OMG - The countdown has begun. How can it only be one month away? I'd better get moving if I'm going to accomplish all those things I've talked about over the last year!
Or... I could just relax and know that my 50's are going to be great. I think I will spend this month on the blog reflecting a bit on my 40's. What I've learned and what I hope to learn as I move to the next half of my life.
One lesson I've learned from my 40's is that it's OK to slow down sometimes. I am really good a rushing - for kids, for work, for life. I've gotten better at thinking with the end in mind (as Covey would say) and gaining a little perspective on the journey and realizing that it's easy to miss some of the fun and value by being so concerned about getting to the end in one piece.
Now, that's not to say my family would describe me as patient - I'm hoping for that to come in my 50's, but there is something to be said for wisdom coming with age.
More tomorrow - with 29 days left.....
Bill and I had a fabulous dining experience in North Minneapolis. We had been to a meeting near DeLaSalle and decided to stop for a late dinner at a relatively new restaurant on Hennepin Avenue called Ginger Hop. It's described as "East meets N.E." and has a wonderful menu of asian delights.
We met one of the owners, John, who recommended the Green Curry with Shrimp and the Almond Chicken Stir Fry. Both were great. The curry was spicy, rich and full of tender shrimp and fresh seasonal vegetables. The stir fry was a nice compliment with a rich garlic sauce and toasty almonds. All this with 2 glasses of a John suggested wine, Alexander Valley Temptation Zinfandel, for $43.00 - worth every penny, and then some.
We had a nice chat with John and learned that the restaurant has been there about a year. They also own a nightclub downstairs called Honey where they serve up food, drinks and excellent jazz
I love to find a new spot and we are looking forward to going back soon with friends and neighbors.
Please join us or stop by if you are in the mood for a terrific asian meal.
I had a small (really small), yet fun, brush with fame today. One of the cool features of my new Jetta is a free 3-month subscription to satellite radio. I am enjoying many new music stations, especially as I drive to southern and western MN where the stations are few and far between - and let me just say not necessarily my political peference.
I am also, perhaps surprisingly, enjoying the Martha Stewart station. It has good environmental, home and especially cooking guests and tips. So this morning as I'm pulling into the Midway Target parking lot, the guest, Matt Jennings, executive chef from the Farmstead Restaurant in Providence, RI was speaking about farmer's market finds and recipes. The host asked people to call in with great ideas or recipes using local farmer's market produce.
So, in an extremely un-Maggie like moment, I called. I have a wonderful recipe for a roasted beet and goat cheese salad that I make all the time. I figured I would get a busy signal or be on hold forever, but in about 30 seconds I was on the air! I shared my tip for roasting beets (see below) and using them in this terrific salad. Matt also gave me a wonderful way to use the beet greens, which I've never done, so all in all a nifty (as my father would say) experience.
This "food" aura continues to swirl around me and I am pretty sure that in my second 50 years, I will need to incorporate it into my life in a different way. I have no idea what that is, and I certainly have no plans to quit my day job - but the pull is getting stronger - stay tuned.
OK - now the fabulous roasted beet salad
Take a bunch or two of beets - ideally red & golden, preferably purchased at your local farmer's market. Cut the greens off and wash the beets. Wrap them whole, separating the colors, in aluminum foil packets and roast in an oven @ 400 degrees for about 45 minutes. Let them cool, and the peel them; the skin will come right off. (Remember the color is very bright, so you may want to use gloves).
Cut or slice the beets to the size you like. Add them to your favorite greens with feta or other sharp, creamy goat cheese or blue cheese, if you'd rather. Add a chopped handful of toasted pecans or walnuts and top with your favorite vinaigrette - I like 2/3 olive oil to 1/3 red wine vinegar or champagne vinegar, 1 tsp dijon mustard, a clove of garlic (smashed, whole) to sit in for a couple of hours, salt & pepper.
It's super easy, looks great, and everyone loves it - even the beet haters!
Enjoy
Is there some kind of "guy" class I missed in high school or college? I'm thinking in my house full of men that there is a genetic connection to the inability of anyone of them to replace water in the ice cube trays or a roll of toilet paper.
Now, of course, because it drives me crazy, I do it. I wonder how long they would be willing to go without ice or toilet paper - probably much longer than I'd like to think about.
I am the one who needs the TP, so I do the replacing, but I complain about it every time.
I guess I could just "man up" and stop whining about it, but somehow it seems like a duty that could be shared. I'm usually caught up in who does what in terms of chores, but I might just go on a temporary strike on this one and actually see how long they can go - I'll let you know what I find out.
OK, so it's not really a "Little Red Covette" as the song goes, but it's my fabulous "Little Red Jetta" I went all out in my own fiscally responsible way and bought a new car (of course, Bill and I made the decision together as with any big purchase, but it's really mine) And I love it.
I truly enjoy driving, as I've mentioned on this blog before, so I wanted to get back to a car from my Highlander SUV. I also returned to the manual transmission I was used to driving for the first 30 years of my driving experience. I bought a wagon to fit the needs of this almost 50 mom, and I think the red probably represents some kind of mid-life stage, so it seems like the perfect compromise.
It's sporty, fun to drive, better for the environment (clean diesel) and gets incredible gas mileage - 49.9 Average mpg on our recent trip to Chicago. I do realize that just writing about this makes me a little bit of a car nut, but I am really thrilled with it so far. I'm also doing a lot of driving for work now, and am I enjoy my new "ride".
Wow - it's August 1st today. I can't believe how fast the summer has been flying by. I know I've been delinquent on this blog and today it hit me that I only have two months left before the big 50. I am going to try to post regularly, dare I say daily?, over the next two months. I'd like to finish this project in strong fashion and prepare myself for what my 50's will bring.
So check back occasionally over the next couple of months, I promise to be among the bloggers once again
I'm sitting here working in my home office without a car in my driveway feeling a little odd. Jack took, and passed his driver's test today and is out running those made-up errands he can now do by himself for the first time.
I'm sitting here full of emotions (unusual for me - right?). I remember well that incredible sense of independence that came with getting a license. I still feel it sometimes as I drive somewhere by myself, enjoying my own company and the ability to get where I want to go without help.
It is, of course, a little nerve wracking too. I'm yelling out the door as he left those last minute instructions - "be careful" "watch the speed limit" "I mean it about the phone" etc... and I know somehow, we've crossed a boundary on the path to adulthood.
I am happy he passed, it felt good to practice, go for a goal and achieve it. I will be pleased to take the help with Charlie, and will not miss all that driving to school etc..
I do, though, feel my age a bit more today. Time goes so fast, and I can't believe I'm old enough to have a teenage driver living in my house. It's a good day to stop and think a little about this journey -
And now the arm wrestling for the car begins in earnest - one more practice in negotiation, and I suppose one more way to ground him - always looking on the bright side!
