five carat ruby

In my 20’s, the way I got out of marriage talk was to say that discussions began with a five carat ruby. Not that I was a gold-digger; most of the time I earned more than my paramours, even with an academic salary, and I was generous with what I had. Instead, the impossibility of such a lovely tchotchke making a home on my finger – due to both their rarity and cost – was an airtight barrier.

Now a few weeks shy of 41, I take a detour into a jeweler’s shop while my husband brings my son to play on some bear sculptures in a shopping center. Wandering through the store, I came upon case after case of completely unnecessary and indulgent possibilities to mark another year. I still like rubies, and have a ruby and diamond band from friends to mark last year’s birthday and my July son.

And then I saw it. I haven’t priced such things in many years, and so I asked timidly if it was over 10,000. (Of course.) It was a favorite piece of the women who worked in the jeweler’s shop – the stone was polished and smooth, a cabochon. We checked the weight – 5.62 carats. It was set with strings of small diamonds, thin highway on and offramps around a smooth ruby hill. While the setting was not my style, it fit.

I guess it’s time to have that discussion.

all politics is becoming glocal

I’ve lived in this timezone for 6 years – voted in as many elections, paid property taxes, learned where to (and not to) eat – and I haven’t yet felt like a real resident. Culture clash and remote employment play an equal role in my disconnectedness, but it wasn’t until a recent political action that I realized how strange it can be as a netizen first, resident second.

It’s political season again, and our despicable US Congress Rep is being challenged by a principled opponent – but the first place she (and other hopefuls in other districts) are going is out of the district. It makes me think that all politics is now glocal – a challenger goes to a global to get the money she needs in order to prove herself to the locals. So, if you’d like to help me get a good rep in Congress, consider giving to Darcy, and tell her you learned about her at my kitchen table.

where you been, girl?

Oh, I’ve been doing some interesting things… learning how to make a delicious salad with nothing more than salt, pepper, tomatoes and sheep milk feta, resigning from my job, experimenting and succeeding in making a toddler-friendly, entirely vegan american chop suey recipe, and figuring out my future. It’s all had me occupied.

I’ve been doing a bit more reading in the commercial blogosphere, and trying to rechannel my anger and outrage into some sort of constructive result, but it’s a challenge. I hope to be back at the table a bit more, and figure out what’s next… other than a birthday.