Migraines

I'd just like to post a small rant about Migraines and how much they, well, suck. After running some early morning errands, I returned home round 8:30 AM ready to make some coffee in the Chemex and eat some Cocoa Krispies. Just as I stepped over the threshold, I noticed the all-too-familiar visual cues that a headache was coming on. I retired to the couch, put a head wrap on and prepared for an extended period of non-movement. While the headaches themselves are brutal, the real nuisance is the nausea that coincides. If I remain real still, I can combat the need to throw up. However, when I mean still, I am talking no adjusting to get comfortable, no turning over, absolutely no getting up to get water and no flat laying down.

Today was unusually awful. Perhaps it was a mix of heat and stress (house still in shambles after flood) and a glass of Pinot Noir on Friday...who knows. All that I do know is that I was out of commission longer than usual today....roughly 8 hours. Around 5, I began meandering around the house and by 6:30 I was ready for dinner. I did catch up on some romantic comedies (Rumor Has It and Julia and Julia), a couple episodes of Entourage as well as a teen romp on Comedy Central (Accepted). What a day!

While the migraines have subsided over the years, they do tend to come in clusters and vary in intensity. While perusing some sites this afternoon about potential triggers, I read that Frozen Yogurt was a culprit. I guess that means no more late night runs to the Yogurt Haven like I did yesterday. Boo. But who really know, I actively eat several offenders on the list (Chocolate, Avocados, Strawberries, Cheeses) and they haven't seemed to cause issues. Over the years, the only foods I can pinpoint with certainty to migraines I have had are pastrami, pepperoni, sausages and other cured deli meats, Diet Coke and too much red wine (usually I can get by with one glass).

For the most part, they still remain a mystery. An annoying and painful mystery.

The Windsor

On my last day in Phoenix, I met my good friend Cindy at a relatively new bar/restaurant (or shall I just use the new buzz term 'gastropub' ) called The Windsor. Not really knowing what to expect aside from the promise of a decent happy hour (5.00 pitchers before 5), I drove down from Cave Creek round 3p.m. When I arrived, I was reminded for a second of another Phoenix based bar, The Vig. Similar in the way of their upscale-ly brick construction and spacious patio. However, The Windsor up-d the kitch factor by having succulents in old oil cans, gas barrels and even a military canister of sorts. Pretty cute. As we showed up round 4, the place wasn't too packed and it was easy to grab a cozy booth. The music was loud enough but not overbearing at all. Major points for coziness and a place to catch up!

We decided to utilize one of Cindy's free appetizer coupons on the Fondue (pic below) and additionally order a Fatoush Salad and a pitcher of Stella. Before our food arrived, we were treated to some delicious AZ pistachios on the house.

The fondue was excellent! It was served with pulled pork (great), chopped up pretzel (amazing!), apples (good) and sausage (did not try.....recipe for migraine!). The salad was good as well. The pitcher provided us with about 2 and 1/2 pints and for 5 bucks I have no complaints.

Passion Flower

At some point last year, probably May or June, my friend Rick brought me over a small passion vine. Having just recently started a garden, the vine was quickly welcomed into the yard and found a home in the patch. While the vine grew considerably over the course of 13 or 14 months, I never saw any evidence of blooms until now. The funny thing is, prior to our move a few weeks ago, I dug the vine up and transplanted him into a large garden box with trellis. After a couple of days, I noticed that the vine began wilting and leaves were turning brown. Perhaps the transplant had caused stress. I moved him out of the sun for a bit and gave him some water. After finding what seemed to be a sturdy place for him to grow here at the new place, he began to bounce back. He still resides in the giant box, but now has the additional support of the deck rails to branch out on. Just yesterday when walking by, I noticed a closed bud. I was equal parts bummed and elated as I am planning on leaving town tomorrow and thought I would miss the opening. I was wrong. I fed him some coffee grounds and gave him a big drink before taking off to run errands. When I came back, I glanced at the vine and saw this:

Quite possibly the most impressive flower I have ever seen. Any feedback on how to increase the blooms on these incredible vines?

Much Less Wordy

For those who respond much better to images:

http://allisonwear.tumblr.com/

Refinish

In other news, we got my table refinished. Sitting on the porch at the old house didn't do well for the little guy. A trip to Old Friends Antiques in Canoga Park was just what was needed. The owner rebuilt the base to sturdy it up and also refinished the wood all the while keeping the vintage look of the table. Hooray!

Minor Setbacks

While things may have been stressful, initially the move was as expected. We had been living in a sea of boxes at both the old and new place. After what seemed like weeks, we began to establish a sense of normalcy (sans sofa) here in Eagle Rock. Certain key players in the furniture placement game had found their home, decor slowly began making its way on the walls and in the various nooks and crannies and the house began to garner a home status.

After getting a working washer and dryer into place, we ran into some plumbing problems. At first they were minor, and then well, things upgraded to major. While things at first appeared isolated to the laundry room, the flooding of the downstairs from the toilet proved otherwise. On Thursday night into the wee hours of Friday morning, we were on bucket brigade to get the water out of the downstairs. Our trash can was like a buoy, floating up and down as we waded by each time bucket in hand. To make a long story short, our landlord rocks, flooring has been removed, there are huge dryers to air out the drywall via hundreds of hole that have been drilled for exactly that purpose and visits from contractors, plumbers and water damage experts have been taking place each day. The silver lining? Our sofa is finally arriving. That arrival will perfect the upstairs sanctuary that has been created due to our downstairs mishap!

Welcome Home...

I will be the first to admit...I have seriously been out of the loop. With the ending of the summer school session coupled with the enormous task of moving, my online presence has definitely diminished. However, that lull is over for the moment as all of our belongings are in place at the new Eagle Rock pad. While I have posted some pics in an earlier post, I wrote very little about the house. Prior to my friend Nicki moving to the neighborhood, I never knew such a gem of a community existed. While from Eagle Rock Blvd, the hood looks pretty normal, once you head up the hill, the scenery changes dramatically. Lush landscaping and giant trees occupy each turn. Our house is on the side of a hill which means while you drive up to the house, you have to walk down a cobblestone staircase to get to the front door. The house works with the hill having the upstairs level with the front door and the downstairs is built into the hill.

Moving has sucked it out of us. In all senses of the word. It has been a delight to hang on the porch and just re-coup. Seeing as how we are currently without a dining table, we have been more than happy to dine on the patio.

As you can see, aside from the patio, things are definitely a work in progress. We are waiting for some key pieces of furniture and because of that, hanging our larger artwork is on hiatus. However, I think the slower pace has been the theme of this entire move. From securing the place to moving in to unpacking, the tempo has been low-key. For us, not rushing has been key to getting some pretty cool things....lease to the house included.