Foodie Underground: Are You Abnormal?
For Thanksgiving I found myself staying in a yurt near Jackson Hole, Wyoming. There was a small propane stove and no running water, but Thanksgiving is Thanksgiving and so we made a concerted effort to eat well.
The stuffing used locally baked pumpkin bread, the sweet potatoes were organic and made without a Cuisinart in sight, and I hand-chopped a cranberry relish. After not finding anything but absurdly cheap, huge frozen birds that surely came from the mass farms of nightmares, we accepted the fact that we would be without the Thanksgiving staple. Fine in our books, as no one was interested in eating “a depressed, fake bird,” as one friend put it. Fortunately, an organic, free-range, local bird was scored at the last minute.
Sitting in our woodstove-outfitted yurt filling ourselves with the bounty of a day of cooking felt perfectly normal. We were, after all, celebrating the most traditional of American holidays.
But apparently the scene was far from normal.
Read the rest here.
Thankful For…
Strong, supportive friends and family
Wood stoves
Community: real and virtual
Quiet and calm
Down jacket
Projects that keep me inspired
Blue sky on snow
Nature
The red wine, pumpkin pie, and sage stuffing that are all going to be consumed tomorrow…
Yurt Life
This week’s office looks a little something like this…
Plenty of good stuff going on right now. Em and I are officially on board at BETA, finalizing 2011 contracts at Under Solen, getting to work with cool groups like 5 Gyres and iLCP, and as usual, lots of coffee.
All in all lots of things to be thankful for this week.
Do Some Good, Build a Village in India, Score Some Gear
If there’s one reason that I believe in travel it’s because it opens up our eyes, not only to the world around us, but to our own communities as well. Traveling gives us perspective, and it heightens our awareness and sensitivity to a variety of issues. We live in a global village, and every step we can take towards making that village a better place — both at home and abroad — is a good one.
Passports With Purpose is built on that idea — that “travel can change the world.” For the last two years, its founders and a whole lot of travel bloggers have put together their efforts to raise money for a good cause. Last year the initiative raised over $30,000 and built a school in rural Cambodia. This year they’re raising money for LAFTI, an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of the Dalit (untouchable) population in India. Raising $50,000 will allow LAFTI to build an entire village of homes.
And of course, PWP wouldn’t be PWP without the opportunity for prizes (because sometimes everyone needs some inspiration to give).
Do What You Love and the Rest Comes
“That cheesy expression that you hear… Do what you love and the rest comes. It’s true. It really works like that.”
Big ups to my good friend Allie for making this film and reminding me on a daily basis that doing what you love really is the way to go in life.
Friday Photo: Mexican Bike
Walk five minutes in the opposite direction of tequila tastings and persistent questioning, “Taxi? Mexican boyfriend?” and you’re immediately swept into everyday life of this city. The streets are narrow, the colors are faded by the sun and doors stay open as if welcoming you in to the heart of the families that call this place home. As you walk, you smile at everyone you cross. They return the gesture, an emanating warmth that you don’t get at home, particularly not in the dreary weather of late fall.
The lone bicycle stands propped against the wall. A basic addition to a colorful street. Its owner is no where to be found, but it’s not locked. Just sitting, waiting to be taken out for a spin.
Ongoing Thoughts
The thoughts that cross my mind towards the end of the week:
I need to create more.
I need to explore.
I need to write more.
I need to plan adventures.
I need to learn how to say no.
I need to remember when to say yes.
I need to be scared.
I need to just be.
New Project: Inspiration Mittemellan
I have this thing about being “in between.” In between two cultures, two languages, two countries… it’s the topic of many conversations. During a recent visit to Portland, my best friend in Sweden (who also has the whole Swedish/American thing going for her) and I were having this discussion, and after much talk about the things from both places that inspire us, we decided to embark on a new project: Inspiration Mittemellan.
The focus will be on everyday inspiration from America and Sweden, including (among other things) food, design and nature. It’s still in the building process, but go check it out!
Obama Rally: Portland 2010
Everyone likes a blurry picture of the President, right? That’s what I have to assume after the amount of cameras hoisted in the air last night at the John Kitzhaber and Barack Obama rally. Long lines, tight security and thousands of strangers encroaching on your personal space… totally worth it.
It’s good to get a reminder that your individual voice and work does count. Now go out and do something with it.
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