tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44311743387824852222024-03-12T16:11:55.273-07:00girl from the northElitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241595754038870322noreply@blogger.comBlogger448125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431174338782485222.post-81859576585347973932013-03-31T05:59:00.002-07:002013-03-31T06:27:08.417-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I am very excited to say that I am going to be taking an art class. I will be using my blog to share the work I create. Check out the <a href="http://www.creativekismet.com/expressions-e-course/">link!</a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> It is a mixed media portrait drawing class. It's online. I can't imagine taking a class any other way right now.</span></span><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Stay tuned...</span></i></div>
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Elitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241595754038870322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431174338782485222.post-51828953080849902852013-03-10T06:59:00.003-07:002013-03-10T06:59:52.284-07:00On Running<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I thought I would talk about something that is becoming rather important to me. Something that is not my kitchenaid mixer (which I am in love with) or the coming of spring (which I am desperate for). I thought I would talk a bit about running. It has now officially been just over a year since I have begun running. And folks, I have not live a week since then without running at least once (usually 3x). It has taken me this long to call myself a runner.<br />
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I am not one of those people who loves it all the time. There are days when I curse the fact that I am sweating uphill, breathing in fumes from a passing truck. Days when I wish I wasn't running because I have been scared shiteless by some stupid undergrad who (inspired by my running tights and it's contents?) has chosen to make a strange primal (and LOUD) sound while driving by. Sometimes for no good reason, my legs feel like blocks of cement. Sometimes I am just tired. And because I am new to being an athlete, pushing myself past my comfort zone still feels, counterintuitive to say the least.<br />
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The best things about running?</h4>
1. I am someone who verges on anxiety and hyperactivity. Sometimes after a long busy day at work, I actually feel jittery (and exhausted at the same time). The only way for me to truly relax is to beat the energy out of myself by physical activity- running. And when I start to run, the voices in my head- <i>the to-do lists, the how can I help this kid, the shit! that paperwork is due by Friday,</i> all those voices start out loud and important, and as I run they get quiet and they get shoved into perspective in the healthiest way.<br />
2. I feel better about my body. I feel stronger and a little bit leaner.<br />
3. I don't feel as guilty about eating ice cream. Very important.<br />
4. My kids see me as strong and athletic.<br />
5. I usually run on trails. It's incredibly peaceful.<br />
6. I didn't expect it but cobalt blue running tights complete me. </div>
Elitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241595754038870322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431174338782485222.post-19670719758526738542012-09-16T08:29:00.001-07:002012-09-16T08:38:03.706-07:00Art on the Walls...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Needs more in the way of coziness...suggestions please. </span></div>
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A week ago, I was staring at my new blank walls and wanting something fresh to hang up. Not having much in the way of funds, I thought I might make something. Not having much in the way of creative energy, I thought I might copy something. Googling, "line drawings Picasso", led me to this <a href="http://thinkdesignerprints.com.au/blackwhite/">East <i> </i>Asian design</a><i><a href="http://thinkdesignerprints.com.au/blackwhite/"> </a>.</i> I did not project it but looked at it a bit as I drew with pencil on heavy watercolor paper. It's a circular design of flowers, leaves and buds. The great thing about it is that it can be colored if I get tired of the black and white. It could be a bit of a hanging work-in-progress. I like the idea of art hanging on the walls and changing/evolving. I like the idea that it is something to look at <i>and</i> something to <i>do</i>.<br />
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In other news, the boys have made two new friends in our little neighborhood. The boys seem to be coping well with the new schedule and other changes in their lives.<br />
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And back to the subject of art, I bought a beautiful original framed work from my friend, the artist- <a href="http://www.kimcarlinoart.com/">Kim Carlino </a>, while at her art opening. It is a small watercolor from her Cosmos series. And I went to my other <a href="http://www.redbirdcrafts.com/">friend</a>, Emily Neuberger's book signing and scored a signed copy of her new book, "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Show-Story-Activities-Childrens-Storytelling/dp/1603429883/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1337263460&sr=8-3">Show Me a Story</a>", which, incidentally just won the Dr. Toy Best of 2012 award.<br />
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I feel blessed. In friends. In family. In work. Thanks.<br />
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Elitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241595754038870322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431174338782485222.post-67515252770227472152012-08-27T14:30:00.002-07:002012-08-27T14:30:59.367-07:00P.S- New Digs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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In the spirit of positive thinking-</div>
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<u>best things about the new dwelling</u></div>
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hiking trails everywhere you turn, perfect for my trail running habit</div>
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close to my new job (less than 2 miles close)</div>
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close to boys' school</div>
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close to boys' dad</div>
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almost too much space</div>
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washer and dryer in my own basement</div>
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car port (no crazy ice-scraping!!! Yipppeee!!!)</div>
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lovely kitchen!!!</div>
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And yes, my new couch is purple. So there. </div>
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Elitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241595754038870322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431174338782485222.post-55527179243839405072012-08-27T14:19:00.002-07:002012-08-27T14:19:59.195-07:00The Fair, Modern Family Style<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="183" data-width="276" height="265" id="rg_hi" 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" 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I took the boys to the fair. An old timey country fair <a href="http://www.cummingtonfair.com/">in one of the hilltowns</a>. We went with my mom. And the boyfriend and his daughter. And the ex and his girlfriend. Yes, folks. We did.<br />
<br />
I started a post a week ago about how hard it is. All of this. The separation, the changing schedules, the flux, the monitoring of feelings. How the older one has been a bit more sensitive than his already sensitive self, how the younger one has been a bit more angry than his spitfire self. How that hurts me. Because usually, as a parent we get to shield our kids from so many of life's bruises. And to be the partial cause of the anguish, well, it sucks. I have this pain in my chest so often now. And it is this messy amalgam of sadness, anxiety, mourning, and tenderness.<br />
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I did not finish that post because I am persevering to be positive. I am trying to be forgiving with myself. I couldn't bear to publish a post that did not have a positive bent. Not now, when everything has been so difficult- moving, new job, separation etc. I know it is important to be in the moment, to let the sadness wash over you, to feel it. I do that plenty. It is hard to do that. And yet isn't it equally challenging to find the light? So, here is the light.<br />
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We were invited to go to the fair by my boyfriend. And because the boys' dad also wanted to take the boys to the fair, I said, why not join us. And he brought his girlfriend, whom the boys love. And it was in front of the antique cars that my sweet Henry said softly that he wanted us to stay together. <i>Instead of splitting up for an hour like I gently posed. </i>And so we did. We shared lemonade. The dads chatted about how rickety the machines were. The mom and the gf talked about work, being in the same field. Lemonade was sipped, rides were rode, 4 horned goats were patted. It was natural. It was pretty easy, surprisingly so. </div>
Elitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241595754038870322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431174338782485222.post-82962678793452779842012-06-27T06:24:00.000-07:002012-06-27T06:35:56.136-07:00Minnow Fishing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;"> Curwood Castle</span></i></div>
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I wish I could offer a clear headed, orderly guide to searching for the perfect abode. I can't. Finding and securing an apt. in this area is akin to trying to grasp a blue minnow in a shimmering pool of mostly blue-green minnows while wearing rubber gloves.<br />
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If I had to come up with some rules... these are what they would be. I know they are useless. Sorry.<br />
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1. Forget perfect.<br />
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Perfect for us location-wise would be a place that is close to our closest friends, my place of work, their school and that place does not exist. Perfect would be a house with running/hiking trails in the back and a sidewalk that leads to the library. Perfect would be a place where I could have chickens and, on lonely nights when my kids are with their dad, perfect would be a place where I could walk two blocks and be at a girlfriend's house. Perfect does not exist. Forget Perfect.<br />
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2. Get a Raise.<br />
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Rent is steep here. Alps steep. <i>No wonder why there are so many homeless people around Western Mass. steep.</i> A couple weeks ago. I was in the waiting room at the docs (about to find out that I need pt for a weak/strained periformous muscle aka- weak arse, which is apparently common with runners which made me feel good bc my doc called me a runner) and I was thinking about my budget. I was feeling a bit sick thinking about trying to pay for rent, utilities, loans, car payments, insurance, cell phone, food, gas and miscelleny on my piddly salary. I was trying to think of what I could do to make more money. I was planning on asking for a raise. But I knew it was unlikely to get me far. Little did I know, that a few days later I would be offered a job. A job with a pretty serious salary increase. It's not like I am going to trade my economy car in for an SUV and start wearing Manolo Blahniks, but I will be able to buy insurance for my kids. And we won't be living on peanut butter and popcorn.<br />
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3. Weigh the possibilities<br />
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The boys need space. They are active outdoor kids and I love that about them. I<i> don't love the probable lyme disease that we are currently treating for Ez.</i> But I love that they spend most of their time outside. I love that their knees are skinned and they are dirty until winter. Most city apt.s don't have the space my kids need. But my kids also want a cat and many country apt.s don't offer that option. Can we happily live in a city apt. that is a block from the YMCA and a huge park if we have a cat? Can we live in a country apt. that has gobs of space outside but no neighbors and no little critter for the kids to love? YEGADS. They voted for city with a cat. I made no promises.<br />
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4. Ya get what ya get.<br />
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And you try not to to get upset. I have applied for two apt.s now. I did not get the first one. I may not get the second one. Neither one was perfect, see #1. I am trying not to be too attached to the second apt. I applied for. I have not heard yet. It is a 25 minute drive to their school. It is close to friends. The yard is a postage stamp (with blueberries) but it is a hop to the Y and a great park and it is on a dead end street. We can have a cat. <br />
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<br /></div>Elitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241595754038870322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431174338782485222.post-45251636160259725972012-06-09T06:51:00.004-07:002012-06-09T06:58:52.616-07:00The Bullet Train and Other Things I Have Been Doing...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1. <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Loving My Job</span></i>- Recently I described my job as the experience of getting on a bullet train on Monday morning and being spit out on Friday. I don't love the frenetic pace. I miss my own children but overall I love what I do. For real. I love working with my kids. I think about my students all of the time. I want to be the best teacher. I want to make a difference and I think I do. A tiny one. I am constantly thinking about how to be a better teacher. I have such deep empathy for what some of them have seen and lived through. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's a challenge and I like it, mostly. I feel like I am constantly weaving in and out of disequilibrium. Feeling one minute like, "Yes, I get this. I can do this." and the next moment trying to figure out what is going on and how to solve a new set of problems. I am getting better at enjoying this process. But I do have pleasant thoughts about one day knowing exactly what to do and how to do it every single time. Though I know that is not quite possible! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I also love the people I work with. I have never been surrounded by so many YES! people. So many people who spend such an enormous volume of time, helping, caring, being positive, being that essential, bright, shiny light in so many people's lives. I love it. The support is somewhat akin to my experience at a women's college. Only when I was in college I felt a little bit on the fringe and I don't anymore. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"> <i>Running</i></span>- I started running in January around the same time I started my job. I needed to exercise. I needed it to be cheap and convenient. I now run at least 3 times a week for 40 minutes. I feel so good. A good portion of my run is on a trail near a pond and it is beautiful and serene. I am convinced that this is essential for my sanity. I even run in Springfield after work. At a park. With a coworker. It's safe mom, don't worry. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3.<i> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Getting excited about my mandolin</span></i>. And thinking a lot about playing it. Regularly. Real soon. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4. <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Looking for apartments</span></i>. Which is turning out to be very depressing. I realized the other day that every time I find one that looks lovely but is unaffordable, I feel a bit rejected. As in, "This apartment is so great, it's lovely. I'd be comfortable here. But, nope, it was meant for someone else. Someone who has more money." And goshdarnnit. I worked my butt of to get where I am. I have a degree. A license. A real job. Debt. And it's hard to find a rental that I can afford. And they go fast here. Superfast. </span><br />
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</div>Elitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241595754038870322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431174338782485222.post-43177594318944974952012-01-21T15:37:00.000-08:002012-01-21T16:48:04.401-08:00i cried at work<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It happens. It especially happens to teachers. So I don't feel wimpy or pathetic.<br />
<br />
I was at work the other day, sitting in my little nook. The nook where I sit with kids and try to help them catch up their peers in their literacy and math skills. No easy feat. Especially when a lot of these kiddos have <i>a lot going on</i>. And by <i>a lot going on</i> I mean, poverty, P.T.S.D, Specific Learning Disabilities, domestic violence, hunger, ADHD, Autism, neurological disabilities etc. Sometimes they don't want to de students. How can you blame them? And, what do you do then? I don't know. I have no magic answer. But I sometimes feel like I should.<br />
<br />
And I also feel a little tired and guilty for not seeing my kids as much. And sometimes I even feel a little lonely.<br />
<br />
So I was in my nook. Not imagining that there were tears that needed to come out. Sitting in a tiny chair surrounded by papers. And Rosaria poked her head in. Rosaria is a voluptuous, beautiful, Puerto Rican 5th grade Sp.Ed teacher who tells it like it is. Rosaria, or mama, as we call her, delivered her first hug and kiss to me on my first day of work. She calls me mamita (little mama) and on this particular morning she said I looked like a gift (because my blouse had a bow on it). She asked me how I was, in her extremely thick Puerto Rican accent. I said I was fine. And at that same moment I realized I was lying and I choked out, "Actually, I'm not .." before I burst into tears. At first Rosaria said, "No, none of that mamita." Then, when she realized these were earnest tears, she swept me up into her perfumed, glistening-with-bling, bosom and brought me into her room. <br />
<br />
She asked me what my biggest problem was. We started with that and then she listened as I told her all of my problems/concerns, professional and personal. She listened. She gave me practical advice. And then she told me her story. Which, duh, was way more dramatic and rife with serious problems than mine. Though she didn't tell me to make me feel like mine were less. <br />
<br />
I left that room feeling abluted and calm.<br />
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It was good.<br />
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<br /></div>Elitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241595754038870322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431174338782485222.post-45329731151177780042012-01-15T10:24:00.000-08:002012-01-15T10:24:47.854-08:00Meet my next Boyfriend.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Ah, James. I knew you'd see the light eventually.<br />
<img alt="" class="rg_hi" data-height="259" data-width="194" height="259" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQAFKCQeVUE1wq6wqAKTKAnlJl40700Pn_L14tE6TzmknHZVImAfg" style="height: 259px; width: 194px;" width="194" /><br />
<br />
Just kidding. Unfortunately.<br />
<br />
<br />
I am not going to date for awhile. I actually went on a few dates with a friend of a friend recently. He was nice, smart, cute, etc. but with a new job I don't have time for it. And I don't have the emotional energy for it either.<br />
<br />
So I am going to focus on teaching and mothering and yes, playing the mandolin. I don't have time for lessons but I will start this Spring or Summer. And before taking a few lessons I will treat myself to a lovely mandolin when I get my first paycheck. Nothing fancy but I have had my eye on a vintage resonator model at our local music shop for a few months now....This is not it but it might be close. <br />
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<br />
<img height="400" id="il_fi" src="http://vintagemandolin.net/files/2011/08/-80373603902070730.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="299" /></div>Elitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241595754038870322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431174338782485222.post-60303441928593396162012-01-14T10:18:00.000-08:002012-01-14T10:18:38.150-08:00Gratitude<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<img alt="Pinned Image" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/21040323228649399_RemXzHCJ_c.jpg" /><br />
I<span style="font-size: x-small;">mage from </span><a href="http://pinterest.com/creamylife/" style="background-color: white; color: #211922; font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-decoration: none;">Ludmila Crigan-Mihajlovic</a><span class="colorless" style="background-color: white; color: #8c7e7e; font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1em; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> via </span><a href="http://pinterest.com/lindseyf/" style="background-color: white; color: #211922; font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-decoration: none;">Lindsey Fowler</a><br />
<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/21040323228649399/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://pinterest.com/pin/21040323228649399/</span></a><br />
<br />
It almost seems to early to be saying this. It has only been three days. However, the days have not been easy and I have had a real taste of what my job is going to be like day in, day out, and so I feel like I can say with some confidence, that <b>Allelujah ! </b>I love it.<br />
<br />
I am also completely OVERWHELMED.<br />
<br />
And a little SCARED.<br />
<br />
And INTIMIDATED.<br />
<br />
And HOLY SHITE.<br />
<br />
What do I love about it?<br />
<br />
First of all, the kids. I currently have ten kids on my caseload, 3 Kindergartners and 7 third graders, but it is growing. They are all children of color, mostly African American but with a few Latinos/ Latinas. They are affectionate, super bright, full of personality kiddos. All of their challenges and strengths are different and getting to know them has been so much fun. I get hugs!!!<br />
<br />
The teachers and staff in the school have been incredibly supportive and encouraging. I have spent the first week trying to gauge what they need from me, what works best for different teachers etc. They all seem to be very flexible and easy to work with. <br />
<br />
The commute is not ideal (40+ minutes and sometimes heavy urban traffic) but absolutely doable.<br />
<br />
The feeling of having worked for two and a half years on something that was stressful and challenging but that ultimately led to me getting a meaningful job that I enjoy and that I feel is so important and that "pays in money", as Ezra likes to put it, is an incredible feeling.<br />
<br />
Thank you to all my friends and family who gave me any support be it in the form of a hug, a listening ear, a word of encouragement etc.<br />
<br />
I feel so grateful.<br />
<br />
xo</div>Elitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241595754038870322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431174338782485222.post-88311491984600752742012-01-09T05:15:00.000-08:002012-01-09T05:46:26.804-08:00Rosie- An Inspired collage...Four Years...xoxo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/210332245066545412_xmON9sc6_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="agree" border="0" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/210332245066545412_xmON9sc6_b.jpg" style="height: 262px;" /></a><img alt="inspirational" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/131519251587775238_7MpDn45B_b.jpg" style="height: 245px;" /><img alt="Life has no remote." src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/136233957447644488_LfPuuHOH_b.jpg" style="height: 288px;" /><img alt="Detox Salad the Whole Family Will Love by yummymummykitcheb #Salad #Detoz #yummymummykitchen" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/2814818486823846_s4A3KIXj_b.jpg" style="height: 288px;" /><img alt="le happy." src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/262264378269682264_Gfp0RT9G_b.jpg" style="height: 192px;" /><img alt="i like dis" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/221309769158429567_6JwJjr0u_b.jpg" style="height: 278px;" /><img alt="i like this" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/221309769158429575_kGxOcM4W_b.jpg" style="height: 288px;" /><img alt=" ahhhh" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/15270086206240617_J40mqQOv_b.jpg" style="height: 192px;" /><img alt="avett brothers." src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/202099101997834270_M1A24Duw_b.jpg" style="height: 296px;" /><img alt="Butterflies by Odilon Redon" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/177118197814681054_NCwSGzrJ_b.jpg" style="height: 233px;" /><img alt="Photo of a pin" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/277182552035378702_vdUZ1bs1_t.jpg" /><img alt="AFTER....turning the house into a vibrantly mottled explosion of color. How great is this?" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/116460340333737551_fitYKH9I_b.jpg" style="height: 128px;" /><img alt="pop <3." src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/82612974384193802_PnVBpPGf_b.jpg" style="height: 192px;" /><img alt="we can" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/9640586672089307_Kfbx7Ccm_b.jpg" style="height: 261px;" /><img alt="I like to think tiny people live up there." src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/116460340333511176_ZcL1SBwO_b.jpg" style="height: 425px;" /><img alt="Wedding" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/187392034464725896_fJN0yClx_b.jpg" style="height: 295px;" /><img alt="Quotes" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/7670261835090471_6Kje7HWo_b.jpg" style="height: 166px;" /><img alt="two tone tattoo" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/210332245066529078_ozL53fJ6_b.jpg" style="height: 233px;" /><img alt="Foot" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/245727723387989560_gKYAgVQu_b.jpg" style="height: 286px;" /><img alt="forget the world" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/211739619950189025_8TpSCP2S_b.jpg" style="height: 144px;" /><img alt="warrior" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/67342956897623426_EuGCnZdR_b.jpg" style="height: 128px;" /><img alt=" " src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/119626933821701584_BAGnJZVK_b.jpg" style="height: 250px;" /><img alt="granny square blanket on vi.sualize.us: Mesdames Mitchell and Dent -" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/71635450292342242_M52hro6n_b.jpg" style="height: 127px;" /><img alt="the help" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/124200902193090794_54059n0Z_b.jpg" style="height: 240px;" /><img alt="want. need. gotta have." src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/77968637268363138_1ha5IG3v_b.jpg" style="height: 288px;" /><img alt="i want" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/116460340333697375_zuKMtRlK_b.jpg" style="height: 143px;" /><img alt="great cities - how many have you been to? I have been to 11. I flew in and out of two more but that doesn't count. I need to get cracking to get these all in." src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/227994799855127716_p6MPdKwR_b.jpg" style="height: 237px;" /><img alt="Great Wall Of China #Great #Wall #China #place #visit" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/116460340333540241_mIpmuX05_b.jpg" style="height: 288px;" /><img alt=":: QUOTES :: so simple and YES! quotes to remember #quotes" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/6262886951538361_ib1qW63W_b.jpg" style="height: 295px;" /><img alt="blury" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/210332245066583439_L5jg2sTZ_b.jpg" style="height: 200px;" /><img alt="let me go" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/210332245066584669_cOcauMSX_b.jpg" style="height: 379px;" /> I love you Rosie...<img alt="Pinned Image" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/268034615292230220_sfYIOSd9_c.jpg" /></div>Elitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241595754038870322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431174338782485222.post-75814363181273889262012-01-02T06:47:00.000-08:002012-01-10T05:14:34.469-08:00A Better Brekky for the New Year...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today, I squeezed orange juice for my kids. They ate it with peanut butter toast. Henry had a fried egg with cholula hot sauce on it and more toast to sop up the runny yolks. Ezra had a side of plain yogurt with a drizzling of maple syrup. For me, it was water, coffee, egg with hot sauce and toast. I always start my day with a a big glass of about 20 ounces of water.<br />
Often we have cold cereal. Or oatmeal. Though Ezra has yogurt almost every day. He is not a big breakfast eater.<br />
<br />
<br />
<img alt="Healthy Breakfast Ideas" class="size-full wp-image-4704 aligncenter" height="387" src="http://c600847.r47.cf2.rackcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/healthy-breakfast-flowchart.png" style="background-color: #990000; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: Cabin, 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;" title="Healthy Breakfast Ideas" width="500" /><br />
<br />
Get the pdf for this nifty breakfast flow chart <a href="http://www.eatingrules.com/2011/07/healthy-breakfast-ideas/">here</a>.<br />
<br />
As well as thinking about breakfast, I have been thinking a bit about getting my own place. In a few months I will have hopefully saved up enough for a bitty apt. My dream apt. is half of an old house, in the country, with woods and fields for the boys to romp in. We would be allowed a dog or a cat. We would be allowed chickens. Rent would be less than $900. No carpets. Two floors. Lots of southern exposure. It is a bit of a dream but I think it is possible.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, I think about sofas. I am actually quite bipolar when it comes to sofa preference.<br />
<br />
If I had a zillion dollars. I would be purchasing a tufted or otherwise beautiful anthropologie sofa in the next year...<br />
<br />
<img alt="" class="rg_hi" data-height="165" data-width="305" height="165" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSydGFCA1bpgmUWveiN-WZULZRPIScUaIitXmd5ru4XoTT3kmeDGQ" style="height: 165px; width: 305px;" width="305" /><img alt="" class="rg_hi" data-height="223" data-width="226" height="223" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSj4U0C-BhUUzEDEB1Y1Y0BjaPOG2k0-eod7bsLR6hQeoS5NTUKBg" style="height: 223px; width: 226px;" width="226" /><img alt="" class="rg_hi" data-height="200" data-width="252" height="200" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRz1MMLByyB0OXktSGvE7mKeuGtWzKqszAEKEOP0Nb-vRSHrIOJ" style="height: 200px; width: 252px;" width="252" /><img alt="" class="rg_hi" data-height="197" data-width="256" height="197" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQy59hXmdcjOdyv4khte0kHoi3Vjlpc8VgX6_7Z668cwsuiIqvu" style="height: 197px; width: 256px;" width="256" /><br />
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But it is more likely to be Raymour and Flanagan or IKEA for me...<br />
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQSDjS_AVsrj8YT-Ol85aObM0fK-rfJA2QkBGMjhVs-u2lQPHnt" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" class="rg_hi" data-height="192" data-width="263" height="192" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQSDjS_AVsrj8YT-Ol85aObM0fK-rfJA2QkBGMjhVs-u2lQPHnt" style="height: 192px; width: 263px;" width="263" /></a><img alt="" class="rg_hi" data-height="188" data-width="268" height="188" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRQviRGFblJChsLWs2w1hsGa1EMkh-Vkr5ieBa-j1ozfCtRXM-SBA" style="height: 188px; text-align: left; width: 268px;" width="268" /></div>
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<img alt="" class="rg_hi" data-height="201" data-width="251" height="201" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTFdQWsWCr9nbgK95ERS258dtsXKcR-e2H_7cgIlHyifPNkCaWm_Q" style="height: 201px; width: 251px;" width="251" /></div>Elitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241595754038870322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431174338782485222.post-90920799838494181022012-01-01T07:42:00.000-08:002012-01-10T05:13:57.993-08:00The Girls from the North Country<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Happy New Year!! I celebrated New Years Eve by staying in bed and reading (finishing) Jeffrey Eugenides' The Marriage Plot. Very enjoyable.While I was reading the boys were turning my living room into a scary disaster, but whatever. The boys and I celebrated together by playing Bloku and Mad Libs for hours. We took breaks for shrimp cocktail, pizza and ice cream sundaes. It was so much fun to just enjoy them. I did not do any school work all day. I am so grateful for my life. I have the most wonderful family and friends. The last few years have been tough but I have so much to look forward to. Love and hugs to all!<br />
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In other news...A good band that shares my blog's name...<br />
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And if you want to really cry...
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/g61gjW11gmA" width="560"></iframe><br />
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And if you need to punish yourself for some reason..A Bon Iver covered Bonnie Raitt for you...<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8MJio3s2wFI" width="560"></iframe></div>Elitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241595754038870322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431174338782485222.post-46548232850827899262011-12-23T13:01:00.000-08:002011-12-23T13:05:43.273-08:00My Daguerreotype Boyfriend<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Molly just introduced me to a <a href="http://mydaguerreotypeboyfriend.tumblr.com/">really fun blog</a>.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">My Daguerreotype Boyfriend</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span><i>Where Early Photography Meets Extreme Hotness.</i></span><br />
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<img alt="Dashing, through the snow.
tuesday-johnson:
ca. 1850’s, [daguerreotype portrait of a young man]
via Live Auctioneers, Be-hold
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I love that a blog like this exists. My sisters and I just spent the last 10 minutes sipping tea and ogling over hot dead dudes. </div>Elitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241595754038870322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431174338782485222.post-3504860216307427282011-12-21T08:55:00.000-08:002012-01-10T05:14:52.764-08:00Christmas Cookies/Cookys- Read this if you think you could use a good case of the guffaws<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><i><img alt="" class="rg_hi" data-height="183" data-width="276" height="183" id="rg_hi" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" style="height: 183px; width: 276px;" width="276" /></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><i><br /></i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><i>My dad wrote this in an email recently. I believe it was his version of a holiday greeting card. It cracked me up. P.S Pops, I am making you some molasses cookies over break. xoxo </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The fact of the matter is, that I am indifferent to the color or<br />shapes of cookies, even Christmas cookies. Round, square, in the shape<br />of a fat man or reindeer, blue green, red with sprinkles; it's all the<br />same to me--so long as they taste good. So when Debi was making a<br />batch of Christmas cookies I was suddenly overcome by the nostalgia of<br />Mom's molasses cookies. Big ones, soft and cakey, that you eat with a<br />cauldron of cold, whole milk. That you can dunk, or to avoid the<br />ineveitable decomposition of the cookie when it is saturated, and the<br />disconcerting particulate suspension in the milk, which no one is<br />particularly fond of, you can do what I do. Disgustingly, take a<br />large bite of the cooky and then fill any void spaces left over in<br />your mouth with milk. To do this right you need a bib, but I never<br />wear one.<br /><br />Well there was no recipe for molasses cookies in the family cookbook<br />that we put together so I went on the internet. Some of the recipes<br />there used a lot of spices such as cloves, ginger, cinnamon and<br />allspice, but I did not remember mom's cookies being particularly<br />spicy, I just remembered the taste of the molasses. So I decreased<br />the amounts of spices and eliminated cloves. Some of the recipes<br />called for a large proportion of refined sugar as compared to the<br />molasses, but as I indicated before, what I remembered from Mom's<br />cookies was the flavor of the molasses, so I upped the proportion of<br />black strap molasses and pretty much eliminated the refined sugar. I<br />synthesized several recipes for the egg, milk and flour components,<br />and because the memory of molasses cookies was so strong I decided to<br />double the recipe.<br /><br />Then it came to mixing the ingredients together, and the truth is, I<br />probably could have followed the directions a little better with<br />regard to the sequence of adding ingredients, etc. Looking back, it<br />is clear to me now that mixing half a cubic yard of sakrete in a<br />wheelbarrow would have taken about the same amount of effort, and<br />would have yielded similar results. This is where I began to get some<br />premonitions of the eventual outcome.<br /><br />Debi remarked that she had not seen molasses cooky dough that stiff,<br />and she questioned the nature of the copious white nodules in the<br />batter. I explained that they were organic, and could be eaten.<br /><br />The only thing about cookies, other than taste, that I am not<br />indifferent too is size, so I decided to make them big. I retreived a<br />wide mouth glass from the cup board and used that to cut out the<br />cookies from the rolled-out dough. Interestingly, as stiff as the<br />mixed dough was, I was able to use a standard rolling pin to roll it<br />out and did not have to trouble myself with renting some sort of a<br />roller from Uhall.<br /><br />Then I baked them, I used the maximum temperature and the maximum time<br />from the assorted recipes on the internet for the first batch, and in<br />successive batches doubled the time, then added to that. I finally<br />resorted to finishing them off using the convection utility on the<br />oven which converts it to sort of a blast furnace.<br /><br />I was disappointed, the cookies are lousy. They have the specific<br />gravity of a lead sinker, but slightly better texture. On the upside<br />they do not dissolve when you dunk them milk, in fact, I am not sure<br />they would dissolve in nitric acid. They are round and about the size<br />of a clay pigeon. They could be used as such, except I doubt if they<br />would break apart unless they were hit dead center with a deer slug.<br /><br />I jotted down the recipe that I was propounding from my imagination<br />and the internet sources, I am considering approaching Corning glass<br />with it, I think that many of the ceramic properties of the cookies<br />have industrial or military applications.<br /><br />Then I thought of the other thing. When I think of cookies, really<br />contemplate them, I come to realize that they are the villians of the<br />cullinary world. What do cookies contribute to nutrition---nothing.<br />In fact too much sugar has been linked to all sorts of health<br />problems. The other thing about cookies is that they are addictive,<br />they are like rabbits, one cooky begets another, and another, and<br />another, etc. For example, starting with the resolve to just eat one,<br />the next thing that you know is that you have gone through a quart of<br />milk and a couple of sleeves of Oreo's.<br /><br />Not with these cookies, beginning with the first bite, there is in<br />fact a diminishing desire to take another bite. Finish the first<br />cookie (some alzheimers patients and unusually desparate people would<br />do that) and the the idea of having another cooky, any cooky is<br />repugnant. Better yet the after taste remains with you for the rest<br />of the day.<br /><br />If you visit us over the holidays you can have as many as you want.</span></div>Elitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241595754038870322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431174338782485222.post-60054471650581992402011-12-20T17:36:00.000-08:002012-01-21T16:49:36.968-08:00A job?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> This is not how I spent <i>my</i> morning</span>.<br />
<br />
Today I had my second job interview.<br />
<br />
I was a bit of a nervous wreck. I know this about myself, so the night before I took a diphenhydramine and went to bed at 9, so that I wouldn't be nervous <i>and</i> sleep deprived. I left for the interview at 7:45, giving myself an hour and 15 minutes to make a 50 minute drive, knowing that I would likely get lost in, I did. But only for a short while. The drive was nerve wracking because I hate fast paced urban driving. And I hate driving in new places. Really I am more of a horse and buggy type. So anyway. I got there. And proceeded to have what I thought was a pretty shitty interview. Sure, I shined a few times. But there were at least two instances in which I was fumbling over words and thinking to myself, "This sucks. Am I making sense. Do I sound like an idiot." Not a good sign right?<br />
<br />
But I had already realized that if I was not offered the job I wouldn't beat myself up about it because I don't need the freaking commute or the challenge of teaching low-income kids who are minorities with special needs in the neediest school district in the state. I don't mean to sound heartless. I am also excited about teaching these kids. And they deserve passionate, caring, devoted teachers like me who so want to be the best teacher that they give themselves ulcers. But I am terrified. And intimidated. And would rather be doing it as a single person with no kids of her own and a less complicated personal life.<br />
<br />
Then they told me they wanted to hire me. One of the interviewers actually said, "We want to hire you." And she said, "I think this went very well." A few times. I am pretty sure she was trying to convince herself. I am pretty sure they didn't get a lot of applicants. But I need the job. And it pays better than the district I live in. I don't quite have the job yet though. I have to be observed teaching a lesson. Unless I bomb that, I suppose I have a job. She said she wants me to start work before the 9th of January. And I am sure a month in, I will stop vibrating and putting the lettuce in the freezer like I did today.<br />
<br />
This afternoon I bought two books that promise to help me become a better (white) teacher of minority kids. <br />
<br />
Black Ants and Buddhists- <i>Thinking Critically and Teaching Differently in the Primary Grades</i><br />
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" width="125" /><br />
<br />
And <br />
<br />
<br />
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<img alt="" class="rg_hi" data-height="257" data-width="196" height="257" id="rg_hi" 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" 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Beyond heroes and Holidays- <i>A practical Guide to K-12 Anti-Racist, Multicultural Education and Staff Development.</i><br />
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I'll let you know how it goes...</div>Elitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241595754038870322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431174338782485222.post-18469691865786947092011-12-12T18:46:00.000-08:002011-12-13T16:18:40.431-08:00Dating- A Tragicomedy, Le Fin<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<img height="462" id="il_fi" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5263/5661549986_e6795295b4.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="356" /><br />
<b>Dating is crazy. </b>Almost as crazy as a woman in a bikini trying to be a clock.<br />
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<b>Aliens</b><br />
Dating for me was/is an alien experience. I never really <i>dated</i> before I got married. Anyone I went out with was someone I had already known. No online dating. No <i>let's hang out first in daylight so I can make sure you are not a complete psycho.</i> I tend to attract some pretty wackadoodle people in my non-dating life already, I have no desire to push my luck. So, beginning to date felt like being plunked down into another country without a lonely planet guide, without a compass, without even traveler's checks. D<i>o those even exist any more? I guess they do?</i> And if we take the confusion and pain and well, confusion that is the natural outcome of a separation, even a very amicable and loving one like mine, if we could take <i>that</i> confused pain out of the equation, dating is still very confusing. <br />
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<b>The Game</b><br />
There is the whole game thing. To play or not to play. Some friends/siblings/cousins will counsel you to not call the person even if you are DYING to. Some will say to wait, three, no four days to call. Some will say keep emails to a maximum of 5 lines. Some will say do not be too <i>eager</i>. I have always loved cats but if I were a cat or a dog. I'd be a dog. I am eager. And I have trouble not showing my feelings. Trouble?? I am nearly incapable of it, <i>unless it has to do with kids and professionalism, in which case I can hold my own</i>. So, I don't play games. Even if I decided to wait to call or email or whatever, I would forget an hour later and oops, I have communicated. My cousin says that is a common downfall of women when it comes to dating. She claims that men, and women, want to chase. It is biological, she says. And I get that. But I suck at the <i>letting myself be chased</i> thing. So I don't let myself be chased. But then I worry the whole damn time that I should have.<br />
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<b>So here is my story.</b><br />
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I dated this guy for several months. Was he ever my boyfriend? I don't think so. Did I want him to be? Yes. Could I talk to him about my frustrations with this? Hardly. <i>At least not in any direct, articulate and meaningful kind of way.</i> Because I felt like I was being <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/yashar-hedayat/a-message-to-women-from-a_1_b_958859.html?ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false">neurotic or crazy or both</a>. Because I was scared of being rejected. Because I did not know what I was doing, though people have been doing it for centuries. I wanted, in the wise words of Joni Mitchell, <i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6voJjexENok">To knit him a sweater, write him a love letter and make him feel better</a>. </i>Or at least I thought I did. In the end, and after several months, the last few of which I was starting to feel slightly disappointed by him on a regular basis (not a good sign...duh), he dumped me. For an ex-girlfriend. Who he had been in love with for a year and a half. Who he was still in love with. And he did it in an email. And he did it the day after Thanksgiving, after declining to come to dinner at my house last minute.<br />
<br />
So, for a few days I was really raw. And then we talked. And so many things made sense. And I realized it really was for the best. I have learned a few things. I should trust my gut more. I should not be afraid to put myself out there and <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability.html">be more vulnerable</a>, maybe it would have ended things sooner with him. I still feel grateful to him. Aside from being the worst dumper, he was really sweet and he helped me get through a really tough time.<br />
<br />
And there you have it. </div>Elitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241595754038870322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431174338782485222.post-15781929859548408542011-12-11T19:13:00.001-08:002011-12-12T18:58:06.219-08:00The Civil Wars<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
I am addicted to this song and this band right now. <i>Big shout out to cousin Bobby for the introduction! </i>Apparently they opened for Adele. That would be one amazing and depressing show. </div>Elitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241595754038870322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431174338782485222.post-86149401592684948282011-12-09T12:25:00.001-08:002011-12-09T12:27:19.843-08:00Don't scowl at my cowl<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQcH2X01YrJ0IZe9y2LsO6In9a4qckybHB2eqq-ccMM24lZramzIuAbGjhIWsu0h5uuIQDifOvlC8ToNSkRohnAVxoOoVBWsGeFC37XWD4O27OB2MM07e2hZHu47jOrr5P5ykkF-1Iv1x/s1600/P1180769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQcH2X01YrJ0IZe9y2LsO6In9a4qckybHB2eqq-ccMM24lZramzIuAbGjhIWsu0h5uuIQDifOvlC8ToNSkRohnAVxoOoVBWsGeFC37XWD4O27OB2MM07e2hZHu47jOrr5P5ykkF-1Iv1x/s320/P1180769.JPG" width="211" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Last year I made a cowl that was a bit too restrained, it
wasn’t cowly enough. This year, armed with a chunky wool blend in a lovely
peacock-teal shade and my size 11 needles, I set out to fulfill my need for a
cozy (easy to make) neckwarmer. It was a success, even my fashionable NYC sister (who would
declare she is not fashionable) wants one. I am making her one right now. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mermaid Cowl- Super easy</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I cast on 29 stitches (you need to use a multiple of 6
stitches plus 5 to do the chevron pattern)</div>
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1<sup>st</sup> row (right side) K5,[ p1, k5] to end</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2<sup>nd</sup> row K1, [p3, k3] to last 4 stitches, p3, k1</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3<sup>rd</sup> row P2, [k1, p2] to end</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4<sup>th</sup> row P1, [k3, p3] to last 4 stitches, k3, p1</div>
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5<sup>th</sup> K2, [p1, k5] to last 3 stitches, p1, k2</div>
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6<sup>th</sup> row Purl to end</div>
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<br /></div>
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Repeat these 6 rows until it is the length you desire. Bind
off and use a crochet hook to stitch up the seam. </div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>Elitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241595754038870322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431174338782485222.post-62458086959489068492011-11-29T18:00:00.001-08:002011-12-12T18:57:31.231-08:00Dating, a tragicomedy- Part deux<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><img src="http://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/vgm/mmbase/images/7679" /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Arial Regular', 'Neue Helvetica', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px;">In the café: Agostina Segatori in Le tambourin, 1887</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Arial Regular', 'Neue Helvetica', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"></span></span><br />
<h3 style="line-height: 16pt; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890</span></h3>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 800;"><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
The Date...</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: xx-small;"></span></span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;"> Before the date, like any educated, rational woman who has two kids, grad.school and a job to think about, I spent gobs of time considering what to wear. I settled on my lucky jeans, as in they give me luck, not the brand. I also opted to wear a wacky sleeveless shirt with a tropical print that could look cute on a grandma but seems to work on me in a not-too- ironic way, topped off with a plain navy cardi. On my feet I planned to wear my lucky shoes- red dansko maryjanes. Only they happened to be broken (have since been mended by peddler) and Kim informed me that one does not wear broken shoes on a first date, nor a second date even. Instead, I wore my lovely leather boots handed down by Laura L.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;"></span></span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> I was so nervous I hardly slept all week. I left my apartment a half hour early. I parked a few blocks away from the cafe and tried not to vomit or shit my pants in a bookstore not far from the meeting place. To console myself, I cowered in the poetry section. But I couldn't find Li Young Lee (Thanks, TIna) and that was what I had wanted to read so anyway... I went to the cafe a bit early because I wanted to avoid standing in line with an almost complete stranger who may or may not offer to buy me coffee and then we would have to have that convo. <i>Not that I am against a man buying me coffee, but I could only imagine how awkward I could make that. </i>Plus I was worried that then he would have to watch me think about which muffin I should buy, though I didn't want one but felt like I should eat one since I could barely eat that morning and didn't want to pass out in front of him. <i>And I didn't want him to think I care about calories or anything though as you will soon read my coffee took care of tha</i>t .And then he would witness me fumbling with change and trying to pay. Yes, I thought about all of these things. Am I Elaine?</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> So I am sitting in a black metal chair in the sunshine with my enormous muffin and my iced coffee, that I accidentally put so much cream in I may as well have ordered and ice cream sundae. I see him from halfway down the block and awkwardly stand up and he says my name and I say yes. I walk halfway there and put out my hand and say "nice to meet you", WAY PREMATURELY. Awkward. I mean, ten beats after my greeting, he has reached my hand. Meanwhile, my hand has been outstretched, waiting. We eventually sat down and had a nice time. I ended up not eating the enormous muffin. I could not stomach it. So it ended up in my purse. After all the worries about first impressions I put a muffin in my bag in front of him and that was totally fine. It reminded me of the time in a restaurant with Laura and Mike when as we walked through the bar to leave, I fumbled with my bag and a big crusty hunk of bread flew out and rolled down the carpet. I ignored it and walked on, my face beat red, as the bar patrons contemplated why homeless women seem to fit in and smell so much better these days. Clearly, I have not learned. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<div>
</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
</span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We talked for nearly two hours. And then I started thinking about how I would feel bad if he got up and was the first one who said he had to go. So I avoided that by saying I needed to check the time <i>yada yada yada</i>... And I asked him if he wanted to walk me to the parking garage. He said sure. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;">
</span></span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> It was fun. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> He was handsome and seemed really smart and interesting. He was older but I didn't care. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;"> He said he <i>hoped our paths crossed again? </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;">What? Does that mean he doesn't want to set up a date but if we randomly see each other in the street it might be pleasant? It is quite possible that he could tell I was crazy and so the fact that I did my best to be tres jolie won't matter much. </span></span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Later, in the parking garage I completely forgot how to use the parking card payment system though I have done it a zillion times. So I pretended that I needed help and the lady behind me told me what to do... </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Then I couldn't find my card when it was time to go (1 minute later) and so the (annoyed) car behind me had to back up so I could pull over and find it under my purse. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> On my way home, to top off the wackiness, I went to Wholepaycheck and bought some random food items in a daze. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;">
</span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;">
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>To Be Continued...</i></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</span></div>
</div>Elitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241595754038870322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431174338782485222.post-72939411770087982252011-11-27T05:05:00.000-08:002011-12-12T19:56:14.152-08:00Dating, a tragicomedy- Chapter One<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1px;"><img height="474" id="il_fi" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wXrRuDCQX50PUzEDSW5eYAcHmHkIYncSx9nGKQMNY1s2mXcKeB08DD65IM6u355LjB5hyq4pTNtD8x9VGRdg4Kur8sPQ6gtACq3oC61_q4fIaqEHe0m3e3vjRWYsUc-PSN8LWFfdjLY/s1600/queen+mother.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="349" /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Sorry lovely flapper, you can vote, and you can get a divorce, but it is going to be miserable.</span><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
13 months ago, M. moved out. It was gradual but it was tough. We knew we wanted to work together and be adults about it. Sane sensitive adults, that is. And I think we have both agreed that while there is inevitable trauma in divorce, if parents behave and the kids don't see their parents hating on each other, the kids will be just fine. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/19/fashion/how-divorce-lost-its-cachet.html?pagewanted=3&_r=1&sq=divorce%20trauma&st=nyt&scp=1">That is what we have heard and are banking on anyway</a>. </div>
<br />
Several months after M. moved out, <i>and by moved out I mean he slept somewhere else but still cooked dinner, got his kids on the bus and was around almost as much as before</i>, he and I were still sad. Yes, sad is the word. Sad is the right word if you mean crying yourself to sleep a few times a week, wiping tears in the bathroom at work, choking while getting the mail, sobbing in between night classes at the local university, while sitting in your dark car, listening to the Cure over your dinner of a thermos of lukewarm soup. Sad is the right word if sad means telling all your girlfriends that any day now you were going to chop off your locks take a vow of celibacy, and become a Buddhist nun.<br />
Well, eventually even the best of girlfriends and sisters need to say buck up.<br />
<br />
In my case it went something like like this...<br />
<br />
Laura G.- "Your eyes are puffy. You look wan. Did I just say <i>wan</i>? And yet, despite your wanness you are quite a catch. Have I told you how lovely your cheekbones are today? You should try online dating."<br />
<br />
Me- <i>As I pass Laura the Sauvignon and the bowl of raw cookie dough</i>." Hell no, I don't want another man, I want a dog. And you have amazing hair. How do you do it?"<br />
<br />
Laura G.- "Snap out of it Kell, you can't have a dog in your apt. You can come over to my place, we'll sip some white wine and we'll put cute pictures of you up and come up with a profile and it will be fun!"<br />
<br />
Me- [horrified look]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHaYv7gd6NTEN0-N2eX-x4qU2vtbHgIIhvz-rqtojiza6Gp9RwAZ2vYqvzZLONkpBYvfeSzmLXXUyODp49lmaH_Iif-Z6IH-osF-Kyq2RqwVgDp51CyHB6g-_CzrHplDHbfXWLqsNqCrv/s1600/Photo+61.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHaYv7gd6NTEN0-N2eX-x4qU2vtbHgIIhvz-rqtojiza6Gp9RwAZ2vYqvzZLONkpBYvfeSzmLXXUyODp49lmaH_Iif-Z6IH-osF-Kyq2RqwVgDp51CyHB6g-_CzrHplDHbfXWLqsNqCrv/s320/Photo+61.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> For some reason I must illustrate this horrified look as a librarian. How cute is my mani?</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Laura G.- "You don't actually have to date anyone. But it will make you feel good about yourself to remember how cute you are."<br />
<br />
Me- [horrified look]<br />
<br />
<br />
A few weeks later I did create a profile. I deleted it the next day. Then one night, as I folded laundry in front of hbo, I created one again. A simple one with a tasteful picture of myself. I closed my lap top, went back to the living room to fold laundry. A half hour later I tiptoed back to my bedroom, opened up my laptop and scurried back to the fat chair in the living room to check on my profile. To my horror, someone, A MAN, was trying to instant message me, at that very moment. I literally snapped it shut, ran back to my room, tossed my laptop on my bed, closed the door, and resumed folding laundry. I felt violated. And not just a little bit neurotic.<br />
The next day I erased that profile as well.<br />
<br />
Eventually I created another one, and slogged through poorly written messages from men my age to 30 years older than me, looking for love, or well, sometimes other things too, but mostly love. It felt like a depressing cycle of rejection. To be honest, I was doing most of the rejecting but it still did not feel good. I was about to quit the online dating thing, again. <br />
<br />
Then, a curious thing happened. I got a message. From an overeducated man. I tend to go for that type, maybe I should stop, but I'll discuss that later. The comment was silly. We had something in common. Something dorky in common. And he made a joke of it. He was cute in a nerdy way. With dark glasses and curly hair. We wrote back and forth for awhile and eventually he asked me to go for coffee.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>To be continued...</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br /></div>Elitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241595754038870322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431174338782485222.post-64431642569674798392011-07-17T06:02:00.000-07:002011-07-25T04:56:50.783-07:00the hostess<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I have been planning a friend's baby shower. I am happy to do it. I love my friend. I can't even remember if she asked me to do it or I offered. She probably asked me which embarrasses me somewhat, I should have offered first. Here's the thing, I have never felt like the hostess with the mostest. All the details of planning an affair for a large group of people stress me out. Remember, I am someone who gets antsy if I am not 5 minutes early for an event, a quirk that I am trying to work on. And I don't love being the center of attention. Though in this case, I won't be, I am not the one having the baby. <br />
<br />
So my answer to these woes is to keep it really simple, which is a good mantra anyway, right? The invitations are correct, I quadruple checked them, the second time they went out. The pavilion in the park has been reserved. Food, drink and tableware has been taken care of. But, shouldn't there be something else? I will not make a grown women eat a melange of melted candy bar out of a freaking diaper. Nor will I make women play baby name bingo. And this is not going to be the spiritual blessingway event either, my friend has another friend planning that event for her, (an organic farmer from Ithaca no less). <br />
<br />
I am not one for ironic or cutesy decorations and neither, I think, is my friend. Decorations will be flowers, in jars. Probably mason jars. But decoration ideas abound on the interweb. Check these out.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSQeuEO6TgSDzIg1EH5XUBaNw_3bAA78S6wGXdA147mYH1Spzk70A" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" class="rg_hi" data-height="194" data-width="259" height="299" id="rg_hi" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSQeuEO6TgSDzIg1EH5XUBaNw_3bAA78S6wGXdA147mYH1Spzk70A" style="height: 194px; width: 259px;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is this a reference to the stork or is this telling us that now that we are having babies we will become old maids. UGLY. And not just a tiny bit terrifying. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQrlTynwPE1PxwzAPOg0Ga90nATIWI4Su5KOn9LbCz_ethAgsNpww" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" class="rg_hi" data-height="253" data-width="199" height="253" id="rg_hi" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQrlTynwPE1PxwzAPOg0Ga90nATIWI4Su5KOn9LbCz_ethAgsNpww" style="height: 253px; width: 199px;" width="199" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">no comment.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSm-pMDY_jLgK6bXewkAIfOqWbKEs9B6kf-y-0LCHt3IFQcyf4Vug" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" class="rg_hi" data-height="236" data-width="214" height="400" id="rg_hi" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSm-pMDY_jLgK6bXewkAIfOqWbKEs9B6kf-y-0LCHt3IFQcyf4Vug" style="height: 236px; width: 214px;" width="362" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a diaper cake. non edible. Made of diaper paraphernilia. I am sure the women/woman who made it did it with love. And I feel like a party pooper. But, come on. </td></tr>
</tbody></table></div>Elitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241595754038870322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431174338782485222.post-7819203456887454632011-07-04T07:29:00.001-07:002011-07-04T07:30:49.958-07:00an itty bitty sultry summer ditty- 2 Ways<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sea of Love</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw-RagEZ6D2KUYTq4RoikdsmZTMq5Ltdc_Ja8eWBV-VLAQc1Pt2Rvet8z_DO4jweytOroiEvr1uL9rkpx3QpA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>I am going to try to get back to blogging more regularly. I have had little time and too many distractions. One of the things I am trying to do is get off this uke plateau. Tricky. Especially since my favorite partner in uke playing has moved to Easthampton. But we have plans to practice every week and she is getting super good at banjo and we may even get a gig at a cafe. Here is a song that I just got the chords to this morning. IN this recording I am trying really hard to sound relaxed even though I m totally high on a cup of joe.<br />
Easy chords. Simple song. Thanks, Cat Power. </div>Elitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241595754038870322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431174338782485222.post-33403658180815545842011-05-13T10:50:00.000-07:002011-05-13T19:00:42.407-07:00Trouble- Cat StevensMY NEW TENOR UKE!!!!! A huge thanks to Sharon and my mama!!!<br />
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Note that right before singing I say, "fudge ripple" instead of le "f" bomb. Dork. <br />
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<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyLF8n5mHFDthoVhIIuxqRIHcSy3s7rLddHHKrNQ2D3K6xE6ntSFoLjy_44R5574LlRedNK1NNIiDBtr4h6IA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
</div>Elitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241595754038870322noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431174338782485222.post-80466059513967351492011-05-03T11:56:00.000-07:002011-05-03T11:56:27.194-07:00This, a beach, a cocktail. All I need.A little bit o' bossa nova...lowers the blood pressure, I find.<br />
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<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/h265tueOrc8?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Elitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241595754038870322noreply@blogger.com0