Today was the season's last pick up. If you're wondering why I didn't post the share from two weeks ago, well, it's 'cause I just plain forgot to go pick it up. I guess that's called "CSA Burnout". They are offering an extended season and Thanksgiving turkeys and cool stuff like that, but I'm done for the year, I think. Anyway, a combined post, the share list for the week, and Autumn thankfuls:
1 butternut squash
2 lbs Kennebec potatoes
2 lbs sweet potatoes
1 lb green tomatoes
1/2 gallon apple cider
1 pint of apple butter (!) with no sugar
6 eggs
1 loaf bread
Thankful for...
Four new babies born to friends in the last week, and the one I met today is a cute and tiny week-old bundle - amazing.
Beautiful colors as the leaves ring in the fall.
Colorful new art for my awesome new office, plus plans to buy more locally tomorrow.
Absentee voting is quick and easy in Virginia!
5 days to Kallie Anne and Kyle Holden and plans to do good aunting!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
We each have a role to play...
...It's about a new attitude...that calls on our better angels, instead of encouraging our worst instincts. One that reminds us of the obligations we have to ourselves and one another... What we've lost in these last 8 years can't be measured just by lost wages or bigger trade deficits. What's also been lost is the idea that in this American story, each of us has a role to play. Each of us have responsibilities - to work hard, to look after ourselves, and our families, and each of us has a responsibility to look out for each other, our fellow citizens. That's what's been lost these last 8 years. Our common sense of purpose, our sense of higher purpose. That's what we need to restore right now. That's one of the reasons I'm running for President of the United States of America.... Each of us must do our part... All of us must summon the strength and grace to bridge our differences and unite in common effort - black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, democrat, republican, young, old, rich, poor, gay, straight, disabled, or not, all of us have to come together. The stakes are too high to divide us...
This is about him, but it's also about so much more than him...
Sending out positive thoughts of peace and protection.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Beautiful Fall Weekend
So, let me see if I can do the math: I paid $20 to register for the Chocolate Chase, the 5K I ran on Saturday morning. And, since I'm just a little too awesome also, I won a $25 gift certificate and also got a cool wicking running hat and some chocolate. So, I profited, plus I got gifts. Does that make me a professional athlete now?
I'm really enjoying these local races - more of them in my future, for sure.
David's BBQ of Valley, Alabama makes the local news. I'm not sure why my Uncle David didn't appear on the video, but check it out to see my cousin Lisa and her Mom, my Aunt Sue. Now that's some Hometown Spirit!
OK, I have to say, I'd never though I'd be repairing html code. Go me!
I'm really enjoying these local races - more of them in my future, for sure.
David's BBQ of Valley, Alabama makes the local news. I'm not sure why my Uncle David didn't appear on the video, but check it out to see my cousin Lisa and her Mom, my Aunt Sue. Now that's some Hometown Spirit!
OK, I have to say, I'd never though I'd be repairing html code. Go me!
Friday, October 10, 2008
Blog Archive
I've been meaning to pull out some of my old MySpace blogs since I'm never on that site anymore and the blog is mostly inaccessible now. Plus, sometimes, the old becomes new again. Anyway, here's one from Friday, March 02, 2007.
Breath holding
I'm a map person - always have been. I can look around at my environment and find exactly where I am on the map using any landmark: a prominent building, a bend in the road, a distinctive intersection. I know how to use a map to tell me where I'm going, and if I look at a map to find directions to where I want to go, I can put it aside and translate almost perfectly the 2-dimensional drawing into the 3-dimensional scene that exists before me. And, if I know the scale, I can easily estimate, with a fair amount of accuracy, how long it will take me to get to the next landmark. Not everyone is like this, I've learned from experience. My sister is a good example. Generally speaking, Susan doesn't have that kind of spatial intelligence. She's brilliant in many many ways, but map reading and direction giving and following is not one of her strong suits. From her, I've gained a sensitivity about personal strengths – and it's OK, I think, for me to be "good" at maps and for her not to be. She's good at many things that I'm not good at, and thank god. It's one reason why our personalities compliment each other.
For me, maps provide comfort. They tell me where I've been, where I am now and where I'm going. Whether on a road or a trail, in a car or on foot, I like looking at the map to see how far I am from the next city, or the next bend in the trail, or how much elevation gain or loss I'll be facing ahead of me.
I used to check maps compulsively – constantly orienting myself. I'm learning, though, to trust more in the journey, in the here and now, and stop concerning myself so much with the past or future. It's something I learned from marathon training, I guess. In the beginning, I felt compelled to know before I started my run what the route was, in its entirety, as it appeared on the map. I could never trust the chalk route markers that always told us where to turn, but not a moment before the turn arrived. I needed to be able to *see* it in my mind's eye before I began. In looking at the map, I would translate mileage to time, so that if a turn on my route came along a mile down the road, I could know that in about 11 minutes, I should expect the turn.
When you're running 18 or 20 miles, you have to learn how to focus on something other than the time and distance, or you'll lose yourself, become overwhelmed by the thought of it. The problem was that if you checked your watch or the map every two minutes, time and distance slowed so significantly that you'd drive yourself crazy. So, the first part of the process was unlearning the time check on my watch. Stop worrying about how many minutes I'd been running and how many more minutes I had to go before the checkpoint. The key was to learn to trust the distance, trust the route markers, trust the *feel* of time passing instinctively rather than using the meter of the watch to provide this information. To extend my tolerance for not knowing where I was on the map, to surrender myself to the process and not worry so much about the outcome. To let myself be surprised that the checkpoint had arrived rather than always anticipating it. Flow comes when each step you take become the focus; the journey is the flow, flow comes not from the start, nor the end.
And, soon you learn that the run ends before you are ready for it to. This is even more of a reason to stop anticipating the end, to be happy for the miles in between, because once it's over, it's over. There's no getting it back again.
I was thinking about this on my road trip this past weekend – I know the trip from Charlottesville to Charleston so well that I don't need a map to find my way, and yet, I kept looking at it, until finally I put the damn thing in the truck. The "orienting" that used to be such a comfort has almost become a hindrance to the enjoyment of the now. And, symbolically, all of this is quite apropos considering this *thing* that I have been holding my breath about for weeks. Truth is… the breath holding is a waste of time. I just need to remember that the surprise is better than the anticipation…
Breath holding
I'm a map person - always have been. I can look around at my environment and find exactly where I am on the map using any landmark: a prominent building, a bend in the road, a distinctive intersection. I know how to use a map to tell me where I'm going, and if I look at a map to find directions to where I want to go, I can put it aside and translate almost perfectly the 2-dimensional drawing into the 3-dimensional scene that exists before me. And, if I know the scale, I can easily estimate, with a fair amount of accuracy, how long it will take me to get to the next landmark. Not everyone is like this, I've learned from experience. My sister is a good example. Generally speaking, Susan doesn't have that kind of spatial intelligence. She's brilliant in many many ways, but map reading and direction giving and following is not one of her strong suits. From her, I've gained a sensitivity about personal strengths – and it's OK, I think, for me to be "good" at maps and for her not to be. She's good at many things that I'm not good at, and thank god. It's one reason why our personalities compliment each other.
For me, maps provide comfort. They tell me where I've been, where I am now and where I'm going. Whether on a road or a trail, in a car or on foot, I like looking at the map to see how far I am from the next city, or the next bend in the trail, or how much elevation gain or loss I'll be facing ahead of me.
I used to check maps compulsively – constantly orienting myself. I'm learning, though, to trust more in the journey, in the here and now, and stop concerning myself so much with the past or future. It's something I learned from marathon training, I guess. In the beginning, I felt compelled to know before I started my run what the route was, in its entirety, as it appeared on the map. I could never trust the chalk route markers that always told us where to turn, but not a moment before the turn arrived. I needed to be able to *see* it in my mind's eye before I began. In looking at the map, I would translate mileage to time, so that if a turn on my route came along a mile down the road, I could know that in about 11 minutes, I should expect the turn.
When you're running 18 or 20 miles, you have to learn how to focus on something other than the time and distance, or you'll lose yourself, become overwhelmed by the thought of it. The problem was that if you checked your watch or the map every two minutes, time and distance slowed so significantly that you'd drive yourself crazy. So, the first part of the process was unlearning the time check on my watch. Stop worrying about how many minutes I'd been running and how many more minutes I had to go before the checkpoint. The key was to learn to trust the distance, trust the route markers, trust the *feel* of time passing instinctively rather than using the meter of the watch to provide this information. To extend my tolerance for not knowing where I was on the map, to surrender myself to the process and not worry so much about the outcome. To let myself be surprised that the checkpoint had arrived rather than always anticipating it. Flow comes when each step you take become the focus; the journey is the flow, flow comes not from the start, nor the end.
And, soon you learn that the run ends before you are ready for it to. This is even more of a reason to stop anticipating the end, to be happy for the miles in between, because once it's over, it's over. There's no getting it back again.
I was thinking about this on my road trip this past weekend – I know the trip from Charlottesville to Charleston so well that I don't need a map to find my way, and yet, I kept looking at it, until finally I put the damn thing in the truck. The "orienting" that used to be such a comfort has almost become a hindrance to the enjoyment of the now. And, symbolically, all of this is quite apropos considering this *thing* that I have been holding my breath about for weeks. Truth is… the breath holding is a waste of time. I just need to remember that the surprise is better than the anticipation…
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Warm October evening
Good news on the work front: I survived last fiscal year - I thought it would never end. Thankful for: job security, good benefits, very supportive co-workers (who are really also very good friends) and a brand new office at the end of the month!
In a weaker moment, I might confess that I'm really having a hard time with this transition of saying goodbye to my old body and accepting my new one. I would like to be able to manage this with a graceful, matter-of-fact attitude, and be more forgiving of myself. For now, I think I'll try to act that way until my mind can catch up.
Just for fun, try using Google's 2001 search index.
Organic Love Buzz coffee and rolled oats with bananas for the morning!
In a weaker moment, I might confess that I'm really having a hard time with this transition of saying goodbye to my old body and accepting my new one. I would like to be able to manage this with a graceful, matter-of-fact attitude, and be more forgiving of myself. For now, I think I'll try to act that way until my mind can catch up.
Just for fun, try using Google's 2001 search index.
Organic Love Buzz coffee and rolled oats with bananas for the morning!
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Our Seester's Birthday!
I sure am thankful for our seester Susan today. She's the world's coolest Mom, most patient wife, and the best friend.
Also glad for:
New library card!
Wandering the downtown pedestrian mall on a Sunday morning in my favorite town.
Currently reading: Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes.
Also glad for:
New library card!
Wandering the downtown pedestrian mall on a Sunday morning in my favorite town.
Currently reading: Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Horse & Buggy Pick Up
Today's share included:
4 ears corn
2 lbs potatoes
8 small apples
2 red/green peppers
2 small eggplant
1 very large head of broccoli
1.3 lbs grapes (not sure what variety)
6 eggs
1 loaf bread
I reckon I'm gonna spend some time tonight learning how to make applesauce. I haven't touched a single one of the apples from last pick up yet...
4 ears corn
2 lbs potatoes
8 small apples
2 red/green peppers
2 small eggplant
1 very large head of broccoli
1.3 lbs grapes (not sure what variety)
6 eggs
1 loaf bread
I reckon I'm gonna spend some time tonight learning how to make applesauce. I haven't touched a single one of the apples from last pick up yet...
Monday, September 29, 2008
Autumn Air
Fall is finally here. We keep switching back and forth between warm days and cool nights. We've had more rain and humidity in the last few weeks than we had all summer. It's good sleeping weather, especially when you can open the windows.
A full free weekend - a neighborhood 5K, the first race I've run in ages (maybe even since the marathon). I was glad to have Dave running along beside me, even though I know he could have finished 6 or 7 minutes faster than we did running at my pace. Races are fun, especially when the start/finish is only 4 blocks from your house. I had forgotten the feeling of having people cheering you on, especially in the last few yards - it seems like no matter how tired I feel 2/3rds of the way into a race, when the finish line is in sight, my legs feel strong and a smile spontaneously crosses my face. Looking forward to the next local 5K in October.
Study date on Sunday to prep for today's A&P exam. A short, easy flat evening run - and the naked girl by the river. Dinner at one of our favorite restaurants. A walk in the park. Dave saves my pet spider.
Tina Fey is a goddess.
Book club tomorrow!
A full free weekend - a neighborhood 5K, the first race I've run in ages (maybe even since the marathon). I was glad to have Dave running along beside me, even though I know he could have finished 6 or 7 minutes faster than we did running at my pace. Races are fun, especially when the start/finish is only 4 blocks from your house. I had forgotten the feeling of having people cheering you on, especially in the last few yards - it seems like no matter how tired I feel 2/3rds of the way into a race, when the finish line is in sight, my legs feel strong and a smile spontaneously crosses my face. Looking forward to the next local 5K in October.
Study date on Sunday to prep for today's A&P exam. A short, easy flat evening run - and the naked girl by the river. Dinner at one of our favorite restaurants. A walk in the park. Dave saves my pet spider.
Tina Fey is a goddess.
Book club tomorrow!
Friday, September 26, 2008
Walmart vs. Starbucks
One of the most interesting statistics in this article on the current Presidential polling hinted at how cultural and social differences among voters affect their choice of candidates:
Even though the two candidates are viewed favorably by about the same number of people, there are some big cultural splits. Of people who get their coffee at Starbucks, 52 percent favor Obama while 39 percent prefer McCain. Of people who frequent Wal-Mart, 58 percent favor McCain while 33 percent prefer Obama.
Hm. I wonder who Cindy McCain will be voting for. Look very carefully to see where she falls along the aforementioned cultural/social divide.
(Photo found on CNN.com today.)
Even though the two candidates are viewed favorably by about the same number of people, there are some big cultural splits. Of people who get their coffee at Starbucks, 52 percent favor Obama while 39 percent prefer McCain. Of people who frequent Wal-Mart, 58 percent favor McCain while 33 percent prefer Obama.
Hm. I wonder who Cindy McCain will be voting for. Look very carefully to see where she falls along the aforementioned cultural/social divide.
(Photo found on CNN.com today.)
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Horizon in sight...
I left the office today knowing that tomorrow will be a better day. Not that today was so bad, just that tomorrow will be better. Whew!
NPR does risotto.
Learning more about the heart - both the electrical and the mechanical components. I wonder why this is the organ we humans have associated with love. Maybe because it needs so many parts collaborating to make it work? I dunno...
Lots of laughter with Supper Club tonight.
NPR does risotto.
Learning more about the heart - both the electrical and the mechanical components. I wonder why this is the organ we humans have associated with love. Maybe because it needs so many parts collaborating to make it work? I dunno...
Lots of laughter with Supper Club tonight.
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