Have a Cozy Weekend.
1 day ago
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Sober and Powerful Joy
A few sentiments I want to remember about the Inauguration:
- We craved community. Everyone wanted to be somewhere, with someone, among friends, family, neighbors, citizens. We didn't really care if we knew our fellow viewers, but we knew we didn't want to be alone.
- We cried from overpowering emotion. We cried for Bush and his failures, for the global and national crises we're facing. But also for hope, possibility, community and connection. We cried because someone who seems so balanced and intelligent took over from such ineptitude and raised the expectations for all of us to work harder and sacrifice more. We cried because he asked us to do what we want so badly to do - contribute, make our mark, and make the world a better place. The same emotions we experienced on September 11, 2001 reemerged, but in a different balance. Hope outweighed fear and anger.
- We witnessed profound, inspirational history. The history my generation knows: the Berlin Wall, OJ Simpson, and 9-11. This was so much better!
- It was more than a ceremony, more than a day. Reading the paper in the weeks ahead brought tears to our eyes. Reading the paper and listening to the radio the day after elicited the same emotions.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Relax!!
What on earth is wrong with me?!?
There was a time when I could sit leisurely, reading, napping, relaxing. For whatever reason, that time is gone. I feel utterly incapable of sitting still for longer than 15 minutes in my apartment. I get up to fix something in the kitchen, pick up clutter, clean a corner of the desk, go outside to buy things (thankfully most often I'm purchasing required items like groceries). I just can't seem to relax...
This morning is the perfect example. It's been a rough week - Michael and I have both pushed ourselves at the gym a lot and neglected sleep. My body feels tired and ready for a few hours of sitting around and reading. I am in the midst of a fabulous book that I sincerely enjoy whenever I pick it up. And, to top it all off, Michael isn't here - he is in New Jersey taking a class for the bar (don't ask...). But since I woke up, I have been baking cookies, cleaning up random items, making "to do" lists, looking at things online. It's ridiculous!
Perhaps it's the guilt - Michael is working and I'm not and so I feel like I can't really relax since he isn't. But even when he's here, I'm still moving rather frequently...
What's wrong with me?
There was a time when I could sit leisurely, reading, napping, relaxing. For whatever reason, that time is gone. I feel utterly incapable of sitting still for longer than 15 minutes in my apartment. I get up to fix something in the kitchen, pick up clutter, clean a corner of the desk, go outside to buy things (thankfully most often I'm purchasing required items like groceries). I just can't seem to relax...
This morning is the perfect example. It's been a rough week - Michael and I have both pushed ourselves at the gym a lot and neglected sleep. My body feels tired and ready for a few hours of sitting around and reading. I am in the midst of a fabulous book that I sincerely enjoy whenever I pick it up. And, to top it all off, Michael isn't here - he is in New Jersey taking a class for the bar (don't ask...). But since I woke up, I have been baking cookies, cleaning up random items, making "to do" lists, looking at things online. It's ridiculous!
Perhaps it's the guilt - Michael is working and I'm not and so I feel like I can't really relax since he isn't. But even when he's here, I'm still moving rather frequently...
What's wrong with me?
Friday, January 9, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Winter Farming
We often are asked what is available at the Farmers' Market come January and February. Well, today I picked up two types of mushrooms, fresh pasta, apples, eggs, carrots, onions and red kuri and butternut squash. The market also offers tons of fresh meat and fish (I have yet to start buying it, but know I need to), yogurt, cheese, honey, granola, breads, fresh flowers...
Here are some pictures (unfortunately, not very good ones, as I only had my phone with me) from the market today:
Mushrooms (with five varieties available)
Beautiful and delicious fresh pasta!
A million varieties of potatoes
A million varieties of squash
Tons of pickled produce!
(included here are beets, tomatoes and actual pickles)
Here are some pictures (unfortunately, not very good ones, as I only had my phone with me) from the market today:
Mushrooms (with five varieties available)
Beautiful and delicious fresh pasta!
A million varieties of potatoes
A million varieties of squash
Tons of pickled produce!(included here are beets, tomatoes and actual pickles)
Friday, January 2, 2009
Resolute?
To resolve, or not to resolve. That is the question facing me today, January 2nd, 2009.
There are several goals I have in mind that make for decent resolutions, including washing my hands for the full 30-seconds required to maximize the benefits of soap, getting my mile time down to 8:30, cooking dinner 5 days a week, keeping a positive attitude about going to work or doing yoga once a week. But then I read articles like this one in the New York Times, and I get discouraged and dissuaded from making the effort.
I’ve been reflecting quite a bit on the changes I’ve gone through over the past year, and there is one behavior modification that I’ve been particularly proud of: cooking dinner at home. This was a goal of mine last January 1st, and I’m happy to report that we’re averaging about four dinners a week, prepared in our very tiny but serviceable kitchen.
Here are the reasons I think I’ve succeeded with this goal:
There are several goals I have in mind that make for decent resolutions, including washing my hands for the full 30-seconds required to maximize the benefits of soap, getting my mile time down to 8:30, cooking dinner 5 days a week, keeping a positive attitude about going to work or doing yoga once a week. But then I read articles like this one in the New York Times, and I get discouraged and dissuaded from making the effort.
I’ve been reflecting quite a bit on the changes I’ve gone through over the past year, and there is one behavior modification that I’ve been particularly proud of: cooking dinner at home. This was a goal of mine last January 1st, and I’m happy to report that we’re averaging about four dinners a week, prepared in our very tiny but serviceable kitchen.
Here are the reasons I think I’ve succeeded with this goal:
- The act of eating at home (particularly food grown and purchased locally) reflects some of my core values. It is a lifestyle that I want to live, one that’s environmentally, socially and economically responsible. Crazy as I sound, eating at home is a political act to me and I believe it in.
- Structural changes have occurred that make it easier to cook at home. When I was in school, I had to take a lot of classes in the evening, so I regularly got home around 8 or 9 at night. Now that I get home around 7, there’s time to make a meal.
- Michael encourages me. He always praises our dinner, says thank you, and enjoys the meal. Often he asks to have dinner in, rather than finding Chipotle, Subway or some other fast alternative.
So the question for me now is: do any of my potential resolutions link with something I believe in, have the structural support in my day-to-day to support their success, and will I receive positive reinforcement for accomplishing them?
Thursday, January 1, 2009
2008 in Numbers
2008 brought us:
* 30 books * 5 countriesPretty great!
* 3 weddings * 1 new president
* 2 concerts * 3 plays
* 4 graduations * 2 babies
* 4 pregnancies * 4 jobs
* 2 baseball games * 2 Turkeys
* 2 Passed Bar Exams
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