Snippets

Hi, friends!  I'm adjusting to life back at work.  The transition has gone fairly well, although - clearly - I'm lagging a bit on blogging, writing back to emails and keeping up with people in general.  I hope that improves because I love, love, love keeping up with my dear friends who are scattered all over the country. 

To get you all up to speed, I thought I'd share some reflections on my experience returning to the professional world:

•  I have a fear of heights.  My commute to work requires that I take the worlds tallest exit ramp.  Seriously.  The "hump" at the top is so steep that when you're approaching the top, you can't see where the road is going and you can totally imagine the road just dropping off.  It's like Shel Silverstein all over again.

• I bought my first pair of Spanx.  It has been pointed out to me recently that I complain about the size of my backside too frequently.  And apparently those who have pointed this out to me think this is an unwarranted (and annoying) trait.  So before anyone jumps on me thinking this bullet point is a butt complaint, let me just say that it's not.  I'm just saying that every woman, no matter how small, has some amount of, ahem, not-so-taut skin.  And certain fabrics, even when they come on size 2 dresses, just don't look so good over these areas.  So I bought Spanx.  And then I had a glass of wine.

• We use Lotus Notes for email at work.  No further comments. 

And, on a food point:

• Tonight's dinner consisted of bagged lettuce topped with Parma, olive oil, lemon juice, and balsamic vinegar and shrimp cocktail.  And half a bag of chocolate chips.  Cooking anything that requires much thought at the end of the work day just isn't going to happen. So when I do cook, I've been making full recipes (for 4 to 8 people) and freezing the extra servings.  This has turned out to be a wonderful, wonderful way to have a hearty meal on a lazy night.  And while last month was apparently my Kale month, this month has been my pasta casseroles month.  These aren't your mama's tuna macaroni casseroles, either.  Here's what I've been making:

 Multi-Grain Pasta with Butternut Squash, Ground Lamb and Kasseri - First of all, I love Mark Bittman, so I had to try this recipe.  Second, it's a delicious and cozy dish.  When I make it, I double the amount of lamb in the dish and I use fresh Parmesan instead of Kasseri.  I've made it with the kasseri (sheep's cheese - which is definitely good - don't get me wrong!), but the Parmesan gives it a smoother, less exotic (more traditional?) taste.  Also, I've made it with sweet potato instead of butternut squash when the grocery store was out of the butternut.  You can barely tell the difference!

Rigatoni with Eggplant and Pine Nut Crunch -  This one is major yum!  It's rich and creamy, but it's made with REAL FOOD, so for those who prefer rich and creamy, it's a fantastic option.  I've only made this one once, but it was a huge hit with hubby.  Next time I make it, I'll be doubling the veggies.  It seemed like a lot of veggies when I read the recipe and chopped all the produce, but the finished product is very pasta heavy. 

I hope you are all living big, laughing with gusto and loving with all you've got!  I'm so thankful you, my sweet, dear friends.

Changes

Next week, I'm headed back to work in the corporate world for the first time in almost a year. 

I've spent the past eleven months getting over a terrible case of mono with complications, looking for a new career opportunity that's right for me, getting married, settling into a new home with my hubby, struggling to feel productive and satisfied sans a job outside the home, spending a lot of time in the kitchen, learning to be efficient around the house, enjoying mid-day exercise and sunshine, indulging in full nights of sleep (and quite a few naps, as well), coming into my own as a stay-at-home wife, and finding peace and contentment in making a home for my new little family.  

I'm faced with mixed emotions as I prepare for the transition out of the quiet little at-home life that I've developed.  I'm really excited to tap back into "professional me," make some money and move forward on my career path.  I'm looking forward to the challenge and the sense of fulfillment that I get from working hard and developing professionally.  I'm spending this week trying to get back into the habit of going to bed - and waking up - early, brainstorming quick and portable meal ideas, trying on my work clothes and planning out outfits, and tying up loose ends of errands and projects that are best done during during weekdays (like visiting the passport office and going to see our tax guy).  I'm staying busy this week because I want to be as ready as possible so I can hit the ground running and knock their socks off at my new company. 

But also?  I'm trying to keep myself distracted because I'm really nervous.  Changes and transitions can be difficult to adjust to.  My daily routine is about to change completely, and I'm trying to prepare myself for both the practical and emotional challenges that the transition is likely to bring.  I'm doing everything I can think of to prepare for the practical challenges, but the emotional ones are more difficult because I'm not really sure how to brace myself for them. 

All I can think of is to just keep reminding myself about the many big decisions I've made and major changes I've been through in my life and how BOLD I was through them.  I've always had a jump-in-head-first-and-don't-look-back attitude in life, and I'm clinging to that.  I'm trying to remember that it's been in the toughest, most chaotic and uncharted times in my life that I've discovered how much strength I have and how capable I am. 

And as I'm thinking about all this, one quotation keep returning to my mind.  It's one that pops in my head pretty much every time life gives me a little mountain to climb:

"A woman is like a tea bag.  You never know how strong she is until she gets into hot water."
- Eleanor Roosevelt

I can plan meals, pick out clothes and finishing up a list of errands; but when it comes to facing changes and challenges with grace and poise, I just have to trust.  I have to trust that the universe will unfold as it will and trust that my inner strength will be there when I need it.