youlookthesame

I’m becoming a sad middle-aged woman

2011-11-06T18:04:00.000-08:00

It’s always interesting to see what other channels put up against sports - especially football.

As a woman with eclectic tastes - both sports and nerdy - I’m grateful for the “last” button on my remote.

Yesterday, “Serenity” was on television. “Serenity” stars Nathan Fillion as the lead character, Mal. Mr. Fillion is great with a quip and a mean look. He’s a little more angry than Han Solo, partially because Mal was on the losing side of an intergalactic war. He’s got some issues. We all love the man with issues and a dark side.

Is it sad I know exactly when in the movie Mr. Fillion is not wearing his shirt? And that he is the reason I ignore my hubs for an hour each Monday night to watch Castle?

Today, during Round 2 of football, “17 Again” was on TV. I think Zac Efron should be in more movies - more comedic roles. He works well with Tom Lennon, of whom I am a huge fan. However, back to the sad old lady I’m turning into.

Zac is adorable in this movie - and funny. I enjoy the beginning where he dances like MC Hammer (because it’s supposed to be 1989) and then tells off the school bully in the cafeteria in whatever year is supposed to be “today.”

Maybe I’m a sucker for this movie and Zac because he is hitting on Leslie Mann, who is supposed to be my age in the movie. I’d be off kilter if Zac Efron was hitting on me whether it was for a part or not.

Oh, and they open the movie with Zac without his shirt.

See? Sad. And a tad bit creepy. Especially since I could be his inappropriately aged teen mom. Nathan Fillion - less creepy, he’s my age.

Another sad, sad middle-aged thing: when Law & Order was on this morning - I had seen all of them. No matter who was Jerry Orbach’s partner, no matter who was the assistant D.A. with Jack McCoy - I had seen all of them.

"Community" and "Psych" are in my Hulu queue, but I don’t think that counteracts the fact that I also like “Harry’s Law.”

I think it’s because I’m Gen-X that I am a hot mess when it comes to my pop culture/TV preferences. And that I'm objectifying men. It’s definitely not because I’m middle aged.

24 down, two to go

2011-10-30T16:24:00.000-07:00

"The Girl Who Played with Fire," by Stieg Larsson.

I read the first book, "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," well more than a year ago. I think I still lived in Indiana. Yeah, that's a while ago. It took me awhile to get to the second book, even though my dad gave it to me right as I finished the first.

In speaking with a friend about The Hunger Games trilogy and this trilogy, we decided that while THG were fun to read, and the Dragon Tattoo books are better written. But it's like taking medicine. You can't put them down, but it's not a read you look forward to because it's dark stuff. The movie trailer for the English version staring James Bond calls it the "feel bad movie of the season" and boy, howdy, is that true.

However, it is quite nice to read a book with a strong and smart heroine. She's not a throw away character, not a bombshell, but pretty, and does things on her terms. Come to think of it, many of the women in the book are strong characters - Erika Berger and the female detective - it's the men that are dinosaurs. Many of them don't like "different" women.

This second book in the series is more about Lisbeth Salander and her background, which was alluded to in the first novel. I don't want to reveal too much about this book. You should read series for yourself.

Next up: I know you're going to be shocked when I write here that the next book is "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest." I do have to dig up one more book to get off my shelf. I did discover another John Irving book. I don't understand why I have so many. I like his writing, but good grief, I think I've read just about everything he's written at this point.

23 down, three to go

2011-10-29T10:44:00.000-07:00

I know I've been behind on writing about these, but it's been busy at work. Yeah yeah yeah, excuses excuses, let's get to the book. Which I read months ago. I know, I know. Plus my computer died, had to get a new one, yada yada yada, cry me a river, #FirstWorldProblems. I get it.

"The Dante Club," by Matthew Pearl is an excellent murder mystery. It's not your easy summer book - no, no. You need to bring your intellect to this one, and that's why I love it so.

"The Dante Club" is historical fiction with the main characters figures from history. I am not sure if the characters - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, James Russell Lowell and J. T. Fields - exhibited the character traits to which they were assigned, but I can fathom that they were.

Reading the interaction between these intellectual giants made me feel smarter - even though it was all Mr. Pearl's creation. Also, it's not necessary to have read Dante's "Inferno" and it's been decades since I have, but I followed along quite easily. Mr. Pearl provides exposition without making it tedious or seem as if you're an idiot for not having read Dante's work.

If you have a book snob in your family who does not want to read the latest James Patterson or believes that "The Hunger Games" is below them, first, point out something that they do that is low brow and their hypocrisy, then hand them this one. It's quite delightful.

Next up: The Girl Who Played with Fire. This is one I've had on my shelf for years, and since the New Years resolution is to get rid of books I've had, this one's a perfect choice.

22 down, four to go

2011-08-21T17:52:00.000-07:00

“Mockingjay,” by Suzanne Collins, is the third and final book in the Hunger Games trilogy.

I have mixed feelings about this book. There are some incredible twists and turns in this book - and I do not want to spoil them. There are a few scenes that are so jaw dropping I still think about them, and I finished the book more than two weeks ago.

This is a war book - there is a lot of fighting, strategy, propaganda, death. The revolution has gained strength, Katniss is suffering even more from Post Traumatic Stress disorder, and the love triangle - it get complicated.

This blog post is going to be short. I don’t want to write anything that could give away the surprises this trilogy has to offer. You don’t even see some the plot turns coming in the first or second book. I’m not even going to comment on the Peeta/Gale triangle.

Just go read the trilogy, send me an email when you’ve finished it, then we’ll talk.

The next book: “Dante Club,” by Matthew Pearl.

21 down, five to go

2011-08-14T15:43:00.000-07:00

“Catching Fire” by Suzanne Collins is the the second book in the Hunger Games trilogy. And there are spoilers in the post, so if you haven’t read the book, stop reading this post now.

I checked out the book on Wednesday - returned it to the library on Thursday in exchange for the third book, which I also returned the next day. The librarian gave me an odd look each day.

The second book deals more with the effects of being forced to kill another person. And these are kids being forced to do this. Post Traumatic Stress disorder plagues the lead character Katniss Everdeen. She has constant nightmares, wants to be alone, and has moments of terror.

At the end of the last games, Katness and Peeta were both going to eat poison nightlock berries because they did not want to kill each other - which is an act of rebellion against the capital. As a result, Katniss has to convince the President Snow, ruler of Panem, that she is truly in love with Peeta. On her victory tour, she tries to go along with the program, but inadvertently incites rebellion wherever she goes.

In this book, Gale features more prominently, and a crackdown has begun in District 12 as a result, even though rebellion has flared up in many of the districts. To add more drama - it’s the Quarter Quell. It’s 75 years since “peace” was declared, and every 25 years the Quarter Quell is the Hunger Games with added horrors, and the reaping will be of previous winners from the districts. Basically, Katniss is headed back into the arena.

What stood out to me that one of the district winners was named “Cecelia” and she had three kids. Collins used this to show the power the Capital has over the people of Panem. She died, and left three young children as orphans.

Collins did an excellent job of making President Snow an insidious character. He is truly terrifying in the sense that a whisper is more terrifying than a scream.

The cliffhanger at the end of this book is even bigger than the first, so make sure you have the third book handy. You’re going to want to dive right in.

20 down, six to go

2011-08-13T18:27:00.000-07:00

The first time I had seen “Flowers for Algernon” was in seventh grade in the library at Glasgow Junior High. Maybe it’s a middle school now, I don’t know. The book was in a blue wire circular rack that spun around. It was rickety and was always in danger of falling over. Students took their chances browsing books in that display.

I picked it up, saw that it was about someone who was mentally retarded - (remember, this was 1985, but the book was first published in the early ‘60s) became really smart and then mentally deficient again. I checked it out, never got to it because I probably had a science report due and it was near the end of the year.

Years later, I saw it in a used bookstore with the same cover. (I showed the book to some friends and they all remembered the cover. I guess a bunch of us read it in junior high.) The book was made into a movie titled “Charly,” and the movie poster became the book cover. I’ve had this book on my shelf for decades, so I decided it was time to read it.

This is a heartbreaking book. I hope people aren’t as mean to the mentally handicapped as the “regular” people are in this book - but then at the end are kind of nice (we all love some redemption in our stories). Then, to be so smart and lose it all as Charlie does - and have maybe a small inkling about it - is so harsh. It seemed equally heartbreaking for those who did care about him to realize what he had gained and lost in a small amount of time. It does seem unfair.

The book also makes an interesting point that intelligence equals doucheness. Because he was so smart, he was jerk, which I think is unfair and true at the same time. I hate it when really smart people make you feel dumb - the same way people who think they’re cool make you feel uncool. Basically, anyone who acts superior or a total jerk deserves a smack.

Charlie’s mom is damaged herself. She couldn’t come to terms with having a child who wasn’t normal, thus sending her son off and doting on her daughter. Her desire to keep up appearances drove her marriage to divorce and a bit a madness. There are more support groups these days and people are generally accepting of differently-abled citizens, but I’ve never been good with meanness.

This is a quick read, but it’s not easy. I blew through two-thirds of the book - and then stopped. It was difficult to read because I dreaded the ending.

Next up: “Catching Fire,” the second book in the Hunger Games trilogy

17 down, 9 to go

2011-08-07T13:37:00.000-07:00

"The Hunger Games," by Suzanne Collins.

This is the book Meredith and Francie have been after me to read. The book I have avoided because I’m leery of people saying I HAVE to read it. The surly, Irish girl in me who distrusts authority and groups of people dug my heels in. I don’t HAVE to do anything.

Then my favorite podcast Too Beautiful to Live (or TBTL) brought back their Summer Book Club and chose “The Hunger Games.” I took it as a sign, and checked it out from the library.

I could not put this book down. I pretty much read it in a day, and it was hard to put the book down and go to bed. It is not high brow literature, but man, it is a great read. I cannot recommend this book enough.

The scary thing about this book - it not hard to imagine something like this happening. With food prices rising, the economy in the toilet - this book makes a strong argument for taking a survivalist class or to learn how to bow hunt. Let me boil it down for you.

There’s been another civil war in the U.S., this time over food. Now, the capitol is in what I’m guessing Denver, the country is called Panem, and food is even more scarce. The powers-that-be like to remind all the Districts (there are 13, but the 13th, was bombed off the face of the earth) that they are still in control, and therefore hold a lottery every year. The names of all children from ages 12 to 18 in the Districts are placed into the lottery. A male and female representative are chosen, they go off to an outdoor arena (a different climate and terrain every year) and fight to the death against representatives of the other districts.

That’s right, to the death. Oh - and it’s televised.

The winner gets food for the rest of their life.

Yikes.

The blending of rural life and high tech surveillance paints a very real picture of life in future where food is a precious commodity. Of course, there are richer districts with better training, better health care, better schooling - basically the same issues we face today. But in this scenario, life and death is a little more obvious than what we see today.

I’m on the list at the library for the second book, and I will be joining the live broadcast of the book club discussing the book today at 5 p.m. Pacific Time (that’s 7 p.m. my time).

Next up: “Flowers for Algernon,” by Daniel Keyes.

16 down, 10 to go

2011-07-31T18:54:00.000-07:00

I like Lewis Black, he takes his anger at hypocrisy and injustice and makes it funny. And he questions - I love those who question. Everything. He’s 2-year-old with better vocabulary.

“Me of Little Faith” is a collection of thoughts and essays on religion, including a funny list of “why to believe” on the page opposite of “why not to believe.” He addresses the rising level of Evangelical Christianity, pointing out that we used to just live and let live, now people of many faiths proselytize. He doesn’t say this explicitly, but does a good job letting the reader come to this conclusion.

Oh, and don’t think he just went after Evangelicals. Oh no, everyone is fair game. That’s why I enjoy Lewis Black, no one is immune from his rants. He comments (or refrains from commenting, points that out, which is a commentary in itself) on every faith.

And he does rant. There are some awesome rants - and you can hear his voice say these things as you read them. The problem is when he writes something that’s sweet, touching, or thoughtful without bite - they’re off-putting. I find those passages wonderful, but I can’t hear him say it. I can’t image him say poignant things without twitching, which doesn’t seem right because Lewis Black does not have a tin ear, he wouldn’t twitch and yell something sweet. Or maybe he would, he often alludes to his poor record at relationships. Maybe it’s that questioning thing.

Although this book made me laugh out loud, I’d rather watch Lewis Black on TV or in person. He’s a great writer - most good comics are - but I enjoy him so much better live. This is a great book to read on an airplane - or maybe not, you might unnerve your passengers.

Next up: “The Hunger Games,” so Meredith and Francie will stop bugging me about it.

15 down, 11 to go

2011-07-30T18:52:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine from college is a very, very, very prolific reader. She posts her recent reads on the Good Reads website, which in turn post to her Facebook page. These posts are frequent - more frequent than regular status updates. I am jealous of her reading - and pressured.

See, I won’t join Good Reads. A good chunk of my family is on that site - some of whom are retired - and are extremely well-read. Oh, they’ll read a good James Patterson guilty pleasure, but they’ll also read books on Hamilton or Jefferson. (By the way, I love when James Patterson shows up on Castle for poker games. ABC, keep that up. Nathan Fillion, call me.) Although, I’m assured my cousin Mike reads a lot of about golf and baseball with the occasional non-fiction history book.

And that’s the other thing - I don’t want to be judged. I know, I know, I’m posting it here on a blog that’s open to all, but not many people read this site, and it’s still a way to keep me reading, writing and being somewhat creative. There’s an accountability to this process.

Up popped a “Good Reads” status update on Facebook that stated Paurenia was reading “The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie” by Alan Bradley. I adored that book, and of course devoured the second Flavia de Luce book, “The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag.” Not as good as the first, but still delightful. So, after a quick Internet search to see if there was a third book (AND HUZZAH! THERE IS!) I checked out “A Red Herring without Mustard.”

These books are very, very British, but I love the spunky lead character and that she’s a young girl who likes chemistry. Yes! (When reading to friends’ young daughters, I often change the endings to Disney princess books so that the princess isn’t rescued - she works together with the prince to find a solution. Or figures it out herself.)

Not my strongest recommendation, but it’s nice to see more of the family troubles bubbling their way to the surface in the other story lines. I checked this book out from the library, (and you should, too) so I didn’t spend money, thus keeping with my resolution to not buy any books, but it wasn’t a book from my shelf.

Next up: Lewis Black’s, “Me of Little Faith.”

14 down, 12 to go

2011-07-15T16:06:00.000-07:00

This was my fourth reading of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” written by J.K. Rowling. (If you don’t know that why did you join a terrorist group and why do you hate America? Or, um, Great Britain, really. Or read a newspaper. Basically, there’s a big wide world around you, pay attention.)

I am a Potter fiend. I’ve written quizzes and articles for the various news organizations that have employed me. I reread the books, turning to them as comfort food for my soul. But I didn’t start out that way. Like most of the most fervent converts, I was a skeptic.

When the books started to be a phenomenon, I viewed it as a cult or a fanatical mob. I was correct in my thinking, but it’s a nice and nerdy mob. You don’t have to know every single detail about Nearly Headless Nick, Dobby, or Cedric Diggory, but if you’ve read the books (you don’t even have to see the movies) you’re welcomed into the fold. But if you’ve read the books, you’re probably in deep.

Potter fiends don’t just read them once, they studied each book, guessing what the next one would bring. There were books and articles written, studying the text like doctrine. Colleges set up classes across varying disciplines; religion, philosophy, sociology, English, etc. Many kids learned about racism, classism, sexism, that good and evil aren’t black and white and you should be nice to everyone, even if they’re a little different than you.

But apparently, there aren’t any Jewish wizards, but that’s a whole other discussion.

My first missionary I encountered in Potterdom was my best friend, who got married when the fourth book (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) was released. She was taking the book on her honeymoon and was worried her new husband would be annoyed that she would be so distracted by a book.

Other friends waited in line at midnight releases for the books. I mocked them. Oh, I did not realize that by the time the fifth book was released, I’d be right there with them.

I get this stubbornness, this challenging authority and popular thinking, from my parents - especially my dad. It’s not a bad thing to be suspicious of what whips people up into frenzies. Many dictators get power (besides being mean) doing that kind of thing. And we get that Constitution document to allow me to question. It’s how we find the bad stuff and make people follow the golden rule - by questioning. I repeatedly asked “Why?” of my converted friends like an 4-year-old trying to understand the world. I was trying to understand the world of wizards.

Some of you won’t ever read the books, and that’s fine. But try this. Find the kid in your life - as a volunteer, a neighbor, a newphew - whatever - and make time with that kid. Read a chapter a day. Make some quality time with that kid via Harry Potter, and you’ll be doing more than joining Potterdom.

Next up: “A Red Herring Without Mustard,” by Alan Bradley. It’s the third book in the Flavia de Luce series. The first two were “The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie” and “The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag.” (All very good, go check them out from your local library pronto.

Whoa! We're halfway there... WHOOOAAA! LIVIN' ON A PRAYER

2011-07-05T19:21:00.000-07:00

13 down, 13 to go

“Cool It: The Skeptical Environmentalist’s Guide to Global Warming,” by Bjorn Lomborg.

First, some caveats: I am an environmentalist. I recycle in a city that does not have curbside recycling. I hypermile (but not to the extreme). I turn of lights compulsively, and we use cloth napkins for a week before washing them so we cut down on paper napkin waste. My father worked for the EPA and my aunt worked for the Wilderness society. Growing up, we recycled newspaper before it was hip to do, as well as cans - and we had an electric lawn mower. You may laugh at that, but lawnmowers’ emissions are not regulated. That’s a lot of crap being belched out into the air for the perfect lawn. And think of the riding mowers! We’re that lazy! We’re polluting that much! Marvel at your lawn through your window during those red level ozone days! Huzzah!

Now, the contention: I hate environmentalists. They don’t compromise, everything is all or nothing, they’re prone to hyperbole and righteousness. The love scaring the crap out of the general public as much as the cable news loves terror alerts. They don’t consider budgets and they say its for the common good, but sometimes they miss the forest for the trees. (See what I did there?) Their holier-than-thou attitude makes me want to not even try because they set a standard that’s impossible to live up to. Most of us do our best, it’s what we can do, now leave me the eff alone.

However, I do believe in climate change. Time for some oversimplification in an example! Ready? Go!

Go into a room, not a big room, say your living room - it’s just you, it’s nice, cool, relaxing. Invite your neighbors over, say, about five or six of them. Air gets a little warmer, doesn’t it? People are leaving their soda cans around the room along with the paper plates they ate the barbecue off of because you didn’t want to do all those dishes. Now you have to turn up the AC and take out extra trash.

Oversimplification over! But you get my meaning.

“Cool It” has some excellent points. I agree with Lomborg that the Kyoto Protocol is a waste of money; we should be spending money on helping poor countries with disease and economies instead of focusing on carbon credits. It’s one of those high tide lifts all boats kind of things. (Yes! This is the post where I overuse metaphors, similes, platitudes and trite phrases! Excellent!)

Lomborg says we should be spending money on research and development because cutting a small fraction of carbon emissions will have a negligible affect on helping Ethiopians who are in a drought. We cut emissions with fewer flights - but that doesn’t help poorer countries and now we all have to pay more to fly. I agree with Lomborg in that we should pave roads, give malaria stricken areas mosquito nets, make it worth a company’s time to research how we get off coal, oil and other polluting energies. We should invest in research and development.

(My father - who can just nail it sometimes - said after the tsunami and subsequent meltdown in Japan said something like, “The problem is, energy production is harmful to humans, people will always get hurt. Sometimes it’s quick, sometimes it’s slow. There’s no good way to get power without hurting a bunch of people. It’s a dirty process.” Don’t you hate it when your parents are right? I’ll never admit to my mom that I should’ve stuck with piano lessons.)

With climate change, Lomborg (who does believe in climate change) points out that with increased rainfall these poor areas in Africa will actually have more rain to grow crops and there will be fewer deaths. Oh? Fewer deaths? Won’t more people die from the heat. Yes - but more people freeze to death in the world than die from the heat - yet that never makes news. Google it.

Lomborg also makes an excellent point that flooding is causing more damage because there are more people living near rivers. Zoning laws have changed and people build next to streams and rivers. Those will flood from time to time. So - we’re seeing deaths and monetary increases in damage from tornadoes, floods and hurricanes because there are more people, and we’re living in areas previously unpopulated. (Although, I’d love to know what he things about these massive tornadoes we had earlier this spring in Tuscaloosa and Joplin - oh, and Springfield, Massachusetts? Really?)

The edition of the book I have was purchased in early 2008, well before the Great Recession began. Since this version was published, there is a longer book, a movie (which you can obtain on iTunes), a website and so on. And some laws have changed.

Lomborg makes excellent points, but it reads like a thesis. (Half of the book is citations! Seriously! Not counting the index, there are 244 pages and the book ends at 166.) The final chapter is even titled, “Conclusion: Making Our Top Priorities Cool.” This is a technical book, and it gets bogged down in numbers and statistics, but it does make valid points. Especially the part about how media and some scientists (who are really bureaucrats) exaggerate the situation. The rhetoric is so heated (punny!) that it’s hard to have a civil discussion. That’s more a reflection on our society, the internet and, of course, cable news, but I’m not going there today.

Maybe the movie is easier to get through than the book.

Next up: Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows. (Yeah, I’ve read it a few times before, but the movie is coming out and I haven’t read it in a year. Still falls within the parameters of my New Years Resolution. So there.)

12 down, 14 to go

2011-06-26T19:02:00.000-07:00

I have mixed emotions about "The Help," by Kathryn Stockett. “The Help” takes place in the early 1960s in Mississippi, as the Civil Rights movement begins. It’s a good read - nothing too complicated even though it handles complicated issues: race, feminism, classism and more.

The first main character introduced in the book and the heart of the book is Aibileen, a black maid who looks after the children and cleans the house of a white family. The other characters are Minny is another black maid that speaks her mind - which white folk during this time don’t really want to hear, and a white young woman with the nickname Skeeter, who isn't happy with how things are - for women or blacks. Stockett does and excellent job painting their relationships and the minefields they walk through, and doesn’t wrap everything up in a neat little bow in the end - thankfully. Life is messy, I’m glad the plot is, too.

If you’re not familiar with the Civil Rights movement or what exactly life was like in the South in the 1960s this is a good book to read to get your feet wet. However, I was fortunate enough to take History of Civil Rights from Julian Bond and History of the South from Dr. Edward Ayers (who is now the president at the University of Richmond) while I was an undergraduate at the University of Virginia.

Those two men conveyed the fear and courage of what blacks and Civil Rights workers went through better than “The Help,” which is the biggest understatement I’ve ever typed. However, there were distinct passages in this book where Stockett did an excellent job conveying how tenuous all three women’s safety (not just social status) was in what they were doing.

A passage stands out in my mind about a white woman getting back at black woman. White women don’t use violence, but they make it so you can’t work anywhere in town, which means you can’t pay your bills, feed your family or keep a roof over your head. And I hate to say it, women can be way more calculating - chipping away at your life, self-esteem and everything you hold dear bit by bit. (Junior high, anyone?)

It is a good book, but I disagree with the blurb on the front that this is as important as “To Kill a Mockingbird,” a book that still stays with me. I remember being a little girl, hiding under the covers to read that - crying when I finished it. My dad caught me reading, well crying, when I should have been asleep, but talked to me about the book and how I felt about it. I was 12, and didn’t realize how mean and misguided people could be.

Perhaps because I’ve taken many history classes and seen the horrible things people say and do to each other that I can't ride the roller coaster in this book - and saw much of it coming (except Minny's terrible awful thing...). Maybe it’s my cynicism that prevents me from completely losing myself in “The Help.” With today’s isolationism and the general population’s fear of immigrants, Mexicans, Muslims, gays and anyone else who is slightly different - I’ve lost the ability to be shocked by the blind hate people feel towards their fellow humans.

Next up: "Cool it"

11 down, 15 to go

2011-06-19T20:06:00.000-07:00

The great file purge of 2011. Shredding is quite therapeutic.

Part of the focus of this blog is to help me get rid of crap I’ve been carrying around for years.

My mom - love her to death - is big on giving me things to hold on to. “It was your grandma’s... It’d be a shame to throw this out.... I was cleaning out my closet and came across this old (dish, dress, book, photo, tablecloth, book, box of trinkets, etc.) and thought you might like it, I can’t bear to throw it out....”

Basically, she doesn’t want it, but she doesn’t want to feel guilty for getting rid of whatever it, but she doesn’t want it. This way, it’s out of her house, but it’s still in her sphere - so she doesn’t have any of the guilt.

I’m sure you have relatives who do this, we all do. And I have received some wonderful things from her. However, we’re currently passing back and forth a robe that Hugh Hefner himself would love. It’s black and gold, like my grandpa’s beloved Mizzouri Tigers. I found it when I cleaned out my grandpa’s house after he died and held on to it with the intention to give it to my mom. She’s been trying to give it back ever since I snuck it home and put it one of her closets.

So, I found “Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress Free Productivity,” by David Allen. It’s very “motivational” and full of jargon - but there are some good points in the book.

Allen made a point about keeping things off your desk. It’s good to have an inbox so there aren’t piles. When you go through your inbox, use 2 minutes to address whatever it is. If the item can be addressed in 2 minutes, it does on a series of to do lists. It also helps give ways to pitch things you don’t want that you’ve been holding on to - much like a book I read last year “Throw out 50 Things.”

The book also says to throw everything into your inbox so you can address it and get organized. My inbox became my rocking chair, and boy, did it over flow.

My inbox and my rectangular file.

The other point that resonated with me was that you are very unlikely to file things if your file cabinet is full, causing thing to pile up around your desk. I purged the heck out of my files and shredded enough paper to celebrate the Maverick’s win over the Heat. My files weren't even alphabetized. My DVDs and CDs (although soon to be obsolete) are even alphabetized. What was I thinking with my most important papers? I baffle myself.

Writing things down - boy, I have got to get better at this. Allen advocates carrying around a stack of note cards and to write down an “action item” when it occurs to you - using one card at a time. Being the environmentalist that I am, I took some old print outs of articles or documents that weren’t sensitive and cut them into strips of paper.

I’m also now setting deadlines on my computer calendar so that “call Joe Schmoe” doesn’t fall by the way side. I’m scheduling my time much better.

Honestly, this book is full of catch phrases for the junior executive, but I did take away a few good points on how to get the clutter out of my office and be more efficient.

A few websites have sprouted up because of his 43 folders idea. It’s something I did when I was a photo editor. I had an accordion file numbered 1 through 31 and put things in for days of the month. That way, you dealt with it on the specific deadline. The other 12 folders are for various categories that he suggests, but I'm not into it.

Would I recommend this book - meh. It is an easy read - super easy read. If he cut out the feel good business jargon, this book would be shorter, easier to read and glean the organizational lessons. And the version I read was from 2002 - way before smart phones, Google calendars and everything else electronic that now tells us what to and where to go. Was it helpful? Yes, parts of it. I just wish it was boiled down to the nitty gritty.

That said, I’m working on things now that I’ve been putting off because I had to organize my office. Sometimes platitudes work. You just have to cut out the bull poop to get to it.

And this book goes on the donation pile. Next post: “The Help,” by Kathryn Stockett.

2011-06-12T16:53:00.000-07:00

10 Down, 16 to go

Beginning a new job is always an adjustment with time management. However, I have read three books since I last posted thanks to the benefit of an hour lunch break.

So, let me begin with “Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America,” by Erik Larson, which is an amazing, amazing read.

Larson’s research and journalism training make this an extremely detailed book - but not so intricate that the reader gets lost in facts. Larson uses facts about the World’s Columbian Exposition influence on a generation - and how that influence is still seen in today’s culture - to spin a tail about overcoming impossibilities, naysayers, and the optimism of such an event with the backdrop of one of the country’s first well-known serial killers lurking on the edge of a joyous account. He doesn’t use a heavy hand to create the contrast, believing in the intelligence of the reader. Refreshing.

The men who worked to make the World’s Fair happen did so under extreme time pressure, labor disputes, and a lack of understanding between the classes. Larson doesn’t dwell on the social issues of the day - but his writing makes it clear that the U.S. in the 1890s was a simmering pot of class struggle, labor, banks failing and the economy taking a complete nose dive. (Sound familiar? Except back then, depressions or recessions were called “panics” - fitting - and it seems the suicides were higher in profile.) For example, George Pullman, of the Pullman Palace Car Company didn’t want to lay off his workers, so he cut wages. However, he didn’t reduce rents on the housing he provided for his workers. I’d be pissed, too.

The serial killer, Dr. H.H. Holmes, nee Herman Webster Mudgett, is beyond creepy. There is no other way to say it. Larson clearly consulted psychologists to get a feel for a sociopath/psychopath of this nature, and his subtle writing matches the way Dr. Holmes used cunning to capture his victims. To quote Alfred Hitchcock, “There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it.” When reading this book before sleeping, I made sure I finished a chapter about the fair rather than Dr. Holmes, otherwise sleep was not restful.

I find serial killers fascinating - but so does most of America. Why else would we have all the crime drama’s on television? At one point, I started reading books by John Douglas and Robert Ressler, who were members of the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit, thinking I’d want to help profile criminals. Until I read the description of a killer who liked scooping out the ovaries of women and eating them. I was eating peas at that moment - and didn’t eat them again for a year.

Reading about Dr. Holmes, I became so frustrated with how easily women were charmed by them. But I’m viewing it through 21st century eyes tainted with a heavy dose of women’s studies, psychology, television and too many James Patterson books in my youth. I was also stunned at how easily people could disappear or assume different identities. Dr. Holmes would move on to a new town, assume a new name and a new set of victims.

The people who were influenced by the Worlds Fair is myriad, and stunning; Disney’s father worked there and subsequently told his son about the fair, the debut of the Ferris Wheel, the tune to “There’s a place in France where the naked ladies dance” was penned, belly dancing, electric light, elevators, Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley performed, the historic gathering of brilliant architects (including Frederick Law Olmsted, the landscape architect who designed Central Park) who believe in Chicago’s greatness as well as their own egos, and even the term “Midway.”

It saddens me that to believe that something of this magnitude could not happen today. We’re too litigious a society, and everyone wants a say instead of trusting the experts. Even believing they know better. (There is some of this sentiment throughout the building of the fair, but they didn’t have to contend with the Internet, just annoying society ladies. Those women - I swear, they sometimes hurt women’s causes more than help.)

My mother and I visited the Library of Congress a few years ago, and she was awe-struck at the optimism the building exuded. She had visited the building previously, but we don’t construct our building to last or to be monument to our optimism in our government helping the American people. I’m all for penny-pinching, but I like our buildings which represent our people to be awe inspiring.

“Devil in the White City” was published a few years back, but if you haven’t read it, go check it out from your local library. Between this and “Pitch Perfect,” which was also excellent researched and reported, I’ve read some excellent non-fiction books in the past couple of weeks.

2011-05-30T15:42:00.000-07:00

Nine down, 17 to go

I attended school at the University of Virginia, which, in the early 90s, boasted about 80 a cappella groups. OK, not really, but there were many many many. All men, all women, co-ed, religious, comical, classic, and so on. A group sing was held with these groups and visiting schools at least every other week. "Pitch Perfect," by Mickey Rapkin features one of these groups, my beloved Hullabahoos.

"Pitch Prefect" examines college a cappella and the contests, organizations that sponsor the contests and the VH1 Behind The Music stories behind it. They're not as salacious as Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue almost dying, but there are break downs, medical issues and more.

However, Rapkin has fun with the scandals, and writes about it with heart and a little bit of mocking. Not hurtful mocking, but college a cappella is fun activity, and he has fun with it. In the epilogue, he reveals he was a member of a group at Cornell. Rapkin's writing conveys his enjoyment of this college phenomena, but doesn't write a love letter to it.

Aside from the Hullabahoos, Rapkin profiles the all-male Beelzebub's from Tufts and female group Divisi from the University of Oregon. The Tufts group has been around for almost a century, Divisi about five or six years now. The Hullabahoos, since the late 80s.

I read this on a plane, and there were parts where I laughed out loud. Because his tone is slightly tongue in cheek, he uses some hilarious similes and metaphors that you might hear on "Chelsea Lately," and I adore Chelsea Handler. (I once had the passenger next to me politely ask me what I was reading because I was snorting aloud at "Chelsea Chelsea, Bang Bang." She just wanted me to shut up so she could sleep.)

This was the best piece of feature journalism that I have read in a long time. My dad, as well as some other folks that I've worked for, don't like feature writing. Now, I'm a hard news junkie like the rest of them, but sometimes, you need the fun. Not fluff, fun. These stories have compelling characters, drama (real drama, not the "Real Housewives" kind) and wonderful writing. Rapkin even did research! Some folks just interview, but research can make a good book great. There are facts and quotes in here that I would have never though existed. I cannot recommend this book enough. This is what excellent journalism does, research, filters, and paints a picture.

Full disclosure: I still have my cassette tapes with the Hullabahoos "Full Glottal Stop" on my shelf. Oh, and check out the NPR interview with Rapkin here. He also has a blog, which he hasn't updated in a while, but it's still fun to page back through to see the stuff that didn't fit in the book.

Seriously - go read this book.

2011-05-27T14:27:00.000-07:00

Skeletons (of a kind) in my closet

My brother's effort to lighten his life load inspired my mother to clean out some closets in the spare bedroom to make room for him if he should come live here after his treatment and his medical discharge from the Army.

Last time she cleaned out a closet, she found all my homecoming and prom dresses in all their late-80s/early 90s glory. Some had puffy sleeves, some were mostly velvet, some were iridescent. My husband enjoyed this fashion flashback. She sent them to a charity that helps girls who can't afford them get prom dresses. I hope they pulled a "Pretty in Pink" and redesign those suckers.

Yes, I know my feet aren't together.
Nor are they marching.

This time, my mom pulled from the closet my high school letter jacket (which used to be huge, now, not so much. Talk about motivation for that 20 year reunion this fall), my practice flag (with a spare canvas!) for color guard and my sorority windbreaker. She's holding on to the flag and the letter jacket for the reunion. The windbreaker was slated for Goodwill.

I took the windbreaker to dinner with some sorority sisters that night - and one took it! She loved it! This is awesome. My jacket (which she reminded me was "so me" because I wore it all the time) went to someone who I know will love it and knows how important that time in my life was - because she was a part of it.

Oh, and to prove that I can still do speed spins, I had my mom photograph me with my iPhone, complete with her finger at the top of the frame.

When my brother walked in the room and saw me spinning the flag, he kept on moving through with a "Yeah, that's about right."

After that reunion, it's going back to the high school. Go Jaguars!

2011-05-25T20:30:00.000-07:00

Eight down, 18 to go

"Farewell, My Subaru," by Doug Fine, was on the dollar table at Books-A-Million last month. (By the way, two people who love to read going to a dollar book sale is like sending an alcoholic to tour the Jim Beam distillery.) It called out to me, because I like to pretend I'm an environmentalist.

While growing up, my dad worked for the Environmental Protection Agency and my aunt worked for the Wilderness Society. We recycled before it was required in our suburban neighborhood, and even used a very lovely electric lawn mower. (Gas powered lawn mowers aren't measured for emissions, consequently, can be even bigger polluters than most cars.)

I now live in a city that doesn't have curb-side recycling, but I take mine to a center. Normally, we have a garden, but I haven't quite figured out the Alabama soil/clay/silt/sand. Many people have raised gardens, and I think I'm going to go that route, but unemployment will cause you to put off buying various supplies until you can pay for them. I participate in Freecycling. I also walk everywhere. It drives my husband nuts, but I figure, I get exercise, and what's the point of driving half a mile, and I can have two glasses of wine instead of one and not get behind the wheel of a car on wine tasting night.

Fine's writing is very casual, very conversational without being preachy in this diary of trial and error ranching and off-the-grid lifestyle. That's the problem with environmentalists - they don't compromise and they're very self-righteous. Understandably so, it's a cliche, but we've only got this one earth. Fine gives good arguments on why people should live a greener life and that we should support green technologies. Jobs: Go the economic route.

Green technologies and developing these kinds of products creates jobs and can improve our way of life. I know, most people don't like change, and they don't like being told they're not doing enough to live "the right way," which ever way that is. Over-zealousness puts everyone off. But if you had told me 10 years ago my "Walkman," phone and e-mail would be available in one little device, I would have called you crazy. I also was reluctant to switch from film cameras to digital - but I can't imagine going back. (Especially using all those chemicals to actually develop the film - it ruined your clothes and you had an interesting smell surrounding you that was so thick, I swear I looked like Pigpen from the Peanuts cartoon.)

That said, "Farewell, My Subaru" was an enjoyable read, but not my favorite book. The sprinkling of Fine's personal life in with his mishaps of being a suburban kid trying to ranch was trying to make the point that if you try to live right, everything else will fall into place. Maybe. But ranching is not every one's cup of tea. He does give tips on how to live a greener life, but it's nothing we haven't heard: buy locally, grow a garden, try converting your car to run on vegetable oil. OK, that last one might be new.

As a diary, it's enjoyable. But the tips left me wanting more. He does list a good bunch of websites that will help you sift out the hype from the facts. Don't go into this book thinking you'll figure out how to change your ways. You will enjoy Fine's battles with wind power, a rattle snake and epic floods. I can't whole-heartedly endorse this book, but it filled my afternoon as I was stuck on the Metro. I will, however, try to pay attention to where I'm shopping, where I'm buying stuff, and eating seasonally. I'll even check his blog every whip stitch and, of course, follow him on Twitter. (And this is one fewer book on my shelf!)

2011-05-23T05:59:00.000-07:00

I'm home visiting my brother since I just got a job (yay!) and I don't know when I'll be able to just hang out with him again.

My brother is going through a bunch of stuff - figurative and otherwise. When he was injured, he was so thin, he wore clothes that were tiny. The good news, he's put on some weight - so those clothes don't fit anymore. He and my mom have been sifting through clothes for days now, as well as books and DVDs (there are some duplicates of gifts, or just stuff he doesn't like anymore).

However, some version of this conversation has replayed itself over the past few days:

Bro: "Hey, do you want this Booches' T-shirt? I remember you like Booches."
Me: "You mean the one I gave you as a gift before you were injured?"
Bro: "Oh. Well, do you want it?"

Bro: "Hey, do you want this Dublin Dr Pepper T-Shirt?"
Me: "You mean the one I gave you for Christmas one year?"
Bro: "Heh, yeah. You want it?"

And the most painful one of all - Bro: "Do you want these Harry Potter books and the movies?"

You get how this goes. I have to give him credit, he wants to simplify his life and that's a good thing. Although, I now won't feel guilty for donating any of his gifts I've been holding on to. I'm leaving with my mom in 5 minutes to take many gifts I stressed out over to Goodwill. This year, it's going to be all gift cards.

2011-05-22T13:36:00.000-07:00

Seven down, 19 to go

In the waiting area of the terminal at the Birmingham Airport, half the passengers were reading actual books. Not e-readers. And the other half was either on their computers or talking on their phones. But this gave me hope - people still read!

In the Charlotte terminal, many, many more had e-readers, but still, a good majority of passengers were reading. If only some were reading to their kids. I'm not judging, I have no children, but most kids had an electronic gadget that made noises that sounded like games. I've never traveled with a child, let alone squeezed one out of my body, so I'm going to shut up now.

But travel days are just reading days. You pull out a book and the next thing you know you've read something enjoyable and you've reached your final destination. I read two books yesterday - so yeah, I'm going to stretch it out into two blog posts.

"Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary," by David Sedaris is an easy read - and I recommend it if you have to go home and hang with family.

Sedaris has written a series of short stories where he has anthropomorphized (yeah, I paid attention in 10th grade biology) animals to tell stories. These are not stories where you learn lessons, but where Sedaris has combined the rules of the animal kingdom with schadenfreude to tell us that human/animal behavior will always win out.

The stories are short, which has come in handy since I'm hanging with family and they like talking to me. Which is fine, I like talking to them too, but it's in fits and starts and this book is perfect for those times where you don't think you can handle another episode of Law & Order, CSI or some random sporting event on TV. (Football, soccer - yes. Fishing, no.)

Sedaris' stories can take an unusual turn, or conclude in a manner quite unexpected. More than anything, the stories are written in a cadence as if they should be read a loud. I heard his voice in my head through the entire book. I really enjoy his work, so I used my messed up imagination to pretend I was seeing him at a reading.

I was supposed to see him one point in Iowa, but a chain of mishaps and my misplacement of tickets prevented me from seeing him. Oh, and an ice storm. And I don't do bad weather with a 90 minute drive.

An actual children's illustrator, Ian Falconer, drew some wonderful illustrations. However, this book, nor some of the illustrations are for kids. These are fables for adults with adult themes. I know my friends who enjoy David Sedaris will enjoy these - the others who don't delight in the fact that sometimes everyone can be nasty - will not. But I loved it.

Next up: "Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate a Cappella Glory," by Mickey Rapkin.

2011-05-17T17:29:00.000-07:00

Six down: "Bossypants," by Tina Fey

Caveat: I could read Tina Fey’s third grade essay on what she during her summer break and I would think it’s brilliant. She’s funny, unapologetic about what she thinks and what she believes is funny.

Fey gives just enough family and childhood history to give the reader a good idea where her humor comes from. And how she handled the issue of her scar is brilliant, knowing that all the questions from the media would be about the incident, overshadowing the rest of the book. Instead, she turned the issue on its head and rightly pointed out that how the person asks the question says a lot about that person. The examples are hilarious and cringeworthy.

And I have to say, her advice on how to succeed as a woman in man’s world - love, love love. I knew and did some of these things, but never had the eloquence to articulate them in a coherent manner. Although, at times, I did enjoy a screaming match with an asshole or two. Sometimes, you’ve just got to yell.

There was not a page in this book where I wasn’t laughing. I reread the part where she cited her favorite jokes from the different writers who work on “30 Rock” three times. She even reprinted - with the notes and changes in the margin - the hilarious skit she performed as Sarah Palin and Amy Poehler as Hillary Clinton. A little word here and there can make all the difference. These insights into the creative process prove to me she works her ass off.

Some may classify this as chic lit, or empowerment lit, and it is, but it isn’t. Yes, she addresses body image, having a baby, the pull between working and being a mom. But you’re not human if you don’t experience some these things - even men, because I’m sure they want to succeed and be good fathers. Everyone should read this book because I don’t know of one person who doesn’t yearn to do what they love - as a parent or for a career. Fey accurately captures the anxiety of doing this and wanting to do it well. She works hard, it’s evident, and I am now an even bigger fan.

2011-05-15T20:52:00.000-07:00

A Widow for One Year

John Irving has a lovely way with language. His writing is simple - but it’s not. He writing is plain - even when what he’s writing about breaks the reader’s heart or makes an unsympathetic character likable for just a moment. Irving is an author who writes about character. Some would say his books are short on plot, but I disagree. There are stories within the character studies, and those vignettes can be hilarious or tragic.

I do enjoy his writing - very much so. However, I can never enjoy many of characters, but it’s my issue - I have a hard time with flawed people. Even in real life, which is why I make myself read books and articles that aren’t really “me.”

The book begins in a heartbreaking manner. Usually, the heartbreak is there at the beginning of Irving’s books - but these characters are still in the middle of their heartbreak. Palpable doesn’t even begin to describe the quagmire of sadness.

Marion and Ted Cole have lost their two sons in a car accident that they were also a part of. In an attempt to hold the family together, they have another child - a daughter. This is how the book begins.

Lining the walls of the house are photographs of the family before the accident, and the parents tell their daughter, Ruth, stories behind the photograph.

This is the beginning of the novel, which is funny, heartbreaking, frustrating and lovely all at once. But the grief is so prevalent throughout the book, I just cannot summarize the story and do the wonderful writing justice. Granted, I’m imposing my views and my personal history on the story. Life is full of sad moments, and some people experience more sad than happy - and many of those people are characters in John Irving’s novels.

This book is lovely, I encourage everyone to read it. I know that this blog seems that I have mixed feelings, but it’s because the characters are so flawed, but the writing is fantastic. This is not light reading, it’s but it’s rewarding. Many people read to escape their own problems, but sometimes you need a good read. And this one is fabulous.

(I know I'm behind on my New Year's Resolution to read 26 books. I promise, I'll do better. Five down, 21 to go. Next, Tina Fey's "Bossypants.")

2011-04-14T11:55:00.001-07:00

How is it that I can be busy and bored at the same time? Unemployment, or rather, holding a temporary job and freelancing - is like having your time taken away from you outside of your control.

But I'm not complaining. I need the scratch.

2011-03-21T07:59:00.000-07:00

Shelves from Walmart

This morning's correspondence:
One shelf completed. I like to think of it as a homage to abstract sculpture. Not in the vein of Anne Truitt with clean and even lines, but more of something that would be inspired by Picasso, almost industrial by design, something similar to Mark di Suvero - except with more function. Maybe it's my tribute to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, or it's just reflecting this old house and off-kilter walls. It might just be my comment on this post-9/11 world and the economic downturn with everything a little off, where the unexpected world is reflected in my shelves.

Whatever my motivation, it's functional. And that's really all that counts in this recessionary art world.

Response:
So what you're saying, then, is the shelf is a little akimbo?

My response:
To paraphrase my favorite president, it depends on what your definition of "is" and "akimbo" might be.

But yeah.

2011-03-04T20:48:00.000-08:00

Another book down... 22 to go

I finished The Daily Show Presents "Earth": A Visitor's Guide to the Human Race a few days ago. However, between npacking, trying to find clothes, and applying for jobs has made blogging difficult. For daily thoughts, go to my Tumblr - I try to take photos everyday with my handy dandy phone.

Don't let the humor and cutout photos fool you, this book is harder to read than you think. It takes time to match up all the little bits pointing to pictures, making both a visual and word joke. But it's worth it.

I often laughed out loud at some of the jokes - especially the "Law & Order" reference. (NBC should've NEVER canceled that show.) Each section contained an introduction then a "scavenger hunt" at the end, which is well worth reading all the little type for the jokes.

Most of the writing is smart - the introduction to "Commerce" is cheesy and made me laugh - only because I had encountered someone similar who was very similar to the spoof - only not ironically.

It was the perfect light read I needed while moving and after reading Philip Roth.

I'm about to start something else... but I'm not sure. I have "A Widow for One Year" by John Irving - but that seems.... sigh. I have some classics that I haven't read or read in a while. I may just read the Irving book and get it over with. I loved "A Prayer for Owen Meany" which, if you haven't read, stop what you're doing and go get it. "The World According to Garp" was expertly written, but I totally hated Garp.

Eh, I'll read it now. Get it over with. I need to clean out my shelves, and that's something I can donate when it's all said and done.

2011-02-25T11:16:00.000-08:00

Hey folks,

I know it's been a while, but we've moved - twice now. Once into a temporary place, and then another into our real place, and we're still unpacking.

The opportunities I've missed about writing about the Space Shuttle explosion anniversary, Charlie Sheen losing it, not getting jobs I've been applying for, freelancing, finding a COMPUSERVE CD in my stuff I've been unpacking....

Yeah, it's been a trip.

But my goal is still to streamline, and I will do it. I'll keep ya'll posted.

2011-01-26T16:12:00.000-08:00

Three books down, 23 to go

"Nemesis" by Philip Roth is a character study about a man, Bucky Cantor, who is given the short end of the stick, and then feels responsible for circumstances beyond his control.

One thing goes wrong, and another cataclysmic event not related to the current situation happens, and is just as emotionally draining as the first situation. In "Nemesis," Bucky Cantor is the playground director in a neighborhood in Newark in 1944, and a polio epidemic broke out. He abandons the job, and heads for a summer camp to escape the epidemic. His best friend is killed at Normandy, and Bucky begins to believe everything is his fault. He starts to believe he's a "Typhoid Mary" of polio - and then he contracts it.

Bucky is somewhat of a pathetic character. His behavior and reasoning about his situation solidified for me how important it is to have friends in your life. And that pride can be more painful than polio. The story will cause the reader to take a look at their pride, their friends, their family.... and that we can punish ourselves more than the circumstances that cause our pain.

Roth also has an excellent way of writing short, clear sentences with ten-cent words. I thoroughly enjoyed his crafting of the story with plain and intelligent language. This read isn't enjoyable in the escapism sense, but I found I couldn't stop reading the book, it's a very good book. It's like watching a slow-motion train wreck - kind of reminding me of Edith Wharton books.

The next book: "EARTH," by The Daily Show folks. It's a fun read, and I think I need one after "Nemesis."

2011-01-25T13:11:00.000-08:00

Keeping my word

I ran a 5K this past weekend, and it about killed me.

Crossing the finish line and not puking. I say that's a win-win.

I'm behind in my Couch to 5K training, but I had already signed up, so I couldn't really back out. Quitting is not in my nature.

When I was younger, the Northern Virginia Swim League was a huge deal in the summer - it was the center of the universe in the county (Go Woodley!). On Saturday mornings, caravans of station wagons and mini vans with multi colored streamers would travel across the county to swim against another neighborhood pool.

We always worried the younger kids of this one particular family wouldn't show up. These two girls were the best in their age group, and would win their event, thus giving us precious points for the overall score. If they didn't show up, it was always a scramble to get someone else in their place - especially for a relay. Relays were at the end of the meet, and if you weren't in it, people often left early to beat the rush.

I learned that just showing up made a huge difference. Keeping your word was important.

So I ran the 5K. I did walk up a big hill in the cemetery - that's right, we ran through a cemetery - and I probably would've beaten my previous time of 29:51. However, I got 30:40. I'm used to living in the Midwest where everything is flat.

And as creepy as it was, it made sense to run through the cemetery, the path was neat and there weren't any cars to contend with. Unlike the teenager who was stopped by the police and was screaming at the runners to "Hurry up! Run faster! Move your ass!"

I flipped him off. I'm not proud of it. I should've have just let it go since he was clearly in need of some exercise and discipline - in diet and in manners.

2011-01-21T16:29:00.000-08:00

Easy roasted veggies

I had some steak that needed to be cooked and veggies that were about to turn. My go-to is usually stir fry, but I wanted something different.

Easy peasy lunch

Get the steak out of the fridge, let it come to room temperature, season it with salt, ground black pepper and maybe some grill seasoning.

Heat up a skillet for 10 to 15 minutes - no oil.

While the steak is coming to room temp and the pan is heating, chop up your veggies, throw them in the pan with a tablespoon of olive oil, salt (I've been using sea salt), stir it up, and stick it in the oven preheated to 425 degrees. Stir the veggies every 10 minutes.

Stick the steak in the pan, and don't touch it. Seriously. Don't touch it, don't move it, don't lift it up to peak at it for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes is up, flip it over, cook it for 4 minutes. If the steak is more than an inch thick, stick it in the already heated oven for about 2 to 5 minutes.

It's OK to stick the steak in the oven with the veggies. Be sure to let the meat rest for about five minutes - covered with tin foil - or another pan.

It's so yummy and easy. I'm going to do this again tomorrow, but slice up the leftovers and use the steak in stir fry.

2011-01-19T12:41:00.000-08:00

WAR EAGLE!

A large crowd of Auburn fans line up to see the BCS Coaches Trophy, made of Waterford Crystal, at the Walmart in Auburn. And no, I didn't break it.

So, on Sunday, I got it in my head that I wanted to see the BCS Coaches Trophy National Championship tour sponsored by Pepsi and in a Walmart with low prices....that may not be the exact name of the event. I just know it's wordy.

Ryan and I drove the 40 minutes east to see the trophy. I know, make the jokes about Walmart and Alabama, but here's the thing - Walmart has the infrastructure to handle the crowds, as well as the parking.

The line snaked all throughout Walmart, and the crowd was dressed in their orange and blue finest, and I learned that Auburn took those colors because the first football coach was actually from UVa (my Alma mater), so my streak of living where I already have the colors continues. We also got a story of why the Tigers holler out "War Eagle!" Much like my Cavaliers are also called the 'Hoos.

Visitors were not allowed to touch the trophy, clearly, but I was nervous. The last time I was near something big and made by Waterford Crystal, was actually in the Waterford Crystal glass blowing factory in Ireland.

My friend Rhonda and I were touring the plant, learning about the apprenticeships and how to be a master engraver takes something like 8 years to achieve. Don't quote me on that, I was there in 1997, and I can't remember what I had for breakfast today.

Throughout the factory, there were rickety tables with Waterford Crystal on display, out in the open, with no protection. Our tour guide was in training, and in a room where a few of the master engravers was making a beautiful pattern on a big bowl, she pushed, yes, gently, but did touch us, into the corner. I had on a small backpack as was the fashion. Someone backed into me, and caused me to loose my balance and stumble backwards into the table where a big giant bowl that looked like it was going to the Queen of England was on display. It slide off the table into the wall, and wedged there.

Chipped is not a large enough word to described the hunk that was missing.

I have no idea what the tour guide or the master engraver said for the next five minutes. My ears were hot and buzzing, and I was thinking that all the money I had just saved up for graduate school was about to go to buy a useless bowl. The other tourists around me whispered they would cover for me, or they'd defend me.

But I approached the tour guide and the trainee, and told them what happened. "Oh, it's defective. We put all the imperfect pieces throughout the plant. We'll through the pieces in the fire and start over."

Fortunately, I had better luck with the trophy - although photographer did tell me I needed to stand closer to it so I could be in the frame.

Afterward, we drove and walked around the cute downtown of the clearly college town. Toomer's Corner still had toilet paper hanging from the trees - a full week after the win. Two older guys were out there with the unenviable task of trying to clean it up. A lot of it had fallen from the trees and was turned to a sticky gooey gross mass because of recent rain. But don't take my word for it, watch this extremely cool time lapse video from the City of Auburn after the win.

2011-01-17T18:01:00.000-08:00

Keeping resolutions

In an effort to read 26 books this year, I’ve finished my second book, “When You are Engulfed in Flames” by David Sedaris.

Now, I love David Sedaris. He could find a way to make writing the phone book enjoyable and I would eat it up with a spoon. During the Y2K new year’s celebration, I was in Key West with some friends. We had rented a house, and I we would often sit on the deck sunning ourselves. I had brought “Barrel Fever” and “Naked” down to read - and to cheer myself up. My boyfriend had died earlier that year, and I was still in a fog of grief, and I needed a laugh.

Apparently, I was laughing out loud while reading both books. The only other time someone asked what I was reading because of my audible reaction was “A Prayer for Owen Meany” (that Christmas Pageant scene gets me EVERY TIME, laughing until I cry) and “Where the Red Fern Grows.” I was reading the latter on the way back from visiting my best friend, whose dad was stationed in Germany. I was flying home, and was sitting in between a German, who spoke no English, and an American, who spoke German. I was sobbing so much that they inquired after my mental health. They continued to speak about me for the next hour - as I sat in the middle of them Why adults think they can talk about kids in front of them, I’ll never know. I kept trying to explain, “But this book is so sad!” and that didn’t help, as it was the only reason I offered, and choked it out between hiccuping sobs.

Anyhow, I the selection that I enjoyed the most from “When You Are Engulfed in Flames” was about his former neighbor Helen in a short story entitled, “That’s Amore.” I have to admire Mr. Sedaris’ willingness to put up with someone so unpleasant, and make this story so enjoyable to read. My friend David always says he’s rather be entertained than be bored, and if that means hanging out with people he’s not too terribly fond of, so be it. It’s an admirable quality - he’s never bored. Frustrated, disgusted - probably. But not bored.

Mr. Sedaris describes the double edged sword of learning to live with someone, in light of the fact that people are inherently selfish and always find fault in what the other person in the relationship is doing. Yet, knowing that would be something we would miss about the other person should they not be a part of our life anymore.

I’m already 100 pages into “Nemesis” by Phillip Roth, but I will take recommendations for the one after that. Drop me an e-mail at youlookthesame@yahoo.com

2011-01-13T14:34:00.000-08:00

NOM NOM NOM DROOOOOL

The husband and I were invited to a New Year's Eve party, and he offered to bring appetizers. I immediately panicked because we're in temporary housing, and we have a couple of cheap pots and pans, and a few dishes and glasses. I've had to purchase a cutting board, measuring cups and spoons and knife to use to cut anything more the butter.

Fortunately, the lovely husband had given me the "New York Times Cook Book" for Christmas. Caramelized Bacon jumped off the page because we didn't have to mix, blend or chill anything for hours on end. It's super easy, but you do have to watch it - if it cooks ONE MINUTE too long, it's burned. Or it could just be the weird oven we have.

Caramelized Bacon
SERVES 8 TO 10
1 pound bacon
1 1-pound box light brown sugar (about 2 ¼ cups)
1/4 cup of water

1. Buy very good bacon (try a butcher). Cut it into medium-thick slices, 3\16 of an inch.

2. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a large, rimmed cookie sheet with parchment paper. Dump a box of brown sugar into a big bowl. Light brown sugar is best, but if you want to use dark brown, I won’t stop you. Add ¼ cup of water, so that the sugar becomes more than damp but less than soupy. Some people add a dash of cayenne pepper. (We did, we didn't add enough, but the pieces that had it tasted delicious.)

3. Dredge the bacon in the sugar, one slice at a time. If the sugar isn’t sticking to the bacon, add some more water a teaspoon at a time until it sticks. (By the way, you won’t use all of the sugar, but it’s good to have extra.) Place the bacon strips on the paper. Smear some sugar on top of the bacon. (I practically massaged the sugar into the bacon.)

4. Place the bacon in the oven. How long to cook the bacon depends on whether you like it chewy or crispy. Some recipes tell you to keep it in the oven for 8 to 13 minutes per side, depending on the thickness of the bacon. You should take yours out when it resembles the kind of bacon you would like to eat. Cut it into roughly 1 1/2-inch triangles. Serve at room temperature.

— From the NYTimes

2011-01-11T16:09:00.000-08:00

My daily job searching perch. And where I often sing aloud to hits from the 70s and 80s.

Job searching isn't fun.

I know, call me Captain Obvious.

It seems the economy is this lovely southern town is a little more depressed than it is elsewhere. I don't think the bottom has fully hit here - there are so many for sale signs, it's jaw dropping. I'm actually considering going back to the retail world. NPR played a story today about how the retail industry is hiring more workers (sort of) - nothing high paying, but hiring.

I did apply to be a bank teller part-time, and they called today, hopefully that will be something. And in these times, something is all that matters.

The landlord of one of the houses I looked at also owns a trailer park. Most of those tenants are in construction, and pay him when they can, and usually only half the rent. He's too nice of a man to kick them out - and he realizes no one else can afford to move in. This will be the first month he can't pay his credit card.

So, how would you like that, twenties? Or would you like some five and tens?

2011-01-08T13:53:00.000-08:00

Starting off....well, you know...

First of all, I'd like to welcome two new blogs, my friend Meredith, and her obsession, and now mine, Ben, who Does Life.

Meredith and I started exercising, doing the Couch to 5K program, and actually participated in two 5K's together. The beauty of the program is that you can repeat weeks if you don't feel confident in your ability to run the next week without vomiting or collapsing. We repeated Week 3 four times. But it's a great program - and I've started back at Week 5 right now thanks to a nasty upper respiratory infection that the doctors monitored for fear I'd have pneumonia. But, thanks to Meredith, Ben and my husband, I'm sticking with it.

Secondly, I've finished my first book of the year: "Righting the Mother Tongue" by David Wolman. I highly recommend it for anyone who gets their knickers in a knot over words. (Cough cough, MOLLY, cough cough.) It's funny, and he has fun with the language and the history.

I've started on a new book - a David Sedaris book - and I hope to finish that one early, too. If you have a recommendation for one, send me an e-mail at youlookthesame@yahoo.com

2011-01-05T16:52:00.000-08:00

Obligatory Happy New Year wish!

So, quick update: we got rid of a bunch of stuff. Goodwill has clothes, furniture and much more. Life got crazy there last fall, so I fell off the blogging bandwagon. Weddings, birthdays, holidays, living life off the net. It's a good thing.

But here are my resolutions for 2011:

1. Read a book every two weeks. I figure with everything else I'm trying to do, that's one I'll enjoy, and the one I know I will accomplish.
2. Volunteer. The last two years I have not, and that's a problem. It gets fixed this year.
3. Join the community garden project.
4. Watch less television. I'm working on this by logging my hours, similar to how many people (including myself) log their food consumption. I'm just trying not to end up on This Is Why You're Fat
5. Call friends more often, or at least write them e-mails.
6. Ride a horse. (This is something I want to do before I turn 40, and I figure this is the year. After that, I'm sure the osteoporosis will set in. Plus, injury recovery time is so much longer as one ages.)
7. Create a portfolio website
8. Run a half marathon or the Army Ten-Miler
9. Learn to sew
10. Take some sort of dance/singing/art class
11. Blog more. (You saw that coming, didn't you.)

2010-08-26T19:32:00.000-07:00

Yikes - I slacked.

My bad.

We've started eating extremely healthfully and I've been getting up at 5:45 to wog (walk/jog) with a friend so we can run a 5K. So, I've been going to bed early and cooking so I am not tempted to eat junk food.

Anyhow, here is two photos what I took to Goodwill.

I also gave my coworker a jewelry box for her daughter - it was mine from about age 3, which is about how old this little cutie is, and I'm not using it. It would be weird to have a 37-year-old woman use a jewelry box that winds up and plays music and has a pink faux velvet interior.

And creepy. Creepy and weird.

2010-08-15T22:23:00.000-07:00

I know, I've been....lax in writing.

However, today, I needed to address the closet situation in our bedroom. Clothes were spilling out, I couldn't put my hands on clothes I wanted to wear.

So, after laundry, I went through the house, going through boxes we hadn't really finished unpacking and sorted clothes on the bed. Hung some up, took some that were hung up and put them in the donation basket, took another pass at my T-Shirts (still have too many, will probably do another pass soon).

So, what went to Goodwill:

--1 giant suitcase that was so close to the weight limit for flying that I haven't used it in four years
--My old backpack that carried me through a summer of traveling around Europe by train — 15 years ago
--Extra set of measuring cups
--Extra set of measuring spoons
--10 T-shirts
--2 skirts
--3 long sleeve shirts
--4 pairs of shoes - including the cleats that I was wearing when I broke my second knee. I don't think I'll be playing any contact sports any time soon.
--(Threw out 3 pairs of shoes that were falling apart)
--Extra hangers

Some of the T-shirts that I threw out or donated had special meaning — but not in a good way. The shirts reminded me of a painful time. My brother survived and IED near Sadr City on March 29, 2007. He lost his left arm and has suffered traumatic brain injury.

I thank God every day that he's alive, but when I look at some of the T-shirts, it gives me that uneasy feeling in my stomach. We almost lost him that day and then to a super bug, a bacteria so strong it gives MRSA a run for its money.

Sure, the T-shirts celebrate his survival — but I do that every time I speak to him on the phone.

2010-08-11T19:42:00.000-07:00

Secret Agent Woman

Before the move, I had two drawers full of sweatshirts. This is what I have left, including one at work.

There's no way I need all these. So, I'm getting rid of the gray one and the black one. I never wear it - but I held on to it.

"Why do you still have it if you don't wear it?" asked the loving husband.
"Well, I held on to in case I needed to wear all black and play a prank," I responded, "Like teepeeing someone's house."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"You're 37 years-old."

2010-08-10T17:19:00.001-07:00

This is our second bedroom

Guestroom/Storage
Originally uploaded by youlookthesame

Yeah.

It's overwhelming. I don't even know where to start. I'll take suggestions.

I look at this room and wonder how I accumulated so. Much. Stuff. And it depresses me to look at this room.

When we started purging, I checked a book out from the library titled "Throw Out 50 Things." The last half was a little too touchy-feely, self-help-ish for my taste, but the getting rid of stuff portion was eye-opening.

When cleaning out the clutter, I'm supposed to ask myself these questions (there are more, but this is what I remember):
-- Have I used the item or worn it within the last year?
-- Does it still fit?
-- How does it make me feel?
-- If it makes me feel bad, why am I holding on to it?
-- Am I holding on to something because I was guilted into it? For example, it was given to me after a relative died.

The author advises to take around three labeled trash bags: Donate/give away, sell and trash. And, also what really helped, was carrying around sealable plastic bags for the small items.

So this is my project. I hope to publish a photo — sooner rather than later — that shows this room as an office where writing and great thinking can be done.

Okay, lots of posting on Facebook can be done.

2010-08-09T19:57:00.000-07:00

These boots are made for someone who hasn't broken both their knees

I love these sweet, sweet size 7, Nine West boots as much as a woman can love an object. Or a pair of them.

I love these boots. Our love affair was brief, but passionate.

They were on sale at the Nine West Store in the Reston Town Center in Reston, Va. They fit, I had to have them.

Three weeks later, I broke my knee playing co-ed indoor soccer. To be accurate, and we're all about accuracy here, the collision with the 6 foot, 2 inch giant goalie who I flipped up and over, broke my upper tibia plateau. I was on crutches for almost 4 months — unable to put any weight on my leg for fear the break would slip and surgery was needed.

After months of physical therapy, I brought one boot to the physical therapist to see if I could wear them again. I knew the answer, like a kid who pulls Fruity Pebbles down from the grocer's shelf after mom has purchased Cheerios.

He did his best not to burst into laughter, speaking his words through snorts of trying to keep it together and not completely mocking me with my broken ~~heart~~ knee.

So, I want these chocolate dreams to have a good home. I'm going to put them up on EBay, but if you want them, send me an e-mail.

It's time I moved on to a shoe who will support me, be there for me, not be all flash and substance. One I can take home to my orthopedist, since I broke the other knee two years later.

I'm surprised he hasn't seen me yet this year.

2010-08-08T20:37:00.000-07:00

So.

My husband and I moved from a two bedroom, three floor townhouse into a two bedroom apartment to save money.

I prepared for this move. I checked out books from the library on how to "unclutter" your life as well as how to move without killing yourself. We took pick-up truck's full of stuff to a friend's house for a garage sale. That's right, multiple trips. We also took tons of stuff to Goodwill and to the dumpster.

One would think that our new place would be spartan in its contents.

One would be wrong.

The second bedroom is all boxes and storage because our storage unit is full.

During one run to the trash, my darling husband quoted a line from "Fight Club."

"The stuff you own ends up owning you."

So, as I sit here among shoes I can't wear anymore because of broken knees, books I haven't read in years or will never read, T-shirts that fill drawers, keeping other clothes from being put away, I've decided to start a new project.

An edit of my life.

I will take a picture of my stuff - one item a day, post it on this blog, and offer it for sale. Or, if you live far away and you want the item, you have to pay for it to get to you. I'll also keep the feed on Flickr. I'll explain why I bought the item, why I still have it, and the story behind it. Consider the post the item's certificate of ownership.

And so it begins.

2009-10-29T19:19:00.000-07:00

Wow, so, yeah.

It's been a while.

But hey, I'm engaged to the Dompa!

Part of my getting my stuff together is posting on this more. So, I will try. Get ready for posts about wedding planning.

And no, I'm not going to be a bridezilla and mom is very reasonable. You can't be the Dizzle and not have organized a giant event at some point.

I'm tempted to just let her do the entire thing.

2009-08-18T18:40:00.001-07:00

The day the Dompa and I left Chicago, we decided to do a little shopping on the Miracle Mile. We went into Ralph Lauren, just because.

It was amazing. It looked as if I was transported by floo powder to England into someone's study. Probably in a castle. Everything was dark wood. It was gorgeous store, but somewhere, there's a forest missing its trees.

I sat in a leather arm chair near a giant set of wooden stairs with one heck of a banister. I wanted to slide down it, but being on crutches, that didn't seem like the effort to try and get up the stairs.

A woman approached me as I was sitting there.
"Do you know where the women's section is?"
"No, I'm sorry, I have no idea." (I moved my crutches out of the way so I could better talk to her.)
"Well, I figured you would since you're just sitting there. You should probably find out."

Whaaa....? Let me describe my clothing. A green Ani DiFranco "Vote Dammit" shirt from her 2004 tour. Shorts, where my thigh to ankle knee brace can easily be seen and, oh yeah, CRUTCHES.

I can see how she confused me with someone who worked there, since they were a.) all male and b.) all wearing three-piece suits.

To the employee's credit, he heard it, and went to find her. Oh, and he was British and looked like an old professor. This was clearly where he was supposed to work. I so wish I could have heard the subtle insults in his wonderful accent.

2009-08-16T17:07:00.001-07:00

The Dompa and I went to Chicago to watch a taping of Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! The host, Peter Sagal, alluded to his "famous temper" at the end of the show.

I believe it. He's a great host, but something about him...yeah, he's a perfectionist. Sometimes, it seemed the smile didn't reach his eyes.

The "Not My Job" guest was Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.) and they edited that interview WAAAAAY down. Rep. Schock is the youngest congressman serving - he's 28. He was born in the 1980s. Yeah, wrap your brain around that fun fact. Also, he was on his cell phone - and driving. Yikes. Oh, and he was asked about the picture below.

Also edited out of the show was a crack he made about Congressman Byrd of West Virginia. It was something along the lines of his staff is around to wipe the drool of his chin.

Uncool, Congressman.

2009-08-12T21:51:00.000-07:00

Wow.

I thought when people grew up, they would act like grown ups.

Learn something new every day.

2009-08-10T16:04:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I'm whining....

I know that I'm making a big deal over a broken knee. But here's the thing, I can't play team sports anymore, and that makes me old.

The old part, that doesn't bother me so much. It's the not playing sports anymore - team sports - that has me bummed out.

I have been on a team of some sort since I was six. It's how I learned to work with people, how I gained self-esteem and how I met people when I was in a new place. It's how I've met friends, how I've managed stress.

The suggestions of running or aerobics feel hallow - they're missing the point. Team sports was a social activity for me. I hate working out, and playing soccer, ultimate frisbee, softball - that was how I exercised, but it was mainly how I had fun.

Now, I admit, I'm a competitive person. (I hear some of you snorting out there.) I like winning, I like the "struggle." It my fun.

It was also a big part of my identity. I know this is minor in comparison to things many people ar dealing with, but how do you let go of something that was so ingrained in you, you didn't think twice about it? It was just there.

And how do you go forward without it?

2009-08-09T11:42:00.000-07:00

Murphy's Law

You know that saying, if anything can go wrong, it will? That was my vacation. Actually, that's been my life since I turned 36 two weeks ago.

I got nailed in the arm with a softball - the bruise, where you could see the stitches, just faded about four days ago. Then I was nailed in the mouth, so I had a bruise on my chin and a fat lip. Damn sexy.

The next night, I was injured in a freak collision in Ultimate Frisbee. Thankfully, it was near the end of the season.

On vacation, I learned that the injury was a broken knee, I got the flu, then a variation of food poisoning - which probably wasn't food poisoning, just the flu not reacting well to food for the first time in days.

The poor Dompa had to fend for himself with my family. Yeah, a week on beautiful Cayuga Lake, that I missed, and Dompa had to forage through dealing with the craziness that is a family gathering.

I'm surprised he still wants to be with me. Especially since he's got to take care of me with this bum knee. He's such a sweetie.

I'm hoping my luck will turn around.

2009-07-12T20:15:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I've been gone for a while. Lots of changes at work. And before I go any further, yes, my brother rode an ESCALATOR by himself.

The man is bad ass.

The summer is going well. Our garden is taking off, we've already eaten our lettuce and our tomato plant is mutant. It's huge.

Yeah, we're living in domestic bliss. I make myself a little sick sometimes. But in a good way.

2009-05-19T21:27:00.000-07:00

The whirlwind trip home was fantastic, and I'll write more about that later. Let's just say, the boy is doing SO WELL. I can't even believe the progress.

To leave you with a teaser: He rode an elevator in Macy's.

I'm swamped with this vegetarian experiment I'm doing. If you want to follow along or just laugh at me, venture on over to my work blog, Gazette Food. That's right, I'm not eating meat for two weeks. I know a lot of the veggies haven't arrived at the grocery store, but with how the journalism world is going, I wanted to prove I have good ideas...ideas you don't want to let go of.

What's worse, it's the big holiday grilling weekend so I'm going to be weeping over my neighbors grills as the smell of burgers and brats waft through my windows.

I think my body is doing a weird detox where I'm simultaneously hungry and full at the same time. Weird, right?

Tomorrow, I'm upping my protein with more nuts, faux burgers and peanut butter.

2009-05-14T21:51:00.000-07:00

I'm headed back east tomorrow, that is, if the weather behaves.

Excitement doesn't even begin to cover what I feel. I haven't seen my brother since Christmas and I cannot wait to see his progress.

He sounds so much like his old self. He's even giving me grief like his old self.

2009-05-13T20:44:00.000-07:00

It's springtime and the storms aren't easy.

The gloomy weather is making me sluggish, making it hard for me to get everything finished before I go home to see loved ones.

If only I could walk around with one of those visors that emitted Vitamin D or motivation. I'd take either.

2009-05-09T12:28:00.000-07:00

I looked down at the phone, 1 missed call from dad.

I *meh* and hesitate. I'm at work, in a zone, I'm not sure I want to call him back. I decide to listen to the voicemail message just in case it's something serious.

"I know you saw the caller ID and it said dad's number, but this is your brother. Busted."

He's half right. I called back immediately because it was him.

2009-05-08T22:32:00.000-07:00

I have a new addiction and it's Too Beautiful to Live.

How I missed Luke Burbank leaving NPR and going back to Seattle is beyond me. It's not like I don't listen to NPR in my car or on my iPod or through the tubes of the internet at least two hours a day. (In fact, catching up on my podcasts right now.)

But I am hooked. The show is awesome. Rawr.

They lead me to this show, which I will watch this fall. I laughed out loud, head back, teeth showing.

2009-05-03T18:18:00.000-07:00

Wow, I, um, have been slacking.

But that's because I've been busy, so that's good. And it's finally warming up. I planted my garden today, dug deep and buried the wire fence deep.

A neighbor told the Dompa we were brave for planting a vegetable garden in the front. The Dompa pointed out we were trying to keep out rabbits.

She made some flip comment about hoping the kids don't get in it. So help me, if they do. These parents let their kids run wild.

Last fall, I caught the kids pulling out flowers from the plot. Yelled at the kids, and their parents did nothing, even when I called it to their attention.

If they climb over the fence, it's Thunderdome.

2009-03-24T18:39:00.000-07:00

There seems to be a general malaise again. I'm blaming the weather, the economy, the job losses, the past 8 years.

Is it spring yet?

2009-03-19T20:42:00.000-07:00

I have to stop listening to NPR. It's depressing. I used to be able to handle stress. But since my brother was injured, since the unemployment rate is in double digits, banks collapsing, concerns about my father's health and, oh yeah, the industry that I love and have made a career out of is going in the tank.

An uninformed society is open to all evils. It'll be easier for those in power to abuse it. I hope journalism can save itself. As much as I like the blogosphere, they only link to content journalists produce. Bloggers have jobs, so they cannot sit in the city council meetings or pull police records.

I guess if the government is bailing out various industries, I'd like to them to look at mine. or at least make it a non-profit model.

Because I don't think anyone is going to pay for anything on the internet.

2009-03-07T15:15:00.000-08:00

Dompa: Let's share our favorite memories of the Vanilla Bean (what we call our place) so far!
Me: Ooohkay.
Dompa: When you set the toaster oven on fire. That's my favorite.

Dompa: Wait, I amend that. When you set the BRAND NEW toaster oven on fire. God that was good.

Yeah, well, at least I didn't try to relight the pilot light on the furnace and catch my arm on fire. Oh wait, he did!

2009-03-06T17:00:00.000-08:00

The Dompa doesn't like it when I dance in public.

I'm not talking about Fat Boy Slim kind of dancing.

I'm talking just a little shaking when there's good music pumped through a public sound system.

Well, it's just egging me on. I now look for opportunities to shake my groove thing. Maybe I'll even get one of those funky outfits from the Fat Boy Slim video.

2009-03-03T19:20:00.000-08:00

The gospel of Liz Lemon

I worked out five days in a row. Yup. Five days. Today and tomorrow are my workout weekend. Then back to the grind.

I hoping by then I'll be able to sneeze without horrible stabbing pains in my upper abdominal muscles.

My gym has various aerobic classes, and Monday nights are some sort of kick-boxing torture. I can barely get through it, and yet, the instructor is very pregnant, and she's rocking everyone. She's talking and doing all the high impact modifications.

That would be OK, that wouldn't be too demoralizing. Except there is a woman in there who is in such good shape, I'm going to kick her ass. Not because she's in such good shape (she'd probably make fast work of me) is that she's so oblivious. Check that, selfish.

This is a crowded class and we move around the room quite a lot. She does not care if she gets in some one's space and forces everyone to readjust their little space bubble. I could let that go, honestly, if the reason she was almost kicking me in the gut wasn't SHE'S LOOKING AT HERSELF IN THE MIRROR NON-STOP. She must have a crick in her neck from looking left.

Maybe I am just jealous. But then I heard her talk to a classmate of hers for some masters class, my goodness, the pretension. Yes, I know I went to grad school, but journalism school wasn't nearly as idealistic. (Clearly, the industry is in the crapper.)

I was reminded of Liz Lemon & Jack on "30 Rock." I'm not the worst person in the world, "Graduate students are the worst."

2009-02-28T19:51:00.000-08:00

On Friday, the boss came over to my desk and asked if he could speak to me in his office. My heart pounded in my ears, all I kept thinking was "he said no more layoffs this week."

It took literally a good two minutes - he had to repeat himself - to comprehend him saying that I will have a job. We're not sure what it is just yet because I applied for some production jobs, but I will have a job.

That totally made up for the rock that put a crack 2/3 the length of my windshield on the way to work.

I just wish everyone could have a job. I've got to stop listening to NPR, it's totally sending me into a depression / anxiety spiral.

Oh, and what would you do without your local newspaper?

2009-02-26T21:52:00.001-08:00

Jeez. The Rocky Mountain News is closing, tomorrow (Friday) will be the last paper. The last paper that is just shy of its 150 anniversary. It also won four Pulitzers in the past decade.

I know there needs to be a restructuring of journalism and pretty much every industry in the U.S. But it's a damn shame.

Oh, and the New York Times is leveraged to the hilt. That's scary, and I wouldn't be surprised if that went down too. L.A. Times must be nervous as hell.

I know people hate journalists, but believe it or not, we watch the watchmen.

2009-02-24T19:29:00.000-08:00

Urgh.

Today where I work had layoffs. It was awful. And I feel guilty because I was hired recently and people who were extremely good at their jobs lost them.

What a horrible day.

2009-02-23T18:37:00.000-08:00

I've discovered that people at work think I do two things; cuss and dance.

A kid jumped out behind a pillar and scared his mom. It was down the hall from the newsroom, and the way it echoed, everyone thought it was the f-bomb. And everyone looked at me.

Earlier, there was dancing because I edited something perfectly. I am the newsroom jester.

2009-02-22T19:04:00.000-08:00

I forget my parents now follow this blog. My requesting some motivation was not a solicitation for my mother to nag me.

Please make a note.

2009-02-19T20:45:00.000-08:00

Can you order motivation for delivery? Because I'd like a big helping.

2009-02-17T17:45:00.000-08:00

I've decided that I've sat on the couch long enough.

I try to eat healthfully, but my new job as a food writer has caused me to put on 12 pounds in three months. Do the math, that's A POUND A WEEK. Everyone wants me to try some food, and let's be honest, I like food. It's always good food.

So, I started counting points again, like Weight Watchers, and I've stopped the slide. I joined a gym on Valentine's Day in the effort to do right by my own heart. I've gone every day since, and it's KICKING. MY. ASS.

The first day, I just walked on the treadmill for an hour, speeding it up and down, messing with the incline, working up a sweat to wake up my body. Yesterday, I went back to the treadmill. After I warmed up, I did intervals, stair-stepping the time; Walked the warm up, ran for a minute, walked for a minute (2x); ran for two minutes, walked for a minute (2x); ran for three minutes, walked for a minute (2x); then back down to running for two, then one.

God, my legs felt it today. Of course, I took a cardio kick step torture class tonight. Holy crap. I do not have the fitness rebound I once had. I am officially old. I ma middle-aged. It sucks.

I can't move, and The Dompa is at class. Can someone come to my house and get my dinner out of the fridge? I can't make it the 10 feet from my couch.

2009-02-15T10:52:00.000-08:00

Just a little picture from last night's dinner.

2009-02-14T21:58:00.000-08:00

Hey folks,

The Dompa & I made some excellent nosh this evening. We decided that we just wanted some good quality time together, which is what it's really all about. Roasted chicken (w/ rosemary) roasted Brussel sprouts (with lemon and bacon) and mash potatoes with shallots. Oh, and wine.

It was so delicious. We got it off Epicurious, which has a menu planner. We didn't make the apple tart because my lovely man purchased a decadent chocolate cake.

Valentine's Day was low key, but it was perfect.

2009-02-11T21:30:00.001-08:00

Um, I'd like to be cloned so I can get more accomplished?

Thanks.

2009-02-08T20:59:00.001-08:00

I love Seth Meyers.

2009-02-08T13:12:00.000-08:00

I'm joining a gym today. I have to look at one more, then I will choose.

On a side note: Conversations from the VanillaBean

The Dompa: I want to take you to dinner tonight. And by that I mean call a restaurant and have it delivered and pay for it.
Me: Done.

After watching some old Chapelle Show:
The Dompa: Would you be offended if I said, "Get in the car, bitch!"
Me: (glower)o.O
The Dompa: Yeah, I didn't think that would work. Love you! (We continue to watch Wayne Brady sketch and giggle.)

2009-02-02T00:06:00.000-08:00

I wanted the Arizona Cardinals to win. And it looked like they were about to.

We had kind of a "white trash" spread tonight. Had some E-Z Cheese - thought of David while I was spreading it on the Ritz crackers. We drank Bud Light from a can, ate oreos, corn chips with Cowboy Salsa, but someone brought hummus. That was a little highbrow, but it was good.

The commercials weren't all that, but I did enjoy "The Office." I'm glad I don't live with Dwight Schrute because our smoke detector battery died just after the show. I know what I'm buying tomorrow.

2009-01-29T19:44:00.000-08:00

Sigh.

It's the winter blues. Ennui. Hmmmm.

It's sad that I'm looking forward to Saturday because the temperature will be 34. Above freezing.

Sigh.

2009-01-27T06:58:00.001-08:00

I'm so glad I got to go to the inauguration. I'm just as glad I never have to do it again.

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade my experience for all the tea in China. But standing in a tunnel with no police or anyone of authority to be seen for hours and getting crushed at the gate, yikes. Yup, there's even a Facebook group about it.

We got in right as the YoYo Ma and company finished their string-synced song. Occasionally, it sounded as if President Obama was right next to me during the speech, or that is voice was more inside your head it was so present. But mostly, I couldn't hear or see.

Oh, and I got my picture taken with Charles Mann at the Black Tie Blue Dominion ball. I think I scared him with my fanaticism.

2009-01-21T06:40:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, my family and I saw Barack Obama be sworn in with two million of our closest friends. We almost didn't make it in. The Washington Post has an article about what an absolute mess it was. The Congressional Inaugural Committee should be ashamed of themselves. We stood in the D Street tunnel with our purple tickets and only saw one police officer the entire time. I have to say I'm impress with how well the massive crowd behaved.

Well, until we got to the purple ticket gate. The original gate was closed, but fortunately my mom realized they had opened the exit to the left. The crowd was pushing so hard, my feet weren't on the ground at one point. I was separated from my family, but by some miracle, found them coming through security. We got to the center right as he was being sworn in. I don't think we were standing in the official purple section. The Post also says they distributed 4,000 too many tickets, and I don't doubt that.

Here is the article I wrote for work. I've since heard the speech on TV, I am so impressed and hopeful. (I missed a good chunk of it due to running for the Capitol.)

2009-01-18T23:08:00.000-08:00

The excitement is contagious. People are acting as if they have won the lottery.

I'm in DC for the inauguration. And I really wasn't excited about it (I have a thing about large crowds, and this will be the largest) until I was at the gate in Chicago.

If there isn't anyone in the Windy City this week, it's because they've all gone to DC. They got a bigger plane because of the mad rush. A 747 was pulled into service! People showed up and waited on stand-by to get on the plane. I met a kid - and wished I'd gotten his name - we got separated by the mad dash to the door - who worked for Obama's campaign. The local city council woman was taking him and they waited on standby. And they got on! Last ones.

When I landed at Dulles, people were getting their pictures taken with Obama cut outs at the various gift shops. And, boy, the gift shops were all Obama all the time. I over heard a young woman rushing past me that she doesn't have tickets, but she's headed to the Lincoln Memorial at 2 a.m. that morning so she can get a good spot.

People are filled with hope - which is good - we need it. I asked my mom if she remembers the economy ever being this bad (this after she told me Eddie Bauer was going out of business) and she sighed and said a sad quiet "no." And now I am terrified. I look forward to a few hours of hope on Tuesday.

2009-01-17T21:17:00.000-08:00

We've heard how calm the river was, how nice the weather was which helped. And the fact that the amazing pilot, Chesley, a name I'm so going to steal for something at some point, landed the plane tail first. But to see how fast that current is moving in that river - scares me. I know that everyone got out OK, but it's still intimidating.

And I'm obsessing, a bit, because I have to fly tomorrow.

There's a longer version at nytimes.com - it's 10 minutes, but I watched every moment of it.

2009-01-13T18:10:00.000-08:00

I'm a huge fan of John McIntyre. I love curmudgeons!

He would smack me down as an idiot, but I'd let him.

2009-01-11T14:20:00.000-08:00

I have turned into the Dompa. I'm yelling at the TV and commenting on the commercials. Before I didn't care, I didn't even give the commercials or shows a thought. Wasn't worth the brain power. But now, I'm mocking the commercials.

Man. They say that you start to look like the people you spend the most time with. But what about personality traits?

2009-01-08T19:51:00.001-08:00

Thanks to my aunt's bad knees, I get to go to the inauguration ceremony. I'm going with my mom and another aunt.

Security is going to be so crazy tight we will have walk two miles to get the check point. (That's not an exaggeration, the bridges from Virginia into DC will closed the entire day.) Then we stand for three hours, until the ceremony. And we stand through the ceremony, which is least two hours.

Yes, comfortable shoes is a must!

2009-01-05T18:07:00.000-08:00

I'm having work stress dreams. That's not fun. I'm dreaming I'm at work and it's EXACTLY just like work. Those are not fun dreams.

Sigh.

2009-01-04T19:09:00.000-08:00

Anyone else at their limit for family quality time? Yeah, me too.

I'm watching "Independence Day" on TV. I'm sorry, Bill Pullman is not an inspiring president. But he's better than the joker we've had lately.

2009-01-01T10:57:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! I hope everyone has a good year.

2008-12-23T18:07:00.000-08:00

It's time for the airing of grievances

The Boyfriend, I mean Dompa and I celebrated Christmas tonight. We're flying east to celebrate Christmas with my family and to attend my cousin's wedding on Saturday.

Well, we're going to try and fly east. Apparently, it's snowing like all get out in Chicago, where we're supposed to have a lay over.

American Airlines has already canceled our morning flight and rescheduled us on an afternoon flight. Unfortunately, a storm is supposed to hit here and one in Newark, our destination.

If I don't get to see my brother, my airing of grievances will be loud and furious.

2008-12-21T21:35:00.000-08:00

Hey! Guess what? The Boyfriend has a blog!

He just started, so you're getting in on the ground floor.

Also, The Boyfriend & I had dinner with Francie and Dan tonight for Francie's birthday. Dan keeps saying that this is the last year they're going to be married because next year she turns 30 and he has to upgrade to another hot young wife.

Aw, he'd be lost without her.

------------------------------

The Boyfriend and I are headed to New Jersey for my cousin's wedding right after Christmas. It'll be great - I'll get to see my brother who apparently is doing so much better.

His occupational therapist took him Christmas shopping. He had called the day before asking for simple things that he could get me as a gift. I said goggles, mine had died, and that was something unusual that he could remember.

Two days later, he called, all excited, "I got you goggles! You'll have to act surprised, but I remembered! And I didn't get you pink, you don't like pink, so I went with blue."

It was so cute, it damn near made me cry.

2008-12-13T09:36:00.001-08:00

I'm going to mall to Christmas shop. I have no idea what to get anyone. That includes my lovely Dompa, my dad, my sister-in-law and my brother. God help me, they're all getting something from Barnes & Noble.

2008-11-29T13:55:00.001-08:00

I have lost the will to be a functioning member of society.

Mizzou lost to Kansas.
Virginia lost to the Hokies.

My heart is black. I will no longer care. To quote those great 20th century poets, Simon & Garfunkle, I am a rock. I am an island.

2008-11-29T09:00:00.000-08:00

The Dompa has been watching Se7en a lot lately. It's stunning to see how young Kevin Spacey, Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman and Gwyneth Paltrow are. And how creepy, really really creepy Kevin Spacey is. I mean really, really creepy.

Hmmmm, I'm little worried about why he is watching this so often.

2008-11-28T17:03:00.000-08:00

My brother is back up in Boston. Apparently, the doctors back at the rehab center are impressed with how much stronger he is. So whew.

I've started my new job. I like it, it's just stressful learning a whole new job. However, Saxotech has followed me, so I got to cut my three day training down to one. That's refreshing.

I wish I had some turkey leftovers. That's the bad part about being a guest to different dinners, no leftovers. However, no massive amounts of dishes to clean up either. But damn, the microwave at work was torture. Lovely smell of turkey after lovely smell of stuffing after wondrous smell of potatoes permeated the room. Sigh. I want potatoes.

2008-11-25T22:16:00.000-08:00

I survived the Thanksgiving dinner with The Dompa's family. It was really, really nice.

Except the snow storm on the way when we skidded into on coming traffic and almost into a ditch.

2008-11-21T22:26:00.000-08:00

I'm headed to Northwestern Iowa in a few hours to have Thanksgiving dinner with the dad's side of The Dompa's family. The Dompa said, "they're chomping at the bit to meet you. They cannot wait."

There's no access to internet up there, there's no cell phone service, although there is lots of high tech wind mills, um, turbines.

There's no one to hear me scream for help.

2008-11-16T23:28:00.000-08:00

Tonight, I was at the Redskins game with my dad. I used to go to games with him growing up. It was our father daughter activity. And those were great years. John Riggins, Art Monk, Darrell Green...ah. And tonight they celebrated Green and Monk's acceptance into the Football Hall of Fame.

We were having a perfectly lovely time watching the Redskins choke and give the game over to the Cowboys when Santana Moss popped up on the Jumbotron. He said his favorite rivalry moment between the two teams was when he caught two touchdowns to beat the Cowboys 14-13.

I remember that night for two reasons. I ran laps around the newsroom celebrating the win. I normally wasn't that manic, but I was trying to cheer myself up. That was also the day my brother called me to say he signed up for the army and was shipping out to boot camp the next day.

I was so distraught at work, I needed a Redskins win. So I was invested, I was watching that game more than I was working.

My dad leaned in and asked about what Santana Moss has said. "When was that?" When I responded with the year, he said, "Wow, three years ago."

I was thinking that, but for different reasons.

2008-11-15T17:34:00.000-08:00

I'm back home, sitting with the immediate family. My bro looks so much better than he did previously. The skull cap doesn't quite fit right, but hair will cover those lumps when it grows in.

His wife is out with friends as well as her brother. Her brother is a God send. That kid does all the heavy lifting - literally. He helps my bro from chair to wheelchair. Makes sure he does his walking therapy. And my bro is nasty to him. Very nasty at times. His wife and I scolded him earlier for his behavior. But this kid, gosh, is a saint saint saint.

Unfortunately, and I know I'll get crap from this since now my entire extended family knows about this space, my father is a softy. My brother knows when the rest of us aren't budging on anything, dad will cave.

We're trying to ween my bro from his sunglasses. He says that he needs them because the light hurts and the motion on TV gives him a headache. But bless his heart, he sits there looking over the sunglasses. So, we're trying to ween them away so he'll sit up straighter.

I made the mistake of leaving my brother alone with dad. And boy did that little bugger dig in on him. Just started begging, complaining, non-stop talking. And bless my dad's heart, couldn't tune it out and caved. Gave him the glasses. He even said, "I just want to watch the soccer game." My bro knew the constant chatter would prevent that. Sneaky sucker.

I've watched this interaction throughout my brother's injury and healing. It's been commented on by many of the family members and extended family members. I think it's great how much my dad loves my brother, but we need tough love. Which is why I was kicked out and shunned a la Dwight Schrute by my brother. I wasn't falling for it.

That said, the kid looks so much better.

2008-11-12T12:19:00.000-08:00

I have a new job! I don't want to jinx it, I really don't. So, I'll post after I begin.

My nerves are ratcheting up a notch or too... it's more writing than I'm used to. But I'm a journalist.

And journalism is like the mafia, just when you think you're out, they pull you right back in.

2008-11-11T11:15:00.000-08:00

Happy Veterans Day, everyone. I know this is hokey, but take a minute to thank the veterans around you. I've already called my brother, who is a little cranky from being made to walk, but hey, he'll get there.

But here's something for folks to think about: photography for a reason.

2008-11-10T08:46:00.000-08:00

I cannot stop watching this live streaming video of the puppies. I just can't. And I blame Faith. I want to play with the puppies.

This video has made me six-years-old.

PUPPIES

2008-11-07T13:58:00.001-08:00

I. Got. A. Job.

Yup! And a newspaper job to boot. I will be the food editor at a nearby publication. I look forward to it and I hope the photo department will love me.

Yay journalism!

2008-11-05T19:54:00.000-08:00

I'm sitting here, geeking out with a college roommate. She's happy to be in Iowa because she's getting a few days away from her kids, so she's pretty easy to entertain. Which is good, because I don't really entertain.

So, we're sitting on opposite couches, chatting on Facebook. And yes, sometimes to each other.

But if you want a good read, go here.

2008-11-05T08:53:00.000-08:00

Yes, we did. Thank God. Yes, we did.

I know the McCain supporters are worried about the future. Welcome to our world for the past 8 years. My brother lost an arm with Republicans at the helm. I'm ready for a new direction.

Hope over Fear.

2008-11-04T08:07:00.000-08:00

STOP READING THIS. GO VOTE.

And vote for Sen. Barack Obama. Do it now.

2008-11-03T11:40:00.000-08:00

My brother has stabilized.

They adjusted some pressure in a shunt, his brain shrank a bit (which was a good thing) and the doctors seemed to relax.

So we wait.