The Wonderful World of Arugula

So this may sound strange, but I just discovered my love for arugula. This past weekend.

Ryan got some to garnish with, and I've always been familiar with the taste, but have really only had it mixed in with salads. And I kid you not, whenever I've had salads with arugula in it, I've thought to myself, "Wow...what IS that delightful leafy green in my salad?" I never pinpointed the source until now.

I find this so bizarre considering I must have ingested arugula 473 times...atleast! I guess I never cared enough to dissect a mixed green salad to find out what the source was for the yumminess on my palate.

So...since this recent discovery, I've doused every meal with a ton of baby arugula on top. It's almost comical. But, it really enhances food in my opinion. Cilantro too. I'm a cilantro fiend!

The reason for all of this "herb" talk is I'm on Day 10 of my two week (Phase 1) Fat Flush Plan and I'll take any seasonings or herbs I can get! It's been a journey for sure, but I'm really glad I've been doing it. Nice to cleanse the system and it's been a huge wake up call to how poorly I had been eating. Lots of processed crap! No more. I'm all about fresh foods and really limiting the salt and sugar I put into my body.

Amazing Lemur Rescue!

This story is incredible!! So these lemur parents were playing with their baby in Little Rock Zoo, and then the baby fell in the water and couldn't swim! So two of the zoo keepers jump in the water, and one of them gives the lemur baby mouth-to-mouth and resucitates the little guy. There's video too.

Makes me think of that one scene in "Something About Mary" when Matt Dillon gives CPR to the dog. Hehe.

Tantalizing "Tide Table"

Does a memory ever pop into your mind from a completely ambiguous train of thought? This happens to me all the time. The human brain is truly fascinating in that way.

Anyway, I saw something animation related, and it triggered this memory of my most favorite artistic animated piece that resides in SFMOMA. It's by the South African artist named William Kentridge and the film is called "Tide Table." When I lived up in SF, I would always visit this exhibit, and watch the 8 minute piece over and over again. I'm completely captivated by the beauty and rawness. It's haunting and poetic. And the music that accompanies the film takes my breath away. I'm so glad the memory of this piece popped into my head today!!

Here are a couple links to it...
1) A two minute clip of the film
2) A live musical performance accompanying the piece
3)Artist's discussion of the film

Here's some info about the artist...
South African artist William Kentridge is widely regarded as one of the world's most influential artists making work today.

He was born in Johannesburg in 1955 where he continues to live and work. An exploration of the human reality of South Africa's political situation has been at the core of much of his practice and his work presents an arresting and forceful commentary on the contemporary cultural and socio-political issues in South Africa. Inspired by music, opera, literature, and banal or troubling everyday events, the artist creates highly personal and often haunting works in a variety of media.

Gorgeous Gardens

So we went to the Huntington Library out in San Marino on Monday for my birfday and it was glorious! Beautiful sunny day outside and gorgeous weather. We liked both the Desert and Japanese gardens the best. It really motivates me to have my own garden one day. It's amazing how greenery and nature and plants can make me feel so happy and refreshed!

Then we finished off the day by going to the Spaghetti Factory which I hadn't been to in ages. The Mizithra Cheese spaghetti dish is RIDICULOUS!!! So good. I could totally eat that every night for dinner. Granted, I'd probably be 400+ pounds in no time, but it'd totally be worth it ;)