The Snozzberries taste like Snozzberries!

The cilantro tastes like cilantro!

Okay, I'm a dork.
But my cilantro seedlings are actually beginning to smell, look, and taste like.... *gasp!*.... cilantro! Hooray!

note the itsy bitsy teeny tiny center leaf if you are unconvinced






And the verdict on the other seedlings?

Chives- tossed. They were looking good then got all tall and gangly, started tipping over, and got some kind of mold/fungus thing going on in the soil. Not worth the effort.

Rosemary- I read after I had started a few that it is damned near impossible to start from seed. And since they happened to be in the same little container as the floppy chives, I just canned the whole batch.

Lemon Basil- not dead yet.

Sweet Basil- also not dead yet, and a few brave souls are living on the patio. They aren't growing like crazy, but then again, I tend to sit and stare at them... kinda like waiting for water to boil... I have a feeling I just need to walk away and all will be fine.

a while ago


...and after staring (and perhaps breathing heavily upon) for a couple weeks.


So yes, I get a little too excited about this... but all in all it is leading to some good insight.

-I am ABLE to do new things
-I ENJOY doing new things
-I am ABLE to ENJOY.

I will chalk this up to a small step in the right direction.

blah blah blah

Turns out I overreacted. (imagine!)

James is not "moving" to Thailand as I so enthusiastically proclaimed earlier. In truth, he will only be there for about 30 days.

A few days after James returns to the states, my friend Fritz will be in town, and its off to Rainier to hike/camp/grill/etc.

Then it is very possible that I will be the one leaving to spend some time with the Fam. The length of this endeavor is yet to be determined, but it will end promptly on July 9, at which time I will be in WINNIPEG.

As our adventure in Winnipeg comes to a close, James may (most likely) or may not (less likely) join his "brother"/"cousin"/"twin" at his farm for a while.

I wasnt joking about them being twins. Not every day you find a James look-alike!



At this point, I'll be back in Tacoma, hosting a fabulous friend of mine, Nic. As soon as things return to normal... BAM!

Returning to Sioux Falls mid-August for Caitlin's wedding!

And there you have it ladies and gentlemen. A brief synopsis of my summer. Not as lonely as I thought.

Three cheers for summer!

Bummed.

Just bummed.
Sad events.

Brad Odens
and
Sarah Buller

In both cases, non-sense. In both cases, people should be alive.



On a selfish bummer note,

Thailand.
British Colombia.
Australia.

Maybe I'll meet you somewhere in the middle, James.

My Bens

I have two favorite Bens. One, of the "MC" type, another of the "Z" variety. MC will be in my neck of the woods as of tomorrow evening, so I have gone all sentimental and found photos of the man.



I would include captions, but all you need to know is that MC is...

1) a Jedi



2) friends with ninjas



3) has a 'lil somethin in common with Steve Martin


and...
4) an intellectual



And because I love both of my Bens so so so so much, a photo of us all.

come one, come all

We rearranged. (Whenever Lance comes over I put him to work... be it moving furniture, getting the hookah going, dealing with a plethora of plastic bags, washing dishes...)

Living room then.




Now:




Dining room Then:



Dining Room Now:


Okay so the pictures aren't telling the most accurate story but rest assured, this is a far superior layout. Living room: sofa isn't dividing the room anymore. Instead you can open up the window and read from it... and everyone can see the TV if need be. Dining room: you can actually sit at the table and visit with people in the kitchen, and use the window for light. And plants are thriving. (The place is not a jungle yet, which I intend to turn my place into... once I have North or South facing windows. This E/W business is maddening.)

Summary, come visit. Give me ideas. Your presence alone will make it feel less of an apartment and more like a home.

For my sanity

On an average day, keep track of what you eat. Not only what, but how much. And please, please... if only for my peace of mind... be honest. We are talking an average day. Not the day you woke up to discover you had to do a dance to get your jeans on and only ate a salad with no dressing and two potato chips because you couldn't resist. I'm talking an average day, plus drinks. (and all those random trips to the fridge count... the glass of milk, the big mouthfuls of cold leftovers, a couple slices of sandwich meat, those precious oreos on the verge of becoming stale...)

Anyone? Anyone get less than 2,000?

I feel like I eat relatively healthy food with the (big) exception of alcohol. But I get hungry, and I eat huge portions of "good" food. Add in my drink(s) of choice, and *surprise!!!* I'm eating more than I burn.

For heavens sake, a quarter cup of plain old almonds (which is supposed to be healthy and good and blah blah blah) is 205 calories, and two IPAs (which are excellent for stress relief and mental health blah blah blah) are 460. I am nearing 700 calories in my day and I haven't even had a friggin meal. This makes me want to make it six brews, pop a multi, and call it a day.

But I have resisted the temptation. I've been well behaved for the last week or so, calorie wise, and I can tell. I do not own a scale, but I look less pregnant when I exhale. Kudos to me!

But I know its only a matter of time before I polish off that box of Mac'n'cheese, half a pizza, big bowl'o'Pho, spring roll, leftover Thai, bag-o-kettle chips, and a double portion of Ben&Jerrys Phish Food. And thats if I forget to eat breakfast! *sigh*

I am trying, it is working, but this lack of sustenance is making me irritable. Bear with me folks, I doubt it'll last long.