tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145238832012-01-24T11:58:40.236-06:00Wrestling with this template on a semi-permanent basis.Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.comBlogger5621100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-21290679007376187532012-01-18T19:03:00.002-06:002012-01-18T19:03:12.158-06:00

My new memory foam mattress, which was delivered rolled up into a wee 65 pound cylinder, is unfurling on my bed frame even now. ***angel choir***

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-29324197462422331042012-01-17T00:14:00.001-06:002012-01-17T21:39:29.647-06:00

Do y'all know about the band First Aid Kit? They're a pair of Swedish sisters who basically do straight-up Americana. Oh, good old Swedes. This is the song I heard on the radio recently, which led me to spotify to hear more: It's good stuff. I should probably start a sibling band, right? I have enough of them. And one of them's in a band already. Also, I have to admit that this song has

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-32063289349734419762012-01-13T15:06:00.000-06:002012-01-13T15:06:52.425-06:00

I got on Pinterest awhile back, finally, mostly because I needed a place to keep track of pictures of ladies with platinum hair. Going platinum is on my list and I keep putting it off because 1) expensive 2) high-maintenance) and 3) my head has been really itchy this winter and putting bleach on it seems like a bad idea. If any of you have miracle cures for an itchy head, let me know. Dandruff/

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-35572009927349063732012-01-03T22:04:00.000-06:002012-01-03T22:04:59.041-06:00

Hi all (who are still expecting posts, that is, and checking in, or keeping me in the feed reader). I'm sorry for the long silence over here--not that I have been the most prolific of bloggers recently anyway--but over a month with nary a peep is a record for me, I think, since I started the blogging way back in 2004. There were some shake ups in December. The biggest one is that the Brit and I

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-52592399440418561992011-11-27T19:21:00.000-06:002011-11-27T19:21:06.999-06:00

So, Willa turned 4 a couple days ago, and she got a kitten for her birthday. He was called Bruce (which I love; it's like naming a tiny kitten Gary or Keith) when he arrived in her hands yesterday, but I'm not sure what his name is now. Last night it was Snowflake, and later in the evening it was apparently Tiger. My mom was pulling for Opie, which I think is perfect. But Willa is in charge.

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-74809152011743527602011-11-12T13:25:00.001-06:002011-11-12T13:29:57.428-06:00

I spent some of my Friday night doing an audition. If that doesn't scream PARTAY, I don't know what does. I honestly can't remember the last time I did an audition, either--or at least, one where my casting wasn't a foregone conclusion, or one that wasn't for a teaching job. So I don't have any headshots printed (no one asks for printed headshots anymore, do they?), and perhaps more important, I

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-27041853514761938432011-11-10T13:19:00.000-06:002011-11-10T13:19:13.958-06:00

that I personal-shopped for Tricia, with Tricia in it. Marigoldie requested a pic of my silk/cashmere maxi skirt, which I am planning on wearing tomorrow--so maybe we can have another fashion photo shoot in front of a file cabinet, piles of paper and plastics, and a beige wall tomorrow.

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-22949511154496262792011-11-06T19:12:00.000-06:002011-11-06T19:12:54.395-06:00

Well, it already feels like the middle of the night over here, since it's pitch black. But that's the price we pay for looking up at the clock after a super-productive morning and going WHOA it isn't even 11 yet! I've spent a lot of today cooking, so as to get a jump on the week, and I thought you probably would want to know what I made. Vegan pumpkin pudding. I am so excited about this that I

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-80804412441683173332011-11-04T15:05:00.000-05:002011-11-04T15:05:01.819-05:00

Hi! It's Friday, when everyone leaves the internet! Good for everyone; I approve. Go outside. It's pretty nice here! It was my chilliest ride of the year, though: 29 degrees with frost on the ground. Also, my bike seat has this gimmicky channel thing in it for cooling your "area," and I found today that it works as well (or better) in cold weather as it does in warm weather. My area was cold when

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-5080463931439725412011-11-03T13:22:00.000-05:002011-11-03T13:22:47.198-05:00

I don't know how many of you used to read the stuff I shared on Google Reader, or how many of you maybe used Google Reader in your own right (or use it still), but: Google redesigned Reader and removed all of its social functions last week, and now it's bullshit. It was a wonky, creaky, messy thing before, but it was my source for ongoing conversation with a small group of regular friends/sharers

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-34627209732471484842011-10-31T16:02:00.001-05:002011-11-01T08:57:27.769-05:00

First, I went to Ulta for some ridge filler and cruelty-free polish (Orly, Wet n Wild, China Glaze) and hair goop (Paul Mitchell). Then I returned some bike shorts to REI (I should not even bother trying with the bike shorts because they will never fit my legs, butt, AND waist at the same time). Then I watched Psych and did galaxy nails: If I were a nail blogger I'd have a picture of all the

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-19566172690101332162011-10-28T14:09:00.000-05:002011-10-28T14:09:25.133-05:00

Today in First World Problems, I have been thinking about my personal style concept for the current season and I'm coming up short. I think I need to spend some quality time in my closet assembling outfits so that when I get up in the morning I can put on my biking clothes and quickly pack up my work outfit without agonizing over what I'm going to wear. Also, I need a winter biking dress. I like

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-79555371866297963282011-10-17T23:00:00.000-05:002011-10-17T23:00:11.738-05:00

I am done with my paperrrrrrrrrr. Done done done. I'm praying no one will ask me for revisions, but if they do I am ready for it. I'm also ready to remove the scanner, books, and papers from the coffee table and think about what on earth I might do next. Here are some celebratory rings and a wig you could buy me, to congratulate me for being rad. Big ass rose cut chocolate diamond by

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-16587828383669187432011-10-16T15:07:00.001-05:002011-10-16T15:07:42.798-05:00

Y'all. Y'ALLLLLLL. Please tell me how to conclude my fucking paper. I know part of it involves going for a walk, possibly painting my nails, petting the cats, destroying my high score on Bejeweled, making tea, drinking tea, and maybe folding some laundry. But beyond that I am clueless. I need this thing out of my hands, today. The bibliography is done, the footnotes are formatted, the musical

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-64024305471584220092011-10-12T22:49:00.000-05:002011-10-12T22:49:07.571-05:00

Not that you were like WAITING for it or anything. Merino fingerless gloves from ianbaldry (Minneapolis holla!) Porcelain Left/Right Earrings from lilarubyking Red-orange Fire-King bowls from blurredvisionary Handwoven tencel scarf from billysuetextiles Tulip print stuffed mini dachshund from aliceapple Big crocheted floor cushions from lacasadecoto A pair of mid-century

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-55177139738186474222011-10-11T19:15:00.000-05:002011-10-11T19:15:40.213-05:00

1. Ace is fine. His bloodwork and urinalysis came back perfectly clean; is apparently a "very normal cat" (with some tartar and gingivitis and this obsession with licking his belly fur off). So what was up with him? We may never know. The vet did say a weird thing about cats, which is that frequently their owners sense something is going on, bring them in, find out there's nothing wrong, and then

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-8404635965921269852011-09-26T22:13:00.001-05:002011-09-26T22:15:59.367-05:00

After all the (um, irregular, cursory) blathering the past few months about my monthly projects, I have been silent on the current one because it's going to stretch through to November. It's the previously-mentioned THESIS, the progress of which was impeded by a whole pantload of red tape. I promise you the details are not worth enumerating, unless you're also trying to finish a doctorate at a

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-6159191703250135402011-09-12T22:32:00.000-05:002011-09-12T22:32:52.938-05:00

I recently got back from birthday dinner with the Brit at Saffron, which was beautiful and highly recommended. Middle Eastern fusion fine dining with great service and good ambiance and a very vegetarian-friendly (not super vegan-friendly, but at least vegan possible) menu. It's really surprising to me how many of the "good" or high-end restaurants in town basically have one pasta dish on their

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-62223510483393285332011-09-09T15:36:00.000-05:002011-09-09T15:36:00.874-05:00

I have another post in my drafts folder about last weekend's Pittsburgh trip, but I can't get any pics off my g-d phone right now, so these pretty things will have to suffice. Is anyone even on the internet on Friday afternoons, anyway? It seems like a terrible time to post stuff but I end up doing it often. Bicycle Handlebar Purse in Red Bloom by MercyandRuthHandbags Felted "Wings of Fire"

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-86378625072078632992011-08-24T20:47:00.001-05:002011-08-24T21:21:38.002-05:00

I just went outside to snap a shot of the evening sky with my new phone, and I watched a bat circling around and around the trees in front of me, evidently holding onto a cicada. I surmised this because the buzzing dopplered in sync with the bat's flight pattern, until finally it petered out. It's the circle of life! Like literally a circle. But really, why was the bat flying around instead of

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-81871192069836176462011-08-17T16:20:00.000-05:002011-08-17T16:20:18.026-05:00

I feel I have to do something kind of obnoxious and blog a wee bit about food choices. I seriously mean a WEE bit and only for some accountability. So: I'm taking a break from bread, pasta, white rice and rice noodles, cereal, etc., and definitely the sugar, though I don't eat much of that. I do mean a break because I don't see this as a permanent lifestyle change, but who the hell knows. Mostly

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-72523460807549699092011-08-16T10:15:00.000-05:002011-08-16T10:15:06.851-05:00

Apparently I haven't posted in over two weeks, leaving the internet to ponder my slightly hungover and dehydrated bike ride of doom. What the hell, August? Do you think maybe I was avoiding making a grand public pronouncement about this month's project, THESIS? You could be right about that. I'll have more to say about it in a subsequent post, I hope, but I'll have to go on a thinky bike ride or

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-85008202996016425122011-07-30T22:23:00.000-05:002011-07-30T22:23:01.948-05:00

Last night my friend T and her man had a few folks over to their suburban outpost to eat dinner and lounge in their pool, and it was awesome--both the company and the lounging. The pool was the perfect temperature, and the weather was perfectly hot, and we had floaty things to sit on and beverages aplenty. So I got alllll hammered and ridiculous, and ultimately disappeared from the festivities to

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-12197502463826746202011-07-28T21:44:00.000-05:002011-07-28T21:44:15.335-05:00

Can you all just come here and go on a long bike ride with me? Would the exhilaration even be the same if shared? I don't know, but I do know that this was an amazing evening for a bike ride. I met Dr. Dra, my dearie and old roommate, for dinner after work and then had a zippy, luscious, fragrant 8 mile ride home at sunset. What's happening outside, anyway? The temperature is perfect and it

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-4433888945721045012011-07-23T23:45:00.001-05:002011-07-24T00:12:17.700-05:00

I'm on spotify listening to Amy Winehouse (like everyone else on spotify, probably), but I'm listening to old b-sides from her first record--it appears to be mostly demos. I can't get over how different she sounded back then. Fresher, less affected, healthier voice, so much finesse. I wish you were all listening to it with me right now. Everybody saying she was a one-hit wonder, or not such a

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-69552647767939412522011-07-21T11:57:00.001-05:002011-07-21T11:58:38.988-05:00

Ten more days to think of a new monthly self (or whatever) improvement project. I just found this list, which I think I brainstormed while on hold, on my desk at work. ARMS: truly, this would have to be a lifelong strengthening endeavor. ADVENTURE! would be hard, and probably mostly confined to weekends. BROWN BAG involves bringing lunch to work every single day. I already do this 80% of the

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-79413821490591202472011-07-17T23:09:00.000-05:002011-07-17T23:09:47.426-05:00

I have been pretty asleep at the wheel where CLEANUP is concerned, but today I came out with my big guns blazing and cleaned the shit out of the kitchen. Like, I removed everything, scrubbed all the surfaces, and then rearranged it all. It took pretty much the entire day, with a few breaks, and it also included cleaning and sorting plastic bags, which I hate doing. Then right at the end as I was

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-18798193577415421792011-07-10T22:23:00.001-05:002011-07-10T22:28:00.354-05:00

I wrote about half of a great post about my 4th of July bike ride before blogger did some f-ed up shit and I lost the whole thing. Obviously I was irritated and I gave up, so now it's been many days and the immediate afterglow of the ride has subsided and I am in fact overdue for another long ride now. Here's a hot tip: if you have aspirations of doing anything on a Saturday, maybe don't go for

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-87010783951208479032011-07-01T16:44:00.001-05:002011-07-01T18:30:39.015-05:00

So yes, July's project is called CLEANUP. It came to me last night and makes perfect sense. It took about two minutes to make a two-page list of wee cleanup tasks I can do each day and they're all the boring ones you'd expect. We don't really have a regular chore list around here except trash/recycling, cat litter, toilet cleaning, and vacuuming the living room, so there's a whole lot of dust on

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-583649232050261542011-06-30T12:53:00.001-05:002011-06-30T12:53:34.164-05:00

I liberated some strips of paper from the scrap heap next to the paper cutter and sliced them into two-inch pieces. Then I wrote one item from my to-do list on each piece, folded it, and tossed it into my (clean) lunch bowl. Then I drew a piece of paper and got saddled with that task until I finished it. So far so good--though I should point out that there wasn't actually a piece of paper that

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-39532290151006355672011-06-29T22:13:00.000-05:002011-06-29T22:13:18.090-05:00

Apparently I didn't blog in June. I guess it's because I was doing other things! Such as things on my WIP list! And it's true, I did stick to the June project. It ended up being lots of sewing, which was just fine with me. The point of the project was to avoid sitting on the couch as my default post-work activity. Sometimes I legitimately want to chill on the couch, of course. But I followed it

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-32024135534011536622011-05-31T22:19:00.000-05:002011-05-31T22:19:40.947-05:00

Well SADLY I am winding up the month of May by lying sick on the couch with a super sore throat and an achy head, which means my last two days of project Move Yer Ass have been spent in almost total inactivity. I did garden yesterday, while allowing Momo her first taste of controlled outdoor freedom on a harness. She did pretty well but I turned into a sweaty mess rather quickly. Overall, Move

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-34054406390613736722011-05-28T22:50:00.002-05:002011-05-28T22:53:23.673-05:00

On Wednesday night I went to see Janelle Monae, who is on tour with Bruno Mars and this other supporting band called, improbably, Mayer Hawthorne and the County. Since she wasn't the headliner and I was determined not to miss a second of her set, we got there right at the 7:30 start time and caught all of the Mayer Hawthorne set as well. He was great. The band was tight, and the whole thing had a

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-64322571220921773922011-05-24T10:02:00.000-05:002011-05-24T10:02:06.943-05:00

You can add me to the list of people who finished Born to Run and got all inspired like "I AM born to run" and immediately went outside for a jog. It was the first workout of C25K week 4 and it felt great. It helps that the weather is lovely and the sunset was beautiful and the lake was still and the frogs and red-winged blackbirds were singing. I know I'm late to the party on the book and had

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-88823922490130858362011-05-14T16:41:00.001-05:002011-05-14T16:42:06.851-05:00

Just FYI. Translucent with a dose of opaque. Jade, robin's egg blue, wood, metal, crystal, paper, time and the natural world, places and memories. Click to go to the full-size version.

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-81149776709773767802011-05-11T20:25:00.000-05:002011-05-13T15:52:30.090-05:00

I think I forgot to to tell you that the 80s concert I went to opened with an orchestral version of "Welcome to the Jungle" as its overture, no singers. Toward the end the conductor picked up a wireless mike and hollered "You know where you are? You're in the jungle baby! You're gonna die!" I thought I would never stop laughing. Annnnnyway, welcome to the greaseball, i.e. me in high biking

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-33079601641342994472011-05-08T22:03:00.001-05:002011-05-08T22:05:08.264-05:00

It's true, I have the zeal of the newly converted, but here's a report on week 1 of Move Yer Ass. This was a good week to start such a project not only because the weather has finally been reasonable, but also because I was generally busy, for me, and I didn't let myself make any excuses. Having said that, I did reneg on my "walking 1+ miles to and from my car every day doesn't count"

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-73930575945208728442011-05-02T20:51:00.002-05:002011-05-03T09:02:04.953-05:00

Because I do. I like stuff. I like this stuff. All her folkloric skirts are great, but this one from madewithlovebyhannah is my favorite right now. And I'm not even a pink person. And speaking of folkloric, here is a bunny gocco by dee beale. Meow. Actually, why I haven't bought this Egyptian cat shirt by ENGRAM clothing already is a mystery. There is also a Darth Vader biking shirt that

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-77785386403747945982011-05-01T20:13:00.000-05:002011-05-01T20:13:11.102-05:00

The project for the month of May is called Move Yer Ass. It's not really about working out per se, though I expect there will be some strenuous exercise in and among the more leisurely walks. It's more about incorporating activity into my daily life in a more intentional way. Once I buy a bike this will be a piece of cake, but so far every day that I have had picked out as a good day to go do

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-69166097465556457412011-04-27T21:58:00.001-05:002011-04-27T21:59:52.812-05:00

Vegan Dreamsicle Shake A frozen banana A few frozen peach slices A cup of unsweetened soymilk A half cup of OJ A quarter cup of silken tofu, if you have it A mighty blender Whirl it all up, adding extra OJ if the mixture is too thick. Deeelicious! I'm watching an old ep of MI-5 right now and it does give me a thrill every time Anthony Head shows up on a show. I do realize he's done many, many,

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-35989585526988968392011-04-26T22:55:00.000-05:002011-04-26T22:55:09.461-05:00

Does anyone else still watch Bones? The last three episodes have been super-shitty, like they farmed the show out to an entirely new writing staff and dumbed it down (even more). The ep I just watched basically looked like setup for a really annoying spinoff. The question is, how many more shitty eps do I watch before I give up? I feel like I need to report on the status of my 30 day vegan

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-56418322157603213032011-04-17T14:23:00.001-05:002011-04-17T14:26:29.534-05:00

I went down to the basement yesterday to re-measure my home office for tax purposes, and discovered that the utility room was full of water. The pipes were covered in condensation and the hot water heater was leaking all over the place. Which just figures because our "service plus" dude was just here on Friday to give the furnace its yearly once-over. What in the hell did he do to the water

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-51768211025343896182011-04-15T14:26:00.001-05:002011-04-15T14:30:55.234-05:00

I ate a whole gang of rice noodles for lunch (with mock duck, bean sprouts, lime, thai basil, peanuts, and sri racha) and then some dark chocolate almonds with sea salt from Trader Joe's and now I need a serious nap. The noodle crash is one of my most noticeable food reactions; if I have pasta I basically have to go directly to the couch afterward. It's better now that I'm buying whole wheat

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-72301204267470201602011-04-03T19:24:00.000-05:002011-04-03T19:24:14.758-05:00

I can't believe I didn't immediately report on the Pro-Choice Resources Bowl-a-thon I've been shilling for here. First, the money: y'all helped me raise $1350 for PCR's programs, which kicks ass. Thank you. My team, Spare Us From the MCCL (MN Citizens Concerned for Life), was first overall in fundraising, hauling in $4499. And the event itself raised $63,110, well over the goal of $60K. So the

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-26740415561013938722011-04-01T11:21:00.000-05:002011-04-01T11:21:28.751-05:00

Prompted by this post, yesterday I decided to go vegan for 30 days and see what happens. This is day one, since April conveniently has 30 days. It shouldn't be too difficult; I'd say my diet is already vegan about 80% of the time, and all the staples that first-timers have to buy are pretty much already up in my pantry and I know a killer recipe for vegan nacho cheese dip. I'll keep you posted on

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-550270215117683972011-03-30T12:48:00.001-05:002011-03-30T12:49:26.865-05:00

Wahhh, so you know when I was being all productive and I dropped off my sewing machine for a tune-up? I finally got the word earlier this week that my machine cannot be fixed, for it is so old that the parts can't be ordered. This is like when my beloved old Saturn wagon got crunched and the rear windshield had to be special ordered from, like, a dump in Fargo. Anyway, now I'm in a quandary

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-2381825251333527422011-03-21T22:40:00.001-05:002011-03-21T22:46:33.747-05:00

1. Allow me to get crazy upon you. 2. Sometimes the Flaming Lips are exactly what you want to listen to, and sometimes you're not on mushrooms. 3. Adorable cloth drawstring liner for the guest room trash can gets filed under "shit I seriously do not have time to make, esp with sewing machine in the shop." 4. GREAT SONG: Also, did you know that Wendy and Lisa write tv and movie music now? They

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-76754622132588618212011-03-19T14:03:00.001-05:002011-03-19T14:05:38.083-05:00

I hate the physical act of getting up early, but once I've cleared that hurdle I love being up. I had to be downtown at clinic escort training at 7:30 (which, for the record, is earlier than I have to be anywhere ever), so I was up in the dark and out in the fog. Actual fog, not mental. The training was good. It was interesting. And I think this will be a good introduction to volunteering for

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-1323835442092418812011-03-18T10:39:00.000-05:002011-03-18T10:39:41.352-05:00

We have a so-called "floating holiday" today and it's been the main thing getting me through this week, on the real. It's not even that work is so terribly stressful, but we're having some (more) staff turnover and trying to hire someone and you know what, I'm not going to talk about work. I have today off, to which we must all say AMEN, and the Brit is at SXSW, so I shall be knocking around the

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-2953868678528709172011-03-16T21:26:00.000-05:002011-03-16T21:26:27.715-05:00

1. Cleaning the kitchen is way more fun with a lot of loud Missy Elliot playing. 2. It is difficult to wash dishes and pop your booty at the same time, but not impossible.

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-12143907338841783682011-03-10T13:36:00.000-06:002011-03-10T13:36:52.205-06:00

I've had a few posts kicking around in my head but just haven't had the gumption to write them. The one about "you're going to love my balls" is loosely about how I've been eating raw food balls for breakfast, but mostly it's an excuse to make jokes about balls. I get up in the morning and eat 3-4 balls! How many balls do you eat every morning? Balls balls balls deeeelicious balls. And after

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-53960168303219078822011-02-28T22:37:00.001-06:002011-02-28T22:38:10.457-06:00

Well, it finally happened, just a few hours shy of March. I maxed out on winter. I've been pretty philosophical about winter this time around, even on the days when it's 20 below, because that's just what you do to get through it. You put on a bunch of clothes and just get out there and enjoy whatever there is to enjoy. But today I was in the least zen place of all time, the co-op parking lot at

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-38212356749474409862011-02-17T14:19:00.001-06:002011-02-17T14:20:38.469-06:00

1. Have you ever been about to buy something on Amazon and then literally the second you go to press the "place order" button, the price of the item doubles? I was hemming and hawing about two pairs of El Naturalista mary janes that were 70% off and when I decided to buy them, the decision was pre-empted by the mysterious end of the sale. Sad. 2. It's 45 degrees, yo! Death to ice dams! Also, it

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-80094451663527969732011-02-09T22:23:00.000-06:002011-02-09T22:23:36.269-06:00

Tonight I'm all over this song: I need to get some more new stuff on emusic and then I think I'm going to cut it loose. What do you recommend? It can be old or new. Is it wrong that I'm kind of excited for my friend's sinus surgery? I mean it's going to vastly improve her quality of life so yay, but also I will be participating in the recovery in a very specific way, with My So-Called Life (

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-78393353468938432562011-02-03T15:42:00.002-06:002011-02-03T15:49:47.877-06:00

Been meaning to do this for ages (Rachael's post reminded me) and finally got it together today. The regional dialect meme. from Maven Haven on Vimeo. Say these words: Aunt, Route, Wash, Oil, Theater, Iron, Salmon, Caramel, Fire, Water, Sure, Data, Ruin, Crayon, Toilet, New Orleans, Pecan, Both, Again, Probably, Spitting image, Alabama, Lawyer, Coupon, Mayonnaise, Syrup, Pajamas, Caught Now

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-85980520889916587312011-01-31T14:06:00.000-06:002011-01-31T14:06:48.975-06:00

Such as Mexican Hot Chocolate Snickerdoodles and Citrus Glitters, which are both recipes from Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar. You probably have all the ingredients to make both, and they'll be healthier than your usual cookie fare. I am especially enamored of the Citrus Glitters, which I am eating right now. I made a half recipe the other night and they are brilliant except for the fact

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-23196430749628722682011-01-14T20:58:00.001-06:002011-01-14T20:59:37.030-06:00

I had a Walkmen record 6 or 7 years ago and liked it, but started to feel after awhile that the lead singer's voice was sort of a yucky, Dylan-y gimmick that I wasn't buying anymore. So I didn't really investigate when they released an album this summer. And frankly, I think my erstwhile opinion of the singer might be warranted (not surprisingly, singers make or break a band for me). When he's

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-73944749253269866032011-01-13T22:44:00.001-06:002011-01-13T22:45:30.997-06:00

This is rad (the song): You can download the mp3 at The Burning Ear. I spent much of my evening finishing off a cat bed, made out of some faux fur and fleece remnants scored cheap at the fabric store. It is stuffed with the Brit's old socks, which is sure to please him inordinately when he returns from sunny California. I'll take pictures of the bed in daylight--there is a cat curled up in it

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-86405747962953532012011-01-07T20:19:00.000-06:002011-01-07T20:19:53.318-06:00

I've been looking for maxi-long knit skirts lately and there just aren't any that meet my specs, except really expensive ones. And then I thought, yeesh, how hard can it be to make a long knit skirt? So this week, instead of completely crashing in front of the TV after work every night, I took my computer into the basement (to stream some entertainment, specifically Bones) and set myself up to

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-88740952807038130482011-01-06T22:43:00.000-06:002011-01-06T22:43:24.912-06:00

Happy new year, internet! One resolution I have for this year is: more cat videos. The background for the specimen below is that Ace was completely minding his own business when Momo stepped to him and then some things happened. People who like videos of other people's cats, this one's for you. Chair throwdown.

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-16330425092820497042010-12-29T20:31:00.001-06:002010-12-29T20:42:43.991-06:00

I definitely shared this citrus salad recipe on my long-hiatused (possibly abandoned) food blog last year, but think you would all benefit from making this now if you haven't already. Especially if you have scurvy. Or winter blues. It is very flexible, but you need, at a minimum: 1 grapefruit, peeled, seeded, and cut into bite-size pieces 2 oranges, ditto 1 apple, cored and chopped Juice of one

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-60265047853640256182010-12-28T22:44:00.004-06:002010-12-28T22:51:56.830-06:00

Hello holiday chickens. I feel like I need to report on Dressember, since I haven't been taking any pictures. My first confession is that I spent at least 48 solid hours of this still-young week in pajamas. We have a mandatory furlough this week, which is sort of like vacation but more military-sounding and with less (no) pay. As a result, I ain't doing jack shit, which is awesome. I have watched

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-58501784731727140052010-12-22T11:34:00.000-06:002010-12-22T11:34:28.718-06:00

Momo is a lithe, slinky, perky little cat, the exact opposite of Ace except in terms of extrovert engagement with humans: they both have that, and we're so glad. I like a cat that follows you around like a dog. She just seems like a well-adjusted animal, completely unfazed by an entirely new house and cat cohort. She has eaten the food, she has used the litterbox, she has slept happily in her

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-71487625271503803492010-12-16T13:53:00.000-06:002010-12-16T13:53:13.089-06:00

I'm picking Mo up on Sunday. Hopefully she and Ace will become happy life mates.

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-31120689294949084892010-12-11T17:46:00.001-06:002010-12-11T17:48:32.957-06:00

And to prove it, I made a short, crappy documentary about shoveling. Shoveling out of the Snowpocalypse. Hilariously incongruous salsa music in the background was unintentional, but maybe I should have put some in the rest of the vid. That wind you hear at the end? That wasn't messing around.

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-30019594768287507912010-12-10T13:48:00.002-06:002010-12-10T14:37:38.308-06:00

Things I am digging, that is: 1. Pomplamoose covers. I love how low-key the singer is, and how hyped the dude is, a dynamic that is evident all over their videos. I have a few of their covers on my ipod, but a friend posted some of these videos on FB this morning and I am totally charmed. Everything they do is adorable yet not twee. Mostly because of Nataly Dawn. Look at their youtube

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-54373667413418756562010-12-08T22:20:00.000-06:002010-12-08T22:20:46.653-06:00

This look was too equestrian for the Brit (he has a point), but I think it's my favorite so far. Realistically, the blazer is a bit too wee and was originally intended for the shop, but I thought I'd audition it anyway. I snagged it and the turtleneck at Goodwill by the pound. The skirt came from Value Village. It would look good with a tool belt, don't you think? It reminds me of a Utilikilt.

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-3376923574594638922010-12-07T22:24:00.000-06:002010-12-07T22:24:51.881-06:00

Makeshift cooking is not dead There is this very simple fava bean salad that I love on the salad bar at my co-op. I have eaten it for breakfast with marinated cucumbers and feta and little broccoli florets and dolmades and baked tofu many times, which makes me wonder why I bother with carb-bombs like (delicious homemade) granola. Anyway, I think the salad is just the beans and lemon and olive oil

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-65456104018098293972010-12-03T13:13:00.000-06:002010-12-03T13:13:13.113-06:00

I heard this song by Warpaint on the Current last night and I like it. I have to confess that I haven't thoroughly watched the video yet because I mostly wanted to hear the song again in the background while at work--but I like the vibe of the video, anyway (hey! it was directed by Shannyn Sossamon, she of the anachronistic hair in A Knight's Tale! Shut up, you've watched it more than once too).

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-27996452592386097682010-12-02T14:43:00.001-06:002010-12-02T16:42:22.253-06:00

Hoop earrings, yo. I'm in a kind of smaller-sized earring phase right now--like, I actually love the way studs look, when in years past I was all about the massive shoulder duster. I think it's because with short hair, sometimes big earrings scream OMG EARRINGZ ARE WEARING MY HEAD! in a way that they never used to. Or maybe it's just a phase, like I said. Whatever the case, I still love these.

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-77014252620739265512010-12-01T16:26:00.001-06:002010-12-01T16:26:59.188-06:00

It is the month of Dressember, so in honor of the stupidly cold weather AND my half-assed projects (see NaBloPoMo), I will be wearing mostly dresses (but sometimes skirts) all month long. I thought I wouldn't have enough goodies to do this without wearing a lot of the same stuff over and over, but in reviewing my wardrobe remix shots and my photos of unsold inventory, I realized that I actually

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-64285550354114687092010-11-28T21:42:00.003-06:002010-11-28T21:50:45.849-06:00

Here, let me celebrate my unintentional break from NaBloPoMo with another Etsy roundup, this time for the adorable munchkins in your life. Shanghai Baby yoga pants by Mokupepe Boo Winter Coat by belleandboo Wool slippers from upcycled sweaters by woolybaby Charlie Bird print by matteart Organic hand-dyed and screenprinted BMX bike shirt by WrenWillow Memory matching game by

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-45209846243006536722010-11-24T21:33:00.000-06:002010-11-24T21:33:39.938-06:00

Because Willa is turning 3 tomorrow, we will not only have gingerbread pumpkin trifle at Thanksgiving, but also Barbie cake, and sparkly red shoes. A birthday party is an extra thing to be thankful for. I'm having a hard time believing this, but apparently I never posted this picture of Willa from pre-Halloween shenanigans. The costume plan was princess, but late in the game she said Spiderman

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-50350631246947123542010-11-23T21:40:00.001-06:002010-11-23T21:46:19.529-06:00

The context of the total musical rabbit hole I jumped down today is this: Chanticleer made a music video. It's a cover arrangement of a song I'd never heard of, "Cells Planets," by the band Little Grey Girlfriend, which I'd also never heard of. Chanticleer, FYI, is the renowned men's chamber choir that my good friend (who I think is going by Disparate Houseboy in the comments, what up DH) toured

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-47065487773686401492010-11-22T23:13:00.000-06:002010-11-22T23:13:49.298-06:00

Felted merino wool slippers by ing00te. Handmade kitchen brooms by BROOMCHICK. Moss Rules photograph by my girl jagosaurus. Extra wide leg pants in olive, by NewExtrave. Handcrafted leather shoes by fairysteps. Natural rough turquoise stud earrings by ovgilliesdesigns. Winter Lace Study, an original watercolor by Niceharpy. Anybody got a good parsnip recipe? I'll probably just roast

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-41831619255964315602010-11-21T14:47:00.001-06:002010-11-21T14:54:50.459-06:00

I just made these vegan pumpkin muffins. They are rather delicious. Here's the recipe with the alterations I made: 1 cup all-purpose flour 3/4 cup whole wheat flour 2/3 cup sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground or freshly grated nutmeg 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves 1 1/2 cups pureed pumpkin (Fresh or from a can; do

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-26141479484995726282010-11-20T23:20:00.002-06:002010-11-20T23:44:42.763-06:00

I just got back from one of those trips to Target where you wander around aimlessly and leave with a bag of what the hell. My bag includes the 30 Day Shred DVD, a bag of pecans, some humidifier filters, some stickers, and a pair of sparkly red maryjanes that are a backup birthday gift for Willa, and probably some other stuff. I was also looking for baby gifties for a friend, and once again I have

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-17875548537148529082010-11-20T00:09:00.001-06:002010-11-20T15:29:35.653-06:00

Fit hacks accomplished! It's very annoying to me when lace-up boots are not adjustable--the tongue is sewn down, the laces are completely decorative, etc. I mean what's the point of laces if not to customize the fit of the boot? The tongue on these boots is tacked down in four places, discreetly stitched to the front of the boot and quite easily detached with a seam ripper. The circumference

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-76146277453221611412010-11-18T18:38:00.001-06:002010-11-18T18:39:42.944-06:00

I learn so many amazing things from the internet. Do you know about the book Rosey Grier's Needlepoint for Men? I do now. Evidently it's a cult craft book and I can totally see why. He published it in 1973, after his pro football playing days were over. He seems to have had a colorful and varied professional life even apart from the hardcore crafting, but the crafting is what I'm most

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-59554080837710048672010-11-17T14:48:00.000-06:002010-11-17T14:48:55.561-06:00

Hopefully this isn't my entire day's blog oeuvre, but you will like Adele's new single, "Rolling in the Deep," which sort of sounds like KT Tunstall and Gloria Gaynor got together and went bowling and cried in their beer. It's good.

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-66180859459759299262010-11-16T14:12:00.001-06:002010-11-16T14:13:56.459-06:00

I've been looking on and off for some flat lace-up boots that would accommodate my awesome leg chubb and as I was relaxing in front of season 7 Buffy* last night, I accidentally found some for cheap on Endless. They're 9 West Casilda in olive-y green. I somehow got a promo coupon to work, so they were only $55. And they were eligible for free overnight shipping! I love the internet. Anyway,

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-60753230716334484612010-11-15T15:30:00.001-06:002010-11-15T15:31:25.640-06:00

The first time I heard this song, the aggressively 80s-ness and all of the beeps and boops bugged the crap out of me. However, I keep hearing it on the radio and I find that it's getting to me. The singing at 1:20 is ace. And the song itself is like if "Love is a Stranger" and Erasure mated. Actually it's pretty much just like "Love is a Stranger." That right there should tell you whether you

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-33087489997620439702010-11-14T22:17:00.000-06:002010-11-14T22:17:54.234-06:00

Do you read Kate Atkinson books? You should. I spent much of today reading When Will There Be Good News?, one of her "mystery" books, in its entirety. I say "mystery" with quotes because the ones (of hers) that I've read aren't your standard page-turning whodunits--more just novels that happen to have crime and intrigue and coincidence at their center. I also really liked Behind the Scenes at the

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-60664180648339000722010-11-13T23:51:00.000-06:002010-11-13T23:51:09.292-06:00

I spent my day polishing a job application that I should have finished days ago and then drove it to the airport for expeditious mailing, only to discover that the post office can't guarantee it will get there by the deadline. OOPSIE DAISY. It's a really good application, too, even though my recording is maybe a little bit jive, since I had exactly one recent DVD performance to choose from and

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-66594364641289377852010-11-12T19:22:00.000-06:002010-11-12T19:22:03.297-06:00

Sign o the times: I am making my way through the final season of Buffy and just viewed this hilarious bit of dialogue: Willow: Have you googled her yet? Xander: Willow, she's only 17! Willow: It's a search engine. How far we've all come since then.

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-56862413485181335752010-11-12T15:48:00.000-06:002010-11-12T15:48:21.588-06:00

I probably should have committed to posting every day but Thursdays. I can't get it together on Thursdays, apparently. It's usually a long day: work all day, then my choir job, and sometimes I teach a lesson in between. But last week I was just languishing sick, so I'm not actually sure what my excuse is. It's a gray, gray day, which is fine for tea and napping but really awful for editing and

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-21156387765857728752010-11-10T22:28:00.000-06:002010-11-10T22:28:50.362-06:00

We just started watching Parks and Recreation. Thanks, Netflix Instant Watch! Previously, we were enjoying nightly escape to Cornwall via Doc Martin, the British show about a crabby hemophobic village GP, but we finished all of those. And I finally made it through the Firefly pilot but I suspect the Brit will not join me for the rest of the space Western. If I go into space I usually have to do

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-77624731603696265362010-11-09T22:59:00.000-06:002010-11-09T22:59:38.550-06:00

Granted, this was awhile ago. Before the trees lost their leaves, obviously. Yes, that is a Lake Creature. Now, the trees are barer, but it's still pretty. It is also more hilarious. I have seen the "Lord Jesus Saves" graffiti on many surfaces around the lake, but never with this tag appended to it. Let me zoom in on that for you. I think the "for later" is my favorite part.

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-7067273477482288732010-11-08T11:04:00.000-06:002010-11-08T11:04:24.210-06:00

A couple weeks ago we were out for brunch and I mentioned to the Brit's former bandmate that I wanted a djembe or something to beat on. And he was like "I have a nice conga just sitting in my parents' garage. You want to use it for awhile?" And then last night voila, conga. The Brit asked me what I was going to do with it, whether I was going to have a drum circle of one and get naked and light

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-77473037584887623672010-11-07T22:53:00.001-06:002010-11-07T22:53:53.381-06:00

Tonight I got to sing in a mock rehearsal for a friend's job audition DVD. I know that sounds sort of complicated and nonsensical, but basically he needed footage of himself conducting and so 5 of us convened in a chapel with excellent acoustics and and sang chamber music for 3 hours. I miss this--I used to sing in a quartet as part of my grad school assistantship, so for a few years I had weekly

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-65654283589203698652010-11-06T22:10:00.001-05:002010-11-06T22:12:43.370-05:00

I don't know about you, but I used to narrate my own experiences constantly--not quite like J.D. on Scrubs, but more like I was framing things to share later, to imbue them with literary significance. It's a common affliction, I suppose, one that blogging was born to nourish, but in me this tendency actually pre-dates blogging; I've kept a journal in one form or another since about 1985, and

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-29445396940830119192010-11-05T23:21:00.000-05:002010-11-05T23:21:36.351-05:00

The upside of being sick--when you have paid sick leave and a low-stress job, that is--is that suddenly there is plenty of time to watch hours of Buffy and lie on the couch and drink tea. The downside: being sick, plus getting a backache from lying in a contorted TV-watching position all day. I think I will be more fully operational tomorrow, which is good because we are out of vegetables, and

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-55797496239061726832010-11-05T10:30:00.000-05:002010-11-05T10:30:42.761-05:00

So four days in and I already screwed up daily posting. I don't think I get a pass for being sick because I was literally on the couch all day, mostly watching Buffy, and would it have killed me to pick up the computer and type "Day Four: I am sick"? I think not. Oh well. After 10 hours of sleep I feel slightly better--at least the pounding headache is gone.

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-71926306997598620522010-11-03T20:39:00.000-05:002010-11-03T20:39:56.047-05:00

Here is an important update to the Veganomicon Chickpea Cutlets recipe, with pictures at different stages of prep. These are one of my kitchen standbys, and I've made them with various beans and various seasonings, but I honestly think the original chickpea, sage, and lemon zest is best. Zest is best! This week, I've been eating quinoa for breakfast, mostly because I ran out of steel cut oats.

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-12269923696332881062010-11-02T20:48:00.000-05:002010-11-02T20:48:50.932-05:00

It's likely that a lot of my NaBloPoMo content will actually be cat pictures. Such as these. One of my students volunteers at the landscape arboretum and he brought me this alleged pumpkin awhile back. I love it. It looks like a sculpture. So that's how I'm treating it for now.

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-39811639006877594442010-11-01T21:32:00.000-05:002010-11-01T21:32:54.373-05:00

Pretty much the only way I can guarantee a steady flow of blog content is to commit to daily posting every November. Unfortunately for you, there is no way to guarantee any particular level of quality on a daily basis, but I'll try. Some things, mundane and otherwise: Thing 1: a jerk or jerks smashed one of the windows in my car the other night. The car was (per usual) fulla crap and nothing

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-81502288271569316812010-10-25T12:57:00.001-05:002010-10-25T12:58:13.969-05:00

If you want real welfare reform, you focus on a good education, good health care, and a good job. If you want to reduce poverty, you focus on a good education, good health care, and a good job. If you want a stable middle class, you focus on a good education, good health care, and a good job. If you want to have citizens who can participate in democracy, you focus on a good education, good

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-48430203304335747812010-10-22T14:47:00.001-05:002010-10-22T14:48:56.498-05:00

Fall classics: Remember when jumping in leaves was the best fun ever? Happy Friday, y'all!

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-22726698852438602382010-10-15T15:17:00.002-05:002010-10-15T15:20:40.749-05:00

Remember last year when I bought a Prairie Underground hoodie on ebay? No? You don't keep track of my public clothing purchases? Refresher: Given that I have worn it literally hundreds of times already, despite having had it for less than a year, I have successfully been able to rationalize buying a second one. I mostly need the second one so that I don't look quite so much like a person who

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523883.post-73386382881380053782010-10-06T01:38:00.001-05:002010-10-22T14:48:35.809-05:00

I was just looking through some stuff and found one of my favorite pictures ever. Henry was 4 1/2 and had just woken up from a nap, and this is what he put on. The gold vest was a bribe/reward for not waking his parents up in the middle of the night for ten consecutive nights. The era when he dressed in a tuxedo every day seems like such a long time ago.

Mavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359435372756997308noreply@blogger.com3