Best Laid Plans

Have you ever just evaluated your plans or success at meeting them on a day-to-day basis?

Despite the simplicity of my plans yesterday, I actually only did laundry and graded homework...and I barely did that, since it was thunderstorming and I, much like my friend Stirfry, was hiding in a dark and cozy space (ie a blanket). Eventually, it got done, and that was about it. I didn't even put it away, since I need to winterfy my closet.

Actually, this isn't quite true, since I only said I was going to rent Muppets, and that I did. Didn't watch it, just rented it. No Muppet Babies, though, which was a shame.

Tonight, I plan to watch House, and possibly Muppets. And try to figure out something to eat. And do my closet and drawers.

P.S. Supernatural last week? Hilarious.

Day off = day off for once

Right on.
So...it's been a busy weekend in avaciousland. Winter Wheat has come and gone for another year, and I am pleased to note I got a few interesting poems and poem beginnings out, including a couple about the behavior or cicada killers, and for once I got to attend almost all the workshops aside from when I was teaching. I also got to spend two hours in my car with a good friend of mine from grad school, talking about deep ideas and experiences, which fed my poetry soul. I also got all my drafts and revision done and now have only to apply myself to the stack of homework I've been ignoring for a month. I am awesome.
I am celebrating Vets' day today by doing laundry, getting groceries, and renting some dvds of the Muppet Show and, if I can find some, Muppet Babies. Why? I'm not sure, but Muppet Babies in particular has been on my mind lately. And given my upcoming Natal Celebration Day, I figure it might be nice to remember this happy piece of my childhood. I want to giggle a little. I believe I shall also have a bath.
I am also excited that I got to sleep in today, and when I say sleep in, I mean wake up several times, realize I have nothing important to do, and deliciously drift back into a drowsy haze. It could only have been better if I had good dreams, but I really don't remember any. Maybe something about zombies. Not like yesterday morning when I had a really kind of romantic dream with somebody handsome, although the beeping of my phone telling me I had missed a call at 7 am was sort of intrusive. I mean, who calls me at 7 am? Was it YOU?
Anyway, more on my birthday plans later in the week, because I know you want to know all about my exciting day. I'll give you a hint...it includes hockey.

Thursday Wrap-Up

Yes, I am still alive.
Yes, I have a tremendous headache.
Yes, I have been reading too many essays too fast, in an effort to get rid of them before the bulk of Winter Wheat.
Yes, I was sad that Pushing Daisies was not on last night, because I'd done so much work I was actually contemplating a two-hour break for PD and Ghosthunters. As it is, there was only Ghosthunters to interest me, and to be honest it wasn't as interesting as I'd hoped.
Yes, I have to record Supernatural tonight and watch it...I don't know, sometime.
Yes, I'm actually going to try to be done with all the rough drafts currently in my possession by the time Winter Wheat festivities start at 1 pm tomorrow. Revisions can just sit there until Sundayish, because I hate doing them.
Yes, I need a hug. And clean socks. Without holes in them.
Yes, plans for my birthday are bigtime in the works. I plan to be selfish. And go to hockey games. My Princess Sparkle T-shirt is ready to party.

Hockey weekend

To bring you up to speed, the Falcons won both of their games this weekend, both in overtime. Friday they were at Western, so I had to listen on the radio; this is very frustrating, of course, but I snuggled up on my couch and ate some dinner to try to chill out and keep the nerves down.
The game was a battle from behind as BG tied it up twice, and then my current student scored the gamewinner in OT, which was exciting. On the whole, it sounded like BG was playing well in general, getting lots of shots off, just not getting them in the net, and power plays weren't going well, as usual. But then, when the Broncos got a penalty in OT, you could just feel it--BG was going to make them pay for it.
Saturday night here in BG the Falcons scored 4 in the first two periods, before the Broncos, in the third period, got going and tied it up too fast. BG is struggling around minutes 30 to 50, in several games so far, but they did get their energy back, and then took it into OT. They wanted that game, and if you'd seen one of the Falcons literally jump over a Bronco to get to the puck, then you'd know what I mean. I have to say, it was extremely satisfying watching our guys get some pucks in the net, and some on very clean and speedy plays, when everything comes together at the same time.
Disciplinewise, Friday night was better, because the Falcons let the Broncos' inclination to get scrappy take them into the box. Saturday night, the Falcons got angry too many times. At one point, five of ours and four of theirs were in the box, which is as full as I've ever seen boxes anywhere. To some degree, you do have to assert yourself, but it was better Friday when BG drew Western into penalties. A couple of 5 on 3s hurt us, and even when it's 4 on 4 we come off worse. A couple of our penalties were definitely unfair, though, for instance one that resulted from one of our guys getting straight up whacked with a stick after the whistle; he didn't retaliate at all, but the ref seemed to think he did, which led to a 4 on 4.
Anyway, it was good to be in the arena and watch the Falcons win.
On the downside, after eating too much on Friday I didn't eat enough on Saturday, and even though I had about the same amount of caffeine as normal, without the food to absorb it I was in rough shape. I nearly passed out twice when we scored. On top of this, it seems like everyone I've talked to in the last two days has looked at me like I'm crazy or like I should just stop talking. I can't figure this out and it is making my nerves very jumpy indeed.

Me + Youtube = Lazy

I'm spending my lunch hour watching Square One TV on Youtube today.
Here's a little Halloween link for you. Go learn about probability.
But if you're feeling lazy...learn about the Mathematics of Love.

So, I'm not having a really great week at this point; it's not that anything bad has happened really, my mind/spirit/whatever just is not in a good place. When I am close to tears in the middle of the afternoon and walk all the way across campus to get a reuben sandwich, and am closer to tears when I think about what will happen if I don't get one, something shady is going on in the Avacious headspace. True, I worked hard this weekend. True, I've sort of opted out of Halloween this year (despite the Russian doll costume I put together at the last minute to stop by a party with the sole purpose of seeing all the babies dressed up). True my relax time hasn't been as relaxing as I'd like. I don't know. Things just ain't right.
Last night, I made some real efforts to get myself together. For instance, I checked out one of my old youth favorite books by Lloyd Alexander, and read the whole thing (130 pages). I also wore my Tinkerbell pants, which have been aforementioned in this spot as soul-quieting. I also made some potato soup--I never have before, but I threw some butter and seasoning in a pot, baked two potatoes in the microwave while heating a cup of evaporated milk and however much skim milk seemed appropriate, then threw the chopped up potatoes in the soup and mushed it around. I left the skins in. I'm here to tell you it was the most soothing thing I could have made at that moment. I ate it along with a chicken leg, and later had some bread pudding and apple salad, and I was full. That soup...man, it was so good.
So, somehow things will get back to normal eventually. I'm going to try for a walk tonight since it's a bit warmer, and then try to relax for reals. Maybe even a bath.

As there is no hockey this weekend, things will be pretty quiet at the Avacious household. I'll be grading some essays and probably doing the following:
Taking several naps because this chilly, cloudy weather is making me feel like a sleepy bear.
Stopping by a Halloween party for a few minutes with the sole goal of seeing some little ones looking adorable. I will probably be dressing as Ballerina Barbie for that brief time period. Gotta use that blond wig somewhere.
Making something nice to eat. If I meet my essay quota early tonight, I'll make a proper meal, or perhaps I'll go throw something on high in the slow cooker so it can cook whilst I do essays. Seems to me that I bought some stuff for slow cooker coconut chicken or something like that.
Watching some Halloween TV. My love for Halloween movies is well known, and there's a jigsaw puzzle waiting to be finished while I watch whatever presents itself to my eyes.

On a related note, can I just say that Olive and one of the aunts singing "Birdhouse in Your Soul" on Pushing Daisies warmed my heart? That show continues to deliver the kind of quirky hilarity that I need in my TV life right now. It and Supernatural are about neck and neck for my favor. It reminds me of the years in my teenage girlhood when SeaQuest, X-Files, and Dr. Quinn were all wrestling for my attention.

Truer Words...

Today, during 110 game day, Team Picasso went out to an early lead. While their celebration of good point-earnings remained throughout the game, their hand-raising and answering of questions got less sharp as time went on, and as Team B took over the scoring and eventually ended with an insurmountable lead.
In response to this movement, I felt moved to quip, "You're having the same problem the hockey team had last night."
Like Team Picasso, the Falcons came out strong last night; they looked slightly overmatched, but willing to grit their teeth and fight for a win with confidence. The team looked a little more physical than it should, which led to a lot of penalties again, but other teams have used physical strategies before. As long as you have the pass efficiency to back it up, no biggie. And for a while, they did. Plays were being made, and cleverness came into play when plays went sour or when loose pucks needed to be collected. I love looking at the team make something out of accidents, or have the presence of mind to capitalize on another team's lapse in concentration. It's beautiful, like poetry. I love it!
That energy and display of smarts deteriorated after Notre Dame scored their second goal. The play became scrappy. A few good plays were still made, but on the whole it looked like the Falcons were scrambling, as though they weren't thinking anymore, couldn't see what to do with quirky puck movement. Exhaustion plays a role, especially with recent games and with so much PK time (PK still succeeding pretty well, by the way--hooray for the slide block, used to great success by MSU back in the day). But concentrating through the exhaustion...I'm not seeing it. And, once tipped off their early momentum, they were never able to recover the same strength and coordination as a team with which they began.
The team this year has great potential to succeed in games. They can win, and I think they know it. I think they're smart, and are capable of showing that throughout a game. But I saw ghosts of last season lurking in that arena, especially in the third period, and it had nothing to do with Halloween.
Win or lose, I love my team, and I'm generally pretty proud of them when they're working hard and playing like they mean it. I understand better than most the sheer exhaustion of being under the lights for long stretches of time and straining your body past its limits. But my training from day one was in performance--not letting on that you're tired or discouraged until you are out of those lights, and practicing that vitality even in rehearsals, when you're the only one to motivate yourself to care. So, it hurts when I can tell the boys are discouraged. I saw some good things last night, and even some great things. But I want to see them in the third period just as much as the first. I'm greedy, I admit it. But I want to think my men are just as greedy.
Which sounds a little naughty. We'll just go with it.
I heart you, BG hockey!

Avacious on Ice

So, yesterday I "Skated with the Falcons."
I wasn't going to go, because I'm a little concerned about a groupie reputation...fan is okay, or even superfan, but groupie is too much. But I was on campus, the time was right, and I thought it would be heartwarming to watch the guys skate around with the kids. I didn't even bring my skates in at first, but then I saw that there was a variety of people there, including wee ones and adults and very few students, so I hauled the skates out, laced up, and got my lazy butt out there.
It was fun; it was indeed heartwarming to watch the guys with the little kids, and to chat with all my guys as we all circled around. I didn't fall down, which was a plus. I did have the worst foot cramp for a bit, but even that eased up after a while. I almost got picked up, but given my desire not to fall down when set back down, I declined for the moment. Picked up lots of hugs though. And got a poster signed for my office.
All in all, it was a much needed balm to my soul for what promises to be a tough week.
Tomorrow, hockey vs. Notre Dame. Can you handle it?

Reasons I'm happy today, in no particular order

The Holiday Victoria's Secret arrived today. The diamond bra is 4.5 million dollars this year. It's actually kind of cute, with bejewelled holly on it, though nothing will ever beat the sweet wing-styled one they had a few years ago.
The Falcons beat RIT 5-3 last night in a very exciting hockey game, which I happily listened to on the radio while eating pizza and these little Meijer mushroom appetizer things and balancing my checkbook. There were about a zillion penalties, but the PK came through and the guys held on. Have I mentioned how much I heart/am obsessed with hockey?
It is a gorgeous day outside, with some sun, but it still feels like fall. I will be taking a lovely lovely walk today, or several.
I finished rough drafts, and any school work that remains for the next few days can be completed at school. This means time to solve a wing-related problem.
This month I solved a mystery from my childhood; I never understood that song in the Shirley Temple A Little Princess. The title sounded like "Old Candrow," and what the heck would that mean? Then, recently, while watching a rented dvd of The Muppet Show, I heard them sing it, and darned if I didn't at last figure out it was "Old Kent Road," so I could finally find the almost incomprehensible lyrics online.
Hooray for today!

Week in review

My birthday is in four weeks.
The fantasysports team names I was looking for and decided I'd thrown out are in my keyboard drawer, where I thought they should be but where I mysteriously could not find them.
The new dress went over pretty well with the students. I'm angling for the best-dressed instructor award.
I have decidedly not gotten enough exercise this week, but have eaten a number of prefab food items.
I tried to do this online health assessment thing; what it taught me is that I'm underweight, but that I should get more exercise and eat less fat and more healthy items.
Sadly, the Falcons lost last night to the Niagara Purple Eagles...and yet they outshot them. Remember what I said about shooting luck and turnovers? Yeah. Boys, remember--lift and separate.
And due to my excitement about listening to the game, I straight up forgot to watch my favorite show, Supernatural. I'll give you a moment to get over your shock.

Right. I have 13 revisions and 17 more rough drafts to read. My goal is to get the revisions done or at least mostly done before I leave this office. Then, drafts, and then hockey on the radio vs. RIT. Good times.

Back from the wilds of Bath

What I did with my Saturday and Sunday:
1. Novi LUSH. "On my way" homehome, I stopped in Novi to visit the store that is now closest to me (though still an hour and a half away--curiously, it only adds 10 minutes to my route home). They aren't in their permanent location yet so no fridge and therefore no fresh face masks. Also, I found out that my now-favorite (thanks to the demise of Ginger) product, Something Wicked This Way Comes, is being discontinued, and someone had already snatched up every last one. I didn't cry, but I felt like it. But I still bought (mumbles vague amount) worth of stuff.
2. Homehome in Bath. I confess, I didn't do much. I sat around and talked to my folks, ate a brownie, watched some hockey on tv, wrote my hockey blog, failed to get the MSU-N. Dakota hockey game on the radio (do you see a pattern?), read some HP 7. Ate burgers and fries--you'll remember my Mom's fries are the best ever.
3. Church. I love going to church at home. Then we ate at Subway.
4. Memorial Service for Dr. Durr. I admit I remained dry-eyed--I've already shed my tears for Dr. Durr, and my sadness at losing such a "fierce" lady too soon is now internal. There was a dance in her honor, which was pretty, and a few faculty members in particular had nice memories of her in addition to reading some poems. We sang a few hymns, and I got to visit with my friend Kim, with whom I experienced some amazing dance things in college via Dr. Durr's encouragement. Through some of the service, I was trying to reconstruct in my head some of "The Dixinator"'s choreography for Evita.
5. Back to BG. Despite basically having twice the church-style singing in one day, I sang a great part of the way back. I even brought out my Belinda Carlisle for some extra 80s power.
6. Worst sewing disaster ever. The dress was almost finished. All I had left was some hand sewing of facing on the inside. But then my iron burned two holes in part of the bodice/sleeve and the sleeve band. GAH! I had to deconstruct the sleeve band and facing, replace the band, and sew the whole thing back together, this time higher up on the bodice/sleeve to hide the other hole. It will be about an inch off, but I think the style of the dress will make it unnoticeable. Fingers crossed. I have to finish the hand sewing tonight and test it out tomorrow, I think. Miraculously, I didn't get that upset, just sort of resigned. What does this mean?
Today, we're back to the grind. I have one day left of no essays for a week or so.

And finally, will someone please tell me how this works? It's from CNN, an article about Fresno's secret underground: "Omachi's father, a Japanese immigrant, was born here in 1913 "between a bar and a house of ill repute," she said."
If he was born here, that sort of makes him NOT an immigrant, yes? Even if in 1913 new births were considered not Americans in Chinatown, our designations would change now, wouldn't they?

Hockey Analysis

OK, so BG beat Windsor with a kingly score of 12-1. One might think that, in a game without much competition ,as the results show, one can't learn much. In some ways, I agree; the Notre Dame game coming up on the 23rd will be a better look for me at what BG can accomplish this year. I know the guys are feeling good about things, which warms my heart. Still, some mental notes I made:
Centering looked better last night; there were a few lost pucks and a few empty sticks, but on the whole the centering pass was cleaner and more effective than it has been in the last few years.
I was also delighted to see what the sports people tend to call "creative" moves on the ice--turning some not-so-pretty puck handling and body movement, and loose pucks, into productive moments, simply through being alert and adaptable. Our team has lacked that, and I'm interested to see if this is maintained. I hope so, because it's fun to watch, and gives fans confidence.
A big shout-out to the defense for keeping Windsor shut out on their power plays, and even enabling a BG shorthanded goal by frosh Dan Sexton (who hat-tricked, with Mazzei). Defense is so often a thankless job, and truthfully there were a few scrappy moments but also some good clears and some playmaking. I'm anxious to see how play looks when more pucks make it in front of the net, but for the moment knowing BG did well on the penalty kill is important. Also, I saw a lot of good puck stripping going on at zone's edge. Most of this was of the poke and hook check variety, but not only did it work, but the offense was ready to pick it up, which is happy.
I have been watching BG line changes with a shrewd eye in the last few years. Last year, they were ridiculously slow. They look better this year, and Brian Moore in particular gets my thief-in-the-night award--I know him, and therefore pay close attention to his time on the ice and I still can't figure out how he got on and off sometimes without me seeing. Sneaky.
My new favorite kamikaze player is one of my current students. Last year it was Kai Kantola because no matter what that guy would throw himself at whatever he was doing, and he never looked as tired as I assume he felt. Last night, I watched David Solway perform similarly; whether on his skates or on his knees, he was willing to throw himself at a play. He also spent more than his fair share of time in the penalty box...also like Kantola, who was eventually escorted off with a misconduct.
Areas needing improvement: I still say better passing is in order. Windsor isn't that great either, so I didn't have much to compare to, but having grown up a Spartan in the glory days I know what good passing looks like and we're not there yet.
This brings me to my biggest pet peeve ever: So help me, if they (and I don't just mean our team) don't stop beating on the ice every time they want the puck or are open, I am going to take their sticks and smack them. I have NEVER seen this work, usually it's just like yelling "throw to me! I'm open," which immediately means you won't be. It's distracting, and I hate it. The only man allowed to beat on the ice is the goalie, when power plays are almost over, which is just common sense. Please, men, just learn to sense where your teammates are.
I saw better skating last night than I am accustomed to, but some of the guys still could profit from some movement lessons.
Finally, TURNOVERS. These need immediate improvement. Even given the higher level of play I saw last night, the turnovers were ridiculous. MSU has occasionally had problems with this, too, and BG suffered in some late-season games last year. Better teams than Windsor will capitalize on these lost pucks and all the other good work we're doing will be for naught. This goes hand in hand with the passing, of course, making sure that passes are clean and that the skater keeps moving once he has the puck...having a plan for that puck.
That's about it. It was good to see three of "my guys" (Moore, Dee, and Solway) on the ice, and good to get back to the arena for some action. It was also good to see pucks make it into the net. Here's hoping we get some better luck with shooting this year.

Some simple Thursday facts

1. My back hurts.
2. I will be wearing my fleece Tinkerbell pants to the reading tonight.
3. I will be going to the hockey game tomorrow night.
4. Pushing Daisies remains hilarious.
5. Casey deserved her Top Chef crowd favorite award.
6. Ghosthunters was not scary last night.
7. I will be wearing an Icy Hot patch this evening.
8. Students are frustrating.
9. I am cold.
10. Progress reports are more time-consuming than administrators think.

Please go and read this. It's a good article, but also Randy DeVita is mentioned in it, and I know him. That is cool beyond belief. Stephen King put Randy's name in writing. Randy, you rock!

Let's start the week off right

First, let's talk a little about the Falcon Face-Off.
It was not terribly crowded in there, but in some ways that's okay. Really, the boys had about all the autograph signing they could do afterward, and it was also a nice chance for the visiting parents to get to see their boys and get to talk to them after. I hope they come back to see what it's really like during a game, though.
As far as skills go, centering passes need work, and pass instincts still do, too. I'm telling you, if these boys don't stop beating on the ice every damn time they want the puck I'm going to (gently but insistently) beat them with a hockey stick. I mean, what's the use if an opposing player can then bang on the ice, and get the puck passed to him (which, if I'm not mistaken, Derek Whitmore actually did at one point) because people don't know where their teammates really are? Players need to be able to sense these things, to feel intuitively where one's team members are. That's something I always admired about the Spartan squad when I was at State, and before, and something I have seldom seen from any team, including the Spartans, since. This trend of banging the ice must die in hockey. It's not improving anyone's game.
Basic ice movement looked better than usual. A lot of the younger guys are very quick; too ready to get all unnecessarily tricky with plays at times, perhaps, but eager. However, on the whole I felt it took much too long for both sides to look like they cared, and the "white team" didn't look really ready until 13 minutes in, which is ridiculous. The "orange team," while ultimately losing, at least got out and banged some stuff around right away. That can backfire, but it's better than being too tentative and/or blase. As I told my current hockey-playing student last week, "You have to get the grr." Don't look tired. Perform. Etc.
On the whole, it was a good studying experience for me, and I've never even seen some of "my guys" play before; all of them got at least a shot off, and two of them scored. After, I made my four sign white t-shirt squares that I will be sewing with some orange squares into a scarf. Because that's how much I heart them.

In other news, let's talk abot TV for a sec. House was funny...House is always funny, but Wilson actually has me giggling out loud right now. Ghosthunters (and Steve is in total agreement with me on this) was creep-to-the-y scary on Wednesday. As in, I was mildly afraid in the shower that night. Top Chef, by comparison, was a disaster. The live thing was pointless, and I was so sad for Casey's fizzle and Dale's ultimate loss I was sorry I'd watched it. Thursday, of course, was the Supernatural premiere, and let me just say, thanks, show creators, for the background footage which included Sam's big makeout before the episode proper, because, well, I needed that. Dean's mild debauchery is a sight to behold. Bless their hot little hearts. Oh yeah, and lots of stuff happened.
Now about Pushing Daisies--I wasn't going to watch this show, not being in the market, really, but Kristin Chenowith is on it, and darned if Jim Dale (aka the voice of Harry Potter audiobooks) narrates it. I watched it when they replayed the pilot, and you know what? It's weird and cute, and thus far I approve of it. So, it just may make it into my lineup.
TV sucked on Friday so I rented 1408. It was very S. King short story in the timing/pacing department, and on the whole I enjoyed it. I was more creeped out toward the beginning, though, than the end, as is often the case. I was creeped out enough to stop the movie and take my shower before I watched the rest, but then ultimately decided I needn't have bothered.

And finally, it's hot and there's a dead squirrel in my front yard that stinks, and I have no shovel with which to remedy the situation.

Next Saturday is the beginning.

One week 'til Falcon Face-Off action. Are you ready for hockey season? ARE YOU?
Did I mention I highlighted all the game days on my due date master list?

Minutes, Wednesday edition

Minutes spent trying to find old fantasy sports names: 5
Minutes spent remembering that I threw away old fantasy sports team names and ideas when I thought I would not play fantasy sports again: 1
Minutes spent searching through recycling for fantasy sports team names information before realizing that's just silly and it isn't in there anyway, not after all this time: 2
Minutes spent trying to pick a new and humorous weather + sexiness + sporty related fantasy sports team name: 6
Minutes spent finally deciding that there are few fantasy sports team names that combine those features better than one used in a previous league: 1
The Texas Hookers it is, then. Hockey, bring it.

A little humility for Tuesday

3 Things I'm Not Good At

Dribbling a basketball
Whipping cream
Sticking to a grocery list

Food Talk

Well, last entry was fashion, so I guess we'll move on to food.

Foods I have recently tried and immediately gotten attached to:
Custard Jello pudding mix.
(I know...I could just make some custard. But for some reason this sounded good recently, and it really did hit the spot. I need to get several more boxes now that I know it's a hit. Also, I have no idea why I'm craving pudding. I find the feeling novel.)
Thai Kitchen peanut noodle lunch thingy
(It comes in a little tray with a draining lid, and can be done via microwave or boiling water. It even comes with a fork. I have a Simply Asian pad thai thing to try at the office, too. We'll see how they compare.)
My mother's pork cutlet recipe, made with chicken breasts
(For the uninitiated, this is usually delicious pork cutlets topped with a little sauce from the Kraft Spaghetti box dinner and some mozzarella, and baked. I did it in a skillet with some chicken herbed with flour, pepper, basil, parsley, and oregano, fried in olive oil, then simmered in some white wine with a bit more seasoning. Then the sauce and mozzarella. It blew my mind. I love it with pork, but I don't always have cutlets on hand, and this was a super alternative.)

Why I will no longer be watching Tim Gunn's Guide to Style

You all know me. You know my affection for Tim Gunn and his advice-giving on Project Runway. And once PR starts back up, I'm all over it.
But after watching one TGGtS episode all the way through, then two more in snippets, I will state flatly that it's over.
Here's why...
...not because on the first episode, as soon as she was all made up, the woman was tossing her hair in that broken-neck, stiff-shoulder, aren't-I-the-best-thing-ever way (a really sweet woman, who looked in her body language all of a sudden like no one should dare touch her, and a real snot, despite her smile)
...not because all of the women can't seem to get over someone looking in their underwear drawers (grow up, geez! It's underwear. Not a breast exam)
...not because the women are suddenly completely devoid of clothes, have a few new ensembles, and then we never find out if they get to actually have more than those few ensembles, particularly their casualwear (NOT "sportswear"), and therefore have to completely restock their closets out of their own pockets with their new "knowledge"
...not because no one seems to be allowed to wear a pair of cozy lounge pants in the sanctity of their homes
No.
The moment of complete rejection came today, as a mother of 2 was being remodeled. She was given a shiny (and I mean shimmery, not simply lustrous) diaper bag/purse (I think it was shiny leather, actually). Personally, I found it odd and not very attractive, but that is a taste thing. But what Veronica said next was unforgivable:
Everything you buy needs to be this level of style, chicness, and quality.
My response to this: CLICK.
I was so disappointed! I mean, as a teacher I will be the first to acknowledge that people, particularly students, wear some pretty ridiculous things to class, and when flip-flops came back as "fashion," not as beachwear, I was mortified. But I categorically reject any notion that all clothing you buy has to be metaphorically or truly shiny, high-maintenance looking, and even expensive-looking. At "this level."
I reflect on a pair of pants I picked up at Victoria's Secret on clearance. They are lounge pants, light yellow with white and grey racing stripes, and even a little rhinestone decal. They were cheap, but decently made. I bought them because they were soft and the color was pretty, and new to me. Now, I think that in the right instances they look stylish and chic, and they're cute on me. They're perfect for running or walking, going to Meijer, or "walking the dog," as was the case in the first episode (the woman got a DRESS for that, which was stupid). But they certainly aren't part of a category that would include that pretentious bag, and the comment I rejected so strongly makes me wonder if Miss Priss would reject my pants. And I just can't be a part of a show that would.
I generally applaud a show that encourages women to think outside their fashion boxes, and get excited about new things that fit them well, and a new understanding of what shapes look nice on their bodies. But I question the practicality of the actual choices made, and also teaching women the one side without giving them the balance of the other side...those moments at home, or when you simply want to go take a walk by the pond, or when you're feeling sad and just want to curl up, these require a different side of fashion, and women need to believe that this is acceptable, too. Women don't need a "sweatsuit alternative." They need to wear things besides sweatsuits, certainly, but every fashion item has a time and a place. Having nice things is great, but a wardrobe devoid of true "puttering around" wear and casual comfort that makes you feel good is not a proper wardrobe at all. Slobification? Fine, but don't let the inverse be true--please don't snobify these women.

I will not start watching this show again unless I hear they miraculously buy a woman an inexpensive and everyday (stylish? fine. but not "this level") set of cozy clothes to go for a walk in. And Veronica buys some, too.
Tim Gunn, I'll see you on PR.

Tueday Mash-Up

In celebration of being essay-free for the week, and of what seems like it will be a pretty and warm weekend, I believe I shall go to the zoo at some point Saturday or Sunday. What do you think of that? I haven't been to the Toledo Zoo in a while, and I think the time is right. It's expensive as all get out, but I want to see some wildcats.

Also, I need to do laundry. The underwear drawer is starting to look sad.

Also, I need to get groceries, and at some point cook something delicious.

I have noticed of late a problem with my usual make a casserole or large dish and eat it for several days routine...I've been getting tired of food faster. I cannot decide if this is a loss of willpower or if my body is trying to tell me something.

My LUSH supply is starting to run low, and now that it is bath season, this is a problem. Am currently unsure of what to do about this.

There are many craft and sewing projects I should do in my week off. I envision myself getting very little done.

Have I mentioned how cute my niece is?

In which I gush about how awesome my niece is

So this weekend I journeyed north to see my paternal side of the family in honor of Ruth, my four-month-old niece. I haven't seen much of this family in ages and hadn't seen Ruth since June, so it was certainly going to be a big event. I drove up to East Lansing and stopped to get my hair cut, then went up the rest of the way and arrived in the evening. It's beautiful up there, Crystal Valley, which is near Hart. It was getting cold, but the light was clear and melting in the trees. My dad and brother-in-law were out cutting brush, so I stopped for quick hugs and then went into the warmth of my granny's house. After hugs all around I sat down to enjoy a chat with the "womenfolk." I watched for the first time my mom be a grandma, and loved seeing the smiles erupting from Ruthie at Grandma's antics, such as "Shoe the Horse" and "So Big." There's no question; she loves her grandma. It was also adorable to watch her grinning through the window at her grandpa and dad when they came up to say hello, and to watch her with her new London-bought Rubber Duckie with the crown on its head when she had her bath.
Eventually, I decided that what I really wanted to do was get dirty and tired, so when my bro came in, exhausted, I went out to take his place. My dad and I set about hauling heavy walnut branches and dumping them in the field. Dad later complimented both my strength and my ability to use my body properly to haul brush up the steep hillside. I always joke about being the family boy, and being glad I now have a brother to help out, but the truth is, I do like getting out there and hanging with my Dad, and getting pure and honest work done. We came in at dark for dinner, which my mom had cooked in advance and brought up to keep my grandma from having to cook for a pile of people. So, after all that work, I got to have some French Beef Stew from my mom's own kitchen. Eventually, my parents left for their hotel while the "kids" were staying with our grandma. I got to have a late-night chat with my sister, something I miss when she's so far away.
The next day was Ruthie's party, and we all went to the Crystal Valley United Methodist Church. She was resplendent in a pink dress with a sheer white pinafore and a bonnet, and while she didn't particularly enjoy the crowd and the noise, she was very well behaved and sweet, and particularly enjoyed playing with her dress (she fluffs her skirts the same way any girl does...and then chews on them) and watching her mom open presents. The white handmade afghan was of special interest. For my part, I got to see tons of relatives and feel like part of the party, since I am The Aunt. I got to chat with lots of people and enjoy the spread put out, including the cake with little peapods iced on it, in honor of our Sweet Pea.
Saturday evening was pretty sleepy for all of us, made more so by our lasagna dinner. Even Ruthie, sitting on great-grandma's lap, was just sort of looking around and taking things in. Imagine my surprise when I heard we were not in fact going to church the next day. It was just as well, because we all were pretty exhausted. We all sort of straggled out of bed and ate breakfast on Sunday, then hung around until dinner and until I had to leave. Highlights included my mom's rhubarb pie, getting to sit and snuggle with my mom for a bit after lunch, and watching my dad put a very cross Ruthie to sleep by whistling through his teeth softly, I gather parts of operas. I also, of course, got to hold the baby for a while, since I was going to be the first to leave; my sister is really good about making sure everyone gets a chance with the baby. I was sad to leave, but had that smug feeling of satisfaction that I'd just had an awesome weekend.
Ruthie is a charming baby. She is pensive about things, studying objects and people; but then you interact with her and she just smiles and smiles. She likes chewing on her clothes and even when she's getting ready to cry for real, her little soprano wails are very ladylike. I'm pretty sure she's a genius.
I miss her already!

Space

Yesterday was a day of sad remembrance. Today, I wanted to focus on something that made me feel warm inside, so I spent a few minutes learning about the progress of Spirit and Opportunity far away on the Red Planet. Bless their little hearts, they've been at it for 3 1/2 years. Opportunity is preparing to travel down a crater, and Spirit is doing its own work elsewhere.
Being the nerd that I am, it makes me feel happy that a project of human technical creation could work out so well and for so long, that its research could have far-reaching applications, and that we've gotten what I consider to be good value for the expense. And they're awfully cute.
I wish you luck, little rovers!

B-E S-T-R-O-N-G-E-R

In February of 2006, I wrote about my college dance mentor, Dr. Dixie Durr. Sadly, Dr. Durr passed away this past weekend. She was an amazing lady, and everything I learned from her is still a force in my life as a teacher, writer, and of course a dancer. I have a lot of fond memories of classes and rehearsals with her, places where I learned and hurt and smiled and found out a lot about my personal limits and how far I should push them. As she said, "Never apologize for being alive."

If by "Labor" you mean lounging around in jammies...

I've been lying low this weekend, making sure that my body is indeed back to normal. This has given me ample opportunity to make jewelry, to start building some wings, and to watch gallons of TV...as a matter of fact, my VCR is currently taping part of the Murder, She Wrote marathon. Live the dream.

In all the ruckus of last week, I forgot to tell you I finished the dupioni jacket to go with my skirt. The pictures, taken the day before I got sick, didn't much turn out, but I got a few decent ones. I thought the lying down one was cool when I took it, but now I look at it, it's pretty obvious I have a fever.




Anyway, the wings are going pretty well. I experimented with simple, bakeable clay yesterday, the kind that comes in little blocks wrapped in plastic. The "bones" actually look pretty awesome. I haven't checked on the ones I did with air-drying "improved" papier mache clay, which is supposedly sandable. Anyway, the next step will be putting on some tulle or something and stiffening it, then attaching feathers. I need to figure out just what shape the tulle will have to be, which basically means drawing out the feather pattern first before I can proceed. Essays are coming in tomorrow, so the project has to get to a good stopping place.

Well, my office is unexpectedly freezing so I will be leaving as soon as possible. Thanks to all of you well-wishers this week, and for understanding when I've kept myself hidden away. I'm seeing my niece in less than two weeks, and I want to be fit!

Things I've Learned This Week

Yes, I'm on the mend. I'm taking it pretty easy right now, but things are better, and I even went ice skating today for some nice exercise. And I got my skates sharpened for the first time ever, which was novel and entertaining. So, here is some knowledge I've racked up these last days:

1. My feelings and my functionality need not match.
By all rights, I should have been flat on my back all day Monday. Yet through sheer force of will I walked to and from school and made a valiant effort to say a few things to my students before I sent them out the door. My Mama says I have a strong stomach. I think it's just stubbornness! I often find myself acting normal and even dressing neatly, when I actually feel like crud. So despite my concerns about getting complacent and lazy, I found out I still have a little of the old constitution going.
2. Odd symptoms may coincide with no relationship whatsoever.
The consensus among medical professionals? An uber swollen eye the day after a two-day, fevered bout of a virus isn't connected. I think I would have felt better if they had.
3. The folks at the Wood County ER care about me.
That's right, I said ER. I tried to go to ReadyCare on Wednesday night, even though my eye was better. The nurse barely started the chart before determining that I should go to the ER because they would not be able to perform any needed tests there. I went to the ER and told them how dumb I felt being at the ER when the problem would likely be solved at my physician. And they said, given the problem, I would probably have been referred to the ER anyway. The doctor I had listened to me for about five seconds and seemed to know exactly the problem...allergy-induced conjunctivitis. She thought probably I had an allergic reaction to something that got in that eye, and after tests involving dye and instruments showed nothing else wrong, she gave me some eyedrops and that was that. She was really nice, and no one treated me like I was overreacting, which is what I felt like. But I was really scared Weds. morning, and so was glad to have the problem resolved.
4. Don't joke about rashes.
Making light of the situation, I joked that I would probably wake up with a rash the next day as yet another random health thing to go wrong. Then, in the ReadyCare that night, there was a little boy who was touching everything and sitting on every seat, and he had...you guessed it...a rash. At this point, touch wood, I am rash free.
5. If I don't want Dr. Pepper, I'm really sick.
6. If an illness had made me not want to eat something I have in the fridge, it's okay to throw it away (still working on this one).
7. When you live alone and are sick, make sure someone knows.
Thanks, friends.

The plot, by which I mean the eye, thickens

So, yesterday I was pretty sure I was on the mend; fever down, stomach better, headache dissipating. I had a proper small dinner of casserole last night and, though it didn't taste as good as it should, it didn't make anything worse. I woke up feeling pretty decent this morning and ate some Cheerios, but then noticed that my eye felt awful funny. And not funny haha. A perusal in the mirror shows my eye to be swollen. It doesn't hurt or itch, I can see out of it just fine with my glasses on, but it looks glassy and either the lids are swollen enough to make the eye look swollen, or the whole darn thing is swollen. It doesn't look horrible, but it doesn't feel right. A call to the Med Mutual nurse line (are you using this? you should be) suggests I should see a doctor today, and as my own doctor's office says, "life, limb, and eyesight," which I thought was sort of funny. So, off to the Readycare I shall go tonight, because I can't bear to mess up my schedule enough to go to my actual doctor. I shall be using hand sanitizer and not touching people all day, so...I love you, stay out.
Edited to add: It is 1 pm, and mysteriously my eye is much better. The swelling has gone way down. It is like my body has decided to have every symptom imaginable at one hundred times the speed. Tomorrow? Rash. Oh wait, that was last week, when my legs decided to get razor burn.

The Day I Couldn't Stand Up

So, yesterday I had something of a health catastrophe. I woke up around 8 and thought "I feel queasy," and then went back to sleep. By the time getting-up-for-school time rolled around, I got up, decided I needed to lie back down immediately, and then had to spend two hours trying to get up and not doing a very good job. I felt hungover, though I hadn't had any alcohol at all.
The day was sort of awful. I came to school, but could not sit or stand up without feeling sick. Ultimately, I gave my students their assignment sheets and sent them on their way; I kept my first three conferences and canceled the last three, and went straight to bed as soon as possible. I had a fever of 101.2, bad headache, upset stomach, and heartburn. These symptoms do not usually happen to me in combination, so I was very confused. Naturally, I called my mother. Eventually I was able to eat a few Cheerios, drink some water and a few sips of cola, and feel a bit better with the help of Advil, Pepto, and my fan. And of course my Mommy.
Today, I feel a little wobbly yet but way better. I made it through all my activities, though I now feel quite exhausted and due for a big nap. I am hoping that I feel even better tomorrow and that whatever this is will have gone away. My throat is a bit sore, so I hope the ick is not just changing, though as long as my stomach is okay I'll be better off than yesterday.
I might even get to eat dinner tonight!

Timing

On Friday, I was watching The Fellowship of the Ring, and when I say watch I mean listening to and then looking up when my favorite parts come along, like the little hobbit girl listening to a story in the party scene. I was doing a puzzle and enjoying a breeze through my screen door. Then, in that bit where the firework dragon explodes, I saw out of the corner of my eye a ginormous flash. Startled, I looked at the TV screen, pretty sure I remembered that it doesn't explode quite that much. Ten seconds later, thunder.
Basically, that first flash of lightning in the coming storm coincided exactly with the exploding dragon. Well done, God. Way to get my attention.

Open letter to the girl on her cell phone in the ladies' room

Dear girl,
I don't care if you aren't actually in a stall yourself and are standing by the mirror yammering away. But I am going to pee during your conversation whether you like it or not, and I am going to wash my hands as loudly as possible. You don't bring your phone into the bathroom at home, and I assure you your friend wants to listen to me pee just as much as he wants to listen to you pee, and as much as I want your friend to listen to me...which is not at all.
Get out of the bathroom.
Thanks.
Avacious

Hot Funk

So, last night's TV offerings were abysmal, so I went to Video Spectrum with high hopes of Hot Fuzz being in, and it was.
I liked it so much, I watched all the special features instead of Murder, She Wrote. Outtakes are by far my favorite of all special features...I actually watched those before the movie. But the movie itself made me giggle, as Pegg and Frost always do. It was funny to see Nick Frost in a more sort of naive role, and Simon Pegg's hard cop voice during the climax sequences was hilarious. And there was Timothy Dalton, which I didn't know.
Pegg and Frost are sort of like Jim Gaffigan for me; they don't make me completely lose control for a long time like Gaffigan does, but when I laugh it is spontaneous and impossible to suppress. Often unexpected. I like movies that can do that to me, because I don't generally laugh at what most people laugh at anyway, so it's harder to get me.
Good on you, mates.

First day of school! First day of school!

For my first day of school aura, I have selected:

"Not dark but beautiful and terrible as the Morn! Treacherous as the Seas! Stronger than the foundations of the Earth! All shall love me and despair! "

That should do it. Nip any jerkfaces in the bud.

Missing checkmarks

As I sit here in my friends' house, mooching off their internet, I find myself with some reflection time. School is just about to start again; my apartments are pretty clean, though there is laundry and grocery shopping...and shoe shopping...to take care of. Life has been good to me this summer. Most of my angst has been of my own making, out of my own brain. Many interesting things happened, most of which I've mentioned here in some fashion.
So, for a change, here are some things I did not do:
Make wings (yet)
Have a summer romance
Play tipsy whiffleball
See more than one movie in a theater
...and that's basically it.
How did you do?

My eyes! My eyes!

I haven't been reading the Bravo blogs for my shows lately because I hatehatehate the tiny print and noisy layout, but I was very curious to see what was being said about the Restaurant Wars episode of Top Chef this week. While I now have a tremendous headache, it was interesting to see that some intriguing background noise has been going on regarding Rocco DiSpirito and that a bunch of guest bloggers have been at work. And Ted Allen's blog for Top Chef is hilarious, and possibly my favorite.
Way to kill time instead of cleaning your office, Avacious.

I need a hug and a nap

I think I hit a wall. I feel unaccountably sad and as I look around my still-not-cleaned-up office, I just want to wring my hands and cry a lot. It's only 3 pm and I'm already wondering where my next soda is coming from. In a blistering reminder of what my school life is like, I was late for a meeting and had to walk at top speed to get there (oh yeah, that's why I don't run during school), and I only just ate lunch, which was Easy Mac.
I hate to say it, but I think I might need to go buy some shoes. It's not that I think it will help more than momentarily, but...at least I'll have some new shoes.

"I don't want to be a chicken cemetery!"

Sometimes, out of a desire to store information vital to my future, I'll read the parenting articles on cnn.com. Today was an exceptionally entertaining one about answering kids' questions. Read it.

Also, I learned something very valuable this weekend. I was getting ready to clean my stove, which was covered in stuck-on grease and burnt boil-overs. I've cleaned my stove before, using Clorox wipes or my Windex kitchen and glass cleaner. But it wasn't working. My arsenal was failing, and I didn't want to use up my one remaining Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Examining the contents of my cleaning bucket, I found some of those thin green scouring pads, the ones that are tougher than sponges but not crazy like steel wool. I thought, well, why not. I ran it under hot water, and then, in a stroke of what I now think of as brilliance, I put some dish soap on there. And it got EVERYTHING off. I had to scrub in a few places on the burners, but getting off all the little grease splatters was easy. I couldn't believe it. And dish soap is gentle on my hands and my nasal passages (unlike what I use on the shower mildew). So...keep it simple is my new stove-cleaning method.

In other news, my dupioni skirt looks awesome and I'm currently working on a matching jacket. I will also be looking for a cute little sweater or sweater pattern to wear with it when I want to dress it down a little. Ah, crafts.

Whatcha up to, Cloudy? Thursday edition

So, the manuscript is coming along. At least, I think it is...it turns out I have a lot of poems, so I'm almost putting this book together and deciding what might potentially go in the next and what the themes of that one might be when I have more poems saved up or written for it. There are some sequences in my order so far that make me feel good about them, and then others where I can't tell if it's working or not, and some where I'm totally baffled as to what will go there. And I have some of my favorites that I haven't fit in yet, and that is most confusing, and almost feels disloyal. I had a three-section thing going, but the middle section's original shape is too small and I have no idea what a larger but still workable shape would be.
The long and the short of it is, I have a severe case of eyestrain and crankiness. So cranky, in fact, that I think I might get McDonald's after my meeting tonight. I've been trying to watch what I eat at least to some degree, especially because it's been so hot. But a filet-o-fish and a nice walk later if it's not raining sound kind of nice, don't they? Or a cheeseburger. Or both (don't judge me).
The good news is, I am wearing a cute outfit. The bad news is, my apartments are a disaster of heat and dust and clutter. How am I supposed to clean if I can't even stand still without sweating? You know how much I like to be warm, and how sad I am when I'm cold, but sheesh.
The body knows fall is on its way, though. How else do you explain last week's sudden and undeniable hunger for pumpkin bread (handily satiated by my Betty Crocker)?

So last night it was officially hot enough that I couldn't sleep. Time to move the pedestal fan back from the workroom to the bedroom, I reckon. I had to get out the My Little Pony icepack.
'Course, there's a lot going on in the old rumination factory. It turns out putting together a poetry collection makes me a little crazy. I seriously almost started crying in the library yesterday because I couldn't think of something to put after a poem I wanted to come first, and then I obsessed about that problem for the rest of the day and am looking at going at it again this aft. What with that, bridges, and miners, there isn't a lot of spare brain power.
So if you see me walking or running about and I look like I might put a fist through a wall, I promise...it ain't you, baby.

In other news, I was reflecting yesterday on what an interesting and rewarding summer this has been. Niece and London, and projects aside, I've read quite a few books. A re-read of HP 6 and then 7 was joined by Hugh Laurie's The Gun Seller, a couple of Dick Francis novels, Ordering the Storm about poetry collections, and others. Recently I finished off a library book entitled Madmen of History, an old edition. While the writing is spotty (in one chapter I found myself completely uncertain of what exactly was supposed to be mad about Rasputin, since the text said little about his deeds and more on the people who relied on him and then those who killed him), the book was at least interesting. Now I'm reading a book called Sex With the Queen, which is already telling me all kinds of things I didn't know, in the most matter-of-fact ways, such that I find myself wondering if it's all really true, as one does with gossip. Amazon calls it "scandalously readable." The fact that these last three books are nonfiction is amazing in and of itself. That two of them are history is nothing short of astounding, since that has never been my favorite subject. In the mighty words of Ralph Wiggum, "I'm learn-ding!"

Ice skating is nice skating...

If you're wondering whether I just got back from ICE SKATING the answer is yes!
Tessa and I went to the "cheap skate" for 2.50 for two hours and I broke out my skates for the first time in seven years. It was wicked fun, and my ankles are sore but I did pretty well. I didn't fall down! True, I didn't do very much that was impressive, but I worked on some cross overs and a few little arabesques once I got used to my skates again. My hands were numb!
And then I came back outside and it was 90 degrees.

And now I present to you...my weekend.
I went shopping on Saturday. It was joyful. I had a PINK coupon for free undies with the purchase of a PINK item from VS, and $5 off any hoodie. Naturally, I bought a green hoodie that says Pink Mustangs on the back, a little nightie with rosebuds on it, and some more sweet lounge pants that have elastic so they sit around the knee sort of like baseball trousers, only without all the complication. My free undies have stripes.
I also went and bought a tee shirt at Forever 21 that is cream-colored and has a bird made out of words on it. I found it on the website on recon, and then had to look at basically every tee shirt in the store before I found it, about ten feet away from where I'd started my search and where a shop girl told me it would probably be in the back. The shirt was three feet away from her, as it turns out, though under a set of different shirts altogether. There were only two left, which suggests they probably had more at one point, which suggests the girl does not know their stock very well.
I also went to Hot Topic, which at this point remains the only place I have been to that has any Harry Potter memorabilia. I know that's hard to believe, but it's true. I bought two tank tops with Gryffindor and Order of the Phoenix pictures, and some new Magic Notebooks for conferencing. I was very excited about this.

I returned home and got some groceries, preparing for an experiment in stirfry. The challenge? Tofu. Cook's had info on this, and I tried it, and let me just say--it didn't work out as well as I'd hoped. The glaze they suggested tasted good, but the prep method was too much mess for me, for a product I was dubious of anyway. Certainly, the chunks were reasonably crisp on the outside and creamy on the inside, but...is that really what I want out of a stirfry? Out of a meat substitute? The answer is no. Tofu will never be one of my favorites, and it will never replace chicken.
I will note that the veggies, which I did with a sweet chili sauce, were very delicious and taste extra nice over couscous, which cooks up a lot faster than rice (I was running late last night).

In other news, shark week started yesterday on The Discovery Channel, and I watched rather a lot of it while I was working on albums, or rather, taking pictures out of albums and putting them in new ones or putting them in piles to figure out where they're going to go. The moral of this story is, if you're planning to stop by, don't expect to find a place to sit. I really wanted to watch Ocean of Fear, but it was on at the same time as Miss Marple, so I'm hoping they play it again.

And that is pretty much it. Good, eh? Now, I have a book about putting poetry collections in order and can't wait to do some real work on this myself.

Beer Happy

Let's talk a little bit about my day yesterday.
First, I was alerted to the fact that I had another poem accepted, this time in Pearl, which is pretty rad.
Now, as I noted in my myspace blog, this means I get a treat, usually a nice dinner and a shopping expedition of some type. So, since I'd finished up some Hamburger Helper yesterday afternoon, last night seemed like the logical time for special dinner. I was a little up in the air; I thought perhaps Poco Piatti carryout, but I'd been meaning to try South Side 6 for a while, because I do love gyros. My laziness won, and so did South Side 6. I checked out their menu online and also noted that they say they have a lot of imported beers. So I thought, why not? Stimmel's hasn't been able to get Blackthorn Dry Cider in yet, despite their regular supply of Lambic. I thought I'd look, and if not, see if they had a bottle of something else delicious to have with dinner.
And would you believe that, as I was scanning the shelves, noting that they also have my Lambic, there it was! Blackthorn, right there on the end.
I scooped up three bottles, bought a gyro and some rice pudding (I was going to get two gyros with the Thursday special, but it turns out those things are massive, so I'm glad I didn't), and couldn't supress my glee at the register as I bounced around at the finding of my London find. See, that's what I had that night I was starving and ate at a pub. It was so refreshing, and I was really hoping I could get it in America. And now I can! Woot!
Dinner was great. I made some feta-tomato-olive salad to eat with some pita chips I had, ate half a gyro and some rice pudding, and saved the rest for my post-run dinner tonight.
I also finished my dupioni skirt, while I was at it. It's pretty :) The hem sucks, but I think if I press it properly you won't be able to tell from outside.
I'm a little conflicted now, because I will need to patronize both Stimmel's and South Side 6 to support local businesses that have alcohol I enjoy. But it was also pretty awesome to just see what I'd been searching for right there on the shelf.

And then it stormed.

In other news, I am still working fo' reals on my poetry manuscript, and I am anxiously awaiting a book of essays all about putting such a thing in order. I see that the library has received the Ohiolink stuff, but I have to wait for an email. I half want to go over there and just make them dig through everything to gimme my book! (Did I mention that I actually said "gimme gimme gimme" to the mailman when he brought me my book? Because I did. Out loud.)

If you're a channel flipper like me, and you pause frequently in the general arena of the Discovery Channel, then you may be familiar with a little show called How It's Made. I landed there this afternoon, and boy, I was not disappointed, because I enjoyed a five-minute lesson on how sanitary pads are made.
Yes, an even, engaging male voice informed me that they were invented as a result of World War I, and that the cellulose and something else I can't remember are mixed and molded into pads of different shapes, thicknesses, and sizes depending on the rate of menstrual flow. I watched the machines at work in total fascination, and then that blessed man informed me that to put on the pad, one has to remove the adhesive tabs from the back of the pad, and from the sides, which are called "wings."
All humor aside, I was pretty fascinated by the machines that do this essential work...so many parts. It reminded me of Edward Scissorhands' house, or the make-breakfast machine in Pee Wee's Big Adventure. Whoever designed that machine, I hope he or she gets drinks bought for him or her on a regular basis.

I had to laugh as, one by one, each of my heavily reading, fellow Potter fans emerged blurry-eyed and content but exhausted from their days in seclusion. How do I know? Because each of us wrote essentially the exact same thing on our blogs, in different ways. I was the only one who brought up Muggle-Repelling, though.

In other news, I got some more prints of my niece and am enjoying putting together a little brag book! Finding photo pages is proving difficult, so I'm using a cute little album I bought, very simple, for the time being. The kid is cute, believe me.

Finite Incantatum

The Muggle-Repelling charms I cast over myself through the weekend are officially lifted as of 11:30 this morning. I'm still a little far inside my own little world right now, as I usually get when I read nonstop for ages, but it is safe to speak to me again. I might not be able to see you though, my eyes being what they are just now, which is tired.

On Your Mark...Get Set...

It's almost time! The laundry is done and will be folded and put away tonight. Potato salad will be made. Dishes will be washed. Cherries will be washed and chilled in the fridge. Self will be jogged and washed super-clean. House will be tidy...okay, maybe not that last one.
I will be up as early as possible for me and staring out the screen door, watching for Mr. UPS. Come to me, O fateful book!

HP 5 for the first time

Carrie has given an accurate rundown of our eventful trip to see HP 5, so I won't rehash it here. Suffice it to say that I need to see the movie again in less distracting conditions.
There were specific things that jumped out at me that I either liked or disliked, which is normal, but I couldn't really get an overall impression of how much I liked the adaption. Obviously, I liked it, but I don't know where it stands on the overall schema of HP films. As in, I will buy the DVD, but I am not sure how often I will watch it in comparision to others yet.
Some impressions: They put in my absolute favorite part of dialogue from the book, which is the "emotional range of a teaspoon" part, and there were a few sets that absolutely perfectly lived up to my vision, while others were different but pleasantly surprising.
I'm not sure I enjoyed the representation of Grimmauld Place...does anyone else have that problem? I know that they wanted to make it claustrophobic, but even so I was expecting something more psychological, and still a mansion. The Family Tree rocked, though.
I am unsure about the physical representation of Grawp. Also, I felt that Umbridge's role took over the movie too much. It became too much about her rather than about the power struggle and the tension. I recognize that subtlety isn't always possible in a film, of course, but I would have rather seen it be a bit slicker, particularly in regard to her interaction with the staff. Her character itself, though, was very well represented by Staunton, as was her office and everything that goes on there. She was just in too many scenes by herself, or taking over them too much, even considering her growing influence. Just too blunt.
On a more positive note, how much do I love Ginny's character? I love that she has become this small but fierce, creative and destructive force. I thought her role was nicely balanced. I loved seeing the DA in action, and even though he's mean, Filch and Mrs. Norris always bring a smile to my face. Especially when he's sneaky-walking (which reminds me--I thought of that during the film, and then had a dream about sneaky-walking, which is a Bob Fosse dance thing that I happen to do well).
Regarding the duel: Loved the coordination of it, hated when they were sort of flying around in smoke form. What was that? To me, that spells effects cop-out. I liked it much better when you could see the characters battling it out, which was far more impressive.
Did anyone else notice how much Percy Weasley looks like a gangster? Was that intentional?
Also, did anyone else's heart sort of melt when Fred and George were trying to comfort that kid? I heart them.
I will also note that, having recently been to London, I got an extra big kick out of seeing it in the film. I was IN that Underground station, for goodness sake.
So, that's it. As you can see, I have some things to puzzle over and re-view, literally, but I was able to gather up a number of good impressions as well.
And now, the re-reading of HP 6 continues as I prepare for zero hour. Tomorrow, Meijer for stocking the house, Friday, the preparation of food and mild cleaning. Saturday, it's on.

Has anyone had this happen?: Normal-seeming mosquito bites, but then they turn very dark red, and look exactly like a strawberry birthmark? I can't figure it out...usually I get plain or pink welts in Michigan and small red bumps in Ohio, but these just seem weird.

It's a beautiful day out, but I am not having a very good day. How can this be?

More Culinary Adventures/Fireworks/Smores/Quilting/HP

So, I have some eggs, and for once I'd like to use all my eggs before the date stamped on the carton. I start looking for recipes that are egg related in a cookbook that my aunt gave me, which has some rather fancy dishes in it. I'm thinking about terrines, but then I find this recipe for leek, chicory, and nut pancakes.
I have no leeks, nor chicory. But I do have some summer squash and zucchini I'd frozen, half a bag of frozen pepper stir fry, and some leek and morel cheese. Doesn't that sound good?
So I made the pancakes, which were actually more like crepes, except they had corn meal in with the flour and chili powder, and I also added a couple shakes of cinnamon just to be a little crazy. I'm a pretty decent crepe maker for a total amateur. I flip when I can, and while they occasionally get overbrowned, they also taste good. While this was going on I sauteed the vegetables and cubed the cheese, as instructed--because even though I'm completely changing a recipe, I still like to do what it says. And when the pancakes have cooled and softened, I put some of the veggies and cheese on each one, folded it, put it in a baking dish, then threw it all in the oven for fifteen minutes at 400.
Result? Awesome. I'm telling you, it was good. I ate a little too much, to be honest, but since I was about to walk to the fireworks, it really didn't matter.
I had four leftover pancakes, and last night I slathered them in butter and cinnamon sugar, chopped up some frozen peaches, and did my best to whip up some cream (it really didn't work), assembled it all, and ate half for dessert. These pancakes, you see, work both as a savory dish and as a "pudding" as the Brits would call it.
It was awesome.

So, this year I went to the fireworks. It's the first time I actually went further than a parking lot a few blocks away since I have been here. In fact, I went all the way to the hill outside the rec center and sat there, in the grass, smiling and laughing like a little kid. They were pretty neat, and it helped that I was far enough away that they weren't right over me, but close enough so I could see everything. Special favorites included the golden fountainy one, the one that looked like pistils shooting out of a flower, and everyone's favorite, the huge one that looked like it was disappearing and then came back as millions of gold dots. There were also a few that weren't splashy to look at, but that were obviously incredibly well timed. There's a lot of artistry to firework creation, and I had plenty of time to reflect on that.

After that, I got a call from Carrie, and headed over to enjoy sparklers, S'mores, and their awesome firepit. How relaxing is that?

Today, I finished the quilt I've been working on and handed it off to the dry cleaner (fingers crossed, as always), so now I'm free....FREE!...to work on my skirt if I want. My poofy, pretty, blush-colored Dupioni skirt. Or, take a night off. Whatever.

As Carrie notes, the HP countdown continues. I'm now reading HP 6 in preparation for book 7 to arrive on my doorstep (oh my gosh! what if it rains that day! aaaah!) but I can't wait until the movie next week, either. I've been thinking a lot about these two things, and I'm quietly slavering for both. I have purposely avoided almost all articles about movie 5 and book 7. It's a slow start to my temporary drop off the planet.
The preparation begins.

Pictures...I got pictures...I got stacks and stacks of pictures.
268 of them, to be exact, all the best of one and a half years of digital camera ownership, plus some extras from friends.
And because Meijer was having a sale, they were 10 cents each.
Woot!
Now...albums. I want to try to make some using some of my favorite fabric remnants as covers. Because I don't have enough projects to do!
Yippee!

The first of the "pantheon" gets married

On Saturday I trekked out to Chicago for the wedding of one of my dear college friends, a woman of strong will, brains, and achievement, from whom I learned a lot about respect for myself and disregarding what others think of me, even if I couldn't always apply these lessons. She looked amazing in a silky, creamy gown, with a long chiffon "veil" worn across the back of her head. The service was conducted by a Father and a Rabbi, which sounds like the beginning of a joke, perhaps more so when you learn that their names were Michaels Michelini and Sternfield respectively. They told a few jokes, actually, and the whole service was lighthearted. I sat with another one of our small group, Holly, both of us on our own, which seemed best because we so often were in college. We reminisced big time and snuck jokes back and forth. We "represented," if you will.
Did I mention the wedding was in the gigantic Rockefeller Chapel on the campus of U of Chicago?
After the service, Holly and I went to the Oriental Museum and a coffee shop, and we wrote out a little joint card with an extra memento for the bride, then arrived at the buffet reception. We sat next to another of Lis's MSU friends, whose name we recognized, and we all chatted through dinner and cake. Highlights of the reception included watching Lis and Phil in the traditional chair dance (Horah?) and hearing that, if we wanted, we could have cake cut in any shape we wanted. We chose rectangle.
Long about 8:30, Chicago time, I decided I was ready to go. It was a good party, and the dancing was going on, but I felt satisfied with the day, and I wanted to drive back home. I said goodbye to Lis and parted from Holly, and off I went. It was a nice drive, and I even got to see a firework. I got back around 1:30 Ohio time.

Through all of this, I got lots of chances to think about those years in college and some of our gatherings since. So much happened--we were living all on the same singles dorm floor, and I was so grateful for these girls because we all had our eccentricities and we were all able to spend time with each other despite how busy we were. We kept each other from getting lonely, and we took care of each other when we were troubled. I remember one day I'd had it up to wherever and was desperate for sleep, and I snapped at them for chatting outside my closed door. Later, Lis totally called me on it while I was working on choreography ...it was like an intervention. But it gave me a chance to apologize and describe to them how completely overwhelmed I was feeling, rather than continuing to clamp down on it. I needed these girls to keep me from drawing into myself. I can't imagine what I brought to them, but I hope I at least offered something. We had such ridiculously fun times together, and I remember so many of the things we did as if they happened last week. Pool games with henna drying on our skin, making chicken-flavored rice and orange cinnamon rolls in the kitchenette, drinking wine coolers and margaritas, attending hockey games, going to the Renaissance Festival and horseback riding, playing Life during Finals Week...the list goes on forever. My favorite times were when we all gathered in someone's room, and watched TV or a movie, eating, drinking, and laughing, dishing about boys and our floormates. I was so sad when Lis and Holly graduated, and Elisa moved into an apartment, and Em was long gone. I was so busy senior year that I didn't have much social time, but in the quiet moments I missed those girls tons. It was a joy to watch Lis get married, and I hope it won't be too long before we can all see each other again.
3 Mason Rules!

Secret obsession

Okay, it's not that exciting, but I am just a little obsessed with reading the trivia on imdb.com for movies I enjoy or have seen repeatedly. Do you do this? Where else can you find out that Prof. Umbridge's office carpet cost 50000 pounds to make? Or that in Lemony Snicket Emily Browning had to wear heels because Liam Aiken grew so much? Or that, in AVP, the ice cutter is named Piper Maru after an X-Files episode named after Gillian Anderson's daughter? All in one convenient location?

ATHF + Baby Boom/Paternal Awesomeness

Gah! Even Master Shake suddenly had a child for a 12-minute episode! Why? WHY?
Steve, you almost got texted in desperation at 12:16 last night, to help me cope.


In other news, my Dad rulz.

I know, two posts in one day.
But I thought you deserved to know that I found my little reward for my poetry.
Trying to solve a big sewing problem yesterday, I went to two Joann Fabrics stores. Whilst wandering around the second with what I hope will solve the problem, as well as about a yard's worth of remnant peach shantung, I came across some Dupioni silk in a lovely, subtle shade of blush. It was, I believe, 19.99 a yard, which is completely extravagant for my standards, but I held the Golden Ticket: 50 % off coupon.
I was going to get a yard or two, and then I was trying to talk myself out of it, such was the expense, so I went to look at patterns--no pattern, no fabric would be the rule. But then I found this great skirt pattern, which included a drawstring skirt and listed shantung as a potential fabric, which is similar enough. I know, I know...drawstring with 20 bucks/yard, 100% Dupioni silk? But I thought it would look adorable and I got excited. Then, I couldn't find the pattern. I looked it up in the book again, and sure enough, I'd copied the number down incorrectly.
All this adds up to the obvious: I wanted the fabric.
And I bought 4.5 yards. Half-off. You do the math.

Medicating

I'm a little shirty about this. In order to "assist BGSU employees with weight loss, smoking cessation and education on a variety of wellness topics" the HR department folks "have already begun planning an employee wellness day and other wellness-related events."
I'm sure that sounds very nice, but honestly I'd rather they just give me free entrance to the rec.
The rec's fee is probably lower than a standard gym (it's $110 per semester), but to be frank nothing turns me off healthy exercise more than paying for it (and, uh, sorry, parents, because I know dance wasn't cheap). Once, I wasted 80 bucks paying for a summer rec pass. I went, like, six times. If you pay per day ($5), that's 30 bucks. I guess if you're going to go swim often, it would be worth it, but I can't face that price.
This, I believe, is at the heart of the reason why I have been jogging outside in the summer, even though I don't really enjoy running all that much. So I thought, anyway.

Things may be changing--your little Avacious is, for the first time in her life, using an asthma inhaler.
As my nurse practitioner says, they're shrinking away from "exercise asthma" labels now because, if you are experiencing symptoms, then you have asthma, regardless of when it rears its head. For years, after exercise, I have often felt wheezy...not usually actually wheezing (well, maybe a little), but feeling that need in my chest. It wouldn't matter whether I was in what I'd consider good shape (dancing regularly) or not (jogging after a five-month break). I also get winded more quickly than I'd consider normal, even in peak condition. And of course, there's the allergies. I asked my NP, "Is there anything I can do, short of drugs?" She said no, but wrote me a scrip so I could "think about it." I didn't have to fill it, but I could if I wanted.
So I did.
This from the girl who thinks taking Advil requires a laborious decision-making process.
Yes, I went straight to the drugstore and got the inhaler. Then I tested it. On Monday last, pre-inhaler, I did my first run of the summer, stopped to talk to people twice, stopped to walk twice, and barely made it. On Friday, after the inhaler, I made it my whole route and didn't even feel like stopping once, and I even threw in an 85 percent sprint toward the end. My lungs outlasted my legs, which is unusual. Last night's run wasn't quite as successful, but I still made it without stopping, and my breath came back to normal pretty fast.

Could it be that what I thought was a questionable, occasional small problem was actually a very mild but persistent condition I didn't notice except when provoked by allergies, smoke, or running? Could it be that medicating said condition will greatly improve my lung capacity, since it will reduce labored breathing and give me a chance to "catch up"? Could it be that I actually enjoy running, just not breathing hard?
I don't know, but to be honest I'm a little excited about it.

Cook's comes up with the goods

So, I've been meaning to make this rustic plum cake recipe from the most recent issue of Cook's Illustrated. A few weeks ago I made the blueberry scone recipe, and the scones tasted awesome, and I was ready to try the cake on the next page, only when I was at the grocer--no plums. But this week, plums in the house, and time to make plum cake, whether I had someplace to take it or not. Then, on the day I was going to make it, I got a call that a gathering of friends was taking place, so I knew fate was on my side.
The recipe isn't super-complicated, except that part of the flour is ground-up slivered almonds. And the plums have to be cooked in a delicious syrup beforehand (in which Frambois Lambic was substituted for brandy. Because then I get to finish the bottle of Lambic). I was a little concerned that my springform is 10 inches instead of the 9 required, and time was a bit short for cooling the cake.
But only half a piece was left after the first hour I was at the gathering.
I tasted it--it was pretty nice, and it went down great on a warm summer evening. I actually had honest-go-goodness requests to make it in future.
So, there you go. Plum cake and jello shots are my specialities now.
And, my Mom suggested I also try it with peaches.
Good on you, Cook's. Way to contribute to my repertoire.

On another note, I had a poem accepted by RHINO. Hooray! Am currently trying to come up with something small and celebratory for myself, as is my custom.

Report

Point one: My niece is adorable. She is funny in particular when she is waking up and trying so hard to open her eyes. I think she is a genius, and she loves Raggedy Ann already at four weeks. She also loves the sound of water, sleeping in her sling, and eating. My sister and I took her shopping twice. The first day she slept in her sling pretty much the whole time, which made having a snack at Brewed Awakenings pretty easy. The second day she was cool with the yarn store, but not terribly keen on not eating while her Mama shopped in the bead store. When she is awake, she stares at your eyes with a little crinkle in her forehead like she's working you out. She smiles when you stroke her cheek. We can't figure out which parent she looks more like. She is a very long and strong baby, and she can already do a superman at the doctor's office. I miss her. She makes me smile, even when she frowns.
Point two: I had a pretty good drive to get out to Wisconsin.
Point three: The SS Badger, on a windy, high-swell day, made me so sick one of the crew took pity on me and made me lie down in one of the rooms. Yes, I couldn't find my Dramamine so could not take it beforehand, which may have made a difference. Yes, I am ashamed and embarrassed, and wondering what the heck happened, because I've only been mildly seasick twice in my whole life, Dramamine or not. Yes, before I lay down I'd been planning to stand on the freezing, windy deck for four hours because I felt 100 times worse down below. Yes, when I got warm blankets put on me I shivered uncontrollably for an hour and a half. Yes, my car had a better time than I did on the ferry. Yes, I feel terrible because I want to support the enterprise and the friendly staff, but I don't know if I could try that again. But don't let me stop you. Just be sensible and take some drugs.
Point four: I got to spend the night with my Granny in Crystal Valley, recovering, listening to the wind, taking a walk around the yard, picking some asparagus, and wriggling into the quiet, creaky barn through a loose board. It was very restorative.
Point five: I was able to be very helpful at dance recital; the stage manager and I have a neat synergy backstage, and she's so organized it makes my job of crisis control and dancer-guiding easy. Mr. Mark's theme this year was 007, and everything seemed unusually tight and entertaining. A cancan skirt went flying, but it's all fun.
Point six: I got to go read on the dock for a bit, like old times, getting sunburnt, but enjoying the peace and birdsounds of the lake.
Point seven: My Dad and I had an intense discussion about poetry scansion.
Point eight: My Mom and I conducted tutorials on the computer-photo-printer.
Point nine: I arrived back home to an almost-empty fridge and the desperate need to do laundry.
Point ten: Looking at a super sunny week. Hooray!

Avacious, where are you?

...carrying an angel
...hearing sweet little sighs
...sinking hands deep in piles of wool
...crossing a lake
...sneaking into a barn
...sending little spies onstage
...coming home soon

Good Haul

Yesterday I went shopping with my buddy Tessa, up to Franklin Park. We hit five of the most girlie stores (in order: Victoria's Secret, Windsor, Charlotte Russe, Forever 21, and Wet Seal), and tried things on in every one. I think we both bought things in every one, too. We returned home six hours after we left, each of us heavily laden with parcels. And you know what? No buyer's remorse. Not for me, anyway. I like everything I bought and am excited to wear everything. I forgot how fun it is to just marathon clothing shop with a girlfriend, and how it helps you make decisions. There is a dress I'm not absolutely positive about simply for occasion's sake, but Tessa really liked it, and if someone ever asks me out to dinner, I'll be good to go.
Items purchased by me include:
bras and undies (duh)
pair of VS Pink shorts
3 dresses
zip short-sleeve hoodie with strawberries
black blazer with scoop collar
jean skirt
jeans
t-shirt with birds
cotton black and white blouse
wooly hat that matches a scarf I have (3 dollars!)
pink t-shirt that says I Love the Queen (which I made the girl take off the mannequin!)
Pink jellies!
We also had pretzels!
Day=awesome

Little Dances of Excitement

Something amazing happened to me last night!

You may remember that I lost my class ring from high school, which was tremendously sad, and I've been thinking about it a lot since my ten-year reunion is approaching. I looked all over for it, and so did my Mom, who can find anything I lose.
And then, last night, I decided to clean my bathroom literally from top to bottom, in the beginnings of my "spring" cleaning blitzing. As I began to pull things off a shelf, I found one of my makeup bags, which I was pretty sure had my theater makeup in it, and also a box of bobby pins. I opened the box up, and...
MY CLASS RING WAS INSIDE! AAAAAHHHHHH!

I was so excited I called my mother.

So, I haven't seen the show, but I finally broke down and bought the CD for Wicked this weekend. I had a project to finish and also had the song Popular stuck in my head (which I really have only heard a couple of times, in comparison to Defying Gravity, which is on my Shuffle). I want to see the show, but the last opportunity involved twenty-odd students, and that's not how I want to see a show for the first time.
But the CD is way fun; I like Idina Menzel, but there's something about Kristin Chenoweth that I adore, and I can't figure it out. It's not that she's cute, because ordinarily that just makes me cranky. She's just entertaining.
And my project got done. Tra la!

In the life of Avacious, important breaking news

The website tells me there is a LUSH coming to Novi, which shaves twenty minutes off my trip to Troy, which is the next closest. Also, there is one coming to Ohio, but as it is in Beachwood, which is two hours and fifteen minutes away, Novi is still our best bet. Know what else is in Novi? A Delia's. Much like Ikea in Canton, LUSH and Delia's will now be "practically on the way home" to EL. It adds, like, half an hour, that's all. Get into it! Face masks for me more often!
You may now return to your normally scheduled (and probably more important) news.

In the theater: Five Films, as tagged by Steve

Five of my most memorable moviegoing experiences...or at least what comes to mind first. I am intentionally not listing the Lord of the Rings, Indiana Jones, Star Wars and Trek, and Harry Potter, and maybe a few others, because those are all among my favorite films, and I remember seeing most of them in the theater at some point, but it isn't really fair to other great films in my life because they are pretty obviously awesome, and a bit predictable in my list. Also, I never saw many of my claimed favorites in a theater. So this might be a "what you may not know about me" styled list.

1. Willow (1988). I was nine-and-a-half, and my friend Katie's mom took us, her brother, and my sister to see this film at the mall theater, when tickets were cheap. This is a time when my fear of dogs was at its most intense, and the initial moments of the film with the black devil dogs were terrifying to me. I still have nightmarish images in my mind that I don't think are quite in the movie, including an elaborate sort of kennel. Katie and I proceeded to spend at least a half hour throughout the film out of the theater, "going to the bathroom" as code for "too scared to stay in our seats." By the time the two-headed puddle monster started erupting flame, I knew that this was going to be one of my favorite movies, and genres, ever, but I didn't see the full thing until at least a year later.
2. Fantasia (1990). I was 11 or 12. I was dancing heavily. I liked classical music. I liked cartoons. Into my life came the most amazing combination of some of my favorite things in existence, Fantasia on its 50th anniversary. The pure play of color and shape, the dancing fairies and fish and mushrooms, the hilarity of an ostrich doing plies, the magnificence of Leopold Stokowski...no matter how you slice it, this film rocked. I made sure I received the video (it and Jaws are amongst my first videos that belonged only to me), and I also have the soundtrack on cassette--before they'd fixed the error on the box switching Rite of Spring and the Pastoral Symphony. During my teenage life, I spent many a happy hour watching my video and eating a bagel with peanut butter and drinking chocolate milk. I am cheating here because I don't have vivid memories of seeing this in the theater, but I think both my parents were there, and I was pretty excited, and it was so formative on my experience that I include it anyway.
3. Jurassic Park (1993). I was 14. I saw this movie four times in the theater, which has never happened before or since. Not only that, but my Dad saw it multiple times as well, which is absolutely unheard of from someone who goes to the movies maybe once a year. I was deliciously scared in a way that I had never been before, but also stupefyingly amazed by the combination of live modeling and effects for the dinosaurs--impressed in a way that I have never been by any subsequent film that uses CGI. This is the only film that comes readily to mind in which CGI looks real. I hate when films all focus on "doing stuff" and exciting the eye, instead of how it actually looks, which is invariably unrealistic and therefore dull to me. These dinosaurs looked alive, and therefore so much more like they might rip someone's arm off when the scene ends.
4. X-Files (1998). I have a confession to make: I have no idea who I saw this movie with. If you were with me, fess up...Sarah? Before you left for grad school, maybe? This was right after my first year of college. All I know is, the bee sting scene nearly made my heart stop with anticipation. SO CLOSE! Scully's "Had you big time," Mulder's "Those could be giant Jiffy Pop poppers"...neverending fun, but also awesome in that it was a turning point for the characters and a point of continuity for the series, between seasons. It was like a gift.
5. Crash (2005). While by no stretch of the imagination my favorite movie ever (nor have I even seen it since the first time), this movie stands out in that I can remember every detail of seeing it. Michelle and I had just had lunch at Biaggi's in Levis, and we trundled on to the theater. Afterward, as we left, without looking at each other, Michelle lit up a cig and I started bawling. I cried so hard, and had no idea why...well, that's not true. I knew why, but it also just impressed me that it started of its own volition. We finally looked at each other and just sort of laughed in a "look how helpless we both are right now" way. I was not even remotely surprised when Crash won the Oscar.

What have we learned? This is harder than I expected. I remember seeing films, but not the circumstances of seeing them; likewise, movies I think I should have seen in the theater I can't remember seeing (like The Neverending Story). Probably a "movies my friends introduced me to" would be easier. Maybe another day.

London: Reflections on Packing

In one of the quieter moments of my trip, I made a list of all the things I was especially glad I brought, didn't bring, and things I was sorry I'd brought, didn't bring to London. So, in the interests of edifying the masses:

Things I wish I’d brought:
my black quilted jacket, or a cardigan (if even just for when my hotel room was chilly)
light gloves
slipper socks

Things I wish I hadn’t brought:
sunglasses (I wore them a total of one time, before I'd left Ohio)
jewelry (scarves worked better)
Personal alarm (I know, I know...it was safer to have this, but it's awfully heavy in a purse)

Some things I was glad I brought/bought for the trip
TINKERBELL PANTS (they're cute, they're fleece, and I wore them on the planes...I was a little sheepish about not wearing "big girl" clothes, but I'm serious when I say these really pulled me together in bad moments)
My Shuffle (trains and Tubes are boring, and everyone else has one, so why not you? Look like a native!)
Coat, with deep pockets
Clean and Clear strips for washing face (bought in a tiny plastic case)
Shampoo bar (contained in a small tin, Lush)
T-shirt gauntlets
Scarves
PASHMINA (not only was it very London, but as the weather was chilly...
Knee socks

Things I considered and was glad I didn’t bring:
More tank tops/t-shirts (as it is, I wore four shirts on the plane ride home to save packing space)
More books (who has time to read anyway)
Sunscreen (completely useless)