Ever try to cook something that uses no utensils or pots and pans?
We are "camping" in our new house (:)). But I have no kitchen equipment at all.
We ended up with frozen pizzas, oven ready Jack Daniels pork roast, tortillas, a small container of precut peppers and onions, bag of cheese, chips and salsa, and a can of black beans. Do you see my mistake? No can opener. Sigh...
The only thing I really wanted but did not get was ice tea. There is no blasted un-sweet tea in this state!! Maybe we will find a fast food restaurant that still has some of their "diet" tea available for the sugar intolerant on the way home.
By the way- I have named our house "the super happy sunshine house". So far it's only me who is not living up to the name. I think it's the Benedryl hangover from last nights West Coast Wings sulphite bonanza....
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Get me To the City!
I am tired of this old life...
I can't wait to be able to walk to the library, listen to live music outside, walk on a sidewalk, see the skyline, order out and have it delivered, walk downtown and find my husband at his coffee shop, live in a home with real ceilings, and find art in unexpected places.
I am going to buy a brick for my husband to help pave the city we love. It will say: true love endures.
I am going to buy the most outrageous blooming flowers for my window boxes so that everyone who drives down our street will see them and know that wildly happy people live there.
I am going to know my neighbors and people who serve me coffee and sandwiches downtown.
I am going to live my life in the moment and not waste one second in fear or anxiety.
I will teach my family that home is a feeling and that we carry it with us wherever we go.
I can't wait to be able to walk to the library, listen to live music outside, walk on a sidewalk, see the skyline, order out and have it delivered, walk downtown and find my husband at his coffee shop, live in a home with real ceilings, and find art in unexpected places.
I am going to buy a brick for my husband to help pave the city we love. It will say: true love endures.
I am going to buy the most outrageous blooming flowers for my window boxes so that everyone who drives down our street will see them and know that wildly happy people live there.
I am going to know my neighbors and people who serve me coffee and sandwiches downtown.
I am going to live my life in the moment and not waste one second in fear or anxiety.
I will teach my family that home is a feeling and that we carry it with us wherever we go.
Forever Home
I sometimes joke about the literary drama that always seems to surround my cats... but really it does! "And the kitties all said sit down...." Streetcar Named Desire... Les Miz with Cats...
Teeny is my Tom-cat. He was the best and most precious present from my husband who has taken to calling him Fat Head. Stella is our new Maine Coon Princess who I have just realized has been moved around to house after house in the last 9 months. She has attention issues.
The Princess loved Teeny at first sight but has now cooled her attentions and is agressive toward him. I don't blame her. She's had enough. But she also probably feels like this cat threatens her people time. And boy does she love people time.
There is no doubt in my mind that Stella is a permanent member of our family. I do not take animals into my heart and home without believing that it is forever. I do not understand people who do. Fostering is great, those are not the homes I'm talking about. It's the homes that buy a pet and then can't take the responsibility.
Are these the same people who believe that animals do not have souls? Do they think animals do not experience fear or loss or happiness? If you have ever been licked by a dog, or felt a cat purr against your chest you know the truth. Animals can be pure joy in a home or a heart.
I read an article about pets and stress relief. The world has a whole lot of stress lately and these animals feel it too. Share some love and stability. They will be there for you whenever you need them if only you will open the door.
Teeny is my Tom-cat. He was the best and most precious present from my husband who has taken to calling him Fat Head. Stella is our new Maine Coon Princess who I have just realized has been moved around to house after house in the last 9 months. She has attention issues.
The Princess loved Teeny at first sight but has now cooled her attentions and is agressive toward him. I don't blame her. She's had enough. But she also probably feels like this cat threatens her people time. And boy does she love people time.
There is no doubt in my mind that Stella is a permanent member of our family. I do not take animals into my heart and home without believing that it is forever. I do not understand people who do. Fostering is great, those are not the homes I'm talking about. It's the homes that buy a pet and then can't take the responsibility.
Are these the same people who believe that animals do not have souls? Do they think animals do not experience fear or loss or happiness? If you have ever been licked by a dog, or felt a cat purr against your chest you know the truth. Animals can be pure joy in a home or a heart.
I read an article about pets and stress relief. The world has a whole lot of stress lately and these animals feel it too. Share some love and stability. They will be there for you whenever you need them if only you will open the door.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
katydid
I love this katydid picture that I found for the blog. She looks like she is testing the limits of her flower filled world. Ready to leap of the edge to a new adventure. It's the perfect emblem for my life.
Watch out little katydid, there are many pitfalls and false alleyways in which you might lose your way!
Today I am writing a $50,000.00 NEA grant for a quartet in residence from Mexico, writing a paper on voter registration and if there is a better way, nursing a new kitty through a heat cycle and ear mites, nursing the other kitty through neutering surgery, thinking about all the fun things we can do this weekend in the city, making strawberry sundaes with my husband, and sending out press about how my county had 2 regional winners advance to the state level in our conservation poster and speech competitions!
Life is full and good. Living in the moment, I have to say it really is.
Watch out little katydid, there are many pitfalls and false alleyways in which you might lose your way!
Today I am writing a $50,000.00 NEA grant for a quartet in residence from Mexico, writing a paper on voter registration and if there is a better way, nursing a new kitty through a heat cycle and ear mites, nursing the other kitty through neutering surgery, thinking about all the fun things we can do this weekend in the city, making strawberry sundaes with my husband, and sending out press about how my county had 2 regional winners advance to the state level in our conservation poster and speech competitions!
Life is full and good. Living in the moment, I have to say it really is.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Civilization
We spent the day in the city. What a relief.
He worked and I read Geek Love all morning at the coffee shop, quick sandwich for lunch, trolled the thrift stores, found the library, and started to create a to do list. All within a mile of our new home.
The house has an awesome furnace and is high enough above the street that car sounds don't bother. The closets look like they were an after thought and I don't think anything will hang in them, but that probably just means we buy some cool furniture pieces. Any suggestions?
I know what I need for the kitchen; butcher blocks for baking! I will be baking my way through the Scandinavian Baking Book I got for Christmas. I will post results here I promise. And rugs. I for sure need rugs.
First on the list: Downtown Thai and The Tempest
I love my life!
He worked and I read Geek Love all morning at the coffee shop, quick sandwich for lunch, trolled the thrift stores, found the library, and started to create a to do list. All within a mile of our new home.
The house has an awesome furnace and is high enough above the street that car sounds don't bother. The closets look like they were an after thought and I don't think anything will hang in them, but that probably just means we buy some cool furniture pieces. Any suggestions?
I know what I need for the kitchen; butcher blocks for baking! I will be baking my way through the Scandinavian Baking Book I got for Christmas. I will post results here I promise. And rugs. I for sure need rugs.
First on the list: Downtown Thai and The Tempest
I love my life!
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Cold Winter Day
It's Spring here in the South. I can here the birds chirping outside and the screen door is open. It's a little overcast and cloudy. My Great Aunt Pat died this week after a lingering illness. My Mother is in Savannah with her Mother and Sister eating casseroles, barbeque, and a never ending abundance of dessert. Southern hospitality you know. It getting warmer here but my mind just wandered back to a February day in 1989.
It was a solid gray day. Right around 30 degrees. My friend Jennifer and I had made arrangements to meet at her house to dye my hair for the school play. (Method Actors!) To pass the time she had rented a movie. That movie made a striking impact on my life.
We read James Joyce in school, Portrait of the Artist As a Young Man. I liked it. I did not read anymore Joyce. Perhaps to intellectual for 15 or 16. But this movie, at the age of 18 hit me hard. The Dead is still a transformation story for me today. The memory of seeing it for the first time is punctuated by an image of the day in all its grayness. Snowflakes falling silently in no wind. Cold seeping into our bones.
In the story, Joyce gives you a real time description of a holiday dinner party in Ireland at the turn of the century. Events recall a memory, of Michael Furey who died as a young man. It is sad. And chilling. But the love that is brought out with the sorrow is palpable.
The Dead do not leave us. They go far away and then linger in our memories. Their perfect beauty is remembered in our hearts and souls. Today feels cold and gray and snowy if I let it.
It was a solid gray day. Right around 30 degrees. My friend Jennifer and I had made arrangements to meet at her house to dye my hair for the school play. (Method Actors!) To pass the time she had rented a movie. That movie made a striking impact on my life.
We read James Joyce in school, Portrait of the Artist As a Young Man. I liked it. I did not read anymore Joyce. Perhaps to intellectual for 15 or 16. But this movie, at the age of 18 hit me hard. The Dead is still a transformation story for me today. The memory of seeing it for the first time is punctuated by an image of the day in all its grayness. Snowflakes falling silently in no wind. Cold seeping into our bones.
In the story, Joyce gives you a real time description of a holiday dinner party in Ireland at the turn of the century. Events recall a memory, of Michael Furey who died as a young man. It is sad. And chilling. But the love that is brought out with the sorrow is palpable.
The Dead do not leave us. They go far away and then linger in our memories. Their perfect beauty is remembered in our hearts and souls. Today feels cold and gray and snowy if I let it.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Since When am I Impulsive?
I got another cat.
No I am not becoming a crazy cat lady. Crazy yes, cat lady no.
The very instant I accepted that our sweet little Izze was not coming in from the wild I checked Craigslist to see if anyone had cats to give away.*
The very first post said Maine Coon Cat free to good home. I said to my husband, wow. That's a message from the universe. Should I call her? Is 10:30 pm too late? (of course it is! Sheesh!)
Moral of the story is 4 days later I have a beautiful young lady named Stella Luna who is now a part of our family. Last night was rough. Lots of crying and helloing (MC's do this masterfully) but this morning she was more comfortable. It's so easy to fall in love with this cuddle ball of fur. My husband said "I think I would have taken her across the country with me. I'd never have given her away." I of course agree. But there are folks all over making the same decisions more now than ever.
I wondered for a second if I'd made a mistake. That instant occured after an hour long drive in the car where she sat and purred in my lap the entire time. The minute we came inside and saw our 1 year old cat Teeny she made a spectacular verticle leap out of my arms flailing and hissing. Hence the night of trembling and crying. But this morning by the light of day they eyed each other without incident. I just know they'll love each other in the end.
That's the way it always works out in our house.
* Ha! In this economy EVERYONE has pets of all kinds to give away! So if any of you have room in your homes, hearts, and especially budgets for an animal friend, check out Craigslist, the classifieds, and all the posting boards you can find. Your compassion and love will be returned to you a thousand fold.
No I am not becoming a crazy cat lady. Crazy yes, cat lady no.
The very instant I accepted that our sweet little Izze was not coming in from the wild I checked Craigslist to see if anyone had cats to give away.*
The very first post said Maine Coon Cat free to good home. I said to my husband, wow. That's a message from the universe. Should I call her? Is 10:30 pm too late? (of course it is! Sheesh!)
Moral of the story is 4 days later I have a beautiful young lady named Stella Luna who is now a part of our family. Last night was rough. Lots of crying and helloing (MC's do this masterfully) but this morning she was more comfortable. It's so easy to fall in love with this cuddle ball of fur. My husband said "I think I would have taken her across the country with me. I'd never have given her away." I of course agree. But there are folks all over making the same decisions more now than ever.
I wondered for a second if I'd made a mistake. That instant occured after an hour long drive in the car where she sat and purred in my lap the entire time. The minute we came inside and saw our 1 year old cat Teeny she made a spectacular verticle leap out of my arms flailing and hissing. Hence the night of trembling and crying. But this morning by the light of day they eyed each other without incident. I just know they'll love each other in the end.
That's the way it always works out in our house.
* Ha! In this economy EVERYONE has pets of all kinds to give away! So if any of you have room in your homes, hearts, and especially budgets for an animal friend, check out Craigslist, the classifieds, and all the posting boards you can find. Your compassion and love will be returned to you a thousand fold.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
The Agony
I wish I had the same switch my husband has that shuts everything off and puts him instantly to sleep. In exactly four weeks it should all be over, the moving the stress the unknowing... But my gosh. Whoever said getting there is half the fun?
My new to me house will be 100 years old this year! I want to find a special way to celebrate that. I also want to find a way to ease our lives into the new situation. Old house, old neighborhood just 1/2 a mile from a vibrant downtown with an arts scene and live music and a brand new baseball stadium! I am so excited to be moving.
It's romantic, the notion that we'll be just a few miles from where we met. Where we spent some very romantic moments. I can't wait for the feeling of lifting our lives up. It should be interesting to see if that works for all of us, or if we will be met with resistance!
My new to me house will be 100 years old this year! I want to find a special way to celebrate that. I also want to find a way to ease our lives into the new situation. Old house, old neighborhood just 1/2 a mile from a vibrant downtown with an arts scene and live music and a brand new baseball stadium! I am so excited to be moving.
It's romantic, the notion that we'll be just a few miles from where we met. Where we spent some very romantic moments. I can't wait for the feeling of lifting our lives up. It should be interesting to see if that works for all of us, or if we will be met with resistance!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
A Second Chance
Here I go. Starting a new phase in my life and a new blog.
I WILL do it!
We are moving to the city, closer to our new life and further away from the old.
My sister and her husband will be moving with little Miss Ellamina and FAMILY is the new most important word in our vocabulary!
Life's looking up!
I WILL do it!
We are moving to the city, closer to our new life and further away from the old.
My sister and her husband will be moving with little Miss Ellamina and FAMILY is the new most important word in our vocabulary!
Life's looking up!
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