148/365 - IJ
Big curly hair, tiny waist, beautiful body. I wanted to be you. It wasn't until you were about to leave the country for good that I told you so. You wrapped your arms around me as I cried. I never knew you until too late.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
45 x 365 #147
147/365 - AS
You have tiny feet. When I first saw all those shoes lined up outside your door, it was all I could think about. Your personality is so large, your work is so big, but your dog weighs more than you do. Your feet are tiny.
You have tiny feet. When I first saw all those shoes lined up outside your door, it was all I could think about. Your personality is so large, your work is so big, but your dog weighs more than you do. Your feet are tiny.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
45 x 365 #146
146/365 - SK
You wrote such kind comments on my paper, I was taken by surprise. I was not used to such good will. I recently saw you at a conference. I hid from you, knowing you'd be kind to me, but knowing I had let you down.
You wrote such kind comments on my paper, I was taken by surprise. I was not used to such good will. I recently saw you at a conference. I hid from you, knowing you'd be kind to me, but knowing I had let you down.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Joan Rivers, Ashton Kutcher, and that lady from the Progressive ads
I've been watching more television of late. Mostly this is because my dear husband has been working shifts at his part-time job more frequently and these leaves me with oh so precious alone hours in our apartment during which I watch bad television and read trashy romance novels with impunity. Don't be alarmed, though, he does get something out of it. Tonight, for instance, I made the boy homemade chocolate chip cookies. Because I'm nice like that.
So, I now can make a few observations about television. None of these things relate to anything else except they have to do with me sitting on the couch.
Joan Rivers is currently on Celebrity Apprentice. Up until this week's episode, I must admit I was warming up to her. I thought she was very nice and kind to her fellow contestants almost to a fault. The only exception to this was the way she treated Annie Duke, another "celebrity" on the show who Joan Rivers clearly does not like on a very personal level. I get this, since sometimes I don't like people.
But this week she acted like a spoiled brat and all of a sudden, I was disappointed in her. Her daughter, Melissa Rivers, is also on the show, and when the younger Rivers was fired by Donald Trump, both Rivers ladies ran around screeching at everyone. Then Joan Rivers, who was NOT fired, said she was not coming back again since her daughter got fired. All of her daughter's less than wonderful characteristics are all explained. She's a spoiled daughter of a spoiled celebrity.
The woman on the Progressive Insurance ads? She's hot. She's funny. I adore her. I realize she's a bit of a polarizing figure, but Progressive Lady (her name is Stephanie Courtney) gets only a thumbs up in this household. The boy and I laugh hysterically every time we see those commercials even after the fifteenth watching. Plus, she was Gwen, the filing clerk on Angel, so our Joss Whedon love is satisfied by watching these commercials.
On a note about advertising, Nikon made a smart move by hiring Ashton Kutcher to do its ads. I was not convinced that it was the best decision at first, but damn it, he's charming on these commercials. I don't find myself annoyed by him, as I usually am, thinking about the Punk'd, trucker hat wearing Ashton, but I find myself endeared by these adorable commercials. Nice job, Nikon.
Oh, where to start with Joss Whedon's Dollhouse? I want to like the show. I really do. I find the actor who plays Topher to be somewhat irresistible in his awkward computer nerd way. I find Eliza Dusku to be wooden and incapable of doing more than two facial emotions (vacant or badass, no in between, no subtle emotions). I find the writing to be occasionally hilarious. I find the writing to be occasionally expositional in a bungling way, unnecessary explanations for the loyal watchers. I find the former FBI agent character to be really dumb. I find the actor who plays the character to be hot, practically drool worthy. I found last week's episode to be quite thought provoking, but I feel less and less like the writers are ever going to take a stance about anything. I appreciate the grey area of life as much as anyone else, but at some point the show is going to have to address a few of the ethical questions it raises.
Shawn Johnson is so darn cute. I can't resist her perky Olympian self when she's dancing on Dancing with the Stars.
So, I now can make a few observations about television. None of these things relate to anything else except they have to do with me sitting on the couch.
Joan Rivers is currently on Celebrity Apprentice. Up until this week's episode, I must admit I was warming up to her. I thought she was very nice and kind to her fellow contestants almost to a fault. The only exception to this was the way she treated Annie Duke, another "celebrity" on the show who Joan Rivers clearly does not like on a very personal level. I get this, since sometimes I don't like people.
But this week she acted like a spoiled brat and all of a sudden, I was disappointed in her. Her daughter, Melissa Rivers, is also on the show, and when the younger Rivers was fired by Donald Trump, both Rivers ladies ran around screeching at everyone. Then Joan Rivers, who was NOT fired, said she was not coming back again since her daughter got fired. All of her daughter's less than wonderful characteristics are all explained. She's a spoiled daughter of a spoiled celebrity.
The woman on the Progressive Insurance ads? She's hot. She's funny. I adore her. I realize she's a bit of a polarizing figure, but Progressive Lady (her name is Stephanie Courtney) gets only a thumbs up in this household. The boy and I laugh hysterically every time we see those commercials even after the fifteenth watching. Plus, she was Gwen, the filing clerk on Angel, so our Joss Whedon love is satisfied by watching these commercials.
On a note about advertising, Nikon made a smart move by hiring Ashton Kutcher to do its ads. I was not convinced that it was the best decision at first, but damn it, he's charming on these commercials. I don't find myself annoyed by him, as I usually am, thinking about the Punk'd, trucker hat wearing Ashton, but I find myself endeared by these adorable commercials. Nice job, Nikon.
Oh, where to start with Joss Whedon's Dollhouse? I want to like the show. I really do. I find the actor who plays Topher to be somewhat irresistible in his awkward computer nerd way. I find Eliza Dusku to be wooden and incapable of doing more than two facial emotions (vacant or badass, no in between, no subtle emotions). I find the writing to be occasionally hilarious. I find the writing to be occasionally expositional in a bungling way, unnecessary explanations for the loyal watchers. I find the former FBI agent character to be really dumb. I find the actor who plays the character to be hot, practically drool worthy. I found last week's episode to be quite thought provoking, but I feel less and less like the writers are ever going to take a stance about anything. I appreciate the grey area of life as much as anyone else, but at some point the show is going to have to address a few of the ethical questions it raises.
Shawn Johnson is so darn cute. I can't resist her perky Olympian self when she's dancing on Dancing with the Stars.
45 x 365 #145
145/365 - LG
A young college professor who answered "cool" to every question. You chose your readings with a careful mind. I still refer to them regularly. But I refuse to say the word cool in a classroom, always thinking back to how we mocked you.
A young college professor who answered "cool" to every question. You chose your readings with a careful mind. I still refer to them regularly. But I refuse to say the word cool in a classroom, always thinking back to how we mocked you.
Friday, April 24, 2009
45 x 365 #144
144/365 - MH
A funny, charming little man, always ready with a sarcastic quip and a smile. No one could win in a logic battle with you and we could never figure out a math question that could stump your brain. A calming presence in a tumultuous place.
A funny, charming little man, always ready with a sarcastic quip and a smile. No one could win in a logic battle with you and we could never figure out a math question that could stump your brain. A calming presence in a tumultuous place.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
More Couch to 5K Fun!
Hey, remember at the end of the summer last year when I started that fabulous Couch to 5K program? Well, we basically got to the end of it, starting running for 30 minutes at a time for about a week or two and then had to stop because, you know, it started snowing and crap.
Anyway, we decided to start earlier in the season this year. So on Tuesday morning of this week, we dusted off our running shoes, set our alarm for an unreasonable time in the morning, and began all over again. (No, working out more doesn't mean the boy is consuming more calories, but I can not become overly involved in my husband's dietary intake. We'll pretend that this is true. Even though I count his every calorie. I must be stopped. This running won't build muscle either. Why are we running? The dietitian would be very angry with us.)
This running this is a lot easier the second time around. Seriously. Last time I thought my body was going to revolt. This time I know my body is going to revolt, but that it's only temporary. I had the same things happen to me during week one that happened last time (sore inner thighs, sore abs), but you know what is better? We are already running faster and going farther than we did last year. We are less likely to get the dreaded stitch in our sides because I think we are better at regulating our breaths.
We knew when we started it so late last season that we wouldn't get to 30 minutes and do it for a long time. But I feel like doing it last year was really fruitful in that it conditioned our bodies in a way that they wouldn't be conditioned otherwise. I hope that makes sense.
I won't be posting weekly updates like I did last time around, but I might do another wrap-up post at the end of the seven weeks to let you know how I did. I'm actually quite happy that I posted so much the first time because I feel like it will be really similar and I like knowing ahead of time what my pain level will be!!
Running 4 Eva!!
Anyway, we decided to start earlier in the season this year. So on Tuesday morning of this week, we dusted off our running shoes, set our alarm for an unreasonable time in the morning, and began all over again. (No, working out more doesn't mean the boy is consuming more calories, but I can not become overly involved in my husband's dietary intake. We'll pretend that this is true. Even though I count his every calorie. I must be stopped. This running won't build muscle either. Why are we running? The dietitian would be very angry with us.)
This running this is a lot easier the second time around. Seriously. Last time I thought my body was going to revolt. This time I know my body is going to revolt, but that it's only temporary. I had the same things happen to me during week one that happened last time (sore inner thighs, sore abs), but you know what is better? We are already running faster and going farther than we did last year. We are less likely to get the dreaded stitch in our sides because I think we are better at regulating our breaths.
We knew when we started it so late last season that we wouldn't get to 30 minutes and do it for a long time. But I feel like doing it last year was really fruitful in that it conditioned our bodies in a way that they wouldn't be conditioned otherwise. I hope that makes sense.
I won't be posting weekly updates like I did last time around, but I might do another wrap-up post at the end of the seven weeks to let you know how I did. I'm actually quite happy that I posted so much the first time because I feel like it will be really similar and I like knowing ahead of time what my pain level will be!!
Running 4 Eva!!
45 x 365 #143
143/365 - HW
Skinny man, bowed legs, a powerful voice. You kept sane listening to beginners play band instruments day after day, year after year. When I asked you for a letter of recommendation, you told me how happy you were to do it. And I believed you.
Skinny man, bowed legs, a powerful voice. You kept sane listening to beginners play band instruments day after day, year after year. When I asked you for a letter of recommendation, you told me how happy you were to do it. And I believed you.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
45 x 365 #142
142/365 - WF
The spoiled only son of doting parents. When you moved to Chicago for college, living off your student loans, you paid for an apartment on Michigan Avenue, complete with granite countertops and private security. You're going to be paying off those debts until you're sixty.
The spoiled only son of doting parents. When you moved to Chicago for college, living off your student loans, you paid for an apartment on Michigan Avenue, complete with granite countertops and private security. You're going to be paying off those debts until you're sixty.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
45 x 365 #141
141/365 - SF
A tiny woman with hunched shoulders. Stress marks etched into your face, the result of living with a chronically ill spouse for years. A nasty habit of gossiping and telling tales out of school. I defend you, thinking you do that for stress relief.
A tiny woman with hunched shoulders. Stress marks etched into your face, the result of living with a chronically ill spouse for years. A nasty habit of gossiping and telling tales out of school. I defend you, thinking you do that for stress relief.
Monday, April 20, 2009
45 x 365 #140
140/365 - BF
A giant man who is always packing heat. When you leaned over at Thanksgiving dinner and pulled a handgun out of your jacket, I gasped and flinched. I'm not sure why you feel your life is always in jeopardy, but you're always prepared for self-defense.
A giant man who is always packing heat. When you leaned over at Thanksgiving dinner and pulled a handgun out of your jacket, I gasped and flinched. I'm not sure why you feel your life is always in jeopardy, but you're always prepared for self-defense.
Food, food, food. Is that all you ever talk about?
When my friend JN had her first baby, he was diagnosed with failure to thrive when he just wouldn't gain weight. She felt like she had, as a mother, let him down. No matter that she had done every possible thing that she should have, no matter that she had been taking him to the doctor every day, no matter that she was the best mother she could have been, there was no telling her that her son was going to be just fine and they would fix it. Her guilt was powerful. It leaked through the phone lines in waves that made me incredibly sad for her. I did my best to comfort her, but the only thing that really did comfort her was when her son, put on a powerful cocktail of drugs and specially prepared foods, finally started to gain weight.
BB has an uncle who is morbidly obese. His aunt, the wife of his uncle, told me at Christmastime, that she was heartily sick and tired of being told that he needs to lose weight. She shrugged and I could see the pain in her eyes as she told me that it was no longer up to her. He has to take the appropriate steps to weight loss and there's nothing more she can do. She supports him and whatever healthy steps he wants, but there's nothing left for her to do. Her guilt was also palpable. As I put my arms around her, she sighed heavily.
I tell you these stories because a dietitian told us that my husband needs to gain twenty pounds. I feel an intense guilt. I don't want to go into the details as it's not my story to tell really, but I will tell you that I don't know what to do.
We are a foodcentric family and this latest bit of news may just put me over the edge. And it might cause my husband to end up killing me as I have started monitoring his food intake in a slightly obsessive manner.
Last week, after a battery of scary and uncomfortable tests, we learned that he is fine. He is healthy. No doctor once said anything about his weight, but this dietitian, she did. And that's all I can hear in my head when I think about this past week.
Just as my friend JN couldn't be comforted, there is nothing anyone can say to make me feel better about this. It's as if some strange biological impulse has been let loose in my brain. My man is hungry! I need to feed him!! I think about his food all day long. I think about what we can eat. I think about what he is (or isn't) eating whenever I am distracted in the middle of the day.
Thank goodness my husband is sane and hasn't let this take over his life. Maybe I should take a lesson fro him.
BB has an uncle who is morbidly obese. His aunt, the wife of his uncle, told me at Christmastime, that she was heartily sick and tired of being told that he needs to lose weight. She shrugged and I could see the pain in her eyes as she told me that it was no longer up to her. He has to take the appropriate steps to weight loss and there's nothing more she can do. She supports him and whatever healthy steps he wants, but there's nothing left for her to do. Her guilt was also palpable. As I put my arms around her, she sighed heavily.
I tell you these stories because a dietitian told us that my husband needs to gain twenty pounds. I feel an intense guilt. I don't want to go into the details as it's not my story to tell really, but I will tell you that I don't know what to do.
We are a foodcentric family and this latest bit of news may just put me over the edge. And it might cause my husband to end up killing me as I have started monitoring his food intake in a slightly obsessive manner.
Last week, after a battery of scary and uncomfortable tests, we learned that he is fine. He is healthy. No doctor once said anything about his weight, but this dietitian, she did. And that's all I can hear in my head when I think about this past week.
Just as my friend JN couldn't be comforted, there is nothing anyone can say to make me feel better about this. It's as if some strange biological impulse has been let loose in my brain. My man is hungry! I need to feed him!! I think about his food all day long. I think about what we can eat. I think about what he is (or isn't) eating whenever I am distracted in the middle of the day.
Thank goodness my husband is sane and hasn't let this take over his life. Maybe I should take a lesson fro him.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
45 x 365 #139
139/365 - DS
A lot of people dislike you, but I am amused by your pretentiousness. You think highly of yourself, but you are brilliant, so you probably should. You're tactless, but often correct. You come off as a jerk, but I think you're just a bad communicator.
A lot of people dislike you, but I am amused by your pretentiousness. You think highly of yourself, but you are brilliant, so you probably should. You're tactless, but often correct. You come off as a jerk, but I think you're just a bad communicator.
Friday, April 17, 2009
45 x 365 #138
138/365 - PS
An older gentleman, a pretend progressive. You rail about the number of cars on the road today and gave away your tickets to the opera because the parking situation was bad. When asked why you didn't take the bus, you looked at me with disdain.
An older gentleman, a pretend progressive. You rail about the number of cars on the road today and gave away your tickets to the opera because the parking situation was bad. When asked why you didn't take the bus, you looked at me with disdain.
Thursday, April 09, 2009
45 x 365 #137
137/365 - PS
I always found people who received each one of their higher education degrees at the same institution puzzling. As I talked to you about this, I could see that even you were confused by how your life turned out. Your life was not your intention.
I always found people who received each one of their higher education degrees at the same institution puzzling. As I talked to you about this, I could see that even you were confused by how your life turned out. Your life was not your intention.
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
45 x 365 #136
136/365 - MK
Your glasses kept sliding down your nose and you'd push them, always leaving a smear from your sweaty fingers. Your clothes were always slightly rumpled, but you cared not. You were too busy learning and plotting your escape from your large family and small town.
Your glasses kept sliding down your nose and you'd push them, always leaving a smear from your sweaty fingers. Your clothes were always slightly rumpled, but you cared not. You were too busy learning and plotting your escape from your large family and small town.
My List
So my list for the next two days looks like this:
Wednesday morning - clean bedroom, take box to Salvation Army
Wednesday afternoon - first bike ride of the season, finish putting together box for best friend, call dress shop where dress is on consignment
Thursday morning - laundry
Thursday afternoon - meet with friend and her baby and try to resist eating baby's cheeks (said baby is actually walking and talking now, making it quite clear she does not want the crazy lady eating her cheeks, but...well, maybe she'll change her mind)
And I have failed in completing my Wednesday morning list!! The box is still sitting in our living room!!
In Chicago this past weekend, we stayed with one of BB's cousins. While there, we noticed that they have a disturbing lack of stuff. We have four bookshelves packed with books and a fifth that is mostly filled with cookbooks, old political science journals, and guitar paraphernalia. They had NO bookshelves. Nary a book that I could see in their entire house (albeit we did not enter the master suite)!! How do people live that way?! (They also have a ginormous plasma screen television set that they referred to as "small" a couple of times. It was approximately six times the size of our television and we really didn't know what to say.)
So this created an insane need in me to reorganize the bookshelf on my side of the bedroom. It was...complete disorganized. Between jewelry and JD Robb books, it was a nightmare of epic proportions. So I fixed it. Along the way I realized that the dust bunnies have taken over our house!! I should be embarrassed, I guess, but instead I was impressed that we had managed to overlook these little critters as they took over our entire household. So then I got sidetracked and began scouring our floors with a Swiffer cloth until I had rid the bathroom, hallway, and two bedrooms of these menaces. I have not yet started on our dining/living area, but it is only a matter of time!!
Now I am off to do the fabulous chore of dropping off a box of used clothing at the Salvation Army store down the road before we can begin our first bike ride of the season!!
Wednesday morning - clean bedroom, take box to Salvation Army
Wednesday afternoon - first bike ride of the season, finish putting together box for best friend, call dress shop where dress is on consignment
Thursday morning - laundry
Thursday afternoon - meet with friend and her baby and try to resist eating baby's cheeks (said baby is actually walking and talking now, making it quite clear she does not want the crazy lady eating her cheeks, but...well, maybe she'll change her mind)
And I have failed in completing my Wednesday morning list!! The box is still sitting in our living room!!
In Chicago this past weekend, we stayed with one of BB's cousins. While there, we noticed that they have a disturbing lack of stuff. We have four bookshelves packed with books and a fifth that is mostly filled with cookbooks, old political science journals, and guitar paraphernalia. They had NO bookshelves. Nary a book that I could see in their entire house (albeit we did not enter the master suite)!! How do people live that way?! (They also have a ginormous plasma screen television set that they referred to as "small" a couple of times. It was approximately six times the size of our television and we really didn't know what to say.)
So this created an insane need in me to reorganize the bookshelf on my side of the bedroom. It was...complete disorganized. Between jewelry and JD Robb books, it was a nightmare of epic proportions. So I fixed it. Along the way I realized that the dust bunnies have taken over our house!! I should be embarrassed, I guess, but instead I was impressed that we had managed to overlook these little critters as they took over our entire household. So then I got sidetracked and began scouring our floors with a Swiffer cloth until I had rid the bathroom, hallway, and two bedrooms of these menaces. I have not yet started on our dining/living area, but it is only a matter of time!!
Now I am off to do the fabulous chore of dropping off a box of used clothing at the Salvation Army store down the road before we can begin our first bike ride of the season!!
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
A Tale of Woe! And Spring Break!
Have you ever had that feeling like you know you should be happy and excited and everything's wonderful, but there's that other thing in the back of your mind that's preventing the happy and the excited?
Yeah? You have?
Good. Because that's where I am right now.
Last week sucked. I'm not gonna lie. We flew in and out for the funeral in two days, came back and taught on Friday, then drove to Chicago for the weekend and drove back Sunday night. I am officially on spring break right now, but I can't seem to be happy about my free days.
I am worried.
My darling husband has to go to a fairly well known health clinic not far from here for three days of testing at the beginning of next week. It's routine(ish), but I am a nervous Nellie and this is anxious tummy making stuff.
So things are going to be light around here. I'll post as often as I can and hopefully that'll be quite a bit in the next few days (spring break!), but there are no guarantees.
Yeah? You have?
Good. Because that's where I am right now.
Last week sucked. I'm not gonna lie. We flew in and out for the funeral in two days, came back and taught on Friday, then drove to Chicago for the weekend and drove back Sunday night. I am officially on spring break right now, but I can't seem to be happy about my free days.
I am worried.
My darling husband has to go to a fairly well known health clinic not far from here for three days of testing at the beginning of next week. It's routine(ish), but I am a nervous Nellie and this is anxious tummy making stuff.
So things are going to be light around here. I'll post as often as I can and hopefully that'll be quite a bit in the next few days (spring break!), but there are no guarantees.
45 x 365 #135
135/365 - MA
You tried hard to make me cool. You told me all about the music I should be listening to and the books I should be reading, but I couldn't be bothered. I just wanted you to sit by me and talk to me in that soothing voice.
You tried hard to make me cool. You told me all about the music I should be listening to and the books I should be reading, but I couldn't be bothered. I just wanted you to sit by me and talk to me in that soothing voice.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)