Thinking Outside the Bowl

I'm a direction follower. I like to follow them exactly. This has always been something that has done me a great deal of good through grade school, and even high school. I didn't notice how it hindered me until I got into college and out into the real world. In college we were encouraged to think outside of the box and often given projects and assignments without too much direction or guidelines. This drove me crazy! I didn't have enough comfort with my own random ideas to just try the thoughts that came to mind. A few weeks ago I received a bag of Amish friendship bread and when it came time to mix it, the directions specifically said to use a non metal bowl. I didn't have a non metal bowl that was big enough. I'm on a tight budget and really didn't want to go buy one. Luckily my part time neighbor was in town and I was sure she had one that I could borrow. She didn't, but she came out of her cabin with a rectangular tupperware thingy. I politely told her no thanks, that it wasn't big enough. So here's my a-ha moment...........I had a big rectangular tuperware thingy that would be perfect! I had to laugh at myself, I just couldn't think of it before. I think my horizons are broadening.

Get your hands dirty!

I can't remember the last time my hands were totally dirty...to me dirty hands (skinned knees, dislocated shoulders) means you're using them, experiencing life, trying new things. So last week I learned how to set up a climbing wall and teach the basics about climbing and safety to my 8th grade rascals and my hands were filthty! I was so proud. (Also proud of my shoulder pain from falling off a rail and the scar on my shin from trying a frontside boardslide while riding this winter.)

Dusting off a bottle of wine

My brother, Tony took the prize for the coolest Christmas gift a few years ago. He got a case of Palamino Ridge Merlot with customized labels put on each bottle of the whole family (from a Winter trip to Tahoe), along with a moving saying, "Through the Years and Varying Paths: An Endeavor of Enriched Fulfillment". It was a pretty awesome idea; you know, one of those that you wish you'd thought of yourself. I've always had the tenancy to save special things like this bottle of wine, sometimes for too long. In middle school, one of my best friends Michelle, gave me two bottles of Bath and Body Works lotion. I'd never had anything like them before, so I used them sparingly. It wasn't until my second year of college that I had to throw them out because they were all watery and nasty. Knowing this about myself and knowing what I know about wine storage (wine should be kept at constant 55 degrees Fahrenheit to stay good and age properly), I feared that the Hartman wine may have already suffered a doomed fate. After all, the wine had been from Iowa to MoVal to Phoenix to Big Bear...not much consistency in temperature during its travels. I wanted to open and drink the bottle before the weather started to warm up, but I felt I needed some special occasion that had to do with my family to enjoy the yummy red stuff. One evening I decided to spend some quality time with my soon to be maiden name. Actually, I celebrated my Hartmanness for the next three evenings(there may have been an afternoon in there..). I leave you with this last challenge: to enjoy the beauty of this moment; to realize there is no better time that right now. So go have a glass of wine (coffee/tea/seltzer water/apple juice) to celebrate!