The NYU Women's Basketball team didn't do as well as we hoped in the season, although I'm sure they're feeling it too. Anyway, they didn't make it in the NCAA D3 tournament and so are playing in some type of local tournament? They're seeded 6th, but will play in the championship game tomorrow. We went to the semi-final tonight because it was local -- in Hoboken, just a Path train ride away.
Getting there was easy ... empty car on the train that showed up right as we swiped our Metro cards. Finding the gym was a little trickier, but we had plenty of time and the 20-ish minute walk wasn't bad -- especially with views of the skyline across the Hudson. I don't think I'll ever tire of looking at that!
The game itself was a winner. The gym was quiet ... and actually smaller than the gym in Indiahoma, OK, where we played our knees out on the ridiculous cement-based floor. It was a neutral site, in that the other team was from a different school too. And there weren't too many fans. We were close up to the action and could actually hear the players talking to each other on the court, which was odd. NYU's gym isn't huge, but we sit near the back so we definitely are removed from the players! (I sometimes wonder if they recognize us like we recognize them ... like seeing them in the gym where some of them work, or if they even care about having fans/a following.)
We cheered with the best of them and the team pulled out a victory. BUT one of the team members wasn't suited up. And I can't figure out what happened to her/how she was injured (odd since I read all the summaries). AND another player wasn't there at all -- someone who had been doing really well. I can't find any news about that either. All I can think of is she is either sick or got kicked off the team, although that seems like even the bad student journalists at the NYU publications would figure that out and write about it. One would think.
St. Patrick's Day is coming up and apparently Hoboken celebrates all month long. It's been a while since I've seen so many drunk people all together. It was disconcerting, felt unsafe and awful. I'm not sure I'd ever be happy doing that, even though it's what you're supposed to do as a young, hip person. I'll just cling to my youth while I can. In the midst of green-clad kids we waited for the train back, ended up on the wrong platform because of poor signage and had to cross over. Got on the train, were very crowded by the people, but finally made it home.
An unexpected date night, and not really a "New Yorker" thing to do. But it was fun.
Go Violets!
Reviews: Two Memoirs
Prairie Tale: A Memoir by Melissa GilbertMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
I bought this at The Strand - the newly released paperback version. Never heard about it when it was first released. It's interesting because she's a celebrity, but not very well written -- some weird errors/inconsistencies in how names are spelled. And I kept wanting Rob Lowe to show up again at the end. I really wanted her to end up with her first boyfriend. Other things were glossed over, and I hated that she didn't even mention her sister Sara's success, or explain why Sara used her last name, although they are sisters via their mother. It was a ridiculously fast read because it is written at a low level, but I liked it enough and it was probably better than reading a gossip mag, since it was likely mostly true, at least as true as her memory could produce.
House Rules by Rachel SontagMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Another day, another memoir. This girl's life was awful, in the psychological torment she endured by her dad and the impact of her weak mom staying with him. I kept hoping for it to get better, as in, she would break through and find a way to fully be free of him. And while she's estranged from her dad at the end (and therefore pretty much from her mom), it didn't seem very hopeful or happy. There wasn't really a message within the book, or a lesson to be learned. That made me think "I could do this," (meaning write a memoir, not be estranged from my family) BUT I'm not sure my family life/growing up story is as interesting ... or that I would be able to publicly air it like Rachel does. I am interested in what happened after the book was published. If her dad exploded or if it's just continued to keep the rift between them growing wider. The author lives in NYC.
View all my reviews
Multitasking Fool
Randomly, what I was doing last night almost simultaneously: crocheting, watching TV and reading a book.
I would crochet while watching the show (only 7 motifs left before I can put the baby blanket together!), and then on commercials would read.
Probably not healthy at all. I'm not so much concentrating on anything these days but just skimming the surface -- to get the book read, the blanket crocheted or the TV show watched.
Am I enjoying the act of doing these things?
Probably not as much as I would if I did things one at a time. Perhaps an experiment in my future to be more deliberate and separate my activities.
I would crochet while watching the show (only 7 motifs left before I can put the baby blanket together!), and then on commercials would read.
Probably not healthy at all. I'm not so much concentrating on anything these days but just skimming the surface -- to get the book read, the blanket crocheted or the TV show watched.
Am I enjoying the act of doing these things?
Probably not as much as I would if I did things one at a time. Perhaps an experiment in my future to be more deliberate and separate my activities.
Marching
Yeah, staying away from blogging has been more of a forced thing than an "ah, no blog to write" kind of feeling.
Yesterday on the way home from the gym I had a moment ... a happy to be alive, to be able to walk, to breathe, to exercise, to live, to love, and on and on. Bee-bopping to my music down the city sidewalks. I even put a happy spin on the broken elevator and having to walk up 8 flights of stairs (my butt got an extra workout)!
During work I am LESS grateful and introspective. I don't know when I got SO MEAN to people (oh yeah, I've always been this mean). I know I should be grateful to be employed at all ... eh.
I have a canker sore in the back of my throat. It is the worst, and may be the beginnings of a sore throat, although here's hoping it's just a sore that goes away. Be glad I don't take a picture of it, because I really could and it would GROSS YOU OUT!
Webcamming tonight though and I'll for sure show my Owen boy. He's always showing me the inside of his mouth, so maybe he'll get a kick out of seeing mine. We'll see.
To the library!
Yesterday on the way home from the gym I had a moment ... a happy to be alive, to be able to walk, to breathe, to exercise, to live, to love, and on and on. Bee-bopping to my music down the city sidewalks. I even put a happy spin on the broken elevator and having to walk up 8 flights of stairs (my butt got an extra workout)!
During work I am LESS grateful and introspective. I don't know when I got SO MEAN to people (oh yeah, I've always been this mean). I know I should be grateful to be employed at all ... eh.
I have a canker sore in the back of my throat. It is the worst, and may be the beginnings of a sore throat, although here's hoping it's just a sore that goes away. Be glad I don't take a picture of it, because I really could and it would GROSS YOU OUT!
Webcamming tonight though and I'll for sure show my Owen boy. He's always showing me the inside of his mouth, so maybe he'll get a kick out of seeing mine. We'll see.
To the library!
Strange
The writing prompt for March is about "strange" or "strangers" ... that could be fun, but not 31 posts fun, so this should be my final forced post for a while. Perhaps I'll have something to write about every day in March, but I doubt it.
There is a soothing sense of accomplishment by doing something regularly -- a habit that becomes a ritual. And writing is something I want to keep up with, although perhaps not these throwaway posts that don't really stretch my skills or imagination.
Recapping my life is great and I can imagine myself as an old lady reading back through these posts and being able to remember exactly how I felt when I wrote them, not knowing what will happen next, the way I feel now when I read back over old journals. Who knows what technology will be like in 50+ years.
The snow is melting -- everything is slushy and wet and I bet the piles will be gone by week's end because it's so warm. The weather may send more snow though, so I'll just keep going with the flow. Either way I'm an inside girl almost all the time.
Thanks for reading this February, and I'm sure you'll see me writing in March (if nothing else to express my joy over March Madness and/or the thrill of getting through yet another year's "Super Tuesday" at work). OMG.
There is a soothing sense of accomplishment by doing something regularly -- a habit that becomes a ritual. And writing is something I want to keep up with, although perhaps not these throwaway posts that don't really stretch my skills or imagination.
Recapping my life is great and I can imagine myself as an old lady reading back through these posts and being able to remember exactly how I felt when I wrote them, not knowing what will happen next, the way I feel now when I read back over old journals. Who knows what technology will be like in 50+ years.
The snow is melting -- everything is slushy and wet and I bet the piles will be gone by week's end because it's so warm. The weather may send more snow though, so I'll just keep going with the flow. Either way I'm an inside girl almost all the time.
Thanks for reading this February, and I'm sure you'll see me writing in March (if nothing else to express my joy over March Madness and/or the thrill of getting through yet another year's "Super Tuesday" at work). OMG.
Memory Reset
My memory is a funny thing. I saw an Ikea commercial sometime before Christmas -- only saw it once (it has since been aired much more often) -- but I was CONVINCED that I'd seen the actress playing the wife before, and I had a feeling it was at a play Shawn and I had seen. I searched and searched for who she was based on the commercial (it's the one with her and a red haired husband talking to their mattress like they're sports coaches). Although that search was fruitless, several months later I finally figured it out. I saw her in The Good Guy last Sunday and figured I would be able to find her name, and I was right. She's Kathy Searle, which I figured out by looking up The Good Guy on IMDB. Then I searched for her name, found her website and ta da -- listed right there on the home page: Just wrapped the 2 and 1/2 year run of the Off Broadway hit "My First Time" directed by Ken Davenport.
It's been a while since Shawn and I saw that play, but for whatever reason her face and voice stuck with me, but I couldn't place where I had seen her. Mystery solved!
Closing
February is coming to a close, and I can say I'm glad for that. I won't try to do a NaBloPoMo again until November I think.
Last night I went with Kellie to see Shutter Island. Creepy and the more I think about it the more I like it. We also ate at Spice, and it was certainly spicy Thai food!
Shawn's flight was canceled, so he's been rebooked for tonight ... will be home around 11 p.m. I guess another lazy day alone won't kill me. AH!
Shawn also reminded me that he was gone to Norway longer than he's been gone on this trip. I had been thinking this was the longest we'd been apart. Not sure why it feels that way. I can't even remember what I did when he was gone to Norway. Maybe there was better TV on, and certainly work was less stressful at that point.
The snow is still piled up here, but no more falling. The white blobs are nice, and kids seem to be having a lot of fun playing in the big open playgrounds of snow. I'm sure Washington Square Park would be fun -- if it weren't overrun with construction and mostly cordoned off. Oh well.
Giving up on listening to this NYU women's basketball game. Just a slaughter AND the announcers aren't really clear about the game -- all they do is cheer for their team, not really calling the plays. So awful.
And I have to go out and get cash for the laundry card. GRETCH!
Last night I went with Kellie to see Shutter Island. Creepy and the more I think about it the more I like it. We also ate at Spice, and it was certainly spicy Thai food!
Shawn's flight was canceled, so he's been rebooked for tonight ... will be home around 11 p.m. I guess another lazy day alone won't kill me. AH!
Shawn also reminded me that he was gone to Norway longer than he's been gone on this trip. I had been thinking this was the longest we'd been apart. Not sure why it feels that way. I can't even remember what I did when he was gone to Norway. Maybe there was better TV on, and certainly work was less stressful at that point.
The snow is still piled up here, but no more falling. The white blobs are nice, and kids seem to be having a lot of fun playing in the big open playgrounds of snow. I'm sure Washington Square Park would be fun -- if it weren't overrun with construction and mostly cordoned off. Oh well.
Giving up on listening to this NYU women's basketball game. Just a slaughter AND the announcers aren't really clear about the game -- all they do is cheer for their team, not really calling the plays. So awful.
And I have to go out and get cash for the laundry card. GRETCH!
Buried Snowman
Last night I made a mini snowman with the snow accumulated on the air conditioner. If I'd had coffee beans or mini carrots I would have decked him out, and it was all I could do to keep from crocheting him a mini cap. (Can you tell I'm going stir crazy without Shawn?)
Anyway, this morning I woke up and my poor snowman is neck-deep in fresh powder! It's a winter wonderland here and NYU is closed again. The gym closes at ~5 p.m. today, so it's a good thing I went yesterday and decided to take today off!
Wiggle It
I was crossing off an item on my to do list (things are crazy enough that I'm creating a new one each day), and I started scribbling a bit -- just an up and down motion that led to a small flood of color. The motion and resulting scribble reminded me of a pen I had that would vibrate on its own and create squiggles while I wrote. I'm sure it was a late 80s/early 90s thing, but wouldn't you know Amazon has it.
While I know I would enjoy owning a squiggle writer again, I also thought it might be a fun toy for Owen of which Shawn could approve (although perhaps when learning to write it's not ideal to have your writing implement wiggle violently?).
Off to the gym, since I'll probably take tomorrow off. (One good thing about living in relative isolation is that people will be able to tell the difference/appreciate the results after not seeing me for a few months.) The snow should be fun to trudge through. The snowfall has been absolutely stunning today and it was impossible for me to be as grumpy as I have been the rest of this week.
Smiley for that reason AND because Shawn comes home tomorrow!
While I know I would enjoy owning a squiggle writer again, I also thought it might be a fun toy for Owen of which Shawn could approve (although perhaps when learning to write it's not ideal to have your writing implement wiggle violently?).
Off to the gym, since I'll probably take tomorrow off. (One good thing about living in relative isolation is that people will be able to tell the difference/appreciate the results after not seeing me for a few months.) The snow should be fun to trudge through. The snowfall has been absolutely stunning today and it was impossible for me to be as grumpy as I have been the rest of this week.
Smiley for that reason AND because Shawn comes home tomorrow!
FREE Lance
Emphasis on the free.
Doing some donated work on a brochure for my church. It's harder than it seems and gave up on trying to do it in Word. These people will just have to make due with a PDF and I can make their changes until they're happy. Oiy!
And thinking about this title and Lance made me remember my most embarrassing high school moment -- when I hooted and hollered over a baseball player (opposing team), not knowing that his dad was sitting nearby in his truck and heard everything. I was at least 4 years younger than the player, but it was so humiliating. I still blush a little when I think about it. The dad called me out and I just ran away mortified. But I never did anything like that again!
The player's name was (is?) Lance.
That's all you get for tonight. Until tomorrow.
Doing some donated work on a brochure for my church. It's harder than it seems and gave up on trying to do it in Word. These people will just have to make due with a PDF and I can make their changes until they're happy. Oiy!
And thinking about this title and Lance made me remember my most embarrassing high school moment -- when I hooted and hollered over a baseball player (opposing team), not knowing that his dad was sitting nearby in his truck and heard everything. I was at least 4 years younger than the player, but it was so humiliating. I still blush a little when I think about it. The dad called me out and I just ran away mortified. But I never did anything like that again!
The player's name was (is?) Lance.
That's all you get for tonight. Until tomorrow.
Five of Five
It's a perfect storm -- everything at work crashing all at once. Such is life, but this is the fifth blog post I've written today.
It's a special day for two of my favorite people who also happen to be readers of this blog: my mom and friend Holly. Funny that they share a birthday.
Zum Geburtstag viel Glück.
It's been raining today, which I'm pretty sure is my favorite kind of weather. I didn't even mind trudging through it to the gym (although my pants soaked up a ton of water). It's cold and grey and soggy. Very Eeyore-ish.
At the gym I felt like calling the locker room police, which isn't unusual, as I'm always ticked off about something going on in there. Usually the offenses are to my senses -- i.e., please don't wander around naked in front of me, old lady or the smell of chlorine is so strong I think I have singed my nose hairs -- or puddles of water because swimmers refuse to take their towels with them to the pool and instead traipse in to their locker, dripping. It's disgusting! Today my complaint was the number of lockers that were filled with stuff (in some cases a single umbrella) without locks. And they were TOP lockers. Geez. I think I'm a little too ... too. But I didn't steal anything!
I'm looking forward to Monday, which will be the end of NaBloPoMo. I'm not feeling particularly inspired or writerly of late. Just pouring out some things out of my head and nothing else. I should revisit my "ties" post ideas and make some of those happen to finish out these last few posts. I'll believe it when I see it.
It's a special day for two of my favorite people who also happen to be readers of this blog: my mom and friend Holly. Funny that they share a birthday.
Zum Geburtstag viel Glück.
It's been raining today, which I'm pretty sure is my favorite kind of weather. I didn't even mind trudging through it to the gym (although my pants soaked up a ton of water). It's cold and grey and soggy. Very Eeyore-ish.
At the gym I felt like calling the locker room police, which isn't unusual, as I'm always ticked off about something going on in there. Usually the offenses are to my senses -- i.e., please don't wander around naked in front of me, old lady or the smell of chlorine is so strong I think I have singed my nose hairs -- or puddles of water because swimmers refuse to take their towels with them to the pool and instead traipse in to their locker, dripping. It's disgusting! Today my complaint was the number of lockers that were filled with stuff (in some cases a single umbrella) without locks. And they were TOP lockers. Geez. I think I'm a little too ... too. But I didn't steal anything!
I'm looking forward to Monday, which will be the end of NaBloPoMo. I'm not feeling particularly inspired or writerly of late. Just pouring out some things out of my head and nothing else. I should revisit my "ties" post ideas and make some of those happen to finish out these last few posts. I'll believe it when I see it.
Chain Chew
One in a chain of no-good days, and today one way I combated the stress was with a chain of gum. Some people chain smoke, apparently I chain chew. I've only allowed myself one pack, but I've certainly buzzed through it, spitting out the gum almost as fast as it gets in my mouth and definitely before it loses its flavor.
Hello, Sunday
Lazy days. But I still got to church and a gym run. Will try to catch a movie -- something Shawn wouldn't want to see.
Thought I would need to work today, but after an e-mail check got the good news that everything can be handled tomorrow.
On the way back from church/to the gym I stopped at K&G Fashions. I almost bought two more suits and a really cute lacy skirt. (I bought a pinstripe skirt/jacket combo at Penney's last weekend.) The two suits today would have cost together the same as the one I bought last week (the one last week was $45, so we're not talking big bucks here). One was a purple jacket and skirt (the skirt hit at a very cute length), and the other was a pinstripe pant, vest and white shirt combo. (The lacy skirt was cute, but the lining was still super see-through.)
My reasoning against the purchase included: I have too many clothes I don't wear anyway; I don't have much reason to dress up and have plenty of clothes that will work for the dressing up I need to do in the near future; any clothes I buy now will theoretically/hopefully not fit me in a few months, so certainly doesn't make sense to make that investment; the white shirt w/ the pinstripe pants/vest was super see-through and had weird bell sleeves (if I could have just bought the vest I would have -- because that looked great); and can I really buy a PURPLE suit? I've owned a purple car, I have on purple pants, I have a purple cord jacket, a number of purple scarves, etc. etc. So it's not like I'm a stranger to surrounding myself with my favorite hue. But something about a purple suit. I just couldn't do it, even at $15.
Shawn will be proud of my spending restraint!
Thought I would need to work today, but after an e-mail check got the good news that everything can be handled tomorrow.
On the way back from church/to the gym I stopped at K&G Fashions. I almost bought two more suits and a really cute lacy skirt. (I bought a pinstripe skirt/jacket combo at Penney's last weekend.) The two suits today would have cost together the same as the one I bought last week (the one last week was $45, so we're not talking big bucks here). One was a purple jacket and skirt (the skirt hit at a very cute length), and the other was a pinstripe pant, vest and white shirt combo. (The lacy skirt was cute, but the lining was still super see-through.)
My reasoning against the purchase included: I have too many clothes I don't wear anyway; I don't have much reason to dress up and have plenty of clothes that will work for the dressing up I need to do in the near future; any clothes I buy now will theoretically/hopefully not fit me in a few months, so certainly doesn't make sense to make that investment; the white shirt w/ the pinstripe pants/vest was super see-through and had weird bell sleeves (if I could have just bought the vest I would have -- because that looked great); and can I really buy a PURPLE suit? I've owned a purple car, I have on purple pants, I have a purple cord jacket, a number of purple scarves, etc. etc. So it's not like I'm a stranger to surrounding myself with my favorite hue. But something about a purple suit. I just couldn't do it, even at $15.
Shawn will be proud of my spending restraint!
silvermari writes
I read the Mouthy Housewives almost every day. And they recently had a guest blogger, so I clicked over to her site. On her sidebar I saw this "she writes" group, clicked on it and realized it's a ning group for writers. I'm trained as a writer/reporter, although I don't report in any fashion anymore I do write, albeit for myself. Still, I have a Ning ID and was able to join, with my blog as my "reference" I guess -- to show that I do write. So I'm glad for that.
Visit She Writes
Shawn just left for his conference in Minnesota. Nothing more to report on that just now, but I'm sure as the week progresses I'll get crazier and crazier.
Last night we had Crab Stuffed Salmon, a FreshDirect dish I hadn't ordered before. YOWZA it was good. And cheap -- for $12 we had two beautiful pieces of fish STUFFED with crab, and all I had to do was pop them in the oven to cook. We ate with a salad and were quite satisfied. I'll be adding that to my regular shopping order, and it was as easy to fix as a frozen pizza ... or fish sticks ... or any number of pop-in-the-oven treats that we don't really eat anymore.
HA -- I just got a comment on my last post, anonymously of course, and possibly spam, given the odd syntax and typo:
Visit She Writes
Shawn just left for his conference in Minnesota. Nothing more to report on that just now, but I'm sure as the week progresses I'll get crazier and crazier.
Last night we had Crab Stuffed Salmon, a FreshDirect dish I hadn't ordered before. YOWZA it was good. And cheap -- for $12 we had two beautiful pieces of fish STUFFED with crab, and all I had to do was pop them in the oven to cook. We ate with a salad and were quite satisfied. I'll be adding that to my regular shopping order, and it was as easy to fix as a frozen pizza ... or fish sticks ... or any number of pop-in-the-oven treats that we don't really eat anymore.
HA -- I just got a comment on my last post, anonymously of course, and possibly spam, given the odd syntax and typo:
You have to express more your opinion to attract more readers, because just a video or plain text without any personal approach is not that valuable. But it is just form my point of viewIsn't that kind of what I've been dealing with/thinking about "out loud" in this space? Whatever the case, yes, I know that the way I write now and the content is not attractive to a wide audience. And right now that's OK by me. We'll see if I ever come up with any truly interesting content. I highly doubt it.
Contagious
I woke up this morning determined to change my reactions, to keep a positive attitude and spread that infectiously.
It's COB, and while I've had my moments of frustration, today has been a vast improvement over yesterday in terms of melt downs and overall productivity. It's helped by the fact that Shawn is home, but help us all as he'll be gone ALL next week at a conference. Egads!
Decided I do want to keep my notes from the AW service:
It's COB, and while I've had my moments of frustration, today has been a vast improvement over yesterday in terms of melt downs and overall productivity. It's helped by the fact that Shawn is home, but help us all as he'll be gone ALL next week at a conference. Egads!
Decided I do want to keep my notes from the AW service:
- Lent is a season of confession and change. From facade to faith. From resolutions to reality.
- It is a lifelong endeavor to be Christian. When people tell Maya Angelou that they are Christian, she responds "Already?!" It is in the search itself that one finds ecstasy.
- And how about the best Good News: Nothing can separate me from God's love through Jesus Christ.
Frazzly
At the gym tonight it was student night, or something. All-university games I think? Maybe something riffing on the Olympics. Anyway, the place was crawling with students in brightly colored, matching team shirts. There were signs along the railings with themes that matched the teams' shirts, so I think it must have been Greek night or something.
ANYWAY, the teams were SO loud cheering for each other it was deafening. And all I could think was why can't the students get around and cheer for their actual athletic teams?!
Got a new pair of workout pants, and that's all my news for today. Cheers. (now if only I had a drink.)
ANYWAY, the teams were SO loud cheering for each other it was deafening. And all I could think was why can't the students get around and cheer for their actual athletic teams?!
Got a new pair of workout pants, and that's all my news for today. Cheers. (now if only I had a drink.)
To Dust You Shall Return
Working from top of the morning to the end of the evening. I did have a 4 hour break in there when I left for the chiropractor and Ash Wednesday service. I finally gave up after a few final tasks at 9 p.m. Kind of ridiculous, but if I didn't knock them out tomorrow would be even worst than it probably will be.
"Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return." I would write more about the experience but I realize that is sort of like practicing my piety before others in order to be seen, even though that isn't my intent. (See Mathew 6:1-6) But at the same time I want to share those experiences, so catch-22.
I webcammed with the sweetest baby boy tonight, who isn't so much a baby as a 5-year-old Kindergarten kid! And now I'm webcamming with Shawn, although it's one-sided. I can hear him, but he can see and hear me. I'm not that interesting -- typing away on a blog post to get it done. He's working on the Mensa calendar puzzle -- I held it up to the camera and he took a screen shot. Are we nerds or what?!
I rode the bus home from church -- down 5th Avenue. One of my favorite trips in the city. Cheap too. I like seeing all the windows and bustling people (yes, people are always bustling here, be it Sunday morning or a Wednesday night).
Tomorrow Shawn will be home, if only for a couple days before his next big trip. That is all I can muster for today.
"Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return." I would write more about the experience but I realize that is sort of like practicing my piety before others in order to be seen, even though that isn't my intent. (See Mathew 6:1-6) But at the same time I want to share those experiences, so catch-22.
I webcammed with the sweetest baby boy tonight, who isn't so much a baby as a 5-year-old Kindergarten kid! And now I'm webcamming with Shawn, although it's one-sided. I can hear him, but he can see and hear me. I'm not that interesting -- typing away on a blog post to get it done. He's working on the Mensa calendar puzzle -- I held it up to the camera and he took a screen shot. Are we nerds or what?!
I rode the bus home from church -- down 5th Avenue. One of my favorite trips in the city. Cheap too. I like seeing all the windows and bustling people (yes, people are always bustling here, be it Sunday morning or a Wednesday night).
Tomorrow Shawn will be home, if only for a couple days before his next big trip. That is all I can muster for today.
Cold Mountain
Cold Mountain by Charles FrazierMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book was amazing, up to the end. The book has been sitting on my shelf for years. I think I bought it on a discount somewhere. I got swept up in the story and pulled into Civil War history. I read the paragraphs quickly, drinking them in like water -- excited to get to the presumable happy ending. Of course it didn't happen, and it seemed like a FORCED bad ending ... because the bad part was out of character and almost off track, at least in my mind.
If it weren't the middle of the night when I finished it I would have thrown it across the room. Other than the ending the book was amazing. I think I might even rewatch the movie ... and hope that Hollywood gave it a happy ending. Eh.
View all my reviews
Frosted Window Panes
Absolutely nothing exciting today. Woke up a little early because Shawn left for his next interview, the one rescheduled from last week. He'll be home on Thursday, but then he flies out again on Friday for a conference and is gone for almost a full week. Yikes!
The entire day was grey and overcast, with lots of fluffy snow falling down. It melted upon impact for most of the day (although late afternoon there was slight accumulation that has since turned into slush), but from my vantage point on the 8th floor it was a lovely sight.
After an especially stressful workday, I certainly didn't want to go to the gym today, but the days you don't want to go the most are the days you NEED to go the most, so I mustered the energy to go. The gym is still so crowded with students. I don't remember it being as busy last semester. But I guess NYU students getting healthy is a good thing. But I'd rather not have to jockey for position in the locker room ... or wait in line to exercise. That seems a little ... off point or something?
I've been pondering goals for this space. Writing, blogging, journaling, chronicling. I am my target audience, although secondary audiences include my family and a few IRL friends who know about this blog. But should I pick a topic and try to flex my writing muscles? Write about more than myself? And for audiences beyond my small circle?
It's not like I need another project or really want to. I'm just letting that tumble around in my head a little. I also want to do some site work with regard to silvermari.com, which hasn't been updated in over a year. I may even install a WordPress blog and port silvermari & the city into that format. I've also been thinking about possible blog renaming if/when we move from the city. something to play on the reflective nature of my initials. Not sure I'm ready to make that kind of WordPress commitment, but it wouldn't hurt to have a more solidified online presence on my URL.
And then I think about URL. I own silvermari.com, that's where I have my random attempt at a languishing vanity site (and where I hosted my wedding information/pictures). But should I do something using my real life name? There's an author Mari Walker, so she has the .com of the URL, but it seems the .net and .org versions are available (neither of which really appeal to me). marijwalker.com seems open, but that isn't right either. Also, if I were ever to integrate/leverage Facebook, that vanity URL is silvermari, although I'm sure I could do a redirect w/in a new URL'ed site to my profile.
I can't get away from it. I AM silvermari. It's a somewhat ridiculous screen name I picked as a ~14 year old, but it is me. So just writing that out and looking at the options of URLs makes me think silvermari.com is the ticket. Feel free to disagree but I might just delete you. (Like I said, I write for me!)
Thoughts of a nothing-girl for now.
The entire day was grey and overcast, with lots of fluffy snow falling down. It melted upon impact for most of the day (although late afternoon there was slight accumulation that has since turned into slush), but from my vantage point on the 8th floor it was a lovely sight.
After an especially stressful workday, I certainly didn't want to go to the gym today, but the days you don't want to go the most are the days you NEED to go the most, so I mustered the energy to go. The gym is still so crowded with students. I don't remember it being as busy last semester. But I guess NYU students getting healthy is a good thing. But I'd rather not have to jockey for position in the locker room ... or wait in line to exercise. That seems a little ... off point or something?
I've been pondering goals for this space. Writing, blogging, journaling, chronicling. I am my target audience, although secondary audiences include my family and a few IRL friends who know about this blog. But should I pick a topic and try to flex my writing muscles? Write about more than myself? And for audiences beyond my small circle?
It's not like I need another project or really want to. I'm just letting that tumble around in my head a little. I also want to do some site work with regard to silvermari.com, which hasn't been updated in over a year. I may even install a WordPress blog and port silvermari & the city into that format. I've also been thinking about possible blog renaming if/when we move from the city. something to play on the reflective nature of my initials. Not sure I'm ready to make that kind of WordPress commitment, but it wouldn't hurt to have a more solidified online presence on my URL.
And then I think about URL. I own silvermari.com, that's where I have my random attempt at a languishing vanity site (and where I hosted my wedding information/pictures). But should I do something using my real life name? There's an author Mari Walker, so she has the .com of the URL, but it seems the .net and .org versions are available (neither of which really appeal to me). marijwalker.com seems open, but that isn't right either. Also, if I were ever to integrate/leverage Facebook, that vanity URL is silvermari, although I'm sure I could do a redirect w/in a new URL'ed site to my profile.
I can't get away from it. I AM silvermari. It's a somewhat ridiculous screen name I picked as a ~14 year old, but it is me. So just writing that out and looking at the options of URLs makes me think silvermari.com is the ticket. Feel free to disagree but I might just delete you. (Like I said, I write for me!)
Thoughts of a nothing-girl for now.
Oh, Bobby!
My cousin is in town this week, and she and I made plans to meet up for lunch today, since I have the day off work (it's only 4 p.m. and I've already worked out!). We met at Cozy's, for lack of a better suggestion, but I got there a little early and she was going to be late. For whatever reason I can't hear my phone ringing ... EVEN WHEN IT'S IN MY HAND. I'm suspecting that it didn't ring at all, but whatever.
I got a voice mail from her that was a little garbled, but I suddenly got the idea that she was at Cosi, up Broadway about 8 blocks. (We had used Strand as the reference point, and Cosi is much closer than Cozy.) So for lack of anything better to do, and to get my blood pumping after standing in the cold for 30 minutes, I hightailed it up there. I went in Cosi and looked around, didn't see her and decided to go back to Cozy.
Across the street, by the movie theater, who do I spy?
My Holy Grail of celebrity sightings...
Vincent D'Onofrio. [wikipedia]
ZOMG. Crap on a cracker. And all the excitement in the world!
He was not filming or in character. He was smoking a cigarette, leaning on a newspaper box and looking very grizzly. Smoking hot (literally). Anyway, I was NOT smooth, and the recognition on my face caught his eye, even across the street. He looked at me, I looked at him. He smoked, I looked at my phone, trying to decide how rude it would be to try to take a picture.
In the end I decided too rude, and he moved away from my line of sight as the light turned green and traffic ran in front of me.
I booked it back to Cozy, arriving just as Jenn did, and we had a lovely lunch. Although the food isn't spectacular, it is cheap and the company could NOT be beat! I forget how much I like people and being around them! Ha-ha!
And the delay in connecting and the garbled voice message were all in the plan to let me see Mr. D'Onofrio, me thinks.
I wish I'd taken the picture though.
I got a voice mail from her that was a little garbled, but I suddenly got the idea that she was at Cosi, up Broadway about 8 blocks. (We had used Strand as the reference point, and Cosi is much closer than Cozy.) So for lack of anything better to do, and to get my blood pumping after standing in the cold for 30 minutes, I hightailed it up there. I went in Cosi and looked around, didn't see her and decided to go back to Cozy.
Across the street, by the movie theater, who do I spy?
My Holy Grail of celebrity sightings...
Vincent D'Onofrio. [wikipedia]
ZOMG. Crap on a cracker. And all the excitement in the world!
He was not filming or in character. He was smoking a cigarette, leaning on a newspaper box and looking very grizzly. Smoking hot (literally). Anyway, I was NOT smooth, and the recognition on my face caught his eye, even across the street. He looked at me, I looked at him. He smoked, I looked at my phone, trying to decide how rude it would be to try to take a picture.
In the end I decided too rude, and he moved away from my line of sight as the light turned green and traffic ran in front of me.
I booked it back to Cozy, arriving just as Jenn did, and we had a lovely lunch. Although the food isn't spectacular, it is cheap and the company could NOT be beat! I forget how much I like people and being around them! Ha-ha!
And the delay in connecting and the garbled voice message were all in the plan to let me see Mr. D'Onofrio, me thinks.
I wish I'd taken the picture though.
The Look...
Happy Valentine's Day!
I don't have many ruminations for this post. We just watched another loss ... the NYU women's last home game of the season. Possibly (probably?) the last we'll ever see. Such is life.
We're planning to take a brief shopping trip just for something to do. I have tomorrow OFF work so am most looking forward to sleeping in. Hopefully I'll be able to put thoughts together for an actual content-rich post tomorrow.
Fingers crossed.
I don't have many ruminations for this post. We just watched another loss ... the NYU women's last home game of the season. Possibly (probably?) the last we'll ever see. Such is life.
We're planning to take a brief shopping trip just for something to do. I have tomorrow OFF work so am most looking forward to sleeping in. Hopefully I'll be able to put thoughts together for an actual content-rich post tomorrow.
Fingers crossed.
Bedlammo!
How 'bout those Cowboys? WOW. My workout today went so much faster and easier because I was watching the first half of that game. Amazing! I guess that somewhat soothes the NYU women's team loss to Chicago last night.
I've got a lot of things done today -- errand types: bank, post office, drug store, gym. When I work out on the elliptical I usually read a magazine and listen to music. The number of magazine subscriptions I have is a little ridiculous, but of the ones I read I've started to find I enjoy the women's magazines targeted to families. Instead of Cosmo and Glamour I like Ladies Home Journal and Good Housekeeping.
Here is an ad spread I found particularly funny ... and it was in Glamour - the one with Posh on the cover!
I've got a lot of things done today -- errand types: bank, post office, drug store, gym. When I work out on the elliptical I usually read a magazine and listen to music. The number of magazine subscriptions I have is a little ridiculous, but of the ones I read I've started to find I enjoy the women's magazines targeted to families. Instead of Cosmo and Glamour I like Ladies Home Journal and Good Housekeeping.
Here is an ad spread I found particularly funny ... and it was in Glamour - the one with Posh on the cover!
There's no way they don't go together, because they don't make sense without the other. I love it! It's the little things in my life.
Busted
At coles watching the women get their butts beat. Sad.
Via my iPod cuz Shawn has a log in.
Hatin on the refs and ready for this to be over.
Via my iPod cuz Shawn has a log in.
Hatin on the refs and ready for this to be over.
Optional Hair Styles
Picture 2: Later that same day, my hair after being flattened with my Chi straightener. Serious rocker face, right? LOVE the razor-ed ends, so I know it will grow out and I'll grow to love it.
My hair seems a little LESS short, although still shocking my system to see it so chopped, especially the random 3 inch section at my crown. Alfalfa moment for real. This flat it will fit in a ponytail, although so short and the hair around the nape of my neck isn't long enough to fit.
Temperament
Learned something today -- I would have bet money that temperment was how that word was spelled. (I wrote it in a blog comment and the little red squiggly line led me to look it up). The correct spelling reminds me of tempura and tempera paints. But the more you know ... or something.
Starbucks sent me (and I'm sure thousands of others) an intriguing e-mail about a coffee delivery service. Unfortunately it's not a daily latte-delivery service, but rather whole/ground coffee delivery. I love the idea, but alas as a single coffee drinker (Shawn doesn't even really like the smell, can you IMAGINE?!), it doesn't seem feasible. Although I AM tempted because of the offer of a free red French Press pot for new signups.
Lately I've been digging Mud Truck coffee, which seems to be available only in NYC and possibly ONLY at Morton Williams (there's one by the gym). The Mud Trucks themselves are visible in my neighborhood, but I've never actually got a cuppa from one. Anyway, my last purchase accidentally was whole beans rather than my pre-ground laziness of late. I have a grinder, so no big deal, just an additional step each day. And I'm sort of thinking it does make a difference/the coffee tastes better. Not sure I'll restock with whole beans on my next grocery stop.
I mentioned Etsy a couple posts ago, and today read an article about PicClick, which has a page for Etsy that allows for visual shopping. You put in a keyword (might I suggest purple jewelry?) and then see all that the site has to offer. You can even limit the price range.
The federal government, and therefore my office, are still closed today. But I'm still working and making relatively reasonable progress on my projects, including a great interview today that almost made me miss reporting. I am looser with personal blogging time (as evidenced by the published times on this week's entries), but unlike what a co-worker suggested, I will NOT be working over the weekend to make up for the time others did not work this week.
Flat hair shots may come later today, or maybe I'll save for tomorrow. Meh.
Starbucks sent me (and I'm sure thousands of others) an intriguing e-mail about a coffee delivery service. Unfortunately it's not a daily latte-delivery service, but rather whole/ground coffee delivery. I love the idea, but alas as a single coffee drinker (Shawn doesn't even really like the smell, can you IMAGINE?!), it doesn't seem feasible. Although I AM tempted because of the offer of a free red French Press pot for new signups.
Lately I've been digging Mud Truck coffee, which seems to be available only in NYC and possibly ONLY at Morton Williams (there's one by the gym). The Mud Trucks themselves are visible in my neighborhood, but I've never actually got a cuppa from one. Anyway, my last purchase accidentally was whole beans rather than my pre-ground laziness of late. I have a grinder, so no big deal, just an additional step each day. And I'm sort of thinking it does make a difference/the coffee tastes better. Not sure I'll restock with whole beans on my next grocery stop.
I mentioned Etsy a couple posts ago, and today read an article about PicClick, which has a page for Etsy that allows for visual shopping. You put in a keyword (might I suggest purple jewelry?) and then see all that the site has to offer. You can even limit the price range.
The federal government, and therefore my office, are still closed today. But I'm still working and making relatively reasonable progress on my projects, including a great interview today that almost made me miss reporting. I am looser with personal blogging time (as evidenced by the published times on this week's entries), but unlike what a co-worker suggested, I will NOT be working over the weekend to make up for the time others did not work this week.
The single snow picture I took yesterday -- of a fence on Mercer on the way to the gym.
Flat hair shots may come later today, or maybe I'll save for tomorrow. Meh.
Pixilate You
What Did You Expect
The snow has been underwhelming. While beautiful during the day, it seems to have stopped and probably the roads will be clear in the morning. We'll see. Not that it impacts me in any measurable way.
Shawn's flight did get canceled, so that trip is rescheduled for next week.
Things in DC, however, are probably not as good ... and I expect the office to be closed again tomorrow. I have a lot of griping to do about that, but won't do any good, so there's that.
The gym closed early today, so I took advantage of the "officially closed" work status to go work out a few hours early. Offsetting the time by still working right now, but better than not exercising at all.
All for now.
Shawn's flight did get canceled, so that trip is rescheduled for next week.
Things in DC, however, are probably not as good ... and I expect the office to be closed again tomorrow. I have a lot of griping to do about that, but won't do any good, so there's that.
The gym closed early today, so I took advantage of the "officially closed" work status to go work out a few hours early. Offsetting the time by still working right now, but better than not exercising at all.
All for now.
Model Citizen
I'm not a model employee, but I do OK. Example: the office has been closed since 1:30 p.m. on Friday. It hasn't affected my work situation other than it being much, much slower than normal. I will say it's been very tempting to turn off the e-mail, grab my crochet hook and watch my backlog of DVR'ed shows. I haven't done that ... yet. :)
Today I was another kind of model -- a hair model at the BBU project, where stylists from around the country come to NYC to learn the Bumble & Bumble techniques. I've had a free cut there before, and there were last minute slots available for today, so I signed up again. The goal: get rid of the triangle Supercuts cut I subjected my hair to.
I'm not as excited about this cut as I was about the first one. Mostly because it's SO much shorter. I mean, Little Orphan Annie, or serious MOM hair (which I'd be all about if I actually had a baby, but that's a topic for a non-public facing blog and personal conversations). But hair grows, and mine grows exceedingly fast. And I'd never know how my hair looked so short if I hadn't cut it! Shawn hasn't seen it yet, so we'll see what he thinks. I think it's even too short for a workout ponytail. Eeek!
I did before/after shots again. Let me know what you think. I know it will grow fast, that I can style it to be less round AND that it will look banging when it's straight (and I'll actually have long fringy bangs if I want - the hair in the front is THAT short).
Am I a little too hair obsessed?! It's only for today.
Brief weather update: the walk to/from the salon (it's on W 13th, near the Hudson River ... so quite a hike) it was GORGEOUS -- sunny and low 40s. They say the snow is coming, but we'll see. Shawn has travel plans for tomorrow so I hope whatever comes doesn't impact air travel. Although being snowed in with Shawn doesn't sound like the worst thing!
Today I was another kind of model -- a hair model at the BBU project, where stylists from around the country come to NYC to learn the Bumble & Bumble techniques. I've had a free cut there before, and there were last minute slots available for today, so I signed up again. The goal: get rid of the triangle Supercuts cut I subjected my hair to.
I'm not as excited about this cut as I was about the first one. Mostly because it's SO much shorter. I mean, Little Orphan Annie, or serious MOM hair (which I'd be all about if I actually had a baby, but that's a topic for a non-public facing blog and personal conversations). But hair grows, and mine grows exceedingly fast. And I'd never know how my hair looked so short if I hadn't cut it! Shawn hasn't seen it yet, so we'll see what he thinks. I think it's even too short for a workout ponytail. Eeek!
I did before/after shots again. Let me know what you think. I know it will grow fast, that I can style it to be less round AND that it will look banging when it's straight (and I'll actually have long fringy bangs if I want - the hair in the front is THAT short).
Am I a little too hair obsessed?! It's only for today.
Brief weather update: the walk to/from the salon (it's on W 13th, near the Hudson River ... so quite a hike) it was GORGEOUS -- sunny and low 40s. They say the snow is coming, but we'll see. Shawn has travel plans for tomorrow so I hope whatever comes doesn't impact air travel. Although being snowed in with Shawn doesn't sound like the worst thing!
Already Pretty: A Head to Toe
I really like the blog Already Pretty. I probably share a post from there once or twice a month. The author is just very good at writing pro-body, pro-love yourself posts without seeming sappy or icky.
I also scan a lot of sartorial blogs, which seem to be the ticket in NYC -- people love to blog about their daily outfits and record their clothing choices. I'm down with that, but clearly I could never aspire to being a fashion blogger like that (in part because my work-from-home routine means jeans and T-shirts at almost all times). Sometimes I wear a something cute (at least cute to me) and I want to take a picture of it. This was one of those times -- a dress for church on the one Sunday it wasn't bitterly cold.
I used the Gorillapod tripod that my mother-in-law gave Shawn as part of his post-Christmas Christmas gifting to capture the shot on my own. The shoes aren't visible, so I took a separate picture of them. LOVE!
Dress: grey and black paisley, Bijou-Bijou/JC Penney
Camisole: Old Navy
Tights: We Love Color
Shoes: Aerosoles at DSW
I also scan a lot of sartorial blogs, which seem to be the ticket in NYC -- people love to blog about their daily outfits and record their clothing choices. I'm down with that, but clearly I could never aspire to being a fashion blogger like that (in part because my work-from-home routine means jeans and T-shirts at almost all times). Sometimes I wear a something cute (at least cute to me) and I want to take a picture of it. This was one of those times -- a dress for church on the one Sunday it wasn't bitterly cold.
I used the Gorillapod tripod that my mother-in-law gave Shawn as part of his post-Christmas Christmas gifting to capture the shot on my own. The shoes aren't visible, so I took a separate picture of them. LOVE!
Camisole: Old Navy
Tights: We Love Color
Shoes: Aerosoles at DSW
Cupcake March
The pattern was dense – and I am convinced there are either a few mistakes OR I misunderstood (probably the latter). I left the errors in, considering it to look more handmade. Plus the laciness of it all hid anything serious.
I am IN LOVE with this yarn though – the name (cupcake), the color name (sugar plum) and the color itself. Not to mention that it didn’t split or pill and just worked up beautifully. Really happy with how the entire project turned out.
I hope the intended recipient will like it as much as I do -- I still need to wash it, block it and get it in the mail. And I'm torn about whether to send directly to the mom-to-be or to orchestrate its gifting at the baby shower.
I am IN LOVE with this yarn though – the name (cupcake), the color name (sugar plum) and the color itself. Not to mention that it didn’t split or pill and just worked up beautifully. Really happy with how the entire project turned out.
I hope the intended recipient will like it as much as I do -- I still need to wash it, block it and get it in the mail. And I'm torn about whether to send directly to the mom-to-be or to orchestrate its gifting at the baby shower.
In the Family
My mom's sister has an Etsy site (actually both her sisters are collaborating on it): JustKilnMeCeramics. Check it out and purchase some pottery if you're in the market for such things. Or just enjoy the artful photography of the pieces.
I am quite fortunate to have several JustKilnMe originals -- my favorite coffee mug (which I broke the handle off of, then glued back together), a cup I use to hold change, a vase and a jewelry holder.
I am quite fortunate to have several JustKilnMe originals -- my favorite coffee mug (which I broke the handle off of, then glued back together), a cup I use to hold change, a vase and a jewelry holder.
Floral Prose
From The New York Times: A Storm Part Crippling and Part Enchanting:
To be fair, I read to the end, although in part to make fun of it. And then I went and looked it up online so I could write about (and link to it) here ... so maybe the writing served its purpose. Here's the final graf, which rivals the "hard edges" paragraph for flowery writing:
Stye update: not any worse. Warm compresses may be helping, and the medication/ointment says it just alleviates symptoms of burning, itching or stinging, none of which I have. So I passed on paying $10 ... for now.
A blizzard that had forecasters reaching for superlatives engulfed the nation’s capital and the mid-Atlantic states on Saturday with record snowfalls that paralyzed transportation, commerce and all but emergency services. But it transformed the weekend into an enchanted snowbound adventure for millions.Starts out promising (that's the lede) -- but then it just goes off the rails, using the very superlatives that the writer makes fun of weathermen for using in their excitement about being in the spotlight:
The hard edges of Washington were softened as the snow recast the capital of monuments and malls into a postcard town of soft ice cream shapes that had been statues and aerodynamic blobs that had been parked cars: the buried machines of a lost civilization. The Capitol and the White House vanished in the whiteout, cross-country skiers appeared in parks and the Potomac was a grayish plate of pewter.I kind of like the language, but so weird to see in the A-section of the Sunday Times, right? These types of paragraphs were peppered between straight-news writing with snowfall totals and service suspensions.
To be fair, I read to the end, although in part to make fun of it. And then I went and looked it up online so I could write about (and link to it) here ... so maybe the writing served its purpose. Here's the final graf, which rivals the "hard edges" paragraph for flowery writing:
On the National Mall in Washington, cross-country skiers and children on sleds moved through the storm like ghosts, padded and muffled to the eyes. Sounds were distant and subdued. The trees were magical: dark limbed, looped and netted, with flourishes of white lace. And in the distance, the Capitol standing like a sentinel in the storm.Our weather in the city is bright and blustery. Very cold, but not dangerous. Although the Super Bowl is on in a few hours, Shawn and I are going to brave the bitter winds to try to see a movie, hoping that the game will mean the theater will be less crowded. I just hope my cough remains at bay. Quite tired of being sick.
Stye update: not any worse. Warm compresses may be helping, and the medication/ointment says it just alleviates symptoms of burning, itching or stinging, none of which I have. So I passed on paying $10 ... for now.
Conspire
I'm not feeling this February nablopomo, but I'm not sure how to stop, because I know I'll want to blog about some things at some point this month. I think I'm just in an overall funk.
Weather update: a light dusting of snow overnight. Nothing at all to speak of. It's very cold, but not bitter and the wind doesn't seem too high. The gym outing was fine -- pretty much my only foray outside every day, even when working. But that's another issue.
Health update: chest cold still lingering, although it hurts most in the mornings after sleeping. I don't necessarily feel BAD, but I'm not at the top of my game. Also a stye or something has cropped up on my left eyelid. It's worse than any I've had before (and they're kind of a regular occurrence), and it seems the entire eyelid is pink and more than just a spot is puffy. It impairs my vision a little bit, but nothing drastic. Certainly no contacts for me for a while, although I rarely wear them anymore it's nice to have the option. Also no eye makeup, although the same thing -- I hardly ever wear that. And the mascara I used the day before this cropped up will be tossed. Ugh.
If I want to be a writer I need to write. But I'm not sure I want to be a writer beyond what I am today. I would need focus and drive and IDEAS. Something key I believe to be lacking. For now I'll keep reading and consuming media, sometimes thinking "I could do better than that." Maybe someday I will. When will someday be? Eck.
Weather update: a light dusting of snow overnight. Nothing at all to speak of. It's very cold, but not bitter and the wind doesn't seem too high. The gym outing was fine -- pretty much my only foray outside every day, even when working. But that's another issue.
Health update: chest cold still lingering, although it hurts most in the mornings after sleeping. I don't necessarily feel BAD, but I'm not at the top of my game. Also a stye or something has cropped up on my left eyelid. It's worse than any I've had before (and they're kind of a regular occurrence), and it seems the entire eyelid is pink and more than just a spot is puffy. It impairs my vision a little bit, but nothing drastic. Certainly no contacts for me for a while, although I rarely wear them anymore it's nice to have the option. Also no eye makeup, although the same thing -- I hardly ever wear that. And the mascara I used the day before this cropped up will be tossed. Ugh.
If I want to be a writer I need to write. But I'm not sure I want to be a writer beyond what I am today. I would need focus and drive and IDEAS. Something key I believe to be lacking. For now I'll keep reading and consuming media, sometimes thinking "I could do better than that." Maybe someday I will. When will someday be? Eck.
Taking Advantage
It's Go Red for Women day, and I've got a great red sweater on that no one but Shawn and maybe some lady in the gym changing room will see.
Working from home is on my mind because this afternoon the DC office is closed for weather. The DC area is getting walloped with the winter weather, and the forecast says at least 2 feet of snow. It's perfectly clear here in the NYC, and aside from a slightly-chillier-than-normal apartment, my working conditions are unchanged (and would remain unchanged even in a blizzard, as long as power and cable internet held out).
So here's a review of a book I finished last night.
Rage Against the Meshugenah: Why it Takes Balls to Go Nuts by Danny Evans
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Meh. There's some good writing in here, but this book lacked a cohesive narrative. It's a memoir, but it jumped back and forth. It definitely read like the blog that it was based upon.
View all my reviews
Working from home is on my mind because this afternoon the DC office is closed for weather. The DC area is getting walloped with the winter weather, and the forecast says at least 2 feet of snow. It's perfectly clear here in the NYC, and aside from a slightly-chillier-than-normal apartment, my working conditions are unchanged (and would remain unchanged even in a blizzard, as long as power and cable internet held out).
So here's a review of a book I finished last night.
Rage Against the Meshugenah: Why it Takes Balls to Go Nuts by Danny EvansMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
Meh. There's some good writing in here, but this book lacked a cohesive narrative. It's a memoir, but it jumped back and forth. It definitely read like the blog that it was based upon.
View all my reviews
January Snow
I took this video last week (?) during the snowfall. More is expected this weekend, but I doubt it will be so lovely!
Still impatiently waiting. I have not prayed for patience, but I am praying for direction and resolution and MOSTLY for the people making the decisions that will impact our life so profoundly.
That's all I can muster just now and still make a post today.
Waiting for Nothing
This is a photo by Beth - at the prairie dog habitat (?) over Christmas break. Those are my clip in bangs.
My terrible haircut should be repaired by this time next Tuesday -- I'll get a free B&B haircut ... they just emailed to say they had a free slot, and I'm willing to allow a training stylist to fix the triangle. We'll see how that goes. I don't think I'll go for bangs, as that doesn't really go great with curly hair, but we'll see.
I'm not sure any of my Ties ideas will pan out into posts, but we'll see. For now just writing what I can when I can.
I finished the first of 4-5 baby blankets, and need to weave in ends before washing and photographing. But good times to make progress.
Edit, some more photos:
Tying Together Some Post Ideas
OK, going to do a brain dump (although that's mostly what I use this blog for) of blog post ideas using the "Ties" theme. Whether I'll actually write any or all of them remains another story.
- Neck ties, first about the search for the perfect purple tie for the wedding and onto other types of neck wear (scarves, etc.)
- Family Ties -- both the connections to my family (blood and married into) and the TV show!
- Ties to a place -- a post I've been meaning to do anyway -- chronicling my moves since leaving the Big I -- probably using ZIP codes
- Tying shoes -- different ways to do it (Shawn and I have a dispute over this)
- Hair ties -- I'm always wearing my hair up, so I have plenty to say about this, including a recent find of a $1 headband at CVS that is ideal for working out (and even stays on my giant head!)
- Ties to habits -- OCD and specific ways of doing things or ways of LOOKING at things (including myself)
- Sporing event ties: overtime in basketball or football, tied up/jump ball (and applying that to stagnant life situations) and Tie goes to the Runner (or girlfriend, in Office parlance)
- Tie that binds our hearts in Christian love (leapfrogging into favorite hymns)
- Tie a ribbon around your finger to remember things ... about being forgetful -- I am STILL realizing people in I-town that I didn't send official wedding invitations to who should have received them, etc. There's also a really cute ribbon ring that I've wanted for a while that would be good to post.
- Tied up can mean busy -- phone line (and write about my aversion to phoning ... it's a whole thing) or just life in general (I got tied up)
February Theme: Ties
So I'll start today and see how it goes.
Thinking about ties led me to ribbons, which led me to bows and the image on the left (the result of a Google Image search ... I don't own such a headband, and even if I did it would pop off my giant head).
The more I think about it, there are actually a lot of things I could write about in the ties theme -- neckwear (choosing the ties for the wedding, then getting into other types of neckwear), ties of family, ties to work, ties to locations. I thought about it a bit while on the elliptical. We'll see if I can make it work, but I won't officially commit until I have a couple days of February written. This counts though.
Also, I just received my typewriter love Valentines -- I ordered them on Etsy. I'm going to keep one for myself and frame it. That leaves me four to send. Even with shipping cheaper than buying four cards at Duane Reade, and they are SO.MUCH.CUTER.
Ah, and the cards were inside a waxed paper envelope (much like the ones my Gma Jane would send stamps in) and TIED with a darling bit of twine.
Ice, Ice Baby
The electricity is out in Indiahoma, but luckily Beth has power (and two days off school so far) so she was able to upload photos for my enjoyment! It's bitterly cold here, but no precipitation to speak of. We had beautiful snowfall on Thursday (?), and now just cold cold temperatures.
There's more basketball on TV than I can watch, but I'm enjoying what I can. We're also big NYU women's basketball fans (it's almost ridiculous how much I love that team), so it was great to watch them win last night.
However, it was "Tear it Up" night, which is when the university gives the students free food and T-shirts to lure them to an athletic event. It's kind of humiliating that it's the only reason the kids show up.
Even worse -- about 4 minutes left in the game and the entire student body stands up to line up for the free food. They had to stop the game because the students spilled onto the floor. I confess that I actually like it BETTER when there are fewer people in the stands -- easier to stretch out/be comfortable AND there aren't any entitled little butt wipes sitting behind us making snide comments about the irony that they, hipster doofus kings, are at a sporting event. Oh brother.
There's a game tomorrow that should be less crowded, and hopefully we can see the team earn another W. In the meantime I'm going to try to make progress on my crochet projects. Can't wait to share the finished products here!
View From My Computer
It's not an iPad, but it's certainly got the best view on either side of the Mississippi.
Reviews: On Writing and Mighty Queens
On Writing by Stephen KingMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Re-read this book after reading a couple King books on vacation in December. Inspired to apply his writing advice. I think my problem is idea generation, so maybe I'm not really a writer? Continuing to ponder, and keeping this book on my shelf for reference (has a great reading list in the back).
The Mighty Queens of Freeville: A Mother, a Daughter, and the People Who Raised Them by Amy DickinsonMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Received this as a gift from my MIL. Love, love, loved it. A memoir in the form of essays. The author, who's "Ask Amy" of newspaper fame, grew up in a town just as tiny as Indiahoma and went on to live around the world and international fame. My favorite chapter was about her experiences with the Freeville United Methodist Church, an essay that I first read in a magazine last year (or the year before?) that led me to put the book on my Amazon wish list in the first place! Going to loan my copy to my Gran, because it's a book I think she'll enjoy too.
View all my reviews
Take It Easy
-- I said to the guy I rode the elevator up with. What a D-Word thing to say, right? He didn't respond, but that's mostly because of my croaky throat.
Beth was right that I should expect relapses. This cold/whatever has come back, although certainly not as fierce as it was the first time around.
Related: after church, the lady sitting in front of us told me she liked my singing voice and enjoyed listening to me. (The songs we sang were familiar, so I was really getting into it.) Part of that was the deepening of my voice due to phlegm, but I'll take what I can get!
Last night we went to dinner with the church young adult group to all-you-can-eat BBQ. It was really tasty food, and the company was good overall. A few glitches in the conversation, especially when talking about the lettuce incident, the only other interaction I've had with anyone in the group. Apparently many of the people who go to the free lunch program aren't homeless, so they would have a fridge to keep the lettuce viable and/or a kitchen to prepare it as a salad or otherwise. We were invited to come back and volunteer again, but we'll see.
Coughing spell hitting me hard, so signing off for now. After dinner, maybe some tea and early to bed. But we'll see how that plan works out!
Beth was right that I should expect relapses. This cold/whatever has come back, although certainly not as fierce as it was the first time around.
Related: after church, the lady sitting in front of us told me she liked my singing voice and enjoyed listening to me. (The songs we sang were familiar, so I was really getting into it.) Part of that was the deepening of my voice due to phlegm, but I'll take what I can get!
Last night we went to dinner with the church young adult group to all-you-can-eat BBQ. It was really tasty food, and the company was good overall. A few glitches in the conversation, especially when talking about the lettuce incident, the only other interaction I've had with anyone in the group. Apparently many of the people who go to the free lunch program aren't homeless, so they would have a fridge to keep the lettuce viable and/or a kitchen to prepare it as a salad or otherwise. We were invited to come back and volunteer again, but we'll see.
Coughing spell hitting me hard, so signing off for now. After dinner, maybe some tea and early to bed. But we'll see how that plan works out!
Say Anything
Also: "She gave me a pen. I gave her my heart, she gave me a pen."
A while back this movie was everywhere because of the 20th anniversary release on DVD -- Saturday Night Live even did a sketch about it, which was random.
I was 8 or 9 when the movie was first released, so not the target audience, although I did discover and fall in love with it in college/continuing through grad school. I think my fondness for the movie is mainly the dorkitude of both main characters and the sweet love story. And it didn't hurt that John Cusack was the lead actor!
Time Travel, Train Style
9:04 a.m. -– writing this well before I’ll have internet access to post. It is unbearably hot on this train. A far cry from a trip almost a year ago when the car wasn’t heated at all during an early March snow storm.
I would be freshly awake if I were at home, but today I’ve already been awake for more than four hours. It is ridiculous and tonight I’ll be crashing early, at least that’s the plan..
I read the New York Times, including an article about bird houses that I intend to clip for Aunt Lee Ann, assuming I don’t forget and toss/recycle the entire paper at Union Station. I wonder if she’s burned out on bird houses yet. She got a lot of them for Christmas!
2:15 p.m. –- delayed return train makes it a bit of a drag. I have crochet and a downloaded iTunes movie.
6:41 p.m. -- made it home and exhausted. going to sleep early tonight. going to post this just for the fun of it.
A Love Song
Today was the day where it never ended. I had to call it quits a little after six because my propensity for errors was catching up with me, and I needed some exercise and time out of the apartment.
After juggling what seemed like a million different things and projects both long term and immediate, my mistake filled day was capped when I misspelled a guy's name. Luckily not to his face and before the thing went out, but still. Credibility and attention to details. Pshaw. Work overall left a bad taste in my mouth, and I felt yech on leaving for the gym.
My hair is "growing" on me, although my hair would look OK as long as it's flattened no matter what the cut. It's still a bad haircut and a triangular shape that's not so good for my round Moon Pie face.
The laundry is piled up ... I think I'm out of socks for tomorrow.
I let myself get so hungry that the idea of making dinner is feeling daunting.
But on the walk back from the gym, I realized this: any day that I get to have the one I love the most love me back is a pretty good day.
After juggling what seemed like a million different things and projects both long term and immediate, my mistake filled day was capped when I misspelled a guy's name. Luckily not to his face and before the thing went out, but still. Credibility and attention to details. Pshaw. Work overall left a bad taste in my mouth, and I felt yech on leaving for the gym.
My hair is "growing" on me, although my hair would look OK as long as it's flattened no matter what the cut. It's still a bad haircut and a triangular shape that's not so good for my round Moon Pie face.
The laundry is piled up ... I think I'm out of socks for tomorrow.
I let myself get so hungry that the idea of making dinner is feeling daunting.
But on the walk back from the gym, I realized this: any day that I get to have the one I love the most love me back is a pretty good day.
Statistically Speaking
Ten years ago I was taking statistics. I killed that class.
Last week I signed up for a Feedburner e-mail feed as part of a contest, and it said "welcome back" and "check your feeds," so I did. I realized my blog has quite a few subscribers. However, when I checked I realized most of those are from FriendFeed, so I went there and pretty sure the people following me don't actually read ... it's just noise/a way that FF is boosting subscriber count for its users. So that doesn't seem to be any big deal, but still weird. Especially because I don't actually follow anyone on FF. I just shoot out all my stuff there. It would be a stalker's delight, with almost all my online activity in one handy feed. Maybe I should rethink that ...
A few weeks ago I looked at my Google Analytics, and my Anastasia afghan post with pictures was a huge draw on a specific day in November -- more than 200 hits. But the referring information didn't give many clues as to why the traffic spike ... I have a feeling it may have been included in an email, because a lot of the referring information seemed to be related to email servers. Odd!
Started this post on 1/14, but publishing after work on 1/19. Such is life.
Last week I signed up for a Feedburner e-mail feed as part of a contest, and it said "welcome back" and "check your feeds," so I did. I realized my blog has quite a few subscribers. However, when I checked I realized most of those are from FriendFeed, so I went there and pretty sure the people following me don't actually read ... it's just noise/a way that FF is boosting subscriber count for its users. So that doesn't seem to be any big deal, but still weird. Especially because I don't actually follow anyone on FF. I just shoot out all my stuff there. It would be a stalker's delight, with almost all my online activity in one handy feed. Maybe I should rethink that ...
A few weeks ago I looked at my Google Analytics, and my Anastasia afghan post with pictures was a huge draw on a specific day in November -- more than 200 hits. But the referring information didn't give many clues as to why the traffic spike ... I have a feeling it may have been included in an email, because a lot of the referring information seemed to be related to email servers. Odd!
Started this post on 1/14, but publishing after work on 1/19. Such is life.
Upgrade You
I got a new phone, how about that? And how cool are the purple keys (it's a light thing)? In the process I downgraded our monthly minutes (saving some cash), because now that I have a work phone I don't have to spend personal cell minutes on work related calls!The phone has GPS, PTT and internet, and the buttons for those are all right near keys I would need to use regularly (i.e. a good chance I'll make mistakes and get charged for services I don't want). But one e-mail to AT&T customer service and got those services turned off. The only downside is I can't receive picture messages, but I never received any of those anyway. I still have a lot to learn about the phone though. Switched from LG to Nokia, and it's a totally different OS. Eh.
After about 2 hours of work/setting up I did finally figure out how to get the photos from my old phone to my computer. It should be a similar Bluetooth set up to move some Owen pics over to this new phone. It will have to tide me over until the phone and Owen are in the same place so I can get a fresh batch of Owen shots!
Resolving Sentimentality
Although we're almost half-way through January, I've started thinking about resolutions. I've got them into categories, and most I started before 2009 ended but never really codified them. I won't detail them here, but the general categories are Fitness (i.e. gym going and healthier eating), Savings ($$$), Giving (also $$$), Crochet (baby boom underway for people in all parts of my life!) and the ever-present struggle Organization (both workwise and personally).
This was in my Upper Room email this week, and I liked it, want to save it here because it goes with my fitness resolution and how that is really the impetus for a more-than-a-resolution focus on my faith: "Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is valuable in every way, because it promises life both for the present and for the future."-1 Timothy 4:8 (TEV)
As I was putting away Christmas stuff I found myself losing some sentimentality. This year I tossed almost all of our received cards. Then I found that last year I had saved every single one, but the chain was broken and I had to throw these out too. The pack rat in me says "I would love to look at these from year to year, you've thrown out something priceless" and the clutter-busting girl in me says "Good job." (That's also what Shawn said when I told him.) I saved the picture cards -- with babies and such. My mom had a Christmas book (probably still does) with picture cards she had received that we always liked to look through each year, even if we didn't know the people/they were friends from her pre-Oklahoma days. So I guess I can still do that. Or am I just a grinch and should have saved everything?! Too late now.
Aunt Lee Ann gave Shawn this Mensa puzzle-a-day calendar that we have been LOVING. I am good at the word puzzles and Shawn, of course, kills the number/math ones. Together we're a pretty good team (and not just at Mensa puzzles, mind you).
This is my seven hundredth post, since that first one in Boston from the 2005 WAM conference I went to with Katrina, then grad school friend, now Facebook friend.
This was in my Upper Room email this week, and I liked it, want to save it here because it goes with my fitness resolution and how that is really the impetus for a more-than-a-resolution focus on my faith: "Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is valuable in every way, because it promises life both for the present and for the future."-1 Timothy 4:8 (TEV)
As I was putting away Christmas stuff I found myself losing some sentimentality. This year I tossed almost all of our received cards. Then I found that last year I had saved every single one, but the chain was broken and I had to throw these out too. The pack rat in me says "I would love to look at these from year to year, you've thrown out something priceless" and the clutter-busting girl in me says "Good job." (That's also what Shawn said when I told him.) I saved the picture cards -- with babies and such. My mom had a Christmas book (probably still does) with picture cards she had received that we always liked to look through each year, even if we didn't know the people/they were friends from her pre-Oklahoma days. So I guess I can still do that. Or am I just a grinch and should have saved everything?! Too late now.
Aunt Lee Ann gave Shawn this Mensa puzzle-a-day calendar that we have been LOVING. I am good at the word puzzles and Shawn, of course, kills the number/math ones. Together we're a pretty good team (and not just at Mensa puzzles, mind you).
This is my seven hundredth post, since that first one in Boston from the 2005 WAM conference I went to with Katrina, then grad school friend, now Facebook friend.
Spaz-tastic
Still battling a bit of a cough but feeling much better. I'm still a mess though. I coughed coffee (say that three times fast) and it spewed in my hands, on my lap, on my desk and splashed onto the computer screen. Geek-a-licious, I know. And in addition to the spattered screen I've also got a wet lap. But I JUST did laundry and want to limit my dirty clothes, so just waiting for these jeans to dry. It's not like anyone sees me -- gym people don't care what I wear and poor Shawn is just happy when I get dressed!
So this is just a sad little update for you. Overall everything is OK though.
So this is just a sad little update for you. Overall everything is OK though.
Officially Scattered
Today I officially joined the church I've been attending for two years. Seems more administrative than anything, but I know it has to be more than that/I need to become more involved and deliberate about my faith journey. Becoming part of a community is ... difficult for me, given my temperament, personality and feeling of impermanence.
The pastor who is my age is great, and everything else is the same as it was before the official "new member Sunday" took place. (I find it odd that you can't become a member whenever you want but have to wait for specific Sundays ... that's not the case in pretty much every other church I've attended, although this is the first one I've transferred to since Stillwater.)
I stood in line for coffee hour after church, and it was just weird. Some people my age said hello to me (and congratulations ... isn't "congratulations" a weird thing to say? I'd have expected "welcome" instead), but then they turned around and had a bland conversation without including me. Shawn said it's just New York for you, and whatever it was it didn't hurt my feelings. (Just like it hasn't hurt my feelings that I've been attending for two years and no one really knows me ... but also that's on me for not seeking out conversations and getting to know anyone else ... two-way street and all that.)
I didn't stay long, although I do intend to join the Young Adult group, and Shawn and I can do some of their activities together (an all-you-can-eat BBQ dinner sounds up our alley!), and I'd like to make the conscious decision to participate in a regular Bible study. I am doing some of that on my own (reading through the one year Bible and an Upper Room reflection calendar), but I've already got questions and had WTF? moments re-reading Abraham's story.
A super moment during the sermon/service was the line "God loves you, and there's nothing you can do about it." And then we each turned to the people around us and said that to each other. Isn't that the greatest thing? And you, reading, anonymous or family or whoever: God loves YOU and there's nothing you can do about it!
The pastor who is my age is great, and everything else is the same as it was before the official "new member Sunday" took place. (I find it odd that you can't become a member whenever you want but have to wait for specific Sundays ... that's not the case in pretty much every other church I've attended, although this is the first one I've transferred to since Stillwater.)
I stood in line for coffee hour after church, and it was just weird. Some people my age said hello to me (and congratulations ... isn't "congratulations" a weird thing to say? I'd have expected "welcome" instead), but then they turned around and had a bland conversation without including me. Shawn said it's just New York for you, and whatever it was it didn't hurt my feelings. (Just like it hasn't hurt my feelings that I've been attending for two years and no one really knows me ... but also that's on me for not seeking out conversations and getting to know anyone else ... two-way street and all that.)
I didn't stay long, although I do intend to join the Young Adult group, and Shawn and I can do some of their activities together (an all-you-can-eat BBQ dinner sounds up our alley!), and I'd like to make the conscious decision to participate in a regular Bible study. I am doing some of that on my own (reading through the one year Bible and an Upper Room reflection calendar), but I've already got questions and had WTF? moments re-reading Abraham's story.
A super moment during the sermon/service was the line "God loves you, and there's nothing you can do about it." And then we each turned to the people around us and said that to each other. Isn't that the greatest thing? And you, reading, anonymous or family or whoever: God loves YOU and there's nothing you can do about it!
Reviews: Forever, Erma and Darkly Dreaming Dexter
Forever, Erma: Best-Loved Writing from America's Favorite Humorist by Erma BombeckMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Finished this book en route to Wichita Falls, TX, Target on New Year's Eve with my mom and sister. The end section with tributes to Erma was touching. I think all bloggers should read Erma, because she was doing it right before the format was even invented!
Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff LindsayMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Big print and small pages made this a super fast read. Although the book sets up the characters differently than the TV show (which I've watched obsessively in the last year or so), I was able to enjoy the story and writing without needing to cling too much to the TV-created personas. However, no one but MCH could play Dexter in my mind! I also was surprised that Deborah wasn't spelled Debra. Wonder why I thought about her name spelling at all. Like my mom says, these books contain a bit of gore, and some bad language, so not for everyone. But DEFINITELY for me!
View all my reviews
Effectively Silenced
What was going around when I was in Oklahoma has landed on me. I don't have the cough as much as my mom, sister, Dad and Owen did, but that may come. I've got a REALLY sore throat, which makes me sound like a frog if I try to talk. (I'm sure Shawn's loving the quiet!) And I'm tired and have a general sense of malaise (how much of that is due to being sick is hard to say).
My mom/Beth sent me my phone charger in a special rush package. It's the wrong charger/not the one for my phone, so I'm still without cell. Not a big deal, as no one really calls me on it and if I need to make calls I have a "land" line. Just another way that fits into the "effectively silenced" theme along with my sore throat/missing voice. But I do wonder where my phone charger is ...
Happy Epiphany!
My mom/Beth sent me my phone charger in a special rush package. It's the wrong charger/not the one for my phone, so I'm still without cell. Not a big deal, as no one really calls me on it and if I need to make calls I have a "land" line. Just another way that fits into the "effectively silenced" theme along with my sore throat/missing voice. But I do wonder where my phone charger is ...
Happy Epiphany!
Abby's Scarf
I got confirmation that Abby opened her Christmas gift (the snow kept our full family present opening from happening at Gran's). So I can post the photo here, although I'm also 100% sure that Abby doesn't read this blog, but I'm cautious like that I guess.Anyway, this worked up so beautifully, using two skeins of Lion Brand Homespun, and made a really cool ruffle. I added a fifth row of DC ruffle to the free LB pattern: North Pole Ruffle. I was able to create this in an afternoon, the particularly snowy Saturday before Christmas break. I still wish I'd been able to find the sparkly holiday yarn, but this "Hepplewhite" yarn looked really nice too.
I used the top/front of a Christmas card with a safety pin to include the name of the pattern, the care instructions from the yarn sleeve and the type/color name of yarn used. The leftover yarn made a nice pom pom to add to the box as wrapping garnish!
Abby Scarf
Originally uploaded by silvermari
Snow Baby
Owen's snow angel, love the little butt print!
A funny blue tongue ... CANDY!
New Year's Eve!
I couldn't pick which I liked best!
On Christmas, we were unprepared for the snow, so we improvised snow boots with Wal-Mart bags. Smart! We didn't last long because Owen didn't have gloves though.
More photos being added and processed in the Christmas 2009 Flickr set. We may need to be connected on that site for you to see the images, but let me know if we're not and you'd like to see them. We can either connect or I can make some of the images public.
FWD: HANDBOOK for 2010
This was forwarded by Fern, my great aunt in Kansas. Instead of e-mailing it to people, I'm putting it here, AND it gets me a post closer to my 2010 goal of 300. (Not cheating, since I make the rules!)
Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2009.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for at least 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes to walk daily. And while you walk, smile.
Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23.. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time w/people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
Life:
32. Do the right thing! Trust God for everything.
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything. In HIS own time.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come. Wait and See.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it. You have work to do.
39. Your Inner most is always happy... so, be happy!
Last but not the least:
40. Send this to those you care about.....we just did!
Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2009.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for at least 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes to walk daily. And while you walk, smile.
Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23.. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time w/people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
Life:
32. Do the right thing! Trust God for everything.
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything. In HIS own time.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come. Wait and See.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it. You have work to do.
39. Your Inner most is always happy... so, be happy!
Last but not the least:
40. Send this to those you care about.....we just did!
Home Again
I've written this post, or variations on it, as many times as I've come home from Oklahoma, although most times it would be written in my hard-copy journal. Things seem a mess here. My arms feel empty and I keep finding things to tell Beth and Mama. I know time will heal this ache, but I ALSO know that tomorrow, when I'm home working alone, it will be the worst. Today has been busy and Shawn is around, so I'm buffered a bit. Maybe it won't be as bad as I think.
Travel back was relatively easy. I expected to be much more delayed than we were -- thinking that the flight from O'Hare to New York would be ridonkulous, but it was not. We almost missed the connection: once we landed from OKC (early), we had to wait until our gate was cleared, then another plane was broken down in our path. Finally on the NYC-bound flight, I thonk our seat mate on the head with my coat in my haste to put up my suitcase (she was very nice about it, but I spent the whole time fretting), and of course we sit at the gate and then on the runway for a long time. (Fueling, then needing the number of suitcases to prepare the flight path!) Finally landed and got a quick taxi home (surly driver, but who wouldn't be at 12:30 am on a freezing cold January night?).
Our mailbox was empty, so we spent the night thinking we didn't get ANY more Christmas cards. Luckily the doormen had held our mail, but the doorman on night duty (who made me cry the first time I met him) couldn't be bothered. So all is well with the mail, but blimey.
In the stupidest-thing-I've-done-so-far-in-2010 category, I left my dadgum cell phone charger in OK, so I have a dead cell. We have the land line and I have a work number now so probably not a problem for work, but still. Beth is sending it to me tomorrow, so I should have it by the end of the week.
Today was a good church service and basketball game, and we came home to make cauliflower-hamburger soup. Pretty good, but of course I burn my tongue. THEN I try to order FreshDirect and all the slots for tomorrow are taken. There are instructions to call (I pay for an unlimited delivery pass, and one of the benefits is always being able to get a slot), and so now I'm waiting for a call back, hoping I can get my order delivered tomorrow. Otherwise, it'll be a Tuesday delivery for our groceries. Gretch!
Read a couple more books on the plane that I will add to Good Reads and here. Otherwise, it will be a work week getting everything back in order. We'll see how that goes!
Travel back was relatively easy. I expected to be much more delayed than we were -- thinking that the flight from O'Hare to New York would be ridonkulous, but it was not. We almost missed the connection: once we landed from OKC (early), we had to wait until our gate was cleared, then another plane was broken down in our path. Finally on the NYC-bound flight, I thonk our seat mate on the head with my coat in my haste to put up my suitcase (she was very nice about it, but I spent the whole time fretting), and of course we sit at the gate and then on the runway for a long time. (Fueling, then needing the number of suitcases to prepare the flight path!) Finally landed and got a quick taxi home (surly driver, but who wouldn't be at 12:30 am on a freezing cold January night?).
Our mailbox was empty, so we spent the night thinking we didn't get ANY more Christmas cards. Luckily the doormen had held our mail, but the doorman on night duty (who made me cry the first time I met him) couldn't be bothered. So all is well with the mail, but blimey.
In the stupidest-thing-I've-done-so-far-in-2010 category, I left my dadgum cell phone charger in OK, so I have a dead cell. We have the land line and I have a work number now so probably not a problem for work, but still. Beth is sending it to me tomorrow, so I should have it by the end of the week.
Today was a good church service and basketball game, and we came home to make cauliflower-hamburger soup. Pretty good, but of course I burn my tongue. THEN I try to order FreshDirect and all the slots for tomorrow are taken. There are instructions to call (I pay for an unlimited delivery pass, and one of the benefits is always being able to get a slot), and so now I'm waiting for a call back, hoping I can get my order delivered tomorrow. Otherwise, it'll be a Tuesday delivery for our groceries. Gretch!
Read a couple more books on the plane that I will add to Good Reads and here. Otherwise, it will be a work week getting everything back in order. We'll see how that goes!
FWD: 1909
Like all forwards, I never know what's true BUT it all makes sense to me. Sorry to my mom/main reader, since she's the one who forwarded this to me in the first place! (All comments are from the original forward)
THE YEAR 1909
This will boggle your mind, I know it did mine!
The year is 1909.
One hundred years ago.
What a difference a century makes!
Here are some statistics for the Year 1909:
The average life expectancy was 47 years.
Fuel for this car was sold in drug stores only
Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub.
Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.
There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles of paved roads.
The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower!
The average wage in 1909 was 22 cents per hour.
The average worker made between $200 and $400 per year.
A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year,
A dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.
More than 95 percent of all births took place at HOME .
Ninety percent of all doctors had NO COLLEGE EDUCATION!
Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press AND the government as 'substandard.'
Sugar cost four cents a pound.
Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.
Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.
Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used Borax or egg yolks for shampoo
Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from
Entering into their country for any reason.
Five leading causes of death were:
1. Pneumonia and influenza
2. Tuberculosis
3. Diarrhea
4. Heart disease
5. Stroke
The American flag had 45 stars.
The population of Las Vegas, Nevada, was only 30!!!!
Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea Hadn't been invented yet.
There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.
Two out of every 10 adults couldn't read or write and
Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school..
Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at the local corner drugstores. Back then pharmacists said, 'Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind,regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health'
( Shocking? DUH! )
Eighteen percent of households had at least one full-time servant or domestic help.
There were about 230 reported murders in the ENTIRE ! U.S.A.!
Plus one more sad thought; 95 percent of the taxes we have now did not exist in 1909
I am now going to forward this to someone else without typing it myself.
From there, it will be sent to others all over the WORLD - all in a matter of seconds!
Try to imagine what it may be like in another 100 years.
IT STAGGERS THE MIND
THE YEAR 1909
This will boggle your mind, I know it did mine!
The year is 1909.
One hundred years ago.
What a difference a century makes!
Here are some statistics for the Year 1909:
The average life expectancy was 47 years.
Fuel for this car was sold in drug stores only Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub.
Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.
There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles of paved roads.
The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower!
The average wage in 1909 was 22 cents per hour.
The average worker made between $200 and $400 per year.
A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year,
A dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.
More than 95 percent of all births took place at HOME .
Ninety percent of all doctors had NO COLLEGE EDUCATION!
Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press AND the government as 'substandard.'
Sugar cost four cents a pound.
Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.
Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.
Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used Borax or egg yolks for shampoo
Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from
Entering into their country for any reason.
Five leading causes of death were:
1. Pneumonia and influenza
2. Tuberculosis
3. Diarrhea
4. Heart disease
5. Stroke
The American flag had 45 stars.
The population of Las Vegas, Nevada, was only 30!!!!
Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea Hadn't been invented yet.
There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.
Two out of every 10 adults couldn't read or write and
Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school..
Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at the local corner drugstores. Back then pharmacists said, 'Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind,regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health'
( Shocking? DUH! )
Eighteen percent of households had at least one full-time servant or domestic help.
There were about 230 reported murders in the ENTIRE ! U.S.A.!
Plus one more sad thought; 95 percent of the taxes we have now did not exist in 1909
I am now going to forward this to someone else without typing it myself.
From there, it will be sent to others all over the WORLD - all in a matter of seconds!
Try to imagine what it may be like in another 100 years.
IT STAGGERS THE MIND
Dateline OKC
OKLAHOMA CITY--At the airport today, screening took mere minutes, as there was no line and the security personnel were on top of things. So here I sit, enjoying free Google WiFi, with almost an hour to kill before boarding. Shawn went to get some food (an in-airport Sonic!) and my laptop is on mostly because I need to charge my iPod (how dumb that they don't come with wall chargers? but even dumber, if they had I would have left it on American Airlines flight from Miami last month).
Vacation at home was fun times. Owen is a card and always keeps things funny. Today was lunch at MeMe's. It was so bright and pretty cold, but the snow is melting finally. Not sure if they'll see any more in the season. It's snowing in NYC now, which worries me about getting home. I'm always a stressed traveller, even though we have a built-in buffer day should anything go wrong. I certainly hope we arrive home tonight, so tomorrow can be resting and NYU women's basketball. Go Violets!
Owen and I made a little video today at the airport, and I have other photos and things to put together on Flickr.
There's a crazy woman talking quite loudly on her phone here -- I'm hearing all about her car accident, medical maladies, etc. etc. It's wearing me out.
Good news: I did not get sick while we were home. However, it's quite possible that I'm contracting the *whatever-it-is* en route home. No real symptoms (my mom, Beth and Owen were all coughing the entire time we were home plus sneezing, sore throat, etc.), but there's just something about my head that feels "off." I took vitamin C, echinacea and my multivitamin. I should have been drinking more water (Sonic drinks overtake me!) ... when I wasn't working I got plenty of rest by sleeping in. Maybe it's just the exhaustion of travel and all that jazz.
Vacation at home was fun times. Owen is a card and always keeps things funny. Today was lunch at MeMe's. It was so bright and pretty cold, but the snow is melting finally. Not sure if they'll see any more in the season. It's snowing in NYC now, which worries me about getting home. I'm always a stressed traveller, even though we have a built-in buffer day should anything go wrong. I certainly hope we arrive home tonight, so tomorrow can be resting and NYU women's basketball. Go Violets!
Owen and I made a little video today at the airport, and I have other photos and things to put together on Flickr.
There's a crazy woman talking quite loudly on her phone here -- I'm hearing all about her car accident, medical maladies, etc. etc. It's wearing me out.
Good news: I did not get sick while we were home. However, it's quite possible that I'm contracting the *whatever-it-is* en route home. No real symptoms (my mom, Beth and Owen were all coughing the entire time we were home plus sneezing, sore throat, etc.), but there's just something about my head that feels "off." I took vitamin C, echinacea and my multivitamin. I should have been drinking more water (Sonic drinks overtake me!) ... when I wasn't working I got plenty of rest by sleeping in. Maybe it's just the exhaustion of travel and all that jazz.
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