tenant of the sun: the battlemaiden chronicles

simple abundance

2010-06-05T11:30:00.000-04:00

I woke up feeling pretty Zen about everything this morning. I got some extra sleep, made myself some manual-drip Finger Lakes Roasters coffee and settled on the porch with my hero Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything Vegetarian to do some meal planning.

What a gorgeous morning it was, and still is. The sun is burning off the remainders of last night's thunderstorm. People seem to be extra nice today. There were no discourteous drivers on the way to the market this morning. There was a pleasant din at the market itself - the crowd wasn't that bad and people weren't really all that cranky. Also, I didn't even get pissed off about all the push carts, wagons and strollers which normally annoy me to no end. I came home with a pretty good haul for the week: squash, eggplant, home-grown asparagus, parsley, cauliflower, and some more heirloom eggplant and tomato plants. (I planted a bunch last weekend but a rambunctious squirrel destroyed my Cherokee Purple, so I had to get another one.)

Our gardens are looking so lush and vibrant - all I want to do is sit out and watch the plants grow. There is almost nothing more satisfying to me than growing things; especially my own food. This morning for breakfast I had a bowl of Puffins with strawberries from our strawberry patch. So delicious!

We also have quite a lot of birds visiting the feeders. Mostly we have sparrows, goldfinches, house finches, cardinals, chickadees, blue jays and mourning doves. Occasionally a red belly woodpecker will make an appearance, like the other day. Yesterday and this morning I also heard a hermit thrush calling from somewhere out behind the house. That was pretty cool. No humming birds yet, but I think I got the feeder out early enough that we might get some later. We have a honeysuckle bush that was a big hit last year, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

The hops continue to flourish. Husband and I are very much looking forward to September when we'll be able to brew a wet hop something-or-other (I'm hoping for a pale ale). We think this variety are Cascade, but we're not totally sure.

I love days like this. I would much prefer to put off my errands and other household tasks for another day, but I think if I do I'll be way behind. I want to have next week free and open. :)

for my mom

2010-06-03T08:23:00.002-04:00

Dear Mom:

Thanks for being OK with it if I had wanted to marry a Jewish guy. You are way ahead of your time and a pretty cool lady when Dad isn't around.

Love,
your daughter

thursday's thoughts

2010-05-27T22:02:00.001-04:00

First, to RG&E:

You are stupid. Much like the time you told me I owed $9,00.00 for natural gas usage, you have f-ed up once again. You know how.

Second, to my co-workers:

Please do your own jobs. I hate it when I have to pick up your slack. Slackers.

That is all.

trying to do the right thing

2010-05-26T09:07:00.004-04:00

We have some neighbors with kids. These kids - and I don't know for sure how many there are - range in age from toddler to mid-teens. They are very sweet kids except for when they are throwing their trash into our front yard. They are very sweet kids except for when they are screaming at each other. Also, they are very sweet kids when they are helping me shovel the driveway.

Back in February when we had that giant snowstorm with more snow than I'd seen in recent memory, I was out one Saturday afternoon shoveling. Some of these kids were eying me from their front porch. After several minutes, they wandered over, probably out of boredom, with an extra shovel. Without a word, we were all heaving snow together. When it came time to dig my car out (it was completely buried) and move it out of the way, they even helped me do that.

With their assistance it wasn't long before I was salting the last of the driveway, all of the snow pushed aside as much as possible. I suggested we have some fun and build a snowman. That really got them to open up. I think by this point I had 4 of them over in my yard - a 5 year old, a 7 year old, a 9 year old, and a pre-teen. None of them had gloves or mittens, so I dug some out of the chest and passed them around. They were my "thank-yous" for the help with the shoveling.

As they started chatting more and more I learned that they are often left home alone. When their mother IS home, she sleeps all the time. If she isn't sleeping, she is on the computer. They all have different fathers, none of whom is ever around. They refer to each other as "my sister on my dad's side." and so forth.

We had fun working on this snowman. She turned out to be a snow-lady, actually. When we were done they went home and I went in the house.

The point of this post:

For the next several months, and it continues now, these kids are constantly coming over to our house. They see me pull in the driveway and up the driveway they run. If the gate is closed, they will open it and come in the yard. One evening Ryan and I were having dinner on the back deck and the 5 year old came over, up on to the deck, pulled a chair up to the table and proceeded to stick her grubby little hand in Ryan's salad bowl and started pulling out lettuce leaves. She now tries to walk right in the back door, without knocking, if I don't have it locked.

Do you think the mother knows this is going on? I'm sure she doesn't. We feel incredible sorry for this family. It's obvious they are living in poverty and that the kids are emotionally neglected as well. There is a fine line, however, I feel that we're walking. We can't teach these kids that it's OK to come over whenever. There are awful liability issues here, too, but we want to be good influences on them. A couple of my friends suggested calling CPS but I'm on the fence about that.

Anyway, remember those gloves I handed out in February? When I rounded the corner yesterday afternoon on my way home from work, a pair of these gloves - bright pink- was lying in the middle of the road in front of their house.

since then

2010-05-20T08:31:00.002-04:00

I don't know why I got out of the habit of blogging. Life getting in the way? Maybe. Some pretty major events have happened in the near year and a half since I last posted.

A summary:

1. I think it's a big deal that my little brother finally proposed to his long-time girlfriend. They are now happily engaged and have moved from Greensboro back to Rochester. My mother, of course, is over the moon for this because my brother is the favorite. My brother's fiancee and I have been close since the beginning, so I'm excited to have my friend back. Oh yeah, and it's cool to hang with my brother again, too.

2. Last summer, while we still lived in the South Wedge, we were victims of car break-ins on two separate occasions. Both of our cars had windows smashed and items stolen. Fed up, we moved out of the neighborhood last September. In fact, the night before we moved, I was up late (naturally) reading and I happened to peek out the bedroom window. What did I see? Sure enough, there was a strange guy shining a light into my neighbor's car window. I called the police while Ryan went out to try and scare the lurker away. The 911 operator didn't seem to care at all about what I was telling her, nor did the police ever come.

Moving sucks, any way you look at it, but I'm glad we went through with it. I loved the Wedge a lot because everything was within walking distance - shops, grocers, bars, parks, etc., but it was getting to the point where I couldn't sleep at night.

3. My sister had a nervous break-down about 2 months after starting her graduate work at UGA last Fall. I'm going to spare everyone those details, but she seems to be fine now. It was just a stressful time for our family.

4. While my sister was having her break-down I, myself, started going to therapy. I was long overdue. I have a difficult family (actually my parents are difficult) and it was getting to the point where I was seriously lacking the skills to be able to handle their "antics" appropriately. I am also going to spare those details, but be assured that I am doing just fine. I've learned some pretty good coping skills that have helped tremendously.

5. The best thing that's happened in the last year was marrying my husband. We eloped to Lake Placid two months ago, and let me tell you, eloping is the way to go. After talking about this for months and years we finally decided to just go and do it. It was a huge surprise to a lot of people, but almost everyone was thrilled when they learned the news.

And that's my life in a nutshell. I think I'll be posting more often now, but previously, I think I just needed a break to really get stuff sorted out.

hello?

2010-05-19T10:09:00.001-04:00

Is anyone out there? I kind of miss posting. Maybe I'll start up again. I have a lot going on in my head these days.

still never a dull moment in this neighborhood

2009-01-17T21:30:00.004-05:00

I was hoping my first post of the year was going to be something about my resolutions or the healthy lifestyle changes I want to make, or all the books I plan to read. Something like that.

Not tonight.

I am sitting in the living room right now in front of the space-heater with a glass of Dry Riesling, anxious and freaked out. Ryan is up the street playing a gig with The Jugsliders and should be home in another hour and a half.

Half an hour ago, there was an RPD officer on our front porch asking me questions about the shooting that just took place across the street. I was totally oblivious until I saw the reflection of flashing lights on the wall in the corner of the living room. I had cleaned up the dishes, poured myself a last glass of wine, grabbed my knitting, and settled down in the rocking chair. I flipped on the TV for some background noise, but I wasn't really watching anything. I was in the middle of a row on the pair of slippers I'm knitting when I heard something that I thought was a car door slamming. It was enough to startle the cats, so I got up and had a look through the windows. I didn't see anything so I figured my assumption was correct and I sat back down.

Then I noticed the flashing lights through the crack in the living room drapes. When I looked outside, I saw that the street just after our driveway was blocked off with yellow tape. There were half a dozen or more cop cars, a fire truck, an ambulance and a TV camera with reporters set up at the end of my next-door neighbor's driveway. A gurney was wheeled out from the rear apartment of the house across the street and loaded into an ambulance. The ambulance didn't take off right away, so I guessed it wasn't life-threatening. Either that or it was a death, which is a very unsettling thought.

As the officers dispersed, one came up the front walk, little note-pad and pen in hand. I met him at the front door and asked what happened.

"Your neighbor's been shot."

He asked if I'd heard anything and I told him how about 10 or 15 minutes prior I had heard a loud bang or a pop, or maybe a car door. I said how I'd gotten up and looked outside, but not right away, and didn't see anything. He asked if I saw a car drive away, to which I responded in the negative. The officer took my name, phone number, and date of birth. After verifying our address, he said the victim is probably going to be all right, and thanked me for my help.

As I was locking up the front door, I saw an officer carrying a very small child out to the street. the officer took off his jacket and wrapped it around the child. When I saw that, I lost it. I went back inside and called Ryan, hoping he was on a set break. He didn't answer right away, but called me back within minutes because he suspected the reason for my call. He had seen the cop cars driving down the street.

And......here is the developing story as posted by RNews.

I love the Southwedge but this is getting ridiculous. Shootings, stabbings, fires. When will it end?

reading about Africa

2008-12-18T08:46:00.005-05:00

I've read a lot of books so far this year. Most of them have been fiction that explores the lifestyles of other cultures in places like India, China, and Africa.

Over the summer I read The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, which told the story of an American missionary family trying to survive and "spread the Gospel" in the Congo. It was fascinating. A few days ago, I finished Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. Taking place in Nigeria, it is often compared to the great Greek Tragedies. Now I'm right in the middle of A Sunday at the Pool in Kigali by Gil Courtemanche (translated from French). If you've seen the movie Hotel Rwanda, you'll be familiar with the subject material of this fiction-based-on-fact novel: the 100-day genocide in Rwanda in which approximately 800,000 people were viciously murdered in 1994.

This morning on the way to work I caught a story on NPR about the conviction of a Rwanda army colonel and two others for their roles in the genocide. Here's the CNN story. I always think it's interesting when past and present link up like this for a split second on the morning news.

And? Today is the anniversary of the day the 13th Constitutional Amendment abolishing slavery went into effect back in 1865.

The irony gives me the chills.

the edge of panic

2008-12-11T09:03:00.013-05:00

Warning: complaints ahead.

Friday night is the boss's annual holiday party. Ryan and I will arrive fashionably late, head straight for the bar, and spend a couple of hours socializing with the people I already spend more time with than anyone else.

Saturday morning will come way too fast, when I will have to run out to church to meet the piano tuner at 9:00 a.m. for an emergency piano-tweaking before choir rehearsal at 10:00 a.m. By 11:00 I will be yelling myself hoarse because no one listens to me when I say things the first time. What page are we on again? What measure are we on? Oh, I didn't know you were starting there. Are the men supposed to sing here, too?

Saturday afternoon we will not be having a brass ensemble rehearsal because everyone decided at the last minute that they can't make it.

So, I will go home to deal with my parents who want to come over so my father can perform "odd jobs" around the house for me, such as hanging wreaths and any other appropriate decorations. However, what this really means is that my mom and dad will come over, later than they said they would, and hang one wreath only. Then my mother will ask me if I want my father to do anything else. I will politely decline. My mother will then try to take me aside and "encourage" me to come up with something else for my father to do so he will feel needed.

Meanwhile, my father will begin poking around in the fridge for beer or other alcohol. When I finally think of something my father could do, he will have already consumed one beer and will have started sucking down a second. He will also complain about how he is now ready to go home and it is "all about control" with my mother.

It will be more of the same in the next week and a half until Christmas and then afterward. While we are eagerly awaiting the arrivals of my sister and brother and my brother's SO on Christmas Eve, neither Ryan nor I is excited about spending the majority of Christmas Day with my parents.

I don't necessarily want to air all of my family's dirty laundry here on this blog, but I do want to do a bit of venting. Alcohol plays a large part in the problems my siblings and I have with our parents. Couple that with over-emotional guilt-tripping and other assorted manipulative tactics and you've got a potentially volatile mix of personalities that keep my brother, sister and me on edge, all the time. (Yes, I realize at the beginning of this post that I mentioned I would be heading straight for the bar at the party tomorrow. Since alcoholism appears to run in my family, I am extremely careful to watch my intake and not go over-board. I monitor my coping mechanisms and believe me I am very aware of where my own personal imbibing can lead.)

I haven't fully enjoyed a Christmas in a very long time. Probably not since I was a kid, when I was too young to understand what was actually happening.

More on this at a later time. Maybe.

End of rant.

belated thanks

2008-12-10T16:11:00.001-05:00

I was catching up on some blogs today from WAY back and stumbled across the following. I think it is a nice way to put things in perspective, don't you?

I am thankful for…

the mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends...

the taxes I pay because it means I am employed...

the clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have enough to eat

a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home…

my shadow who watches me work because it means I am out in the sunshine…

the spot I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking…

all the complaining about our government because it means we have freedom of speech…

my large heating bill because it means I am warm…

the lady behind me in church who sings off key because it means that I can hear…

the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means I am alive…

the piles of laundry and ironing because it means that my loved ones are nearby…

weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day because it means I have been productive…

Well said.

getting ready for Turkey Day

2008-11-26T13:03:00.002-05:00

Our plans for the loooong weekend are coming together as I type this. So far, things are looking good! I'll be having some kind of tofu/veggie thing from Mamasans for lunch momentarily. Tomorrow, we'll be joining Ryan's and my parents for a feast up in Irondequoit, followed by an impromptu gathering in the evening at our house. Friday might entail some birding for lifers at Durand (we'll be looking for white-winged crossbills). I will NOT be shopping on Friday. Saturday I will be getting the hair that is dangerously nearing my waist-line CUT OFF. Finally. Sunday, Ryan and I will be enjoying The Nutcracker. As in, the ballet.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Frigid Cemetery

2008-11-21T09:34:00.004-05:00

For today's Skywatch Friday post, I would like to share with you a photo that I took last Winter during a visit to Mt. Hope Cemetery. It's one of my favorites. I know it's an old photo and some of you may have seen it before because I'm sure I posted it soon after I took it. It effectively captures the mood I'm feeling today. It's very cold and windy outside, and the sun has yet to make an appearance. But, I'm optimistic that the weekend will be a little better.

less stress but not stress-less

2008-11-20T20:39:00.003-05:00

Yep. It's getting to be that time of year again. The time when I typically want to bury myself under my down comforter and not come out until December 26th.

As a loyal and faithful (and paid) church musician, my time in the next few weeks will be spent furiously coordinating extra rehearsals, re-arranging music because volunteers have suddenly decided they are too busy to come to rehearsals, and general peace-keeping among those who think that I, as the Music Director, am not focusing my attention where they think it ought to be focused.

I calculated that I've already worked a total of 48 hours this week, as of today, between my church duties and my 8-to-5 paralegal gig. By Saturday I'll be well over 50. Which, to me, is a lot. However (and that is a big 'however'), for some reason, this year seems a lot less hectic than years past. Of course, I haven't hit the 4-rehearsals-a-week mode yet. That doesn't come until the week after Thanksgiving. But, still, I'm in a much more calm state of mind today. Perhaps it's because I have planned out my time better this year. Or, perhaps it's because of the Yoga stretches I've been trying to do each night and the Prem Joshua tunes I've been listening to at my desk all day long. It's hard to say.

I've been mostly relaxed about everything, but I do want to let loose a few gripes. Here are some of the things which have been really irritating me lately:

1. Tailgaters. Seriously, people. I can only drive as fast as the person in front of me. Back off.
2. People who talk to me like I'm stupid. And it's not really condescension. It's stupid people talking to me as if my IQ, like theirs, is below room temperature.
3. Junk mail. It is SUCH a waste.
4. Our cold house. It's freezing. Especially the toilet seat.
5. I somehow expect everyone to be patient and uber-flexible with me, when I, myself, need to work on these traits. I'm not good about being go-with-the-flow. I'll keep trying.

Now, here are the things that are making me smile lately:

1. The Welcoming Committee. That would be the kitties greeting me at the door with their excited 'meows' (read: 'feed me') when I come home from work. That would also be Ryan waiting with a hello kiss and the glass of wine he already has poured for me.
2. Crocheting. The blanket I've been working on for over a year is almost done. I'm also working on a shawl and a butt-warmer to put over the c-c-c-cold leather seat in my....
3. ...new car! Now that my old one finally has been put to rest, I no longer have to worry about making it to work safely every morning.
4. Having everything I need. A roof over my head, good food to eat, a healthy, loving relationship, two good jobs, health-care coverage, a supportive family, the freedom to do and say whatever I want, and many other blessings.

Pictures to come soon. Maybe.

Questionable Music Purchases

2008-11-11T09:13:00.004-05:00

Thanks to Julia for tagging me on this one.....

These are really bad.

Pre-18 years old (Go ahead and laugh, I give you my full permission):
1. Whitney Houston: Whitney Houston, released in 1985 (I got this with my hard-earned baby-sitting cash just for the song How Will I Know?)
2. Huey Lewis and the News: Fore!, released in 1986
3. Clint Black: Killin' Time, released in 1990 (Don't even ask. I was going through a brooding, teen-angst period, and for some reason, country music was a good outlet at the time.)
4. I also remember purchasing at least one or two Weird Al Yankovic albums, but I don't remember which ones.

I need to spend some time thinking about the embarrassing music I've purchased as an adult. Perhaps I'll have to do a Part-2 post.

Skywatch Friday - 11/7/08

2008-11-07T11:09:00.003-05:00

Montezuma NWR is still lovely on the cloudiest, dreariest of days.

Be sure to visit Skywatch for more cool photos!

my post-election post

2008-11-06T10:05:00.001-05:00

Watching the returns come in on Tuesday was exhilarating. Ryan and I sat on the couch in front of the laptop, refreshing CNN every 30 seconds or so. Around 9:00 p.m., I turned on the little TV and we watched everything unfold. We were nervous until Obama clinched California, and then we started to realize what was actually happening.

We had voted earlier that evening. Our polling place is a small neighborhood church right around the corner from our house, within walking distance. It was a gorgeous, balmy evening, and on the way home I remarked how I had just voted for our next President.

Later, as we were watching Obama's victory speech, Ryan and I both choked up and got a little teary. We were deeply moved by his words. Ryan commented that he hoped this historically important day would help this country begin healing from the 400 year old rift that has been the cause of so much pain for so many people.

In the few days since the election, I've had some heated arguments with my co-workers. We're a divided office and I am often out-numbered. The card-carrying Republicans I work with are not happy about the election results. In fact, they think this is the beginning of the end of the world, acting as if Armageddon is inevitable and right around the corner.

Now, my office is pretty laid back. It's a small office of about 10 people or so, and we often call ourselves a dysfunctional family. Everyone is in everyone else's business, and yes, we call ourselves friends. But some topics around the office are definitely bones of contention. Politics is one of them. In the last two days, I've been called Socialist, Communist, lazy, and ignorant, among other things.

Fine.

My response to that was "walk a mile in my shoes and then make a judgment call."

Politics can do nasty things to people, but in the last several months it has also ignited a certain fire. My greatest hope, however, is that once people get over themselves, and once Obama starts implementing the great ideas he's told us about, we'll all be better off.

Skywatch Friday - 10/31/08

2008-10-31T08:31:00.004-04:00

Happy Halloween!

This week's Skywatch Friday photo was taken last weekend: we watched some fabulously ominous storm clouds roll in over Henderson Bay in Sackets Harbor, New York.

sackets getaway

2008-10-29T14:54:00.004-04:00

We made it up to the cottage over the weekend. It was probably my last chance for relaxation before the holiday madness.

The weather on Saturday was completely miserable. It rained all day long. So we stuffed ourselves full of food. Kristi and I made some great progress on our crochet projects, and we carved pumpkins!

Kristi's Mr. Bill pumpkin was the result of a happy, unintended carving mishap:

The weather on Sunday was much more conducive to coffee on the beach and strolls up Woods Road:

Stay tuned for photos of the storm rolling in over Henderson. I'll post those on Friday for Skywatch. They're pretty incredible.

Skywatch Friday - 10/24/08

2008-10-24T16:37:00.002-04:00

For Skywatch Friday... I have been taking a lot of photos of marshes and swamps lately. This one was from the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge.

Images of Autumn, Part 2

2008-10-23T12:54:00.001-04:00

Ahh, Montezuma. Last time we visited, we didn't see anything too out of the ordinary. There were lots of great shore birds, ducks and geese. Loved the coots and American wigeon. I was hoping to see some brant or snow geese. No such luck. We did get some good looks at a bunch of yellow-rumped warblers bee-bopping around in the area below. They sure enjoyed flashing their rear-ends at us!

The vistas were spectacular as always, but the leaves floating in all the various pools were also interesting to look at.

Last weekend Kirk and Kristi joined us for a roasted turkey breast dinner. We gorged as usual. I think the table looked unusually nice, with my assorted gourds and herbs and clippings from the yard. I wished I had some pinecones, though!

Images of Autumn

2008-10-22T19:56:00.003-04:00

A few weeks ago I was out in the yard trying to get some things cleaned up, weeds pulled, leaves raked, etc. It was a gorgeous day.

These gourds came right out of the compost pile in the backyard:

I pulled out a ton of weeds, but I left the pokeberry, in case some passing Cedar Waxwings happened to stop by:

I've got a few other great photos from our visits to Iroquois and Montezuma National Wildlife Refuges from the same weekend. And shots of the dinner party we had this past Sunday. I'll get to those eventually.

mice stories

2008-10-16T10:02:00.006-04:00

Very early this morning whilst dreaming about John McCain's angry, rolling bug eyes and the phrase "the failed (insert your favorite issue here) policies of the last eight years", at approximately 2:34 a.m., I heard a thud followed by a scurry and then Isabel's anxious whirring and howling. Scurry under the bed, scurry around the bedroom. Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle. More howling and a little whining. I figured she just had a bad case of the midnight crazies.

"Isabel! Shut up!" (Yes, we know yelling at the cats really is not all that effective a deterrent, yet for some reason we do it anyway.)

Scurry, scurry.

By now, Ryan and I were both wide awake and wondering what the hell was going on. Something had Isabel ALL worked up and it was obvious we would not be sleeping until this issue was resolved.

"I'm turning on the light."

I peered over the end of the bed, blinking as my eyes adjusted to the sudden assault of light. Isabel was hunkered down, crouched over something. And then, under her paws, I saw the little tail swish. And then she let the poor thing go and it took off. We watched Isabel play a cruel game of catch and release with the creature until Ryan got out of bed, captured the thing, took it downstairs and let it go outside.

This is the second time this month the cats have proven themselves to be at least halfway decent mousers. A few weeks ago while Julia and Matt were visiting us, the cats discovered and chased a cute little brown one all over the house. The darn thing ran up Ryan's pant-leg to get away from everyone. Ryan ran outside, clutching at his jeans, to let it go. About a half an hour later, when things had calmed down a bit, we were sitting on the couch in the living room when his face paled.

"I think it's still in my pants, " he said.

We went out to the back porch. He took off his jeans and shook them and out dropped the mouse. We let that one go outside, too.

At this point, mice in our house are no big deal anymore. As in, I know they're around and I don't freak out about them. Though they seem to have a relatively high entertainment value, I just don't want them pulling out the couch stuffing. I thought the buggers were coming in to the house from the cellar by way of the water pipes under the kitchen sink. I had jammed a bunch of steel wool under there, so either that didn't work, or they're infiltrating from elsewhere.

Please let me know if you have any suggestions for humane pest control.

uh oh, a rash!

2008-10-08T09:05:00.003-04:00

Does anyone have an antihistamine handy? I have developed a rather nasty red, itchy rash on my face, neck and chest. And while I can’t see it under my hair on my scalp, I suspect it’s there also, as well as behind my ears. My eyelids and cheeks feel puffy and swollen and I am in a general state of malaise.

I don't normally have bad allergic reactions. I stay away from the things that I know cause me problems, i.e. large quantities of MSG in my Asian food and medication from the tetracycline family. I discovered the tetracycline allergy the hard way - in 1999 I was taking Doxycycline for a UTI when after about 12 hours or so, every inch of my body above my waist broke out in hives. I was a hideous scarlet splotchy freak of nature when I went on a job interview the following day. That's probably why I didn't get that job.

Anyway, this morning, after my shower, as I was combing out my tangles in front of the mirror, this rash appearead. I can't figure it out. There are only two things I did differently in the last 12 hours, so maybe one of those things is what caused this.

Last night, while watching the debate, I had a monster cup of chai from a Tastefully Simple mix that I bought from a friend of mine. I've had it before, but not in a really long time, so this morning, I double-checked the ingrediant list: Pure cane sugar, nonfat milk powder, nondairy creamer (partially hydrogenated coconut oil, corn syrup solids, sodium caseinate,
mono and diglycerides, dipotassium phosphate, lecithin), natural tea blend
(black tea, darjeeling), honey, natural flavors, bourbon vanilla extract from
Madagascar, natural spice blend (cinnamon, aniseed, cardamom, clove,
ginger), vegetable gums.

EEK. I suppose it's possible that I have a sensitivity to one or more of those CHEMICALS. Like dipotassium phosphate. Which is used as a fertilizer and pesticide.

The other thing that deviated from my usual morning routine was my facial cleanser choice. Both Ryan and I use Kirk's Castile Soap for facial cleansing (and he uses it for all-body cleansing as well). Well, Ryan is out of town for a couple of days and took with him the bar we had in the shower. So I used Dr. Bronner's Citrus Liquid Soap to wash my face instead. I have used it several times before, not usually on my face, but I have washed my neck and chest with it before and did not get a rash.

Maybe my eyelids will swell shut and I'll have to go home. That would be better than being embarrassed in front of clients all day long.

getting tired of politics

2008-10-07T08:17:00.002-04:00

I admit it. I'm fed up. I'm tired of the he-said-she-said stuff. I have grown weary of the hypocrisy, especially that of the Republican "spin-machine."

It pissed me off big time when Sarah Palin, during the VP debate last week, accused Joe Biden of dredging up the past. And then what did she do? She turned around this week and brought up the whole Obama/William Ayers/Weather Underground thing. Real classy, Palin. She conveniently omitted from her baseless attack that Obama was 8 years old when Ayers was doing his anit-Vietnam protesting.

To paraphrase H.L. Mencken, a political campaign is like a great big circus, where there's a mass baptism and a few hangings along the way.

Yes, I am going to watch the Obama/McCain debate tonight, but I'll be glad when this is all over.

date night/debate night

2008-10-03T08:52:00.006-04:00

Instead of going out for date night this week, we decided to stay home and park it on the sofa. We ordered a pizza from Little Venice, opened a bottle of Yalumba Shiraz Voignier, and watched the debate.

Like most everyone else, we had pretty low expectations for Sarah Palin. I don't like her. Not even close. I think she makes women look bad; like we wouldn't be able to hack it in the White House. I think she is recklessly undoing all of the good that Hillary Clinton has done for women. (For further commentary on this particular dymanic, see this article from Slate.)

Ryan and I cheered for Joe Biden and shook our heads in digust when Palin started rambling on about things that didn't make any sense. We were worried that Joe wouldn't keep his cool. I have to give him a lot of credit for holding himself together every time Palin said something asinine. Instead of getting angry, he just flashed that spectacular Irish smile.

I think both candidates handeled themselves well, but Biden clearly had more of a command of the issues. His experience spoke volumes above Palin's lack thereof. (In fact, I like to joke that I have more foreign policy experience than Sarah Palin simply because I was a Student Ambassador and traveled overseas. To other continents. I even attended a session of Parliament in Canberra in 1992. That qualifies me for the VP, doesn't it??)

So, Obama's poll numbers jumped after last night. Good. What I want most out of this election is for people to realize that voting is about using your brain just as much as, if not more than, using your heart. It is blatantly apparent, abundantly obvious, painfully so, that Sarah Palin should not be in this race. What will it take for the American people to realize this?

Don't you want someone in the White House who is smarter than you? I do.

my thoughts on the Cleveland Orchestra

2008-09-30T21:25:00.008-04:00

This afternoon on the way home from work I caught this story on NPR's All Things Considered. It seems The Plain Dealer's long-time classical music critic is ceasing to be just that via possible 'demotion' for writing less than stellar reviews of the Cleveland Orchestera. Or at least that's what it looks like to most people, despite the refutations of the newspaper's editor.

Being a former resident of Cleveland and one who attended many, many Cleveland Orchestra concerts, I have a special attachment to all things Cleveland. I read The Plain Dealer regularly because it was delivered to my house every day. I also read Don Rosenberg's reviews of Cleveland Orchestra concerts with some degree of religiosity, especially since I was in attendance at a lot of those performances, even after college was over.

I like to brag that while in Cleveland, I got to hear quite a few famous musicians, including Alfred Brendel, Mitsuko Uchida, Vladimir Ashkenazy, and Joshua Bell. I was at a performance when it was learned that the great Robert Shaw had died, which prompted a spontaneous rendition of Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen (How lovely is thy dwelling place) from the Brahms Ein deutsches Requiem.

Christoph von Dohnányi was the Music Director back then. As a theory and composition major in college I was even fortunate to attend one of the master classes he occasionally gave down at Severance Hall. It was more like a lecture, but really, it was Dohnányi so who cares what it was? Back in those days, I used to watch him conduct the orchestra and fantasize that is was me up there on the podium, flailing my arms around, commanding those glorious harmonies to come forth. He was a fascinating, intense personality to observe in action.

When it was announced that Franz Welser-Möst would be taking over for Dohnányi in 2002, I admit I was shocked. Not long after, I went to a concert under the new direction. The difference in energy was noticeable. It wasn't as exciting or captivating, and I remember hearing similar complaints from friends. There was a reason why good old Franz Welser-Möst earned the nickname "Worse-than-Most" among us.

So, in summary, I agree with you, Don Rosenberg. I knew what you meant when you said, in your review of a performance of a Mozart symphony, that "the key of C had never sounded so mirthless." I hope everything works out for you. It's good to know there are people out there who still refuse to sacrifice honesty and integrity.

so long, summer

2008-09-20T21:08:00.003-04:00

Tomorrow is the final day of summer - the Autumnal equinox is September 22nd this year. In celebration, Ryan and I spent a lazy afternoon in the backyard, savoring the warmth at the end of the day.

We spent some time earlier running errands. I also re-filled the bird feeders, pruned the tomatoes a bit and yanked out a few errant weeds. Around 4:00 we settled down in the backyard with some Great Lakes Commodore Perry IPA. (Wegmans, Aman's and Herrema's are all carrying Great Lakes beer, which is very close to my heart. Seems their distribution problems are over!)

Autumn is both Ryan's and my favorite season. We are both looking forward to the Fall migration period, changing leaves, soups, stews, braises, and our Harvest Party, which we've started to plan. We're hoping to host a gathering in early October to honor our favorite time of year.

tagged

2008-09-19T10:49:00.000-04:00

I was tagged by Julia. Again. Thanks, Julia. :) Here is my meme of 7 fun or interesting things about me.

1. I make pretty accurate-sounding monkey noises to get the cats all riled up. Oooo-ooo-ahh-ahh!

2. Too much wine gets ME all riled up.

3. I must make the bed every night before going to sleep, no exceptions. I'm obsessive-compulsive about it.

4. I cry when I laugh too hard. Really, I mean seriously crying. It's like some weird switch gets flipped because I'm wired so strangely.

5. Ryan thinks a I sound like a seal when I laugh hard.

6. I treat gardening, birding, and all outdoor things as religious experiences.

7. I've been to both Australia and New Zealand. I think that's pretty interesting.

sweet dreams

2008-09-18T15:33:00.002-04:00

I'd like to just mention that Vicodin can be a very effective sleep aid. I'm still experiencing some residual pain from my fall last month. At the end of the day, sometimes my ass really hurts so I take a pill before going to bed. Last night, I had a dream that Ben and I were socializing with the Bennet sisters from Pride and Prejudice.

9/11 date night

2008-09-12T13:51:00.002-04:00

Last night, in addition to it being the 7th anniversary of 9/11, it was also date night. Ryan and I went down to The Little to hear Lumiere play some ~~French~~ freedom -style jazz.

choir picnic croquet

2008-09-10T13:35:00.000-04:00

Everyone looks forward to our annual church choir picnic because it usually involves lots of food, lots really bad musician jokes, Croquet, and, yes, drinking. (Note the beer bottle in Ryan's shirt pocket.)

supporting my sweetie

2008-09-08T11:06:00.000-04:00

I hadn't been to a lot of Varnish Cooks shows lately, so I went to one at Johnny's Irish Pub right before we left for Cape May. (Ben was my date for that show.)

When I wasn't indulging in the many Pale Ales that kept showing up in my hand somehow (even people I barely knew were buying me beers!), I was doing a lot of picture-taking of the band, and of the friends who attended the show.

I love how the lights are swirling around in some of these shots. It's almost an exact pictorial representation of my slightly inebriated, happy state of mind at the time.

Last weekend, I tagged along with Ryan and the other guys to the Turtle Hill Folk Festival. There was something serenely relaxing about sitting in a church pew listening to the band while casually thumbing through the Presby hymnal in front of me. Maybe it was because I never get to sit in a church pew and meditate because I'm always sitting behind the piano instead.

bye, bye Ben

2008-09-07T10:40:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, our friend Ben moved to NYC after accepting a position at the American Museum of Natural History. On the eve of his departure, he invited Ryan and me over for a pretty swank dinner.

We had some lovely appetizers, but the main course of surf and turf was a real hit.

caption needed

2008-09-06T11:08:00.005-04:00

Lauren took this photo of Isabel last weekend and I think it is just screaming for an 'I Can Has Cheezburger' LOL Cats caption. Any other suggestions?

IZ NOT AMUSED
or
WUT U MEAN DOG IZ HERE?

Skywatch Friday - 9/5/08

2008-09-05T10:30:00.009-04:00

I love looking at the Skywatch Friday posts on the other blogs I usually read . I have a lot of photos of the sky, so I decided to participate. My contribution this week:

I took this photo* a few weeks ago. This was the view of a protected nesting site in the Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge. I love how three-dimensional the clouds look in contrast with the flat beach.

[*at the suggestion of a commenter, I enlarged it and re-posted.]

gross incompetence

2008-09-04T08:19:00.007-04:00

Yesterday, something so ridiculous and asinine happened to me, I just had to share it.

I got home from work at the usual time. I walked in through the back door, into the kitchen, and set my purse and lunch bag down on the kitchen table. Isabel mewed at me so I gave her some love and then wandered into the dining room to look through the mail.

Me: "The RG&E bill AGAIN?? I just paid this! I can't believe we're getting ANOTHER bill!"
Ryan: [grunts from his office]
Me: [sigh as I open the bill]

What I see nearly takes my breath away: Total Natural Gas Cost........$8,714.73.

That's right, $8,714.73. That's almost NINE THOUSAND DOLLARS.

I didn't make it up. Really, I didn't. Here's the proof, just in case you're not sure if I'm telling the truth.

I immediately got on the phone. Of course, I was on hold for 15 minutes before I actually spoke to a living, breathing, cranky customer service rep. I explained to her that the electric portion of my bill (only $52.00) was ok, but that I was particularly alarmed by my alleged natural gas consumption.

She pulled up my account and said, "Well, I can see why you're concerned about this."

Duh.

Now, let us consider that last month we paid a mere $72.00 for our gas usage. Let us also consider that the highest our entire RG&E bill has ever been, in the nearly two years we have lived in that house, even in the middle of Winter, was roughly $467.00.

If you look at the bill closely, it says the reading for the electric was an estimate, while the reading for the natural gas was actual. Now, in order to get to the gas meter, which is LOCKED UP IN THE BASEMENT, the meter reader would have to knock on the door and ask Ryan or me to let them in. The electric meter, on the other hand, is on the side of the house, easily accessible. Last week we did get one of those yellow Sorry-We-Missed-You hangy tags on the front door handle and the fence next to the electric meter had been KNOCKED DOWN.

I think the idiot meter reader thought the electric meter was the gas meter.

What galls me is the following: Surely it says in my account somewhere that the gas meter is INSIDE. And, at some point, the numbers from the meters have be entered into a computer and linked up with our specific account. Wouldn't the person doing the entry notice the enormous difference between last month's usage and this month's? Don't you think a warning bell would have sounded and maybe someone over there at RG&E would have called me to read the meter? Or, perhaps they would want to come out and check to see if their meter had been damaged somehow or is just flat out broken.

Of course not. Not in a million years. Instead, the send out a clearly inaccurate bill. Did they think we would not notice the error? Worse, still, did they actually think we would pay almost nine thousand dollars without thinking there's a problem here? Come on.

Conclusion: they don't get paid enough to care.

I gave Cranky Customer Service Rep the meter read that Ryan had taken while I was on hold. She said that will lower our bill considerably. No kidding. We also have a scheduled meter read set up for next week, and an adjusted bill should be coming to us in the near future.

To be continued.

s'mores don'ts

2008-08-26T21:59:00.002-04:00

When you have leftover s'mores fixin's from a recent camping trip, do not think you are being smart by cooking them in the microwave. If your marshmallows do not explode first, you will have one giant gooey mess on your hands. And face. And everywhere else. Trust me.

sun, sand and seafood

2008-08-25T10:13:00.009-04:00

We got back from Cape May late last night. It was a very relaxing long week-end, but we managed to pack in quite a lot of activities.

We saved money by camping instead of staying in a hotel:

We spent a lot of time on the beach.

We did a lot of birding.

I added many life birds to my list, including these juvenile Laughing Gulls:

Most importantly, however, was the seafood. We ate ourselves silly:

Everyone had such a good time that we're already planning next year's trip.

blog browsing procrastination

2008-08-14T19:28:00.002-04:00

So, as I am avoiding putting away the laundry and cleaning the bathroom floor and scooping the cat poop out of the litterbox, I am reading the blogs I usually do. I usually read my favorite blogs through Google Reader. I was catching up with Julie Zickefoose, my favorite bird blogger, who posted another adorable ode to her pet puppeh. I clicked the link mentioned in the post and it took me right to Julie's blog, which I had never visited before. Just looked at through the RSS feed.

And, lo and behold, my mind went:

holycrapIhavetheexactsametemplateasmyheroJulieZickefoose!

Coincidence?

impatience

2008-08-14T19:13:00.002-04:00

And, in other news, my tomatoes are still not ripe. I'm betting they'll start to redden approximately one day after we leave for Cape May next week. Bah.

something you don't see every day

2008-08-14T18:36:00.006-04:00

Each morning before work, I take puppeh outside so she can do her business. Today, as she was sniffing around for "the perfect spot", I watched the birds come to the feeders and admired how tall the weeds in the back yard are getting. I was slurping my way through a lovely warm bowl of flaxseed oatmeal with some divine local blueberries when I happened to glance upward.

Do you KNOW what that is? Fried squirrel. That's right, it's an electrocuted squirrel hanging on by his front paws, dangling away on the power-line. I know it is dead because it was in the exact same position when I came home from work.

EW.

hopped up on goof-balls

2008-08-07T10:05:00.004-04:00

That's right, I am. And it is GLORIOUS.

The short story is:

I fell down the stairs at church on Sunday. In front of everyone. And I was wearing a skirt. I went to an urgent care center where I had x-rays taken. Upon review of the x-rays, it was determined that I had not broken anything, but most likely bruised my coccyx. Badly. I was also given a prescription for Vicodin which I promptly filled at Wegmans.

Tuesday I went for a follow-up with my regular doctor, who told me that the very tip of the coccyx had most likely separated from the rest of the bone and that I would have pain for several more weeks while it heals.

The rest of my body is bruised and swollen, but I thankfully didn't break an arm or sprain an ankle or anything like that. It has been a painful challenge getting in and out of bed, standing up, sitting down, bending over, using the bathroom, etc. I was using a cane for a while to help with going up and down the stairs, and a walker in the bathroom to hang on to while getting in and out of the shower. I have an inflatable donut I sit on for support, which helps a little with the pain.

But, I am supposed to not be sedentary, to keep with my regular routine as much as possible.

I've stayed home from work all week using my accumulated sick time, which has been most helpful in my recovery. Each day I've felt a little better and have been able to perform more tasks than the day before. (This is the first time since last week I've been able to check e-mail.) If I keep on keeping on, my hope is to be mostly pain-free by the time we leave for our trip to Cape May in two weeks.

Thanks to all of you who have offered your well-wishes!

dinner duty, night 1 = pesto

2008-08-02T11:41:00.008-04:00

While Ryan's been helping our friends renovate their new home, I've been on dinner duty. Monday night, I turned this:

2 C firmly packed basil leaves
1/4 C toasted pine nuts
3 large cloves of garlic, toasted
1/4 freshly grated Parmesan
7 TBSP of the best Extra Virgin Olive Oil we have
salt & pepper to taste

into this:

I tossed the pesto with whole wheat fusilli pasta and a little of the pasta water to thin it out. I served it with Caprese salad: fresh, local tomatoes (since mine STILL aren't ripe yet), fresh mozzarella, fresh basil from my garden, and drizzled it with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Tuesday we had grilled onions, peppers, green beans, celery and carrots tossed with grilled, Asian-seasoned chicken breast that I tossed with Teriyaki sauce and served over herbed rice. However, my culinary ambitions ended there. The rest of the week we ate take-out.

over the river

2008-07-28T22:52:00.000-04:00

Friday night, Ryan and I were sipping drinks out in the backyard when we heard some music drifting over from across the river. It sounded like Superman to me. We gulped down the drinks, gathered up the puppeh and walked over to Corn Hill to catch the RPO's Genesee Barge Concert. We were only there for a little while, though, when puppeh started getting fussy and barking a little, which I'm sure disturbed the concert-goers.

On the way home, we stopped on the Ford Street Bridge and I snapped this photo of our fair city:

only a few more weeks to go

2008-07-23T18:38:00.000-04:00

hurry, tomatoes!

do you like pina colada?

2008-07-20T23:33:00.000-04:00

This has become my new favorite summer drink. Mmm!

summer blooms

2008-06-26T22:51:00.006-04:00

The lilies have arrived in an

O R A N G E

E
X
P
L
O
S
I
O
N

I Should, I Wish, I Love

2008-06-25T08:37:00.006-04:00

I love it when Julia tags me:

My ex... is someone with whom I had absolutely nothing in common.

Maybe I should... stop futzing around on the internet while I'm at work and make a dent in these motions that need to get filed.

I love... being in a happy, healthy relationship with someone who "gets it."

People would say...I'm anal and uptight, but I think I'm just really well-organized.

I don't understand...why 24 hours in a day aren't enough.

When I wake up in the morning... I pet whatever animal is closest - one of the cats, or the dog, or Ryan. :)

I lost...track of time a lot this week.

Life is full of...little blessings and small miracles. You just have to have enough awareness to recognize them.

My past is something...I have often blocked out, intentionally, only to discover it lurking around later on, rearing its ugly head when I least expect it.

I get annoyed when... people are rude to each other.

Parties are...more fun when they're at our house!

I wish...I didn't worry so much about things I can't control.

Dogs...we have 1. She makes a great substitute for an actual kid.

Cats... we have 2. They are just as loyal as the dog, but require a lot less attention.

Tomorrow... is one day closer to Friday.

I have a low tolerance for... litterbugs, smokers, people with a false sense of self-importance and co-workers with bitch-mouth.

If I had a million dollars... Ryan and I would retire to the Adirondacks after paying off all our debt.

I'm totally terrified of...making the same mistakes my parents made.

the Reverand still has it

2008-06-22T22:20:00.000-04:00

Last week I scored free tickets to see Al Green at the Jazz Fest. We had a blast at the show, and some pretty decent seats, too.

bino-scoping, 101

2008-06-19T21:51:00.000-04:00

I've been reading up on the techniques of digiscoping and binoscoping lately, and becoming more and more fascinated. Digiscoping requires a spotting scope with an apparatus for mounting your digital camera. I don't have a spotting scope as of yet, but it's on my long list of things to purchase some time soon. You can achieve the same sort of effect by pointing your digital camera through your binoculars. So, I decided to try it. My first go at it wasn't so bad. My set-up looked like this (you can see the bird feeders in the background):

I had to take a couple of practice shots before the birds showed up:

First to visit was a male house finch:

We also have an entire family of downy woodpeckers hanging around. The darn things move so erratically that it's difficult to get a shot that isn't blurry. This is my favorite one. Even though you can see the outline of the eyepiece on my binos, I love this photo of Mom feeding Junior:

the week in review

2008-06-14T17:37:00.005-04:00

It's been a busy week with little time for posting. Here's what I've been up to:

Sunday, 6/8, I went to Hot Blues for the Homeless to support Ryan (that's him there, on the Left, along with Gordon Munding, Curtis Waterman, and Washboard Dave). And the homeless. At above 90 degrees outside that day, boy was it hot.

Monday - Tuesday, 6/9-6/10, we had not one but TWO birthdays at our house! The puppeh turned 5 this week. (Check out that sunburn on my shoulders. Ouch!)

Wednesday - Thursday, 6/11-6/12, I finished up the planting. I got my heirloom tomatoes in, including everyone's favorite, The Mortgage Lifter. I also planted basil, parsley, petunias, marigolds, chives and thyme. I think, however, I'll have to put in more basil since we tend to use prodigious amounts throughout the summer. Anyone for pesto?

Busy weeks also mean little time for yard-work, other than what is absolutely necessary (that'd be the basil). As a result, we have an interesting assortment of weeds and non-native invasive plants growing all over. Sometimes, they're pretty. I have no idea what this is. Anyone know? I'm not so good with my wildflowers yet.

Earlier this past week, I scored Jazz Fest tickets to Frank Sinatra, Jr. So, after a lovely al fresco dinner at Aladdin's last night, Ryan and I went up and heard the son of Ol' Blue Eyes in a really classy concert. I was slightly apprehensive that it was going to be a lame show, but it turned into a very nice evening.

in the pines

2008-06-06T14:07:00.006-04:00

Several weeks ago I started a rather lengthy post about our weekend up in the North Country. I never finished it, and now, compared to some of the things we saw, words just won't do Mother Nature much justice. So, I'll just let the photos speak for themselves:

This was the view across the street from our hotel in Saranac Lake.

And this was the view from the summit on Jenkins Mountain, in Paul Smiths. It was breathtaking.

for the birds

2008-05-13T20:16:00.007-04:00

This past Saturday, while Ryan and Jim were busy preparing a meal for 60 of our closest friends, I spent the afternoon in the backyard pulling weeds out of the garden along the side fence. Ick. However, I did have some company.The first to visit was this white-crowned sparrow. We only see these in the Spring here in upstate New York. Sometimes in the Fall on their way back South. Check out those racing stripes on his head. Yes, grackles are bothersome, but this one was cute, dancing around, trying not to get too close to me. When the sun hits them in just the right way, grackles really do have some beautiful, iridescent plumage.
It's hard to tell in this photo, but that reddish splotch up there on the right is a male house finch courting his mate (on the left). Those two chased each other around in that tree for several minutes before the finally flew off.

I had other assorted visitors, including the usual suspects of chickadees, goldfinches, a female downy woodpecker and lots of sparrows and squirrels. Nothing out of the ordinary, but living in the city makes it difficult when you're an avid birder.

I headed off to church around 5 p.m. that night for Ladies Night...a fine dining and entertainment experience hosted by the men of the church. As I pulled in the parking lot, lo and behold, I spotted a female merganser lazily swimming around in one of the front retention ponds. Figure that one out! I spooked her when I tried to take her picture. Nuts.I did snap this shot of an eastern bluebird perched on the front sign who was hanging around. Didn't seem at all worried about me being there.

I wish I had a really awesome digi-cam that would actually take decent photos of these birds. My skills just don't do them enough justice. Ryan. Birthday in a month. Hint hint hint.

it's a good thing it's Friday (Murphy's Law)

2008-05-09T13:13:00.005-04:00

Wednesday I shelled out $347.62 for car repairs.

I got to work this morning and my computer was completely wiped clean of all my stuff. No network access, no programs, no e-mail, no calendar, no bookmarks, no nothing. For four hours I sat around not doing much of anything. Meanwhile, the pile of unfinished work on my desk just kept getting bigger, while Computer Guy Matt took forever trying to fix me.

Then the mail came.

I have waited for the mail all week, knowing I'd have this necklace I ordered from Silpada in time for the weekend. The necklace wasn't at all the color I wanted and had weird odd-ball beads mixed in. Didn't look a thing like in the catalog or at the party I went to last week. Luckily, the rep is a very nice lady who is working out the return for me right away.

I also had a minor screw-up on a Notice of Appeal I filed the other day. Not a huge deal, but still a pain in the neck.

I didn't have time to take lunch yesterday and maybe not today either, and no, I don't get comp time.

I broke the antenna off of a co-worker's radio.

Please hurry, 5:00 p.m.!

my ode to William Carlos Williams

2008-05-08T23:25:00.003-04:00

So much depends on the fire-and-ice stripes of the fading sunset at 8:38 p.m. while thoughts of Bach float around in my head. Sometimes the world still makes sense.

how not to spend your Saturday afternoon

2008-05-05T10:07:00.002-04:00

If it can at all be avoided, do NOT let your car die in front of Wegmans in the middle of Monroe Avenue in Pittsford on a Saturday afternoon. This is a very bad idea.

city living

2008-05-02T08:25:00.003-04:00

I love living in the Southwedge. I love being close to everything. I love being able to walk up the street to the corner market, the corner bar, and the corner concert venue. I like that I can easily get to the river trail and Mt. Hope Cemetery without even getting in the car.

On the flip-side, there is always something going on in our neighborhood. Always. Family fights, loud rap music, weird smells, stray cats, etc. Last month my bike got stolen. A few weeks ago, someone's dog was hit by a car right in front of our house. I won't even mention when Ryan had to testify against our neighbors in city court earlier this year.

So, last night as we were just finishing dinner, we didn't think it was unusual for a police car or two to fly down the street with lights flashing, etc. But then two more came. And then more, and more, and more. By now our curiosities were piqued. We hadn't had that much excitement since last summer when the house a few doors down caught fire and the street was blocked off for several hours. We went outside but couldn't see anything...the action was at least a dozen houses down, on the other side of the street. I grabbed my binoculars, but they didn't help much amidst all the flashing lights.

Of course, this kind of activity is a great way to meet neighbors. People came out of their houses and were walking up and down the street with us. As we headed back inside upon determining we probably weren't going to get any details, one of the neighbors asked an officer, "is this another fire?", which of course referred to the blaze from last summer. "No," the officer replied, "there's someone who has psychiatric problems who needs to go to the hospital."

I don't know what kind of "psychiatric problems" require at least 20 cop cars, 2 ambulances and a firetruck hauling ass down a residential street.

Well, I heard on the radio this morning there was a stabbing of a police officer who responded to an initial call from that house. Probably a domestic issue or mental hygiene thing. So a cop got stabbed and that is always call for front-page news in this town. Read the RNews story here.

Never a dull moment!

circle-spinning

2008-05-01T09:39:00.002-04:00

Last night at dinner, over some yummy pesto ravioli and made-from-scratch Alfredo, I remarked to Ryan about how life seems to be moving so fast these days and I can't seem to catch up. Sometimes I feel like it's leaving me behind, in a sense.

We've watched just about all of our closest friends marry. Then they started buying houses and having kids. Now our parents are aging, some with pretty complicated health issues.

"They're not going to die soon," he told me later as we were sitting on the couch digesting.
"It's going to be sooner than later." I crossed my arms over my chest and pouted a little.

I haven't had the best relationship with my parents; my father especially. We are polar opposites in many ways, including our social, political and economic views. I vehemently disagree with a lot of the choices they have made throughout their lives, for which they are now suffering the consequences.

"But how will I be my Mom's kid without my Mom? I still feel like I'm 12 years old sometimes!"
"Honey, you're being irrational. You'll always have a mother, alive or dead. Yay, Scooter's face doesn't smell like cat-butt anymore."

Love that Ryan, I do. He is always the voice of reason and the master of changing the subject.

pearls of wisdom

2008-04-29T09:11:00.003-04:00

Fortune from the cookie that came with my Chinese take-out:

"Today is an ideal time to water your personal garden."

semi-Zen driving on a Saturday morning while running errands

2008-04-26T13:30:00.004-04:00

8:15 a.m. - play> voices, traffic, shuffle/hustle/bustle, birds, stringband: Public Market.

10:36 a.m. - play> New York - kick-ass cover by Cat Power: more yarn hording for the shawl I'm making. No, I'm not done with The Blanket yet. I'm still working on that, but a girl needs variety, you know.

I've been pretty stressed out lately. Run down. Desperately in need of some time off, away from here. In the car, I can escape, but not really. It puts things in perspective. Things really aren't that bad. I have everything I truly need.

10:58 a.m. - play> Where the Wind May Blow by The Hooters: Wegmans.

I have everything I need.

11:47 a.m. - play> Etta James, Jackson Browne, Lucinda Williams: taking the long way home; the chonk-a-ree of the red-winged blackbirds in the reeds outside the Post Office.

Everything will be ok. I have everything I need.

job perks, part 2

2008-04-23T13:14:00.000-04:00

My first job-love is my part-time music director gig. Always has been, always will be. But, since they don't give me health insurance I have to moonlight as a paralegal. This means, because I have such an oh-so-generous boss, I get flowers 3 times a year. Flowers come on my work anniversary, my birthday, and if Boss doesn't forget, Administrative Professionals Day. It's nice to feel appreciated.

every day is earth day

2008-04-22T13:17:00.003-04:00

So, what are you doing for Earth Day?

Over the last year or so, Ryan and I have really made an effort to be as environmentally conscious as possible.

We:
...switched all our incandescent light bulbs to florescent ones.
...started using cloth napkins in place of paper.
...started using cloth towels in the kitchen instead of paper towels, for mopping up spills and cleaning counters, etc.
...became compulsive recyclers. I've always been careful about recycling in the past, but now I'm obsessed! I go after things accidentally thrown in the regular trash. Just a rinse and it's fine for the recycle bin.
...try to condense shopping into one trip to cut down on gas usage, and go to the public markets as much as possible.
...kept the thermostat REALLY low this past Winter (58 at night and when no one was home, 63 when we were hanging out).
...utilize our extensive Nalgene collection. We don't buy or use bottled water anymore, even at work.
...use the handy-dandy reusable Wegmans bags every time we go grocery shopping. When we go to the market, I tote along these wicked cool eco-friendly bags.
...use eco-friendly shampoos and soaps in the bathroom and kitchen.
...buy organic food as much as possible.
...pick up trash when we're out hiking or walking around the neighborhood. (People can be such slobs!)
... occasionally share showers. *wink*

There are always more things one can do. I think this is a pretty decent start.

spring has sprung, the grass is riz...

2008-04-21T09:00:00.004-04:00

Ah, Spring.

I love your Daffodils and Crocuses; your Tulips and Hyacinths.
I love ripping the plastic off the windows, peeling off the sticky tape, letting the breeze in to relieve the stagnation of old, stale air.
I love not wearing socks and leaving the windows open at night.
I love putting the down comforter in storage until Fall.
I love open-air markets and dancing birds looking for mates.
I love reading outside on my lunch hour.
I love the celebratory first night of outdoor grilling since October.
I love fresh, local strawberries.
I love Spring love.

job perks

2008-04-18T09:39:00.002-04:00

Occasionally, the boss will have me research various concerts and sporting events going on around town. He must think I'm a pretty hip, happenin' gal, because often he'll ask me where to go to hear some good jazz, etc. Things like that. So this morning he wanted me to get him some tickets for the Jazz Fest. I got 2 club passes and 2 tickets to the Dizzy Gillespie tribute. It really wasn't that big of a deal, but as a reward from Ticketmaster, I did get 2 free downloads from iTunes. Sweet.

I doubt we'll get any free tickets this year, unlike last year (we saw Jean Luc Ponty, Dave Brubeck, and John Scofield, compliments of my boss himself). This year, it seems the summer is already filling up more quickly than last. There are a few things I'd like to check out, though. I would especially love to hear Robin McKelle, who we heard for the first time at last year's RPO Gershwin Gala. I was totally blown away by her smoky vocals. She's definitely one to keep an eye on.

give me some of that old-time religion

2008-04-17T11:05:00.008-04:00

The recent FLDS polygamist-sect scandal has reminded me of my own personal experience with cult religions.

I had a roommate in college for two years who claimed to be a born-again, Pentecostal, religious zealot, whatever. She carried a Bible with her every where she went. She prayed at her desk before every class. She swore she had been slain in the spirit many, many times. She claimed she could speak in tongues. One time I let her lay hands on me. (Nothing happened.) She encouraged me to read her books on satanism. She also encouraged me to open the Bible randomly and pick a passage, which would have a certain special meaning, just for me at that particular moment. At one time, she had me pretty convinced she was for real.

While the dorm room that I shared with this girl was not of considerable size, we did each have our own closets. She would, on occasion, sit on a stool in her closet and quietly murmur to herself. I honestly couldn't say for sure what she was doing. Praying? I don't know.

I do know that she had a boyfriend. I know that she would lock me out of the dorm room while she was in there with this boyfriend. I know that eventually the boyfriend, who also claimed to be a born-again, was arrested and prosecuted on child pornography charges.

So where is Crazy-girl Roommate now? Unknown. The last I heard, she married a marine she met at a gas station after only a few weeks of courtship.

Interesting.

protection

2008-01-29T19:06:00.001-05:00

When my sister was here visiting at Christmas, one of the things she wanted to do was visit Mt. Hope Cemetery. Ryan and I live just a few blocks away, so one morning, Gretchen and I got up, put on our long-johns, and walked over. It was a spectacular day - sunny, bright, brisk, and absolutely perfect for a short hike. Armed with our digi-cams, we were snapping pictures like crazy.

2008 Book List

2008-01-08T18:16:00.005-05:00

Here I go again:

1. The Age of Shiva by Manil Suri (1/7/08)
2. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer (1/10/08)
3. The Red Tent by Anita Diamant (1/28/08)
4. Sacred Time by Ursula Hegi (2/16/08)
5. Hotel of the Saints by Ursula Hegi (2/23/08)
6. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See (3/18/08)
7. Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously by Julie Powell (3/22/08)
8. The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier (4/2/08)
9. In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner (4/9/08)
10. The Penelopiad: The Myth of Penelope and Odysseus by Margaret Atwood (4/15/08)
11. The Worst Thing I've Done by Ursula Hegi (4/24/08)
12. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (5/22/08)
13. The Hours by Michael Cunningham (6/3/08)
14. I Am Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe (7/3/08)
15. The Antelope Wife by Louise Erdrich (7/13/08)
16. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova (8/7/08)
17. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (9/20/08)
18. America America by Ethan Canin (10/16/08)
19. The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak (11/16/08)
20. Fear of Flying by Erica Jong (re-read, 11/25/08)
21. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (12/13/08)
22. A Sunday at the Pool in Kigali by Gil Courtemanche (12/20/08)

unrelated rants

2007-11-18T20:32:00.000-05:00

I don't normally broadcast my religious views with the zeal and fervor that some do. My spirituality is private, emotional, and something I only discuss with my most intimate friends. I will say, however, that I firmly believe our elected officials should not legislate theology, nor should the government barge into our church sanctuaries, temples, or mosques.

I have a real and definite problem with uber-conservative, right-wing fundamentalists who call themselves Christians. I think they miss the point. It seems their primary agenda is conversion by attack, judgment, and condemnation rather than all-inclusive compassion and love.

So I bet you're wondering what prompted this mini-rant. This did. The small article from today's newspaper is about the church where I work part-time as the music director. After the dedication of the new sanctuary, visitors to the church were so impressed with the music program that I was told I may have a few job offers. I guess I resent the fact that no mention was made of the music program anywhere in the article whatsoever.

I know these are two separate issues, but I just had to get that out.

to play or not to play: f-minor piano variations

2007-11-11T19:45:00.000-05:00

Darn you, Joseph Haydn.

Ok, so it's been eight years since I've had your F-minor Piano Variations in my fingers, and even longer since I have performed it in front of actual people. When I slap the Urtext up on the rack, it seems familiar enough. The notes and hints I scribbled all over the music help to jog my memory:
No accent here.
More precise rhythm here.
Close your hand.
Free but not "floaty".
Keep the integrity of the two voices.
Be gentle.
Half pedal.
Shape this phrase more.
Less detached here.
Hang on.
No mercy.
Go.

Slowly it comes back but I have trouble executing the turns, the mordents, the trills, the grace notes - all those Mozart-wanna-be ornaments. Oh, I can hear them in my head, elegantly blending in perfectly with other notes in the phrase. I just can't seem to make my fingers do what I want them to do, and I realize that eight years is plenty long enough to lose one's skill.

After two hours of practicing, it has become apparent that my hand span has shrunk considerably and the tendonitis in my right bicep has indeed not faded away with time.

Will this piece make the final cut for the recital I have to give in five months? Maybe. Maybe not, if I do better on the Brahms Intermezzi. Or the Debussy Suite Bergamasque. Or the old, reliable Chopin Nocturnes and Preludes.

Excuse me while I go hunt down some ibuprofen.

tagged again

2007-11-03T11:01:00.000-04:00

Julia tagged me, so I suppose I have to comply....

List 5 things that certain people (who are not deserving of being your friend anyway) may consider to be “totally lame,” but you are, despite the possible stigma, totally proud of. Own it. Tag 5 others.

Ok, here goes:

1. I. Love. Yarn. I must have it. I covet it, crave it, horde it. Even when I'm not working on any particular project, I buy it. I buy it when the various craft stores have sales, thinking, oh I might use this for a project some day. I love the way yarn feels, I love the colors, I love imagining all the things I could make with it. If only my crochet skills were as advanced as I pretend they are.

2. I have a bed-making compulsion. It's true. I have to make the bed before I get into it at night. The pillows must be properly fluffed, the sheets must be straightened out and tidy. There must be the same amount of sheet and blanket hanging off each side of the bed. If, for whatever reason, my bed-making ritual is not performed each night before I climb in, I run the risk of a seriously restless night.

3. I've been known to drink wine out of a box, but only if there's nothing else in the house.

4. Books. See #1.

5. I am secretly in love with Tom Jones (the Welsh singer, not the Henry Fielding novel). I know all of the words to all of his songs.

plug for the local girl

2007-11-02T09:50:00.001-04:00

Sui Generis, the law blog written by a colleague in my office, has been nominated for best law blog in the 2007 Weblog Awards. So, all my blogging friends, please go vote for Niki!

the last of the fall harvest

2007-10-25T20:11:00.001-04:00

I'll be spending a lot of time making bread out of those 4 and 5 pound zucchinis! Recipes and other hints (except pick-them-before-they-get-that-big) are welcome....

a little monday morning fun

2007-10-15T12:12:00.000-04:00

Received this e-card from Julia this morning, which made me giggle out loud at my desk:

snickering at the museum

2007-10-12T14:45:00.000-04:00

Last weekend, my sister and her boyfriend were up visiting from Tennessee. One of the many activities in which we participated was attending the current exhibit at the RMSC called Our Body: The Universe Within. It was a fascinating exhibit of actual human bodies and human specimens preserved by plastination, a process that replaces the body's water and fat with reactive plastics.

As we were weaving our way through the various sections of the exhibit, we reached a sort of traffic jam going into the reproductive system portion. G and I were waiting our turn to enter the small partitioned-off room where the fetuses were being displayed. In the mean time, we had the opportunity to admire the cross-section of a male torso, along with several people who were in line behind us. The following conversation ensued:

Lady behind us: Oh!! I always thought the penis and testes were one unit!
Guy behind lady behind us: Heh heh heh, she said "unit".
G and me: uncontrollable stifled snickering

on this date

2007-09-28T08:47:00.000-04:00

Today is battlemaiden's 5th birthday. I think that warrants a little jaunt down memory lane, don't you?

Five years ago...

...I still lived in Cleveland.
...I got married but I was not in love.
...I missed my family a lot.
...I occasionally chatted with Ryan on-line.
...Matt and Julia visited me all the time.
...my library was half of what it is today.
...I had three cats instead of two.
...all my blog posts were titled with lines from Tori Amos songs. I am much less obsessed these days.
...I still had the same computer I use now at home, but without all the upgrades Ben has since installed for me.
...my income was a little more than half of what it is now.
...I did the majority of the cooking. Now I have a nearly-gourmet meal prepared for me almost every night!
...I did the majority of the house-cleaning. I still do that.
...I did not know how to knit or crochet.
...I still kept in touch with people who I don't even think about now.
...I hadn't yet met Kirk and Kristi or made regular trips up to the beautiful North Country here in New York State.
...I talked all the time about how much I loved Rochester. (Now, whenever I mention Cleveland, Ryan tells me he thinks I should move back there.)
...I didn't have a regular birding buddy.
...I was a registered Democrat. That hasn't changed.
...I lived in the suburbs, rather than the city.
...I didn't have Harley yet.
...I went to the library a lot more than I do now.
...I watched a lot more TV than I do now.
...I ate fast food several times a month.
...I was still a size 4/6 and weighed 115 lbs.
...I was less happy with my self-image, less confident, less secure in my own convictions.

I'm sure I could go on and on and on, but I won't. Here's to another 5 years.

incarnation?

2007-09-24T21:20:00.000-04:00

I have to post about this:

A few weeks ago I was listening to The World Cafe on NPR, when the song One Crowded Hour by Augie March came on. Immediately I thought, "Holy crap, Jeff Buckley has been resurrected from the dead." In any event, it's a good song.

catching up

2007-09-21T09:27:00.000-04:00

Boy, this has been a busy week! Here are a few blog-worthy items I feel like sharing:

Tuesday:
I ended up getting to bed rather late on Tuesday night, because I started work on that blanket I mentioned in my previous post.

Wednesday:
I received another comment from the people at Method on my post about my o-mop handle breaking off. Since I never got my replacement, the kind woman at Method said she would Fed-Ex me one ASAP. Nice.

Additionally, after a 9 hour work day, I had to hustle out to Victor for a 2-hour committee meeting on the dedication of our new church building. I didn't get home until after 9 p.m. Ryan had already gone to band practice, but he left me a hot dinner to eat so I wouldn't have to have cereal, or worse yet, cook myself something. He's the greatest.

Thursday:
We celebrated Kirk's birthday at The Olive Tree last night. The sampler starter platter of Taramosalata (really scrumptious red caviar), Tzatziki, Hummus and Skordalia dips was awesome, as were the dolmades. I ordered a braised Tilapia dish; everyone else went with some variation of Moussaka.

There was some talk of bowling after dinner, but a few of us have been feeling a little under the weather. We may do the bowling tonight, instead. All in all, it was a relaxing evening of al fresco dining on the patio with terrific food and our close friends. What more could one ask for?

Today:
According to a co-worker of mine, this morning I apparently sounded like I'm having a bad day today. So, what happened? He brought me a bouquet of daisies, a box of Tazo Sweet Cinnamon Spice tea, and a bar of Lindt milk chocolate. I had no idea he could be so thoughtful.

autumn approaches

2007-09-18T12:40:00.000-04:00

The nights have cooled considerably. The heat came on the other day, and in the mornings when I retrieve the paper, the dampness and smell of the air is different. The transition to Autumn for me is more mysterious than its Vernal counterpart.

Not only does this mean Fall bird migration, pumpkins, hiking under the changing leaves, digging out my wool sweaters from the cedar chest, it also means that I've got the crochet itch once again. I don't pick up my crocheting much during the warmer months, but when it's chilly out, there's something serenely comforting about having my crochet work on my lap, a cat curled up next to me, and a mug of steaming tea after dinner in the evenings while Ryan watches hockey.

Here's what I've chosen for my next project, which is going to be a striped blanket for the spare bedroom futon:

bird heaven

2007-09-13T10:39:00.001-04:00

Holy mother-lode.

I don't know how I missed this site before, but I've recently discovered it. A quick search for "birds" returned hundreds of pages. *Pant, pant* I won't even tell you what I got when I searched "bird" and "book" (my 2 favorite things).

Check out all the hand-made goodies! I am envisioning gifts galore for friends and family, collecting some creative ideas. After all, Christmas is just around the corner.

i'm a stickler for enunciation

2007-09-10T14:29:00.000-04:00

I LOVE this song that's being played in regular rotation on WBER lately. Except for the part that goes "why don'tchewlike me?". It drives me totally nuts in this instance, but it's still a fun song to sing along with in the car.

method = bad PR

2007-09-08T10:57:00.000-04:00

Back in June, I left a comment on ljcfyi's post about new Method products that mentioned how the handle on my recently acquired O-Mop had snapped right off after only a few times of use. Not long after, this comment appeared on my blog:

Hey,

Hope you don't mind me following you from LJC's blog. I just read that your omop handle broke! That sucks!
if you email felicia@methodhome.com she can set you up with a new one, stat.

Meredith
meredith@methodhome.com

So, I sent the e-mail along with this photo of my broken O-Mop. The reply e-mail I received was:

No Problem,

What you’ve sent is perfect. I’ll send the coupon today. It will cover the cost of a new omop starter kit at Target.

Thanks, and if there’s anything else I can do please let me know,
Felicia

That was at the beginning of July. Here it is September 8th, and still no coupon for my replacement O-Mop.

if facts are the seeds...

2007-09-05T15:35:00.000-04:00

The September/October issue of Audubon Magazine reviews several new books about Rachel Carson, someone in whom I have a special interest.

Rachel Carson has often been called the mother of the modern environmentalist movement. Her most famous book, Silent Spring, cited the dangers of chemicals and pesticide sprayings. Written 45 years ago, that book was a landmark, and my inspiration for switching to all earth-friendly household products like laundry and dish detergent, shampoo, etc. Today, we are still fighting (and losing) that battle.

In 1950, my grandfather and Rachel Carson both won the AAAS-George Westinghouse Science Writing Award for excellence in science writing. My grandfather, who at the time was a journalist for the Democrat & Chronicle, won the award for his article "Cancer Problem Riddle May Be Discovered in Carrots, Coconut Milk"* from the September 24, 1950 issue.

I remember my mother telling me a story about he and my grandmother flew out to wherever the ceremony was held - L.A., or Vegas, or somewhere out West, for a very glitzy, glamorous affair. They also got to meet Rachel Carson.

The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe around us, the less taste we have for destruction. -Rachel Carson, 1954

*End note: A few months ago, I tried e-mailing the Democrat & Chronicle for a copy of my grandfather's article. I never received a response. If anyone out there has an idea of how I can get a hold of an article from 1950, please let me know.

finally getting things done

2007-09-04T09:13:00.000-04:00

On my day(s) off, I rarely sit around and do nothing, and this past Labor Day weekend was no exception.

Ryan and I finally got up into the attic to clean up the mess the roofers left behind. (Note: the photo to the left is not of our actual attic, although it is similar.) Once we had surveyed the area and assessed what we needed to do, the whole project took less than an afternoon. This included sweeping, vacuuming, ripping out old carpeting, and making fun of how each other looked wearing a dust mask. Among the various and assorted sundries we unearthed, we found: Legos, puzzle pieces, cigarette butts, broken glass, nails and staples of all kinds, a pair of little kid underwear, someone's Power of Attorney form, and a Medicaid brochure from 1967.

stuff

2007-09-02T17:45:00.001-04:00

I have a bunch of pointless blog posts waiting to be published: one about the new bike I got, one about the good music they only play once in a while on WBER (usually on New Wave Wednesdays), one about going up to the cottage last weekend.

None of that matters now.

I've entered a mode of self-re-evaluation. What do I really want out of life and my relationships? I'm not eating right. I'm not exercising enough. I'm not getting enough "me time." I'm losing sight of why I'm doing some of the things that used to bring meaning into my life.

Sometimes I feel like I've gotten myself stuck in such a deep rut that the only way to get out of it is to do some major re-creating.

eating out

2007-08-11T12:00:00.000-04:00

There are an abundance of restaurants in Rochester, which makes it a great city for foodies like Ryan and me. Last Wednesday we went to Oasis Mediterranean Bistro with Kirk and Kristi. We had a fabulous time - the food was fantastic (the dolmades were to die for), it wasn't crowded, and the chef (ACF-certified!) even came out to greet us during our meal. Ryan and I are already planning a repeat visit some time soon.

i love my job

2007-08-04T11:58:00.000-04:00

This past Thursday was my official one year anniversary at my job. My boss called me into his office at one point during the afternoon, and we had the following conversation:

Boss: Ok, here's your annual review. Do you want a raise?
Me: Yes, please.
Boss: How's six percent?
Me: Cool. That's good.
Boss: Because, you know, we do pay for all your benefits.
Me: I know.

And, not only did I get a raise, but I also got flowers, too.

weekend re-cap

2007-07-30T09:48:00.000-04:00

My usual exclamation when I walk into the office on Monday morning is the typical "You again!", directed at one of my co-workers. After the obligatory "So, how was your weekend?", I respond with whether I had a relaxing one or that I have to come to work to recover from the weekend. This past weekend fell under the come-to-work-to-recover category.

Friday: (Although this doesn't technically fall under weekend, it still added as a weekend stressor.) Before leaving work, that afternoon I received a call from my bank's fraud alert department. They were calling to verify some suspicious transactions. It turns out that someone had gotten a hold of my credit card number and spent about $800 of my hard-earned cash. Card was canceled, and we left for Jamestown. Friday night involved great friends, great conversation, 3 bottles of wine, and iTunes.

Saturday: Up early to meet my aunt. We headed down to the Jamestown Audubon Society and nature center to get in some birding. The air was pretty thick and humid so all the birds, I gather, were hunkering down, trying to keep cool. We did get some good looks at some various Sandpipers and my favorites, the Cedar Waxwings. There was also a female Bald Eagle, injured, kept on the nature center's grounds, in a giant wire cage. Poor thing. Then it was back to Jamestown for goodbyes, onward to Fredonia for lunch and a quick stop at TJ's, then back on the road for home. Saturday night, the Varnish Cooks were in fine form at the Perkins Mansion concert series.

river visit

2007-07-19T08:15:00.000-04:00

On a muggy day in Rochester, you can smell forever. And, as Ryan put it, forever doesn't smell good. It smells like dead fish and sewage. However, a beautiful sunset and a flock of gulls against the sky can make up for just about anything.

bloggable bits

2007-07-12T08:14:00.000-04:00

On July 7th, Ryan and I had the honor of attending the RPO's Rhapsody in Rochester - a celebration of the RPO's new All-Gershwin CD with an evening of music, dinner and dancing at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center.

It was a very swank affair with good food and great music. We had a lovely, creative meal, which included a filet that was supposed to have a demi glace, but I thought it was closer to gravy. Oh well.

After dinner we were treated to a concert of Gershwin, and other assorted jazz tunes, one of which was a full orchestral arrangement of Oye Como Va. It was weird but yet strangely intriguing. The event also required us to get very dressed up. My hair-do utilized an army of bobby pins and an entire can of hairspray.

Also, we finally, finally put up the bird feeders. It took mere days for us to develop a following - we now have 3 pairs of goldfinches, a pair of cardinals, and what Ryan likes to call our roving gang of chickadees. We've seen nuthatches, red-belly, hairy, and downy woodpeckers, but they've yet to visit the the feeders. And, though Ryan has only seen it once, we have heard a very loud Carolina wren in the neighborhood. Living in the city, the birds are tame enough that we're able to sit out at the picnic table in the back yard and watch them feed up close.

"eh"

2007-07-09T21:16:00.000-04:00

As you can see from my sidebar over there, ------> I keep an on-line library of all my books through a wonderful site called LibraryThing. (It's awesome - you should join if you haven't already.) Several weeks ago, I was selected to participate in their Early Reviewer program, which is a collaboration between the site and a publishing company (Random House, in this case.) Because my library somehow matched whatever criteria they were looking for, I was lucky enough to receive a free, advanced copy of a soon-to-be-published novel. In order to continue to participate, though, they recommend you write a review, etc. So, my review of Peony in Love is below:

I received my copy of this book in the mail as part of the Early Reviewer program. As a fan of historical fiction (especially stories about women), I was anxious to start the novel. Focusing on an arranged marriage that never quite reaches fruition, Peony in Love desperately wants to be a love story. It wants to be a story about love that is stronger than death; it craves to be about a kind of rare love that will transcend any time, place, or dimension.

After only one chapter through it, however, I thought, “This is awful!” The writing bored me. The further I read, the more I wanted to be shown rather than told about the emotions that play such a large role in the novel. I wanted more depth in the writing, more imagery. The only scene that really captured my full attention in the beginning was the very graphic description of the foot binding process. This was a fantastic depiction which caused me to physically cringe and shudder.

I did, at times, have to force myself to continue turning pages. Later on in the novel, as we learn more about Peony (our heroine) and her family’s history, I did soften toward the often very bland writing style. I eventually developed a fondness for the characters. I even wondered if perhaps Lisa See wrote this way intentionally. Did she purposely write in such a plain style to underscore or accentuate the heavy emotions that we are told are so prevalent throughout this story? Maybe.

This wasn’t one of the best novels I’ve read in recent memory, nor was it the worst. It was simply, to me, “ok.” It did, however, spark enough interest in me that I think I may check out See’s other novel, which was apparently a best-seller, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan.

recovery

2007-07-04T11:00:00.000-04:00

Last weekend we tried to cram way too much into three days. Friday night, Ryan and I met up with Ben at the Syracuse Jazz Festival for a much-anticipated but later disappointing Bela Fleck and the Flecktones show. (The sound guys blew and it was freezing cold.) Sunday, it was back to Syracuse for the Jaco Pastorius Big Band, conducted by Peter Graves, with special guest Will Lee. Aretha Franklin was scheduled to play after the Jaco band, but we didn't stay for her. When in large crowds, my patience wears incredibly thin.

We stopped at Montezuma on the way out on Sunday. Nothing much to see there, since there was a simulated drought and the main pool was totally dry. We did, however, get a good look at a nesting Osprey on the way out.

Up next: Rhapsody in Rochester this coming Saturday. Pictures of Ryan and me in our formal wear will be posted eventually.

July is already shaping up to be one of the busiest months of the year...

sunday distraction

2007-06-26T20:34:00.000-04:00

birds/worship
outdoor chapel
woodpecker holes
hammered
into the old wooden cross erected behind the stone altar
catbird
meadow lark
oriole
goldfinch
Luther's small catechism
allcreaturesofourgodandking

when, oh when?

2007-06-23T13:56:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I feel like time is getting away from me. Right now, there's a ton of laundry that needs to be done, the lawn needs a mow, the weeds along the side of the house need pulled, I need to be fed. We have two parties and a Varnish Cooks gig to attend later. It's been one thing after another. When can I rest?

and it's only the 22nd....

2007-06-22T08:38:00.000-04:00

In the last two weeks I...

...turned 30
...saw Jean Luc Ponty
...saw John Scofield
...saw a very old Dave Brubeck
...got divorced

...watched the house three doors down catch fire and burn (RNews story here)

...and there's still one more week in the month. Sheesh.

another year, another decade

2007-06-08T09:39:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow, I turn 30.

Last week, Julia mentioned to me how last year, she posted about her last day as a twentysomething. (By the way, Julia, there actually is no post from October 21, 2006. Unless you have some other mega-secret blog I'm not privy to.) I've been thinking about that ever since. Today is my last day as a twentysomething, and this morning, in the shower, I found myself reflecting on the last ten years of my life.

When I first began crafting this post, I thought, maybe I'll do a summation of every year of my life for the last ten years. Then I thought, egad, I don't want to re-live most of that, I'm glad it's over! There were more tough times than good, more struggle than ease, more hard lessons learned than not. I've come through it all relatively unscathed, and definitely much stronger for it. I have happiness, I have love, I have peace.

Tomorrow, I will be surrounded by my family, my closest friends, and Ryan. I couldn't ask for anything more.

getting nothing done

2007-06-04T19:35:00.001-04:00

Right now, the Varnish Cooks are practicing in my living room. Sweet.

it's hotter than....

2007-06-03T18:49:00.000-04:00

We've had quite a warm week here, and since our house does not have air conditioning, Scooter has found an alternative method of cooling himself down. I think he may have been a dog in a former life.

re-charged

2007-06-02T10:58:00.001-04:00

Happily, Ryan and I made it up to the cottage for the Memorial Day long weekend. There's a tangible shift in the energy in the car as soon as we get on 81 North and the pines become more prevalent. Though we were only away for about 2 1/2 days, it was still long enough to relax and recharge, have some great food at the local pub, and spend time with friends.

The tough part is making that feeling last after we've arrived home. Going back to work felt weird. My body was there, at my desk, performing all the tasks I'm used to, meanwhile my mind was still on the beach, in the cabin, in the woods, birding. Sort of like floating in an alternate reality.

ouch

2007-05-19T10:22:00.000-04:00

Every muscle in my body aches today. I mean it. Even my shins hurt. Why, you ask? Adopt-A-Highway. Yesterday afternoon, my entire office save one was out on I-590 picking up trash. For four miles. All for the perks of free advertising - the firm gets its name on two small signs in both the North and Southbound directions.

Don't get me wrong - I love the liberal overtones this activity has. As an environmentally-conscious, compulsive recycler, I loved that we were doing our part to keep our community somewhat clean. However, people in this city are PIGS. There were areas along the road where we were ankle-deep in cigarette butts. Ew.

Last night, when it was all over, and I had recovered after a hot shower and a cat-nap, I was re-telling my account of the highway clean-up at dinner with Ryan, Kirk, and Kristi. The weirdest things we found: 2 bras and half a bicycle. Not surprising finds were the dozens of empty beer cans and bottles. Oh, the irony.

3 margaritas and i open my checkbook

2007-05-05T10:15:00.000-04:00

One of my co-workers threw a Silpada jewelry party yesterday evening. I went only because the part of me that felt obligated to attend won out over the more apathetic part that wanted to stay home with the dog, watch the Friday re-run of Thursday's Grey's Anatomy, and relax after a long week.

I was pretty bored at first. Admittedly, the jewelry was attractive and boy, I do love shiny silver things. I finally loosened up after a margarita. It was nice to chat with my two other co-workers who felt the same obligation. One of them left after only a half an hour, but Heather and I stayed almost until the bitter end. I stayed because of the margaritas. She stayed because I think she was actually having fun. After three margaritas, I ended up purchasing a set of sterling dangle earrings and a stacked bamboo necklace. I had my eye on a few other items - a funky, chunky turquoise necklace that would look nice with the dress I intend to wear to Anne and Sean's wedding in July. I couldn't justify spending $110 on it, after spending $500 at the vet this week, and another few hundred on a gift for my mother for Mother's Day.

At least now I have a connection with Silpada. The woman for whom my co-worker was hosting the party had quit her day job THAT DAY because she is doing so well selling this stuff. She was a paralegal at a law firm. Hmmm. Interesting coincidence.