What new poet, or new-to-you poet, did you discover?

I originally titled this chapter, 'Get out the House!" I added an "of" in print to make it correct, but somehow it rings more true and more fun without that preposition. So, get out the house!! (and that's just what I did). It was rainy, but with the encouragement of a friend, I ventured out to Petaluma. I ate yummy dindin at Central Market, skipped over to Speakeasy, and walked the streets slowly, which were particularly beautiful after the rain ceased. Oh, and a nightcap at Mario & John's. I love Petaluma. It still has that great old farm town energy. Great people. Great vibe.

Mural on East Washington St. Petaluma, CA

Years ago I learned from a Korean chef and friend that to best integrate wasabi into soy sauce you put the wasabi first in the small bowl and then add a VERY small amount of soy sauce.  You create a paste and then add more soy sauce once the wasabi is fully blended. So, for teatime today I tried a similar approach, using a muddler (instead of a whisk) to break up the matcha. Thereafter, I slowly added warm water to increase volume... it worked perfectly - no matcha chunks to be found!   

The irony was profound. I had an hour to spare in San Francisco so I let the street arrows, and spray paint, and signs lead the way. Which was at once haphazard and divine. What was the road least traveled that you traversed...?

While today doesn't necessarily have to be about literal pickles, I felt compelled to pickle nonetheless. And with no oil, sugar, or salt! Very captivated these days by sos-free food, as I see people's lives change so dramatically from cutting these things out of there diet. So, discovered a pickle need only vinegar and some spices... Excited about the simplicity of this new way of making pickles!! This was yellow onion, purple brussels sprouts, cardamom, and black pepper corns... and of course, apple cider vinegar!  

I was a dancer most of my youth and young adult life. An injury shifted my focus and I decided to pursue other avenues. The irony is that no matter how much I think I've left dance, it continues to find me again and again.

Today, about to leave the house - earbuds in and music sounding - I began to get my groove on. Felt good. Different. Intuitive. Got me thinking about a movement practice my dance teachers, Jim & T. were telling me about last year when I taught a reflexology class to the dancers at Mount Holyoke. Can't recall the name of the technique now, but I remember it was all about following and listening to the inner body. As I moved and grooved this morning this came to mind and I felt myself being led more than leading. Sort of like a contact improvisation with my inner body - very imperfect, very fun, very new! 

​What do you do today?

Well, hello there purple brussels... just when I thought I may have tried every veggie - impossible!

These were lightly sautéed with onions and garlic, fig balsamic, a squeeze of fresh grapefruit, and minced lemon peel.

It's not just the art, it's the reminder to get out. LOVED wandering about and seeing the art that is always beckoning to be seen.

Ah, if only I had taken my own advice!! Today I had the day off and well, I did my taxes. As fun as that was, it meant I missed doing Day 7 of Something New.

So, I plan to venture into Santa Rosa tomorrow morning to see street art (Day 7). And then Day 8 in the afternoon... cuz, I already bought the purple brussels. ;)  Doube-trouble!

Know this book is meant to be easeful... there are no rules, no deadlines, no timelines... Follow your heart.