I took Ben on a tour and tasting at a local chocolate "factory"
yesterday. I use the quotes because the facility is very very small. I
had visions of our experience at the Ben and Jerry's Factory tour and
the chocolate factory is, like, the size of my living and dining room.
So there were a few minutes where we had to adjust our expectations and
settle into the reality of the actual experience. But from then on, it
was wonderful! We learned a ton about chocolate making and even got to
help with some of it. We took all kinds of silly pictures but they were
on old-school disposable cameras and I haven't gotten them developed
yet.
In other news, I've been making slow progress with my
current WIP. It's been especially difficult to carve time out of my
schedule to write over the past several months. Wait, let me amend
that--to carve time out of my schedule when my brain is still functioning.
My day job has spilled over into my personal life and I'm trying to
reclaim my personal time for myself. It's a slow process. :)
In
other other news, this week marks the first of a six week commitment
I've made to myself to exercise, for real. I've done some off-and-on
jags with the elliptical machine in the past but this time I'm getting
serious and committing to at least 3 times a week and including weights.
I know it's going to suck and I'm going to hate every moment of it for a
while but I'm hoping that if I press myself through six weeks of it,
I'll get past that point to where I at least don't hate it and it feels a
little more habitual and integrated into my life, versus some sort of
looming Olympic challenge. My first workout is planned for tomorrow.
Fingers crossed!
Showing posts with label about me. Show all posts
Showing posts with label about me. Show all posts
Monday, July 2, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
Best. Game. Ever.
Saturday night was Game Night at my brother-in-law's and sister-in-law's house. Some folks rotated between games but I spent the entire night playing Telestrations or, as I like to call it, The Most Hilarious Game of All Time. I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe. I even got a headache from the laughing. So much fun.
The game comes with a handful of miniature dry erase spiral bound notebooks, dry erase markers, and word cards. Everyone gets a word, which they write on their notebook. They then have 90 seconds to draw the word on the following page, like you would in Pictionary. When time's up, you flip the notebook page over to hide your drawing, pass the notebook to the person on one side of you and receive a notebook in the same condition from the person on the other side of you. The timer starts again and you have to look at the drawing in your newly received notebook, guess what the word is and write it in the notebook. Flip page over, pass notebook. Timer starts again and you now have to draw the word in the notebook. And so on until you get your original notebook back. Sort of like a combination of Pictionary and Operator. You score points if the word at the end matches the word at the beginning (and you can also score points for most creative and most hilarious).
Let me show you why this game is so freaking hilarious. My word: Director.
My (admittedly too complicated) drawing depicting "Director":
A great guess:
A clever depiction of "romantic comedy":
Aaaaaaaaand here's where it really starts to go downhill:
Almond Joy? Ooookay. Let's see how the next person drew that:
Freaking awesome. And the final guess was...?
This is why I love this game. "Director" to "Hula Dancer" in six short steps. :D
This was another favorite from the night. I laughed so hard, I cried:
Seriously. Best game evar.
The game comes with a handful of miniature dry erase spiral bound notebooks, dry erase markers, and word cards. Everyone gets a word, which they write on their notebook. They then have 90 seconds to draw the word on the following page, like you would in Pictionary. When time's up, you flip the notebook page over to hide your drawing, pass the notebook to the person on one side of you and receive a notebook in the same condition from the person on the other side of you. The timer starts again and you have to look at the drawing in your newly received notebook, guess what the word is and write it in the notebook. Flip page over, pass notebook. Timer starts again and you now have to draw the word in the notebook. And so on until you get your original notebook back. Sort of like a combination of Pictionary and Operator. You score points if the word at the end matches the word at the beginning (and you can also score points for most creative and most hilarious).
Let me show you why this game is so freaking hilarious. My word: Director.
My (admittedly too complicated) drawing depicting "Director":
A great guess:
A clever depiction of "romantic comedy":
Aaaaaaaaand here's where it really starts to go downhill:
Almond Joy? Ooookay. Let's see how the next person drew that:
Freaking awesome. And the final guess was...?
This is why I love this game. "Director" to "Hula Dancer" in six short steps. :D
This was another favorite from the night. I laughed so hard, I cried:
Seriously. Best game evar.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
On becoming a label whore
So I bought my first Coach bag over the weekend.
This is a big deal for me. First, I have never been the kind of girl to want things just because everyone else has them or because they're the cool things to have. Particularly not with clothes or accessories. If I buy trendy things at all, it's usually ages after the trend is truly trendy, when I have been beaten into submission by the overabundance of said item permanently imprinting itself on my consciousness. You know, sort of like how I am finally warming up to Adele's "Rolling in the Deep."
However, I have recently experienced an irrational yearning for... gasp... trendy things. Like Ugg boots. (I bought Bearpaw boots because they're cheaper but still well made and holy jesus are they amazing. Why did I wait?? Like wearing slippers everywhere.) Or a Coach bag.
I do not spend big money on handbags, people. I set my bag down on the floor of restaurants, kick it under tables at weddings, and cram my lunch into it on weekdays. Really, the notion that I would "invest" in a nice handbag is a joke. Also, I carry the same handbag all year round, every year, until it wears out.
So why, you may be asking, did I just spend an absurd amount of money on a Coach bag? I honestly have no idea. I did learn that part of the reason they're so expensive is that they're very well made and come with a lifetime guarantee. But I just keep repeating that to people in order to justify my unholy love of The Precious.
I absolutely adore my new bag. I can't even pretend that I'm not insanely infatuated with it. Which means, I suppose, that it was a worthwhile purchase, considering I bought it at a discount, am 36 years old and have a good job (meaning I can theoretically afford it and, damn it, I'm old enough to buy ridiculous, expensive things for myself).
But I continue to be plagued by the question... who have I become? Why am I fulfilled by a Coach bag?
Disturbing. And yet... I love my bag. So much. Did I mention that?
This is a big deal for me. First, I have never been the kind of girl to want things just because everyone else has them or because they're the cool things to have. Particularly not with clothes or accessories. If I buy trendy things at all, it's usually ages after the trend is truly trendy, when I have been beaten into submission by the overabundance of said item permanently imprinting itself on my consciousness. You know, sort of like how I am finally warming up to Adele's "Rolling in the Deep."
However, I have recently experienced an irrational yearning for... gasp... trendy things. Like Ugg boots. (I bought Bearpaw boots because they're cheaper but still well made and holy jesus are they amazing. Why did I wait?? Like wearing slippers everywhere.) Or a Coach bag.
I do not spend big money on handbags, people. I set my bag down on the floor of restaurants, kick it under tables at weddings, and cram my lunch into it on weekdays. Really, the notion that I would "invest" in a nice handbag is a joke. Also, I carry the same handbag all year round, every year, until it wears out.
So why, you may be asking, did I just spend an absurd amount of money on a Coach bag? I honestly have no idea. I did learn that part of the reason they're so expensive is that they're very well made and come with a lifetime guarantee. But I just keep repeating that to people in order to justify my unholy love of The Precious.
I absolutely adore my new bag. I can't even pretend that I'm not insanely infatuated with it. Which means, I suppose, that it was a worthwhile purchase, considering I bought it at a discount, am 36 years old and have a good job (meaning I can theoretically afford it and, damn it, I'm old enough to buy ridiculous, expensive things for myself).
But I continue to be plagued by the question... who have I become? Why am I fulfilled by a Coach bag?
Disturbing. And yet... I love my bag. So much. Did I mention that?
Monday, August 22, 2011
Time Capsule
I cleaned out part of the garage this past weekend, including a pile containing my very first scrapbook. Hoooo lawd! There were about a hundred certificates and ribbons and papers and whatnot from my grade school years, but also some fun memories.
Such as:
...this Trapper Keeper cover. I'm not sure what it was about this cover that prevented me from tossing it back in 1985. I know I had several others. Maybe I couldn't bear to put those cute kitties in the trash?
I also found a camp t-shirt that was signed by all my summer camp buddies, including one of my childhood friends who passed away about fifteen years ago. I had no idea that shirt was in there and it took my breath away to see her message scrawled across the shoulder in green marker.
There was a time capsule thingy I'd done in 1987, proclaiming my favorite book was A WRINKLE IN TIME by Madeleine L'Engle. (Though I didn't need a moldy time capsule to tell you that book was one of my childhood favorites. Absolutely captivating.)
And this:
My very first author autograph!! Steven Kellogg, one of the most wonderful author-illustrators (imho), came to my school in 1985 and signed this for me. The hippo is in relation to my very favorite book of his, THE BOY WHO WAS FOLLOWED HOME. I still own a copy as an adult. Tragically, it's out of print now (though there are used copies available on Amazon--go! go!!).
Well, goodbye me-from-1985-to-1987! It's good to know we've still got a few things in common. ;)
Such as:
...this Trapper Keeper cover. I'm not sure what it was about this cover that prevented me from tossing it back in 1985. I know I had several others. Maybe I couldn't bear to put those cute kitties in the trash?
I also found a camp t-shirt that was signed by all my summer camp buddies, including one of my childhood friends who passed away about fifteen years ago. I had no idea that shirt was in there and it took my breath away to see her message scrawled across the shoulder in green marker.
There was a time capsule thingy I'd done in 1987, proclaiming my favorite book was A WRINKLE IN TIME by Madeleine L'Engle. (Though I didn't need a moldy time capsule to tell you that book was one of my childhood favorites. Absolutely captivating.)
And this:
My very first author autograph!! Steven Kellogg, one of the most wonderful author-illustrators (imho), came to my school in 1985 and signed this for me. The hippo is in relation to my very favorite book of his, THE BOY WHO WAS FOLLOWED HOME. I still own a copy as an adult. Tragically, it's out of print now (though there are used copies available on Amazon--go! go!!).
Well, goodbye me-from-1985-to-1987! It's good to know we've still got a few things in common. ;)
Monday, June 13, 2011
California vacay recap, in which Very Special Things happen
I am back from CA! We had a lovely, restful vacation in Palm Springs and, despite my misgivings, I LOVED the desert. More importantly, my sinuses loved the desert. I've been back in CT for 3 1/2 days and I've had 2 megrims and 1 killer sinus headache already. (Those are migraines for those of you who don't speak Ye Olde Englishe.)
On Sunday, we had a lovely barbecue with our friends Peter, Bill and Jason, who happen to have a vacation home in Palm Springs. I hadn't seen them in over a year and it was great to catch up. Bill volunteers at the San Diego Wild Animal Park (he's a cheetah expert posted by the cheetah habitat to answer any questions visitors may have).
WHICH BRINGS ME TO THE VERY SPECIAL THING THAT HAPPENED!
Oh em gee, people. The Wild Animal Park is a phenomenal facility and you should all visit it someday if you can. It's unbelievable. The animals are in these amazing, enormous habitats that both allow visitors to observe them and allow them to exist in an environment that's very close to their natural habitat. They're given privacy. Natural barriers are used wherever possible instead of cages and fencing. It's just freaking amazing.
One of the coolest exhibits they have is this open area that mimics the Serengeti (or whatever)--many different types of animals co-exist in the same enclosure as they would naturally. Rhinos, giraffes, cape buffalos, gazelles, zebras, etc. with a watering hole and native vegetation and OH MY GOD IT'S SO AMAZING.
And...
For some extra money...
You can do this:
That's Willow. She's eating Acacia leaves (not my hand). But that's not all, people. Oh-ho-ho no, it's not. Because I also did this:
!!!!!!!!!!!!! THAT IS A PICTURE OF ME FEEDING A GREATER ONE HORNED RHINO. !!!!!!!!!!!!!
*dies of teh excitement*
Dudes. We freaking fed two giraffes, Willow and Kizzy, and Kaia the rhino. Like, WITH OUR HANDS. I touched a rhino. I! Touched! A! Rhino! I gave her apples! I petted her nose! I touched her funny wiggly lip! I saw her baby tusks! I watched her wet nostrils sniffing around the slats for more snackies when there were no more!
I am in love.
I have to say that the giraffes were hilarious and adorable as well. I shall now torture you with more pictures:
Ben wanted a kiss from the cute widdle giwaffe (whose head weighs almost half of my entire body weight).
Check out the tongue action! It's a little hard to see because her purple tongue is blending in with Ben's shirt but it's curled around the acacia leaf!
bebbeh!!
Honestly, I could bring Blogger to a screeching halt with all the freaking adorable pictures and video I have. I suppose this will do...for now. ;)
We had a few more adventures but it's getting late and I've got to get to bed. More updates to follow!
On Sunday, w
WHICH BRINGS ME TO THE VERY SPECIAL THING THAT HAPPENED!
Oh em gee, people. The Wild Animal Park is a phenomenal facility and you should all visit it someday if you can. It's unbelievable. The animals are in these amazing, enormous habitats that both allow visitors to observe them and allow them to exist in an environment that's very close to their natural habitat. They're given privacy. Natural barriers are used wherever possible instead of cages and fencing. It's just freaking amazing.
One of the coolest exhibits they have is this open area that mimics the Serengeti (or whatever)--many different types of animals co-exist in the same enclosure as they would naturally. Rhinos, giraffes, cape buffalos, gazelles, zebras, etc. with a watering hole and native vegetation and OH MY GOD IT'S SO AMAZING.
And...
For some extra money...
You can do this:
That's Willow. She's eating Acacia leaves (not my hand). But that's not all, people. Oh-ho-ho no, it's not. Because I also did this:
!!!!!!!!!!!!! THAT IS A PICTURE OF ME FEEDING A GREATER ONE HORNED RHINO. !!!!!!!!!!!!!
*dies of teh excitement*
Dudes. We freaking fed two giraffes, Willow and Kizzy, and Kaia the rhino. Like, WITH OUR HANDS. I touched a rhino. I! Touched! A! Rhino! I gave her apples! I petted her nose! I touched her funny wiggly lip! I saw her baby tusks! I watched her wet nostrils sniffing around the slats for more snackies when there were no more!
I am in love.
I have to say that the giraffes were hilarious and adorable as well. I shall now torture you with more pictures:
Ben wanted a kiss from the cute widdle giwaffe (whose head weighs almost half of my entire body weight).
Check out the tongue action! It's a little hard to see because her purple tongue is blending in with Ben's shirt but it's curled around the acacia leaf!
bebbeh!!
Honestly, I could bring Blogger to a screeching halt with all the freaking adorable pictures and video I have. I suppose this will do...for now. ;)
We had a few more adventures but it's getting late and I've got to get to bed. More updates to follow!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
I am not dead!
Or wounded! Or in a mental institution, etc., etc., as certain very very kind and wonderful persons may have worried, thus prompting them to PM me.
Let's get caught up, shall we?
> My Day Job is still a hot mess. Pro: Not working a zillion hours at the moment. Con: Job-related stress is off-setting the "return" of "work-life balance."
> Revisions are progressing. Vewy, vewy slooooowly. They are challenging and frustrating and tiring, which hopefully means I'm doing them right. I just finished combining some scenes (thanks to a BRILLIANT suggestion from Sandy Williams!), which had a large trickle-down effect on some other scenes. Up next: rewriting the beginning for the third time (!@&#^$!!!) and changing where Megan lives for the third time. Which seems like no big deal but is, in fact, a very big deal.
> I went camping this past weekend! Outside! In the forest! With a tent! I saw moose poop! I cooked dinner in foil! I broke down a tent in the rain! My dog slept on my pillow, sometimes sort of on my face! I ate smores! It was an exciting adventure, involving many exclamation points! There was one incident with a malfunctioning propane cylinder, but Ben recovered quickly enough to mourn the fact that he didn't gain any superpowers from having his hand sprayed with propane for an extended period of time. Ah, well. Better luck next time.
> I've also read a few books since we've last chatted. Due to my posting-lameness, I haven't cross posted any reviews but you can find them all on my Goodreads page. (oh em gee, do i heart goodreads)
> Got my house powerwashed. Woo!
> Rekindled my love for sushi (vegetarian, of course) and Corona light.
That about catches us up.
Love and kisses to all!
Let's get caught up, shall we?
> My Day Job is still a hot mess. Pro: Not working a zillion hours at the moment. Con: Job-related stress is off-setting the "return" of "work-life balance."
> Revisions are progressing. Vewy, vewy slooooowly. They are challenging and frustrating and tiring, which hopefully means I'm doing them right. I just finished combining some scenes (thanks to a BRILLIANT suggestion from Sandy Williams
> I went camping this past weekend! Outside! In the forest! With a tent! I saw moose poop! I cooked dinner in foil! I broke down a tent in the rain! My dog slept on my pillow, sometimes sort of on my face! I ate smores! It was an exciting adventure, involving many exclamation points! There was one incident with a malfunctioning propane cylinder, but Ben recovered quickly enough to mourn the fact that he didn't gain any superpowers from having his hand sprayed with propane for an extended period of time. Ah, well. Better luck next time.
> I've also read a few books since we've last chatted. Due to my posting-lameness, I haven't cross posted any reviews but you can find them all on my Goodreads page. (oh em gee, do i heart goodreads)
> Got my house powerwashed. Woo!
> Rekindled my love for sushi (vegetarian, of course) and Corona light.
That about catches us up.
Love and kisses to all!
Friday, April 15, 2011
That quiet place
I don't believe in the Muse, but I do believe in inspiration and this week I've been finding a lot of it over at Marjorie M. Liu's blog. Today she posted this quote:
See you on the flip side.
“You must have a room, or a certain hour or so a day, where you don’t know what was in the newspapers that morning, you don’t know who your friends are, you don’t know what you owe anybody, you don’t know what anybody owes to you. This is a place where you can simply experience and bring forth what you are and what you might be. This is the place of creative incubation. At first you may find that nothing happens there. But if you have a sacred place and use it, something eventually will happen.”
I've been spending a lot of time in my version of what Campbell is referring to. It's helping me sort through the stuff I'm dealing with and work through the questions I need to answer in order to tell Megan's story the best, most true way. I expect to be there for a while yet, maybe another week or two, but when I emerge I will be more whole and so will Megan's story.- JOSEPH CAMPBELL
See you on the flip side.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Guinness makes everything better
So I don't talk very much about my Day Job 'round these parts. That's intentional. Unlike some individuals, I'm fully aware of the fact that a blog is not a private, personal diary. Anyone in the universe can read anything I write here. I think a good rule to follow when composing a blog post is, "If I were going on television and everyone I knew in the world were going to watch me, would I still say X, Y, and Z?" But I digress. The point is, I have a Day Job. I post in my real name with my real picture next to it. Therefore it behooves me not to talk shit about my Day Job on my blog. End of story.
However, I'm going to talk a little bit about my Day Job right now.
My Day Job is in a period of transition right now. Re-orgs are pretty common in Corporate America and my department has gone through a veritable identity crisis in the last several months. I now report to my third boss in as many months. One teammate has already left the team. It's safe to say we are a bit of a hot mess right now.
This Day Job Drama(tm) has completely derailed me. I had *no idea* how much being happy and relatively stress free in my Day Job centered me in the rest of my life. For the past few years, since I've been writing, I always thought that writing was my anchor (aside from Ben). Turns out? Not so much. At least, that's not how it's feeling right now. And that, in itself, has kind of thrown me for a loop.
Though, to be fair, I've hit a bit of a wall with revisions. I went from thinking I was thisclose to having a polished draft ready to send to agents to realizing I need to do another major rewrite. And the things I need to fix in this one are really, really challenging me. (read: sucking the life out of me) It's all going to be for the better and the things I need to change offer some exciting possibilities for the story, yadda yadda. It's just a lot of hard work and pressure and, frankly, something that's shaking my faith in my abilities a bit.
So, yeah. When I get into true crisis mode, I retreat. I pull farther and farther into myself and become a cave troll. Or something. I hide. Hence, blog scarcity.
That's the end of today's sob story slash revelation slash thank god i'm drinking a guinness right now.
However, I'm going to talk a little bit about my Day Job right now.
My Day Job is in a period of transition right now. Re-orgs are pretty common in Corporate America and my department has gone through a veritable identity crisis in the last several months. I now report to my third boss in as many months. One teammate has already left the team. It's safe to say we are a bit of a hot mess right now.
This Day Job Drama(tm) has completely derailed me. I had *no idea* how much being happy and relatively stress free in my Day Job centered me in the rest of my life. For the past few years, since I've been writing, I always thought that writing was my anchor (aside from Ben). Turns out? Not so much. At least, that's not how it's feeling right now. And that, in itself, has kind of thrown me for a loop.
Though, to be fair, I've hit a bit of a wall with revisions. I went from thinking I was thisclose to having a polished draft ready to send to agents to realizing I need to do another major rewrite. And the things I need to fix in this one are really, really challenging me. (read: sucking the life out of me) It's all going to be for the better and the things I need to change offer some exciting possibilities for the story, yadda yadda. It's just a lot of hard work and pressure and, frankly, something that's shaking my faith in my abilities a bit.
So, yeah. When I get into true crisis mode, I retreat. I pull farther and farther into myself and become a cave troll. Or something. I hide. Hence, blog scarcity.
That's the end of today's sob story slash revelation slash thank god i'm drinking a guinness right now.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Food is my frenemy
So I've joined Weight Watchers again. I do this periodically, when the numbers on the scale creep past my personal Do Not Pass Go line. I have about thismuch willpower when it comes to food and about 99% of that is used up sticking to my vegetarianism. So...yeah. Food is my frenemy.
I really like Weight Watchers. Once I settle into the system and get myself onto a food routine, I'm rarely hungry and never tortured. Also, it's great at teaching portion control and steering you towards healthier foods, like fruits and vegetables.
It does have at least one negative side effect, though. I'm really, really bad at sharing now.
I was eating some potato chips last night--another thing I love about WW, which is that you can theoretically eat anything you want as long as you "pay for it" with your points. I do *not* do well with deprivation diets. But back to the chips. So I'm eating the chips and I go put something away in the pantry. I turn around and see my husband chewing.
Me: @.@ DID YOU EAT ONE OF MY CHIPS?!!?
Ben: O.o Yeaaaah...
Me: WTF??? I paid 3 points for those! I intend to eat every single freaking one! NO MORE! NO MORE FOR YOU!!!
At that point, I'm pretty sure I ran to the counter and hovered over them protectively until they were gone. *sigh* Something else to work on, I guess. ;)
Tonight we're off to have dinner with a former work associate of Ben's. The dinner itself won't be a problem. I've already scoped out the menu and allotted the necessary points. I've even got Tupperware stashed in my purse to scoop half of my entree into as soon as it hits the table (temptation is NOT my friend). What I'm really looking forward to is the Chocolate Raspberry Mocha-tini. Oh yeah, baby. Sixteen points--over half my daily allowance--and worth every single one. ;D
I really like Weight Watchers. Once I settle into the system and get myself onto a food routine, I'm rarely hungry and never tortured. Also, it's great at teaching portion control and steering you towards healthier foods, like fruits and vegetables.
It does have at least one negative side effect, though. I'm really, really bad at sharing now.
I was eating some potato chips last night--another thing I love about WW, which is that you can theoretically eat anything you want as long as you "pay for it" with your points. I do *not* do well with deprivation diets. But back to the chips. So I'm eating the chips and I go put something away in the pantry. I turn around and see my husband chewing.
Me: @.@ DID YOU EAT ONE OF MY CHIPS?!!?
Ben: O.o Yeaaaah...
Me: WTF??? I paid 3 points for those! I intend to eat every single freaking one! NO MORE! NO MORE FOR YOU!!!
At that point, I'm pretty sure I ran to the counter and hovered over them protectively until they were gone. *sigh* Something else to work on, I guess. ;)
Tonight we're off to have dinner with a former work associate of Ben's. The dinner itself won't be a problem. I've already scoped out the menu and allotted the necessary points. I've even got Tupperware stashed in my purse to scoop half of my entree into as soon as it hits the table (temptation is NOT my friend). What I'm really looking forward to is the Chocolate Raspberry Mocha-tini. Oh yeah, baby. Sixteen points--over half my daily allowance--and worth every single one. ;D
Monday, March 7, 2011
My broken tree
Today the snow finally melted enough for me to see what the winter did to my Japanese maple: it broke my tree.
I am so sad.
When we first bought the land, there was a great big, old tree right where the Japanese maple is now. It was a wonderful tree. When our architects designed the house and laid it out on our property, I made them design the driveway around the tree. As a result, we have a teardrop-shaped driveway, with a grassy island in the middle of it.
A few years after we moved in, a crazy storm hit our town and we lost a zillion trees. Seriously. I can't remember the actual number now, but it was like 16 or 17. Amazingly, nothing was damaged. Unfortunately, that wonderful tree in the middle of our driveway got snapped off. After we had it taken down and the stump ground down and all that stuff (who knew it was so complicated to have a tree removed!), I planted this Japanese maple.
I have what I lovingly call a black thumb. I kill every plant I touch. I'm not kidding. This is the only plant I've ever owned that has lived more than a few months:
As you can see, it needed to be repotted about a hundred years ago and the leaves are all shrivelly because I hardly ever remember to water it. Honestly, if I wasn't so in love with the pot, I would have put the damn thing out of its misery years ago.
So, when I invested in the Japanese maple, I was very nervous. I followed directions to the letter. I watered it religiously. I carefully tended the soil at its base. It had an abrasion on its trunk that remained "bandaged" (this sort of plastic covering that came from the nursery) until it was fully healed.
It was my triumphant success story.
It grew! It lived! It survived winters! It looked good in the island, next to the giant boulder, even though it wasn't an enormous old tree.
And now the snow has killed it. *crai* So, that's two trees that Mother Nature has brought to a violent end in the spot that I carefully carved my driveway around, for the sole purpose of keeping the trees safe. I'm sure there's a lesson there, perhaps something about letting go and giving in, but I haven't figured it out yet.
Ben and I have always loved stone statues but never had the right place for one in our yard. Maybe now we do...
I am so sad.
When we first bought the land, there was a great big, old tree right where the Japanese maple is now. It was a wonderful tree. When our architects designed the house and laid it out on our property, I made them design the driveway around the tree. As a result, we have a teardrop-shaped driveway, with a grassy island in the middle of it.
A few years after we moved in, a crazy storm hit our town and we lost a zillion trees. Seriously. I can't remember the actual number now, but it was like 16 or 17. Amazingly, nothing was damaged. Unfortunately, that wonderful tree in the middle of our driveway got snapped off. After we had it taken down and the stump ground down and all that stuff (who knew it was so complicated to have a tree removed!), I planted this Japanese maple.
I have what I lovingly call a black thumb. I kill every plant I touch. I'm not kidding. This is the only plant I've ever owned that has lived more than a few months:
As you can see, it needed to be repotted about a hundred years ago and the leaves are all shrivelly because I hardly ever remember to water it. Honestly, if I wasn't so in love with the pot, I would have put the damn thing out of its misery years ago.
So, when I invested in the Japanese maple, I was very nervous. I followed directions to the letter. I watered it religiously. I carefully tended the soil at its base. It had an abrasion on its trunk that remained "bandaged" (this sort of plastic covering that came from the nursery) until it was fully healed.
It was my triumphant success story.
It grew! It lived! It survived winters! It looked good in the island, next to the giant boulder, even though it wasn't an enormous old tree.
And now the snow has killed it. *crai* So, that's two trees that Mother Nature has brought to a violent end in the spot that I carefully carved my driveway around, for the sole purpose of keeping the trees safe. I'm sure there's a lesson there, perhaps something about letting go and giving in, but I haven't figured it out yet.
Ben and I have always loved stone statues but never had the right place for one in our yard. Maybe now we do...
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Things I am madly in love with today
A list, in no particular order:
- Scrivener v.2.0.2
- Gerard Butler and the exorbitant amount of man-titty in the movie 300
- Fight scenes
- Fire
- Tea
- Blankets
- Puppies
- Hard-working husbands
- Lena Headey
- The luxury of nothing on the agenda but writing
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
The fabulous Rinda Elliott talked about this a long time ago, probably because she is wiser than I am, but I ignored her because I loathe The Exercise. However, it's a fact that I can no longer deny:
Exercise is making my book better.*
As part of my New Year's resolutions, I've been trying to work out more. And by "work out," I mean grudgingly endure 20 minutes on the elliptical machine at least three times a week. I've been largely unsuccessful so far. But when I do stick it out, I become a plotting machine! My brain starts whirring as fast as my feet and I'm able to easily think through solutions to whatever issues I'm struggling with on the WIP. I have one more scene that has to be drastically rewritten and then an ending to write and, thanks to my elliptical machine, I've got them pretty well figured out. By the time I finish this week's workouts, I should be ready to wrap this sucker up!
Woo!
*Hopefully, it will also help me to lose 5 pounds before my cruise this summer but I'll take the plotting help for now.
Exercise is making my book better.*
As part of my New Year's resolutions, I've been trying to work out more. And by "work out," I mean grudgingly endure 20 minutes on the elliptical machine at least three times a week. I've been largely unsuccessful so far. But when I do stick it out, I become a plotting machine! My brain starts whirring as fast as my feet and I'm able to easily think through solutions to whatever issues I'm struggling with on the WIP. I have one more scene that has to be drastically rewritten and then an ending to write and, thanks to my elliptical machine, I've got them pretty well figured out. By the time I finish this week's workouts, I should be ready to wrap this sucker up!
Woo!
*Hopefully, it will also help me to lose 5 pounds before my cruise this summer but I'll take the plotting help for now.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
LOTR Love (and spiders)
First, don't forget to enter to win a copy of Karen Mahoney's fabulous debut THE IRON WITCH!
Last week, Ben and I re-watched the Lord of the Rings trilogy. He'd gotten them for me for xmas on Blu-Ray. (I already own the extended editions on DVD. Of course. Duh.)
Holy god, do I love those movies.
But one scene in particular grabbed my attention, because I realized I'd lived it when we were in Japan in October. It was this:
Well. Let me tell you. Japan does NOT mess around when it comes to spiders. There were ENORMOUS spiders anyplace remotely gardenish, this place included. Huge webs spanning multiple feet. Between the gates. In the corners of the gates. Across the tops of the gates. ALL AROUND US.
We began to call it Shelob Row because I felt exactly like Frodo in that picture above, except maybe more terrified because I knew the dangers that awaited me. *shudders* So creepy. Interestingly enough, we were the only ones who seemed to be bothered by the spiders. All the Japanese tourists just sailed right by, practically brushing right through the webs, without a care in the world.
Last week, Ben and I re-watched the Lord of the Rings trilogy. He'd gotten them for me for xmas on Blu-Ray. (I already own the extended editions on DVD. Of course. Duh.)
Holy god, do I love those movies.
But one scene in particular grabbed my attention, because I realized I'd lived it when we were in Japan in October. It was this:
In the Kyoto area, there is this super amazingly wondrous Shinto shrine complex called Fushimi-Inari Taisha. It has this really cool hiking trail lined with hundreds? thousands? of torii gates (the red gates that adorn the entrance to Shinto shrines). Here's a couple of pictures from our visit:
Well. Let me tell you. Japan does NOT mess around when it comes to spiders. There were ENORMOUS spiders anyplace remotely gardenish, this place included. Huge webs spanning multiple feet. Between the gates. In the corners of the gates. Across the tops of the gates. ALL AROUND US.
We began to call it Shelob Row because I felt exactly like Frodo in that picture above, except maybe more terrified because I knew the dangers that awaited me. *shudders* So creepy. Interestingly enough, we were the only ones who seemed to be bothered by the spiders. All the Japanese tourists just sailed right by, practically brushing right through the webs, without a care in the world.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Gravedigger
I spent the morning shoveling snow again. I was using a regular dirt shovel because the size is more appropriate for my puny arm strength (Ben had the regular snow shovel). All I could think was that this was what a gravedigger felt like: slice in, carve out, heave up, repeat. Over and over. It was a surreal moment.
And then, you know, we were back to being giants throwing boulders.
But anyway, I've decided that we've actually done some landscaping. I like to call them snow terraces.
Also? I'm not wearing any shoes* in these pictures. And only one glove. I am wearing two pairs of socks, though. And a mountain lion hat.
*I'm also not wearing any make up. Click to enlarge at your own risk.
And then, you know, we were back to being giants throwing boulders.
But anyway, I've decided that we've actually done some landscaping. I like to call them snow terraces.
Also? I'm not wearing any shoes* in these pictures. And only one glove. I am wearing two pairs of socks, though. And a mountain lion hat.
*I'm also not wearing any make up. Click to enlarge at your own risk.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Snow pushing update
So. Yeah.
I climbed into the piles, on the sage advice of my LJ friends, and began digging trenches. There was no pushing to be done - I take it that sort of thing has to happen when the snow is fresh.
Here's how much I got done (left side):
Aaaaaaaand here's how much there is left to do (all of which is taller than the bit I did):
Enormous mound in the center of the driveway (which extends up to the top) and that whole wall on the right up until it starts to drop off at the top/middle of the picture.
Oy. I miss the days when snow was just fun.
I did have a good time body slamming the walls into the ditch I dug and then throwing the giant snow pieces (pretending I was a giant, throwing boulders, natch). ;)
I climbed into the piles, on the sage advice of my LJ friends, and began digging trenches. There was no pushing to be done - I take it that sort of thing has to happen when the snow is fresh.
Here's how much I got done (left side):
Aaaaaaaand here's how much there is left to do (all of which is taller than the bit I did):
Enormous mound in the center of the driveway (which extends up to the top) and that whole wall on the right up until it starts to drop off at the top/middle of the picture.
Oy. I miss the days when snow was just fun.
I did have a good time body slamming the walls into the ditch I dug and then throwing the giant snow pieces (pretending I was a giant, throwing boulders, natch). ;)
Friday, January 28, 2011
Friday Five
1. Have I mentioned that I'm reading THE IRON WITCH by BFF Kaz? And that it's really good?
2. Are you on Goodreads? I'd love it if you friended me! I signed up to do a reading challenge there - 52 books this year. I'm a little behind schedule, thanks to Diana Gabaldon's tome DRAGONFLY IN AMBER, but I'm hoping to catch up soon.
3. Thanks to everyone who provided snow removal advice. Tomorrow morning I'll be climbing snow piles and attempting to push them around. Perhaps pictures will follow...
4. We watched this really interesting National Geographic documentary called The Science of Dogs. It's all about eugenics and how humans have spent centuries trying to perfect various breeds for various purposes -- like detecting cancer by smelling (fer realz--so cool!) and a man in Russia who has created HIS OWN BREED OF DOGS by mating dogs and jackals to create incredibly, outrageously reliable bomb-sniffing dogs for use with airport security. 45 minutes - highly recommended. Available via Netflix streaming.
5. Tomorrow night I'm going to a vegetarian restaurant for dinner. What luxury! Woo! An ENTIRE MENU to choose from! No modifications! No worrying that I am accidentally ingesting unwanted animal products! Feelings of love and goodwill for all!
Have a great weekend everyone!
2. Are you on Goodreads? I'd love it if you friended me! I signed up to do a reading challenge there - 52 books this year. I'm a little behind schedule, thanks to Diana Gabaldon's tome DRAGONFLY IN AMBER, but I'm hoping to catch up soon.
3. Thanks to everyone who provided snow removal advice. Tomorrow morning I'll be climbing snow piles and attempting to push them around. Perhaps pictures will follow...
4. We watched this really interesting National Geographic documentary called The Science of Dogs. It's all about eugenics and how humans have spent centuries trying to perfect various breeds for various purposes -- like detecting cancer by smelling (fer realz--so cool!) and a man in Russia who has created HIS OWN BREED OF DOGS by mating dogs and jackals to create incredibly, outrageously reliable bomb-sniffing dogs for use with airport security. 45 minutes - highly recommended. Available via Netflix streaming.
5. Tomorrow night I'm going to a vegetarian restaurant for dinner. What luxury! Woo! An ENTIRE MENU to choose from! No modifications! No worrying that I am accidentally ingesting unwanted animal products! Feelings of love and goodwill for all!
Have a great weekend everyone!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Places I've Been
How cool is this? (via Patrick Samphire)
visited 9 states (4%)
Create your own visited map of The World
visited 20 states (40%)
Create your own visited map of The United States
In the U.S. map, I only included states I've truly visited (i.e., lived in, vacationed in, or gone to on business trips). I could probably add several more if I counted airports I've flown through, but that seems like cheating.
visited 9 states (4%)
Create your own visited map of The World
visited 20 states (40%)
Create your own visited map of The United States
In the U.S. map, I only included states I've truly visited (i.e., lived in, vacationed in, or gone to on business trips). I could probably add several more if I counted airports I've flown through, but that seems like cheating.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Friday Five: Obsession Edition
I present to you the five stages of TV show love, Renee-style:
Stage One: Interest
Huh. That looks neat. Let's watch an episode.
Stage Two: Infatuation
OMG! I love this show! The characters are so interesting!!
Stage Three: Addiction
Just one more episode, honey. Pleeeeease?
Stage Four: Obsession
Do I WANT to watch it tonight? Is that a trick question? DO YOU NOT REALIZE THAT THE PROMISE OF WATCHING THESE EPISODES IS ALL THAT GETS ME THROUGH THE DAY???
Stage Five: Integration
OMG, I totally just made a Torres expression. Did you see it? I just did that thing she does. Also, you know that voice you hear in your head? Like your internal narration voice? Yeah. Mine's Tim Roth now. All the time. Spot-on accent, too. I'm kind of impressed with myself.
Stage One: Interest
Huh. That looks neat. Let's watch an episode.
Stage Two: Infatuation
OMG! I love this show! The characters are so interesting!!
Stage Three: Addiction
Just one more episode, honey. Pleeeeease?
Stage Four: Obsession
Do I WANT to watch it tonight? Is that a trick question? DO YOU NOT REALIZE THAT THE PROMISE OF WATCHING THESE EPISODES IS ALL THAT GETS ME THROUGH THE DAY???
Stage Five: Integration
OMG, I totally just made a Torres expression. Did you see it? I just did that thing she does. Also, you know that voice you hear in your head? Like your internal narration voice? Yeah. Mine's Tim Roth now. All the time. Spot-on accent, too. I'm kind of impressed with myself.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Thankful Thursday
A few of the things I am thankful for today:
1. Baked potatoes
2. Guinness (let's be honest, people. i'm thankful for that everyday.)
3. My job, even though today it seemed like a circle of hell
4. Eating dinner, even though I hate making it
5. Writing (this, a thousand times this)
6. Dogs. Especially mine. And Tala.
7. Quiet time
8. Music
9. Tim Roth (what?)
10. UK book birthdays for dear friends
How about you?
1. Baked potatoes
2. Guinness (let's be honest, people. i'm thankful for that everyday.)
3. My job, even though today it seemed like a circle of hell
4. Eating dinner, even though I hate making it
5. Writing (this, a thousand times this)
6. Dogs. Especially mine. And Tala.
7. Quiet time
8. Music
9. Tim Roth (what?)
10. UK book birthdays for dear friends
How about you?
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Double standard
So Ben and I were out to dinner with another couple a few nights ago. Ben nudged me, pointing to the table next to ours, where a girl (11ish?) was reading a book while her parents and little sister chatted and finished dinner.
I was immediately transported back to my own childhood when I had my nose in a book during every spare moment. I felt a little sparkle of kinship and, cheesily enough, pride for the girl. As if *I* had anything to do with the fact that she was reading. I suppose I just considered her one of my "people"--and, let's face it, nine times out of ten it's a Nintendo DS kids are engrossed in at the dinner table these days, not a paperback.
Which brings me to my point: Ben and I HATE--HAAAAAAAATE HATE HATE HATE--it when we see kids playing video games at the dinner table. Bottom line, we've all got to endure things we don't want to and if you can't handle sitting through dinner with your family then how are you going to be able to sit through three hour meetings at your job? Or four hour labs in college? Or whatever. You get the point.
But this girl? Reading a book? I was all, "THAT GIRL IS AWE! SOME! Her parents should be commended! I love it!" When, really, what's the difference?
I mean, I suppose it could have been a homework assignment but let's assume it wasn't (and frankly, she looked like she was waaaaay too engrossed in it for it to be actual "work.") I hate double standards and was quite chagrinned to find myself gleefully engaging in one.
I was immediately transported back to my own childhood when I had my nose in a book during every spare moment. I felt a little sparkle of kinship and, cheesily enough, pride for the girl. As if *I* had anything to do with the fact that she was reading. I suppose I just considered her one of my "people"--and, let's face it, nine times out of ten it's a Nintendo DS kids are engrossed in at the dinner table these days, not a paperback.
Which brings me to my point: Ben and I HATE--HAAAAAAAATE HATE HATE HATE--it when we see kids playing video games at the dinner table. Bottom line, we've all got to endure things we don't want to and if you can't handle sitting through dinner with your family then how are you going to be able to sit through three hour meetings at your job? Or four hour labs in college? Or whatever. You get the point.
But this girl? Reading a book? I was all, "THAT GIRL IS AWE! SOME! Her parents should be commended! I love it!" When, really, what's the difference?
I mean, I suppose it could have been a homework assignment but let's assume it wasn't (and frankly, she looked like she was waaaaay too engrossed in it for it to be actual "work.") I hate double standards and was quite chagrinned to find myself gleefully engaging in one.
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