NaBloPoMo | The Laine List

If You Could Live Anywhere…

November 3, 2012 by Elaine Griffin 8 Comments

Yesterday’s NaBloPoMo prompt was “If you could live anywhere, where would it be?”

This is something I have given a lot of thought to lately. Honestly, I’m very unhappy where I am. I try to make the most of my circumstances and find something to be grateful for every day. But our house needs work, and we have no money to do it. It’s too small for us. There is no closet space. My office is the dining room table. These things are manageable, but when you are in the middle of it all day, every day, it gets old. Depressing. Overwhelming.
And while I do have family that lives close – in-laws, aunts and uncles, cousins and nieces, my own parents and sisters live a two day drive away. And I miss them. Terribly. Every day that my children learn or do something new, or every time people who live close say they don’t see us enough is a heart wrenching reminder that my family gets to see us twice a year at best.

A couple of years ago we took a vacation to central Virginia. I loved it! I used to live in North Carolina and I hated it. Too many pine trees, and not enough fall color. But the mountains of Virginia are amazing, and it is relatively close to the beach. I have always wanted to live at the beach.

More importantly it is a one day drive to Upstate NY, and a one day drive to Georgia. A good happy medium, I think, with the opportunity to see both of our families more often. And the opportunity for more happiness and less heartbreak.

Autumn leaf color (Photo credit: INABA Tomoaki)

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

Filed Under: Family, NaBloPoMo Tagged With: depression, happiness, heartbreak, life, NaBloPoMo

NaBloPoMo: Let’s Do This

November 1, 2012 by Elaine Griffin 2 Comments

BlogHer NaBloPoMo badge Do you guys remember when I participated in NaBloPoMo last year? For those who don’t and have no idea what I’m talking about, go visit the NaBloPoMo site on BlogHer. In short, NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) is a challenge to write. One post a day for the month; it helps get the creative juices flowing, and it’s a darn good way to build your community of blogging contacts (friends) because not only are you encouraged to write, but you are encouraged to read other NaBloPoMo posts.

Last year when I participated, I had just started blogging, and was just starting to get comfortable and cozy at BlogHer It was a crazy hard month, and I thought I might go insane. But I lived. I wrote. I felt good about it. And, I met some of my best blogging friends. I heart them.

Until today, I was really undecided about participating this year. Things are crazy. But aren’t they always? Plus, this year, I know what to expect. I know that not every post has to be EPIC. I could post an Instagram picture and write a couple of sentences. I could just write a couple of sentences. It’s all good.

So, I’m doing it. And, I’m also going to NaBloPoMo over on Elaine Griffin Designs. I need the creative jump start. I hope you will join me and enjoy my insanity!

Filed Under: BlogHer, NaBloPoMo Tagged With: BlogHer, NaBloPoMo

Guest Post at Rough and Rede

August 23, 2012 by Elaine Griffin Leave a Comment

I was very privileged to be asked to guest post again this week for my friend George at Rough and Rede. I “met” George last November during NaBloPoMo, which was hosted by BlogHer. How very brave of George to imerse himself in a sea of powerful women bloggers! We have been corresponding since last November and I was very pleased when he asked me to take part in his “Voices of August 2.0″ series. So please, go read my post, Evolution of Self and also be sure to check out George and the other guest bloggers

Filed Under: Balance, Career, Family, Guest blogs Tagged With: BlogHer, guest posting, NaBloPoMo, Rough and Rede

Letdown.

December 5, 2011 by Elaine Griffin 6 Comments

You know that feeling you get any post-huge holiday, where you have planned and plotted, prepared and executed. And suddenly what you’ve been eating-breathing-sleeping for days/weeks/months is over. You just walk around your house aimlessly, not knowing what to do. And…it feels really damn empty.

That is how I feel post NaBloPoMo. Suddenly, I have writers block. And I’m tired. And I have absolutely no thoughts. NO THOUGHTS, PEOPLE!

After a month of marathon writing, which I so totally enjoyed, I have spent the last several days not even thinking about writing. It’s like, if I don’t have a goal, then what is the point. Because come on, folks, there was no WAY I was missing a day. That’s just not how I roll. I always meet or exceed my goals! Okay, not always, but you see where I’m coming from. And I love blogging, right? So why the let down because I am sans a goal? That’s just…dumb.

I’m almost wishing that I had NaBloPoMo’d this month. But I thought I needed a little break from the pressure. And I had a shit-tastic Thanksgiving weekend and then week after. And honestly with Christmas coming and having all sorts of commitments, it is for the best that I did not participate. Right?

So today I’m writing this little ditty because it came to me, and you know as writers, when something comes to us, we have to write it down, lest it be gone for-ev’s. But tomorrow I’m picking myself up and I am going to have some writing ideas. I mean, I have some, but I’m not in love with them right now.

If you have ideas on what you think I should write about, I would love to hear them. Come on people, help inspire me!!

Filed Under: Balance, Epic Fails, I Rock, Uncategorized Tagged With: letdown, NaBloPoMo, writers block

My last meal, or, possibly, this year’s Christmas dinner

November 2, 2011 by Elaine Griffin 1 Comment

My childhood hero! Photo courtesy of http://www.dirtcandynyc.com

I love great food. And I love to cook great food. It’s so much more satisfying than getting great food out. I grew up watching Julia Child in my grandmother’s living room. I have seen her kitchen actually – twice! I have spent countless hours both preparing and talking about food with my mother and my grandmother. I have poured over cookbooks, cooking magazines, and online recipes. I have watched thousands of hours of Food Network shows. My husband says that is the TV’s default channel. Whenever he comes into the room and the TV is on, it’s on Food Network. I plan an entire two-week Christmas menu months in advance.

I decided recently that if we won the lottery I would not hire a private chef, but I would purchase every gadget and every ingredient I ever wanted. I would have a ginormous garden and I would spend all my time gardening and cooking. This is what would make me most relaxed and at ease.

So yeah, I love food, but I have no idea what I would want to eat if it was my last meal. Does anyone really know what they would eat? It must depend on the day and your overall mood and level of hungry. I’m going to plan what I want today, and maybe it will stick with me and that will be my final plan. Or maybe we’ll just have this for Christmas dinner!

this is the finger lakes region of new york state

The beautiful Finger Lakes region! Photo courtesy of http://www.cedaradirondack.com

We are very lucky to live in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of New York State where we can get fresh local produce, meat, cheese, wine, and pretty much everything else you would want, year-round. Since this is my last meal I’m going for a full seven-course menu with wine pairings, and I’m going to shout out to my favorite wineries.

Appetizer: Tuna tartare, paired with Heron Hill Winery Chardonnay

Soup: Tomato bisque, paired with Glenora Winery Sangiovese

Salad: Spring greens with figs, blue cheese, and champagne vinaigrette, paired with Lamoreaux Landing Semi-Dry Riesling

Entrée: Pink and green peppercorn crusted prime rib with au jus, garlic mashed potatoes, and sautéed shaved brussels sprouts with pancetta, paired with Americana Vineyards Baco Noir

Cheese: Fruit tart with goat and blue cheeses, paired with Sheldrake Point Riesling Ice Wine

Desert: My mom’s chocolate sugar cookies with whipped cream for dipping, paired with Fox Run Vineyards Ruby Port

Digestif: McKenzie Bourbon Whiskey from Finger Lakes Distilling

And of course, I would prepare all of this myself, except the cookies. But I won’t do the cleaning up!

What would you want to eat for your last meal?