The Narcs are Watching

Last night, my library friend Louis came to tell me I had a phone call. Turns out, Governor Bredesen wanted to bring some postal inspectors to the library for database training. Illegal trade in peat moss (through the mail) is on the rise, and the governor thought that some library research was just the thing to give the postal inspectors the edge against the bad guys. Even though the governor was kind of rude about the whole thing, and even though I thought it would be a waste of time, I said yes. I mean, he is the governor.

Thankfully, I woke up to realize this was all a bizarre night dream. Or at least, I think it was.

By the Numbers

I noticed the "50 Books in a Year" group on Goodreads, and it got me wondering how many books I've read this year. A quick Goodreads scan shows 77 to date, a far cry from the 44 I read in 2008.

Aha! So that's why I never get anything done.

Imponderables

• Why do my shoelaces repeatedly come untied no matter how intricately or securely I knot them?
• Why hasn't someone invented and marketed a Jetsons-like shower machine?
• Why do I eat things before bed that I know will come back to haunt me?
• Why do I procrastinate nearly every task in both my personal and professional life?

Name that Restaurant

Our last night in San Francisco/Burlingame, A and I ate at a local burger joint. It was probably 1.5-2 miles from the hotel, but there wasn't anything closer that offered a good value. We managed to use a combination of free shuttles and daring dashes through freeway offramp intersections to get there and back.

Anyone recognize the brand?

Perspective

Here is one of the upright cables on the Golden Gate Bridge, with my hand in front for perspective. When I got to the Marin County side of the bridge, I rested at the visitors area for a while, and heard a tour guide telling his group that the bridge is so named because of the golden effect of morning sunlight glinting off the bridge.

Hmm. And what about the fact that the strait itself was called the Golden Gate long before the bridge was built?

Looking Up

My first morning in San Francisco, I walked across and back on the Golden Gate Bridge, almost a 3 mile walk. Despite warnings about cold, wind, and bridge vibrations, I thought the walk was quite pleasant. Here's my view of one of the international orange (not red) towers.

D is for

I think this is a dahlia. Whatever it is, it was growing in a rooftop garden I visited during a walking tour of privately owned publicly open spaces in San Francisco. More about POPOs later.

Yummy Things that Start with C

Meyer Lemony Lemon: Vanilla cupcake with a tart lemon filling and lemon buttercream

I went to Fisherman's Wharf looking for a crepe cart. No crepes in sight, but I did find this tasty gem at Ghirardelli Square.

How About that Flash?

K and A in San Francisco

(in Burlingame, actually, but we won't quibble)

Busy Week

Last week was filled with home repair. Dad accomplished a lot, including:

• replacing the mailbox (while using the existing post in a masterful incidence of jury-rigging the likes of which has rarely been seen)
• clearing the front flower beds of their nasty, smelly red mulch
• cutting out some tree roots left from the tree removal
  
• remounting and connecting the TV antenna
  
• reworking one gutter downspout
• organizing the front half of the shed (some careless person had just been throwing everything inside as she finished with it)
• installing a timer on the front porch light switch
• repairing the back door latch
• replacing the grille fabric on one organ speaker
• hanging a completely uncooperative shelf
• priming and painting two large rooms
• removing a stubborn, painted-on towel bar
• replacing a showerhead
  

Too bad for Dad that he accomplished all of this at K's house instead of his own. K, however, is quite grateful, and feeling a little small at the same time.

Safety Advice, or, Auntie K Meets with the Asphalt

If at the end of a long day, you're walking out of the pizza place with your order, make sure the box doesn't obstruct your view of your feet. Otherwise, you may be in for a nasty tumble.

(Auntie K is fine, but it may be a few days before she can fully bend her left knee.)

What If

I pay tithing to the church, and I'm happy to do it. I just realized, however, how much money is actually involved. For me, it's the equivalent of a decent car payment or a new piece of nice furniture every month.

I'm not going to try it, but it would be interesting to go a year without paying tithing and see what I have to show for it in the end.

Auntie K Meets with Failure

Anise Candy
recipe in Homemade Candy, by the food editors of Farm Journal, 1970

Several things went wrong, but the final blow was that the candy refused to come out of the pan. So, the pan of candy is now soaking in hot water and I'm waiting for my pound of REAL anise candy to arrive in the mail.

Too Scared to Sleep

If you have a mouse or other four-legged, non-domesticated creature living in your house, how long before it shows itself? Or what about snakes, do they make noise?

Looks Can Be Deceiving, Or, Sweet Sunday II

French Almond Nougat
recipe in Candymaking, Kendrick & Atkinson, 1987

Despite its pedestrian, unassuming appearance, the candy was delicious. I think the salt didn't completely dissolve, so some bites contained that sublime juxtaposition of a grain of salt against the candy's sweetness.

(Way) Before and After

Before

After

Sweet Sunday

Judith Zaffirini's Praline Pecans

Cooking

Cooling

Sourdough Saturday

Sourdough English Muffins

Rising

Frying

Cooling

RIP Buddy

Oscar

15 March 1995 - 30 Sept 2009

For the Record

In case you don't already know, I have one pair of awesome parents.

New Family Member Contributes to Household

Tennessee -- A new member of Auntie K's household has already made a significant contribution to the family after only one week in residence. Sourpuss, a fresh sourdough starter descended from New England ancestors, arrived via UPS last week. Auntie K says that after an initial feeding, Sourpuss, SP for short, immediately found its place in the family, contentedly nestling in its own refrigerator crock.

Yesterday, a week after its arrival, SP contributed to two loaves of bread and a batch of pancakes. Auntie, a breadbaking tyro, thinks the bread turned out fairly well. The pancakes, she said, were a bit too sour, but Auntie attributes that to the "overnight sponge that really was more of an 18-hour sponge."

In other news, Auntie K sustained a small scare Saturday when she slipped on a wet paving stone in the backyard. Thoughts of wrenched backs and broken wrists flitted through her head as she plummeted to the ground, backside first. Fortunately, a few bruises turned out to be the extent of Auntie's injuries.

Burning Questions

Are there people who never get a tune caught in their head?

How can I possibly be sustaining new mosquito bites every night as I sleep?

Pizza or Chinese?

Where on earth is my MP3 player?

If Hell Freezes Over is in the Bill Harley cd case, where is the Bill Harley cd?

Is it possible for a piece of music to be too achingly beautiful?

Why am I contemplating either pizza or Chinese, when I'm supposed to be on a financial and nutrition diet?

Confession

I sometimes stay up late into the night because if I delay going to bed, I might be able to delay tomorrow.

Showdown

Power Seat v. Cell Phone Charger. Guess which won?

Sack Lunch Advice

Don't put Cheerios and sandwich bread in the same Ziploc bag to save time. By the time you eat your lunch (a day later in my case), the Cheerios will have sucked all the moisture from the bread, doing little to improve either cereal or bread.

What's Cooking?

What does it say about me if eating tortilla chips and guacamole for supper is the highlight of my day? Heck, that will probably be the highlight of my week.

Netflix Advice

Manage your Netflix queue carefully, and double check it from time to time.

Otherwise, you'll jump from Season 5 disc 3 to Season 5 disc 5, completely missing out on the shocking suicide on disc 4.

Produce Advice

If you put a tomato in your purse to take home from work, be sure to remove it when you get home. Otherwise, when you arrive at work the next morning, you may find your purse full of smashed tomato.

Wanting the Impossible

I'm great at wanting what I can't have, and not wanting it when it's right in front of me.
Case in point: Saturday morning I had to drive to a meeting of the Tennessee Library Association board. I stopped in at the office beforehand to print some reports to take with me. It was quiet, relatively cool, and early enough that my office was light but not glaringly bright. I would have been perfectly content to stay there for a few hours and clean up and catch up. Of course, I couldn't because I had to rush off to the meeting.

I needed to go in the last three Saturdays in a row and had nothing else on the schedule besides lawn work, but did I go? Absolutely not. And this coming Saturday? Well, we'll see.

Hot Beverage Success

Several of my workmates are hot tea drinkers, and I'm forever buying and trying different herbal and decaf tea in hopes of finding something I like. I nearly always end up taking the box to work because I don't like my pick (lack of fat, chocolate and sugar plays into all this).

I do like Stash Tea Licorice Spice, and after yet another purchase, have decided I like Stash Tea Chai Spice Decaf with LOTS of sugar. It's tasty as a drink, and would also make a nice potpourri.

Old Man Winter--I'm ready!

All Alone

It's a lonely feeling to see all my Google Talk friends are offline. Of course, I only chat with about 5 people in total, but still, it's a lonely feeling.

Footwear Advice

If you have a mosquito bite on the top of your foot, be careful about wearing mary jane shoes.

Speaking of Grandma

With all the recent mentions of Grandma (Mom to an older generation), I thought it appropriate to provide an illustration. Here she is at Orson Gygi in Salt Lake. Sorry about the unsightly cord hanging from the ceiling.

The Nest

Strangely enough, despite all the purchased books to be had at Grandma's house, the one book I read cover-to-cover during my stay was a library book. The only sad part of the trip (besides leaving to go home) was seeing all the books Grandma isn't putting on Goodreads. I'm fortunate I saw A Northern Light on the table (and had the good sense to pick it up).


Here's my nest at the house, with A Northern Light, some snacks (which also abound at Grandma's house, as they should), other reading material, and my travel pillow.

This was the first time I took the pillow on a plane trip. Kind of a pain (since I had to stuff it in my bag along with my CHI iron and the requisite airport bagel w/cream cheese), but quite appreciated during my window-seat naps. Grandma, who made the pillow case, should be pleased to hear that someone at the airport commented on the lovely pillowcase. I told the admirer my mother had made it, to which she replied, "Moms are pretty nice, aren't they?"

Yes, they are.

Opportunities Abound

I popped in at home recently for Dad's birthday. It was a low-key event (I think "low-key" is a synonym for our family name), but I enjoyed myself, and I didn't hear anyone else complaining.

In an effort to travel light, I didn't take a book on the trip. I listened to The Language of Bees on the plane, and trusted that I would find something to read at the house.

Just look at all the choices! I managed to take only two books home with me (Fortune Cookie Chronicles and Freakonomics).

Worms!

You never know what interesting finds you'll discover at Grandma's house.

The Original

I posted earlier about Mississippi Mud Cake, and struck a chord with at least some of my readers. Here's the original recipe, from Mable Hoffman's Chocolate Cookery.

I just realized that this recipe shares a key ingredient with two of the other most worn recipes at Mom's house. Any guesses as to which two recipes those might be?

Just to Clarify

I think 90% of my readers already know, but I am not teaching seminary this year.

I would like to tell you that I am using the reclaimed time for all the reasons I asked to be released (getting the house in order, exercising, researching, etc.). As soon as I start doing any of that, I'll let you know.

School started here on August 10. I cannot fathom that under different circumstances, I would have already been teaching class every weekday morning at 6:15 for a week.

And this is totally unrelated, but how cool would it be to paper your entire office with Post-it notes?

Never mind. It wouldn't be nearly as cool as papering a car. Where have I been?

Lessons Learned

Four of the year's six planned airplane trips are history. I realize there are plenty of people who travel every week, but four trips in eight months is a lot for a homebody like me. If you're an expert traveler, you'll probably want to skip all the blathering below. If you're more of a homebody than me, or if you're an insomniac searching for a cure, read on.

It took me several post-9/11 trips to realize I could take an empty water bottle through security and fill it at the water fountain, instead of paying highway robbery prices for a new bottle on the secure side. I still can't believe I didn't figure that one out sooner.

On the latest trip, I had another epiphany. This only applies to open seating airline travel, however. If you are unfortunate enough to board late in the game (either you fell asleep and checked in online only 20 hours pre-flight instead of 24 hours, or your connection was shortened by a delayed first leg flight), it's a given on many flights that you'll be sitting in a middle seat, or at least in the last available set in a row. So, as soon as you step into the aisle, keep your eyes peeled for any row with an adult and a child between ages 3 and 12. Unless the child is abnormally obese, you're going to have ample room sitting next to that child, with all the elbow space you desire.

I sat next to a seven-year old on one flight this week, and it was perfect. Yes, he did ask his companion every 30 seconds between taxi and 10,000 feet if he could turn on his Nintendo DS, but that was nothing compared to sitting arm-to-arm, thigh-to-thigh with some random man.
I'm thinking about employing this strategy again, even when I'm not one of the last 20 people to board. If every seat ends up being filled, might as well choose your companions rather than sitting first in a row and leaving yourself wide open to miseAnd hy.

Here's the latest lesson learned: Twist-ties are an easily-obtained tool for securing suitcase zippers. Yes, so is a TSA-approved lock, but I don't feel like spending money on a TSA-approved lock. I secure the locks to keep the bags from opening in transit, not to deter theives (which is why my CHI iron always travels in my carry-on). I used to use cable ties, but they require a knife or scissors to remove, and I can rarely FIND the cable ties when it's time to leave for a trip. The twist-tie is simpler, and if the TSA searches your bag, they'll replace the twist-tie when they're done (They'll also repack your suitcase backwards, so that everything you put on the bottom is on the top when you next open the case. Creepy).

What are your best travel tips?

While I Slept

My friend Jason went out of town and returned to find surprise lilies in his yard.

I went to bed and when I woke up, I had mushrooms growing on the roots of one of the trees in the backyard. By the time I saw them, several had already melted into a smelly, rotting mess. On Saturday, I scraped up the intact organisms (?) so I could mow the area. Now my back room, where I dump my yard shoes when I come inside, smells like mushrooms. Or maybe it's just my imagination.


(I also have surprise lilies in my yard. I prefer them over mushrooms.)

Name That Recipe

I recently started rewatching H:LotS, one of the all-time best television shows (if you don't count season 7). While watching, I've been knitting a bit and tackling my recipe collection. I have three family recipe binders whose pockets are full of other recipes from various places. Some of the most prized recipes (brownies, German pancakes, chocolate sauce) are written on Post-its or scraps of paper.

Here's an image of one scrap I decided to transfer to a full 8.5 x 11 sheet before the wind catches it and it's lost to me. A gold star to the first reader who correctly identifies this recipe.

Priorities

I love visiting in Utah with my mom and aunt (Auntie lives there, Moth visits at the same time I do).

The reasons I love this trip are plentiful, but include my aunt's arctic basement, being able to legitimately listen to all the "adult" talk and being able to ask questions (can't do that when you're an eavesdropping child), perusing the cookbook collection, and doing the crossword puzzle every day (everyone gets her own photocopy).

One of the other reasons the trip is so enjoyable is that these two women have their priorities straight. The agenda above proves my point.

I must mention that the written list is missing several things we did while I was there (root canal, burnt sugar marshmallows, sugared peanuts, See's Candies, Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House, Sundance, Hires Big H, Rubio's) as well as a few things the other two have done since I left (Julie and Julia, bookclub, Fleming's). But the list gives you the general idea. Can't wait for next year!

On the Town

One of the stops near the end of my most recent trip was Taffy Town. I think the name says it all.

Former Lovers Reunited (sort of)

Readers might know that I'm fairly fond of fast food, Wendy's fast food in particular. I've had to cut back, partly because of my current more-serious-than-usual effort to lose weight, and partly because along with other retail deficiencies I won't mention here (but some initials are CS and WFM), the town where I live has only three Wendy's, and none are close to my house.

So, no more Saturday night trips to the drive-through for a "Number one combo, medium, with no pickles, onions, or lettuce...and a Diet coke" (it still rolls off my tongue so readily). (BTW, did you know Wendy's opened the first fast food drive through window? I knew there was a reason I love that place so much.)

Today, however, I discovered an acceptable substitute. At Sonic, I can get a grilled chicken sandwich on a "wheat bun made with whole grain," sans lettuce and mayo, and a medium Sprite Zero, and only incur a penalty of 275 calories and 5.1 grams of fat. And five dollars.

Not bad, particularly since Sonic is an acceptable driving distance from both home and work. Sonic may not be Wendy's, but I suppose we can't have everything in this world.

Weekend ABC

A is for Austin
B is for birthday
C is for Cafe Rio tacos
D is for direct flight
E is for enchilada casserole
F is for Fancy Nancy
G is for Grandma
H is for Hide and Seek
I is for ice cream
J is for Jack (and Jen)
K is for Auntie K (of course)
L is for Lars and the Real Girl
M is for Mississippi Mud Cake
N is for nieces and nephews
O is for oranges
P is for Play-Doh
Q is for quiet time
R is for relaxing
S is for swingset
T is for Thomas the Train
U is for Ulta
V is for vacation
W is for wishes
X is for eXcitement
Y is for yippee
Z is for Zizzer-Zazzer-Zuzz

Birthday Eve Breakfast

Thanks, Amy! The cookies are yummy.

Apologies Are In Order

My sincerest apology to Wal-Mart, whom I unfairly maligned last week. I found the fantastik and the bleach on Saturday. They both made it home, the bleach into the pantry and the fantastik into a plastic bag on the stair railing. Oops! I'm afraid this shows the state my house is in: One grocery bag just blends in with all the others.

So, Wal-Mart, I'm sorry for unjustly accusing you. But I'm still spinning the bag rack on my next visit!

Burned Again

Despite Vermont Country Store, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and other purveyors of nostalgic products, you really can't go home again. I already knew that. After all, Storybook Land is no more.

But I have fond memories of playing Disney 45's and reading along to stories of Johnny Appleseed, The Grasshopper and the Ants, Rapunzel, and the Gingerbread Man, turning the page when Tinkerbell shook her wings. Anticipating a visit with the younger set, I went online and ordered some modern Disney Read Alongs. The Instant Classics set--Lilo & Stitch, Chicken Little, and Brother Bear, arrived this week.

It was enough to make a (near middle aged) woman cry. I don't have the heart to listen to the cd, but I read the books, and they were awful. I didn't know that Stitch is an alien, and that the Chicken Little plot involves exposed underwear and more aliens. And Brother Bear? Don't get me started on that one.

The books are long, with many big words and convoluted, ridiculous plots that jump around and make no sense. What on earth was I thinking? I wouldn't give these books to a child of any age, much less a 4 or 5 year old. My first mistake, of course, was that I have never seen any of the movies, and the text of each book is, I believe, straight from the movie, complete with original cast member voicing.

I'm still holding out a bit of hope for the Princess Collection--Snow White, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. After all, I've at least seen those movies. Or am I just burying my head in the sand?

Celebrities I'm Tired of Hearing About

• Lance Armstrong
• Brad Pitt
• Kate Gosselin
• "Bruno"

Of course, I just gave them all a little more air-time, didn't I?

Another Reason to Dislike Wal-Mart

I almost said "hate Wal-Mart," but hate is a strong word, and not a nice one, so we'll go with dislike. Plus, there might be young, impressionable readers lurking out there.

Reason: It's too easy to leave a bag of purchases on the revolving bag holder. This time, I think I left a bottle of bleach and a bottle of fantastik. I meant to take the fantastik to work, and it took weeks for me to decide to spend the money (apparently I only sweat the small stuff), and then I went and left it at the check-out.

Despite my vigilance, I've been in this situation more times than I care to remember. I suppose I could hunt down the receipt and go back to Wal-Mart, but the whole thing happened at least 10 days ago, and I'm not sure I'm up to the ordeal.

Auntie K Takes a Plane

For a homebody, I think I do a moderately impressive amount of travel. Here's what's planned for the next few months:

July - TX to play with niece and nephews and celebrate my birthday (my mother will be there also)

July - UT to play with my own auntie and my dear mother (have I told you how cold and wonderful it is in my aunt's basement where the guest room is?)

Sept - Savannah for a conference. I've been to the conference once before, and think that this time, I need to plan my meals better. I had an invite to Paula Deen's The Lady and Sons last time, but I declined--sounded like too much hassle. What do you think, should I give it a try this time?

Sept - Louisville for a conference. I would like to stay an extra day and loaf around. The traveling thing is starting to get expensive, however, so I may have to think about it. Here are some places I could visit--Embroiderers' Guild of America Museum, The Knit Nook, Schimpff's Confectionary, Museum of the American Printing House for the Blind, Homemade Ice Cream and Pie Kitchen.

Nov - San Francisco for (someone else's) conference. I figured it would be the least a sister could do, to offer to share a hotel room when her brother goes to present. I've never been to San Francisco. I have, however, read Thunderbolt House multiple times, so I feel I know what I need to know before I go. I figured I could sneak into A's session and see how real researchers sound (as opposed to most library-related quasi-researchers).

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Photo: Chicago Daily News, Inc. (1928). Miss Ella Van Huesen and an unidentified woman standing on a block next to an airplane on a field [photonegative]. Chicago Daily News negatives collection, DN-0086214. Courtesy of the Chicago Historical Society. Available from Library of Congress American Memory.

I Knew Better

Have you ever gone ahead and done something you knew you shouldn't? It's probably a daily occurrence for me, but the latest instance was making nonfat pumpkin bread. I knew that a quick bread with no fat would taste terrible, but for some idiotic reason I expected miraculous, impossible results. They didn't happen.

The other culinary experiment of the day was potato leek soup, which turned out not so bad. I used a mixture of half and half and skim milk instead of the specified nonfat half and half (talk about an oxymoron) . My one mistake was in not realizing how salty four cups of chicken bouillon would taste. I used that because I find myself possessed of not one, but two jars of bouillon. Now I know for next time, though I doubt I'll be able to afford the leeks again!

Tuesday's Recipe

I'm under a self-imposed baking ban (but still trying to stretch the remains of the last pre-ban treat, rhubarb cake, similar to this recipe). There is an exception, however, for certain items.

So Sunday I made Breakfast Bars, combining parts of a Sun-Maid Raisins recipe with its super fiber variation:

Breakfast Bars

Ingredients
1/2 C all-purpose flour
1/4 C flaxseed meal
3/4 C toasted wheat germ
1/4 C sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 C canola oil
1/4 C honey
1 large egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
14 bite-size prunes, chopped
1/4 C pecan halves, chopped
1/3 C Craisins

Directions
Heat oven to 350F. Grease an 8" square pan. Combine first six dry ingredients in medium bowl. Stir in oil, honey, egg, vanilla; mix well. Stir in fruit and nuts. Press mixture firmly into greased pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely before slicing. Bars may be slightly crumbly. Makes 10 bars.

Nutritional Facts (according to my calculations):
per bar: 217 calories, 9.7 grams fat, 4.4 grams protein, 2.3 grams fiber.

Assessment
Too much oil, which is actually a good thing, because even before the bars were out of the oven I was thinking about how to reduce the percentage of fat. Next time I will try 3 Tbs oil, 1/4 C white flour and 1/4 C whole wheat flour, perhaps with some low-fat granola thrown in (see below). Could have stood more prunes--I just didn't feel like chopping any more.

My mother's variation (she discovered the recipe) includes 3/4 C all-purpose flour, granola in place of wheat germ, pine nuts, chopped dates, and no flaxseed meal. Extremely tasty.

Floating Away

I'm implementing some new personal health initiatives. I'm reluctant to broadcast all of them, because I haven't been very successful in the past. I'd rather just surprise you when I am successful. However, I'll share one aspect of The Plan with you: drink four bottles of water at work every day.

If you could make one personal health improvement, what would it be?

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photo: Lee, Russell. (1941). Water fountain, Caldwell, Idaho [photograph]. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA-OWI Collection, [reproduction number LC-USF33-013077-M1]. Available from American Memory.

Anticlimactic, or, a Litany of Excuses

I visited Whole Foods yesterday. I'm sorry to report that I didn't come out with anything more exotic than an avocado. I also picked up some nice sweet cherries, some raspberry jam (organic, of course), three boxes of Near East Creamy Parmesan Creative Grains, which is not available to me anywhere else, and a bag of shortcake biscuits (and a cookie, apple, and candybar, if you want to know everything).

I have some peaches at home that I plan to eat with the biscuits, and I read up on whipping cream when I got home (apparently, ultrapasturization is death if you want nice whipped cream, but that's probably all that's available to me). And yes, I could make my own shortbread biscuits, but for some reason, they called to me from the bakery table.

It was raining to beat the band when I finished at Whole Foods, so I decided to skip Trader Joe's, then drove around the block and into the parking lot anyway, but once there, stuck to my guns and left without going in.

Let's face it, I probably would have bought only candy and nuts at Trader Joe's, neither of which I really need, especially after buying 400-calorie biscuits. Finally, my lunch at Provence yesterday was $11 and I was still feeling the pinch, so I'll save that for another trip.

Organization is a Curse

If I make it through the day, I'll be grateful. I'm in a computer classroom all day without:

• cell phone
• mechanical pencil (pencil of any kind)
• electric fan
• remote desktop access

It's mostly my own fault (well, not the last two). I switched from my RRB (regular red bag) to my CRB (capacious red bag) this morning, and carefully put all my writing instruments in their cute red pouch, which I apparently then threw in the RRB by mistake. Luckily, I found a (lousy) pen, highlighter and Sharpie in the CRB, so I'm not completely bereft.

The loss of the pencil is keen, since it's practically an appendage of my hand, and without it I can't do a crossword puzzle or write in my calendar. I'm going to have to make do with a dull golf pencil or the (lousy) pen.

That aside, the Nashville Public Library is beautiful, and I'm still planning to stop at TJ and WHM on the way home.

Road Trip

Tomorrow I'm going to the Nashville Public Library for training. So of course, my thoughts are turning to food. No, not because the library is known for exceptional food (though I have scoped out the lunch possibilities), but because driving to the big city means I'll be minutes away from some unique opportunities.

So, if you were making a biennial trip to Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe's, what would be on your shopping list?

R is for...

I have a cute new refurbished Sansa Clip. My other mp3 player works just fine, but it doesn't play Audible downloads. So, the refurbished Clip was an inexpensive way to remedy my situation (a cheaper fix would be to cancel my $14.95/mo Audible subscription, but we won't go there).

I own a refurbished Makita drill (thanks, Dad!), and if the IRS ever sends me the money for my first time homebuyer credit, I'll spend some of it to buy a refurbished Makita saw. Also on my want list is a refurbished G2 iPod Touch, once it's no longer the current model.

This all got me thinking, "Wouldn't it be nice if i could send MYSELF in for refurbishing?" It's often difficult to tell you're holding a refurbished item, unless you look at the paperwork or in the case of the Clip, if the mfr has marked the item. I'd be OK with an R somewhere on my body if I could send myself in for a thorough inside and out cleaning, face-lift, and general tune-up.

Alliteration Alarm

A coworker has the book Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go to Work on the bookshelf in his/her office.

Should I be worried? Is this coworker trying to mask his/her own personality, or does he/she suspect someone else of being a psychopath?

Puppy Days

I suppose it's too early to complain about the dog days of summer, so I'll complain about the pre-dog days of summer. Hot weather is starting to move in, there are no holidays to look forward to this month, I need but don't want to get serious about my summer work agenda, and it all seems a little dreary.

On the other hand, my reading life is looking up these days, so I'll try to not complain too loudly.



photo: Rhoads, Harry M. ca. 1920-1930. Female with puppies [photograph]. Western History/Genealogy Department, Denver Public Library. Available from Library of Congress American Memory at http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/hawp:@field(NUMBER+@band(codhawp+00186544))

The Eyes Have Legs

Violated

It's happened--the first indoor mosquito bite of the season. This time, it was four bites on the same ankle, inflicted during the after-work nap. Horrid little beasts!

From the Garden

The flowers anew, returning seasons bring!
But beauty faded has no second spring.

ATTRIBUTION: Ambrose Philips (1674–1749), British poet, politician. Lobbing, The First Pastoral (1709). http://www.bartleby.com/66/32/44132.html

On My Mind Today

Chinese Dumplings (from use real butter)

and

Pistachio Macaroons (from Tartelette)

Yes, the Internet is a Dangerous Place.

Big Brother Is Watching You...

in the restroom stall.

Higher Math

K moved into a new house 3.5 months ago and has hung one set of curtains.* With eight windows to go, how long will it be before all the curtains are hung?



*two sets if you count the bedsheet hung from an existing rod.

The Only Explanation

I've determined that the common cold was devised by The Devil as an effective, efficient method of sowing discouragement, discontent, and general unhappiness throughout the ranks of civilized men and women. Anyone disagree?

Un-Coordination

Last week I was dismayed to realize my electric company payment was overdue. I am very careful about paying bills and thought the bill in question must not have been delivered. I hurried to pay online, incurring a small surcharge to do so.

Yesterday I discovered that I did indeed receive and pay that bill. However, I paid the water company instead of the electric company. You would think the two could get together and figure all of this out.

(To compound the situation, I paid against a closed water account, so now I have to figure out how to get my money back).

Photo: Nesmith. (ca. 1930-1935). Girl using adding machine [photograph]. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA-OWI Collection. Courtesy American Memory http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/fsaall:@field(NUMBER+@band(fsa+8e03129))

Love and Hate

I both love and hate my Monday schedule, which consists of working 12:30 to 9:00 pm. I hate getting home after 9 (after 10 during the summer) and then having to be up early the next morning.

On the other hand, I do like having the morning to go back to sleep or to run errands. Just when I think I've decided I want to keep or ditch the schedule for next semester, I start to second guess myself. I was ready to say "enough" today, but then I managed to visit Home Depot, Walmart, Target, McDonald's and Discount Tire all in one trip, without any line waiting and with little traffic, and I remembered why I like things the way they are.

How Does Your Back Yard Grow?

I'm basically in subsistence mode where the lawn and landscaping are concerned. At first I was diligent weeding the beds most evenings, trying to eradicate the wild onion and all its pesky friends. I planted a few things Amy gave me, cleared out some of the winter's leaves, and then I got the lawn mower. So now all I do is mow. The dandelions are all going to seed and I've just been mowing them over (and mulching them no less).

Here are some of the things growing in the back:


Don't know what this is but I like it very much.


A relative and neighbor of above.

The yard is full of wild violet. This picture doesn't do justice to its ubiquity.

Lilyturf? There are several varieties in the front and the back.


I have a hard time deciding what's grass, what's crabgrass, what's sedge grass, etc.



I know what these are!

If you're still awake and want to see an interesting back yard, take a look at Amy's yard.

1am Progress Report

Lawn mowed. Check.

Car washed (the lazy drive through way). Check.

Tomorrow morning's Sacrament Meeting talk written. Check.

Linen closet primed for painting. Partial check.

Bed made up. Nope (sheets are still in the dryer).

Next week's Seminary lessons prepared. Not a chance.

Ready to call it a day. Double Check.


photo: Pioneer Mill, Time Clock, Lahainaluna Road, Lahaina, Maui County, HI. Courtesy Library of Congress American Memory http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/hh:@field(DOCID+@lit(HI0012))

Friday's Word

Friday's word is paint.

For example, "Behr paint is on sale at Home Depot, so I've been home twice today to paint different branded paint onto gypsum board so that I can have Home Depot color-match and thus buy my paint at a discount.


PS: For those who are interested, I'm planning to go with Behr's approximations of:

Benjamin Moore Windham Cream in the living room
Martha Stewart (Valspar) Coriander in the dining room and kitchen and probably office
Behr Timeless Lilac in the bedroom

Design Note

For current and future architects who might be readers:

If you're designing a college campus building, please reconsider a glass wall with benches in front of it. People on the other side of the wall often have a more intimate view of student anatomy than is appropriate or desired.

Word of the Day

Antenna. I challenge you to use this word in a sentence today.

For example, "Why are so many people calling the library today asking about radio anntenas?"

In My Defense

The house is a disaster, but I haven't been spending all my time sitting around eating bonbons. What little work I've done has mostly been outside. Here's the mower I bought to mow the "lawn" (to say "grass" would be a gross misstatement). The owner's manual fails to mention that it may take a phone call to dad to get the thing started!

All Eyes on the Man with the Food

Snack break on a cold, windy morning at the park.

Insider's View

Various people have asked about pictures of the house now that I've "moved in." Basic human pride prevents me from showing most of it to the general public, because the truth is that I'm moved in, but not unpacked by a long shot. There is one room, however, that's in pretty good shape. So ogle all you want!



ps - click here for a more interesting picture of another pantry

With Apologies to Mastercard

Home Inspection: $295

New Home: $154K

Carpet Cleaning: $85

Getting out of bed at 7am and being at the reference desk by 7:30: PRICELESS


Photo: Rothstein, Arthur (1942). Sleepy child, nursery school, FSA (Farm Security Administration) camp, Sinton, Texas [photo]. Farm Security Administration - Office of War Information Photograph Collection (Library of Congress). Courtesy American Memory Project http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/fsaall:@field(NUMBER+@band(fsa+8a13496))