I really had to think about some of these.
Swiped from Avitable:
If I was a/an _____, I'd be ______
TV show: Monk or The Closer - Anal retentive, controlling, yet a bit ditzy
Song: Fix You, Coldplay
Movie: Wall-e
Book: The Idiot Girl's Action Adventure Club - Laurie Notaro
Fictional character: Claire, from the Outlander series - smart, caring, yet you never know what's going to come out of her mouth
City: Seattle - busy & creative with a profound ability to chill
Verb: "Flop"
Color: Moss green
Animal: Cat
Emotion: Anxious
Article of clothing: Warm wool socks, preferably stripey
Flavor: salty sweet, like chocolate covered pretzels
Food: see above - bland on the inside with a sugary coating
Vice: nail-biting
Plant: Bougainvillea
Mythological animal: Chimera
Letter: R
Inanimate object: A box of kleenex
School Activity: Marching band
Positive attribute: Organized
Negative attribute: Picky
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Monday, November 30, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
First ye take de boom-boom...
(I'm hoping there are some Muppet Show fans out there that recognize that line...)
Initially we were going to host Thanksgiving at our house this year. We held Christmas here last year, which I considered a success despite the potential disaster with the potatoes (don't let them cool before mashing!), and we have a turkey in our freezer that's been there for oh, a while (*coughtwoyearscough*) that we thought would be wise to cook sometime soon. But MIL is working the day after Thanksgiving at her friend's knitting shop, so we're trekking over to their place instead. No big deal, I can still cook some things, and the turkey should last until Christmas (right?!).
So for Thanksgiving, here's what I'm taking:
Raspberry-Jalapeno Chutney: Basically a relish, using raspberries from our garden. It had a little too much heat, so I added some raspberry and orange jell-o to it last night to try to temper it a bit. B liked it zingy though, so even if it's too much for the fam I know he'll eat it.
Raspberry Chipotle Sauce: I didn't make this specifically for the holiday, but to try & use as many of these danged raspberries as possible. This turned out even better than the chutney, with a smoky-sweet-zingy flavor that's awesome as a marinade or a dressing for sandwiches.
Puffy Potatoes: I made these for B a while back, and they turned out so stinkin' good that I'll never make plain mashed potatoes again. The basic idea is to whip up some egg whites into a meringue and add it to mashed potatoes, along with the yolks and some cheese, then bake them until they're a little crusty on top. YUM. Of course they're potatoes, so me and my Irish blood are biased anyway, but you should seriously try this recipe (organic or no).
Pumpkin Pecan Pie: Unlike many recipes for this pie, this one puts the pumpkin as the top layer. Which doesn't sound like a big deal, but to me it makes a huge difference, giving precedence to the pumpkin flavors. Unfortunately now I can't find the website that I got it from. If I find it, I'll update later.
What about you?
Initially we were going to host Thanksgiving at our house this year. We held Christmas here last year, which I considered a success despite the potential disaster with the potatoes (don't let them cool before mashing!), and we have a turkey in our freezer that's been there for oh, a while (*coughtwoyearscough*) that we thought would be wise to cook sometime soon. But MIL is working the day after Thanksgiving at her friend's knitting shop, so we're trekking over to their place instead. No big deal, I can still cook some things, and the turkey should last until Christmas (right?!).
So for Thanksgiving, here's what I'm taking:
Raspberry-Jalapeno Chutney: Basically a relish, using raspberries from our garden. It had a little too much heat, so I added some raspberry and orange jell-o to it last night to try to temper it a bit. B liked it zingy though, so even if it's too much for the fam I know he'll eat it.
Raspberry Chipotle Sauce: I didn't make this specifically for the holiday, but to try & use as many of these danged raspberries as possible. This turned out even better than the chutney, with a smoky-sweet-zingy flavor that's awesome as a marinade or a dressing for sandwiches.
Puffy Potatoes: I made these for B a while back, and they turned out so stinkin' good that I'll never make plain mashed potatoes again. The basic idea is to whip up some egg whites into a meringue and add it to mashed potatoes, along with the yolks and some cheese, then bake them until they're a little crusty on top. YUM. Of course they're potatoes, so me and my Irish blood are biased anyway, but you should seriously try this recipe (organic or no).
Pumpkin Pecan Pie: Unlike many recipes for this pie, this one puts the pumpkin as the top layer. Which doesn't sound like a big deal, but to me it makes a huge difference, giving precedence to the pumpkin flavors. Unfortunately now I can't find the website that I got it from. If I find it, I'll update later.
What about you?
Saturday, November 21, 2009
No, I'm not watching the game
I became a sports fan when I was a teen, when my three best friends and I started up the sports medicine program at our high school. We added the task of stat-keeping to our usual ankle-taping and nose-bleed-plugging duties, so I learned a lot about the in's and out's of most sports. I'm not coordinated or in shape enough to play anything myself, but I LOVE football and NCAA basketball (not a fan of the NBA), and later added baseball to the list.
My husband, however, doesn't like sports. Yes, I'm serious. He's an anomaly.
He'll watch baseball occasionally, and grew up as an Orioles fan. He played hockey as a kid. He has a strong interest in martial arts (he studied Jeet Kune Do and Silat for a little while) and loves UFC. But he can't stand football or basketball. GAH.
I also have the added problem that my teams are on the west coast, but I live in Ohio. So it's all Buckeyes, all the time out here, and it's difficult to be a Huskies/Mariners/Seahawks fan (or Trojans/Broncos, but shhh, don't tell) simply due to the fact that their games aren't usually aired. So I've completely lost track of sports.
Hence my addiction to crime dramas and gardening, I guess.
My husband, however, doesn't like sports. Yes, I'm serious. He's an anomaly.
He'll watch baseball occasionally, and grew up as an Orioles fan. He played hockey as a kid. He has a strong interest in martial arts (he studied Jeet Kune Do and Silat for a little while) and loves UFC. But he can't stand football or basketball. GAH.
I also have the added problem that my teams are on the west coast, but I live in Ohio. So it's all Buckeyes, all the time out here, and it's difficult to be a Huskies/Mariners/Seahawks fan (or Trojans/Broncos, but shhh, don't tell) simply due to the fact that their games aren't usually aired. So I've completely lost track of sports.
Hence my addiction to crime dramas and gardening, I guess.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Eye and ear candy
I've got nothin' for the usual Dear So & So on Friday. But I've got little bits of random shit that might be enough to justify a post... and since my inspiration and motivation for NaBloPoMo went right out the window after last week's hiatus, this is all I can pull out of my butt.
***
I listen to just about every type of music, except gangsta rap and death metal - I do like old skool hip hop (Hieroglyphics for example, or Jurassic 5) and some metal (Atreyu, Rise Against), but I hate the crap that passes for music on the pop stations and in da clubs, blasted from some kid's ghetto speakers in his '85 Chrysler so loud it makes his license plate vibrate, etc etc. How the hell can you consider it music when (a) it's all sampled, (b) every other word is "uh" and (c) you have to use auto-tune to make the 'singer' sound halfway bearable? Ugh. My other rule is that you should be able to understand what they're saying, so scream-o is out too.
But I'll listen to everything else. Really, everything. I'm still a little picky about it though - if I can't distinguish your voice from everyone else's then I'm probably not very interested. I like music with a distinct sound to it, something that makes it stand apart. I'm getting braver about finding new music, thanks to iTunes, friends with expansive CD collections, and the local library that surprisingly carries a pretty good variety.
So today I will share two artists that, while you might recognize their names from television, you might not be aware that they're incredibly talented musicians too. Christian Kane, and Born as Ghosts. Kane you might know from Angel (Lindsey the lawyer) and currently, Leverage (Elliott Spencer - yummmm) - but he's an AWESOME country musician too. No full-length CD yet, except for a live album from a concert in London, but you can check out some of his songs on myspace. He has a sexy, rough voice that I LOVE.
Born as Ghosts is a SoCal band, and the lead singer is Eric Balfour whom you'd recognize as Milo from 24 (before he got shot in the head... boooo). The band is VERY SoCal, with a sound kind of like a hybrid of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Sublime. Catchy and fun and unique. They're also working on a full-length CD, and some of their songs are available for download on both myspace and facebook.
And of course, it totally doesn't hurt that both of these guys are SO. HOT. OMG. See for yourself...
[caption id="attachment_394" align="aligncenter" width="240" caption="Hoooooo boy. Um."]
[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_395" align="aligncenter" width="256" caption="Yeah. Er."]
[/caption]
(Images courtesy of their respective myspace pages.)
So there's my shameless hot-guy/little-known-musician plug for today. Anybody else have some good, perhaps little-known tunes you're into? Hot guy or not. Either way.
***
I listen to just about every type of music, except gangsta rap and death metal - I do like old skool hip hop (Hieroglyphics for example, or Jurassic 5) and some metal (Atreyu, Rise Against), but I hate the crap that passes for music on the pop stations and in da clubs, blasted from some kid's ghetto speakers in his '85 Chrysler so loud it makes his license plate vibrate, etc etc. How the hell can you consider it music when (a) it's all sampled, (b) every other word is "uh" and (c) you have to use auto-tune to make the 'singer' sound halfway bearable? Ugh. My other rule is that you should be able to understand what they're saying, so scream-o is out too.
But I'll listen to everything else. Really, everything. I'm still a little picky about it though - if I can't distinguish your voice from everyone else's then I'm probably not very interested. I like music with a distinct sound to it, something that makes it stand apart. I'm getting braver about finding new music, thanks to iTunes, friends with expansive CD collections, and the local library that surprisingly carries a pretty good variety.
So today I will share two artists that, while you might recognize their names from television, you might not be aware that they're incredibly talented musicians too. Christian Kane, and Born as Ghosts. Kane you might know from Angel (Lindsey the lawyer) and currently, Leverage (Elliott Spencer - yummmm) - but he's an AWESOME country musician too. No full-length CD yet, except for a live album from a concert in London, but you can check out some of his songs on myspace. He has a sexy, rough voice that I LOVE.
Born as Ghosts is a SoCal band, and the lead singer is Eric Balfour whom you'd recognize as Milo from 24 (before he got shot in the head... boooo). The band is VERY SoCal, with a sound kind of like a hybrid of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Sublime. Catchy and fun and unique. They're also working on a full-length CD, and some of their songs are available for download on both myspace and facebook.
And of course, it totally doesn't hurt that both of these guys are SO. HOT. OMG. See for yourself...
[caption id="attachment_394" align="aligncenter" width="240" caption="Hoooooo boy. Um."]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_395" align="aligncenter" width="256" caption="Yeah. Er."]
[/caption](Images courtesy of their respective myspace pages.)
So there's my shameless hot-guy/little-known-musician plug for today. Anybody else have some good, perhaps little-known tunes you're into? Hot guy or not. Either way.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Cross that off...
NaBloPoMo kind of went by the wayside last week. What with GreenBuild taking up the days, the lack of wi-fi in my casita, and complete lack of internet access at Mom's, I've been mostly absent from the interwebs the past week. Google Reader has over 500 posts for me to read (or "Mark All As Read" in the case of silly photo sites), I've got over a dozen emails in my inbox (mostly newsletters & coupons), and I'm just giving up on backtracking through Facebook and Twitter. But regardless, it was a good trip.
GreenBuild was well worth it again this year - I attended 5 different seminars on subjects ranging from applying LEED to restaurants (Chipotle, Dunkin Donuts & McDonalds were on the panel), to indoor air quality and mold prevention (which relates directly to the class that I teach). I didn't attend the big opening plenary event at the baseball stadium - Al Gore spoke & there was a concert by Sheryl Crow - kinda would have liked to see the concert but NOT Gore. (Schmuck. That's a whole 'nother issue.) I took Friday off to go to the Desert Botanical Garden, it was AWESOME.
(If you really want to see all my pics, here's a link to my Flickr Photostream.)
Then Saturday I rented a car & drove to Yuma to visit my Mom. We had a grand ol' time, shopping and eating and eating and shopping. I left on Monday, giving myself 2 hours to get back to the airport in Phoenix, with 2 hours to spare before my flight left. YEAH. I'm an idiot. The trip from Yuma to Phoenix is more like THREE hours, and that's without construction - which there was PLENTY of. So I was in a state of stomach-cramping panic trying to turn in the car, catch the right shuttle, check in with my over-weight suitcase, shuffle things from the suitcase to my carry-on so I didn't have to pay $50, get to my gate, board with the last straggling passengers 5 minutes before scheduled departure, shove my now over-filled carry-on into a bin without dropping it on my head, and then find my seat and hope my deodorant is still working because man am I sweaty. I made it home in one piece, but I'm still exhausted today despite sleeping in a little.
Tonight my ass will be on the couch, starting the process of catching up with my DVR. But only after I go to Best Buy and get this:
Nerd love.
GreenBuild was well worth it again this year - I attended 5 different seminars on subjects ranging from applying LEED to restaurants (Chipotle, Dunkin Donuts & McDonalds were on the panel), to indoor air quality and mold prevention (which relates directly to the class that I teach). I didn't attend the big opening plenary event at the baseball stadium - Al Gore spoke & there was a concert by Sheryl Crow - kinda would have liked to see the concert but NOT Gore. (Schmuck. That's a whole 'nother issue.) I took Friday off to go to the Desert Botanical Garden, it was AWESOME.
(If you really want to see all my pics, here's a link to my Flickr Photostream.)
Then Saturday I rented a car & drove to Yuma to visit my Mom. We had a grand ol' time, shopping and eating and eating and shopping. I left on Monday, giving myself 2 hours to get back to the airport in Phoenix, with 2 hours to spare before my flight left. YEAH. I'm an idiot. The trip from Yuma to Phoenix is more like THREE hours, and that's without construction - which there was PLENTY of. So I was in a state of stomach-cramping panic trying to turn in the car, catch the right shuttle, check in with my over-weight suitcase, shuffle things from the suitcase to my carry-on so I didn't have to pay $50, get to my gate, board with the last straggling passengers 5 minutes before scheduled departure, shove my now over-filled carry-on into a bin without dropping it on my head, and then find my seat and hope my deodorant is still working because man am I sweaty. I made it home in one piece, but I'm still exhausted today despite sleeping in a little.
Tonight my ass will be on the couch, starting the process of catching up with my DVR. But only after I go to Best Buy and get this:
Nerd love.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Out the door...
I'm killing a few minutes before I leave for Phoenix. I have time to meet B for lunch before I head to Detroit to catch my plane, but he's not out of class for another 45 minutes so I have a bit.
I'm anxious about this trip. I hate being gone for so long, but I'm sure it will go by fast. I'm staying at a fun little resort on the north end of the city, attending Greenbuild during the week, and hopefully will have time to visit the botanical garden and do some sightseeing in the evenings. Saturday I'm renting a car and driving to Yuma to see my mom, which will be an adventure! But I'm looking forward to just hanging out with her. I'm taking advantage of it though, and having her teach me how to do applique too.
I made a point of packing my SLR, so I'll take some good pics to share. Speaking of which, I have a profile on I Heart Faces now, and also on Flickr, in case anyone wants to keep up with my pics there.
Looks like my timing is perfect though - the 70-degree weather we were having has suddenly turned into more typical November weather - 50-something and rainy. Yuck. I'm glad I finally relented and packed my bathing suit!
I'm anxious about this trip. I hate being gone for so long, but I'm sure it will go by fast. I'm staying at a fun little resort on the north end of the city, attending Greenbuild during the week, and hopefully will have time to visit the botanical garden and do some sightseeing in the evenings. Saturday I'm renting a car and driving to Yuma to see my mom, which will be an adventure! But I'm looking forward to just hanging out with her. I'm taking advantage of it though, and having her teach me how to do applique too.
I made a point of packing my SLR, so I'll take some good pics to share. Speaking of which, I have a profile on I Heart Faces now, and also on Flickr, in case anyone wants to keep up with my pics there.
Looks like my timing is perfect though - the 70-degree weather we were having has suddenly turned into more typical November weather - 50-something and rainy. Yuck. I'm glad I finally relented and packed my bathing suit!
Monday, November 9, 2009
I am...
(Many thanks to Mocha Momma for today's blog fodder.)
saying no to: bad food cravings - retail therapy and other unnecessary spending - social events when I'm far from feeling social
saying yes to: social events when I need to be social - offers of help - trying new things
giddy about: 70-degree days in November - Christmas - next spring, and the possibilities it will bring - seeing my Mom again this week
scared of: missing our chance - something bad happening while I'm away from home - taking what I have for granted
deeply inspired by: insanely motivated people who are taking the bull by the horns
obsessed with: Good tasting, real food.
in love with: my Macbook - my red patent leather heels - Indian Summers & fall color
haunted by: the fact that I've changed jobs every 2 years almost on the nose since I graduated from college, and NONE of them have been related to my degree.
saved by: my husband and his steadfast, if sometimes completely goofy, perspective on life.
...and you?
saying no to: bad food cravings - retail therapy and other unnecessary spending - social events when I'm far from feeling social
saying yes to: social events when I need to be social - offers of help - trying new things
giddy about: 70-degree days in November - Christmas - next spring, and the possibilities it will bring - seeing my Mom again this week
scared of: missing our chance - something bad happening while I'm away from home - taking what I have for granted
deeply inspired by: insanely motivated people who are taking the bull by the horns
obsessed with: Good tasting, real food.
in love with: my Macbook - my red patent leather heels - Indian Summers & fall color
haunted by: the fact that I've changed jobs every 2 years almost on the nose since I graduated from college, and NONE of them have been related to my degree.
saved by: my husband and his steadfast, if sometimes completely goofy, perspective on life.
...and you?
Sunday, November 8, 2009
The objective of being happy
”Are you happy?” is the hardest question to answer – it implies that you’re supposed to be happy all the time – an integral state of being. Or is it just a fleeting emotion? That’s how it seems to me – and content or comfortable might be the better word for life as a whole.
Our marriage is both content and comfortable, broken-in like an old pair of jeans. There’s some holes in them, but they’re still perfectly wearable. I think that's how a marriage should be - something that might be shiny and pretty when it's brand new, but softens and stretches over time so you come to value it even more as life goes on.
My job? I'll be honest and say that I'm not happy, or comfortable, or content... I was, at first – just like with any job I suppose. And I know the economy is to blame – we don’t have the money for my programs and for the travel and all the things I was so looking forward to doing. But that doesn’t make it any easier for me to drag myself out of bed in the morning just to come to the office and struggle through the day. There’s nothing I can really do about any of it, and it’s frustrating and demoralizing. So at work, I guess I'm settled, and willing to persevere until it gets back to being comfortable.
Am I happy where we live? This I can definitively answer with a big, fat, NO. In a nutshell, it's just depressing. I really like our house – there’s things I’d change if we bought it, yes, but it's mostly comfortable and pretty and home – and I love my garden when it’s nice enough outside to enjoy it. But no, there is very little about Toledo itself that I like, let alone makes me happy.
I honestly believe that most people's definition of happiness is royally screwed up - so many hang their happiness on possessions or people or positions - they define themselves and their lives by these things. It's like there's a stigma on being comfortable or content as opposed to happy.
I guess I'm tired of trying to justify my life through emotions.
If only we'd stop trying to be happy we'd have a pretty good time. ~Edith Wharton
Our marriage is both content and comfortable, broken-in like an old pair of jeans. There’s some holes in them, but they’re still perfectly wearable. I think that's how a marriage should be - something that might be shiny and pretty when it's brand new, but softens and stretches over time so you come to value it even more as life goes on.
My job? I'll be honest and say that I'm not happy, or comfortable, or content... I was, at first – just like with any job I suppose. And I know the economy is to blame – we don’t have the money for my programs and for the travel and all the things I was so looking forward to doing. But that doesn’t make it any easier for me to drag myself out of bed in the morning just to come to the office and struggle through the day. There’s nothing I can really do about any of it, and it’s frustrating and demoralizing. So at work, I guess I'm settled, and willing to persevere until it gets back to being comfortable.
Am I happy where we live? This I can definitively answer with a big, fat, NO. In a nutshell, it's just depressing. I really like our house – there’s things I’d change if we bought it, yes, but it's mostly comfortable and pretty and home – and I love my garden when it’s nice enough outside to enjoy it. But no, there is very little about Toledo itself that I like, let alone makes me happy.
I honestly believe that most people's definition of happiness is royally screwed up - so many hang their happiness on possessions or people or positions - they define themselves and their lives by these things. It's like there's a stigma on being comfortable or content as opposed to happy.
I guess I'm tired of trying to justify my life through emotions.
If only we'd stop trying to be happy we'd have a pretty good time. ~Edith Wharton
Saturday, November 7, 2009
It's one of those days where I can't come up with my own material.
I swiped this from Avitable, who in turn swiped it from someone else.
(Can you tell that NaBloPoMo is already starting to kick my ass? I'm meme-ing and it's only day 7.)
***
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
The subject of happiness is a whole post in and of itself. But for the purposes of this little questionnaire, my answer is sunshine coming in the window & warming my spot on the couch while I read a good book with a cat on my lap.
What is your greatest fear?
The unpredictable.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
My controlling tendencies. (That's putting it mildly.)
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Rudeness & condescension.
On what occasion do you lie?
I like Adam's answer: I lie when I'm scared not to.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Food.
What is your current state of mind?
Uncomfortable, both physically and mentally.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Creativity
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Intelligent Wit
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
"I don't know" and "Seriously?" and insert any expletive here.
When and where were you happiest?
I can't define any one moment as THE happiest, but that first Christmas with B, when he first met my family & got to spend a little time with my dad... that's up there on the list.
Who are your favorite writers?
Diana Gabaldon, JK Rowling, Neil Gaiman, CS Lewis, Jennifer Crusie
Which talent would you most like to have?
I wish I had stronger artistic talents. (Yes, Mom, I'm not bad, but I wish I was gifted like you are.)
If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?
That we all lived closer together.
If you died and came back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
A cat. Eat sleep sunbeam antagonize the dog sleep cuddle eat...
What do you dislike most about your appearance?
My lack of physical fitness. I'm not overweight but I'm terribly out of shape.
Where would you like to live?
Oregon.
What is your most treasured possession?
Photographs.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Boredom and loneliness - I can handle one without the other, but not both at the same time.
What do you most value in your friends?
Intelligence, whether it be book-smart, people-smart, or street-smart - and compassion.
What are your favorite names?
As in, what would I name my kids? Cassidy, or Sydney; Colin, or Gabriel.
What is it that you most dislike?
Stupidity borne out of ignorance. (Agreeing with Adam's answer here.)
What is your greatest regret?
Taking someone I love for granted.
How would you like to die?
Surrounded by friends & family - I want to have the chance to say goodbye to everyone.
What is your motto?
"Logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end." (I'm a Vulcan in disguise.)
(Can you tell that NaBloPoMo is already starting to kick my ass? I'm meme-ing and it's only day 7.)
***
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
The subject of happiness is a whole post in and of itself. But for the purposes of this little questionnaire, my answer is sunshine coming in the window & warming my spot on the couch while I read a good book with a cat on my lap.
What is your greatest fear?
The unpredictable.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
My controlling tendencies. (That's putting it mildly.)
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Rudeness & condescension.
On what occasion do you lie?
I like Adam's answer: I lie when I'm scared not to.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Food.
What is your current state of mind?
Uncomfortable, both physically and mentally.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Creativity
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Intelligent Wit
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
"I don't know" and "Seriously?" and insert any expletive here.
When and where were you happiest?
I can't define any one moment as THE happiest, but that first Christmas with B, when he first met my family & got to spend a little time with my dad... that's up there on the list.
Who are your favorite writers?
Diana Gabaldon, JK Rowling, Neil Gaiman, CS Lewis, Jennifer Crusie
Which talent would you most like to have?
I wish I had stronger artistic talents. (Yes, Mom, I'm not bad, but I wish I was gifted like you are.)
If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?
That we all lived closer together.
If you died and came back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
A cat. Eat sleep sunbeam antagonize the dog sleep cuddle eat...
What do you dislike most about your appearance?
My lack of physical fitness. I'm not overweight but I'm terribly out of shape.
Where would you like to live?
Oregon.
What is your most treasured possession?
Photographs.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Boredom and loneliness - I can handle one without the other, but not both at the same time.
What do you most value in your friends?
Intelligence, whether it be book-smart, people-smart, or street-smart - and compassion.
What are your favorite names?
As in, what would I name my kids? Cassidy, or Sydney; Colin, or Gabriel.
What is it that you most dislike?
Stupidity borne out of ignorance. (Agreeing with Adam's answer here.)
What is your greatest regret?
Taking someone I love for granted.
How would you like to die?
Surrounded by friends & family - I want to have the chance to say goodbye to everyone.
What is your motto?
"Logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end." (I'm a Vulcan in disguise.)
Friday, November 6, 2009
To Whom It May Concern:
Dear Body,Stop with the pain, please. Right Shoulder, your constant aching and occasional stabbing pains are getting old. Lower Back, I know you're having some 'internal turmoil' right now but I'd appreciate it if you laid off with the muscle spasms. And Head, if I could remove you and leave you in a jar on the nightstand, I totally would. You're all on notice.
Sincerely,
Ibuprofin Ain't Cuttin' It
***
Dear Northwest Airlines/Delta/Whoever You Are,
I hope you appreciate the effort I will be putting into packing this weekend. I will even be weighing my suitcase. Seven days, split between work and vacation, into one bag? This might get ugly.
Cordially,
At Least Phoenix Will be Warm So I Can Pack Clothes That Weigh Less
***
Dear Subconscious Mind,
I'm really not sure what to do with you anymore. You're kind of freaking me out, with the way you randomly spew things into my consciousness while I'm trying to brush my teeth and get ready for the day. This morning? The odd bit of the Jabberwocky poem that I remember from my freshman year of college ("Oh frabjous day, calloo, callay!" He chortled in his joy.), when I had to perform it in my drama class (which is another story altogether). Seriously, STFU and let me put on my makeup in peace.
Thank you kindly,
Not Awake Enough For That Bizarre Shit
***
Dear Dog,
You seem to be the subject of a few of these notes. I wonder why. At any rate, please, please, PLEASE behave yourself next week while I'm gone. I know B is a bit more lax about the rules than I am, but that doesn't mean you can take advantage of him. Stay out of the damn kitchen, and keep your bathroom business in the yard, not the basement. I'm tasking the cats with keeping you in line, and you know you hate it when Gyro gives you the evil eye.
Much Love,
Mama, aka the Keeper of the Yogurt
Thursday, November 5, 2009
I don't know what it is! But it's staring me right in the face!
Monday morning I was feeling a bit... snippy.
B: Are you okay?
J: Yeah. No. I don't know.
B: What's the matter? Can I help?
J: I don't know.
B: Sweetie, you can talk to me... maybe talking to me will help you figure it out. We can work thr...
J: I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S BOTHERING ME BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S YOU (cue spontaneous combustion)
***
Tuesday afternoon I raided the vending machine at work somewhere around 4 times.
***
Yesterday, I read this incredibly insightful and eye-opening post over at All & Sundry. DUH.
And today, it's all blatantly and painfully obvious.
Of course, I didn't have a CLUE up til now, despite the fact that the pills I'm on (my 'morning cookies' as B calls them) do, in fact, transition from green to yellow when it's about that time. I've been wrangling with my pharmacy to refill my prescription too, so there's that little indicator as well. Among other things.
But I don't know what this stick is up my butt! And why am I so tired? I slept well last night... God, my head hurts.
*Sigh* I'm just so on top of things!
Needless to say, when I stopped at the store for milk last night, I picked up a can of frosting and a box of Saltines too.
(Shut up.)
B: Are you okay?
J: Yeah. No. I don't know.
B: What's the matter? Can I help?
J: I don't know.
B: Sweetie, you can talk to me... maybe talking to me will help you figure it out. We can work thr...
J: I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S BOTHERING ME BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S YOU (cue spontaneous combustion)
***
Tuesday afternoon I raided the vending machine at work somewhere around 4 times.
***
Yesterday, I read this incredibly insightful and eye-opening post over at All & Sundry. DUH.
And today, it's all blatantly and painfully obvious.
Of course, I didn't have a CLUE up til now, despite the fact that the pills I'm on (my 'morning cookies' as B calls them) do, in fact, transition from green to yellow when it's about that time. I've been wrangling with my pharmacy to refill my prescription too, so there's that little indicator as well. Among other things.
But I don't know what this stick is up my butt! And why am I so tired? I slept well last night... God, my head hurts.
*Sigh* I'm just so on top of things!
Needless to say, when I stopped at the store for milk last night, I picked up a can of frosting and a box of Saltines too.
(Shut up.)
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Transpo Woes
I have a big trip coming up next week, and I'm getting kind of anxious.
I head for Phoenix on Tuesday for GreenBuild, which lasts until the 13th. I'm staying over the weekend though, taking the time to hang out with my mom, and coming home on Monday the 16th. I'm excited, yes - last year's GreenBuild was really interesting and fun, even. I'm just glad it's being held in Arizona this year instead of the Northeast.
But I'm nervous, too. It's a little intimidating being in situations where I don't know a soul, but it's kind of nice at the same time because I can totally ignore everyone if I want to. The crowd will be ginormous I'm sure, which just adds to the anxiety a bit. Do I really fit in here?
On top of all that is the transportation. Normally when I travel for work, I try to stay at a hotel close enough to the event so I can walk. I love walking - not only for the exercise, but because if I get lost it's easy enough to stop, get my bearings, and get un-lost. At GreenBuild last year, I wasn't quite close enough to walk (especially in the freezing Boston winter), but there were shuttle buses that went to the major hotels associated with the convention. This year, I'm definitely not close enough to walk, and it looks like they're relying on public transportation rather than private shuttles. And the thing that freaks me out about public transportation is not so much the public, as the inability to stop if I get lost, aka get on the wrong train or bus. Once you're on, you're kind of screwed, and next thing you know you're halfway to Mexico.
So I'm scouring the Phoenix transportation website, hoping there's a straight shot from near my hotel to the convention center, but I can't make heads nor tails of the system. I'm just hoping that the concierge is clued in and can help me out.
Otherwise I'm renting a damn car.
I head for Phoenix on Tuesday for GreenBuild, which lasts until the 13th. I'm staying over the weekend though, taking the time to hang out with my mom, and coming home on Monday the 16th. I'm excited, yes - last year's GreenBuild was really interesting and fun, even. I'm just glad it's being held in Arizona this year instead of the Northeast.
But I'm nervous, too. It's a little intimidating being in situations where I don't know a soul, but it's kind of nice at the same time because I can totally ignore everyone if I want to. The crowd will be ginormous I'm sure, which just adds to the anxiety a bit. Do I really fit in here?
On top of all that is the transportation. Normally when I travel for work, I try to stay at a hotel close enough to the event so I can walk. I love walking - not only for the exercise, but because if I get lost it's easy enough to stop, get my bearings, and get un-lost. At GreenBuild last year, I wasn't quite close enough to walk (especially in the freezing Boston winter), but there were shuttle buses that went to the major hotels associated with the convention. This year, I'm definitely not close enough to walk, and it looks like they're relying on public transportation rather than private shuttles. And the thing that freaks me out about public transportation is not so much the public, as the inability to stop if I get lost, aka get on the wrong train or bus. Once you're on, you're kind of screwed, and next thing you know you're halfway to Mexico.
So I'm scouring the Phoenix transportation website, hoping there's a straight shot from near my hotel to the convention center, but I can't make heads nor tails of the system. I'm just hoping that the concierge is clued in and can help me out.
Otherwise I'm renting a damn car.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Attack of the RTT
So yesterday I had INSPIRATION and MOTIVATION, and I WROTE, DAMMIT.
Today, I've got this:
[caption id="attachment_326" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Insert LOL caption here..."]
[/caption]I can't even think of a good LOLCat caption for it. Help me out here people.
For the visitors from Keely's, this is Gyro (as in Gyroscope, not the flatbread sandwich). He likes "helping" me with my quilting.
***
Temerity Jane is hosting a challenge during NaBloPoMo: Becoming A Person Who Comments. I think I do a decent job of commenting, but how do I GET people to comment? Yesterday I had NINE WHOLE HITS on my post and NO ONE commented. (NINE! I KNOW.) Most of them were from my link on Facebook, so they're people I really do know, so why don't they comment? Was yesterday's post unworthy of comment? Well.... probably. But still! SAY SOMETHING DAMMIT.
***
I'm having fun with my camera lately, can you tell?
[caption id="attachment_327" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="To-May-To"]
[/caption]Think I need to start working on photographing people, though.
***
Archer Farms Kona Blend is my new favorite coffee. At least until we open the Buttered Rum flavor.
***
There are people who are so perpetually pissed off, rude and disrespectful to everyone they encounter, that when they're rude and disrespectful to you, all you can think about is how to piss them off even more. Let's just say, "It's on like Donkey Kong."
***
Today is Election Day, and I'll be hitting the polling place after work to vote for Ohio's Issue 1, in which veterans of ODS, OEF and OIF get additional compensation from the state in honor of their service. In other words, B gets a little extra cash, which he totally deserves for all the B.S. he's had to deal with. Boo. Yah. Oh yeah, guess I'll vote for Mayor too.
***
Am I the only person who HATES when people bring candy/cookies/donuts to work & puts them out on the community counter? I might bring homemade cupcakes but I only share them with people that I know aren't dieting, and only occasionally rub it in the faces of friends who are. But putting stuff out on the counter is just plain insulting. Also, irresistible. *NomnomMilkDudsnom*.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Creatively Speaking
I've got to start keeping a notebook beside my bed. Last night I basically wrote an entire post in my head, and do you think I wrote it down or made any note of it at all so I could remember it today? NO. Because I'm SMART like that.
I know that it was about writing though, so I guess I'm already off on the right foot.
Several people I read are doing NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) (as opposed to NaBloPoMo which is what I'm doing), and I thought about doing that for, oh, two seconds, before nixing it. I realized last night that I haven't done any truly creative writing since I'm not sure when. I do remember writing a poem for an assignment in 6th grade, about my old grey & white cat. My mother and sister RAVED about it and still bug me to write poetry to this day because of it. I just remember being mad that my teacher read it out loud in class but didn't get the rhythm of it right - but of course I was too chicken to read it out loud myself so it's my own fault.
I remember writing short stories in grade school (4th grade maybe?) for a collection that our teacher "published" at Kinko's and gave to all of our parents. I totally don't remember what I wrote but I think it was something about a horse. Which isn't surprising; I was a bit of a horse nut when I was a kid. But through high school and college, I remember writing a LOT of reports, and LOT of research papers, and a LOT of articles for journalism classes, but nothing really creative.
Some might argue that my blog could be considered creative, but it's not - it's not a product of my imagination, it's a product of my life and mind - a journal, not a story. It's not always entertaining, and I don't necessarily mean it to be. It's simply an outlet, and what goes on in my head isn't always funny or enlightening or meaningful for other people. But then I also don't reveal everything that's going on in this particular space, since I link to it from Facebook and my mother and other family members read it, so that itself may be limiting it's entertainment value. But I'm not that brave yet.
But back to my point: ultimately, no. I'm not a creative writer. Could I be? Maybe. I haven't tried. Do I want to? Maybe. It's not something I've thought about, it's not on my Bucket List or even my weekend To-Do. Will I give it a shot?
......
I know that it was about writing though, so I guess I'm already off on the right foot.
Several people I read are doing NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) (as opposed to NaBloPoMo which is what I'm doing), and I thought about doing that for, oh, two seconds, before nixing it. I realized last night that I haven't done any truly creative writing since I'm not sure when. I do remember writing a poem for an assignment in 6th grade, about my old grey & white cat. My mother and sister RAVED about it and still bug me to write poetry to this day because of it. I just remember being mad that my teacher read it out loud in class but didn't get the rhythm of it right - but of course I was too chicken to read it out loud myself so it's my own fault.
I remember writing short stories in grade school (4th grade maybe?) for a collection that our teacher "published" at Kinko's and gave to all of our parents. I totally don't remember what I wrote but I think it was something about a horse. Which isn't surprising; I was a bit of a horse nut when I was a kid. But through high school and college, I remember writing a LOT of reports, and LOT of research papers, and a LOT of articles for journalism classes, but nothing really creative.
Some might argue that my blog could be considered creative, but it's not - it's not a product of my imagination, it's a product of my life and mind - a journal, not a story. It's not always entertaining, and I don't necessarily mean it to be. It's simply an outlet, and what goes on in my head isn't always funny or enlightening or meaningful for other people. But then I also don't reveal everything that's going on in this particular space, since I link to it from Facebook and my mother and other family members read it, so that itself may be limiting it's entertainment value. But I'm not that brave yet.
But back to my point: ultimately, no. I'm not a creative writer. Could I be? Maybe. I haven't tried. Do I want to? Maybe. It's not something I've thought about, it's not on my Bucket List or even my weekend To-Do. Will I give it a shot?
......
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Fall at Fort Meigs
We took a walk at Fort Meigs Park today - the sun was out, and it was a bit chilly but we had a grand old time. Jake bounded through the grass like the boisterous hound dog he is, and even got in the river for the first time. I got some great photos of seed pods & other fall foliage, and a nice one of the "Regal Beagle" too. (Okay he's not a Beagle but he sure can pose pretty when his nose isn't going into overdrive!)
I'm also thinking about trying out NaNoBloMo or NaBloPoMo or whatever the hell it's called - basically November is National Blog Posting Month and the idea is to write one post every day. I'm not sure if I'll really be able to live up to that but I might give it a shot - so here's today's, more pics than words, but still a post.
I'm also thinking about trying out NaNoBloMo or NaBloPoMo or whatever the hell it's called - basically November is National Blog Posting Month and the idea is to write one post every day. I'm not sure if I'll really be able to live up to that but I might give it a shot - so here's today's, more pics than words, but still a post.
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