Alimentum and Mango Salmon

Alimentum is by far one of my favorite journals. Ever.

Every time I go to a reading, I feel like I'm at a dinner party. I meet great people. Everyone really connects and has a good time. And they always have great wine and cheese.

And Joshua from One Ring Zero inspired me to finally put my mango salmon recipe down. So for anyone who ever wondered how, email me and I will send you the recipe. For some reason, I haven't been able to cut and paste into the blogger format. But the photo is above so perhaps you can construct it from there :)

The Sunlight

is why I got this apartment and it's streaming through the great room right now. For the first time, the apt. is as warm as I like it and I got to turn the heat down below 70 degrees! I spent the morning with pumpkin spice coffee and a banana blueberry smoothie---did some organizing---actually alphabetized by poetry and fiction books on the shelves. My grandparents called to check in and see how I was doing and it was lovely to sit on my love seat and chat late morning. Also got my first pieces of real mail (change of address form doesn't count) from mom and a university I applied to teach (the human resources survey) and so things are really beginning to settle in.

Yesterday I met Mike, who works the night shift at the bodega down the street. His brother Manny works the morning and they carry vegetarian products. He looked down at my 3 cans of Amy's soup, my veggie burgers and fake chicken nuggets and pegged me as a vegan. Nope, vegetarian I smirked and he said to let him know if there was anything I needed, that if he didn't have it, he could order it. This has some serious Ramona potential. Speaking of, I'll be reading at the Mercantile Library tonight for the Alimentum Launch Party!

And now as I'm sitting out here, I'm thinking of spring when I can grow my own vegetables right on the balcony---finally, Ramona can have her own garden!

Come on by and see me

here! Thursday at 6:30!

Works in Progress

So far, the move is actually surprisingly easy. There are a few interesting things to report. All these windows make the place quite drafty in the winter...so the rush to hang curtains is a priority. Only problem, and this is a huge one---everything in this apartment is too tall. So I either have to get custom curtains or make my own. I have an interesting action plan to get something up which I will hopefully have an update on tomorrow..

But for now, I bought myself a ladder and got some essentials so I could make my first meal, pictured above with my progress on the great room.

All you do is saute garlic, red pepper flakes, spinach, salt, pepper in olive oil. Then toss with your choice of pasta (I used roasted red pepper) and top with parmesan cheese!

A Walk in the Park

A photographer happened to be in the park taking pictures of the winter wonderland just around the time of a much needed walk and a chance to see some beauty. If you really listen, you can hear the sound snow makes as it lands.

The Simple Things

I had forgotten how good it was to take a bath (something you don't do with roommates)---I'm home in Ohio and I have had the house to myself today while Mom is at work.

I'm still in my pajamas (clean ones, not last night's), and all I've done is work on writing projects, feed myself, and primp for the evening activities: family dinner at my favorite Youngstown Belmont Ave. restaurant: Antone's.

Dreaming of Kettle Bells

My aunt sent me a great quote this morning: "It does not do well to dwell on dreams and forget to live." 

--J.K. Rowling 

Though I've never read any of her books (yet---for some reason I try to shy away from jumping on bandwagons), I really like this idea because I'm someone who tries really hard to construct perfection and ultimately, life never adheres to the dream world you create. I don't mean this in a negative way, but it's 2009 and I'm trying to think about how I can be living my life that makes me the most happy.

I think too much. I live in my head. So in 2009 I'm moving in the direction of body. I'll be a certified yoga teacher in June! And the other day, one of my regulars at the bar gave me an awesome tip. Free kettle bell certification! I've never really worked out with those, but I do love weight lifting and so I think, yes, anything that can make me stronger is good...

I am breathing

In case anyone was wondering about the quiet here---

it's a new year and I will rededicate myself to the blog...

I will have a new home at the end of the month (signed the lease today!!) so my focus in on the actual space, but then I will turn to the virtual.

And in the meanwhile, breathe with me into this new year...