#3 Women, Food, and God by Geneen Roth

Technically I listened to Women, Food, and God by Geneen Roth as an audio book. But as I've often said, sometimes listening to the author read their own words can intensify the literary experience. This book isn't about food or even women and food, it's about "God" guiding you to your purpose. For me the entire book is summed up in two sentences: 

"Either you want to wake up or you want to go to sleep. You with want to live or you want to die." - Geneen Roth Women, Food, and God

An important book for anyone who finds themselves lost in a vice rather than found in their purpose. I'm getting there...

"The relentless attempts to be thin take you further and further away from what could actually end your suffering: getting back in touch with who you really are. Your true nature. Your essence." - Geneen Roth, Women, Food, and God

#27 Meet with an Adoption Lawyer and #14 Thursday Evening Farmer's Market in Lincoln Square

Last Thursday I took part of a personal day and Zach took a half a day to go to our appointment with the adoption lawyer. Zach even wrote out a list of questions. Unfortunately, when we got there the lawyer said to us, "I should have called you before you came in. I only do step children adoptions." 

Such a let down after it was so scary to take this first step in the first place. Knowing me, I am surprised I'm not taking this as a sign that we should rethink this whole thing. No, it's just a set back. Who knows, she gave us contact information for another lawyer and maybe we needed to take this misstep to get turned in the right direction. 

Anyway, we had a whole evening planned with going to the farmer's market and then out to dinner to talk about all the information we learned from the lawyer. We didn't want the bad meeting to ruin our evening, so we went to the farmer's market anyway and I was able to check two things off my 32 Before 32 List in one day.

All we bought at the farmer's market was a tiiiny pumpkin and a very fresh looking green pepper. 

Then we walked to Wild Goose and enjoyed $3.5o appetizers. We didn't talk about anything special, but it was still an enjoyable night out. 

"Some changes look negative on the surface but you will soon realize that space is being created in your life for something new to emerge." - Eckhart Tolle 

32 Before 32

I've already lost three months, but I know I can do it:

Writing

1. Join a writer’s group

Books to Read

2. Finding Your Way in a Wild New World by Martha Beck
3. Women, Food, and God by Geneen Roth
4. Bright Side Up: 100 Ways to Be Happier Right Now by Amy Spencer

Things to Do

5. Arlington Park Race Track
6. The Bunny Hutch in Lincolnwood
7. City Target
8. Million Dollar Quartet
9. The Museum of Broadcast Communications (to see Oprah’s door)
10. The Music Box Theater
11. Ravinia
12. See the Rookery building
13. Take a Yoga Intensive class at Galter Life Center
14. Thursday Evening Farmer’s Market in LIncoln Square
15. Irish Jam Session at the Grafton
16. Knitting Class at Loopy Yarns

Food

17. The roof deck at Gene’s Sausage Shop (interesting that a vegetarian would be so drawn to this place)
18. The Chicago Diner (more appropriate for a veggie)
19. Heartland Cafe
20. The Art of Pizza
21. Native Foods Cafe
22. Choo Choo Restaurant in Des Plaines
23. Heroes Sandwiches
24. La Fournette
25. Margie’s Candies
26. Eat Garrett’s Popcorn (apparently this is a thing in Chicago)

To Do List

27. Meet with an adoption lawyer
28. Change my name on my passport (I have to do this soon because we’re planning to go to Ireland next summer)
29. Get my wisdom teeth pulled (If I don’t put this on the list I’ll never do it…never I tell you)

Other

30. Buy a pair of Tom’s shoes
31. Memorize a poem
32. Plant an indoor herb garden

"Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be." - Grandma Moses

#21 Eat at Benihana

Being that I hadn’t written in so long I was very excited to write about Zach and my “Nearcation” to Schaumburg that took place on my spring break. I took a ton of pictures, one with the improv group that I promised would be up on my blog. Well, my spring break was two and a half months ago now and I never got around to blogging about it and now it would just be silly. So sorry improv group, but you were awesome.

Anyway, I still have to write about part of it, because on this Nearcation I crossed something off my life list. “#21 Eat at a Benihana-type restaurant.” And it wasn’t just a “Benihana-type restaurant,” it was actually a Benihana. Which I’ve since learned is called a hibachi…and I’m an idiot, oh well. So I’m officially blogging it now. Here is a picture.

“Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity.” - Voltaire