The Wine Fairy Was Here

Imagine opening your door and finding a bottle of merlot and fresh-baked lemon-poppyseed friendship bread (not necessarily meant to be consumed together) on your doorstep. That was how I kicked off my day. A woman in my local yoga class makes her own wine and yesterday said she had a bottle to give me. As I have a friend coming in from out of town this week, I responded that her timing couldn't be better. Alas, our schedules did not synch up and it didn't look like we'd run into each other again for a week or two. 

So what a lovely surprise to find that while I was huffing it out this AM on the treadmill, the wine fairy paid a visit to my front porch, leaving two bottles of merlot and, as mentioned, fresh-baked bread which I am seriously considering passing off as my own effort. (I have no shame.) 

I whine a lot about living out in the boondocks, but it's for reasons like this that I love my cozy little hometown. 

And if I'm a very good girl, perhaps the gourmet cheese and cracker fairy will make a deposit.

Cheers, 

Dena

Need Me? I'll Be In A Meeting

I went on a purge last year where I backed off, backed away, and backed down from a majority of professional and personal commitments. At the time, I had the distinct feeling my life ran me versus the other way around. 

Backing off helped and I feel my time is more my own. Life, however, is creeping back in. This is not necessarily unwelcome. But looking at the ol' calendar I'm realizing I need to be careful or I'll again quickly be overwhelmed. So far, I have the following weekly and monthly commitments:

Monthly

•  Animal Protection Society 
• Animal Protection Society Board
• Rockingham County Arts Council Board
• Western Rockingham Chamber of Commerce
• Radio Show
• Blue Moon Advanced Toastmaster
• Teach New Choices class at Women's Resource Center
• Mastermind Marketing Meeting
• Soon adding 2 separate networking meetings

Weekly

•  Monday - Hill runs
• Tuesday- Trainer
• Thursday - Trail Run
• Saturday - Long Run
• Yoga - 2x
• Allergy shot

Looking at it now, the schedule doesn't seem so bad. And after all, all the weekly commitments are "fun" stuff I do for personal enhancement. But when I add in drive time to each event plus client meetings and "life" appointments (hair cut, vet, occasional coffee or lunch with friends) I feel like I'm grasping at spare moments to do actual work. Plus, the meetings are just the start. Then there's the work to be done as a result of meeting.

Blair and I have decided to start reserving as much of Sundays as possible for our time together. Hate to have to schedule "us" time but I'd rather schedule and have it versus leaving it to chance. 

How's everyone else faring? Finding decent work/life balance or is the scale stacked against you?

The RIGHT Way to Eat Chocolate

Late yesterday afternoon a client called and said his networking group was meeting tomorrow near my end of town and did I want to attend in his place as he would be busy with clients?

As it turned out, my schedule was free so I said yes. This morning I raced home from a trail run, showered, pulled out non-yoga or working-out related clothes and off I went.

BONUS. One of the presenter’s at today’s event was the owner of Loco for Coco, a gourmet chocolate shop in Greensboro. Her presentation included giving everyone a sampler tray of chocolate and teaching us the correct way to eat chocolate. Apparently my method of shoving huge chunks in my mouth and swallowing them almost whole is incorrect. Who knew?

Here’s the correct method:

1. Smell the chocolate. I was AMAZED at the difference smelling the chocolate makes in the taste experience. We tried to identify fruits and spices in the chocolate and just the aroma alone set the taste buds exploding.

2. Break the chocolate. Observe the texture. Was there a sharp snap? Is it a soft chocolate?

3. Place a small piece of the chocolate in your mouth and let it melt there for a moment. Then chew 3-5 times, allowing the remainder to dissolve on the tongue before swallowing.

Oh people—you must try this. It took the chocolate experience to a whole new level. Plus, I felt FULL after only a few small pieces of chocolate. Her 5-minute presentation transformed the way I will forever more eat chocolate.

The samples were wonderful, especially a dark chocolate with ginger and wasabi. Even with my love of chocolate, I would never think to pick up a piece that had either ingredient. OMG. Probably my new favorite food on the planet. She also had a kaluha Belgian truffle that – when eaten slowly, as instructed, just exploded in the mouth. We tasted chocolate, the liquor (non-alcoholic), and chocolate again.

If you’re in the area, I strongly recommend you go by Loco for Coco at 1420-D Westover Terrace (across from Lucky 32). And if you’re not in the area, I suggest you get here, pronto, and eat some chocolate.

And buy some to send to me. =)

Not An April Fool's Joke: Please Help Crazy 8

The Rockingham County Animal Shelter is looking for someone to foster "Crazy 8," a sweet dog with an injured foot (minor- just a laceration). He needs to get out of the shelter for a couple of weeks while he recuperates. Here's his picture and info:

Crazy 8 is a friendly, handsome boy. Both of his parents were registered American Pit Bull Terriers. Crazy 8's family had to surrender him because they are moving to Miami-Dade County, Florida, which has a ban on pit bulls. He is a gentle dog who has been cared for very well. Please save Crazy 8!

Please contact the Rockingham County Animal Shelter if you can help. Thanks!