At our wedding, my dad's toast talked a lot about surviving Christmas in our family, and how Steve's ability to do so enthusiastically proved, that first year, that he was a keeper.
Christmas is, truly, the most wonderful time of the year. It's the time when almost everyone comes home. My cousin P, Steve, and I all fly in from California; my dad's youngest brother (who had broken his wrist and had surgery just the day before) and his family drive in from Kansas City; my mom's younger brother and his family drive down from Wisconsin; and all the family that still lives in the area comes together. This year, we were only missing one of Dad's sisters, and one of Mom's brothers and his family.
We have all kinds of traditions. Mom hosts Christmas Eve with the Kansas City crew and Grandma and Grandpa. We play "Pass the Bags" (pass on the word the) to 'Twas the Night Before Christmas and sing Christmas carols around the tree, ending--always--with a candlelit "Silent Night".
On Christmas Day, we all converge on Aunt N's for my favorite meal of the year. The cousins spend the afternoon playing a new game someone got for Christmas, and for the last couple of years, we've been taking goofy group pictures. (This year, all the cousins converged on the local playground and climbed on everything.)
My Wisconsin cousins drive down the day after Christmas for round two of Pass the Bags, and a wild game of Dirty Bingo. This year, we also had a Bananagrams marathon.
Grandma rallied for the holiday and had a great time. My immediate family went to see Million Dollar Quartet (fantastic! go see it!), as a birthday gift from the kids to Mom and Dad. It was too quick a visit, but it was full of fun and family, and I wouldn't have missed it for the world.
Favorite gift received: Ever year, the Kansas City crew makes a wooden ornament. For the past fourteen years, the theme has been various modes of transportation for Santa. This year, the ornament was a little wooden figurine of Grandma Peggy holding a song book turned to "Silent Night". Uncle E said he'd cherished the memory since first attending Grandma's Christmas Brunch probably thirty years ago, when my parents were first married. It made us all cry, of course.
Favorite gift given: It's a tie, I think. My sister found a place that will stitch names onto a blanket, so she, Steve, and I gave Grandma Peggy a blanket with all her grandchildren's names inside a heart. And then I made a calendar of pictures from Steve's and my honeymoon in France.
I love Christmas!
Friday, December 30, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Made Up of My Favorite Things
Despite it being the "rainy" season here, my face has been feeling extra dry these last several weeks. I had half an idea to look for a moisturizer that's a little heartier than the lotion I'd been using. I was somewhat aimlessly wandering the beauty product aisles of Target to see if anything caught my attention, and I'd paused in front of the Boots Botanics display.
"Yes, Boots," a woman several years older than I am said to her husband, coming around the corner into the aisle. "It's really good."
Now, I didn't know a thing about Boots, but one endorsement (if by a total stranger) is one more than I had for any other product in sight, and it had the advantage of not being over $20 like so many of the moisturizing lotions around. So I tried it.
I have to say, so far, I'm impressed! I've only been using it for a few days, but I do feel like it's helping.
While I was there, not-eavesdropping on my fellow shoppers' conversation, another Boots product caught my eye, and I tossed it into my basket on impulse. As you do.
Soothing & calming eye base. I've been having this on again/off again allergic reaction (?) on my eyelids that I keep meaning to find a dermatologist to talk to about, but haven't yet. My eyelids will, every once in a while, get a little puffy and very itchy. It will go away with an application or two of a prescription eye cream I got from my regular doctor the first time it happened, back in March or April. Anyway, I thought soothing & calming couldn't hurt.
Again, I like! I didn't realize it was tinted when I bought it, but that helps with pesky dark circles. It is soothing and calming, and we'll see if it helps keep this odd allergic reaction at bay.
My not-new but still favorite (most favorite) beauty item is my mascara. One morning on my way to work, I discovered I'd forgotten to put on mascara. I'd done the rest of my meager make-up routine, including eye shadow, but no mascara. I feel like my eyes look so much smaller (and more tired) without mascara! But it wasn't worth going back for, certainly.
Then, as I was getting to work, I realized I'd also forgotten deodorant. I don't think I'm a particularly sweaty or stinky person, but I'd like to keep it that way. Deodorant is non-negotiable. I ducked into the Albertsons near the office to pick some up, and grabbed mascara while I was at it. (Why not?)
The only reason for this particular mascara was that it was least-expensive option the grocery store had to offer.
And let me tell you, it is fabulous. I have actually gotten compliments from people--totally out of the blue--on how long my eyelashes look. It became a make-up bag staple.
So... that's that. A peek into my make-up routine. (The rest of my routine consists of a powder foundation, a little eye shadow, and, if I'm feeling sassy, a bit of cream eyeliner.)
"Yes, Boots," a woman several years older than I am said to her husband, coming around the corner into the aisle. "It's really good."
Now, I didn't know a thing about Boots, but one endorsement (if by a total stranger) is one more than I had for any other product in sight, and it had the advantage of not being over $20 like so many of the moisturizing lotions around. So I tried it.
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| Boots Botanics Day Moisture Lotion |
I have to say, so far, I'm impressed! I've only been using it for a few days, but I do feel like it's helping.
While I was there, not-eavesdropping on my fellow shoppers' conversation, another Boots product caught my eye, and I tossed it into my basket on impulse. As you do.
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| Soothing & Calming Eye Base |
Again, I like! I didn't realize it was tinted when I bought it, but that helps with pesky dark circles. It is soothing and calming, and we'll see if it helps keep this odd allergic reaction at bay.
My not-new but still favorite (most favorite) beauty item is my mascara. One morning on my way to work, I discovered I'd forgotten to put on mascara. I'd done the rest of my meager make-up routine, including eye shadow, but no mascara. I feel like my eyes look so much smaller (and more tired) without mascara! But it wasn't worth going back for, certainly.
Then, as I was getting to work, I realized I'd also forgotten deodorant. I don't think I'm a particularly sweaty or stinky person, but I'd like to keep it that way. Deodorant is non-negotiable. I ducked into the Albertsons near the office to pick some up, and grabbed mascara while I was at it. (Why not?)
The only reason for this particular mascara was that it was least-expensive option the grocery store had to offer.
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| Super Thick Lash |
So... that's that. A peek into my make-up routine. (The rest of my routine consists of a powder foundation, a little eye shadow, and, if I'm feeling sassy, a bit of cream eyeliner.)
Friday, December 16, 2011
Play Food
As a follow-up to my earlier post about naughty kittens, I just have to document pictorial evidence of Renny's latest shenanigans.
I guess we're going back to one-bowl-at-a-time feeding.
I guess we're going back to one-bowl-at-a-time feeding.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Making All the Cookies
I had two invitations to be social this weekend. When given the option of going out dancing at a club or baking Christmas cookies, I am probably going to choose Christmas cookies every single time.
(My only disappointment was that the cookie-making was at a friend's house, and I couldn't bring my shiny new stand mixer to the occasion. I did bring my trusty old hand mixer, and he performed admirably.)
We baked from noon until about eight in the evening and made five different kinds of cookies: snowballs, gingersnap men with lemon zest frosting, orange drop cookies with orange zest frosting, dark chocolate with sea salt easy fudge, and cranberry-and-walnut roll-ups.
Grandma Peggy would be proud. Snowballs were unanimously voted the favorite cookie, and have been declared a new holiday tradition by several friends. They were the cookies most often nabbed slyly off the cooling rack by passers-by, too.
The gingersnap "men" were the most fun. We had traditional people-shapes and teddy bears and Christmas trees and stars and X-Wing fighters and a Millennium Falcon. Some of the teddy bears got nerd glasses and ties, and there were people-shaped Mario and Luigi. I love my friends.
There is so much photographic evidence of our baking extravaganza, but I had forgotten my camera, so I'm waiting for the pictures to be emailed or posted to Facebook.
We had so many cookies, I delivered plates to three of our neighbors. It felt so Storybook Christmas to me! I'm not sure I've given Christmas cookies to neighbors before.
Because it was my contribution to the cookie-making:
Grandma Peggy's Snowballs
1/2 lb unsalted butter
1/2 C sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 C pecans, ground (measure before grinding)
2 C pastry flour (alternately, 1 C regular flour and 1 C cake flour)
1 lb powdered sugar
Cream butter and sugar. Add vanilla, nuts and flour. Mix. Shape into balls the size of a large marble. Bake in a slow (300°) oven for 25-30 minutes. While cookies are still hot, put them in a 9x13 pan with powdered sugar. Turn the cookies gently "every so often". These are best if left in the sugar until they are cold.
* This recipe is from Grandma Peggy and Grandpa Jim's first cookbook, purchased at Marshall Fields in July 1947. It was then taken verbatim from recipes Grandma and Grandpa printed out and stuck between the pages of the cookie cookbook they gave me as a wedding shower gift.
(My only disappointment was that the cookie-making was at a friend's house, and I couldn't bring my shiny new stand mixer to the occasion. I did bring my trusty old hand mixer, and he performed admirably.)
We baked from noon until about eight in the evening and made five different kinds of cookies: snowballs, gingersnap men with lemon zest frosting, orange drop cookies with orange zest frosting, dark chocolate with sea salt easy fudge, and cranberry-and-walnut roll-ups.
Grandma Peggy would be proud. Snowballs were unanimously voted the favorite cookie, and have been declared a new holiday tradition by several friends. They were the cookies most often nabbed slyly off the cooling rack by passers-by, too.
The gingersnap "men" were the most fun. We had traditional people-shapes and teddy bears and Christmas trees and stars and X-Wing fighters and a Millennium Falcon. Some of the teddy bears got nerd glasses and ties, and there were people-shaped Mario and Luigi. I love my friends.
There is so much photographic evidence of our baking extravaganza, but I had forgotten my camera, so I'm waiting for the pictures to be emailed or posted to Facebook.
We had so many cookies, I delivered plates to three of our neighbors. It felt so Storybook Christmas to me! I'm not sure I've given Christmas cookies to neighbors before.
Because it was my contribution to the cookie-making:
Grandma Peggy's Snowballs
1/2 lb unsalted butter
1/2 C sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 C pecans, ground (measure before grinding)
2 C pastry flour (alternately, 1 C regular flour and 1 C cake flour)
1 lb powdered sugar
Cream butter and sugar. Add vanilla, nuts and flour. Mix. Shape into balls the size of a large marble. Bake in a slow (300°) oven for 25-30 minutes. While cookies are still hot, put them in a 9x13 pan with powdered sugar. Turn the cookies gently "every so often". These are best if left in the sugar until they are cold.
* This recipe is from Grandma Peggy and Grandpa Jim's first cookbook, purchased at Marshall Fields in July 1947. It was then taken verbatim from recipes Grandma and Grandpa printed out and stuck between the pages of the cookie cookbook they gave me as a wedding shower gift.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Animals Behaving Badly
I love my animals. I love my animals. I love my animals.
The handful of years of my life I didn't have a pet living with me seem so far away. The first thing I did when I got my own apartment with fewer than three roommates (sometimes, roommates can be like pets, especially when they spend evenings doing gymnastics over the back of the couch...) was to get a cat. Or two.
When I bought my condo, it wasn't six months later before I started researching dogs.
And when one of my cats moved out with my ex-roommate, it only took a month for Steve and me to find ourselves with a new kitten.
Memory comes with rose-colored glasses, doesn't it? Chloe chewed her fair share of things as a puppy--several pairs of shoes, a DVD case or two, her own leash completely consumed--but she has been such a well-behaved dog once that first year was over that I hardly remember her as anything but angelic. (And a little crazy. She's still a little crazy.)
Monet was really playful as a kitten. She would do fantastic leaps and twists in the air, sometimes full aerial somersaults, while jumping after cat-toys-on-a-stick. The first day we had her, she went completely missing out of the kitchen we'd blocked off, for the entire day. And then she showed up for dinner like nothing was amiss.
Thinking back to the early days with each of my animals, I can find evidence that they weren't the perfectly well-behaved critters they are today. But somehow, even knowing that, I feel like Renny might just be the bad kitten to top them all.
He climbs on everything. Everything. He very deliberately knocks things off of shelves. He gets himself into the bathroom garbage and pulls every piece of kleenex out. He picks up his (full) water bowl and carries it around the bathroom, splashing water across the entire floor. He eats Chloe's food.
He climbs Chloe's crate, which is up against the back side of the kitchen counter, and gets onto the counter to lick the yogurt out of my breakfast bowl.
And worst of all? Renny ruined Christmas.
Okay, not really.
But he climbs the tree (something Monet and Cymbeline did, but the difference there was that they just sat contentedly among the branches) and knocks all the ornaments out. He pulled a stuffed moose I'd had since childhood out of the trees, and tag-teamed with Chloe to completely destroy it. (The moose's muzzle and one arm were ripped off, his eyes got eaten, his scarf was torn in half, and one of his feet is hanging by a thread.)
I had to un-decorate my tree, so it's sitting empty, with lights. But somehow Renny found a way to kill the lights around the bottom quarter of the tree, too. And he chewed two holes in my tree skirt.
I hope next year, I can do Christmas right. Christmas is my favorite time of the year!
(As I type this, he just jumped into my lap and curled up into a tight, little ball and started purring so loudly I can hear it over the news on the TV. This is why we put up with his shenanigans!)
On the other hand, Renny and Chloe are great friends. They jump and play and chase and bat at each other, and they're so happy about it! Renny and Monet may not be bosom buddies yet, but they're getting along much better.
So do I really have anything to complain about? Probably not. I do love my animals.
The handful of years of my life I didn't have a pet living with me seem so far away. The first thing I did when I got my own apartment with fewer than three roommates (sometimes, roommates can be like pets, especially when they spend evenings doing gymnastics over the back of the couch...) was to get a cat. Or two.
When I bought my condo, it wasn't six months later before I started researching dogs.
And when one of my cats moved out with my ex-roommate, it only took a month for Steve and me to find ourselves with a new kitten.
Memory comes with rose-colored glasses, doesn't it? Chloe chewed her fair share of things as a puppy--several pairs of shoes, a DVD case or two, her own leash completely consumed--but she has been such a well-behaved dog once that first year was over that I hardly remember her as anything but angelic. (And a little crazy. She's still a little crazy.)
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| All but the clip. |
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| Dog bed: destroyed. |
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| Sorry, Mom! |
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| Lounging on the table like it's not off-limits |
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| Just gotta play! |
He climbs on everything. Everything. He very deliberately knocks things off of shelves. He gets himself into the bathroom garbage and pulls every piece of kleenex out. He picks up his (full) water bowl and carries it around the bathroom, splashing water across the entire floor. He eats Chloe's food.
He climbs Chloe's crate, which is up against the back side of the kitchen counter, and gets onto the counter to lick the yogurt out of my breakfast bowl.
And worst of all? Renny ruined Christmas.
Okay, not really.
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| Decorating to It's a Wonderful Life: Tradition! |
But he climbs the tree (something Monet and Cymbeline did, but the difference there was that they just sat contentedly among the branches) and knocks all the ornaments out. He pulled a stuffed moose I'd had since childhood out of the trees, and tag-teamed with Chloe to completely destroy it. (The moose's muzzle and one arm were ripped off, his eyes got eaten, his scarf was torn in half, and one of his feet is hanging by a thread.)
I had to un-decorate my tree, so it's sitting empty, with lights. But somehow Renny found a way to kill the lights around the bottom quarter of the tree, too. And he chewed two holes in my tree skirt.
I hope next year, I can do Christmas right. Christmas is my favorite time of the year!
(As I type this, he just jumped into my lap and curled up into a tight, little ball and started purring so loudly I can hear it over the news on the TV. This is why we put up with his shenanigans!)
On the other hand, Renny and Chloe are great friends. They jump and play and chase and bat at each other, and they're so happy about it! Renny and Monet may not be bosom buddies yet, but they're getting along much better.
So do I really have anything to complain about? Probably not. I do love my animals.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Sew good
In junior high, I took a sewing class. I made things like pincushions and cross-stitched pillows and an apron. I altered a big, green sweatshirt by sewing a triangle of red, patterned material to the inside of the front, stitching a cross-hatch pattern across it, and cutting little X's in each square so that corners of the sweatshirt folded back and the red fabric peeked through... in the shape of a Christmas tree. (I'm not describing this well, and a Google image search was unsuccessful. Hmm.)
I have made myself not one but two poodle skirts by sewing a poodle patch and an artful ribbon "leash" onto a circle of fabric.
(Please excuse poor picture quality. You can hardly see the poodle, and can't see the leash at all! This picture is circa 2006, when my company still had fun for Halloween. My whole office dressed up on a 50's theme and we had Grease playing on a little TV all day long.)
This is all to say that my sewing skills are minimal at best.
But one of my go-to daily blogs is New Dress A Day, and I really admire her ability to recycle old or thrifted clothes into something cute and wearable. I don't have a sewing machine, but I decided to try my hand at altering an old dress I don't wear anymore.
This sweater dress was a little too schoolgirl/Puritan for me. The neck was too high and kind of choked me. The sleeves were too wide. But I liked the idea of the dress.
So I took my trustyseam ripper scissors (I don't even have fabric scissors, only plain old regular paper scissors, let alone a seam ripper!) and snipped out the collar and sleeves.
Don't mind the blurry kitten...
And voila! A sweater dress by itself, worn over a button-down shirt from my wardrobe.
Simple alterations, to be sure. But I did get a compliment or two today, so there's that. Maybe one of these days I'll get a sewing machine and tackle a real project.
 |
(Please excuse poor picture quality. You can hardly see the poodle, and can't see the leash at all! This picture is circa 2006, when my company still had fun for Halloween. My whole office dressed up on a 50's theme and we had Grease playing on a little TV all day long.)
This is all to say that my sewing skills are minimal at best.
So I took my trusty
Don't mind the blurry kitten...
And voila! A sweater dress by itself, worn over a button-down shirt from my wardrobe.
Simple alterations, to be sure. But I did get a compliment or two today, so there's that. Maybe one of these days I'll get a sewing machine and tackle a real project.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Disneyland at Christmas
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| On the tram headed to the parks |
Bad idea. We both got off the ride feeling a little queasy. Last time I do that!
We needed a low-key follow-up. The new Ariel ride looked pretty cool.
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| Artful shadow |
We strolled through an unpopulated section and took our picture by the rapids.
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| Not getting wet on this ride today! |
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| Really awesome fallen leaf. ♥ |
No fewer than three different people commented on our Oswald shirts. Apparently, Disney's California Adventure is getting a 1920's Los Angeles makeover and will be featuring several classic characters, including Oswald. Love it!
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| Wearin' Oswald at Oswald's |
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| Disneyland noms are the best. |
...and to hit up Big Thunder Mountain Railroad for some entertaining photo ops, as is our tradition.
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| NOT ready for my close-up! |
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| Wheeeeee! |
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| Sleeping Beauty's Castle |
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| Main Street Christmas Tree |
Then it was back to California Adventure for our second round of drawing lessons. (Our FAVORITE attraction!) First time, earlier in the afternoon, we learned Piglet. This time...
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| Dale! |
We had gotten fast passes to World of Color, which we had never seen. One word: AMAZING.
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| World of Color |
We had 15 minutes from when World of Color ended to fight the crowds, get to the exit of California Adventure, cross the courtyard, fight the lines (which were ever-long) to get into Disneyland Park, and make it to Main Street for the fireworks. At 8:41, we were at the back of an endless line. Fireworks were to start at 8:45. And you know what? WE MADE IT. I know, I couldn't believe it, either! I was so surprised, in fact, that I didn't take any pictures. I did try to catch the "snow" on Main Street, but my teensy point-and-shoot didn't feel like cooperating.
On the way out of the park, I got stopped by TWO people asking me to take surveys about my visit. And even though I was dead on my feet by that point, I did it. You're welcome, Disneyland.
There's Always Room for Dessert
I've been wanting a stand mixer for ages. We registered for one for the wedding, but didn't get it. We did get gift cards, and it was my intention to go in and buy the mixer with gift cards. I just didn't get around to it.
On Cyber Monday, Amazon had the leveled up version of the mixer I wanted, and for $100 cheaper. On top of that, there was a $50 rebate. I didn't wait until I got home from work so I could use my gift cards; I bought the mixer right then and there before it sold out!
My shiny, new stand mixer arrived today, and the first thing I did was make a batch of "caramel" cookies. (Quotes present because I'm not sure what about them is actually caramel, but that's what they're called in the recipe book.)
The kitchen smelled awesome. Then I baked the second half of the dough on a dark pan and promptly burned them, a full minute before their 8-10 minute window even started. Sigh. I've become a decent enough cook, I think, but I'm afraid I don't have much baking mojo.
The burned cookies are ever-so-slightly improved when dipped in the delicious pumpkin mousse I also whipped up tonight, though!
Recipes for future reference:
Caramel Cookies
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup all purpose flour
2/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla extract. Add remaining ingredients and bake thoroughly.
Scrape dough out of bowl and onto a large piece of plastic wrap. Roll dough into a log, about 2 1/2 inches wide; completely wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate until firm at least 20 minutes or up to overnight. (I would recommend longer rather than shorter; I stuck mine in the freezer for about 40 minutes and that was not enough... the dough got really sticky about 3/4 of the way through.)
Cut dough into 1/8-inch-thich slices and arrange on several large ungreased cookie sheets about 1 inch apart. Bake until lightly browned around the edges, about 8-10 minutes.
Allow cookies to cool on cookie sheet for about 1 minute and then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
1 Weight Watchers Points Plus per cookie. (From WW Weekly, 11/27)
Pumpkin Mousse
1 cup fat free milk
1 package butterscotch pudding
15 oz pumpkin
1 container cool whip
pumpkin pie spice
Mix everything but cool whip, then fold cool whip into mixture. 8 servings, about 3 WWPP per serving when made with fat free/sugar free ingredients. Delicious with cinnamon graham crackers dipped into it, or the above caramel cookies. Or just with a spoon!
On Cyber Monday, Amazon had the leveled up version of the mixer I wanted, and for $100 cheaper. On top of that, there was a $50 rebate. I didn't wait until I got home from work so I could use my gift cards; I bought the mixer right then and there before it sold out!
My shiny, new stand mixer arrived today, and the first thing I did was make a batch of "caramel" cookies. (Quotes present because I'm not sure what about them is actually caramel, but that's what they're called in the recipe book.)
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| Mixed up a batch of cookies! |
The kitchen smelled awesome. Then I baked the second half of the dough on a dark pan and promptly burned them, a full minute before their 8-10 minute window even started. Sigh. I've become a decent enough cook, I think, but I'm afraid I don't have much baking mojo.
The burned cookies are ever-so-slightly improved when dipped in the delicious pumpkin mousse I also whipped up tonight, though!
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| With pumpkin mousse. |
Recipes for future reference:
Caramel Cookies
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup all purpose flour
2/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla extract. Add remaining ingredients and bake thoroughly.
Scrape dough out of bowl and onto a large piece of plastic wrap. Roll dough into a log, about 2 1/2 inches wide; completely wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate until firm at least 20 minutes or up to overnight. (I would recommend longer rather than shorter; I stuck mine in the freezer for about 40 minutes and that was not enough... the dough got really sticky about 3/4 of the way through.)
Cut dough into 1/8-inch-thich slices and arrange on several large ungreased cookie sheets about 1 inch apart. Bake until lightly browned around the edges, about 8-10 minutes.
Allow cookies to cool on cookie sheet for about 1 minute and then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
1 Weight Watchers Points Plus per cookie. (From WW Weekly, 11/27)
Pumpkin Mousse
1 cup fat free milk
1 package butterscotch pudding
15 oz pumpkin
1 container cool whip
pumpkin pie spice
Mix everything but cool whip, then fold cool whip into mixture. 8 servings, about 3 WWPP per serving when made with fat free/sugar free ingredients. Delicious with cinnamon graham crackers dipped into it, or the above caramel cookies. Or just with a spoon!
Sunday, November 27, 2011
One more candle
So many awesome things happened the year I was thirty.
Four pairs of wonderful, dear friends got married. I got married. There was all that stuff that goes along with weddings: planning, showers, planning, bachelorette parties, planning, stressing, planning, pictures... and planning.
Five friends had seven babies between them.
I traveled home to Illinois three times. I had several family members and friends visit me. I went to Napa Valley and Palm Springs and San Diego and France.
I visited Monet's Gardens.
I gained a guest bedroom (so visiting friends and family members have a more comfortable place to stay!) and reorganized large portions of my house. I feel settled and happy and home.
I got a kitten.
Thirty was a really fantastic year. It'll be hard to top, but I'm expecting thirty-one to be pretty darn good, too!
Four pairs of wonderful, dear friends got married. I got married. There was all that stuff that goes along with weddings: planning, showers, planning, bachelorette parties, planning, stressing, planning, pictures... and planning.
Five friends had seven babies between them.
I traveled home to Illinois three times. I had several family members and friends visit me. I went to Napa Valley and Palm Springs and San Diego and France.
I visited Monet's Gardens.
I gained a guest bedroom (so visiting friends and family members have a more comfortable place to stay!) and reorganized large portions of my house. I feel settled and happy and home.
I got a kitten.
Thirty was a really fantastic year. It'll be hard to top, but I'm expecting thirty-one to be pretty darn good, too!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Civic Duty and All: A Timeline
In 2000 or 2001, I was called for jury duty for the first time. I was in college, away at school and several hours away from my "local" courthouse. I sent in my school schedule and was excused.
In 2004, right after having moved to California, I was called again for jury duty. In Illinois. Sent in a copy of my shiny new California Driver's License and was excused.
2005, right before my mom and grandma were due to visit me in California to celebrate Grandma Peggy's 80th birthday, I got a jury summons. For that very week. I submitted my excuse and was let off the hook.
2005 again, a few months later, they came to collect on my deferral. I was able to call in each night for a week, and was never required to come in to the courthouse.
In 2008, right after moving out of Los Angeles County, I got a summons for LA County. I returned my slip saying I was no longer a resident.
In 2010, my "luck" ran out and I was called in to (finally) serve. I was actually a little excited. Sure, I heard stories of long, boring days cooped up with hundreds of potential jurors in big rooms on hard chairs, but the whole process sounded interesting. Mid-morning, I was called into a court room with about 70 other potential jurors and given a number. I sat through two and a half days of jury selection, which was fascinating.
It was a case about sexual abuse of a child, and the child's father was the accused. From what I gathered, the child had been about four years old at the time of the alleged abuse, and there was a nasty divorce and child custody case peripherally involved. A lot of the questions by the attorneys revolved around whether a four-year-old has the capacity to lie. I wanted to be chosen for the jury because I wanted to see the entire process from start to finish. I also wanted to know the answer--can a preschooler lie about something she (hopefully) has no previous experience with or knowledge of? Or might the mother, in the midst of this brutal divorce, have twisted facts and planted ideas, as the defense attorney was implying? I wanted not to be chosen because it promised to be an extremely difficult case to sit through. I didn't know if I could listen to the defendant's own daughter's scheduled testimony.
I wasn't surprised when I was dismissed by the defense attorney; I was already leaning toward thinking his defendant was guilty, just based on the few details they'd released. I never found out how that case turned out.
And now, in 2011, I received my seventh jury summons of the last decade or so. I'm on call this week. Depending on whether you think jury duty is a long, boring day in a crowded room, or an interesting, responsible experience, I lucked into or was jipped out of this week. The courts seem to be closed Wednesday-Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday, and my group was not called in yesterday or today.
I'll probably get another shot at it next year.
In 2004, right after having moved to California, I was called again for jury duty. In Illinois. Sent in a copy of my shiny new California Driver's License and was excused.
2005, right before my mom and grandma were due to visit me in California to celebrate Grandma Peggy's 80th birthday, I got a jury summons. For that very week. I submitted my excuse and was let off the hook.
2005 again, a few months later, they came to collect on my deferral. I was able to call in each night for a week, and was never required to come in to the courthouse.
In 2008, right after moving out of Los Angeles County, I got a summons for LA County. I returned my slip saying I was no longer a resident.
In 2010, my "luck" ran out and I was called in to (finally) serve. I was actually a little excited. Sure, I heard stories of long, boring days cooped up with hundreds of potential jurors in big rooms on hard chairs, but the whole process sounded interesting. Mid-morning, I was called into a court room with about 70 other potential jurors and given a number. I sat through two and a half days of jury selection, which was fascinating.
It was a case about sexual abuse of a child, and the child's father was the accused. From what I gathered, the child had been about four years old at the time of the alleged abuse, and there was a nasty divorce and child custody case peripherally involved. A lot of the questions by the attorneys revolved around whether a four-year-old has the capacity to lie. I wanted to be chosen for the jury because I wanted to see the entire process from start to finish. I also wanted to know the answer--can a preschooler lie about something she (hopefully) has no previous experience with or knowledge of? Or might the mother, in the midst of this brutal divorce, have twisted facts and planted ideas, as the defense attorney was implying? I wanted not to be chosen because it promised to be an extremely difficult case to sit through. I didn't know if I could listen to the defendant's own daughter's scheduled testimony.
I wasn't surprised when I was dismissed by the defense attorney; I was already leaning toward thinking his defendant was guilty, just based on the few details they'd released. I never found out how that case turned out.
And now, in 2011, I received my seventh jury summons of the last decade or so. I'm on call this week. Depending on whether you think jury duty is a long, boring day in a crowded room, or an interesting, responsible experience, I lucked into or was jipped out of this week. The courts seem to be closed Wednesday-Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday, and my group was not called in yesterday or today.
I'll probably get another shot at it next year.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
The Fashonistas in My House
While I would rarely never call myself a fashonista, I wish I could be more fashionable. I read my college roommate's fashion blog and am impressed by her style bravery, and how often she really looks good. (Not that she didn't look good before, but her uniform during college, like mine, was a lot of jeans and sweaters and layers because it's cold walking a mile to class in February in central Illinois.)
After losing weight, I'm trying to expand my wardrobe. Bit by bit, I look for things I'll wear a lot on as good a deal as I can get them. I almost exclusively shop the discount stores or sale racks these days, which are often picked over and out of anything in my now apparently-most-common size. But every once in a while I'll find a gem. Like Friday's purchase of originally-$69.50 pants for work at Ann Taylor Loft, marked down to $14.99. First of all, Ann Taylor pants last forever. If I still fit into my old clothes, I have pants from seven or eight years ago that, despite regular (leaning towards often) wear, still look brand new.
When I went to check out, the pants rang up as $4.88. FIVE DOLLARS for work pants! I was beside myself. And then, because they were marked Final Sale, they were half off. !!! I bought a pair of pants for two dollars and forty-four cents. I was so excited I donated $5 to their charity-of-the-season. (Also, they were a size 6. I know Ann Taylor is famous for vanity sizing, but this was the first size 6 I have ever bought, ever. Even from Ann Taylor.)
But enough about me. There's another fashionista in this house: Chloe.
She's less excited about it.
Over Christmas, Chloe will be outside all day at the kennel she likes. She'll have a dog house, but she will most likely spend a lot of the day running and playing in her private little yard. The woman at the kennel, who is so, so nice to Chloe and always wants to make sure Chloe is as comfortable and happy as she can be, recommended a jacket in case it gets cold those four days.
I'm not one to dress my dog up usually, so she suggested we get the jacket early and have Chloe wear it often, so she's used to it. (There was a super-cute Martha Stewart dog jacket at PetSmart, but it was almost three times as much as something similar-but-less-cute from Target.)
And to make matters worse... Remember her injured foot? We had her at the vet for her check-up, and mentioned that she can't let her foot heal. Well, apparently she managed to infect the area by over-licking. We have an antibiotic cream to apply twice a day, and she has to wear a cone. Yes, a Cone of Shame.
So:
After losing weight, I'm trying to expand my wardrobe. Bit by bit, I look for things I'll wear a lot on as good a deal as I can get them. I almost exclusively shop the discount stores or sale racks these days, which are often picked over and out of anything in my now apparently-most-common size. But every once in a while I'll find a gem. Like Friday's purchase of originally-$69.50 pants for work at Ann Taylor Loft, marked down to $14.99. First of all, Ann Taylor pants last forever. If I still fit into my old clothes, I have pants from seven or eight years ago that, despite regular (leaning towards often) wear, still look brand new.
When I went to check out, the pants rang up as $4.88. FIVE DOLLARS for work pants! I was beside myself. And then, because they were marked Final Sale, they were half off. !!! I bought a pair of pants for two dollars and forty-four cents. I was so excited I donated $5 to their charity-of-the-season. (Also, they were a size 6. I know Ann Taylor is famous for vanity sizing, but this was the first size 6 I have ever bought, ever. Even from Ann Taylor.)
But enough about me. There's another fashionista in this house: Chloe.
She's less excited about it.
Over Christmas, Chloe will be outside all day at the kennel she likes. She'll have a dog house, but she will most likely spend a lot of the day running and playing in her private little yard. The woman at the kennel, who is so, so nice to Chloe and always wants to make sure Chloe is as comfortable and happy as she can be, recommended a jacket in case it gets cold those four days.
I'm not one to dress my dog up usually, so she suggested we get the jacket early and have Chloe wear it often, so she's used to it. (There was a super-cute Martha Stewart dog jacket at PetSmart, but it was almost three times as much as something similar-but-less-cute from Target.)
And to make matters worse... Remember her injured foot? We had her at the vet for her check-up, and mentioned that she can't let her foot heal. Well, apparently she managed to infect the area by over-licking. We have an antibiotic cream to apply twice a day, and she has to wear a cone. Yes, a Cone of Shame.
So:
 |
| Doggy Vest (and rain in SoCal) |
+
 |
| Cone of Shaaaaame |
=
 |
| One Funny-Looking Pup |
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Like Burning
My friend Aarti is an excellent cook. (She comes by it honestly--in college, her mom used to send us her food, and I'd always try to finagle my way into sharing it.) She's been making her signature dishes long enough, though, that there's really no recipe. So when I ask her for one, it's full of measurements like a few and to taste and some.
Is a few two? Or three?
Last night, I made a recipe of Aarti's (for the first time) that called for "a few green chillies". I wasn't sure if "green chillies" were jalapenos or serranos (the two options my local Von's had--I should have hit up Valley Produce instead), but I went with serranos, and I went with three.
Was I supposed to remove the seeds? I removed some of them. I'd cut my finger earlier, so in favor of not getting spice in the cut, I wasn't thorough.
Now, I like spicy food. But I think I like medium-spicy food. I guess I should know that; I always order things "medium-spicy" in restaurants. This? Was spicy-spicy. It was delicious, but my nose was dripping by the end of the meal.
And then! Even after three hand-washings, I still had spice under my nails. And after a fourth hand-washing this morning, when I put my contacts in my eyes, they BURNED from the spice still on my fingers. Oy. I had to take my contacts out and shower blind, while scrubbing under my nails at every opportunity.
Lesson learned.
The recipe, in case you're interested:
Aarti's Keenan
1 medium Onion diced/chopped
2-3 cloves of Garlic, crushed/finnely chopped
Ginger to taste, finely chopped (I sometimes skip it)
2-3 medium Tomatoes diced/chopped
1 Bell pepper chopped (optional, tastes good with yellow or red)
1/2 a bunch of Cilantro (to taste)
Green chillies finely chopped (to taste, I tend to put a few)
1lb Ground turkey/chicken
1/2 cup of plain yogurt
Spices:
Cumin seeds
Garam masala
Turmeric powder (I'm not sure if this is 100% necessary...I just always add it to most foods)
Salt
In a large skillet, heat some oil. When its hot, add cumin seeds. Once they start to crackle, add chillies, garlic, and ginger and cook over medium heat. Let brown. Add onions and cook until they are lightly browned. Once its all browned, add tomatoes and bell peppers. Let them cook until they soften. Push mix of browned ingredients to the side. if you are not using a non-stick pan, you'll want to pour a little oil on the side of the skillet without veggies and heat it. Throw in the ground meat and let cook on one side. Once its cooked for a few minutes, flip it all over and let it cook for a few more. After that, use your spatula to start breaking the cooking meat into smaller chunks. Eventually the meat should be small little pieces, similar to Taco/spaghetti sauce meat. After that, start mixing your browned/cooked veggies back in. As you stir, add in your spices to taste. Finally, add the yogurt and stir so its all mixed together. And then add the chopped up Cilantro. Llet cook until you are sure the meat is cooked and the cilantro has wilted a bit.
Serve on top of a salad, inside taco shells or burritos, steamed inside wonton wrappers...etc. very versatile dish. Also, leave the ginger out if you want a flavor closer to mexican food.
I wonder how it would be with chickpeas instead of ground meat. Would it approximate channa masala? Maybe without the yogurt. Channa masala isn't creamy, is it? Or maybe it is. I had a recipe for it, once upon a time, but it went missing sometime in the midst of two moves. I suppose the internet could help me...
Is a few two? Or three?
Last night, I made a recipe of Aarti's (for the first time) that called for "a few green chillies". I wasn't sure if "green chillies" were jalapenos or serranos (the two options my local Von's had--I should have hit up Valley Produce instead), but I went with serranos, and I went with three.
Was I supposed to remove the seeds? I removed some of them. I'd cut my finger earlier, so in favor of not getting spice in the cut, I wasn't thorough.
Now, I like spicy food. But I think I like medium-spicy food. I guess I should know that; I always order things "medium-spicy" in restaurants. This? Was spicy-spicy. It was delicious, but my nose was dripping by the end of the meal.
And then! Even after three hand-washings, I still had spice under my nails. And after a fourth hand-washing this morning, when I put my contacts in my eyes, they BURNED from the spice still on my fingers. Oy. I had to take my contacts out and shower blind, while scrubbing under my nails at every opportunity.
Lesson learned.
The recipe, in case you're interested:
Aarti's Keenan
1 medium Onion diced/chopped
2-3 cloves of Garlic, crushed/finnely chopped
Ginger to taste, finely chopped (I sometimes skip it)
2-3 medium Tomatoes diced/chopped
1 Bell pepper chopped (optional, tastes good with yellow or red)
1/2 a bunch of Cilantro (to taste)
Green chillies finely chopped (to taste, I tend to put a few)
1lb Ground turkey/chicken
1/2 cup of plain yogurt
Spices:
Cumin seeds
Garam masala
Turmeric powder (I'm not sure if this is 100% necessary...I just always add it to most foods)
Salt
In a large skillet, heat some oil. When its hot, add cumin seeds. Once they start to crackle, add chillies, garlic, and ginger and cook over medium heat. Let brown. Add onions and cook until they are lightly browned. Once its all browned, add tomatoes and bell peppers. Let them cook until they soften. Push mix of browned ingredients to the side. if you are not using a non-stick pan, you'll want to pour a little oil on the side of the skillet without veggies and heat it. Throw in the ground meat and let cook on one side. Once its cooked for a few minutes, flip it all over and let it cook for a few more. After that, use your spatula to start breaking the cooking meat into smaller chunks. Eventually the meat should be small little pieces, similar to Taco/spaghetti sauce meat. After that, start mixing your browned/cooked veggies back in. As you stir, add in your spices to taste. Finally, add the yogurt and stir so its all mixed together. And then add the chopped up Cilantro. Llet cook until you are sure the meat is cooked and the cilantro has wilted a bit.
Serve on top of a salad, inside taco shells or burritos, steamed inside wonton wrappers...etc. very versatile dish. Also, leave the ginger out if you want a flavor closer to mexican food.
I wonder how it would be with chickpeas instead of ground meat. Would it approximate channa masala? Maybe without the yogurt. Channa masala isn't creamy, is it? Or maybe it is. I had a recipe for it, once upon a time, but it went missing sometime in the midst of two moves. I suppose the internet could help me...
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Backwards
My normal morning routine is this:
I wake up at 5:25, take a shower, and walk the dog. I drink a glass of water and kiss my husband goodbye. I head upstairs around 6:15 with my cup of coffee and turn on both the TV news and the computer. I dry, straighten, and curl (yes, all three) my hair while catching up on what the Internet has to say, and pause the hair dryer if I catch an interesting-looking news story out of the corner of my eye. I eat my breakfast (Greek yogurt) about 7:00, and am out the door sometime between 7:30 and 8:00, depending on which office I'm at that day.
Sometimes, the Internet takes up more of my time, sometimes the news does. Sometimes I try on and discard a dozen outfits before I settle on what to wear. Sometimes, I use extra time in the morning to do productive things, like pay bills or clean the bathroom or file away the pile of papers hanging out on the edge of the desk.
Last night, I apparently forgot to set the alarm. I woke up around 3:30 because I couldn't breathe (I'm not getting sick, I'm not!), and then dozed with the kitten curled up against me until, well, 5:37. Only twelve minutes late, but I hate being late.
So when I came upstairs (surprisingly, only a minute or two later than usual), I put my make-up on and then dried my hair. I think this is the first time I've ever dried my hair while wearing make-up. It was... weirder than you would think, catching sight of myself in the mirror, all made-up but with crazy hair.
The other strange thing I did today was put vanilla soy milk and a little Splenda in my coffee. Aside from the very-occasional Starbucks latte treat, I take my coffee black and bitter. But this hit the spot this morning.
This weird, throw-the-routine-out-the-window morning.
(Maybe it's because today is Thursday, but I don't have to go to work tomorrow. The day had no choice but to feel odd.)
I wake up at 5:25, take a shower, and walk the dog. I drink a glass of water and kiss my husband goodbye. I head upstairs around 6:15 with my cup of coffee and turn on both the TV news and the computer. I dry, straighten, and curl (yes, all three) my hair while catching up on what the Internet has to say, and pause the hair dryer if I catch an interesting-looking news story out of the corner of my eye. I eat my breakfast (Greek yogurt) about 7:00, and am out the door sometime between 7:30 and 8:00, depending on which office I'm at that day.
Sometimes, the Internet takes up more of my time, sometimes the news does. Sometimes I try on and discard a dozen outfits before I settle on what to wear. Sometimes, I use extra time in the morning to do productive things, like pay bills or clean the bathroom or file away the pile of papers hanging out on the edge of the desk.
Last night, I apparently forgot to set the alarm. I woke up around 3:30 because I couldn't breathe (I'm not getting sick, I'm not!), and then dozed with the kitten curled up against me until, well, 5:37. Only twelve minutes late, but I hate being late.
So when I came upstairs (surprisingly, only a minute or two later than usual), I put my make-up on and then dried my hair. I think this is the first time I've ever dried my hair while wearing make-up. It was... weirder than you would think, catching sight of myself in the mirror, all made-up but with crazy hair.
The other strange thing I did today was put vanilla soy milk and a little Splenda in my coffee. Aside from the very-occasional Starbucks latte treat, I take my coffee black and bitter. But this hit the spot this morning.
This weird, throw-the-routine-out-the-window morning.
(Maybe it's because today is Thursday, but I don't have to go to work tomorrow. The day had no choice but to feel odd.)
Monday, November 7, 2011
When the sun is shining, but it's Monday...
Good weekend. In bullet form:
You might be wondering what's up with Chloe's foot. She sliced it up on something while playing with her Great Dane playmate, Vito. It's been healing, but she can't leave it alone. She licks and licks until it's raw and bleeding again, so I bandaged it up. To keep her from chewing the bandage off, I wrapped it in an ace bandage. Which she then chewed off over night. Hmm.
Monet has sequestered herself under the bed in the computer room, and was not interested in having her portrait made.
And one more, a video. (An experiment, my first video!)
Renny is teething, I think. It is positively the cutest thing ever, as long as you keep your fingers out of his way. Tiny teeth hurt!
And, since I'm obviously in a rambling mood... Speaking of Renny, this happened:
I came home from work one day last week with an absolutely splitting headache, probably thanks to the aforementioned rain preparing to douse us. I climbed onto the bed, took my glasses off, and closed my eyes.
A few minutes later, Steve came in. He pointed out Renny, curled up at my feet and looking particularly cute, apparently. I squinted towards the end of the bed, but I'm mostly blind, and Renny is a light orange cat on a cream-colored comforter. All I could see was a vaguely cat-shaped blob.
Steve took off his glasses and handed them to me to try. Now, Steve's eyes are not bad. He can function without glasses or contacts. All his glasses did for me was make an ever-so-slightly more defined cat-shaped blob.
The next day, via text:
Steve: Would you be willing to forgo Christmas and birthday gifts next year if I paid for Lasik for you?
Me: Ahahaha! Where did that come from?
Steve: Why is that funny?
Me: Are you asking because I couldn't see Renny last night?
Steve: Maybe...
So now I'm thinking about it. I know people who have done it, and only one of them isn't sure it was worth it. But do I prioritize my eyes over, say, a vacation with friends next year? Or saving for a real house, with a back yard and everything? On the other hand, if I put it off a few years, will I be able to prioritize my eyes over things my possibly-eventual (I don't like to jinx things) children might need? So, if I'm going to do it, maybe I should do it now. Or never? I don't know.
- It rained on and off, but I seem to have developed a superpower when it comes to rain: it always stops when I need to go outside. I have at least five data points to prove this.
- I went to see Bring it On: The Musical with friends on Saturday. I'm actually a little embarrassed to admit that, but it was a ridiculously fun show. Plus, cool cheerleading stunts.
- I caught up on some of the TV piling up on the DVR while scrapbooking a bunch more pre-wedding stuff. I'm actually up to the morning of the wedding, so the end is in sight. (I mean, I'm planning to go up through the honeymoon, but I'm getting there...)
- Speaking of wedding pictures, Steve and I finalized our wedding album design, so it is off to be printed. Hopefully this means we'll get the digital proofs so I can start on thank-you notes. It's killing me that I haven't sent them yet!
- Gratuitous Animal Bullet Point!
 |
| Sleepy Kitty |
 |
| Injured Puppy |
You might be wondering what's up with Chloe's foot. She sliced it up on something while playing with her Great Dane playmate, Vito. It's been healing, but she can't leave it alone. She licks and licks until it's raw and bleeding again, so I bandaged it up. To keep her from chewing the bandage off, I wrapped it in an ace bandage. Which she then chewed off over night. Hmm.
Monet has sequestered herself under the bed in the computer room, and was not interested in having her portrait made.
And one more, a video. (An experiment, my first video!)
Renny is teething, I think. It is positively the cutest thing ever, as long as you keep your fingers out of his way. Tiny teeth hurt!
And, since I'm obviously in a rambling mood... Speaking of Renny, this happened:
I came home from work one day last week with an absolutely splitting headache, probably thanks to the aforementioned rain preparing to douse us. I climbed onto the bed, took my glasses off, and closed my eyes.
A few minutes later, Steve came in. He pointed out Renny, curled up at my feet and looking particularly cute, apparently. I squinted towards the end of the bed, but I'm mostly blind, and Renny is a light orange cat on a cream-colored comforter. All I could see was a vaguely cat-shaped blob.
Steve took off his glasses and handed them to me to try. Now, Steve's eyes are not bad. He can function without glasses or contacts. All his glasses did for me was make an ever-so-slightly more defined cat-shaped blob.
The next day, via text:
Steve: Would you be willing to forgo Christmas and birthday gifts next year if I paid for Lasik for you?
Me: Ahahaha! Where did that come from?
Steve: Why is that funny?
Me: Are you asking because I couldn't see Renny last night?
Steve: Maybe...
So now I'm thinking about it. I know people who have done it, and only one of them isn't sure it was worth it. But do I prioritize my eyes over, say, a vacation with friends next year? Or saving for a real house, with a back yard and everything? On the other hand, if I put it off a few years, will I be able to prioritize my eyes over things my possibly-eventual (I don't like to jinx things) children might need? So, if I'm going to do it, maybe I should do it now. Or never? I don't know.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Trick or Treat!
It's Halloween, and I don't have anything orange to wear (my one go-to
cute burnt orange sweater is about four sizes too big at this point), I
forgot to buy candy (I can fix that on the way home from work, at
least), and the pumpkins we carved last weekend got moldy and had to be
thrown away. This is not like me! I do have an adorable spiderweb door-hanger on my front door, so I'm not a total grinch.
We had friends spend the weekend. The guys played LA Noire from start to finish, while we ladies spent more time (and money) at Michaels than we thought humanly possible, and scrapbooked the heck out of some stuff. Wedding stuff--they got married about a month before we did. And our scrapbooks? are gonna be AWESOME.
In kitten news, Renny really is the most adorable ball of fur ever. Ever! For a while, Steve was pointing out how cute Renny is about every ten minutes, and I kept having to stand up from my scrapbooking spot on the floor to peek over the back of the couch and see him. Renny and Chloe have fallen into a mostly-harmonic relationship; both of them are playful enough that it doesn't bother Chloe when she gets bopped in the nose (sometimes with claws), and it doesn't bother Renny to have a 65-pound dog chasing him. He plays with her wagging tail, and then they curl up near each other and fall asleep. Cuuuuuute!
Monet is another story. She's mostly annoyed by him, I think. Like, both cats were in the bedroom. Renny was minding his own business and playing under the bookshelf, and Monet happened to walk near enough to remember that she should be growling her weird melodic growl at him. She turned around and walked out, and her tail was just so tempting that Renny ran after her, batting at it. I really hope they settle into some kind of friendship. At least Monet is distracted enough by the kitten that she hasn't been sitting at the top of the stairs crying her lonely cry anymore!
We had friends spend the weekend. The guys played LA Noire from start to finish, while we ladies spent more time (and money) at Michaels than we thought humanly possible, and scrapbooked the heck out of some stuff. Wedding stuff--they got married about a month before we did. And our scrapbooks? are gonna be AWESOME.
In kitten news, Renny really is the most adorable ball of fur ever. Ever! For a while, Steve was pointing out how cute Renny is about every ten minutes, and I kept having to stand up from my scrapbooking spot on the floor to peek over the back of the couch and see him. Renny and Chloe have fallen into a mostly-harmonic relationship; both of them are playful enough that it doesn't bother Chloe when she gets bopped in the nose (sometimes with claws), and it doesn't bother Renny to have a 65-pound dog chasing him. He plays with her wagging tail, and then they curl up near each other and fall asleep. Cuuuuuute!
Monet is another story. She's mostly annoyed by him, I think. Like, both cats were in the bedroom. Renny was minding his own business and playing under the bookshelf, and Monet happened to walk near enough to remember that she should be growling her weird melodic growl at him. She turned around and walked out, and her tail was just so tempting that Renny ran after her, batting at it. I really hope they settle into some kind of friendship. At least Monet is distracted enough by the kitten that she hasn't been sitting at the top of the stairs crying her lonely cry anymore!
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Chat Renoir
After a month of marriage, Steve and I have expanded our family. No, not a baby yet. (Sorry, Grandma H, I know you're anxious for great-grandchildren.) But a kitten!
The real motivation to get a kitten was to get a buddy for Monet. Since Cymbeline moved out, Monet has been noticeably lonely; she cries more when we're downstairs, she's overly affectionate, and she runs from wherever she is to wherever we are (provided we're not downstairs with the scary dog) the moment we're no longer in the same room as she is.
We did some internet-research and took some advice from friends, and landed on a male kitten, since resident cats are supposed to get along better with opposite-gender new cats, and we thought a kitten would be less threatening to Monet and better able to adapt to living with new animals.
Enough chitter-chatter! Meet our new little guy. We call him Chat Renoir (it's a theme), or Renny for short.
He is so. stinkin'. cute! He's about eight weeks old, they think. The woman at the shelter suggested keeping him in an enclosed space (the bathroom) for about a week so Monet could get used to him through the door. Their meeting (through the barred door of the cat carrier) went better than I'd expected, actually, with minimal hissing, so I'm hopeful that once they meet nose-to-nose, they'll be okay.
He's a feisty little thing, fast and playful. Quick to purr, as in, the moment you walk into the room he starts rumbling away. So far he hasn't been much of a cuddler, maybe because the moment anyone gets close to him, he thinks it's time to play with their toes or the hem of their pants or the cat toy they're dangling near him.
We also introduced him to Chloe, with the hopes that maybe he'll bridge the gap between Chloe and Monet. Chloe was unbelievably good! She sat on the couch, quietly wagging her tail, but didn't pounce or chase Renny. She didn't even really flinch when he hissed and bopped her in the nose with his little kitten paw.
And then they took a nap together.
And one of the cutest things ever? When I asked Steve if he wanted to run a quick errand with me, he looked over at Renny, who was sleeping peacefully on the top of the couch, and said, "He's still sleeping and I don't want to wake him. I think I'll stay here." He's going to be such a good dad someday!
But for now, welcome to our home, little kitten!
The real motivation to get a kitten was to get a buddy for Monet. Since Cymbeline moved out, Monet has been noticeably lonely; she cries more when we're downstairs, she's overly affectionate, and she runs from wherever she is to wherever we are (provided we're not downstairs with the scary dog) the moment we're no longer in the same room as she is.
We did some internet-research and took some advice from friends, and landed on a male kitten, since resident cats are supposed to get along better with opposite-gender new cats, and we thought a kitten would be less threatening to Monet and better able to adapt to living with new animals.
Enough chitter-chatter! Meet our new little guy. We call him Chat Renoir (it's a theme), or Renny for short.
He is so. stinkin'. cute! He's about eight weeks old, they think. The woman at the shelter suggested keeping him in an enclosed space (the bathroom) for about a week so Monet could get used to him through the door. Their meeting (through the barred door of the cat carrier) went better than I'd expected, actually, with minimal hissing, so I'm hopeful that once they meet nose-to-nose, they'll be okay.
He's a feisty little thing, fast and playful. Quick to purr, as in, the moment you walk into the room he starts rumbling away. So far he hasn't been much of a cuddler, maybe because the moment anyone gets close to him, he thinks it's time to play with their toes or the hem of their pants or the cat toy they're dangling near him.
We also introduced him to Chloe, with the hopes that maybe he'll bridge the gap between Chloe and Monet. Chloe was unbelievably good! She sat on the couch, quietly wagging her tail, but didn't pounce or chase Renny. She didn't even really flinch when he hissed and bopped her in the nose with his little kitten paw.
And then they took a nap together.
And one of the cutest things ever? When I asked Steve if he wanted to run a quick errand with me, he looked over at Renny, who was sleeping peacefully on the top of the couch, and said, "He's still sleeping and I don't want to wake him. I think I'll stay here." He's going to be such a good dad someday!
But for now, welcome to our home, little kitten!
Monday, October 17, 2011
The first of many
Happy one-month-iversary, Steve!
Can you believe it's been a whole month already? Sometimes it feels like it couldn't have been longer ago than last weekend that I was sitting in the Bride's Room, playing Bananagrams and waiting for things to start, already, so I could finally see you. Like it was last Saturday we were dancing all night with our family and friends, laughing and smiling and being so ridiculously happy.
Can you believe it's only been a month? The ridiculous happiness is still here, of course, but it seems like so much has happened between our wedding day and now. We went to France! We had a few more days in Chicago, a bonus vacation. And we've been back to work for fooooreeeeeveeeeer. It's been at least a few months since we had time off, right? I changed my name with Social Security and the DMV, and I already have my new Social Security card and my new driver's license. Government agencies don't work fast enough to have those things to you in just over a week, do they? We've re-organized the house, decorated and stored and cleaned out things that hadn't been touched in a long time.
We can't possibly have done all that in just a month, right?
But the calendar says it's October 17, and the calendar doesn't lie. It's been an awesome month, husband-of-mine. And I can't wait for a lifetime more of them!
Can you believe it's been a whole month already? Sometimes it feels like it couldn't have been longer ago than last weekend that I was sitting in the Bride's Room, playing Bananagrams and waiting for things to start, already, so I could finally see you. Like it was last Saturday we were dancing all night with our family and friends, laughing and smiling and being so ridiculously happy.
Can you believe it's only been a month? The ridiculous happiness is still here, of course, but it seems like so much has happened between our wedding day and now. We went to France! We had a few more days in Chicago, a bonus vacation. And we've been back to work for fooooreeeeeveeeeer. It's been at least a few months since we had time off, right? I changed my name with Social Security and the DMV, and I already have my new Social Security card and my new driver's license. Government agencies don't work fast enough to have those things to you in just over a week, do they? We've re-organized the house, decorated and stored and cleaned out things that hadn't been touched in a long time.
We can't possibly have done all that in just a month, right?
But the calendar says it's October 17, and the calendar doesn't lie. It's been an awesome month, husband-of-mine. And I can't wait for a lifetime more of them!
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Gettin' Hitched
Four weeks ago today, Steve and I got married. We are still two days away from our official one-month anniversary, so before that happens, I should write about it!
THE WEDDING.
If I thought I was going to be able to relax the week before the wedding, boy was I wrong! There were marriage licenses to get, table accessories to make, place cards to print, programs to assemble. There were pretzels to dip, wrap, tag, and tie. Family to visit with, gifts to wrap, pastors to meet with, errands to run, goodie bags to prepare, and details to organize. The week was full and chaotic and frustrating and exciting and fun.
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| Licenses and programs and pretzels, oh my! |
The
weather started out gorgeous and warm on Sunday, and then slowly
dropped into chilly temperatures (certain Californians--me-- might even
classify them as cold) by Thursday. The dress I had
bought on Sunday was most decidedly a warm-weather dress, and had to be
paired with thick tights, a sweater, and Mom’s kicky red knee-length
trench for the outdoor rehearsal.
Rehearsing
went smoothly, and was followed by a casual dinner at Portillo’s,
during which Mom presented Steve with his dowry: a stuffed goat and two
books about goats. (This was in response to much joking by Steve at the beginning of our engagement about dowries and goats.) It was very funny.
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| Rehearsing and dowry and dinner. |
On Friday, about 20 friends and family joined us on an architecture boat tour down the Chicago River. The
wind was fierce and temperatures nippy, but the sun came out (although
the air stayed cool) and it was an informative and enjoyable few hours
(at least I thought so). A small group of us visited The Bean in Millennium Park before lunch at Giordano’s Pizzeria. A nice early-fall day in Chicago, if you ask me.
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| Architecture boat tour, the Bean, standing on a Picasso: a fall day in Chicago |
Saturday
dawned warm and sunny, the lone 70-degree, blue-skied day sandwiched
between the chilly days and the rain, which would come on Sunday and
persist through most of our honeymoon… which we weren’t in Chicago to
endure, of course.
The bridesmaids, Mom, and I had hair appointments in the morning. Mom, Jess and I got our make-up done, and then we were ready for our close-ups! I had an emergency nail-fixing, we sipped champagne and had breakfasty snacks, and then headed home to finish getting ready.
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| Gettin' ready for our close-ups |
The photographer arrived at about 12:30, and the day really took off from there. Pictures inside, pictures outside. Limo ride. Then we were at White Pines and… waiting in the Bride’s Room. To pass the time (about two hours of it), we played Bananagrams. People stopped in to see us.
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| Pictures, limo... Bananagrams? |
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| The Decor |
There was bad traffic, causing several people to be running late, including the family of one of the ring bearers. He made it in time, and with the help of the other ring bearer’s mom, they got him dressed in his tux and ready to go!
The path from the building to the altar was loooooong. Good thing I was in wedges instead of tottering on high heels! Dad and I walked to an instrumental version of “Don’t Stop Believing”. The
ceremony went smoothly, with friends G and L doing readings (L did the
Bible readings and G read an excerpt from The Velveteen Rabbit) and
cousin Katie singing Irving Berlin’s “Always”, which was Grandma and
Grandpa’s wedding song, during the Unity Sand ceremony. The
pastor was a little heavy on the Jesus stuff for my liking, but no one
tripped or got tongue-tied, we made it through our ever-long vows, and
were married!
 |
| The Walk, The Ceremony, The Singer, Mr. & Mrs. |
Steve and I walked back down the aisle as husband and wife to “Lucky” and the whole group got a picture taken. Then it was cocktail hour time for the guests, and photo-taking time for me and Steve.
If the wedding went well, the reception was equally flawless. Three excellent speeches were given, by Jessica, my dad, and Steve’s best man. We cut the cake, dinner was served (and yummy!), and Steve and I visited with each table. Our first dance, a semi-coordinated slow foxtrot to “When You Wish Upon a Star”, went as well as we could imagine. Dad
and I danced to “I Loved Her First” (during which our two
three-year-old ring bearers played in and peeked out from under the
tablecloth on the head table) and Steve and his mom to “Sunrise,
Sunset”. And then the party got started!
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| Cake cutting, three toasts, two cuties |
 |
| Dance, dance, dance |
I think I danced to EVERY song the DJ played. Any time I sat down, someone was there calling me back up onto the dance floor. Even my cousins, many of whom had proclaimed they would not be dancing, were out there boogying, thanks to Jess and cousin Phil. Highlights
were a group rendition of “Bye, Bye, Bye,” which I remembered more of
than I’d thought I would, and took me right back to college; and Grandpa
wheeling Grandma around the dance floor to “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”
while she grinned and jazzed-handed with the best of ‘em. If there ever was a moment I wished I’d had a videographer, it was Grandma and Grandpa’s dance.
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| And dance some more! |
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| "Twist"-ing with Grandma and Grandpa |
We had board games for the non-dancers (of which there was a small contingent), and I think everyone had a good time. I hope they did!
At the end of the night, Steve and I went out to find our car FILLED with balloons. Filled. I don’t even know how my cousins and aunts and uncles responsible got all the balloons in there. Even the trunk was full! We were provided with pins and popped what was in the car (we didn’t discover the trunk until after we’d given back our pins).
What fun!
What fun!
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| I don't have a picture handy of the balloons, but here, the Happy Couple! |
On
Sunday, Steve and I accidentally overslept the beginning of the brunch
at Mom and Dad’s house, but we made it in time for some delicious food
and visiting with much of both our family and Steve’s. It was a low-key, relaxing end cap to the wedding week, even though by that point it was pouring rain outside.
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