Well it was bound to happen, Time to hop the stream and start enjoying Washington!!

  Rally Pizza is opening their doors today, and every day in the future from 4:30pm to close, Vancouver, you just won the pizza lottery.

Vancouver got lucky and received two superstars from the Portland food scene.  Alan Maniscalco  and Shan Whickam are bringing sexy to the Couve.  Alan is a 10 year alum of Ken’s Artisan Pizza.  Shan has a lifetime of baking experience backed up with a degree from California Culinary, and experience working with Whole Foods artisan breads.  She has a penchant for frozen custards and concretes and damn, I am glad for it!  Shan will be the GM and oversee the sweet delights while Alan keeps the rest of the food program exquisite, delightful pizzas to tempt even the pickiest eater (my husband).  My pick:  The Piggy Back Pizza.  Just trust me here.

Rally Pizza.  The name alone reminds you of being exhausted, finals are coming up, you are so tired and there is a HUGE party.  You decline an invite, and what does you roommate scream at you?  “IT’S TIME TO RALLY!”  You know what I’m talking about here……  So, you better RALLY over to Rally Pizza.  If you live in Vancouver/Camas, then it is a no brainer.  If you love pizza and live anywhere else in the world:  Make time or miss out on some of the best pizza you have ever eaten.  You’ve been warned.

Oh, you like to drink?  Well, me too.  I am an equal opportunity offender so this is my kind of party:  Beer, wine and a surprise of well crafted, balanced cocktails.  I was not expecting to sip the level of cocktail that I did when I was able to give Rally a whirl.
Location you ask?  8070 E. Mill Plain Boulevard, Vancouver WA.   Tons of parking, amazing lighting, a bar for the big kids and a dining are for those of us who have little kids.  Check my photos for some eye candy:

Oh 45, I love you and your wisdom.  You let me stop being so hard on myself, sort of.  You let me realize what I love, what I don’t, and above all, how to just step back and stay out of the fray.

I cannot be everyone’s cup of tea, and conversely, everyone is not MY cup of tea.

So, when you wake up, and the soft warmth of your slowly middle aging body is something you have or can learn to love, and when you can say “I have value” and mean it, and when you can simply hit “delete” when someone tries to engage in a manner you prefer not to, you are there.  You are in the sweet spot.  That cozy, happy zone.  If you find it, stay there, it is good.

I no longer agree when someone tells Me I am not enough.  You are simply not enough for them.  Hug them, thank them, and say good bye. I am free.

As a mother, I try to say “I like you so much!” and “you are one of my favorite people in the world!” to my kids.   I want them to know they are enough.  They are already all that they need to be.  I try to put as many experiences of art and culture in front of them so they can decide who they are.  My nightmare is that they will wake up, in their 30’s and think that they need to please everyone, lose 40 pounds, make more money, and feel unfulfilled. Start now little ones, find your light and follow it.  I will be here to catch you.  Be you, and only you.

I will never be enough for everyone.  I will certainly be too much for some, and I will be just right for my tribe.  I cannot live in the past, and the future is all I have left.

Just hoe your own row and raise your own babies
Smoke your own smoke and grow your own daisies
Mend your own fences and own your own crazy
Mind your own biscuits and life will be gravy

(Lyrics from Kasey Musgroves “Biscuits” song – see link below for the whole song, it is great!)

“Biscuits” by Kasey Musgrove