RockTheDesert

WCW - Where Would You Live?

It's Watercooler Wednesday - join me and many others around the watercooler at Randy Elrod's Ethos blog. Randy's post today is about Walking. Check it out!!

Yesterday afternoon the temperature hit 102 in Phoenix. Every year when the thermometer rises to uncomfortably hot levels, I desperately want to move out of AZ. After being in Santa Barbara, CA over the weekend (friend's wedding), I'm ready to move there. Right along the coast. I'm even willing to live in an RV if I have to. In fact, I'd live just about anywhere along the coast of California. The ocean has an undeniable call and I'm ready to answer it.

Another favorite spot is Franklin, TN. I'd live relatively close to downtown and soak up the small-town, Americana, vibey way of life. Each time we've visited Tennessee, we've fallen in love with its breathtaking beauty. All those trees. All those leaves. WOW!

Of course, there's always New York City if I want to be in complete denial about the icy, impossibly cold winters. And the potential muggings. The arts and culture has got to outweigh the snow, freezing conditions, and safety issues.

In all actuality, I'm most likely to end up in a ruggedly beautiful spot in East Africa.

How about you - if you could live anywhere - let's limit it to the US - where would you live?

18 Hours of Beauty

Here's 1 pic from The Wedding...more to come later - I am in dire need of rest - I think I just about took it to the limit in the last 4 days. The makeup, hair, dress, have all faded away into everyday life. It was pretty nice being a princess for 18 hours.

WCW - Earth Day

This post is part of Watercooler Wednesday, a weekly gathering of bloggers, posting on arts/culture at Randy Elrod's Ethos blog...check out Randy's post on Redemptive Satire!

In celebration of Earth Day, which was yesterday (I just got the memo), I've decided to talk about eggplant. Yes. Eggplant. 

It is so lovely in its plant form. I'd love to have this growing in my garden just for the pretty factor.

However, for every flower on the plant, I might be forced to harvest and dispose of the equally lovely, deep purple fruit of this plant.  This is because I've recently decided (yesterday) that I don't like eggplant. At all. Actually, I despise it. I remember eating eggplant when I was a kid and wondering why anybody would want to eat it...it was slimy, flavorless, disguised as something crunchy and wonderful, covered in sauce and melted mozzarella. I think I tried eggplant again in the late '90's. This time it was hiding in a lovely ratatouille, served at room temperature over crostini.  A far better way to eat it if you have to - but still slimy. I tried it at a restaurant a few years ago, coated in breadcrumbs, smothered in bechamel and marinara and 3 cheeses. I really wanted to like it. I tried to will my tastebuds to acquire an appreciation for the texture and flavor. My final attempt at eggplant was yesterday. I followed a recipe for eggplant rolls. The cast of characters included breadcrumbs, olive oil, ricotta, marinara, pesto, and pasta. I'm sorry to report that it just did not work out the way I had hoped it would. I've had to place eggplant permanently on "the list of foods I will never eat again." And it's a good thing I made this decision, because after doing some quick research (wikipedia), I've discovered that "Eggplant is richer in nicotine than any other edible plant, with a concentration of 100 ng/g (or 0.01mg/100g)." 

Is there a least favorite food in your life? 

Happy Belated Earth Day!

Life Without Limbs

This is Nick Vujicic...he's Australian...watch this entire video, it's incredible! I searched the internet and found tons of interviews/videos/articles about him. ABC News recently featured his story as well. 

Working Out Is Hard To Do

We have started working out with a trainer 2x per week for the next 12 weeks. We = myself, Lisa, Pam & Debbie. We've paid in advance (great motivation to never miss a session) at Fitness Together for the privilege of being tortured. Oh yes, it is pure torture. For the record, jumping jacks are from the devil. My trainer's name is Joe. He is a compassionate yet firm drill sergeant.  I'm old enough to be his mom. After the first session, I went straight out and bought an extra-firm sports bra. Now I need a decent pair of running shoes.

The catalyst for this body-altering, mind-shaping, life-changing decision to choose fitness is a brown, sleeveless, strapless, satin, long, halter-top bridesmaid dress which I will be wearing in public at a wedding on April 26, 2008. That's this year. In a couple of weeks. Yeah, that soon. The physical torture of working out is nothing compared to the torture of trying on dress after dress at David's bridal, all of which were sleeveless and strapless, some more form-fitting than others. The dresses and the three-way mirrors all pointed to one major thing - the time has come to stop wearing baggy, all-black clothing (quite slimming?) and come to grips with the fact that my health, my well-being, and the energy level required for the life I choose to lead, all could be dramatically improved by becoming physically fit. I realize that it will take time and monumental effort to overcome years of poor eating habits and pure laziness, but it's never too late to start.

I'm Back

Stay tuned later today for a post.
Finally.
First, I'm going to work out...something new I've added to my week.
Then I'm going to sit at the computer and try to summarize my unintentional fast of silence.

WCW - Creativity Is Hard Work

Today is Watercooler Wednesday. The day when many creative people share ideas at Randy Elrod's Ethos blog. Randy is a blogfather to many and a creative inspiration to many more. Check out his latest post called "How To Recycle A Church."

I have not really posted to this blog in about 10 days (well, I posted a Delirious? e-card which really posted itself so that doesn't count). I though that when I started blogging I'd have a difficult time with posting every day. But, surprisingly, I have had a great time posting (nearly) daily with lots of ideas and pictures and experiences I felt were "blog-worthy."  However, it appears that I have hit a creative slump. I am willing to work hard at creativity. I love blogging. I love creating. I love creative discussions. However, it seems like in all my striving to be creative, I have arrived at a dry, empty place where creativity doesn't exist. What to do? I suppose I could read a book or two on creativity. I could take a few pictures. Try to throw something together that looks creative but truthfully is contrived. I could plagiarize something from another blog. I could watch an artsy film. I could wander through Michael's. 

I think I know what I'm missing. I'm missing creative collaboration. Don't get me wrong. The WCW posts are inspiring and funny and informative. However, I need to be in a room with creative people, working on a project together. Can anyone relate? Any suggestions, solutions, sympathy, kick in the pants?

delirious