Basil and Natures Little Reminders.
August 25, 2009, 6:40 am
I’ve had RoRo my Rosemary plant alive and well since last summer, she’s provided fresh herbs to numerous dinners for visitors from near and far…my Lavender however, died a slow painful death. It was hard to watch and had left me gun shy from planting anything since then. 3 weeks ago in a farmers market in Charlottesville, my heart opened up to some beautiful basil, 3 plants for $10.00. How could I refuse?
Since I’ve been back in DC I noticed bugs were eating holes in some of the leaves, so naturally I picked the ones without holes first and watched the holes get bigger.
Then it occurred to me, if I eat the ones with little holes first I will let the healthy leaves continue to grow…(and if the big beautiful leaves began to get holes I’ll get bug spray).
Natures simple reminder to me to deal with things right away.
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A Recent Photo I Like
August 20, 2009, 10:15 am
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Death By Consumption: $42.00 at Jack in the Box, Table for 2.
August 19, 2009, 9:50 am
My good friend Jesse who I used to work as a bouncer, lift weights and eat with once told me: “I like eating with you because I don’t feel self conscious.” It was one of those “it’s funny because it’s true” moments. At the time we were both power lifters weighing over 300 pounds and were into consuming anything that would help us lift and weigh more. As the title stated, one night we proudly ordered $42 worth of food via drive-thru at Jack in the Box and proceeded to eat all of it. ( I am getting full again just thinking about it)
The reason I mention it is because until recently throughout my life I have always reasoned that MORE is better in every area. The problem with MORE is that once in the MORE mindset it’s never ENOUGH because the MORE we have the LESS we tend to be satisfied. It’s like a farmer trying to acquire more land with an unharvested crop.
As I’ve matured (against my will of course), I’ve come to realize that the true key to increase is not wanting more but instead to be happy where we are and good stewards with what we have.
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A Moment I Missed: Transit Romance
August 12, 2009, 10:48 am
I recently treated what was supposed to be a romantic evening with someone special as a business meeting that needed to be completed and marked off my to-do. We spent the few minutes before we left looking at photos online of a couple whose wedding we had attended, a few of which was them on the long metro escalator looking lovingly into each others eyes…
Unfortunately as we were taking the long metro escalators I was irritated we were not walking and wondering why she was starring at me instead of “paying attention”…What the hell “paying attention” means I’m unclear but at the time I was pissed she wasn’t doing it.
I wish I could say my behavior improved as the evening progressed, but it did not. I became irate at the thought of sharing food although admittedly felt better after the meal because I had not eaten so much, and I was pretty much silent throughout our after dinner walk which I imagine could have been lovely had I not been acting like such an ass.
Since this experience I’ve realized that romance in transit is still romance, and time with those we care about should be cherished no matter what the activity.
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Five Lessons I Wish Learned In My Twenties
August 2, 2009, 3:46 pm
While taking some time off from writing this summer I spent some serious time considering what I should write about for my inaugural return to the blogosphere.
I considered writing:
- a review of “Funny People”. It was funny but too long
- about my summer of love with someone special…it’s been great
- an anecdote about my run in with racism…I was called a cracker by a woman in a burka even though I am obviously a spic.
None of which seemed grand enough for the glorious return of my pen to paper (or fingers to a keyboard as it were).
Some lessons I wish I learned in my twenties:
1. “Small Strokes Fell Great Oaks”: Most of the time great achievements do not happen all at once, some take a life time. A combination of Faith, discipline and patience will help you achieve any dream in which you are passionate.
2. Don’t Delay the Consequences: Growing up I could almost always talk my way out of trouble, once I grew up I realized that there are certain things that will never go away until you pay the piper…the key is not paying him interest.
3. An Adage is an Adage for a Reason: Since the day I was born I’ve had to “learn the hard way”. This year I’ve been trying to utilize both my experience and the experience of others as a means of avoiding pitfalls. While there is always the exception that proves the rule, most the time the best bet is to just follow the rule.
4. Kill’em With Kindness: I used to be of the opinion that not retaliating a wrong made you weak; now I believe that it takes a stronger person to continue to be gracious even to those who don’t deserve it. The last few years I have seen time and again how kindness will turn an enemy into a friend and eventually, a friend into a fan.
5. Start Right Now, With What You Have, Where You Are: It drives me crazy when someone compliments a photograph I shot followed directly by asking what kind of camera I use, as if the camera thought a guy sitting in a red window would make a good shot. I’ve shot great photographs with expensive cameras, cheap cameras, disposal cameras, borrowed cameras, camera phones and with broken lenses. It’s not the camera, it’s my passion for shooting quality images.
Whatever your passion, find a way to pursue it everyday.
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