Tuesday - High of 71 degrees

I lied about this being the shortest-lasting cold. It's still here, it's just morphing. Although, Christie & I still had a great run tonight...

Striking out on the Supper Club prep.

Late, late dinner. Tired, tired girl.

Thankful things

The dream I had where I was going around in circles, literally - I was in an elevator that was moving horizontally in circles around the top of this parking garage, and going so fast I was actually feeling gravity pull me towards the outside. In the dream, it got so frustrating, I finally said, "F that, I'm getting off this ride."

The shortest-lasting cold in the history of man-kind; thanks to Zicam?!

Anne Lamott's Traveling Mercies, still as entertaining and comforting as it was 6 years ago. Thinking more about grace.

At the risk of repeating myself: running, Bodo's, coffee, shower.

Warm, sunny, and I think to myself: a day perfect for skydiving.

Plans for Sunday night soup and reading.

Vacation best-of

Gathering with the gang at Maria & Dave's and lots of new wall hangings and other fun gifts.

To Atlanta for family time. Nieces and nephews of all ages and kinds. Brother & Sisters. Parents. Abundance.

7 days of nothing but me and my time in my favorite city.

New loungy pants. Used furniture shopping.

Keeping up with my running. Especially the 4 miles on Blacksburg's Huckleberry Trail with Betsy & Ernie.

New Year's Eve at Ian & Anne's.

Garrett & Griffin & I getting utterly sick of each other.

New Year's Day dinner of black-eyed peas, short-grained brown rice and buttermilk cornbread, all from scratch.

Chatham-dog

 

Here's to my favorite pup narrowly escaping from a little run in with botulism. And, here's to his Dave-dad for being a vet!

Seven days without any plans...

...fill up quickly:

To the Mall: return cheap-but-too-big loungy pants; Sears to buy tools with phone help from Pa; new sweater and new pants which go straight to the tailor.

Install loud and blustery water-saving showerhead - it's like a jet engine in my shower now!

Boo and Biddle are safe and sound.

Thrift and antique store shopping, with my eye on two new bookcases.

Walk on the Lawn, whispering wall, and a delish salmon dish.

Chatting with all of the sibs in the same morning and thinking about having the older niece visit in the Spring or Summer.

Find too-pricey-but-perfect loungy pants, so I buy them anyway.

Talking romance and pork with Christie and Ted. Absolutely fabulous new hand-made bag from Chris and yummy soup by the Chef.

Currently reading, also: Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott.

Christmas Day

Hm. I'm certain that this photograph does not do justice to the rediculous luminocity of this house down the street from me in Charlottesville! Nevertheless, Merry Christmas.

Home again after 4 days and 3 nights at my parents house with lots of family time. Good food, good conversations, happy kids, easy-ish travel.

Glad to be in my warm and cozy home; glad to be back in the company of the Boys; plans for the week of vacation time I have in front of me include: trip to Lowes to buy new tools so that I can install my new shower head, thrift store shopping, running, Bodo's, coffee sipping, more reading.

Currently reading: What is the What by Dave Eggers.

Coffee haiku revisited

Originally posted March 2007

Friday morning haiku
The gets-me-through thing,
My father said to find it.
It's the coffee, man.

Thursday morning haiku
Salivate, Pour, Sip
My daily motivation
Makes life so simple

Wednesday morning (coffee) haiku
Hazelnut flavor
Oh! My reason for rising
Tastebuds come alive

Tuesday morning haiku
Wafting aroma
Lures me into the kitchen
Add cream and sugar

Monday morning haiku
Coffee happiness
Morning sipping heaven sent
Nutty creamy brew

Birthday weekend & early week recap

Feeling the birthday love from waking up to lying down on Sunday to waking up on Monday morning too. A total of 3 cakes! And a brilliant idea from Jen today about freezing the poundcake, so that I may enjoy my Mom's birthday love well into the New Year.

Walking in the early morning winter air through Grounds to deliver my paper.

Talking to the 2 year old niece on the phone. If I talk about her dogs Chatham or Sugar-bear, or her brother Kyle, she starts giggling!

Good soup, good Belgisches Bier, good Quintin Tarantino, good company on Monday night.

Painless visit to the DMV - whew!

Dozens of thank you emails to write.

Birthday wishes to my big brother, Jim.

So long to the 20s

Ah. The 20s. They are going away and they are never coming back except in memories - good memories. Noticing things that I wouldn't have noticed 10 years ago: My eyes hurt after staring at the computer for 8 hours today. Aches and pains abound, despite relative health. Digestive issues that I didn't dream of 10 years ago emerge. Friendships keep improving with age. Small stuff matters more and matters less depending, and I feel more empowered and confident about fighting for the important stuff.

Ready ready ready for this paper to be done done done.

Happy to be back in decent running shape and to be completing this course the day before I turn 30.

Thankful for soulmate connections of every kind.

Enjoying the silliness of Harry Potter.

Happy for colorful and fragrant pre-birthday Gerber daisy mix hand delivered by Jen. Lovely lovely lovely.

Thankful thankful thankful.

Thankful things

Healthy, pain-free neck for the last several weeks, even though other parts of me aren't feeling so great.

Good sleep for the last few nights.

Progress on my paper.

Phone calls with Sisters.

Email chats with an old friend.

Myspace messages from my niece.

Office with a window view.

The academic prowess possessed by my exceptional parents and their never-ending, unconditional support.

Personal solutions for Snocap immorality.

Tonight's double-header: Supper Club and Candyapolis!