Serendipitous sabbatical

Much has transpired between that last post and now. I feel the need to do a mondo update, and I will. I promise.

Here's what I'll gab about:
- Arnica internship in the bag
- College hoops recruiting ... and the people I met or reminisced with along the way
- BBWCC '10 ('nuff said)
- Austin in August
- Blondie getting married
- Warrior Dash and subsequent weekend extravaganza

Whoop! That's a lot o' stuff.

I'll ramble more when I can include photos.

The troops report Wednesday, and I couldn't be more excited to begin the journey that is Coach Kate Part II.

Cheers!

The fine art of multitasking

July is a busy month for basketball coaches. Much of the month is spent on the road and in gyms, evaluating players and trying to put together teams for the future. I've been to tournaments in Oregon City, Seattle, and next week I'm going to San Diego. 

In-between recruiting and office work, I've been putting in what hours I can at Arnica. I'll elaborate when I have more time, but it's been a rewarding experience. I've come in contact with some interesting people, read some life-changing work, and assisted with cookbook-related projects as much as possible. 

Here's a pic from a food photo shoot. The name of the cookbook is Luscious (all about Oregon fruit and its growers), and it's set to hit shelves in November. (My friend Katy--the editorial assistant who helped me get the internship--is in the blue shades.)

Recipe for success

Drum-roll please ...

Well, I did it. One year down and one to go!

I'd be lying if I said the past two months weren't a couple of the toughest I've been through. On top of the emotional turmoil, I took 13 credits this spring. I thought things in the office would slow down a bit after season, but it turns out we conducted workouts in the mornings and in the afternoons. That schedule coupled with my night classes meant long hours. I'm not saying that to complain. I'm just stating a fact.

Basketball-wise, we had an extraordinary spring. The girls improved beyond my expectations, and I finally felt like I made a difference and had a positive effect on the team through coaching. I'm anxious for fall term to roll around with school and basketball because I have a year of experience under my belt, and I am starting to feel like I know what I'm doing. ;)

It's hard to imagine what life will bring this year. I have mixed feelings. It's exciting and scary. I'm out of my comfort zone in an indescribable way. Living day-to-day is a focus of mine, but for someone who loves looking forward to milestones, not being able to see a certain someone waiting for me at the end of this journey is tough to swallow.

I didn't begin this post with any intention of writing the past three bleak paragraphs, but that's what came out. :-/ Let's just call that a random tangent and get back to the point of this post: I've been invited to intern at a local cookbook publishing company! Yesssss! (There's that standard exclamation point and usual tone of this blog that was missing!)

It's called Arnica Publishing & Creative Services. My responsibilities will be varied and open. I can contribute to any area of the press I'm interested in including--but not limited to--editorial, marketing, and sales. The best part is that this job will be combining my passions for writing and cooking. How great, huh?

I had chills when I read the company's collective vision and mission statement. Let me share a bit with you, and I'm sure you'll understand why: "The name, Arnica Publishing, is derived from the plant, Arnica Montana, a small, but powerful flower that promotes physical healing in the body and is often used for relief of pain--it is used as a healing balm. Our name is representative of our original collective vision: 'helping to heal the world through the power of the written word, one reader at a time.'"

I think it's safe to say I'm in the right place at the right time. Talk about serendipity.

The fine folks at Arnica sent me home with two of their cookbooks and three recipes to test for their upcoming release. It's a cookbook called Luscious and it'll be out in the fall. The boss said just cook and take notes. We'll adjust the recipe accordingly. I already bought all of the necessary ingredients, and I'll be reimbursed by the company. This has got to be the coolest job yet!

In addition to Arnica, I'm going to be working on my new blog/website. I won't release too many details, but I can say I'm going to actually tell people about it, unlike this blog that was originally just meant to be my virtual diary. (Nice tease, huh? I learned that in the news biz.)

So, here's a toast to summer, no school for almost four months, and the chance at outstanding professional experience and growth! Cheers!
 

Procrastination Nation

On this day next week, I'll be done with my first year of graduate school. Hoo-to-the-ray! I cannot wait.

I'm not out of the woods yet, though ... I've got my work cut out for me. Two papers, a project, and a portfollio are anxiously awaiting my free time and devotion.

So what am I doing? Sitting and blogging about how much work I have to do. Looking at food blogs. Making lists. Lists of things I need to do, places I need to visit, books I want to read, and how I'm going to save and spend my summer paychecks.

It's the antithesis of productivity. I can hear the clock ticking.

I mean, I just realized I hadn't written anything lately. The old post was screaming, "Replace me!" Never mind the fact it could be lingering on the top of the blog because nothing out of the ordinary has happened. Nothing truly story-of-my-life-worthy.

But, a week from now--yes, just seven days from today, I'll have accomplished a pretty sweet feat. One year down (minus one week), and one to go!

And, to celebrate summer (amid the dreary rain), look what I just bought:

I'm sure I'll have an adventure or two on this puppy. :)

Sub-chapter of the Portland life

This just in!

I'm no longer living at my parents' house. It's a brave new world, people. I'm spreading my wings and embarking on the life of a typical 25-year-old living in the big city.

I must admit, the most enticing aspect of this decision is the idea of exploring and expanding my knowledge of Portland. Although I grew up here, I left at age 18 for college, and I've never really lived here as an adult. Sure, I've been here for the past nine months, but I haven't done much other than school and coaching.

It's time to get going and see what kind of trouble I can find in the Rose City. ;)

Oh, and you can bet I'll be blogging about it. So continues The Story of My Life ...

I feel compelled to mention I am not a fan of the rain. Not one bit. I do not enjoy wearing a pea coat in late May either. I am ready for sunshine. The rain drizzle could be the demise of my residence in the Northwest. C'mon weather gods--give me some sunshine!

The Bucket List

Toward the end of my footloose days in college (or maybe even as far back as high school?) I started to piece together a bucket list. I wrote it in a journal that's now tucked in box in my parents' attic, awaiting yet another move a year from now--to wherever that may be.

A recent walk with my mom prompted me to wonder about my progress on the ol' bucket list.

We passed a house with a sailboat parked on the side. My mom said she'd always wanted to go sailing, and I said, "Me too; it's definitely on my bucket list." To this, my mom replied, "I never had a bucket list. I like to live in the here-and-now. I don't have a lot of wants or needs."

For me, a bucket list isn't about wants and needs--it's more about goals and aspirations.  I admire the fact that my mom has been able to achieve what she wants out of life. Maybe I keep a list because I'm young and ambitious, or maybe it's because I have to write stuff down or I forget it. Either way, I like my bucket list, and I think I'll keep adding to it and checking off items as I grow old.

Here are just a few of the items I can recall listing:
- Play basketball in college.

- Move to a city in which I've never been or where I know nobody.

- Run a marathon.

- Live in a ski town.
- Earn my master's degree.
- Write a book.

- Go on a sailing trip.

- Write for a magazine. 

- Climb a mountain.

- Marry and live a simple life based on family, friends, and faith.  (Is it OK to put marriage on your bucket list?)

- Be my own boss. 

This is quite the shabby blog entry. Note to self: Hunt down that journal and add to this pitiful semblance of a list.

Oh, and for your daily dose of inspirado (as my friend Leslee says), here's one of my favorite quotes that's been screaming at me lately:

Our lives are not determined by what happens to us, but how we react to what happens; not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst ... a spark that creates extraordinary results.

Mom of many hats

My mom doesn't like wearing hats, but hypothetically speaking, the lady wears more headpieces than anyone I've ever met.

I know my siblings would agree--you just can't put into words what an over-the-top amazing mother we've been blessed with. From the second each of us was born, we've been showered with unconditional love.

We've been taught countless lessons, and I continue to learn from her on a daily basis. Let me mention just a few of my mom's words that echo in my head:
- Details and manners matter.
- Treating others as you wish to be treated is more than a mantra.
- If you want to achieve something, you have to put in the time and effort. It's not easy.
- A stiff upper lip and faith in God's plan will get you through the toughest times.
- At the end of the day, all you have is your family.
- I live a charmed life.

With her fight and fearlessness, she conquered cancer and showed all of us if you don't have your health, you really don't have much.

She kicks my toosh at the gym. I'm not exaggerating. She can lift more weight and spin her legs faster than I can. She always says she wishes she was an athlete. Well, I'd say she's worthy of that title.

She walks more than anyone--period. Whether it's to get her day started, to get to work, or to pick up something at the grocery store, she certainly puts in more miles on her shoes than her car. She's even been pulled over by the police for walking (I need to dedicate a post to these two--yes, two--incidents).

Should I even attempt to write about her cooking, baking, and entertaining dominance? It's impossible to explain how crazy this lady is in the kitchen.

Growing up, we knew Tuesday was French toast day and Thursday was pancake day--it was rare eating cold cereal and toast. There was nothing average about our mealtimes. If someone had a sporting event, dinner would be left in the oven for that kid. For us, fast food was sitting at the counter in the kitchen and watching our mom whip up a hearty meal in 15 minutes.

At school, friends would fight over our homemade lunches. We could get big money for those things!
 
Nowadays, she bakes for the teachers at her school, my dad's coworkers, neighbors, the mailman, UPS guy, and of course the front desk attendant at the gym.

I'm not doing her justice. My mom is unexplainable. She's outrageously humble. She's impossible to thank. She hates receiving gifts because she doesn't like knowing you spent money on her. She's stoic and relentlessly reliable.

I can't forget to mention how she's a mom to more than the four of us. The moment you introduce yourself as a friend of ours, you're just one of the family.

I hope and pray I can be just one ounce of the mother to my children that she's been to my siblings and me. We are the luckiest.

Happy Mother's Day!

(I can't find a better photo right this second...)