tis the season

I feel very pollianna-ish lately.  Maybe it's the time of year.  Or, it occurs to me that I have grown.  Okay, that might be a stretch, so let's say changed.  Changing.  Morphing.  Molting.  I am much more likely to see the positive.  To give the benefit of the doubt.  To be easier on myself (the hardest part) and on others.  I credit a rough time and a good therapist.  Cheers!

But here's what I mean.  Each day we wake up and we have a choice.  A good day or a bad day.  Now don't get me wrong, there are outside factors at work here, lots of them, but in general, in those first hours, good mood or bad.  As things turn sour as some things are wont to do... handle it or wallow in it.  Have a quick temper or a less quick temper.  It's down right creepy, I tell you.  But it works.  It actually does.  Decide to be happy. Happier. Decide to be more easy going and, wow.  Look what happens.  Is this what I'm OK, You're OK was supposed to be about?  Never read it.  Much prefer zenhabits.net.  It's not that what I'm reading or hearing are any different from what's been written or said many times before.  I guess I'm just ready to hear more of it.  It's me.  I control me.   Who is this talking?  Sheesh.

Now let's be clear here.  I haven't lost my penchant for sarcasm or a good tantrum.  I just find they are shorter than they were before.Smaller cycle. It is easier to come out from under the dark cloud, or maybe not easier, just happens a bit more quickly.  I don't know what it is, and don't really care about the why, I can just say, I like it. Or it feels better.   Maybe its all these blogs I've been reading.  A bit too much self help.  Weird. Good weird, but weird.  Poo, poo, poo, I could be jinxing the whole thing.

Its funny.  That's not what I set out to write about today.

So besides all this good feeling... this is my favorite time of year for the lists.  My most favorite lists are lists of books.  So many books and so little time.  Here's one of my pre new year's resolutions.  Stop watching so much crappy tv and start reading more books.   I might just have to keep that one... since I think I found two more book clubs to try in my never ending quest to find some "people" in Philadelphia.  My good friend people in Miami came from my book club, pure and simple.  So that's where I'm starting here too.

I'm so late to some things.  Blogs are one of those things.  I am just starting to have a few blogs that I follow. the zen habits is one.  Brain Pickings is another.  Cool stuff.  I have a found a few cooking ones, picking up a few recipes.  Wow.  There's a lot out there.  I guess I should be flattered that some of you take the time to read this. Thank you.

Here's one book that totally captured my eye.  How to Be an Explorer of the World This book looks cool. Here's the list that started the book.

1. Always be looking. (Notice the ground beneath your feet.)
2. Consider everything alive and animate.
3. Everything is interesting, look closer.
4. Alter your course often.
5. Observe for long durations. (and short ones)
6. Notice the stories going on around you.
7. Notice patterns, make connections.
8. Document your finding (field notes) in a variety of ways.
9. Incorporate indeterminancy.
10. Observe movement.
11. Create a personal dialogue with your environment.  Talk to it.
12. Trace things back to their origins.
13. Use all of the senses in your investigations.

I love it. I challenge all of you (and myself, of course) to be more of an Explorer in your day-to-day life.  Go out there and see stuff.  Pay attention.  You'll be surprised what you see.  I just asked my mom the other day, if she remembered a kid's book we had called And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street.  it was one of my favorite books then and I think of it often now when I see wacky things on the street. Anyway.  Go explore.  Then drop me an email or comment here and tell me what you found.  I will do the same.  Just as I always do.

So enjoy the season of random acts of kindness.  Actually do one.  Buy someone a cup of coffee. Let the person behind you go first in the supermarket line.  Let the car in ahead of you.  Speak first in an elevator and say hello.  But most important of all, cherish your friends and family. Tell them they are important to you.  Yeah, its geeky and syrupy but what the heck... give it a shot.

Happy holidays and a very happy new year.

On a scale of 1-10

My sister thinks I have burned my palate with my Siracha and chili sauce.  I haven’t burned my palate, or at least hadn’t until last Friday.  I was finally able to visit a restaurant here in Philadelphia called Han Dynasty.  I had heard great things about this restaurant and seen it on any number of blogs and lists of must-visits.  So finally, last week, with a group of unsuspecting work colleagues, I went to lunch.  Their menu has numbers in parentheses next to each item. We asked what they meant and found out they were a spice level on a scale of 1-10.

We started with the won tons in hot garlic oil which had a rating of 6.  Good to know.  Six was hot.  Seriously hot.  One of colleagues took one bite and cried, literally.  I will admit to a tear myself.  Nice.  I liked.  The food was good.  My “entrée” was Dan Dan noodles.  Supposedly, this is one of their signature dishes.  It had a spice level of six as well.  Once I tasted the won tons, I was a tad worried about the noodles.  Turns out it was fine.  Either my mouth really was burned at that point, or my dish wasn’t as hot when not dripping in pure chili oil.

Others were a bit nervous as well, after seeing us cry.  But all was well.  One person ordered something as a 1, since they told her they couldn’t go any lower without changing ingredients.  Others ordered level 3 and seemed to do okay.  At one point, when I thought everyone was cruising along just fine, my colleague saw a waiter with a water pitcher and said, “he just better bring that pitcher over here!”  We all laughed.  Seemingly okay was actually just a good cover.  We had a great lunch.  I am not only not scared, I’m intrigued.  I will definitely go back and sample more of their offerings.  But I do think it is safe  say, here in front of all of you, oh hell no I’m not trying a level 10.  What in the world is that about? And can you even taste the food at that point?  I love a good Man vs. Food episode as much as the next person, but I’m not living it!

Life changing?  No.  The build-up on those noodles was a bit much for me, but the food was good and I will definitely return.  Thursday, actually.  But what really makes me laugh, as I try new restaurants around Philadelphia, is finding the ones to share with my family, and now, finding some that I won’t.  I chuckled out loud full knowing I would never bring my sister to this particular restaurant.  My mom, back in the day, would have eaten this place up – literally.

But this wasn’t the end to my Asian culinary adventures.  Over the weekend, I needed a quick stop for lunch.  No sooner had I decided that a bowl of soup sounded good when I stumbled on Nom Nom Ramen.  I had heard that noodle bars were in but never tried one.  This place is a long way from college dinners magically emerging from a plastic package.  It’s a small place, nothing fancy but they make a nice bowl of soup.  And who doesn’t like ramen? The best part, they can make it without mushrooms.  You just have to love that! Warm, quick, satisfying and fun.  Now that’s a good lunch.

My friend Loretta told me that she had never eaten as much Chinese food in her life as she did with me.  I always did take that as a compliment.

Finishing the week with a family latke fest of epic proportions, which still has my apartment smelling like McDonald’s, it was a very good week for eating.

Happy holidays to all and happy eating!

Little people

 Children’s Theatre is here.  And here.   And over here too.  They are everywhere!  Little ones.  Really little half pints.  I went into the theatre on Wednesday morning, our first preview of Cinderella and the theater was literally vibrating...  A hum like a bee hive.  These little one, who barely take up half of their seats, were literally throbbing with energy and excitement.  “When will the show start?”  “Is that a real bird?”  “Where is Cinderella?”  “We took a bus here.”  You gotta love chatting with kids. 1^st grade, 2^nd grade.  They were raring to go.  There is a certain screech level that is heard throughout the show.  Our offices are above the theatre so we can hear the screaming through the walls.  I will get to know the specific moments in the show by the audience reactions I can hear.  5 and 6 year olds wailing!!!

Here's our Cinderella t-shirt.  My first Arden t-shirt.

One of the best things about children’s theatre is that after every show, the actors come out to answer questions.  The kids ask really good one and sometimes are too busy trying to get picked than to actually think of a question.  Adorable.  Sometimes they just want to tell you they went to Florida.  It happened.  I heard one of the actors say that sometimes she can’t understand a thing the kid is saying.  She says, good question and makes up something for the larger group.  Children’s Theatre actors are good people.

At one point in the show, they bring kids up from the audience to “try on” the slipper.  It’s make believe and done with shadow puppets.  One kid yelled from the audience, “take off her shoe if you want it to fit!”  Out of the mouths of babes…

After the Q  & A, the actors go out into the lobby and chat, take pictures, etc.  It is wonderful.  Really wonderful.  This is why I monitor construction, worry about broken Xerox machines, monitor HVAC and replace roofs.  This is all worth it.

Here is our fairy godmother with some of her fans!

Today was Girl Scout Day.  We should call it Onslaught.  I was here because it was one of our accessible performances for Freud’s Last Session.  About 250 girl scouts of all ages came for drama school workshops, the show and a snack after.  The Arden even makes a girl scout patch.  That’s a whole different story.  A hundred years ago you had to earn those things.  But I digress.

Girl scout patch...

There were girls in princess dresses, sequined shoes, and all matter of glam.  There were girls with sashes and Daisies with vests.  There were children everywhere.

It was a lot.

To take a break between that craziness and tonight’s craziness – opening night for Cinderella. I went and at in the courtyard a Christ Church, next to the theatre. What a beautiful space. There were birds in the bird bath and squirrels darting around, carefully avoiding me. I sat there for a bit before it got a tad too cold for outside contemplation. Sadly it really is almost winter and most of the flowers have lost their battle. Many of the trees are still hanging on as fall slides into colder weather. So far so good. It has been crisp and beautiful. Nothing that a brisk walk to work can’t cure. Enjoy. I’m off to the land of children. Wish me luck!

 

Christ Church.