Tree City

My husband Tony found a real fresh juice shop right across the street from BSU downtown Boise. Actually next door to Papa Joes in my earlier blog.  Tree City is a great smoothie place full of yummy real fruit, yogurt and all natural ingredients made fresh. I had my first wheat grass shot there last spring, it was at that moment I became a wheat grass fan and find the shots so yummy that even though the body can only use 2 ounces, I crave another double shot...I LOVE the smell of mowed grass so the taste of the wheat grass juice is like stepping out into the earth, right out into the sun light and capturing the freshly mowed grass on your lips! I am transported through taste to another place, a location I don't leave in my mind by the taste of wheat grass. Tree City is a great place to sit and relax in leather chairs or out on the patio. They serve sandwiches and wraps also. It's a very decorative shop of blown glass and mosaic designs. When Tony and I walk in, they know us by name because it just so happens to be on the way up to Tone's office most mornings:-D SO As the weather gets better again, as the grass gets mowed, we will be drinking even more green shots and enjoying a beet apple carrot fresh juice as we see more sunny days of good health!

"Life" a TV series review

In 2007 NBC aired a new drama TV show that only lasted 2 seasons, called LIFE. This was a great new fresh idea for a show, Creatively structure to show each hour drama of a murder not in a gruesome way! Imagine a show that deals with crime that is both interesting and enlightening. The 32 episodes seemed to fly by as I really loved watching this! Mostly because Damian Lewis (Also from Band of Brothers) has a kind face that you would hope to see in a homicide detective. He played a PERFECT Charlie Crews, with his ZEN-like attitude, he could calmly meet Life head on in his job. He was given a second chance after having "Done time" for a crime he never committed. These shows are put together in away where you get to meet the characters through video interviews and their thoughts on the situation with Crews getting out of jail. Even his partner Dani Reese (played by Sarah Shahi), has her doubts if Charlie can do his job right. There are many powerful things about this short drama series (remember only 2 seasons with 32 episodes...sadly) I want to mention the ZEN message of forgiving your enemies, also understanding when to be tough and when to be at peace. That inner heart and soul feeling you get when everything comes together as it should, or you just Feel like you are right where you were meant to be. Those are the parts in this show that I admired the most! For Anyone who can still walk away still being brave and nice after having been hurt or mistreated, makes me smile proudly! I thought of Crews as a hero for his self-improvement and desire to carry the "Fire of good". This show stays connected from episode to episode giving you bits and pieces of the truth, yet I agree that the finale was simply triumphantly perfect! Completely impossible to come back for another season. I think it's good when writers understand this about their shows. The good ending creates a classic, a well thought out plot. Even though I followed every episode I was very happy about how it all came together for closure.

 One day more of you alone
there's everyone but no one to show
that you're more then alive
You're more then alive

Casanova Pizzeria

I am not a big fan of pizza because I grew up on it at all those social events, For pizza was the main choice to feed a group of kids. I thought as I grew older that pizza would disappear from my taste buds all together, THEN I tried the brick oven tasty pizza from Casanova pizzeria. Of course NOW I am hooked! This yummy smokey tasting crust with different toppings are memorable and cozy! I find myself happily sitting in the tiny cafe of Casanova, with sparkling water, pillow bread to dip in olive oil and red wine to share with my hubby. We hardly come home with left overs because that amazing pizza is just that good! Even my brother-in-law had a pizza named after him there because it was our main family choice to meet up. Over the years we have had many birthday dinners there! Everyone agrees it is truly yummy! There is also table just for 2 that I look forward to sharing with Tone especially over my personal favorite choice the Clam, Bacon pizza! With melting mozzarella cheese over the crispy bacon and chewy clams (shown in the picture above)...my mouth waters just talking about it! We sit in this very popular place usually relaxing, or talking about trying to make pizza like this at home. It is that smokey wood taste that brought me back to liking pizza again. Okay now I need to go order one for dinner tonight with all this talking about it:-D

"Saving Grace" a TV series review

So pretty and, oh, so bold
Got a heart full of gold on 
a lonely road,
She said, "I don't even think that God can save me" (save me)

The drama show of "Saving Grace" was actually one of my most favorite TV shows for awhile as I loved all 3 seasons completely! The show was first popular 2007 to 2010 starring Holly Hunter. The woman is so dynamic and real, that you can't help but adore her. Even in her sloppy messy home of her self-destructing ways, she shows both bravery and fear in one capture look that soon the story rolls out the crime fighting plots with little connections, even funny references to God and biblical stories. Although this show is full of dramatic action, sexual situations and well most shocking things life can offer up. I was surprised in the very first episode I felt tears slid down my cheeks as I put my hands up in the air stating "I'm hook! This is my newest loved show!" If I could summon my very own angel who spits tobacco and laughs so warmly then I am in! It was even fun to watch how my husband started out making fun of the show then soon became a faithful follower too. Even some nights after watching a particularly powerful episode we would sit discussing it for awhile. My husband said "Grace is kinda like you, although not dirty, not promiscuous, and not drunk all the time like her but she has your bravery." I chuckled in reply "I was hoping you would say I am like the angel Earl, I want to wear funny T-shirts while traveling around the world in a day!" 
It was true my most favorite of all the characters on this show (Besides Gus, but that's just an automatic given) Was Earl the magically powerful, wisely happy, peaceful leader, sweet listener and loyal friend named Earl. 


(Am I) gainin' ground
(Am I) losin' face
(Have I) lost and found my saving grace
Thankful for the gift my angels gave me

Now I am not going to say any spoilers, it may not be a show for everyone, but I truly enjoyed it. I think the spiritual world is fascinating, it would be comforting to have an angel like Leon Rippy watching out for me....and whose to really know away? Perhaps that is why I liked this drama series so much, like the unknown things about God coming to say "Hello" as a Dog or how we are all connected to each other. I think this TV show did a great job in capturing your attention, even sharing your emotions and Yyyyes...I braid my hair in all those different ways because of Holly Hunter who played a very real struggling woman named Grace.

Table Rock Brew Pub

Everyone needs to have their own place like the popular TV show "Cheers", For at the end of a busy work day you can slid onto a bar stool while ordering  up a frothy cold beer with your friends! 

THIS kind of place for us is called

Table Rock Brew Pub. They have so many great choices of beers, really big yummy salads and great patio seating. I used to crave the brie cheese burger and crispy battered fries. Now I choose to try everything on the menu slowly as we continued to enjoy hanging out at this place. Over the years we would meet up with Tony's father once a week back when he just worked right across the street. It is fun to relax in a place they remember you, and one young man who would serve us loved participating in "Seinfeld" trivia. We would always try to stump the other over famous lines and episodes. I think what I loved the most about these gatherings was just catching up on everyone's week and life. Of laughing to together over refills and a shared nacho platter. Table Rock is actually the name of the small mountain over looking the Treasure valley and Boise. It hold a lighted cross glowing every night out over what Tony would say "This is God's Country, nothing really happens here in way of natural disasters." When I was a child seeing that bright cross made me feel lucky to have noticed it, over the years it's been a place for many prayer circles and beautiful valley pictures captured. The Pub downtown is located across the street from the Historical museum, the park and the river. I have often walked my dog all over that fun place then crashed happily on the patio of Table Rock where my husband had been waiting for me to return. Soon my dog is napping my lap as I chat away over cheese bread bites. The many memories we have gathered and enjoyed makes Table Rock endearing to us, Makes me know that when we come back to visit we will happily look forward to returning to our own "Cheers" like place even though by then no one might know our names:-}

The Flying M

My husband Tony and I spent our first day married hanging out downtown Boise. In this hippy fun coffee shop called The Flying M. Tony got his favorite beverage an orange mocha and I enjoyed my caramel latte. We sat there all morning and well actually ALL day...We ended up drinking refills and eating all kinds of goodies. I shopped happily in the small gift shop locate inside the coffee shop. Our table for two was brightly lit from the summer sunshine. I truly loved those hours of catching up with my husband over the busy day before of our ceremony, we hardly saw each other over the whole last week, even in our wedding we had different places to be mostly. Tony sighed happily "Thank God, that's over! Why do people get married like that if it's such a big job? All that work to create a memory for a life time especially when it's so stressful to setup?" I laughed as I crossed my legs in my floral summer skirt and sun hat. I loved being married even though it was just the very first day, I replied "Your mom was right, it's a party for our friends more then for ourselves. I don't even remember it all as much as I wish I did! I like to re-cap and organize my memories so I don't forget them...BUT wow I am sooooo wiped out! What a long busy day" The calming time in the coffee shop was timeless, with us sitting and laughing while we talking deeply about everything we saw in our lives and in ourselves. Tony shook his head as I told him about all the misunderstandings with my bridesmaids or how I didn't know about all that catty girlie stuff being said behind my back. I was starting to learn not everyone thought about things like I did. I was even more glad the wedding was over because I was simplifying my life, wanting to just relax, to create a peaceful mind and heart. Tony commented "I wonder why everyone says the day they got married was the happiest day of their lives? I can think of happier things to do then get married with such a big crowd  of people around?" I nodded thoughtfully my husband didn't like crowds yet we balanced each other out in the social world. "I think people often say that, because they feel it should be the best day of their lives. It's romantic to say so....weddings are like fairy tale moments we all want to think life is forever happily ever after." Tony smiled then said "So did we buy into a system? an expectation to look good in front of people with a ceremony? We could have saved so much money just eloping." He sighed, I giggled because Tony often wondered what was the hidden reason for things. I couldn't help but reply "Oh now you sound like my sister....I did this wedding for the memories, for the part we have in society to share this new life married with all our family and friends. I also did this for me, with those vibrant colors and candles because I believe we are telling the whole world that the other person is the most important person in our lives and we want to stay committed to each other for life....Maybe it is a part of society's rules or guidelines, maybe it all comes from an organized religion. I just know that I am proud of my marriage statement to those around me and that YOU are my beloved husband forever!" Tony chuckled at my theatrics, he nodded and said "Well that makes sense then, I still think we should have eloped." I laughed again, it was really comfortable to say to someone that my husband was sitting over there, and let everyone know he was that important to me. Tony and I sat discussing what we each thought was important to us about our wedding and what we would have changed. Then Tony looked me straight in the eye as he asked, "Promise me, we WON'T do this again like a 10 year re-cap, renewal of our vows so something like that...okay?" I snorted on my beverage as I let myself truly laugh at his hidden worries, "Are You kidding me?! Who does that?!" Tony shrugged as he leaned back in his comfy chair surrounded by the noise of that coffee shop "I don't know...I am just saying it now so you aren't disappointed, some women do setup a second wedding years later." I shook my head giggling as I thought how crazy/stressful that would be. "Hell no! I meant it when I said "I DO" yesterday, It's for life, I am never doing ALL that again!" Tony laughed now as he rolled his eyes replying "There you go again, for You LOVE stating absolutes." I nodded proudly lifting my chin "Because I know myself." He relaxed as he was realizing we were not repeating wedding ceremonies ever in our future. "Well good then, I just know that I wouldn't want to be displayed in front of all those people again." We held hands as we sat there wondering about our future, we felt like we would never run out of something to talk about as we realized towards the end of the afternoon that we only had 5 buck in our pocket until the next paycheck, then we laughed again at how we could only go up from here. Suddenly inspired I sang one of my favorite songs to Tony "Even though we ain't got money...I'm so in love with ya Honey! and everything will bring a chain of love,
and in the morning when I rise, you bring a tear of joy to my eyes and tell me everything is gonna be alright." right then and there in the Flying M coffee shop. I will always remember how Tony laughed proudly shaking his head thinking only I was this crazy to sing out loud happily and let our marriage begin!

It's a Nice day for a White Wedding

We got married on Saturday afternoon, July 5, 2003 4 years exactly from the day when I asked Tony out to dinner and he drove all the way out to my home on a dying struggling orchard farm. I didn't think that event would alter my life completely, but when I took his hand in mine while we peacefully watched a movie in a crowded theater that same evening. Our hearts stop together at that first touch, for we realized we belonged. Although those 4 years were like a roller coaster ride, full of questions, emotions, anger, sadness and laughter. Full of love and friendship, of understanding compassion, capturing the comedy and the caring joys for our future! We also had my family drama and stress, births and deaths, his parents divorce and new setups. We seemed to be living through a changing world so quickly moving us along until finally I took a deep breath in my soft white wedding dress, and then I stood completely still. I had grown out of my other life, out of my maiden name. It was time I left my childhood behind, all those controlling fears. I moved around the mirror looking like a snow flake, for everyone had gone out into the ceremony of this cute small country church...It was at this moment I calmed my mind only to realize I was completely alone! Then it hit me, "Oh no! I can't breath!"  my mind twirled around the room. Suddenly my corset felt like it was tightening around my chest so I couldn't find any fresh air! I realized just then that there was a reason why Brides kept someone on their arm at all times through out the wedding, to help them not face stage fight alone! "What would my father say if he was standing here with me right now?" I asked myself out of the blue, out of my panic and pause in this busy day. Then I chuckled realizing that He HATED people who Panicked, people who wore their emotions on their sleeves...PEOPLE like ME. He wasn't there to walk beside me by his own choice, or maybe it was mine? Maybe I felt relief to not hear him growl "DRY IT UP!" or maybe he would just roll his eyes and snort as I teared up in my beautiful grown. "I can't breath! I can't go out there in front of all those people!"  I whispered into the mirror of myself. Then I took that moment to quickly picture my father angry at me for showing this kind of emotion. He would have been livid at this moment in my life for suddenly feeling so shy! I sighed again annoyed that I had just thought of my father. HE wasn't going to ruin or control this day for me, since he isn't standing next to me saying "Don't loose control, keep it together, NO daughter of mine will EVER panic, will EVER loose it...DO YOU HEAR ME?!" Those were always his famous wise words. I whispered back into the mirror with a sad smile "I hear Ya Dad."   Then as fast as those thoughts came over me, I lifted my chin proudly while telling myself over and over again "Don't miss someone, who never cared."   I felt brave again with my own smile, with my own honesty of how this day wouldn't end with me embarrassed to be in the spotlight of everyone's attention, So really I never thought of my father or my parents again for the rest of that beautiful day, after that mirror conversation with myself, I was free from them to just live in my own way! I was all alone waiting for my Que to enter the ceremony when my friend John took my shaking hands into his in that church hallway, "Girl, you are visually shaking!" He held on leaning into me just as his boyfriend Mark walked up putting his arm around my shoulders, together they were balancing me and calming me down. I whispered to them "I don't know why...but it all just hit me! Everyone will be LOOKING at me! I can't do this, I mean how can I do this???" They chuckled together giving each other the understanding nods, I thought they were simply the cutest couple. It was nice to have such thoughtful friends, they leaned in together on each side of my head to whisper "Listen to me, Debby darling." Mark was older by several years, he usually kept to himself saying people made him nervous (except me) He thoughtfully said at that moment "YOU are beautiful, you are the sweetest person I have ever met and you have so much to be proud of! You are magical!" I giggled and felt my hands stop shaking, I guess the pep talk was helping. John and I had been good friends through my roommates over last couple of years, he was as theatrical and dramatic as anyone I had ever met, He could always make me laugh! They both knew how to calm me down as I waited to take center stage to my wedding ceremony. John suddenly said with his smirking grin "Where is my kick ass Debby girl? The one who said "This is my wedding, my colors and I will NOT change it for ANYONE!" John's mimicking of me made me start giggling, He continued with his flare "For that girl, Oh no now, she isn't afraid of shit!!" He winked at me then took hold of his boyfriend's hand as I faced the double doors in a second I would be entering, John continued on  "Oh sweet lady!  you are beautiful! You are the queen of this day! JUST like one of those fairies you are always talk about." I chuckled now having to catch a big loud laugh that wanted to escape me, whenever someone remembered the things I said I would be taken by surprise! When John and Mark let go of me at the Que those doors opened I was so ready! I was pumped up with confidence! I was truly happy!!  For on this day I was marrying my very best friend! Tony was waiting on stage in our love seat, so when I sat next to him, he instantly kissed me! Everyone laughed and I knew he felt just like me in having that spotlight directly on us was a bit scary, and unknown. So if he could melt into me with his kisses he was safe again. I carried with me the encouraging words of my friends, of the encouraging fact I was a fairy for the day! Suddenly all things bright and beautiful flooded my life and I never looked back at that dressing room mirror ever again!