TAMI TAYLOR IS PREGNANT!!!!
(note: this is on friday night lights, not real life. why am i excited like it is real life???)
Thursday, December 30, 2010
today
today was the ultimate in doing productive things. if by "productive" you mean "entirely optional but really fun."
things i did:
1. got a haircut. good haircut...bad amount of mousse (spelling? SEE: I DON'T USE THIS PRODUCT, HAIRDRESSER!) and hairspray, and thus i looked like a character in steel magnolias when i met willis and andy for
2. brunch at the original pancake house (blueberry pancakes and hashbrowns - delish). then willis and i
3. went to get pedicures. my feet were that winter-gross where there are calluses and dry skin everywhere. now my feet are BEAutiful. and the salon owner let me and willis sit next to each other. YES.
4. then i got a car wash, because oh, a week ago when i was driving home from rocky mount after visiting jenny, we got behind a truck that was salting the roads in preparation for the snowfall that did actually fall (it would be SO like north carolina to do that and then have no snow). my car was covered in salty yuck until now.
5. i watched an obscene number of episodes of friday night lights. will the panthers win state? with tyra and landry become more than friends? I'M ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT. and there is no irony here.
6. i went to a much needed yoga class, then the grocery store, and came home to
7. make a yummy dinner (asparagus and ricotta with whole wheat linguine) and make a yummy dip to take to mike and kelly's new year's party tomorrow.
8. i ate the yummy dinner and 1/4 of the yummy dip (oops).
it was, really, the most perfect day. i need to marry rich so that every day can be like this...rich men: let it be known that i make a mean chocolate cake and a mean black-eyed pea salsa. among other things.
things i did:
1. got a haircut. good haircut...bad amount of mousse (spelling? SEE: I DON'T USE THIS PRODUCT, HAIRDRESSER!) and hairspray, and thus i looked like a character in steel magnolias when i met willis and andy for
2. brunch at the original pancake house (blueberry pancakes and hashbrowns - delish). then willis and i
3. went to get pedicures. my feet were that winter-gross where there are calluses and dry skin everywhere. now my feet are BEAutiful. and the salon owner let me and willis sit next to each other. YES.
4. then i got a car wash, because oh, a week ago when i was driving home from rocky mount after visiting jenny, we got behind a truck that was salting the roads in preparation for the snowfall that did actually fall (it would be SO like north carolina to do that and then have no snow). my car was covered in salty yuck until now.
5. i watched an obscene number of episodes of friday night lights. will the panthers win state? with tyra and landry become more than friends? I'M ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT. and there is no irony here.
6. i went to a much needed yoga class, then the grocery store, and came home to
7. make a yummy dinner (asparagus and ricotta with whole wheat linguine) and make a yummy dip to take to mike and kelly's new year's party tomorrow.
8. i ate the yummy dinner and 1/4 of the yummy dip (oops).
it was, really, the most perfect day. i need to marry rich so that every day can be like this...rich men: let it be known that i make a mean chocolate cake and a mean black-eyed pea salsa. among other things.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
friday night lights
let's talk about my newest obsession.
it is embarrassing.
becky has been telling me to watch friday night lights for pretty much forever. it is one of her favorite shows. it is about a high school football team. LAME-O. i have been putting off her recommendation for a long time.
until a couple weeks ago, when i was up in new york visiting her.
friday night lights is available to watch instantly on netflix. so we watched the first episode. i made fun of it the whole time. vocally.
then she fell asleep and i watched another one. i didn't tell her.
the next day, i watched another.
and now i am obsessed.
I DO NOT WANT TO LIKE THIS SHOW. but i do. curses! when i was at home for christmas i watched a bunch of episodes and i kept saying to becky, "smash williams annoys me" and "tim riggins needs to get his life together" and "ohmygoodness julie taylor and matt saracen went out on a date!!" i am officially obsessed and i can admit that it is a good show and BECKY WINS. but i don't want to like it because it's about football, which interests me not at all, and high school, which i live through my students every day and is too much drama for its own good.
i'm nearing the end of season 1 and it just keeps getting better. don't ruin any plot lines for me, readers.
it is embarrassing.
becky has been telling me to watch friday night lights for pretty much forever. it is one of her favorite shows. it is about a high school football team. LAME-O. i have been putting off her recommendation for a long time.
until a couple weeks ago, when i was up in new york visiting her.
friday night lights is available to watch instantly on netflix. so we watched the first episode. i made fun of it the whole time. vocally.
then she fell asleep and i watched another one. i didn't tell her.
the next day, i watched another.
and now i am obsessed.
I DO NOT WANT TO LIKE THIS SHOW. but i do. curses! when i was at home for christmas i watched a bunch of episodes and i kept saying to becky, "smash williams annoys me" and "tim riggins needs to get his life together" and "ohmygoodness julie taylor and matt saracen went out on a date!!" i am officially obsessed and i can admit that it is a good show and BECKY WINS. but i don't want to like it because it's about football, which interests me not at all, and high school, which i live through my students every day and is too much drama for its own good.
i'm nearing the end of season 1 and it just keeps getting better. don't ruin any plot lines for me, readers.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
a new cauliflower recipe
a couple weeks ago i tried a new recipe: cauliflower and chickpea stew with couscous (from real simple). i omitted the spinach and added almonds at the end, and it was DELICIOUS. very easy to make, really good flavors, and a perfect cool-weather recipe. i try to eat lunches that are almost entirely vegetables (and then i can eat whatever i want for dinner without feeling guilty), and this worked perfectly. i then made another batch to bring to a potluck at school, and it was a huge hit. hooray! you should try it.
Monday, December 27, 2010
it snowed
white christmas = awesome, especially since i watched the bing crosby movie white christmas on christmas eve. we're basically at general waverly's hotel in vermont, minus the song and dance numbers.
becky and the dogs:
looking down the driveway:
horses do not like snow, but they do like the hay they get when it snows:
not a great photo, but i wanted to show the scale - this is the christmas tree from my first christmas - my parents bought a tree with the root ball intact and then planted it after christmas. 28 years later, it is enormous...as in, twice the height of our house.
hope no one got stuck in the snow!
Sunday, December 26, 2010
claire's favorite books of 2010
i read 15 books in 2010 (not a bad number, if i do say so myself - a large number of them read over the summer when there is less tv to watch and much traveling to do - i find that that's conducive to me reading books). of those 15 books, my 4 favorites - my recommendations to you - are:
4. (don't you just love a good countdown? i know the anxiety is building just by THINKING of this countdown) the hour i first believed, by wally lamb. i LOVE wally lamb - he's one of my favorite writers - and this is just his third novel. i had been waiting for it to come out, and i found it in a bookstore in oxford this summer. the book takes a real life event (the columbine shootings) and creates a fictional story around it. i know this doesn't sound like a cheery book, and it's not really, but it was a good read.
3. the blind assassin, by margaret atwood. i bought this for $3 at a used book sale, and really enjoyed it. while reading it, people would ask me what it was about and i couldn't really tell them. i know this sounds like a bad sign, but there were two parallel story lines and the reader doesn't find out how they connect until the end. it's the kind of book you want to stay up late to keep reading. i think that's a good sign.
2. superfreakonomics, by levitt and dubner. do you want fun facts to share with your friends who probably don't care, but will say "oh, how interesting!" anyway? read this book. really really interesting stuff. maybe read freakonomics first, but they don't build on one another. i read this over thanksgiving break, and it's the perfect book to read over the holidays - you don't have to concentrate as much as with a novel, so i was able to read it in a room with lots of people around.
1. city of thieves, by david benioff. aunt monica recommended this to me a long time ago and i just got around to reading it this year and OHMYGOD I LOVED IT. best book of the year for sure - a simple premise, great writing, characters that you fall in love with. read this book.
4. (don't you just love a good countdown? i know the anxiety is building just by THINKING of this countdown) the hour i first believed, by wally lamb. i LOVE wally lamb - he's one of my favorite writers - and this is just his third novel. i had been waiting for it to come out, and i found it in a bookstore in oxford this summer. the book takes a real life event (the columbine shootings) and creates a fictional story around it. i know this doesn't sound like a cheery book, and it's not really, but it was a good read.
3. the blind assassin, by margaret atwood. i bought this for $3 at a used book sale, and really enjoyed it. while reading it, people would ask me what it was about and i couldn't really tell them. i know this sounds like a bad sign, but there were two parallel story lines and the reader doesn't find out how they connect until the end. it's the kind of book you want to stay up late to keep reading. i think that's a good sign.
2. superfreakonomics, by levitt and dubner. do you want fun facts to share with your friends who probably don't care, but will say "oh, how interesting!" anyway? read this book. really really interesting stuff. maybe read freakonomics first, but they don't build on one another. i read this over thanksgiving break, and it's the perfect book to read over the holidays - you don't have to concentrate as much as with a novel, so i was able to read it in a room with lots of people around.
1. city of thieves, by david benioff. aunt monica recommended this to me a long time ago and i just got around to reading it this year and OHMYGOD I LOVED IT. best book of the year for sure - a simple premise, great writing, characters that you fall in love with. read this book.
Friday, December 24, 2010
claire's best of 2010, part 1
first of all, merry christmas! mom woke us up (the exact opposite of the events of my childhood) at 9:30 to open presents, and it started snowing at 10. hooray!
now: regularly scheduled programming. i've discussed my love of lists before...in the coming days i'll give you some of my "best of" lists for 2010. here's part 1:
the top 6 (i couldn't narrow it to 5, okay?!) movies and tv shows i rented from netflix last year:
6. the first three seasons of the big bang theory. i rented the first disc of the first season when becky came to visit in september and then i went into a dead sprint of watching the first three seasons so i could catch up to the current season, which i successfully did. i miss watching several episodes a day. i miss sheldon and leonard. i love this show.
5. the young victoria made me love victoria and albert, as well as emily blunt and rupert friend, and i could not stop being gushy about their love. there was lots of dramatic sighing from me while watching. i really like historical quasi-fiction, and this is an excellent example of that.
4. the first five seasons of weeds, which i also watched at a dead sprint, because THAT IS WHAT I DO. a dead sprint because you can't wait to find out what happens next...coupled with a sadness because every episode you watch means there is one less episode to watch. i am such a dork. netflix made it so easy to watch these quickly because all five seasons were available to watch instantly - no waiting for the next disc to be mailed to me. i had been hesitant to watch this show because i thought suburbia + pot dealing was not something i'd be interested in. I WAS SO WRONG.
3. the hurt locker - i was cheering for this to win best picture and i'm so happy that it beat out avatar. do you see how i'm still talking about that nine months later? because i am. i will be happy for a long time about this little film. again: war movies aren't a genre i think of myself loving, but this film really hooked me, even though parts of it were very hard to watch.
2. (500) days of summer - i love films with an easy premise, so this goes into the same category as slumdog millionaire - in (500) days, we find out very quickly that we're going to see some of the days in the life of this relationship. in slumdog, we're going to learn about this guy's life through the questions on a gameshow. i think this is brilliant - it lets me know what the basic framework of the film is going to be, what to expect, where we're going. joseph gordon-levitt, whom i've loved since third rock from the sun, and zooey deschanel are awesome in this film. and parts of it are so HAPPY. the emotions aren't subtle here.
1. and the winner is: the first season of gavin & stacey. absolutely in love with this show - the music, the characters, how understatedly funny it is. only season 1 is available in the US, so right now i've been left hanging and waiting for the other seasons to be released. i love this show so much i bought it...the first DVD i've bought in a LONG time. this must mean something.
now: regularly scheduled programming. i've discussed my love of lists before...in the coming days i'll give you some of my "best of" lists for 2010. here's part 1:
the top 6 (i couldn't narrow it to 5, okay?!) movies and tv shows i rented from netflix last year:
6. the first three seasons of the big bang theory. i rented the first disc of the first season when becky came to visit in september and then i went into a dead sprint of watching the first three seasons so i could catch up to the current season, which i successfully did. i miss watching several episodes a day. i miss sheldon and leonard. i love this show.
5. the young victoria made me love victoria and albert, as well as emily blunt and rupert friend, and i could not stop being gushy about their love. there was lots of dramatic sighing from me while watching. i really like historical quasi-fiction, and this is an excellent example of that.
4. the first five seasons of weeds, which i also watched at a dead sprint, because THAT IS WHAT I DO. a dead sprint because you can't wait to find out what happens next...coupled with a sadness because every episode you watch means there is one less episode to watch. i am such a dork. netflix made it so easy to watch these quickly because all five seasons were available to watch instantly - no waiting for the next disc to be mailed to me. i had been hesitant to watch this show because i thought suburbia + pot dealing was not something i'd be interested in. I WAS SO WRONG.
3. the hurt locker - i was cheering for this to win best picture and i'm so happy that it beat out avatar. do you see how i'm still talking about that nine months later? because i am. i will be happy for a long time about this little film. again: war movies aren't a genre i think of myself loving, but this film really hooked me, even though parts of it were very hard to watch.
2. (500) days of summer - i love films with an easy premise, so this goes into the same category as slumdog millionaire - in (500) days, we find out very quickly that we're going to see some of the days in the life of this relationship. in slumdog, we're going to learn about this guy's life through the questions on a gameshow. i think this is brilliant - it lets me know what the basic framework of the film is going to be, what to expect, where we're going. joseph gordon-levitt, whom i've loved since third rock from the sun, and zooey deschanel are awesome in this film. and parts of it are so HAPPY. the emotions aren't subtle here.
1. and the winner is: the first season of gavin & stacey. absolutely in love with this show - the music, the characters, how understatedly funny it is. only season 1 is available in the US, so right now i've been left hanging and waiting for the other seasons to be released. i love this show so much i bought it...the first DVD i've bought in a LONG time. this must mean something.
i laughed out loud
this kid is so excited about christmas!
(this video is only 12 seconds long, no one gets seriously injured, and it will make you laugh - watch it!)
happy christmas eve, all!
(this video is only 12 seconds long, no one gets seriously injured, and it will make you laugh - watch it!)
happy christmas eve, all!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
two words: cosmic cantina
i had lunch there with today with jenny, fritz, mike, and kelly and the deluxe vegetarian burrito was just as good as i remembered it. it made me so happy. i've been eating at cosmic since 1998, when i was a junior in high school, and the memories are just as good as the food.
pre-cosmic i was in rocky mount visiting jenny and her family and post-cosmic i am home in mcgrady until wednesday. no one's exactly sure, but it sounds like we might get some snow this weekend! i love snow...as long as i have nothing to do but lie on the couch. and this weekend? nothing to do but lie on the couch.
pre-cosmic i was in rocky mount visiting jenny and her family and post-cosmic i am home in mcgrady until wednesday. no one's exactly sure, but it sounds like we might get some snow this weekend! i love snow...as long as i have nothing to do but lie on the couch. and this weekend? nothing to do but lie on the couch.
Monday, December 20, 2010
my thoughts on christmas shopping:
1. obviously i buy everything i can online...IF they will give me free shipping. duh. i've...
2. been to the mall, and lines are no fun. in fact, i went to the mall on saturday to buy a couple last presents, and that was a dumb move. i got my usual awesome parking space (in a sneaky parking garage that apparently few people know about), but that was the only good thing about the trip. people walked slowwwwwwly, carrying their huge bags of stuff and taking up as much space as humanly possible. i darted around them as best i could, putting my speed walking skills to the test. but the saturday before christmas at the mall? ridiculous. i waited in line at one store for 25 minutes, and when i left the line was twice as long as when i got in it. THAT IS A 50 MINUTE LINE, PEOPLE. BE WARNED. yes, the stuff in this store is great, but just consider the lines. the woman behind me appeared to have brought her husband to the mall just so he could wait in line for her. i think he got in line as soon as they entered the store, and she joined in the last five minutes. genius, actually. anyone want to be my line-spot-holder? i'll buy you an orange julius!
3. when i was little, my mom wouldn't allow me or becky to buy anything for ourselves in the month of december. we were supposed to be thinking about other people, not ourselves. good lesson, really. we also weren't allowed to be grumpy, or my mom would (/still does) say, in one breath, "ho ho ho merry christmas!" as an admonishment. (that is the first time i have ever typed the word "admonishment." i hope i am using it correctly.) as a grown up, i am allowed to (a) spoil my dinner, (b) go to bed late, and (c) buy things for myself during the month of december. i didn't do that on saturday at the mall (probably because i couldn't imagine waiting in any more lines than i had to), but when amazon.com is giving free shipping for orders over $25, you better believe i add some items for myself if the order doesn't get to $25 on its own. this is the great perk of being a grown up.
2. been to the mall, and lines are no fun. in fact, i went to the mall on saturday to buy a couple last presents, and that was a dumb move. i got my usual awesome parking space (in a sneaky parking garage that apparently few people know about), but that was the only good thing about the trip. people walked slowwwwwwly, carrying their huge bags of stuff and taking up as much space as humanly possible. i darted around them as best i could, putting my speed walking skills to the test. but the saturday before christmas at the mall? ridiculous. i waited in line at one store for 25 minutes, and when i left the line was twice as long as when i got in it. THAT IS A 50 MINUTE LINE, PEOPLE. BE WARNED. yes, the stuff in this store is great, but just consider the lines. the woman behind me appeared to have brought her husband to the mall just so he could wait in line for her. i think he got in line as soon as they entered the store, and she joined in the last five minutes. genius, actually. anyone want to be my line-spot-holder? i'll buy you an orange julius!
3. when i was little, my mom wouldn't allow me or becky to buy anything for ourselves in the month of december. we were supposed to be thinking about other people, not ourselves. good lesson, really. we also weren't allowed to be grumpy, or my mom would (/still does) say, in one breath, "ho ho ho merry christmas!" as an admonishment. (that is the first time i have ever typed the word "admonishment." i hope i am using it correctly.) as a grown up, i am allowed to (a) spoil my dinner, (b) go to bed late, and (c) buy things for myself during the month of december. i didn't do that on saturday at the mall (probably because i couldn't imagine waiting in any more lines than i had to), but when amazon.com is giving free shipping for orders over $25, you better believe i add some items for myself if the order doesn't get to $25 on its own. this is the great perk of being a grown up.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
i enjoy this blog from the new york times - it's all about modern world / pop culture words and phrases. loving it probably makes me a dork, but hey - what's new? the link above is to a particularly funny, i think, entry.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
hell yeah
big day for civil rights in america! (love that the photo in this article makes gillibrand and reid look like an old married couple.)
an excerpt of the article that sums up PERFECTLY what i think about this issue:
“I don’t care who you love,” Senator Ron Wyden, Democrat of Oregon, said as the debate opened. “If you love this country enough to risk your life for it, you shouldn’t have to hide who you are.”
lots and lots of work ahead, of course. but obama wanted a legislative repeal of a law that congress enacted in the first place, and it's happened. and i think it's a good day for america.
an excerpt of the article that sums up PERFECTLY what i think about this issue:
“I don’t care who you love,” Senator Ron Wyden, Democrat of Oregon, said as the debate opened. “If you love this country enough to risk your life for it, you shouldn’t have to hide who you are.”
lots and lots of work ahead, of course. but obama wanted a legislative repeal of a law that congress enacted in the first place, and it's happened. and i think it's a good day for america.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
on airplanes
the scene: me in new york city. raining. snow in atlanta. flight out in two hours. expected delay of my flight, according to delta.com: 1 hour. amount of reading material in my bag? 1.5 newsweeks.
PANIC.
the solution? becky lent me mennonite in a little black dress and recommended i download a movie on itunes ($3.99 for a 24 hour rental is a small price to pay for not dying of boredom). BEST. IDEAS. EVER. during my hour delay and two hour flight home i read 50 pages of the book and watched an entire movie: the kids are all right. which was really wonderful, and i was glad to see annette benning and julianne moore receive golden globe nominations for their roles, as did the film for "best picture, musical or comedy," when it isn't either. i am so confused.
(in slightly related news, it makes me really uncomfortable to watch movies with sex scenes in them while on an airplane, but i do it anyway. once i was sitting next to an old woman on a plane and i was watching part of the tudors. if you've ever seen this show, you know that there are some pretty scandalous sex scenes and torture scenes (not at the same time, mind you), one scene of torture in the last season that was so horrible i had to mute the computer and then close my eyes. is it rude to watch something like this on a plane, where the person next to you can't run away? i hope not.)
the kids are all right wasn't marketed in mainstream media...i mean, i know the movie is about a gay couple, but it was about everything BUT a gay couple, really. and, um, how did no one tell me that mark ruffalo is in this film? i have loved him since eternal sunshine of the spotless mind and i continue to love him. GREAT movie. if you haven't seen it, you should.
the end.
[sometimes i feel like i have to end a blog post with "the end." like, i've just told you a story, but it isn't complete yet. so let me tell you it's complete. annoying? possibly. but it gives me a sense of closure. the end.]
PANIC.
the solution? becky lent me mennonite in a little black dress and recommended i download a movie on itunes ($3.99 for a 24 hour rental is a small price to pay for not dying of boredom). BEST. IDEAS. EVER. during my hour delay and two hour flight home i read 50 pages of the book and watched an entire movie: the kids are all right. which was really wonderful, and i was glad to see annette benning and julianne moore receive golden globe nominations for their roles, as did the film for "best picture, musical or comedy," when it isn't either. i am so confused.
(in slightly related news, it makes me really uncomfortable to watch movies with sex scenes in them while on an airplane, but i do it anyway. once i was sitting next to an old woman on a plane and i was watching part of the tudors. if you've ever seen this show, you know that there are some pretty scandalous sex scenes and torture scenes (not at the same time, mind you), one scene of torture in the last season that was so horrible i had to mute the computer and then close my eyes. is it rude to watch something like this on a plane, where the person next to you can't run away? i hope not.)
the kids are all right wasn't marketed in mainstream media...i mean, i know the movie is about a gay couple, but it was about everything BUT a gay couple, really. and, um, how did no one tell me that mark ruffalo is in this film? i have loved him since eternal sunshine of the spotless mind and i continue to love him. GREAT movie. if you haven't seen it, you should.
the end.
[sometimes i feel like i have to end a blog post with "the end." like, i've just told you a story, but it isn't complete yet. so let me tell you it's complete. annoying? possibly. but it gives me a sense of closure. the end.]
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
my holiday recommendation of the day
the reason to go to trader joe's in december: dark chocolate sea salt caramels.
my trader joe's was out when i went yesterday (frowny face) and they aren't getting any more this season (HUGE frowny face), but i ate some in new york with becky this weekend, and willis promises that he has some for when i go over to his house later today, so i think i will live. they are an amazing sweet-salty combination and you should try them.
my trader joe's was out when i went yesterday (frowny face) and they aren't getting any more this season (HUGE frowny face), but i ate some in new york with becky this weekend, and willis promises that he has some for when i go over to his house later today, so i think i will live. they are an amazing sweet-salty combination and you should try them.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
i sort of feel like this right now: "i am gonna make it through this year if it kills me"
do you know the mountain goats? they're a band with music that's really different from a lot of other stuff i've heard - their music and the lead singer's voice is SO distinctive. once you start listening to them, you'll recognize their songs immediately, even if you've never heard them. love them. i guess they're folk? bluegrass? itunes classifies them as "alternative," but what does itunes know.
this is a great collection of some of their best songs - check them out! i'm particularly in love with the first two.
(thanks to pandora for telling me - correctly - that i would like the mountain goats. thanks to nora for this link! nora is that friend who knows everything about any kind of music you bring up. i love this about her. and she has a new blog! so you should check it out.)
this is a great collection of some of their best songs - check them out! i'm particularly in love with the first two.
(thanks to pandora for telling me - correctly - that i would like the mountain goats. thanks to nora for this link! nora is that friend who knows everything about any kind of music you bring up. i love this about her. and she has a new blog! so you should check it out.)
stuff no one told me
some (wonderful) anonymous commenter on this blog (out yourself, anonymous!) recommended i read this blog: "stuff no one told me." the pictures are funny - and some are slightly inappropriate - but the messages are things that all of us need to hear sometimes. like:
i mean, OBVIOUSLY. but sometimes you need to hear that. you just need to hear it.
and:
and:
i was having kind of a bad day last week and i then read this whole blog (yes, every entry. sometimes i obsess like that) and the world felt better.
i mean, OBVIOUSLY. but sometimes you need to hear that. you just need to hear it.
and:
and:
i was having kind of a bad day last week and i then read this whole blog (yes, every entry. sometimes i obsess like that) and the world felt better.
Monday, December 13, 2010
nyc, part 2
the biggest surprise in new york city this weekend? how not-too-cold it was. i wore a winter jacket and gloves everywhere we went, but during the day i would get hot and have to unbutton my jacket. when i came back to atlanta last night at 11pm (after my flight being delayed an hour because of silly flurries in atlanta) and i stepped out into the 26 degree weather with snow flurries it was colder than it had been all weekend in new york. and that is craziness.
becky and i ate at shake shack and okay falafel and grey dog cafe and OHMYGOD WE ATE AT YUM-YUM AGAIN AND IT WAS JUST AS WONDERFUL, i bought brown leather boots (!), we went to the union square holiday market, i may or may not have become a fan of friday night lights even though i tried desperately not to, we saw nathan lane in the addams family on broadway (yes the critics hated this show but it was really fun and entertaining and i don't care what the critics think), we got manicures. honestly: the best weekend. i needed to get away before this last crazy week of school and exams, and it was perfect. HOORAY.
becky and i ate at shake shack and okay falafel and grey dog cafe and OHMYGOD WE ATE AT YUM-YUM AGAIN AND IT WAS JUST AS WONDERFUL, i bought brown leather boots (!), we went to the union square holiday market, i may or may not have become a fan of friday night lights even though i tried desperately not to, we saw nathan lane in the addams family on broadway (yes the critics hated this show but it was really fun and entertaining and i don't care what the critics think), we got manicures. honestly: the best weekend. i needed to get away before this last crazy week of school and exams, and it was perfect. HOORAY.
Friday, December 10, 2010
nyc bound, part 2
this is what awaits me in nyc:
sister time! a whole weekend of it!
and shake shack, the union square holiday market, more shopping, a show, more food, and lying around in our pajamas and watching movies. last weekend i was in new york city, too, but that weekend was about duke basketball and bars. and then lying around. i realized after the fact that we could have done those things anywhere - the location wasn't important. (though i did have some of the best - and cheapest - thai food of my life - so thank you yum-yum thai restaurant and new york city for that.) this weekend is about getting out into the city and doing things (with my sister!). and then lying around. we are skilled at that.
so i guess there WILL be some similarities.
i. can't. wait.
sister time! a whole weekend of it!
and shake shack, the union square holiday market, more shopping, a show, more food, and lying around in our pajamas and watching movies. last weekend i was in new york city, too, but that weekend was about duke basketball and bars. and then lying around. i realized after the fact that we could have done those things anywhere - the location wasn't important. (though i did have some of the best - and cheapest - thai food of my life - so thank you yum-yum thai restaurant and new york city for that.) this weekend is about getting out into the city and doing things (with my sister!). and then lying around. we are skilled at that.
so i guess there WILL be some similarities.
i. can't. wait.
i have this to look forward to: productivity
i called my mom last night. here is a transcript of a portion of that phone call:
me: so how much snow did you end up getting?
mom: about 2 inches! school was cancelled on monday and we had a two hour delay on tuesday.
me: yay!
mom: so on monday i was really productive. i called the doctor's office and got a prescription filled, i went to lowe's to look at carpeting, i mailed something to becky, i returned that [insert name of tractor/bush hog/lawnmower part that i don't recognize] that dad wanted me to return, and then i went to habitat [for humanity].
me: um, if i had a day off, i would have done this: slept until noon, had lunch with willis and probably had a margarita, and spent the entire afternoon on the couch watching tv.
mom [in that mom voice that says "stop kidding me"]: no you wouldn't.
me: mom, i literally would have. that is exactly what i do when we have snow days!
mom [still not quite believing me]: well...this is what happens when you get old.
me: so how much snow did you end up getting?
mom: about 2 inches! school was cancelled on monday and we had a two hour delay on tuesday.
me: yay!
mom: so on monday i was really productive. i called the doctor's office and got a prescription filled, i went to lowe's to look at carpeting, i mailed something to becky, i returned that [insert name of tractor/bush hog/lawnmower part that i don't recognize] that dad wanted me to return, and then i went to habitat [for humanity].
me: um, if i had a day off, i would have done this: slept until noon, had lunch with willis and probably had a margarita, and spent the entire afternoon on the couch watching tv.
mom [in that mom voice that says "stop kidding me"]: no you wouldn't.
me: mom, i literally would have. that is exactly what i do when we have snow days!
mom [still not quite believing me]: well...this is what happens when you get old.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
hot air balloon
we've entered the period of the year where every publication has their "best of 2010" lists going. want to know a secret? I LOVE THESE LISTS. to news organizations, i say: please tell me what you think are the best songs, photographs, books, moments of the year. i like lists. and i'd rather you wade through the millions of songs/photos/books/moments and tell me what is interesting, as opposed to doing it myself.
this one caught my eye - reuters' "55 best photographs of the year." some (most) of them capture tragedies that have occurred this year, on some scale, around the world. i like this photo* best because it isn't sad, it isn't political...it's just beautiful.
*give it a minute to load!
this one caught my eye - reuters' "55 best photographs of the year." some (most) of them capture tragedies that have occurred this year, on some scale, around the world. i like this photo* best because it isn't sad, it isn't political...it's just beautiful.
*give it a minute to load!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
“How paramount the future is to the present when one is surrounded by children.”
--Charles Darwin (1809 -1882)
over the past two days, i've shown my classes parts of when the levees broke, spike lee's documentary about hurricane katrina and the aftermath in new orleans. we spent half an hour discussing what we'd seen today before they embark on a mini project on the film. and ohmygoodness, what a great discussion we had. some days are like this - kids are on the ball, take the issues seriously, really think, really listen, have insightful things to say. not every day is like this. but i was so heartened that today was.
--Charles Darwin (1809 -1882)
over the past two days, i've shown my classes parts of when the levees broke, spike lee's documentary about hurricane katrina and the aftermath in new orleans. we spent half an hour discussing what we'd seen today before they embark on a mini project on the film. and ohmygoodness, what a great discussion we had. some days are like this - kids are on the ball, take the issues seriously, really think, really listen, have insightful things to say. not every day is like this. but i was so heartened that today was.
Monday, December 6, 2010
trapped
i will NOT be seeing the new film 127 hours, about mountain climber aron ralston's self-amputation of his arm in order to survive being trapped in the utah desert. why will i not be seeing it? because this is what the new york times said about why it was rated R - for "a very graphic scene of self-mutilation."
uh, yeah. won't be watching that. apparently some people in the audience at the premier fainted during this scene. this is not for me.
however! i recently subscribed to http://sendmeastory.com/, which, um, sends you a (good, long, nonfiction) story every week, with links to others. recently they sent me "trapped" (from outside magazine, 2004), which is aron ralston's first person account of what happened. so i read that and now i don't have to feel bad about not seeing the movie. and it's an incredible story, so if you have some time you should read it.
the end.
uh, yeah. won't be watching that. apparently some people in the audience at the premier fainted during this scene. this is not for me.
however! i recently subscribed to http://sendmeastory.com/, which, um, sends you a (good, long, nonfiction) story every week, with links to others. recently they sent me "trapped" (from outside magazine, 2004), which is aron ralston's first person account of what happened. so i read that and now i don't have to feel bad about not seeing the movie. and it's an incredible story, so if you have some time you should read it.
the end.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
the abyss = worst movie ever made
only a new yorker would save a man from being hit by a subway train - not because he didn't want the man to die, but because he didn't want to be late to work and miss his time-and-a-half pay. hahahaha...
"hero rescues man"
i'm on my flight back to atlanta after being in new york city for the weekend; delta's free wireless for the holidays is pretty awesome. new york was a lot of fun, perhaps the funniest moment being hearing dolan quote top gun, line by line, while we watched it two nights in a row. or rather: while we watched the first half hour of top gun two nights in a row. also, if you would rather watch millionaire matchmaker than the abyss, we can certainly be friends.
"hero rescues man"
i'm on my flight back to atlanta after being in new york city for the weekend; delta's free wireless for the holidays is pretty awesome. new york was a lot of fun, perhaps the funniest moment being hearing dolan quote top gun, line by line, while we watched it two nights in a row. or rather: while we watched the first half hour of top gun two nights in a row. also, if you would rather watch millionaire matchmaker than the abyss, we can certainly be friends.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
nyc bound
i'm heading to new york city tomorrow, and i'll spend the weekend hanging out with good friends, eating yummy food, watching/egging on dudes who are participating in man-offs, watching duke basketball (!), seeing becky, and soaking up new york at christmas. this same group went to new york almost a year ago and had really the best time ever. and there wasn't even duke basketball involved last year.
I CAN'T WAIT.
i packed my suitcase tonight and it was so easy that i didn't even roll my clothes to make them fit better. i've spent seven weeks living out of that suitcase. two days is CAKE.
mmmm - cake.
I CAN'T WAIT.
i packed my suitcase tonight and it was so easy that i didn't even roll my clothes to make them fit better. i've spent seven weeks living out of that suitcase. two days is CAKE.
mmmm - cake.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
november
today on the drive home in the wetness (did it EVER rain today...) i was listening to chris pureka's "song for november" - fitting, i realized, as today is the last day of november.
(not the best audio, but it's the best i could find. additionally, i love chris pureka's songs, but boy does she mumble.)
that got me thinking about other songs named after months. in my itunes i have:
the avett brothers, "january wedding"
dar williams, "february"
simon & garfunkel, "april come she will"
collapsis, "october"
counting crows, "a long december"
your job: to rack your brain (not the internet) for songs with the following months in their titles: march (the song needs to be about the month, not going on a long walk), may (again, as in the month), june, july, august, and september. isn't that funny: i've got the winter covered. are more songs written about the winter? or am i odd?
complete my months-of-the-year-song-list! add a comment! you know you need an excuse to procrastinate at work.
(not the best audio, but it's the best i could find. additionally, i love chris pureka's songs, but boy does she mumble.)
that got me thinking about other songs named after months. in my itunes i have:
the avett brothers, "january wedding"
dar williams, "february"
simon & garfunkel, "april come she will"
collapsis, "october"
counting crows, "a long december"
your job: to rack your brain (not the internet) for songs with the following months in their titles: march (the song needs to be about the month, not going on a long walk), may (again, as in the month), june, july, august, and september. isn't that funny: i've got the winter covered. are more songs written about the winter? or am i odd?
complete my months-of-the-year-song-list! add a comment! you know you need an excuse to procrastinate at work.
Monday, November 29, 2010
old pirates, yes, they rob i
i love this song - "redemption song" (probably the only bob marley song i've ever been drawn to) - and this version is with johnny cash singing. love it. nora introduced me to this version on a CD she made me last year. have i mentioned that nora is an incredible mixed CD maker? because she is.
happy back-to-work monday. i definitely wish i was still in bed, but i think i will survive...
happy back-to-work monday. i definitely wish i was still in bed, but i think i will survive...
Saturday, November 27, 2010
pumpkin date cookies
this one is one of my grandma norma's, which aunt mary made and they disappeared almost instantly. i'm not really a cookie person, and i loooooved these. so you should make them.
pumpkin date cookies:
1 1/4 cup flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
mix and sift.
add 3/4 cup rolled oats.
cream:
1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
beat in 1 egg.
add flour mixture alternately with 1 cup pumpkin.
stir in 1 cup dates, nuts, 1 tablespoon grated orange rind.
bake at 350 for 15 minutes, but grandma says that she reduces the heat to 325 because they burn easily.
pumpkin date cookies:
1 1/4 cup flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
mix and sift.
add 3/4 cup rolled oats.
cream:
1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
beat in 1 egg.
add flour mixture alternately with 1 cup pumpkin.
stir in 1 cup dates, nuts, 1 tablespoon grated orange rind.
bake at 350 for 15 minutes, but grandma says that she reduces the heat to 325 because they burn easily.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
debby's flaming salad
my aunt mary made the best salad last night - "best" because it is unexpected and very delicious. lots of crunch and great flavor and i will FOR SURE be making this in the future. apparently mary got the recipe from a friend she made when they both lived at fort benning, georgia, and it is known as flaming salad. here you will find out why in the recipe from debby:
1/2 head chopped cabbage
3 green onions or scallions, chopped
toast under broiler: 2 packages ramen noodles (crush while in the package), 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds, 2 tablespoons almonds. [and then, in bold, from debby:] the sunflower seeds are what started the fire that sent the firemen to my house in fort benning. so now i add the sunflower and almond seeds later and just brown the noodles and sesame seeds. they brown fast, so do not walk away from the broiler. you may need to stir them once.
dressing:
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 cup oil
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3 teaspoons white vinegar
[debby writes that it is best after it is refrigerated for a few hours before serving.]
um, it is heaven and i could have eaten twelve servings. i know it's not very thanksgiving-y, but come friday you should be making this.
1/2 head chopped cabbage
3 green onions or scallions, chopped
toast under broiler: 2 packages ramen noodles (crush while in the package), 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds, 2 tablespoons almonds. [and then, in bold, from debby:] the sunflower seeds are what started the fire that sent the firemen to my house in fort benning. so now i add the sunflower and almond seeds later and just brown the noodles and sesame seeds. they brown fast, so do not walk away from the broiler. you may need to stir them once.
dressing:
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 cup oil
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3 teaspoons white vinegar
[debby writes that it is best after it is refrigerated for a few hours before serving.]
um, it is heaven and i could have eaten twelve servings. i know it's not very thanksgiving-y, but come friday you should be making this.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
post-it note art - (creepy-)beautiful!
if the kids who doodle in my class are making anything like this, doodle on!
wait...what happened? it's thanksgiving break and i'm thinking about my students? NOT ALLOWED. but self, it is impossible not to think about your students. i like my students. and in a city (well, "metro area") of 5 million people, of course i saw four former students at harry potter and the deathly hallows (part 1) on sunday night because they sat immediately in front of us. of all the movie theaters in all the neighborhoods in all the city, they walked into mine... good thing i like the majority of my students, past and present. because they're EVERYWHERE.
i'm off to iowa for thanksgiving - hooray for the best holiday of the year! travel safe, everyone...
if the kids who doodle in my class are making anything like this, doodle on!
wait...what happened? it's thanksgiving break and i'm thinking about my students? NOT ALLOWED. but self, it is impossible not to think about your students. i like my students. and in a city (well, "metro area") of 5 million people, of course i saw four former students at harry potter and the deathly hallows (part 1) on sunday night because they sat immediately in front of us. of all the movie theaters in all the neighborhoods in all the city, they walked into mine... good thing i like the majority of my students, past and present. because they're EVERYWHERE.
i'm off to iowa for thanksgiving - hooray for the best holiday of the year! travel safe, everyone...
Monday, November 22, 2010
um, yikes.
here in atlanta it isn't exactly fall. today's high? 71. (i know that this is ridiculous, but i am enjoying it nonetheless.)
tomorrow i head to iowa for thanksgiving. the high in iowa today? 37. and on thanksgiving: 28.
it is really fall there. i will have to prepare myself.
(my friend jenny lives in sun valley, idaho. for your entertainment, i provide the predicted high and low on wednesday of this week in sun valley: high of 1, low of -15. holy shit, jenny.)
tomorrow i head to iowa for thanksgiving. the high in iowa today? 37. and on thanksgiving: 28.
it is really fall there. i will have to prepare myself.
(my friend jenny lives in sun valley, idaho. for your entertainment, i provide the predicted high and low on wednesday of this week in sun valley: high of 1, low of -15. holy shit, jenny.)
Sunday, November 21, 2010
the infamous stringdusters
(...is a pretty rockin' band name.)
nora g-chatted me earlier in the week with such urgency that i see this bluegrass band - she'd just seen them in DC - that i had no choice but to gather some girls and go. other claire and erin and i went last night and they ROCKED. really so much fun and such great music. i'm in love. all three of us are in love. nora: you totally made our night.
i am absolutely in love with this song that they played last night. it's the only slow song that they played - the bass player, banjo player, and guitar player on stage while the other three guys took a break - and it was one of those moments where you're like, "how was my life complete before i heard this song?" i bought it from itunes at 2:15am when i got home and have been playing it constantly ever since. which i guess isn't actually that long, since i sort of just got up.
for their encore last night, the band came into the crowd and played two songs. unplugged their instruments, no mics, just walked down into the crowd, formed a circle and started playing. oh, and this was IMMEDIATELY BEHIND US. as in, i was six inches from this encore. incredible. really one of those memories i won't forget for a long time.
there were so many people taping the encore on their phones - a little obnoxious really - that i knew someone would put this online this morning. and they did. good work, predictable people! um, that's the top of my blonde head in the lower left corner of your screen, and to my left is another blonde head (other claire) and erin is totally visible, too. see the tool on the left who was putting his iphone in the banjo player's face? i was really grumpy with him about that.
while you are under no obligation to watch the encore video (featuring the back of my head), you are mandated to listen to "poor boy's delight," the first video. do it.
nora g-chatted me earlier in the week with such urgency that i see this bluegrass band - she'd just seen them in DC - that i had no choice but to gather some girls and go. other claire and erin and i went last night and they ROCKED. really so much fun and such great music. i'm in love. all three of us are in love. nora: you totally made our night.
i am absolutely in love with this song that they played last night. it's the only slow song that they played - the bass player, banjo player, and guitar player on stage while the other three guys took a break - and it was one of those moments where you're like, "how was my life complete before i heard this song?" i bought it from itunes at 2:15am when i got home and have been playing it constantly ever since. which i guess isn't actually that long, since i sort of just got up.
for their encore last night, the band came into the crowd and played two songs. unplugged their instruments, no mics, just walked down into the crowd, formed a circle and started playing. oh, and this was IMMEDIATELY BEHIND US. as in, i was six inches from this encore. incredible. really one of those memories i won't forget for a long time.
there were so many people taping the encore on their phones - a little obnoxious really - that i knew someone would put this online this morning. and they did. good work, predictable people! um, that's the top of my blonde head in the lower left corner of your screen, and to my left is another blonde head (other claire) and erin is totally visible, too. see the tool on the left who was putting his iphone in the banjo player's face? i was really grumpy with him about that.
while you are under no obligation to watch the encore video (featuring the back of my head), you are mandated to listen to "poor boy's delight," the first video. do it.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
log dog
you should know that: at my first teaching job in new hampshire, when i was fresh out of college, the girls in the dorm started calling me "log dog," as a play off of my last name, and it became sort of a term of endearment - instead of calling me Ms. L. they called me Log Dog. when i moved in georgia, i mentioned this to the girls on the softball team i coached and it spread around my current school a little bit - the softball girls still call me this, three years later. this is funny, because at some point i told my cousin laura about it and people call HER log dog, too! um, craziness.
yesterday other claire sent me this cartoon that she found online. and i had a hard time not falling out of my chair. log dogs!!
hehehe...
(from here)
yesterday other claire sent me this cartoon that she found online. and i had a hard time not falling out of my chair. log dogs!!
hehehe...
(from here)
Friday, November 19, 2010
the secret of kells
this is absolutely the most beautiful animated film i have ever seen. everrrrr.
and it's available to watch instantly on netflix. i loved it! it is my recommendation to you today.
and it's available to watch instantly on netflix. i loved it! it is my recommendation to you today.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
chia obama: day 21
becky commented earlier that she is uncomfortable watching chia obama's hair grow because that seems like too personal an activity to watch, as it relates to her president. well, watching chia obama's hair die because you've been busy and forgot to water him? too depressing to take a photo of. so i didn't. you're welcome.
today i gave chia obama a good shave and he's bald again. he had a good run of it - three weeks...maybe we'll have a round two at a later date.
i wonder how much real obama pays for a hair cut. does he have a personal barber? or does someone make (white) house calls? how often does he get a hair cut? this project has brought up so many questions in my mind...
today i gave chia obama a good shave and he's bald again. he had a good run of it - three weeks...maybe we'll have a round two at a later date.
i wonder how much real obama pays for a hair cut. does he have a personal barber? or does someone make (white) house calls? how often does he get a hair cut? this project has brought up so many questions in my mind...
stuck like glue
okay, this video is TRULY RIDICULOUS, but i love this song and i just got the new sugarland CD, so i'm listening to it almost on repeat. it's a perfect happy morning song.
(note: almost all mornings are happy until students ruin them. which happens 50% of the time. so it's a waiting game...sometimes a morning gets soured before 8am, and at least that hasn't happened today.)
(note: almost all mornings are happy until students ruin them. which happens 50% of the time. so it's a waiting game...sometimes a morning gets soured before 8am, and at least that hasn't happened today.)
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
i'm not big on celebrity gossip
(unless i'm getting a pedicure, in which case there better be a people magazine or - even better/trashier! - an us weekly for me to read), but i am ready to become obsessed with the news of prince william's engagement. i mean, seriously. imagine knowing that someday you would be the queen of england. omg.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
this is what the caps lock key was made for
OHMYGOD WE GET ESPNU ON OUR TV.
THIS MEANS I CAN WATCH SEVERAL DUKE GAMES THAT I DIDN'T THINK I COULD.
BEST. DISCOVERY. EVER.
countdown to televised duke basketball season: 23 hours, 4 minutes.
THIS MEANS I CAN WATCH SEVERAL DUKE GAMES THAT I DIDN'T THINK I COULD.
BEST. DISCOVERY. EVER.
countdown to televised duke basketball season: 23 hours, 4 minutes.
baking class = happy claire
this morning i went to the baking class that my friends got me for my birthday, and it was EXCELLENT. the instructor showed us how to make each item and then we got into groups of 3 and made it ourselves. we baked:
1. focaccia that tastes just like it does at a fancy restaurant. i was perhaps the most impressed with this - how easy it was to make and how freaking delicious it was.
2. sweet potato biscuits - heavenly. now, i need to tell you about my group of 3, but first you need to know that i hate group work. for most of my educational life, i was one of the smartest kids, and thus in group work i had to either settle for a lesser product or be bossy and do most of the work. other smart people are hopefully nodding their heads here. i am not good at group work. but here i was, in a group, baking. one of my group members was a 60ish year old woman who thought she knew everything about baking. (hey, lady? i don't want to hear your unsolicited tips about making chocolate chip cookies - you aren't the teacher and that's not on the menu today.) the other group member was 40ish and knew so little about baking that it was tragic. on each item we baked, one of us would do the mixing/kneading/etc. and the other two would watch and help. tragic baker-wanna-be took the helm here and i actually had to walk away at several points while know-it-all told tragedy/wanna-be all the things she was doing wrong. but! the biscuits turned out really well.
3. parmesan-poppyseed cheese straws. again: ohmygod are we in a restaurant? delish.
4. cranberry walnut pumpkin bread - also really good.
5. parker house rolls and involve lots of kneading and rising - we didn't finish them, so we each brought the dough home and are doing the second rise and the baking ourselves. with the amount of delicious butter in these, they are bound to be good.
after all the baking we had lunch - the instructor made VEGETARIAN CHILI. oh. my. god. i love it when people are thoughtful about the possibility of vegetarians. and we got to taste all our breads, too. heaven.
if you will be spending thanksgiving with me, GET READY. i'm really excited to make some of these things again and glad to have an audience to feed!
1. focaccia that tastes just like it does at a fancy restaurant. i was perhaps the most impressed with this - how easy it was to make and how freaking delicious it was.
2. sweet potato biscuits - heavenly. now, i need to tell you about my group of 3, but first you need to know that i hate group work. for most of my educational life, i was one of the smartest kids, and thus in group work i had to either settle for a lesser product or be bossy and do most of the work. other smart people are hopefully nodding their heads here. i am not good at group work. but here i was, in a group, baking. one of my group members was a 60ish year old woman who thought she knew everything about baking. (hey, lady? i don't want to hear your unsolicited tips about making chocolate chip cookies - you aren't the teacher and that's not on the menu today.) the other group member was 40ish and knew so little about baking that it was tragic. on each item we baked, one of us would do the mixing/kneading/etc. and the other two would watch and help. tragic baker-wanna-be took the helm here and i actually had to walk away at several points while know-it-all told tragedy/wanna-be all the things she was doing wrong. but! the biscuits turned out really well.
3. parmesan-poppyseed cheese straws. again: ohmygod are we in a restaurant? delish.
4. cranberry walnut pumpkin bread - also really good.
5. parker house rolls and involve lots of kneading and rising - we didn't finish them, so we each brought the dough home and are doing the second rise and the baking ourselves. with the amount of delicious butter in these, they are bound to be good.
after all the baking we had lunch - the instructor made VEGETARIAN CHILI. oh. my. god. i love it when people are thoughtful about the possibility of vegetarians. and we got to taste all our breads, too. heaven.
if you will be spending thanksgiving with me, GET READY. i'm really excited to make some of these things again and glad to have an audience to feed!
Friday, November 12, 2010
chia obama: day 16
chia obama - you look so good! your hair is growing very well...and it is getting a little crazy, which is fun for me.
hehe - i especially like the ones at the nape of his neck - growing every which way. and his ear hair/sprouts continue to grow. nice work, chia obama.
um...chia obama, i hate to tell you this, but you're balding a little on top. actually, a lot. you look kind of like julius caesar in this picture, except caesar was bald all over with a laurel thing wrapped around his head. that's what you kind of look like, chia obama.
the chia instruction "manual" (read: piece of paper) says to put your chia obama in direct sunlight, but not on a windowsill because the "extreme heat and extreme cold" aren't good for him. um, chia instruction manual? in my house the only direct sunlight is on the windowsill. DUH. perhaps i am responsible for chia obama's premature baldness, as it is a little cold on the windowsill.
also, chia obama has a weird white patch on his nose and one eyebrow. i can't explain it.
overall, this week we have learned that i am a negligent plant owner.
(dad: you will be pleased to know that chia obama comes with enough seeds to do several plantings, though i will not bore the blog world with each planting.)
hehe - i especially like the ones at the nape of his neck - growing every which way. and his ear hair/sprouts continue to grow. nice work, chia obama.
um...chia obama, i hate to tell you this, but you're balding a little on top. actually, a lot. you look kind of like julius caesar in this picture, except caesar was bald all over with a laurel thing wrapped around his head. that's what you kind of look like, chia obama.
the chia instruction "manual" (read: piece of paper) says to put your chia obama in direct sunlight, but not on a windowsill because the "extreme heat and extreme cold" aren't good for him. um, chia instruction manual? in my house the only direct sunlight is on the windowsill. DUH. perhaps i am responsible for chia obama's premature baldness, as it is a little cold on the windowsill.
also, chia obama has a weird white patch on his nose and one eyebrow. i can't explain it.
overall, this week we have learned that i am a negligent plant owner.
(dad: you will be pleased to know that chia obama comes with enough seeds to do several plantings, though i will not bore the blog world with each planting.)
Thursday, November 11, 2010
i will be taking the holidays by storm
it is scary how well my friends know me. genuinely scary. this was part of my birthday present:
Sat. Nov. 13 •• 9:30am to 12:30pm
Holiday Bread Baking
•• Hands-On
Discover easy and delicious breads perfect for holiday occasions. You’ll learn how to work with yeast and create dough from various flours to make quick breads, loaves, rolls, and focaccia. Students learn the techniques for proper measuring, proofing, and shaping dough and go home with the confidence to enjoy baking for the holidays. Lunch will be served. MENU: Sweet Potato Biscuits; Parker House Yeast Rolls; Parmesan & Poppyseed Cheese Straws; Cranberry Walnut Pumpkin Loaf; and Leaf-Shaped Rosemary Focaccia
MY EXCITEMENT LEVEL IS SO HIGH IT IS UNREGISTERABLE (not a word).
Sat. Nov. 13 •• 9:30am to 12:30pm
Holiday Bread Baking
•• Hands-On
Discover easy and delicious breads perfect for holiday occasions. You’ll learn how to work with yeast and create dough from various flours to make quick breads, loaves, rolls, and focaccia. Students learn the techniques for proper measuring, proofing, and shaping dough and go home with the confidence to enjoy baking for the holidays. Lunch will be served. MENU: Sweet Potato Biscuits; Parker House Yeast Rolls; Parmesan & Poppyseed Cheese Straws; Cranberry Walnut Pumpkin Loaf; and Leaf-Shaped Rosemary Focaccia
MY EXCITEMENT LEVEL IS SO HIGH IT IS UNREGISTERABLE (not a word).
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
a tip
want to keep 55 high school seniors quiet for three hours while on a field trip to a courthouse? here are my tips:
1. tell them they'll be in big trouble if they aren't quiet (aka threaten them). repeat this as often as necessary before going on the field trip.
2. have them sit in the presence of several police officers and a judge (aka scare them).
3. give them 500 post it notes and tell them to pass notes (aka distract them). this is the best idea i have ever had in my 28 years of life. they passed notes - both on topic and off topic, i'm sure - and just were genuinely the best behaved kids ever. attentive, interested, thoughtful, present. i am so proud of how they acted.
today i was reminded of how amazing it is to be a teacher. i'm lucky to have such great students.
we sat through the final three witnesses and the closing arguments in a murder trial, and i'm now on pins and needles waiting to hear the outcome. the jury is out. the judge expects that they'll be back by the end of the day. i am waiting by my computer. more about the trial soon...
1. tell them they'll be in big trouble if they aren't quiet (aka threaten them). repeat this as often as necessary before going on the field trip.
2. have them sit in the presence of several police officers and a judge (aka scare them).
3. give them 500 post it notes and tell them to pass notes (aka distract them). this is the best idea i have ever had in my 28 years of life. they passed notes - both on topic and off topic, i'm sure - and just were genuinely the best behaved kids ever. attentive, interested, thoughtful, present. i am so proud of how they acted.
today i was reminded of how amazing it is to be a teacher. i'm lucky to have such great students.
we sat through the final three witnesses and the closing arguments in a murder trial, and i'm now on pins and needles waiting to hear the outcome. the jury is out. the judge expects that they'll be back by the end of the day. i am waiting by my computer. more about the trial soon...
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
"what is...?"
a final jeopardy from last week:
of course you know where this is going: i knew the answer (first AND last name) and was really proud of myself, whereas the silly jeopardy contestants did not. i am amazing! my ability to answer this question comes from reading two of these books in an english class in college. an epic english class that willis and i still quote: "protestants reign supreme!" "a stay against death!" it was a pretty awesome class and it was the beginning of my friendship with willis, so DOUBLE AWESOME.
so...anyone know the answer? willis: i expect you to ring in.
of course you know where this is going: i knew the answer (first AND last name) and was really proud of myself, whereas the silly jeopardy contestants did not. i am amazing! my ability to answer this question comes from reading two of these books in an english class in college. an epic english class that willis and i still quote: "protestants reign supreme!" "a stay against death!" it was a pretty awesome class and it was the beginning of my friendship with willis, so DOUBLE AWESOME.
so...anyone know the answer? willis: i expect you to ring in.
Monday, November 8, 2010
statistics
1.4 million americans work for wal-mart. NPR tells me that it is the world's largest retailer.
there are 310 million people living in the united states, and the census website tells me that 75.7% of them (235 million) are over 18. that means that one in every 168 american adults works for wal-mart. assuming my math is correct.
oh. my. god.
i don't really know what to do with this information.
the last time i was in a wal-mart was probably last christmas. apparently other people are going more frequently than me.
there are 310 million people living in the united states, and the census website tells me that 75.7% of them (235 million) are over 18. that means that one in every 168 american adults works for wal-mart. assuming my math is correct.
oh. my. god.
i don't really know what to do with this information.
the last time i was in a wal-mart was probably last christmas. apparently other people are going more frequently than me.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
28.
“Friendship is the greatest of worldly goods. Certainly to me it is the chief happiness of life. If I had to give a piece of advice to a young man about a place to live, I think I should say, 'Sacrifice almost everything to live where you can be near your friends.' I know I am very fortunate in that respect. ”
—C.S. Lewis
to all who helped me celebrate my birthday this weekend - and to all who celebrated in spirit because you weren't here in person - thank you, thank you, thank you. i am reminded that i am a very lucky girl to have such great friends and family.
hooray for birthdays!
—C.S. Lewis
to all who helped me celebrate my birthday this weekend - and to all who celebrated in spirit because you weren't here in person - thank you, thank you, thank you. i am reminded that i am a very lucky girl to have such great friends and family.
hooray for birthdays!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
chia obama: day 8
chia obama's hair continues to grow! it's growing a bit unevenly at the moment, with some sprouts almost an inch long and others still babies. so he looks a little weird, but i guess that's normal when you're a chia pet. the instructions say to rotate him so that each side gets equal exposure to the sun, so maybe that will help as his hair continues to grow.
one thing i'm learning is that it is very hard to take photos of a chia obama so that one's friends can see how well his hair is growing. maybe that will change as his hair gets thicker. please get thicker, hair.
the instructions say that growth will continue for about 4 weeks until this is no longer a suitable environment for the growing sprouts, and then they will start to die. that means you have three more weeks of following him on the blog - get excited!
one thing i'm learning is that it is very hard to take photos of a chia obama so that one's friends can see how well his hair is growing. maybe that will change as his hair gets thicker. please get thicker, hair.
the instructions say that growth will continue for about 4 weeks until this is no longer a suitable environment for the growing sprouts, and then they will start to die. that means you have three more weeks of following him on the blog - get excited!
my new favorite tv show
the big bang theory is my new favorite tv show. i'm watching old seasons from netflix (i have to watch tv shows in the order that they were produced - deal with it), and last night i was watching an episode from season 3 and this happened!
(from here)
yay boone! (even if sheldon doesn't want to move there.)
you'll all be happy to know that i have seen a production of horn in the west, but don't get too jealous. everything else about boone: wonderful. horn in the west: not wonderful.
(from here)
yay boone! (even if sheldon doesn't want to move there.)
you'll all be happy to know that i have seen a production of horn in the west, but don't get too jealous. everything else about boone: wonderful. horn in the west: not wonderful.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
break in regularly scheduled programming to be a huge dork
do you want to impress the people whom you're watching election coverage with tonight? (note that i assume you'll be watching election coverage.) these two websites give hour-by-hour "things to look for" while you're watching the coverage, and you can get a sense of which results are reallllly bad for the democrats or not-so-good for the republicans. think of how much more fun you'll be to be around after reading these articles! ("fun" could mean "annoying," but i hope it doesn't.)
the concise version (from the washington post. becky sent me their "races to watch" for the 2008 election, and boy did i feel snazzy at my election night party.)
the wordy version (from fivethirtyeight)
the concise version (from the washington post. becky sent me their "races to watch" for the 2008 election, and boy did i feel snazzy at my election night party.)
the wordy version (from fivethirtyeight)
Monday, November 1, 2010
game 5
people (willis and my C period class) tried to lie to me and tell me there wasn't a world series game on tonight. pretty glad i figured out that there was. sheesh. i like watching baseball, people. i like having it on - i like the background noise it provides. i like that a lot, actually. i think it goes back to when i was a senior in high school and i did my homework in front of the old ass tv in our commons and watched every game of the postseason while the braves were in the playoffs. that fall i developed a big crush on john rocker. in retrospect, obviously that was a mistake. but i didn't know that at the time. the world didn't know that at the time.
go national league! go crazy giants!
go national league! go crazy giants!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
liberty tattooing
it was dani's birthday this weekend and anna came into town to help celebrate and it was a lovely little duke rugby reunion - hooray! while anna was here she got a tattoo and it is beautiful and so i had to show it to you:
(so you can see how it wraps around)
it's a ceiba tree and the guy who tattooed her did an amazing job. i mean, look at the buttress roots - it's all so intricately done and it follows the curve of her foot, which i love. he drew it right on her leg with a fancy draw-on-your-skin pen and then spent several hours tattooing. i FOR SURE would not have been as brave as anna was, but she made it look like it didn't hurt at all.
having brunch with anna and dani and then hanging out and eating frozen yogurt while anna got tattooed (and dani got a nose ring)? best way to spend an afternoon EVER.
chia obama: day 4
surprisingly (?) my chia obama has sprouted! a couple seeds have sprouted in his ears (oops), but maybe real obama has hair in his ears and i'm just trying to be accurate - you never know. now that chia obama has a little hair he looks less silly and more legit. in fact, this is probably the actual length of real obama's hair. i should probably just stop now. BUT WHERE WOULD BE THE FUN IN THAT?
chia obama is living on our window sill, which (a) helps him grow his hair faster, and (b) gives him something to look at all day while i'm at work. i know he's grateful.
oh, the fun of a chia pet.
chia obama is living on our window sill, which (a) helps him grow his hair faster, and (b) gives him something to look at all day while i'm at work. i know he's grateful.
oh, the fun of a chia pet.
Friday, October 29, 2010
happy halloween (observed)!
this is me as "government girl," my halloween alter ego. tights + "logsdon survey and mapping" t-shirt + cape + mask + holding my government textbook = low budget happiness. in this photo i'm sending the seniors out to the halloween parade. i'm standing on a table so i can shout out directions. and feel powerful.
(you may remember the yellow tights from last year's chicken costume.)
as i've mentioned before (click here to be reminded), our school has a halloween parade that the pre-school and the seniors participate in. and random faculty members. i was in charge of organizing the seniors, and they were great. i love these seniors, even when they're a little squirrelly.
my coworker-friends and i came to school as superheroes this year. pictured below are inspector gadget, the count (from sesame street), underdog, government girl, zeus, super french girl, grammar girl, super science nerd, and indiana jones.
the whole "superhero" theme was interpreted a little loosely. and dork-ily, as teachers do, i guess. it was pretty awesome. i love this day of the year.
(you may remember the yellow tights from last year's chicken costume.)
as i've mentioned before (click here to be reminded), our school has a halloween parade that the pre-school and the seniors participate in. and random faculty members. i was in charge of organizing the seniors, and they were great. i love these seniors, even when they're a little squirrelly.
my coworker-friends and i came to school as superheroes this year. pictured below are inspector gadget, the count (from sesame street), underdog, government girl, zeus, super french girl, grammar girl, super science nerd, and indiana jones.
the whole "superhero" theme was interpreted a little loosely. and dork-ily, as teachers do, i guess. it was pretty awesome. i love this day of the year.
it is october 29th, for crying out loud...
...why is it still 75 degrees outside and sandals weather? i just bought a bunch of cute sweaters AND I WANT TO WEAR THEM (without sweating through them).
but seeing as this is probably the last time i'll get to wear these (really comfortable and cute) sandals until march-ish, maybe i should stop complaining...
but seeing as this is probably the last time i'll get to wear these (really comfortable and cute) sandals until march-ish, maybe i should stop complaining...
Thursday, October 28, 2010
chia obama: day 1
this is my obama chia pet.
why do i have an obama chia pet, you ask? one of my students gave it to me in may as an end-of-the-year present, which i think is pretty much the best end-of-year present ever. since i was gone all summer (and lazy for all of august and september), i've just now planted him. you soak the seeds in water and they make this sticky goo that you can spread on the grooves in his head. it was messy, but i think i did it right. here he is on day 1, all freshly planted (can you call it planting if there is no soil?):
("yes, we can...grow a chia obama!" a slogan found both on the chia obama box and RIGHT THERE on his bust. this adds to his awesomeness, obviously.)
i'll keep you updated on how chia obama grows. GET EXCITED.
why do i have an obama chia pet, you ask? one of my students gave it to me in may as an end-of-the-year present, which i think is pretty much the best end-of-year present ever. since i was gone all summer (and lazy for all of august and september), i've just now planted him. you soak the seeds in water and they make this sticky goo that you can spread on the grooves in his head. it was messy, but i think i did it right. here he is on day 1, all freshly planted (can you call it planting if there is no soil?):
("yes, we can...grow a chia obama!" a slogan found both on the chia obama box and RIGHT THERE on his bust. this adds to his awesomeness, obviously.)
i'll keep you updated on how chia obama grows. GET EXCITED.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
interesting article - "islamaphobia and homophobia" - if you need a little break from your workday. which, let's be honest, is probably the reason you came to this blog in the first place...
minor crisis
yesterday i spilled my entire lunch on the floor.
it was a salad i'd made at home and was really excited to eat - good lettuce, caramelized onions, edamame, asparagus, and tofu.
fatal error: i'd gone to the cafeteria to put some oil and vinegar on it before going to a meeting. i didn't put the top of the tupperware back on. DUMB MOVE.
as i walked into the room where the meeting was being held, somehow i dropped the whole salad on the floor. i was still holding the top of the tupperware when all was said and done. of course i was.
it was really sad.
i did, however, recover much of the floor-salad and eat it and it was delicious. this is not gross because (a) i inspected each piece for yuck and found none, and (b) humans have been eating dirtier things than this for a long time and have done okay. i mean, have you seen the movie babies? namibia baby picks up a BONE out of the DIRT and CHEWS on it.
i have packed the same salad for lunch today.
i am hopeful that it doesn't touch the floor, because clean salad > floor salad.
it was a salad i'd made at home and was really excited to eat - good lettuce, caramelized onions, edamame, asparagus, and tofu.
fatal error: i'd gone to the cafeteria to put some oil and vinegar on it before going to a meeting. i didn't put the top of the tupperware back on. DUMB MOVE.
as i walked into the room where the meeting was being held, somehow i dropped the whole salad on the floor. i was still holding the top of the tupperware when all was said and done. of course i was.
it was really sad.
i did, however, recover much of the floor-salad and eat it and it was delicious. this is not gross because (a) i inspected each piece for yuck and found none, and (b) humans have been eating dirtier things than this for a long time and have done okay. i mean, have you seen the movie babies? namibia baby picks up a BONE out of the DIRT and CHEWS on it.
i have packed the same salad for lunch today.
i am hopeful that it doesn't touch the floor, because clean salad > floor salad.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
"It Gets Better"
Have you guys heard about the “It Gets Better” Project? It was started by Dan Savage, a radio host/podcaster/writer who is gay, telling gay adolescents that life gets better after middle school and high school bullying – and that you have to stick around to see it get better. They made a video in response to the recent suicides by gay youth in the US: you can watch it here. Maybe I'm particularly touched by it because I work with highschoolers, but I am so moved by the simple message and the realization of how many young people aren't hearing it and need to hear it.
Lots of other celebrities and ordinary people have made their own "It Gets Better" videos, sharing their own stories of being bullied when they were younger and how life is better - and they have found happiness - as an adult.
Um, today? President Obama made an "It Gets Better" video. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I'm overwhelmed by this...that in this political climate, with an election upon us, with the number of people in this country who don't support equal rights for gays, that he would speak out on this issue. You have to watch the video. I think it's clear that he's speaking from the heart and that he is passionate about this issue. He doesn't wimp out and say "bullying is bad! Be nice!" He addresses the issue head on. He's gutsy. Some people are going to be pissed off by this video. I like it when he pisses people off. Those people need to be pissed off. Scratch that: those people need to be educated.
I love our President, and in the mess of politics I forget that sometimes. Today I was reminded.
[major shout out to nora for posting the obama link!]
Lots of other celebrities and ordinary people have made their own "It Gets Better" videos, sharing their own stories of being bullied when they were younger and how life is better - and they have found happiness - as an adult.
Um, today? President Obama made an "It Gets Better" video. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I'm overwhelmed by this...that in this political climate, with an election upon us, with the number of people in this country who don't support equal rights for gays, that he would speak out on this issue. You have to watch the video. I think it's clear that he's speaking from the heart and that he is passionate about this issue. He doesn't wimp out and say "bullying is bad! Be nice!" He addresses the issue head on. He's gutsy. Some people are going to be pissed off by this video. I like it when he pisses people off. Those people need to be pissed off. Scratch that: those people need to be educated.
I love our President, and in the mess of politics I forget that sometimes. Today I was reminded.
[major shout out to nora for posting the obama link!]
breakfast
which is better for me for breakfast? i wrestle with this question and i'd love to hear other peoples' thoughts. these are the only options right now, because they (a) seem reasonably healthy, (b) require exactly zero prep work and are portable [i may or may not be rushing out the door EVERY MORNING and i just grab one of these two things], (c) taste delicious, and (d) keep me full enough until lunch. all of those are important qualities in a breakfast.
wallaby yogurt (favorite flavor: maple):
140 calories, 2.5 grams of fat, 20 grams of sugar, 6 grams of protein, 25% of recommended daily amount of calcium, 0% of iron
luna bar (favorite flavor: nutz over chocolate):
180 calories, 6 grams of fat, 10 grams of sugar, 9 grams of protein, 35% of my calcium, 30% of my iron
right now i have yogurt for breakfast if i make it to whole foods that week...and a luna bar if i don't. probably works out to about half the time for each.
if you have thoughts, please comment. thankyouverymuch.
wallaby yogurt (favorite flavor: maple):
140 calories, 2.5 grams of fat, 20 grams of sugar, 6 grams of protein, 25% of recommended daily amount of calcium, 0% of iron
luna bar (favorite flavor: nutz over chocolate):
180 calories, 6 grams of fat, 10 grams of sugar, 9 grams of protein, 35% of my calcium, 30% of my iron
right now i have yogurt for breakfast if i make it to whole foods that week...and a luna bar if i don't. probably works out to about half the time for each.
if you have thoughts, please comment. thankyouverymuch.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
sometimes i go right from work to the gym...or to yoga...or on a walk. i change into my workout clothes in (a) my personal changing room (also known as "the closet in my office"), or (b) the women's bathroom. without fail, every time i'm in the middle of changing i have the thought: "what if the fire alarm went off RIGHT NOW. i am naked and would panic and that is the worst possible scenario." why do i have these thoughts? because i went to boarding school and then college and the fire alarm has gone off twice while i was in the shower. there is not much that will incite more panic in a person than a fire drill while she is naked.
i think we can all agree on that.
i think we can all agree on that.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
asparagus pee
oh, you know what i mean. if you don't, read this article. it is very informative, telling me that in fact, all pee is asparagus pee, but only 22% of people can smell it.
and that is fun fact #1 of the day.
fun fact #2? i had a yummy salad for lunch - lettuce with caramelized onions, roasted red pepper, and goat's cheese. and roasted asparagus.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
sneaky hate spiral
sometimes i have grumpy days. I MEAN, WHO DOESN'T. i am currently having a perfectly fine day (even though NPR is having their fall fundraising drive and they aren't giving me all the news i need in the morning), but veronica posted this link which is a perfect description of how a bad day happens. i mean, PERFECT. i hope you enjoy the little computer-drawn characters as much as the story line. i definitely got a good ten minutes of enjoyment out of this, and i will be reading this blog forever and always because of this one genius post.
update: i just read the most recent post on that blog about the cake when the author was four years old and OHMYGOD IT WAS ALL I COULD DO NOT TO LAUGH OUT LOUD IN CLASS WHILE MY STUDENTS WERE TAKING THEIR TEST. all. i. could. do. where has this blog been all my life??
update: i just read the most recent post on that blog about the cake when the author was four years old and OHMYGOD IT WAS ALL I COULD DO NOT TO LAUGH OUT LOUD IN CLASS WHILE MY STUDENTS WERE TAKING THEIR TEST. all. i. could. do. where has this blog been all my life??
Monday, October 18, 2010
monday morning
the only good thing about getting back to atlanta at 11:30 last night was my ability to use a 35% off coupon at pre-flight parking.
i'm pretttttttty tired right now.
but yay for a fun weekend with my extended family and congrats to my cousin grace who got married!
but it's a long way out to california for just a weekend. when i make it through this day i will reward myself with lots of time on the couch. LOTS.
i'm pretttttttty tired right now.
but yay for a fun weekend with my extended family and congrats to my cousin grace who got married!
but it's a long way out to california for just a weekend. when i make it through this day i will reward myself with lots of time on the couch. LOTS.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
my heart going "boom boom boom"
the life as we know it trailer makes me REALLY want to see this movie, partly because i am in love with this song (peter gabriel's "solsbury hill"). and, you know, i'm only 33 years behind the times, seeing as it was released in 1977. i'm cool like that, keeping up with all the hip new music.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
trailing of the sheep
have you ever seen 1,500 sheep parade down a town's main street? if this something that you want to check off of your life's "to do" list, i would suggest going to ketchum, idaho's trailing of the sheep.
the back story: every fall the ranchers of idaho move their sheep from the summer grazing areas in northern idaho down south to...graze in the winter? get slaughtered? this was a little vague, so we didn't dwell on it. for the past 14 years, ketchum and hailey, idaho, have had a little festival to celebrate this event, as well as celebrate the three main ethnic groups that are involved heavily in sheep ranching in idaho: peruvians, basques, and scots. so there was a parade with lots of playing music and dancing and traditional costumes by these three groups:
(note that the bagpipes look like sheep!!!)
and then: the main event - the sheep!
the sheep were very well behaved and did what they were supposed to...thanks mostly to the sheepdogs that were hanging out with them. i liked this guy because he looked a lot like the sheep.
and then they were gone!
fun note: before the sheep made their way down main street, willis proclaimed that sheep "cannot run" and that he can "move faster than a sheep." i told him he was ridiculous, lily looked up facts on sheep speeds on her phone (apparently they have been clocked at 30 miles per hour), and after the sheep walked/ran/jumped [the crosswalks freaked them out]/made their way down main street, willis was forced to admit that (a) sheep CAN run, and (b) a sheep could beat him in a race.
this was an excellent way to spend an afternoon.
the back story: every fall the ranchers of idaho move their sheep from the summer grazing areas in northern idaho down south to...graze in the winter? get slaughtered? this was a little vague, so we didn't dwell on it. for the past 14 years, ketchum and hailey, idaho, have had a little festival to celebrate this event, as well as celebrate the three main ethnic groups that are involved heavily in sheep ranching in idaho: peruvians, basques, and scots. so there was a parade with lots of playing music and dancing and traditional costumes by these three groups:
(note that the bagpipes look like sheep!!!)
and then: the main event - the sheep!
the sheep were very well behaved and did what they were supposed to...thanks mostly to the sheepdogs that were hanging out with them. i liked this guy because he looked a lot like the sheep.
and then they were gone!
fun note: before the sheep made their way down main street, willis proclaimed that sheep "cannot run" and that he can "move faster than a sheep." i told him he was ridiculous, lily looked up facts on sheep speeds on her phone (apparently they have been clocked at 30 miles per hour), and after the sheep walked/ran/jumped [the crosswalks freaked them out]/made their way down main street, willis was forced to admit that (a) sheep CAN run, and (b) a sheep could beat him in a race.
this was an excellent way to spend an afternoon.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
idaho is beautiful
it is immediately apparent when you get to idaho that it is gorgeous. gorgeous in a way that's really different from what i'm used to - rugged mountains with evergreens and scrub brush everywhere, punctuated by aspen trees whose leaves have turned a perfect fall yellow.
this is the view from the parking lot outside jenny's apartment. so basically this is what she sees every day when she leaves her house. i couldn't believe it.
this is just behind the building where jenny teaches at her new school, so this is what she sees out of her classroom window.
this is redfish lake, probably 30 miles north of where jenny lives in ketchum. we embarked on a little drive northward on monday to see some of the more remote parts of the state. note that i said "more" remote parts, since she lives in a relatively remote place, from my perspective:
and it is really fall there...in atlanta it is pretending to be fall, but hasn't quite gotten there yet. fall is pretty, and it was nice to experience it for a weekend.
[photo credit: lily!]
the weather this weekend was perfect - blue skies, crisp but not too cold. idaho did not disappoint, and for that i am very grateful.
this is the view from the parking lot outside jenny's apartment. so basically this is what she sees every day when she leaves her house. i couldn't believe it.
this is just behind the building where jenny teaches at her new school, so this is what she sees out of her classroom window.
this is redfish lake, probably 30 miles north of where jenny lives in ketchum. we embarked on a little drive northward on monday to see some of the more remote parts of the state. note that i said "more" remote parts, since she lives in a relatively remote place, from my perspective:
and it is really fall there...in atlanta it is pretending to be fall, but hasn't quite gotten there yet. fall is pretty, and it was nice to experience it for a weekend.
[photo credit: lily!]
the weather this weekend was perfect - blue skies, crisp but not too cold. idaho did not disappoint, and for that i am very grateful.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
update: logic puzzle
i have been missing in action! apologies. it turns out that when you're in idaho with four good friends you don't have a lot of time for blogging. also, am i allowed to get headaches and be out of breath after climbing a set of stairs when the elevation here is 5,900 feet? i mean, that's high enough to be a weenie, right? right?
anyway, an update on our logic puzzle. turns out the bed in the guest room is literally four and a half feet off the ground and two feet from the ceiling. that adds a wrinkle. lily and i ended up sleeping there (catapulting ourselves up and then trying not to hit our heads. i hit mine twice, of course), the 60 year old slept with jenny, and willis got the couch. it worked out perfectly.
we fly out this afternoon - lots more updates and pictures tomorrow!
anyway, an update on our logic puzzle. turns out the bed in the guest room is literally four and a half feet off the ground and two feet from the ceiling. that adds a wrinkle. lily and i ended up sleeping there (catapulting ourselves up and then trying not to hit our heads. i hit mine twice, of course), the 60 year old slept with jenny, and willis got the couch. it worked out perfectly.
we fly out this afternoon - lots more updates and pictures tomorrow!
Friday, October 8, 2010
logic puzzle
i am going to idaho (!!) this weekend to visit a friend who moved out there in july. i am unspeakably excited about this. one thing i've been thinking about, though...and i would love to hear your ideas on because i know it will be FINE any way you slice it...but it makes me giggle to think about it:
five people will be spending a long weekend together. they are:
three 27-31 year old women (myself included).
one 28 year old man also known as willis.
one 60 year old woman.
we all work together and we are really good friends. we are giddy about spending the weekend together.
the house where we are staying has the following places to sleep:
--queen-sized bed in the hostess's room
--queen-sized bed in the guest room
--couch
--air mattress
what should the sleeping arrangements be? i think that willis has to sleep on the air mattress, but he assures me that he has to sleep in the guest bed alone. um, excuse me willis? you don't get the best sleeping arrangement just because you are the only boy. or maybe you do?
[this is like the logic problem where a wolf, a sheep, and some grain (am i getting it right?) have to cross a stream, but only two can fit in the boat the same time and the wolf will eat the sheep and the sheep will eat the grain and ohmygod how can we get them all across in the fewest number of trips.]
happy friday, all!
five people will be spending a long weekend together. they are:
three 27-31 year old women (myself included).
one 28 year old man also known as willis.
one 60 year old woman.
we all work together and we are really good friends. we are giddy about spending the weekend together.
the house where we are staying has the following places to sleep:
--queen-sized bed in the hostess's room
--queen-sized bed in the guest room
--couch
--air mattress
what should the sleeping arrangements be? i think that willis has to sleep on the air mattress, but he assures me that he has to sleep in the guest bed alone. um, excuse me willis? you don't get the best sleeping arrangement just because you are the only boy. or maybe you do?
[this is like the logic problem where a wolf, a sheep, and some grain (am i getting it right?) have to cross a stream, but only two can fit in the boat the same time and the wolf will eat the sheep and the sheep will eat the grain and ohmygod how can we get them all across in the fewest number of trips.]
happy friday, all!
you know you are a grown up when...
it is 80s day. as in, the kids can dress up in 80s attire today.
they are really excited and thus are making lots of noise.
i am too tired to care and thus am really annoyed.
t minus 8 hours until my four day weekend starts. can't come soon enough.
they are really excited and thus are making lots of noise.
i am too tired to care and thus am really annoyed.
t minus 8 hours until my four day weekend starts. can't come soon enough.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
truths
my mom (also a teacher) sent this to me a couple months ago...i thought i'd pick out the best bits for you:
According to Jeff Foxworthy:
You know you are a teacher if...
--You get a secret thrill out of laminating something.
--You believe the teachers' lounge should be equipped with a margarita machine. [note: our school received an "anonymous donation" of a margarita machine four years ago. it gets pulled out by the head of school at the beginning and end of the year faculty parties. i'm not even joking.]
--You want to slap the next person who says "Must be nice to work 7:15 to 3:15 and have summers off."
--You feel the urge to talk to strange children and correct their behavior when you are out in public.
--You understand instantaneously why a child behaves a certain way after meeting his or her parents.
oh, teaching. how i love this job...90% of the time...
According to Jeff Foxworthy:
You know you are a teacher if...
--You get a secret thrill out of laminating something.
--You believe the teachers' lounge should be equipped with a margarita machine. [note: our school received an "anonymous donation" of a margarita machine four years ago. it gets pulled out by the head of school at the beginning and end of the year faculty parties. i'm not even joking.]
--You want to slap the next person who says "Must be nice to work 7:15 to 3:15 and have summers off."
--You feel the urge to talk to strange children and correct their behavior when you are out in public.
--You understand instantaneously why a child behaves a certain way after meeting his or her parents.
oh, teaching. how i love this job...90% of the time...
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
in the mail today
whoever lived at our address before us - granted, this would have been three and a half years ago, since that's how long my roommate and i have been at this address - was a carolina fan. [cue scary music.] how do i know? we are still receiving this magazine monthly.
[image from here.]
now, a good duke fan would have realized by now that he hadn't forwarded his duke basketball magazine to his new address...but i guess you can't give carolina fans as much credit. so it arrives every month and promptly goes in the trash. and i feel a little sick-o joy every time this happens.
don't judge me.
[image from here.]
now, a good duke fan would have realized by now that he hadn't forwarded his duke basketball magazine to his new address...but i guess you can't give carolina fans as much credit. so it arrives every month and promptly goes in the trash. and i feel a little sick-o joy every time this happens.
don't judge me.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
online shopping is dangerous
i don't know what happened this weekend, but all of a sudden i was in DUKE BASKETBALL MODE (even though we're still college football season...but as i care not-at-all about football, it's easy to move past it) and needed new duke t-shirts. my favorite one will always be a blue one that just says "duke" on it and that i bought while i was still a student...but when there are multiple games a week a girl needs a little variety. so i bought these:
(both from amazon.com)
they are old school and (hopefully) adorable. i'll report back once they arrive. i may or may not be really really excited about them.
and about basketball season.
they are old school and (hopefully) adorable. i'll report back once they arrive. i may or may not be really really excited about them.
and about basketball season.
Friday, October 1, 2010
to remember
“Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones come daily.”
--Ivy Baker Priest
--Ivy Baker Priest
Thursday, September 30, 2010
grumpy day, part 2
i have this exact interaction approximately 100 times a day:
me: hi!
coworker who i'm passing in the hall: hello! how are you?
me: fine. you?
coworker: fine!
(sometimes i play the role of the second person. i am equally at fault.)
this has become a huge pet peeve of mine. can't we just say hello and not pretend to care how the other person is? because that's what it is: pretending. we don't answer this question honestly, and if we did the other person would secretly roll their eyes and think, "i was just being polite - i don't really want to hear all this." OR: can we ask this question only with purpose and really listen to the answer? "how are you?" has the potential to be a really important question, but it has been totally devalued.
[sidenote: in england they don't say, "how are you?" - they say "you alright?" but it comes out as "y'lright?" and it took me forever to figure out that they actually DO CARE how you are doing and i was being rude by giving my standard "fine" response. i once had a ten minute conversation with a person i'd never met before because he "y'lright?"-ed me and i took it seriously. i appreciate this. DO IT, ENGLAND.]
end rant.
me: hi!
coworker who i'm passing in the hall: hello! how are you?
me: fine. you?
coworker: fine!
(sometimes i play the role of the second person. i am equally at fault.)
this has become a huge pet peeve of mine. can't we just say hello and not pretend to care how the other person is? because that's what it is: pretending. we don't answer this question honestly, and if we did the other person would secretly roll their eyes and think, "i was just being polite - i don't really want to hear all this." OR: can we ask this question only with purpose and really listen to the answer? "how are you?" has the potential to be a really important question, but it has been totally devalued.
[sidenote: in england they don't say, "how are you?" - they say "you alright?" but it comes out as "y'lright?" and it took me forever to figure out that they actually DO CARE how you are doing and i was being rude by giving my standard "fine" response. i once had a ten minute conversation with a person i'd never met before because he "y'lright?"-ed me and i took it seriously. i appreciate this. DO IT, ENGLAND.]
end rant.
grump-a-saurus
i'm having one of those days where i woke up grumpy and i don't think anything is going to change that. everything that everyone does annoys me. i can't brush things off as easily as a normal day. i have one of these days every once in a while for no good reason (there is, legitimately, NO GOOD REASON for my grumpiness today), and it's a good thing i don't teach today because i might bite a child's head off (all classes meet on either wednesday or thursday for a 90 minute period, and my schedule works out so that all of my classes are on wednesday). i have discovered one place in my office where i can sit and (a) no one can see me through the window that looks out on the entryway of the building, and (b) no one can see me through the window in the door to my office (the door that is OBVIOUSLY closed right now to keep out the riff raff). i will hide and be productive and nobody better bother me because i might not be able to be polite.
in other news, i think you should watch this video. this is reason #221 to marry a science nerd: so your kids can DO SHIT instead of playing video games. this video might even cure me of my grumpiness.
in other news, i think you should watch this video. this is reason #221 to marry a science nerd: so your kids can DO SHIT instead of playing video games. this video might even cure me of my grumpiness.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
november 7th
i have just realized that my birthday this year is on the day that daylight savings time ends...which means that this year my birthday will be 25 hours long instead of 24 hours long. BOOYAH. get ready to celebrate for that extra hour. my birthday is better than your birthday.
(note: since i am one of the majillions of people who don't ever remember how daylight savings time works, even though we go through this every year, i had a brief moment of panic that in fact my birthday would be SHORTER than every other day of the year, and i got momentarily grumpy. online research now shows that it is the opposite. thank you, internet.)
(note: since i am one of the majillions of people who don't ever remember how daylight savings time works, even though we go through this every year, i had a brief moment of panic that in fact my birthday would be SHORTER than every other day of the year, and i got momentarily grumpy. online research now shows that it is the opposite. thank you, internet.)
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
one of the best parts of my job: reading funny things that kids write. i bet this is even funnier if you teach elementary school, but i have to work with what i've got and 12th graders still say funny things on occasion. last week a kid wrote this on his test for my class: "it was nigh-impossible to pass laws or change the articles [of confederation]." NIGH-impossible! we are in ye olde times! (now, the statement is true - it was almost impossible to do these things, but oh how this kid has entertained me by phrasing it like this...)
Monday, September 27, 2010
counting down the days
these are the states in the US that i've visited:
(customizable map from here)
i'm counting only the states i've spent time in...driving through a state or having a plane layover there doesn't count in my book.
(you feel like you've done a lot of traveling and then you fill in this map and all of a sudden you realize there's a whole time zone, basically, that you've never been to. i'd like to remedy that - i'd like to go to montana/wyoming/the dakotas. in the summer, obviously. kansas, on the other hand...i feel no need at the moment to visit kansas...)
in less than two weeks i'll get to color in idaho, a state that one could have presumed would be the LAST one colored in by me until one of my really good friends moved there in july. four of us are flying out to visit her for a three day weekend and i can just predict right now that hilarity will ensue. and i pretty much can't wait.
i'm counting only the states i've spent time in...driving through a state or having a plane layover there doesn't count in my book.
(you feel like you've done a lot of traveling and then you fill in this map and all of a sudden you realize there's a whole time zone, basically, that you've never been to. i'd like to remedy that - i'd like to go to montana/wyoming/the dakotas. in the summer, obviously. kansas, on the other hand...i feel no need at the moment to visit kansas...)
in less than two weeks i'll get to color in idaho, a state that one could have presumed would be the LAST one colored in by me until one of my really good friends moved there in july. four of us are flying out to visit her for a three day weekend and i can just predict right now that hilarity will ensue. and i pretty much can't wait.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
september 25th: last 90 degree day of the year. (fingers crossed.)
it is finally not 90 degrees today.
yes: today would be the first day in a long time that this is the case. apparently atlanta had 93 straight days this summer where it got above 90 degrees every day. that is more than 25% of the year. THAT IS NOT OKAY. (this is why i escape to england. well, it's one reason.) i am tired of the heat, tired of the air conditioning, tired of it being too hot to sit outside during the day without sweating profusely.
today? today it is raining. high of 75, low of 62. i am so happy - there is nothing better than rain on a sunday when you can spend the day on the couch. if the weather gods could throw in some thunder i'd be even more appreciative. and the 10 day forecast? no days above 85 degrees.
it might really be fall in atlanta, people. YAY HOORAY!
yes: today would be the first day in a long time that this is the case. apparently atlanta had 93 straight days this summer where it got above 90 degrees every day. that is more than 25% of the year. THAT IS NOT OKAY. (this is why i escape to england. well, it's one reason.) i am tired of the heat, tired of the air conditioning, tired of it being too hot to sit outside during the day without sweating profusely.
today? today it is raining. high of 75, low of 62. i am so happy - there is nothing better than rain on a sunday when you can spend the day on the couch. if the weather gods could throw in some thunder i'd be even more appreciative. and the 10 day forecast? no days above 85 degrees.
it might really be fall in atlanta, people. YAY HOORAY!
Saturday, September 25, 2010
one year
today is the one year anniversary of my first post on this blog, and in honor of that anniversary, i've changed the whole look of this-here-blog-thingy. i liked the old template, but had been thinking for a while that i wanted a bit of a change. do you like the new look? what should i do differently? is it readable even though there's a picture in the background? this is definitely a work in progress and i'd love any suggestions you guys have! so: suggest away.
i am still loving the things i told you i loved one year ago: cooking, eating, tv, movies, music, podcasts, books, the new york times online, history, politics, photography, trivia.
as we say goodbye to summer and get closer to fall, i'm reminded that i love driving with the windows down, beers on patios with friends, night swimming, braves baseball, duke basketball, my macbook pro, starry nights. writing. life.
it means a lot to me that you guys are following me on this little blog. thanks for sticking around.
i am still loving the things i told you i loved one year ago: cooking, eating, tv, movies, music, podcasts, books, the new york times online, history, politics, photography, trivia.
as we say goodbye to summer and get closer to fall, i'm reminded that i love driving with the windows down, beers on patios with friends, night swimming, braves baseball, duke basketball, my macbook pro, starry nights. writing. life.
it means a lot to me that you guys are following me on this little blog. thanks for sticking around.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
people on my enemies list include:
john mccain.
don't say publicly that when the military leadership supports a repeal of "don't ask, don't tell," that you will vote for the repeal AND THEN when military leadership does exactly that, speak out and vote against the repeal. i know that you say that you are waiting for the official report from the pentagon, due at the end of the year. but i think you've changed what you stand for because you're trying to get reelected and that stinks. YOU MAKE ME GRUMPY, JOHN MCCAIN, and as the new york times said earlier today: i hope history shames those who support this (in)action by the senate.
(end rant.)
don't say publicly that when the military leadership supports a repeal of "don't ask, don't tell," that you will vote for the repeal AND THEN when military leadership does exactly that, speak out and vote against the repeal. i know that you say that you are waiting for the official report from the pentagon, due at the end of the year. but i think you've changed what you stand for because you're trying to get reelected and that stinks. YOU MAKE ME GRUMPY, JOHN MCCAIN, and as the new york times said earlier today: i hope history shames those who support this (in)action by the senate.
(end rant.)
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
sniffle.
i have a cold developing. eek.
every fall*, once all our students come back to school with all their germs, i get sick. stuffy nose, sore throat, grossness. yesterday began my annual slog through a cold. it is not fun. i am doing a lot of mouth breathing, which is actually relatively tiring. don't worry, mom: i am staying hydrated.
i am also doing a lot of braves-baseball-watching. and finger-crossing. and yelling-at-the-tv. all at the same time.
*and no, IT IS NOT FALL, but thanks for asking. today it got up to 93 degrees. willis says that he is wearing sweaters next week no matter how hot it is, in protest because it's supposed to be fall. willis's number one reason for doing this: "i look better in sweaters than i do in summer clothing." of course your reason has to do with fashion.
every fall*, once all our students come back to school with all their germs, i get sick. stuffy nose, sore throat, grossness. yesterday began my annual slog through a cold. it is not fun. i am doing a lot of mouth breathing, which is actually relatively tiring. don't worry, mom: i am staying hydrated.
i am also doing a lot of braves-baseball-watching. and finger-crossing. and yelling-at-the-tv. all at the same time.
*and no, IT IS NOT FALL, but thanks for asking. today it got up to 93 degrees. willis says that he is wearing sweaters next week no matter how hot it is, in protest because it's supposed to be fall. willis's number one reason for doing this: "i look better in sweaters than i do in summer clothing." of course your reason has to do with fashion.
Monday, September 20, 2010
just call me mrs. edmund randolph
one of my students forwarded this quiz to me. life is so good:
who wants to marry a founding father?
who wants to marry a founding father?
Sunday, September 19, 2010
reminded
“My riches consist not in the extent of my possessions, but in the fewness of my wants.”
—Joseph Brotherton
(1783-1837); pastor, writer
if traveling for the past two summers has taught me anything, it is this: i can live very comfortably with the possessions that fit into a carry-on suitcase and a backpack.
(on my way out the door to fly to london, june 2010)
i had forgotten this...and most people are shocked when i tell them that i lived for seven or eight weeks out of this suitcase. but i've done it twice and i wouldn't do it any differently in the future. when you travel light you realize that you don't need much to be happy. good food, good people, an ipod, a book, a laptop, and something to cover your body. a closet full of clothes, a hairdryer, a tv, a big comfy bed, a car - these aren't necessary. do i want these things? yes. but i don't need them. to be reminded of that has been an important lesson for me as i discover what is meaningful in life.
—Joseph Brotherton
(1783-1837); pastor, writer
if traveling for the past two summers has taught me anything, it is this: i can live very comfortably with the possessions that fit into a carry-on suitcase and a backpack.
(on my way out the door to fly to london, june 2010)
i had forgotten this...and most people are shocked when i tell them that i lived for seven or eight weeks out of this suitcase. but i've done it twice and i wouldn't do it any differently in the future. when you travel light you realize that you don't need much to be happy. good food, good people, an ipod, a book, a laptop, and something to cover your body. a closet full of clothes, a hairdryer, a tv, a big comfy bed, a car - these aren't necessary. do i want these things? yes. but i don't need them. to be reminded of that has been an important lesson for me as i discover what is meaningful in life.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
lazy saturday
a couple weeks ago i joined a CSA (community supported agriculture, not confederate states of america) - the farm is in alabama, just across the georgia-alabama border, and every week they deliver vegetables to 20 or so locations in atlanta. you pick which location you want to pick up from, order online by tuesday morning, and the food magically appears at that location on wednesday afternoon. you can pick exactly what you want from what they have available, and this makes me SO HAPPY. this week i ordered peaches, sweet potatoes, lots of cherry tomatoes, basil, and lettuce. it's all gorgeous in that imperfectly, straight from a real farm, way, and tastes so good. lunch today? basil and tomatoes from my CSA box, fresh mozzarella from kroger (classy, i know), with lots of salt and pepper and a little olive oil. heaven.
(i am a huge tomato snob, created from eating fresh-from-the-vine tomatoes that my parents grew when i was growing up. i need a non-mealy texture plus actual taste, and these pretty little cherry tomatoes have both. YAY HOORAY.)
(i am a huge tomato snob, created from eating fresh-from-the-vine tomatoes that my parents grew when i was growing up. i need a non-mealy texture plus actual taste, and these pretty little cherry tomatoes have both. YAY HOORAY.)
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