There is nothing better than being stranded in your own city for a few hours sometimes. Lapster was working on Sunday, and I was “wasting a few hours” downtown in Seattle. I stumbled through a few boutiques looking at dresses I would never wear (but I do have fantasies that I might wear them). However, I ended up, where I always end up — in the bookstore. I bought a series of odds and ends, but also picked up 180 Poems, A Turning Back to Poetry by Billy Collins.

Billy Collins was the former poet laureate, and although some feel he is a bit of poetry sellout — I have to be honest, I actually enjoy a lot of his work. I thumbed through the book seeing it was a collection of modern poets. I am a casual follower of poetry. The problem is, it can be really hard to find modern poets that you like. I’ve always thought that poetry is a lot like photography — you have to take tons of shots to find one that captures you.

180 Poems is designed to make it easy for high school students to hear or read a poem on each of the 180 days of the school year. The poems are collected with this audience in mind including poems about the Birthdays, Football, and Summer, but also just beautiful words and stories of human existence. In the introduction to the book Billy Collins requests:

Whether the poems are read over a PA system or at the end of a school assembly, students can hear poetry on a daily basis without feeling any pressure to respond. I wanted teachers to refrain from commenting on the poems or asking students “literary” questions about them. No discussion, no explanation, no quiz, no midterm, no seven-page paper — just listen to a poem every morning and off you go to your first class.

So regardless, of how old you are this is a great little collection, and a good opportunity to get an introduction to some of the best modern poets of our time. You can see the entire collection online at Poetry 180. The magic of poetry is it can be as simple or as complicated as you care to make it. A good poem is one that you like. That’s it.

Introduction to Poetry by Billy Collins

I ask them to take a poem
and hold it up to the light
like a color slide

or press an ear against its hive.

I say drop a mouse into a poem
and watch him probe his way out,

or walk inside the poem’s room
and feel the walls for a light switch.

I want them to waterski
across the surface of a poem
waving at the author’s name on the shore.

But all they want to do
is tie the poem to a chair with rope
and torture a confession out of it.

They begin beating it with a hose
to find out what it really means.

So last year, Lapster created a great website for me:

I love it. The girly quality, the colors, I love it. My guilty online pleasure is racing through a bunch of sites that I have a daily — “cool” or “stylish” item: Mighty Goods, Outblush, Delight, etc. There are tons of them, and I decided that I wanted to hop on the bandwagon. However, for whatever reason, I just couldn’t get it off the ground. My excuses fall into two categories:

1. Blogging daily — even just briefly is a commitment.
2. All I was doing was stealing ideas from blogs I read and gathering them for me. Rather than actually finding new products or styles.

So although, I am still committed to trying to get my new favorite going I know what I need to do:

1. Get a bunch of folks who will post to keep it interesting
2. Front load the system with a bunch of new products
3. Focus my new favorite into one category or topic to be more appealing

But all that said, the reason I got thinking about all of this is because I found my new dream site. So for now, I’ll just pretend like I did this site instead of my own. Enjoy.

A few months ago, our family lost it’s matriarch.  As hard as it was, our family is amazing.  We gathered, mourned the loss, and tried to move forward with grace and gratitude.  At a time like that you spend a lot of time focused on mothers and grandmothers, but one thing I noticed was the support and brilliance of my father and grandfather.  During that time  — all of the family racing in from every corner of the country, my father trying to keep funeral arrangements moving forward, and my grandfather letting family take over his house — I was in awe of their love, kindness, and truly giving hearts.

This was a time when each of them was mourning their own loss, but they always made sure that we felt loved and included us in all aspects of the memorial service.

My father and I both gave eulogies at my grandmother’s service, and he was brilliant.  He gave a beautiful speech filled with love and humor and truly captured my Nana’s spirit.  What was even more evident to me was how much I am like my father.  Right down to our turn of phrase and hand gestures.

I always knew we were alike. . .

We talk about our careers the same way.  We get carried away by ideas — we can turn the Poultney Sidewalk Sales into the World’s Fair in no time.  We set goals like twins.  And of course, any hobby is only complete with a gadget or two to make it more fun.

Living across the country it can be easy to forget how closely connected we are.   However, when any big decision comes along he is one of the first people I go to for guidance, advice, and overall enthusiasm.  He lives his life with morals and joy.  I admire him so much.  Even at 31 years old, sometimes you still just need your Dad.  So on this day of celebrating fathers, I have to say. . .

I love you dad.  Happy Father’s Day.  You are the best.

Long story short. I went to an amazing weekend yoga retreat a few weeks ago conducted by a friend who also just happens to be an amazing yoga teacher and personal coach. I’m not someone who has ever had a true yoga practice and normally I am not someone who would attend a weekend retreat, but when this offer came from someone I admire — I had to try it.

Michel Eubank Spruance has a great website with her upcoming Retreats, Classes and Services — Check it out!  I was so grateful for the opportunity and for the first time I feel like I “got” why everyone was so transformed by yoga.  Thanks Michel.

But just as important as the yoga retreat was a poem that was read as we began our early morning meditation walk on the beach. I can literally hear myself reciting certain lines occasionally in my mind. Normally, any poem with the word “God” in it sends me running for the hills, but somehow the humor and joy was too hard to resist.

So I’m trying to move my body a little big more, and trying to learn to bend — physically and spiritually. Enjoy.

You are the Sun in drag.
You are God hiding from yourself.
Remove all the ‘mine’ – that is the veil.
Why ever worry about anything?
Listen to what your friend Hafiz
Knows for certain:
The appearance of this world
Is a Magi’s brilliant trick, though its affairs are
Nothing into nothing.
You are a divine elephant with amnesia
Trying to live in an ant
Hole.
Sweetheart, O sweetheart
You are God in Drag!
from The Gift — Hafiz

Hi all.  So here are a few random tidbits that I’ve looking at today.   I was trying to think of  a clever way to loop them into one master post, but I had no luck. . .

  Cargo Container Living.

Lapster and I saw a post a few months ago about using cargo containers as a house, and we have been a little obsessed ever since.  So cool.

  DIY: Wine Glass Candle Lampshades.

I think I’ll do this for Lapster’s birthday party in July.

  Blackberry Hints.

I bought my blackberry for a project I just completed, but never had a chance to pimp it out.  Now is my time!

So Lapster and I have had a very “Memorial Day” weekend — we went to see the new Indiana Jones movie (long story short — it was brilliant — will write more later), had a bunch of bbq’s at the house, and then we went to buy a bike for me.  Apparently, everyone else in Seattle had the same idea.  So after a trip to three different bike stores — I decide on this little beauty.  I love it. We went out yesterday for a quick ride on the Burke Gilman Trail (another perk of our house, we are just blocks from the best trail in Seattle).  I’m hoping this will kick start my fitness kick for the summer. Happy Memorial Day!

After a long weekend back on the east coast I have arrived back in Seattle. I haven’t done my work, or put my clothes away, or cleaned the house — but I did make some really good banana bread. Lapster is very patient with my learning to cook. Very rarely do I actually make something edible, but this recipe is really easy, and really good.

Banana Bread

• 3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 1 cup sugar (can easily reduce to 3/4 cup)
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• Pinch of salt
• 1 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour

No need for a mixer for this recipe. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). With a wooden spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the sugar, egg, and vanilla. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. Add the flour last, mix. Pour mixture into a buttered 4×8 inch loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour. Cool on a rack. Remove from pan and slice to serve.

For more great recipes go go Simply Recipes.

Due to a painfully busy worklife over the past few months, I’ve been a little out of pop culture, so I’m doing my best to catch up. Here are some of my favorite current obsessions in my ipod. Enjoy.

Hard Candy - Madonna: Great. Great. Great. Dance it out!

The Very Best of the Police: Lapster and I are headed to see the Police Reunion tour this summer! Gotta get up to speed.

Release the Stars - Rufus Wainright: We just saw Rufus at the Paramount Theater a few weeks ago. It was a great show. Funny. Sarcastic. And that voice, doesn’t leave your skull.

Eat, Pray, Love: Yes, my new age Seattle hippy lifestyle has gotten the best of me. I just finished listening to it on audiobook during my commute to work. A sweet story about a year of spiritual discovery. I know this book has an Oprah phenomenon. I can’t say it changed my life, but it did give me back my travel bug!

So my dear friends Trisha and Aaron just had a beautiful baby daughter named Maggie.  I’m so excited by this new arrival, but as I was sharing all my press success with Seeds of Compassion — I see that this new little bundle of joy is getting her own press. . .

lucky girl.

• Washington Post - D.C’s ‘Breast Whisperer’
• Other Maggie Pics

So,  I have left my precious blog alone for far too long.  My work-life, as always, came in like a storm.  Now I’m sitting in the aftermath dazed and confused.   Well, actually it’s great.  I’m still working for Seeds of Compassion, but now we get to do the basic aftermath of thank you notes and event evaluation.  I have a swirling mind of ideas about work-life balance, falling out of touch with friends. . .again, etc.   But I’ll save that for later.  Right now, I’ll take some quiet pleasure in a successful event.  Check out some of our press.

• Seattle Times
• LA Times – Special thanks to my friend Keri for passing along
• Dave Matthews and Dalai Lama - conversation on media and compassion.  Audio isn’t good, but you get the idea.  Great clips from all our events including our Stadium show at Qwest too.
• Full Seeds Webcast Online in 24 language

Who knows what next.  Right now, I’m thinking about heading back to the East Coast for my grandmother’s funeral, traveling somewhere sunny, buying a car, and moving to a bigger house.  As for my next work project, who knows,  I’m trying a different style — just open up see what happens!  Wish me luck.