Oscar buzz...

I'm watching the Oscars from my hotel room in San Antonio tonight. My favorite actress, Laura Linney, is nominated for Best Actress for her role as Wendy Savage in The Savages. This is her 3rd Academy Award nomination. She's not favored to win, but she is so incredibly versatile and talented...I hope she surprises the pundits. It's time!

A slice of inspiration...with extra cheese

It was cold and drizzly yesterday and we decided to order pizza for dinner. We were looking forward to having some gooey, cheesey comfort food delivered to our door.

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Right on time, the doorbell rang. I opened the door and couldn't believe who was standing on my doorstep, holding three hot pizza boxes in his hands. It was Liam, a young man we hadn't seen in a few years. We stared at each other for a split second and then the lightbulbs of recognition went off. We both said,"Hey! How are you doing?" He looked so different, so good, I almost didn't recognize him. I yelled, "Mike, come see who's here!"

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Five or six years ago, we met Liam's family while attending an Episcopal church in the next town over the mountain. It turned out they lived just a few blocks from us. We liked them immediately. The husband and wife had already raised a generation of biological children and the husband was in his retirement years. Yet instead of retiring to a golf course for the rest of their lives, they decided to take a leap of faith. Over a period of several years, they adopted six children from Vietnam.

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During the ensuing years, three of their other kids have been our babysitters. But Liam, the oldest, was more aloof, and we never got to really know him like the others. Liam and his younger brother witnessed their father die after stepping on an old land mine in Vietnam. Their livelihoods deteriorated after that and life was very, very tough before they joined this family half a world away.

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Although there's a strong physical resemblance, Liam and his brother have always been a study in contrasts to me. Chris is always smiling; I don't think I'd ever seen Liam smile. Chris seems more happy-go-lucky; Liam always seemed like he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. Chris finished high school and was going to college; Liam had moved out and was struggling with issues. His English was also more difficult than his brother's. I always chalked the differences up to the fact that Liam had to support his younger brother on the streets and had lived a life most of us cannot even imagine. Unlike the affluent, disaffected kids I see around our suburban area, here was one kid, I thought, who actually had a right to have a chip on his shoulder. But I hoped that one day his burden would ease; that he would find peace with his past and embrace his bright future.

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When I opened the door last night, at first I thought I was looking at Chris. Here was a young man in his early 20s with a luminous smile and a friendly, outgoing attitude. It took me a moment to realize that smile belonged to Liam! We began a conversation about how he's been doing. I said, "I have to tell you, Liam, I have never seen you look so happy, so good... You look like you have found a sense of peace and direction." He told me he feels so blessed now. He likes his job, he is living back at home with his parents and he has found a church community of Vietnamese immigrants that he has integrated into his American life.

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I was so happy, I was fighting back tears. I hugged him on my doorstep as Mike held the pizza boxes. It was the best delivery pizza I've ever had. And to think we almost bought frozen at the supermarket instead!

From blue to green?

Okay, my friends...I wish I could display the fruits of my creative womb for you, but the truth is, I've done NOTHING creative since I posted last. Nothing. Nada. Zip. I suck!

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My excuses: First, on Monday, one of my clients called and I spent the rest of the day in quick-reaction mode. Yesterday and today, I got tied up with logistics getting ready for my upcoming trip and other family "misc".

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Tomorrow I go back down to visit my new client. (The one I mentioned last week.) I'm signing papers and formalizing the agreement. I am really looking forward to this. I have to be careful here about respecting client confidentiality, but this work is so cool, I can't stand it! I'll be their in-house public and government affairs consultant on a variety of their environmental projects. The first on my plate will be some cleanup work they are doing in the Alaskan interior. I'll be consulting on their relations with local communities, inlcuding Alaskan Native populations. I'll also be providing counsel on interagency coordination.
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Meanwhile, that other new contract I mentioned a few weeks ago with my regular teaming partner should start bearing fruit in the coming months. We'll be consulting on various environmental and risk communication projects. I still have my other ongoing environmental communication work related to a cleanup site here in Arizona with this partner as well.
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I'm very pleased to be able to focus on environmental communication. I have worked in this orbit off and on for 14 years and it has always been some of my most rewarding work. Yes...I've been various shades of "green" even before it was an "inconvenient truth"! ☺
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Believe me, I realize I am fortunate to be in a position to take these opportunities as they come. To have the time and resources to devote to growing a business. To be able to choose work that I find very rewarding and that I believe makes a difference for the future. To be able to do that whilst finding a good balance with family. I don't take it for granted. I owe a lot of that to my husband, Mike. His moral, emotional and spiritual support, as well as the finances he provides our family, provide the wind beneath my wings. If I fall, it won't be for lack of "lift", as they say. I think we make a good team. It doesn't hurt that he's pretty dang cute, either. ☺

Okay, enough rambling...No plans to change the name of this blog to "Green Mango", nor plans to blog ad nauseum here about work stuff. But thanks for all of YOUR support here at Blue Mango as I chug toward my 100th post. I'm brainstorming a giveaway idea when I hit that milestone, and I hope you'll hang in here to participate in another month or two. Meanwhile, I'm still plotting my creative outlet...and it involves yet another color...YELLOW!
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Stay tuned...☺

PMS Blues

I'll let you in on a secret. I've got PMS right now. Bad. I'm restless, irritable and you better get outta my way, 'cause I'm lookin' for an outlet.

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Yep, I've got Paint Mama Somethin' syndrome.

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Do you ever feel suddenly racked with pent-up creative energy? I've spent half the morning today rifling through paint chips, looking at fabric and beads online and brainstorming projects. I'm headed out of town this weekend for a couple weeks, so I can't start anything big, but I need to do something. And I'm not talking about finishing the laundry, tackling the paperwork, or delivering the Girl Scout cookies piled up in boxes here in my office. To hell with the to-do list: I need to play with color.

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Oh, and I do have regular PMS right now, too. It sucks. But I think I know exactly what the doctor would order: I'm gonna go get some paint mixed, put on some Mary J. Blige, take two Midol...and I'll call ya in the morning.

Friday musings

A kiss for Tita

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It's been rainy and cold here today and I've got some kind of crud...not sure if it's just the weather change, seasonal allergies, or what. Annie's coming down with it now tonight, too. I spent a lot of the day today laying in bed trying to sleep it off. In between naps, I managed to finish off an excellent book, Interpreter of Maladies by the very talented, stunningly gorgeous writer, Jhumpa Lahiri. This collection of short stories won the Pulitzer Prize and I highly recommend it. I can't wait to explore some of her other work.

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Despite the cold weather, we warmed our hearts at a party tonight celebrating our friend Tita's 80th birthday. Tita used to be a silver screen actress in Mexico in the late 1940s and 1950s. Can you believe she's 80? You should see this woman's skin close-up! The party had an Oscars theme and the group heaped a whole lotta lovin' on her...and lots of gift cards and girlie goodies. It was a surprise and she was in tears. We only stayed about an hour since I wasn't feeling well, but we wouldn't have missed it for the world!

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In other news...Most of our friends know that our son, Aaron, has wanted to be a film director since he was 4 years old. He reads a lot about filmmaking and has dabbled in some stop-motion animation shorts. Now that he's in 5th grade, he's able to join the school Drama Club. (Our kids attend a K-8 school.) Auditions for the school play have been taking place the past couple weeks and we received some wonderful news yesterday: Aaron received the lead role! He's portraying a rock star, so this is a singing part. Actually, he wanted the role of the villain, but they cast him in the male lead instead. As I told him, regardless of the results, I was just proud of him for having the guts to audition as a 5th grader amongst the older kids; but it makes me very happy to see him so happy with landing the role. The next 3 months will involve a lot of preparation for the play in May.
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After my naps today, now I'm up and wired. Time to go find something to read or a movie to watch. TGIF, everyone!

Share the love!

Nobody has ever measured, not even poets,
how much the heart can hold.
--Zelda Fitzgerald

This quote by Zelda Fitzgerald has always been one of my favorites. I know a lot of people think Valentine's Day is just one big commercialized money-making gimmick. I definitely see the cheesy side to the holiday, but I think it's nice that we specify a date on the calendar to think about love. Not just romantic love, but love of family and love of neighbor as well.

Today when moving about the world, what if we all decided to be more present when we interacted with others? What if each of us conducted at least one random act of kindness? What if we were to compliment the harried checkout lady at the supermarket on her appearance today? What if we looked the janitor in the eye and and asked how he's doing or wished him a Happy Valentine's Day? What if we brought a cup of tea to an indigent neighbor?

This morning, on a whim, the kids and I decided to cut a huge red rose from one of our rosebushes. This was the only rose in bloom in our yard right now and it was giant, open, and was just about to start its fading decline...but not yet. We wrapped its stem in a Valentine's Day napkin and Aaron handed it to the crossing guard as we drove to school this morning. We knew it would be a kick, but we didn't expect the reaction we received. The woman smiled, then got choked up and started crying. She said we made her day. Wrong, sister...you made OUR day! We could see her wiping her eyes in our rearview mirror as we drove up the street toward the school. By the time we got to the school drop zone, all three of us were choked up and fighting tears. Forget the trinkets...this was our best Valentine's Day gift!

Whether a person is Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, agnostic, atheist, or none of the above, we are all seeking love in this life. As one of my favorite spiritual authors, Lama Surya Das, writes in his essay, "A Buddhist Valentine" :

How would Buddha love? By seeing every single being, human and otherwise, as fundamentally like himself, and thus able to treat them and love them in the way he would be treated. We call this infinitely benevolent, selfless love, Bodhicitta or the Awakened Heart, the very spirit of enlightenment....

Each relationship and every single encounter can be a vehicle for meaningful spiritual connection....Buddhist love is based on recognizing our fundamental interconnectedness and knowing that all beings are like ourselves in wanting and needing happiness, safety, fulfillment, and not wanting suffering and misery. The Dalai Lama says, "If you want to be wisely selfish, care for others." All the happiness and virtue in this world comes from selflessness and generosity, all the sorrow from egotism, selfishness, and greed.

On this Valentine's Day, I encourage you to spread the love! You'll receive it in return tenfold!

Spring is on the breeze...

Piestewa Peak in April

Photo by PHXPMA

Many parts of the northern hemisphere are still captive in the gloomy gray clutch of winter; but here in Arizona's Sonoran Desert, the first signs of spring are busting loose.

Yesterday, Mike and I took Zoë for a walk on a desert path. The birds were actively working on nests and blades of grass formed a green carpet on areas of the brown desert floor, surfacing after the winter rains. Soon, the scents of verbena, sage, lantana and creosote will dance on the nighttime desert air; doves will brave the thorns to nest in my bougainvillea; and my roses, those cheeky tarts, will parade their voluptuous petals at the side of my pool.

Spring has always been my favorite season. Beyond the visual beauty of spring, the season has always appealed to me because of its sense of renewal. This spring is certainly shaping up to have many new challenges and opportunities for me and my family. Today I met with the prospective new client I mentioned last week; I am really excited about this new partnership and the work that it will involve. I can't wait to share some of it with you as it unfolds.

After the meeting, I emerged from their offices near beautiful Piestewa Peak (a dramatic Phoenix landmark recently renamed for Arizona veteran Lori Piestewa, who lost her life in Iraq) and marveled at the lovely sunny, 75-degree weather. Suddenly I was filled with a sense of thrill and new beginning.

I decided to stop at one of my favorite Phoenix-area shopping centers, the Biltmore Fashion Park, which was nearby. Speaking of the scents of spring...I bought a great new Bluewick soy candle (Mia: Papaya and Pear) at one of my favorite Biltmore shops, Haus Modern Living. I discovered a delightful fragrance, Cherry Blossom at L'Occitane en Provence but haven't purchased it.... I've also been craving Jo Malone's Nectarine Blossom & Honey to layer with my Pomegranate Noir. Which to choose? Decisions, decisions...

Postnote: My mom just informed me she bought me the Jo Malone fragrance for Valentine's Day...thanks, mom! ♥

Year of the Rat 鼠

Today is the lunar/Chinese new year. 2008 is the "Year of the Rat". I didn't realize this until I read about it on Alison's wonderful blog, Mettaville.

I was amused to learn about the rat angle because, right before Christmas, we had a desert pack rat take up residence in our attic and it's been a heck of a time getting rid of her. (They can be quite destructive.) I found this ironic, because I am very un-pack rat like. I am a habitual purger and abhor clutter. Anyway, I did some reading about the symbolism of the Year of the Rat and came across this passage:

A Rat Year is a time of hard work, activity, and renewal. This is a good year to begin a new job, get married, launch a product or make a fresh start. Ventures begun now may not yield fast returns, but opportunities will come for people who are well prepared and resourceful. The best way for you to succeed is to be patient, let things develop slowly, and make the most of every opening you can find.

Now, I am not one to believe in horoscopes, astrology, fortune cookies or any of that kind of thing. But imagine my surprise when not one, not two, not three, but multiple career opportunities have literally landed in our laps here following the arrival of that rogue rodent upstairs. Suffice it to say, I'm kinda liking this Year of the Rat thing...and wondering if maybe we ought to take down the traps we left up in the attic! Do we jinx ourselves and our children's children if we kill the rat and its progeny? ☺

I still don't believe in astrology. But I do believe in the power of positive thinking. A couple years ago, after some professional disappointments, we made the decision not to cry in our coffee, but to be at peace with things...to count our many personal and professional blessings (of which there are so many) and to pursue continuous self-improvement, both individually and as a family unit. We're generally pretty upbeat people anyway. But we made a firm commitment to focus on what really matters. Unlike many of our peers, we haven't worried about keeping up with the Joneses and we have deliberately surrounded ourselves with people who have similar positive attitudes and strong values. We've put our time and money into things that are important to us in the long term. Even more importantly, we've put our mental energy and spiritual effort into positive, authentic pursuit.

Who knows what the future holds? But today I am savoring the sweet harvest of positive seeds we've sown. Just today, my thoughtful husband invited me to lunch. I asked where we'd meet. "It's a surprise," he said. He ended up taking me to a small Polish deli. Nothing fancy, but he knew I'd like it, and he was right. At lunch, we talked about how we're manifesting our positive energy. We toasted a new contract I'd helped my teaming partner land for our businesses earlier this week. I drove home and checked my e-mail. Waiting for me in my in-box was a completely unsolicited e-mail offering me yet another contract teaming opportunity.

Coincidence? Maybe. But it sure is shaping up to be a wonderful year. I am convinced I am on the right path. I'm patiently watching it unfold and am grateful and very humbled by the entire experience...Though I hesitate to guess what all this means for next year. After all, 2009 is the Year of the Ox. Apparently the ox symbolizes hard work and propsperity, which is a good thing...but I'm not sure my attic can handle one! ☺

Momfulness

I borrowed a nice book from the library last week: Momfulness: Mothering with Mindfulness, Compassion and Grace by Denise Roy. She also wrote My Monastery is a Minivan. I won't regurgitate her philosophy...she outlines it nicely on her website. (There's also a nice audio clip on her site.) But, in short, it boils down to mindful mothering. It's finding ways to incorporate mindfulness, compassion and positive thinking as part of your busy life. Isn't being "present" and compassionate one of the best gifts we can give our children...and the planet?
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Some examples of the practices in her book:

1. Ponytail Meditation: How many times do we rush through the act of brushing our children's hair? In the case of our daughters, this can turn into a battle royale each day (and is one reason my daughter wears her hair in a manageable bob!). What if, instead of creating a negative interchange with our child in our rush to get out the door, we chose to view brushing our child's hair as a blessed ritual? We only have limited years when we get to touch our children daily. Denise writes: We softly touch our children's heads as we begin. We say a silent prayer of gratitude for these souls in our care. As we brush their hair, we bring our mind to our children's beauty and strength. We ask for wisdom and guidance to mother thse children in a way that allows their spirits to blossom. When we are done, we give our children a kiss and send them off with our love. I have taken this a step further. Although my daughter is 9 and has been showering alone for a long time, several months ago, I noticed she wasn't really cleaning and rinsing her hair well, and I started washing her hair again. What started as a practical effort quickly became a very meaningful practice. I massage her scalp while I shampoo and condition her hair. I admire the beautiful young girl she is and treasure the fleeting nature of her childhood.

2. Honoring-Your-Hands Practice: Let's face it, there's no one who is getting any younger! Instead of beating ourselves up for carrying an extra few pounds or for some new gray hairs and wrinkles, what about honoring our bodies for their strengths? You can start with your hands! Denise writes: Spend a moment appreciating all the things your hands do with your family: prepare meals, do creative work, wipe foreheads of sick children, earn family income, clean sticky fingers, change dirty diapers, pay bills, bathe slippery bodies. Recognize how love passes through your hands each day. Be grateful that your hands are the hands of a mother, adminstering the sacrament of ordinary life. By the way, I noticed the faint beginnings of age spots on my hands not long ago. Egads! This was NOT supposed to happen yet! ☺ I'm going to continue with my daily sunscreen while also choosing to regard them as a connect-the-dots history of my journey.

3. Alone Hat Practice: If we spend a few minutes each day alone with ourselves, we are less frazzled, less depleted, and we have more energy in our lives. I remember when I was a kid, sometimes when my mother would get really stressed out, she'd go out to the garage, get in our family sedan, recline the seat back, and listen to the car stereo for about an hour. We were not, under any circumstances, allowed to bother her! I know I absolutely require some quiet time to myself each day. It can be time to read, have a cup of coffee, skim my pool, dead-head my flower garden, walk my dog, go running...whatever. Denise recommends creating a virtual "Alone Hat"...when you don your (figurative) hat, everyone at home needs to leave you alone. She writes: "Light a candle. Go for a walk. Sit outside. Lock yourself in the bathroom! Create a zone of quiet. Congratulate yourself for taking this time. It is an act of love."

What rituals do you incorporate in your life that help you to be a more mindful person?

Super Salsa

Blue Mango Salsa

Superbowl Fever is in full force here in Arizona. We are avoiding that side of the city this weekend, but it is fun to hear about the various celebrities zipping into town.

Each year, we put together a big spread of party-style food just for the four of us, and we pick on it all day while we watch all the Superbowl coverage.

Today I made one of my favorite recipes, Blue Mango Salsa. This is one of those recipes that, once you bring it to a party, not only will people want the recipe, but they'll start asking you to make it for other gatherings. It's incredibly simple, totally fresh and very healthy. And also downright addictive!

Today I made a double batch...I'll use the leftovers as a relish on grilled chicken or pork, in salad, or in tortillas this week. You can easily cut this in half. Enjoy!

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Blue Mango Salsa

Ingredients:

7-8 super ripe, juicy mangos

1 large red onion

2 hot peppers (jalapenos, serranos, etc.)

1 bunch fresh mint

2 limes

salt & pepper

Optional: other fruit (oranges, cantaloupe) or more peppers (red/yellow/green diced bell peppers) to mix in

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1. Dice or coarse chop the mangos and place them in a large bowl. (I use a mango slicer to pit the mango and then use a serrated spoon to scrape the flesh off the peel.)

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2. Mince the onion. Remove seeds from hot peppers and mince. (I use the food processor for these.) Chop the mint leaves. Mix in with the mangos.

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3. Squeeze the juice from two limes over the mixture. Add salt and pepper to taste.

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4. For best results, let the flavors mingle for at least an hour in the fridge before serving. I serve with whole grain tortilla chips or use as a relish on grilled meats, and in tortillas and salads.

Friday night fun

Mike and Annie are attending the annual He/She Winter Ball tonight. The dance is sponsored by the area Girl Scouts and is a sold-out affair each year. The girls come with their dads, grandpas, stepfathers, etc. This year's theme is black & white.

While they're out, I've got a hot date! Aaron & I have been plotting an evening of cheeseburgers and movies. We got on Amazon together earlier this week and picked out two DVDs, Young Sherlock Holmes and the classic Death on the Nile.

Hope you have a great Friday!