My girl Fayrene does an excellent job of showing one of my new favorite things about summer - movies in the backyard. John's talking about us watching the 100 films from Entertainment Weekly's list of new classics, and if F brings her fantastic strawberry shortcake every time, then count me in!
Movies in the backyard are still a distant 2nd to my other favorite pastime - swimming at Bartholomew Pool, but that's a whole other post.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
Violent and Crazy
This Violent Femmes rendition of Gnarls Barkley's Crazy is making its way around the Interwebs today, but it's so fantastic I'm jumping on the bandwagon.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
All I Want for Christmas is a Vitamix
I really love smoothies and I don't like Jamba Juice (too sweet) or Daily Juice (too far from my house/filled with hippies.) So, I make them at home.
Trouble is, my crappy blender can't blend all of the delectable things I put in (greens like kale, romaine lettuce or spinach have found their way in, as have beets, carrots and of course assorted fruits).
A man was selling fancy blenders at Costco once for $300 and I wouldn't let John buy one. The Vitamix 5200 pictured here retails for closer to $500 and I'm pretty serious about wanting one. Because even if you like beets in your smoothies (who doesn't!???), trust me when I say that you want them blended up really well.
My recipe, you ask? Sure...
1/2 cup soy milk
1/2 to 1 cup water, depending on thickness
4-6 ice cubes
2 cups assorted frozen fruit (banana, mango, blueberries - all fantastic!)
2 big handfuls of leafy greens, the greener the better
The blender should be full all the way to the top, and if you have a crappy blender like mine you'll have to periodically stop/re-start to shake it up to help things along. Half an apple gets rid of the kale taste - the other greens are easier to hide.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
A Heartbreaking Work
June 10th makes it 2 years since Dad died. I made it through the 10th okay, but was pretty much a mess all day yesterday (the 11th) - I think it's because that was the day we finally got to the house in Pennsylvania, and the day I called all of the relatives, making it more of the "real" day for me. I've been thinking lately about all of the strange stages and phases of grief I've traveled through so far. Time, it seems, continues to move too fast and too slowly - some days it's like the first day he's gone, then yesterday I spent hours trying to figure out if it was the 2nd or 3rd anniversary.
Somewhat related, I tried to re-read "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" and ended up leaving it on the night stand at the JW Marriot in Washington. I read it when it first came out and didn't think too much of it, but I thought that now maybe I would "get it" since my circumstances have changed. Nope, still not a fan. I'm probably bias because I know (and like) someone who doesn't get portrayed very well in the book. But I still don't buy what I think is one of the main themes - that people who have been sideswiped by grief are members of a special club that "regular" folks could never understand, and it's okay to (on some level) write everyone else off. Dad's death doesn't make me part of a special club, and if it does I guess I don't want to be a member.
Somewhat related, I tried to re-read "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" and ended up leaving it on the night stand at the JW Marriot in Washington. I read it when it first came out and didn't think too much of it, but I thought that now maybe I would "get it" since my circumstances have changed. Nope, still not a fan. I'm probably bias because I know (and like) someone who doesn't get portrayed very well in the book. But I still don't buy what I think is one of the main themes - that people who have been sideswiped by grief are members of a special club that "regular" folks could never understand, and it's okay to (on some level) write everyone else off. Dad's death doesn't make me part of a special club, and if it does I guess I don't want to be a member.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Lessons from a lazy weekend
Coming off of a delightfully lazy weekend - yoga, playing on the Wii Fit, watching movies, reading and hanging out on the couch with John and all of the animals (including the world's cutest kitty who really really needs a good home).
I finished Sarah Dessen's The Truth About Forever and Just Listen, both sweetly satisfying if somewhat simple YA books that I really identified with, for different reasons. In The Truth About Forever, the main character struggles through getting over the sudden loss of her Dad by trying to be as perfect as possible. In Just Listen, the main character finds love with the outsider boy who is obsessively passionate about music. A key message from both is that you can't deny the ugliness of your past, which is certainly something I continue to struggle with. Both girls are quick to use one of my often used phrases - "It's fine" - for all of us it usually means, "things are not fine but let's all pretend that they are cause that feels easier right now." In Dessen's books, there's always a thoughtful, handsome boy who compassionately guides the main characters through the heartache of moving on. Cheaper than a therapist, certainly, but not particularly realistic for a 31 year old married lady. Especially one who is so obstinate about doing everything herself.
Now that I think about it, Jenn's Hatha class on Saturday morning kindof fit with this theme as well. It was a really restorative class, lots of props and heart opening, and slowly moving between poses. Jenn talked a lot about the concept of "storylines" - basically, the idea that we're always working to convey our storyline - our idea of who we are and what we're about. The storyline is usually a myth - a way of forcing ourselves into compartments and easy definitions. At the end of class, during savasana, Jeff Buckley's version of Leonard Cohen's Halleluja started playing - that song's always a trigger for me and I quietly cried, which felt really nice, actually.
It's been a while since I had some time to sit around and lazily digest things, and all of the reading and watching and generally taking things in feels like preparation for something. Maybe I'll finally start writing (REALLY writing, not just the blathering that happens here) or just start to get some real clarity about why bad things sometimes happen to (relatively) good people.
I finished Sarah Dessen's The Truth About Forever and Just Listen, both sweetly satisfying if somewhat simple YA books that I really identified with, for different reasons. In The Truth About Forever, the main character struggles through getting over the sudden loss of her Dad by trying to be as perfect as possible. In Just Listen, the main character finds love with the outsider boy who is obsessively passionate about music. A key message from both is that you can't deny the ugliness of your past, which is certainly something I continue to struggle with. Both girls are quick to use one of my often used phrases - "It's fine" - for all of us it usually means, "things are not fine but let's all pretend that they are cause that feels easier right now." In Dessen's books, there's always a thoughtful, handsome boy who compassionately guides the main characters through the heartache of moving on. Cheaper than a therapist, certainly, but not particularly realistic for a 31 year old married lady. Especially one who is so obstinate about doing everything herself.
Now that I think about it, Jenn's Hatha class on Saturday morning kindof fit with this theme as well. It was a really restorative class, lots of props and heart opening, and slowly moving between poses. Jenn talked a lot about the concept of "storylines" - basically, the idea that we're always working to convey our storyline - our idea of who we are and what we're about. The storyline is usually a myth - a way of forcing ourselves into compartments and easy definitions. At the end of class, during savasana, Jeff Buckley's version of Leonard Cohen's Halleluja started playing - that song's always a trigger for me and I quietly cried, which felt really nice, actually.
It's been a while since I had some time to sit around and lazily digest things, and all of the reading and watching and generally taking things in feels like preparation for something. Maybe I'll finally start writing (REALLY writing, not just the blathering that happens here) or just start to get some real clarity about why bad things sometimes happen to (relatively) good people.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
On the road again
Spending a few days in DC for more meetings (this morning's event on Web 2.0 in Government was really interesting, so maybe more on that later).
I'm kindof tired of traveling, but the fantastic bed at the JW Marriott at least looks inviting. Now if only I could get used to sleeping without the husband and all of the animals.
I'm kindof tired of traveling, but the fantastic bed at the JW Marriott at least looks inviting. Now if only I could get used to sleeping without the husband and all of the animals.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Young Love
As I've previously mentioned, I've been big time into Young Adult books lately. I'm now re-reading Stephenie Meyer's new one, The Host. A really great read, although this one took me a little longer to get into then the Twilight series. The back cover compares her to Isaac Asimov, and I have to say it's not a bad comparison. I love Asimov - the Ender series is particularly incredible - and mid-way through the 2nd reading, I agree that Meyers has managed to create a completely believable sci-fi story that captures a lot of the same emotion that Asimov has when he's at his best. The Host is a fantastic read and I immediately started it again after finishing cause I was so stressed out by the plot line the first time (agonizing about these characters I really came to love, much like with Twilight) that I knew I'd be able to enjoy it more on the 2nd reading.
That said, I think I'm going to take a break from YA after this one, or at least choose something that doesn't center on a love story. It has been a long time since I experienced teenage love. Even though I was on the older side (19) and probably smarter about it than most (I have always been nothing if not responsible) it was still pretty consuming - my emotions turning on a dime, thinking about him constantly, obsessing over every single moment. I married that guy, and I think we've transitioned quite nicely into a sustainable, mostly wonderful grown-up version. I would still walk through fire to be with him, but I don't anticipate needing to do so any time soon. But the teenage love stories are starting to muddle my brain a bit, and I sometimes find myself feeling wistful. Today, at the airport, all I got was a sideways hug while he was still belted in, a quick kiss, and then I got my own bag out of the car. Perfectly acceptable since I'm only gone for 3 days and I travel pretty frequently on business, but for a minute I was kindof pissed. Where was the declaration that he would die without me? The sweeping me up in a passionate kiss like I was the last woman on the face of the earth? Never mind that either would have made me extremely uncomfortable cause I'm not really that kind of girl, it still took me about 20 minutes to shake the feeling that I was missing something.
I'll probably pick up a new book while I'm here - maybe a nice presidential biography, or something about food. Anyone have any good books to cleanse my palette?
That said, I think I'm going to take a break from YA after this one, or at least choose something that doesn't center on a love story. It has been a long time since I experienced teenage love. Even though I was on the older side (19) and probably smarter about it than most (I have always been nothing if not responsible) it was still pretty consuming - my emotions turning on a dime, thinking about him constantly, obsessing over every single moment. I married that guy, and I think we've transitioned quite nicely into a sustainable, mostly wonderful grown-up version. I would still walk through fire to be with him, but I don't anticipate needing to do so any time soon. But the teenage love stories are starting to muddle my brain a bit, and I sometimes find myself feeling wistful. Today, at the airport, all I got was a sideways hug while he was still belted in, a quick kiss, and then I got my own bag out of the car. Perfectly acceptable since I'm only gone for 3 days and I travel pretty frequently on business, but for a minute I was kindof pissed. Where was the declaration that he would die without me? The sweeping me up in a passionate kiss like I was the last woman on the face of the earth? Never mind that either would have made me extremely uncomfortable cause I'm not really that kind of girl, it still took me about 20 minutes to shake the feeling that I was missing something.
I'll probably pick up a new book while I'm here - maybe a nice presidential biography, or something about food. Anyone have any good books to cleanse my palette?
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