Better

Better.

That's my word for the coming New Year, 2013. I saw a few posts in social media where people were asked to pick three words. Well, see, you put me in a position much like the one I find myself in when asked what my favorite movie is, or color, or song. I can't possibly answer those questions with just one answer. I don't think I can pick just three words that would encompass how I would like 2013 to unfold. I can pick three great words, yes. All day long. But they won't be enough, and they will cheat the other, hundred-or-so, fabulous words out there.

So I chose one.

I don't know that I've ever seriously done New Years resolutions. I doubt that I will start now. What I do know is that I resolve to do better. Not just on New Years Eve, in preparation for January 1. But all year, I find myself wishing this. This idea, that graduates from a tiny seed of hope to be better in all things, slowly evolves into a grandiose statement that I sometimes want to shout from a rooftop somewhere.

"I WILL BE BETTER! I WILL CLIMB THIS MOUNTAIN! I WILL MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE! I WILL HELP ALL THE PEOPLE AND DO ALL THE THINGS!"

It's a huge world out there, and I am one small speck of a human, on the grid. But, remember that butterfly effect? One small good deed, can send shockwaves across the oceans. I've always believed this.

So what I propose to all of us, are these:

Be kind. Be MORE kind than you ever have been. To complete strangers, and to your own. Sometimes the latter is harder, and I'm aware of that. Try. "we'll take, a cup of kindness, yet....for auld lang syne"

Don't take more than your share. And I mean this. From anyone, from the universe, from the person passing you the plate of food, from the candy dish, from the grocery store, to the sale table in your favorite store. Just take what you need. Pull back a little on what you don't. And if you really believe in me, pull back a lot.

Stop, and take the time to go out of your way to help. If the woman in the wheelchair can't reach the green bags hanging above the celery, help her. Get her a bag, and help her pick out the freshest celery. (I had to add this in, it just happened to me at Kroger, so real life must occur in the blog post).

Call your parents. Every week. If you don't have them here with you anymore, call a family member and just ask them how they're doing. Share your life with them too. It makes their day when you do that. Trust me.

Slow to anger, and slow to judge. Or how about not at all, especially on the judging part.

Listen. To anyone that is taking the time to talk to you. It may be drivel to you, while you're busy working or doing all of the things, but stop what you're doing and listen. Look at them when they're talking to you. Be interested in what they have to say, whatever you're doing can wait a few more minutes.

Eat fresh fruit and vegetables every single day.

Remove one thing from your life that is causing more harm than it's worth. You don't have to tell me or anyone else what it is. Maybe it's a who. Or maybe it's a thing. But do it.

When you go to sleep at night, be grateful for the day.

And finally, have a little faith. In yourself, and others. If that doesn't make 2013 better, well, I don't know what to tell ya.

For the sake of old times, (auld lang syne) and new one's, I'm wishing you a safe, peaceful and prosperous New Year.
With lots of happy in it.

Much love,
Tiffany

PS And I wasn't kidding about the fruit and vegetables! Even Breakfast at Tiffany's will have them!

You.Are.Here.

I stood out on my patio tonight, listening to very little sound, a few leaves rustling with the gentle breeze, in this very warm weather Dallas has been having of late.
I live close enough to the airport that I can always see a few planes going by at any given time of day, and then of course at night I can really see them. It appears that they are flying fairly slow, drawing a line of lights as they ease across my view. But I live just far enough from the airport, that unless they are flying right above me, I can hear no sound.
I was thinking that it looked like the beginning of a movie, no sound, but you see the plane coming in for landing, all lit up so they can be seen as they fly in. I often wonder, who is on the plane, and are they coming home? Or are they visiting family, or coming to the Lone Star State for work? All of those stories, on one plane. It would probably take a while to interview the passengers and write down their words on paper.

So.many.stories.

Patio time, with night sky-watching, always brings deeper thoughts than what I normally have during the day. The world is so vast, so populated, but yet we all share the same moon, and the same sun, and the same constellations. There are probably many people doing the same thing  I am doing, looking up at that night sky, searching for the Big Dipper. But not everywhere. In Paris, it's almost four o'clock in the morning, for example. (It's also 42 degrees there right now, but I won't whine about them being able to have winter weather, while I have the air conditioning turned on). No, really.

Many of us wonder how we matter in this big world that we live in.



I've come to find that we do matter, and not just in our little corners of the world. We might write a few words, or say a few things, to people across the globe, that totally changes their day. My friends and family in Missouri always think of me when the leaves start to burst with those gorgeous Fall colors, because they know it's my favorite season. I'm not always there, but they think of me anyway.

And of course, they think of me when their forecast has snow in it, especially given that I'm not sure that N. Texas will have the kind of winter that I like so much, this year.

During the holiday season, I notice a gentler side to people as a whole. I know it can be a hard time for some. They may not have family around, or have had hard times recently. My wish is, and always has been, that there will be a gift of some kind bestowed on them when they least expect it. It may not be the kind that's wrapped in colorful shiny paper, topped with a big bow. It could be something simple, like a friend calling them to chat, or to have them over for dinner. These small gestures are how we matter.

Giving to our favorite charities, whether it be time or money, is how we matter. Helping a friend, or a co-worker through a rough time, is how we matter. Giving the usually chatty, elderly neighbor, a few extra minutes of our time, even when we're in a hurry, is how we matter.

I encourage all of us to find ways to help those in need this holiday season. Trust me, you will get more out of it than the receiver.

See you soon friend,
Tiffany

PS Breakfast has returned to the patio in the mornings. I might as well enjoy the warm spring-like weather while it's here, yes?

And what I say to that is, Amen

A little giving of thanks is lovely this time of year, but it's also wonderful if it's incorporated all throughout the year too. Think about it folks, we have many things to be thankful for. Even the miniscule, doesn't-seem-to-count-as-much stuff, matters.
Like many others, I have a large bird defrosting in my refrgerator right now, in preparation for the annual feast on Thursday. There are those that don't have that, some don't even have a refrigerator because they don't have a home of their own.

When I woke up this morning, I had coffee while I got ready for work, thinking about the fact that there are so many people looking for jobs right now. The woe-is-me Monday haters that post in social media about their lack of enjoyment for their current positions at work make me shake my head at times. It's okay to have a bad day every once in a while, I mean, I don't want to, but it's allowed, because life is not always perfection. But I will never complain that Monday arrived and I have to go to work. I'm grateful that I woke up today, and that I have a job to go to, I certainly don't wish for the alternative.

I really DO think the holidays are the "most wonderful time of the year", but I know that many don't agree with me. I always wonder, what has happened in their lives that made them lose the magic of it all?
I chuckle at this quote, because I love Charlie Brown and the whole Peanuts gang;

"We've got ANOTHER holiday to worry about. It seems Thanksgiving Day is upon us" -Charlie Brown.

Of course I will be watching The Charlie Brown Thanksgiving special this Wednesday night, I never miss it, and I HAVE the DVD. Aside from the humor in his statement, I think many people feel this way about the holidays. Another something to worry about. It makes me sad, but I know that everyone has their own story so I don't try to force my feelings about the subject on them.

The same way that I don't force any of my other beliefs on anyone (religious or otherwise). All I ask that I am treated the same way that others that don't share my beliefs, expect to be treated.

Linus tells the Thanksgiving story quite well I say:

"In the year 1621, the Pilgrims held their first Thanksgiving feast. They invited the great Indian chief Massasoit, who brought ninety of his brave Indians and a great abundance of food. Governor William Bradford and Captain Miles Standish were honored guests. Elder William Brewster, who was a minister, said a prayer that went something like this: 'We thank God for our homes and our food and our safety in a new land. We thank God for the opportunity to create a new world for freedom and justice."

And what I say to that is,
Amen.

Happy Thanksgiving to you my friends,
Tiffany

PS I'm brining the turkey this year, should be quite delicious. But Thanksgiving Breakfast at Tiffany's shall be homemade cinnamon rolls, coffee and juice. I suppose I could add my moms mimosa recipe in there.....oh twist my arm why don't you.


 

A Day In the Work Life

During the workday a very dear friend (who happens to also be a coworker) and I have great conversation as we go about our days of ridding the world of all injustices, one internal customer at a time. We talk about everything under the sun. Humor is always involved, and we usually learn a few things along the way too.
Sharing an excerpt of todays conversation, you might like dill pickles and want to try these!

B: Say, have you tried these: 

T: uh, no and want!


B:: Quite tasty, at least the dill spears, haven't tried the other. And the bonus is that the jars are actually really pretty. I kept mine out on the counter for a bit before I actually got into them and had to refrigerate.

T: I rather like the packaging myself, it's very quaint

B: Those are carrots and red bell peppers at the bottom. Possibly the picked peppers that Peter Piper picked. (Yes, had to go there.)

B: dang it, pickLed

B: Can't even type out a dang nursery rhyme correctly.

T: ha!
T: did he really pick a peck of pickled peppers? how much is in a peck?

B: I could have told you that at one point in my life. Things have decayed since.

T: A peck equals 8 dry quarts. A bushel is 8 dry gallons (4pecks).

T: thank you google

T: he did some serious pickin of pecks there

B: So did I, back in the day. Although I was doing something else entirely.

T: mmm hmmm

T: you know, curds and whey is really just cottage cheese

T: but I guess little miss muffet sat on her tuffet eating her cottage cheese sort of takes away from it all

B:: lol

T: but they could have said along came a spider who sat down beside her to give her a little squeeze, I'm just sayin  

See you soon,

Tiffany  

PS Dill pickles could be eaten for breakfast at Tiffanys. So could curds and whey, but I prefer watermelon!

In which, I become "apiphanyone"

Ten years ago, I was attempting to be creative when coming up with a unique name for my email address, when a thought occurred to me; I love the word epiphany. Why not use this word, but make it my own with a different way of spelling it.
So Apiphany it was, and I became.
I used Apiphany for everything! Twitter, Facebook URL, emails, online bills, my blog,  you name it. I thought I was being as innovative as possible, so I loved my new ID.

Meanwhile, in 2006, a company called EastBanc Technologies was building and managing Web APIs for government, enterprise, and non-profit customers. With each implemented Web service and launched Web API, they refined their methodology and technical architecture. With this repeatable methodology and technical architecture in place, their product, APIphany, was launched and a company was born.

Great minds think alike, eh?

I think so.

What is an API?.... you ask.....because I did.

According to Programmableweb:

There’s a good chance that any app on your phone that does something interesting is using an API. It needs to communicate user details, send content to its servers or at the very least show you the latest information. The only way to do that is using an API…and every meaningful app needs an API.

The Google Maps API is a good example. So is Twitter and Facebook.

According to APIphany: We offer the industry’s most reliable API delivery platform. We help you launch, control, and scale your API. We help you monitor and gain insights into how your API is performing. And we help you gain developer adoption and establish community for your API.

In talking with the great people at APIphany, I found them to be very friendly and easy going. If you have an API, you should contact them. The Washington Post, Houston Metro, and Pew Center for the States did, and now they are customers.

So dear friends, today I have become "one" with my new friends at APIphany, and I've become @apiphanyone in Twitter. Still daring to be different, but meeting great people along the way.

See you soon,
Tiffany

PS APIphany can be found on facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/#!/apiphanyinc

Savoring October

I love the word, savory.

"That chicken and mushroom dish was so, savory." It just rolls off the tongue, this word. It means succulence. Not bland, but FULL of flavor. A dish you remember for days after eating it.

I decided yesterday that I was going to savor every second of October, my most favorite month of the year. I'm not going to let it disappear  before my eyes the way September did, I have no idea where it went by the way. I looked up and poof! it was gone for another eleven months.

No, October 2012 will be savored. I'm going to remember what happens each day as the temperature lowers into the 70 degree range. And the colors of fall leaves appear in the northern states way before they do in what I call, north southtown. We will see the beautiful fall foliage in North Texas too, but usually not until November. So please, friends and family, post as many pictures as you can in social media, of the rolling hills and the red and golds blending together, forming the autumn painting I love so much.


I know people say they are "drinking the day in" when they're out and about enjoying fabulous fall weather, and I so understand the phrase. I look forward to this time of year with such anticipation that the calendar can't change fast enough. Then, when it arrives, I want to slow the clock down. I want to DO something with these days, something memorable, even if it's just walking every morning or seeing pumpkin patches fill up with various sizes of soon-to-be-jack 'o lanterns at months end. Have you seen the SIZE of some of these?! They're huge, I always think I want a giant one but then wonder how I would get it into the car to drive it home.


Adding spices to each day of this month, making it savory, and memorable, is how I'll spend October. The football games and getting together with friends, and sitting around fire pits at night, roasting pumpkin seeds; these are the fall activities I love.

How will you spend this month?

See you soon friend,
Tiffany

PS Pumpkin breakfasts! so many different ways to add pumpkin to the meal, muffins.....pumpkin spice latte's, pumpkin bread.....or, how about pumpkin pancakes. That's it!

Live life out loud!

To thine own self be true
. 

My mom gave me this advice a long time ago, and years later I've found myself giving her that same advice. It's funny to see the shift in life, our parents teach us, and then we teach them. Rather cool.

I read a tweet the other day about a friend saying that his friends are always saying to him, get married, have kids, do the responsible thing. If I had caught it real time I would have just tweeted a response, but of as usual I was very late in the game. Oh twitter, I don't mean to forsake you. I actually love you, you are probably my favorite social media outlet. So easy and quick,  and gone are the fluff posts of anything-no-one-wants-to-hear or pictures of things-we-dont-want-to-see. Wellll maybe pictures we don't want to see, but I digress.....

So here's some of what my mom said to me, and what I now say to my friend and anyone else pondering this sort of thing:

First, your life is your own and I think you have the whole living it well, downpat. I think your friends say these things out of concern and love. Don't you? They equate happiness to the American dream. Two-car garage, two point five kids, white picket fence around the house.....you get my point. They want you to be "happy", and by their definition, that is where one finds the happy. I won't discount that these things, if you're with the right person, can in fact, bring the happy.

But if you want to kayak through Hawaii on a whim, or back pack through foreign countries on a moments notice, it might be easier if you're single and carefree. Actually, you don't have to be single per se, backpacking through Europe with a partner that you like or love would be awesome. But if you have kids and a mortgage, I'm not saying it's not attainable, but a little tougher to work out the details.

If you don't want kids, that is okay. You don't have to be apologetic for this decision. I actually applaud it, because I would rather someone speak the truth and then live it, instead of doing what they think that everyone else thinks they should do. Just because you don't have kids, and aren't married, in no way means that you are not a responsible person. Holding a job and living on your own and paying your bills speaks to this.

So back to the beginning. To thine own self be true.

And who knows, five years from now when you're married and have three kids, you'll think back to this discussion and marvel at the thought of it.

See what I did there? Ha! I kid.

Live life out loud! (I think you already are)

See you soon friend,
Tiffany

PS This also means that you can eat food for breakfast that isn't considered breakfast food. Break the rules! What rules? There aren't any rules, are there?

A Fairytale Vacation

Have you ever walked the grounds of nothing-short-of what would be called a Plantation, with spanish moss dripping from tree branches, butterflies billowing their wings all around you, and the smell of pine needles in the air?

If the answer is no, please, add this to your bucket list.

I had the fortunate experience of being a part of my sisters wedding at Jekyll Island, GA. last week. So excited to fly into Nashville, and then make the drive with my parents and other sister, I could barely sit still on that flight. Discussion was animated from the drive from Nashville to Chattanooga, as we caught up on our lives and the pending festivities. And let me give honorable mention to Tennessee, goodNESS do you have beautiful weather and scenery in September or what? It was lovely. We spent the night in Chattanooga and began the drive to Brunswick, GA the following day. When Sara (sister) and I get together, there's always a lot of laughing going on, to the point of tears. I'm not sure what it is, but we push each others buttons and hilarity always ensues. A very fun way to drive 7 hours I tell you.

When we crossed the causeway to get on to the island, I realized that this wasn't just me going to my sisters wedding. This, was vacation. A get-away to an island that I had never visited before, and I didn't even need my passport. Melissa was waiting for us, directing us where to park much like a stewardess shows you where the exits are on the plane. (She's hilarious by the way). As we followed her to the Crane Cottage where my family was staying........

I was enchanted. The air smelled so fresh, there were butterflies everywhere. I learned from a local that this is butterfly season. What? I've never heard of such a thing, and given that I absolutely love them you would think that I of all people would have the intel. I told Melissa that it was as if she had them flown in for the occasion, it really doesn't get more perfect than this. Oh, but really, it does.

So we make plans to spend Wednesday drinking in everything we possiby can that is Jekyll Island. I don't like to rise at the crack of dawn most days (but I aspire to like it) but when I am near an ocean, I can get up like I've had 12 hours of sleep like nobody's business.

 

Driftwood Beach is rated the 5th most romantic beach in the world.

I could sit on this bench for hours. No talking, I don't know that I would even read. It would just be a thinking spot. I found that while staying at Jekyll Club was seriously one of the coolest things I've ever done, there are other places to stay on the island. If I can be near this beach, the next time I visit, that's where I'll stay.

We had a pretty full schedule the day of the wedding, but there's always time for breakfast and walking the grounds too. The main goal was to get ourselves ready to be on hand for anything Melissa needed, everything went well, according to schedule. It was really an awesome thing to hang out with her, my Mom and Sara entow, to watch the makeup artist do her thing, transforming the bride for her big day.

I'm sure she felt like paparazzi was everywhere but I couldn't help it. When the actual photographer showed up, Sara and I tried to stay out of her way. The end result before we finally left the room to be seated was truly stunning, she was beautiful and I think the groom thought so too.

After the ceremony on the grounds of the Crane Cottage Courtyard, the guests gathered in the library for drinks and appetizers, to wait for the photographer to finish her outside photo ops. That took a while, so we did what normal people do. Drink wine and talk incessantly about every single detail. Normal, yes?

The library looked fabulous:

Suffice to say that it was rather sad that we had to leave Jekyll the very next day, so after breakfast we walked the grounds to see a few more cottages before we left for Nashville.

This is pretty much standard fare. Sara taking pictures of everything and Melissa posing for me while we waited. I should have such a summer home, agree? The cottages were amazing.

After bidding farewell to everyone, my parents and I, with Sara at the wheel, drove back over the causeway, wondering how long it would take to get back to Jekyll Island. One day, we will.

Seeing the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville was pretty cool. I wondered how Loretta Lynn felt when she stood on the steps outside, knowing that she would be performing in front of hundreds of people at the Grand Ole Opry. Dreams were made there.

It was a fairytale week for sure. The Newlyweds are enjoying a San Francisco honeymoon as I type this. It's always good to get back home and put things in order, back to reality so they say.

But Jekyll, with a view like this from the patio off my room, I can promise you this. I will be back someday.

See you soon friend,

Tiffany

PS Georgia is the peach state. A peach bellini served at breakfast makes one feel like celebrating every day.

 

It's not real, I say. Or, is it?

Last week I received an email from my sister with a link to an article and video about what I thought was just a book written by a museum director at the University she works at in North Missouri, Kirksville to be exact. I didn't have time to peruse when I received it, so I ear-tabbed it (is that a word?) for weekend down time. A few days went by. Finally Saturday morning dawns, one of my most favorite days, and I'm sipping coffee and going through emails. I found hers and clicked the link, and my expression changed from mild interest to an "oh my God" face.

"The dibbuk box is the inspiration behind the new horror movie 'The Possession.'"

My sister wrote: "He believes the box he has is possessed basically, and has done tons of research, and they made a scary looking movie. And there you have it."

The link: http://www.heartlandconnection.com/news/story.aspx?id=794765#.UD-oX


I love scary movies. I have a few friends that join me in the hunt of the scariest movie ever. Most of the time, we are disappointed. Gone are the days of The Exorcist, and The Amityville Horror. Well, that's partially true anyway. The Ring didn't disappoint, and the Japanese version of the Grudge, "Ju-On" had me sleeping with the light on for a week. One sister shares the love of scary movies, the other stays so far away from them you can't find her if it's playing in the house. Melissa and I love Halloween, dubbing it our favorite probably because of the memories of watching it together being attached. There are more, but I digress......

We had just made plans the night before to go see The Possession, that very Saturday afternoon. As I delved into this article and watched the video, I was stunned to find that this movie is based on a book titled The Dibbuk Box, a very real item that exists in the home of Jason Haxton, the director I mentioned earlier.
Whaaaaat?

I immediately went to my Kindle app on my phone and downloaded the book. By the time I stopped reading I was four chapters in, and it was time to get ready to go meet my friends.

Now listen, here's the thing. Do I believe that a Jewish wine cabinet is haunted? Doubtful. I won't dig in too far about whether I believe that a young girl can be possessed by a spirit that is trapped inside a box, or if you watch a video and then answer a ringing telephone to hear "Seven Days" you will then die on that seventh day (the Ring) or that a young girl can become so possessed by a demon that she spews green slime and talks in tongues (the Exorcist). But I won't mock these stories either.

Jason talks about that very thing, in The Dibbuk Box, the mocking of it, and what ensues after, so they say.
I'm not one to invite any sort of bad karma or even idea that something like this can occur. I just politely read, watch, and go on my way.

Although I haven't finished the book yet, I have to say that Jason Haxton meticulously describes his experience with this box in vivid detail, including prior events to when he obtained "possession" (see what I did there) of the box. It's a fascinating story, and one I can't wait to finish.

From:  http://tsup.truman.edu/item.asp?itemId=453 ;

The Dibbuk Box is one of those head-scratching enigmas in the paranormal community. The box itself forces us to ponder big questions: Are curses real? Can spirits get attached to inanimate objects? Is there magic and mysticism left in the old religions of the world?

If this is not your thing, the horror film watching and telling scary stories about things going "bump" in the middle of the night, the movie is defintely not for you. I have somewhere along the line, developed a useful tool I will call disassociation. A movie will show you when it's going to have something jump out at you, come on people. If the screen is pitch black and it's silent, something wicked this way comes in about two point seven seconds. I won't say my heart doesn't pound or I don't flinch, but I remind myself that this is a movie set, and I picture the director yelling "Cut!" after the scene, and then the actors laughing. It's not real, I say. It isn't.

Or is it?

See you soon friend,
Tiffany

PS I seriously can't listen to Tubular Bells (The Exorcist soundtrack) and not get chills! Or really, the Halloween theme song for that matter, eek!

I've forgiven August for its transgressions

"I can't go to SLEEP right NOW, IT'S RAINING!"

Yes, I know. I can be so dramatic. But I yelled this in reply to the neighbor when he leaned over the balcony earlier and asked what I was doing up so late. Dear friend, it's only 10:00p but I guess that is rather late to some. I told him I couldn't miss this glorious thunderstorm we were lucky enough to finally receive after this bait and tease game Mother Nature seems to have been playing over the last few weeks. She came through tonight. I only wish I could send some of it to the far off places that desperately need it.

I looked around, through the lightning and swaying trees and realized I wasn't the only one out on the patio, watching the rain fall down in buckets. I smiled and thought, well maybe I'm not so weird after all. I've always been so twitterpated with weather, especially thunderstorms, and ice storms and SNOW. I think the weather even affects my mood sometimes. August just d r a g s along so slowly, when you live in the state of Texas. Triple digits, pavement that can literally singe the bottom of your bare feet, seatbelts in the car that brand your bare legs.... But I've done rather well this year, dealing with August and my dislike of it all. I go outside anyway, water bottle(s) entow. I walk anyway, but it's pretty early in the morning, to avoid the extreme heat. I swim anyway, even though I have to be in the pool for most of it, to stay cool.

Because September is around the corner! Thus beginning my most favorite four months of the year. It's not that it immediately drops in temperature to a lovely 75 degrees. Or that it completely eliminates the dreaded humidity. It's just that it's September. The promise of crisp breezes wafting through my open windows. The sounds of football games, and leaves swirling, and wearing leather boots with jeans!

You will find me at my best in every month, if I'm doing it right. But you will find me at my very best, in October. Pumpkins, and roasted seeds, and ghostly lit windows for Halloween.
Suffice to say, that I've forgiven August for its transgressions. I called a truce this year, and purposely tried to stay neutral and not get so angry with it. The month isn't half over, and I believe I've already won.

So go ahead August, drag along if you will. There is still only 24 hours in a day, and when I flip that calendar page over to September, I will bid you farewell for 12 months.

But, say, would you mind being a little more gentle in 2013? And a little less dry?

Merci!

See you soon friend,
Tiffany

PS Remember my Mastering the Art of French Cooking endeavor I began a few weeks ago? It's going quite well, I made a boeuf bourguignon that would make Julia Child proud. Tomorrow she would have been 100 years old. Dear Julia, Bon Apetit! Thank you for sharing your gifts.

Cooking is like love.....

“Cooking is like love; it should be entered into with abandon or not at all.” ― Julia Child



I remember being entranced in the theatre while watching Julie & Julia. My inner voice was cheering Julie on, you can do this girlfriend! Then, somewhere along the way, I thought, "hey, I want to do that". I want to purchase Julia Child's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" and cook my way through it, recipe by recipe. I wasn't thinking I would blog about it, like Julie did. But I wanted to do it. A month went by and I was in Paris, France. Typing that now, I still look at the words incredulously. I was in Paris!
In September. The first month of my favorite four out of the year. Walking along the River Seine, and drinking in all things French while the fall leaves swirled, I sort of forgot about cooking, as one might imagine.

I love to cook, I always have. I'm not a foodie, (but I am so glad that those foodies exist out there, I love hearing about their cooking adventures). I don't claim to be an expert in the cooking arena. But I love to search for recipes and then go buy ingredients and try my hand at whatever concoction I've found. I made homemade granola a few weeks ago that is to die for. I've always said, homemade is always better. But I will add that there are some fabulous restaurants in this country and beyond, that make special dishes that make your tastebuds dance on your tongue. I would love to have a huge, rambling kitchen that has an island in the middle, and nice cooking tools to use. With large windows overlooking a garden! My kitchen isn't huge, but I'm working on the tools. I've learned that quality does matter if you care about the outcome of those mixed ingredients. I don't have a garden but I am growing some fresh basil, rosemary and sage on the patio this year. It makes all the difference in the world using fresh spices.

I watched Julie and Julia again for the first time since it's release, and that very same feeling came over me that did when I saw it the first time. I want to master the art of french cooking, and I want Julia Child to lead the way. I ordered the two volume set today, and will be anxiously waiting its arrival. Next on my purchase list is a good Dutch Oven. In researching this item, I'm finding all different brands to compare.

Of course I would love to have this Le Creuset 7.25-Quart Round French Oven, ahem, that is only a mere $280. Pocket change, right? Well. I'm not sure yet. But I will continue to research until I find the right one for me.

This is going to be quite an adventure, but I will say a few things in regards to my journey in comparison to the movie. Julie gave herself one year to do cook her way through this book. I won't be having a deadline. Are you kidding? Some of these recipes are drowning in real butter and wine. I won't eat rich food like that on a daily basis. Julie wrote a daily blog about her endeavors. Although I might be inclined to share a few things along the way, I won't be doing this daily. When Fall arrives I might want to write about football or the Great Pumpkin. I have my standards.

So there you have it. My quest for European cuisine made with my own hands. I have a lot to learn from Julia, onward!

See you soon,
Tiffany

PS although Breakfast at Tiffany's is important, I have to share that even though I don't have the cookbooks yet, I tried my first french recipe tonight for dinner, Fricassée de Poulet. That recipe can be found here: http://www.easy-french-food.com/chicken-fricassee.html The smells coming from my kitchen were amazing I must say. Tarragon makes all the difference in the world.  One down......524 recipes to go!

Why?

I don't understand. And actually I will take pride in saying that I probably never will understand. Why senseless, horrific tragedy such as this mornings events have to take place in this world. I won't begin to compare this one, to any other, because it doesn't warrant comparison.

I'm so sad. And ANGRY. Can we get really excited about a movie premier and then purchase tickets and drive to the theatre, park, walk inside, get popcorn, seat ourselves and wait with anticipation......without worrying that we may not leave the theatre alive? IN AMERICA? ANYMORE?

I know. I'm preaching to the choir. Unfortunately, when these senseless acts of random violence occur, it affects all of us. Of course, I'm sitting comfortably in my home while other families are planning a funeral for their lost loved one. Perspective is intact, along with utter sadness and deep sorrow. I am sure that most people hugged their loved ones after todays tragedy, and said "I love you" a little bit more than they usually do. I can only hope we start to do this more, without a tragedy to trigger it.

I tell myself that this tiny little blog, a dent in cyberspace, is my online diary of sorts. I like to go back and read what I was thinking about, or doing, at any given time. What inspired me, or moved me to open a new page, and put thought to print.

This happened.

And I so wish it hadn't. But I will always remember.

Peace to you my friend,
Tiffany

Email to Nora Ephron

"The fact that you're not answering leads me to believe you're either (a) not at home, (b) home but don't want to talk to me, or (c) home, desperately want to talk to me, but trapped under something heavy. If it's either (a) or (c), please call me back" .



As I've said before many times, my sisters and I can have entire conversations filled with movie quotes.

With the sad news we received yesterday of Nora Ephron's passing, I immediately started mentally running through everything she's written / directed that became a permanent part of my life. Those conversations with my sisters are usually based on quotes from movies that Nora was involved with. In an email to my "girls club", I asked, in despair, "Who is going to write and direct movies that give me movie quotes I say every single day? WHO is going to make movies starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan that change my life and way of thinking about the very tapestry of love? Sigh."



Guys, I'm here to tell you. Make fun of us all you want, that we "watch You've Got Mail a hundred times!" or, "haven't you seen Sleepless in Seattle a thousand times already?!", but if you want to get the girl, take note from Sam Baldwin or Joe Fox (eff oh ex), they know what true romance is. They may not at first, because why would a movie have all of the questions answered at the beginning? You would be leaving the theatre before the popcorn was all gone.

I know that I'm not likely to have the 12 year old son of a widowed father become my pen-pal from great distances away, only to then eventually meet him and his father at the top of the Empire State Building, wherein happily ever after awaits. I know that. But, isn't it fun to think of it anyway? Isn't it allowed to want to own a quaint little bookstore in New York City called The Shop Around the Corner, that looks oh-so-inviting on a Fall afternoon? For me, reading a Nora Ephron book, or watching a movie based on that book, was a very happy place I could always go to make my day better.

"It was like going home. Only, to no home I'd ever known".
See? Her words stick.

I DO want to get bouquets of freshly sharpened pencils in September because the new school year has begun. I DO want to fill my apartment with vases of fresh daisies because they "are the friendliest flower". And I DO believe that "when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible" .


In a text this morning from my Mom; "I'm so sorry to hear of Nora Ephrons passing, she was one of my favorites. Though, she will never know".

I'm hoping she does know now.

Hey Nora....."you've got mail"

RIP my friend, we already miss you.

Tiffany

PS On "Success", Nora was quoted as saying "Most of us live our lives devoid of cinematic moments". While this may be true, I try to add cinematic moments to my days. It IS Breakfast at Tiffany's after all.
See you soon!

But that smaller scale......has gold in it

"Right here, right now, there is no other place I wanna be...." -Jesus Jones

I've been wondering when we will be happy in the right now. Having goals and looking ahead to the future is a very good thing. I'm mostly talking about being content in the here and now. Summer is nigh, and I'm sitting at the pool, soaking up sun and reading a great book, but also thinking of Fall and leaves swirling and crisp air and Football season. Chuckling to myself, I thought, good grief, how about enjoying the summer first why don't you.
When in our twenties we think we're invincible and we'll always be, and feel, this young. But, for me, I was always looking so far ahead that I think there were times I missed entire years. Time doesn't really fly, but it feels like it does, quite often for me.

This whole "chasing the dream" mantra that I've always heard about, has been somewhat of a mystery to me. I understand the concept, in that you dream of what you want and who you want to be, and then you make plans to make it all happen.
I've been called a dreamer many times. And I concur. But I've never felt like I was chasing the dream. More like, I'm living it every day. Usually, phrases like these come from people who have climbed corporate ladders, and made it to the top, or inherited large sums of money and have literally been around the globe.

If I find I'm not living the dream, I go to bed with the thought; "Tomorrow. Tomorrow I will." But the here and now, is not far away. Being happy with small things each day, a note from a friend, a phone call from my sister(s), a text message from a favorite cousin who makes me laugh out loud (and no I am not going to use real names, they all think they're my favorite, don't tell them otherwise!).

I'm not driving a fancy car, or living in a mansion on a hill, but I can drive 20 minutes in to Dallas Farmers Market and get some of the sweetest watermelon I've ever tasted and bring it home to my apartment and enjoy that moment for days.

I wake up on a Monday thinking I would rather stay home and swim instead of going to work. And THEN I think, "I've got leftover BBQ for dinner tonight, w00t!" See how easily that can be turned around?

The here and now is unchaseable. (I'm not sure if that is a word). But it is. You don't need to chase it. It's at your fingertips. All of the motivation posters and quotes yelling, 'THINK BIG!" "DREAM BIG!" are not, in any way, telling a non-truth. I do think we should think big. But that smaller scale has gold in it.

At approximately 5:00p I will be swimming under the North Texas sky. THAT, is living the dream.

See you soon friend,
Tiffany

PS Have you been wishing for something fabulous lately? Why don't you go get it. Life is too short. Once you get it, s l o w down and enjoy it. Much like breakfast on the patio. I go as slow as possible. I want it to last you see.

Have we taken the social out of social media, or, are we more social than ever?

Okay so let's see. With all of the online rants regarding social media, I'm gathering the following:

You don't want to know about, or see what I'm eating. You don't want pictures of my new pedicure, or my manicure for that matter. (this one was directed mostly at women, but hey, it's a free country, it could be directed at men as well). If I have small children, you don't want to know about their habits, provided to you each half hour. No "Eeyore syndrome" allowed! If one lives under a black cloud every single day, and absolutely nothing goes right in one's world, you don't want to hear about it? Well how rude! (I'm laughing as I type this). The newly joined couples and lovers of love, seem to irritate you. I hear you on many levels, I know it's sugary sweet to see the I love you's going back and forth between two people. Some mentioned their gag reflex was being conditioned daily. (still laughing) I have to say that I would rather see love being passed around, rather than hate.

Do I dare even mention the political arena? I want to run from myself if I do so, but here I go. Republicans and Democrats and Libertarians and fence sitters and everyone-under-the-shining-sun have so many opinions, yes? And they r e a l l y like sharing them in social media settings. I'm reading that most don't want to know these opinions. I'll be fair and share mine about this subject. As I mentioned previously, it's a free country. Although I don't enjoy the bashing of our President at ANY juncture, post whatever you like as you see fit. It's your page after all. I can then elect to stay so far away from it that my zip code changes. This is what I call Freedom of Speech. The choice is mine to not participate and move along to the more enjoyable post about someones beach vacation or their getting their Masters in physics. At the age of 42 no less!

I love the Sports Arena in real life so it's a given that I will love it in the social media setting too. There is camaraderie, and then there is competivite nature, both equally okay in my book. I grew up in Missouri. Mizzou fans have never been fond of Nebraska, for one example. But I have friends that I care about who happen to be Nebraska fans. So my choice is this: I cheer for my friends team even if Mizzou is playing them. Some don't agree with this. I feel compelled to explain. I want Mizzou to win every game they play, never be mistaken about this. But I also want to be a fan of the game itself. And, I want my friends to know that I suppport them and what/who they like. One of the most fun times I've ever had was when St.Louis and Texas were in the World Series. Oh, what games! the congratulation from me, in the end, was for BOTH teams. I thought it was cool to live in Dallas and be a fan of both teams, and see them do well. I screamed when St. Louis won, and was thrilled. But it had to be mentioned that both teams should be proud of where they went in that series, and both deserved to be there. I'm not sure that I should even mention the MU/KU rivalry given that such extreme hate seems to swirl during these games. I'm not a fan of ugliness or hate, and given the recent "moving to the SEC", I'll move along. To my dear friends and family that happen to be KU fans, "rock chalk". And here's to a great 2012/13 season. (I can hear the Mizzou fans groaning all the way from Missouri haha)
To get to the real deal, GO CHIEFS!!! But Raider fans, I'll still congratulate you on your facebook wall when you kick our butt. And mean it. (even though I'm accused of not meaning it)

A few other items I found in the so-annoying-please-stop-posting category:
1) obscure, begs the question, rants about specific people that aren't mentioned by name and won't see the post, but the poster feels compelled to rant anyway
2) posting and tagging of unauthorized pictures of friends (I've never been a fan)
3) the TMI post, way too much information that we truly do not need to know, some combined with a pic of that too much information.
4) the TLI post, so little information that it leaves your friends scratching their heads (?)
5) The "I'm so awesome I can't stand myself" post

I am sure I haven't mentioned all of the annoyances. I'm now left with, so what do we want to see?

Have we taken the social out of social media, or, are we more social than ever?

This is what you're going to get from me. If I think it's a funny quote, or an adorable picture of a corgi or a baby panda, I'm posting it. If Eddie Vedder is singing Just Breathe to me, I'm posting it. *he does sing it just for me, right? If I'm so mesmerized by a sunrise over the ocean that I get goosebumps, I'm posting a picture of it so you can be mesmerized too. At times I have the most random thoughts ever, if I truly want to hear what you have to say about them, I'll post them. If some casual stranger does something nice for me out of nowhere, I'll post it to remind you that you too, can do these nice things for others. If I'm staring at glistening swimming pool water under a North TX sky, I'll show you. Maybe it will make you get your swimsuit on and go find the nearest pool, and relax. We have to RELAX people.

This is what you won't get from me. When I'm sad, or irritated, or tired, or gloomy. When the day hasn't gone well at work. When a friends post has made me angry. When I wake up, when I go to bed, or how fabulous I think I am. <-------- I do think YOU are fabulous though, and will gladly tell you that if you need to hear it.
Now I guess I'll go post this in Facebook.

See you soon friend,
Tiffany

PS I think Breakfast at Tiffany's has obviously gone to the dare-to-be-different phase of late. I had leftover BBQ chicken this morning, and I have no idea why.

The Keepers of my Days...

Do you have certain phases you go through? Not necessarily serious ones although they are important too.


For instance, I have a snowcone phase. Yes, snowcone. This can occur in the Winter months, and my friends think I'm nuts for wanting something so deliciously cold when it's so deliciously cold outside. I love Winter, in case you didn't know. I love all of the seasons actually, each in its own right, brings various favorite things. But Fall, oh it's my favorite.


I have a cheesy love phase, where I want to watch what men call "chick flicks", like The Notebook, and Nottinghill, and The Lake House, and....well I could go on and on. Then, I get out of this phase, and switch to serious, deep thinking movies that may not have a red bow tied at the end, but I still got something from the content. I would say that my men friends just rolled their eyes, but I cleaned it up in the end, didn't I guys? =)


I have certain food phases too, like fresh spinach salad. I've eaten this for breakfast several times in the last few days. I'm weird I know, but at least it's healthy! You never know what Breakfast at Tiffany's may bring, so it's best to keep an open mind and ready taste buds. Do you like Indian food? See, told you.


I even have a workout regimen phase. Sometimes it's all about yoga, and pilates. Then, I want to get things moving so I swim like Michael Phelps! ahem, I mean I aspire to swim like Michael Phelps. Or I do P90-X cardio that reminds me that I'm not 22 years old anymore. If you don't know what I'm talking about, try Plyo and get back to me.


The talking on the phone phase comes and goes. When I really don't want to talk, but just be still for a while, I'll text more. I've always said a phone call is more meaningful, but really, who am I kidding. What means even more than that is a face to face conversation with a friend(s). I think this age that we live in, the social media, texting, online everything era, is sadly replacing quality time spent in person. I try to not fall into this category often, but with work and personal life it's very easy to slip into the mold.


I will say this, certain loves of mine don't come and go with phases. Like moon gazing, and taking long walks, and reading great books, and fabulous quotes, and blog posts. No, these are the keepers of my days.


Whatever phase you happen to be in right now, I hope you're enjoying it, and things are going well. Maybe the next time we meet, you can tell me all about it!

See you soon friend,
Tiffany


PS Strawberries drenched in balsamic vinegar are really, really tasty for Breakfast. Seriously!

One Task At a Time

I don't think I have Attention Deficit Disorder.



But just like in "Up", I see the proverbial squirrel and away my mind goes.

The way it's going these days in work land, I'm trained to do seven things at once. Oftentimes IMPOSSIBLE things.

But I always believe I can do them anyway.

Do this, but watch that, and keep an eye out for this, but answer that email, and wait, someone pinged, and IT needs this right now, and this customer is threatening to leave, and can you look at this for me?

It's no wonder, with this sort of thing going on every day at work, that it has carried over to life outside the office as well. I walk into a room, and have a mission, a task to complete. Ten minutes later I'm in a different room because something shiny that I saw in the corner of the first room reminded me that this other thing needs to be done.
I need to work like Cinderella I suppose. One task at a time.



But OH the distractions!



I don't have the t.v. on that often these days. But I can press my nose against a book for hours on end. If I receive a text message I feel compelled to answer quickly. If the phone rings and I know who is calling, I answer, whether I'm busy or not.

I probably should learn the art of saying no, or letting voicemail answer for me once in a while. My mom often says, "I sit down at the computer and before I know it half of my day is gone!". Yet another distraction, a big one mind you, with all of the things in cyberspace available at our finger tips. Blogs and Twitter and Facebook and todays headlines and recipes and and..... you know how it goes.

So here is to focusing on the task at hand.

May the force be with you (and me). Because I'm going to need help!

See you soon,
Tiffany

“Hutchison's Law:
Any occurrence requiring undivided attention will be accompanied by a compelling distraction.” --
Hutch Robert Bloch

The Sun Will Come Out.....Tomorrow

As I sat working in my "home office" I noticed that it was getting darker and darker outside. I knew the weather forecasters were predicting inclement weather, but I hadn't turned the T.V. on to check. I figured if I was inside and I had secured my patio, I was good to go.
I lit a few candles because I always lose power during storms. Most of the time it's brief, but I love lit candles anyway and what better time to light them than during rolling thunder and lightning.
One of my coworkers, who knows me well, sent me an instant message through our chat option at work. "I know you don't have your T.V. on but I want you to turn it on right NOW" he said adamantly.

Uh-oh.

I've never really been afraid of storms, I'm kind of fascinated with weather actually. But I don't want anyone to get hurt or lose their homes, or much worse, their lives.

Needless to say, I left the T.V on so I could at least listen while I was working. Within twenty minutes I was in the center of my apartment in the bathroom that has no windows, with the door shut tight. The forecasters couldn't keep up with the reports coming in, and I now know that 13 tornados hit the Dallas area. Just as they were describing semi-trucks being lifted into the air and pummeling into buildings the electricity went out.
Fun times.

All in all I think the worst part of the storm that hit where I live lasted about 20 minutes. When the loudest sound I've ever heard began to subside, I slowly opened the door to peek out and see if the back door had flung open. It sounded like it had, which puzzled me because I thought I locked it. It wasn't open, the wind was just hitting it hard enough to jostle the wind chime that hangs on the inside door knob. I started looking around to see what window broke during the hail storm, I knew there had to be at least one, it sounded like knives hitting glass. I got lucky, there was only one, in the bedroom.

I stepped outside to survey that beautiful swimming pool that is just beyond my patio.

Well. I don't mind swimming in the lake, but this is crazy.

I wasn't worried about my car because I was parked undearneath the carport. Little did I know, I had pulled forward a little too far. But the damage to my car was minimal compared to the vehicles that were left out in the open. Every single car had damage, most had windows and windshields blown out. Glass was everywhere, especially underneath the apartment windows that blew out. Still, we didn't lose our homes the way some did in Lancaster, and Forney, TX.

The forecasters kept saying, "don't believe the lull, round two is coming, please stay in your safe zones until further notice". I didn't stay outside long. It was like Christmas only the air was much warmer. The crunching sound the hail made as people were timidly walking over it to see what it had caused was reverberating throughout the parking lot.

And that hail was no joke.


Right before I went back inside I came across these two, seemingly assessing the damage, quite audibly mind you.
   
                                                                     

So, with candles lit, but the electricity back on, I settled in to watch the reports to see if anything else was headed my way. The cell towers were up and down so I was receiving sporadic messages asking if I was okay, and letting me know that my local friends were all safe and sound.
The storms begin to move east, away from the metroplex so I relaxed a little, knowing that for this round anyway, we were probably in the clear.

And then, as a small reminder that the sun really does come out tomorrow, I awoke to the most gorgeous day ever. The sun was shining brightly, and the humidity was low enough that I could open the windows and let the breeze come in.
The clean up had begun, maintenance was all over the place assessing damage and repairing windows and screens, and some broken doors, removing glass from the parking areas, and knocking on doors to ask if there was anything urgent that anyone needed today.

I saw so many people coming together to help after the horrible storm that hit Joplin, MO last year, and again this year when Branson, MO was hit. People were driving to Alabama to help out last year, giving a helping hand to anyone that needed it.  Storms may wreak havoc, but we pull together after them.

And the sun does shine again.

See you soon,
Tiffany

But if she loves you now, what else matters?

.....so then he asked why relationships were so hard and women so much like a puzzle that can't be figured out.....

Dispensing unsolicited advice is one of my top ten rules of "no-no". I won't do it. I refuse to. Now, if approached for advice, obviously I will try to give quality, sound feedback for my friends. It does make me wary at times, that feeling of responsibility that often comes with this sort of thing. I think to myself "oh but what if I'm steering them wrong, or, what happens if I tell them to try something and they fail, then what?"

Try and try again, is the answer to that. At least that's how I feel. Of course, there does come a time when you have to fold, and walk away, let's be reasonable.

"We need, in love, to practice only this: letting each other go. For holding on comes easily; we do not need to learn it.” --Rainer Maria Rilke

So my friend, in trying to put himself back out there after a painful break up a few months ago, has become disillusioned by the dating scene and women and relationships in general. eek! Age-old questioning of the why's and why not's. I'm no expert but I am single and find that some people are more comfortable with the adage, "like speaks to like". If they feel I've been through similar situations, they are more apt to discuss them with me, than someone who they feel would not understand. Plus, I'm a girl, who better to help a guy friend understand, than the direct source. I had to mention that we are all made so unique, that I would never be able to speak for anyone other than myself. If a girl he likes is acting strangely or just simply disinterested, I can't provide the "why", she would have to do that.

I've been feeling sort of islandy today, dreaming of Hawaii vacations and beaches and laid back atmospheres. Bob Marley's "One love" came to mind, so with that playing in the background while I type this, it came to me.

What would Bob say to my friend?

You may not be her first, her last, or her only. She loved before she may love again. But if she loves you now, what else matters? She's not perfect - you aren't either, and the two of you may never be perfect together but if she can make you laugh, cause you to think twice, and admit to being human and making mistakes, hold onto her and give her the most you can. She may not be thinking about you... every second of the day, but she will give you a part of her that she knows you can break - her heart. So don't hurt her, don't change her, don't analyze and don't expect more than she can give. Smile when she makes you happy, let her know when she makes you mad, and miss her when she's not there.”


― Bob Marley
 
"One love....one heart. Let's get together and feel all right"
 
So my friend(s), there you have it.
 
See you soon,
Tiffany
 
PS Let's go to Hawaii and eat fresh pineapple for breakfast and lay in the sun and sail across the waves on a catamaran while spinner dolphins leap out of the air with exuberance much like we should have, were we to do this. Okay?

It takes time to build castles

March madness indeed.

Just to let you know, I've got Mizzou taking it all. This is based half on the fact that I'm from Columbia, MO, and half on, THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE IT ALL. Of course, if that doesn't come to fruition, I'm still a huge fan, not a fair weather one. While I dubbed last week "Bracket Pressure", it's fun to fill them out and then watch and see what happens during the games.

With one of my most favorite holidays forth-coming, I've been cooking Irish food (corned beef brisket and cabbage, Irish soda bread) and placing green things around the house (Irish bouquet with Stargazer lilies in it). Tomorrow I'll be wearing green, I don't want to get pinched!

Dublin is on my wish list of dream destinations. I revisit that dream more so in March then any other month of the year. I was reading an Irish Proverb this morning:

"De réir a chéile a thógtar na caisleáin" which translates to: It takes time to build castles.

Although I don't live in a castle, I've visited one, and I have a feeling it took ages to build it. I think this is what I've been doing my whole life. Building a castle. Mine may not have towers and turrets and a moat leading you over water to get to my front door. But it's one where the castle is my life. Friendships and views of the world, and family, and all of the things I love to do, come together to make me who I am.
That takes time, right?

While I'm building my castle, I'll be thinking of you this weekend and hoping for beautiful spring weather for you, and a happily celebrated St Patty's Day.

So here's to four-leaf clovers, and all things green, and a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. Go get 'em!

And......GO MIZZOU!

See you soon friend,
Tiffany