technical difficulties and I get new feet March 15, 2007

I can’t put my flier up on wordpress.  I tried.  Admittedly, my bag of tricks isn’t very deep when it comes to computers, but I’ve exhausted my options and I’m moving on.

Diana and I spent the last couple days in NYC eating well, enjoying the mild weather, and pretending to be New Yorkers.  After I got over the initial shock of being led down dark stairwells (the kind of dark stairwells that people walk down in movies, never to return) to look at handbags (Diana was on the hunt for a new bag) I think Chinatown was my favorite bit.  I got bubble tea :) and we took pictures of fish and vegetables and Chinese grannies with their shopping carts.   Our last activity before starting the arduous trip to the airport was getting foot rubs/reflexology…and it was amazing.  My feet didn’t just feel good, they felt new.  What I wouldn’t give for one of those every time a work a 12.

I picked up The Interpreter of Maladies by  Jhumpa Lahiri at Mary’s apartment.  It’s a collection of vignettes about a collection of Indians living both in the US and India…more a study of human nature than culture.  Somewhat interesting vacation reading and nothing more.

A gastronomic tour of Columbus, Ohio February 3, 2007

I don’t think Stacy expected that I would commandeer our food choices while visiting this weekend, but so far she’s been happy with the arrangement.  Last night we went to the North Star Cafe (thanks for the suggestion Karen) which is such a cool place that they don’t bother having a sign (that made for a *charming* drive up and down High Street) and was still fairly full at 9:30 when we showed up.  I had an amazing Korma bowl with tofu and vegetables and Stac got a Honey Barbeque Burrito.  Lunch today was at Benevolence.  Mary Anne and I once drove an hour and a half out of our way when I moved back from Florida to have lunch there.  Is salad and bread worth an hour and a half drive? Yes, with an emphasis on yes.  We got dessert from a baker at the North Market.  Tomorrow I’ll be back to yogurt and salad, but simple food just gives me an appreciation for good stuff.

highlights and lowlights from the weekend October 23, 2006

Friends who signed up for the Chicago Marathon: Becky, CLC, Randy

Number of times I cried: 1- at the wheelchair racers start
Number of times we met our runners on the course:5

Friends who finished the Chicago Marathon: Becky, CLC, Randy and REBECCA (so proud, so proud of them all)

Number of times I backed into Prouty’s decorative stone wall: 2

Subsequent flat tires: 1

Number of times Zotter strongly suggested that I keep my hair short for the rest of my days: 17

Number of times I woke up and couldn’t remember who was in bed with me: Once Friday (Mary, not Sarah it turns out), once Saturday (CLC)

Making breakfast in Prouty’s amazing kitchen: one of the best mornings ever. (If you and Jim are interested in a live-in cook I’m available in May. I can always go back to nursing, right?)

Hours of sleep Sunday night: 4ish

How I feel right now: drugged

Worth it?: yes, with an emphasis on yes.

an answer to Jim’s question… August 26, 2006

What three countries would I like to visit? Just 3?? For the record, there isn’t a country that I don’t want to see, but these are top of my list.

Ireland: verdant landscapes, the sea, football, pubs and boys with Irish accents.

China: the NW specifically…mountains, fascinating minority groups and Lagman.

Afghanistan: The city of Herat in the southwest was once the seat of Persian culture.

My friends are saavy people, interested in the world…where do you want to go?

19 countries and holding August 25, 2006

I’m sitting in my living room fighting to stay awake…must…make..it…till.9pm..

News regarding my trip will be forthcoming via email…I don’t want to discuss it here.  However, I will comment that I cut my stay in Europe short by two days because my cold turned into a sinus infection and being sick, by yourself, in Frankfurt is not as much fun as it sounds. So I did not make it to Belgium or Luxemburg.  I believe that 19 puts me one up on Mary Anne, but it is not the decisive lead I was hoping for. sigh.

I’m glad to be back.  for now.

who likes surprises? i like surprises*! (the conclusion of the passport adventure) August 6, 2006

Blessings on Rebecca who picked up my passport from Fedex yesterday. I get to leave the country. Tomorrow. I am certain of 2 things regarding this trip: I don’t truly know what I’m getting myself into (I have an idea. an inkling.), and I have got to do a better job packing than I did for Portland (I forgot: a jacket, toothbrush and toothpaste, pajamas, towel, face wash. I remembered underware just in the nick of time. not kidding.) So I’m going to finish my cheerios and blackberries then pray for a bit and then make a packing list (novel concept for me).

I don’t intend to email or blog while I’m gone, so I’ll catch you in September.

with love, ~e

scraped, bruised, sunburned… August 4, 2006

and completely happy.

Mary Anne and I spent the day picking blackberries down by the railroad tracks, walking around campus, playing in the Willamette river (I’d never gone rapid jumping before), and I played volleyball for two hours.  This morning I felt like I’d been hit by a truck.

I love MI for many reasons but I’m ready to jump ship.  Oregon rules.

how do i always forget? August 2, 2006

I get to see my sister Mary Anne today and I’m excited about that, but suddenly I remembered this requires me to get on a plane. shit.

I don’t like to fly. I find it necessary and I do it, but I’m the white knuckled girl sunk back in her seat, eyes closed, praying during ANY turbulence. It helped a little that Becky’s beau, Air Marshall Jeff, told me that turbulence has never taken down a big plane… but I’m still a bit leary. How do I manage to forget about this EVERY TIME until the day of and typically not till after take off?

an exhortation July 31, 2006

I like being back in MI where it is safe to go in the water.  I swam a lot when I lived in FL, but I was always a little wary…gators, sharks, rogue waves (for anyone who remembers when I “learned” how to surf).  Growing up swimming in Lake Michigan I remember the adults sternly saying, “You kids watch out for the undertow!” as if there were someone lurking under the waves, waiting to take us down by our ankles.  If you ever see small children tap dancing along a lake’s edge, refusing to get more than their feet wet they have likely been scared stiff by well meaning parents and are contemplating how to swim without provoking “the undertow” into action.

Lakes Crystal, Turtle and Michigan were seen and swum this weekend and my biggest concern was avoiding seaweed.   As we are in the middle of the fleeting 2 week window (some in my household would argue that it is considerably shorter, if it exists at all.) when Lake Michigan is actually warm enough to enjoy, go swimming.  Stay late, swim long and only go home when your stress and concerns have been washed away by the sounds and scents of the water.  You won’t be sorry.

a book you shouldn’t bother reading, and I have a very Michigan weekend July 16, 2006

I own too many books.  They overflow my bookshelves and nightstand into little piles around the bookshelves and under the nightstand.  But in my defense, I come from a bookish family and even spartan Mary Anne has an inordinate number.  Back when mom was going to move to the west side of the state my sisters and I were commenting that it might be a good time for her to pare down a little.  She replied that she intended to leave several pieces of furniture to the new owners.  I can’t remember who said it, but the words, “What about getting rid of some books?” hung in silence for a couple seconds before she drew herself back from us with an air of suspicion, clutching an open volume to her chest and said, “You can’t take my books away from me.”  End of discussion.  If memory serves, fifty-two boxes of books were taken to the new house.

I just finished The Scarlet Pimpernel, by Baroness Orzcy.  I had a vague expectation that this was historical fiction set against the French Revolution.  It is actually a romance novel set against the French Revolution.  I kept telling myself that it was written in a different time (late 1800’s) for a different audience and I should cut it some slack.  Unfortunately, I found it melodramatic and repetitive (there was an odd amount of time spent talking about the lace people wore (especially men)) straight through.

My Michigan weekend began with my drive to the west side of the state on Friday afternoon…so of course there was traffic and of course there was construction. Ahh, Michigan.  But it gets better: after long Saturday afternoon naps I went to Duck Lake Channel with my aunt and uncle and swam in lovely, cool, pale bottle green water and lay in the sun. Later we bought ice cream cones, went to the park and watched the sunset over White Lake.  I didn’t get to pick blueberries or eat fish at the Mona Lake Boat Club so I can’t say it was a complete Michigan weekend, but it sure was nice.