Tea Time Trickery

I went to the mall last night with a friend. (with that sentence, you may stop reading)  The plan was to go rollerblading (and another blog-killing sentence), but we didn't. She needed hairspray and I needed to get out of the house...enter the mall. Within two minutes, I got drawn in by a very purposefully-non-chic chic specialty tea shop. Shiny Buddah figurines, vintage-looking tea sets from a non-descript faraway land, and free samples of "special blends" of tea drew me in like a moth to a flame. I WOULD find serenity here!

I should add that I just ended an 8-month relationship (that's as long-term as it gets for me), freshly back from an overdue visit with family on the East Coast and generally frustrated with everything...so pretty vulnerable. I spent an hour and a $150 dollars. Don't judge me. The salesgirl was just the right age, personality and mixed-ethic beauty to convince me that the only thing missing in my life was a reconnection with tea time. A whole wall contained giant metal tins with exoticially colored and named teas that made me feel like a very sophisticated grown up. I know a bit about tea; I worked with a tea master and even visited a tea plantation in China, but I still drink the cheap stuff more often than not (because it's cheap). This visit made me feel like a tea virgin. It felt illicit and exciting.  A giant tin is pulled from the shelf, an introduction given and the the giant tin's lid is fanned over the beautiful tea as you deeply inhale the complex and inviting aromas. I made exclamations of wonder and proclamations of its goodness and pronouncements of its virtue. I was completely content to let my credit card fill in the void between that tea and me. 

After 24 hours with my new tea, I don't feel a greater sense of purpose, zen or satisfaction. I don't find the day's worries slipping away as in sip a warm cup of Kona Pinneapple Pop. I don't know if the Shape Up Blend will really melt away my break-up-is-a-reasonable-excuse-to-eat-anything weight. I don't know if the PerfectTea Maker really IS a better way to brew tea. I don't know if I care. At this point, a little bit of tea time seems like a really good idea. 

Do you plan to eat broken glass?

I have no delusions of grandeur when I exercise. I am a little pudgier than I prefer, slower than I want to be and far less-attractive than I think I am when I am trying to get in my cardio. I am also sorry to say that I do not crave that workout; it's more of a Herculean task to get to do exercise than the energy I actually expend while exercising. Why? Because, I'm always trying to do "one more thing". I'll toss in one more load of laundry; send one more email; snooze one more time...which means I quickly eat up whatever time I allocated for exercise before the next thing I have to do (usually get to work on time). I also won't confess to a runner's high or adrenaline boost while pounding pavement or pumping iron. I'm usually counting down the minutes until it's over. While perfectly understanding the benefits of the cardio/strength/flexibility holy trifecta and can spout its virtues on a moment's notice...I loath the idea of the action if it's by myself. 

Once I'm committed to activity, I refuse to back away from the challenge and feel greater satisfaction over accomplishing something on my daily "To Do" list rather than the almighty "burn". The achy sensation I feel the next two days after a strong workout (whatever the genre) only annoys me that average activities remind me of the purposeful pain I've inflicted on myself in the name of fitness. I do like the subtle indentations of muscle (hard muscle carves are icky on girls - sorry) that come over consistent effort and I like not huffing and puffing after climbing the stairs at the office in heels. I do like that my heart/lungs/joints/muscles...and many other internal elements gain and maintain health from it all.
Ok, truthfully, I'm a social creature and more importantly, I'm a people-pleaser. If you agree to workout with me, I don't want to let you down. I have no qualms about dismissing solo workout dates with myself - mostly because I feel so damn conspicuous. "No one cares or is looking at you!" I say over and over to myself, but I don't really believe it...don't we all judge each other...just a little bit? So, this brings me to the point: The Gym. Urgh. One lovely benefit I have at work is a discounted gym membership. It's nice to know when I don't go, I don't pay as much. However, I am paying for it, and I shouldn't waste it. I just don't love all the grunting-sweating-thrusting masses. Who dresses up for the gym? Why is that guy wearing flip flops? Why are there two skin tones: pasty and fried? And, I'm sure that someone is, in fact, judging me. Welcome to my neurosis.

What I prefer is a trick. Get me outside, perhaps near water, let me plug in to whatever audio book I'm into and let me go. My favorite is to walk for hours. It's not terribly time-efficient, but maybe the decadence of stealing time is why I like it. Now, if you can add the dressing of a foreign land that I'm exploring, I'll walk until my feet beg for mercy. I like the outside and as it turns out, it's none-too-bad an option. Every non-snow month, I'm usually signed up for at least one outdoor race: 5k, 10k or half marathon. It's outside, it's with a buddy and I usually get a T-shirt or half-melted/heat-wilted food treat at the end. I have collected most of my running bibs and taped them on the inside of my pantry door as some kind of inspiration to...eat less? It doesn't work, but it's still fun to look at what I can do. Now, it's time (a little past) to start my training for my favorite hard thing: the Pink Half Marathon in October. It's all women, it's in Park City and I usually turn it into a mini vacation. It's hard as hell, but so satisfying. When people ask me if I plan to do a full marathon, I look at them as if they asked me if I like to eat broken glass. "What a bizarre question!" Oh well, they don't know any better.

Summer is hungry?

Hey there -

This will be short and sweet pitch for your help to feed hungry kids. Summertime means some additional stress for many families, but those who are already stretched thin, it gets a lot thinner. During the school year, children who meet state requirements can get one or two meals at school to supplement what their family can provide. In the summer, those programs close when the school does.

Did you know that your donation of $1 can stretch to $7 at the Utah Food Bank (by way of volunteers and donations)? Did you know that a few items from your pantry would make the difference between a lazy summer day and a hungry one?

The Utah Food Bank works in our state to try to fight hunger in Utah.
Here's a few highlights taken from the UtahFoodBank.org website:

Hunger in Utah

• 1 in 10 Utahns, and 1 in 8 Utah children, lives in poverty.
• An impoverished family of four makes about $22,000 a year to cover health care costs, shelter, food, and other household expenses.
• Utah is ranked fourth in the nation for the highest rate of very low food security in the nation. About 400,000 Utahns risk missing one meal every day.   
• More than 134,000 Utahns receive food stamps, and 63,000 eat dinner at a soup kitchen.
• 1 in 7 Utah children is at risk of hunger, and nearly 40 percent receive free or reduced school lunch.

Hunger Resources and Links

Sources
U.S. Census Bureau: Annual Social and Economic Supplement, 2009; Child Food Insecurity in the United States, 2005–2007; U.S. Department of Agriculture, Household Food Security in the United States, 2007; U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2005; Utahns Against Hunger, 2006; U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2004.

https://www.utahfoodbank.org/

Would you be willing to give up the cash you'd spend on your snack at the vending machine, morning coffee or the equivalent of a night out to help shoulder the burden of feeding those who need your help? What about a work or neighborhood food drive? What about sharing your time to volunteer?

That's it from me on the topic.

Let me introduce myself...or just remind you that I am here

I am one of those people swept up in the social media ADHD fever. I have been guilty of establishing a budding romance with one channel only to get caught up in the attraction of the new shiny object emerging from the social media universe. I will make an attempt to go back to the beginning and share my little adventures in more that 140 characters, "pinning" it to a board or sharing it with a few hundred of my closest "friends".

Starting out with a bang, I am writing with much joy from Australia. I am here on vacation (or holiday, depending on your preference) in Australia and New Zealand for the next two weeks. I scrimped and saved my pennies and vacation hours to be here and already it's worth every bit.

I'll try to share some of my adventures from the land-down-under; try not to fall in love with me for my adventurous spirit. ;)

Season's Greetings 2010

Another holiday season means also the end of another year. Given the events of 2010 (and a few leading up), many of us have had some challenges and excitement. I hope you, like I, am grateful for what I have learned, experiences I have had, and the end to one year…but also the start of a new one.

For me, the year started with a huge commitment of time, work and creativity to finish up an important project at work. I had the opportunity to be part of the official product launch in Bangkok, Thailand. I was invited to be part of the panel that presented to 30,000 people and conduct (what seemed like endless) product demonstrations and presentations to those in attendance of the event. As part of that experience, I was able to participate in some sightseeing and explorations of Bangkok and the area. It was an incredible adventure and I will always have a special love for Southeast Asia.

To prove that when we start to get comfortable in life, challenges inevitably follow – I was laid off in March and found myself unemployed for the first time in my adult life. As unpleasant as it is to be out of work, I also found it opened some ideas to me I hadn’t considered. I parted ways with my former employer with fantastic experience and friends and associates around the world – for that, I am very grateful.

Over the spring, I visited family, took a holiday to Provence, and brushed off a few hobbies I had been neglecting. France was just a dream and exactly what I needed to get motivated and refocused in life. Southern France is an amazingly beautiful corner of the earth! Upon my return, I started some consulting work and actively interviewing around the country.
In the summer, I kept at the work of finding work and found an opportunity to work with a start-up project. It was a lot of work, but put me in partnership with some amazing professionals. I did some local exploring of the western US and kept at some fun personal projects. Sadly, my dear grandmother passed in June and I feel her loss in my life keenly. I am grateful for her legacy of learning, service and hard work. The happy side effect was the opportunity to reconnect with family and family history.

With fall bought a singular experience of completing my first half marathon in Park City. It was absolutely amazing and terribly taxing, but I am thrilled I put myself up for a tough goal and accomplished it. I was elected to my community’s HOA and returned to tutoring at an elementary school nearby. The start-up project I had been working on over the summer failed to accomplish its goals and so I redoubled my efforts to find an employment opportunity as I DO NO do well without something challenging to do.

Here we are in winter and I have a few more consulting and start-up projects, but not yet the gainful employment I have been working for. I am still doing some searching and interviewing across the country and locally and feel confident something will come my way soon. My dad and stepmom joined me for Thanksgiving (my first solo) and we had a lot of fun and a lot of food – a perfect way to start out the holiday season. I have entered this season with the spirit of gratitude and excitement for the future. With love and well wishes – Merry Christmas and a Happy New year!


Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home! ~Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers, 1836

2009

This has been a year of adventures! I did a fair amount of traveling, working and celebrating some big events with my loved ones. I feel grateful, loved and like I had a significant amount of growth – whether I wanted it or not. So, here’s a little list of 2009’s highlights…

Trips:
Japan, Mexico, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Ireland, Korea, California, Hawaii, Florida, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, Pennsylvania and New York

Events:
My brother married a fantastic woman (whom I am thrilled to add to my list of people I adore). She and my brother have three kids between them and one more on the way. Yay!

Three of my dear friends (each of whom I have known for over ten years) married great partners and are happily settled in Newlywed-ville.

Some of my friends moved, married, changed jobs, traveled, traveled with me, shared adventures with me and generally added a lifetime of good in 2009.

I got to visit with my loved ones all over the country. Many of whom, I don’t get to see very often, so it was a good year.

I put some new stamps in my passports, logged some serious air miles, ate some really bad food and some really great food, made some new friends in faraway places, bought a few treasures and thoroughly enjoyed the experiences (once my perpetual state of jetlag waned).

Adventures:
Taking a flying lesson, feeding an elephant, riding an elephant, eating foreign food that looked and tasted really interesting, swimming with a dolphin, snorkeling a beautiful reef, a lot of driving (sometimes on the “wrong” side of the road, which is the “right” side of the road in some places), swimming next to sea turtles, running, rebuilding my garden, hanging wallpaper, attending Governor’s Gala, thoroughly enjoying some spa treatments, taking a ski lesson, learning how to be a production assistant, developing a personal care line for a market in Asia (a hundred mini-adventures right there), and cutting my hair off!

I gained and lost:
My iPod, Blackberry, one sock from a pair, luggage in a foreign country, time zones, sleep, weight (time zones and sleep), job assignments, romantic interests, keys, running pace and my mind

So, I think that means 2009 was a memorable year…bring on 2010.

With love,

Anaphilia

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter Everyone!

We had an egg decorating contest and egg/candy hunt at work on Good Friday - that's almost as good as having the day off, right?

Is my "basket" too big? Does it make me look greedy? Really?

Not even an "honorable mention"! My egg was so cheerful and full of color, but some people played to the judges. Sell outs! What happened to art for art's sake?

Oh well! I hope everyone had a lovely holiday.