Finding the space between ms and mrs.

I am a ms turned mrs, dedicated to the process of reconciling her ms-ness with her mrs-dome thereby ensuring each week she does some: good eating, great lovin, new livin, a bit of travelin, some spirit building, and a healthy dose of whatever makes me happy…

No More Goodbyes!

Its official! I never have to say goodbye to Norman again. We are MARRIED! It’s a strange feeling, not the married part, but the I don’t even have to say goodbye to him again part. Our relationship has been full of hellos and goodbyes.

I think in 4 months time, I might need a mini alone vacation. But for now, married life has been good to us, and I’m excited to see what the future brings for both of us.


Stay tuned... I will be blogging more often.

Perspective

Perspective: a way of regarding situations, facts, etc, and judging their realative importance.

I’ve been giving this word a lot of thought the past few weeks and I think I am in need of some serious “perspective”.

How does one make the right decisions, choices if there isn’t something to compare it to? How do you decide what fork to take in the road if there isn’t a map, telling you what lies ahead? When I was younger, I was often asked “what’s your plan”?  How can you make your plan if you don’t know what it is? Do you let life unfold and go along for the ride, or do you steer it in the direction you want it to go?  I can see pros and cons to both. I also know that life is precious and very short. Death has become a family member, one that I know very well. And while he/she is not welcome, it doesn’t keep them from taking up the seats at the dinner table.  Do you live life until your chair has been taken, like a game of musical chairs? Or do you notice that there is only one chair left, and decide to go find another because you refuse to be out of the game?

I used to know what my plan was, or more less where I wanted my life to go, but I’m not so sure anymore. I do know that I’m not ready to stop playing, but I need some new game pieces.

On a separate note, the sun is shining, the birds are chirping, my garden is growing delicious herbs and vegetables, my two cats are playing in the yard, and my dog is at my feet. At this moment, I am right where I want to be.

rollercoaster.

There’s Ups.
There’s Downs.
There’s all a rounds.
There’s times when you want to yell,
And others when you want to hide in a shell.
When you’re at the very top,
Your heart just wants to drop.
And the best thing to do is go with the flow
When you’re very very low.
Holding on.
Not letting go,
Even when things get super slow.
And when the ride comes to a complete stop.
You wish you were back at the top.

Traditional Food

I recently visited Scotland and had the opportunity to try some traditional English/Scottish food. I love food, and enjoy trying new things. However I was a little hesitant to try the following items.

·         Black pudding, also known as blood sausage, is a pudding made of curdled and boiled pig blood, mixed with chunks of pork fat for texture.

·         Haggis -  is a dish containing sheep's 'pluck' (heart, liver and lungs), minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, and traditionally simmered in the animal's stomach.

Interestingly enough, Haggis is has been declared “unfit for human consumption” by the USDA and is outlawed in the USA.

Of the two dishes, I actually not only preferred, but enjoyed and finished the Haggis. Now that I know it’s outlawed in the US, I may refrain from ordering it next time or rebel and order an extra helping.

I was hesitant to try this food, but Norman encouraged me to try it, and I’m glad that I did.

“that boy's head is like Sputnik; spherical but quite pointy at parts! Now that was offside, wasn't it? He'll be crying himself to sleep tonight, on his huge pillow”   Name the movie.

Recipe for Disaster?

If you know me, you know I love to cook. I don’t just like to throw stuff in the oven, and call it good. I like to build, explore and create tasty food.  I don’t use recipes, I don’t measure, and lord knows, I don’t, let me rephrase that, I CAN’T do baked sugary things.  But that’s a different blog topic. I have the ability to re-create something I had eaten in a restaurant or think of an idea and come up with the ingredients in my mind. I can look at a photo and bring it to life on a plate. I often even surprise myself at times.  Well, I am going to take on a new challenge. I am going to create, and build my own food for my wedding.  I love food, and I love this man in my life, so why not? When it comes to food, I know how to handle myself, when it comes to relationships…. I’m going to need some help.

Who knows... perhaps I will go into catering.

Something Blue?

Oh, the wedding plans have begun.  My living room looks like a wedding paraphernalia explosion. It’s weird  to walk in the door and see the mess of magazines, adorned with frilly dresses, bouffant hair doo’s and do it yourself ideas scattered  throughout my living room.  Dare I say I am getting excited! I know when I say these next few words… I will get a lot of flack…. But, since I am “older” there I said it, I feel like I shouldn’t be as giddy or excited or nervous as I get sometimes.  I have to tell myself, to relax and let myself enjoy this time, even if I feel like I’m too old to act this way.  I just wish I had someone to share the planning, the ideas, and the giddiness with.  It’s hard when your soon to be other half is across the world sleeping, when I’m left day dreaming about what the big day will look like.

We have started the visa process, and now we have to do something that I am NOT very good at. Wait. It’s been 2 weeks and we haven’t heard anything, and I feel likes it’s been 2 months. The date has been set, September 3, 2011 – so let’s pray, keep fingers and toes crossed that our papers will go thru in the next 5 months. Ugh – that seems forever.

I hope the next few months fly by because I can’t wait to start my life with this guy who I never dreamed I’d meet. One, because he is nothing I wanted, but everything I didn’t know I needed. And two, because he loves me in a way I didn’t think I would find. Now I just need to figure out how not to drive him crazy!  

Soul Soother

What is it about a good country song that tends to sooth the soul? Maybe it’s the sap, the long drawn out words, the meandering lyrics of losing life’s greatest gifts.  I don’t know what it is, but when I’m feeling down, I make a mad dash towards the boot scootin’ country music. I’ve been listening to a lot of country the past few days. It just makes sense to me right now. Perhaps, I need a good hearty shoulder shaking, head pounding cry.

Not country – but a brilliant song.

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice
You'll make it now

Falling slowly, eyes that know me
And I can't go back
Moods that take me and erase me
And I'm painted black
You have suffered enough
And warred with yourself
It's time that you won

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice

You've made it now
Falling slowly sing your melody
I'll sing it loud

Name Change

It was time to change the name of my blog. Not becuase Amanda's Adventures ended, but because I want this blog to be more than just a travel blog dedicated to my adventures. Although anyone who knows me, knows that Im an adventure. :)

Last year I got a tattoo on my foot " Alis Vollat Propiis" thats Latin for "She flies with her own wings"  It also happens to be the Oregon State motto. I feel that my life really started when I moved to Salem Oregon when I was 15 years old. Sure, I had 14 years of living beforehand, but this is when I trully felt happy and alive, and on the path to become who I was meant to be.