Friday, January 31, 2014
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
what i'm listening to right now
kelly clarkson covers - hat tip to willis for sending me this link! he is kelly's #1 fan and he knows i think she's pretty awesome, too. #5 is my fav!
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
ice day #2
another day with no school! it sleeted (that looks wrong - is that the correct usage?) all day and didn't get above freezing until 4pm, so it was probably a good decision for us weenie southerners. we got the call that school was cancelled at 10:30pm last night, so i was able to turn off my alarm and sleep until 9 (minus the half-asleep stumbling to the bathroom to feed ruby at 6:30am). yippee! ruby and i watched tv and napped all day, and i finally ventured out at 5pm to buy more yarn for some projects i'm working on (stay tuned*) and to buy some groceries. i'm about to kick this cold, so it was fantastic to have a day at home to focus on getting better.
*i recently bought these two books on knitting little stuffed animals, and i'm kind of obsessed with trying out some new patterns. right now i am finishing a rainbow octopus, and then i want to try an elephant wearing a sweater. because what self-respecting elephant goes around naked all the time?
*i recently bought these two books on knitting little stuffed animals, and i'm kind of obsessed with trying out some new patterns. right now i am finishing a rainbow octopus, and then i want to try an elephant wearing a sweater. because what self-respecting elephant goes around naked all the time?
Monday, January 27, 2014
Sunday, January 26, 2014
weekend recap
i hate blogs where people just tell you what they did. and here i am doing that. ugh. but here's what i've been up to!
on school on friday - ice day! houston, as you might imagine, is not prepared for winter weather, so when there was freezing rain and 28 degree temps all night thursday night, school got cancelled for friday. yippee! i did a whole lot of nothing and it was fantastic. i maintain that every year school should be cancelled for one day for a weather related reason, so i appreciate houston making that dream come true this year. the joy of a snow day does not wear off, even when you are 31.
saturday - my sister got engaged!
i had been in on the surprise for quite a while and am so so happy for her that she's in on it now, too!
saturday i went to yoga and a coworker's party even though i felt a cold coming on, and both were fantastic. sometimes i go to yoga and feel really strong and have excellent balance and try advanced moves. this was one of those classes (yesssss). (alternatively, sometimes i go to yoga and somehow can't stand on one leg even if my life depended on it and get tired really quickly and have to drag myself through the class. often their is no logical reason.) then i went to a coworker's party that i almost didn't go to (see: cold coming on), but she texted to make sure she had enough vegetarian food for me, and then i couldn't say no. the party was so. fun. and i ended up being one of the last people there, playing cranium and laughing a lot. hooray for new friends!
today the cold attacked with full force, so in between trying to take breaths through my nose i watched a lot of the last season of dexter and then went to the movies to see her with elizabeth. pretty good movie - it really made me think. still want to see nebraska and captain phillips before the oscars in march. i tried a new recipe and made spinach dal for dinner and it was pretty delish.
downton abbey + nyquil + 9pm bedtime + ruby had better want to snuggle = what i have planned for the rest of my weekend. on to monday!
on school on friday - ice day! houston, as you might imagine, is not prepared for winter weather, so when there was freezing rain and 28 degree temps all night thursday night, school got cancelled for friday. yippee! i did a whole lot of nothing and it was fantastic. i maintain that every year school should be cancelled for one day for a weather related reason, so i appreciate houston making that dream come true this year. the joy of a snow day does not wear off, even when you are 31.
saturday - my sister got engaged!
i had been in on the surprise for quite a while and am so so happy for her that she's in on it now, too!
saturday i went to yoga and a coworker's party even though i felt a cold coming on, and both were fantastic. sometimes i go to yoga and feel really strong and have excellent balance and try advanced moves. this was one of those classes (yesssss). (alternatively, sometimes i go to yoga and somehow can't stand on one leg even if my life depended on it and get tired really quickly and have to drag myself through the class. often their is no logical reason.) then i went to a coworker's party that i almost didn't go to (see: cold coming on), but she texted to make sure she had enough vegetarian food for me, and then i couldn't say no. the party was so. fun. and i ended up being one of the last people there, playing cranium and laughing a lot. hooray for new friends!
today the cold attacked with full force, so in between trying to take breaths through my nose i watched a lot of the last season of dexter and then went to the movies to see her with elizabeth. pretty good movie - it really made me think. still want to see nebraska and captain phillips before the oscars in march. i tried a new recipe and made spinach dal for dinner and it was pretty delish.
downton abbey + nyquil + 9pm bedtime + ruby had better want to snuggle = what i have planned for the rest of my weekend. on to monday!
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
des hommes et des chatons
my new favorite blog - des hommes et des chatons - male models and kittens in the same poses. HA. i laugh just thinking about this blog. totally safe for work as long as the people around you don't mind seeing half naked men AND WHY WOULD THEY.
Monday, January 20, 2014
long weekend in austin
i went to austin this weekend to visit my friend jenny and had such a great time! we ate very good food, hung out with her friends (who i really enjoy), hiked enchanted rock, visited the cute little town of fredericksburg, watched downton abbey, and spent a lot of time watching her dog (piper) and ruby get to know each other. (also, it was 70 degrees the whole weekend. we kept telling each other: this is why we moved to texas!)
the first time ruby and piper met (this fall) ended with ruby trying frantically to climb a wall of my bedroom…which is to say, it didn't end well. i figured if it was that bad this time around, ruby would spend the whole weekend in jenny's guest room, which is better than in a cage at the boarding place in houston. the weekend started with them staring at each other from across the apartment for long periods of time (pictured above), and evolved into piper trying to play with ruby and ruby holding her ground by hissing and batting at piper…but being curious enough by sunday night to prowl around the apartment and interact with piper instead of staying under the bed (where she spent much of saturday). it was pretty adorable. they did not end up cuddling together on the couch like i wanted, but i think they enjoyed each other.
hooray for a fun weekend with jenny! back to work in the morning...
the first time ruby and piper met (this fall) ended with ruby trying frantically to climb a wall of my bedroom…which is to say, it didn't end well. i figured if it was that bad this time around, ruby would spend the whole weekend in jenny's guest room, which is better than in a cage at the boarding place in houston. the weekend started with them staring at each other from across the apartment for long periods of time (pictured above), and evolved into piper trying to play with ruby and ruby holding her ground by hissing and batting at piper…but being curious enough by sunday night to prowl around the apartment and interact with piper instead of staying under the bed (where she spent much of saturday). it was pretty adorable. they did not end up cuddling together on the couch like i wanted, but i think they enjoyed each other.
hooray for a fun weekend with jenny! back to work in the morning...
Saturday, January 18, 2014
"the price of gold"
i was RIVETED by ESPN's "30 for 30" special on the nancy kerrigan / tonya harding scandal of 1994. if you didn't see it on thursday night, you should absolutely watch it the next time it comes on. i was 11 years old in 1994 and only remember a sketchy outline of what happened. hearing more of the details - and listening to interviews with tonya harding today looking back on it - was fascinating.
Friday, January 17, 2014
today i learned that sochi is 10 hours ahead of central time.
i haven't had many people over to my apartment yet because that's a thing close friends do and i'm, you know, new to this city. newish friends go out to restaurants and bars. old friends sit on the couch in their pajamas and eat take out food.
but! i love the olympics, so i am having a party to watch the opening ceremonies of the winter olympics. i decided this at 3pm and sent out the invitation like 3 hours later. (apparently i work quickly once i make decisions.) hopefully some new friends will want to come over and eat and drink and relax and watch the opening ceremonies with me. a step forward in my new home! ruby better not hide under the bed the whole time.
cue the obsessive checking of the evite to see if people have replied.
TWO PEOPLE HAVE REPLIED YES! wooooooo!
but! i love the olympics, so i am having a party to watch the opening ceremonies of the winter olympics. i decided this at 3pm and sent out the invitation like 3 hours later. (apparently i work quickly once i make decisions.) hopefully some new friends will want to come over and eat and drink and relax and watch the opening ceremonies with me. a step forward in my new home! ruby better not hide under the bed the whole time.
cue the obsessive checking of the evite to see if people have replied.
TWO PEOPLE HAVE REPLIED YES! wooooooo!
Sunday, January 12, 2014
a ruby a day
she begrudgingly obeys, even without a treat in sight:
how smart is she?! love this girl.
(not pictured: when she immediately jumps back up on the counter.)
how smart is she?! love this girl.
(not pictured: when she immediately jumps back up on the counter.)
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
there is a great moment in the movie philomena, which you should absolutely see, where philomena (played by judi dench) turns to an aging nun who has horribly wronged her and says "i forgive you."
her companion is still angry at the nun, and says to philomena, "what? just like that?"
philomena replies, "it's not just like that. it's hard. it's a hard thing to do. i don't want to hate people. look at you. i don't want to be like you."
--
the dixie chicks song "not ready to make nice" puts it this way - and i sing this line in my head a lot: "forgive, sounds good. forget, i'm not sure i could."
--
i have been struggling with how to write this post for a long time - even whether i should write the post at all...whether i should share this private part of my world on a public space. but it has been a part of my life for the past year, and at the end of the day i want to share it.
on december 5th a friend of mine entered a minimum security federal prison to begin a 5 year prison term, after 13 months of house arrest. the crime that he pled guilty to is one that shocks and horrifies me, one that still makes my stomach hurt when i think about it too much.
i have come a long way in those 13 months. from "he couldn't possibly have done this" to "he did this." from "a person who does this is a horrible human being" to "good people do bad things." from "do i call him?" to where i am today, writing letters with "federal corrections institute" in the address and coordinating an email list of people who want to send him books while he's in prison. he deserves to be punished, but it doesn't have to be by me.
i didn't feel this way immediately, and i know we will never go back to our friendship as it existed 14 months ago. but he is my friend. i will never forget what he did, but i forgive him.
her companion is still angry at the nun, and says to philomena, "what? just like that?"
philomena replies, "it's not just like that. it's hard. it's a hard thing to do. i don't want to hate people. look at you. i don't want to be like you."
--
the dixie chicks song "not ready to make nice" puts it this way - and i sing this line in my head a lot: "forgive, sounds good. forget, i'm not sure i could."
--
i have been struggling with how to write this post for a long time - even whether i should write the post at all...whether i should share this private part of my world on a public space. but it has been a part of my life for the past year, and at the end of the day i want to share it.
on december 5th a friend of mine entered a minimum security federal prison to begin a 5 year prison term, after 13 months of house arrest. the crime that he pled guilty to is one that shocks and horrifies me, one that still makes my stomach hurt when i think about it too much.
i have come a long way in those 13 months. from "he couldn't possibly have done this" to "he did this." from "a person who does this is a horrible human being" to "good people do bad things." from "do i call him?" to where i am today, writing letters with "federal corrections institute" in the address and coordinating an email list of people who want to send him books while he's in prison. he deserves to be punished, but it doesn't have to be by me.
i didn't feel this way immediately, and i know we will never go back to our friendship as it existed 14 months ago. but he is my friend. i will never forget what he did, but i forgive him.
Sunday, January 5, 2014
only in texas
my cashier at the grocery story this afternoon asked me if i was "enjoying the cold weather."
it is currently 48 degrees outside.
discuss.
it is currently 48 degrees outside.
discuss.
the last week of winter break
late on saturday the 28th i got back to houston from NC. on sunday i picked up ruby. she approves of the pajama pants that becky got me for christmas.
i finished knitting this stuffed bunny! i am helping teach a knitting class during my school's interim term, so he is a demonstration bunny so the kids have an idea of what they might be able to make. more stuffed animals to come, as this one was easy to make and is SO CUTE.
ruby has worms (not pictured. you're welcome.). she gets a dewormer and then proceeds to spend 23 hours a day on my bed looking SAD for the next three days. i kind of panic. she is eating normally, but seems to have zero energy. becky and mom both have to talk me down. i do a lot of lying on the bed, reading my book, and petting her. normal ruby follows me around the apartment, plays with toys, and purrs when petted. this version of ruby does not do these things. i tell myself that a pill is destroying a parasite inside her and this cannot feel good. i decide to call the vet on day 4 if she isn't feeling better.
in the meantime, i buy my 2014 calendar from paper source. you, too, need this calendar.
new years eve with two new friends! good food, fun music, hilarious people-watching, and great company.
when i get home i try to make ruby pose with my new years headband. she feels well enough to attack it from her spot on the bed.
new years day...sad ruby continues. and i don't get out of my pajamas.
january 2...ruby feels better! she does all her favorite things...play with toilet water:
help me cook:
try to get in the washing machine but accept the fact that she can just sit on top of it:
yay! my kitty is okay again! we do lots of cuddling and playing to make up for lost time.
jenny visits on her way back to austin from NC. i see the secret life of walter mitty.
i also went to four yoga classes this week - it feels good to start the new year on the right foot.
season 4 of downton abbey starts tonight!!
and tomorrow…up at 6:30am and back to work. sigh.
i finished knitting this stuffed bunny! i am helping teach a knitting class during my school's interim term, so he is a demonstration bunny so the kids have an idea of what they might be able to make. more stuffed animals to come, as this one was easy to make and is SO CUTE.
ruby has worms (not pictured. you're welcome.). she gets a dewormer and then proceeds to spend 23 hours a day on my bed looking SAD for the next three days. i kind of panic. she is eating normally, but seems to have zero energy. becky and mom both have to talk me down. i do a lot of lying on the bed, reading my book, and petting her. normal ruby follows me around the apartment, plays with toys, and purrs when petted. this version of ruby does not do these things. i tell myself that a pill is destroying a parasite inside her and this cannot feel good. i decide to call the vet on day 4 if she isn't feeling better.
in the meantime, i buy my 2014 calendar from paper source. you, too, need this calendar.
new years eve with two new friends! good food, fun music, hilarious people-watching, and great company.
when i get home i try to make ruby pose with my new years headband. she feels well enough to attack it from her spot on the bed.
new years day...sad ruby continues. and i don't get out of my pajamas.
january 2...ruby feels better! she does all her favorite things...play with toilet water:
help me cook:
try to get in the washing machine but accept the fact that she can just sit on top of it:
yay! my kitty is okay again! we do lots of cuddling and playing to make up for lost time.
jenny visits on her way back to austin from NC. i see the secret life of walter mitty.
i also went to four yoga classes this week - it feels good to start the new year on the right foot.
season 4 of downton abbey starts tonight!!
and tomorrow…up at 6:30am and back to work. sigh.
Friday, January 3, 2014
2013 in review: books
a recap:
2010: i read 15 books
2011: i started my book challenge with the goal of reading 25 books; i read 38.
2012: year two of the challenge; same goal. i read 34 books.
2013: year three of the challenge. i read 34 books again.
2013 broken down:
17 books written by women
17 by men
22 fiction books
12 nonfiction
(as mentioned in my previous post, i know that i'm drawn towards fiction because it's such good reading in bed before i fall asleep. i have several historical books that my school bought me that i need to dive into this year, though! and i got three (fiction) books for christmas - hooray!)
my favorite books of 2013? columbine and let the great world spin. put them on your list!
there's a great line in quiet that i thought appropriate to use to end this year of books:
"It's always been private occasions that make me feel connected to the joys and sorrows of the world, often in a form of communion with writers and musicians I'll never meet in person. Proust called these moments of unity between writer and reader 'that fruitful miracle of a communication in the midst of solitude.'" (pg. 68-69)
happy reading in 2014, friends!
2010: i read 15 books
2011: i started my book challenge with the goal of reading 25 books; i read 38.
2012: year two of the challenge; same goal. i read 34 books.
2013: year three of the challenge. i read 34 books again.
2013 broken down:
17 books written by women
17 by men
22 fiction books
12 nonfiction
(as mentioned in my previous post, i know that i'm drawn towards fiction because it's such good reading in bed before i fall asleep. i have several historical books that my school bought me that i need to dive into this year, though! and i got three (fiction) books for christmas - hooray!)
my favorite books of 2013? columbine and let the great world spin. put them on your list!
there's a great line in quiet that i thought appropriate to use to end this year of books:
"It's always been private occasions that make me feel connected to the joys and sorrows of the world, often in a form of communion with writers and musicians I'll never meet in person. Proust called these moments of unity between writer and reader 'that fruitful miracle of a communication in the midst of solitude.'" (pg. 68-69)
happy reading in 2014, friends!
Thursday, January 2, 2014
a photo a day
I got to meet my friends Emma and Ryan on Saturday! They are almost 5 months old and I had yet to snuggle them. Don't worry: that was corrected. Aren't they SO CUTE?
I miss these friends and their new additions and wish I got to spend more time with them!
Mamas and Daddys and babies!
I miss these friends and their new additions and wish I got to spend more time with them!
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