say we were running late. But beautiful coastal and woodsy driving.
In Mendocino we stayed at Sallie and Eileen's Place. There is so much to say about this place. Over the past 15+ years, more than 6000 women have stayed. We were totally lost in women's energy and it was fabulous. In a cabin. Fireplace burning. In the woods. Lovely.
We had considered from what everyone advised that it might be a rainy blah vacation, but the sun was shining all day with clear skies every day of our trip. The last full day, Thanksgiving, was misty rainy, but it seemed quite appropriate and in itself, it was equally beautiful.
Glad to be home, new adventures coming soon.
I am going to wait to blog the details with some pics gathered along the way, not all 230 of them, just a select 10% maybe. We flew into San Francisco via Oakland airport on Thursday the 18th. Our first three nights was at Ethel's Garden, a lesbian owned b & b in the Castro. From there we drove around all of San Francisco and surrounding areas. We went up to the Muir Woods and walked through an awesome redwood forest. We walked our asses off even though we had a car. Everyone said no car in SF, but we really took advantage of having it and drove a lot.
One of the little jaunts was to a lesbian owned, women operated tattoo parlor. Yep, I got another tattoo on my ankle. Rocio was so very sweet and talented. If you click on the artist link at the tattoo link in the last sentence you can see Rocio and some of her work.
After getting the tattoo, we drove up the coast via HWY 1 to Mendocino. Think of seeing Sheryl Crow's 'Every Day Is A Winding Road' as it unfolds before you. The drive on a more direct route takes three hours. HWY 1 took us about five and a half hours. No cell service to call and say we were running late. But beautiful coastal and woodsy driving.
In Mendocino we stayed at Sallie and Eileen's Place. There is so much to say about this place. Over the past 15+ years, more than 6000 women have stayed. We were totally lost in women's energy and it was fabulous. In a cabin. Fireplace burning. In the woods. Lovely.
We had considered from what everyone advised that it might be a rainy blah vacation, but the sun was shining all day with clear skies every day of our trip. The last full day, Thanksgiving, was misty rainy, but it seemed quite appropriate and in itself, it was equally beautiful.
Glad to be home, new adventures coming soon.
Thursday, November 18, 2004
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
Listening
KPFT is in the second week of their semi annual fund drive. My friend Hitaji's show, Earth 101 is currently on the radio. There are accasionally topics she brings out that I either just don't get, or in some way disagree with, but in her heart and soul, Hitaji is a healer and I have a lot of respect for her.
I was going to call in a pledge last week, but it is really difficult when you want to do so much more than what you know you can afford. For the past couple of years, I have done a basic membership of $35. I was discussing with E what is reasonable now, and I think I am going to do a $10 a month sustainer pledge. I rationalize it as a monthly, and again I feel I could likely do more. E's counsel was to do the 10 and then raise it next fund drive if I see that I can. Sound advice.
I have to go call in my pledge.
I was going to call in a pledge last week, but it is really difficult when you want to do so much more than what you know you can afford. For the past couple of years, I have done a basic membership of $35. I was discussing with E what is reasonable now, and I think I am going to do a $10 a month sustainer pledge. I rationalize it as a monthly, and again I feel I could likely do more. E's counsel was to do the 10 and then raise it next fund drive if I see that I can. Sound advice.
I have to go call in my pledge.
Monday, November 15, 2004
I heard the owl call my name...
Last night, E came in and told me she wished she had the camera to take a pic of this baby owl she saw in the tree. As the camera is right here in front of me, I pointed to it, and she said it had flown away.
We went back out and she showed me where it was and where she thought it had flown. I asked if she checked the persimmon tree, to which she answered no, because it had flown, she thought, toward the magnolia.
As we walked around the magnolia, sure enough it was there in the persimmon tree. By the time E was back with the camera, the owl was back in the crepe myrtle, where she saw it to begin with. The pic below is the result of her efforts.
It is impossible for me to tell if the owl is a baby or just a small breed of owl. I have never seen one here in Houston otherwise.
The thing it brought to mind for me was when I first got Nola, our Miniature Pinscher. I was subscribed to a MinPin list and one of the members wrote in a warning for owners living in the country with the risks od predatory birds which can swoop down and pluck the little buggers right up. I was wondering if baby owl has a momma nearby stalking little miss Nola.
My second wonder was if it is someone's pet. I still wonder this. I will have to remember to look tonight to see if the owl is in the yard again.
This morning, I have my semiannual cleaning at the dentist's office. I saw a different hygenist this time and she was brutal enough to make me cry. I was careful last time to reschedule with the same person I saw who did not hurt me, but I had to reschedule my appointment because my shcedule at work changed, and since we always rebook with the same person in the salon if a client has to reschedule, it did not occur to me that I might get moved to someone else. I did not realize until near the end of my cleaning that it was a different tech. Same hair color, older, and only y second time at this office. I will never be sitting in that bitch Melanie's chair again.
We went back out and she showed me where it was and where she thought it had flown. I asked if she checked the persimmon tree, to which she answered no, because it had flown, she thought, toward the magnolia.
As we walked around the magnolia, sure enough it was there in the persimmon tree. By the time E was back with the camera, the owl was back in the crepe myrtle, where she saw it to begin with. The pic below is the result of her efforts.
It is impossible for me to tell if the owl is a baby or just a small breed of owl. I have never seen one here in Houston otherwise.
The thing it brought to mind for me was when I first got Nola, our Miniature Pinscher. I was subscribed to a MinPin list and one of the members wrote in a warning for owners living in the country with the risks od predatory birds which can swoop down and pluck the little buggers right up. I was wondering if baby owl has a momma nearby stalking little miss Nola.
My second wonder was if it is someone's pet. I still wonder this. I will have to remember to look tonight to see if the owl is in the yard again.
This morning, I have my semiannual cleaning at the dentist's office. I saw a different hygenist this time and she was brutal enough to make me cry. I was careful last time to reschedule with the same person I saw who did not hurt me, but I had to reschedule my appointment because my shcedule at work changed, and since we always rebook with the same person in the salon if a client has to reschedule, it did not occur to me that I might get moved to someone else. I did not realize until near the end of my cleaning that it was a different tech. Same hair color, older, and only y second time at this office. I will never be sitting in that bitch Melanie's chair again.
Sunday, November 14, 2004
Annother quiet morning
I went to the Ayurveda Wellness Workshop yesterday and I was quite interested. I think I want to talk to Dr Rob about it more and see what other aspects of it might be more suitable to advance study in, or how he might recommend proceeding. I will see him in January I think for an initial consultation for my personal practice and might then pick his mind about it further.
We went to Eatzi's last night for dinner and for the first time, I was somewhat disappointed. I might even go drop them an email about it. I am not sure how "bad" it was, but I am sure I could do the meal we had better. I told E perhaps the more accomplished I become in the kitchen, the less impressed I am with Eatzi's. The roast pork was tough, the broccoli nearly raw, little flavor in the mac and cheese, but the southwest corn chowder had it going on. I suppose that makes it a wash to some degree.
Tonight we are going to see B and I for haircuts and dinner. B is making manicotti, which is curious as I thought she did not know where the kithen even is so I am anticipating some comedy, though I know she would not offer if it was not to be good.
The weather has taken a turn for the colder the past few days. On Wednesday it was still in the 80s, but there has been a marked coolness since, maybe in the 50s or 60s. 40s at night, I think. Last night, I even wore socks with my sandals to avoid popsicle toes. Excellent sleeping.
We went to Eatzi's last night for dinner and for the first time, I was somewhat disappointed. I might even go drop them an email about it. I am not sure how "bad" it was, but I am sure I could do the meal we had better. I told E perhaps the more accomplished I become in the kitchen, the less impressed I am with Eatzi's. The roast pork was tough, the broccoli nearly raw, little flavor in the mac and cheese, but the southwest corn chowder had it going on. I suppose that makes it a wash to some degree.
Tonight we are going to see B and I for haircuts and dinner. B is making manicotti, which is curious as I thought she did not know where the kithen even is so I am anticipating some comedy, though I know she would not offer if it was not to be good.
The weather has taken a turn for the colder the past few days. On Wednesday it was still in the 80s, but there has been a marked coolness since, maybe in the 50s or 60s. 40s at night, I think. Last night, I even wore socks with my sandals to avoid popsicle toes. Excellent sleeping.
Saturday, November 13, 2004
Shhhhh
The house is so quiet this morning. No A/C running, no dogs milling around, no tv in the background. Everyone is still sleeping. Opportunity for tea and a cookie nice and early.I generally do not eat in the morning, but I was just feeling it today for some reason.
I have to go to yoga and I might do the 930 class. Then at 130, I am attending a wellness seminar with Dr. Rob. He is an Ayurveda doc and chiropractor. Hopefully it will enlighten me further about Ayurveda as a career path.
I was also supposed to confirm with our friends Beth and Irina about cutting hair tonight or tomorrow and then having some dinner...I need to remember to call after yoga because I would hate to disturb the potential quiet at their house this early on a Saturday morning.
I have to go to yoga and I might do the 930 class. Then at 130, I am attending a wellness seminar with Dr. Rob. He is an Ayurveda doc and chiropractor. Hopefully it will enlighten me further about Ayurveda as a career path.
I was also supposed to confirm with our friends Beth and Irina about cutting hair tonight or tomorrow and then having some dinner...I need to remember to call after yoga because I would hate to disturb the potential quiet at their house this early on a Saturday morning.
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