Today was an odd day for me. Right from the get go, I felt a little 'off'. Like I was outside my body watching my life go on. I felt like 'something' was going to happen. Nothing monumental. Today just felt weird. Like a quiet calm before the storm. I was praying there would be no storm. 
And there wasn't. But I wasn't wrong either. I had an unexpected 'drop in' from the ex-BF. Although I certainly wasn't expecting it, I wasn't shocked. Like I said, I knew there was going to be 'something'. I just didn't expect to see 'this thing'.
Although it was a brief visit, it was nice to just have a connection again. A hug. To see someone you care deeply about is never a bad thing. 
But it did leave me quiet for the rest of the day. Not sad. Just quiet. So my day went on and I knew the best thing for me was yoga. I'm still a little tweaked from my Rolfing session the other evening. Not quite sure I gave my body enough time to rest after. What can I say? That's me. 
So I hit up a class at NY Yoga's hot studio. The heat of Bikram, the fluidity and dance of vinyasa. Sweat dripping. Cleaning, purging, releasing . . . ahhhhhh. It felt good. I was putty at the end. And as I mentioned in my Facebook post, I'm so thankful for my Manduka mat, for it reminds me to let go. And more importantly, it's not about how I can perfect a pose of twist deeper, but that I just show up. That in and of itself is healing. 
So in my reflective state, I decided to forgo a movie with a friend and come home and do what I love to do when I want to be quiet: cook. Or just get in the kitchen and create. 
And ever since I've returned from Los Angeles earlier this week, I've been having a difficult time getting my body back 'on track'. So I wanted to eat as clean as I could. Unfortunately, I think I may have a serious case of PMS so as much as my head wants to eat well, some part of me is screaming COOKIES and dark chocolate. Whatever. I'd try. I had some leftover grains and seaweed from my favorite macrobiotic meal at Souen the other day. But of course, I lapped up the extra dressing packed in my to go bag like a dog. So I did my best to re-create their Miso-Tahini yummy-ness the best I could. I knew of two ingredients in this recipe: Miso and tahini. The rest I made up as I went along. And I'll be damned if it didn't come out fabulously. So here it is (more or less!)

Magical Miso Tahini Dressing:

1/4 cup warm water
4 tsp. White Miso 
1/4 - 1/2 cup Tahini
1 tsp. Sesame Oil
Couple splashes Rice Wine Vinegar
Dash or two of Umeboshi Vinegar
1-2 tsp. Gomasio (I used the 'Black and Tan' Gomasio which contributed to the 'specks' in the dressing pictured left.)

As you can see, I drizzled my lovely creating over a bed of steamed kale, brown rye sticky rice (compliments of Souen!) and Hijiki seaweed (again, thank you Souen). Love in a dish. This dressing would also be great drizzled over some steamed broccoli or any other green so as not to taste too, well, 'green'. You don't need much and you do want to use sparingly due to a potentially high sodium content. Keep it lower by watching how much Umeboshi Vinegar you 'dash' in! (Of course, being the condiment queen, I use liberally. Oops.)
I settled onto the couch to enjoy my meal and decided to turn on the TV only to find the Hope For Haiti program running on all channels. (With the exception of Fox News, as my mother kindly pointed out. Ugh.) And I was all the more grateful for my tasty, nourishing meal. And like I did on my mat this evening, please, just show up. However you can for the people of Haiti. Whether it's a monetary donation or you have the time and the heart to donate time. Whatever you can do. There is also a program called Soles4Souls that is organizing local collection sites to help Haiti. And there is always your prayers and love. Those alone are a powerful healing agent in rebuilding the hope and spirit of those whose lives have been devastated by this terrible disaster. Love.