on being okay with life lessons

oh, life lessons - those humbling quirks that remind us that it's okay to make mistakes. they're inevitable. they tend to result from carelessness, type-A-ness, or one's own naivete. and they're plain ol' annoying.

but someway, somehow, these life lessons are just that. they teach us something, hopefully useful.

you know the usuals: don't leave gum in your pocket - just wait until you see the mess in the laundry. don't visit the drive-thru after getting your car washed, unless you remember to open your door instead of the window. even though most sunscreens are "waterproof," wait at least 10 minutes for it to set before jumping like a wild woman into the water. and whatever you do, make sure to keep your passport and credit cards with you before leaving a junky hostel in rome - unless, of course, you don't mind waiting in an embassy all day long.

what i've noticed about these life lessons: we go through them, we accept them, and then we move on. even if we are pissed.

that being said, why in the heck was i so frustrated today when i burned half my batch of granola?

i am on a mission to perfect my granola (or at least make one that will forever be my staple). so i'm already going into each baking session with a drive. motivation. expectation. the recipe i used today called for more oil than my other recipes. focused on the end product - the lovely crispiness with each future chew - i didn't think to hone down on the careful instructions. yeah, the explicit "check every five minutes after the 15-minute mark because it burns quickly." with such carelessness (or eagerness), i ended up with a studio smelling of burnt seeds and a trash can filled with half a batch of inedible granola.

pissed at my failure, i refused to appreciate the half that was saved. thanks to g, who seems to be my "life lesson guru" these days, i was reminded that it's just granola and it's okay to mess up in the kitchen. apparently, the only way to be good at something is by sticking to it. 

so that's what i did. i literally tossed the mistake away and set my eyes ahead. i know there'll be a day when i'll have my perfect bowl of granola, and i'll just laugh at these lessons. but in the meantime, i'll just enjoy the little bit of success that was saved from the heat.

it's that time again

with thanksgiving just hours away, i'm sure we all feel compelled to update our facebook statuses, blogs, and twitter accounts (the latter of which i do not have) with all the things/people we are thankful for. and i think it's funny. why is it that as soon as that first person writes "i am thankful for fill in the blank," we have this obligatory feeling of doing just the same, even though we know exactly what we are thankful for deep inside on a day-to-day basis? and isn't it funny how we feel even more compelled to express oodles of sentiment when that same person writes how thankful they are for "my mother who gave me life?" if i remember correctly, this phenomena is called groupthink. or something like that.

this year, i want to express my thanks for the other things - the things people wouldn't openly announce on their statuses for fear of being "shallow." but the truth is, those other things are kinda lovely in their own way. and to be honest, i am thankful for them.

you all know that i am thankful for family, health, shelter, love, etc. so let me now express my thanks for those smaller everyday things that make life a bit more easy/fun/tasty/blessed (and in no particular order)...

red chili flakes - for simple heat to a pasta dish
my camelback - for easy access to water on long hikes
susie cakes - for showing me the way to an exceptional brownie
our carbonation tank - for glasses and glasses of sparkling water whenever we so please
shea butter - for healing my cracking skin
seat warmers - for warming my buns before work
fresh basil - for its pure loveliness
the pill - for keeping Mother Flow in check
masseuses - for having a desire and physical ability to massage tension away
candles - for instant mood-setting

...and the list goes on. basically, i'm just thankful. may your holiday be filled with love and warm ovens!

days away

i am officially less than one hand-full of days away from seeing this gem of a man perform.

if i didn't have a lover of my very own, i would be inclined to jump on the stage whilst joshua serenaded me to sleep.

to the beach

it was a chilly fall day. clean air after a rain, gusts of wind luring us from our comfies and fleece blankets. chase had never been to the beach, so we thought it would be a perfect day to introduce him to its wonders. 

chase was let loose in an entirely new environment. seagulls, crashing waves, salty seaweed. watching the excitement on his face was like watching a kid run wild at a chucky cheese's. only soooo much better. no screaming brats, no obnoxious person in a rat suit, and no sweaty-sticky-feet-smelling jungle gym. instead, it was our dog at the beach.

it was one of those days that reminded us of how thankful we are for what we have now, here in california. sure la has its faults, but as long as the three of us can keep a little discovery and excitement in our day-to-day, this city can be a gem. (p.s. seattle is still in our future).

caring

too often, i think about why it's so hard to be a nurse. running around from patient to patient, keeping a careful eye on fetal monitors, coaching and supporting, and basically, giving my all - physically and emotionally - for 12-13 hours per shift. it's rough. but when i have those patients and families who acknowledge my work, my care, everything that seemed so exhausting somehow becomes worth it. we all know that "caring is sharing," but man oh man, can it be hard when you are run dry.

these past two days, the roles have been reversed, and i have been the recipient of tender care. no, i am not in a hospital and trust you me, i am far from giving birth. i had a grafting procedure done on my gums, which pretty much equates to: incision + sutures + pain + vicodin + soft foods + a lot of doing nothing.

months ago, i probably would have driven myself to and from the dental office, taken a pain pill, curled up on my lonesome couch, and slept the day away. maybe i would have eaten some pudding. but now that i live with g, i have been under his love and care. waking up early for my appointment, making me a protein shake for lunch, tucking me in so i could sleep through the afternoon, and then whipping up a kabocha squash soup for nourishment...THAT'S what g did. he has been my nurse, my companion, and my support, filling me up with everything i need for a quick recovery. being the recipient of genuine care has never meant so much. and i hope that i can express my gratitude to g the same way those grateful patients do to me. he deserves to feel the warmth that comes with such thankfulness.

signed, sealed, and delivered

i can hardly believe it's already been four years since the last election. i remember clearly where i was and what i was doing the night obama was elected for president - in our humble abode at 11067 ophir, after bible study. it was such an exciting victory, a step toward change. republican, democrat, white, or black, no one can deny that our country has seen great change in the past four years. and knowing that my vote was one vote contributing to that change means so much. 

so, i voted once again. because it is important. it is critical that we stand up for our values and support those who will fight the good fight. and even if there are things i may not agree with in their entirety, i do realize that life is not perfect. no one is perfect.

so tie up those shoe laces and go out and vote this week! and if you already sent in your ballot, then hurray! this should be interesting.