For the first time in months, I feel caught up. I have no pressing tasks. I don't even have any food in the fridge that needs to be chopped, melted, seared or fermented. All my finances are in order, well, almost in order. I have no trips to pack for. There is some work I could do, but I'm in sales - there is ALWAYS some work I could do.
I guess I do need to go get my mother a mother's day gift, yes, I'm a week late on that. I love how Marc sends his parents cards for the American Mothers & Fathers Days as he cannot recall when the British ones are.
My work responsibilities have shifted slightly and I now drive to Los Gatos every other week. The last few weeks the windmills have been turning. Their arms move so silently and gracefully and watching them brings me a sense of peace, until I have to swerve to stay on the road. I don't know if any other form of energy harvesting feels so tranquil.
This weekend we have only 12 miles to run and we are debating if we want to run Saturday morning before visiting my mother - which will reduce our energy level or on Sunday, when we'll could be tired from Saturday. Either way, I want to do a road run and know that we'll need to be out by 6:30 - the sun heats things up by 9:30 AM.
It all should be fun and I hope to have some interesting things to report on. Have a great weekend.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Justices
So, the hunt is on for a new Supreme Court nomination. I've been ignoring much of the hubbub around it. Until there are names out there I can't muster much energy.
However I have read some of opinions in print. What I'm seeing is everyone defending their particular minority. I cannot deny that I'm not part of that. I feel very strongly that the nomination should be a woman - and a young minority woman at that. I came to this conclusion when reading an opinion penned by a man - an older man. This assumption comes from his lament about the older white male justices who were going to be looked over due to the need to have a younger, liberal judge of some sort of minority.
What I found so amazing with some of these opinions was that there seemed to be an assumption that the best candidates were white & male and that there really was a best candidate. I do not accept either idea. I believe we have a pool of intelligent, liberal, rational, young and Constitutionally well versed scholars/judges that would make exceptional supreme court justices. Some of our current jurors, specifically Scalia & Thomas, do little to hold up the bar for rational or intelligent. So, from this pool of candidates, I cannot fathom that it would be devoid of women or minorities.
I firmly believe that race & gender should come into play for the current open seat. White males make up a small minority of this country, yet the majority of seats on the supreme court. I feel that not having a make-up of the court closer to our population disenfranchises our people. All that to say, I have faith that Obama will do the right thing and that he will nominate a good candidate. I wonder if his wife would consider the job.
However I have read some of opinions in print. What I'm seeing is everyone defending their particular minority. I cannot deny that I'm not part of that. I feel very strongly that the nomination should be a woman - and a young minority woman at that. I came to this conclusion when reading an opinion penned by a man - an older man. This assumption comes from his lament about the older white male justices who were going to be looked over due to the need to have a younger, liberal judge of some sort of minority.
What I found so amazing with some of these opinions was that there seemed to be an assumption that the best candidates were white & male and that there really was a best candidate. I do not accept either idea. I believe we have a pool of intelligent, liberal, rational, young and Constitutionally well versed scholars/judges that would make exceptional supreme court justices. Some of our current jurors, specifically Scalia & Thomas, do little to hold up the bar for rational or intelligent. So, from this pool of candidates, I cannot fathom that it would be devoid of women or minorities.
I firmly believe that race & gender should come into play for the current open seat. White males make up a small minority of this country, yet the majority of seats on the supreme court. I feel that not having a make-up of the court closer to our population disenfranchises our people. All that to say, I have faith that Obama will do the right thing and that he will nominate a good candidate. I wonder if his wife would consider the job.
Happiness!
Happiness comes in a very small package. Tsunami has a near 100% success rate at making me smile. Her little smallness that hops around and asks for love and fun. After 3 months of living with Marc & his pack, she's really been loosening up. Today her mission was to take out Tiger the cat. It was like watching a 6th grade bully trying to get the attention of the teacher's pet. Tsui would attack and nip and Tiger would pretend not to like it, but at no time did Tiger fight back or try to get away. So coy.
On other fronts, the broccoli has started growing. The heads are about the size of a jaw breaker from one of those coin machines we used to find in Safeways and Longs. I find it amazing how easy this garden thing has been. I put the dirt in the box, added the baby plants and then they grow and start to bear fruit. So simple.
The last bit of exciting news... Marc & I finally purchased the tickets. We're going to Peru. The deposit has been paid, the plane tickets purchased and now we've just got to get the shots and oh dear. I just realized I put the tickets in my last name and my passport is in my formerly married name. Nothing like that for motivation to get that last document changed into my name. Damn.
On other fronts, the broccoli has started growing. The heads are about the size of a jaw breaker from one of those coin machines we used to find in Safeways and Longs. I find it amazing how easy this garden thing has been. I put the dirt in the box, added the baby plants and then they grow and start to bear fruit. So simple.
The last bit of exciting news... Marc & I finally purchased the tickets. We're going to Peru. The deposit has been paid, the plane tickets purchased and now we've just got to get the shots and oh dear. I just realized I put the tickets in my last name and my passport is in my formerly married name. Nothing like that for motivation to get that last document changed into my name. Damn.
Friday, May 08, 2009
Successes
This morning I'm getting my fix of Mark Morford and this line catches my eye:
"Aren't we all merely a collection of assorted, slapdash decisions disguised as thoughtfulness? Aren't we made up of various projections and patterns and expectations, a toss of the DNA dice onto the cosmic craps table run by drunken angels? I'm going with 'yes.'"
I've had this post rattling around in my head for a few days. Things I've seen or enjoyed that have been total successes. What better way to start off the topic than with an amazing column by Mark Morford.
The worms are a HUGE success! I'm so proud of them, of me, of nature. I had tried my hardest to leave the little guys alone - to let them do their eating thing and not be that pesky waiter who think that a check-in every 5 minutes will assure a good tip. No, they had nearly 10 days to eat through the massive amount of food and bedding and such. And they were great - they nearly licked their plates!! I opened up the worm hotel, which, due to the trays and layers, more resembles a hotel and found healthy, happy worms on each floor, chowing down. They clearly had eaten their fill, yet there was place for a lot more.
I harvested only about 1/2 a cup; mixed in the new food and then packed it all down to the first two trays. I could just kiss them. They are doing me proud!
The next success - the rose bushes in my neighborhood. I've been doing my best to get the four legged crew out for their daily constitutionals (it amuses me to no end to call a walk a "constitutional", so dignified!). While out enjoying the 'hood, I've found that they have put the local rose bushes on steroids. Most of the shrubs have gone aggro with flowers. Some teem with white blooms that they, themselves are nearly 100% white. The green leaves can barely poke through the explosion of white flowers. Then, on Neroly, the red bushes abound. I don't recall ever having seen such ambitious rose bushes!
The last success would have to go to Dania for a lovely dinner last night. Cousin Dania & her husband Chris opened the BBQ season with grilled corn, pineapple & sausage. The meal included super conversation and some amazing cookies. Thank you!
Possible Future Successes:
With the introduction of Dale Carnegie into the Cohen-DeLano household, I have decided to try to implement 1 idea a week for the next 5 weeks. This week is "Live in Day-tight Compartments" - so no ruminating over things one wish to have or not have said. Next week we have "No Judgment" week where I let the divine to all the judging and keep those opinionated thoughts out of my head. The week after, much to Marc's enjoyment I'm sure, I'll have "No Complaints" week. I really shouldn't tell him, I have a suspicion that he might do his best to provide me with thing to complain about just to test my will. What doesn't kill me will make me stronger as well as very annoyed.
"Aren't we all merely a collection of assorted, slapdash decisions disguised as thoughtfulness? Aren't we made up of various projections and patterns and expectations, a toss of the DNA dice onto the cosmic craps table run by drunken angels? I'm going with 'yes.'"
I've had this post rattling around in my head for a few days. Things I've seen or enjoyed that have been total successes. What better way to start off the topic than with an amazing column by Mark Morford.
The worms are a HUGE success! I'm so proud of them, of me, of nature. I had tried my hardest to leave the little guys alone - to let them do their eating thing and not be that pesky waiter who think that a check-in every 5 minutes will assure a good tip. No, they had nearly 10 days to eat through the massive amount of food and bedding and such. And they were great - they nearly licked their plates!! I opened up the worm hotel, which, due to the trays and layers, more resembles a hotel and found healthy, happy worms on each floor, chowing down. They clearly had eaten their fill, yet there was place for a lot more.
I harvested only about 1/2 a cup; mixed in the new food and then packed it all down to the first two trays. I could just kiss them. They are doing me proud!
The next success - the rose bushes in my neighborhood. I've been doing my best to get the four legged crew out for their daily constitutionals (it amuses me to no end to call a walk a "constitutional", so dignified!). While out enjoying the 'hood, I've found that they have put the local rose bushes on steroids. Most of the shrubs have gone aggro with flowers. Some teem with white blooms that they, themselves are nearly 100% white. The green leaves can barely poke through the explosion of white flowers. Then, on Neroly, the red bushes abound. I don't recall ever having seen such ambitious rose bushes!
The last success would have to go to Dania for a lovely dinner last night. Cousin Dania & her husband Chris opened the BBQ season with grilled corn, pineapple & sausage. The meal included super conversation and some amazing cookies. Thank you!
Possible Future Successes:
With the introduction of Dale Carnegie into the Cohen-DeLano household, I have decided to try to implement 1 idea a week for the next 5 weeks. This week is "Live in Day-tight Compartments" - so no ruminating over things one wish to have or not have said. Next week we have "No Judgment" week where I let the divine to all the judging and keep those opinionated thoughts out of my head. The week after, much to Marc's enjoyment I'm sure, I'll have "No Complaints" week. I really shouldn't tell him, I have a suspicion that he might do his best to provide me with thing to complain about just to test my will. What doesn't kill me will make me stronger as well as very annoyed.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Traumatic Situations
I was just taking a peek at the news and came across this:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/30/galanos.plan.b/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
An News Host talking about "The Morning After Pill" - you know, the one that is equivalent to taking something like 8 birth control pills. The one that puts a hiccup in a girls ovulation cycle - changing the mucus on the cervix to not allow sperm to pass, delaying ovulation and/or making the uterus inhospitable to a fertilized egg. The pill that doesn't make a girl feel very good (I know, I've taken it), but neither does the stress of knowing that the fun sex last night might last in an 18 year hang-over and OMG, I really would rather not deal with pregnancy right now.
His words, "Think of a 17-year-old girl. Most of the time she's a high school senior, still living at home with Mom and Dad. She still needs her parents in the tough times. But they will be cut out of a traumatic situation."
She's 17 - do you think she asked Mom & Dad if it was OK to have sex in the first place? Why penalize the girls who are responsible enough to try to prevent pregnancy the next day by preventing them from getting the meds, or having them have to ask an adult.
I just laugh at the idea that "traumatic situation". She's not pregnant, just trying to prevent it becoming pregnant.
Here's another whopper, "Does it really take that long to get a prescription?" Yeah... getting a prescription at 8 AM on a Sunday - no problem!
I don't know what magical medical system he belongs to. As for me and my nearly all inclusive, upper-middle-class PPO option, I still can't get a prescription on a weekday except during a 7 hour window that usefully corresponds to the hours I work and I have to leave work to get a doctor's visit in before they hand me that little piece of paper. I don't even want to imagine trying to get anything on a weekend - it would involve hours of waiting at the ER or an urgent care clinic. And this 17 year old girl is supposed to know and navigate this system on a Sunday morning - is he going to sell us a bridge?!?
But wait, there's more, "The boyfriend will talk his girlfriend into unprotected sex with the promise of buying the "morning after pill" the next day."
Since teenage girls have NO sex drive of their own. They must be talked into sex. They are the responsible ones. BULL-HOOEY! Maybe he's trying to raise his girls to think sex is bad, shameful and should only be done for procreation. Poor things.
I'm getting angry... must go buy milk to make yogurt.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/30/galanos.plan.b/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
An News Host talking about "The Morning After Pill" - you know, the one that is equivalent to taking something like 8 birth control pills. The one that puts a hiccup in a girls ovulation cycle - changing the mucus on the cervix to not allow sperm to pass, delaying ovulation and/or making the uterus inhospitable to a fertilized egg. The pill that doesn't make a girl feel very good (I know, I've taken it), but neither does the stress of knowing that the fun sex last night might last in an 18 year hang-over and OMG, I really would rather not deal with pregnancy right now.
His words, "Think of a 17-year-old girl. Most of the time she's a high school senior, still living at home with Mom and Dad. She still needs her parents in the tough times. But they will be cut out of a traumatic situation."
She's 17 - do you think she asked Mom & Dad if it was OK to have sex in the first place? Why penalize the girls who are responsible enough to try to prevent pregnancy the next day by preventing them from getting the meds, or having them have to ask an adult.
I just laugh at the idea that "traumatic situation". She's not pregnant, just trying to prevent it becoming pregnant.
Here's another whopper, "Does it really take that long to get a prescription?" Yeah... getting a prescription at 8 AM on a Sunday - no problem!
I don't know what magical medical system he belongs to. As for me and my nearly all inclusive, upper-middle-class PPO option, I still can't get a prescription on a weekday except during a 7 hour window that usefully corresponds to the hours I work and I have to leave work to get a doctor's visit in before they hand me that little piece of paper. I don't even want to imagine trying to get anything on a weekend - it would involve hours of waiting at the ER or an urgent care clinic. And this 17 year old girl is supposed to know and navigate this system on a Sunday morning - is he going to sell us a bridge?!?
But wait, there's more, "The boyfriend will talk his girlfriend into unprotected sex with the promise of buying the "morning after pill" the next day."
Since teenage girls have NO sex drive of their own. They must be talked into sex. They are the responsible ones. BULL-HOOEY! Maybe he's trying to raise his girls to think sex is bad, shameful and should only be done for procreation. Poor things.
I'm getting angry... must go buy milk to make yogurt.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Going Nomad
In the same week, in two vastly different books, the topic of human tribes arose. Aside from some shows on the Travel Channel or National Geographic, I had believed that tribal consciousness didn't come into play in my life. Hubris, I realized after some reflection. And the question started:
The questions kept coming.
But then after I took out my bellybutton ring, I realized those ties run much deeper than I had realized. I've had that hunk of metal in my navel for 16 years. I didn't realize how tied to it I had become. Something clicked today - I didn't feel like I needed it any longer. It was a marking that I was alternative. I looked at it and felt the ties to my raving day, to burningman, to all the odd things I've done. But I'm not doing those things now; I don't see a space for them in my future so I felt it was not my marking any longer. I didn't think it was a big deal. Yet ever since I took it out, I've been in a bit of a daze.
Hilary and I got our navels pierced in a bonding endeavor just before going home on break during our first year of college. I recall my mother's horror and dismay when I showed her my stomach. I had left my family tribe and declared my allegiance to the young, alternative and wild. I still recall when Hilary told me she had taken hers out years ago. I felt sad and a bit violated. She had walked away from our ties. Our doing it together in the basement of some lesbian in Northampton had meant a lot to me, was It no longer meaningful for her?
I thought all that had faded. I didn't think I needed that badge any longer. I'm not part of the uber-hip tribe any longer. I don't go to raves, push fashion boundaries or live on the edge in any way. I grow veggies, compost with worms and culture my own yogurt. It seemed right that I leave behind that symbol. My life orbits different values now. I have no interest in raves and can barely tolerate bars now a days.
Taking it out and looking at my stomach, I felt as if I was looking at my body for the first time in years. I could see the contours of my abdomen in a different way; the sparkle of the metal didn't distract from my flesh. I was unadorned, truly naked. Washing in the shower, my hand didn't knock against anything, instead it slide on past my bellybutton without a notice.
The connection to the tribe goes deeper than I believed. I spent the afternoon reflecting on what I had done. I realized I was taking off the symbols of my former tribe. I had been leaving slowly for the last few years. Yet I didn't join a new tribe. I have no strong identification with any group or demographic. I'm an occasional social element in a dozen different groups. I don't identify with mothers or young professionals. I'm not tied into a sports activity or team. I try to connect with my family, yet with my cousins grown and brothers married, family feels more like a diasporia than a clan. I'm barely more than an acquaintance with anyone at work. I come and go. Partly I realized my wounds from breaking tribal taboos still smart and I avoid initiating myself into any tribe as a preventative measure. Partly, I don't see any tribe that encompasses me entirely - I distrust all group think.
I once believed that we had evolved with our Science. That we were beyond the ancient, as we now toy with space travel, nanotechnologies and the sublime Martini. Yet today I deeply realized how tied we are to our culture. My inner-self craves a marking of this passage. I don't know how to acknowledgment that I've moved on.
- What tribes did I identify with?
- Where do my values come from?
- What have I done to signify my belonging
The questions kept coming.
- Why do we stay?
- Why do we leave?
- What happens when we leave our tribe.
- What happens when we stop believing in the magic of our tribe.
But then after I took out my bellybutton ring, I realized those ties run much deeper than I had realized. I've had that hunk of metal in my navel for 16 years. I didn't realize how tied to it I had become. Something clicked today - I didn't feel like I needed it any longer. It was a marking that I was alternative. I looked at it and felt the ties to my raving day, to burningman, to all the odd things I've done. But I'm not doing those things now; I don't see a space for them in my future so I felt it was not my marking any longer. I didn't think it was a big deal. Yet ever since I took it out, I've been in a bit of a daze.
Hilary and I got our navels pierced in a bonding endeavor just before going home on break during our first year of college. I recall my mother's horror and dismay when I showed her my stomach. I had left my family tribe and declared my allegiance to the young, alternative and wild. I still recall when Hilary told me she had taken hers out years ago. I felt sad and a bit violated. She had walked away from our ties. Our doing it together in the basement of some lesbian in Northampton had meant a lot to me, was It no longer meaningful for her?
I thought all that had faded. I didn't think I needed that badge any longer. I'm not part of the uber-hip tribe any longer. I don't go to raves, push fashion boundaries or live on the edge in any way. I grow veggies, compost with worms and culture my own yogurt. It seemed right that I leave behind that symbol. My life orbits different values now. I have no interest in raves and can barely tolerate bars now a days.
Taking it out and looking at my stomach, I felt as if I was looking at my body for the first time in years. I could see the contours of my abdomen in a different way; the sparkle of the metal didn't distract from my flesh. I was unadorned, truly naked. Washing in the shower, my hand didn't knock against anything, instead it slide on past my bellybutton without a notice.
The connection to the tribe goes deeper than I believed. I spent the afternoon reflecting on what I had done. I realized I was taking off the symbols of my former tribe. I had been leaving slowly for the last few years. Yet I didn't join a new tribe. I have no strong identification with any group or demographic. I'm an occasional social element in a dozen different groups. I don't identify with mothers or young professionals. I'm not tied into a sports activity or team. I try to connect with my family, yet with my cousins grown and brothers married, family feels more like a diasporia than a clan. I'm barely more than an acquaintance with anyone at work. I come and go. Partly I realized my wounds from breaking tribal taboos still smart and I avoid initiating myself into any tribe as a preventative measure. Partly, I don't see any tribe that encompasses me entirely - I distrust all group think.
I once believed that we had evolved with our Science. That we were beyond the ancient, as we now toy with space travel, nanotechnologies and the sublime Martini. Yet today I deeply realized how tied we are to our culture. My inner-self craves a marking of this passage. I don't know how to acknowledgment that I've moved on.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Farmer Jen is Looking for Adventure
Thanks to Mom for posting a note! I never knew why we stopped growing tomatoes. I thought it was due to my eating them all, but no, she grew her best crop ever and was done.
I'm not there yet. I have my little plants all tucked into their bed. We've been careful to make sure they don't fry in this week's heat wave. I hear it is supposed to be back to down to 75 today. 95 or 100 was a bit much! But all the little guys look fine. So, I keep going out side and thinking, "Now What?". There's no weeding to do. It is too early to start the seedlings for the mid-summer crop - I think there will be onions, beets, more tomatoes and beans in that round. I will have to check my gardening book to see what I might be doing now. Last night I dreamt of beans, polls and wire. I think deep down I want to grow beans.
On the yogurt front, this last batch I made wasn't right. But I was pressed for time, so didn't try to re-culture it. The taste had a strong tangy, and it did not firm up at all. I put it all into containers and just decided to deal with it later. 3 days later and the containers haven't solidified. I've been feeding it to myself & the hounds - with Austin, aka Mr. Picky, eating the stuff up happily. This morning I realized that accidentally made buttermilk! From yogurt to buttermilk, a new adventure!
I'm not there yet. I have my little plants all tucked into their bed. We've been careful to make sure they don't fry in this week's heat wave. I hear it is supposed to be back to down to 75 today. 95 or 100 was a bit much! But all the little guys look fine. So, I keep going out side and thinking, "Now What?". There's no weeding to do. It is too early to start the seedlings for the mid-summer crop - I think there will be onions, beets, more tomatoes and beans in that round. I will have to check my gardening book to see what I might be doing now. Last night I dreamt of beans, polls and wire. I think deep down I want to grow beans.
On the yogurt front, this last batch I made wasn't right. But I was pressed for time, so didn't try to re-culture it. The taste had a strong tangy, and it did not firm up at all. I put it all into containers and just decided to deal with it later. 3 days later and the containers haven't solidified. I've been feeding it to myself & the hounds - with Austin, aka Mr. Picky, eating the stuff up happily. This morning I realized that accidentally made buttermilk! From yogurt to buttermilk, a new adventure!
Monday, April 20, 2009
The Veggies Go In
After work today Tsui and I went to Flowercraft and invested another $100 in the vegetable plot. Tsui was no more amused at being carried through the plant store than the helper folk who were clearly giving me the, "Does she really think she's Paris Hilton?" looks. But I didn't care... tittering around in 3" heels, dress pants, blouse, Tsui in my right arm, the list of plants to get in the other.
They were low on veggies. There weren't any of the onion family represented - so I don't have the garlic, onion, leek & shallot section. Instead I over bought - getting yellow & white corn, 5 types of tomatoes, 4 bell peppers, 2 zucchini, 2 types of cucumber, lettuce, collard greens, 1 watermelon, the last strawberry plant, broccoli & cauliflower. Some might say I over-planted my little 4 x 8 foot plot. I say I'm optimistic.
I enjoyed taking each plant out of its little container, breaking up the roots so they'd quickly & easily take over the garden, placing it in its little hole and then tapping the dirt all around it. I didn't enjoy that the last bit of soil I added was laden with wood remains, so I'm getting splinters in my hands and know that I'm going to have to move to gloved gardening. However that will help my nails, as they are not enjoying all the dirt contact.
Marc did the honors of watering the little plantlings. He got home as I was planting the last few green babies. I am dreading the day when I have to rip out the remains of the plants to make space for new ones. But they all got tucked in and I'm hoping they'll all be there when I check on them tomorrow morning.
More updates to come... that is if you tune back in. Was my life more interesting when my favorite band was My Life With The Thrill Kill Cult? Hope my blog doesn't replace Ambien in your life. Is reading about corn growing as exciting as watching paint dry? You'll have to come back to find out.
They were low on veggies. There weren't any of the onion family represented - so I don't have the garlic, onion, leek & shallot section. Instead I over bought - getting yellow & white corn, 5 types of tomatoes, 4 bell peppers, 2 zucchini, 2 types of cucumber, lettuce, collard greens, 1 watermelon, the last strawberry plant, broccoli & cauliflower. Some might say I over-planted my little 4 x 8 foot plot. I say I'm optimistic.
I enjoyed taking each plant out of its little container, breaking up the roots so they'd quickly & easily take over the garden, placing it in its little hole and then tapping the dirt all around it. I didn't enjoy that the last bit of soil I added was laden with wood remains, so I'm getting splinters in my hands and know that I'm going to have to move to gloved gardening. However that will help my nails, as they are not enjoying all the dirt contact.
Marc did the honors of watering the little plantlings. He got home as I was planting the last few green babies. I am dreading the day when I have to rip out the remains of the plants to make space for new ones. But they all got tucked in and I'm hoping they'll all be there when I check on them tomorrow morning.
More updates to come... that is if you tune back in. Was my life more interesting when my favorite band was My Life With The Thrill Kill Cult? Hope my blog doesn't replace Ambien in your life. Is reading about corn growing as exciting as watching paint dry? You'll have to come back to find out.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Jenny, Jenny Quite Contrary
How does your garden grow?
When I first came over to Marc's house, I admired the backyard. I asked that we enjoy drinks on the patio while the lamb roast he was making cooked. He obliged.
Then, when we started talking about moving in, I asked if I could have a vegetable garden. He said yes. I didn't want to push the issue, it would mean that I would tear out a section of the lawn for my pet project of growing veggies. So I just let it sit for a bit.
Then I moved in and we started talking serious. I asked again about the garden and he said yes again. Then I took a Sunday afternoon to dig up the grass and flip it, just like the book on growing a garden suggested. While I was digging, he brought me a glass of water. Then I realized he was very serious about me and totally indulgent.
Two weeks ago we went out and got the lumber and supplies. it then rained for most of the week. The next weekend Marc & I built the frame for the raised bed. I still need to paint it and then put in the outside brackets. On Easter I got 6 cubic feet of organic soil. I went back later that week - after swapping out Oola for Tilly, who can carry more. Friday I started to mix the soil with the soil booster. I filled up the box and on Saturday realized I needed more soil. Today we got another 9 cubic feet - in all, we have nearly 30 cubic ft of soil in my little plot.
Never did I think I would want to grow veggies. This all came about a year ago when I had that odd anxiety about the environment. When I got the composter and decided I needed to do more. As a girl, my mom had a veggie plot. The tomatoes never made it to the table, as I would harvest them straight into my mouth on summer afternoons. She stopped towards the end of my time in elementary school, I should ask why.
And now, suddenly, I have the urge to grow veggies myself. I get a box of organic fruit & veg every week and yet, I want more. I keep thinking about it and can't find a reason. I've spent $300 on wood and dirt and I haven't even purchased the seeds or plantlings I need to make the garden more than dirt. So, we'll estimate I've got another $100 to spend. $400 in all - this is not a plan to save me any money.
Friday, as I mixed the soil, I just felt content. I'd pour 1/2 a bag of organic booster #1, 1/2 a bag of organic booster #2 and 1 bag of top soil. Down and around I'd plunge my hands, ruining last week's manicure, catching splinters and doing my best to mix the dirts together, then dumping them into the raised bed. Over & over, I sweat and stank and needed a good scrubbing when I was done.
In all, I felt connected. I felt productive. Putting in the garden might be expensive and I'm not sure if I'll save any money in the long run, yet I'll be tied to my plants and the earth. Each day I can see what I've helped created. I can eat my efforts and then I can cut up the left-overs and feed them to my worms who will help me nourish my garden in the coming weeks.
When I first came over to Marc's house, I admired the backyard. I asked that we enjoy drinks on the patio while the lamb roast he was making cooked. He obliged.
Then, when we started talking about moving in, I asked if I could have a vegetable garden. He said yes. I didn't want to push the issue, it would mean that I would tear out a section of the lawn for my pet project of growing veggies. So I just let it sit for a bit.
Then I moved in and we started talking serious. I asked again about the garden and he said yes again. Then I took a Sunday afternoon to dig up the grass and flip it, just like the book on growing a garden suggested. While I was digging, he brought me a glass of water. Then I realized he was very serious about me and totally indulgent.
Two weeks ago we went out and got the lumber and supplies. it then rained for most of the week. The next weekend Marc & I built the frame for the raised bed. I still need to paint it and then put in the outside brackets. On Easter I got 6 cubic feet of organic soil. I went back later that week - after swapping out Oola for Tilly, who can carry more. Friday I started to mix the soil with the soil booster. I filled up the box and on Saturday realized I needed more soil. Today we got another 9 cubic feet - in all, we have nearly 30 cubic ft of soil in my little plot.
Never did I think I would want to grow veggies. This all came about a year ago when I had that odd anxiety about the environment. When I got the composter and decided I needed to do more. As a girl, my mom had a veggie plot. The tomatoes never made it to the table, as I would harvest them straight into my mouth on summer afternoons. She stopped towards the end of my time in elementary school, I should ask why.
And now, suddenly, I have the urge to grow veggies myself. I get a box of organic fruit & veg every week and yet, I want more. I keep thinking about it and can't find a reason. I've spent $300 on wood and dirt and I haven't even purchased the seeds or plantlings I need to make the garden more than dirt. So, we'll estimate I've got another $100 to spend. $400 in all - this is not a plan to save me any money.
Friday, as I mixed the soil, I just felt content. I'd pour 1/2 a bag of organic booster #1, 1/2 a bag of organic booster #2 and 1 bag of top soil. Down and around I'd plunge my hands, ruining last week's manicure, catching splinters and doing my best to mix the dirts together, then dumping them into the raised bed. Over & over, I sweat and stank and needed a good scrubbing when I was done.
In all, I felt connected. I felt productive. Putting in the garden might be expensive and I'm not sure if I'll save any money in the long run, yet I'll be tied to my plants and the earth. Each day I can see what I've helped created. I can eat my efforts and then I can cut up the left-overs and feed them to my worms who will help me nourish my garden in the coming weeks.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Surprise?
Am I not the only one who found this:
US Discovers Violations in Surveillance Program
Surprising?
Really - did any of us expect that the NSA would follow guidelines? I'm sure they were doing a range of things - from listening to their former girlfriends/wives conversations to, the well documented, spying on a Congressman making a trip to the Middle East.
Didn't they just hook up their hose to AT&T and try to trap a copy. The sheer volume of data makes the computing power they'd need to sort/pull/find specific bits of data mind-boggling - and yet them seem to have managed to do it. Impressive & terrible all at once. Can't we put this nonsense to a stop?
US Discovers Violations in Surveillance Program
Surprising?
Really - did any of us expect that the NSA would follow guidelines? I'm sure they were doing a range of things - from listening to their former girlfriends/wives conversations to, the well documented, spying on a Congressman making a trip to the Middle East.
Didn't they just hook up their hose to AT&T and try to trap a copy. The sheer volume of data makes the computing power they'd need to sort/pull/find specific bits of data mind-boggling - and yet them seem to have managed to do it. Impressive & terrible all at once. Can't we put this nonsense to a stop?
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Pirates - not the Johnny Depp type
I just read the following:
In all, Somali pirates are holding over 280 sailors on 15 ships — at least 76 of those sailors captured in the last few days. Pirates have attacked 79 ships this year and hijacked 19 of them, according to the International Maritime Bureau, a piracy watchdog.
How shocking is that? The Pirates are extra pissed about some of them getting killed in that last rescue/raid. But really, if one is a pirate and hijacking vessels, why would one expect to NOT be killed in the line of duty?
They seem to be targeting the aid ships going to feed the poor & suffering in Somalia. They are trying to steal from their brothers. The can get $1 Million in extortion for the ship.
I thought we were beyond this - fascinating to find we are not.
In all, Somali pirates are holding over 280 sailors on 15 ships — at least 76 of those sailors captured in the last few days. Pirates have attacked 79 ships this year and hijacked 19 of them, according to the International Maritime Bureau, a piracy watchdog.
How shocking is that? The Pirates are extra pissed about some of them getting killed in that last rescue/raid. But really, if one is a pirate and hijacking vessels, why would one expect to NOT be killed in the line of duty?
They seem to be targeting the aid ships going to feed the poor & suffering in Somalia. They are trying to steal from their brothers. The can get $1 Million in extortion for the ship.
I thought we were beyond this - fascinating to find we are not.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Significance
How much meaning does one's car have?
When I was 16 my mother totally indulged me and let me have a Jeep Wrangler. The car rode rough, inhibited nearly all conversation when going above 45 mph and I loved it to death. I enjoyed it for the toy it was. It didn't have air-conditioning, the windows zipped open and I could pull the key out of the ingnition while the car was running. I felt young, energetic and fun when I drove it.
Then I got the Jetta, as I wanted to have a more sophisticated car. And it did serve me well - 4 doors, pretty good gas mileage. I switched out the cassette player for a CD player. I had 2 break-ins in the 8 years I had the car. We enjoyed some great road trips togehter - SF/LA, Texas, Oregon, Nevada and many trips to the Eastern Sierras as well as Tahoe. It was still going strong at 250k miles. How I felt driving my car changed. When I first got it, I felt sharp and zippy. As we aged, I felt like it was a little lack-luster and I still loved her - I had named her Pris.
All at once, the jetta got broken into, needed her 3rd clutch and broke the 250k mark. I knew I needed a new car. So, Greg helped me search & search and we found something special - a 2 seater Mercedes SLK32. It was suped-up with the AMG construction. It was fast and so impressive. Driving up in that, especially with the top down, turned heads. It screamed, "I have money!" or "I'm HOT!" With the top down, I got to enjoy the sun on my face - sun roofs just don't cut it. I named her Oola, after the character in The Producers, as she was fun & pretty and otherwise useless.
Do I drive the car or does the car dive me?
There was such a great feeling of driving up to my high school boyfriend's house in Oola, he and his dad were impressed - my car outclassed both of theirs. I enjoyed that - but really, that is so shallow! And how sad that the car impressed them - shouldn't I be the one impressing them?
Didn't Socrates struggle with this - is it the Man or is it the Toga? Anyway, I don't want to be in my car's shadow.
Marc & I traded in Oola yesterday. We got a cute little JCW Mini Clubman. It is Pepper White with the Silver roof and has all the bells & whistles. He loves how it drives. I love that I can plug in my iPod, navigate with traffic information (but I haven't figure out how to turn this off yet, making it super annoying), make/answer calls on the car speaker phone via bluetooth, enjoy satellite radio (did you know there is a Playboy Radio Station? I nearly crashed while listening to instructions on how to masturbate!). And then the best part - I can fit the entire dog pack in the car! We can take trips together - Oola would only transport one dog at a time.
So, is the mini upstaging me? Is it undermining me? My car should be a manifestation of my values and match my goals. I value fuel economy, my dogs and fun. The new car, I think I'll call her Tilly (short for Matilda and said with a hint of British accent), gets me closer to living my values. On it's third outing, it transported the worms for my new worm farm composter.
When I was 16 my mother totally indulged me and let me have a Jeep Wrangler. The car rode rough, inhibited nearly all conversation when going above 45 mph and I loved it to death. I enjoyed it for the toy it was. It didn't have air-conditioning, the windows zipped open and I could pull the key out of the ingnition while the car was running. I felt young, energetic and fun when I drove it.
Then I got the Jetta, as I wanted to have a more sophisticated car. And it did serve me well - 4 doors, pretty good gas mileage. I switched out the cassette player for a CD player. I had 2 break-ins in the 8 years I had the car. We enjoyed some great road trips togehter - SF/LA, Texas, Oregon, Nevada and many trips to the Eastern Sierras as well as Tahoe. It was still going strong at 250k miles. How I felt driving my car changed. When I first got it, I felt sharp and zippy. As we aged, I felt like it was a little lack-luster and I still loved her - I had named her Pris.
All at once, the jetta got broken into, needed her 3rd clutch and broke the 250k mark. I knew I needed a new car. So, Greg helped me search & search and we found something special - a 2 seater Mercedes SLK32. It was suped-up with the AMG construction. It was fast and so impressive. Driving up in that, especially with the top down, turned heads. It screamed, "I have money!" or "I'm HOT!" With the top down, I got to enjoy the sun on my face - sun roofs just don't cut it. I named her Oola, after the character in The Producers, as she was fun & pretty and otherwise useless.
Do I drive the car or does the car dive me?
There was such a great feeling of driving up to my high school boyfriend's house in Oola, he and his dad were impressed - my car outclassed both of theirs. I enjoyed that - but really, that is so shallow! And how sad that the car impressed them - shouldn't I be the one impressing them?
Didn't Socrates struggle with this - is it the Man or is it the Toga? Anyway, I don't want to be in my car's shadow.
Marc & I traded in Oola yesterday. We got a cute little JCW Mini Clubman. It is Pepper White with the Silver roof and has all the bells & whistles. He loves how it drives. I love that I can plug in my iPod, navigate with traffic information (but I haven't figure out how to turn this off yet, making it super annoying), make/answer calls on the car speaker phone via bluetooth, enjoy satellite radio (did you know there is a Playboy Radio Station? I nearly crashed while listening to instructions on how to masturbate!). And then the best part - I can fit the entire dog pack in the car! We can take trips together - Oola would only transport one dog at a time.
So, is the mini upstaging me? Is it undermining me? My car should be a manifestation of my values and match my goals. I value fuel economy, my dogs and fun. The new car, I think I'll call her Tilly (short for Matilda and said with a hint of British accent), gets me closer to living my values. On it's third outing, it transported the worms for my new worm farm composter.
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Yogurt Divine
I'm sure you've been on the edge of your aereon chair waiting to hear how yogurt attempt #3 went. And I am very happy to report that it was off the charts. I used fancy-pants, pasteurized, but not homogenized milk that came from local cows, fed organically and given weekly massages and baths. Maybe not the 2nd part, but happy cows who roam about merrily chewing grass and watching the world go by.
I did more checking on temperature this time - adding fresh yorgormet starter when the milk was between 108 & 112 degrees. I let it sit, then tossed it in a strainer that I had lined with a clean thin dish towel. The yogurt was a little lumpy, however it was rich & tangy and thick. I regret making it with 2%, as that it too much fat for my weight-watchers self... so I'm off to trade in the glass bottle the 2% came in for a full bottle of fat-free milk with which to make another batch tonight.
As for the worm farm, I have yet to get the worms. More on that later.
I did more checking on temperature this time - adding fresh yorgormet starter when the milk was between 108 & 112 degrees. I let it sit, then tossed it in a strainer that I had lined with a clean thin dish towel. The yogurt was a little lumpy, however it was rich & tangy and thick. I regret making it with 2%, as that it too much fat for my weight-watchers self... so I'm off to trade in the glass bottle the 2% came in for a full bottle of fat-free milk with which to make another batch tonight.
As for the worm farm, I have yet to get the worms. More on that later.
Monday, April 06, 2009
Composting Revised
I had an exciting Birthday filled with fun.
Marc got me motorcycling lessons and then let me ride his Harley. Which was fun, until I got to the end of the block and dropped it. This must be love - he was actually more worried about me than the bike! Not only that, but he sent me out on it again the next day. I did better then. It is MUCH heavier than the scooter I had and, likewise, much harder to handle when going slow or stopped.
Then Marc & I enjoyed dinner at Jardinere on Monday night. Which was good, but Marc didn't much care for the flight of Grappa I insisted on enjoyed after dinner. He let me enjoy it all... I guess that is a blessing in disguise.
Tuesday - the actual birthday - I had lunch with my mom & brother. Warren discussed how much of a disaster the current state of real estate is and how close he is to the poor house while heckling me for considering myself environmentally friendly just because I compost & make my own yogurt. My mother and I recollected about a lovely trip we had to Louisiana 21 years ago for my 13th birthday. Much fun.
On the other hand, Marc did encourage my environmental ambitions - he got me a worm composter! After you, kind readers, have endured my trials with the NatureMill, we're starting in on a worm farm. Should be fun! I have assembled the housing and am amassing the scraps needed. Last night's dinner helped a lot in that regard - I had Dad, Cathy, little brother and sister-in-law over.
The highlight, aside from the company of course, was the fantastic black bottom cupcakes. So good! We had the a la mode, in honor of late Grandfather Jim. And I had a card addressed to, "Jennifer Mercy DeLano, Jr" Not sure about that last bit... need to ask Dad about it.
But BCD was super generous with a gift of a circular saw - this is to assist my vegetable garden ambitions. He also promised 1 day of home improvement labor.... should be fun. I'd love to have him & Kate out again. Earlier yesterday, Marc & I got the lumbar and hardware needed to make a veggie plot. On Saturday I dug up the sod and flipped it over, per the instructions in my garden book. This weekend we'll build the frame and then I hope start to fill in the bit with top soil. Then I'll need to pick the beggies - I also need to get the worms for my worm compost house. Should be fun. I never thought I'd enjoy such mundane & wholesome activities!
In all, quite a happy way to start the next trip around the sun.
Marc got me motorcycling lessons and then let me ride his Harley. Which was fun, until I got to the end of the block and dropped it. This must be love - he was actually more worried about me than the bike! Not only that, but he sent me out on it again the next day. I did better then. It is MUCH heavier than the scooter I had and, likewise, much harder to handle when going slow or stopped.
Then Marc & I enjoyed dinner at Jardinere on Monday night. Which was good, but Marc didn't much care for the flight of Grappa I insisted on enjoyed after dinner. He let me enjoy it all... I guess that is a blessing in disguise.
Tuesday - the actual birthday - I had lunch with my mom & brother. Warren discussed how much of a disaster the current state of real estate is and how close he is to the poor house while heckling me for considering myself environmentally friendly just because I compost & make my own yogurt. My mother and I recollected about a lovely trip we had to Louisiana 21 years ago for my 13th birthday. Much fun.
On the other hand, Marc did encourage my environmental ambitions - he got me a worm composter! After you, kind readers, have endured my trials with the NatureMill, we're starting in on a worm farm. Should be fun! I have assembled the housing and am amassing the scraps needed. Last night's dinner helped a lot in that regard - I had Dad, Cathy, little brother and sister-in-law over.
The highlight, aside from the company of course, was the fantastic black bottom cupcakes. So good! We had the a la mode, in honor of late Grandfather Jim. And I had a card addressed to, "Jennifer Mercy DeLano, Jr" Not sure about that last bit... need to ask Dad about it.
But BCD was super generous with a gift of a circular saw - this is to assist my vegetable garden ambitions. He also promised 1 day of home improvement labor.... should be fun. I'd love to have him & Kate out again. Earlier yesterday, Marc & I got the lumbar and hardware needed to make a veggie plot. On Saturday I dug up the sod and flipped it over, per the instructions in my garden book. This weekend we'll build the frame and then I hope start to fill in the bit with top soil. Then I'll need to pick the beggies - I also need to get the worms for my worm compost house. Should be fun. I never thought I'd enjoy such mundane & wholesome activities!
In all, quite a happy way to start the next trip around the sun.
Dear Diary
Dear Diary,
Today Marc let me ride his Harley. I went around the block, around the other block. Up one street and down the other. In all, I did about 7 miles and got up to 45 miles per hour. I was able to avoid dropping the bike and didn't terrorize the local skater punks too much.
The oddest thing happened. I felt some odd itchy down-under. When I later checked, I realized that I was starting to grow a set of balls. I'm not sure if all Harleys do that or just the Road King.
I'm not sure if I want to keep riding or not now.
That's all for today.
Jen
Today Marc let me ride his Harley. I went around the block, around the other block. Up one street and down the other. In all, I did about 7 miles and got up to 45 miles per hour. I was able to avoid dropping the bike and didn't terrorize the local skater punks too much.
The oddest thing happened. I felt some odd itchy down-under. When I later checked, I realized that I was starting to grow a set of balls. I'm not sure if all Harleys do that or just the Road King.
I'm not sure if I want to keep riding or not now.
That's all for today.
Jen
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Yogurt & Stories
While in Washington, DC last week, my coworker mentioned that making yogurt was really easy. So I found a recipe online - from a woman who used her crockpot every day for a year. She had a very simple way to make yogurt in your crock pot: put in the milk, heat for 2.5 hours, unplug crock pot let cool for 3 hours, add yogurt to milk, wrap crock pot with towel for insulation and let sit for 8 hours.
It really is that easy. I tried with whole milk - it said that would be easier. And it worked really really well. Now I have two tupperware tubs of yogurt ready for dog feedings. I think tried it with non-fat yogurt, for me. I added some gelatin with the yogurt, as suggested, but it didn't come out as well as well as hoped. It was runny and not as tangy as desired.
I found this online:
http://www.epinions.com/reviews/Donvier_Yogurt_Cheese_Maker
A yogurt sieve. I may have to try it. While I don't really resent buying yogurt, I dislike throwing away a plastic container every few days. As a result, I'm now going to make my own! I am excited.
With this victory comes the celebration of my birthday (today). I'm happy to be turning 34. My mother once told me I was more agreeable when in an even year - we'll see. But with my happy day is some sadness. My good friend's brother is in the final stages of with terrible cancer. I'm sad for him. I'm sad for my friend. It leaves me feeling so helpless. I did find my friend on IM and was amusing him with silly thoughts & ideas. I felt like I was cheering him up - I think that is all I can do.
I read this:
http://www.salon.com/opinion/keillor/2009/03/04/brothers/
Garrison Keillor's essay on losing his brother. He writes with such clarity. I want to share with my friend, but his brother isn't dead yet. It might be pre-mature.
It really is that easy. I tried with whole milk - it said that would be easier. And it worked really really well. Now I have two tupperware tubs of yogurt ready for dog feedings. I think tried it with non-fat yogurt, for me. I added some gelatin with the yogurt, as suggested, but it didn't come out as well as well as hoped. It was runny and not as tangy as desired.
I found this online:
http://www.epinions.com/reviews/Donvier_Yogurt_Cheese_Maker
A yogurt sieve. I may have to try it. While I don't really resent buying yogurt, I dislike throwing away a plastic container every few days. As a result, I'm now going to make my own! I am excited.
With this victory comes the celebration of my birthday (today). I'm happy to be turning 34. My mother once told me I was more agreeable when in an even year - we'll see. But with my happy day is some sadness. My good friend's brother is in the final stages of with terrible cancer. I'm sad for him. I'm sad for my friend. It leaves me feeling so helpless. I did find my friend on IM and was amusing him with silly thoughts & ideas. I felt like I was cheering him up - I think that is all I can do.
I read this:
http://www.salon.com/opinion/keillor/2009/03/04/brothers/
Garrison Keillor's essay on losing his brother. He writes with such clarity. I want to share with my friend, but his brother isn't dead yet. It might be pre-mature.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Dreams Come True Even on Morning Runs
This morning I jogged down to the mall, past all the museums, to the capital, right as the sun was fighting up over the dome, back down the mall, around the tidal pool, waved at the Jefferson Memorial, was almost lonely as I passed the FDR monument, trekked cross country to the reflecting pool, looked right to see the sun, the Washington Monument and the Capital Dome gleam, then paid my respects to Lincoln, jugged back up the reflecting pool to the WWII monument and thought, you know, we’re running out of space for monuments, we might want to hold off on any more wars for a few decades, then tried to jog up and around the White House, but found it was barricaded & protected in such a way that I wondered what sort of statement it makes for children & foreign visitors to see, so up 15th St and then back to the hotel.
I have dreamt of seeing the Capital with the cherry trees in bloom. They are primed and ready. A few trees have popped early, erupting in white – when I do this jog again in Friday morning, I hope more have opened up their flowers. I feel so blessed.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Washington Wonders
I definitely get star-stuck. Not by celebrities (who cares about Brad Pitt's thoughts on Fathering or Nichole Richie's lastest blunder) but by places. For me, few places have the dazzle of Washington, DC.
Last night, driving into the city, with the lit-up monuments and glorious buildings that house our government, I find it overwhelming. This building, here, shelters the Congress while they debate and make deals. Over here the world impacting monetary policy gets decided.
Funny - I didn't have this same "oh my god!" feeling while walking around London. Not sure why. I did get to go into Parliament once. Back when I was 17, my mother and I were ogling the building and the nice guard told us we could go in and watch the meeting of the House of Lords. What fun! They heckled each other! Boo's rang out during while a well dressed man orated.
But there wasn't the same aura. London had a different glow. The "oh my god! I'm in London" feels different than, "oh my god! there is Obama's house!". The Awe tilted towards the strangeness and far away.
Some of it must come from the icons. The Washington Odalisque honors my 1st president. Trafalgar's column - um, Trafalgar - he lead the Navy, right? It is as if we both like the same sport, yet cheer different players.
I hope to eke out a few hours when I can see a sight or two.
Last night, driving into the city, with the lit-up monuments and glorious buildings that house our government, I find it overwhelming. This building, here, shelters the Congress while they debate and make deals. Over here the world impacting monetary policy gets decided.
Funny - I didn't have this same "oh my god!" feeling while walking around London. Not sure why. I did get to go into Parliament once. Back when I was 17, my mother and I were ogling the building and the nice guard told us we could go in and watch the meeting of the House of Lords. What fun! They heckled each other! Boo's rang out during while a well dressed man orated.
But there wasn't the same aura. London had a different glow. The "oh my god! I'm in London" feels different than, "oh my god! there is Obama's house!". The Awe tilted towards the strangeness and far away.
Some of it must come from the icons. The Washington Odalisque honors my 1st president. Trafalgar's column - um, Trafalgar - he lead the Navy, right? It is as if we both like the same sport, yet cheer different players.
I hope to eke out a few hours when I can see a sight or two.
Friday, March 20, 2009
The Green Paint is Greener on the other Side
So last week Marc took me on a quick run through of the model homes built & decorated to sell the homes in our little complex. They have 4 floor models with all the bells, whistles and features. It was wild to see them. The one of our house was a mirror image, which made it familiar and not at the same time.
What I came away with was the desire for $20k of upgrades. I almost wish I hadn't gone in, as I was very content with our house. We have been nesting and getting things just so, but then I see what professionals can do with triple our budget and I'm now sad.
Some things I didn't like, as they were just over the top a faux flag/brick wall in the family room? why? And some of the fixtures screamed, "I have no taste, just some extra cash to burn!" But then there were small things that did work. Mostly these had to do with furniture - not the look of the pieces, but the size & placement of them. The colors and details of the wall finishing and how the colors echoed in the pillows to make a very cohesive look. I was wrap!
I also saw how themes could take shape and be echoed about. One theme I want, and I have a feeling my civilized British-mate will not appreciate is my enjoyment of the West & Dessert. Like worn wood, polished smooth with age, bleached in the sun. Colors that give the feel of desert rocks, sky & vegetation. Yes, I wouldn't mind a cow hide on the plank wood floor; Sedona & Santa Fe without the Cowboys, Indians or knotty pine. I Hate knotty pine. Rough, smooth & warm.
Not that I would try such a task without a professional. They have a way with things. Little things, like putting a edge-thingy (yes, I know the technical terms) as a band around the room, and at what height and then what to do above & below the band in terms of color & smoothness to make it all work. It amazes me. Marc says it is simple, I'm not convinced.
All that to say, I don't have the time, energy or money to take the house to the next level. I'm stuck now, knowing what our house could be - yet unable to get there. Why are we humans so programmed? Or is it that we've totally hone our marketing skills to the point that executives can just push the average Joe's buttons? I recall my ex-husband having a fear of psychologists, as he thought they could get inside his head. He was right on getting in our head, just wrong about who had the skill to do it.
What I came away with was the desire for $20k of upgrades. I almost wish I hadn't gone in, as I was very content with our house. We have been nesting and getting things just so, but then I see what professionals can do with triple our budget and I'm now sad.
Some things I didn't like, as they were just over the top a faux flag/brick wall in the family room? why? And some of the fixtures screamed, "I have no taste, just some extra cash to burn!" But then there were small things that did work. Mostly these had to do with furniture - not the look of the pieces, but the size & placement of them. The colors and details of the wall finishing and how the colors echoed in the pillows to make a very cohesive look. I was wrap!
I also saw how themes could take shape and be echoed about. One theme I want, and I have a feeling my civilized British-mate will not appreciate is my enjoyment of the West & Dessert. Like worn wood, polished smooth with age, bleached in the sun. Colors that give the feel of desert rocks, sky & vegetation. Yes, I wouldn't mind a cow hide on the plank wood floor; Sedona & Santa Fe without the Cowboys, Indians or knotty pine. I Hate knotty pine. Rough, smooth & warm.
Not that I would try such a task without a professional. They have a way with things. Little things, like putting a edge-thingy (yes, I know the technical terms) as a band around the room, and at what height and then what to do above & below the band in terms of color & smoothness to make it all work. It amazes me. Marc says it is simple, I'm not convinced.
All that to say, I don't have the time, energy or money to take the house to the next level. I'm stuck now, knowing what our house could be - yet unable to get there. Why are we humans so programmed? Or is it that we've totally hone our marketing skills to the point that executives can just push the average Joe's buttons? I recall my ex-husband having a fear of psychologists, as he thought they could get inside his head. He was right on getting in our head, just wrong about who had the skill to do it.
One Last Strike for the Composter
So, I decided to give the composter one last go. I put in the bowl full of scraps I had from 2 days of cooking, plugged it in and let her rip.
I came out the next day with a few more things to add and her red light was flashing - Jam. It was late, I was tired and I just unplugged the thing.
I'm dreaming of getting a composter on my way home. Our kitchen produces such a volume of scraps, I feel bad NOT composting. Putting all those things into the grand dumps around my great state.
I just need to shake off my city-girl limitations and go green.
I came out the next day with a few more things to add and her red light was flashing - Jam. It was late, I was tired and I just unplugged the thing.
I'm dreaming of getting a composter on my way home. Our kitchen produces such a volume of scraps, I feel bad NOT composting. Putting all those things into the grand dumps around my great state.
I just need to shake off my city-girl limitations and go green.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Kindle me Not
My birthday is in 2 weeks and I'm all atwitter with excitement. In the past I've given my father a present suggestion that I want but wouldn't indulge myself in. This year, I thought it would be the Kindle 2. And then I was discussing it with Marc on our long Sunday walk.
The Kindle 2 looked slick - you can download almost any book in a matter of seconds. Talk about instant gratification. I want, "She was a good reader" on my tombstone. However, I can't really flag pages for future reference. Also, after finishing a book I might want to share with Marc, I'd have to lend him my Kindle. What fun is that? We already struggle over the Nintendo DS, "Where did you put it?" "Are you finished with that Soduko yet?" "I've got the highest score in the 20 math calculations, ha!" Does the Kindle record how long it takes to read a book? That could be trouble for this hyper competitive duo.
Then, even if he were to get a Kindle 2 for himself, that wouldn't solve the problem of sharing a good book - as the books aren't transferable. What happens when the Kindle 3 comes out? Can I transfer all my Kindle 2 books? Probably not. This device is sounding less & less appealing.
On the 1/2 filled shelves of our new bookcases sit books from all parts of my life. A picture book of Italy given to me by my Great-Aunt Zada, edited with postcards she had collected on her trips. Across the room are the Greek Plays next to Herodotus - a book that I occasionally reference. My philosophy shelf houses the Bible, a book on Zen, The Elegant Universe and God's Debris. Even if the Kindle let me create virtual bookshelves, they wouldn't be there to amuse my guests. Nor could it provide me with the small and leather-bound book from 1750 that my Grandmother Polly gave me. I haven't been able to read it, as the S's are sometimes F's as was the printing tradition back then, or was that due to their not having formalized spelling by that time?
I imagine that, one day, I will have to switch over to a new book technology. I don't yet think that the Kindle is it. Instead, I'm asking for a larger, traditional composter - something along the lines of this Wibo - sorry NatureMill. It is made out of recycled plastic - all the better! And then, I'll see if my dad is up for giving me this, I think it is a ready to go garden plot, but I need to go check it out. I'm not sure if dirt is included.
The Kindle 2 looked slick - you can download almost any book in a matter of seconds. Talk about instant gratification. I want, "She was a good reader" on my tombstone. However, I can't really flag pages for future reference. Also, after finishing a book I might want to share with Marc, I'd have to lend him my Kindle. What fun is that? We already struggle over the Nintendo DS, "Where did you put it?" "Are you finished with that Soduko yet?" "I've got the highest score in the 20 math calculations, ha!" Does the Kindle record how long it takes to read a book? That could be trouble for this hyper competitive duo.
Then, even if he were to get a Kindle 2 for himself, that wouldn't solve the problem of sharing a good book - as the books aren't transferable. What happens when the Kindle 3 comes out? Can I transfer all my Kindle 2 books? Probably not. This device is sounding less & less appealing.
On the 1/2 filled shelves of our new bookcases sit books from all parts of my life. A picture book of Italy given to me by my Great-Aunt Zada, edited with postcards she had collected on her trips. Across the room are the Greek Plays next to Herodotus - a book that I occasionally reference. My philosophy shelf houses the Bible, a book on Zen, The Elegant Universe and God's Debris. Even if the Kindle let me create virtual bookshelves, they wouldn't be there to amuse my guests. Nor could it provide me with the small and leather-bound book from 1750 that my Grandmother Polly gave me. I haven't been able to read it, as the S's are sometimes F's as was the printing tradition back then, or was that due to their not having formalized spelling by that time?
I imagine that, one day, I will have to switch over to a new book technology. I don't yet think that the Kindle is it. Instead, I'm asking for a larger, traditional composter - something along the lines of this Wibo - sorry NatureMill. It is made out of recycled plastic - all the better! And then, I'll see if my dad is up for giving me this, I think it is a ready to go garden plot, but I need to go check it out. I'm not sure if dirt is included.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Composter Woes
I peeked. I opened the composted to check the status of my compost before a full week had gone by. The excitement got to me.
Sunday I took a gander under the lid only to find nothing there. The compost was gone. For a fleeting second I thought that Marc had stolen it as some odd joke, but no. All of the compost, in a nearly undigested state, had been dumped into the "done" tray. How did it come to that conclusion?? In my perplexed state, I contemplated tossing it all back up to the top for another session in the mixing chamber.
Then I spotted the evil white fuzz and knew that I couldn't. The mold had returned. Unfortunate.
Yesterday I buried it. Load #2 of half digested food waste now lays in the back yard. I am beginning to wonder what the archaeologists of 2250 will think of the dirt around the future ruins of our current home. "Strange how this house shows garbage disposal so close to the foundations - totally non-typical for primitives of that era."
I will begin agian this weekend - after a good dosing of 409 tonight.
Sunday I took a gander under the lid only to find nothing there. The compost was gone. For a fleeting second I thought that Marc had stolen it as some odd joke, but no. All of the compost, in a nearly undigested state, had been dumped into the "done" tray. How did it come to that conclusion?? In my perplexed state, I contemplated tossing it all back up to the top for another session in the mixing chamber.
Then I spotted the evil white fuzz and knew that I couldn't. The mold had returned. Unfortunate.
Yesterday I buried it. Load #2 of half digested food waste now lays in the back yard. I am beginning to wonder what the archaeologists of 2250 will think of the dirt around the future ruins of our current home. "Strange how this house shows garbage disposal so close to the foundations - totally non-typical for primitives of that era."
I will begin agian this weekend - after a good dosing of 409 tonight.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Road to Bliss
A few weeks ago I purchased, "A Brief History of Everything" on CD. I didn't like it. There was an excessive amount of odd jargon used to reinforce an odd construction of how to view the world. With each CD, the little voice in my head kept saying, "You know Jennifer, you don't have to finish every book you start." and I would reply, "Maybe the next CD will be better."
But last night, as I was driving home, the book reached a point where the framework developed meaning. The ideas swam about and one came up to me - that in X & Y Buddhist traditions that the path to enlightenment was just that - a path. The follower never arrives at a destination. The idea I caught next focused on how adherents to some Eastern traditions were required to take an oath where abouts they, as they found enlightenment, did not drift off into the bliss, focusing only on their path. Instead, the practitioners were required to teach and enlighten others so that all humans travel the path to nirvana.
I had put these thoughts away until I picked up little Tsui this morning. After spending a little time trying to face the mess that is my list of renewals for 2009, I decided to get me some dog love to lift the spirits.
Tsunami fits on my chest and she does this thing where she puts her nose down, covers it with a paw and then bursts out, and tries to kiss me - the french kind of kiss. Her attacks come at my mouth with tongue extended. She takes a few stabs at getting me and then ducks down again. I pet and nuzzle and she attacks again.
Everything else in the world vanishes. I'm left with Tsui and love. The future disappears, the past fades. She lives like this all the time. Just in the moment. This moment she sleeps at my feet. The next moment she sits & waits while I make her breakfast. Another moment she's got a leash on and we're out about town. I think she's already on the Zen path and clearly she's helping me along.
But last night, as I was driving home, the book reached a point where the framework developed meaning. The ideas swam about and one came up to me - that in X & Y Buddhist traditions that the path to enlightenment was just that - a path. The follower never arrives at a destination. The idea I caught next focused on how adherents to some Eastern traditions were required to take an oath where abouts they, as they found enlightenment, did not drift off into the bliss, focusing only on their path. Instead, the practitioners were required to teach and enlighten others so that all humans travel the path to nirvana.
I had put these thoughts away until I picked up little Tsui this morning. After spending a little time trying to face the mess that is my list of renewals for 2009, I decided to get me some dog love to lift the spirits.
Tsunami fits on my chest and she does this thing where she puts her nose down, covers it with a paw and then bursts out, and tries to kiss me - the french kind of kiss. Her attacks come at my mouth with tongue extended. She takes a few stabs at getting me and then ducks down again. I pet and nuzzle and she attacks again.
Everything else in the world vanishes. I'm left with Tsui and love. The future disappears, the past fades. She lives like this all the time. Just in the moment. This moment she sleeps at my feet. The next moment she sits & waits while I make her breakfast. Another moment she's got a leash on and we're out about town. I think she's already on the Zen path and clearly she's helping me along.
Friday, March 06, 2009
Gay Marriage Again
So, I thought the justices were going to rule on gay marriage yesterday, but they only heard arguments. And from the gloomy news, it sounds like they are going to let that razor thin majority vote hold.
My question to all of us interested in equal rights, for gays, women and minorities - where are we in the initiative process? Please send me a roster for getting signatures to put another measure on the ballot voting to legalize gay marriage. Let's start the campaign now. Let's start raising money. Let's start educating the people. And let's right an initiative that is compelling to centrists, liberals and independent voters.
I think we can do this. I have hope.
My question to all of us interested in equal rights, for gays, women and minorities - where are we in the initiative process? Please send me a roster for getting signatures to put another measure on the ballot voting to legalize gay marriage. Let's start the campaign now. Let's start raising money. Let's start educating the people. And let's right an initiative that is compelling to centrists, liberals and independent voters.
I think we can do this. I have hope.
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Gay Rights Day
I was reading on the NPR Website about today's decision regarding Gay Marriage. I very much hope that the court agrees that the state should not be able to restrict minority rights with a simple majority.
Reading the article, I was surprised to see this:
"This seems to be an effort to indiscriminately go after anyone who contributed money, regardless of their position on gay issues," says Frank Schubert, spokesman for the Yes on 8 campaign. He says the backlash has endangered individuals who exercised their constitutional right to freedom of religion.
The Supreme Court has effectively said that contributing money to campaigns is similar to free speech. It follows that those who contributed money to the campaign were, effectively exercising their right of free speech and stating that they believe that gay people should have their right to marry removed. I don't know how else to interpret a donation to "Yes on 8" other than as a statement against equal rights for Gay people.
I believe in transparency in campaign financing which was what happened here. The names of the contributors were made public. These people effectively stood up in the town square and stated their opinion on the matter. As a result, those who did not agree with their opinion made their thoughts known. Several people had to resign. This isn't surprising to me. If I were to make racists statements in my blog or on Facebook, I shouldn't be surprised if my employer called me in to HR to address the issue.
And where does religious freedom come into this? Were these people who donated money restricted from worshiping? Where they forced to do something against their beliefs? No, they brought their religion into the public sphere and then complained when others had beef with their actions. Likewise, the pious often have beef with those who wear skimpy clothing in the public sphere as it, while unfortunate choice of attire, is offensive to them.
Where am I going with all this? Not sure. I believe that we all should be held accountable for our actions, be it fashion mistakes or making racists, sexist or anti-gay statements.
Reading the article, I was surprised to see this:
"This seems to be an effort to indiscriminately go after anyone who contributed money, regardless of their position on gay issues," says Frank Schubert, spokesman for the Yes on 8 campaign. He says the backlash has endangered individuals who exercised their constitutional right to freedom of religion.
The Supreme Court has effectively said that contributing money to campaigns is similar to free speech. It follows that those who contributed money to the campaign were, effectively exercising their right of free speech and stating that they believe that gay people should have their right to marry removed. I don't know how else to interpret a donation to "Yes on 8" other than as a statement against equal rights for Gay people.
I believe in transparency in campaign financing which was what happened here. The names of the contributors were made public. These people effectively stood up in the town square and stated their opinion on the matter. As a result, those who did not agree with their opinion made their thoughts known. Several people had to resign. This isn't surprising to me. If I were to make racists statements in my blog or on Facebook, I shouldn't be surprised if my employer called me in to HR to address the issue.
And where does religious freedom come into this? Were these people who donated money restricted from worshiping? Where they forced to do something against their beliefs? No, they brought their religion into the public sphere and then complained when others had beef with their actions. Likewise, the pious often have beef with those who wear skimpy clothing in the public sphere as it, while unfortunate choice of attire, is offensive to them.
Where am I going with all this? Not sure. I believe that we all should be held accountable for our actions, be it fashion mistakes or making racists, sexist or anti-gay statements.
Monday, March 02, 2009
Brain Train Status
This morning I did 100 simple calculations in 1 min 59 sec with 1 error. Pretty good, I think, especially as that includes a turn of the page. So far, I have seen improvement in my brain training. I'm doing it both in the book, Dr Kawashima Train Your Brain More and with his Nintendo DS game (that you Marc!).
Now I'm curious if I will quickly master these games. The simple math challenges me every time and my times are holding somewhat steady with big fluctuations clearly tied to coffee intake, sleep intake and previous day's alcohol intake. Drinking, even 2 drinks in one evening, will slow me down the next day. Then there is the reading aloud and finding techniques to do that quickly. Also, I'm an ace at the syllable count. I find the party game to challenge me the most, as little people are put in the house and hidden. Then people come in and leave and I am required to keep track of the number of people in the house - by far the hardest.
Whether or not I master then, the games amuse me and look forward to them. I'm not sure if my brain is getting stronger or not. I do the brain test every 5 days or so with the book and I try to keep it to the same schedule on the Nintendo. The Nintendo announces my brain age - which currently is 26. I'm excited about that. My first brain age was in the 60's. I'm not sure if I'm sharper in daily life. Yet so far, I have not found a way to check this. Let me know if you think of any ideas.
Now I'm curious if I will quickly master these games. The simple math challenges me every time and my times are holding somewhat steady with big fluctuations clearly tied to coffee intake, sleep intake and previous day's alcohol intake. Drinking, even 2 drinks in one evening, will slow me down the next day. Then there is the reading aloud and finding techniques to do that quickly. Also, I'm an ace at the syllable count. I find the party game to challenge me the most, as little people are put in the house and hidden. Then people come in and leave and I am required to keep track of the number of people in the house - by far the hardest.
Whether or not I master then, the games amuse me and look forward to them. I'm not sure if my brain is getting stronger or not. I do the brain test every 5 days or so with the book and I try to keep it to the same schedule on the Nintendo. The Nintendo announces my brain age - which currently is 26. I'm excited about that. My first brain age was in the 60's. I'm not sure if I'm sharper in daily life. Yet so far, I have not found a way to check this. Let me know if you think of any ideas.
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Written on the Body
Today Marc & I did 12 miles on the treadmill. As you all know, we're training for a May Marathon and our goal today was to transport our bodies over the equivalent of 12 miles. We had wanted to take the dogs for a hike for some of the trek, but the weather was wet & gray when we woke and our only training option was the gym.
In addition to the gym, I've returned to weight watchers. While I'm no big fan of portion control, I do believe it is the healthiest way to get down a size or two. With the combination of marathon training & healthy eating, I'm targeting a BMI of 22 or 23. Which would be amazing for me. I'm below 25 - which qualifies me as No Longer Obese. I'm down to about 23% body fat - another clear sign of No Longer Obese. Yippee.
The strangest thing is the subtle changes in the physique. I'm slimming down in different places - this time my arms have more definition that I've seen in the past. My coworker was harassing me the other day when I went to the office in a sleeveless shirt. Evidently my guns are looking pretty cut. I didn't think much of it until this morning when, while drying my hair, I saw the birth control in my arm. The little match stick was articulated from beneath the skin. Not the most attractive thing, yet I did feel a little bit proud.
We'll see if I can fight my way down to the svelte figure I want. Keep those fingers crossed for me.
In addition to the gym, I've returned to weight watchers. While I'm no big fan of portion control, I do believe it is the healthiest way to get down a size or two. With the combination of marathon training & healthy eating, I'm targeting a BMI of 22 or 23. Which would be amazing for me. I'm below 25 - which qualifies me as No Longer Obese. I'm down to about 23% body fat - another clear sign of No Longer Obese. Yippee.
The strangest thing is the subtle changes in the physique. I'm slimming down in different places - this time my arms have more definition that I've seen in the past. My coworker was harassing me the other day when I went to the office in a sleeveless shirt. Evidently my guns are looking pretty cut. I didn't think much of it until this morning when, while drying my hair, I saw the birth control in my arm. The little match stick was articulated from beneath the skin. Not the most attractive thing, yet I did feel a little bit proud.
We'll see if I can fight my way down to the svelte figure I want. Keep those fingers crossed for me.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Composter Test Run
So I lost this last battle with the composter. It started out strong. It was outside, so there weren't any problems with odor or wetness. I had loads of scraps to toss in. It was churning, I was cooking and all seemed well at the start.
The entire project could have been cursed from the beginning. I didn't let it run for the full week, per the instructions. I added unwanted Chinese food which gave it a strong Asian odor, yet did seem to be happily composting way. But think what really messed me up was adding some slightly moldy green things from the bottom of the vegetable drawer. Your see, it wasn't long before there was some white fur trimming the edges of the compost mixture.
I tried to ignore it at first. Pretend that the white furry stuff wasn't there, by mixing it in, adding more veggies and doing some crossed fingers business. The fuzz didn't mind getting mixed in to the good stuff. It too about two weeks to fully ripen & bloom. Two weeks ago I lifted the lid of the composter to find a dusting of white fuzz that looked like frost on the edge of some rocks, but the frost had mutated and grown a beard. It was also complaining about being full and I noticed that it had "dropped a load" into the "done" collection tray.
It was raining and I was about to leave for a long weekend in Southern California, so I just let it go. The deposit trap stayed open and the mixture was exposed. The bottom bit was no longer kept warm & mix so that it began to ooze & melt. The top bit, was the stuff caked around the edges did stay warm, yet was stuck there and it fell pray to the mold.
When I lifted the lid today, the area around the top was black with a silver crust. The deposit tray was hosting a primordial swamp and I was tinged with a guilt that I might halt the evolution of life on this planet if I were to clean out the unit, as I intended.
But my guilt was blasted away by the odor of the sludge. I had to get rid of the sludge. I couldn't bear throwing it away, as that would be the antithesis to the entire composting project. I decided that it would be best to bury this batch, as to leave it out to would be to invite them to roll in the fragrant soup of future life. So, I dug a whole in the sandy soil, shoshed, dumped and shook as much as I could into it and then recovered it. Deep down I harbored a hope that, like a pig cooked in a pit of embers, so might my compost be reborn into useful soil.
The composter got a good scrubbing and it now drying in the garage. Tomorrow it will get a spray down with some 409 before I restart the project. I'll need to find me some good dirt with energetic spores and then save up 2 days of veggie remains to add. I'm excited. Third time might be a charm.
The entire project could have been cursed from the beginning. I didn't let it run for the full week, per the instructions. I added unwanted Chinese food which gave it a strong Asian odor, yet did seem to be happily composting way. But think what really messed me up was adding some slightly moldy green things from the bottom of the vegetable drawer. Your see, it wasn't long before there was some white fur trimming the edges of the compost mixture.
I tried to ignore it at first. Pretend that the white furry stuff wasn't there, by mixing it in, adding more veggies and doing some crossed fingers business. The fuzz didn't mind getting mixed in to the good stuff. It too about two weeks to fully ripen & bloom. Two weeks ago I lifted the lid of the composter to find a dusting of white fuzz that looked like frost on the edge of some rocks, but the frost had mutated and grown a beard. It was also complaining about being full and I noticed that it had "dropped a load" into the "done" collection tray.
It was raining and I was about to leave for a long weekend in Southern California, so I just let it go. The deposit trap stayed open and the mixture was exposed. The bottom bit was no longer kept warm & mix so that it began to ooze & melt. The top bit, was the stuff caked around the edges did stay warm, yet was stuck there and it fell pray to the mold.
When I lifted the lid today, the area around the top was black with a silver crust. The deposit tray was hosting a primordial swamp and I was tinged with a guilt that I might halt the evolution of life on this planet if I were to clean out the unit, as I intended.
But my guilt was blasted away by the odor of the sludge. I had to get rid of the sludge. I couldn't bear throwing it away, as that would be the antithesis to the entire composting project. I decided that it would be best to bury this batch, as to leave it out to would be to invite them to roll in the fragrant soup of future life. So, I dug a whole in the sandy soil, shoshed, dumped and shook as much as I could into it and then recovered it. Deep down I harbored a hope that, like a pig cooked in a pit of embers, so might my compost be reborn into useful soil.
The composter got a good scrubbing and it now drying in the garage. Tomorrow it will get a spray down with some 409 before I restart the project. I'll need to find me some good dirt with energetic spores and then save up 2 days of veggie remains to add. I'm excited. Third time might be a charm.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Separation of Church & State
So I'm not a big fan of organized religion. I do not believe the idea proposed by the religious right that the founding fathers intended us all to be Christians. They didn't base our Constitution on any ideas found in the Bible - sorry, no matter how much that idea is repeated, it will not become truth. And yet, I've found a deep and personal spirituality that has lead me to read, learn, pray and meditate. I believe I had a connection to the divine as real as the orange I had for breakfast.
And then I see this:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101158649&ft=1&f=1001
A public park in Utah has the 10 Commandments posted. A different religious group offered to place a monument to their religious pillars and was denied. According to the Supreme Court, the state has the right to deny their offer to place a monument, at their expense, in the park.
How is that not the state's endorsement of one religion over another?
Can't we all just leave our spirituality, prayer books, stars of David and veils at home? Doesn't it make one more pious to believe and act according to one's faith when there is adversity? Staying true to one's god in a prison cell is easy, it is when out in the world, exposed to different ideas and temptations where the difficulty arises. If you never have the choice of buying, eating or obtaining bacon, does it make your kosher diet more or less pure than he who has to deny himself the bacon when it is being fried up in the kitchen? Not that I'd want to be exposed to cooked bacon all day long - but I can choose NOT to buy it, cook it or go to establishments that serve it.
Do we need the 10 commandments in the parks, the courthouses and in our schools? Does it really make us more devout? Does the extremist government of Iran generate more pious citizens? I don't see where it adds to our civic life. If fact, I see it only as a detriment.
And then I see this:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101158649&ft=1&f=1001
A public park in Utah has the 10 Commandments posted. A different religious group offered to place a monument to their religious pillars and was denied. According to the Supreme Court, the state has the right to deny their offer to place a monument, at their expense, in the park.
How is that not the state's endorsement of one religion over another?
Can't we all just leave our spirituality, prayer books, stars of David and veils at home? Doesn't it make one more pious to believe and act according to one's faith when there is adversity? Staying true to one's god in a prison cell is easy, it is when out in the world, exposed to different ideas and temptations where the difficulty arises. If you never have the choice of buying, eating or obtaining bacon, does it make your kosher diet more or less pure than he who has to deny himself the bacon when it is being fried up in the kitchen? Not that I'd want to be exposed to cooked bacon all day long - but I can choose NOT to buy it, cook it or go to establishments that serve it.
Do we need the 10 commandments in the parks, the courthouses and in our schools? Does it really make us more devout? Does the extremist government of Iran generate more pious citizens? I don't see where it adds to our civic life. If fact, I see it only as a detriment.
Winter Love
My basic reaction to winter is Ick. I don't like cold. I don't like wet. I don't like having days that are shorter than night. I dislike limits in diet - though there are not that many in this modern age, and living in California, most seasons are growing seasons. Yet, I'm trying to get closer to the land, consuming what is in season, traditionally grown and local, so I'm eager to have the peaches, nectarines and cherries that are coming in spring.
However the California winter does bring some blessings. When the rain ceases and the sun comes back out, the grass turns the most unbelievable color of green. It glows. It screams health. The hills become a color that, oddly enough, seems unnatural in it hue. Then the trees start to bud and they do so with such delicacy. Since it is California, we get blossoms early. The fruit trees begin to flower in February.
Also generated are those little nubs on the tress. The few leaves that are bold enough to strike out in February or March and start the re-greening process. Walking the dogs, I have the luxury to check on all the trees in the 'hood. I see where they are in the rebirth cycle and send them thoughts of encouragement.
Finally, the rain cleanses the air. I have been able to see across the central valley to the foothills on the other side. I dream of the coming summer's hike in Yosemite. Sometimes the air clears and I see Mt. Diablo coated in snow and how close it seems.
Then I get home from the walk, scrape the mud from the bottom of my shoes, or just leave them outside and go in for something warm.
However the California winter does bring some blessings. When the rain ceases and the sun comes back out, the grass turns the most unbelievable color of green. It glows. It screams health. The hills become a color that, oddly enough, seems unnatural in it hue. Then the trees start to bud and they do so with such delicacy. Since it is California, we get blossoms early. The fruit trees begin to flower in February.
Also generated are those little nubs on the tress. The few leaves that are bold enough to strike out in February or March and start the re-greening process. Walking the dogs, I have the luxury to check on all the trees in the 'hood. I see where they are in the rebirth cycle and send them thoughts of encouragement.
Finally, the rain cleanses the air. I have been able to see across the central valley to the foothills on the other side. I dream of the coming summer's hike in Yosemite. Sometimes the air clears and I see Mt. Diablo coated in snow and how close it seems.
Then I get home from the walk, scrape the mud from the bottom of my shoes, or just leave them outside and go in for something warm.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Long Weekend
After a 5 hour drive, we're home from a very successful Southern California Weekend. I had set my heart on doing an OC & San Diego weekend a while back. I wanted to visit my grandmother who I hadn't seen in way too long; visit Sal & Erica as well as Steve, Kim & Audrey. Marc was game, so I sorted out the dog sitter and off we went. Thursday we drove south and were happy to be able to make a delightful lunch with Andre in Pasadena.
Thursday night we got to Sal & Erica's for an amazing feast that Sal prepared - herb crusted roast beef topped with bell peppers, mushrooms and shallots accompanied by grilled asparagus and cous cous - just fantastic. We brought some super yummy wine from Highlands Winery.
Friday we kicked off the day with breakfast at Bernini's, a small cafe in La Jolla. We spent Friday with Grandmother Polly who was in fine spirits. She did have a bit of a time remembering Marc's last name, but had a sense of humor about it - or so it seemed, she did laugh when I suggested he wear a name tag the next time we visit. She enjoyed taking us all about White Sands, as the renovations & expansions have mostly been completed since I was last there. We found Aunt Elizabeth playing rummy tiles and greeted her. Then enjoyed lunch in the main hall. After lunch we were shuttled to their new game room where Polly smoked us at pool. I was shocked that I almost got hussled by my grandmother! She is a shark.
Friday night we enjoyed a Beethoven Concert by the Munich Symphony lead by Philippe Entremont. It was lovely, I was just rapt by the beautiful music. We came home and enjoyed more drinks & cheese and I passed out about the time Marc and Erica launched a 2 AM duet of chopsticks.
Saturday had to big highlights - lunch with Steve & Kim. I wish we had had more time with them. Only they seemed to have their hands full between Kim's belly (she's 8 months pregnant) and Audrey, their fantastic 2 year old who had a bad day and was able to scream for the full 20 minutes we had contact with her. While it didn't make me question Marc & my childbearing intentions, I was a bit concerned that he might have some bad baby ju-ju. But we found that not to be the case when we got to Terry & Larry's where their darling girl, Kira had no such issues with Marc. Whew, close one.
After enjoyed a Mexican Feast with Steve & Kim, we were overjoyed to find out that Terry & Larry had specially picked out a restaurant in West Hollywood that did authentic Mexican City food. I don't think Marc will be touching Mexican food for a few months. But the restaurant was really good. And they did these unbelievable margaritas that were pureed fruit with wine and tequila and slush and goodness.
We stopped back at Ralph's on the way home and picked up mucho alcohol, as when we got home, we found that friends had beaten us there. We had 4 friends of the guys (they know each other from a online gaming crew) waiting there. The drinks started to flow, the bonfire was started... that was a bit more difficult. I think it took a few hours and fun was had by all. Again, I was ready for bed before the others... crashing out while some of the people were finishing up.
Marc came to our inflatable mattress bed, waking me up - i realized it had lost some of it's firmness, but was happy to have him, and rolled back over with a buzz. Next thing I knew, I was 75% on the ground with only the extremities off the floor... the air mattress was losing the little bit of air it had. About 4 AM I woke up completely and realized that something had to be done. We searched the edge of the mattress, unable to find the air nozzle. I then searched the office, kitchen and easily accessible places for a pump. Neither were found. Marc rearranged the blanket and we just passed out on the hardwood floor.
The next morning, we're up and Terry & Larry are up and I'm trying to figure out how to tactfully say something. They asked if we slept well and I had to suggest that they replace the mattress before they have more company, as it didn't hold up through the night. They were a bit embarrassed, but promised to have a real mattress for us when we visit.
Breakfast was at a diner in Toluca - very authentic. This was my first trip back to Los Angeles since I moved 2.5 years ago. It was strange - so familar and so different; both me & the city having changed. It still felt odd, so focused on outward appearances. I'm used to my Northern California substance over style attitudes. And I liked the familar neighborhoods. I had passed out in the car on our way from Irvine to Burbank (Steve & Kim's to Terry & Larry's). I openned my eyes upon our arrival in The Valley and instantly knew where we were. I liked how familar it felt. Many times it felt like the Ghosts of Jennifer Past were riding along with us and pointed out things that had happed years ago.
After the eating & drinking and eating & drinking and drive back to NoCal - I'm totally pooped. I'm so excited for my bed.
Thursday night we got to Sal & Erica's for an amazing feast that Sal prepared - herb crusted roast beef topped with bell peppers, mushrooms and shallots accompanied by grilled asparagus and cous cous - just fantastic. We brought some super yummy wine from Highlands Winery.
Friday we kicked off the day with breakfast at Bernini's, a small cafe in La Jolla. We spent Friday with Grandmother Polly who was in fine spirits. She did have a bit of a time remembering Marc's last name, but had a sense of humor about it - or so it seemed, she did laugh when I suggested he wear a name tag the next time we visit. She enjoyed taking us all about White Sands, as the renovations & expansions have mostly been completed since I was last there. We found Aunt Elizabeth playing rummy tiles and greeted her. Then enjoyed lunch in the main hall. After lunch we were shuttled to their new game room where Polly smoked us at pool. I was shocked that I almost got hussled by my grandmother! She is a shark.
Friday night we enjoyed a Beethoven Concert by the Munich Symphony lead by Philippe Entremont. It was lovely, I was just rapt by the beautiful music. We came home and enjoyed more drinks & cheese and I passed out about the time Marc and Erica launched a 2 AM duet of chopsticks.
Saturday had to big highlights - lunch with Steve & Kim. I wish we had had more time with them. Only they seemed to have their hands full between Kim's belly (she's 8 months pregnant) and Audrey, their fantastic 2 year old who had a bad day and was able to scream for the full 20 minutes we had contact with her. While it didn't make me question Marc & my childbearing intentions, I was a bit concerned that he might have some bad baby ju-ju. But we found that not to be the case when we got to Terry & Larry's where their darling girl, Kira had no such issues with Marc. Whew, close one.
After enjoyed a Mexican Feast with Steve & Kim, we were overjoyed to find out that Terry & Larry had specially picked out a restaurant in West Hollywood that did authentic Mexican City food. I don't think Marc will be touching Mexican food for a few months. But the restaurant was really good. And they did these unbelievable margaritas that were pureed fruit with wine and tequila and slush and goodness.
We stopped back at Ralph's on the way home and picked up mucho alcohol, as when we got home, we found that friends had beaten us there. We had 4 friends of the guys (they know each other from a online gaming crew) waiting there. The drinks started to flow, the bonfire was started... that was a bit more difficult. I think it took a few hours and fun was had by all. Again, I was ready for bed before the others... crashing out while some of the people were finishing up.
Marc came to our inflatable mattress bed, waking me up - i realized it had lost some of it's firmness, but was happy to have him, and rolled back over with a buzz. Next thing I knew, I was 75% on the ground with only the extremities off the floor... the air mattress was losing the little bit of air it had. About 4 AM I woke up completely and realized that something had to be done. We searched the edge of the mattress, unable to find the air nozzle. I then searched the office, kitchen and easily accessible places for a pump. Neither were found. Marc rearranged the blanket and we just passed out on the hardwood floor.
The next morning, we're up and Terry & Larry are up and I'm trying to figure out how to tactfully say something. They asked if we slept well and I had to suggest that they replace the mattress before they have more company, as it didn't hold up through the night. They were a bit embarrassed, but promised to have a real mattress for us when we visit.
Breakfast was at a diner in Toluca - very authentic. This was my first trip back to Los Angeles since I moved 2.5 years ago. It was strange - so familar and so different; both me & the city having changed. It still felt odd, so focused on outward appearances. I'm used to my Northern California substance over style attitudes. And I liked the familar neighborhoods. I had passed out in the car on our way from Irvine to Burbank (Steve & Kim's to Terry & Larry's). I openned my eyes upon our arrival in The Valley and instantly knew where we were. I liked how familar it felt. Many times it felt like the Ghosts of Jennifer Past were riding along with us and pointed out things that had happed years ago.
After the eating & drinking and eating & drinking and drive back to NoCal - I'm totally pooped. I'm so excited for my bed.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
New Sins??
This headline caught my eye:
Two Sexes Sin In Different Ways: Women are prouder than men, but men are more lustful.
And I'm thinking, "The church has any idea what lurks in the hearts of women?" Come on now.
But then, reading on, I discovered that the Vatican, in all its wisdom, has updated the seven deadly sins to reflect modern times. Wow - how amazing is that. I guess, these weren't sins inscribed on tablets given from god to Moses or anything, so they are changeable.
Here they are:
Genetic Modification (I wonder if that includes dog breeding, as Tsuanmi sure isn't natural)
Experiments on the Person (What exactly is included in that?)
Environmental Pollution (sounds good to me)
Taking or Selling Illegal Drugs (so the people in the early 1900's who were hooked on laudlin are absolved, but W does Blow in the 80's, it's not OK?)
Social Injustice (Hear that Mugabe!)
Causing Poverty (Take that Castro!)
Financial Greed (Take that Chaney and all you Modern Day Robber Barons!)
At first this seems totally wrong - how can they rewrite the bible? But the seven deadly sins are no where in the bible. With a little web research* one learns that the original seven deadly sins were an idea of Greek monk came up with the idea. He had eight sins that blocked the way to love - they do, don't they, but do the new modern ones? The seven sins were revised by Pope Gregory I who revised and reduced them to seven. And here we are with a new seven.
Either way, I'm not sure I'm buying it. I think women are just as lustful as men, only society finds it unseemly for us to express it, thus we find different sins to confess. Next meditation will be, "What sins have I committed today?"
*Author makes no assertions that information found on the web is true in anyway.
Two Sexes Sin In Different Ways: Women are prouder than men, but men are more lustful.
And I'm thinking, "The church has any idea what lurks in the hearts of women?" Come on now.
But then, reading on, I discovered that the Vatican, in all its wisdom, has updated the seven deadly sins to reflect modern times. Wow - how amazing is that. I guess, these weren't sins inscribed on tablets given from god to Moses or anything, so they are changeable.
Here they are:
Genetic Modification (I wonder if that includes dog breeding, as Tsuanmi sure isn't natural)
Experiments on the Person (What exactly is included in that?)
Environmental Pollution (sounds good to me)
Taking or Selling Illegal Drugs (so the people in the early 1900's who were hooked on laudlin are absolved, but W does Blow in the 80's, it's not OK?)
Social Injustice (Hear that Mugabe!)
Causing Poverty (Take that Castro!)
Financial Greed (Take that Chaney and all you Modern Day Robber Barons!)
At first this seems totally wrong - how can they rewrite the bible? But the seven deadly sins are no where in the bible. With a little web research* one learns that the original seven deadly sins were an idea of Greek monk came up with the idea. He had eight sins that blocked the way to love - they do, don't they, but do the new modern ones? The seven sins were revised by Pope Gregory I who revised and reduced them to seven. And here we are with a new seven.
Either way, I'm not sure I'm buying it. I think women are just as lustful as men, only society finds it unseemly for us to express it, thus we find different sins to confess. Next meditation will be, "What sins have I committed today?"
*Author makes no assertions that information found on the web is true in anyway.
Monday, February 09, 2009
Never-ending Road to Self Improvemnt
Recently I have begun to wonder if I'm slipping. I don't feel as mentally sharp as I want to feel. This feeling may, in fact be due to my lack of observation. Last week Marc had left a GIANT box sitting in the library that I just walked past - and it took me 30 seconds to see the cookies he left next to my computer. Sad, I do realize that perception isn't brain power and that to really feel better, I need to hang around dumber people. Who knew it would be a curse to have smart & interesting friends?
But still, I was wondering, if the brain muscle, like my other muscles, would respond to exercise. On Saturday's trip to the land of big-box-retailers, we visited Barnes & Ignoble to check up on some books. I found a full table devoted to ways to improve one's brain. And so I picked up "Dr. Kawashima Train Your Brain More"
I didn't know that I wasn't the only one in search of brain improvement. I knew that there was the mesa-validation section... books & puzzles to make those with high intelligence yet low levels of success feel better about themselves. But I didn't know there were better brain diets, books about neuropathology and theory books on how to increase brain function.
This book, however, appealed to me and my fitness sensibilities. Dr. Kawashima has done research to see what activities increase brain level functioning... and it is simple! Simple math - doing easy calculations (if you can call 7 x 8 easy, I NEVER remember what that is, but 6 + 9 is easy) - reading aloud and writing are all ways to better stimulate your brain, become more creative and, oh gosh, can't remember the last thing - oh yeah, remember more things. Also the name is clearly Asian, possibly Japanese and that is even better!
So I started, I did the preliminary tests - how long does it take for you to count, aloud, to 120? A Stroop test, where you say the color of the word printed, not the word, ie when reading "Green" the response is "blue" not "green"and finally, memory test. I got 13 words, which was good, but I credit that to mnemonic tricks I was taught as a teenager.
We shall see if this has impact. My blogs could be come better written, more mathematically sound and, possibly, more creative. We can hope! 60 days to a better brain and then I have to find ways to keep it up or I will get a flabby intellect again. Boo.
But still, I was wondering, if the brain muscle, like my other muscles, would respond to exercise. On Saturday's trip to the land of big-box-retailers, we visited Barnes & Ignoble to check up on some books. I found a full table devoted to ways to improve one's brain. And so I picked up "Dr. Kawashima Train Your Brain More"
I didn't know that I wasn't the only one in search of brain improvement. I knew that there was the mesa-validation section... books & puzzles to make those with high intelligence yet low levels of success feel better about themselves. But I didn't know there were better brain diets, books about neuropathology and theory books on how to increase brain function.
This book, however, appealed to me and my fitness sensibilities. Dr. Kawashima has done research to see what activities increase brain level functioning... and it is simple! Simple math - doing easy calculations (if you can call 7 x 8 easy, I NEVER remember what that is, but 6 + 9 is easy) - reading aloud and writing are all ways to better stimulate your brain, become more creative and, oh gosh, can't remember the last thing - oh yeah, remember more things. Also the name is clearly Asian, possibly Japanese and that is even better!
So I started, I did the preliminary tests - how long does it take for you to count, aloud, to 120? A Stroop test, where you say the color of the word printed, not the word, ie when reading "Green" the response is "blue" not "green"and finally, memory test. I got 13 words, which was good, but I credit that to mnemonic tricks I was taught as a teenager.
We shall see if this has impact. My blogs could be come better written, more mathematically sound and, possibly, more creative. We can hope! 60 days to a better brain and then I have to find ways to keep it up or I will get a flabby intellect again. Boo.
Son of Composter
Now that I'm officially living with Marc, we got the composter from mom. It had enjoyed its 4 month rest and was ready for action.
The first night I got some dirt from the edge of the grass, put in some baking soda, sawdust pellets and then let it go. It was plugged in and we went to bed, but the dogs weren't used to it. When it did its churning in the middle of the night, the dogs went wild. Marc went down and unplugged it.
The next day it got both relocated to the back yard (which is better, as it is just outside the kitchen, and a full dosing of veggie clippings and some left over Chinese food. Marc made me swear that I wouldn't open it for a week, per its instructions. Well, I was good, I let it go for a week and over the weekend I opened it up for a look.
Unlike previous adventures of excessive moisture - which, due to the rain, was not surprising - we had mold! It almost looked like frost at the edges... little white fuzzy crystal things. I was disappointed, guessing I had not enough starter soil. I let it sit for a day and then, Sunday, took it on. I took the spatula, opened the top and was confronted with a light brown mush that smelled like vomit. Not what I was suspecting. But I dug up some additional dirt and added it in, mixed in the moldy bits (probably not the best idea) and added the tailings from the bok choy-mushroom stir fry we made for dinner last night. I haven't checked it yet, but soon.
The first night I got some dirt from the edge of the grass, put in some baking soda, sawdust pellets and then let it go. It was plugged in and we went to bed, but the dogs weren't used to it. When it did its churning in the middle of the night, the dogs went wild. Marc went down and unplugged it.
The next day it got both relocated to the back yard (which is better, as it is just outside the kitchen, and a full dosing of veggie clippings and some left over Chinese food. Marc made me swear that I wouldn't open it for a week, per its instructions. Well, I was good, I let it go for a week and over the weekend I opened it up for a look.
Unlike previous adventures of excessive moisture - which, due to the rain, was not surprising - we had mold! It almost looked like frost at the edges... little white fuzzy crystal things. I was disappointed, guessing I had not enough starter soil. I let it sit for a day and then, Sunday, took it on. I took the spatula, opened the top and was confronted with a light brown mush that smelled like vomit. Not what I was suspecting. But I dug up some additional dirt and added it in, mixed in the moldy bits (probably not the best idea) and added the tailings from the bok choy-mushroom stir fry we made for dinner last night. I haven't checked it yet, but soon.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Faith Based Initiatives
For most of my super early drive into the office this morning (I have a 6 AM training that I have to be at) I enjoyed the silence of the trip. The Drive Time Italian was silenced and I was not listening to Obama's book or a history of English. I was just enjoying the quiet.
But then, I figured I'd hear a little news, so I turn on NPR while wondering how much of their news was News and how much was just a mishmash of Press Releases edited slightly to be reporting. The reporter started in on the President's recent nominations who had withdrawn their names and noted to self that I needed to donate to NPR to keep their reporting worth listening to.
And then they switched to the Faith Based Initiatives mess left by Bush. Bush allowed religious groups to receive federal funds while discriminating against those they felt unfit for employment. The case they described was a woman who took a job with a Southern Baptist Church and fully disclosed her homosexuality and yet was let go, for unspecified reasons 6 months later, when parishioners saw a picture of her with her partner.
This case strikes me as wrong on so many levels. From what I've read of the New Testament, I don't recall Jesus not asking people if they were gay before healing them. He didn't stop to see if his apostles had any leanings. I seem to recall him talking about Love and Helping Others and all of us being sinners. By letting that woman go, they both discriminate against her and tell the gay people in the community that their assistance and initiatives are dependent on the sexuality of those in need. To me, that isn't Christian and I do not feel that my federal funds should be used for a group that is only willing to help those they deem worthy.
Can't we do better?
But then, I figured I'd hear a little news, so I turn on NPR while wondering how much of their news was News and how much was just a mishmash of Press Releases edited slightly to be reporting. The reporter started in on the President's recent nominations who had withdrawn their names and noted to self that I needed to donate to NPR to keep their reporting worth listening to.
And then they switched to the Faith Based Initiatives mess left by Bush. Bush allowed religious groups to receive federal funds while discriminating against those they felt unfit for employment. The case they described was a woman who took a job with a Southern Baptist Church and fully disclosed her homosexuality and yet was let go, for unspecified reasons 6 months later, when parishioners saw a picture of her with her partner.
This case strikes me as wrong on so many levels. From what I've read of the New Testament, I don't recall Jesus not asking people if they were gay before healing them. He didn't stop to see if his apostles had any leanings. I seem to recall him talking about Love and Helping Others and all of us being sinners. By letting that woman go, they both discriminate against her and tell the gay people in the community that their assistance and initiatives are dependent on the sexuality of those in need. To me, that isn't Christian and I do not feel that my federal funds should be used for a group that is only willing to help those they deem worthy.
Can't we do better?
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Throwing the glove
So Chavez says we can't kick our oil habit:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/02/03/venezuela.chavez/index.html
I have total and unconditional belief in America's ability to rise to a challenge. We came up with assembly lines and tanks and know-how and, despite what Marc says, the ability to beat the Nazi's. We invented the Internet - or Al Gore did. We came up with Unix and computers and the ability to beat our own human chess whizzes with a computer.
We can come up with ecologically friendly energy solutions. I'm sure of it. I just don't know what we need to do to motivate us to action. What is the call? How many plants & animals need to go extinct first? Or maybe we could just get our ego dented... Chavez says we can't.
We don't like Chavez. He says we're dumb... we should prove him wrong. Maybe we can get Putin to say the same thing? And Jintao could say that their Communism will bring our oil dependent Capitalism to its knees. Insult our ego! Say we're not good enough and maybe that will get the Heartland motivated to prove our worth. Bring it on!
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/02/03/venezuela.chavez/index.html
I have total and unconditional belief in America's ability to rise to a challenge. We came up with assembly lines and tanks and know-how and, despite what Marc says, the ability to beat the Nazi's. We invented the Internet - or Al Gore did. We came up with Unix and computers and the ability to beat our own human chess whizzes with a computer.
We can come up with ecologically friendly energy solutions. I'm sure of it. I just don't know what we need to do to motivate us to action. What is the call? How many plants & animals need to go extinct first? Or maybe we could just get our ego dented... Chavez says we can't.
We don't like Chavez. He says we're dumb... we should prove him wrong. Maybe we can get Putin to say the same thing? And Jintao could say that their Communism will bring our oil dependent Capitalism to its knees. Insult our ego! Say we're not good enough and maybe that will get the Heartland motivated to prove our worth. Bring it on!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Unconditional Love?
On Thursday I had to take Tsui in to the vet for a couple vaccinations. I've had great luck with the Marina Veterinary Clinic there on Lombard. I purchased their insurance and so my 3 vaccinations, 4 months of Frontline and annual check-up was only $100. How happy am I? She's healthy and my wallet isn't empty.
But they print out things for my doggie record and on it is a thing about how great dogs are - like they need to convince us pet owners? One reason to have a dog, according to this blurb, is to know unconditional love. And I'm thinking, really?
Yes, my dog adores me, but seems to adore me more when I have food that I will be giving her. Marc's boxers don't (yet) love me unconditionally, but they are warming up - how long does it take for unconditional love to develop? And yes, Tsunami adores me, and prefers exclusive love, as she chases down the boxers if they dare ask for some of my affection. Hmm, maybe that's why they are so slow to warm to me? And does possession count as unconditional love? I'm not so sure. And then there is Austin and his cantankerous ways. He only likes his cuddles at specific times. Others he gives you a bit of a back-off growl. Which begs the question, does unconditional love have time restrictions?
Anyway, it is time to feed the mob of loving dogs.
But they print out things for my doggie record and on it is a thing about how great dogs are - like they need to convince us pet owners? One reason to have a dog, according to this blurb, is to know unconditional love. And I'm thinking, really?
Yes, my dog adores me, but seems to adore me more when I have food that I will be giving her. Marc's boxers don't (yet) love me unconditionally, but they are warming up - how long does it take for unconditional love to develop? And yes, Tsunami adores me, and prefers exclusive love, as she chases down the boxers if they dare ask for some of my affection. Hmm, maybe that's why they are so slow to warm to me? And does possession count as unconditional love? I'm not so sure. And then there is Austin and his cantankerous ways. He only likes his cuddles at specific times. Others he gives you a bit of a back-off growl. Which begs the question, does unconditional love have time restrictions?
Anyway, it is time to feed the mob of loving dogs.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Settling In
This weekend I moved. It was a week long process... starting with last weekend having Marci & Aaron go on a long trip to Mom's to get my desk and some boxes that had been there for the last two years. I was happily reunited with my photo album collection (there wasn't space in the loft for them). I enjoyed looking through them and equally happy to stow them again.
This weekend I got the rest of my things from Ruthie's as well as a long day yesterday where I got my things from Greg's. Amazing how it all played out - I got things and just focused on getting our new home in shape so much that, by 10 PM I thought the activities of the morning had occurred the day before.
Today we had the annual winter brunch with Dwight, Carolyn, Julie, Warren, Beth & Mom. As usual, Dim Sum was on the menu, then they all came back to see my new home. Marc was a total champ. He was charming at brunch, enjoying himself with the company even after we did 3 solid hours of prep work before dashing from the house to return the U-haul before heading to Walnut Creek for lunch. Tin's Tea Lounge is definitely worth a return visit.
The house appears to have gotten a thumbs up. The dogs are all settled in. The towels put away. The mirror hung. We still need another set of book shelves, but the console table in the middle looks great with my maternal photo series on top. My mom brought me photos of me as a baby.
I'm exhausted, ready for a pre-bed bath. Even after 1 day, this house feels more like my home than any since I lived on 34th Avenue.
This weekend I got the rest of my things from Ruthie's as well as a long day yesterday where I got my things from Greg's. Amazing how it all played out - I got things and just focused on getting our new home in shape so much that, by 10 PM I thought the activities of the morning had occurred the day before.
Today we had the annual winter brunch with Dwight, Carolyn, Julie, Warren, Beth & Mom. As usual, Dim Sum was on the menu, then they all came back to see my new home. Marc was a total champ. He was charming at brunch, enjoying himself with the company even after we did 3 solid hours of prep work before dashing from the house to return the U-haul before heading to Walnut Creek for lunch. Tin's Tea Lounge is definitely worth a return visit.
The house appears to have gotten a thumbs up. The dogs are all settled in. The towels put away. The mirror hung. We still need another set of book shelves, but the console table in the middle looks great with my maternal photo series on top. My mom brought me photos of me as a baby.
I'm exhausted, ready for a pre-bed bath. Even after 1 day, this house feels more like my home than any since I lived on 34th Avenue.
Friday, January 23, 2009
New Horizons
Wednesday night Marc and I attended one of our regular charity functions - Bingo night for the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Much fun to be had, as we helped raise money for charity, got to hear a cappella singing and possibly win cash & prize bags. Much fun. Unlike many, attending a fundraiser that monthly raises over $4,000 for good causes does not assuage my need to give back to the community, instead it heightens my sense that I'm not doing enough. This feeling may be accentuated also by my listening to Barak Obama's Audacity of Hope book, which reminds me that we are all in this together; there are few simple answers and I'm really blessed in life.
But we had taken little Tsunami into the city, as we're still suffering from her inability to restrict her elimination to the garden. She will not pee at the city apartment, so we decided to take her there while we were going out instead of leaving her crated for 6 hours.
So, we attend the event, run back to the apartment, load up things to move (I'm relocating to the country estate) and headed out. I had little Tsui on my lap and was absently conversing with Marc, being too tired for deep thought. Tsui rearranges so her little head is hanging over my legs and then starts heaving. I think it is just a coughing thing until I pet her and my hand gets slimy. Oh dear, I turn on the light. I have small dog vomit all over my jeans.
I turn to Marc, "Do we have any towels in the car?" Not wanting to spend the next 30 minutes covered in puke. We did, I had left a travel pack of kleenex in the center console after our Thanksgiving trip. I couldn't believe it - I wasn't repulsed or disgusted. Not sure if that had to do with my level of exhaustion or that I'm really, honestly, truly an adult now. A few wipes and things were almost back to normal.
However, my tired mind did start churning and I wonder if I was really ready for motherhood. I mean, I recall being repulsed by the gross things my friends would do with their children and wonder how they could do that and still have an appetite. But here I was, not a gurgle in my tummy nor a tightening of the throat at that special gag reflex spot. Instead I was focused on my sweet dog and hoping this isn't the start of her getting car sick. Or did she eat something at the city house? All concern, no repulsion. Strange.
We do change our focus as we age. 10 years ago I would spend a summer weekend on a party boat on the delta, now, my summer trips are to visit cousins. Saturday night I'm looking forward to a long night of sleep, not a hot night at the clubs. The shift happens slowly, finding that I ddon't need to hyper social, "blow off steam" or hit the hottest restaurant. Instead, I crave reading time, gym time, family time. What I found exhilarating fun in my 20's, can now drain me. I didn't think it could happen. Give me a dinner with Marci & Aaron, a walk with the dog pack or Marc & a bubble bath - I think my raving days are done.
But we had taken little Tsunami into the city, as we're still suffering from her inability to restrict her elimination to the garden. She will not pee at the city apartment, so we decided to take her there while we were going out instead of leaving her crated for 6 hours.
So, we attend the event, run back to the apartment, load up things to move (I'm relocating to the country estate) and headed out. I had little Tsui on my lap and was absently conversing with Marc, being too tired for deep thought. Tsui rearranges so her little head is hanging over my legs and then starts heaving. I think it is just a coughing thing until I pet her and my hand gets slimy. Oh dear, I turn on the light. I have small dog vomit all over my jeans.
I turn to Marc, "Do we have any towels in the car?" Not wanting to spend the next 30 minutes covered in puke. We did, I had left a travel pack of kleenex in the center console after our Thanksgiving trip. I couldn't believe it - I wasn't repulsed or disgusted. Not sure if that had to do with my level of exhaustion or that I'm really, honestly, truly an adult now. A few wipes and things were almost back to normal.
However, my tired mind did start churning and I wonder if I was really ready for motherhood. I mean, I recall being repulsed by the gross things my friends would do with their children and wonder how they could do that and still have an appetite. But here I was, not a gurgle in my tummy nor a tightening of the throat at that special gag reflex spot. Instead I was focused on my sweet dog and hoping this isn't the start of her getting car sick. Or did she eat something at the city house? All concern, no repulsion. Strange.
We do change our focus as we age. 10 years ago I would spend a summer weekend on a party boat on the delta, now, my summer trips are to visit cousins. Saturday night I'm looking forward to a long night of sleep, not a hot night at the clubs. The shift happens slowly, finding that I ddon't need to hyper social, "blow off steam" or hit the hottest restaurant. Instead, I crave reading time, gym time, family time. What I found exhilarating fun in my 20's, can now drain me. I didn't think it could happen. Give me a dinner with Marci & Aaron, a walk with the dog pack or Marc & a bubble bath - I think my raving days are done.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
I know I shouldn't be happy, but...
My first job out of college was a total and complete nightmare. I was young, eager and so jumped at the opportunity to be a Marketing Assistant. Unfortunately I was so eager that I took the job despite the warning sign that the woman who had the job before me hadn't been there a year and had nothing positive to say about the manager, Marnie Sharpe.
I jumped in to the job. I worked hard. I tried my best. Marnie was mean, manipulative and all around nasty. My mother gave me a book, "How to Manage Your Boss." but it didn't help. I was so stressed out I was having stress induced migraines weekly. I had nightmares about the woman - which continued for about 3 years after I left the job.
I almost threw up the morning I handed in my resignation. What a bad start to my career. It was the dot-com era and I felt so lost & behind. My girlfriends had all gotten good jobs and were doing great things.... I had been suffering under this manager.
But today I learned that karma does come around. She got nailed for insider trading:
http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2006/05/04/love-material-non-public-information/
I couldn't be happier. I just wish I could sue for 16 months of my life back.
I jumped in to the job. I worked hard. I tried my best. Marnie was mean, manipulative and all around nasty. My mother gave me a book, "How to Manage Your Boss." but it didn't help. I was so stressed out I was having stress induced migraines weekly. I had nightmares about the woman - which continued for about 3 years after I left the job.
I almost threw up the morning I handed in my resignation. What a bad start to my career. It was the dot-com era and I felt so lost & behind. My girlfriends had all gotten good jobs and were doing great things.... I had been suffering under this manager.
But today I learned that karma does come around. She got nailed for insider trading:
http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2006/05/04/love-material-non-public-information/
I couldn't be happier. I just wish I could sue for 16 months of my life back.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
The Long Road Home
Sunday we woke up in Bournemouth to a chilly day. Uncle Ian got us fixed up with some breakfast & tea. The family was having their regular Sunday, Great-Nan was getting picked up from the home and they'd have a nice dinner at Nan's house. We were going to have to leave early, but we did get to see Great-Nan. This time I learned that she sent the kids to Scotland during World War II. Also, she'd take Marc to the school yard, "And he'd run round & round."
We, Marc, Jordan & I, got on the road heading back to North London. The drive was pretty quick. We listened to Jordie's CD's. Duffy was one and the other was the girl that sings, "I Kissed a Girl" and "Hot & Cold". Good stuff.
Back in North London, we dropped our bags & little brother and got back on the road heading to Marc's father's for a traditional English dinner. Mr. Cohen wanted one last visit with his son. We did had a wonderful meal of Lamb, roast potatoes and veg. After dinner we had traditional Christmas Pudding which was fantastic. When I got home, I had to go look up a recipe. It sounds like I'll need to make them in October and then tend & soak it until Christmas. Should be fun! That and I'm going to need a steamer - I have to steam the pudding.
Dinner was great. We did some post dinner Wii Fit and then headed back to North London. By then we were exhausted and both had a bit of work to do. Thankfully there was ample tea and shortbread cookies.
Monday we were back about London. We did a social and retail whirl. We were going to see Westminster Abby, but when we got there, we found it was nearly $15 to get in. I was so horrified that I refused. This is the Church a very well funded organization. There have been taxes levied on the citizens of England for centuries to support it, to fund the building of their churches and now the see fit to charge visitors entry. Vile.
So we went into St. Martin in the Field. Which was a nice church, very clean & plain. I did feel compelled to step into at least one church while in Europe. Almost every trip to Europe involves a church - one that I had studied and had not yet seen.
After our brief bit of holiness, we were across the street to the National Portrait Gallery. There we caught the Annie Leibovitz exhibit that I had missed when it was here in San Francisco. I really enjoyed it. However, some photos were a bit blah. I didn't care for her family photos - they could have been snapshots of any family.
Also showing was an exhibit of prize winning portraits from through England - a fitting viewing before the onslaught of kings, queens, princes, princesses and countless nobles who hang on the walls above. What stood out - portraits of Queen Elizabeth, and a painting by Boldini of Lady Colin Campbell, Gertrude Elizabeth Blood.
Next was the National Gallery - and I should note, that going into the National Portrait Gallery and the National Gallery was free. Seeing St. Paul's is not. Disgusting!
But we did a run through early Modern art - about 6 or 7 rooms - the Gallery is SO very rich and we had only limited amount of stamina, having already viewed the Portrait Gallery. We were hungry and found a nice Lebanese restaurant for a light snack, seeing as how we had a monster dinner that night, we opted to be moderate. We did visit Pinks and I got a shirt for Marc, he bought several others.
We made our way home on the tube and got picked up by Marc's Mother. We dropped his mother and then headed to Tesco for a shopping spree of goodies one cannot get in America - like special Cheddar and chunky Kit Kats. Got to the house, grabbed Jordan & Mum and then set off to the restaurant where were ate a Chinese feast fit for twice the number of guests. Once home we started packing and paused about 1 AM.
Tuesday we were up about 4:30 AM, scrambling with the packing and trying to fit everything into our cases - which was a challenge. We did get the spice rack home, gifts and books and cheese and so much. Ron had generously agreed to take us to the airport. It was a 45 minute drive in sub freezing weather. Thank you Ron!!
Heathrow was much easier to manage. We were stuck with middle seats, as we wanted to sit together and we're able to get an isolated pair on the window side. But our flight was delayed and we got books in the book store - like we need more reading material. I got a book about the year 1000 in England. It was broken up into Calendar sections and I really enjoyed it, got to November before we landed. Traveling with Marc is unbelievably easy and fun. Never is there tension; he knows how to navigate airports (better than me!) and is just pleasant the entire time.
We watched "Forgetting Sarah Marshal" together on the way home along with "Ghost Town" and some other things. I got a few hours of sleep. We both ate too much food. Premium Economy is the way to go - seats that aren't distractingly cramped, decent food and TV/entertainment for the entire flight.
We got home, got into the car, drove to the City House to get a few things, went on to Dad's to get Tsunami and then headed out to the Country House. I think we ate a burger for dinner... so strange to wake up in England and dine at local joint at the other end. But collapsing into the big, soft king bed with my own pillows as best.
We, Marc, Jordan & I, got on the road heading back to North London. The drive was pretty quick. We listened to Jordie's CD's. Duffy was one and the other was the girl that sings, "I Kissed a Girl" and "Hot & Cold". Good stuff.
Back in North London, we dropped our bags & little brother and got back on the road heading to Marc's father's for a traditional English dinner. Mr. Cohen wanted one last visit with his son. We did had a wonderful meal of Lamb, roast potatoes and veg. After dinner we had traditional Christmas Pudding which was fantastic. When I got home, I had to go look up a recipe. It sounds like I'll need to make them in October and then tend & soak it until Christmas. Should be fun! That and I'm going to need a steamer - I have to steam the pudding.
Dinner was great. We did some post dinner Wii Fit and then headed back to North London. By then we were exhausted and both had a bit of work to do. Thankfully there was ample tea and shortbread cookies.
Monday we were back about London. We did a social and retail whirl. We were going to see Westminster Abby, but when we got there, we found it was nearly $15 to get in. I was so horrified that I refused. This is the Church a very well funded organization. There have been taxes levied on the citizens of England for centuries to support it, to fund the building of their churches and now the see fit to charge visitors entry. Vile.
So we went into St. Martin in the Field. Which was a nice church, very clean & plain. I did feel compelled to step into at least one church while in Europe. Almost every trip to Europe involves a church - one that I had studied and had not yet seen.
After our brief bit of holiness, we were across the street to the National Portrait Gallery. There we caught the Annie Leibovitz exhibit that I had missed when it was here in San Francisco. I really enjoyed it. However, some photos were a bit blah. I didn't care for her family photos - they could have been snapshots of any family.
Also showing was an exhibit of prize winning portraits from through England - a fitting viewing before the onslaught of kings, queens, princes, princesses and countless nobles who hang on the walls above. What stood out - portraits of Queen Elizabeth, and a painting by Boldini of Lady Colin Campbell, Gertrude Elizabeth Blood.
Next was the National Gallery - and I should note, that going into the National Portrait Gallery and the National Gallery was free. Seeing St. Paul's is not. Disgusting!
But we did a run through early Modern art - about 6 or 7 rooms - the Gallery is SO very rich and we had only limited amount of stamina, having already viewed the Portrait Gallery. We were hungry and found a nice Lebanese restaurant for a light snack, seeing as how we had a monster dinner that night, we opted to be moderate. We did visit Pinks and I got a shirt for Marc, he bought several others.
We made our way home on the tube and got picked up by Marc's Mother. We dropped his mother and then headed to Tesco for a shopping spree of goodies one cannot get in America - like special Cheddar and chunky Kit Kats. Got to the house, grabbed Jordan & Mum and then set off to the restaurant where were ate a Chinese feast fit for twice the number of guests. Once home we started packing and paused about 1 AM.
Tuesday we were up about 4:30 AM, scrambling with the packing and trying to fit everything into our cases - which was a challenge. We did get the spice rack home, gifts and books and cheese and so much. Ron had generously agreed to take us to the airport. It was a 45 minute drive in sub freezing weather. Thank you Ron!!
Heathrow was much easier to manage. We were stuck with middle seats, as we wanted to sit together and we're able to get an isolated pair on the window side. But our flight was delayed and we got books in the book store - like we need more reading material. I got a book about the year 1000 in England. It was broken up into Calendar sections and I really enjoyed it, got to November before we landed. Traveling with Marc is unbelievably easy and fun. Never is there tension; he knows how to navigate airports (better than me!) and is just pleasant the entire time.
We watched "Forgetting Sarah Marshal" together on the way home along with "Ghost Town" and some other things. I got a few hours of sleep. We both ate too much food. Premium Economy is the way to go - seats that aren't distractingly cramped, decent food and TV/entertainment for the entire flight.
We got home, got into the car, drove to the City House to get a few things, went on to Dad's to get Tsunami and then headed out to the Country House. I think we ate a burger for dinner... so strange to wake up in England and dine at local joint at the other end. But collapsing into the big, soft king bed with my own pillows as best.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
New Years Day to Bristol
So, this chronicle of my England trip is getting delayed and segmented such that my loyal readers might find it similar to a Victorian serial novel, but with fewer plot twists. Thank you for continuing to read on - I know that Clemency has been eagerly awaiting her cameo in this story. And today I can happily provide it.
New Years Day I woke up in the wrong place. I opened my eyes and saw a plank ceiling painted white, ornate furniture that doesn't belong in a hotel and realized quickly that I had passed out at Rob & Tam's last night. I turned my head to see Tam sleeping next to me. My hand went to my throat to feel that I was till wearing my scarf. My first thought, "Oh S**t! Where's Marc?" Clearly not my finest moment.
Tam wakes and tells me where Marc is and I keep thinking, "this isn't how 2009 is suppose to start!!" But I scurry back to the hotel - nothing like walking fast in stiletto heels with a solid hangover. My key doesn't work in the door, but Marc kindly lets me in just the same. I shower and we chat and head back over to Rob & Tam where the rest of the gang enjoyed a hearty English breakfast with beans, sausage, bacon, toast and more. I nibbled on toast and enjoyed sprite in a successful effort to keep my fickle stomach happy.
But we get home and promptly nap - making for an enjoyable and utterly unproductive January 1st. Once up, we got Chinese that I - don't tell Marc - found not that exceptional and a bit greasy. But it was food and I could finally eat. I think we spent the rest of the day on the computer, as both of us had work that needed attention.
January 2nd Marc took his mother to her work and returned. He tells me she does like me - yippee. We packed-up and headed off to Bristol, via Stonehenge and side roads. It took about an hour to get to Stonehenge. And it was odd. Yes, it was smaller than I thought it was. Yes, there are big stones sticking in the earth. No, we have really no idea why the ancients did this. Yes, there are calendar properties to the stones. I was cold from nose to fingertip to toes. Photos were taken.
Off to Bristol and an thoroughly enjoyable drive through the English country side. I was reminded of the country around Smith College - the landscape really is similar, except that England has fields and such.
We made it to Bristol about sunset and boy were we hungry. Clemency now lives in a lovely house with her boyfriend Dave. Their friend Chris also lives there. She kindly provided us with a cup of tea and enough chocolate to kill a cow. Soon after Chris came home with Andy, Elane and a GIANT mount of chips from a fish & chips shop. YUM! We enjoyed some, freshened up and then headed out to the Windmill.
Evidently there are several types of pubs. The Windmill was a free house (they serve more than just 1 type of beer) and, due to food service & layout - it is classed as a snug. Speaking of food service, I got the Lamb Stew and it was fantastic. Just perfect. I had seen many little lambs while driving through the country side and was very pleased to get to eat one for dinner.
After our pub dinner and several rounds of drinks, we migrated back to Dave & Clem's place. As we weren't quite ready for bed, we got treated to Spaced - a TV show by the creators of Shaun of the Dead. Very funny. More tea and some chocolate and soon we were blowing up the air mattress and tucking ourselves into bed.
Then came Saturday - the Day Without Vegetables. Waking up at Clem's we enjoyed tea pre-trek to the store for croissants and goodies for breakfast. Clem and I got to enjoy some girl-girl time catching up and attempting to one-up each other in various departments of our lives. Our walk was over some Bristol hills and the views were really spectacular.
Not long after Breakfast we had to head out to Bournemouth. I wanted to drive during the day so that I could see more countryside. Being so far North and the start of winter, the sun was setting by 4 pm. Along the was we got some petrol and a Scotch Egg. My new favorite food - hard boiled egg in some thick coating (Marc now tells me it is sausage meat - who came up with that?? oh never mind, here's my answer) then deep fried. Yum.
We made it to the Great-nan's home before closing time and got in a quick visit. It was a pleasure to meet her. The matriarch of Marc's maternal family. She wasn't sure who I was, stated her misery and asked that we send her daughter Pat around. In all, a successful visit. I am very glad I got to met her - she turned 102 a week ago.
We continued around the town and landed at his uncle Ian's where I was treated to a through dog mauling by Bernie. Not my favorite thing, but I was missing our canine crew, so the licks & love was nice. Also at Ian's was Marc's little brother Jordan. We gathered up the crew and headed to Nan's house where we got the fish & chip orders. Finally I would get to try the British National Dish. Yippee!
Dinner was a yummy white wine, some pickle-things and my own dish of fish & chips. It was great. I polished it off with love. For desert we had pie of some sort. I enjoyed the chats with Nan's husband, Barry - who worked at Xerox for years. We also bonded over our respective visits to Hong Kong. He went when he was in the service and Hong Kong was part of the Empire.
Back to Ian's where I was given more wine along with a solid dosing of shortbread. That sensitive tummy came back and I crashed early only to have Marc get me some antacids. Thankfully they helped and I feel into a sound sleep. Ian providing us with a warm, very warm room and a soft bed. A bit thanks to the Bournemouth clan for their welcoming and love. Oh - but I can't forget Buster, nan's amazingly fat shi-tzu. I almost took him with me - a "I've never been fed" cuddly teddy bear of a dog.
Tomorrow the final installment. I promise.
New Years Day I woke up in the wrong place. I opened my eyes and saw a plank ceiling painted white, ornate furniture that doesn't belong in a hotel and realized quickly that I had passed out at Rob & Tam's last night. I turned my head to see Tam sleeping next to me. My hand went to my throat to feel that I was till wearing my scarf. My first thought, "Oh S**t! Where's Marc?" Clearly not my finest moment.
Tam wakes and tells me where Marc is and I keep thinking, "this isn't how 2009 is suppose to start!!" But I scurry back to the hotel - nothing like walking fast in stiletto heels with a solid hangover. My key doesn't work in the door, but Marc kindly lets me in just the same. I shower and we chat and head back over to Rob & Tam where the rest of the gang enjoyed a hearty English breakfast with beans, sausage, bacon, toast and more. I nibbled on toast and enjoyed sprite in a successful effort to keep my fickle stomach happy.
But we get home and promptly nap - making for an enjoyable and utterly unproductive January 1st. Once up, we got Chinese that I - don't tell Marc - found not that exceptional and a bit greasy. But it was food and I could finally eat. I think we spent the rest of the day on the computer, as both of us had work that needed attention.
January 2nd Marc took his mother to her work and returned. He tells me she does like me - yippee. We packed-up and headed off to Bristol, via Stonehenge and side roads. It took about an hour to get to Stonehenge. And it was odd. Yes, it was smaller than I thought it was. Yes, there are big stones sticking in the earth. No, we have really no idea why the ancients did this. Yes, there are calendar properties to the stones. I was cold from nose to fingertip to toes. Photos were taken.
Off to Bristol and an thoroughly enjoyable drive through the English country side. I was reminded of the country around Smith College - the landscape really is similar, except that England has fields and such.
We made it to Bristol about sunset and boy were we hungry. Clemency now lives in a lovely house with her boyfriend Dave. Their friend Chris also lives there. She kindly provided us with a cup of tea and enough chocolate to kill a cow. Soon after Chris came home with Andy, Elane and a GIANT mount of chips from a fish & chips shop. YUM! We enjoyed some, freshened up and then headed out to the Windmill.
Evidently there are several types of pubs. The Windmill was a free house (they serve more than just 1 type of beer) and, due to food service & layout - it is classed as a snug. Speaking of food service, I got the Lamb Stew and it was fantastic. Just perfect. I had seen many little lambs while driving through the country side and was very pleased to get to eat one for dinner.
After our pub dinner and several rounds of drinks, we migrated back to Dave & Clem's place. As we weren't quite ready for bed, we got treated to Spaced - a TV show by the creators of Shaun of the Dead. Very funny. More tea and some chocolate and soon we were blowing up the air mattress and tucking ourselves into bed.
Then came Saturday - the Day Without Vegetables. Waking up at Clem's we enjoyed tea pre-trek to the store for croissants and goodies for breakfast. Clem and I got to enjoy some girl-girl time catching up and attempting to one-up each other in various departments of our lives. Our walk was over some Bristol hills and the views were really spectacular.
Not long after Breakfast we had to head out to Bournemouth. I wanted to drive during the day so that I could see more countryside. Being so far North and the start of winter, the sun was setting by 4 pm. Along the was we got some petrol and a Scotch Egg. My new favorite food - hard boiled egg in some thick coating (Marc now tells me it is sausage meat - who came up with that?? oh never mind, here's my answer) then deep fried. Yum.
We made it to the Great-nan's home before closing time and got in a quick visit. It was a pleasure to meet her. The matriarch of Marc's maternal family. She wasn't sure who I was, stated her misery and asked that we send her daughter Pat around. In all, a successful visit. I am very glad I got to met her - she turned 102 a week ago.
We continued around the town and landed at his uncle Ian's where I was treated to a through dog mauling by Bernie. Not my favorite thing, but I was missing our canine crew, so the licks & love was nice. Also at Ian's was Marc's little brother Jordan. We gathered up the crew and headed to Nan's house where we got the fish & chip orders. Finally I would get to try the British National Dish. Yippee!
Dinner was a yummy white wine, some pickle-things and my own dish of fish & chips. It was great. I polished it off with love. For desert we had pie of some sort. I enjoyed the chats with Nan's husband, Barry - who worked at Xerox for years. We also bonded over our respective visits to Hong Kong. He went when he was in the service and Hong Kong was part of the Empire.
Back to Ian's where I was given more wine along with a solid dosing of shortbread. That sensitive tummy came back and I crashed early only to have Marc get me some antacids. Thankfully they helped and I feel into a sound sleep. Ian providing us with a warm, very warm room and a soft bed. A bit thanks to the Bournemouth clan for their welcoming and love. Oh - but I can't forget Buster, nan's amazingly fat shi-tzu. I almost took him with me - a "I've never been fed" cuddly teddy bear of a dog.
Tomorrow the final installment. I promise.
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Monday, Tuesay & Wednesday in England
Where was I? I think we stopped the London tails with Sunday afternoon.
Monday Marc & I woke up early and Marc made me an amazing breakfast of sausage in a toasted beigel. Not long after we were bundled up and on a morning train to London. The ability to get around with ease via public transportation in England is such a blessing, albeit costly. We started on the National Rail and then changed to the Victoria Line and popped up above ground at Green Park.
Our first stop was the Starbucks where we paid an inane amount of money for our standard order... my double, non-fat, no-whip, tall peppermint mocha and Marc's decaf non-fat, no-whip, 5 pump grande. Could you get more annoying than that order? Not sure - but I was floored that they charge the same in pounds as they do in dollars. Yikes! But we had our fix and were on our way to Buckingham Palace. Or kinda not... we got a bit turned around and took the long way to the Palace, with a plesant peek into Hyde Park and then a stroll down Constitution Hill.
The Palace was the Palace and there were guards so we made our way to The Natual History Museum where there was a non-controversal Darwin exhibition. I say non-controversal, as I expect that such an exhibit in Tulsa might generate some controversy. Nevermind it simply being a chonicle of Darwin's life and how he reached his discoveries, I'm sure some wacky Church Elder would ignore the exhibit and demand some ode to Creationism be included.
That said, we enjoyed our educational hour and took to Hyde Park. As I walked, I imagined all the people who've passed there before. I think there was a scene in some Oscar Wilde film and I want to say that Minnie Driver on a horse with a parade of fashionalble Londoners all riding almost like a parade. Not sure if it was Hyde Park...
Anyway, we made it through Hyde Park, saw the Marble Arch, braved the crowds on our walk down Oxford Street, turned on New Bond and went down to fashionable Jermyn. We stopped at a Chinese Restaurant for our late afternoon lunch before a dusk roundabout walk to Covent Garden. I drank it all in, the scenes, the company, the energy of it all. Just delightful.
Back at home we had the obligatory tea & cookies while fussing about until Marc's mother got home.
Tuesday morning was task focused with a run to Marks & Spencers to change some money. We were then home and ready for Roy to pick us up. We were going for a long day of socializing with Marc's wider circle of friends on various pubs off Liverpool Street. We drank and ate from 2 pm to midnight when we had to make a mad dash for the last train back to North London.
Wednesday, the last day of the year - we started off sleeping in and then enjoying a large English breakfast with bacon and sausage and toast and eggs and PM sauce. I didn't finish mine. After breakfast we took a nap in prepartion for the evening's enjoyment. We were off to Jeungalur's - a comedy club in Watford. We were at the front table and were thuroughly taunted by the 1st & 3rd comedians. I got to meet Tam, Rob's wife for the first time. She and I both might have had a few too many drinks. I think her liver was stronger than mine, however. But after the comedians, we danced and welcomed the new year. Much joy was had by all.
Monday Marc & I woke up early and Marc made me an amazing breakfast of sausage in a toasted beigel. Not long after we were bundled up and on a morning train to London. The ability to get around with ease via public transportation in England is such a blessing, albeit costly. We started on the National Rail and then changed to the Victoria Line and popped up above ground at Green Park.
Our first stop was the Starbucks where we paid an inane amount of money for our standard order... my double, non-fat, no-whip, tall peppermint mocha and Marc's decaf non-fat, no-whip, 5 pump grande. Could you get more annoying than that order? Not sure - but I was floored that they charge the same in pounds as they do in dollars. Yikes! But we had our fix and were on our way to Buckingham Palace. Or kinda not... we got a bit turned around and took the long way to the Palace, with a plesant peek into Hyde Park and then a stroll down Constitution Hill.
The Palace was the Palace and there were guards so we made our way to The Natual History Museum where there was a non-controversal Darwin exhibition. I say non-controversal, as I expect that such an exhibit in Tulsa might generate some controversy. Nevermind it simply being a chonicle of Darwin's life and how he reached his discoveries, I'm sure some wacky Church Elder would ignore the exhibit and demand some ode to Creationism be included.
That said, we enjoyed our educational hour and took to Hyde Park. As I walked, I imagined all the people who've passed there before. I think there was a scene in some Oscar Wilde film and I want to say that Minnie Driver on a horse with a parade of fashionalble Londoners all riding almost like a parade. Not sure if it was Hyde Park...
Anyway, we made it through Hyde Park, saw the Marble Arch, braved the crowds on our walk down Oxford Street, turned on New Bond and went down to fashionable Jermyn. We stopped at a Chinese Restaurant for our late afternoon lunch before a dusk roundabout walk to Covent Garden. I drank it all in, the scenes, the company, the energy of it all. Just delightful.
Back at home we had the obligatory tea & cookies while fussing about until Marc's mother got home.
Tuesday morning was task focused with a run to Marks & Spencers to change some money. We were then home and ready for Roy to pick us up. We were going for a long day of socializing with Marc's wider circle of friends on various pubs off Liverpool Street. We drank and ate from 2 pm to midnight when we had to make a mad dash for the last train back to North London.
Wednesday, the last day of the year - we started off sleeping in and then enjoying a large English breakfast with bacon and sausage and toast and eggs and PM sauce. I didn't finish mine. After breakfast we took a nap in prepartion for the evening's enjoyment. We were off to Jeungalur's - a comedy club in Watford. We were at the front table and were thuroughly taunted by the 1st & 3rd comedians. I got to meet Tam, Rob's wife for the first time. She and I both might have had a few too many drinks. I think her liver was stronger than mine, however. But after the comedians, we danced and welcomed the new year. Much joy was had by all.
Sunday, January 04, 2009
England does it better
On Dec. 27th I landed at Heathrow. For the first time I was smart about travel - no make up getting on my cross-planet journey... instead I had it all ready so that I could cover up the dark circles from the flight an hour before touch down. Marc said I looked amazingly fresh for someone getting off a 10 hour flight. Success!
But more than that, Marc and his dad were there to pick me up and take me on a wild ride across London to the Far East Side. Since we were coming from the West (Heathrow, we did a drive through London on the North side of the Thames). We saw the Eye, the Tower, amazing architecture and more than I can now remember.
We stopped in the old neighborhood to get pie, mash & parsley eel sauce - aka liquor. I was thrilled... real pie & mash. We got to the snug house of Marc's father & step-mother, Linda. Tea was served and then lunch of pies & mash. The sauce was poured on my plate before I could test. Good thing for me, I liked it all. Also good for me, I had just had a marathon 2 days of eating with Christmas Eve at Dad's and Christmas day at Brendan's house. I got 3/4 of the way through the mash down along with all but a few bites of my 2nd pie. Needless to say, I was done - only a couple hours of nodding off on the plane with a big lunch - I was out cold for 2 hours.
They got me up and ran me back to make a run for beigels. Marc's father is Jewish, more by family than practice and they have special bagel shops, beigels. And yes, they were good. We had them with corned beef and a healthy serving of bubble & squeak. Thank you Linda! I had knocked out two traditional English dishes, loved them both within 8 hours of setting foot in London.
Our evening was filled with me getting trounced with Who Wants to Be a Millionaire... The theme for this trip: Despite the language, we are not from the same culture. Such little things, the phrasing of thoughts, words and little social things. Lucky for me, I didn't get too dinged for not knowing what Princess Stephanie said to the media that caused hubbub - something like Nuff-off!
Sunday we were up to a yummy breakfast of beigels and eggs and tea. Lots of tea. Then to the graveyard to visit Marc's grandparents and put the stones we had picked up for them on a beach walk with my mother. I was sad that I didn't get to meet Rosie, his recently past grand-nan.
Sunday night was a walk about Cuffley, where Marc's mother lives and where we've spent most of our time. North London - and I say not a city, as there are fields and livestock. Our walk took us past the parental home of Posh Spice - very fun. I got a taste of cider at the local pub. What struck me there was how similarly the teen boys looked to my local teens.
Alright - time for bed. I'll write more tomorrow.
But more than that, Marc and his dad were there to pick me up and take me on a wild ride across London to the Far East Side. Since we were coming from the West (Heathrow, we did a drive through London on the North side of the Thames). We saw the Eye, the Tower, amazing architecture and more than I can now remember.
We stopped in the old neighborhood to get pie, mash & parsley eel sauce - aka liquor. I was thrilled... real pie & mash. We got to the snug house of Marc's father & step-mother, Linda. Tea was served and then lunch of pies & mash. The sauce was poured on my plate before I could test. Good thing for me, I liked it all. Also good for me, I had just had a marathon 2 days of eating with Christmas Eve at Dad's and Christmas day at Brendan's house. I got 3/4 of the way through the mash down along with all but a few bites of my 2nd pie. Needless to say, I was done - only a couple hours of nodding off on the plane with a big lunch - I was out cold for 2 hours.
They got me up and ran me back to make a run for beigels. Marc's father is Jewish, more by family than practice and they have special bagel shops, beigels. And yes, they were good. We had them with corned beef and a healthy serving of bubble & squeak. Thank you Linda! I had knocked out two traditional English dishes, loved them both within 8 hours of setting foot in London.
Our evening was filled with me getting trounced with Who Wants to Be a Millionaire... The theme for this trip: Despite the language, we are not from the same culture. Such little things, the phrasing of thoughts, words and little social things. Lucky for me, I didn't get too dinged for not knowing what Princess Stephanie said to the media that caused hubbub - something like Nuff-off!
Sunday we were up to a yummy breakfast of beigels and eggs and tea. Lots of tea. Then to the graveyard to visit Marc's grandparents and put the stones we had picked up for them on a beach walk with my mother. I was sad that I didn't get to meet Rosie, his recently past grand-nan.
Sunday night was a walk about Cuffley, where Marc's mother lives and where we've spent most of our time. North London - and I say not a city, as there are fields and livestock. Our walk took us past the parental home of Posh Spice - very fun. I got a taste of cider at the local pub. What struck me there was how similarly the teen boys looked to my local teens.
Alright - time for bed. I'll write more tomorrow.
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