Monday, November 16, 2015

High Time for a Stroll

I didn't know how much I needed a walk in the woods until I was immersed in the crisp, wintry air, peering up at the slits of blue sky through mossy, towering Sitka spruce trees.  Let's just say I was starting to grow roots out of my ass.  And they were attached to the couch.

It's not as easy to motivate for hikes when the temperatures dip below 35 or so.  At least in my case.

But, I managed to peel myself from the cozy confines of my living room and get out with the hubby and pooch to take a walk.  It was a little chilly, but once we got moving it wasn't uncomfortable.

Lake Gertrude

It was exactly what I needed!  A couple of long deep breaths of that brisk, clear air is nothing but invigorating.  My day was just about made when we came upon this magnificence hanging out in Lake Gertrude:


If you look closely, you can see that there's a noticeable amount of blood on his right talon.  I prefer to think that he just finished a tasty snack and didn't wipe his claws, but the reality is that he was probably injured.

We saw him at the beginning of our hike, and when we looped back around about an hour and half or so later, he was still there.  Bald Eagles tend to hang out for a while once they land, but an hour and half is a little out of the ordinary for any bird to stay in one spot.  Hopefully his injury wasn't too debilitating or life-threatening.

It really did make my day to get some pictures of him.  I love that when I zoom in with my camera, it's like I'm sitting on the branch right next to him.  They're so damn regal looking.

Cheety had a good old time rampaging around, too.  I think he likes napping and hiking equally.  Not unlike his owner.


So, I guess my goal for this last Alaskan winter will be to get myself outside and hiking on the weekends more often than I find myself growing roots into the couch.  We all need goals, right?

Ta-ta for now.

His highness at his post on the couch.  I think I see a nap coming on.



Monday, November 9, 2015

The Seven Deadly Sins

I decided the other day that if I had to pick which of the seven deadly sins I'm most guilty of...it wouldn't be a difficult task.  I can narrow it down my top 2 transgressions without much thought.

That's bad, right?

I figure most of us don't have the seven deadly sins committed to memory, ready to whip out of a back pocket, so here's a refresher.  They are:  pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth.

For me, my number one is easy.  Gluttony.  I'm in love with food.  Deeply, unrepentantly in love with all things food.

Now the love of food alone doesn't make me a glutton.  It's the inability to be reasonable about indulgence.  And portion sizes.  I actually have to have the hubby put my plate together or else I'll pile it on like it's the last meal of the apocalypse.

Savory cheese and crackers, or warm, crusty bread dipped into bubbling marinara sauce, or the sublime combination of a vibrant Cabernet paired with a juicy, tender steak filet?  Even a simple, ripe tomato right from the garden, or a sweet, juicy slice of watermelon.  It's all absolutely irresistible. 

Or how about the crispy, golden skin that crusts up on roasted chicken or turkey that just begs to be plucked off and put in my belly?  It whispers to me. A seductive, chocolate-y voice that's almost impossible to resist. 

Slow Braised Pork Ragu.  It's heavenly. Or is it sinful?  Hmm.
I have to reel myself in.  Often.  I guess I do a pretty good job of it considering I'm not 300 lbs.  But that doesn't mean I don't indulge more often than I probably should.

I justify my gluttony by preaching to myself, "all things in moderation."  My version of moderation! 

Which includes cheese.  And bacon.  And wine, of course.  Don't even get me started on the wine.

I always loved the idea of Purgatory from that early 90's movie Defending Your Life with Meryl Streep and Albert Brooks.  The characters could eat anything they wanted, and as much as they wanted, without ever feeling full, being unhealthy, or gaining weight.  Now THAT'S heaven!

Number two on the list of seven deadly sins I'm overwhelmingly guilty of?  Two is easy also.  Sloth.

I mean come on, what trots hand in hand skipping down the street with gluttony better than sloth?  They're meant to be together.  Like peanut butter and jelly.  Or coffee and donuts.  See how I go back to food?

Cheety gets me.
What it comes down to is that if I'm left to my own devices, there's only one place you'll find me.  The couch.  In pajamas with a fuzzy blanket.  For hours.

If there isn't a compelling reason to get up, there I stay.  Sometimes wiling away on the internet.  Sometimes reading.  Sometimes writing.  Sometimes lounging through a movie.

So I guess it's not 100% sloth.  But about 99.

But gluttony?  Definitely 100%.  Did someone say bacon?

Ta-ta for now.