tomatoes that taste like tomatoes

Ah Farmer's Markets. I know what you are thinking--artisan cheese, adorable Japanese baby eggplant and 17 varieties of field mushrooms. That's what I think of! Not this time.Today, we decided to wander down to the Pomona farmer's market today and found that it focuses soundly on the basics. Hand picked no-pesticide tomatoes that actually taste like tomatoes. (A rarity). Crunchy green onions and the greenest green beans I've since since my days on the farm. It was a nice way to spend my Saturday morning because it reminded me that there are still people in the world who care about real delicous vegetables grown in (gasp) dirt! Now don't call me a hypocrite when I blog about the amazing farmer's market and epicurean delights at the Ferry Building in San Francisco next month. Because sometimes a girl needs Japanese baby eggplant, caviar, handcrafted chocolates, tiny cakes and cookies and a steaming cup of French Press coffee with heavy cream. Can you blame me?

I thought I'd experiment and see what the shadows were up to today.

hidden in plain sight...
Today I caught the late afternoon sun shining through the glass door of my office surprising me with this stunning and wistful display of shadows.



When I went back a few minutes later, it was gone.

Whales in my dreams

For years I have had recurring dreams about going to the shore and looking longingly at the water...and waiting...then, a whale would rise to the surface and leap into the air...and I would be filled with euphoria. I recently found a book about whales at a thrift store that I picked up for my kids. Here is my favorite page. I wish I had written it.

...whales do not know
as they rise up for a breath of air,
that someone is standing on the shore
and his (her) heart is filling up.
Filling up and ready to burst.
Whales do not know how they change people,
how they make them better,
how they make them kind.
Like angels appearing in the sky,
whales are proof of God.

Unexpected gift

An exhibit I stumbled upon at the New York City Public Library. This mythical artist colony (founded in 1900 and nestled in upstate NY) has hosted the likes of Langston Hughes, Truman Capote and Sylvia Plath before anyone knew who they were. One reporter said, "...One sonnet would justify the whole experience." I felt I had wandered into another world, one I wish I had belonged to.

Being inspired

TED has opened up my world. What is TED? Jaw-droppingly good lectures by the world's most accomplished people in Technology Entertainment and Design. It's too expensive to go to the yearly conference but luckily we can now view it all on http://www.ted.com/.

I am awed by human capability for invention and innovation. This video is one of the most ingenious things I've ever seen. Hans Rosling shows how statistics can be translated into compelling images.

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/hans_rosling_shows_the_best_stats_you_ve_ever_seen.html

This video shows how eventually, we'll need to say goodbye to our beloved keyboard and mouse. http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/jeff_han_demos_his_breakthrough_touchscreen.html

I am intrigued. I want to be a part of what I find on TED. Not sure how yet, but it will come.