Instead of footprints, he left behind quotation marks

"I want to love you EVEN"
Isn't that what we all want and are too afraid to grab at?
Not to be offered the last bite
but to be well-fucked in bed
kicked on the shins on occasion and answered with a smirk instead of an apology

My love
living without weather report
to trace the lines of eachother's hands until perhaps dust or sleep comes

No welcome mat of roses
rather, coming home to unmade bed
stinking of affection that's had a good time
Knowing the light in the other room is you waiting without knowing you're waiting

Looked at with yearning
that's constantly, constantly, constantly chasing learning
Saying the same words
over
and
over
seeing eachother's selves as UNpromised land
charmed visitors - returned
because the words we say are sometimes meant and the feelings we feel felt

by Cristina Paul

Cowboy Salad

gets its name from a curious German named Lars who observed me and a friend enjoying this bean salad on a camping trip

Serves 4

Ingredients:
1 cup freshly chopped basil
1 (15oz) can of drained red kidney beans
1 (15oz) can of drained garbanzo beans
1 (15oz) can of drained black beans
4 oz of chopped baby broccoli (regular variety may be substituted)
6 oz of cherry tomatoes cut in half
2 shallots very thinly sliced
1/4 cup of red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Directions:
1. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Refrigerate for at least three hours so that the flavors can marry. Serve alone, with broken pieces of tostadas, or paired with a yummy condiment like homemade hummus or pesto. Yee-haw!

*Toasted nuts, feta cheese, sundried tomatoes, or avocados are great additions to this salad as well.

Recipe by Cristina Paul

Blah-Blah-Blahg: Food For Nought

Recent sightings that have made me strangely happy:
* a man in a turban driving a truck
* a curly-haired girl getting strapped into her car-seat, giggling "I love to laugh"
* a man riding a bicycle that was over six feet tall
* a very virile squirrel falling from a palm frond and agitatedly checking to see if his mammalian friends saw his embarrassing face plant