It has me in its grip

I'm not much of a reader. I mean, I read the paper everyday, and have two magazine subscriptions that I faithfully read (Prevention and Oprah), but they hardly count. When it comes to books, I tend to either get bored within the first 20 pages and give up, or get completely enthralled to the point where the book is all I think about. I've even been known to have dreams that take place in the scenes of the books I'm reading. And during my Bronte phase, I had to be careful not to speak in polite olde English, like Jane Eyre.

So what am I reading now? Into Thin Air, the personal account of the 1996 Mount Everest climbing disaster, by Jon Krakauer. It's astonishingly well written, and gripping from the introduction. There are many hairy and unnerving tangential anecdotes scattered throughout the actual Everest story, about all the different people on the mountain with Krakauer. Many of them semi-famous climbers with colorful pasts. Others are Sherpas who have made distinct reputations for themselves for one reason or another. I'm enjoying these detours almost as much as the actual story itself.

I'm currently on page 117, of 333 and I'm already sad thinking of finishing it.

Raku You

Raku is my favorite type of ceramics work. The typical raku pottery you see often isn't to my taste -- it gets kitchy. But the rustic, unpredictable surfaces that can be achieved using the raku firing technique are truly unique and wonderful. The image at right is a Raku tile/plaque I made several years ago. Wikipedia defines the term thusly:

Raku is a form of Japanese pottery characterized by low firing temperatures (resulting in a fairly porous body), lead glazes, and the removal of pieces from the kiln while still glowing hot. In the traditional Japanese firing process, the pot is removed from the hot kiln and put directly into water or allowed to cool in the open air. Raku is considered the traditional method for creating bowls for the Japanese tea ceremony. Raku tea bowls are hand-made from earthenware, each with a unique shape and style. Raku techniques have been adopted and modified by contemporary potters worldwide.

I signed up for the class thinking I'd make some fun new jewelry. And perhaps I will. But tonight the inspiration simply isn't there. In fact, I pretty much don't feel like going at all. But I missed class last week due to my vacation, so I can't, in good conscience, skip it a second week. The idea of making more "stuff" with which to clutter my apartment makes me shudder ... but I'm an artist, and that's what artists do, isn't it??

So off I go to class, mildly against my will, to see what might get created by these hands that just climbed a mountain.

Relax

Going back to work after 2 weeks off ain't easy. Everyone wants to ask how your trip was, where'd you go, what'd you buy, who'd you meet ... but it doesn't last long. Soon enough they want to fill you in on all the office gossip, injustices, mishaps, chaps, chafes, annoyances, deadlines, meetings and projects they held in their anxious minds while you were off gallivanting on mountains and beaches.

Side effect: I woke up today with a MAJOR knot in my upper back. Didn't take long, huh? Ouch.

Notes from July 16

Climbing was a total blast. Very empowering and fun. I did three totally vertical climbs on the first day. Woo!!!! I wasn't scared of the heights at all. In fact, I was sort of hanging out on the rock face with one hand a few times, just looking down and all around. It was fantastic.

Sadly, it poured rain on Sunday just as we were about to start climbing. We had ascended this MAJOR trail (this was no hike, it was truly an ascent, which is the main reason why I'm so damn sore), geared up with harnesses, helmets, ropes, etc., the guides did the lead climb to set up the anchor, and then the skies opened up. It was a total washout.

So we climbed down to a overhang to get out of the rain and hoped it would let up, but no dice. The descent was harder than the ascent because everything was so slippery. My legs ache so much!

After tossing the day, one of the other hikers and I went on a mellow walk along a pretty trail nearby. It was a nice and relaxing way to end the weekend.

I'd definitely climb again. But having done it even once gives me a huge sense of pride. Next adventure: whitewater rafting in August!

Notes from July 10

1. Made it to CT in 3 hours flat. A new record.

2. My friend's husband backed into my car this morning on his way to work, and cracked my rear bumper. It needs to be replaced, but it's really no biggie. They are in a state about it.

3. Am almost definitely going to Greece next June. Woo hoo! My Athenean friend Poly and I have agreed to make a serious plan since she just moved into her own apartment. The last time I was there, the city was a mess. Since then, they cleaned it up for the Olympics.

4. The match.com guy I met just before leaving officially wants to go out again. Trouble is, he has boundary issues. On our first date he revealed that his first wife accused him and his sister of incest and picked fist fights, his former fiance stole his Xanax and then cheated on him, and his most recent girlfriend has money/credit trouble. If I go out with him again, what does it say about me?? Does it show my open-mindedness, my non-judgmentalness? That I can refrain from assuming that this guy is just a bad relationship waiting to happen and that people can change their patterns? Or does it show that I, myself, am moving from one set of bad dating patterns to being open to a whole myriad of new bad dating patterns??

5. Thankfully, I have been corresponding with a new guy on match who seems great. He's a rock climber, so now that I'm about to embark on my first climb, we'll have something cool in common. But it sort of brings to mind that scene from "Singles" where the woman buys a bike and all kinds of gear to impress her cyclist first-date and nearly kills herself riding to meet him. He ends up with her roommate anyway.

6. I taught my friend's eight year old the word crap yesterday. Didn't mean to. Told him not to tell his mom, which he promptly did. Apparently she had previously instructed him to tell her anything anyone ever said to him that included the phrase, "don't tell your mother." That Aunt Ev is such a bad influence.

Checking in from MA

Well, I'm currently on #3 on my vacation destination list: Salisbury, MA visiting friends. It's gorgeous here. I'm bruised and sore from the rock climb, so today's R&R on the beach was exactly what the doctor ordered. I have so much to write about, but that will have to wait until I'm home and back to normal.

I feel so relaxed and am truly "on vacation" in the most traditional sense. No thoughts about work, completely off any routine, and truly going with the flow of no schedule. It's divinely refreshing. And I still have another week of freedom remaining!

Gone Climbing

Well, today's the day I set off on my vacation. I've taken two full weeks off of work—something I'm not sure I've ever done before! There will be four distinct parts to my time off, all of which I'm very much looking forward to:

1. Visiting my oldest friend and her family in CT
2. Rock climbing in NH
3. Exploring the MA coast with Philly friends whose parents live there
4. Volunteering for the WXPN music festival on the Camden, NJ waterfront

The rock climb is the nucleus of the whole thing, of course. I can't wait to test my endurance, push my fears, challenge my feet, meet new people and try something I've always been curious about. Bear Grylls on Man vs. Wild always makes it look so easy! I expect to have a new respect for his climbing skills after my comparatively tame experience.

Party Highlights

When I turned 40, I wanted to throw an outdoor party. But April is no time for outdoor parties! So I threw it yesterday, on what turned out to be the most gorgeous day of the summer, at my folks' place in Intercourse, PA. Here is a list of some highlights:

1. The Locale:
Dad and Joan worked their tails off for the past two-plus weeks to get their already gorgeous yard looking tip-top. They succeeded in spades. BRAVO to the perfect party place! And yes, jokes about the town's infamous name came up several times. Ask Brian.

2. Bocce Ball:
We all know R.J. can throw a ball with superhero velocity, but NOW we know what a bocce ball looks like when it's shattered! Kyle, meanwhile, was the unexpected master of the game.

3. Hackey Sak:
Always my favorite, even better with family.

4. The Chair:
Francoise and Lamar never cease to amaze me. The chair they brought (though no gifts were expected, considering that this was not really a birthday party) left me speechless and thrilled. It's gorgeous and has already found a happy home in my livingroom, not far from its cousins in the dining room. THANK YOU.

5. The Pooch Party within the Party:
Hosts Beau and Gwenyth showed their canine visitors a great time. Neemo, Tucker, Jake and Louie were gracious guests (at least as long as there were no frisbees in sight!). They sniffed, chewed, barked, marked, ran, begged and licked ... then fell in love with Joan who fed them hot dogs and turkey jerkey. Doggie Nirvana.

6. The Food:
R.J. is now officially crowned King of the Taylor/Scache BBQ. Great job! And thank you to everyone for bringing such delicious eats. Everything was outstanding.

7. The Kids:
Kyle, Jack, Hannah, Cooper, Gretchen, Sophie and Lulu. The party simply wouldn't have been the same without the kids! An especially precious moment was when Lulu asked for more chips. I sent her over to Brian for them, and she proceeded to call the chips "Brians" for the rest of the night. "I want more Brians!" Don't we all??

8. Friends:
I've known Kate since kindergarten, Kim since 3rd grade, Susie since college, Francoise since my days in Doylestown, Sacha since just after grad school, Meghan since the Kimmel Center, and Alison, though I've known her some 8 years, have only really gotten to know her as a "true peep" for the past year or so. That's a nearly 40-year span of wonderful friends. I'm unbelievably fortunate, and so very thankful for all of you!

9. The Overnighters:
Sacha, Brian, Alison, Gavin, Neemo and Jake rocked the gazebo/tent, braving the wilds of Amish country -- no small feat for city folk! It made the party last into the next day (including an off-the-charts breakfast at the local diner), and for that I'm eternally grateful.

10. The Hosts:
Dad and Joan, I can't thank you enough for everything. Not only was the setting perfect, but you both made it so much more fun. You are terrific hosts. Your energy, enthusiasm, humor, generosity and warmth touched every facet of the festivities. And you even got a port-a-potty! Kudos, love and hugs.

Well, that about does it! Please post your comments and additions to the list ... and thanks again for coming. It was a great, great day.