My New Recipe Blog

To all who are following this blog (which I've neglected keeping up, I know), I want to share with you my latest endeavor: Organi-Vegi-Gluten-Free, a new blog featuring recipes and tips for cooking delicious gluten-free, vegetarian cuisine.  I've been eating gluten-free since April 2010, which has been an adventure unto itself, and more recently added vegetarianism to the mix, and for about the last year have been striving to support organic agriculture with my food purchases.

Going gluten-free has been one of the best things I've done for myself in life, as not only has it nearly eliminated the digestive pain I suffered for years with, but it has opened my palate to new flavors, and opened my mind to more conscious eating.  It is so important to know and take responsibility for the food we put in our bodies.  Eat well and be well, my friends!  And check out Organi-Vegi-Gluten-Free!

Long time no blog

My life has been a whirlwind of change over the last couple of years - changes in career, relationships, family, values, hobbies, pets, home, health... I've missed blogging regularly as I had done from 2003-2008, but for a time I just needed to live through and be present for what has been a major transitional period in my life - sometimes joyful, sometimes rough, but in the end, overwhelmingly positive, as it has helped me align more with my authentic self.

The latest change: Alden and I were married in a beautiful Native American-influenced ceremony in Colorado on September 12. We just returned this week from a relaxing and romantic eight days in gorgeous Kauai. And if I continue blogging regularly like I now plan to, you'll hear more about and see photos of both soon.

For now, I just wanted to announce my return to blogging and to welcome all of my family and friends to The Wandering Albatross!

Get active, get happy

Yesterday I completed the President's Challenge Active Lifestyle Program by getting active at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week for six weeks. For two weeks toward the end of the program, I was unable to complete a full five days worth of exercise because of the holidays. I felt guilty about that, but thankfully, the program allows for two weeks of slacking off (or being ill/injured/otherwise physically unable to exercise).

Going for a daily walk around the neighborhood or at the beach has given me a renewed appreciation for "the slow life." Having been in the drive-everywhere-and-get-there-fast habit that so many of us Americans have been in for several years, I've surprised myself discovering how many places I can reach on foot just to do errands. In fact, in our little corner of Arroyo Grande, literally all the necessities of life are within walking distance. Even the hospital - and if you can't get all the way there on foot, the ambulance company is just three driveways down the street.

The benefits of walking outdoors have been noticeable for me. I'm cheerier after the breath of fresh, clean air; I feel brighter after exposure to the sun, which causes your body to make vitamin D; and eight weeks of nearly-daily walking, my leg and foot cramps and "restlessness," which used to be quite regular, have diminished substantially. The most important benefits of getting active have been the energy boost - which in turn means I have more energy to be active - and the general sense of well-being that comes with listening to and being in tune with your body.

This weekend, I plan to move on to a loftier goal, the Presidential Champions Program. Toward that end, Alden and I are going to join a local gym and keep each other motivated by going to the gym together. After getting pretty good at Wii Fit's yoga poses, I'd especially like to try real yoga for stretching and toning - integrating the mind and breath into the poses.

We're engaged!

The day after Thanksgiving 2009 started out an ordinary enough day - little did I know that by the end of it I would be calling my boyfriend my fiance!

Since he had the day off from work, Alden and I drove up to Morro Bay for the day just to hang out and see some big waves crashing on the jetty at Morro Rock. The wind was absolutely howling around the Rock, whipping sand and ocean spray into our faces and testing our balance. As the wind got angrier the longer we stayed, we decided to go back into town and duck inside someplace for a late lunch/early dinner.

After eating, we decided to head back home slowly, driving by the Morro Bay Estuary and into the small town of Los Osos. That's when we decided to stop by a place we had several times driven past, but never explored: Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve. One immediately feels a sense of reverence, peace and timelessness walking into the company of ancients such as these artfully gnarled oak trees. As we hiked deeper into the forest, into the quiet away from the busy road, and seemingly back through time, the chilly wind pulled up a blanket of low marine clouds and the sun began descending over the horizon.

Alden was walking behind me the whole time and had given me his sweatshirt to wear against the cold. When we would stop at a crossroads and deliberate over which direction to go, I vaguely sensed from him a sort of nervous energy, a subtle breathlessness and quickened heartbeat, and the thought of asking him if he was feeling OK flitted through my mind. I think I asked him if he was cold without his sweatshirt instead. :)

We approached a crossroads in a clearing I think we had wordlessly decided would be the turnaround point, as it was now just starting to get dark. I was about to turn to Alden and say something to that effect when he said my name. I turned and he and took my hands in his, saying that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me - now I could feel his pulse and my heart jumped at the thought of what was about to happen.

"Will you marry me?"

I cannot imagine sweeter words ever spoken. In fact, I asked him to say them again, because they were just so sweet to my ear coming from the love of my life, my best friend and soulmate, the man who taught me that true love exists. Of course, the ecstatic answer from my whole being was, "YES!"

Wedding details will be forthcoming as we delve into earnest planning once the holiday swirl is over. For now, to answer one of the first questions people ask a newly-engaged bride: I do not have a "rock" on my finger. This was a decision Alden and I made together, and the reasons for it are many. For us, marriage is not about the materialist (and I might add sexist) traditions and trappings, but about the lifelong commitment to love, support, respect, and strengthen each other. That doesn't mean we won't be honoring some traditions - we will both wear wedding rings, for example.

Amusingly, in telling friends and family members about our engagement, the consensus response has been, "Well, it's about time!" Strangers have already addressed us as husband and wife several times over the last year we've been together. Apparently, the fact that we are made for each other is obvious not just to the two of us!

Below are a few photos from Los Osos Oaks:

Alden in front of a giant oak tree that had long since fallen - but was still alive!

The President's Challenge

Today I decided to become a runner. I know it's some of the best exercise you can do for your body, it's great stress relief, and it's relatively easy and inexpensive to get into.

Well, being that I'm so incredibly out of shape, I decided I should probably become a walker first.

The problem I have with any regular exercise program is motivation and sticking with it long enough for it to become a habit. Sure, I unlocked the golden Fit Piggy on Wii Fit by logging 40+ hours of pseudo-yoga, strength training and aerobic activities, but that took me nearly a year. And while it's been a great starting point for doing more serious and strenuous versions of those activities outside of the game, I haven't been able to stick with them regularly, especially aerobics/cardio.

I'd heard of the President's Challenge before (probably during the last failed attempt to whip myself into shape), and I stumbled upon it again today while looking for advice on starting a walking program. You can sign up for several different goals based on your starting activity level, and when you achieve those goals, you receive an award from the President's Challenge. What a great way to motivate Americans to get fit and stay fit - the idea is that if you can stick with the program for as long as it takes to earn the award, you will have formed a regular exercise habit. Cheesy? Yes. Effective? We'll see.

Knowing that my current activity level is far below what it should be, I signed up for the beginner's goal, the Active Lifestyle Program. I just logged my first 40-minute moderate walk around the neighborhood this afternoon. I need to keep it up for five days a week for the next six weeks - wish me luck!