framed

framed! i finally bit the financial bullet and had grandpa's viking ship painting framed. handed down to me before he passed, this painting has been the focal point in every room it's been hung. growing up, i was always captured by the textures, the depth of colors, the mood. not only did it reflect grandpa's swedish pride, but it also seemed to evoke a very deep emotion, which i believe has allowed me to feel his presence. his love. 

it was an honor to receive this painting from grandpa during his last days with us. but it was unframed and always had been. of course, some silly ol' frame didn't keep me from hanging it proudly. which i did...for six years. i can admit that i feel ashamed for not giving the painting its deserved holding place. as beautiful as it is, the painting needed to be showcased well. and i was definitely lacking in that responsibility. but if you've ever had anything custom-framed, you might understand the delay. it costs dinero. mulah. big bucks. 

thanks to a groupon, i was inspired to take it in to a professional framing store. after a good couple of hours, i decided on the frame with the help of the store's artists. with a nice swipe of the credit card and one week of labor, i finally received my framed masterpiece. i am thrilled with the outcome and even more excited to hang it the way it should be hung. knowing that this piece will come with me wherever i go and eventually be passed down, i feel so relieved that the painting lies within its proper place. i think grandpa would be happy.

law of the land

and here goes one more step forward. in a 5-to-4 vote, the supreme court upheld the healthcare act! let's take a few moments to acknowledge this great victory, be proud of the reform that seeks to eliminate discrimination. for once, we have an example of how morality can actually defeat petty politics. health is not an issue of claiming one's stake on the political platform; rather, it's an issue of the right to well being. blue, orange, republican, democrat...who really gives a damn? let's join the fight for a balanced life. and obama, kudos to you for taking a risk during volatile times. he made a simple, yet brilliant point in his speech this morning: we can't go back to where we were two years ago. we must move forward. well, you can surely count me in!

tension

why is it that as soon as i drive into la, i feel so much tension? my body senses madness, aggression, intensity. my heart begins to race, my shoulders stiffen, and my mood changes from carefree to an unnatural uneasiness. the roadside construction, hurried angelenos, and absurd amounts of traffic, honking, and finger-flips force me out of my skin so that i, too, participate in the survival of the fittest.

in these instances, which is more often than i'd like, i have to practice deep breaths, turn on the weepies, and remember that this is all temporary. i don't have to be a victim nor a participant. i just have to take it easy and count down the months before i'm outta here!

no better way

i couldn't imagine a better way to ring in this new season than to retreat from the ho-hum of life in la and reignite the zen from within. which is exactly why g and i packed our bags and hit the road in my trusty boy, charlie.

san luis obispo was the perfect getaway. in a matter of three days, we reconnected with a piece of our mind, body, and soul...oh, and of course, the palate.

we pumped our blood and breathed life into our lungs on a summit hike. we rested our bodies and soaked in the natural mineral hot spring on our private deck. we replenished our minds and souls with daily yoga classes.  we challenged our palates with new wines at local wineries. and last but not least, we unearthed the inner calm that allows us to see clearly. dream. celebrate.

mineral springs on our patio

it was one heck of an outing. if the rest of the season is like this, i trust it will be gratefully welcomed.

i've come to learn

in light of father's day, i am deeply inspired by, and forever grateful for,  a trait i have seemed to inherit from daddy: the homebody trait.

growing up, i never understood why daddy chose to stay at home on his days off from work, why he preferred to tinker around the house than join the throngs of people out there. in my mind, he was missing out on the festivities, the excitement, the stimulating world outside the house. given a choice between spending a weekend with a group of people at the beach or flying solo at home with a list of fix-it's, daddy would undoubtedly choose the latter. he always has, and still does, enjoy his castle, his home. 

and now here i am today, relishing the days when i lounge around in my comfies, only interacting with the outside world when i go for a run or buy goods at the market. today was one of those days. waking up, going for my morning run, and then slipping back into bed to watch a documentary on plastic. if the hungry monster never peeped out from within, i probably wouldn't have considered going out for lunch ingredients. this newfound homebody of mine would have been perfectly content staying put. relaxing. replenishing the mind and body with much needed rest.

so this father's day, i have to thank daddy for being true to himself and never compromising his love for home. because now i get it. being a homebody doesn't necessarily equate with laziness. if home really is where the heart is, then why not embrace it?

daddy, i am proud to say that i have your homebody tendencies and i wouldn't trade it for the world. have a happy father's day, and don't you think twice about leaving the house! love you to pieces!

it's about time

it's about time to get away. leave this city and be one with the outdoors. rejuvenate. which is exactly why g and i confirmed our trip to yosemite in july!

i don't know if i have the travel bug or if i'm just tired of this same scene. why am i still dreaming about europe? dreaming about drinking wine and getting lost with mama? i think it's a sign that i need to get back out there. someplace other than la. with my trusty g by my side and our insatiable appetites for adventure, yosemite just seemed right. just perfect. so we went ahead and made our "plans"- or at least the days we'll be there and the place we'll stay. the rest is up to nature.

and with a scene like this, i'm trusting nature will take good care of us.

where i am now

one week back from an unforgettable trip, back into reality, i have to examine where i am at the moment. how do i reintroduce myself to the life of responsibilities, obligations, and proceeding steps? because, let's be honest, roaming around foreign streets, resting in parks, and acknowledging that the only "accomplishment" of the day was finding that one amazing dinner spot is not exactly a long-term reality. so during my run this morning, i was reacquainted with my thoughts, now...

-- thankful for an example of honest love. mama and daddy celebrated 28 years of marriage yesterday. nothing screams more love and tenderness than a date to Fry's for a new washer and dryer...and then a steak dinner.

-- speaking of love, i just stinking love g. we could be lounging in our comfies, planning adventures, or preparing a meal to the sounds of bossa nova in the background...he is what i refer to as "the filling to my macaroon"

-- i'm really digging the new juice bar down the street. perfect pick-me-up any time of day.

-- i can't get enough of carrots. especially these

-- work = anxiety. i'm being challenged by its politics and i'm struggling with the fact that i have to speak up 

-- ...which leads me to counting down the days (6!) until g and i go on a little retreat to san luis obispo

-- and then yosemite in july!

-- i need to get out of la. life is leading my heart elsewhere. this is my time (at least it will be my time when my lease is finished). life is too short, too sweet, and with too many unknowns to play it safe all the time. 

so this is me. (and i'm still planning to apprentice as a baker once i make the move).