The Hit List - Coming Down

Tarot work is not easy. I might make it look effortless but trust me, it’s not.

When I am doing readings, I’m in an altered state. (And no, not like the movie Carrie. If I had telepathy, I’d be making much better use of it than she did!) As soon as I lay down the cards, my brain switches to little ticker tape mode and the info comes fast ‘n furious. Even my email readings feel akin to automatic writing.

I’m a high volume reader and over the years, I’ve had to learn to pace myself. Not just because I get mentally burnt out but also I tend to lose my voice after a long day of continuous talking.

By the time my day comes to an end, I’m spent. Used up and wrung out. And when I crash, I crash hard.

I need to detach my “tarot brain” and get my head in a different space.

Which usually means a nightly glass of wine, some trash television and manic cooking sprees.

Food is my release, my passion, my way of coming down after a tarot marathon. I spend oodles of my free time going through cookbooks and trying to find new things to make (and eat).

This hobby isn’t a recent development. When I was a kid, I often would check out the Junior Betty Crocker cookbook from the library and contemplate all the exotic things I would cook when I was an adult (that was not a very glam cookbook but for my kid brain, it certainly got me jazzed). I was also bugging mom in the kitchen and getting involved with the cooking – especially when there were cookies on the game plan.

My loved ones have benefited tremendously from my food obsession. My husband is so spoiled by the variety and quality that it makes it hard for him to enjoy a restaurant (he always says: you make this better at home). My kids developed a sophisticated palate at an early age and to this day, they both enjoy a good meal at mom’s because they know I’m pouring all my love into that food.

And that’s what it’s all about. I love tarot, I love to cook, I love my family. I do the things I love and I focus on love in the things I do. And that’s what ultimately keeps my feet on the ground when my head is busy trying to reach for the heavens. Love, love, love. It’s the ultimate comedown.

Theresa fact: Bún thịt nướng is my favorite dish in the world. If you want to make me happy, feed me that.

Other things:

When I’m not cooking, I sure do love going out to eat. Here’s a few of my favorite restaurants:

Nopa in San Francisco: I had the single best meal of my life at this swank and trendy place.

Aroma in Silver Lake: Don’t let the outside of this restaurant fool you (icky strip mall), the food is divine and the atmosphere inside is gracious and old skool Italian.

Odd Duck in Milwaukee: Come visit and I may send you here. Small plates, big flavor.

World Street Kitchen in Minneapolis: Just ate at this joint tonight with my homegirls. It’s spicy, it’s bold, it’s mad good.

Momofuku in New York: a good friend took me here and I’m addicted. I dream of Momofuku. I wake up drooling from those dreams.

What I am grateful for:

Good meals with great friends

The ability to have access to fresh food

Time off

Alexandra Franzen (my right hand woman)

New ideas

A loving family who rarely questions my food choices

Soundtrack for 9/21/13: Ain’t No Sunshine by Black Label Society – I like to chill with music. Great song, bizarre video.