happy holidays from the hennewards!

Just wanted to stop in and let y'all know that we're safe and sound in New York, having a great time with my family, looking forward to exploring the city and seeing our friends, and SUPER EXCITED to open presents tomorrow. Hope your holiday is just as pleasant.

2009 in review - july through december

Part two of my 2009 recap! Enjoy, and thanks for indulging me.

 

 July, July A busy month, spent mostly on the road. I was lucky enough to go to Chicago for the American Library Association's annual conference, where I ate much delicious food and met one of my oldest blogging friends, Carleen, for the very first time. Nathan and I also traveled to Illinois to visit his parents in Jerseyville. July was also the month during which I really fell in love with running and training, going so far as to run WHILE ON VACATION and racking up a (then) record of 88 miles for the month.

August I've always been a fan of August, even though Texas makes it hard to love this particular month.This year, Amy and I launched the Morning Glory Yoga Studios' Literary Reading Series (still trying to come up with a better name for that), I turned 27 years old, we spent a long weekend camping and hiking and sweating at Enchanted Rock, and I officially registered for the Austin Marathon. Eek!

September I love September - it's the start of a new semester, and seems like a chance to begin again, again. This September, I started my creative nonfiction class, which I loved. I also learned how to make raspberry freezer jam, realized how weird my brain is, and went on our last camping trip of the season at Hidden Beaches.

October October is second in my mind only to August. I rode in the Pineywoods Purgatory and achieved a new record distance for cycling - 72 miles! Two weekends later, I broke yet another record by competing in my first half marathon. In non-exercise news, I decided to forgo NaNoWriMo for the first time in four years, and Amy and I hosted the second - and equally successful - literary reading.

November Just as busy as October. I'm realizing that I tend to cram a lot into the fall months! In November, I traveled to Austin for Jo's baby shower (hello, little Max!); competed in the New Orleans Urban Adventure Race (and had an awesome time in NOLA); celebrated seven years with my lover and best friend; received the best early Christmas present ever; and gorged myself at the Thanksgiving of Champions Oh Nine!

December December is already half way over, which is hard to believe. In two days, we leave for a long drive and extended vacation in New York, visiting family and friends, and we won't be back in Texas until after the New Year. I'll be tweeting from the road, of course, and updating when I can. Oh, and biting my fingers as I wait to hear about graduate school, which won't be until March, at the earliest. Sigh.

Next up: Resolutions Oh Nine (the good, the bad, and the unfinished) as well as my goals for 2010. Until then!

2009 in review - january through june

2009 is drawing to a close, so naturally I'm looking back and looking forward, figuring out what I did right, what I can do better, and exactly how amazing life can be. Luckily, I have a blog so pulling out the highlights is easy. In this three part series, I will relieve the best moments of 2009, review my resolutions, and then make goals for 2010. Feel free to leave your own best memories in the comments!   

 January A fairly quiet month. I took part in not one, but two color weeks and started painting my kitchen cabinets. I had high hopes for 2009, and spent a lot of time talking about resolutions and goals. Shocking, I know. I also started my Graduate Fiction Workshop class, which would end up being very important in my quest to be a Real Live Writer.

February We finally finished painting our kitchen cabinets, we competed in the Heartbreak Duathlon (my first multi-sport race ever!), and I attended the WebWise conference in DC, where I hung out with Scott and Ella, two of my good college friends, and met Scott's soon-to-be-wife Melanie for the first time.

March This was an exciting month! In March, I contemplated and ultimately decided to start running in the mornings (which comes so naturally to me now - to think that at one point, this was an issue!); split Spring Break between camping at Caddo Lake and attending our old roommate Neil's wedding in Austin; and I went a whole month without drinking any alcohol, because I like setting arbitrary goals for myself and then achieving them.

April I became friends with E and B, and they invited me to join their Writers' Group, which pleased me. I was also invited to read one of my short stories at an SFA student reading. My month of sobriety ended, and I celebrated accordingly.

May I wrote my first ever guest post at Yes and Yes; dragged Nathan on a culinary tour of Dallas; took two trips to Boykin Spring - once with the girls, once with my boys - and celebrated the start of summer; and hosted a Lost party for the season finale, complete with a Dharma Initiative cake. Delish!

June June was full of drama and intrigue, and it all started with the Texas Blueberry Festival's Blueberry Pie Contest. I prefer not to relive that particular indignation. I spent a week at work out of the office and in cemeteries for a grant project, and was promoted to head of my department - my first foray into the wild world of middle management! I also took a risk by cutting my own bangs, AND my mom and sisters came to Texas for their first ever family visit.

Stay turned for 2009 in Review - August through December!

twenty miles

I ran 20 miles today. I wanted to take a photo at the end of the run, to show y'all what 20 miles looks like, but the truth is that post-run, I was splayed in a bathtub full of hot water, weeping while eating a soy yogurt. As this is not "that kind of blog," I decided to save the photo finish for another time.

Friends, I could not make this shit up if I tried.

Let's start at the beginning. Marathon Training Plan (which I have been following ever so closely) called for 20 miles today. I usually do my long runs on the trail, which is five miles long. My plan was to run the length of the trail four times (you know, because 5 x 4 = 20). Well, it had rained for two days straight, and as I tend to trip and fall on the trail once a week as is, the idea of running on a muddy, slippery trail was less than appealing. So this morning, I logged on to dailymile and attempted to map out a 10 mile loop, beginning and ending at my apartment, which I could run twice.

My town is very small. The best I could come up with was 7 miles.

I decided to run this 7 mile route three times, and walk the last mile back to my house, as a cool down. Miles 1-7 were miserable. I was not in the mood to run, I had no one to run with, and I never run with music when I'm outside. Long and boring. I stopped by my apartment at the end of the first loop and considered staying there, but instead refilled my water, used the restroom, and headed back out. Miles 8-14 were much better. I was feeling good, the route was growing on me, and the sun was beginning to peak out of the clouds. I stopped by the apartment again to eat an energy gel, and then set out for my final loop.

Things went downhill quickly.

My small breakfast was gone, nothing but a memory that the walls of my empty stomach tried, in vain, to recall. My feet hurt and my knees were sore. I was tired and Pearl Street is way longer than it looks. I made it to my finishing point - 20 miles! Huzzah! - and then started the mile long trek home.

It was the slowest mile of my life.

I hobbled. I tried not to cry. I wasn't really in that much pain, but I was tired and cranky and hungry and emotionally spent. When I finally made it home, Nathan made me a hot bath and it was there I ate my yogurt, happy to be off my feet, slightly sated by my snack, dazed and exhausted. I felt better after I took a shower, and nearly normal once I had a bowl of soup and some bread. And then - then! - I had to go out to dinner with work peeps, because we're interviewing candidates for a position and I will be eating 75% of my meals this week at the two of the Italian restaurants in town. I made it through dinner, but barely.

Today I feel pretty normal which is shocking, to say the least. My legs are a little sore, but not ridiculously so. The ten hours of sleep helped, as did the hot bath. This 20 mile run marks the first peak in my training - for the next seven days, I have nothing on my schedule but easy six milers, which I'm looking forward to. I need a break. No - I've earned a break.

Twenty miles. Hell yeah.

friday +/-

I haven't done a good +/- list in a while. As usual, I will begin with the -'s, so as to end the week on a good note.

photo by DigitalLyte

- It's cold outside! You would think, being a native New Yorker, that I would be used to this sort of weather but I'm not. I don't like it. I haven't been waking up early, I've resorted to running on the treadmill, and Seamus is already putting on his winter weight because I can't stand to take him on anything but short and fast walks. Boo hoo.

- My creative nonfiction class met for the last time this week. I ended up really enjoying that class and will miss it very much.

- Glee had a mid-season finale and won't be back with new episodes until April. What is a mid-season finale? And why do all the shows I like have weird seasons? (I'm looking at you, Lost.)

photo by Ballistik Coffee Boy

+ Despite pronouncing, often and openly, my hatred of the treadmill, I've come to actually sort of kind of like it this week. It's way better than running in 25 degree weather, and it makes it much easier to do speed workouts.

+ Coming out as an MFA applicant on this here blog was a huge relief. I don't like keeping secrets from my readers/friends, and the support and encouragement left in the comments definitely makes it worthwhile.

+ Figuring out some tricky database things at work. I won't go into details, because they're boring, but for once I'm making forward progress instead of constantly going backwards and rewriting/reworking the same old policies and procedures.

+ It's Friday, it's cold and it's supposed to rain, and my only plans tonight involve going home straight after work, making a pot of black bean chili and a pan of polenta, and watching a movie while I cuddle on the couch with my boy and my dog. I am very excited about this prospect, and I hope that you have planned an equally cozy evening.

Happy weekend!

madison, oregon, vanderbilt, greensboro

Do you know what these places have in common? They're each home to a university with a competitive, kick ass, and very selection MFA program in creative writing.

And I just applied to all four of them.

Here's the thing. I have a Life Plan, which is very detailed and specific. My Life Plan says that in the fall of 2010, I will begin the process of applying to MFA programs, will be accepted into a program, and will begin said program in 2011, at the tender age of 29. This was a sound plan - it would give Nathan time to finish his Masters and get a job, which would give us a full year to enjoy the perks of two incomes, save a little money, and pay off some debt.

About a month ago, I was having a bad day at work and thought that looking at different schools and programs might life my spirits. I'd always been intrigued by the University of Wisconsin at Madison, which accepts only six people a year, alternating between fiction writers and poets. It turned out that they were accepting fiction applicants this year, which meant that according to my Life Plan, Madison would have to be taken off the short list. Unless I applied this year - as in, right now, because the deadline is December 15th. It would be a shot in the dark, as they're one of the most selective programs in the nation, but what the hell, right? At the very least, it would be good practice for when I applied to schools for real.

You can guess what happened next. Applying to Madison gave me such a feeling of excitement and hope that I couldn't stop there. I added the University of Oregon to my list. Then I saw that Vanderbilt University, in Nashville, was waiving their application fee for anyone who submitted the entirety of it online. I love submitting things online! And Greensboro - well, North Carolina seems cool, the program there has all the main things I'm looking for (good reputation, small program, low cost of living, full tuition, teaching fellowships) and it's close to New York (compared to Texas, anyway). Why not? And so I did.

I paid my fees this weekend and mailed the last of my application materials out on Tuesday. I'm nervous and hopeful, but also realistic. I can't stress how competitive these four schools are - my chances of getting in to any of them are slim. And yet, I can't help but feel it's time. I've been putting off an MFA for years, distracting myself with things like library science, roller derby and debt. More than anything I want to devote myself to writing full time, to become a better writer, a better editor, a better reader. I want a change, and what better way to shake up your life than to move across the country for the degree of your dreams? I'm excited, but I'm also terrified. I don't know what scares me more - the idea of not getting in anywhere, or the possibility of getting in somewhere and uprooting my (not to mention Nathan's) life. Mostly, though, I am desperate to be accepted. I don't know if my fragile ego could handle four rejections at once.

I'll find out my fate by March. Until then, cross your fingers and wish me luck!

wednesday weekly

the bravest cow of them all!, originally uploaded by madame.furie.

A photo from this past summer, when I spent a week traipsing around cemeteries in East Texas for a work-related grant project. I am posting this now, today, because all week long I have been loading photos from that excursion into our database. It is tedious work but satisfying, in that the task has a clear finish line. When most of what you do is open-ended and never-ending, this can be a welcome change of pace.

indian samosa casserole

A casserole is the ultimate winter meal. It's warm, it's filling, it's comforting, and let's face it - there is something very satisfying about eating dinner from a pie plate. While I make a lot of casserole and pot pie variations (mostly depending on what ingredients I have in the house) the base is always the same - potatoes, carrots, onions and a legume (usually chickpeas or lentils).

This month's issue of Vegetarian Times puts a new twist on an old favorite - Indian Samosa Casserole! I made this for dinner on Saturday night, while my lungs were still sore from the freezing 5K and the wind howled outside. It was pretty good - just enough heat to warm you to your toes, and the distinct Indian flavor was a nice surprise. Plus, we had leftovers the next day. You can't beat that!

Indian Samosa Casserole (from Vegetarian Times)

Crust:
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 tsp salt
2 Tbsp vegetable oil

Filling:
1 Tbsp black or yellow mustard seeds
1 tsp curry powder
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
5 medium potatoes, peeled and quartered
1 1/2 tsp vegetable oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 medium carrot, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup frozen peas
1 cup vegetable broth
2 tsp agave nectar or sugar
2 Tbsp soymilk

1. To make crust: Preheat over to 375F. Whisk together flours and salt in a bowl. Stir in oil until clumps form. Add 6 to 10 Tbsp cold water, 1 Tbsp at a time, until dough holds together. Shape into a ball, cover with a damp washcloth, and set aside.

2. To make filling: Stir together mustard seeds, curry, ginger, cumin and red pepper flakes in a bowl; set aside.

3. Cook potatoes in boiling salted water for 15 minutes or until tender. Drain, return to pot, and mash, leaving small chunks.

4. Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, and garlic. Saute 5 minutes, or until carrot is tender. Move onion mixture to the side of the pan and add mustard seed mixture in the center. Toast for 30 seconds. Stir in peas and broth. Fold onion mixture into potato mixture; stir in agave nectar. Season with salt and pepper and spread the filling into a 9-inch pie pan. Set aside.

5. Roll out the crust dough to an 11-inch circle on floured work space. Cover filling with dough, pressing down to make sure no air pockets remain. Trim away excess dough and crimp the edges with fingers. Cut an X in the center to vent steam; brush with soymilk just before baking. Place pie on a baking sheet and bake for 40-50 minutes, or until the crust is golden. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

6. Devour. 

weekend recap - runner's edition

This past weekend was very busy, very exciting, and very rewarding!

Friday! After a full day at work, I raced downtown to help Amy put the finishing touches on the yoga studio for the Literary Reading. This was our third reading, and we seem to have the art of hosting such events down to a science. We rent chairs and pick up coffee from Java Jacks; lay out a spread of brownies, hummus, crackers and fruit; watch in grateful amazement as Bryan sets up a PA system and podium for the readers; and wait as the crowd begins to trickle through the door. We had about 60 people in attendance and eight readers this time, and I think eight is a perfect number for a night of poetry and prose. I did not read this time, because it didn't seem fair for the organizer to be the one person who reads every single time. Instead, we had a great mix of new readers, people who had performed at past readings, and folks brand new to reading in public. I love the first timers most of all - reading in front of an audience is a big step for an aspiring writer, and being in a position to give people that experience is incredibly gratifying.

We also raised just about $100 for the Nacogdoches Animal Shelter, AND six people have already asked me if they could read at February's event. Success!

Saturday! Despite the fact that it was 29 degrees outside, I woke up early, dressed warmly, and headed to the Jingle Bell 5K race, which was taking place in downtown Nacogdoches. This annual race is part of the Nine Flags Festival, and it was my first time running it. It was a great little race - a robust crowd, a mostly flat route, and everyone got some bells in their registration bags, so we made a festive sound as we raced around town. My final time was 25 minutes and 17 seconds - an average pace of 8:07, and my fastest 5K yet! I came in third in my age division and got a red Jingle Bell medal. I was so pleased, even though my lungs were frozen and I couldn't feel my knees.

Nathan made it back from Georgia during the awards ceremony, which was a nice surprise. We spent the rest of the day drinking coffee, running errands, and enjoying one another's company. In the evening, Sonnie came over for some laid back crafting and I ate four pieces of vegan apple pie. A perfect end to an awesome day.

Sunday! I spent all of Sunday morning at my desk, working on some writing projects and editing essays, which is always nice. At 2pm, Nathan and I got dressed and headed to the trail - we had a long run to conquer, and conquer it we did. I ran - get this - 18 MILES! Yes. I know. Ridiculous. I'm having a hard time believing it myself. It took me three hours and seventeen minutes to complete the run, and I have to say - this 18 miler was easier than last week's 16. I don't know if it was the cool weather, or the fact that I ran most of it with Nathan, or if my body really is learning how to run crazy distances. I do know that I felt awesome, strong and capable, and that I will definitely be ready for the marathon come February.

18 miles, y'all! Insane!

I hope you had a weekend that was just as busy, rewarding and exciting. I seem to have gotten some blogging mojo back and already have a few posts planned for this week, so stay tuned and enjoy your day!

new hair!

Sorry to keep y'all waiting so long for the great unveiling. You can let out that breath you've been holding all week because here it is - my new, sassy, short, trendy haircut. Voila!

Please excuse my weird smile and the fact that I'm posing in my bathroom. Also, this photo was taken directly after I left the salon, so rest assured that it will never look quite so straight and sleek again. That said, I do enjoy short, sassy hair, and feel slightly more grown up now that I have an actual hair style. Also, my hairdresser is Will, who is now working at Shine, located in lovely Nacogdoches. Thanks, Will!