Blogs

Today is a huge day for Seattle's paper and plastic bag ban. I wrote an article on the ban a year ago for Seattle Business Monthly and what I learned made me a fanatic. Here are a few things every Seattleite should know:

-The fee shouldn't hurt the elderly or low-income as the city plans to set aside $1 million to put reusable bags in the hands of consumers who need them.
- Approve the bag ban and we could save the City $503,000 in street cleaning costs annually.

We’ve moved back to the reformer, though likely not forever. I suppose this is what Pilates is about in part: variety and repetition. It’s not enough to simply learn strength and control through constant repetition of the same exercise. The routine must be varied so that my muscles learn to assume a position of power and strength no matter what situation they are in. And so, during my most recent session at Atlas Pilates, I was back at the reformer again. Many of the same exercises as before—the elephant, tendon stretch and more—with a few new ones added in.

I think we’ve hit the sweet spot. It’s just about three weeks in and already I’m tighter, more toned. And while I thought this was just happening in my stomach, I’m wrong. Others can see my shape changing in my hips and back and legs, too.

Not bad for a few weeks of work. Pretty impressive, really.

No handstands yet, but I am making progress.

Is it possible I feel stronger already? Realistic, perhaps that’s what I really mean, because yes, after just my second private session at Atlas Pilates I leave feeling stronger, more engaged.

I’ll judge my growth in handstands.

I’m on a mission this summer to get stronger. I’m ISO a powerful core. I’m on the hunt for a strong lower back. I’m in search of the power it takes to be able to do a handstand with ease again.

We rang in the Year of the Ox at Sea Garden in the International District last night. My cousins and I dined family style, marrying an interesting range of dietary requirements and tastes. For me, little is off limits. C doesn't eat shrimp; S doesn't eat beef or pork.
We ended up with broccoli pork, the salt and pepper shrimp---cooked shells on---and the duck and taro hot pot. Some things for everyone, and everything for me.
The pork and Chinese broccoli was fine; the duck and taro was good, but not exceptional. It wasn't as succulent as I expected.

It's hard to admit, but for the first time ever, returning to Seattle was difficult. Just the prospect of it was hard. For the first time ever I actually felt I was leaving something really important behind. This time it was primarily my nephews and my students---or the chance to teach those students. I loved exploring world literature with the kids. I loved watching amazing moments open up in their own writing. Teaching for me is generative.

I'm standing in the kitchen, peeling skins off par-boiled cipollini when it hits me: I'm eager for fall. Maybe it's the smell of garlic and rosemary filling the room, maybe it's the rain tamping down the August sky outside my window, whatever it is, I'm left with that longing for fall. For brightly-colored leaves, for small, shapely gourds, for the weather banging at the sills.

It's a dangerous thing when editors start tweaking the facts and details of your story. Sometimes this happens and we writers know about it; most often it happens after we've turned in our final edits.

While the majority of magazines I write for are conscientious, there are some out there that aren't, and I'm suffering under one such magazine right now.