All You Need Is Love: January 2009

Thursday, January 29, 2009

If You Can't Laugh at Yourself, Who Can You Laugh At?

I just found this article on CNN talking about an apparently popular blog (I had never heard of it, but that is no surprise) called Stuff White People Like. Is it mildly offensive? Perhaps. Is it funny? Definitely. I think people who can't laugh at themselves once in awhile have no sense of humor. Basically it is mocking the culture of middle class white people. Ok, so while my income may not be of middle class level, I do consider myself to be a part of it, due to upbringing, tastes, and education. And I think this website is hilarious. Out of 120 things (and growing) that white people like, here is what just screamed my name-

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Landmark Today!

Ok, here is my disclaimer: For those of you who are not interested in the ravings of a hopelessly smitten mommy, do not read on. You will not be interested.

For all those who are left reading: I gave James his first cooking lesson today!! I have waited for this moment from the day I learned I was pregnant. I. Love. To. Cook. And I want to share the fun with any inquisitive little person who will help.

I woke up this morning and just knew it was a pancake day. It is Sunday after all, and I was very hungry. After getting James up, I proceeded in the general pancake direction. James is now of the age where he doesn't want to be left out of anything, so when he saw me in the kitchen, he pulled up his little stool and situated it right next to the bowl. (ah, the stool, with that little stool, James can be so independent, but he can also get into sooo much trouble. The stool and I have a love/hate relationship.) Then he proceeded to pull out a very dirty spoon from the sink, and headed for my pancake mix. AHHHHH! (I say AHHHH! alot when James is in the kitchen,)

I decided then and there that at the age of 2 and three months James was ready to be my new kitchen assistant. So I handed him a clean spoon, and let him go to. All in all, things went very well. There were no bowls over-turned, no flinging of batter, and no temper tantrums. And James behaved pretty well too.

I guess it is not the absolute first time James has gotten to help in the kitchen. Apparently he helps his sitter make cookies once in a while too. But this is a landmark occasion for me, as I plan to have James be a world class chef by the age of 10. Or at least be able to make me dinner.

And for those of you who have seen Jay's blog recently, James is also going to be a head-banger in a rock and roll band.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

My Collection Is Nearly Complete!

I went to the goodwill to other day to pick up some good reads for finals week next week. (I get to sit around for 1 1/2 hours and watch kids take their finals) and I found one of my most favoritest feminist books! It is called Women Who Run With Wolves. Basically, it takes different myths and stories about women from different cultures and analyzes them psychologically. Of course I had to buy it, it is one of those books I just pick up idly and wander through at will, with no thought to reading chronologcally. After I got home, I realized seemed to be starting a collection on feminist literature. Thus far, I have The Feminine Mystique, Dance of the Dissident Daughter, and now Women Who Run With Wolves.

Although I do have to take some of the things I read in these books with a grain of salt, (no I have never danced around a campfire, and probably never will) ultimately they help me out when I am feeling a little down on myself, or inferior to the world at large.

Yesterday I read a review about a new book, that I would absolutely love to read! It is called Feel Good Naked, and it is all about accepting yourself for who you are, and not who you wished you were. Oh boy do I struggle with that one. Anyway, I had to raise an eyebrow at the picture that accompanied the interview with the author- it showed a silhouette of a woman who obviously didn't have any weight issues,- long skinny legs, nipped in waist, etc.

I have a feeling the book's author didn't pick out that picture.

Anyway, I just thought I would share three of my favorite books to all those out there who want to get in touch with their feminist or wolfish selves.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

It's Gardening Time!

One of the classes I transcribe for is a horticulture class. The students spend most of their time planning out a garden with vegetables, fruits, flowers, etc. Well, since I didn't have any typing to do during that time, I wanted to plan out MY OWN garden. And I actually have a yard now!!

I have had a garden since I was the ripe old age of five. My dad, the ex-farmer that he was, liked to have gardens everywhere we lived, and I think that must have rubbed off on me. I don't remember if it was his idea, or if I just drove him crazy enough, but one day he leased out a spot of his vegetable bed to me and my sister.

I planted alyssum, red potatoes, and gladiolas. And I still remember what I planted in my very first garden, over twenty years ago. I can't remember the day to day details of my life, or where I put my car keys, or to take my computer charger to work with me (that was an awful moment), but manohman do I have a memory for plants.

I loved my garden. The alyssum was my favorite I think because it smelled sweet, but I loved the glads and the potato too. Then the worst thing happened. My dad dug. up. my. potato. He thought it was a weed. And I still frikkin' remember this. But, I have a lot of respect for him because he told me about it. If I had dug up little James' most precious plant, I probably would have blamed the cats.

Anyway, that first garden was enough to get me hooked. As we moved to house after house, I would wait for my dad to establish his garden turf, and then either share or pick my own little spot. Having little regard for vegetables, I mostly grew flowers or strawberries.

You know how teenage girls quite often spend all their money on clothes or make-up, etc? Well, I blew all my cash on plants. And I would wheedle plants out of my mother. Then, when I realized that you can't grow things in winter, I started an indoor plant collection. At one time, I had a Boston fern that reached from the ceiling to the floor.

I guess it's no wonder I eventually received a degree in horticulture, but it took me about 5 years of college to come to that conclusion.

Anyway back to the present. I grew a few things last year in my yard. The nasturtiums looked spectacular until the aphids got to them, and my cherry tomatoes were prolifically out of this world. THIS YEAR I am being a bit more organized. I have improved my soil, learned how much sun I have, and pretty much killed all the grass from neglect.

I am ready to plant some veggies.

After dreaming for years of having my own space for a whole growing season, I have a pretty good idea of what I want. I don't want to grow anything I can get at the grocery store for cheap. I want purple, red, and yellow carrots. I want swiss chard. And I think I will also experiment with artichokes and sweet potatoes. Oh yes, and of course lots and lots of basil and tomatoes.

I may grow some strawberries in my strawberry pot. I also need to design my shady backporch space.

I have also become a very cheap gardener. Part of that is money constraints, part of that is the challenge. I learned in one of my classes in school that you can buy a grocery store sweet potato, cut it up into small pieces and grow several plants. I so have to try that. I will also have to try growing my own ginger and horseradish from grocery store plants.

I am a strong believer in taking cuttings and root starts from other people's plants and growing my own. Whether they know what I did or not. I could go on and on about all the things I want to do in my yard the size of a postage stamp. Compost, Thai basil, ferns, hostas, etc. but I think I can see my blog follower's eyes beginning to glaze over. Not everyone gets as excited about compost as I do.

I will keep this blog updated though on my successes and not so successes throughout the gardening season. Happy Gardening!

Friday, January 16, 2009

I think one of my favorite gadgets on my computer's homepage has to be the Discovery News widget. Every day I can peruse it to see new scientific advances, who went extinct today, and who was recently exhumed from the grave

Yesterday I read this article, about the possibility of invisible cloaking material. I have to admit I was pretty fascinated. I continued to be fascinated by the idea for the rest of the evening and today, with thinking about everything I would like to make invisible.

1. Head Gear was the first thing that came to my mind. I don't know why, I never had to wear head gear braces as a kid, and I don't even think orthodontists still use them.
But, come on, if you have ever seen a teenager who had to wear headgear, you know you felt totally sorry for them.

I realize head gear is probably about the most random thing one could think of in regards to invisibility. I can't help what goes on inside my head, people.

2. This led me into the idea of make-up concealer. What better way to conceal that awful zit the size of my big toe, than to conceal it with invisibility?

3. Next my line of thought led me into even better reasoning. If one could conceal zits, what else could be concealed with invisibility? How about love handles??? Or all those other wobbly bits we all hate? Way more comfortable than control top nylons or girdles. Just add a couple strips of invisibility lining to your sides, throw on that bikini and wow!

I really really want invisibility strips. Especially after all the m&ms I just ate while writing this.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

My Saturday of Disrepute

I guess I should start out by saying, for those of you who are wondering, my week went great!!! I am really enjoying my new job, picking out nice clothes each day, and learning really cool stuff from the classes I transcribe for. Yea!!! Working full time is also really good for my ego. I feel much better about myself this week than I have in months.

Anyway, onto my Saturday. The whole gang just came back from the Oregon Food and Wine Festival. We only spent about 1 1/2 hours there, there really wasn't much to see. Here were the highlights of our visit:

1. Off roading through a puddle the size of a lake. I loved Jay's comment on that "if this is all I do today, it is time well spent."

2. Conned the Catholics out of a lollipop for James- I think they could tell I just didn't have a lick of interest in their preschool (no pun intended) but how can you say no to a two year old? They were oddly reluctant to hand the lollipops out.

3. I think I insulted a nun. I am not sure if she was a nun, but she was running the Mount Angel Abbey concession. I just asked if the Abbey was still running, and she looked absolutely horrified that I would even ask. Hey, I am kinda new to the area. I wasn't going to add to the insult by asking if she was a nun, she probably would have put a Catholic curse on me.

4. But the absolute best part was when we drove off without paying for parking. There was no sign that parking was three dollars. No one stopped us when we came in, they just kind of stared. As we left we saw people paying, so Jay waited until they were distracted and pulled out. Freakkin' awesome. I have to say though paying three dollars to park in a gravel lot to see a rather bland festival is just a rip off.

Overall, we were very disappointed in what was available there. This whole region of Oregon has a tremendous amount of Mom and Pop operations for cheese, dairies, wineries, orchards, etc, but really there was not much to see. I was expecting a variety of jams, maybe some buffalo meat, and an assortment of very soft cheeses. All they really had were wine samplings and SHAM-WOW. Has anybody else heard of SHAM-WOW? You aren't missing much.

If I had actually paid for tickets I would have been extremely disappointed, but Jay got some from work for free, and hey since we didn't pay for parking, it was quality family time well-spent.

Thursday, January 1, 2009

A New Year

Some people think that New Year's Resolutions are silly. I happen to be one of those people. I guess I just feel that if you want to turn over a new leaf, change your life, make '09 your bestest, skinniest, richest year ever, (according to Women's Magazine) you should take a cue from Nike and 'just do it' without waiting for January 1st to roll around.

I am also very cynical.

However, I do feel that I am starting a new life in many ways this year. In some ways, I feel that I have come full circle, right back to where I was in January last year. That is, embarking on a new, exciting career, from which I hope to gain happiness and fulfillment. Or at least a nice check twice a month.

I do think this time around, I am a little bit wiser, little bit skinnier, quite a bit poorer, and more medicated than I was this time last year.

So, as I have finished my training, will be working full time, will be dressing rather nicely on a daily basis, and will have to get my butt in full organizational, working-mom mode again, I suppose it would be appropriate to share some of my desires for the direction of my life to take. (I just can't bring myself to call them New Year's Resolutions)

1. I want to volunteer- either at Oregon Gardens, a women's shelter, or possibly the YMCA

2. Find a weekly exercise class to join, and continue to work on weight loss.

3. Get some serious stress-management skills, be it meditation, yoga, or just learning to take a deep breath, before I blow up at my family.

4. Do little things on a daily basis to keep my house cleaner, so I don't completely freak out once a month and practically kill myself trying to clean the entire place.

5. Eat healthier, but also eat more cookies. In other words, eat more fruits and vegetables, and indulge occasionally without guilt. I think indulging without guilt is a very good thing.

If I was going to make little nit-picky goals, I suppose they would be:

1. Organize my yarn, possibly by weight, or use, or ideas to use them. I haven't decided yet, but the pile is getting kind of ridiculous.

2. Quit biting my cuticles. It just wouldn't be the new year, if I didn't resolve to to quit this ongoing habit. (I have been trying to quit picking at my fingers for at least a good 15 years now) I am picking at them even as we speak.

3. Eat breakfast.

4. Play more piano.

5. Finish leftovers before they go bad.

So I guess that's it. My goals for this year, and life in general. If anyone has any suggestions for not biting fingernails and cuticles, I would love to hear them, because I have tried everything from taping my finger tips to painting them with clear nail polish. And man are my cuticles a mess.

All You Need Is Love