linus – Harmonious Belly

And a lot has happened since I’ve been away.

First, we had this crazy snow storm – “Snowtober” they called it – the weekend before Halloween. It was a record-setter. We got about an inch of snow out on the deck and backyard. As I write this, it’s in the mid-60s. Crazy.

Sadly, though, there are still hundreds of people in Connecticut without power. Can you believe it?!? I think it’s ridiculous, and I know investigations have begun to figure out what is the deal up there.

And it was Halloween! I am not a big Halloween person in general, though we did watch the Village parade on television that night.

The following night I took a yoga class at Heart and Soul of Yoga, here in Astoria. It was taught by Vanessa Francis, and had a really positive effect on me. I’ve been back for an additional class and I’ll likely attend classes there on a regular basis as part of mygeneral wellness program. If you’re in Astoria or NYC, this yoga studio is worth checking out.

After yoga I headed to a local wine bar in the neighborhood, and my friend Kate and I shared a delicious chicken liver paté at Winegasm. It was served with toasted bread and pickled fennel, which turned out to be an fantastic combination. The paté was really yummy and super smooth. We also had a couple of cheeses. The food, company, and conversation made for an excellent close to the evening.

Continue reading “Back in the Saddle Again”

Well, life is full of ups and downs, and boy has that been the case in the past week – hence the light posting. Thought you might like to know what’s been going on.

Life Changes

1. Linus. Last Thursday, this little kitten appeared on the front steps of my apartment building as if out of nowhere. I couldn’t bear to leave him outside to fend for himself – he was obviously someone’s pet. I worked diligently to find his humans – posted flyers, communicated via my extensive social networks, contacted Animal Control – and no one came forth.

In the end, we chose to adopt him and name him Linus (Great Pumpkin/Peanuts reference appropriate for this time of year – thanks to my cousin for the suggestion!). He has a clean bill of health, for which I’m grateful. He’s very friendly and full of kitten energy. Marina, my long time kitty girl, is getting used to him, but is still a bit growly. Hopefully peace will come between them sooner than later.

2. Marina. This is my “senior kitty” at 15 years. She’s been with me through thick and thin. She’s dealing with some health issues, and we are hoping and praying for a positive outcome. That said, she is looking so good these days! Beautiful soft coat, bright eyes, energy. We love her so much.

Harmonious Belly (and Meg) in the News

1. Audiofiles: DIY in NYC. Last month I met with a lovely woman, Michelle Bangert, a CUNY grad student, and we chatted about canning, food swaps, and gardening in NYC. She recorded all our exchanges and a small part of that made it into an episode of Audiofiles, broadcast on WBAI earlier this month. The segment on DIY starts at 25:00 and lasts approximately 4 minutes. You can hear me around 27:00.

Continue reading “What’s Up at Harmonious Belly”