Thursday, August 28, 2008

What do our dreams really say about us?

I gave the children bathes last night - these are photos from another time, but they're always adorable wet and grumpy.

Saturday, August 23, 2008

The <3 of the Matter.

“I was thinking that I might fly today
just to disprove all the things that you say.
It doesn't take a talent to be mean,
words can crush things that are unseen,
so please be careful with me, I'm sensitive
and I'd like to stay that way.
You always tell me that it’s impossible
to be respected and be a girl.
Why's it gotta be so complicated?
Why you gotta tell me if I'm hated?
Oh, please be careful with me, I'm sensitive
and I'd like to stay that way.
And I was thinking that it might do some good
if we robbed the cynics and took all their food -
that way what they believe will have taken place
and we’ll give it to everybody who has some faith.
Oh, please be careful with me, I'm sensitive
and I'd like to stay that way.
I have this theory that if we're told we're bad
then that's the only idea we'll ever have,
but maybe if we are surrounded in beauty
someday we will become what we see
'cause anyone can start a conflict
it's harder yet to disregard it.
I'd rather see the world from another angle.
We are everyday angels.
Be careful with me 'cause I'd like to stay that way.”

-Jewel


The perfect lunch? Begin with tomato:








Then toast yourself some bread. I stick with regular old loaf white, but feel free to experiment. This is MY perfect lunch after all.


Use Vegenaise to spread, or mayo if you're so inclined (but grape seed oil can lower your cholesterol!).

I like salt and pepper too, since they can really amplify the ripe tomato.

And, of course, leave it open face.

This leaves more room for tomato and gives you the perfect vegetable/bread ratio.

(Weird legs and goblet of green tea optional.)

Hope you do things to make you happy today - I've been listening to R. L. Burnside - more photos forthcoming.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Going Back to School?

I love the Fall a little more than I knew, and even though it's still Summer, the idea of going back to school is compelling and exciting, so full of possibility. "If I knew your name and address, I would send you a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils." Ah, Tom Hanks.

It has taken a while to get another post out - but the new school year just started and I've been finishing the task of designing the new class I'm teaching this semester. Argument and Research, with a special focus on civil rights. Can you remember what you felt strongly about as a college undergrad? If not, maybe that's because you didn't have many passions; this is what I'm discovering pretty quickly about my students. I don't mind that they are hyper-social beings that go out at night and on the weekends, and I don't even mind that this is their top priority most of the time. I just wish they read more news on-line, or cared about the right to vote they are ignoring. I hope 16 weeks is enough time to get the gears turning and have them realize how many rights they have that they've been wasting. Ah, so young, so carefree.

I thought this would be a great blog to list the things that make me happy, those little every day moments that make me smile and carefree after getting in from work:
-warm weather with a breeze, or low humidity. I love feeling warm but think sweating on my way to work is a bit TOO warm

-My porch garden. Ah, life in little pots, the smell of fresh basil when I turn my key in the door. I have a sweet pepper plant that looks more like a tree :-D Plus, the Piggies like it too, here's Lacey snacking away on my cilantro and parsley. -~->

-Clean House - Best show ever, if I do say so myself. Who doesn't love seeing other people's junk, or getting motivated to become a minimalist? Plus, Niecy Nash is worth tuning in for ;) I always wonder if they keep their homes looking so beautiful after the "team" leaves - they go back occasionally and I've never been too let down. If you check out the website you'll learn Matt and Trish are merely comedians there for a little relief. Interesting...
http://www.mystyle.com/mystyle/shows/cleanhouse/index.jsp

-Alphabetized bookshelves

-Fresh laundry, dusted counter tops, and a recently vacuumed living room...

-I relocated the piggies to the linoleum in front of the front door (I use the side door to enter and leave, my apartment is a weird shape). This makes my bedroom look HUGE! They were at the end of my bed, but I think this will work much better since it was an unused space, and now I can't hear them at night, drinking their water and rumble-strutting. They need plenty of room to move around, but so do I, haha. (Couldn't post about the pigs without showing you a shot of Betsy, she's the friendliest of the bunch. This one's from the garden day as well.)



Now I'm off to get some reading done for my classes, I'd hate to get behind this early. Hope you're having a great Fall!