wordchick

New PR...I Did It!

2011-06-12T18:30:00.002-05:00

Today I broke my personal record for a 5K. Ran a 23:17 5K in Joliet today. My previous PR was ten years ago. I placed second in my age group, but there were only awards for the first place finisher in each age group...so no hardware today. It's really not about another medal to me, either. It's more about seeing how much I can improve from race to race. At the beginning of last summer, my goal was simply to break 30 minutes.

Awesome Weekend!

2011-06-06T11:17:00.004-05:00

My first 1st Place Female Overall finish

What a thrill this was! I was the first female finisher at the Mazon United Methodist Church 5K! My time was 25:16. Yes, it was a small race, but it was also a very hot one. Ended up getting up to 97 with a "feels like" temp of 102. I had a wonderful time with my running club friends.

Running and Running

2011-06-03T09:01:00.004-05:00

Got a lot of catching up to do here! It has been a busy spring. I have run six races since my last update. Here is what I have been up to:

Race for Hope 10K -- finished in 54:28 (second place in 40-49 age group)
Illinois Half Marathon -- 2:03:10
National Heritage Corridor 25K -- 2:25:28 (third place in age group)
Rockford Marathon Relay -- 3:36:47 (my team took first place masters co-ed)
Steps for Hope 5K -- 24:46 (no awards beyond overall but finished first in age group)
Soldier Field 10 Miler -- 1:32:40

I am running a 5K in the morning and hoping to set a new PR...shooting for a low 24 min time. I have a lot of 5Ks now on the horizon, no more long distance races in the works for awhile, except for a 7.1 mile trail run next weekend.

One More Step

2011-04-21T09:58:00.002-05:00

I received word yesterday that I passed all three components of my comprehensive exams. What a relief! I am so glad to have that whole stressful process behind me. Now I await approval of my dissertation proposal. Then I will have to defend my proposal in front of my committee. I am hoping to get this done before the end of the semester, which is ever-so-quickly coming to an end. I can't believe it. Summer break is almost here! And I will be spending all of my time reading and writing and running and riding!

Life in Text

2011-04-09T18:42:00.000-05:00

Just another day of parenting...

Me: Sorry about almost running you over this morning
Son #2: You ran over my foot
Me: Did i really?
Son #2: Yeah
Me: Oops
Son #2: It hurt
Me: Sorry i dont function well without coffee
Son #2: Its fine It got my whole foot insted of toes so I didn't break any toes
Me: It could have been worse ;)
Son #2: Yeah but it only hurt for a few mins
Me: Bad bad mom
Son #2: Its fine

A Running Report

2011-04-06T10:25:00.004-05:00

I ran two more races since my last report: the Mountain Goat Run 15K in Danville at 1:30:23 and the Spring Fever 5K in Kankakee at 26:36. Initially, I was first place in my age group in the 5K, but later the posted race results showed me as third place masters (all women over 40). My next race will be a 10K on April 16. Then I will be running a half marathon on April 30th.

I have really stepped up my training and have been focusing heavily on cross training because I want to be physically strong overall to prevent injury. I have been battling piriformis syndrome these last couple months, and I think cross training has been the key in the healing process (along with therapy and lots and lots of icing). Weight training, yoga, and cycling now are all an important part of my weekly training. I might even throw in some kickboxing here and there.

My Best Moments in Dublin

2011-03-24T12:07:00.004-05:00

Here are my best moments during my trip to Dublin:

Hearing U2's "One" while eating lunch at Gibney's in Malahide
Indulging in a cappuccino and chocolate croissant on the balcony at Bewley's
Starting my day off with an Irish breakfast at Lovinspoon
Gathering sea shells on the beach of the Irish Sea in Malahide
Drinking my first Guinness at the Bachelor Inn
Seeing Vermeer's "A Lady Writing a Letter" at the National Gallery of Ireland
Hiking the Wicklow Mountains

Me and Dublin...We Did Okay Together

2011-03-14T19:26:00.004-05:00

When I first arrived in Dublin, I was overwhelmed, to say the least. Traveling as a single woman, I had a bit of an anxiety attack my first night. There I was in a much larger city than I expected in a hostel in a "dicey" area wondering suddenly why I was so far from home and all alone. As I walked O'Connell Street that first day, all I saw was garbage (rubbish) on the streets, graffiti, shady looking people. I saw Dublin merely as another large, dirty city. As I lay in my hostel bed, all I wanted was to be in my own home with my kids and dog. All I wanted was to be near my friends. I seriously felt panicked and wrote a couple of friends telling them I wanted to go home that minute. I was contemplating cutting my trip short.

I thank God for my friends. They know me well, and they know my stronger side. They reminded me through email how long I had planned this trip and how much I looked forward to it. They told me I could do this. And that if I didn't I would regret it. Even my kids wanted me to have a good trip, and here I was lying in bed feeling guilty for leaving them behind. My older son Nick's email reply was short and to the point: "You should book some tours." In a later email, he told me I was just overtired, and he was right. I had been awake for over 36 hours and was wired and unable to sleep...and did I mention ALONE.

Finally I fell asleep and slept better than I had in a very long time. When I woke up the next morning, I was ready to see Dublin with fresh eyes, to not look for the worst but rather the best. Glad I did.

The Biking Side of Life

2011-02-24T09:46:00.003-06:00

I've got me a sweet new bike on layaway at my local bike shop. I figured it was time to upgrade from the Trek 700 hybrid that I have had for about 15 years now. I am going to participate in a few biking events this summer, including a two-day 100-mile ride, and wanted a road bike. After three trips to the LBS to talk and test, I decided on the Trek Lexa S, as seen here...

Warmer weather can't get here soon enough!

The Running Side of Life

2011-02-22T12:01:00.005-06:00

I have managed to keep up with my running this winter. This never happens. I always quit in the winter even though I say I won't. Once the days start getting shorter and the temperature starts plummeting, I am notorious for quickly talking myself out of getting a run in. You know the reasons...too cold, too tired after work (before work). And, so, my usual routine is to start back running in May, which means I then spend the entire summer trying to regain the previous end-of-summer fitness level and race times. It's so frustrating.

Now, finally, I haven't quit! The biggest reason for that is the network of running friends I have connected with. We have all been motivating each other and going on group runs and competing in races together all winter long. This has been such a truly amazing part of my life right now. I am so inspired by these friends. When I see people who have far heavier workloads or far more family obligations than I do getting their runs in, I find it difficult to accept my own excuses.

And, so, when I mentioned in the last post that the first half of 2011 is already so full, part of that has to do with running events. I have run three races already this year and have committed to so many more, including the Illinois Half Marathon April 30, the Rockford Marathon (on a relay team) May 15, and the Soldier Field 10 May 28. Those are just the events I have registered for at this point. There are many other races I plan to participate in as well. So far this year, I have run three races:
Siberian Express 7.45 Trail Run in 1:19:05
Midwinter Cruise 5K 26:35
Winterfest 5K 25:57

Next on the agenda is a 9-mile hill run in March.

That, my friends, wraps up today's running report. I can't wait to tell you what's happening with biking. That will be the topic of my next post. Happy Trails!

I'm Giving Up Giving Up

2011-02-19T08:33:00.002-06:00

Yes, it has been awhile since I've written. 2011 is shaping up quite nicely, I must say. For someone who didn't do too much in 2010, I am sure making up for it in 2011. The first six months of this year are filled to the brim! Today, though, let me just fill you in on the academic side of life...

There has been sweet, wonderful progress on the Ph.D. front. I know, everyone is so sick of hearing me talk about the syntheses....the syntheses....the syntheses....that I have been working on for two years. I had gotten to the point that I was even too embarrassed to even bring it up anymore. Last summer I had even pretty much decided to quit. I had convinced myself that I wasn't all that smart, and last summer all I really wanted to do was be outside biking, running, reading...anything/anywhere that allowed me to just breathe and not have to think too much.

But part of what was holding me back in progressing with the Ph.D. was an unresponsive advisor. I spent two years emailing her to set up meetings without acknowledgement. I even drove to ISU to meet with another member of my committee and the graduate director and was given my advisor's home address to mail my specialization synthesis to her. Still no response. I will skip over the very long story and tell you that she is now out of the picture and the graduate director is now my new exam/dissertation advisor, and suddenly the process is moving along very quickly! Last week I took the first part of my doctoral exams, the pedagogy exam. I will hear within two weeks whether I passed. The specialization exam consists of a 15-20 page paper due Feb. 28. And I am still waiting for approval of my third synthesis to get the last component scheduled. My goal is to have the exams completed before spring break (March 7th).

Everything is falling into place all of a sudden. If it all keeps rolling along like this, I will spend the summer finishing my dissertation, defend it in the fall, and graduate in December. It's no longer about giving up.

Feeling 2011

2011-01-04T09:04:00.005-06:00

About those New Year goals for 2010... well, I, um, didn't achieve one of them. Not one.

Essentially, 2010 was a very quiet year for me. I didn't travel, didn't write much, didn't read much, didn't socialize much. But I was totally okay with all of that because it was a very fruitful year for me in terms of feeling grounded and content. I realize now going into 2011 that I needed that stillness in my life. 2010 wasn't about doing but rather about feeling.

I spent a lot of years feeling at only a certain level or, perhaps, trying not to feel anything at all. I knew I had reached complete emotional detachment when as a teenager I had trained myself to take a beating from my mother and not cry. But this isn't a feel-sorry post about my life. This is a post about letting go of those things that hold us back in life, those things that people spend lifetimes hanging on to rather than moving forward and creating their own wonderful joyful life. I know it sounds cliche to say that yesterday is over, but, frankly, it is. Thankfully, sometimes, it is.

So, for 2011 I am not going to make a list of goals. I am simply going to focus on one thing. Feeling. Feeling with a capital F. Feeling love for myself and others (even when it hurts). Feeling creative and energized. Feeling appreciative for all the blessings in my life. Most of all, feeling in control of my own happiness. Just think about how many goals will be achieved by the end of the year when feeling the goodness all around us leads the way.

Annie Dillard wrote, "The present is a freely given canvas." May your canvas be filled with much love and light (and a whole lotta feeling!). Happy 2011!

Hockey Night in South Bend

2010-12-30T16:26:00.006-06:00

My boys and I just returned from our fourth annual road trip to the University of Notre Dame for a Fighting Irish hockey game. It is one of our traditions that I give them tickets for Christmas -- and something we really look forward to doing together. We usually start the night off with amazing pizza at Barnaby's before heading over to Joyce Center for the game, and this year was no different. Then this year's game against Canisius College was quite the high-scoring event with a 10-2 win for the Irish. Woot!

And now check out the new hockey stadium going up on campus. Looks to be quite an amazing building in the works. We already are looking forward to seeing the inside of that massive architectural gem next season!

Have Backpack, Will Travel: Gearing Up for Dublin

2010-12-28T10:12:00.004-06:00

I have started the countdown. Ten weeks from today I will be in Dublin! Once I looked at my pocket calendar and counted the weeks and realized that the trip is only ten weeks away, the anticipation really kicked in. Then once I opened the backpack that my sons bought me for Christmas, I even further realized I was going places! This is no longer a trip far off into the future and buried a bit in the back of my mind as getting through the holidays monopolized the forefront. When I booked my flight a couple of months ago, March 2011 seemed so far away. Suddenly the trip feels right in front of me, and, whoa, baby, am I excited!

This trip to Dublin is my test trip in a way. It's my easy one-stop beginner trip at stuffing a week's worth of clothes into a backpack and hoofing it alone. It's the confidence builder that I am hoping will lead to backpacking from one magical stop to another all across Europe at a later time.

And I think the biggest challenge of all will be determining what to put in the backpack. For the first time ever, I will be taking a trip without the usual six or seven pairs of shoes. Is that even possible? Sure, I could give in and take a larger wheeled suitcase overfilled with a new fresh outfit every single day with perfectly matched shoes (heels, of course), but then what's the point? I want to learn how to keep it simple, to learn how to travel without a big hulking suitcase, to be able to grab my bag from the overhead compartment and bolt. I just think there must be something so liberating about living out of a backpack.

Sure, maybe I am romanticizing a bit. But I am convinced that less really is more.

Current Literary Wish List

2010-12-01T14:23:00.002-06:00

As I wandered around Barnes and Noble last night, I found myself so obsessively compulsively writing down titles of books that I want to read in the near future. You can see from my wish list that I currently am in travel lit mode. Here, then, are my top ten + one (just for the hell of it) in no particular order of priority or importance:

1. Bicycle Diaries by David Byrne
2. Once a Runner by John Parker
3. Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert
4. 1000 Places to See Before You Die by Patricia Schultz
5. Neither Here nor There by Bill Bryson (or anything by Bill Bryson)
6. Tales of a Female Nomad by Rita Golden Gelman
7. A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle
8. The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner
9. Explorers Guide: Cape Cod by Kim Grant (true, it's a travel guide)
10. Falling Man by Don DeLillo
Plus one... 11. Lonely Planet Dublin (yep, another travel guide)

If you have read any of these, or share the same desire to read any of them, do tell.

BTW, I loved The Lost Girls.

A Leap of Faith

2010-11-17T20:35:00.004-06:00

I started reading The Lost Girls tonight, the story of "three friends, four continents, one unconventional detour around the world." At the end of chapter two, as the three friends contemplate the feasibility of traveling the world for a year, Amanda Pressner asks her friends "...if we don't decide to take a leap of faith and do it now, then what?"

I have spent the last five years sort of tucking away those grand dreams of traveling myself, negating those dreams for an endless number of reasons...lack of money, lack of a travel companion, lack of time. Mainly though, I think, it has been lack of courage.

In August I got a little brave and on impulse snatched up a great airfare of $94 each way to Boston. I planned a rather neat little East Coast getaway that included shuttling down to Cape Cod and hostelling in Hyannis for about four days to relax and rejuvenate on the beach by day and feast on lobster rolls and clam chowder by night.

But in the end I didn't go. I filled my mind with all those reasons I couldn't/shouldn't go and canceled my trip just days before my departure.

I regret that now because more and more I believe in the power of the mind to make obstacles fall away once we make that decision for something to be, once we visualize that it truly can be.

I regret that now because I realize my life and my dreams will simply pass me by as I sit and wait for the most perfect circumstances, i.e. money, partner.

And so now I have put together another rather neat little getaway. Only this time I am not backing out on myself. I have purchased a plane ticket to Dublin where I will stay in a hostel and go on a pub crawl or two and take a bike tour and perhaps embark on a boat tour and see a play and maybe even write a chapter of my dissertation in the library at Trinity College...and eat whatever it is those Irish people eat and certainly drink whatever it is they drink. For six days I will fully breathe in all those touristy things that Dublin has to offer.

If it sounds like I am trying to prove something to myself, the truth is I am. I need to take that leap of faith. Because if I don't, then what?

It's a Hockey Life

2010-11-15T09:01:00.004-06:00

I am deeply in hockey mom mode these days. Both of my sons play for their high school club team, one son on the varsity team, the other on the junior varsity team. From time to time, though, the jv son plays up. Weekends are busy. This past weekend there were five games between the two of them. I made it to three of those...all in Indiana. The two I missed were down in Indy on Saturday, and apparently I missed one of the best games of my younger son's entire hockey life.

Imagine this: Roughly three minutes left in the third period. Our team (the Irish) are losing 2-3. My son scores to tie up the game! Woot! Then 21 seconds left in the game, he does it again! Game-winning goal!!

So sweet. And I'm so proud.

I Marked My Territory Today

2010-10-21T15:53:00.002-05:00

Fall?

2010-10-12T09:00:00.003-05:00

Has this not been the most gorgeous fall in the Midwest?! Supposed to be 81 today! I am not sure I have even transitioned into the idea of fall yet; I'm still holding on to summer...sandals, shorts, lounging on my deck, farmers market, running, biking... Every spectacularly warm day motivates me to get outside. Right now, I am holding off on the apple cider and pumpkin breads and all that symbolizes fall...at least for another week or so when the first big blast of chilly wind strips the trees of their golden leaves all in one monstrous sweep.

My Bench

2010-09-22T18:15:00.006-05:00

Yesterday was one of those absolutely beautiful fall days. You know the type. Just so perfect. Sunny and warm. Yet the leaves are beginning to fall, and there's that feeling that there won't be many more days like this. There is a certain sense of urgency to get outside and to fully take it all in.

And so I went for ride. 30 miles in all. I rode my bike to the state park and rode the 21-mile trail. So peaceful. Here's a picture of my bench, the place on the trail where I usually take a break and just sit and think for a bit. I'm hoping for quite a few more days like this in the coming weeks.

Happy Fall, all.

The Story of Stuff

2010-09-15T22:15:00.000-05:00

Let's Talk Travel

2010-07-20T08:27:00.003-05:00

I pretty much thought I would experience only a staycation this summer, but the travel bug just bit me, and I just planned a trip to Cape Cod in August. How could I not with $94 each way fares to Boston? I need to spend some time at the ocean before I have to go back to work. So cool ocean breezes, sandy beaches, clam chowder, lobster, here I come!

Where have you been or where are you going this summer?

My 45th

2010-07-11T09:12:00.007-05:00

The birthday was awesome. I started the day with a 5K in Clifton. I mentioned earlier that my goal was to break 27 minutes this week. I didn't. But I sure got close, finishing at 27:02...ugh. Maybe next week. Out of 56 women, I finished 15th, so I am happy with that.

The rest of the day was spent in Chicago with my two very good friends, Deisy and Martha. We did the usual strolling around Millennium Park for a bit before heading off to The Berghoff for dinner (one of my favorite restaurants). And, of course, there was a bit of shopping (well-deserved splurging?) as well. Then to top it off, right as we were leaving the Loop, a quite spectacular rainbow spread across the sky over the lake. Of course, I saw that as a personal sign of good luck/abundance. I mean, really, how often do you see a rainbow on your birthday? And right at the end of a most perfect day.

Best. Gift. Ever.

2010-07-07T17:55:00.004-05:00

My best friend Deisy painted this picture for me for my 45th birthday. All I can say is WOW! She wrote a poem to go along with it, that tells the story in the painting, but I won't get the poem until Saturday, my actual birthday. I will be sure to post the poem when I get it. I honestly don't think I have ever received such a special gift. I just can't stop looking at it!

Okay...here is the poem:

Meditation: How to Hold a Star

the bluest water is already beneath you
have faith that your balance depends on your Love
of all on Earth.
freely let you hair down and
let it set you asail.
breathe deeply and drift confidently.
wear the dress that speaks its own desires.
wherever you go,
carry your hopes and dreams
as pure white Energy.
Now turn your palm up.
reach higher.
receive Joy.
And give it your own Bliss.
relax, smile and enjoy this moment
as the Universe becomes Your home.

Beecher Freedom 5K

2010-07-03T11:42:00.002-05:00

Woo hoo! I got my first master's award today in Beecher. Fastest female over 40 (shh, don't tell anyone). Sure, it was a small race, but I'll take it. :)

My goal was to break 28 minutes this week, and I did it. Finished today at 27:23. They weren't calling the splits on the course, so I had no idea how I was doing until I got to the finish line.

My next 5K will be next Saturday, my 45th birthday (ugh!), which means I will be moving into a new age group. I am hoping now to break 27 minutes.

Sweet Progress on the Ph.D.

2010-07-02T10:17:00.007-05:00

I finally will be starting my comprehensive exams within days. There are three parts to the exam process, and two of my committee members now are looking over my synthesis for their respective components and writing exam questions. I am suddenly very frightened...as in big knot in my stomach frightened. So happy Fourth of July weekend and all that; I will be withdrawing from all social engagement and planting myself on a chair on my deck to read, read, read...

It will look a bit like this: --->

Running Report

2010-06-27T11:24:00.002-05:00

I've re-entered the running scene, and it is going quite well. I am finally fully recovered after foot surgery last year. On June 6, I ran the United Run for the Zoo 10K at Lincoln Park Zoo for the first time and finished in 58:56. Today I ran the Bourbonnais Friendship Festival 5K and finished in 28:38, placing second in my age group. Was it ever hot and humid out there today! But as soon as the race was over, a storm blew in with thunder, lightning, and the whole works, and the awards ceremony had to be moved inside. I was certainly thankful for my friend Pat offering me a ride home as I had walked to the race.

Now my goal is to find a 5K for next weekend and to break 28 minutes. I want to be running in the 25 minute range by the end of the summer.

Another Thought

2010-06-25T15:12:00.004-05:00

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

A Thought

2010-06-24T17:01:00.001-05:00

"When it can disappear into thin air, then you know it wasn't real to begin with." -- Wayne Dyer

A Chocolate Fudge Bundt

2010-05-25T17:00:00.002-05:00

This cake isn't part of the project; I was asked to make this one for an 8-year-old boy's birthday. Sure hope he likes it!
And here he is!! Hope you had a great birthday, Curtis!

Bundt Cake #20: Cinnamon Streusel

2010-05-25T16:54:00.003-05:00

The Cinnamon Streusel was the bundt cake of choice for Colin, who just graduated from 8th grade.

Pretty in Pink

2010-05-24T08:55:00.002-05:00

I am putting aside my cake sales money to buy this dreamy little kitchen appliance. I just must have the pink Kitchenaid mixer!

Bundt Cake #19: Chocolate Vanilla

2010-05-21T08:54:00.003-05:00

Oh how quickly I have gotten caught up on the Bundt Cake Project! I have made six cakes since last Friday. I really like the way this Chocolate Vanilla turned out. It's sort of on the dainty side. Would make a nice shower or wedding cake, yes? I made this one for my younger son's teacher on his last day of school today.

Bundt Cake #18: Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip

2010-05-20T18:55:00.003-05:00

For my son's eighth grade graduation dinner Wednesday night, I tried a new recipe. This bundt is a chocolate peanut butter chip, sans the peanut butter chips because I forgot to put them in the cake. Oops. So this one is a chocolate cake with a peanut butter frosting. I topped it with grated dark chocolate and chopped nuts.

WKAN and Bundt Cake #17: Chocolate Pomegranate

2010-05-18T09:11:00.004-05:00

What an exciting day for me and the bundt cake project! I was on the WKAN Morning Show this morning! I was quite nervous about it but so enjoyed doing it. Of course, I had to take them a cake, so I went with what seems to be my most popular cake so far, the Chocolate Pomegranate. I love this particular bundt pan for the beautiful ridges it creates in the cake, so I kept the presentation simple on this one, just some chocolate frosting with a few flowers on top.

Bundt Cake #16: Luscious Lemon

2010-05-16T18:21:00.004-05:00

I made this one for the youth group family cookout at my church. Although it was a family cookout, I was informed by my son that I could not stay, so I dropped the kid and the cake off and left. This one is a luscious lemon bundt cake. I made it not too long ago but called it something else...lemon burst, I think. So here we have a lemon cake and lemon frosting with multi-colored sprinkles. I didn't put as much food coloring in the frosting this time around, so it's a paler shade of yellow.

Bundt Cake #15: Almond Cream Cheese

2010-05-15T13:25:00.003-05:00

This one went to a colleague in my department who retired after something like 32 years of teaching. Kudos to him. It is almond cream cheese: almond cream cheese cake with a cream cheese frosting and edible glitter sprinkled on top. After I gave it to him, I realized that I forgot to put a little almond extract in the frosting. Oops, that's what happens when you get up at 7 a.m. to make frosting. Oh well, there is some in the cake.

Bundt Cake #14: Chocolate Vanilla

2010-05-15T13:21:00.003-05:00

I made this one for a colleague who helped me out by working on my car this week. It's the straight-up chocolate recipe with vanilla frosting and chocolate and white chocolate sprinkles.

My First Cake Sale!

2010-05-09T09:34:00.006-05:00

This one doesn't count toward the Bundt Cake Project because I got paid to make this one! My very first cake sale! I am so excited. My good friend Deisy was my first customer, and she wanted straight-up chocolate. I was nervous about using a brand new recipe since this was official business, so I took that chocolate pomegranate recipe that everyone loves, loves, loves and switched out the fruity stuff for chocolatey stuff. Instead of pomegranate yogurt, I used chocolate yogurt, and instead of Pom juice, I used chocolate milk. I did put a little espresso powder in still because it just perks up anything chocolate. I topped it all off with chocolate frosting and chocolate sprinkles. Sure hope they like it!

Bundt Cake #13: Another Chocolate Pomegranate

2010-05-05T17:57:00.003-05:00

I made this one for my journalism class because I promised each class that I would make them a bundt cake, and, well, being that this is week 16 of the semester, I am behind on my cake baking and almost completely out of time. I still owe one to my modern world literature class. Here, the chocolate pomegranate resurfaces; it was requested by one of my students who spotted the other ones here on the blog. I changed this one up a bit; I added a half teaspoon of espresso powder to the cake to enhance the chocolate flavor and used vanilla frosting instead of chocolate.

From the Farmers Market

2010-05-01T15:09:00.006-05:00

What a gorgeous sunny morning at the market! And even though the market isn't yet in full swing, the crowds are already out!

This week I bought sun-dried tomato hummus, homemade pita bread, free-range eggs, hormone-free ground beef patties and lamb italian sausage links, hormone-free chicken breasts, Italian bread, Amish tomato noodles, tomatoes, and green beans. I was hoping to pick up more asparagus to make soup, but there wasn't any asparagus this week; the vendor expects to have more next week.

Re: meal planning, I intend to cut up the chicken breasts into strips and then cook them up to put on that pita bread spread with hummus. Should be absolutely delish with some tomato and lettuce on top. As for the Amish noodles, I will saute some onion, green pepper, red pepper, and mushrooms in olive oil and then toss it all with the noodles. I already cooked up four of the ground beef patties for lunch today, melted some Swiss cheese on top, and served them up on fresh buns (made daily) from the Jewel bakery. Quite wonderful indeed.

Bundt Cake #12: Lemon Burst

2010-04-30T16:20:00.003-05:00

I made this citrusy little number for my friend Deisy for her birthday.

Spring Farmers Market Begins

2010-04-25T13:53:00.006-05:00

Our spring farmers market opened yesterday, and I am so excited to begin planning weekly meals around local foods. You are probably wondering how much local eating one could manage in April in the Midwest. Well, my friends, you easily could have found enough local food at this first market to keep you well nourished for the next week: eggs, cheese, chicken, beef, hydroponic lettuce, mushrooms, noodles, asparagus, granola, breads and desserts. And I'm sure I am forgetting a number of other offerings.

I myself purchased a soy candle, hydroponic lettuce, baby portobella mushrooms, vanilla almond granola, free-range eggs, hormone-free ground beef, and asparagus. Obviously, I will need to round out my menu considerably this week with some store-bought stuff, but I am going to try to build my meals around local foods more and more in the coming weeks. I will try to document my experiences here regularly in case you, too, are interested in ditching processed, prepackaged, nutrient-deficient "foods" and join the local foods movement.

So, for starters, I plan to make a nice salad to take to work for lunch tomorrow. I'll top that lettuce with slices of the portobella mushrooms, add a few sprouts, some pine nuts, and a bit of onion and maybe some shredded parmesan cheese. I plan to roast the asparagus later this afternoon, and if there is any left, I'll take some of that for lunch as well. I have been on a boiled egg kick over the last couple of weeks, so I will probably boil a couple of the free-range eggs and throw one in my lunch bag as well.

As for the granola, I love to eat it for breakfast mixed with several generous tablespoons of plain yogurt, ground flaxseed, dried cranberries, and honey. All that fiber...so good for you.

I'm not exactly sure what I'll do with the ground beef...perhaps I will make a meatloaf or tacos later this week.

Right now, I must get some fresh bread started in the bread machine.

I would love to hear about your own local foods experiences, so feel free to post.

Roasted Asparagus (Topped w/ Parmesan Cheese)

We Are the News@Noon!

2010-04-15T12:41:00.001-05:00

Bundt Cake #11: Red Velvet

2010-04-04T16:00:00.004-05:00

I am a couple of cakes behind schedule, but I am not worried. I have some events coming up that I will be making cakes for, so I am thinking I will get caught up in a hurry. This week's cake, Red Velvet from the Kiss My Bundt cookbook, was part of Easter dinner today. My cake isn't as red as it is supposed to be as I did not have nearly as much red food coloring on hand as I thought. Actually, all I had was a bit of red food coloring gel and a bit of burgundy food coloring gel, so I added both of those, and what I ended up with is really a reddish brown cake. I also added some espresso powder to enhance the chocolate flavor. Oh, and this was the first time using the heart-shaped bundt pan.

YogaDancing in Florida

2010-03-30T08:33:00.004-05:00

I know I haven't had much to say lately. I've been "on the go" as they would say in Newfoundland. I spent March 19-21 at a YogaDance program in St. Augustine, Florida. Amazing. I am still processing the weekend and really can't even begin to describe it. (Lazy with words, I know.) But some things happen within the self and in the moment and really don't need to be described. This was one of those experiences.

So, in short, I spent a fabulous weekend yogadancing with about 14 very wonderful women. Love and good energy were overflowing. (Lazy with words again, I know.) We danced Friday evening, twice on Saturday, and once on Sunday in addition to a traditional yoga class Sunday morning. During off-time we took a little trek to the Atlantic Ocean. And I ate lots of really healthy things at a raw foods restaurant called Present Moment Cafe. Oh, and I learned to hula hoop. Can you even imagine how relaxed I was by Sunday evening? And what a high I was on throughout most of the next week? I joked that if I went into work Monday morning and was told that I was fired I would smile and say "okay." Or bow and say "Namaste."

Simply awesome, my friends. Simply Awesome.

Agave Nectar Instead of Sugar

2010-03-29T17:48:00.002-05:00

Here's a new habit that I have latched on to recently and highly recommend: replace the sugar you pour into your coffee, tea, cereal, etc. with agave nectar. So much healthier for you. You can google the benefits. I am really concerned about the amount of sugar we all consume on a daily basis. Give it a try and let me know what you think, yes?

Earth Hour 2010

2010-03-27T08:55:00.000-05:00

Tonight! 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Be there!

Enjoy!

2010-03-23T09:03:00.003-05:00

Bundt Cake #10: Irish Cream

2010-03-16T12:06:00.004-05:00

I made this one today for lunch, Irish Cream from the Kiss My Bundt cookbook (cakebook?). My parents are supposed to be coming. But they aren't here yet, and it is 12:10. Perhaps they forgot. If they did, then I have a lot to eat for lunch because I also made a big pot of split pea soup. Anybody free for lunch?

So they got here about 1...got lost.

Falling in Love with Julia

2010-03-12T08:12:00.003-06:00

On my last trip to Barnes and Noble, I picked up Julia Child's My Life in France and have spent the better part of my spring break lying in bed reading. It's still a bit too chilly to sit on my deck; however, I did get out there for about a half hour or so earlier this week. Yesterday, though, was cloudy and rainy, the perfect kind of day for feeling less guilty about sitting in bed and reading an entire day away. I love this book, and I would have loved to have been Julia's friend. This woman truly lived.

Aerogardening

2010-03-07T10:09:00.009-06:00

I bumped into the idea of indoor gardening using hydroponic technology recently, which got me on a whole other bandwagon. Imagine that. There are a couple of different systems out there, so I started my usual obsessive investigation of such devices that entailed days of online research and a couple of trips to Bed, Bath, and Beyond before settling on the Aerogarden 3, shown here. I got this one on Amazon for $49 with free shipping.

For once in my life, I am starting off conservatively with a new project. I went with the smaller three pod version rather than the six podder to try hydroponic gardening out on a smaller scale. My initial plan was that if I like the three pod version, that I am growing flowers in right now hopefully to use on my cakes, then I would buy the larger one for herbs. At this point I think the smaller Aerogarden will be all that I need. I will probably plant my herbs in containers outside as I usually do, or I can always plant herbs in this one in the next cycle. It's too early to tell yet which direction I will go with this; let's just wait and see how this first project turns out. I "planted" my garden on February 27 and now have two pods beginning to sprout. So far so good.

Bundt Cake #9: Chocolate Toffee Bundt Cake

2010-03-04T20:18:00.003-06:00

This Chocolate Toffee Bundt Cake went to my American Literature class. We had a bit of a midterm celebration tonight that included lots of homemade sweets. This recipe was featured in the December/January 2010 issue of Taste of Home. In between bites we did discuss literature: Eugene O'Neill's The Emperor Jones was the topic du jour a la mode.

Re: Cooking Books

2010-03-02T10:48:00.007-06:00

Just wondering...what is the title of your favorite cookbook/book about food of the moment? And have you purchased any new cooking-related books lately?

The cookbook that I have been cooking a lot from lately is the Taste of Home Winning Recipes, which also is my latest cookbook purchase. I have been a fan of Taste of Home for a long time...perhaps ten years. I now own three Taste of Home cookbooks; as well, I have subscribed to the monthly magazine on and off for quite a number of years. Perhaps my favorite book about food is Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle; I actually haven't read many books about food, but I am increasingly interested in doing so....seems to be my latest passion/distraction.

Miles Davis and Garlic Ginger Pork Roast

2010-02-27T09:14:00.010-06:00

Before I even had my first sip of coffee this morning, I was slicing garlic and shoving it into tiny little holes in a pork roast. Any idea how difficult that is? Let's not even go there. Then with a bit of inspiration from Miles Davis, I was mixing up a Ziploc bag full of pure goodness for a marinade: more garlic (can there ever be too much garlic?), onion, honey, Worcestershire sauce, lime, Dijon mustard, and ginger. Remember all that ginger that I have on hand?

It seems odd to be getting started on dinner before you have even eaten breakfast, but this little puppy needs to sit in the homemade garlic ginger marinade for the next eight hours. After sitting in the refrigerator for eight hours, the roast needs to sit on the counter for an hour to arrive at room temperature and then needs to spend about another hour and a half or so in the oven. Hopefully by about 7 p.m. tonight I will have a sweet little garlic ginger pork roast on the table.

In the meantime, let's go back to that morning cup of coffee, shall we? Ahhh.

P.S. Other than burning my arm on the roasting pan, all went well with the garlic ginger pork roast. Delish.

And What Is in Your Water?

2010-02-25T11:10:00.005-06:00

Do you know? You should. Take it from someone who was affected by a petroleum spill by Shell Oil that was covered up for far too many years. Don't take it for granted that your drinking water is risk-free or that you can trust local governments or water companies to ensure that it is. There are too many environmental links to cancer to not be concerned about what is going into your body.

One small inexpensive step you can take is to buy a water-filtrating pitcher, like this nifty little Brita I just purchased for $31.99, that is supposed to reduce the amounts of copper, mercury, and cadmium that might be in your tap water. Just a small price to pay in taking some measure to protect your liver and kidneys. The taste of the water is much improved as well; even my kids have noticed that.

Just a little public service announcement from Wordchick, free of charge.

Spice Inventory: Ginger, Ginger, Ginger and... Ginger

2010-02-22T19:04:00.011-06:00

A little reorganizing of my spice cabinet uncovered a treasure trove of ginger. Not one, not two, not three, but four jars of ginger! Holy smokes, how did I end up with so many jars of ginger?! And what on earth did I ever use it for?! I suddenly can't think of any recipe that I make that calls for ginger. And suddenly I realize how badly I need some recipes that call for ginger.

So I told my colleague and friend Martha (no, not Martha Stewart, in case you are wondering) about my ginger dilemma today, and, poof, she just happened to have a recipe for carrot ginger soup saved on her work computer. Even more oddly enough, I just happened to have every ingredient for the soup on hand. As soon as I got home from work, I pulled out one of those ginger jars and whipped up some oh-so-yummy carrot ginger soup. Mmmm.

Other recipes I uncovered online during my office hours include garlic ginger pork roast, Chinese-style barbecued spareribs, amaretto oriental salmon, Chinese asparagus in ginger-scented brown sauce, and big soft ginger cookies. Looks like there are plenty of opportunities to use up at least a bottle or two of the never ending supply of ginger. When I am able to catch my breath from the ginger epidemic, I will let you know what transpires with the three bottles of basil found hiding ever so slyly behind the four bottles of ginger. I can deal with only one territorial spice at a time.

Oh, Sweet Kitchen Supply Store on a Sunday Afternoon

2010-02-21T16:08:00.008-06:00

I spent some time in Bed Bath and Beyond today, so much time, in fact, that the sales dude kept coming up to me to ask if he could help. I was just wandering aimlessly up and down each aisle in the kitchen department. I had time, and I had no plan; I simply wanted to take my sweet ole time and look at everything, and I mean every thing because it has been a bit of time since I paid much attention to kitchen stuff. It was quite fun. After a while the sales dude was called to help out at the register, and I was a bit relieved at that.

And, no, I didn't buy anything cake related. I am pretty well stocked in that area for the time being. I bought a pink Brita pitcher water filtration system. I think it is funny that they call it a system when all it is is a pitcher with a filter cartridge that just plops down into the water and soaks up some of the invisible bad stuff that apparently wreaks havoc on our kidneys and liver. Calling it a system makes it sound a heck of a lot more sophisticated than the plastic contraption really is. Anyway, I just hope it does some good.

I also bought stainless steel salt and pepper mills, a couple of wine bottle stoppers, a kitchen rug, an egg slicer, and a new sink stopper (because I am pretty damned tired of filling the sink up with dishwater only to come back into the kitchen to find that it has all leaked out). I almost bought a spice rack and an AeroGarden but decided those things would have to wait for another kitchen shopping day. And the way things are going with my new love affair with the kitchen, another kitchen shopping day might not be so far off in the future.

P.S. I dusted off the breadmaker and am using it for the first time in months. Stay tuned for a dusting off of the juicer.

P.S.S. The new sink stopper doesn't work either.

Bundt Cake #8: Almond Cream Cheese for a Friend's 50th

2010-02-20T09:26:00.002-06:00

I've moved on finally...away from the Chocolate Pomegranate and on to the Almond Cream Cheese (found here). This one was my gift to a friend for his 50th birthday. I am really enjoying this whole cake-baking project; I thought after the first couple of weeks I would start to see making a cake as a chore and tire of it like I do so many other things that I take on because they sound oh-so-exciting at first thought, but, no, this is really, really fun. I don't see dust collecting on my bundt cake pan collection (by the way, I am up to five) anytime soon.

Bundt Cake #7: For My Sons

2010-02-15T14:46:00.005-06:00

They haven't seen it yet, but this one is for my boys. They have been watching me (sometimes patiently, sometimes impatiently) bake cake after cake to give away so I thought I would surprise them and make one just for them for Valentine's Day. This is that Chocolate Pomegranate one that I just can't seem to move away from. Yes, it is that good. But I swear the next one I make won't be Chocolate Pomegranate. I think it is time to move on to the Chocolate Cafe au Lait. I ordered a heart-shaped pan, but it didn't get here for Valentine's Day. Oh well, there will be 45 more opportunities ahead for the heart pan.

What's Cookin'

2010-02-07T17:12:00.009-06:00

Yesterday I hosted a little brunch for some good girlfriends. This is part of that I-want-to-cook-more-and-share-it-with-others thing that I have going for 2010. You know, life is short, as they say, and I think many of us don't spend enough quality time with people that we love. It sounds so cliche, but there really is so much truth to it. So I am trying to do more of that. Hence, I put on the pretty little apron that arrived this week (with plenty of clothing underneath, in case you are wondering) and cooked up a pretty nice little feast for four of my closest friends. The menu: pumpkin waffles, egg and ham casserole, sausage, lots of fruit, and mimosas (mmm, mmm). And we toasted to friendship.

At the moment, I am working on my bundt cake for the week. This one is going to a colleague who teaches in the automotive department for being so kind and taking care of some minor issues with my truck this past week. I am making another chocolate pomegranate because it was simply awesome and received rave reviews. This one is going to be a tad bit different from the last one; I am going to throw a few chocolate and white chocolate sprinkles atop this one along with a beautiful flower from a bouquet received yesterday from one of the girls. See how beautifully paying it forward plays out. (I will post a pic of the cake as soon as I get it frosted and decorated.)

Okay, here it is (#6):

Feeling a little...

2010-01-31T14:59:00.005-06:00

Obsessive. I think I have a problem. Can't think of anything except cooking and baking. It wouldn't be so bad if I actually had people to cook for. My kids are such food snobs. All they do is turn up their noses and say "ewwww" at everything except cake...and cookies...and waffles. And I am becoming a food snob myself in the opposite way; I hate chain restaurants and turn my nose up at anything that is not homemade, anything that is over processed and packaged. Ewwww. Even more, I am starting to actually like my kitchen. I hung those bundt pans up, just like I said I might.

The good thing about all this? I haven't been eating out at restaurants at all or buying lunch in the cafeteria at work. The bad thing? I am so afraid to get on the scale.

Oh, and check out this pretty little apron I just ordered. When I showed my 13-year-old son, he asked very seriously whether I will wear something under it. I guess that will depend on who is coming to dinner.

#5: Chocolate Pomegranate Bundt Cake

2010-01-30T09:56:00.004-06:00

This week's cake (found here) went to my creative writing class. After all, what better way to flesh out the sensory detail of taste than with a scrumptious chocolate pomegranate bundt cake. This one is my absolute favorite so far. It is unbelievably moist. I will definitely be making this one again.

As you can see, I have graduated from the simple bundt cake pan. This one is the Nordic Ware Bavaria, which I found on eBay because there is no such thing beyond the simple bundt cake pan to be found in the entire Kankakee County. I am now collecting bundt cake pans like art and am tempted to start hanging them up on one of my kitchen walls. And what's wrong with that? Julia Child hung her pans on the wall.

#5 Soon to Come...

2010-01-27T10:26:00.002-06:00

I didn't have time to bake over the weekend, so I am a little behind on #5. My plan is to get to it tomorrow morning. I am going to make a chocolate pomegranate bundt cake for Friday's 9 a.m. creative writing class.

I just got a couple of new bundt cake pans and put in a couple of online orders for baking supplies (high grade vanilla, white and dark chocolate sprinkles, edible glitter, etc.). Can't wait to see where we can go with all that. ;)

Bundt Cake #3 and #4: Cinnamon Streusel

2010-01-17T13:11:00.003-06:00

This week I made Cinnamon Streusel Bundt Cake found here. I made two of these, one to give away and one to keep. I guess I bake the same way I Christmas shop...one for you, one for me. The one shown here was the one I kept. The other went to the now-identified mystery neighbor who snowblowed my driveway after the last snowstorm. As you can see, I didn't do anything fancy with presentation. I had tickets for the Illinois State/Purdue hockey game and suddenly found myself out of baking time. The cake turned out fabulously, though. My younger son declared that this is his new favorite. The older son is still attached to the peanut butter/chocolate chip number.

Bundt Cake #2: One for the Boys

2010-01-09T13:25:00.004-06:00

This is fun. Here is a little chocolate chip/peanut butter number I made for my sons today. When asked their opinion of the cake, Colin said, "good," and Nick said, "So good that I want another piece." The recipe can be found here.

Cake, anyone?

2010-01-08T09:04:00.003-06:00

I have stumbled across a new obsession. Motivated by an article I just read in the December issue of Yoga Journal, I am now in bundt cake-making mode. In "The Joy of Baking," Rachel Meyer writes about her year of making bundt cakes as a journey of goodwill and spirituality. She decided to bake a bundt cake every week and give it away. On her website she tells great stories about her cakes and about the people she made them for. So inspiring.

So inspiring, in fact, I decided to embark on such a quest myself. This week I made my first bundt cake, Rachel's Honey-Spiced Chai Bundt Cake, and shared it with my colleagues at our division meeting on Wednesday. I'm thinking it was a success.

Here is my beautiful creation (I'm just a little proud):

Any New Year Goals?

2010-01-03T09:18:00.004-06:00

I am going to say goals, not resolutions. Resolutions seem to have negative connotations, as in what we should give up or sacrifice, a type of punishment because we were so awful the previous year. We don't mention resolutions with enthusiasm; instead we seem to growl a bit as we mention them. That's why so many people say (with a growl), "I don't believe in making resolutions." So forget about resolutions. Think about goals. Think about three things that you would love to do this year. Three things that would make you happy. (And three things that are realistic. Sure, I would love to win the lottery and spend the entire year traveling around the world, too, but that isn't likely to happen this year.) Here are my three goals for 2010:

Finish my Ph.D. (trying hard to state with enthusiasm and not a growl)
Go on a backpacking trip
Bike Wisconsin (from North to South)

And, now, what are your goals? You can look at this as sort of a friendly challenge.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-02T10:49:00.005-06:00

I had a perfect New Year's Day. I met my friend Deisy at the state park, and we hiked six miles on the snow-covered trail in ten-degree weather. We started at Davis Creek and hiked to the three-mile marker and back. We hiked, talked, saw a few deer, took a few pictures, even ran into a running club aquaintance out cross country skiing. It felt good to get outside. I so often sit inside all winter (and put on a few extra pounds) because I don't want to face the cold; I have a hard time transitioning from the summer outdoor sports that I love (biking, running) to winter alternatives, but I am determined to get outside more this winter and take advantage of the snow. It was a wonderful walk, and I was plenty warm enough, a bit too warm at times and had to unzip my coat by the time we finished. I am hoping to get back out there in the next day or so, this time hiking from the five-mile marker to the eight-mile marker to get in more hill work. Wishing you a happy and healthy 2010!

Feels Like Winter Now!

2009-12-28T14:24:00.004-06:00

Snow finally. And I love it. I got the cross country skis out today for the first time in about ten years and skied about four miles at the state park. It was beautiful and so quiet. A couple of cars went through the park, but I didn't see one other person on the trail. The trail was a little rough for cross country skiing, and I think my skis need waxed or something. I wasn't moving very quickly, but it felt good to get outside and get a bit of exercise.

A Quiet, Snowy Winter Morning

2009-12-26T09:40:00.004-06:00

This is my favorite time of the day. The kids are still asleep. It's so nice and quiet. I am sitting in my pajamas drinking my morning coffee and watching snow fall lightly upon my deck. I love these mornings when I can sit here as long as I want instead of having to rush around getting myself and my kids off to school and work.

There was something really nice about Christmas this year that I can't really describe. After four years of being "alone" at Christmas, I felt a certain measure of contentedness this year. I felt as if Christmas was finally what I wanted it to be. Christmas was more real for me than it has been in a very long time. It was slow-paced, about people rather than things.

My younger son and I went to mass together at 4 on Christmas Eve. Then he went with his father for a big family dinner and celebration on that side of the family, and I went to my friend Nick's house for the fourth year in a row. I met Nick when I lived in an apartment for a year while I was redirecting my life. He lived in the apartment above me. He and I and another neighbor, Dorine, got to be good friends. Celebrating Christmas with them has been life-changing for me, and I am grateful for their friendship.

Dorine is 85, and while she lost her husband to cancer quite a while ago, she has never stopped living a full life. She never had children but had such a wonderful relationship with her husband; I almost feel as if I knew him by the many memories she shares. Dorine is smart and funny and so outgoing. I love her zest for life, and I love listening to her stories.

Nick is Filipino, and it is through him that I have become more grounded in my meaning of Christmas. I remember, particularly, the second Christmas Eve spent with Nick and Dorine and many of Nick's Filipino friends and family. Nick had just moved into his new home after we had been forced by Olivet Nazarene University to move out of our apartments. This Christmas Eve was different than the previous year's celebration because Nick's sister and her husband were there and so many more Filipino friends than before. There was not one gift under the tree. Christmas to Filipinos is not about presents piled high but rather a celebration of food and friendship.

Spending Christmas Eve with Nick and Dorine and Nick's friends has become peaceful and comforting to me.

I spent Christmas morning with a friend/colleague from work, Martha, and her family visiting from California and Colorado. Martha invited me over for breakfast, and I enjoyed listening to their stories of childhood memories of Christmases past.

And my own Christmas later in the afternoon with my two sons was just as nice. We opened presents, and then I made their favorite meal (my baked mostaccioli), and we watched a movie together.

I hope your own Christmas celebration was peaceful and joyful and, most of all, one that made you feel happy and content. Merry Christmas, friends.

Christmas in Chicago

2009-12-22T10:44:00.011-06:00

My boys and I took the train into the city yesterday; that has become one of our holiday traditions. We started off with a quick late lunch at the Billy Goat Tavern. I wanted them to see the original Billy Goat since they love eating at the location near the United Center. Then we wandered toward Daley Plaza for the Christkindlmarket, but all Colin had on his mind was Garrett's popcorn, and I promised he could get some, but when we got there, people were lined up out the door and out into the street. I promised we would go back a bit later. But that was a little disappointing for Colin. He just knew Garrett's would be closed when we returned.

Onward then to the Christkindlmarket, where I could spend hours roaming around, but my boys really didn't have much interest in seeing any of it. All they wanted was a cup of hot chocolate and to warm up somewhere, but they were good sports and let me do a little looking around without many complaints from them. It was cold and crowded, but we enjoyed it all the same. Hot chocolate, chocolate brownies, roasted almonds, German cookies, and a nice cold pilsner for me...what wasn't there to enjoy?

And we made it back to Garrett's to find a much shorter line. Happiness!

Week 16...and A Lot of Loose Ends

2009-12-07T21:18:00.003-06:00

I don't know where the semester has gone. Another one on the verge of being over. And I sure feel it physically, emotionally. Now I am deeply buried in the end-of-the-semester grading. I spent the evening grading creative nonfiction essays yet still have short stories, English I essays, and Ancient and Medieval Lit essays to grade this week. Looks like I will be spending some time at my grading/writing cafe this week. It's hard to stay focused, though -- because what I really want to do is work on my last synthesis for my comprehensive exams and start studying for the exams... and head into the city for a film at the Gene Siskel Film Center... and a visit to the Christkindlmarket. Oh, and Berghoff's...I've been dying to go there for awhile now... and I still haven't seen the addition to the Art Institute. I am easily distracted. Can't wait for Christmas break.

My Favorite Christmas Song!

2009-11-29T18:28:00.003-06:00

What I Am Reading, Watching, Listening To

2009-11-22T15:07:00.005-06:00

Reading:

Just finished Possession by A.S. Byatt last night
Almost finished with Women's Ways of Knowing by Mary Field Belenky et al
Thinking about starting The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Watching:

Watched the film Possession last night on Netflix (and can't help but think that love like that really doesn't exist)

Listening To:

I have been so in the mood for the Eagles. I bought The Very Best of Eagles on Friday and have been listening to it throughout the weekend...

"'cause I gotta peaceful easy feeling and I know you won't let me down 'cause I'm already standing on the ground."

Please Report Child Abuse

2009-11-10T14:26:00.004-06:00

Unfortunately, most instances of child abuse are not so easily identifiable. Many times the only people who are aware of what is happening are siblings and close friends, yet they remain silent because child abuse is not easy to confront. Let's face it, who wants to put himself on the radar of a violent person? But there is plenty that can be done, and it starts with the abuser being confronted. It starts with the decision to no longer remain silent.

A Weekend of Hibernation

2009-10-04T16:13:00.003-05:00

That's pretty much it for my weekend. I had plans, but I opted out and holed up inside all weekend. I was supposed to go camping Saturday, but when I woke up to a really blah chilly and rainy day, I pretty much decided that I didn't want to go sit out in it, much less sleep in it. I have been cold enough inside the house. Instead I broke down and turned on my furnace and did a bit of reading, a bit of cleaning (until the belt broke on my vacuum cleaner), and then decided it was a good day for cooking something. I thought about pasta but ended up making potato soup.

Today I am trying to be disciplined and grade essays. It sure would make my week much easier if I could stick with the grading today. So far, I have one set down and three more to go...not to mention all the reading that I assigned.

It has been so nice and quiet this weekend, and I'm really sort of enjoying it.

Weekend Race Report

2009-09-12T19:37:00.003-05:00

I ran in the Aroma Park Two Rivers Festival 5K this morning. Such a perfect day for it. I had never run this race before and was glad that I finally did. It was a nice out-and-back course with very little traffic. I don't usually like running alongside anyone because I need to be really focused when racing, but Melinda S. and I were running next to each other at the same exact pace, and after about a half mile out, she asked if she could run with me. We were completely in sync, and it worked out very well; we both pushed each other a bit. I ended up shaving about 18 seconds off of last weekend's race time, finishing at about 27:33 and placing first in my age group. My goal is to break 27:00 now.

I Guess This Is It

2009-09-07T19:13:00.003-05:00

The final weekend of summer. Going into it, I was a bit sad that I wasn't doing something really exciting, like going away somewhere for the weekend. But as it usually happens when there aren't expectations, it ended up being quite a nice weekend.

I ran my first race since February, the Herscher Hare and Tortoise 5K, and was very happy with my time, considering that I still am restricted to running only twice a week. I finished at 27:51 and ended up placing 2nd in my age group. If I can get back to about 25:00, I will be very content. It was so nice to see so many running friends again, too.

I got up this morning and met my biking buddy, Deisy, at the state park, and we rode the 21-mile trail together for the first time in about a month. What a perfect day for it, too. Absolutely gorgeous out, warm with a nice breeze. I never get tired of biking out there. I love the mostly paved trail and the hills. Of course, when I am going up the hills, I yell back to Deisy how much I hate them. I really love the challenge, though. You know how it is to have a love-hate relationship with something.

I'm still hoping to get away for a weekend really soon, though. I would love to go camping before it gets too cold out. We will see.

An Odd Place

2009-08-31T20:49:00.005-05:00

That's where I am. My life of leisure has ended, and I have no plans whatsoever in the entire foreseeable future. Nothing at all. All I see for the next four months is work, and lots of it. So there...my short and public display of self-pity.

I & M Canal Trail

2009-08-21T19:19:00.004-05:00

I spent last Sunday biking the I & M Canal trail from Channahon to Morris for the first time. About halfway to Morris a huge storm came through, and I spent the rest of the ride to Morris pedaling in pouring rain. By the time I got to Morris, I was covered from head to toe in mud. My original plan was to find a place to eat in Morris before heading back, but I was too much of a mess for that and ended up sitting on a bench eating an apple I had stuffed in my bike bag. In all I am estimating a 28 or 29 mile trip. I would love to do the ride again on a much drier day, but I was not at all disappointed. I was basically the only person out there, and being that the scenery was completely new to me, I felt a million miles away from everything.

In Tracy Chapman Mode

2009-08-13T10:14:00.003-05:00

I went to the Tracy Chapman concert at the Park West last night and am still in Tracy mode. Thought I would share the lyrics of this song...it's my right now song...

At this point in my life
I've done so many things wrong I don't know if I can do right
If you put your trust in me I hope I won't let you down
If you give me a chance I'll try

You see it's been a hard road the road I'm traveling on
And if I take your hand I might lead you down the path to ruin
I've had a hard life I'm just saying it so you'll understand
That right now, right now, I'm doing the best I can
At this point in my life

At this point in my life
Although I've mostly walked in the shadows
I'm still searching for the light
Won't you put your faith in me
We both know that's what matters
If you give me a chance I'll try

You see I've been climbing stairs but mostly stumbling down
You see I've been reaching high but always losing ground
You see I've conquered hills but I still have mountains to climb
And right now right now I'm doing the best I can
At this point in my life

Before we take a step
Before we walk down that path
Before I make any promises
Before you have regrets
Before we talk commitment
Let me tell you of my past
All I've seen and all I've done
The things I'd like to forget
At this point in my life

At this point in my life
I'd like to live as if only love mattered
As if redemption was in sight
As if the search to live honestly
Is all that anyone needs
No matter if you find it [Love this part!]

You see when I've touched the sky
The earth's gravity has pulled me down
But now I've reconciled that in this world
Birds and angels get the wings to fly
If you can believe in this heart of mine
If you can give it a try
Then I'll reach inside and find and give you
All the sweetness that I have
At this point in my life
At this point in my life

Ooooh, boy!

2009-08-08T18:30:00.004-05:00

I should know by now not to ignore the kids' backpacks at the end of the school year. But year after year, that is what usually happens. Once they get out at the end of May or early June, they cart their bags in the house and drop them, and that's that until we need to pull them out again in August to begin getting organized for a new school year. Actually, Colin's backpack was in my car most of the summer, and then at some point made it to the garage where it sat for several weeks until I brought it inside. I decided today to open the backpack for the first time post-school year to see what supplies could be salvaged for the upcoming school year, and, oh my, what interesting things I found there. Yikes.

I opened up the bag and yelled to Colin how something really smelled in there. After ridding the bag of the surface papers and winter gloves and hat and two calculators, I uncovered a sandwich. No kidding. A ziploc sandwich bag filled with something no longer able to be identified. Other less threatening items included an unopened juice box and a bottle of Gatorade. And an envelope of money. Hmmm. The money and the permission slip for his flouride treatments that he neglected (probably on purpose because he doesn't like the taste of the flouride) to turn in. All in all, between flouride treatment money and loose change, I collected $4.40 from his backpack. And after seeing that sandwich in there, you can bet the money is mine.

blog blog blog

2009-08-01T20:13:00.003-05:00

I don't really know anymore what I want to do with this blog. I deleted it for a short while but then felt there were things I still wanted to write about. At this point, though, I honestly don't know what those things are.

This blog started out as a service blog when I taught Introduction to Volunteerism a few years ago. Then it became my own personal blog on living a more sustainable life. Then it took a turn toward short personal essays (paragraphs?). I at least attempted to think critically and creatively at that time. Of late the blog has been a broad spectrum of random blabbering as I am inclined to believe that no one is all that interested in reading long analyses of people's everyday lives.

I may at some point soon write generally about my summer or about other things I hope to accomplish in the near future, or I may even get a little political even though I don't believe in imposing my personal political views on others.

Or I may not. I mean, it just feels odd going on and on about yourself all the time on a blog. Seems so self-centered. I think I will try to tell someone else's story once in awhile. Okay, so now I know what the next thing will be.

A Soggy Fourth

2009-07-04T13:52:00.004-05:00

So much for outdoor activity today. It's been raining nonstop since I got up. In spite of that, with Crocs on and umbrella in hand, I did make it to the farmers market, first time in weeks. I hadn't been to the market since week two of the spring market back in late April/early May, so it was fun to see how much more is available now. Each week brings a new surprise. Some of my farmers market favorites are free-range eggs, Amish noodles, granola, and fresh flowers (got my glads!). I also especially love the fresh fruit from Michigan; today I picked up raspberries, blueberries, and peaches. And even in the pouring rain, you can be certain a few someones you know will also be at the market. Running into people is half the fun. Suffice it to say, I was pretty soaked by the time I got back home.

Burlesque and Biking

2009-06-30T14:05:00.004-05:00

My current favorite thing to do is to hop on the train to head into the city to see a film at the Gene Siskel Film Center. I went back up last night to see A Wink and a Smile. It is a fun film documenting the experiences of ten women taking a basic burlesque dance course. In my next life, I think I want to be a burlesque dancer. Hmmm...I wonder what my persona would be...

I finally got back out biking today. Once I was able to get out of my garage (power was out when I got up), I met Deisy at the state park about 8 a.m., and we rode the 21-mile trail. My legs are a bit achy after taking nearly a month hiatus from biking. I saw several running friends out there, people I hadn't seen in quite some time, and am thinking I will attempt running this week. I want to get back into the racing scene.

I Got My Wish

2009-06-29T11:32:00.003-05:00

Cooler temperatures! It's only 77 right now with a high of 80 for the day, and the humidity has dropped. Perfect. Quite windy, though!

I haven't been out biking since before vacation. I hope to get out a couple of times this week. I did make it to the fitness center three times last week, thanks in part to my workout partner Martha. My fitness goal is to build upper body strength and to reclaim my waistline. I am determined to conquer the ab machines before the end of the summer. They are brutal! At first, I couldn't do even five crunches on the ab crunch bench, and I couldn't even get the other unnameable ab machine to move. That's what two kids and major surgery does to the abdominal muscles. It isn't pretty. I am making some progress, though.

It was a good hockey weekend. Yes, we are still playing hockey, spring league. Well, it's over now, and it ended very, very well for our Coyotes. The squirt, pee wee, and bantam teams all claimed spring league championships yesterday in Orland Park! My younger son is a bantam. It was particularly gratifying to watch his team win because neither of my sons have ever won a championship. They have had many second places but never any championships. Three new banners will be going up at our rink!

It's Hot!

2009-06-23T08:50:00.003-05:00

It's feeling like summer now. The humidity came out of nowhere last Friday, and it has been miserable here ever since, somewhere around 90 and super humid. I sure was loving the cooler temps. I have decided that I want to live somewhere where it never gets much warmer than 75-80 degrees in the summer with low humidity. That would be perfect for summer biking and running, and, well, everything else.

I went on my first summer excursion into the city yesterday. I took the train into Chicago to go see Mr. Art Critic at the Gene Siskel Film Center. I was interested in this film not only because it was about art but because of the Mackinac Island setting. I really enjoyed the film...funny, good acting, beautiful scenery. While in the city, I stopped at Borders to look for the new "uncut" edition of Hemingway's A Moveable Feast, (un)edited by Hemingway's grandson Sean, but, unfortunately, it isn't on the shelf yet. Can't wait for that...any day now.

Did I really say that?

2009-06-15T18:55:00.003-05:00

That I was going to work out on vacation? Hahahah. I took my workout clothes but never even took them out of the suitcase. I could have done without the extra weight, too, as my suitcase tipped the scales at 51 pounds and was marked with a caution tag on the return trip. Those of you who know me well know that it most likely had more to do with the number of shoes I took rather than the workout clothes.

I did have good intentions, though. I went straight to the fitness center upon boarding the ship to check things out, but not to work out at that point. I simply wanted to get aquainted with the space where I was certain I would be spending a lot of time over the next week. Then I got all excited when I saw sign-up sheets for yoga and cycling and signed right up for the next morning's 8 a.m. yoga class and the waiting list for the 9 a.m. cycling class. As the day went on, however, the thought of waking up early to go to yoga and cycling became less and less appealing. As I ate more and more, I wanted to work out less and less. By 10 p.m. that evening, I was in the fitness center again, this time there to erase my name from the sign-up sheets.

I never went back. I have a nice tan, though.

Back on the Bike!

2009-06-03T15:10:00.007-05:00

I posted this pic for Trisha (who just bought the coolest bike ever) so she could see my (uncool) bike, but you can't see much of the bike here...lol. This was my first post-surgery bike ride as well as my first summer ride. Last Friday I met Deisy at the state park, and we biked the 21-mile bike trail. Oh, was I aching that evening! I don't like to take medication, but I eventually broke down and took an ibuprofen to relieve the intense pain in my knees and hips. I recovered, though, and went back out Monday and then again on Tuesday, with no need for pain reliever.

Now I am thinking about going on a bike trip in August, six days biking from northern Wisconsin to southern Wisconsin. Three days of biking, I guess, makes one feel a bit invincible. It reminds me of fifth grade when I hit a plastic baseball across the gym with a plastic bat and got a grand slam homerun; I was ecstatic and went home and told my brother that I wanted to be a professional baseball player. He just made fun of me, of course, and my dream of being a professional baseball player was short-lived, didn't last beyond that one particular day.

I'm serious about the bike trip, though. I've been thinking about it for several days now, so it has a good shot at becoming reality. Right now, however, I have to interrupt my training to go on a seven day cruise where I will be indulging in buffets rather than bike rides. I am going to try to stay active on my vacation, though (Okay, go ahead and laugh; I am not entirely convinced myself). I'll keep you posted. ;)

(And don't ask me why my formatting is all messed up! Ugh! Blogspot has a mind of its own.)

Just "sittin' around"

2009-05-31T08:53:00.004-05:00

I'm not sure what I accomplished this week. It's all a blur. Where did it go anyway? One of my good friends made a comment last week about "all that sitting around" that I am doing now that I am off for the summer. Hah! If only.

So what do those who don't have summers off imagine the summers are like for those who do? That we sit around in an air-conditioned living room watching soap operas all day and that the good fairy appears to take care of cooking; cleaning; dropping kids off and picking kids up from school, hockey, haircuts, the orthodontist; and taking care of the obnoxious barking dog who can't figure out whether she wants to be in or out?

The reality of my life with this particular summer off is that I am able to do all of those things, that I have only one job to deal with rather than two, that I can actually see my kitchen table, that I can keep up with the laundry and the dishes, that I have time to go to the grocery store and to feed my family a home-cooked meal. And, most importantly, on top of all that, I can even work in a massage, voice lessons, bike rides for myself every now and then.

Yes, I realize my friend, who has three children, has to deal with "two jobs" all year long. And it is damn exhausting. But for those of us with the summers off (without pay, by the way), life is not about sittin' around. Life is simply less of a juggling act.

Week One in Review

2009-05-25T17:54:00.003-05:00

Apparently I am holding myself accountable to the blog, so here is my week one dissertation progress report. I am anticipating six chapters and have four of them titled. The first is already written, as it is the theoretical literature review, otherwise known as synthesis one for the comprehensive exams. Those 25 pages have been written since last October. I spent today splitting up pieces of a previous paper into the appropriate chapters and now have a good 35 pages drafted altogether. No new writing, but organizing the bits and pieces that were scattered between files into the actual dissertation has helped me organize my thoughts and has given me tremendous direction. Before, I basically had an idea of a topic, while now I have an outline, know where I am going with my ideas, and am ready to continue on.

My goal this week is to finish Chapter 3.

I did get my office turned around this week. Love it. My desk now faces the deck, so I have a view of the outside rather than a wall. I did a bit of online research on office feng shui and incorporated some things to promote good energy and creativity. I will try whatever it takes to get this dissertation out of me this summer.

It hasn't been all work and no play, though. I did get a bike ride in last week, met Deisy for lunch one day, took in a few hockey games, and spent yesterday afternoon with my friend Julie and her family.

Summer is unfolding quite nicely.

First Official Day of Summer Break

2009-05-19T10:00:00.006-05:00

Zuri...such a sweet dog

It's amazing the things you can get done when you don't have to go to work. My first official day on summer break was quite productive in a nice, relaxing way. I washed my sheets and hung them out to dry, did some academic reading and a touch of writing, got the dog groomed (she was so overdue for that!) and took her for a walk, and even grilled steaks for supper. As I was washing supper dishes, my younger son brought his plate to the counter and said, "Thanks for cooking us dinner, Mom." It made me feel a little pathetic that my son sees an evening meal as a treat, yet then again a nice family dinner isn't something he takes for granted.

On the academic side of life, I ordered some books from Amazon.com and Half.com...all academic, no juicy romance novels...those would only depress me, I think. Here is what I have coming:

Sexual/Textual Politics by Toril Moi

Teaching Maritime Studies by Phillip Buckner

The Territory of Language by Donald McQuade

The Empire Writes Back by Bill Ashcroft et al

Man and His Symbols by Carl Jung

Is There a Text in This Class? by Stanley Fish

The books are all for the syntheses and dissertation. I have 12 full pages completed on my English Studies synthesis. I want to get it wrapped up in the next week and get started on my pedagogy synthesis. So, now it's time to move to the deck (my new office) for a little more reading and writing...

May Already?

2009-05-09T08:47:00.004-05:00

In one more week I will be off for the summer. Oddly, though, it doesn't feel as if the academic year could possibly be almost over. It doesn't feel like May to me. Hmm...

But there are so many things I want to get to when all the academic stuff gets wrapped up, and I am looking forward to these things.

I want to plant a small garden again this summer.

I want to rearrange my home office. Right now my desk faces the wall, and I have come to the conclusion that my creativity, as a result, is hitting the wall as well. I need to turn the whole works around so that I am looking out of my patio door on to my deck and toward the outdoors. I am feeling more refreshed already.

I want to do some fun things with my kids. In June we will be going on a much-needed vacation, a Caribbean cruise. Last year we didn't go anywhere, so we are really looking forward to taking a real vacation together. Colin and I have already started our summer wish list of additional places to go and things to see that are closer to home, such as going to the Art Institute and visiting more Frank Lloyd Wright houses.

My number one priority, though, will be getting my syntheses and my dissertation written. I am going to do it. The timing is perfect now.

Progressing

2009-04-21T16:20:00.006-05:00

Six weeks now since foot surgery and still limping around. But I am making progress. I was starting to get a little depressed about it all (as in I want my heels!), but I went to the doctor today and am now out of the bandages. I still have swelling and numbness and can't get my foot into closed-toe shoes, and I will have to wear a splint to bed at night, but I am feeling hopeful. My doctor says I should start to feel a real difference by week nine.

Fourteen weeks into the semester now. Where did this academic year go? And I have decided not to teach this summer. I really did not have a break last summer...not one complete week to myself from May until we went back in August. Not going to happen this summer. This summer is going to be all mine.

First Farmers Market of the year on Saturday. That is my favorite Saturday morning thing. And the weather should be perfect...something like 70. I'm looking forward to seeing the changes Bill has made this year.

And I can't help but note Trisha's birthday (Wed. April 22). Hope you have a great one, my friend the Earth child and most loyal blog follower!

Upcoming Events That Interest Me and Might Interest You As Well

2009-04-11T09:44:00.006-05:00

Next Saturday, April 18, is the Local Authors Fair at the Kankakee Public Library from 10 to 2. I don't know who the local authors are, but I have emailed Nick Garcia to find out. I will add more info as I get it.

The Kankakee Farmers Spring Market begins Saturday, April 25 from 8 to 12. I'm really looking forward to Saturday mornings at the Farmers Market. I wonder whether the cheese guy will be there so that I can tell him that I have been pronouncing Gouda correctly all this time.

There is a community effort underway to purchase the Frank Lloyd Wright Bradley House in Kankakee in order to make it available for public touring. As of right now, the initiative is called the Bradley House Campus Preservation Project. $200,000 needs to be raised by the Community Foundation to purchase the home from its current private owners. I will be writing more about this in the future as I am involved in the project.

Kankakee Community College's literary anthology, Prairie Fire, will be unveiled at a reading reception Monday, May 4 from 7 to 9 p.m. A number of student contributors will read their work, and awards will be given to three students honored for The Best of Prairie Fire. This event will take place in the Iroquois Room at the college. I will write a separate post on this in the next couple of weeks.

Feeling a little restless...

2009-04-09T09:18:00.004-05:00

Okay, enough of the chilly weather. I need warmth. It is supposed to be a high of 58 today, but I am crossing my fingers for at least 60 and am hoping to be able to sit out on my deck for at least a couple of hours this afternoon before having to pick the kids up from school. Their spring break starts today, and they both get out early but of course fifty minutes apart, which turns picking them up into an hour and half process. I am going to enjoy the quiet for a few more hours anyway.

I sure am missing biking and running. Several of my friends are talking about long runs and half-marathons and contemplating full marathons. There won't be any of that for me for a while, but I miss it, yet part of me wonders whether I only miss it because I am restricted from it. No, I don't think so. I sure love those Saturday or Sunday morning long runs at the state park. For now, the exercise bike at the health club will just have to do. I'm also focusing more on yoga...thinking I need more of the mental clearing right now. I went with my friend Julie to a different class last night, and, wow, was I tired after. I couldn't keep my eyes open at 9 p.m. I simply stopped fighting it and turned on the ocean on my sound machine and went to bed. I sure hope this going to bed at 9 and waking up at 5 is a temporary thing. Something has to give here.

Another Sunday Morning...More Rambling

2009-04-05T08:49:00.005-05:00

I am going to force myself to be more attentive to the blog in an attempt to overcome this whole creative block that I have going on. I am so stuck on my second synthesis for my comprehensive exams. I am focusing on how place fits into English Studies and need to show how it works within composition, language, and literature. The composition part was easy, as I have an interest in ecocomposition and have read widely on that area. I have about 12 pages written, all on the composition aspect. The other two areas...nothing. A friend of mine has suggested that since I can't go forward I need to go backwards. And that makes sense. I need a new approach. I now have decided rather than to focus on composition, language, and literature separately within the synthesis I need to blend them all together. As well, I have decided to explore more the paradigm shift that led to an emphasis on place, which will take me back to perhaps Paolo Friere's Pedogogy of the Oppressed, Kenneth Burke's Permanence and Change, Thomas Kent's Post-Process Theory, Marilyn Cooper's Writing as Social Action, Mike Rose's Lives on the Boundary. Seems like I need to focus more on the theoretical foundation of place/boundary crossing in English Studies. At this point, my synthesis is titled "Interrogating Borders: The Geography of English Studies."

Going back to the block. I think part of the problem is that finishing the Ph.D. has taken a back seat to my work responsibilities. Developing new courses and teaching five different courses along with serving on three committees in addition to also serving on hiring committees has been draining. And did I mention Prairie Fire that is behind schedule? When I get home, I really don't want to do more work. And there are other more personal, more emotional reasons, I think, but I don't care to broadcast them to the world. In a nutshell, sometimes moving forward can be very, very difficult, but what are the other choices? On the topic of place, I have been standing in one particular place for too long now. Yet there are other areas of my life that have undergone complete transformation in really good ways.

Other thoughts: I want warmer weather. I need to get outside. I really do.

Sunday Morning Silence

2009-03-29T09:28:00.005-05:00

I am only writing because I feel I should. I haven't felt much like blogging; it's not that I don't like it but rather that I just haven't felt like putting that much time and effort into it, haven't felt like writing anything remotely creative at all. I don't feel up to trying to string together beautiful sentences that lead to some profound truth. Right now I would rather read beautiful sentences that lead to some profound truth rather than write them. So I will just keep on with the random thoughts, and perhaps at some point down the road something creative will emerge. And it's not just that, I also am more in the mood to talk rather than write...to meet up with a friend for breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks, whatever, and talk.

I love days like today, when there is nothing at all on my schedule, no where that I have to be, nothing urgent that needs to be done, when I can stay in bed as long as I want, especially today, when it is snowing at the end of March.

I slept right through Earth Hour last night. You might think that is a good thing, but I fell asleep with three lights on in my bedroom, the overhead light and two nightstand lights. I think even the hallway light was on. I don't know what happened. I had been out and about earlier in the day, met my friend Nick for breakfast at 8 a.m., went to my son's hockey game in Orland Park, met Deisy at Barnes and Noble. Then the weather turned downright brutal, bonechilling wind, icy rain. I decided that all I wanted to do was go home and climb into my bed and spend the afternoon reading. I didn't read much. I fell asleep. That was about 3:30 p.m. or so, and I didn't wake up until about 10 p.m. Completely missed out on Earth Hour. I read for a couple of hours then and went back to bed, this time with the lights out.

I bought Deepak Chopra's Perfect Health yesterday. It's all about eating according to your physical makeup. I have come to the conclusion that I am a Vata, and perhaps even an out-of-balance Vata, not sure exactly what that means yet. I'll write more about it when I figure it out.

I think I will go back to bed now and read. Wake me up when the warm weather gets here.

What's on Your iPod?

2009-03-12T09:43:00.004-05:00

I am following Brandon's lead here. In his latest blog post, he mentioned how he is into David Bowie at the moment. That makes me think/wonder about two things: what were the last five songs you added to your iPod and what were the last three cds you bought...physically bought not downloaded?

For me, the last five downloaded songs:
Put a Little Love in Your Heart -- Scooter Lee
I Hear You Knocking -- Wynonna
Ooo Baby Baby -- Smokey Robinson
Somebody to Love -- Grace Slick
Superstition -- Stevie Wonder

Last three purchased cds:
Soul -- Seal
The Dance -- Fleetwood Mac
Sing Chapter 1 -- Wynonna