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Monday, 09 June 2008

a kind soul.

it seems that my soul has somehow become exposed this year

albeit surprised, I'm very glad with the recent developments.  for most of my life, I never felt that I was understood for the inner me (probably because I was busy protecting it from the outside world).  I can have a harsh exterior at times - something I've been acutely aware of for sometime and consciously working on this past year. but since the beginning of the year I have been getting the most complimentary comments of the soulful nature and it really makes a world of difference

...though it is still nice to get those completely superficial compliments like "you're a beautiful, beautiful woman"

Wonder Woman thought to herself, "where did I leave those gold bracelets?"

No one masters anything on the first try. Even superheroes have to go through an entire story arc of trial and error mistakes. So when it comes to looking for your soul mate, don't let few bad first dates knock you off course. Keep at it.



::

once again - my horoscope for the day hit the nail on the head - hahaha, superheroes and all...

Sunday, 25 May 2008

cooking for 1

one of the unavoidable, unlikeable realities of being single - modifying recipes to make enough for only one
(woe is me - I don't like being a single)

so for lunch today I made this and it was really tasty and very simple to make.  I only cut the ingredients in half and now I have left-over.   I always forget how little spinach amounts to when it is steamed.  I'll just make a spinach salad with the left-over instead of getting out the steamer again.




Stuffed Balsamic-Grilled Portobello Mushrooms

Serves 4
 * Meat eaters love the steak like texture of these mushrooms.
If smoked mozzarella tastes too strong, feel free to substitute
a milder cheese in its place.

3 1⁄2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 1⁄2 pints red cherry or grape tomatoes
1⁄2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for sprinkling (optional)
1 1⁄2 teaspoons freshly ground pepper, divided
1 teaspoon dried thyme
4 large portobello mushrooms, stem and gills removed
4 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
4 ounces smoked mozzarella, thinly sliced
1 10-ounce bag baby spinach, steamed

1. Preheat oven to 425º. Drizzle a roasting pan with 1 tablespoon
of the olive oil and add tomatoes, 1⁄2 teaspoon salt, 1⁄2 teaspoon
pepper, and thyme. Toss to mix. Roast for 15–20 minutes, or until
tomatoes start to burst. Keep oven hot.

2. Preheat grill or broiler to medium heat. Place mushrooms gillside
up on a work surface and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons olive
oil, balsamic vinegar, a little kosher salt (optional), and remaining
1 teaspoon pepper. With remaining 1⁄2 tablespoon oil, lightly coat
the rounded side of the mushroom cap.

3. Place mushrooms, gill-side down, on grill or broiler pan. Grill or
broil for 6–8 minutes on each side, until soft and slightly charred.

4. Transfer mushrooms to a roasting pan and fi ll with 10–15
tomatoes each. Top with cheese. Place in hot oven until cheese
bubbles. Set each mushroom on a mound of steamed spinach
and serve immediately.

Per serving * 262 cal, 61% fat cal, 19g fat, 5g sat fat, 22mg chol,
12g protein, 15g carb, 5g fi ber, 486mg sodium

Wednesday, 07 May 2008

creative upwellings...

so this personal blog was up for renewal just recently and I was going to let it just fade away, in fact it did.  it was suspended because I didn't update my credit card info.  but within a few days of that happening, all of the sudden I wanted to blog again (seriously, not like on my MySpace page). 

blogging for me has been very therapeutic.  i started my blog when i first moved away from American, all those years ago. and it really helped me get through some tough times.  just when i couldn't feel more alone or far away from everyone that i loved, i would get a comment from someone back home and it immediately made me feel better.  it let me know that i could go on to experience all that i had hoped for and i did most everything I set out to do.

for the past year, my life has been so upside down, so topsy turvy that i haven't been able to make heads or tails of anything.  i returned from china to travel back and forth to indonesia for months while living in my best friend's guest room. i moved to Arizona and two weeks later I was full time on the road between cleveland, chicago, jersey and indiana for many, many months of work. my vacations, already planned and paid for, took me to mexico and costa rica. my holidays were a whirlwind driving marathon to san diego then vegas and back to phoenix.  i've not had a moments rest until about a month ago.

instead of coming home to phoenix for my weekend off from work, i escaped to Moab. a mental and physical retreat, away from all the stresses in my life - work, home, family, friends, the guy i was dating - all of it!  i had two days of true unadulterated, solitudinous days of ME time.  i really had time to think and to NOT think, just be. i came to a lot of conclusions during that trip and just needed right timing to act upon them.

so now the time has come.  i'm making plans and getting ready to go forward. again.

some things haven't worked out as i wished but i'm dealing with that reality. but i am continuing on the path that i feel i need to go down. and part of that is my blogging.

so I will keep this original blog, AboutJane, as the on-going sage about the trials and tribulations of this single woman, the world over.  yes, my incessant whining about how awful it truly is to be single (now at 40!). it will still contain lots of horoscopes and other non-sense that i find that keeps me hopeful that someday i will fall madly in love with the right man and he with me. that i will actually, willingly, settle down in one spot, marry and start my family.  (pathetic, I know but my friends will still love me any way)

but i will add to my repertoire two more blogs:

only a reflection    an ideal that came to me back in Feb 2005 but abandoned rather quickly. i wanted to explore my PhotoShop abilities in combination with the massive amounts of photos i've taken.  this blog will probably get the least amount of attention, especially if I am forced to do more traveling during the remainder of the year.

and then there will be

Miss Anthropy    resultant of my recent Moab trip and the accidental acquisition of a profound book.  this blog will be entirely dedicated to and about Edward Abbey's Desert Solitaire and what impact it is having on my life. 

i picked it up in the Arches gift shop and I say accidently because i had already brought four books with me on the trip and i ended up buying two more, this being one of them.  I started reading it immediately while enjoying my simple but tasty dinners that I prepared in the well equipped kitchen of the Lazy Lizard hostel. I was as voracious a reader as i ever have been (did i mention i read rather slowly) but with the physical exhaustion setting in as early as 9 pm each evening and my hikes starting immediately after breakfast and lasting until dinner, i continue to read it.  i am just about finished and will be starting it over again as i blog (with that knowledge, it prevents me from continuously going back and re-reading parts of it now).

So, now that I have explained all of that, only the execution remains.  additional time will be needed to revamp each of the blogs and come up with thoughtful designs that further express where i'm at in these creative endeavors.

Thursday, 13 March 2008

I hope I clean up well...

Horoscopes for week of March 13, 2008

Verticle Oracle card Aries (March 21-April 19)
He "cleans up well" is prison lingo. It refers to a convict who, upon leaving jail, is able to overhaul his appearance and demeanor so thoroughly that no one can tell he has served time. I believe that in the coming weeks you will have access to another version of this skill. You will so completely erase the traces of your own personal version of "incarceration" that everyone will assume that you've always been a free bird.

Friday, 29 February 2008

With a critical eye

Valid during several weeks: This is a good time to look around with a critical eye and see what needs to be changed or corrected in your environment.  You are very conscious of the flaws in everything you look at, but you are not so overwhelmed that you cannot see the good as well.  Your mind is on serious concerns, and although you are not likely to feel depressed or to have other negative feelings, you are not lighthearted or attracted to frivolity either.  In this mood you can be either a teacher or one who is taught, perhaps in a formal classroom situation or just in an informal discussion among friends.  You respect people who have more experience than you do, and you are likely to turn to them for advice.  Or someone else may cast you in this role and come to you for help.

Tuesday, 12 February 2008

this results in sleepless nights lately...

                                        
Today's Card
            Image - copyright 1998
Lo Scarabeo S.r.l.          
       

The King of Pentacles card suggests that my power today lies in responsibility. I surround myself with the conditions I wish to create and therefore have everything I need to be successful and independent according to my values and purpose. I consider the welfare of others and am a master in production. I am empowered by, and it is my honor to be, generous in offering or reproducing security, stability, and protection by my virile and reliable example. My assets are perennial trust, respect, and validation that is well deserved.

Monday, 11 February 2008

sorry...

about all the cut and paste horoscopes

unfortunately that's all I have time for right now. 
I will start writing about real things soon, when work settles down a wee bit.

I am sooooo feeling this today

                                        
Today's Card
            Image - copyright 1998
Lo Scarabeo S.r.l.          
       

The Queen of Wands card suggests that my power today lies in liberation. I radiate or communicate personal power, passion, and allure and am not dragged down by trends. I have a bold magical flair and a spirit of innovation and pride. I am secure in my identity or performance and thrive on creating, designing or fostering new or equal opportunities for aesthetic or personal growth, expression or awareness. I am empowered with gratitude, attention and reputation to go beyond the call and I transform through exploring or initiating change.

Continue reading "I am sooooo feeling this today" »

Sunday, 10 February 2008

the time has come? what the hell have I been doing for 4 1/2 years...

The time for exploring new places and new ideas has come -- so tune into your wanderlust and get traveling! Plan a trip to a foreign land. Being intrigued by new people and new cultures will energize you to a point that you might finally understand what you really need to be doing with your life. The blinders are coming off. You are opening your mind to new ways of living, and although not every discovery is a revelation, most are at least terribly interesting.