Penguins, Prohibition & Pecan Pie

Ha. Wow. They're out of "Reality Czech" beer. And here I thought I was the only one being served a reality check; apparently they're tapped out! Ok, "Prohibition" it is.

It was a slow day. I laid in bed until 12:30. I got a lot of work done (side note: "work" to me these days is finding work, or soul searching, depending on my location and mood), pulled myself out of bed, planted my feet on the floor, and decided to start my day. What's on the agenda for unemployed day #3? The California Academy of Science, followed by linner / dunch at my beloved Park Chow.

I'm at a patio table, right behind the black wrought iron railing, emanating a European cafe. If it weren't for all the hippies walking by I could probably stare out into space long enough to believe I was in Paris.
Ah. My artichoke arrived.
...that was delicious. I could eat artichokes every day of my life.

The museum was neat. A few times I heard myself gasp an "oh wow!" aloud while meandering through the aquarium and the rain forest. The living roof was an awesome idea, the architect is indeed an artist. But sadly, the best part about the museum today was the gift shop; er, what I found in the gift shop. I browsed the pencils, bookmarks, magnets, postcards, windup toys, t shirts, meteorite pieces (yup), useless crap...then there it was. A book in the children's section (which in my opinion should have been on a shelf for all ages) titled Flipping Brilliant. Because I am human I do indeed judge a book by its cover, and boy was that a cool font in some pretty blue shiny writing! I pull the book to find a photo of a fat and happy penguin beside the subtitle "A Penguin's Guide to a Happy Life". Mm hmm, I hate this crap. But then I realized, I'm not terribly happy right now, I've already read Gandhi and His Holiness the Dali Lama, why not try penguin wisdom? ...and I'm glad I did.

There's a lot to learn from these cute little guys! Seriously they're one of nature's most adorable and beloved, but they are also some of nature's strongest adapters and most amazing survivors in places most things with a pulse find completely unlivable. Anyway, each page in the book is a different cliche also known as a "life lesson", and a paragraph or two explaining how it not only pertains to penguins but to humans. And you know? These are some gracefully positive creatures! The introduction mentions, "A penguin's approach to life is intuitive, practical, and cooperative. It also seems, at times, undeniably joyful". So I read on, looked at the slightly comical photos, smiled the whole way through. When I was done, I closed the book, ran my fingers across the back of it, then was suddenly once again aware of my surroundings (I'm in quite a fog these days so it's no wonder I'm frequently lost in my own thoughts) and I got a little angry. What the eff? I don't need advice from penguins, I know I don't want this book, I'll just feel silly for buying it once things are ok again. ...$10.81 poorer and one penguin book richer, I left the museum.

[some of my favorite passages: It's what you do when no one's watching that counts, A day at the beach can cure a vast array of ailments, Guano happens, Uphills don't last forever.]

Nyree may come and meet me*, so maybe I'll wait to see if she wants to share the famous cant-go-to-Park Chow-and-not-order-it pecan pie. I had a brief daydream of our first encounter since my layoff (and shitstorm/Amandageddon):
Nyree: How are you?
Me: ...not good.
Then I realized while that may be true, I'm not completely satisfied with that answer. I used to give the standard "good" as my response regardless of who was asking and of what was actually going on in my life, because who honestly wants to hear something other than "good", er, the truth? Most likely next to no one outside of your doctor or a priest. And I just don't feel right saying "not good" because a part of me is good in that I realize this phase/situation/time is a chance for rebirth, an opportunity to change for the better, a step toward becoming what/who I want to be but may not have otherwise had the courage to pursue. So there I go again seeking that silver lining in a pretty @$#%&*! situation. Plus, to go with "not good" and not recognize that the universe is balanced and that every negative has a positive, just seems weak to me; always has (I come from a looong line of inherently strong and stubborn women...thanks mom, and mom's mom, and mom's mom's mom...). What is this 'next step'? Don't know yet, but I think I just found my first piece of driftwood for that raft.

So, maybe its rather fitting then that "Reality Czech" was all out, seeing as I've already had one. "Prohibition": the general idea of forbidding an act many find inapt (perhaps like forbidding to succumb to my sour, citrus fate?), is far more appropriate.

...now, bring me that pecan pie...

*Nyree got stuck at work, so yes, I ate the whole piece of pie myself.