Just Add Buddha, with salt around the rim

I woke up during the night with this dream: A guy was telling me that ever since he decided to go with the chi rather than against it he's become very strong (I think he meant Tao not chi). Now he can make things happen, he said, that were going to happen anyway. (!) I said, Well, I do feel like I'm fighting against the tide sometimes. Then I thought about it and said, But what about salmon? What if it's your job to go upstream? What then?

Maybe this is what happens when you read Just Add Buddha before going to sleep. I picked it up in NoHo yesterday while Christmas shopping with the Zen Mama herself, although she didn't have anything to do with my finding the book (unless somehow subtly under the influence of her pre-margarita chi). The book is delightful and offers some specific, effective suggestions for dealing with life's trying circumstances, from the merely irritating to the deeply upsetting. In other words, from dealing with telemarketers, the DVM, fellow drivers, and the neighbor's barking dog to dealing with harmful people ("just say no"), difficult relationships ("frustrating or exhausting?"), lost loves (the lover is lost, not love), and the confusion of not knowing if your relationship is the right thing or not ("we don't ever know for certain"). [What, you wanted the answers to dealing with the DMV, too?] It's really quite good. It may just get me through the holidays. And then some.

Great shopping yesterday. We hardly left Thornes Marketplace. When I was in college in Northampton (pre-"NoHo"), the funky old building was just being converted into shops (see history). It's nice to see it's still funky and still has all non-chain-store shops in it. There are a gazillion more shops on Main Street, but we only got to a couple more near Thornes before we decided we'd had enough shopping and crowds and were ready for our margaritas and eats at the brewpub. Unfortunately we've developed lofty tastes in margs and the brewery is, well, a place for good beer not margs. So the challenge is on to find the best margs in NoHo. It's a college town - surely there are good margs somewhere.

[Main Street, Northampton, around 4pm on Dec. 10, 2005]

Comments

[Maria]

What a fantastic dream ... and a great photo to extend the mood! Glad to hear you had a good time chasing margaritas.

[Lorianne]

Yes, your version of sunset in Noho goes quite well with that dream!

[Dave]

Great post title.

I liked the one Amazon reader review of *Just Add Buddha*: "I had to read the book two times in a row to incorporate all hints - but they are invulnerable for the daily live, no matter if you are just a beginner or an arahant."

I was in a restaurant last week that specialized in draft microbrews and margaritas - they had an entire menu page devoted to tequilas. Knowing nothing about that, I was pretty impressed. I must admit I stuck to the beers, though.

[leslee]

Maria: Yes, it was one of my more interesting dreams. Can't even blame it on the margarita since it was many hours before.

Lorianne: Yeah, I had a zoomed in version - the sky looks like I was on something.

Dave: That's hilarious. Note that it was posted by a non-native speaker of English. I have a friend that's into tequila and I was rather shocked by the extensive tequila menus she's pointed out to me in bars that specialize in such things. But after having had really good tequila in Mexico I have become a convert.

[qB]

That sky is on fire!

[Keith]

Your challenge sounds like a noble quest. Happy Hunting!

[MG]

NoHo ... Thought you meant "North of Houston [Street]" at first (as in SoHo). I want to find that book!

[patry Francis]

I lived in Northampton for 10 years so got a special joy from that photo, Leslee. I used to waitress at Packard's at the time. (Yes, it's been a long career.) Anyway, if I recollect, they served up a great marg.

[leslee]

qB: It was on fire!

Keith: Ever since returning from Mexico last April I've been on the quest!

Michael: They've been calling Northampton NoHo for some time, because of the arts or lesbians, I'm not sure which. I recommend the book - it's well done.

Patry: Hey, I remember Packards! I think it's still there. I'll have to try it next time. Fitzwilly's is another one that's been around forever - they may have margs.