Midnight Musings – A journal by Jade Walker

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things This Year

December 8, 2013 / No Comments

Believe it or not, I am finished with my Christmas shopping. I completed this fun, yet monumental task on Thanksgiving, which is about three weeks later than normal.

So how do I do it? How do I avoid the packed malls, the crowded parking lots and the hectic search for a last-minute present? It’s really quite simple. Like Santa, I keep a list.

The list is generated on Jan. 1st. It contains the names of the family and friends who I know will enjoy a present during the holidays. Whenever I come up with a gift idea, I immediately add it to the list and do a quick search online for prices. If/when one of these items goes on sale, I buy it. Presents are then stacked in the guest room (which is rarely used), and wrapped just before the holidays for shipping/giving.

I recognize many may view this little quirk of mine as anal or silly, but it works for me. If, however, you’re one of the millions looking for the perfect gift this holiday season, let me offer a few suggestions, à la Oprah.

Dear readers, these are a few of my favorite things:

* FOR THE PERSON RESOLVING TO BE HEALTHIER IN 2014: Fitbit One is a wireless activity tracker that you wear on your waist or bra strap. It’s a pedometer that also tracks your distance walked, calories burned and stairs climbed. Slip the Fitbit into the included wristband and it will track your sleep habits as well. The data is then uploaded to Fitbit.com for further analysis. Use the Website to log food/liquid intake, activities, weight, blood pressure, heart rate, glucose levels and/or chat with others who are also on the road to healthier living.

* FOR THE BIBLIOPHILE: The King family published some fantastic books this year. “Dr. Sleep” by Stephen King brilliantly answered the question: What ever happened to that little boy from “The Shining”? “N0S4A2” by Joe Hill (King’s eldest son) was a thrill ride of a novel about a man who kidnaps children and takes them to Christmasland, and the young girl who tries to defeat him. For fans of more literary fiction, check out “Double Feature” by Owen King (Stephen’s youngest son), a debut novel about a young man coming to terms with his life in the process and aftermath of making his first film.

* FOR THE OBIT WRITER: I made this mug for The Society of Professional Obituary Writers conference in Toronto. Everyone really liked it, and started placing orders. I own two myself.

* FOR THE FOODIE: Subscription services HelloFresh and Plated help make planning, purchasing and cooking meals a little bit easier. Chefs create healthy and delicious meals. You pick the dishes that interest you. Once a week, a box will arrive in the mail with the recipes you selected, plus all of the ingredients. Just cook and eat. You can order a HelloFresh gift card here. Use Promo code A67GK4 and save $20. For a Plated gift card, go here and enter the promo code A2DFE7 to receive two dishes free.

* FOR THE TEA DRINKER: My current favorite tea in is Lipton Black Pearl Pure Long Leaf. I drink several cups a day because it is easy to make and delicious. For those who prefer loose leaf tea, but don’t want to make a whole pot, pick up Ingenuitea, a single-serve teapot that is 100% BPA-free and dishwasher-safe.

* FOR THE NERDFIGHTER: Strangers often ask me about my DFTBA wristband. For the uninitiated, DFTBA stands for Don’t Forget To Be Awesome and it’s the motto/slogan for Nerdfighteria, a community of Vlogbrothers fans who strive to end world suck.

* FOR THE GOTH: This Grim Reaper decal from HouseHoldWords appears on all of my laptops. Super easy to affix and remove. A great stocking stuffer.

* FOR THE FASHIONISTA: I don’t follow fashion; the whims of the industry are rarely attuned to my body size and personal taste. That said, I truly believe this chiffon scarf from Swak Couture will look stunning on everyone.

* FOR THE HALLOWEEN LOVER: These pumpkin teeth made our jack o’lanterns appear truly wicked. Loved ’em!

* FOR THOSE WHO AIM TO BE GREEN: I wholeheartedly recommend the Toyota Prius, which is a reliable, eco-friendly and darn sexy car. Mine is named Esmeralda. For about $30, I can fill the entire tank and drive for 500 miles.

* FOR THE COOK: Organize all your spices in the Handmade Spice Rack from Storage Studies. I actually purchased a larger version of this rack, and it is now one of my prized possessions. The rack itself is handcrafted by Thayer Gignoux, and the tins are both lightproof and airtight, which help spices last longer. Tins and labels are included.

* FOR THE COOKIE MONSTER: Virgin Atlantic served me a small packet of Quadruple Chocolate Chunk Cookies by Walkers during a flight from Edinburgh to London last month. I was dubious at first — I’m not a huge fan of packaged cookies — but was quickly converted by these treats.

* FOR THE AUDIOPHILE: The Bose QuietComfort 15 Acoustic Noise Canceling Headphones blew my mind when I donned ’em inside the 5th Avenue Apple Store in Manhattan and discovered the beauty of silence. They also work beautifully when connected to an iPod. I don’t yet own a pair; someday I shall. So should you.

* FOR THE PERSON WHO LOOKS TO THE STARS: My favorite discovery from Canada was astronaut Chris Hadfield, whose Twitter feed rocked the world. While we were toiling away on Earth, Hadfield was serving as the commander of the International Space Station and running dozens of scientific experiments dealing with the impact of low gravity on human biology. Hadfield also published a memoir (“An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth”), wrote a wonderful article for Wired and played his guitar — in space — before retiring from the space program. If you know someone who has big dreams, give them Hadfield’s book for inspiration.

Happy Holidays!
40 reasons to celebrate

December 2, 2013 / 2 Comments

On Nov. 23, I turned 40. The big 4-0. The age at which “youth” officially ends and Middle Age takes hold.

Many of my friends reached this milestone before me, and from what I can tell, freaking out was par for the course. Strangely, I wasn’t freaked. I wasn’t even rattled.

Now 30… 30 threw me for a loop. You see, I had this list of things I wanted to do with my life, and due to various circumstances, I was seriously behind schedule when I hit my third decade. I knew I could either a) lament the things I didn’t get the chance to do, or 2) step up my game and make my 30s count.

I chose door number two, and guess what? My 30s were the best decade yet. Yes, I struggled financially, and yes, the world decided to go to hell in a hand-basket during that time period. But I also found my soulmate and married him, achieved success in my career, moved about, traveled abroad, adopted animals, read hundreds of books, wrote constantly, honed my cooking/baking skills, traipsed through countless cemeteries, reconnected with old friends and made some awesome new ones.

Needless to say, as my 40th birthday neared, I found myself less concerned about gray hair and wrinkles and more excited about how grand my 40s would be. And to start off the decade, my husband gave me the perfect gift: A trip to Scotland.

As many of you know, Scotland is very dear to my heart. Although I have no ancestral ties to the nation, I’ve always been drawn to it. On my 34th birthday, M took me to Scotland for the first time, and the moment my feet touched the ground I knew I was home. Amazingly, he felt the same way. And when we returned to Scotland a couple years later for our honeymoon, we vowed to make living there a reality. That plan still stands, and it will happen. In my 40s.

Celebrating my birthday in Scotland was fabulous. We traveled through the Highlands, sipped tea and whiskey in pubs, ate handmade pies and fresh-caught fish, visited crumbling castles and metropolitan cities, played games, warmed our feet by the fire, and even shared a birthday cake with one of my dearest friends (who flew all the way from Seattle to mark the occasion).

If the next decade is anything like its debut, I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Friendly accomplishments, part II

November 10, 2013 / 1 Comment

Last month, I wrote a blog entry highlighting the latest projects of some of my many creative friends and colleagues. Here are several more:

Photographer Angus Bruce has a gift for capturing the beauty of Scotland. His photographs are stark, honest and breathtaking. I own several.

A.J. Jacobs, editor-at-large of Esquire Magazine, wrote a fantastic book about “his humble quest for bodily perfection.” “Drop Dead Healthy” prompted me to move more, drink at least 50 oz of liquids a day, improve my dinner options and track my food/sleep/steps.

Amanda Koster is an internationally acclaimed photographer who combines an anthropology background with media skills to create projects about human rights, cultural diversity and global equality. Click here to watch her inspiring TED talk.

John Platt is a voracious reader, prolific writer and my favorite environmental reporter. If you’re interested in learning more about endangered species from around the world — and how to save them — check out his blog on the Scientific American website, Extinction Countdown. John also covers environmental issues for Mother Nature Network.

Radio producer Kate Sweeney will publish her first book, “American Afterlife: Encounters in the Customs of Mourning” in Spring 2014. Pre-order your copy here.

I’ll be showcasing the work of more friends in the weeks to come. If you have a new project you’d like me to promote, send an e-mail with the subject like “FEATURE ME!”
Rest In Peace… and I really mean it

November 3, 2013 / No Comments

The recently departed Lou Reed once said, “It always bothers me to see people writing ‘RIP’ when a person dies. It just feels so insincere and like a cop-out. To me, ‘RIP’ is the microwave dinner of posthumous honours.”

As was his wont, Reed was able to succinctly sum up his thoughts with a clever turn of phrase. However, I have to disagree with the sentiment behind his words.

People tend to die in three ways:

* suddenly and unexpectedly
* after a period of illness
* peacefully while sleeping

The first death is so startling in its appearance that those left behind can barely comprehend the unforeseen loss. Sure, we’re all going to die, but these deaths (homicides, accidents, natural disasters, fire) occur in ways that tend to be both violent and painful. To the deceased, I say rest in peace because light knows you didn’t die that way.

The only silver lining of the second mode of death is that it frequently offers the blessing of extra time: time to get one’s affairs in order, time to do one last thing on the bucket list, time to say goodbye. However, the dying process can be fraught with distress. Witness enough of these deaths — bad deaths — and you too may find yourself wishing the deceased peace in their eternal sleep.

To those who have the good fortune to die in their sleep, I simply say rest in peace and farewell. Silently I hope that their last batch of dreams were pleasant ones.

–Photo of the Granary Burying Ground in Boston by Chaval Brasil. Used with permission.
You’re Late. You’re Late, For A Very Important Date

November 1, 2013 / No Comments

“Life is short, but there is always time enough for courtesy.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sir, I could not agree more. Which is why this week has been so infuriating.

Four times.

Four times I have been stood up by people who agreed to meet (by phone, IM or in person) at an arranged time.

Four times I was blown off.

The first person did so by oversleeping, which is forgivable — once — particularly since he later apologized. The others not only skipped our scheduled appointment, they failed to contact me in any way to proffer an excuse for their actions.

Is it so wrong to expect people to arrive promptly for a meeting or event? Or for them to reach out prior to the agreed upon time to say they’re going to be late or need to cancel? In every one of my encounters this week, I would have been more than happy to reschedule had I been told in advance that they couldn’t make it. Instead, I waited and waited, throwing away precious time for people who never appeared.

I’m not talking about the occasional tardiness here. I swear, I’m not that unreasonable. I understand that people may be a few minutes late if they spill coffee all over their clothes, get stuck in a traffic jam or slowed by inclement weather. But chronic lateness is disrespectful.

I’m not the only one who’s grown tired of such unreliable and unprofessional people. Earlier this week, I read an article by Greg Savage (“How Did It Get To Be ‘OK’ For People To Be Late For Everything?”). Savage, a leader in the global recruitment industry, pointed out that such behavior is becoming far too common. He provided examples of late friends, dawdling colleagues and even unpunctual strangers who still expected him to buy something or assist in an important matter.

“And it is not that we lead ‘busy lives.’ That’s a given, we all do, and it’s a cop out to use that as an excuse,” Savage wrote. “It’s simply that some people no longer even pretend that they think your time is as important as theirs. And technology makes it worse. It seems texting or emailing that you are late somehow means you are no longer late. Rubbish. You are rude. And inconsiderate.”

So apparently, I’m not the only one to experience this problem. Nor should I be faulted for being exasperated by people who just can’t seem to follow through on their promises. I respect their time; I don’t think it’s too much to ask that they respect mine.

Alas, good manners seem to have vanished. Any suggestions on how we can bring back common courtesy?

–The White Rabbit illustration by Sir John Tenniel, from Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland, 1871. Used with permission.