Reverb 14-Appreciate

What’s the one thing you have come to appreciate most in the past year? How do you express gratitude for it?

My canasta ladies. These girls are the light of my life. We are all so completely different on many levels, but when we get together, it's the highlight of my week.
I express gratitude for it by reminding them how much I love them from time to time.

Reverb 13-Action

When it comes to aspirations, it’s not about ideas. It’s about making ideas happen. What’s your next step?

Focus on being kind to myself. Lose 60 more lbs. Be kind to myself while losing 60 lbs.

Reverb 12-Body Integration

This year, when did you feel the most integrated with your body? Did you have a moment where there wasn’t mind and body, but simply a cohesive YOU, alive and present?

I guess it still comes back to the snorkeling trip when all I could think to do was practice my breathing so that I knew I was alive. I was totally focused on counting my breaths and remember thinking, "If I'm breathing, I'm alive" over and over again.
Who knew such a tiny little moment in my life could have such a huge impact?

Reverb-11 things

What are 11 things your life doesn’t need in 2011? How will you go about eliminating them? How will getting rid of these 11 things change your life?

1) 60 lbs
2) books that I don't read/have already read
3) clothes that I haven't worn in over a year
4) extra jackets
5) clothes that belonged to my toddler
6) snide comments made to my husband
7) the amount owed on my car
8) guilt
9) hours spent watching TV
10)my current computer
11)the clutter in my bedroom

I'll eliminate most of this by giving it away. What I can't give away, I'll pay off, and in the case of my computer, I'll buy. Guilt is a hard thing to get rid of but I need to learn to say no and be ok with that.

I already feel lighter just by writing all of this down. I can't imagine how I'll feel once I actually eliminate some of this.

Reverb 10-Wisdom

What was the wisest decision you made this year, and how did it play out?

The wisest decision I made this year was deciding to back off. Not everyone needs me to fix them. What they need is support for the decisions they do make.

Reverb 10-Party

Party. What social gathering rocked your socks off in 2010? Describe the people, music, food, drink, clothes, shenanigans

Well it's kinda hard to narrow it down to just one get together. I had a fabulous time on my birthday, on the night I went to Neptune's, and when I went to see Vampire Weekend. Almost all of these involved dancing, all of these involved Karla. I just had a good time having fun in general this year. If feels good to go out dancing even though my body doesn't recover like it used to.

Why you wish my BFF was yours....but she ain't

a) She is fierce
b) She is loyal to a fault
c) She can rock all hair colors
d) She has the biggest heart of anyone I know and isn't ashamed of it being on her sleeve
e) She doles out the best nicknames
f) She is a good travel buddy
g) You are guaranteed to have a good time in her presence
h) I can spend the day with her doing absolutely nothing and that is a great day
i) In a past life she was a Rockette
j) She gives great music
k) She is a numismatist (look it up!)
l) She is flawed and not afraid to admit it
m) My kid adores her
n) She is super freaking creative
o) She is the one that gets the dance party started
p) She pushes me out of my comfort zone
q) She is a soft place to land
r) We have laughed so hard together that I've had to pull over and stop driving
s) We think we are brilliant and you should too
t) She writes me beautiful prose
u) She points things out to me about myself that I would have never noticed. Things that should be noticed. Things that should have been noticed and pointed out a long time ago.
v) She would give you the coat off her back if you really needed it
w) She lifts people up way higher than they lift her
x) If you don't have anything nice to say, she'll come sit by you
y) She makes terrific french toast
z) She is an astounding player of the "Six degrees of U2" game we created
1) She has a beautiful singing voice
2) She should be on stage-I keep hoping she'll make this happen
3) She's crafty
4) She is always up for a road trip
5) Take her to Vegas
6) She would help me move a body
7) I don't think she's ever judged me but she's probably judging you
8) She is a great conversationalist
9) I love taking her to musicals
10) She is all about social justice as a lifestyle
11) She is a big believer in forgiveness
12) Sometimes I think that she purposely has hooker nails because she knows how much I hate them
13) She is nothing, but if consistent
14) All you need is love and she has plenty to go around

Rever 10-Beautifully Different

Think about what makes you different and what you do that lights people up. Reflect on all the things that make you different – you’ll find they’re what make you beautiful.

My laugh is huge. Really huge. There is no stifling it.

I suffered from strabismus when I was a toddler. It took me years to be able to look people in the eye w/o being self-conscious. Now I think that my eyes are one of the most beautiful things about me.

I can clap louder than most people

I also have mad rhythm

Reverb 10-Community

Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010? What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011?

On my birthday I looked around at the women surrounding me and realized that I have never felt more love for a group of friends. I love each of them differently and dearly and my life is better for having them in it. It's been a long time since I've felt that way and it feels really good to know that there are people out there that would help me when I need it.

I would love to meet up with a frugal, fun loving community. I would also enjoy finding a religious community that believed more in social justice and less about rules.

Rever 10-Make

What was the last thing you made? What materials did you use? Is there something you want to make, but you need to clear some time for it?

I suppose the last thing I made was banana butterscotch muffins. I'm really into baking now that it's cold. Last artistic thing I made was earlier this year when I made a necklace charm that started out as a sheet of metal.

I suppose I should add that I did make a blog for my niece where I teach her about music. I have to post one entry a week for at least a year.

I want to make orgami and I want to take a beading class. Just waiting for the right one to come along.

Reverb 10-Let Go

What (or whom) did you let go of this year? Why?

I let go of 40 lbs because I decided it was time to do so. It was time to start living healthier. It was time to get ready to ride a bike with my kid. Now I'm signed up to rappel down a building next year. I've got to get ready for that too.

Reverb 10- Wonder

How did you cultivate a sense of wonder in your life this year?

I learned to let the universe love me and to show others that the universe loved them. I took a few e-courses over the year that taught me a lot about myself & about what I wanted out of life. I learned to see the world as a place full of love and kindness and I am determined to put those two things out into the world. I find that the more I give, the more I open myself up to receive.

Reverb 10-Moment

Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors).

It would have to be the moment that I regained control of my thoughts, actions, and breath while trying to snorkel. I just remember being so scared in that moment. When I suffered my congestive heart failure after the birth of my child, the most vivid detail in my mind to this day is feeling like I was drowning. The moment I hit the water with the fins and mask on I flashed back to that. In my head I was screaming, "I'm drowning!" "I can't breathe!" "I'm going to die!" I completely lost it to the point that I was kicking sea turtles and fighting my way back to the boat. I remember clutching the side of the boat with all my might and my legs were being swept under and no matter what I did I couldn't keep my head up. My child was asking "What's wrong Mommy!" and in that moment Karla told me I was having a panic attack. As soon as I could put a name on it I snapped out of it. I knew that I couldn't let my child see me like that and that I had to regain control. I grabbed onto the emergency flotation device that the dive master was holding, put my mask back on, and let him pull me around. I remember thinking "as long as I'm breathing, I'm alive" "as long as I'm breathing, I'm alive". I kept counting my breaths. Inhale for 10, exhale for 10, over and over. Being in the water and watching the fish and turtles was amazing. It looked like the reef was breathing under the water and it was one of the best experiences of my life. I wouldn't do it again but I am so proud of myself for being able to push through it.

Reverb 10-Writing

What do you do each day that doesn’t contribute to your writing — and can you eliminate it?
I'm not really a writer so I'm just going to say that life happens.

Reverb '10-One Word

Encapsulate the year 2010 in one word. Explain why you're choosing that word. Now, imagine it's one year from today, what would you like the world to be that captures 2011?

My word of the year back in January was beyond. I think I have done a great job pushing myself beyond what I'm used to. I've lost 40 lbs since April 5. I took a fantastic trip to Belize where I snorkeled & worked myself through a panic attack (thanks for identifying that for me Karla). I held a very large snake so that my child could pet it. I signed up to rappel down the Wachovia building downtown next year. I bought and now faithfully wear black boots. I embraced being a soccer mom. The list could seriously go on and on.

I'm currently working on my 2011 word. I can't decide if I want it to be transcendent which means extending or lying beyond the limits of ordinary experience or if I want it to be balance because I could really use some of that as well. I still have 21 days to think about it.

I'm late by 10 days beginning these writing prompts but I'm going to try to answer as many of these as I can. You can read more about the idea here.

Beans and Rice with Smoked Sausage And Bananas

Ingredients
2 cn (15 1/2 ounce) black beans
1 Onion, coarsely chopped
3 Cloves garlic, chopped
1 tb Olive oil (or more)
2 c Chicken broth
1/2 ts Ground cumin
1/2 ts Curry powder
1/8 ts Dried oregano
1 Jalapeno, minced
2 c Long-grain rice
2 tb Chopped cilantro
2 c Canned tomatoes, coarsely
1 pk (10 ounce) frozen peas
1 lb Smoked sausage, sliced
3 Underripe bananas
2 tb Unsalted butter


Instructions
Saute onion and garlic in 1 tablespoon olive oil until softened; add to beans along with broth, cumin, curry, oregano, jalapeno, rice, cilantro and tomatoes. Cover and cook over medium-low heat until rice is barely tender, about 15 minutes. Add peas, cover, and set aside. Brown sausage slices in a skillet, adding a tiny bit of olive oil if necessary. Remove from pan and mix into rice. Slice bananas; and saute in butter until lightly browned. Serve rice and beans surrounded by bananas. Serves 6

Linking this up to Eat at Home today.