Laundry day means sorting the week's clothing which is something Paul loves.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Monday, November 22, 2010
My Life in Books
One goal I have for my future child is that he likes to read. After receiving a facebook post about which 6 out of 100 books listed by the BBC have I read , I started contemplating all the really good books that have been in my life. So I am starting a chronological lists of the books that have shaped me and my life. Perhaps these could become a list of what to read if you want a bibliophile for a child.
Books from 0-6 months
1- The Old Man and the Sea- Hemingway
I have never read this. I just felt I should start here because this is the book my father read while I was being born. It was a diferent time then, so he sat and read this book in the waiting room of the hospital until the nurse announced that I had arrived. Don't fel too bad for my mom though. She has stated that she slept most of the day. Awoke. Had 5 contractions and I was delivered. (My head was actually delivered before my mom buzzed the nurse to let her know I was coming.)
2- The Odyssey- Homer
My dad always said one of his goals as a father was to have me enjoy reading. He also stated that he was utterly clueless about what to do with a baby. Case in point- first day back from the hospital, my mom asks him to check on me in my crib. He returns to say that he checked and I am still there. He had no idea what he was suppose to check on.
So to get to know me, he would sit by my crib and read the Odyssey to me. Why the Odyssey? I don't know, but I have assumed it was a book he had been assigned to read for one of his college classes. As a story that was part of the oral tradition long before it was written down, it was probably an excellent choice.
I have wondered if the influence of the Odyssey lead me to take Latin and Greek Mythology in middle school. I read the Odyssey on my own during hte summer before 7th grade, which led me to chose the mythological name of Calliope for Latin Club. I also convinced my eventual best-friend to take the name Penelope.
Obviously I don't remember being read these books, but they are part of my family legend/history. It's a reading legacy I hope to pass on to my child.
Books from 0-6 months
1- The Old Man and the Sea- Hemingway
I have never read this. I just felt I should start here because this is the book my father read while I was being born. It was a diferent time then, so he sat and read this book in the waiting room of the hospital until the nurse announced that I had arrived. Don't fel too bad for my mom though. She has stated that she slept most of the day. Awoke. Had 5 contractions and I was delivered. (My head was actually delivered before my mom buzzed the nurse to let her know I was coming.)
2- The Odyssey- Homer
My dad always said one of his goals as a father was to have me enjoy reading. He also stated that he was utterly clueless about what to do with a baby. Case in point- first day back from the hospital, my mom asks him to check on me in my crib. He returns to say that he checked and I am still there. He had no idea what he was suppose to check on.
So to get to know me, he would sit by my crib and read the Odyssey to me. Why the Odyssey? I don't know, but I have assumed it was a book he had been assigned to read for one of his college classes. As a story that was part of the oral tradition long before it was written down, it was probably an excellent choice.
I have wondered if the influence of the Odyssey lead me to take Latin and Greek Mythology in middle school. I read the Odyssey on my own during hte summer before 7th grade, which led me to chose the mythological name of Calliope for Latin Club. I also convinced my eventual best-friend to take the name Penelope.
Obviously I don't remember being read these books, but they are part of my family legend/history. It's a reading legacy I hope to pass on to my child.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Food of the Gods
Since becoming pregnant, many people ask me if I have any strange cravings. Nothing strange so far, but there are some specific foods that I crave for a period of time, and then stop caring about. What is strange, is that I have gone from liking pretty much all foods (except oysters) to having some very distinct dislikes.
Early on,when the morning sickness was horrible, the most delicious thing I could imagine eating was a cheeseburger. As a result, Tom bought lots of Bubba Burgers so he could grill them at home for me. We still have two left, because I am now totally indifferent to cheeseburgers. Cantaloupe enjoyed its place in the spotlight for a fortnight. Other foods, like Mexican food and tomatoes have always been my favorites and continue to be. Eggs on the other hand, disgust me, when once I could easily eat 6-12 deviled eggs by myself.
Most recently, I have been craving my mother's potato salad. This is an issue. You should know that my mother makes the best potato salad in the world. Now I know you may think your mother or someone else you knows makes the best potato salad. It is normal to believe that because typically one's family sets the norm for what you consider to be delicious, so I accept that you believe your mom's potato salad is the best. Just suffice it to say, that when my mom makes her potato salad, she must make it in 10-20 pound batches because people send containers over to get some of her potato salad. It is truly that good.
Now those that don't know my mom may wonder why this is an issue. Well my mom is in Oklahoma and I'm in Maryland. She can't safely ship her potato salad to me. I am also sad to admit, that I have never made her potato salad. (When you have Michelangelo painting your ceiling, do you grab the paintbrush? No, you sit back and marvel at the genius.)
Well this weekend I took potato peeler in hand and made my first attempt. First, I received directions from mom, not a recipe, but directions. You must understand that there is no recipe, just Do's and Don't's and tasting for perfection. I have to declare, the potato salad a success. It is creamy, but still has chunks of potatoes. It isn't dominated by one ingredient, like mayonnaise or mustard, but instead is a harmonious blend that shows of the potatoes. Thankfully Tom agrees, because I made 5 pounds of potato salad. It is so yummy and reminds me of home and love and my mom.
That's a relief. It would be horrible if Ii had disliked it or been indifferent to it. The other strange food response has been chocolate. Before becoming pregnant, i adored chocolate. I love dark chocolate, because it was just extra chocolate. Now I am completely indifferent. I see it, I acknowledge it, but the passion, the cravings that have been a constant in my life are gone. I have joked that this means I'm having a boy, because if i was carrying another female, that would only increase my love of chocolate. Today Tom and I found out that I was right.
Early on,when the morning sickness was horrible, the most delicious thing I could imagine eating was a cheeseburger. As a result, Tom bought lots of Bubba Burgers so he could grill them at home for me. We still have two left, because I am now totally indifferent to cheeseburgers. Cantaloupe enjoyed its place in the spotlight for a fortnight. Other foods, like Mexican food and tomatoes have always been my favorites and continue to be. Eggs on the other hand, disgust me, when once I could easily eat 6-12 deviled eggs by myself.
Most recently, I have been craving my mother's potato salad. This is an issue. You should know that my mother makes the best potato salad in the world. Now I know you may think your mother or someone else you knows makes the best potato salad. It is normal to believe that because typically one's family sets the norm for what you consider to be delicious, so I accept that you believe your mom's potato salad is the best. Just suffice it to say, that when my mom makes her potato salad, she must make it in 10-20 pound batches because people send containers over to get some of her potato salad. It is truly that good.
Now those that don't know my mom may wonder why this is an issue. Well my mom is in Oklahoma and I'm in Maryland. She can't safely ship her potato salad to me. I am also sad to admit, that I have never made her potato salad. (When you have Michelangelo painting your ceiling, do you grab the paintbrush? No, you sit back and marvel at the genius.)
Well this weekend I took potato peeler in hand and made my first attempt. First, I received directions from mom, not a recipe, but directions. You must understand that there is no recipe, just Do's and Don't's and tasting for perfection. I have to declare, the potato salad a success. It is creamy, but still has chunks of potatoes. It isn't dominated by one ingredient, like mayonnaise or mustard, but instead is a harmonious blend that shows of the potatoes. Thankfully Tom agrees, because I made 5 pounds of potato salad. It is so yummy and reminds me of home and love and my mom.
That's a relief. It would be horrible if Ii had disliked it or been indifferent to it. The other strange food response has been chocolate. Before becoming pregnant, i adored chocolate. I love dark chocolate, because it was just extra chocolate. Now I am completely indifferent. I see it, I acknowledge it, but the passion, the cravings that have been a constant in my life are gone. I have joked that this means I'm having a boy, because if i was carrying another female, that would only increase my love of chocolate. Today Tom and I found out that I was right.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Food Inspired by Actual Events
Whenever I feel overwhelmed about working and having a child, I think of my grandmother, Dottie. In the early 50s, as the mother of 3 boys (each 2 years apart in age) she completed her college degree in 3 years and began her career as a teacher. During this time she and my grandfather were constantly working on their house. (My dad's former bedroom was in the present day basement of a house that now boasts a garage apartment t-that's how much work they did.) They were both constantly busy.
Dottie has shared with me that she never knew how many would sit down at the dinner table each night, but she did know that they would all be hungry. She learned to be a flexible cook, even though or maybe because, her mother had never taught her to cook. Dottie says there are times that she has dreams that large groups of friends are coming to dinner unexpectedly, and she needs to make dinner with no idea of what ingredients she has in the house. She says these dreams aren't stressful, just pleasantly familiar. She is fearless about substitutions.
Which brings me to my cooking. My mother is an excellent cook. Her mother actually won ribbons at the county fair and had recipes featured in regional cookbooks. I consider myself a good to okay cook, but rarely use recipes, unless they are for something that my mother never made, like risotto. This summer however, given the heat and the non-stop morning sickness , I have not been able to face making food most nights. Luckily, Tom is often happy with Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches.
(Side note from my inner feminist- Tom and I made a deal when we moved into our house with no dishwasher- I'll cook, if he washes dishes. I HATE washing dishes, so I am not renegotiating. Besides, with the pregnancy, he is now cleaning the catbox too.)
Well this past week the tide has turned and I have begun cooking again.
I was looking for inspiration (often the greatest hurdle I face in my cooking) and feeling homesick, so I checked out a blog my aunt Gail recommended, The Pioneer Woman Cooks. I found a "16-minute meal" that looked good Bowtie Lasagna . I read it over, and decided I would make it that night.
The recipe called for:
Cooked Bowtie Pasta
Jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
Browned Ground beef
Garlic powder and Italian Seasoning
Mozzarella cheese
Sour Cream
When I got home, this is what I made
Instead of Bowtie Pasta, I used Penne Pasta (What i had in the pantry)
Instead of Jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce, I made my own (I always make my own with fresh garlic, canned whole tomatoes, and Italian seasoning. It's easy and I know exactly what's in it)
Instead of Browned Ground Beef (which I didn't have any thawed out) I used some cooked chicken breasts I had frozen to use in salads . I defrosted in the microwave and then just cubed them.
Instead of Mozzarella Cheese, I used shaved Parmesan Cheese (I may not be required by law to have always have Parmesan Cheese in the house, but I might as well be. I think of it as Italian salt, instead of additional salt I just add fresh Parmesan.)
Instead of sour cream, I had Greek yogurt, so I just threw a spoonful of it in at the end.
Tom loved it! I then told him I got the recipe a website, except instead of this, I used that. As I went through the list, I realized what I had done.
I am my grandmother's granddaughter.
At this point, I'll just say that I was inspired by the recipe on the Pioneer Woman Cooks website, but I can't really say it's her recipe. Besides, it is my core belief that quick meal, shouldn't require a special trip to the grocery store.
Happy eating!
Dottie has shared with me that she never knew how many would sit down at the dinner table each night, but she did know that they would all be hungry. She learned to be a flexible cook, even though or maybe because, her mother had never taught her to cook. Dottie says there are times that she has dreams that large groups of friends are coming to dinner unexpectedly, and she needs to make dinner with no idea of what ingredients she has in the house. She says these dreams aren't stressful, just pleasantly familiar. She is fearless about substitutions.
Which brings me to my cooking. My mother is an excellent cook. Her mother actually won ribbons at the county fair and had recipes featured in regional cookbooks. I consider myself a good to okay cook, but rarely use recipes, unless they are for something that my mother never made, like risotto. This summer however, given the heat and the non-stop morning sickness , I have not been able to face making food most nights. Luckily, Tom is often happy with Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches.
(Side note from my inner feminist- Tom and I made a deal when we moved into our house with no dishwasher- I'll cook, if he washes dishes. I HATE washing dishes, so I am not renegotiating. Besides, with the pregnancy, he is now cleaning the catbox too.)
Well this past week the tide has turned and I have begun cooking again.
I was looking for inspiration (often the greatest hurdle I face in my cooking) and feeling homesick, so I checked out a blog my aunt Gail recommended, The Pioneer Woman Cooks. I found a "16-minute meal" that looked good Bowtie Lasagna . I read it over, and decided I would make it that night.
The recipe called for:
Cooked Bowtie Pasta
Jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
Browned Ground beef
Garlic powder and Italian Seasoning
Mozzarella cheese
Sour Cream
When I got home, this is what I made
Instead of Bowtie Pasta, I used Penne Pasta (What i had in the pantry)
Instead of Jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce, I made my own (I always make my own with fresh garlic, canned whole tomatoes, and Italian seasoning. It's easy and I know exactly what's in it)
Instead of Browned Ground Beef (which I didn't have any thawed out) I used some cooked chicken breasts I had frozen to use in salads . I defrosted in the microwave and then just cubed them.
Instead of Mozzarella Cheese, I used shaved Parmesan Cheese (I may not be required by law to have always have Parmesan Cheese in the house, but I might as well be. I think of it as Italian salt, instead of additional salt I just add fresh Parmesan.)
Instead of sour cream, I had Greek yogurt, so I just threw a spoonful of it in at the end.
Tom loved it! I then told him I got the recipe a website, except instead of this, I used that. As I went through the list, I realized what I had done.
I am my grandmother's granddaughter.
At this point, I'll just say that I was inspired by the recipe on the Pioneer Woman Cooks website, but I can't really say it's her recipe. Besides, it is my core belief that quick meal, shouldn't require a special trip to the grocery store.
Happy eating!
Friday, July 16, 2010
Summer Lives
It makes sense that I chose a profession that has such a great distinction between the school year and summer vacation. Starting in first grade, my summer life differed drastically from my day-to-day life. My parents worked in the restaurant business, so summer with it's longer days, was always the busy time of year. My grandmother, Dottie, a high school English teacher during the school year, was the principal of the elementary summer school in Byng. While we lived in Oklahoma, my mom or dad, would drive me the hour drive to Byng to stay with Dottie and George until Friday evening when they would pick me up again.
Monday through Friday, I attended Byng summer school. The days had a pleasant routine. I would wake up at 6am to have breakfast with my grandparents and then get ready for school. The school was only 1/2 a mile from their house, so Dottie and I would walk to school together. There I had classes in art, swimming, math and reading. Class let out at noon, just in time to walk home make lunch and spend the afternoon out in the woods that occupied some of the 13 acres of land they owned.
In later years, there were changes. We moved to Louisiana, a 13 hour drive to Byng, so my summer stay extended to 6 weeks rather than just weeknights. Dottie's nieces, Amy and Cindy, came to live with Dottie and George for a while, but my childhood memory is fuzzy on how many summers they were there.
What I do remember is having Amy, one year my senior, as a playmate. Dottie got us involved in softball games. I remember spending every afternoon in the above ground pool that Dottie and George put in the backyard. We put on our own production of Jaws with neither of us having ever seen the movie. We would compete over how many underwater somersaults we could do in a row. The record stands at 7. I thought I had reached 8, but I must admit that I blacked out while doing them, so Cindy's official count stands. It was also during these summers that I saw the Empire Strikes Back, which first introduced me to the concept of sequels and that they do not live up to my expectations.
They are simply great summer memories. They also contrasted nicely with my life in Baton Rouge, which had all the trappings of mid-size city life. Because of my time in Oklahoma, i learned about gardening from both sets of grandparents. My love of homegrown tomatoes, summer squash, and snapping beans continues as I grow my own square-foot garden. I remember scrambling to grab the potatoes George dug dug up as if they were buried treasure, before going inside to get ready for church. Eating salads fresh from granny's garden for lunch and then being dumb-founded that the town turned off the water from 2-4:00pm each day to conserve usage. Staying up late with my aunt Gail as she recounted the horror of the movie, The Hitcher, to me. (I finally saw the actual movie 2 years ago. Gail's version was scarier.) Granny buying Gwyn and I matching purple polo-like shirts. I remember marveling at my grandfather, Papa's windmill, that brought water out of the ground in the hot, dry summer of 1980.
And that was the gift of living in a city for most of the year, and in rural Oklahoma for the summers. It allowed me to have a sense of wonder that staying in one place year-round wouldn't have provided. There is a beauty to Oklahoma and to Louisiana, but it is a beauty as different as Louise Brooks and Ingrid Bergman. Living in both worlds gave me an appreciation of both.
I know it was hard on my parents' to have me gone so long, but they were committed to me knowing my family, despite the distance between us. As I prepare to have a child, a timezone away from most of my relatives and lifelong friends, I hope I can pass that gift onto him/her.
Monday through Friday, I attended Byng summer school. The days had a pleasant routine. I would wake up at 6am to have breakfast with my grandparents and then get ready for school. The school was only 1/2 a mile from their house, so Dottie and I would walk to school together. There I had classes in art, swimming, math and reading. Class let out at noon, just in time to walk home make lunch and spend the afternoon out in the woods that occupied some of the 13 acres of land they owned.
In later years, there were changes. We moved to Louisiana, a 13 hour drive to Byng, so my summer stay extended to 6 weeks rather than just weeknights. Dottie's nieces, Amy and Cindy, came to live with Dottie and George for a while, but my childhood memory is fuzzy on how many summers they were there.
What I do remember is having Amy, one year my senior, as a playmate. Dottie got us involved in softball games. I remember spending every afternoon in the above ground pool that Dottie and George put in the backyard. We put on our own production of Jaws with neither of us having ever seen the movie. We would compete over how many underwater somersaults we could do in a row. The record stands at 7. I thought I had reached 8, but I must admit that I blacked out while doing them, so Cindy's official count stands. It was also during these summers that I saw the Empire Strikes Back, which first introduced me to the concept of sequels and that they do not live up to my expectations.
They are simply great summer memories. They also contrasted nicely with my life in Baton Rouge, which had all the trappings of mid-size city life. Because of my time in Oklahoma, i learned about gardening from both sets of grandparents. My love of homegrown tomatoes, summer squash, and snapping beans continues as I grow my own square-foot garden. I remember scrambling to grab the potatoes George dug dug up as if they were buried treasure, before going inside to get ready for church. Eating salads fresh from granny's garden for lunch and then being dumb-founded that the town turned off the water from 2-4:00pm each day to conserve usage. Staying up late with my aunt Gail as she recounted the horror of the movie, The Hitcher, to me. (I finally saw the actual movie 2 years ago. Gail's version was scarier.) Granny buying Gwyn and I matching purple polo-like shirts. I remember marveling at my grandfather, Papa's windmill, that brought water out of the ground in the hot, dry summer of 1980.
And that was the gift of living in a city for most of the year, and in rural Oklahoma for the summers. It allowed me to have a sense of wonder that staying in one place year-round wouldn't have provided. There is a beauty to Oklahoma and to Louisiana, but it is a beauty as different as Louise Brooks and Ingrid Bergman. Living in both worlds gave me an appreciation of both.
I know it was hard on my parents' to have me gone so long, but they were committed to me knowing my family, despite the distance between us. As I prepare to have a child, a timezone away from most of my relatives and lifelong friends, I hope I can pass that gift onto him/her.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
The Cat's Out of the Bag
It's official. Tom and I will be adding to our household come January. In addition to our cat and dog, we are adding a baby into the mix. I am 13 weeks along and things are going well. Unless you consider overwhelming morning sickness unpleasant. It makes brushing my teeth and driving to work an adventure.
The top two weirdest things about being pregnant:
1- I have absolutely no craving for chocolate. None at all. My entire life I have craved chocolate. I prefer dark chocolate because it is just extra chocolate. I have always despised white chocolate, because it is not chocolate. Yet, when I ate that one piece of chocolate since conceiving, my body responded by a simple, "hmm... food," instead of it's usual "YES!!! Food of the Gods."
2- My appetite is actually less than before. I just can't eat as much before I feel full and not just a little full, but stuffed, it must be Thanksgiving, full. The baby isn't that big yet, just the size of a lemon, so I don't think it should be impacting me that much. However, after seeing it kick my bladder in the ultrasound, maybe the kid just wants some more room. I'm not in maternity clothes yet, so maybe there just isn't enough room for food?
So that's what I didn't expect. The morning sickness, I kind of expected given my mother's experience, but it really sucks.
C'est la vie. It is worth it in the end.
The top two weirdest things about being pregnant:
1- I have absolutely no craving for chocolate. None at all. My entire life I have craved chocolate. I prefer dark chocolate because it is just extra chocolate. I have always despised white chocolate, because it is not chocolate. Yet, when I ate that one piece of chocolate since conceiving, my body responded by a simple, "hmm... food," instead of it's usual "YES!!! Food of the Gods."
2- My appetite is actually less than before. I just can't eat as much before I feel full and not just a little full, but stuffed, it must be Thanksgiving, full. The baby isn't that big yet, just the size of a lemon, so I don't think it should be impacting me that much. However, after seeing it kick my bladder in the ultrasound, maybe the kid just wants some more room. I'm not in maternity clothes yet, so maybe there just isn't enough room for food?
So that's what I didn't expect. The morning sickness, I kind of expected given my mother's experience, but it really sucks.
C'est la vie. It is worth it in the end.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Birthday Bonanza
July 1st has become a big day in my family. It started with my step-father, Richard, whose birthday is on July 1st. Then I met my husband Tom, whose birthday is also on July 1st. Besides sharing a birthday and being wonderful husbands, they are both huge Simpsons fans. Fate? Proof that astrology has merit? I don't know, but it makes remembering their birthdays much easier.
Then last year, Tom and I were talking about my cat. like many adopted animals, I don't know his date of birth. I did get him young enough that the vet was able to determine that he was born in July. (I remember this because we were counting down the days until he could be neutered.) Tom suggested that we celebrate his birthday on July 1st, so he too could be one of the guys. So Larry's 18th will officially be July 1, 2010.
This also means that, excluding blood relatives, the longest relationship relationship I have had with a male is with my cat. Some my say that's depressing , but hey, he's 18 and a really cool cat.
I wonder if I should have him register with selective service?
Then last year, Tom and I were talking about my cat. like many adopted animals, I don't know his date of birth. I did get him young enough that the vet was able to determine that he was born in July. (I remember this because we were counting down the days until he could be neutered.) Tom suggested that we celebrate his birthday on July 1st, so he too could be one of the guys. So Larry's 18th will officially be July 1, 2010.
This also means that, excluding blood relatives, the longest relationship relationship I have had with a male is with my cat. Some my say that's depressing , but hey, he's 18 and a really cool cat.
I wonder if I should have him register with selective service?
Friday, May 28, 2010
The Real World
After a week off work with my mom, returning to work has been challenging. There are the usual rituals after a long absence: checking, deleting and responding to emails, reviewing tasks to accomplish, but this time it was harder. It may be that Hopkins commencement on Thursday usually means a short week this week, followed by another 4 day week for memorial day. This year, however, I volunteered to work commencement. It was hot it Baltimore yesterday. On the lacrosse field there was very little breeze. Everyone was aware and tried to prepare for he heat. Extra water bottles, extra first aid stations, and most importantly shorter commencement addresses. We actually ended 30 minutes early. Michael Bloomberg did a good job in his address, but it was the class president's address that choked me up. I am a sucker for emotional thank yous to family, maybe because I live so far away from mine.
What was I doing at commencement? Well, after helping the marshals get ready, I and my team-mate quickly joined the other Purell squirters on the field. It was our job to squirt the hands of each doctoral and bachelors degree candidate before they shook hands with the president. That is what we did for the 1000+ candidates. On the upside, several students commented on how cool the sanitizer felt and were happy to use it. The irony of all this is that I don't believe in hand sanitizers.
I traded off with others so I had a place to sit, rest and hydrate. Multiple bottles of water and juice later, we were done when I squirted Purell into Ms. Zhao's hands. It was a great day, but I was exhausted afterwards. I went home, took a 3 hour nap and relaxed until the hubby got off work. Overall, a good day. Congratulations, Johns Hopkins University, Class of 2010.
What was I doing at commencement? Well, after helping the marshals get ready, I and my team-mate quickly joined the other Purell squirters on the field. It was our job to squirt the hands of each doctoral and bachelors degree candidate before they shook hands with the president. That is what we did for the 1000+ candidates. On the upside, several students commented on how cool the sanitizer felt and were happy to use it. The irony of all this is that I don't believe in hand sanitizers.
I traded off with others so I had a place to sit, rest and hydrate. Multiple bottles of water and juice later, we were done when I squirted Purell into Ms. Zhao's hands. It was a great day, but I was exhausted afterwards. I went home, took a 3 hour nap and relaxed until the hubby got off work. Overall, a good day. Congratulations, Johns Hopkins University, Class of 2010.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Lazy Days
Mom got in late last night after numerous weather delays. Arriving at our house after 2:00am, we were all exhausted. Today has been a day of naps, meals and visiting. It's good to have her here.
The cat and dog are in hog heaven having their grandma visit again. They are soaking up the attention, and can't wait to sit next to here or sleep with her. Of course I am the one they woke up at 6:00am to feed them.
The cat and dog are in hog heaven having their grandma visit again. They are soaking up the attention, and can't wait to sit next to here or sleep with her. Of course I am the one they woke up at 6:00am to feed them.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Honfest is Coming
It will be too late for me and mom to get hon-ed, but I'm still excited about this year's Honfest in Hampden.
I love Hampden! My father-in-law is a Hampden native. His sister even danced on the Buddy Deane Show. Mom and I will make her annual shopping pilgrimage there this week to Mina"s and the other shops I adore.
To learn more about honfest check out this link http://findlocal.baltimoresun.com/downtown/community-events/fairs-festivals/honfest-downtown-hampden-baltimore-fair-festival
I love Hampden! My father-in-law is a Hampden native. His sister even danced on the Buddy Deane Show. Mom and I will make her annual shopping pilgrimage there this week to Mina"s and the other shops I adore.
To learn more about honfest check out this link http://findlocal.baltimoresun.com/downtown/community-events/fairs-festivals/honfest-downtown-hampden-baltimore-fair-festival
The Big Day
Mom is coming to Baltimore tonight. We are ready. I have some grocery shopping to do this evening before she arrives, but that's it. Now for a nice long week of visiting.
Maybe I'll try to divide the dog treats into baggies by day, so Mom won't be tempted to overindulge the grand-dog. Toby like other dogs, loves attention and food so getting a treat handed to him is the ultimate prize.
Then again, the ultimate prize may be when he uses Macgiver like cunning to army crawl under the gate to the bathroom to reach and eat the cat's food and then army crawl out without moving the bowl. Sometimes I think the dog plays dumb to lull me into a false sense of security and then he strikes, gobbling down all the cat food he possibly can before I can get to him and the bowl.
Maybe I'll try to divide the dog treats into baggies by day, so Mom won't be tempted to overindulge the grand-dog. Toby like other dogs, loves attention and food so getting a treat handed to him is the ultimate prize.
Then again, the ultimate prize may be when he uses Macgiver like cunning to army crawl under the gate to the bathroom to reach and eat the cat's food and then army crawl out without moving the bowl. Sometimes I think the dog plays dumb to lull me into a false sense of security and then he strikes, gobbling down all the cat food he possibly can before I can get to him and the bowl.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
All My Exes Live in Texas
I've been thinking of ex-boyfriends lately because one of my former students has gone through a rough break-up this semester. It's easy, to forget what those days were like, now that Tom and I have been together for almost 4 years. Everything with him has been so easy, that looking back it is obvious that all my Mr. Wrongs were simply wrong for me. I could make a bad boyfriend behavior list, but I don't because I am sure I could as easily appear on a bad girlfriend list.
However, I was a single woman for so many years, that my natural allegiance still lies with them. Life does get better when you are no longer in your twenties, when you know yourself enough to know what you want. It's easier to weed out the truly suitable as well as the ones you're just not into. But the twenties are still hard. I think there is so much pressure to succeed and make a splash early. I like to think about Ira Glass, and something he said at a presentation one time. After playing a clip from the beginning of his career that he described "as having absolutely no evidence that I had any talent at all." he stated that in your twenties you have to practice, you have to feed your creative nature, and simply have faith in your innate talent, because it probably won't all come together until later. So I guess you just gotta have faith, faith, faith.
Now go listen to some George Michael to try to get that song out of your head.
However, I was a single woman for so many years, that my natural allegiance still lies with them. Life does get better when you are no longer in your twenties, when you know yourself enough to know what you want. It's easier to weed out the truly suitable as well as the ones you're just not into. But the twenties are still hard. I think there is so much pressure to succeed and make a splash early. I like to think about Ira Glass, and something he said at a presentation one time. After playing a clip from the beginning of his career that he described "as having absolutely no evidence that I had any talent at all." he stated that in your twenties you have to practice, you have to feed your creative nature, and simply have faith in your innate talent, because it probably won't all come together until later. So I guess you just gotta have faith, faith, faith.
Now go listen to some George Michael to try to get that song out of your head.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Prepping
As I left the house today, I bid my husband farewell. Instead of the usual, "I love you have a good day," coming from the bathroom, I heard, "Stay. Stay!"
No he wasn't anxious about me leaving. He was talking to the dog, Toby, as he attempted to bathe the dog before work today. Tom is back on the night shift, so as we prepare for Mom to arrive from Oklahoma, we are alternating taking care of tasks. I work on a room in the evening, he takes care of tasks during the morning.
There is some irony in cleaning the house for my mother's visit. She obviously has known me all my life and thus my housekeeping habits. i have been messy from birth despite my mother, college roommate and now my husband. I care about the person I live with, so I try to keep my natural tendencies towards clutter in check. I am a more organized person now living with Tom, the the house now, only midway through the cleaning process is probably neater than when mom would visit when I was single.
But Tom is a new son-in-law, and an excellent husband, so he feels that urge to de-clutter and clean that takes much longer to activate in me. Thus he was washing hte dog this morning. For those that haven't met Toby, he is a wonderful Golden Retriever. Toby loves people, more than going outside and more than his food. He loves to swim, wallow in mud puddles, walk in the rain or through water any chance he gets. He however hates baths, despite the fact that he gets extra attention after the bath, because his fur is so soft, you just have to pet him. (We use Plum Silky shampoo on Toby. He smells so good and feels so soft that Tom has been tempted to use it on his hair.)
Thank goodness the cat is self-cleaning. We have a lot of work before Mom arrives on Friday in Baltimore.
No he wasn't anxious about me leaving. He was talking to the dog, Toby, as he attempted to bathe the dog before work today. Tom is back on the night shift, so as we prepare for Mom to arrive from Oklahoma, we are alternating taking care of tasks. I work on a room in the evening, he takes care of tasks during the morning.
There is some irony in cleaning the house for my mother's visit. She obviously has known me all my life and thus my housekeeping habits. i have been messy from birth despite my mother, college roommate and now my husband. I care about the person I live with, so I try to keep my natural tendencies towards clutter in check. I am a more organized person now living with Tom, the the house now, only midway through the cleaning process is probably neater than when mom would visit when I was single.
But Tom is a new son-in-law, and an excellent husband, so he feels that urge to de-clutter and clean that takes much longer to activate in me. Thus he was washing hte dog this morning. For those that haven't met Toby, he is a wonderful Golden Retriever. Toby loves people, more than going outside and more than his food. He loves to swim, wallow in mud puddles, walk in the rain or through water any chance he gets. He however hates baths, despite the fact that he gets extra attention after the bath, because his fur is so soft, you just have to pet him. (We use Plum Silky shampoo on Toby. He smells so good and feels so soft that Tom has been tempted to use it on his hair.)
Thank goodness the cat is self-cleaning. We have a lot of work before Mom arrives on Friday in Baltimore.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Out of Date
As Richard reminded me the other day, well it was actually last month, that it is time to update my blog. Tom and I are really enjoying married life. We tied the knot in March and have been enjoying our happily ever after. I keep humming the song, "You Can't Hurry Love" by the Supremes. Marring at 39 meant meant there were many years of dating and not-dating. On my 36th birthday I emailed all my lifetime friends that I knew I would never marry. I met Tom 7 months later.
I think the biggest milestone this summer is that I am now use to / comfortable saying, my husband. It brings me great joy to say it, but the joy is bittersweet because I know one day it will be what I do naturally without thinking. The jolt of joy will be gone, replaced by the natural comfort of being a married couple.
I know married life isn't easy. This is evident by all the articles about marriages ending. I plan to keep my grandmother, Dottie's advice in mind. She said that the key to staying married is to remember that the two of you are a team. That you are in it together.
Those who don't know my amazing grandmother might think this as easy advice from someone tfrom a different genereation. To that I say, my grandmother attended college while all three of her sons were under the age of 6. She took the maximum courseload to save money. She only took classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, because my grandfather was off on Tuesday and that way he could watch the kids instead of paying a babysitter. When she gradauted, she went to work full-time. She was a school teacher, but she could write. She began writing grant proposals for the school and thus would travel for work. She also researched and published numerous books on the 5 civilized tribes of Oklahoma. Basically Dottie has a resume that most modern women and mothers would envy. She is amazing. It also helped that she and my grandfather worked on things as a team. They did divide tasks, but they always believed in helping the other for the 60+ years they were together.
So I think she can provide some good advice. The other bit of advice she gave me for staying together? If you're with anyone for a long time, there are going to be peaks and valleys. After a while a person gets sick of themselves, so it makes sense that may mat feel that way about yourself. Just remember that you are in this together. The feelings come back again you just have to be patient and have faith.
Tom and I are still newlyweds. There are certain things I do now so there are habits in place to keep us connected even in the valleys.
I think the biggest milestone this summer is that I am now use to / comfortable saying, my husband. It brings me great joy to say it, but the joy is bittersweet because I know one day it will be what I do naturally without thinking. The jolt of joy will be gone, replaced by the natural comfort of being a married couple.
I know married life isn't easy. This is evident by all the articles about marriages ending. I plan to keep my grandmother, Dottie's advice in mind. She said that the key to staying married is to remember that the two of you are a team. That you are in it together.
Those who don't know my amazing grandmother might think this as easy advice from someone tfrom a different genereation. To that I say, my grandmother attended college while all three of her sons were under the age of 6. She took the maximum courseload to save money. She only took classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, because my grandfather was off on Tuesday and that way he could watch the kids instead of paying a babysitter. When she gradauted, she went to work full-time. She was a school teacher, but she could write. She began writing grant proposals for the school and thus would travel for work. She also researched and published numerous books on the 5 civilized tribes of Oklahoma. Basically Dottie has a resume that most modern women and mothers would envy. She is amazing. It also helped that she and my grandfather worked on things as a team. They did divide tasks, but they always believed in helping the other for the 60+ years they were together.
So I think she can provide some good advice. The other bit of advice she gave me for staying together? If you're with anyone for a long time, there are going to be peaks and valleys. After a while a person gets sick of themselves, so it makes sense that may mat feel that way about yourself. Just remember that you are in this together. The feelings come back again you just have to be patient and have faith.
Tom and I are still newlyweds. There are certain things I do now so there are habits in place to keep us connected even in the valleys.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Going faster than a rollercoaster
Time keeps marching on.
Saturday I met with a florist and came up with some ideas and prices. I also went for my fitting. The dress fit fine, no hem required, just a bustle, and removing the straps on the dress. Rose, Tom's sister went with me. Rose has been really great about looking at wedding dresses with me. We also had a chance to talk about flower girl outfits.
All the bridesmaids were emailed today to see what they think of dress colors.
This evening I meet with another florist. There is so much to do. I can't wait to see Carlan in Dallas. I may be purchaising a tiara or tiaras in the future. 3 guess about who "gets" to wear it/them. As Suzanne Sugarbaker said, "nothing bad can happen to you when you're wearing a tiara." She never said what happens if you try to put one on someone else :)
Saturday, December 13, 2008
3 Months!!!!
It's getting busy. Today I go for my first dress fitting. I also have my first flower consultation and I really haven't decided about my colors. I think my colors wi be white and silver. The bridesmaids will either where dresses in vibrant colrs that they have chosen or purple. Deep, dark, royal purple. or I could go back to my college idea of black dresses.
Who knows.
I'm not ready to decide on flowers.
Why was it so much easier to decide to marry Tom than it is to make all these decisions? Maybe because I always concentrated more on finding the right guy than on planning the wedding.
It makes sense, since the marriage lasts longer than the wedding, but boy will it be stressfull for the next 97 days.
Who knows.
I'm not ready to decide on flowers.
Why was it so much easier to decide to marry Tom than it is to make all these decisions? Maybe because I always concentrated more on finding the right guy than on planning the wedding.
It makes sense, since the marriage lasts longer than the wedding, but boy will it be stressfull for the next 97 days.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Piled Higher and Deeper
At 19 I moved into my own apartment. As an apartment dweller, there was very little yard work needed or required- water the potted plants, discard them when dead.
In August 2007, I moved into our current home with Tom. It's a small house with a nice backyard containing 7 trees. What I never considered was the raking. My family with land, has lots of land, so bush-hogging is more of the issue. In south Louisianian most trees loose their leaves in the spring, so they are sucked up with the grass.
That's not the case here. We have been raking all morning, since our lawn was covered in leaves. The bad news is that we still have 3 trees that haven't lost there leaves yet. The good news, is it appears we have our very own Madam Trash Heap. I'll just have to keep an eye out for Fraggles.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
The Day After
Today after I have read and listened to McCain's concession speech and Obama's victory speech, I am proud to have taken part in this election. This morning I heard an interview on NPR with a 109 year-old texas woman, whose father had been a slave, recounting saving money to pay the poll-tax to vote during the great depression and now seeing an African-American president-elect. It's nice to have a president-elect that is inspiring in a time when we need hope. It also doesn't hurt that llamas like him.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Reboot
Tom and I had, what my dad would call a "come to jesus" moment on October 20th. At the thought of paying over 6K just for a reception site and food, that little voice inside my head yelled- are you freaking out of your mind.
I decided to listen to my inner voice since it rarely yells, expecially when it comes to spending -I am an expert at shoppon math afterall
Example:
Boots cost $100. If you wear boots 6 months out of the year to work, that's less than a dollar a day for the first year of wear and then it's free each subsequesnt wearing of the boots, because 6 months x 4 weeks x 5 days = 120 days of wear.
Yes, I rocked the word problems in 2nd & 3rd grade. Thank you Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Coker.
So Tom and I talked, and we realized what we really want is something small. we are both so releived. I contacted the reception place and cancelled.
So we are only inviting 20-30 of our closest friends and family to the wedding. We will then take everyone out to dinner at a restaurant that we both love. We are reserving a private room, so we'll still have plenty of time to mingle and talk with everyone at our wedding. It will just be more us.
In other news, we both voted today, but not together. Turns out Tom is still registered to vote in Reisterstown, so he had to go to his old polling place. He saw the priest that will marry us while he was voting, so you see it all comes full circle. Big changes to us, and possible big changes for the country.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Calgon, take me away
So it's a little stressful planning a wedding. I have completed the online pre-marital counseling test. The results should be interesting, since sometimes it took several tries to submit my answers and other times it only seemed to take several tries. Which means I inadvertently answered questions that I didn't mean to answer. Should be a fun meeting on Sunday.
So I wanted to share with everyone how I de-stress. Besides writing in this blog, I look at LOL Cats which always make me laugh. There are also LOL dogs, if the "kittehs" don't amuse you.
This one seemed appropriate for a wedding blog.
So I wanted to share with everyone how I de-stress. Besides writing in this blog, I look at LOL Cats which always make me laugh. There are also LOL dogs, if the "kittehs" don't amuse you.
This one seemed appropriate for a wedding blog.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Culture Shock
On Saturday, Tom and I attended our first wedding together. It was a wedding for one of Tom's friends from work and it had some distinct differences from the weddings I'm use to attending in Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.
I've already realized that groom's cakes are not a tradition here, but we will have one. Of course everyone I talk to in Maryland only knows about one groom's cake- the bleeding armadillo from Steel Magnolias.
However this wedding was very different. There was a head table, which seems very common here, though I've only seen it one other time (at Buddy and Jill's wedding in 2006- btw their baby, Jack, is an adorable 1 month-old now!) However the introduction of the wedding party, family and friends by the emcee, was something I have never witnessed before- bridesmaids carried in by groomsmen, end zones dance routines, etc. I just chalked it up to being in the northeast.
Then came the tossing of the bouquet and garter. Tom kept talking about how nervous he was when he caught the garter at Dave and Rose's wedding. I thought it was sweet that he was nervous, but little did I know why he was nervous. At every wedding i have attended, the guy that catches the garter dances with the girl that caught the bouquet. When they asked for a chair, I assumed that the bride and groom were going to take a picture with the guy and girl. Little did I know what was to come. I fully understood Tom's emotions when I watched the guy that caught the garter, place it on the leg of the girl that caught the bouquet. I was shocked!!!
At least i don't have to worry about that at our wedding. Very few of our friends and acquaintances are unmarried. If there were more, I'd do cake pulls, but that's another Louisiana tradition.
Monday, October 6, 2008
and the dress
It's big, it's white and I will be removing the straps, but once I tried it on I knew it was the one for me. Plus it was in my price range, unlike the $1000 one I tried on previously.
It's from David's Bridal, Style # V9302 if you want a closer look or would like to see the back.
Of course the average high when we're getting married is in the high 50's so I may be a little chilly on my wedding day, but "I'll have my love to keep me warm." (Any ideas on where that line comes from?)
Sunday, October 5, 2008
The Envelope Please
Today we are writing thank you notes. Tom's family threw an engagement party/barbecue for us last weekend at his mom's house in Westminster. Everyone was very nice and very, very thoughtful. It was an overwhelming success, despite the rain that kept all of us indoors, or at least in the garage. The day began with lots of food and ended with a rousing game of flip-cup in the garage.
Unexpectedly, many brought gifts for us, hence the Thank You notes, which were purchased at Target with gift-cards received at the engagement party allowing us to thank those that gave target gift-card with thank you notes they enabled us to purchase. It's the circle of life, or maybe we are just doing are part to keep Maryland's economy going, or maybe we should all just buy Target stock.
I'll post the photos soon from the party.
Unexpectedly, many brought gifts for us, hence the Thank You notes, which were purchased at Target with gift-cards received at the engagement party allowing us to thank those that gave target gift-card with thank you notes they enabled us to purchase. It's the circle of life, or maybe we are just doing are part to keep Maryland's economy going, or maybe we should all just buy Target stock.
I'll post the photos soon from the party.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
In the Beginning
I want to keep a record of our engagement, so I decided a blog would be a way to keep everyone informed. Tom & I met on September 4, 2006 at Hightops Bar & Grill in Timonium. Mr. Sneaky, actually suggested we go out to eat there the night he proposed. His plan was thwarted however by the large crowd there that night due to the Maryland State Fair taking place next door. He perservered however, and proposed to me in our backyard that evening, August 22, 2008. My family is quite excited, as any reader of my step-father's blog can attest.
So I hope everyone enjoys this. With my friends and family scattered throughout the central and eastern time-zone, I still want to share everything with all of you.
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