NyQuil
NyQuil
NyQuil may seem like an unusual product to feature on 365 Awesome, but when I have a nasty cold there’s nothing better.
Tonight, in fact, I will be using this awesome product to help me sleep. My head feels thick with mucus, it’s hard to breathe, and I keep sneezing. What I really need is some rest–now that I’ve had some chicken soup. Taking NyQuil will give me a good 6 or 7 uninterrupted hours of delicious, delightful sleep.
NyQuil is awesome.
The Shower
The shower
One of my favorite places in the world to be is in the shower.
The shower is different than the bath–which is also an awesome place. But in the shower, with the warm water continually washing over me, I feel as though it’s rinsing away not just the usual dirt and grime; but also the worries, the fears, the nagging regrets that can cling more fiercely than grease. And standing there, head and shoulders under the steady stream, I imagine all those icky bits of baggage and doubt making their way down the drain, until they are far, far away from me.
Yes, it seems to me the shower cleans so much more than my body. And that’s a pretty awesome thing.
Jill Ginsberg
Jill Ginsberg
To help herself get over some deep-seated issues around money, Jill Ginsberg gave away $100 a day during the month of October. To complete strangers. And she made herself give money to at least one person she felt didn’t deserve it.
Wow.
Giving away money every day moved her so much she decided to give away $100 once a week through the end of the year.
Learn more about her Month (and more) of Hundreds project on Jill’s blog.
Taking the Leap – Pema Chodron
Pema Chodron is a Buddhist nun. Of the dozen or so books she’s written, my favorite so far is “Taking the Leap”.
Taking the Leap
This 99 page book serves as an instruction manual for how to slow down, breathe and move forward when everyday challenges get us down. That’s something most of us can use. Pema offers fast, easy, and sustainable daily practices – ways for us to show compassion to ourselves and others.
Third Wednesday PDX
Food carts are a big deal in Portland. So is community giving. Third Wednesday PDX combines the two.
On the third Wednesday of each month, a group of Portland food carts donates a portion of proceeds to a local charity. Tasty. And awesome.
Coin-operated rides
My entire life, I have loved coin-operated rides. Animals, cars, spaceships. I love them all. But more than anything, the old-fashioned horses get my imagination flowing.
Coin-operated horse
Giddy-up!
Ruby Jewel ice cream sandwiches
Ruby Jewel started in the farmers’ markets of Oregon. Guided by creater Lisa Herlinger, it sprung from the local ingredients of farmers into an incredible product.
Ruby Jewel ice cream sandwich
If you live in one of the 11 states that sell Ruby Jewel pre-made sandwiches in supermarkets, you’re in luck. If you are in Portland, Oregon, you can create your own. This one is marionberry pie ice cream with lemon cookies. It was divine.
The company is committed to sustainability, reusing and recycling nearly 100% of its waste materials.
Bicycle trainer
Everyone has their preferred method of getting exercise. Mine is the bike wind trainer.
Cyclops bicycle trainer
I use a CycleOps trainer with my bike, but there are a number of other brands on the market. If you like riding a bike, and don’t have room for a stationary bike, or really prefer riding your two-wheeled friend, a bike trainer is a great way to go.
This model folds up and can go in a closet. And I can use my gears to get varying degrees of difficulty during my workout. It’s so awesome, I actually carry my bike and trainer with me whenever I’m road-tripping.
Abra de Runkuracay
The Inka Trail to Machu Picchu is one stunning view after another. The stones of the trail take hikers deep into the Andes, revealing the secrets of the ancient Inka.
Stones at Runkuracay
The pass at Runkuracay is not the highest on the trail, at 12,705 ft, but it is the most dramatic. Set just at the level of the clouds, a short climb on either side puts you above the shifting mist, gazing beyond to the great peaks, and around at the piles of rocks – offerings left to the mountain spirits.
Dean Kamen
Dean Kamen is an inventor. He brought us the super-fun vehicle, the Segway. He also brought us the most advanced prosthetic arm we’ve ever seen.
That’s pretty awesome, but the most awesome part is the reason he developed the arm: to give freedom and humanity to soldiers who have lost limbs. Have a look at the video. The man is pretty awesome.
