Tasteful Insight

Grub Crawl

2010-07-16T09:52:00.002-04:00

Last night I met some friends and went on a grub crawl around Bloomington. Eleven local restaurants were participating in the event, and my goal was to visit at least five of them.

We all met up at FARMBloomington, which is an amazing restaurant that uses locally grown ingredients in all of the dishes they serve. After we bought our wristbands that would give us access to all the grub, we each chose a different item off the special Grub Crawl menu. I picked a mushroom and escargot skewer which was delicious. Chad got a polenta and vegetable dish, which was way too heavy on the anchovies for my palate--but he loved it! Two of my friends got the cheese risotto (creamy) and another two got the sausage stuffed puff pastry (tangy). We all split some artisian bread and herb butter, too. Pretty damn good for the first place! And all plates were $5.

We moved on to an art gallery called Pictura which was hosting two local places: Sweet Grass and Oliver's Winery. I love Oliver's, and definitely tried the tasty semi-dries they had out, but I was super excited to try the liquid nitrogen ice cream from Sweet Grass. And, man, it did not disappoint. Not only was the technique innovative, so was the flavor--brown butter, chocolate chip, and bacon. Yes, bacon. It was surprisingly delicious! The best part was watching a batch of the ice cream being made. The ingredients were mixed in a large metal bowl, then they added what I assume was the liquid nitrogen. A big cloud of billowing cold fog covered the table while one of the chefs madly churned his whisk in the bowl. He said that the ice cream was boiling, but it was also freezing. When the fog cleared, the ice cream was done--it took two minutes tops--and we got to taste it right then. Amazing! Everything here was free.

After that, we tried a pasta bar set up by another art gallery. The pasta chef came from Talons Restaurant out at the Eagle Pointe Golf Resort. They had a spread of ingredients to choose from and the chef created each dish individually to order. I got chicken and artichoke with squash, sun-dried tomatoes, banana peppers over fettuccine with the "famous" cream and crimson sauce (which is half alfredo, half marinara). It was fresh and tasty, and only $4.

Some of our friends had to leave after this, but I'm pretty sure they left with full bellies. The small plates, the ice cream, and the pasta would have been enough for most people, I think. But there were still so many places left to try! We carried on, and continued our crawl down to the Spectrum art gallery where we tried pulled pork BBQ sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, and sweet ice tea prepared and served by Smokin' Jack's Rib Shack. This restaurant actually catered my wedding last year, so I knew it was going to be good. I probably should have skipped it but they were offering all three of their items for $5--and that is a guaranteed happy tummy, right there.

Our second to last stop was Dats for some good ole Cajun etouffee. It was a big plate full of chili cheese etouffee, all over rice, with a buttered roll for just $4. At this point, I think all of our seams were busting. We heard some thunder in the distance, so we decided we needed to call it quits and head on back to FARM and join in the after-party down in the Root Cellar bourbon bar.

Thank god we walked to all the different places! Without those few minutes for my stomach to desperately digest whatever it could before the next thing made it down my esophagus, I think I might have tossed my cookies. And that would have been very sad indeed.

We made it to the Root Cellar just as it started to rain and we all settled in to listen to an old-timey country band called the Drovers. I tried some Rowan's Creek bourbon and it really wasn't too bad (for straight liquor). The music was fun and the crazy dancing guy was even better. We stayed for the raffle of gift cards (to all the participating restaurants) and then we headed our separate ways. Honestly, it was probably one of the best times I've had in Bloomington. I can't wait to go again.

Tennis

2010-07-15T09:52:00.003-04:00

Last night I tried to teach Chad how to play tennis. We rode our bikes over to the tennis courts at the high school, which we had scoped out the day before on our bike ride over to a friend's house.

I started with a lesson in score-keeping and boundaries. Chad has no experience with tennis, per se, but he is pretty damn good a racquetball so he has a general understanding of hit-the-ball-with-the-racket -- and really, what else is there to know? His serves improved exponentially over the hour we were playing, and he definitely kept right up there with me in points.

We played two games and then called it a night. Even though he didn't technically win, I think he enjoyed playing. He even mentioned going out again this weekend. Woohoo!

2010-07-13T10:46:00.002-04:00

Chad got a bicycle on Friday. It came in the mail in a big box. When he tried to put it together he found that some of the pieces had been left out. Just a few minor things . . . like brakes. We took it to a local bike shop on Saturday to get the missing pieces attached and everything tuned up tight. I pulled my bike out of the shed and took it in as well. It was very dirty and the tires were just sad.

We waited all weekend to try out our bicycle skills. Are they really something one never forget? We needed to find out. Chad picked up our bikes last night after work and brought them home. We shotgunned our dinner (delicious leftover pot roast and roasted vegetables!) and geared up for the ride.

It was awesome. Changing gears was a little confusing at first, but through lots of trial and error I gleaned a workable knowledge. Enough to get me up a couple gnarly hills.

We decided to ride to our friends' house in town. We stopped in to visit and played with their cute little baby (which I found out today was pretty nice for them because he ended up sleeping 8 hours solid last night).

I checked on Google Maps today and the distance to their house was 2.3 miles. So, with our little detour around the block on the way home, I'm pretty sure we covered 5 miles! I'm impressed with that for our first try.

When was the last time you rode a bike?

Wardrobe Woe & Heartburn

2010-07-08T13:23:00.002-04:00

I have discovered that I do not own many long-sleeved shirts. I have four such shirts in my closet. Unfortunately I learned today that two of the four no longer fit. Damn! I resorted to wearing a dressier suit jacket today, just because I couldn't find anything else that would cover my poor poison-ivy ridden arms, and at least two people have asked me why I was "all dressed up" -- they were oblivious to my blue jeans and flip-flops, I guess.

The prednisone is really helping with the itching, but every so often in the afternoons I just have to scratch like mad! No big side effects, either, except for persistent heartburn. The doctor said I might get the "munchies" while on the drug, but I think I just want to eat to make the heartburn recede. I've been chugging water for the same reason. Oh well, I think I would choose heartburn over insanely itchy arms any day.

Itchy

2010-07-06T11:27:00.002-04:00

I have poison ivy, and I know exactly how I caught it, too.

It happened like this: I went to visit my mother and my grandma who happen to live across the street from each other. When we arrived, all of us sat on the front porch and talked for a while. I noticed that my grandmother's gutters were full of leaves and sprouting little saplings. I decided that the next day I would clean out her gutters and my mother's, too, which were equally as full. Little did I know how I would be rewarded for my act of do-gooding.

The next morning, after a hearty breakfast of biscuits and sausage gravy, I pulled out the ladder and started my chores. The gutters didn't take too much time, and I moved on to trimming the shrubbery in front yard. When I was finished with that, my mother pointed out some large weeds that have overgrown her regular ivy ground cover on the east side of the house. My brother, Mom, and I all inspected it and decided that we were fairly sure it *wasn't* poison ivy -- at least not like we had ever seen before -- So I cautiously started pulling the plants from the ground. One was so large I had to use a hand saw to cut the main branch. After I had cleared a 6' by 2' patch, it looked like most of the weed was gone. I loaded in up in the garbage and headed in to shower, just in case we were wrong in our botanical guessing game. I noticed as I was showering that there were black smudges on my arms that looks sort of like bicycle grease. I tried to scrub as much of this "grease" off as I could, but sadly I could not remove all of it. I threw all of my clothing in the washer immediately, as well.

I felt fine for the rest of the day, and Chad and I drove home that evening. I think I noticed a burning feeling in the crease of my elbows first. Over the next few days I developed a slight rash on both arms. It didn't seem too bad, so I just put a little cortizone cream on it and forgot about it. Well, in about five days the itching escalated. By day 10 I couldn't take it any more and headed to the doctor. I am now on a prescription (Prednisone) which will help with the itching. My arms look disgusting, though, so I'm wearing long sleeves until they heal.

I don't remember having poison ivy before this, although I'm sure I must have had it a few times as a child. All I can say about my one adult experience is this: it sucks. It sucks so bad that I haven't been able to sleep through the night. This morning I woke up about three times between 4 AM and 4:30 AM (when I just decided to get up) because of the intense itching/burning sensation. However, I took 60 mg of Prednisone I was prescribed this morning, and I already feel so much better. The itching has almost completely stopped (a little tingle now and then). I will be on Prednisone for another 14 days, and I am pretty sure it will take that long for the rash to heal. Did I mention it's disgusting?

So, please, please remember: Leaves of Three, Let it BE! I will send you photos of my poor, poor forearms if you need any further convincing.

Granny's Gardens

2010-04-07T13:27:00.004-04:00

This is how I best remember Granny. Surrounded by potted plants and dried flower arrangements, the ubiquitous smock, the big grin. This is a good memory from my childhood.

Granny's Obituary

2010-03-06T10:11:00.001-05:00

Nondas (Granny) C. Gourley, 78

March 6, 2010

NEW HAVEN - Nondas "Granny" C. Gourley, 78, died Thursday, March 4, 2010 at Parkview Hospital.

She was born September 5, 1931 in Shideler, Indiana to Bayless and Frances (Crawley) Quirk. She was a graduate of Eaton High School. She was married to Merrill E. Gourley on August 28, 1948.

Her Bucket List overflowed: In 1946 she helped organize the Eaton Chapter of the Future Homemakers of America. She was past president of the American Legion Women's Auxillary, O'Leara Quirk Post 90, a waitress at the 67 Supper Club, a telephone operator in Fort Myers, Fla., a realtor, a rural mail carrier for the post office, a cook for a fraternity, a member of the American Morgan Horse Association, a past member of the Moose, Soroptimist, TOPS, Master Gardeners, owner of Body Revive and an employee of Catherine's.

She joyfully owned and operated Granny's Gardens. Granny raised goats, poultry, calves, hogs, Dalmations and Morgan horses. She loved sitting around her kitchen table talking with friends and family. She enjoyed sewing and crocheting and
selling her dried -flower arrangements and gourds at various craft venues.

Surviving are her daughter, Elizabeth Rector and son-in-law, John Rector of New Haven. She dearly loved her grandchildren, Patrick Bruce (Brenda) Metsker of Monroeville, Sarah Maska (fiancé, Troy Gunder) of Woodburn, Joel David Rector of
Columbus, Ohio, Trey (Jena) Gourley of Muncie and Megan (Chad) Nickless of Ellettsville; great-grandsons, Aaron and Brendan Maska; sisters, Nancy (Jim) Morris, Sue (Steve) Crandall, Penny Vore; brothers, Bruce Quirk and Patrick Quirk; several
nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband of forty-seven years; and her two sons, Steward Douglas Gourley and Merrill Edward Gourley.

A private family celebration of her life will be held at a later date.

Preferred memorials to the American Diabetes Association and the American Lung Association.

Arrangements by E. Harper & Son Funeral Home, 740 St. Rd. 930 E., New Haven. http://www.Harperfuneralhome.com.

What's it all mean?

2010-03-04T08:39:00.003-05:00

A close friend is pregnant. A sister-in-law is pregnant. A cousin is pregnant. Another close friend has a 9 month old. Another cousin has a 2 year old. While awesome for all of them, it makes me feel like my ovaries are ticking time bombs about to go off.

I'm turning 25 in July. Is it shallow to say that I feel like I really am approaching a quarter life crisis?

The economy sucks and the job market is minuscule and jobs are too specific. (Why didn't I focus on IT or business? Why did I allow humanities to seduce me and monopolize my college education?)

Knitting is very satisfying these days. I like the feeling of accomplishment I get when I finish a project and it looks the way it's supposed to look. Can I make a living this way? Probably not.

March. The sunshine has been nice, but we are going to use up all of our dog shampoo in this month of mud. Also, skunks have been traipsing through our neighborhood at night lately. After twice scouring skunk juices out of dog fur, I can say that I fear and loath that stripy animal.

Both my mother and my grandmother pointed out my gray hairs last weekend. I'm letting them grow out. Evidence is the only way to prove I have them. I hope it makes me appear wiser, but not older. The tiny wrinkles around my eyes and on my forehead are enough and can stop now.

LOST has been good, but I think I enjoy the weekly camaraderie more than the show. I've been feeling very social lately. I like being around people, and I really always have.

Thinking about death and new life and friends and religion on a Thursday is probably . . . good.

Presidential Reading Project

2010-01-27T13:51:00.005-05:00

I have to admit something. I never like history class in school. I blame the teaching methods (rote memorization of facts and dates, to be specific). I don't think I'm that unusual in my feelings about rote memorization. I know that sometimes it is essential, like with multiplication tables, but when it comes to history I feel like a more effective method of learning would be through hands-on activities and story-telling. Something like Colonial Williamsburg or Conner Prairie.

If I could have identified with those dry, brittle facts in that history textbook maybe I would have developed a deep love of the subject like I did for Spanish and Art (both classes that were full of hands-on activities). As it stands, most of what I know about the US Presidents comes from a song by They Might Be Giants.

I have always regretted my lack of historical knowledge, and I have finally decided to do something about it. Recently I stumbled onto a blog devoted to something called the U. S. Presidents Reading Project. I love the idea behind the project, which is that you basically just start reading nonfictional biographies about all of the U.S. Presidents. That's all. There is no time limit or specific reading order required. The goal is just to read one nonfiction book about each prez, however long it takes.

In beginning my personal version of this project I made a few adjustments:

I will read about the presidents in chronological order.
After I have read about the president, I will read a nonfictional biography about their spouse.
I will try to read about all of the presidents and their spouses within one year (this may or may not happen, and is sort unlikely).

Please let me know if you have any book, audiobook, or movie suggestions. And if you want to do this project, too, let me know!

2010-01-26T08:49:00.003-05:00

Today would have been my dad's 57th birthday. I've been thinking about him a lot recently, as today drew closer. Even though the last few years of his life were a medical nightmare, I am so grateful that I got to help him in some small measure because I feel like it was during that time I really got to know my father and appreciate him as another human being.

So, thank you Dad, for all the good times we had together.

And thanks for all the things you taught me.

(Yes, those are both pictures of me. My hair color is in constant flux.)

I love you, Dad!

Competition

2009-12-11T12:46:00.002-05:00

Last night, I was a sore loser.

It's nothing new, actually. I'm a sore loser any time I lose. I'm especially nasty when I think I had a chance at winning and was foiled by some other player. It could be my husband, or even my own sweet mother, and I would still boil with nasty feelings, disappointment, and basically act like a jerk.

Last night I just happened to be participating in an activity that tends to cause my already over-active competitiveness to flare up painfully. That activity? A board game. Ah, there is nothing like the fierce tensions and aggressive table talk that comes forth when friends are gathered around a table and challenge each other via small, brightly color plastic figures arranged on a piece of cardboard.

It's so trivial, but something that really gets to me. I'm sort of ashamed of this problem of mine, but I just can't seem to control my reaction. It's really awful.

The other weird thing? I can be seething and spuming bile the night of the game, cursing my loved ones (mentally), and the next day I think to myself--Wasn't that so fun? We should have game night every week!

In this area, no amount of rationality has availed me. This is my warning, because I will probably ask you to play a game with me some day, and I just want you to be prepared. I love to play cards, board games, and several sports, and will gleefully revel in my triumphs, but if I lose please just ignore my evil looks and tart tongue. I'll be over it tomorrow.

Grandma's Caramels

2009-12-10T08:50:00.002-05:00

Last weekend I helped make eight batches of fudge and one batch of caramel with help from my mother, my aunt, and my grandma. It is a Christmas tradition in my family to make candy and goodies like that to give and share with loved ones and friends during the holiday season. My grandma makes several batches and mails them to the far-flung cousins. Being a close-by cousin, I get to partake whenever I am visiting her or my mother's house, but I can only imagine how great it would be to get a huge box of homemade fudge, caramel, party mix, and peanut brittle in the mail from the loving hands of your family's matriarch.

I carried on the tradition last year down here in my new home. I was successful in all my fudge making, but failed time and again on making caramel. I think it was mostly dues to faulty candy thermometers, but also due to my meager experience in solo candy making. So, I was very excited to make my very own batch of caramel this year with my grandmother looking over my shoulder to tell me when it was ready. After all these years she can recognize the difference between the soft ball stage and the hard ball stage at a glance. She also has one awesome digital candy thermometer that I wouldn't mind having myself.

Making candy was pretty fun, especially with my mom and aunt to help stir and pour, but my favorite part was spending the day with all my close family. My cousin from Colorado was there, as were his brother and baby, my brother and sister-in-law, and Chad. It was wonderful! Spending time with family is without a doubt my favorite part of the holiday season. I could spend day after day eating and talking with these people who mean the most to me. And basically that is what we do from about the beginning of December to early January. I definitely feel very lucky and very loved during the holidays.

2009-12-09T12:54:00.002-05:00

"Contrary to the belief that happiness is hard to explain, or that it depends on having great wealth, researchers have identified the core factors in a happy life. The primary components are number of friends, closeness of friends, closeness of family, and relationships with co-workers and neighbors. Together these features explain about 70 percent of personal happiness."

This is a quote from the book The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People. I read it and thought, of course! I, just like every other human being out there, needs good relationships with other people. My family and my friends are so very important to me, and without them I would be very unhappy.

I've been struggling to get back to blogging. It's not for lack of inspiration, it's more due to discretion. I heard a saying once, that discretion is the better part of valor. That's what I have been doing--being discreet.

Back Home Again in Indiana

2009-10-14T20:01:00.003-04:00

We got back from our honeymoon last night. The change from 90 degree weather to mid-fifties and rainy hasn't been that enjoyable, but we are grateful to be back in our comfortable home.

I have to say, it doesn't get much better than nine days spent with your brand new spouse in paradise. And I also have to say that Hawaii is just as breath-takingly beautiful as everyone says it is--Maui especially.

What all did we do? In short, we drove around in a hot little Corvette, ate fabulously tasty fish, swam in the ocean day after day, got a little sunburnt, and really had a wonderful time together.

Aloha!

2009-10-02T08:00:00.001-04:00

I'm getting married in the morning!
Ding dong! The bells are gonna chime.
Pull out the stopper!
Let's have a whopper!
But get me to the church on time!

I gotta be there in the mornin'
Spruced up and lookin' in me prime.
Girls, come and kiss me;
Show how you'll miss me.
But get me to the church on time!

If I am dancin'
Roll up the floor.
If I am whistlin'
Whewt me out the door!

For I'm gettin' married in the mornin'
Ding dong! the bells are gonna chime.
Kick up an rumpus
But don't lost the compass;
And get me to the church,
Get me to the church,
For Gawd's sake, get me to the church on time!

Lately

2009-09-10T12:53:00.004-04:00

I've been so busy or so tired lately that I haven't been taking the time to blog. We are closing in on the wedding day and I've been rushing around getting things ready. I thought my to-do list was getting smaller, until I retyped it today and added all the little notes on the side. Now it's just as long as it was before.

I'm going up to Muncie for the last shower before my wedding. This will be the fourth shower in total. I'm not sure if it typical to have so many bridal showers, but for my situation it work out better for all the separate groups in my life to hold their own party. My bridesmaids and friends were the first, coworkers for the second, in-laws for the third, and relatives for the fourth. I have to say, I love the gifts. My friends and family have been so generous and kind.

I will probably be pretty sporadic on this blog until after the wedding is over, but I don't want to be negligent. So, in parting I will give you this picture of Trinity, our dog. She wants nothing more than to be under the covers forever.

I'm not really a sports fan.

2009-08-18T12:28:00.004-04:00

But free VIP tickets to a Colts game were too good to refuse.

Chad happens to be in the right position at work to get a few . . . rewards from suppliers. I can't remember what he has gotten in the past, but this time he really hit the jackpot: two tickets to a VIP Suite at an Indianapolis Colts game.

I was afraid that the evening would be a bust after we fought game-day traffic downtown. But as soon as we walked into the stadium, I knew all would be well. Except it wasn't, because we got lost.

I think Chad had a moment of men-don't-ask-for-directions and we ended up wandering a hallway. Then, when he finally stopped to ask one of the vested employees which way to go, he somehow gravitated to the most addled and toothless old man in the building. When we reached the top floor and had no where else to look, I gently lead Chad to the stairs, where--Hallelujah!--a very helpful woman told us how to find the suite.

Sweaty, stressed, and hungry we exited our VIP elevator onto a cool, carpeted hallway. We walked down to the right, passing suite after suite. Delicious odors floated from each well-catered room. Some of the suites were full to the brim, and others were shared by two or three people. In one room we passed, I saw a person in a horse costume hugging someone. It felt like we were in some other dimension.

When we finally found Suite 25B, we were greeted by Chad's supplier--John. We were given free drinks and quickly filled plates from the buffet. We sat down on high stools at a bar that overlooked the stadium. There was a small private seating area out in front of the suite, which was mostly full of people we didn't know. We settled in, and over beer and nachos we relaxed and really started to enjoy ourselves.

Throughout the game, John checked up on us and shared funny stories. The lovely lady behind the bar worked for another company which co-owned the suite. She kept Chad and me well supplied in drinks, and the buffet kept getting replenished with different dishes. Every 30 minutes or so we had to go up again and try the new food. I had nachos, ribs, pulled pork, and fresh fruit. I'm sure I missed a few here and there, but everything was delicious.

Chad and I barely watched the game. I found out later that the Colts were pretty soundly defeated. Instead, we talked and laughed like we haven't done in ages. It felt so nice to just sit and talk and snack and relax. We kept turning to each other and saying, "I'm having such a great time!"

When we decided to leave, our VIP elevator took us directly to the exit. We walked over to the Convention Center and walked through GenCon with a couple of our friends who were there for the weekend. (I am so going to GenCon next year. It looks awesome.)

Even if we went back to the suite again, I'm not sure we could recreate how fun that evening was. That was the best Friday night I've probably ever had.

(The pictures are from Chad's cell phone. I wasn't sure if I would be allowed to bring my camera, and now I am kicking myself. Ow.)

Domestic Doldrums

2009-08-14T10:02:00.003-04:00

I think my house suffers the most when I go through periods of apathy and lethargy. The dishes are not piled too high, though. Mostly because I haven't had the energy to cook lately. I've eaten out more times in the last month than I have probably in the six months prior. I don't know if the stress of the wedding is already getting to me, or if I'm just burnt out from working without a vacation this year.

I've also been really bad about going to the gym this summer, and that could be some of the problem. This week I've walked every evening, and it hasn't been too much of a challenge to get myself out the door, which is nice. I like being outdoors and looking around the neighborhood.

I been eating lots of carbs and easy/quick things, too. Pasta, rice, bread, potatoes--it's like I'm on a reverse Adkins diet. The result? Reverse weight loss.

In summation, I am very glad that it is Friday, that I'm only 50 days away from my wedding, and that I am only 51 days away from Hawaii.

Wedding Shower

2009-08-10T08:43:00.003-04:00

This weekend my bridesmaids organized a wedding shower for Chad and I which included all of our closest friends. We went to Oliver's Winery and had a light lunch on the patio, then took a tour of the back rooms and cellar, and after that we tasted lots of wine!

Oliver's Winery is so beautiful. They have gorgeous landscaping, and a huge deck with lots of tables for picnic lunches. During our lunch, we went around the table and everyone told the story of how they met either Chad or me. It was fun to remember those occasions again, and it was really special to spend that time with our friends.

After the fun at the winery, we went back to Meredith and Andrew's house for dessert and gifts. The desserts were fabulous! They had delicious chocolate mousse with whipped cream and raspberries and a yummy strawberry (or was it cherry?) cheesecake. The gifts were wonderful, too. Our friends are so generous!

It was so great to be with friends to celebrate our upcoming wedding. Thank you all!

Wind Storm

2009-08-07T08:04:00.003-04:00

We finally have electricity! I think we were probably 48+ hours without it this week.

It all started with a little thunderstorm that turned into a wicked wind storm, and they say there may have even been tornado activity. The wind was as strong as any tornado, let me tell you.

So many people I know have damaged homes and cars because of falling tree limbs. Luckily, we didn't have any damage to our house or the truck (which was in the driveway at home). There were lots of branches down and one huge tree limb in the back yard. Part of the fence was down, too. It had been pushed to the ground by the wind, the metal poles snapped at the bottom.

This all started at noon on Tuesday. The town is cleaned up quite a bit, but there are huge piles of branches and debris in front of almost every house. The street department usually picks up those piles and turns them into mulch which is used in the city's landscaping. I'm thinking it might be a while before they get to us . . .

Here is the best photo I took of the destruction in our yard.

It gives you a nice idea of the scale, I think. Thank goodness that branch fell in the middle of the back yard.

2009-08-04T10:32:00.003-04:00

On Saturday, I met my mother for a shopping excursion. She is currently on vacation from both of her jobs. Ivy Tech's summer sessions have ended, and she has two weeks before she has to start teaching again at the ol' high school. So, she wanted to get away from home and go on a mini vacation for the weekend. She got a hotel room near an outlet mall just south of Indianapolis and I drove over to hang out with her for the day.

We started shopping almost as soon as the mall opened, which was right around 10:30 AM. We stopped for lunch, and then shopped until about 6:30 PM, when we stopped for dinner. Can I just say my feet were tired? Ow!

Mom was kind enough to buy me a little black dress and a little white dress, which I will be taking with me to Hawaii for my honeymoon. I think she only bought herself some Harry & David's strawberry rhubarb jam.

That's my mom, selfless for her children, except when it comes to tasty jam.

Just kidding, Mom! I know you wouldn't pick jam over me, right?

Right?

*crickets*

2009-07-27T12:20:00.003-04:00

When I was young, say between 8 and 15 years old, I had the same experience every shopping excursion I shared with my mother.

*******

Mom: Oh, isn't this pretty! I just love this ruffle.
Me (glaring at ruffle): Um, no thanks.

Mom: Look at this adorable skirt. Don't you love it?
Me (raising eyebrows incredulously): No.

Me: Check out this awesome tee shirt!
Mom (hesitantly): Are those skulls?
Me: Yeah!
Mom: I don't think so.
Me: You don't like anything!

*******

Most of these disagreements over fashion were small, but they were also consistent. We hardly ever agreed on style, color, cut, or size. I struggled to establish my public image, and my mother struggled to keep me from looking too weird. I was required to compromise with her because at that point in my life she bought my clothes.

So, now that I am planning for my wedding, which my mother is funding in large part, I am once again in the position of struggling to compromise my tastes with those of my mother. As I've gotten older, I think my style has mellowed into something my mother is much more apt to appreciate (no more skulls and safety pins). However, we still butt heads on small things.

For example, my mother does not like corn. I have tried twice to incorporate this ubiquitous grain into my wedding decor, and my mother has nixed both incarnations (Indian corn and dried corn stalks). She has also declared hay bales too low-brow for her daughter's wedding. I tried to explain how the bales would be simply shelves on which to display pumpkins and potted mums, but she is now set on using a bench for the same purpose. What's wrong with hay, Mom? Oh, and what about that hay ride, uh? Yeah, she doesn't even bother to respond when I bring that one up.

Mom, is this pay back for all the times I shot down those ruffled tops and pretty skirts?

Old Northside

2009-07-23T11:25:00.002-04:00

Recently, Chad and I went up to Indianapolis on a day trip to visit my college friends, Jessica and Duncan.

Jessica and I were roomed together our first year at Ball State University. We had never met before move-in day, except for a short telephone conversation to work out who would bring a fridge, microwave, etcetera. We got along so well that we decided to live together for the next three years (two dorms, one house). Around our Sophomore year, Jessica started dating her painting classmate, Duncan. We all became friends and had lots of fun adventures and shared many philosophical, soul-searching conversations.

Last fall, I had the privilege of serving as Jessica's Maid of Honor when she and Duncan were married. This fall, she will be my Matron of Honor.

So, basically, we are friends of the best sort.

In late spring this year, she and Duncan moved into a new apartment. It was to be the first home they would share alone. Up to this time they had lived with several housemates.

Chad and I arrived, after getting almost lost because of some crazy Mapquest directions, and I realized they had moved to a BEAUTIFUL neighborhood. The apartment building was old, but refurbished, and gorgeous. All of the surrounding houses were painted and spruced up. They were all older Victorian-style buildings.

After lunch, we wandered up and down the streets of the neighborhood. I took so many pictures! (Big surprise, right?) All of the homes were beautiful. The owners had put so much attention and love into making the buildings shine. Each one was individual and unique--something I really enjoy in this world of cookie-cutter, pre-fab houses.

One of my favorite spots was a Victorian walking park we came across. It had little signs that encouraged visitors to walk around and mediate on life, to calm their minds and find peace.

I had a great time visiting my friends and sharing in their surroundings.

I'll be back there soon.

Oh, and if you would like to see some of my photos, please follow this link.

Soulful Myra on the Porch

2009-07-15T22:50:00.003-04:00

This is the image I was talking about a couple of days ago.

At 2 months, she's more soulful than I'll ever be.

First Baby Photoshoot

2009-07-14T08:29:00.003-04:00

Saturday I had the privilege of taking photographs of an adorable baby. My cousin Holly allowed me into her home, even with the scary glow of an amateur photographer's zeal shining in my eyes.

Myra (the baby/photography subject) was very cooperative. She looked straight at the camera for most pictures, and she only fussed when I forced her to lay on her stomach for extend periods of time or allowed bright sunlight into her delicate eyes. Holly was even able to change her into 4 different outfits for the shoot.

I think I got about 20 really great pictures. I would upload one or two of them to show you, but unfortunately they are at home on the computer awaiting a Photoshop spit-shine. Oh, but I could describe my favorite photo to you! Would you like to hear about it? You would? Great!

So, it was a candid shot--aren't those always the best?--when we had stepped outside to allow Myra a little breather after a diaper change, I think. She was wearing an adorable yellow and white checkered outfit, and was in her mother's arms. All you can see of Holly is her dark brown hair, and part of her neck is exposed. Myra's face is looking out over her shoulder, and her mother's dark brown hair is echoed on her own head. Her face is contemplative, her eyes almost melancholy. The light is great, muted and bright. The colors of the hair and the skin pop, and the expression on Myra's face is so gentle and wise. Very beautiful. (Maybe I'm biased?)

I will try to upload it later to show you what I mean!

A Reading Problem

2009-07-09T13:22:00.003-04:00

I love getting so wrapped up in the story of a book that I read until I can't keep my eyes open at night; and then, the next day, I think about the book. Anticipating my return home to pick up where I left off.

When I was in junior and senior high school, I read so voraciously that I would finish a book in less than a day and have another ready to go, as soon as I was done with the first one. Sometimes, I would even read more than one book at a time. Whenever I had a spare moment, I had a book tucked in my backpack, ready to pull out and dive into.

This might have cut out some socializing with my peers, but through those books I learned things that no one else around me knew. I learned more by reading than I ever did in the millions of lectures I've listened to over the years.

I've learned over the years that there are appropriate times to read, and there are inappropriate times to read. So, now I find myself waiting, gauging my opportunities for my chance to lift my book up and open its pages.

I think Chad feels like this sometimes, too. He just doesn't feel that way about reading. For him, it's all about video games. Sometimes, if I close my eyes for too long during a TV show, or I lift up a magazine during a commercial, he will ask me if he could turn on the Xbox. I usually laugh and say OK, unless I really was watching something, because I understand what he wants. I know what it's like to want to evaporate into a story and forget the world for a while.

Highlights

2009-07-06T12:41:00.003-04:00

I had a wonderful birthday week. If you haven't seen the video of Chad's birthday dance, go watch it now. He also set up a beautiful bouquet of orange and yellow flowers during his lunch break so I would see them first thing as I walked in the door from work. They came complete with a delightfully romantic handwritten note. He made me feel very special and loved.

We had some friends over on Wednesday for a cookout, which was a lot of fun. We made tons of food, because that is just what we do. I got to hold a cute baby, eat lots of pumpkin cookies, and spend time with good people. What could be better?

On Friday, Chad and I spent the day with my mother, brother, sister-in-law, and grandma. I have so many hilarious video clips that I can hardly stand it. They will be shared with the internet soon. I promise!

Saturday was very sad for Chad's family because his grandmother passed away. We got to see her on Thursday to say goodbye--it was clear then that her time was close at hand. I am glad that she is free now. She left on Independence Day. Rest in peace, Mary.

Yesterday, we celebrated America's freedom with typical BBQ and fireworks. I have some awesome footage of the HUGE fireworks show that Chad's cousins set up. It is every bit as good as any city show I've seen.

I hope all of you had a great holiday!

Birthday Dance

2009-07-01T13:26:00.007-04:00

While getting ready this morning, Chad beckoned me into the bedroom, proudly exclaiming, "I made the bed!" I entered, ready to provide accolades and positive reinforcement, when I noticed a little package wrapped in bright yellow paper in the middle of the nicely arranged bed.

When I opened it, I found a cheerful yellow Flip Ultra video camera.

Of course, I immediately put in the batteries and started recording.

Chad was gracious enough to give me a birthday dance.

This is going to be a year to remember, I can tell.

Hometown Pride

2009-06-26T09:02:00.003-04:00

I'm working on a new site, everyone. I plan to use it as a vehicle to learn more about my new home town. I grew up in a pretty depressed and listless community, so though it may not seem like it to some, Ellettsville is a pretty happenin' place in my eyes.

If any of you live in Ellettsville, or just happen to know a little about the town, please share your information with me!

I have several books reserved from the library's Indiana room--I plan to brush up on my Ellettsville history for my first post.

I've already got a connection for an interview with the Ellettsville Masonic Lodge's Worshipful Master. Have you see the lodge, btw? It is gorgeous!

So, if you are interested, just click on the new shortcut icon I created for my sidebar. There isn't much up yet, but I'm hoping to put up one or two posts next week.

Send suggestions my way, please!

The Underside of Refinement

2009-06-24T08:09:00.000-04:00

About a year and a half ago Chad asked me to help redecorate his bedroom and bathroom. I, the ever enthusiastic and organized shopper, prepared lists of items that I thought he should include in his updated and improved rooms.

Chad likes to reminisce about the shopping lists; organized by (1) side of town, (2) store, (3) areas within the store, and (4) color.

Really, I was creating a marvelous shopping gameplan! If he could have found words at the time, I am sure he would have thanked me for the effort.

Especially, as I later learned, shopping is an activity he loathes.

However, I didn't explain to him the underside of refinement. He had to first learn the vocabulary. Duvet? Down comforter? Sheets? (Just kidding about that last one. Or am I?)

Now he understands the work that goes into making a room beautiful. See the evidence below.

How do you stuff your duvet?

Plants that Make Me Feel Grown Up

2009-06-23T11:28:00.004-04:00

When I was little my granny had a gardening business on her farm. She had 5 or 6 big greenhouses full of potted plants, a hayloft full of dried or drying flowers, and several other barns full of other plant growing implements and tools. It was an amazing place to visit. She is definitely the person that taught me to love growing things. She would sit me down at a folding table in one of her greenhouses and show me how to transfer little starter plants to bigger pots. Or she would take me through the greenhouses with her magic wand watering hose and show me how to water all the plants the right way. Basically she was training, then using me for child labor--which is OK as long as your grandma is the one cracking the whip, don't you know?

So, between the ages of 10-21 I kept a small vegetable garden in my mother's backyard. I also experimented with flowers and herbs (better than drugs, I guess).

When I moved to Bloomington, I was saddened to realized I would not be able to have a garden for the first time in 11 years. Even when I started to hang around Chad's house, with its wonderful backyard, I couldn't plant. The ground is full of clay down here! It's all that glorious Indiana limestone that does it.

So, the plan this summer was to circumvent the problem and create a couple of raised garden beds. When spring was rained out, and summer came too quickly--along with time consumed by wedding planning--we decided to forgo the gardening.

However, I was determined to plant SOMETHING in our yard. Specifically our barren, empty front yard. We needed shrubbery, and shrubbery was to be had at all costs (well, not all costs, just reasonable cost).

This weekend we finally did it. And I think the pictures speak for themselves.

This is the little shrub in front of our step. The tag said his name is Mr. Bowling Ball. I had to take him home with me!

This is Chad's Rhododendron bush. It will have pink blossoms, if it blooms. Chad picked it out and he is currently collecting coffee grounds from work, because he read it thrives in acidic soil. See, even he has plant fever!

I just love this stuff!

PSA for B-town

2009-06-18T12:57:00.005-04:00

I am lucky to live in Bloomington, Indiana. This town is great. I think I appreciate it even more, because I grew up in an area of the country that was dying. Muncie, New Castle, and much of the surrounding area is in a terrible economic drought that is mostly due to lost industry. The factories are closed or closing and hundreds of people are left jobless, without prospects.

Being in a town that is thriving is so very wonderful. The few factories that are here are actually doing well, the university brings tons of money to the local economy, and the community embraces and encourages sustainable living and diversification.

One difference between Muncie and Bloomington that really stands out to me, and seems to indicate the cultural and economic differences between the two towns, is the restaurant scene.

Muncie is the host of almost every chain restaurant in the nation. There are so few locally owned and operated restaurants (I don't count franchises) I think I could count them on the fingers of one hand.

Bloomington, though, is host to so many local restaurants I couldn't begin to count them. Luckily, most of them are centralized downtown, but there are a few that have even reached the farthest outreaches of Bloomington (that would be Sky Cafe in Ellettsville).

I love going to these locally owned restaurants so much. They are often in old homes that have been filled with little tables and outfitted with large kitchens. Sometimes the floors are uneven, but the food is always delicious.

Last weekend, I went to a old local joint called the Runcible Spoon. I heard from Chad and others that it was a fabulous place for breakfast/brunch, so we took my visiting mother over to try it out on Sunday morning. I got the most amazing blueberry pancakes I've ever eaten and some very tasty coffee. Mom and Chad's orders looked equally scrumptious, and the prices were definitely on par IHOP or Denny's, but the food was 100x better. Trust me.

Another of my all-time favorites is the local Afghan restaurant, Samira's. I was first introduced to Afghan cuisine in Muncie, oddly enough, but not at a restaurant. I was helping out at a fundraiser hosted at the UU church and all of the food was prepared by Afghan women. It was so, so good. I got to take home the leftovers. I thought I would never taste food that good again, and then I moved to Bloomington. Samira's has a lunch buffet that is really good, but dinner is where it is at. Believe me.

Another thing that I love about the Bloomington food scene is that people care about the local restaurants. People start petitions and protest if new chain restaurants open.

No matter where you live, it pays to support local businesses.

This has been a Public Service Announcement.

No One Mourns the Wicked

2009-06-15T08:29:00.003-04:00

Friday, I drove to Indianapolis to meet my old college chum, Tammy.

Back in our school days we shared a house with four other girls, but Tammy and I had rooms in the basement, right next to each other. For the two years we were cohabitating, Tammy and I were great friends. We used to sit up late into the night and talk about many things--or make fun of our common frenemies. "Good times," as Tammy would say.

So, now that we both have real jobs and are grown up adults, etc., we are still friends. (In fact, Tammy will be a bridesmaid in my wedding this fall.) We try to hang out as often as our different schedules will allow, and this weekend worked out wonderfully.

First, Tammy treated me to dinner at an amazing restaurant called Fogo de Chao. Only serious meat-lovers should consider this place. It's a Brazilian steakhouse with Gaucho-panted servers that carry cuts of roasted meat on skewers among the tables. When you are seated, they give you a little card that is red on one side and green on the other. This little card is used to indicate to the Gauchos that you want (green) or do not want (red) slices of the meat they are carrying. Needless to say, Tammy and I had to try a little of everything and ended up stuffed to capacity with delicious, perfectly seasoned and cooked, meats. Oh, they also provide lots of bread and side dishes, but that's really just filler. It's all about the meat, baby! And, boy, was it delicious. I ate so much, I actually got a stitch in my side as we walked to the theatre, which was to be our next stop.

At the Murat theatre in downtown Indianapolis we saw Wicked. Oh, Wicked! How I have longed to see this musical for years! I have owned the soundtrack ever since my friends shared the song "Popular" with me. They actually saw it on Broadway, I believe--lucky ducks. Even without Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, it was fabulous. Musicals are wonderful.

And, yes, we were still stuffed from dinner when it was all over, but we decided that we needed to go get a little dessert with my Bloomington friends that were also at the show. I had a tiny little milkshake at Steak'n'Shake, and my stomach practically seized up and died. I'd never make it as a competitive eater.

It was a fabulous night on the town, spent with a wonderful friend.

So, in summary my Friday night consisted of: various meats, Wicked, tiny milkshakes, and happiness.

The Councilwoman

2009-06-09T07:58:00.003-04:00

So, about a month ago I was elected to Staff Council at work.

To a lot of people in the office, Staff Council was nothing more than planning the monthly "donut day"--which was really a staff breakfast.

To the rest of the department, well, they had no idea there was a Staff Council. I was one of these folks.

I was told that the newbies tend to get elected, largely because the staff members that have been around for a few years don't want to buy donuts once a month for two years ever again.

That's right, it's a two year term.

I know what you're asking yourself right now. You're thinking, Why would they elect a council to serve two years and then ask them to do nothing but bring in some food once a month for the rest of the staff to eat? That is what I wondered, anyway.

So, I went straight to the HR coordinator who was handing out ballots--with my name on it!--and asked her to explain.

Her response:

"Occasionally issues are raised that impact staff and the council meets to discuss them and if necessary, to meet with the Chair. Mostly, though, the council is in charge of planning staff events."

Representing staff during meetings with the Chair of the Department, that sounds like a more serious duty than donut procurement, doesn't it? Yet, never once did I hear of that duty from any past Staff Council members.

It really didn't matter though--I was lucky enough to be elected along with my friend Jenny. Ambition and incentive are qualities we do not lack. We were tipped off the day before the results were announced that we would indeed be the newest members of the illustrious council. So, we had time to plan our course of action.

I like to think we surprised everyone by our immediate response. Not only are we determined to make Staff Council legitimate and respectable, we are also striving (and succeeding) at making Staff Council known around these parts.

We have already hosted the first Staff Breakfast, which was pretty well received. We had a chance to discuss our plans and aspirations with interested coworkers. We've begun a recycling project that really took off immediately. Oh, and we set up a web survey for staff to complete and got a very high response rate.

Oh--and a little tidbit about the survey. I noticed that there were several joking/insulting surveys submitted. Since they are anonymous, I couldn't tell who had sent them in, of course. However, the IP addresses are listed with each response. I looked over all of the surveys, and guess what I found? The same person--or at least the same IP address--did the survey 10 times! I was flabbergasted just at the amount of effort that went in to crafting such snarky answers to each question--10 times over. These surveys are not that short, folks. So of course, I had to do a reverse search for the IP address to see if I could find out who it was--and of course, I found out. I'm positive that it was one person, because the IP goes to a private computer in the building. I'm just waiting for that person to submit another survey--just so I can email them and suggest they stop wasting our time. How surprised do you think they would be?

So, anyway. Staff Council has been quite a challenge so far. We have a couple of more projects and events in the works, that we haven't discussed publicly. We have scheduled our first meeting with the Chair, which will really help us hammer out our goals for our term. So,we are going to keep working hard and hoping that we can make an improvement, because we want this to be a good experience--for us and for the department.

Pretty as a Picture

2009-06-05T15:13:00.002-04:00

This is my favorite picture from our hike through the park last weekend. If you click on it--you can see the very large original photo.

Water and rocks. Beautiful.

Arboretum Fun

2009-06-04T15:47:00.008-04:00

There is this tree.

It lives in the arboretum on campus, which--lucky me!--is right across the street from my building.

I saw this tree one beautiful sunny day as I walked past the gorgeous wrought iron fence.

(do you see him in the background?)

Then, I went through the old fashioned stone gate. Isn't it pretty?

I looked across the lawn and saw this wondrous tree on my left.

Can you tell what had me so enthralled? Look closely.

Blackish-red leaves on the outside.

Green leaves on the interior.

The only thing I can guess--since I really don't know much about plants--is that the leaves on this type of tree turn RED in the sunlight. I have no idea what kind of chemical reaction could be happening in those little fronds, but it is beautiful to behold.

Do you know what kind of tree this is?

Geocache

2009-06-03T11:23:00.006-04:00

The friends we met at the park on Sunday introduced me to a new activity. Although, I'm not sure it's all that new--just new to me.

Before we arrived, they had already been at the park for hours. They told me they were geocaching, and I assumed that meant they were looking for valuable minerals in ditches and creeks. Maybe they were going to send it in to Cash for Gold?

Anyway, I was wrong. Do you know what geocaching is? I sure didn't. And it wasn't until the end of our hike that I found out.

It is a world-wide scavenger hunt!

How has this been kept a secret from me for so long?!?

Apparently you get a little GPS device that has all the geocaches uploaded, and you search around your area until you locate the hidden treasure. (Treasure is a loose term here.)

There is a communal website that people can access to record their experiences.

Just look at the joy!

Inside: lots of weird stuff and a log book.

Have you done this? It is so cool!

Sunday at the Park

2009-06-02T11:16:00.015-04:00

Have I mentioned here that Chad bought a season pass to the state park down the road from us? Well he did, and since then Trinity and I have been reaping the glorious benefits.

This weekend ended up being absolutely beautiful. The weather was perfect. Saturday was spent on yard work and relaxing around the house. Sunday, we decided it was time to go to the park.

Trinity gets so excited when we say the words, "Park," or "Walk." She can't sit still and she tends to jump and whine and generally throw fits until we walk out of the door. However, we tend to make the poor decision to say these key words before we change our shoes and put on sunscreen, or are in any way ready to leave. So the poor dog is practically beside herself for 5 WHOLE MINUTES while we scramble for our things.

Then in the car she whines at stop lights.

When we finally get to the park, it's all green. So peaceful and serene.

Even Trin is effected by the ambiance . . . .

We joined up with some friends at the park. They had already done a trail or two, and even had a picnic lunch. We felt like slackers, so we suggested taking the hardest trail in the park . . . with the dog.

It was rocky.

We crisscrossed a creek several times. On rocks . . . wobbly rocks.

Trinity especially like the creek.

Oh yeah, and there were stairs.

I looked at the park map later and the trail is described as "rugged" which doesn't sound too bad except all the rest of the trails are described as either easy or moderate.

I think that means we conquered the park, right?

What I Look for in a Man

2009-06-01T07:55:00.006-04:00

When my car broke down and died last August, Chad and I started carpooling out of necessity. I really couldn't get anywhere without him until December, which is when I bought my Yaris. We decided at that point that we would continue to carpool for environmental reasons . . . and because we liked the time together in the mornings.

So, most afternoons I wait for my mister down in front of my building. There are several signs that I look for in order to know that it is Chad's car turning the corner and coming my way.

First I look for the signature Kia headlights. Second, I look for the garter hanging from the rear view mirror. That's the garter he caught at my brother's wedding, two days before he proposed.

When I get to the door, Chad always opens it for me. He's chivalrous like that. Also, the handle is broken on the outside.

When I get in, sometimes he leans in and gives me a kiss. Sometimes, if I'm really lucky, he just acts weird and makes faces at me.

I was lucky this time. Probably because he was excited about his sunglasses. His dad stopped by the day before with two pairs of sunglasses that Chad had left behind at least a year ago. Chad was so excited that he broke one pair almost immediately.

Oh, the fun of carpooling!

In This Corner

2009-05-22T07:53:00.005-04:00

When I got home last night, Chad grabbed my arm and pulled me to the back yard. "You have to look at Trin's face," He said gleefully, "It looks like she's wearing makeup!"

We called her over, and she came running, excited as usual to see us.

But her face!

She was covered in scratches. All around her eyes, in her ears, on her muzzle. It was horrible. Chad was laughing, and I was sad, but Trinity was oblivious. She was busy mulching sticks like normal.

One of the good things about her is her high pain tolerance. She runs into doors and corners and doesn't make a peep. Later as Chad washed out the cuts and wiped of the little blood that was in her fur, she didn't make a sound. She was more upset about the water, I think.

We don't know what she fought with--probably a cat. And honestly, we don't think she fought at all. We searched the yard and found no sign of the struggle (iow, dead animals), which leads us to believe that she probably did what she always does to cats--pinned it to the ground and licked it all over. The common response to this by cats in the past is face scratching and general pissed-off-ness. I should check her tongue for scratches . . .

The next door cat, named Puma, is probably not the culprit/victim, because he was pinned and licked and he scratched the hell out of Trin's face last year. I'm thinking it was probably the black cat from the house on the corner, who was on our roof Wednesday. That certainly got Trin excited, so maybe the cat came back yesterday? We may never know.

My Pets are Funny

2009-05-18T14:33:00.007-04:00

This is my cat, Chaos. Yes, that's her name. I got her when I turned 15 years old, so she is about 9 years old now, and only a little gray. She lives at my mom's house, and has since I moved away in college.

I think she is perfect, but she has a bit of a reputation for bad behavior. Once she jumped on the back of Chad's chair at Mom's house and swatted at him, hissing and spitting, until he moved. Maybe she's just territorial?

How can you reprimand something with such lovely blue eyes? I just can't.

**********************************

This is Trinity. She is Chad's dog, but I'm pretty sure she loves me more. She is the opposite of Chaos--loving, forgiving, playful.

She makes me laugh on a regular basis.

I love both of my pets, and am glad they are part of my lives. I wish I could have them together in the same house, but I'm pretty sure that would be like mixing baking soda and vinegar or Diet Coke and Mentos or some really explosive chemical with another explosive chemical. Anyway, it wouldn't work.

Love on your pets today!

My second cousin? Third? Fourth?

2009-05-15T14:35:00.002-04:00

My cousin Holly gave birth to a baby girl last night. Her husband David posted the first pictures of the wee one on Facebook this morning for all the world to see.

Her name is Myra Beatrice.

My assessment: she looks a lot like her mother, which is definitely a good thing. She likes to stick her tongue out like her father. She is adorable and small.

I will have to share more about her personality after I have a chance to get to know her better. I will be seeing her tonight.

A note on the name Myra (which Holly and David kept secret from all of us):

"The name was invented in the 17th century by the poet Fulke Greville for use in his love poems. He perhaps based it on Latin 'myron' from the Greek (myrrh, onguent - a sweet smelling oil), creating a feminine form of Myron.

It has also been suggested that he simply rearranged the letters of Mary. He could also, like Shakespeare with the name Miranda, have been thinking of a name which would mean 'admirable', based on the Latin.
Other suggestions relate it to Irish Moyra, or make it a borrowing of the name of a seaport in ancient Lycia.

It came into general use only in the 1830s, frequently as Mira, occasionally as Mirah."

{source}

Pretty snazzy, huh?

Babies Take the Cake

2009-05-14T14:53:00.009-04:00

My dear cousin Holly went into labor today, and at this point she may or may not be a mother! I cannot wait until 5 PM, when I will be able to call her husband and find out the news.

Until I can get my camera fixed on the newest addition to my family, I would like to share some adorable baby images with you.

This is Jonathon, and he is the youngest grandchild in my family in the last 13 years. What that means is he is a STAR, and he gets lots and lots of attention.

See all the attention he receives? He is surrounded by adults who "oh" and "ah" over his every expression and movement. I really feel like he is in danger of over-loving.

If that happens, his grandma will be the main offender. She gives that child WAY too much lovin'.

Even I melted and made goofy faces when he hugged me. This kid knows what he's doing.

So, I'm sure that Holly and David's child will soon be experiencing the benefits of babyhood: lots of attention, food, love, lotion, and snuggling. I plan to participate in the administration of these activities whenever possible (read: allowed to by parents).

I also have my fingers crossed that David and Holly will let me take some baby pictures!

With that, I will remind you all of Jonathon's cuteness and depart.

Mothers

2009-05-13T09:48:00.003-04:00

This is my mother. She is my favorite woman in the whole world. (My brother is pretty awesome, too, but this post is about Mom!)

My mother is a junior high and high school math teacher. She works at the school that I attended, actually. In hindsight, that was a huge blessing for all of us, but what teenager wants to run into their mom in the hallways at school?

RSHS is so small that there were probably 500 students total--that includes elementary, junior high, and high school. It's in a small town with a depressed economy and disappearing industry. The families that are staying are the ones that can't leave. What that means for the school and for my mother is that the kids are getting more difficult to handle, let alone teach. It was true when I was there six years ago, and I can only imagine how much it has increased since then.

In my opinion, the United States public educational system is underfunded and over-regulated. They can't do anything because they don't have money, and they can't get money because they're not doing anything! I'm sure someone else could do a great job explaining the situation--but I've heard public school teachers say they would consider homeschooling or private school, and that means a lot to me.

So, that is what my mother deals with everyday, and she has been teaching for over 25 years. I think just for that she deserves a medal of honor. Yet, she not only does a great job, she gives uncounted hours of her time to any child that asks for help. She's told me stories of several junior high and high school students who call her mom accidentally and don't even notice they said it. They bring her cookies from Home-Ec, they buy her presents, and they critique her clothing/hair/makeup (which I don't think she really appreciates). But they know she cares and that's more than a lot of them get at home. Sometimes, when I hear stories about her students, I think how lucky I am to have had her as my mother. I couldn't have asked for anyone better. Circumstances don't matter, love is all that matters for a family. I grew up in a house full of my mother's love.

Thank you, Mom, for everything! I love you.

Star Trek, The New Old Generation

2009-05-12T09:22:00.009-04:00

On Friday, Chad and I met up with friends and family to see the new Star Trek movie at the IMAX in Indianapolis. I knew the movie was supposed to be another one of those remake-the-series-from-the-beginning type of shows (aka, movie reboots), like Batman and James Bond. And though, I've always considered myself a Star Trek fan--maybe not a trekkie because that denotes a level of commitment I can quite muster up for a TV show (not even LOST claims that much of my life)--I have never really watched much of the first series of Star Trek. So, even though I am mostly familiar with the characters, I am not going to be able to pick up on the subtle plot changes that so many people are complaining about.

Of course, on the IMAX screen any movie is going to be impressive. And according to an unsubstantiated source (my brother) the Star Trek movie was filmed FOR the IMAX theatre and later converted for the smaller screens of the regular movie theatres.

I thought the story was good. Son loses father, lives with a chip on his sholder, joins the military to make something of himself, becomes hero. Well at least that is this guy's story:

Oh wait. That's the old Cap'n Kirk. Hehe, that scamp. Here's the new one:

So dark! So serious! So sexy! (Well, except for his weird lips that are very distracting.)

Oh, and something that I noticed--and maybe this is just me--Spock is now somehow attractive and vulnerable and HOT. Is that weird? I feel like that is weird. Do you think Leonard Nimoy will be pissed that he never turned on his fans with his Vulcan logic?

Sorry, but Skylar, uh, I mean Spock is ah-tract-tive. Oh and he's got a girlfriend!?! What? Did Spock ever have a gf on the original series? Anyway, I digress. The movie was awesome. Go see it!

Now for some fun pictures!

The whole crew, past and present!

Uncanny, isn't it?

Mathematical Insecurities

2009-05-11T09:34:00.005-04:00

I've recommitted myself to taking the GRE this summer. It really is the next step I HAVE TO take to get accepted (or even apply) to graduate school. Whatever I end up doing, education-wise, the GRE is more than likely going to be a requirement. I've know this since my third year of college, and three years later I have yet to take the miserable test.

It's all because of the math section.

I have no fear of the writing, reading, processing, arguing sections. Really, I don't. My greatest fear is the math section--and it's not even advanced math!

You see, I have always lived in the shadow of my math teacher mother and brilliant physics-genius brother. I know that I can do well at this level of math--it's just math anxiety that may make me fail.

I'm starting now on the math test prep, and the review has been easy so far. I haven forgotten entirely what I learned in junior high--and yes, that is honestly the level of math testing on the GRE.

So, if any of you math geniuses, or math aficionados, wish to help out an English-minded person. This English-minded person is willing to give you cookies.

Amazing Kids

2009-05-07T15:54:00.003-04:00

These kids are amazing. I love how much they enjoy singing--the hand motions and the head bobbing show it all.

They sing a lot of Tori Amos songs--and since they are so popular on Youtube, Tori found out, and met up with the kids. They made her cry.

I love it. Look up their videos on Youtube. They have a blog, too. http://ps22chorus.blogspot.com/

Accidental Indian Mexican Burritos

2009-05-05T08:01:00.003-04:00

On Saturday night, Chad put some beans in water to soak. On Sunday afternoon, he started cooking those beans, which remained on the stove for about three hours. By dinner time, the spices had been added and the house smelled heavenly. Unfortunately, after a hasty mash, Chad discovered that the thick bean mix he had created for burritos was really more like bean soup.

Disheartened, Chad almost threw the pan in the trash, but decided at the last minute to save the bean, er, soup and try to salvage it later. The Golden Arches filled our tummies and their salty french fries were a salve unto our wounds.

On Monday afternoon, I came home from work determined to make the burritos one way or another. I browned some ground beef in a skillet, and began to add the spices to make the meat sing with joy.

Garlic, parsley, cayenne, and cumin. Oh wait! What did that jar say? I read C-U, and grabbed it, but why is it so yellow? And what is that smell? Are we having Indian beef? Is that an oxymoron, or just ironic? Damn it all, I grabbed the CURRY powder. C-U-R-R-Y!

I quickly grabbed the cumin and attempted to cover up my mistake. There was no mistaking the lingering scent, however. Our house smelled like the Bombay House. That would normally be a good thing, but for this meal it was not.

Meanwhile, Chad simmered down some of the bean, um, stuff, and it actually looked pretty good. Nice and thick. Maybe that would save us.

We decided to go full steam ahead with this Disaster of a meal, and layered bean soup and curry beef on our tortillas with cheese and sour cream. We baked them for a few minutes to get the cheese melted and sat down to see if we would survive.

And you know what? It was good. We ate it all, and we were pleased.

How is it that we messed up every step of the way and still managed to make a decent meal? Well in my opinion, it takes skill and grace--it takes Chad and me working together to make it a success. We might not get it right or do things according to plan, but we get it done and we usually end up happy, even if we make a mistake or two along the way.

That's what I tell myself anyway.

I see it as a metaphor for our relationship, really. Chad is the bean soup, and I am the curry beef. Strange, yes, but together we are awesome, and we can pull off anything--even Accidental Indian Mexican Burritos.

Thursday

2009-04-30T14:35:00.003-04:00

This week has been pretty blasé.

The phrase "same old, same old" doesn't even cover it.

Something sort of interesting: I picked up my wedding dress on my lunch break today. I was with a friend that gets super excited about weddings, love, romance of any kind. I thought she was going to pass out from joy. She even told me that she was honored to have my wedding dress in the trunk of her car.

Also, Chad is going to some cage fight thing on Saturday night, so I need to make some plans for myself. I thought about going to Goodwill for hours, but maybe I should do something social? I don't know which would make me more excited.

I'll be doing my second photography event at work tomorrow. It should be fun. Free food is involved, so it can't be bad.

Spring Cleaning

2009-04-25T21:45:00.003-04:00

The weather today was beautiful.

I could tell when I woke up that it was going to be a great day. Actually, I think a dump truck was reversing in a neighboring yard, and the incessant beeping of the backup warning was what actually aroused me from slumber around 8 AM.

So, maybe I wasn't too sure about the outlook for the day as soon as I woke up, but it quickly brightened as the morning progressed.

Chad was my lawn care hero and mowed the front and back yards before 10 AM. I made some yummy omelet biscuit sandwiches for our breakfast, and then we set about fixing up the front lawn. We put landscaping timbers all around the west side of the house, in preparation for mulch and shrubbery next weekend. Chad also pulled a dead tree from the ground with his bare hands. Well, I did have to fetch his hatchet so he could viciously chop up one stubborn root, but after that he pulled the thing from the ground like an Iron Man.

I finally organized the pantry, thank God! We are trying to use up as much of our stores as possible this week, and with a little meal planning we only had to buy 5 things at the grocery to get us by until next weekend. I hope to finally make it to the Farmers' Market then, and get loads of local, fresh food.

This afternoon, Chad borrowed his dad's power washer and cleaned the house siding, the shed walls, and the front sidewalk and stoop. It was so amazing to see the high pressured water cleaning away all the caked on dirt and moss that I followed Chad around most of the house, just watching.

Really, we got so much accomplished today it's scary. The sunshine and the warm breezes did it, I think. I can't think of a better motivation to get out and get moving.

Little Five Hundred

2009-04-24T08:06:00.003-04:00

As a relatively new resident of the Bloomington, Indiana area, I have discovered many attributes of the town that I dearly love. One such attribute is the copious trees that fill the town and the surrounding countryside. Bloomington truly earns its title of Tree City, USA. Another attribute of Bloomington I love is the cultural and religious diversity. We have every version of Christian church, as well as a Buddhist cultural center, temple, and monastery. We also have an Islamic center, and a great Jewish student organization called Hillel which has its own student center, and a local synagogue.

Something I am only this year noticing, though, is the frenzy that is caused by a local event called the Little 500.

Car racing fans are aware of the Indy 500, which floods Indianapolis with visitors every May. I have actually attended a race at the Indy 500, and found it somewhat interesting, but not necessarily something I would want to experience again. (This probably had to do mostly with the fact that I was, at the time, too young to increase my racing enthusiasm with large quantities of beer.) My cousins, however, go to the race every year along with their wives and my aunt. They apparently have a rip-roaring good time, and get very sunburnt. As far as I know, the idea behind the Little Five, as they call it around here, is basically the same as the Indy 500. Except they race on bikes. That seems like a very Bloomington type of thing to do, bike riding being very popular here. Anyway, the town gets crazy drunk from Friday until Sunday (except maybe half of the racers) and they all tumble around town laughing and thoroughly enjoying themselves. This is the impression I've been given by other locals, at least.

I will not be attending the races this year because I didn't realize they were taking place until I noticed the event advertised on a billboard on Tuesday. Like I said, I'm still getting used to this whole townie thing.

No One Mourns the Wicked

2009-04-23T15:04:00.004-04:00

June is the month of flowers and green grass and sunshine. It is the month that young women become brides (er, sometimes).

Some might say that June is a magical time. I might say that, actually, because for me it does seem magical. A glowing, magical, vibrant time of year--the most glorious day of which is the 12th.

Why is it so wonderful, you ask--well, because . . .

Because I will, on that day, be wed.

Just kidding.

I think Chad is calling me right now to find out who I'm marrying.

No, I am actually going to be bouncing up and down with excitement all day on June 12th until 8PM rolls around on that evening because I am going to see WICKED!

I can not explain how much I love the music from this play. The story is fabulous, the characters compelling. It is just the most wonderful thing on this earth, next to my dear Chad. Who I need to call back and explain to about the June wedding joke.

You thought it was funny, right?

2009-04-22T13:24:00.005-04:00

I got out of my funk yesterday. Thank goodness. I even smiled a few times in the afternoon, and had a really nice time at yoga last night.

Sometimes, instead of stewing in my own malicious juices, I need to get up out of my chair and leave the office. It helps so much to spend an hour (or two) with people who make me laugh, share expensive M&Ms with me, and are generally encouraging.

So, to keep up the positive momentum, here is a list of things that make me glad today:

1. My yoga instructor made my hip stop hurting, after three weeks of pain.
2. My fiance has been in the most cheerful mood this week, it makes me smile.
3. Most of my wedding planning is done, and the details are coming together pretty well so far.
4. I'm going to watch LOST tonight with some friends. Yay!
5. I have enough money to pay all of my bills and a little left over for fun things--like food!

That's the short version. Would you share some of your gladness with me? What are you happy about today?

(photo from www.lifepower.org)

Balance

2009-04-21T10:37:00.003-04:00

In the last few weeks I have been searching for balance in my life. I am trying to reconcile the needs with the wants, and the have-tos with the don't-wannas.

Today feels like I'm struggling against gravity. My weight is pitched too far forward and I feel like I might topple off my balance beam.

Sometimes I feel like thinking is a curse. I've been trained to look at and think about everything critically. Occasionally, I believe that if I could shut off that part of my brain that over-analyzes, critiques, plans, and wishes, I would.

But that isn't what I would do. I couldn't.

Sometimes life just seems so mundane. The pettiness of conversation, the triviality of disputes . . . it bugs me.

I want connection. I want depth. I get so tired of working so hard for those things. So, I understand why some people don't bother. I understand why they would rather discuss lattes and coworkers, rather than aspirations, hopes, dreams. To be contemplative hurts sometimes, and it's hard work the rest. Since college, maybe in high school, I have seen people turn away from it because of the difficulty it posed, the pain it foretold.

To be thoughtful is to be strong willed, yet open to experience and learning. It takes strength of character and passion for truth, and beyond that understanding.

I'm going to get my balance back. I'm just looking the wrong way today. Maybe tomorrow I can look forward, instead of down.

Evolution

2009-04-20T09:31:00.008-04:00

I know it is said that people will, over time, become more and more like their significant other. They grow to share preferences in music, movies, food. Well, I realized this weekend that I too am changing. I am growing more similar to my beloved in one particular area.

It happened so slowly, I barely noticed at first.

Several months ago, I off-handedly said I would be interested in participating in an upcoming D&D campaign. I barely understood what was involved, and had to ask the other players every time it was my turn, "I roll what now?" I liked the game, though I was horrible at it, and persevered through three short campaigns. In our latest game, I have suddenly become proficient at rolls, attacks, rules . . . it surprised me, as it did everyone else with whom I have been playing.

Also, since the beginning of our relationship, Chad has found various video games for me to play. So far, the process has been thus: I start the game, my character dies within minutes, I turn off the console, pick up a book and go in the other room. Eventually, Chad lists the game on Goozex, gets a new game, and it starts all over again. Meanwhile, he is finishing 130 hour games without breaking a sweat--or sleeping.

There was a brief moment when I was excited about fighting games. Chad brought home Soul Caliber, and I thoroughly stomped him that evening. The next day, when Chad asked to play me again, I gleefully accepted. He massacred me. We never played again. Same story with Mortal Combat v. DC. Chad is just too experienced for a novice like me to contend against. I just get mad when he wins. Every. Game.

Chad recently found a game genre I have enjoyed: arcade style games. Peggle and some Zoomba thing. I don't even know the names, I just like them. Mindless, color-coded, easy. That's my kind of thing. No zombies, sharks, bombs, or Nazis for this girl.

Except, this weekend, there I was on the couch for a good three hours playing a real video game--Final Fantasy III on DS.

I'm hooked. I've even started playing those mind games that I used to play when I was really, really into a book I was reading. Like, I will talk to this person for as long as they want, but as soon as they get distracted I am pulling out my DS. I even brought it to work today to play during my lunch break.

I can tell by Chad's proud expression, and cheerful smile that it's official.

I'm a gamer.

Susan Boyles

2009-04-17T11:03:00.004-04:00

I saw something about this performance on the news last night. I am so glad I remembered to look it up today.

Please watch this short (7 min.) video. It is so touching!

Susan Boyles Sings on Britain's Got Talent

I loved it, but I'm trying my hand at being unbiased. So, read this short article for a big bucket of ice water over your glowing bubble of happiness.

Susan Boyle: What's the big deal?

2009-04-16T13:04:00.004-04:00

I need to floss.

And I REALLY need to go to the dentist and get my teeth cleaned. They are definitely due for a scraping. Oh, how I hate the scraping of my teeth. I know that it must be done, but boy do I hate it.

Also, I don't trust dentists. I believe they are out to get me. Don't believe me?

I had braces for six years.

Do you believe me now?

I'm also pretty sure I need a cavity drilled and filled. Probably more than one. But first I need to find a dentist. The one I had all my life is hundreds of miles from me now. And my inherent distrust of dentists makes it difficult for me to pick which ~~torturer~~ doctor to call.

Maybe I should go for those offices that claim to put you under mild sedation while they work? But then I couldn't run away if they tried anything funny . . . such a conundrum.

Any local people know a dentist I can trust?

I would prefer someone like this:

Happy Wednesday!

2009-04-15T13:30:00.001-04:00

I'm baking tonight!

2009-04-14T10:47:00.003-04:00

I found myself in tears several times as I read Julie Bolte Taylor’s book My Stroke of Insight. Jill was a successful, well-known neuroscientist in the prime of her life when she was sudden debilitated by a massive stroke. She wrote her book eight years after the event, describing the details of the stroke, her surgery, and the long recovery phase that followed. I found all of it interesting, especially Jill’s unflagging optimism and her thoughts on life and existence.

Yet, what brought me to tears was not this woman’s struggle and recovery. It was my own memories.

As the author described how her mother moved to Boston to help her, and all the simple, everyday things that she did to encourage and care for her helpless daughter, I was flooded with memories of late night hospital visits, long talks in recovery rooms, and especially the look in my father’s eyes every time I came to see him. It was gratitude. I never thought about it, until I heard my father’s unspoken words coming from the mouth of another.

Every time I spoke to my father, on the phone or in person, he told me he loved me. So many times he tried to say how grateful he was to me and my brother for all we did for him. I would always hug him and tell him that we loved him, and hope that he would let that be enough. I feared that he would feel guilty for needing us so much. I couldn’t have told him then, but now I look back on my time spent in Ball Memorial, or at the countless doctors’ offices, or at the rehabilitation clinic, and treasure that I got to be with him. His need saved me from the angry pain I’d held on to since my parents’ divorce, and made me grow up and get over my petty, childish grudges. I learned in those years that my father was imperfect and flawed, but that he was a Good Man. There was something inside of him that was bright and shiny and beautiful, despite the gunk life had crusted over it. It was in those special quiet times in the hospital when he would talk about his brother, or over the breakfast he made me before an early morning appointment, that I could see him for what he was.

In the end, overcome with my emotions and memories of my father, I had to go sob on Chad’s shoulder, and he came back to the bedroom, where I do all my reading, to be there for me. He let me talk about my father for an hour, and didn’t say that it was strange that I was so emotional over a book.

Philosophical Discussion 2: Thou Shalt Not Kill

2009-04-03T13:57:00.004-04:00

On the way to a birthday party last night, Chad told me about a story in the news that I hadn't heard. Apparently there was a young man in Massachusetts who brutally killed two of his sisters and critically injured his third sister before the police were able to shoot and kill him. As Chad described the vicious attack to me, I felt sick to my stomach. The gruesome details reminded me of that crazy guy on the Greyhound bus in Canada--did you hear that story? Disgusting.

What makes it so much worse, I think, is that the young man had no past history of violent crime. He snapped, and in his rage took two lives, brutally.

Chad made the point that the man seemed to be from a poor community, and that he may have been on drugs of some kind that enabled him to become so violent (we're talking decapitation violent here).

I think that is a good possibility, because drug usage is rampant in lower socioeconomic areas---but I also think back to my time working with violent teenagers, and I think that the young man could have done it anyway, even if he was drug free. I've seen the boiling rage that some children/young adults in those situations can feel. The girls I worked with at the treatment facility were full of anger. It seemed like they only had two settings: fine and BLIND WITH FURY. And the time lapse between being fine to murderously angry was milliseconds--yet the recovery from the rage seemed to take hours.

So, with all of that in mind, I believe that anyone can kill. Anger is one of the most primitive emotions, and it is one of the strongest. It is presumed that anger helped humans stay alive in the past, and the adrenaline that came with the experience enabled humans to fight (or flee) more successfully. With enough anger, killing could be as easy as walking to the kitchen and grabbing a knife.

Do you consider yourself capable of killing another human being? If not, what makes you so very different from the young man in Massachusetts?

Is there a time when killing is OK?

Philosophical Discussion 1

2009-03-31T10:56:00.004-04:00

I have struggled with choosing a philosophical topic to discuss, and have decided upon what might be the most difficult question to answer. I might as well give it a go, I suppose, so here we begin:

What is the purpose of life?

A lot of people base their answer to this question around the religious community they grew up in, or on the religion they adopted as an adult. So, obviously they will claim their purpose to relate to doing a certain deity’s work in the world, or spreading the message of God to the unknowing unbelievers. But really, that isn’t the real reason they are doing it. I mean, why do they care about this deity, anyway?

Why did they decide to join that religion? Why do they believe in what they believe? Most likely, they would say it is because the tenets of the faith seemed true to them. It felt right. In fact, I bet most explanations given would include several statements indicative of strong emotional responses. My reason for pointing this out is that I suspect they believe in God or some other divine power because of the feelings they experience related to that belief. Specifically, they believe because of the good feelings they are experience.

Not just the religiously devout base their lives on the emotional reactions they have. I would propose that everyone could qualify. I’m sure one can argue for the exemption of those who have analytical minds, but even scientific evidence points to the human preference of instinct (feelings) over logic. (I will find a reference for you, if you’d like one.)

Please understand, I do not believe we are driven solely by emotions. I know we have analytical sections of our brains—the left side mostly—which helps ground us in reality and make decisions, as well as connect us to others through language. However, it is our right mind that flourishes with emotions, creativity, and no surprise here, religiosity.

I consider all of that when I make this suggestion for your consideration and comment, I think the purpose of life is to be happy. Don’t disregard this idea because you think it sounds hokey, corny, or otherwise uninspired. Please consider what drives you to do everything you do—work (or the reason you have for working), the life partner you chose, the religion/church you attend, the entertainment you select, the friends you have, the pets/plants/art in your home . . . why did you select these things and not others?

Was it because it made you happy? I hope so, because, in my opinion, that is what life is all about.

Philosophy

2009-03-27T15:11:00.002-04:00

Recently I added a poll in the sidebar of my blog to find out what topics people would like me to write about. I’ll admit I voted myself—for more food related posts. I love a good foodie blog. Maybe someday I’ll get myself organized enough to be a foodie. I usually forget all about blogs, photography, and the Internet when in the kitchen. I love to cook, I just forget to document.

However, a couple of my readers asked for more philosophical posts in this blog, and I aim to please. This whole website is really about you, my readers. I mean, sure, it’s really all about me, but where would I be without YOU? NOWHERE!

So, my philosophical friends, what topic would you like to me discuss? I’m willing to tackle anything.

2009-03-26T11:32:00.002-04:00

I have this friend at work--Kimberly--who is very creative and likes to make cute stuff. She creates these adorable cards by hand, and even does super awesome craft projects for birthday and Christmas presents.

Yesterday we celebrated Kimberly's birthday at work.

Realizing that she was a creative force to be reckoned with, I set out to make a creative-crafty gift that would do her justice.

What does Kimberly love the most? This was the question I asked myself. The answer to that question, and the resulting craft project/gift can be seen below.
Her family!

I made these silhoutte plaques of Kimberly, her husband, and their little boy. I bought the wooden plaques, which I spray painted ivory. Then I used photographs to make a stencil of the profiles, which I painted black. I attached hangers to the back. Turned out pretty nice, huh?

Now freakin' cute is this child? You don't even need more than that profile to know that he is adorable.

So, I know it's not until tomorrow, technically, but happy birthday, Kimberly!

Oh, and if you would like to see some of the fun stuff Kimberly has created, just check out her blog (which she has promised to update with new stuff soon!).

Well Dressed

2009-03-23T10:39:00.003-04:00

My bridesmaids all found dresses to wear in the wedding this weekend.

We went to the Edinburg Premium Outlets for our search because I don't believe that bridesmaid dresses should cost more than $100. We were lucky to find three dresses that were about $70 each.

I could only find the green version online, but this is what Tammy and Meredith are going to wear. Jessica will be wearing the same dress in chocolate brown. Pretty, huh?

Since we somehow found these dresses in about an hour, we went to lunch and then shoe shopped the afternoon away. Everyone found shoes for the wedding, too. How awesome is that? I had to be talked down from some awesome red strappy heels. I think Tammy was afraid I would cause heart attacks in the elderly guests during the garter toss, or something.

Something New for Fridays

2009-03-20T08:34:00.004-04:00

-1-

I recently started reading the blog Conversion Diary. It is the personal account of a woman who converted from adamant atheism to Orthodox Catholicism, and it is fascinating. She is a fabulous writer, and she has very thoughtful posts about religion. She is not in-your-face or offensive, and I love having the opportunity to learn more about a religion/denomination that has always seemed very mysterious to me.

-2-

My eyes are so puffy and red today that I decided to forgo my contacts and wear my glasses to work. I feel like this is a sacrifice because my glasses are only slightly better than military-issued BCGs. It looks like I really do have seasonal allergies. I despise that these allergies have developed in the last three years. Now I'm a fully grown adult with no idea how to handle the itchy, water, runny mess that I am becoming.

-3-

Tomorrow I am going with my friends to look for bridesmaid dresses. We are going to try the outlet mall over in Edinburg, IN. I hope we can find something good without breaking the bank.

-4-

This week was Spring Break for Indiana University (where I work) and I have been struggling to stay awake as my work flow has dwindled to nothing. During the summer I am very busy, and even over the winter break I have some work to do. I guess this is the time even the faculty head out of town. Saving vacation time for my honeymoon is difficult in times like this.

-5-

Today is the first day of spring. I always thought it was March 21st, but apparently due to the changing orbit of the Earth, sometimes the Vernal Equinox lands on the 20th and sometime on the 21st. I am so happy to see the warmer weather coming in.

-6-

Soon I plan to build a raised vegetable bed in our backyard. I have always loved gardening, and regretted not being able to plant one last year. The soil is just so bad for gardening down here! So, to avoid the nightmare of clay removal, I'm going to plant on top of it--in good soil. I got the idea from the Pioneer Woman's blog, if you want to do it yourself. I'm sure there are other tutorials out there on the interwebs you could use, too.

-7-

I've got a ton of reading I want to do this weekend and into next week. I want to get through Rachel Carson's Silent Spring for the library's book group. It's about the environmental damage caused by pesticides, and was supposedly a big influence in the current environmental movement. I also have a cookbook called Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Recipes for Two. Chad and I have a problem with portion control, so I thought maybe if we could do correct cooking sizes (and in a slow cooker, how convenient!) then maybe we could make some headway into this healthy-eating thing. Also, I got a book on Hawaii, mostly about history and wildlife, that I want to peruse sometime. It's just like my favorite coffee mug says, "So many books, so little time!"

One of those days . . .

2009-03-19T21:01:00.004-04:00

Today's been pretty bad. No good details to share, besides a persistent headache.

I think I'll go to bed early with a new book: Silent Spring by Rachel Carson.

Reminder to self: Do not play fighting video games with Chad. You will get soundly beaten and end up angry.

The end. Goodnight.

***************************

Update: The headache turned into a mild migraine around 12:30 AM. I think if I hadn't gotten up to use the bathroom, I would have slept through the night fine. Remind me to stop drinking around 6 PM, ok?

2009-03-18T14:02:00.003-04:00

There is a feeling that I love. But it's hard to name.

It's that feeling I get when I've been outside all day, working hard. But it doesn't come with the work, it comes after. After I've showered off all the dirt and grime, and changed into clean clothes. After I've settled down, brought my feet off the floor, and relaxed.

I felt it yesterday when I put my head on my pillow to rest for a minute after finally cleaning up the yard. It was late afternoon, and the sun was slanting and golden red. As I laid there, through the open window, I felt the most perfect breeze on my face. It was gentle and warm.

It was then when I felt it, that elusive feeling.

My body was tired, but I felt clean and warm. All of my muscles were relaxed. The breeze through the window played with my face, and the air I was breathing was warm, too.

With surprise, I realized it was a familiar feeling, definitely one I'd had before. As I felt the breeze and thought about how pleasant it all was, I remembered. It was a summer feeling, a happy all-day-in-the-sun, exhausted-in-a-good-way sort of thing.

Have you ever had that feeling?

Sunny Day

2009-03-17T20:20:00.011-04:00

I took a half day today. Did you ever have half days in school? It was always like a holiday. I remember how, despite our teachers best efforts, nothing ever got done. The classes were shorter, as were the students' attention spans, and we ran through the halls and talked through the classes because we knew that at 1 o'clock we would be FREE.

Unlike those days of tests, lockers, and cafeteria food, my half day today was very productive. Yet, knowing that I was heading home to yardwork, I still felt a thrill as I escaped from my office building.

In my backyard this afternoon, there was a Bluejay. He comes back every summer (or his children do). Did you know Bluejays are very noisy? They are also very territorial, so his incess--I mean, cheerful, chirping was most likely due to some loathsome encroacher. Or maybe the crazy lady lurking below his tree with a telephoto lens.

My dog, Trin, and I spent the rest of the afternoon cleaning up the yard. I raked and mowed and pruned. And Trin, well . . .

She sunbathed. It's actually one of her favorite pastimes, next to sleeping under the covers.

When Chad got home from work, we all went for a walk to the library so I could pick up a couple of books that were being held for me (one about Hawaii and one with slow cooker recipes for two).

We also picked up some hamburger buns, because even though we were planning beans and cornbread for dinner, it was PERFECT weather for cooking out.

Mmmmm, Monterrey chicken burgers. Delicious! Chad cooked them perfectly.

Chad needed a spatula cleaned, and I wasn't fast enough for him--so he took matters into his own hands. I like a man who can problem-solve and think outside of the box. That's my man, outside of the box. Or window. Whichever.

Poor Trin, today was a little hard on her. She kept getting in trouble on our walk--because she feels the need to strain on the end of her leash--and she wanted a taste of those chicken burgers so bad, but all she got was this:

You can win'em all, babe.

2009-03-16T14:13:00.003-04:00

Saturday my mother came to see me. She brought me the vanity table I had been looking for to put in the guest room. I assembled it on the living room floor like a kid at Christmas, as she and Chad watched from the couch.

The guest room looks so much better now. I sat at the vanity and applied my make up this morning. I felt very refined. Now I need to get some cut-glass perfume bottles.

Mom and I went to the local craft store and spent hours looking around for wedding ideas. I bought some hat boxes for the wedding cake card holder I plan to design. (I got the idea for it here.) I also showed Mom the pie stands I want to create from terra cotta pots and dishes. (I got that idea from the same website, here.)

It was pleasant to spend time with my mother, talking about all the plans I've been making for this great big party in October. Everyone says I'm getting things done so early, and planning so far ahead, but I guess I haven't explained why I am trying to do everything I can ahead of time. My biggest goal for the wedding is that it will be enjoyable for everyone there--which includes me. So, I want to have everything that can be done before the week of the big day to be done well before, because I don't want to stress over the details.

Mom stayed until Sunday afternoon. We all went over to Chad's parents' home to visit. Mom had only spent time with my future in-laws once before--at our engagement party. The parents seemed to have a good time, reminiscing about the youthful escapades of their children. Some of the stories were so similar, it was unbelivable. Chad and I really were made for each other.

Actually, today is the one year anniversary of when Chad became my significant other, and he became mine. We are going to eat sushi tonight to celebrate.

Rice Balls

2009-03-12T12:53:00.003-04:00

This is what I had for lunch yesterday (Chad said he ate his around 9:30 AM, so I guess it was his breakfast). It had a filling of chicken and bok choy, cooked in okonomi sauce. I'm definitely making that again. Yum!

My Photography Wishlist

2009-03-10T15:41:00.005-04:00

I want a cute camera case for my Digital SLR.

I don't need it anytime soon, so maybe I'll ask for it for my birthday.

I found this designer called Jill-e online today. Here are a couple of my favorites:

The pink one is fun, but the bone-colored bag would probably pass more for a purse--which is what I would like.

I'm thinking, in Hawaii, I could use this bag as my purse, because I would just be lugging around my camera everywhere, and my wallet--which I could shove in the side pocket. That way, I would just have one bag, and it would be something sleek and easy to carry.

* * * * * * *

Tomorrow I'm going to help photograph a special event on campus, and I really should have gotten a flash for it (sorry Jenny!). BUT, I'm still a little strapped after getting the camera and tele lens, so I'm thinking this little baby will have to wait two more weeks.

I did some research, and decided that a manufacturer compatible on-camera flash would be best for me. That way, it'll communicate with the camera (same manufacturer, same camera language)and work more smoothly. On-camera, because it moves with me that way.

Although, if I had secret dreams of becoming a professional photographer, I might spring for this lighting set up. Not that I have such a secret desire. Or anything.

Photobasics Strobelite Two Light Kit

The Giveaway Winners!

2009-03-09T15:41:00.002-04:00

The winners of the Surprise Giveaway are as follows:

Jenn(a)
Christine (http://www.xanga.com/Kalligenia)
Kimberly-327 (http://kimberly-327.livejournal.com/)
Meredith (http://www.blogger.com/profile/03596276473769210293)
Julie (http://www.blogger.com/profile/18141123092139829629), who technically didn't ask for a handcrafted surprise, but should get one for starting this whole meme.

Congratualations everyone! I will be in touch with you soon to work out the details.

I hope you like your surprises!

A Walk in the Park

2009-03-07T16:17:00.007-05:00

When I heard the temperature was going to be hanging around the mid-70s on Saturday, I immediately started devising ways to spend as much time outdoors in the first nice Saturday of the year.

What better way to spend a gorgeous Saturday afternoon, I ask you, than at the park?

We even invited the dog--she licked our faces in thanks.

I feel very lucky to live so close to a beautiful state park.

Every time Trin would stop to dribble, she would start kicking leaves back to cover the spot. The leaves would just go flying! I laughed at her every time.

Lots of the trees had carvings on them. This little grove was sort of neat. Chad said we couldn't carve our initials on the trees because it was illegal.

Chad also said he used to come to the park a lot when he was a kid. Maybe he was more comfortable with breaking the law then?

Lots of hollowed trees around, too.

Chad said we should go to Wolf Cave. When we got there I realized that one of us was going to have to stay out with the dog. (See Chad relaxing on the bench out there?) Um, the wolves moved out, right?

I tried to follow a man who was foresighted enough to bring a flashlight, but I actually had to use the light on my camera most of the way. It got kind of tight in there, and the exit was really low to the ground. And muddy.

This is the view from the exit of the cave. Uh, which way do I go? I ended up climbing up the side and back down the other, then realized I could have walked through. Oh well, I like adventure!

What a beautiful day!

We passed over several little creeks like this one.

Well, Chad and I passed over them. Trinity needed a cool down, apparently.

Warm enough to bring up a little sweat while hiking, with a gentle breeze to cool our faces. It was fabulous. Goodbye winter. Hello Spring!

The Office

2009-03-06T15:17:00.002-05:00

Chad used to have a man-cave at our house. I called it the den.

It was a small room beside our kitchen that used to be empty. Then I moved in, and told Chad it needed a purpose beyond storing half-empty paint cans.

First we got an awesome faux-leather couch that we had to man-handle into the room. (Honestly, we broke several laws of physics to get that behemoth in there.) Then we covered the nasty wooden floor with a beautiful rug. We got a big TV in there, and it soon became Chad's favorite place.

Now that the TV has been moved to the front room with the new sectional, Chad has abandoned his lair. So after about a month, I decided to give the den a new purpose--it is now the office.

Last weekend, I painted the walls and trim (Aqua Smoke for the walls and stark white for the trim). I bought a desk this week, which I put together for the most part (Chad had to fix the keyboard drawer for me). Despite the bare walls, it looks awesome! Unfortunately, I haven't been home when there was any good lighting--so maybe I can add a picture this weekend.

Picture of the Day

2009-03-05T10:39:00.001-05:00

2009-03-04T20:28:00.002-05:00

On Sunday last, Chad and I went to Indy to visit my cousin for his birthday. That's what we told him at least, what we really came for was his baby.

How cute is this child?

I think Chad might have had the most fun with the little guy. During dinner, Chad was across the table from the high-chair, and he would stick out his tongue or make a face, and the baby would try his hardest to mimic him. It was ah-DORE-able.

This cat was also really cute. When Chad first looked at this picture, he doubled over in a fit of laughter. I guess it's all in the expression.

I think this photo needs a caption. What do you think it should say?

Surprise Giveaway!

2009-03-04T13:25:00.003-05:00

Do you like surprises?
Do you like getting stuff?
Meaningful, handmade stuff is your favorite kind of surprise, right?

If you have been screaming, "YES, YES, YES," like you're Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally, then you should leave a comment on this post and tell me so.

Here is the catch: First, you have to put up a blog post promising to spread the home-made love to 5 of your friends. Second, you hurry back here and leave a comment on this post. If you are one of the first five commenters, then you win!

What you get: Something made lovingly with mine own two hands, specially crafted with you in mind.

When will you get your surprise? I can't tell you that, or it wouldn't be a surprise! (But, it'll be within the next six months, I promise.)

C'mon, you know you want to . . .

Painting the Kitchen

2009-02-26T17:59:00.008-05:00

Last weekend, I painted the kitchen.

This is what it looked like before:

Not . . . terrible, but not great either. What's with light blue trim?

This is what it looked like when I was half-way done (just the top was painted with white paint, at this point).

And this is the end product of my hard labor:

The door to the den is going to be replaced soon, so I didn't bother to paint over the old color. Can you tell the difference between the blues? It's subtle, but I swear it made all the difference.

The cabinets look brand new again! I love white in the kitchen. It's just so . . . clean.

Aren't these cute? Chad's mom was getting rid of them, so I snatched them right out of the Goodwill pile. Don't they just jazz up the countertop? Don't worry, we're going to get some nice whole coffee beans for the empty canister this weekend.

Next up: the den, which is soon to be my office. Yay!

I Made a CD

2009-02-24T14:05:00.003-05:00

If I were to start a band and make a CD, I think I would like the cover to look something like this:

This is one of those chain-letter type memes that pop up all over the Internet. If you want to try it, I've included the rules below.

Here are the rules:

1. Select the name of your band. To do this, go to Wikipedia and hit “random article.” The first random Wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2. Select your album title. To do this, go to Random Quotations. The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.

3. Select your cover art. To do this, go to Flickr and click on “explore the last seven days.” The third picture — no matter what it is — will be your cover photo.

4. Use Photoshop (or whatever) to pull it all together.

5. And then, of course, post it into your blog, and cut-and-paste these directions below it.

This meme originally came from this website.

What type of music do you think Leopold would make?

Yoga: I love you.

2009-02-23T14:15:00.003-05:00

I signed up for my second session of yoga at the Y last night. I'm very excited to start my new class on Tuesday. I think I'll have the same instructor, but I'm not sure. I would like to have her again, because Gloria is a pretty awesome yoga instructor. A little crazy, but that adds to the awesome.

I've been dabbling in yoga since I was in 6th grade, but it's amazing how much I was doing wrong--I had no idea until I took a class with real instructor. For years, I've been doing downward facing dog without a problem, until one day in class Gloria pulled on my hips--stretching out my torso. Suddenly, putting my heels down was freakin' impossible.

I also recently discovered the free exercise programs on cable. I've done yoga everyday since last Thursday as a result. My legs hate me.

One of my favorite songs . . .

2009-02-21T21:34:00.004-05:00

is called "Love is Like a Bottle of Gin."

It makes you blind, it does you in
It makes you think you're pretty tough
It makes you prone to crime and sin
It makes you say things off the cuff
It's very small and made of glass
and grossly over-advertised
It turns a genius to an ass
and makes a fool think he is wise
It could make you regret your birth
or turn cartwheels in your best suit
It costs a lot more than it's worth
and yet there is no substitute
They keep it on a higher shelf
the older and more pure it grows
It has no color in itself
but it can make you see rainbows
You can find it on the Bowery
or you can find it at Elaine's
It makes your words more flowery
It makes the sun shine, makes it rain
You just get out what they put in
and they never put in enough
Love is like a bottle of gin
but a bottle of gin is not like love

-The Magnetic Fields

LOST

2009-02-19T10:41:00.002-05:00

So, my questions for you who like to theorize:

Who beat up Ben, and why?
Where is Aaron?
WHEN are they now?
How/why did Jin join Dharma?
Where are the rest of the losties that were on the island when the flashes through time started? (Rose, Bernard, etc.?)

Please feel free to offer other theories or weird stuff you noticed.

-Meg

Chapel of the Winds

2009-02-18T10:41:00.006-05:00

On the way to the maid rite restaurant, my mom asked us to turn onto a tiny driveway, just off the highway. Somehow, we were instantly plunged into wilderness--trees all around, blocking the sight of the road, and muffling the sound of passing traffic.

Up ahead was a small wooden sign that offered welcome to the Chapel of the Winds.

We drove around a small circle path, and stopped in front of the infinitesimally small brick building. In front of which stood--directly in the middle of the path to the front door--a gigantic wooden cross, with nails and a footrest. Big bushes crowded around the sides of the door, which wasn't locked.

Mom walked straight to the front of the chapel, and I looked around in amazement. It was so small, but so beautiful. The bricks were aged to a dark color, the little wooden benches could only hold two people side-by-side, and the simple stained glass windows spread a rainbow of color across the single dim room.

When I walked to the front of the chapel, my mother explained that people come to this place and use the notebooks that are left of the altar to write notes--to God, about God, about their troubles and joys--anything they need to say.

While we were there, I had a feeling of peaceful joy.

My Valentine's Day

2009-02-17T11:04:00.010-05:00

As you now know, Maid Rites are awesome.

For Valentine's Day, Chad and I made a roadtrip to Greenville, Ohio, to eat these wonderful, tasty treats. My mom, brother, and sister-in-law came along, too!

Before this weekend, Jena, my sister-in-law, and Chad had never tried--or heard of--maid rites.

This was the line to the drive thru. Look at that awesome sign!

This was purchased on the way. Yes, I chewed all pieces at once. You'll see why.

You remember the gum wall I mentioned in my previous post? Well, here it is.

I left them a little Valentine of my own.

They have a Fallout shelter at the restaurant. I'm glad I'm not the only one worried about the preservation of the secret maid rite recipe. If I stayed here during a nuclear attack, could I eat maid rites everyday? Please?

Inside: They work so hard, and are so fast with those sandwiches!

Oh, I'm drooling . . . I want one! Or six!

Mom, Jena and Chad want their sandwiches, too!

Isn't Mom cute? She hates when I take lots of pictures of her. Which I like to do.

C'mon, Trey! We're hungry!

Come to Momma! Yum!

Oh, Chad. *sigh* Isn't he dreamy?

Sadly, Chad was not very impressed with the maid rites due to their slightly sweet taste. (He is not a big fan of sweet foods--isn't that weird?) But don't worry, no maid rites were wasted--I ate his second one. And my two . . . . Yes, I had three . . . and a milkshake and chips.

Jena didn't really like her sandwich either, but my brother called dibs before I could swallow my mouth full of maid rite goodness. Cheater!

By the time I got to my mom's house, I felt very, VERY, full--and happy. I then took a 2 hour nap. It was a wonderful day. Happy Valentime's Day! :P

Cirque du Soleil

2009-02-16T08:04:00.004-05:00

Last night, I met my friend Tammy in downtown Indianapolis and we went to see Saltimbanco by Cirque du Soleil.

Tammy has a job that apparently is a lot more awesome than I realized, because last night she told me about all the complimentary tickets she gets--Cirque du Soleil included. I was very excited that she chose me as her guest for this event, and I hope I get to mooch off of her again sometime. Thanks, Tammy!

During intermission, we decided the the show was really weird, but that we would give the second half a fair chance to redeem the strangeness of the first. After the show, we went to dinner, and decided over our sandwiches that Cirque du Soleil was definitely weird, but also really cool. The acrobatics were just amazing!

I couldn't take pictures during the show, so here are a few from their website:

Weird, right?

Chad's New Toy

2009-02-10T13:06:00.004-05:00

On the same day that I got my awesome new camera, Chad got this beautiful little gameboy.

Chad told me they don't call them gameboys anymore, and that I should call it a DS. If you think it's neat, and want to know more, click on this link. It has lots facts and specs, I think. I didn't read it.

What I like most about the DS, though, is that Chad can play it where ever he wants. (We even bought a car adapter for it.) And for the last two nights, when I've gotten in bed to read before I go to sleep, Chad has been right there with me--instead of on the other end of the house playing Xbox. It's sort of nice, especially after I let him borrow my headphones so I didn't have to listen to that damn videogame music.

I always wanted to be a professional photographer.

2009-02-08T19:00:00.006-05:00

And now my dreams can come true, because I own this camera:

(Nikon D60)

And this lens:

(AF-S DX VR Zoom-NIKKOR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED)

I am so ready for my honeymoon. This baby is going to give me AMAZING pictures of Hawaii.

Maid Rites

2009-02-06T11:01:00.004-05:00

I have a craving.

I can't deny it much longer.

I want . . . a maid rite. (Insert Homer Simpson style drooling here.)

Have you ever had a maid rite sandwich? Have you even heard of a maid rite?

They are delicious, loose meat sandwiches. Very similar to sloppy joes, but without the ketchup sauce. These babies are steamed with beer--I swear! Homer Simpson drooling seems more appropriate here, actually.

The best maid rites I've ever had were in Greenville, OH, at the Maid Rite Sandwich shop. (We also had them in our school lunches sometimes--but school cafeteria maid rites? No comparison.)

The restaurant itself is pretty weird. The exterior walls are practically covered in chewing gum. And apparently they have a fall-out shelter.

Here's a video that shows the place really well:

I think Chad and I should go for Valentine's day.

Chad

2009-02-04T20:30:00.000-05:00

He is my favorite.

Dreams

2009-02-02T11:54:00.008-05:00

Dreams

Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.

Langston Hughes

Invitation to The Fourth Annual Brigid in the Blogosphere Poetry Slam

Feel free to copy the following to your blog and spread the word. Let poetry bless the blogosphere once again!
WHAT: A Bloggers (Silent) Poetry Reading
WHEN: Anytime February 2, 2009
WHERE: Your blog
WHY: To celebrate the Feast of Brigid, aka Groundhog Day
HOW: Select a poem you like - by a favorite poet or one of your own - to post February 2nd.

A Walk in the Snow

2009-01-29T15:17:00.005-05:00

Today I had to go to work. It's not so bad, but when I got the chance to cut out and go to lunch down the street, I hurriedly agreed. There are several people in my department who tend to go out to lunch together in various combinations. Jenny and Misty are sort of the backbone of the let's-go-out-to-lunch group, though, and today they invited me along on their trek to Yogi's. We decided to walk the two or three blocks, only to find out after we were halfway to the restaurant that the sidewalks weren't all cleared and Misty was wearing clogs. Not good. I tried to help, since I was wearing my waterproof boots, by making big footprints by stomping my feet really hard. I think I ended up just looking weird. Sort of like when you throw your cat in the snow to see how they'll react, and they sort of lift up their paws and try to shake the snow off, over and over again, with every step. Oh wait, maybe that's what Misty looked like as the snow was soaking into her socks, thanks to her backless shoes.

Jenny brough her camera along, because it's awesome, and she wanted to take some winter pictures for the department's website. She sent me these pictures and said I could use them in my blog:

This last picture is of me stomping footprints. I'm such a good friend.

Snow Day

2009-01-28T14:43:00.012-05:00

I woke up to a car buried in snow this morning. This is especially dramatic considering that driveway was shoveled clear and that car was snow-free about 5 PM last night. Wisely, I decided no work for me today. When I checked my email, I was very happy to see that campus was closed until noon (later extended to an all day closure). This was my first official Snow Day as an out-of-school adult. Yay! Chad decided to stay home, too. I was very happy.

He then made a delicious breakfast for me. It was not the healthy kind.

Trinity was very excited about the snow. She ran ecstatically around the backyard, bounding inside huffing and puffing, only to want to go out again once her paws had warmed up.

I drank this to warm me up. Hot Oregon Chai is the best. I like it even better than hot chocolate.

Chad spent a lot of the morning and afternoon doing this. Then he went out and cleared the entire driveway.

Of course, his dad showed up with his snowblower right after Chad had finished.

So, now we're going to huddle inside, eat a nice warm dinner, and forget that we'll probably have to go to work tomorrow.

What do you do on snow days?

Happy Birthday!

2009-01-26T12:51:00.003-05:00

Happy Birthday, Dad. I miss you.

Merrill Edward Gourley
January 26, 1953 - August 29, 2008

Dress Shopping

2009-01-21T09:21:00.003-05:00

I finally did it. I went wedding dress shopping.

I've been engaged for almost 6 months now, and I have been sort of putting off that particular aspect of the wedding preparation. Don't get me wrong. It's not that I don't like dresses, getting dressed up, or trying on pretty clothes (when they fit). It's just that I wanted to do a lot of other planning first (venue, food, style, people involved, ceremony, etc.). Basically, the dress was the last thing on my mind.

So, since we have pretty much everything planned at this point (sort of), and Mom had asked a few times when I would like to go. We decided this was the weekend to do it. Mom made appointments for me (which I wasn't aware I needed to have) at David's Bridal at noon and Posie Patch Bridal Superstore at 3 PM.

At both stores, I was given a bra to use while trying on the dresses. I really hope they wash those things after every person, because I was sweating profusely. I had no idea trying on the gowns would be such a workout. I felt bad for the ladies helping me at my 3 o'clock appointment, because I am pretty sure my armpits were smelly at that point. Also, I was EXHAUSTED by the time I got home.

I enjoyed trying on the dresses, though. I didn't expect to find so many that I liked. I narrowed it down to two at the Posie Patch and two at David's Bridal. However, on Monday I went to Nedra's in Bloomington, and found three dresses there that I really loved. Right now, I have it narrowed down to 5 possibilities. Which you can see on our wedding blog.

I was very curious about how my mom and I would react while trying on the dresses. Several people told me that I would cry when I found The Dress. I didn't cry . . . but I guess I didn't pick one out, either. Mom and I were pretty mellow the whole time. I did see crying and hear gasps of joy from other patrons, however. I can't help but wonder if I should be that excited about an outfit . . . um, probably not. I'm excited for the wedding, of course, but mostly I can't. Freakin'. Wait. for Hawaii.

Bodies

2009-01-14T10:15:00.018-05:00

On Saturday, I was going to go to Indy to visit my friend Jess, but I heard too many horror stories about the terrible weather and icy roads, so I decided to stay in and watch The Parent Trap (with Hayley Mills).

Check out our new sectional. Chad and I smile at each other like that every time we sit in those recliners. It's weird.

Oh, and Saturday evening, Chad went to a bachelor party for one of his high school buddies, despite the cold. I know he had a good time because he didn't come home until 3:30 AM.

Sunday we went to Indy to celebrate my mom's birthday. We ate at the Old Spaghetti Factory and then went to BODIES, THE EXHIBITION. It was pretty awesome, if you are interested in that kind of thing. Some people might find it gross or disturbing because there are real human bodies on display--men, women, fetuses--but I thought it was fascinating. They only put a warning sign on the human development gallery. Apparently it's more disturbing to see fetuses in different stages of development that it is to see internal organs or reproductive systems.

Here are some pictures from the Internet, since I couldn't take any in the exhibit:

This guy was cut in half. The big thing across the middle in his liver. Who knew it was so huge?

Slices of a human body. Each slice looks the same as a single scan from an MRI.

The circulatory system revealed. Pretty creepy looking, actually.

This is what it looks like inside your lungs--except not so colorful.

Girls' Night Out (Boys' Night In)

2009-01-08T08:41:00.003-05:00

I adore my fiance, and love spending lots of time with him--but every once in a while I need a night away.

Last night as my first chance since I got Rosie to spend an evening out sans my dear, homebody-inclined, love. I contacted my good friend Meredith and we planned a Girls' Night Out. She's a newly married woman herself, and I knew she was feeling the same way as me. In fact, it's funny how our lives tend to reflect each other and fall into a similar pattern.

We meet in college, at our on-campus job (BSU Honors College office drones). After college, I moved to Bloomington, then she did; a few months after she got engaged, I did; she got married this fall, I'm getting married next fall. Now we both work for IU, and I think we're starting to settle into adulthood with the same aspirations and complaints.

We met up for dinner at Casablanca on 4th Street. I think I drove right by where that lunatic with a knife was shot yesterday. I saw some people with a large camera and lights, but I didn't want to rubberneck--so I don't know if it was a news crew or not.

Casablanca was good. They were out of the two dinner entrees we were going to order (Moroccan Chicken and Lamb Honey), so we ended up picking the Chicken Tajine--something like chicken soup/stew. With some hot tea, it was a good winter meal. We talked so much (or at least I did) that the tajine started to get cold before I was done. After that, we went to Baked on Third Street. At this wonderful place you basically get to make up your own cookie recipe and they'll bake you a batch right then (3 cookies minimum). I picked peanut butter dough mixed with semi-sweet chocolate chips, then quarters of Reese's Cups on top. SO DELICIOUS! Meredith picked chocolate dough mixed with semi-sweet chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and macadamia nuts. They brough them to us still warm from the oven. Since they have comfy chairs and couches instead of tables and hard chairs, we sat on a couch and ate our piping hot cookies while discussing religion and other such heady conversation topics. (Oh, how I miss religious studies classes!) It was a great girl's night.

Oh, and while I was out, Chad's friend came over to watch a movie and play some Xbox--so I think he had a pretty nice boys' night in, too.

Yogini

2009-01-07T09:19:00.006-05:00

Chad and I joined the Monroe County YMCA in November, and since then I've been peering in the yoga classrooms secretly longing to be one of them. The Y sends me an e-newsletter every month, and last week I noticed that registration for the first winter session started January 5th. So, I signed up and last night I went to my very first yoga class!

Since I was probably in 6th or 7th grade, I've been a very lazy yoga aficionado. I checked books and video tapes out of the library ocassionally, poked around on the Internet for some more information (most of which went right over my head), and pretty much only did the sun salutation with any skill.

In college, I studied the philosophy behind yoga and thought it was really great. Very different from Western ideas of life/exsistence/substance. It was enough to motivate me to purchase a Yoga for Dummies book. I've even flipped through it a few times.

But finally, I did something proactive about my yoga fascination. I joined the class and went to the first night. I took my own mat, to look cool, and I think I did pretty well. Of course, we didn't do anything too hard, but I'm sure things will advance pretty quickly. I can't wait to do the difficult poses! Maybe I can sneak in a camera and show you guys my Proud Warrior and Downward Facing Dog.

Oh, and I have to admit that Wii Fit Yoga sort of motivated me to do this. It was more along the lines of the proverbial straw breaking the camel's back, but it showed me how nice it was to have someone telling you how to do a pose the correct way (even if it's a virtual teacher).

Chad came with me last night, and he even talked one of his coworkers into joining him. I'm glad he could find a workout buddy. I think they had a good time in the hot tub.

I'm a Slow Starter

2009-01-06T09:01:00.004-05:00

I've always been an good student. Well, actually, that's not true. I didn't take to school very well, at first. My mom had to bribe me to learn the alphabet in kindergarten, and I had a pretty bad run in first and second grade, too. (It wasn't my fault! I had some seriously crazy teachers!) In fact, I went to a reading tutor the summer after second grade--I was that far behind. However, that was really the turning point for me, because my reading tutor was FANTASTIC.

My mom drove me to the lady's farm house in the morning. I know the tutor had us read all summer long, but I honestly recall playing on the wooden jungle gym in her backyard the clearest. I really don't remember what kind of reading-voodoo she used, but I do remember that I started to think reading was fun. That in itself was a miracle after some seriously negative school experiences.

Third grade was the beginning of a new leaf. My teacher was the good kind of crazy. We students shared our classroom with spiders, lizards, hamsters, gerbils, and birds. We read the Bununcula book series (Vampire bunnies? Totally awesome!), and my teacher stood up for me and even managed to get me into Junior Art Masters (JAM)--a special art program offered in my elementary school. She did all of that, and she also told my mom about a nice lady who gave painting lessons on Saturdays. I started going to painting lessons probably within the week. (Thank you so much, Mrs. Bunch!)

Another Big Thing in the life of Meg happened in fourth grade. I was lucky enough to have another good-kind-of-crazy teacher. This one had a kiddie pool in the classroom filled with goldfish, and a bathtub full of pillows for kids who wanted to read or felt sickly. She also liked to do lots of interactive things, like dress up like pioneers and pretend we were in an old fashioned school house one day. Anyway, the BIG THING she did for me was that she let me be in the advanced reading group with the Gifted and Talented kids. I was tested for the GT group, and they said, "Oh she's extraordinarily creative, but she's not cut out for the Gifted and Talented program." Mrs. Nickleson saw that I was a good reader--probably because I read a lot in class--and she let me in the group. All I can say is it changed my life. In fact, for the rest of my life I have LOVED reading. It is one of my most favorite things to do. It got me through my parents' divorce, the awkward stage in junior high, and through the stress of college.

Once I got to high school, I could finally break free of all the stuff that had happened in elementary that held me back. I took all the honors classes, joined the academic teams, lead the Art Club, and generally had a good time. I took my academic drive with me to college and had a great time there, as well.

And now that I'm thinking about it, it all comes back to that summer reading tutor. I can't remember her name now, but I can look back and see all that she helped me do. I would love to thank her some day. And I bet I'm not the only one.

Wedding Blog

2009-01-05T08:40:00.004-05:00

Back in September, Chad and I hosted an engagement party at our house as an opportunity for our families to meet for the first time. We didn't ask for gifts, but my family wouldn't dare go to such an occasion without a little something nice to give the hosts. (I swear my family adheres to Southern Hospitality more fervently than any Yankees I've ever met! Maybe that's why I like the South so much?)

We got some nice wine glasses, an awesome sushi set, and several other thoughtful gifts. One gift I was particularly excited about came from my brother and his then-girlfriend (now wife) Jena: a website! A wedding blog website, to be precise.

Unfortunately, due to some technical problems (i.e. my brother's chronic and incurable procrastination) I had yet to receive access to the site. Luckily, on January 1, I went to my brother's house and he gave me a brief tutorial on the inner workings of Wordpress and then deemed me ready to receive my gift. Needless to say, I spent the ENTIRE next day working on the blog/website to get it ready for the world.

Now I wouldn't say that it's perfect yet, and some things will probably be evolving in the next few months; but I am ready to share with all of you our wedding blog:

Meg & Chad's Wedding Blog

Please add this blog to your favorites and leave us some comments! Chad and I will both be blogging until the wedding. I would really love to hear from everyone!

Happy Birthday 2009

2008-12-31T10:37:00.004-05:00

Tonight we break out Roadtrip Rosie (who recently crossed the 1000 mile threshold) and head north to Muncie for my family's annual New Year's Eve/Birthday celebration. My brother has the distinction of being born in the wee hours of the new year in 1983. He was, in fact, the first baby born in several counties that year, and received many fabulous prizes for this feat, such as diapers and a car seat. Tonight he will turn 26 at the stroke of midnight, and I plan to serenade him with "Happy Birthday" before eating some of his German Chocolate cake.

For the last 5 years or so, the party has been held at my aunt's condo in Muncie. We are a big game-playing family, so there are usually two or more games played before the ball drops. I am a huge fan of trivia games because I tend to be good at them. I am also competitive, which is why I'm not a big fan of games that I tend to lose (i.e. Monopoly, games-of-chance, and games that involve clapping and stomping simultaneously).

I have an inkling that my brother and his wife will probably bring their Wii tonight for everyone to play. Being a huge fan of board games, I'm not sure I'm happy about the inclusion of videogames in my once-a-year gaming utopia. I'll probably get over it though, if I can beat somebody at tennis. Winning has that effect on me. If I lose though, I will hate it forever. And that's not irrational at all.