green eyed monsters

My fiction writing class met for the first time on Monday night, and one class was all it took to remind me how much I love and had missed being in a workshop setting. The professor is engaging and open, the students seem like an eclectic bunch, and I already have an idea for my first story. I've promised myself that I'll talk in class and debate the readings out loud instead of in my head, and so far I'm off to a good start. Not too shabby for the first class! I'm glad and grateful to be in a classroom again, to talk about words and writing with people who care about them the way that I do. It's refreshing, and it feels a bit like home.

Speaking of home, MaryT told me that today was green, and I was happy. Green is my very favorite color and it wasn't hard to find things to photograph in honor of it's lovely hue.

Granny Smith's, rocking out in the hanging basket and framed by the green walls in my kitchen.

A cactus in the greenhouse where Nathan does his thesis research.

Seamus, looking very handsome in his green collar.

I'm also including this photo so y'all can see his poor, sad looking paw, all wrapped up and healing nicely. He's been very upset about having to wear a bandage and has made no effort whatsoever to hide this fact. Seamus is not the type to suffer silently. He must have gotten that from Nathan. ;-)

polka-dotty

Long day in Houston at a Social Studies conference, Seamus managed to tear the pad of his foot, and now there is word of an ice storm heading straight for Nacogdoches? Lovely. I'm currently drinking a glass of wine and am about to descend on a plate of brownies, but first - your second installment of renegade color week. MaryT has decreed today the day of the polka dot, and I was happy to oblige.

The speaker that connects to our computer.

My new favorite mug, which Nathan's mom gave me over Christmas break. It's German!

The interior of my closet, featuring my polka-dot happy collection of skirts.

Also, I hope y'all are not getting tired of these color weeks, because I'm not. But if you are, don't worry. Just a few more days and then it's back to random pictures of food and dogs. I bet you can't wait!

a very red weekend

(MaryT is hosting a renegade color week, and today's color is red. So if you notice a theme below, that's why! And if you find yourself feeling renegade-esque, it's never too late to join in!)

This past weekend was very busy. Here are the highlights:

* Friday after work, we headed to the park for a dog date with the lovely Josephine, her boyfriend Chris, and their sweet pup Clementine. Seamus and Clementine get along well and it was fun to discreetly drink beers, in the grass, on a flannel blanket, as the sun went down.



* Chris collects the political paraphernalia of losing candidates. This collection might beat out Nathan's bowl of assorted stress balls. I can't decide - perhaps it's a draw?


* On Saturday, the ladies got together for a crafternoon at MaryT's house. I attempted to make a bag, but realized too late that while I brought my sewing machine, I failed to pack my plug or pedal. Oh, well. On the bright side, I did manage to measure and cut the fabric for the pattern, which is my least favorite part of sewing.

* After crafting, MaryT made me a delicious dinner of orzo, spinach, and cherry tomatoes, seasoned with garlic, olive oil and lemon juice. So simple. So scrumptious! I bought my own orzo the very next day and cannot wait to recreate.

* The Church of Skatin' met Sunday morning for 45 minutes of wheeled exercise, followed by an hour of coffee and chit chat. I like my weekly soy latte very much.


* Also: blueberries and strawberries on sale at the Kroger; organized kitchen cabinets; making pesto with pecans because that was all I had, and it was good!; cuddling with sleepy dogs; making lists and crossing things off them; lots of entrants in the contest (have you commented yet?); being nervous for my first day of class (tonight!); and looking forward to a busier week ahead.

Have a good one!

contest contest contest

It has occurred to me that in all my blogging years, I have never - not once! - hosted a contest of any kind. And this, despite the fact that I have entered many and was once even declared a winner! (Actually, it was runner up, but who's counting?) And so, in honor of Valentine's day, which is fast approaching, and Spring, which is right around the corner, and February, which is okay as far as months go, and our new President, who is already doing good things, and most of all in honor of YOU, yes YOU, you who reads my blog and sometimes leaves kind comments, and if you don't comment, then you at least spend some time caring about my ranting and rambling, and that caring you do? I can feel it! And so, in return, I've decided to host a contest in your honor. Here is what you need to know:

1. To enter this contest, simply leave a comment on this post between now and Monday, February 2nd. Include in your comment the best word you know. (Lately, I am totally digging fartlek.)

2. On February 3rd, I will write the names of all the contestants on small scraps of paper. I will place these papers in a hat. I will put my hand in the hat, and emerge with one small scrap of paper. This small scrap of paper will contain the name of the winner of the contest!

3. The winner of the contest will receive, in the mail, a package, return address Nacogdoches, Texas. The package will contain items sure to delight many of the winner's senses.

4. As for the rest of you! While I can't send a package to everyone who enters, I can send postcards. And if you enter, you will get one, at least. How about that?

So please, think of your favorite word, leave a comment on this entry, and cross your fingers! We are all winners, always!

blog for choice day!

Today is the fourth annual Blog for Choice day, which coincides nicely with the 36nd anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. This year, the topic supporters are asked to blog about is this:

What is your top pro-choice hope for President Obama and/or the new Congress?

First of all, the fact that we even have a pro-choice president is amazing and wonderful and a breath of fresh air. That said, the pro-choice movement doesn't begin and end with abortion, and there are still many things that I would like to see the new administration tackle.

1. Stop government funding of programs that teach abstinence only education. It doesn't work. It never worked. Kids are going to have sex no matter what, and the only difference is that the kids who received comprehensive sex education are going to know how to protect themselves and their partners when the time for sex inevitably comes.

2. Get rid of the Global Gag Rule. This is a US law passed in 2001 that says any foreign, non-government agency that receives funding from the US government can do so only if they agree to refrain from promoting or providing abortion services in their own countries. This forces doctors in other countries to choose between adequate funding and full service, which is bullshit. Luckily, it seems Obama already has plans to do away with this policy, so things are looking up.

3. Affordable and accessible health care for all. And that most definitely includes reproductive health care. I'd love to see a Planned Parenthood in every county, or a place like it - where women could go for free yearly exams, affordable contraception, and the education and support they need to plan their families and make sure the pregnancies they choose to have are healthy ones. I don't think that's asking too much, and I sure hope Obama doesn't either.

If you want to blog for choice today, it's not to late to sign up!

bush who?

Today, while driving to work, NPR said something about "the President and the First Lady." It took me a second to realize that they were referring Barack and Michelle Obama, and I couldn't help but grin.


"Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions -- who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage."

weekend, in pictures

On Friday, I called in sick and slept late. I'd spent the week fighting off a coming cold, and I think I'm finally safe. After copious amounts of toast and tea, I cleaned the apartment and worked some more on the cabinets. I don't have a before photo, but this work-in-progress picture should suffice. The green parts are painted and mostly dry, but we still have to do one more coat on the cabinet doors. I am tired of painting, and more tired of having a kitchen full of strategically placed, half dry cabinet doors propped around while the kitchen table sits forlorn in the living room. Hopefully we'll be done before the weekend, and hopefully the finished product will be worth this ongoing hassle.

On Saturday, Nathan and I went for a run, and I ran the whole length of Lanana Creek Trail - five solid miles! This was a record for me and I was very pleased and excited and sore. My next running goal is a 10K and I'm well on my way to achieving that. The half marathon is just a matter of time!

Saturday evening, Merci and Tracy hosted craft night, which was heavy on the socializing, light on the crafting. I didn't mind - sometimes it's nice to just relax with friends and enjoy one another's company. I baked vegan cupcakes for the event, and by the end of the night there were no cupcakes in sight.


On Sunday, I met the ladies at the outdoor rink for 45 minutes of skating. We did many laps and then worked in some old drills from our derby days. It had been some time since I got a decent workout on skates, and this workout was definitely decent - I even got a blister on my poor, soft little foot! I miss skating regularly and I still think that one day, when I move back North and have lots of time and money and talent (sure...) I'll find another roller derby league to join. Madame Furie will live again! Until then, skating with my ladies and then stinking up the coffee shop while we sip soy lattes and chat about lady things is a perfect way to spend a Sunday morning.

In the afternoon, Nathan and I played disc golf with some more friends. Seamus came along and had a very good time chasing, picking up, and then dropping Frisbees when we yelled, "NO!", but two hours at the park proved to be a lot for our old man. When we got home, he was limping around the house and whining in the saddest little dog voice. We gave him some aspirin and tucked him into the couch, and this morning he seemed fine. I don't know if he gets sore because he's out of shape, or because something else is wrong. He's due for a vet visit anyway, so I'll be sure to ask the doctor. Until then, I will pamper my Moose and make sure he's as comfortable as possible.


Other weekend highlights: reading American Wife (which is really, really good); making VeganYumYum's Eggplant and Pine Nut Rolled Lasagna (which is really, really, really good); reading more of my book while Nathan baked us an apple pie (from scratch!); eating the apple pie with Tofutti ice-cream; going to yoga in the morning; getting pumped for George W.'s last day as president and Obama's inauguration. Yee-haw! It's about time!

Hope y'all had an equally excellent weekend. <3

color week: striped friday

Today is the last day of color week. Are you sad? Because I am. This has been a really fun exercise, and I am so thankful for Leyla, who had the good sense to organize such a fun event.

Today, we had a choice - stripes, or plaid. Naturally, I chose stripes. I was tempted to simply photograph my extensive collection of striped knee socks, but instead decided to look a little harder, take a few more chances. Stripes require nothing less.




Three bags of concrete mix stacked on the porch; my old and weathered scarf from college that never fails to keep me warm; detail on the gorgeous quilt that Nathan's mom made us for Christmas.

And that concludes this installment of color week! Have a good Friday and a better weekend!

color week: pink thursday

Pink! Pink is okay in my book, but only if it has attitude. You know the kind of Pink I'm talking about - that certain shade that swaggers into a room, messy haired and popping bubble gum, pockets full of baseball cards and love notes, who snorts when she laughs and lives on cinnamon toast and chocolate soymilk. Yes, yes. That kind of Pink.




A little rubber ducky that lives on my desk; my pink basket of eternally half finished crafts; the inside of my polka-dotted rain boots.

Yesterday I was informed that Mercury is in retrograde. If you don't know what this means, how it's effecting you, or what you can do about it, you should check out Gala Darling's informative post on the subject. From this post, I learned that now is not the best time to make travel arrangements, sign contracts, or take things personally. Now, I never take things personally (even when I am supposed to) so that's easy to avoid. Unfortunately, I just booked a plane ticket to DC for the end of February (WebWise Oh Nine Holla!) and now I'm nervously awaiting my confirmation. Cross your fingers!

I also learned that this is a good time to finish things. Gala specifically mentioned home improvement projects, wardrobe reorganization, and short stories, which is a little weird, because I am in the middle of all of these things RIGHT NOW! It's true! We're still working on our kitchen cabinets, I started re-covering a chair last weekend, this Saturday we're doing a craft night and clothing swap, and my humble Doris Lessing-esque story sits, silent, on my laptop. Well. All I gotta say is Mercury better watch out. I'm starting to feel a bit like that certain shade of Pink and things are about to get done.

color week: yellow wednesday

I have not had a very good morning. My nose is running, I spent the first 30 minutes of the day struggling to peel, de-seed and chop a butternut squash, and my apartment is still (still!) in disarray. Also, it is very very cold outside, my skin is dry and itchy, and all I want to do in this world is wear a skirt without turning my legs into Popsicles. Is that too much ask? Yes, apparently. It is.

On the bright side, today's color is yellow and that makes me happy.




A post it note with dinner plans; a weird gauge thingy that I passed on campus; bananas in my apartment. I know bananas are not very original when it comes to yellow, but I couldn't resist.

For more yellow, click here!

color week: purple tuesday

Purple was surprisingly hard - surprising, because I work at a university where people bleed purple (which is probably why purple is my least favorite color). Nevertheless, I did manage to find three things to photograph for today. Maybe purple isn't so bad after all?




A bench outside one of the dorms on campus; a Hershey's kiss; a yoga mat. Don't forget to check out Leyla's photos, along with links to the other participants! And stay tuned for tomorrow, when we take on and tackle yellow. Happy Tuesday!

color week: blue monday

Here are my photos for the first day of Color Week. Enjoy, and thanks to Curious Bird for the organizing this event!

weekend, in pictures

Well, this past weekend was not the bastion of productivity for which I had planned. On the bright side, I did accomplish most of my fun goals, and surely that counts for something.

1. Cabinets - we finished the sanding and completed the priming. Painting and photographic evidence of lovely new looking cabinets will hopefully be posted by the end of the week.

2. Today's color is blue, and I will be posting my pictures later today. For now, check out Curious Bird's contribution, plus links to everyone else who is participating!

3. Nathan and I biked Lanana Creek trail twice on Sunday. Our total mileage was 14 miles. I kind of wanted to quit at 7 miles, but I'm glad I pushed on. I love riding my bicycle.


4. I had a lovely time watching Popeye with Sonnie on Saturday. I can't believe I've never seen that movie! Also, I think Nathan and I would make a great Popeye and Olive Oyl for Halloween Oh Nine. Something to think about. For sustenance, Sonnie sliced Asian pears and and I made popcorn old school style, over the stove. Both were delish.


5. The Golden Notebook. I am nearly done, but not quite. Are you tired of hearing that yet? Because I am. (On the bright side - wow! What a great book! Also - the current story that I am writing sounds just like a Doris Lessing novel. Imagine that!)

6, 7, 8, 9. I did not make sweet potato soup, but I did make sweet potato burgers, and they were pretty good. I played Wii with Amy and David and seem to have lost my edge. I drank some yummy beers and took a bunch of photos and mailed my sister a package and am still searching for the perfect toaster.



Hope you had a good weekend, and are in the midst of a painless Monday morning.

squeaks and tweaks

You may have noticed that I've been playing around with my sidebar. I am also considering a new design/theme/layout so if things are wonky around here for a few days while I tweak and perfect and un-tweak and re-perfect, do not be alarmed! Leave a kind and patient comment and everything will be okay. I promise.

The newest and nerdiest sidebar addition that I am most excited for is the "currently reading" section. Right now, it says "0 of 25" because I started The Golden Notebook in 2008 and am therefore not counting it among the 25 books I've resolved to read in 2009. I am, however, almost done with this (very good) book, so 1 of 25 is on the way.

In the meantime, if you haven't already watched this video, do so now. It is very funny, and comes to you compliments of my friend Terry.


Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard

weekend to-do

Yesterday, I posted my Things To Do Daily List over on the Secret Society of List Addicts. Apparently, most people don't have one of these. While this experiment is new to me as well, I have to say that so far it is an exercise that I highly recommend. Give it a whirl and let me know what you think!

And in the spirit of lists (which I have, as of late, wholly embraced in an all-encompassing and only slightly concerning way) I'm posting the things I need to do this weekend. Thanks for indulging me.

1. Finish sanding, priming and painting the kitchen cabinets.
2. Play with my new camera (squee!) and snap some pictures for Curious Bird's Color Week.
3. Bike Lanana Creek trail with Nathan.
4. Watch Popeye: The Musical with Sonnie.
5. Finish reading The Golden Notebook.
6. Make butternut squash and sweet potato soup.
7. Get a new toaster.
8. Finish putting together my sister Ally's birthday package (she's going to be 20 next week!)
9. Take pictures of everything that I do so Monday's post is not simply the past tense of this one.

TGIF, y'all!

ambition and ideas

I've been pretty good about sticking to my goal of writing for at least 30 minutes a day. I like to write first thing in the morning, which requires waking up by 6:00am instead of 7. Early mornings are my favorite. As soon as I get out of bed and start the coffee, Seamus claims my still warm spot next to Nathan and I have the whole apartment to myself. It's lovely, and totally worth waking up an hour or two earlier than necessary.

But here is the problem: I sit down at the computer with my cup of coffee, the lights low and the house quiet. I am warm and comfortable and eager and awake and... nothing. I am not typing. I have no ideas. No projects. When I was doing NaNoWriMo writing was so easy. I had a plot, terrible though it might have been, and I plowed through it diligently. Now? All the ideas I have during the day are hiding from my morning mind, and I find myself falling back on the same tired cliches and themes and structures that I always fall back on. I've basically been writing a version of the same short story since I was 12 and this is beginning to concern me.

On the bright side, I officially registered for the Graduate Fiction Workshop. Class starts on January 26th, and then the pressure is on. I work best under pressure, so this will be a positive thing. Until then, I'll keep plugging along for 30 minutes a day and hope something salvageable ends up on my screen.

kentucky and illinois, illustrated

I finally got around to posting photos from our Christmas travels to Kentucky and Illinois on Flickr. These are the last pictures taken by the Kodak, so please - a moment of silence. And then - a sigh of relief, because the Lumix is on the way. Some highlights...


Seamus is a very good car dog. He rode 18 hours one day, and was happy to look out the window, take serious naps, and eat the occasional drive thru hamburger. Good puppy!


Coffee to warm us up in between tours of Mammoth Cave in Kentucky.


We got to take our car across the river on a ferry. This is the same river that Nathan had to swim across all summer long, in his boxers and after nights of drinking on the wrong side of the shore. What a guy!


We finally made it to Illinois! This is Nathan's parents' living room, complete with Christmas tree and carefully wrapped gifts. This is also about when I started to feel my first glimmer of the Christmas spirit. Merry bah humbug!


When we were out on the land, I took many pictures of the barn, partly because it was a nice barn, and partly because it was currently the only thing standing on all ten acres. Nathan's parents are eventually going to build a house, and grow lots of yummy foods, and raise happy chickens. Until then, though, I'm left with a lot of barn pictures. Which, let's be honest, is perfectly fine with me. I like barns.

oh nine! (for real)

Today is my first day back at work in 17 days. A lot has changed since then. 2008 rolled into 2009, and my Resolutions are still fresh and ambitiously in effect. We're in the midst of majorly rearranging our apartment (repainting cabinets and moving furniture around, mostly). My little Koday EasyShare died while we were in Illinois, and today I finally ordered my replacement - the Panasonic Lumix! I'm so excited to have a camera again, and the fact that it will be better than my last one is triply exciting. Look out, Flickr!

Changes are also afoot at work. Sean, my coworker and friend, left the library right before break, trading in TIDES for greener pastures and bigger adventures. While it was sad to see him go, it was also inspiring. Plus this means that soon, we'll have a new person in our midst, which will no doubt change the dynamic and direction of our little department, and change is good. Speaking of change, I have some career related goals which didn't make it to the realm of Official Resolutions, but they're in the back of my head. Write a grant that gets funded. Get an article published in a peer reviewed journal. Read more library journals and stay up-to-date with what's going on in my field. Not as exciting as running a half marathon or as fun as reading 25 books, but Being More means being a better librarian (among other things) and I'm hopeful that 2009 will be the year I figure out my niche in the library world.

Looking back, 2008 was a fairly uneventful year. Not boring, exactly. Just not the 12 months of milestones and adventures to which I've become accustomed. I didn't graduate from any programs, I didn't move across the country, I didn't fall in or out of love. I did travel to New Mexico, Miami, Oaxaca, Kentucky, Illinois, South Padre Island and Fredericksburg. I did celebrate six years with Nathan. I did run a 5K, and learn how to use my sewing machine, and win NaNoWriMo, and start mountain biking, and collect a few rejection letters, and see Howard Zinn speak. Okay, so maybe 2008 wasn't as dull as I imagine. Maybe it was actually pretty awesome. Maybe every year is pretty awesome, and 2009 will be no different.

And that, I promise, is the last time I will wax poetic about the New Year. Until TWENTY TEN, of course. Until then.

quick update!

Happy 2009! We had a little party at our place to celebrate the New Year, which turned into a big party. My camera officially died, but Sonnie was kind enough to take lots of great photos, a collage of which you can see here. No party is complete without a giant squirrel head, is what I say!

Rachel, one of my best friends from college, flew down from New York for the festivities. She partied with us for three days and left this morning, which is why I've been MIA the past week. Blogging while you have company is rude!

I am starting my Resolutions slowly but surely. I decided to "Be More" on the first day of the year by continuing to wear my Happy New Year tiara for the whole day. Small steps, but I was pleased.

Today, Nathan and I are cleaning and rearranging the apartment. We're also building a composter, which is exciting, and painting our cabinets. Our place has almost reached the peak of coolness, and once the paint dries and I get my new camera, I'm going to take lots of photos and give y'all a picturesque tour. It will be fun.

That's all for now! I'll be back soon with a real post, of real substance and depth. Until then, I hope your year is going well and that your hangovers have disappeared.

Love, Chrissy