My week has started off with a small success: my craft caddy of tremendous hugeness has been picked up by either the Salvation Army, or someone else who liked the size of the monstrosity. I’ve been wanting this thing gone for something like 5 months. It continues to be really hard for me to put any energy into cleaning/transforming this space, since that was the project I was in the middle of right before my plans derailed.

I’ve been busy trying to craft up rewarding (and profitable!) ways to spend my time. I haven’t gotten very far with these plans, though – mostly due to my urge to have my home-space figured out before I try to do anything extra. I have some drafts for a painting series (or, as it might turn out, a single diptych) in the works. I’ve become lax on my paper journaling, and on my hope to hand write and send a bunch of letters. The day to day seems to intervene, and in other times, the emotional energy just doesn’t seem to be there.

I continue to spend about 12-15 hours a week volunteering at 826 Seattle. Not only are they wonderful people, who open their doors to me and put me to work when I needed it, they provide an amazing resource for the community. Please check out their site, visit the Greenwood Space Travel Supply Company, make a donation, get involved, get your kids involved… they do great stuff. If you’re not local, there are 826 chapters across the nation.

Finally, this weekend Jon and I have tickets to see Pema Chodron at the University of Washington. It’s a weekend-long teaching session. I’ve never been to anything of its kind. I first ran across Pema Chodron thanks to picking up her audio Getting Unstuck while I was still working at Whole Foods Market. I’ve listened to it a few times, and find her voice and her message thoughtful and calming. I recommend her work to anyone who has a tendency towards criticism of others or themselves. I’m excited to have the opportunity to see her in person.

I’ve hopefully got more blog posts on the way. In the mean time, why don’t you pick up a copy of How to Cook Everything and/or Moosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home. How to Cook Everything is the bible of our kitchen, and Moosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home is a great, no fuss, easy to manage book of tasty vegetarian recipes, perfect for farmer’s market weekends. (BTW, all y’alls who dig the Trader Joe’s balls of pizza dough – Bittman’s pizza dough recipe takes <10 min to make w/ a food processor, makes two pies, and is freezable.)