discovering maple

Would you believe me if I told you I had my first bite of a maple bar at the age of twenty five? Ever since that bite, it's been hard for me to even believe.  The reasoning behind this is sort of an embarrassment. After my first experience with it, I went home to my roommate to tell her about my delicious new discovery. Here's how the conversation went:

 Me: "I don't even really like caramel." 

The roommate's reaction? "It's not even caramel, it's called a maple bar."

Me: "Oh." followed by a laugh out of complete embarrassment and a sudden miniature heart attack much like that feeling Ellen DeGeneres describes when belting out the wrong lyrics to a song and in that moment realizes those aren't the actual lyrics. Then an individual's train of thought immediately goes to "how many people have heard me sing this song the wrong way?" Well, I thought "how many people have heard my reasoning behind not liking maple bars?"  

I'm not sure where in my childhood this ignorance to doughnut anatomy went wrong.  I remember getting multiple doughnuts as a kid, but someone needs to be blamed for directing me in the wrong direction. Or maybe someone was doing me a favor, because I don't know how I've gone without maple in my life.  I'm sure I've saved quite a few dozen in my twenty five year absence. So how do I make up for it? A day dedicated to using maple as the main ingredient, of course!

happilyriverrafter

The other night while out at our local German Pub with Stephanie, she brought up the video we made a few summers ago.  There were tears in her eyes while she reminisced and I thought, "I wish Megan was here for this." The setting was perfect: a German Pub, Radler beers, and a girl with a French Bulldog on a leash. After all the talk about it, I had to go back and watch because it had been awhile.  Needless to say, Stephanie was right; the video is so good (in our eyes) and so happilyriverrfter.

 http://youtu.be/b8n5IfxZI3s

snow days

Snow hit the Portland area this week, and let me just say, it was the best surprise ever.  I've been feeling a bit behind on my “to do” list and these snow days have allowed me to just breath.  It’s the best feeling to walk outside to desolate streets and have your ears feel like they need to pop because the silence is so intense. Do you know what I mean?  The calming that it brings over you has the power to bring a smile across your face, because you know in that moment, you have no obligations and nowhere to go, because this flawless white powder has trapped you and everyone else in its path. It’s a beautiful thing.  It allows you to step back and appreciate how much of a good thing alone time can be.  I was able to watch Good Will Hunting while snowed in and I came to the realization that it may be my favorite movie of all time, and for this reason:

“So if I asked you about art, you'd probably give me the skinny on every art book ever written. Michelangelo, you know a lot about him.  Life's work, political aspirations, him and the Pope, sexual orientation, the whole works, right? But I bet you can't tell me what it smells like in the Sistine Chapel.  You've never actually stood there and looked up at that beautiful ceiling. Seen that. If I ask you about women, you'd probably give me a syllabus about your personal favorites. You may have even been laid a few times. But you can't tell me what it feels like to wake up next to a woman and feel truly happy. You're a tough kid. And I'd ask you about war, you'd probably throw Shakespeare at me, right: "Once more into the breach, dear friends." But you've never been near one. You've never held your best friend's head in your lap, and watch him gasp his last breath looking to you for help. I'd ask you about love, you'd probably quote me a sonnet. But you've never looked at a woman and been totally vulnerable. Known someone that could level you with her eyes, feeling like God put an angel on Earth just for you. Who could rescue you from the depths of Hell. And you wouldn't know what it's like to be her angel, to have that love for her, be there forever, through anything, through cancer. And you wouldn't know about sleeping sittin' up in the hospital room for two months, holding her hand, because the doctors could see in your eyes that the terms "visiting hours" don't apply to you. You don't know about real loss, 'cause that only occurs when you've loved something more than you love yourself. And I doubt you've ever dared to love anybody that much.”

It’s just brilliant.  Robin Williams has successfully made me want to just live in every moment and take the time to enjoy non-material things.  Because that’s what life is really about. Maybe that’s why I’m swooning over this snow? Anyways, these last few days have been wonderful thanks to Mother Nature and Mr. Williams.  I can only hope for another snow spell before this winter is over, because I know I’ll need it.

P.S. Doesn't the snow look good on Portland?

fifteen things

* I once swore I would never drink beer, wine, or coffee 

because I didn't like the taste. Now, I drink all three.

* I dislike revolving doors.

* I have no self control when it comes to food.

*My biggest wish right now is for the best to move back from Germany

(and will continue to be until she does).

*I can't live without Chapstick. 

*Cats are not my favorite.

*Procrastination is my worst enemy, but it's how I function.

* I always wanted braces...and glasses.

* I went through a phase growing up where I'd speak in a British accent and pretend I was on the Oregon Trail. I had to stop though, because someone told me people would start to think I had split personality disorder, and that scared me.

* Sleeping is one of my favorite things.

* I'm terrified I'll never figure out what I want to do with my life.

* I love receiving flowers.

*Although I've been told otherwise, I'm very shy.

* I'm very sarcastic, almost to a fault.

*I love anyone who can make me laugh.

my other half

...and I mean half as in half a person. However, is honestly probably considered a fourth of a person. 

This little person is who I spend the majority of my time with and have grown to love. She has a way of allowing me to forget that it is that dreadful Monday morning every week I walk in the door, as she greets me with a not all there smile and not all there hair (for real, hair when will you grow?). Whose favorite words are momma and bike and in no particular order. She also really enjoys saying butt butt as she smacks her bottom and throws in a huge laugh after, and no I did not teach her that. Whose favorite food is ham (she's such a little ham as well), who loves taking my empty Starbucks coffee cups and holding onto them for at least an hour minimum (I know this is probably how coffee fiends are created), whose favorite animal is the duck, whose favorite song is "What Does the Fox Say" but I'm trying to change that.  She thinks she becomes invisible when she closes her eyes and turns her head away from me whenever I tell her it's time for a nap.  Then laughs in disappointment as I tell her "Penny, I can still see you, and it's still time to lay down."  She plays the harmonica, loves to dance, and even throws her hands in the air as if she created "raise the roof."  She  loves showing off her shoes to anyone that will compliment them, even if they've already mistaken her for a boy. This is a cool girl in the making because not only have I taught her to master the art of highfiving at the age of one and a half, but she has also learned how to "pound it" all thanks to my notion that we need to keep it real. P-pie, you rock.