Le Gret, The Great

Greta has been my friend and "watch dog" for 15 years. She found me at the local Humane Society Shelter. Things were a little rocky at first; Greta was already two years old when she came to live with me. She had apparently been mistreated.

We went through a time when she didn't quite trust me. We eventually worked it out though, and now I can't imagine life with out her. But that is the problem. I know her time is limited. I believe she is actually on borrowed time. She is like any elderly creature, with all the ailments of one who has lived a good long life...

It hurts to see her struggle through her aches and pains, but she knows she is cared for and loved. I sometimes feel I am being selfish by holding on, but she still likes to go for short walks, sit in the yard and smell the breeze, and beg the postman for a dog treats. Greta, "The Great" is my dog. She is one of a kind.

BRUUUCE

Saw Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band the other night. The man still has it! I can't say enough about what  great performers he and his band are, plus the energy he puts into the show and how the audience is held in his hands through out the three hour "set." Great experience...pure rock and roll...solid music.I didn't want the night to end.  So many songs, so many memories...

Starting your day off right

Some of us jump up out of bed as soon as the alarm goes off. Many of us hit the snooze a few times before we drag ourselves out. At any rate, how you wake up and spend these first few minutes can influence how you face the rest of your day.I found this great video on YouTube by "sadienardini" which I think will help many of us get our day started on the right track. It is nice to wake up, stretch, get our bodies energized and put ourselves in the right physical and mental frame of mind, even before we get out of bed.I hope you enjoy:

Wake Up to Yoga in Bed

...I have placed the video to the left of the blog. This is a way to reduce the stress of the day and to get ready for anything that comes along.

Vote! in 2008

No matter who you think will make the best President of the United States of America, be sure to cast your vote in November 2008. It is a responsibility we should all take with pride. Not every person of the world has this privilege. We are very lucky to have a voice, and we need to keep our rights and freedoms in place.

Apathy will get you nowhere. Be aware of what your political representatives will support in the legislature and express your opinions. This is a historic election. Don't let a few "hanging chads" decide your fate. Vote! Vote! Vote!

Make your informed decision and vote.

Stop talking, Please!

Have you ever had a co-worker who will not stop talking! It does not matter what anyone else has to say...they keep this running commentary on anything and everything, no matter how how busy everyone else is...they really can't seem to stop themselves. Trying to ignore them and not responding to them doesn't work. Even telling them you are really needing to focus on what you are doing and can't talk right now, doesn't seem to make an impression. (Well maybe for about five minutes, then they start in again.) It is hard when you have known them for years and would love to hear what they have to say, if only there were time to spend listening; but, when you are on the clock for your employer, it is difficult to balance the two.I try to be sympathetic to people when they need to get things off their chest. Also I know excessive talking can be a sign of nervousness. Maybe a way to get attention?? I'm really not sure, but I have exhausted the ways I know to politely say "Stop talking, Please! I can't think straight with this chatter going on..." I am worn to a frazzle (my other co-workers are as well) and need any suggestions. Any out there?? Thanks...

Life is fragile

Life, love, people in general are just fragile. Just as flowers and plants have their season, we as people have ours. It is always surprising when a well known public figure suddenly dies. We are shocked into thinking about our own mortality. We realise we or one of our loved ones could be next. We need to know that there is no guarantee we will see the next sunrise. My mother always said we should not let the sun go down on our anger. Treat your friends and family like there is no tomorrow and you will be able to rest at night knowing you have no regrets.

Blue butterfly

I saw the most beautiful butterfly yesterday. It had close to a three inch wingspan and was deep blue. It was on the grass in my front yard and at first I thought it wasn't alive. I thought this would be great to photograph, so I tried to scoop it up by placing my hand under it with my palm up. To my surprise the butterfly started walking into my palm. I stood up straight with the butterfly in my open palm and just when I thought it couldn't get any better...the butterfly took flight and was lifted by the warm summer air...up and away.

I must say, it was one of those moments. I felt more calm and at ease the rest of the day than I had felt in quite a while. There is just something about experiencing such beauty that lets one know that things are going to be OK even in an uncertain world.

Peace to all. I hope each of you can find that feeling of wonder and joy today.

Walk away

I recently had a discussion with a co-worker that turned into a contest of who could "top" the other in a war of words. It is so irritating when a person just keeps pushing, pushing, pushing...until you say something stupid just to try to get the better of them. When will I ever learn! I was so frustrated. My mind was telling me to walk away, but my instincts were wanting to annihilate and devastate the opponent.

What pleasure does a person get from setting up an argument? Why didn't I just walk away and dismiss the situation? Even though I knew better, I didn't do better. Simple.

Did I learn a lesson? Of course. Will I be able to use this insight in the future. I sure hope so. No one can make you feel like a fool... unless you act like one.

Ack!

Why does it seem that everything goes wrong all at the same time! Is there a cosmic rule that says it has to be that way?? Have I angered the gods?? Have I brought this misfortune on my self by my behavior?? What??

It's not fair! Why does the refrigerator have to leak, the car battery has to die (twice, I might add), and then the house keys go missing after I have locked myself out the door. I just want to go to bed and pull the covers over my head...or dash my head on the rocks. I'm afraid to find out what will happen next.Thank goodness all these things can be resolved, but it is just frustrating to have to deal with them. I had other plans for my day off!

Stress can come in all shapes and sizes; how we deal with it can determine our mental and physical health. Or just maybe our mental and physical health determines how we deal with stress. It is so important to keep yourself on an even keel; getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods and drinking enough water. Take care of yourself first and all else will fall in place.

And I'm lucky to have a good friend who didn't judge when I freaked out and couldn't find my keys. Friends can help reduce your stress by helping you work through your problems and by just being there when you need them. And those keys...you might just find them exactly where you put them...

Azul = Blue

Do you ever wake up with the blues? I'm talking about THE Blues. That is B.B. King, Eric Clapton, KoKo Taylor, Marion James, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, Etta James. I could listen to the Allman Brothers, Delbert McClinton, Leon Russell, Bonnie Raitt and of course the late Stevie Ray Vaughan...all day long. "The Sky is Crying" by SRV is the best of the best.

I was first introduced to the singing of the blues by my brother, who was singing some song about some woman who had left him to go to some store to get some chicken. I was rolling in laughter since I thought he was making it up as he went along, but he said no, no, it was a real song..."The Chicken Leg Blues."

Now I love The Blues in all shapes and forms, from Robert Johnson on up the evolutionary tree. A good blues guitar can set you free. The Blues are in every one's life. The songs can be serious, or silly. The songs speak of truth and of emotion, of love and of loss. I can't add all the artists I love to this list, but the one thing I do know for sure, whether we want to or not; occasionally, we will all get The Blues.

I'm crazy. Are you crazy?

I know a lot of people who have some sort of mental health issue; the most common of which is depression. We all have pressures from life, work, family...or have experienced a loss. The loss of a friend, family member, or animal companion can cause an acute sense of sadness. Mourning is different for all of us, and it takes a different amount of time to bounce back to "normal." Some people are harder to read than others, so we can't always tell how well a person is doing. Just when life is looking up again, all it takes is a memory, smell, song on the radio...and the pain of loss can flair up like the loss happened just yesterday, instead of a year ago. However, as time goes by, we are usually able to become nostalgic instead of sad, and the memories become sweet instead of painful. Celebrating the life of a loved one, knowing they were loved and loved us back, can go a long way to heal. We can't control the circumstances surrounding a loss, but we can release the feelings we no longer want to feel, and keep the feelings we want to keep.

Depression is biological as well as mental. In some people, depression can be caused by a chemical imbalance. A clinical professional should be consulted if depression is overwhelming or will not go away. Check with your local American Medical Association (AMA) if thoughts of hurting yourself or others are present. Help is out there! Everything changes, nothing ever remains the same.

I'm crazy. Are you crazy?

People who have experienced depression or other mental health issues can often feel that they are different from the rest of the world; but they really don't realize that there are many who have had the same feelings of sadness, aloneness, or isolation. Sometimes a little crazy is nice. We crazies tend to examine ourselves a little deeper and usually feel compassion and empathy for our fellow man a little more than others. So if someone looks at me and asks "Are you crazy?" I simply answer "Yes, I am."

Grandmother's squash rolls

Summer always reminds me of the garden my Grandparents planted and the rows of vegetables we would walk through looking for the ones ready to pick. Yellow squash was always one of my favorites! I like it best cooked with onion, a little salt and a lot of black pepper. One way my Grandmother would use their bounty of yellow squash was to make "squash rolls" for dinner. This is an easy bread recipe and is really good with a simple meal plan of grilled BBQ ribs, dill potato salad, corn, asparagus, and a fresh tomato and mozzarella salad. The BBQ ribs, corn and asparagus can be cooked on the grill to give it that summertime flavor.

Squash Rolls:
Cook and then drain excess water from squash. Preheat oven to 450
degrees F. Combine 2 cups biscuit baking mix (such as Bisquick) to 2/3 cup cooked and mashed yellow summer squash. Gently smooth dough into a ball on floured surface, knead 4-5 times. Roll dough out with floured rolling-pin into a 12 inch circle. Spread 2 tablespoons softened butter on dough. Divide dough into twelve wedges (cutting up like you would a pizza or pie) so that there are 12 triangles. Gently roll up each triangle, starting with the outside edge. Place rolls with pointed side underneath, about one inch apart on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes until golden brown.

Dill Potato Salad:
Boil one pound new potatoes (red-skinned are good) until done, then cool.In large bowl, mix together the following ingredients:
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup buttermilk or plain yogurt
2 tablespoons snipped fresh dill or 2 teaspoons dried dill
1 chopped spring onion (both green and white parts)
salt and pepper to taste
Cut potatoes in quarters, leaving skin on, fold into mix and chill for at least one hour.

Tomato and Mozzarella Salad:
Quick and easy: prepare right before serving.Summer tomatoes especially heirloom or beefsteak are best.Fresh mozzarella cheese can be found packaged in either the whey or wrapped. Fresh basil or oregano if possible, but dried will do.A good extra-virgin olive oil is essential.Raspberry vinegar is very good...it is a little sweeter, but Balsamic vinegar is also a good choice.Slice and layer tomatoes and mozzarella in a shallow dish, or in individual salad plates. Drizzle with olive oil and then the vinegar. Add basil or oregano, sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper to taste.

Grilled Vegetables:
When the BBQ ribs are about done...cook the corn and asparagus on the grill.
Corn: Remove husk and silks from ears of fresh sweet corn. Cook ears of corn 4-5 minutes in boiling water, drain and butter. Sprinkle with salt and chili powder if desired. Place on grill to caramelize, turning frequently...about 5 minutes. A squeeze of lime also adds a lot of flavor.
Asparagus: Clean and trim fresh stalks. Coat with olive oil. Grill until tender and starting to turn brown, turning frequently to prevent charring...about 5 minutes. Brush with melted butter and salt to taste.

Serve with a good pale ale or a cool lemon-lime spritzer.

A simple dessert of fresh sliced peaches, sprinkled with pecans and topped with creme fraiche or vanilla yogurt will complete the meal.

Buying local produce will ensure freshness and support our nearby farms. I believe organically grown foods are better for us and will bring back the flavor we remember from an earlier time.

Intro to jana's azul garden

The "purpose" of this blog is to throw out some ideas and see if anyone can relate and respond in kind. I am interested in how stress effects us all and how we deal with it. This includes work stress, family stress, money worries, to name a few, and how all this makes our mind and body react.Saving money (and the planet!) by buying local and organic is important in my book. I intend to include some ideas for simple and easy meals along with recipes. Feel free to add any favorites of your own by blogging to this site.After all is said and done, "We Are What We Eat!"Also, I would like to address our mental health: how we deal with our own as well as our friends and families well being. Do you know anyone with depression, obsessive-compulsion, or bi-polar illnesses? I am not a professional and do not profess to have any particular knowledge of these; but as a lay person I hope to open a forum where people can express their opinions, give the benefit of their experiences, and hopefully help each other by being open and honest about how our brains and bodies work.If we are all "Running Against the Wind"... We might as well have friends to keep us company and help share the load.