I somehow think that Safe Haven will be getting a good amount of $ from me this year. That's ok. It's tax deductible.
So let's go through this. I've been marvelously unmotivated. I will work on this and make the next 174 days better.
17 - I haven't had 1 meal days in a long long time. The first meal might be rather late, but still.
27 - We did a wine tasting. It was really really cool. Hit 4 different wineries in the SE Tennessee.
29 - Dinner Party #2 was most awesome. It was a Pirate Zombie Rum theme party. Dave came down from New York and everything. Yay!
37 - I brought my bag to the farmers market a bunch of times. Also I've been bringing it to the grocery store.
38 - At the last farmer's market I got some info on CSA. I am looking for someone to split a half share. Then we're on, baby!
39 - Locavore foods yay! Lots of food has been made in my kitchen with local foods. More recipes are at http://gexxcooks.blogspot.com
48 - I've read a fun book! Sorta -
21/30
Ishmael - I didn't like it.
50 - Brewer's Jam. Lots of fun.
55 - FAIL. The brother is back.
56 - We sent lots of emails back and forth.
69 - The freezer is CLEANED!
26 October 2008
03 August 2008
Day 90 - chugging along
Hugs all around to everybody. I know that 99.99999% of the people I mean don't even know the existence of this blog, but I really appreciate them being here. I've gone through bouts of annoyance, anger, guilt, sadness, self-righteousness, fear, and many other not quite positive emotions. There have been many people who have been willing just to sit and let me try to formulate my thoughts, to take me out to get my mind off of it, and who have filled in the other side of the story when I started to be rather one sided about my failure to be in a relationship. I'm working on going through a "break over". And I'm feeling good about things again, I think.
So, there's a whole bunch to update on....
6 - In progress, I'm working for The Park again. It's just a summer thing, though. So it's sorta gainful, but the goal was for something a bit more... permanent.
17 - A conservative estimate, I have eaten at least two meals a day since July 1. It's actually been longer than that, but this will make "for a month" much easier.
28 - I had my FIRST BBQ OF THE SUMMER!!!
26 - I went to the beach in NC with Heather, her sister, and their friend. There we tried all sorts of restaurants.
The Firebird, Durham NC, was a nice Bar/Restaurant. They made awesome mojitos and crab cakes.
The TIKI bar Wilmington NC, was a cute lunch stop. We had fried seafood platters and some good microbrews.
The OCEANIC Wilmington NC area - a most impressive facility. The food was awesome. I had a bowl of soup and a salad ( both were so big!). The soup was she-crab, made with local crab. I'm always on the lookout for local foodstuffs. The salad was a house salad topped with medium rare tuna slices. I drank a nice Biltmore Pinot-G. DELICIOUS!! The restaurant was HUGE and OLD. It was so old, in fact, that it was a historic place, and a side effect of being a historic place is that there are a lot of restrictions on any architectural changes. So they had only two 1 stall ladies' rooms in the place. In the bothroom was a sign explaining why there aren't more bathrooms. I was quite impressed. Others at the table got sauteed salmon, or grouper with a lemon-caper sauce. We were quite content.
The Buffalo Grill - Oak Ridge, TN - We were working near this place, and neither of us had gotten lunch, so we stopped in here. I had a fried green tomato sandwich... so much garlic... very very awesome.
42 - in progress... Heather and I signed up for Belly Dance lessons. They're fun! We've only had one so far, but we paid for a 6 week series.
48 - this is where we get to have fun... lets see if I can remember everything.
Eat, Pray, Love
Elizabeth Gilbert
So, this is not a book to read right after a break up... or is it? EPL follows the author, it's nonfiction, through a world wide search of "finding herself" and "getting over her marriage." She eats and speaks her way through Italy in 4 months. She prays her way through an Ashram in India, another 4 months. And she attempts to put her learnings of both pleasure and devotion to use in Indonesia for 4 months. Along the way she works her way through her divorce, coming to terms with it. She meets new people, she falls in love, she makes you wish that you could get paid to get over your relationship.
It's Called a Break Up Because it's BROKEN
I read this right after Eat Pray Love. It's part II of the "BOO HOO I'M SINGLE" trilogy. This book, written by a husband and wife team, is a rather humorous, no-holds barred account of how to not only deal with a break up but succeed with a break over. It's quite clear. YES you will keep living. NO he isn't sitting at home regretting his decision. YES there are other people. NO he's not as good as you remember him. It continually points out "If he was so great, why did he break up with you?" Basically, it tells you what you know, but that you need someone else to hear. It was quite a good book for me to read. I was confused by Aaron's sudden turn around in attitude, and was worried that I would lose some friends I made through him. It's all turning out well, for me at least. He seems to be not the most friendly of people, taking something badly, which makes me worry.
ANGER by Thich Nhat Hanh
I had read this before, Claire had lent it to me a few months ago when I was dealing with some Aaron-grief. I decided to read it again, as I was feeling much anger toward Aaron and I did not want to be consumed with it. TNH is a Buddhist monk, exiled from Vietnam to France he was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize (I think *just* nominated, I don't think he got it). Anger stress first and foremost "being there", being conscious of your body and its movements (esp. breathing). It also focuses on the ability to listen deeply and compassionately, to let someone talk. It stresses that you should not allow yourself to be hurt, but if you feel your emotions start to overwhelm and impede on your ability to listen, to simple ask to continue at a later time. One should, when angered, especially by a loved one, talk to the loved one saying "My dear, I am angry. I am doing my best." and asking for help. Anger is an emotion not to be denied, but if ignored or allowed to overtake, will eventually destroy a relationship.
True Love by Thich Nhat Hanh
I picked this up at the book store the other day. It is very short, almost informal. In it, TNH again focuses on the ability to listen deeply, to recognize one's feelings and address them, and to understand the suffering in others.
Death of Vishnu by Manil Suri
I found this, mis shelved while looking at the philosophy section of the used book store. In the book, Vishnu, an odd-jobs man who lives on the landing of the apartment dwellers he serves, is dieing. The story follows Vishnu's dreams of the two days as well as the lives of the residents of the apartments. Through using Vishnu's dieing as a pivot to explore everyone else's life, it illustrates one of the sayings I try to remember as I deal with people "Everyone has one secret, which, if you knew, would make you cry."
Serpant and the Rainbow
This is a non-fiction account of a Harvard PhD candidates' ethnobotanical foray into Haiti looking for the drug that creates Zombies. Very very awesome! I lent it to Nate, Aaron's brother (I really appreciate that they still like me - if that sounds right at all) who has had a type of a fascination with zombies.
63 - went to the beach... AGAIN. If only I knew that if I made it a goal it would happen 3 times in a year.
So, there's a whole bunch to update on....
6 - In progress, I'm working for The Park again. It's just a summer thing, though. So it's sorta gainful, but the goal was for something a bit more... permanent.
17 - A conservative estimate, I have eaten at least two meals a day since July 1. It's actually been longer than that, but this will make "for a month" much easier.
28 - I had my FIRST BBQ OF THE SUMMER!!!
26 - I went to the beach in NC with Heather, her sister, and their friend. There we tried all sorts of restaurants.
The Firebird, Durham NC, was a nice Bar/Restaurant. They made awesome mojitos and crab cakes.
The TIKI bar Wilmington NC, was a cute lunch stop. We had fried seafood platters and some good microbrews.
The OCEANIC Wilmington NC area - a most impressive facility. The food was awesome. I had a bowl of soup and a salad ( both were so big!). The soup was she-crab, made with local crab. I'm always on the lookout for local foodstuffs. The salad was a house salad topped with medium rare tuna slices. I drank a nice Biltmore Pinot-G. DELICIOUS!! The restaurant was HUGE and OLD. It was so old, in fact, that it was a historic place, and a side effect of being a historic place is that there are a lot of restrictions on any architectural changes. So they had only two 1 stall ladies' rooms in the place. In the bothroom was a sign explaining why there aren't more bathrooms. I was quite impressed. Others at the table got sauteed salmon, or grouper with a lemon-caper sauce. We were quite content.
The Buffalo Grill - Oak Ridge, TN - We were working near this place, and neither of us had gotten lunch, so we stopped in here. I had a fried green tomato sandwich... so much garlic... very very awesome.
42 - in progress... Heather and I signed up for Belly Dance lessons. They're fun! We've only had one so far, but we paid for a 6 week series.
48 - this is where we get to have fun... lets see if I can remember everything.
Eat, Pray, Love
Elizabeth Gilbert
So, this is not a book to read right after a break up... or is it? EPL follows the author, it's nonfiction, through a world wide search of "finding herself" and "getting over her marriage." She eats and speaks her way through Italy in 4 months. She prays her way through an Ashram in India, another 4 months. And she attempts to put her learnings of both pleasure and devotion to use in Indonesia for 4 months. Along the way she works her way through her divorce, coming to terms with it. She meets new people, she falls in love, she makes you wish that you could get paid to get over your relationship.
It's Called a Break Up Because it's BROKEN
I read this right after Eat Pray Love. It's part II of the "BOO HOO I'M SINGLE" trilogy. This book, written by a husband and wife team, is a rather humorous, no-holds barred account of how to not only deal with a break up but succeed with a break over. It's quite clear. YES you will keep living. NO he isn't sitting at home regretting his decision. YES there are other people. NO he's not as good as you remember him. It continually points out "If he was so great, why did he break up with you?" Basically, it tells you what you know, but that you need someone else to hear. It was quite a good book for me to read. I was confused by Aaron's sudden turn around in attitude, and was worried that I would lose some friends I made through him. It's all turning out well, for me at least. He seems to be not the most friendly of people, taking something badly, which makes me worry.
ANGER by Thich Nhat Hanh
I had read this before, Claire had lent it to me a few months ago when I was dealing with some Aaron-grief. I decided to read it again, as I was feeling much anger toward Aaron and I did not want to be consumed with it. TNH is a Buddhist monk, exiled from Vietnam to France he was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize (I think *just* nominated, I don't think he got it). Anger stress first and foremost "being there", being conscious of your body and its movements (esp. breathing). It also focuses on the ability to listen deeply and compassionately, to let someone talk. It stresses that you should not allow yourself to be hurt, but if you feel your emotions start to overwhelm and impede on your ability to listen, to simple ask to continue at a later time. One should, when angered, especially by a loved one, talk to the loved one saying "My dear, I am angry. I am doing my best." and asking for help. Anger is an emotion not to be denied, but if ignored or allowed to overtake, will eventually destroy a relationship.
True Love by Thich Nhat Hanh
I picked this up at the book store the other day. It is very short, almost informal. In it, TNH again focuses on the ability to listen deeply, to recognize one's feelings and address them, and to understand the suffering in others.
Death of Vishnu by Manil Suri
I found this, mis shelved while looking at the philosophy section of the used book store. In the book, Vishnu, an odd-jobs man who lives on the landing of the apartment dwellers he serves, is dieing. The story follows Vishnu's dreams of the two days as well as the lives of the residents of the apartments. Through using Vishnu's dieing as a pivot to explore everyone else's life, it illustrates one of the sayings I try to remember as I deal with people "Everyone has one secret, which, if you knew, would make you cry."
Serpant and the Rainbow
This is a non-fiction account of a Harvard PhD candidates' ethnobotanical foray into Haiti looking for the drug that creates Zombies. Very very awesome! I lent it to Nate, Aaron's brother (I really appreciate that they still like me - if that sounds right at all) who has had a type of a fascination with zombies.
63 - went to the beach... AGAIN. If only I knew that if I made it a goal it would happen 3 times in a year.
06 July 2008
Day 62 - a long awaited update
So... while I didn't necessarily fail, at the same time my new singleness prevents me from completing a few of the goals that I have set out. Therefore, no. 47, no. 25, and no. 93 are on hiatus... or will be replaced when I come up with a suitable alternative. And I'm trying to figure out if I need a replacement for him in my "100 things that make me happy" as I'm actually angry at him...
.... boys are stupid.
Also, I need to sit down and type up a whole bunch of stuff, I've gone to NC since this write up and devoured a whole slew of books...
So.. let's see what I've done.
No. 63 - When we went to Georgia, we went to the beach... TWICE. So that one is COMPLETE !
No 22 - In Progress. I know this one seems like something that either I do or I don't... I do yoga and I'm alone or I'm not. I did do yoga today. There was no one in my house. I made sure all the doors were locked and I put myself in a room where I could observe most everything that was going on. But while I went through the motions, I don't think I was in the proper mental state for this goal to be considered completed. I was unable to clear my mind as I often find myself able to do. Also, I (in a way) rushed through the exercises, holding each pose for only 5 breaths as opposed to the normal 10-15 breaths that I do. I also did not repeat them as often. So... In Progress.
No. 26 - Taico - Cookville, TN - Before we went to the wedding, Aaron needed a hair cut, so he asked me to drive to Cookville and "supervise" the cut. He ended up with less than half the hair he started with. It looks good. Afterwards, we checked out a new sushi restaurant that Eric had been raving about. It was really good. We got a roll called "Cookville" and another called "Smoky Mountain". I couldn't tell you what was in them, but I know that one had scallops. (like that helps ;-) )
Crawdaddy's - Cookville, TN - This week, Aaron asked me to come up to Cookville and spend some time up there with him. Unfortunatly, that time ended with him deciding that I "annoy the crap out of" him. Long story, and I don't care to repeat it. But the evening before that confession, we changed his headlight. Well, actually...
We went to Walmart and bought the light. We drove downtown to go get some food, and when we parked, the light was still good, so he thought that he would see what replacing the light would entail. and maybe take care of it there. Well, when you're in a small downtown and your hood is up and you and another are dressed in sorta nice clothes... if someone who knows cars sees you they think you're in trouble. So this guy on a bike pops up "Hey, you need help, I been a mechanic for 27 years." "We're good, we just wanted to take care of this headlight before it gets dark." "Well here, I'll do it for you." So... we go to replace it... it's the wrong one, the guy says, I'll wait for you. We drive to the autostore. While he was helping us, he told us his "life story."
He was a mechanic in Cali, and his boss became a father to him. The boss had stopped one night to help a family stuck on the side of the road. Said boss gets sideswiped by a drunk driver. This mechanic was not allowed to go to the boss's funeral (by Boss's family) because he was a long haired hippy living out of a hearse (there's a new one). So he paid his respect to his boss after the funeral, asking the boss and God (this was the moment he found Jesus) what he should do now. His boss was dead, his job was done, he had no family, he had half a tank of gas and a couple dollars. He couldn't stand the thought of bumming. So he heads out of town in his hearse trying to find a new place to work, promising to continue the boss's altruistic work of helping people on the road. He's on his last dollar and the gas tank is on E. On the side of the road is a car with a flat. He stops, helps the folks and sets on his way. They stop him and give him 20$. And that way, he drove all around the country before settling in Cookville, TN with a wife and a two year old. A few things in that story strike me as funny... as in, how did he end up sedentry enough for a wife and a two year old and currently has no job.... but it was a good story, the headlight works, and he got $10 out of it.
So the restaurant... it was a New Orleans themed place. The food was good, I had a crawfish po'boy. Yum. It was also $1 draught nights... so we had a few beers.
No. 41 - Learn to do a headstand/handstand. While doing yoga, one of the reverse positions I chose to do is actually titled "handstand" It's not the type of head/hand stand that I mean in the goal, though. In this one, you walk up the wall and keep your legs at a right angle to your body. But - it's a start.
No. 42 - In progress... I've been trying to meet new people who *aren't* archaeologists, or spouses of them. No offense to archy's, but I want some people I can hang out with who aren't tied to the industry. So far, I hang out with Eric (who I'm meeting other new people through), Claire, Jessica, and I joined a book club that Claire has been a member of. The bookclub is apparently fickle, so we're rebuilding the membership. I wanted to see what else there was to do, and with this goal, I had hoped to do something involving ballroom dancing. Then I remembered that I had wanted to do bellydancing back a few years, but Justin had continually prevented me from signing up. So I pushed that to the back of my mind. While in Cookville, I used the internet and found some instructors in Knoxville. I've heard from two studios and I have a friend who also wants to take lessons, so we'll see what we can do.
No. 48 - PS - I finally got a start date for work, so these will slow down... immensly
The Road - Cormac McCarthey
CMC wrote "No Country for Old Men" and The Road is just as depressing. It follows a father and son as they attempt to find other people. The world is some strange post-apocalyptic environment. It's Earth, specifically the mid-Atlantic seaboard. Everything is dead and dried. Plants are dead and the sky is ash. People, however, are also dead. So why is the sky ashy and so many people dead? He never answers...
Mists of Avalon - Marion Zimmer Bradley
This book was the book club book for this month. It was rather ok. Very very much a "fun" book. Basically, it outlines the King Arthur myths, but seen through the eyes of the females. Mostly, Morgaine's point of view is used, but Igraine, Morgaus, Nimue, Gwehnyphar, and Vivian are also featured as the readers' "eyes." There's alot of sex. Also, bunches of deceit. And where people aren't screwing or screwing over, they're eating. Tied into all of this, however, is a constant struggle between the Old Religion (The Goddess, Druids, Faerie) and Christianity. King Arthur was not important merely because he and his knights did great and wonderful things. Instead, the book puts Arthur's fame and legendary status as a side-effect from his rule during the transition of the Old to the new and how he handled the transition.
Slaughterhouse 5 - Kurt Vonnegut
I borrowed this book from Aaron and finished it in about a day. I ::heart:: Vonnegut. His SciFi take is always uncanny, as if it is more of a plot device than the actual genre he decided the book to fit in. This book follows the main character's seemingly schitzophrenic life... which is explained earlier in the book that he is actually travelling through time because all time is one... especially for creatures able to percieve in the fourth dimension. The main character is seen growing up, being married, serving in WW2 (particularly the firebombing of Dresden) and his career afterwards.
Practical Demonkeeping - Christopher Moore
I borrowed this book from Mandy... I need to remember to give it back to her. Christopher Moore seems to be odd. In this book, the simple small tourist town of Pine Grove, where everybody knows everyone, ends up being where one of Hell's most ambitious minions (and it's master) ends up on its 70 year road trip. The king of Djinn (who has a salt and Marx Brothers addiction) shows up, and recruits to defeat Catch (the demon) a drunk photographer, a wine store owner, the town ecentric, and the ancient bar matron with her baseball bat. They end up having to challenge the town's Pagan Vegetarians for Peace along the way, and the demon eats the town's drug dealer just as the police were about to run a sting on him (so now they become involved in finding The Breeze). All this in less than 250 pages... and more!
Johnathan Strange and Mr. Norrell
This massive book (about 800) pages was found at the used book store. I figured that at 7$, its entertainment value would be a good bargain. Plus Neil Gaimen was praising it on the dust jacket. So I took it home and started reading it. And promptly put it away. The next two months consisted of me pulling the book out now and again and forcing myself through a few pages in that sitting. Then I reached a point, somewhere between page 150 and page 200... and the actual story started. At that point, the book was done within the end of the next week.
The book is about the reawakening of magic in Britain. There are two main magicians in Britain, the old, pretentious, easily manipulated Mr. Norrell who feels magic should be exclusive, and the young rakish (faithfully married) dashing adventurous Johnathan Strange. Strange was originally a student of Norrell, but as they each practiced and took different assignments (Norrell protected the coast of Britain from damage by storms, Strange ran around with Duke Wellington and helped defeat Napoleon at Waterloo) their view of magic changes. Suddenly, something bad happens, and they both need to cope with it. Oh Noes!
All in all, it was a good book. The author writes in the laborious 19th century style, and in the process makes fun of it with her excessive use of footnotes to expound upon magical references, cite events, and further explain the back story of some notable, some referring back to footnotes that weren't present. One footnote was 4 pages of miniscule type long. A good piece of self-effacing british fantasy.
No. 56 - I sent an email to my brother talking about the wedding in Georgia that Aaron and I went to. I also asked him how he was doing as he was obliquely in the newspaper. Last weekend there was an article about "18 injured 1 dead in bomb blast" and that was the building he was in. He responded that he's just fine, but he went back in to help after he got some of the injured out, so now he's up for an award/medal/commendation. As Eric said "Damn, that boy's never going to have a problem with the girls now."
.... boys are stupid.
Also, I need to sit down and type up a whole bunch of stuff, I've gone to NC since this write up and devoured a whole slew of books...
So.. let's see what I've done.
No. 63 - When we went to Georgia, we went to the beach... TWICE. So that one is COMPLETE !
No 22 - In Progress. I know this one seems like something that either I do or I don't... I do yoga and I'm alone or I'm not. I did do yoga today. There was no one in my house. I made sure all the doors were locked and I put myself in a room where I could observe most everything that was going on. But while I went through the motions, I don't think I was in the proper mental state for this goal to be considered completed. I was unable to clear my mind as I often find myself able to do. Also, I (in a way) rushed through the exercises, holding each pose for only 5 breaths as opposed to the normal 10-15 breaths that I do. I also did not repeat them as often. So... In Progress.
No. 26 - Taico - Cookville, TN - Before we went to the wedding, Aaron needed a hair cut, so he asked me to drive to Cookville and "supervise" the cut. He ended up with less than half the hair he started with. It looks good. Afterwards, we checked out a new sushi restaurant that Eric had been raving about. It was really good. We got a roll called "Cookville" and another called "Smoky Mountain". I couldn't tell you what was in them, but I know that one had scallops. (like that helps ;-) )
Crawdaddy's - Cookville, TN - This week, Aaron asked me to come up to Cookville and spend some time up there with him. Unfortunatly, that time ended with him deciding that I "annoy the crap out of" him. Long story, and I don't care to repeat it. But the evening before that confession, we changed his headlight. Well, actually...
We went to Walmart and bought the light. We drove downtown to go get some food, and when we parked, the light was still good, so he thought that he would see what replacing the light would entail. and maybe take care of it there. Well, when you're in a small downtown and your hood is up and you and another are dressed in sorta nice clothes... if someone who knows cars sees you they think you're in trouble. So this guy on a bike pops up "Hey, you need help, I been a mechanic for 27 years." "We're good, we just wanted to take care of this headlight before it gets dark." "Well here, I'll do it for you." So... we go to replace it... it's the wrong one, the guy says, I'll wait for you. We drive to the autostore. While he was helping us, he told us his "life story."
He was a mechanic in Cali, and his boss became a father to him. The boss had stopped one night to help a family stuck on the side of the road. Said boss gets sideswiped by a drunk driver. This mechanic was not allowed to go to the boss's funeral (by Boss's family) because he was a long haired hippy living out of a hearse (there's a new one). So he paid his respect to his boss after the funeral, asking the boss and God (this was the moment he found Jesus) what he should do now. His boss was dead, his job was done, he had no family, he had half a tank of gas and a couple dollars. He couldn't stand the thought of bumming. So he heads out of town in his hearse trying to find a new place to work, promising to continue the boss's altruistic work of helping people on the road. He's on his last dollar and the gas tank is on E. On the side of the road is a car with a flat. He stops, helps the folks and sets on his way. They stop him and give him 20$. And that way, he drove all around the country before settling in Cookville, TN with a wife and a two year old. A few things in that story strike me as funny... as in, how did he end up sedentry enough for a wife and a two year old and currently has no job.... but it was a good story, the headlight works, and he got $10 out of it.
So the restaurant... it was a New Orleans themed place. The food was good, I had a crawfish po'boy. Yum. It was also $1 draught nights... so we had a few beers.
No. 41 - Learn to do a headstand/handstand. While doing yoga, one of the reverse positions I chose to do is actually titled "handstand" It's not the type of head/hand stand that I mean in the goal, though. In this one, you walk up the wall and keep your legs at a right angle to your body. But - it's a start.
No. 42 - In progress... I've been trying to meet new people who *aren't* archaeologists, or spouses of them. No offense to archy's, but I want some people I can hang out with who aren't tied to the industry. So far, I hang out with Eric (who I'm meeting other new people through), Claire, Jessica, and I joined a book club that Claire has been a member of. The bookclub is apparently fickle, so we're rebuilding the membership. I wanted to see what else there was to do, and with this goal, I had hoped to do something involving ballroom dancing. Then I remembered that I had wanted to do bellydancing back a few years, but Justin had continually prevented me from signing up. So I pushed that to the back of my mind. While in Cookville, I used the internet and found some instructors in Knoxville. I've heard from two studios and I have a friend who also wants to take lessons, so we'll see what we can do.
No. 48 - PS - I finally got a start date for work, so these will slow down... immensly
The Road - Cormac McCarthey
CMC wrote "No Country for Old Men" and The Road is just as depressing. It follows a father and son as they attempt to find other people. The world is some strange post-apocalyptic environment. It's Earth, specifically the mid-Atlantic seaboard. Everything is dead and dried. Plants are dead and the sky is ash. People, however, are also dead. So why is the sky ashy and so many people dead? He never answers...
Mists of Avalon - Marion Zimmer Bradley
This book was the book club book for this month. It was rather ok. Very very much a "fun" book. Basically, it outlines the King Arthur myths, but seen through the eyes of the females. Mostly, Morgaine's point of view is used, but Igraine, Morgaus, Nimue, Gwehnyphar, and Vivian are also featured as the readers' "eyes." There's alot of sex. Also, bunches of deceit. And where people aren't screwing or screwing over, they're eating. Tied into all of this, however, is a constant struggle between the Old Religion (The Goddess, Druids, Faerie) and Christianity. King Arthur was not important merely because he and his knights did great and wonderful things. Instead, the book puts Arthur's fame and legendary status as a side-effect from his rule during the transition of the Old to the new and how he handled the transition.
Slaughterhouse 5 - Kurt Vonnegut
I borrowed this book from Aaron and finished it in about a day. I ::heart:: Vonnegut. His SciFi take is always uncanny, as if it is more of a plot device than the actual genre he decided the book to fit in. This book follows the main character's seemingly schitzophrenic life... which is explained earlier in the book that he is actually travelling through time because all time is one... especially for creatures able to percieve in the fourth dimension. The main character is seen growing up, being married, serving in WW2 (particularly the firebombing of Dresden) and his career afterwards.
Practical Demonkeeping - Christopher Moore
I borrowed this book from Mandy... I need to remember to give it back to her. Christopher Moore seems to be odd. In this book, the simple small tourist town of Pine Grove, where everybody knows everyone, ends up being where one of Hell's most ambitious minions (and it's master) ends up on its 70 year road trip. The king of Djinn (who has a salt and Marx Brothers addiction) shows up, and recruits to defeat Catch (the demon) a drunk photographer, a wine store owner, the town ecentric, and the ancient bar matron with her baseball bat. They end up having to challenge the town's Pagan Vegetarians for Peace along the way, and the demon eats the town's drug dealer just as the police were about to run a sting on him (so now they become involved in finding The Breeze). All this in less than 250 pages... and more!
Johnathan Strange and Mr. Norrell
This massive book (about 800) pages was found at the used book store. I figured that at 7$, its entertainment value would be a good bargain. Plus Neil Gaimen was praising it on the dust jacket. So I took it home and started reading it. And promptly put it away. The next two months consisted of me pulling the book out now and again and forcing myself through a few pages in that sitting. Then I reached a point, somewhere between page 150 and page 200... and the actual story started. At that point, the book was done within the end of the next week.
The book is about the reawakening of magic in Britain. There are two main magicians in Britain, the old, pretentious, easily manipulated Mr. Norrell who feels magic should be exclusive, and the young rakish (faithfully married) dashing adventurous Johnathan Strange. Strange was originally a student of Norrell, but as they each practiced and took different assignments (Norrell protected the coast of Britain from damage by storms, Strange ran around with Duke Wellington and helped defeat Napoleon at Waterloo) their view of magic changes. Suddenly, something bad happens, and they both need to cope with it. Oh Noes!
All in all, it was a good book. The author writes in the laborious 19th century style, and in the process makes fun of it with her excessive use of footnotes to expound upon magical references, cite events, and further explain the back story of some notable, some referring back to footnotes that weren't present. One footnote was 4 pages of miniscule type long. A good piece of self-effacing british fantasy.
No. 56 - I sent an email to my brother talking about the wedding in Georgia that Aaron and I went to. I also asked him how he was doing as he was obliquely in the newspaper. Last weekend there was an article about "18 injured 1 dead in bomb blast" and that was the building he was in. He responded that he's just fine, but he went back in to help after he got some of the injured out, so now he's up for an award/medal/commendation. As Eric said "Damn, that boy's never going to have a problem with the girls now."
08 June 2008
Day 34 part 2
I wrote up two different blog posts in a time period where I had limited internet access. I did other things that I needed to do online as my computer battery died. So here is part 2. It was actually written on June 4.
Aaron and I have recently returned from a trip to Amelia Island, Florida. I have family in South Georgia, and my cousin ( a year younger than me), was getting married to his High School Sweetheart (awwww). They're both good kids, so I with them the best. While down there, I managed to work on my list. Some worked and some were complete failures.
26 - Sliders, Amelia Island Florida - Try 10 New Restaurants (6/10)
Sliders was across the street from our hotel. Saturday night, after burning ourselves at the beach, we cleaned up and went. We were seated outside, at a cement table with an umbrella, underneath the palms, and looking over the beach that we had been at all day.
Because we love being adventurous... to a point (which is very far)... and I have a thing for local foods, we ordered a bucket of steamed oysters. We also ordered fried pickles... yum! So out comes an aluminum Bud Light bucket (you've seen them at bars) filled with 3 to 4 dozen steamed oysters and two shucking knives. Thankfully the knives weren't sharp. So dinner lasted probibly an hour and a half or even two hours... by the time we ordered and everything and then finished our beers. The food was good!
27 - Try 20 new wines
Helena Blush
Stonehaus Winery, Crossville, TN
When we went down to GA Friday night, I had intended on dinner just being 6 or 8 of us, so I brought 2 bottles of wine. Then I found out that my Uncle and Aunt were flying in a day earlier than I originally heard. Then my uncle hosting dinner decided to borrow his friend's big BBQ (the big black cylindrical smoker bbq) and get more meat, so soon half of the neighborhood was invited. And I still only had 2 bottles of wine. No worries, not everyone drank, and some brought their own beer. But I managed to try some of the Blush wine that I brought.
The Helena Blush was a very medium bodied, semi-sweet blush. I don't normally drink blush, but its flavor and its pretty pink color were very plesent. It was not over powering. It had some fruity and floral notes, but nothing too complex.
60: Document a trip with photographs.
FAIL
I had my camera, extra batteries, a capacity on my new card of over 1000 photos. I took maybe 15. A few of us in the car on the way to FL, and a few at the wedding.
I'll have chances to try again. I didn't want to bring the camera to the beach, or tote it to dinner, or anything like that. I've never been a big camera person, I would rather just go and *DO*.
74 - Organize Purses, Shoes, and Luggage
Before our trip, I went through all of my purses, shoes, luggage, and all that. I'm sending about 10 old purses to Goodwill
89 - Buy a new pair of jeans I didn't document that a few weeks ago, Aaron and I went to see Indiana Jones at the mall, and after the movie we went shopping some. I found my good pair of jeans, and they still have the tag on them, being saved for the new school year.
92a - Get rid of 101 objects through donation/sale/giving 10 purses to Goodwill
Aaron and I have recently returned from a trip to Amelia Island, Florida. I have family in South Georgia, and my cousin ( a year younger than me), was getting married to his High School Sweetheart (awwww). They're both good kids, so I with them the best. While down there, I managed to work on my list. Some worked and some were complete failures.
26 - Sliders, Amelia Island Florida - Try 10 New Restaurants (6/10)
Sliders was across the street from our hotel. Saturday night, after burning ourselves at the beach, we cleaned up and went. We were seated outside, at a cement table with an umbrella, underneath the palms, and looking over the beach that we had been at all day.
Because we love being adventurous... to a point (which is very far)... and I have a thing for local foods, we ordered a bucket of steamed oysters. We also ordered fried pickles... yum! So out comes an aluminum Bud Light bucket (you've seen them at bars) filled with 3 to 4 dozen steamed oysters and two shucking knives. Thankfully the knives weren't sharp. So dinner lasted probibly an hour and a half or even two hours... by the time we ordered and everything and then finished our beers. The food was good!
27 - Try 20 new wines
Helena Blush
Stonehaus Winery, Crossville, TN
When we went down to GA Friday night, I had intended on dinner just being 6 or 8 of us, so I brought 2 bottles of wine. Then I found out that my Uncle and Aunt were flying in a day earlier than I originally heard. Then my uncle hosting dinner decided to borrow his friend's big BBQ (the big black cylindrical smoker bbq) and get more meat, so soon half of the neighborhood was invited. And I still only had 2 bottles of wine. No worries, not everyone drank, and some brought their own beer. But I managed to try some of the Blush wine that I brought.
The Helena Blush was a very medium bodied, semi-sweet blush. I don't normally drink blush, but its flavor and its pretty pink color were very plesent. It was not over powering. It had some fruity and floral notes, but nothing too complex.
60: Document a trip with photographs.
FAIL
I had my camera, extra batteries, a capacity on my new card of over 1000 photos. I took maybe 15. A few of us in the car on the way to FL, and a few at the wedding.
I'll have chances to try again. I didn't want to bring the camera to the beach, or tote it to dinner, or anything like that. I've never been a big camera person, I would rather just go and *DO*.
74 - Organize Purses, Shoes, and Luggage
Before our trip, I went through all of my purses, shoes, luggage, and all that. I'm sending about 10 old purses to Goodwill
89 - Buy a new pair of jeans I didn't document that a few weeks ago, Aaron and I went to see Indiana Jones at the mall, and after the movie we went shopping some. I found my good pair of jeans, and they still have the tag on them, being saved for the new school year.
92a - Get rid of 101 objects through donation/sale/giving 10 purses to Goodwill
Day 34 part 1
I wrote up two different blog posts in a time period where I had limited internet access. I did other things that I needed to do online as my computer battery died. So here is part 1. It was actually written on May 27.
26 -
Try 10 New Restaurants (3/10)
Agave Azule - Friday night came, and I had told Aaron I would make dinner, but I was unable to get to shopping for componants. Our choice then was pasta and sauce or canned soup. As it was a very very warm night, where neither of us felt like dealing with an unairconditioned kitchen and boiling water or soup, we opted to instead go out. Aaron was feeling like Mexican, but neither of us wanted Sr. Taco, our normal spot for that... the heat had us somewhat finicky... and we didn't want to drive to far. Aaron also wanted to try someplace new, as I have this list running. I commented that we eat out often enough (about 1 time a week) that we'll find those ten before the 1001 days are over. But I was curious about Agave Azule, on the eastern edge of "out west", the "far away" part of the city. My neighbor had gone once, it bills itself as a Tequila bar, but it functioned more as a hangout for college kids wanting cheap, good margaritas and draught beer. Campus had been emptied weeks ago, so now would be a good time to check it out without dealing with the self important rapscallions that normally pass as undergrads.
We got there and sat outside, on the patio. The parking lot wasn't senic, but the air and the breeze were good and comfortable. We each got a Jumbo margarita (20 oz), Aaron ordered fajitas and I ordered pork in a salsa verde... I don't remember its exact name. It also came with tortillas to wrap the pieces in. Both came with a serving of rice and beans. The beans I found to be bland (which might mean they weren't made with lard... ), and the rice was ok, but the main dish itself was most awesome. Mine was just spicy enough, and Aaron's was very flavorful. The Margaritas were pretty good. These were the type that included orange juice, I normally like the "plain" type, but these were deliciously refreshing with the meal. We ate and then hung out as we finished our margarita. All in all, it went very well.
Restaurant (4/10)
Kaya
Aaron and I had just finished getting my desk and running it back home. Our next plans for the afternoon were to hit the mall to see Indiana Jones and to look for a few things. I wanted to get a pair of jeans, and he needed a flask and a messanger bag. We were heading to the mall and suddenly realized that with all the looking around, and heavy manuevering, and all, we were hungry. After a debate of "what do you want to eat, no what do you want" we had tentatively decided on Salsarita's... mexican again. As we pulled off the exit, I noticed the shopping center that has the Asian market I prefer, and I remembered that everytime I go I am curious about the Korean restaurant there. So "Would you like Korean?" "Dunno, never had it. " "Neither have I, but there's one in that shopping center." "Ok" And we go.
We were waited on by an awesomely enthusiastic woman in her 30s. There were a few quiestions about stuff on the menu (we steered away from the Beef Entrail Cassarole, no questions on that) and she was really great about it. Each dish came with "todays sides" and we decided just to see what those were when they came. There were 6 sides, each in their own bowl. Bean sprouts, spicy cucumber salad, kimchee, marinated eggplant, wasabi radish salad and... something else. Aaron ordered a pork dish, similar to twice cooked pork, at Medium spicy. I ordered a sweet potato noodle and vegetable stew. They were both very very good.
Restaurant 5/10
Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches
I went to the vegetable market, but I still hadn't gone grocery shopping. We had salads for lunch and the night was very warm, so we felt like sandwiches. I had noticed that a sandwich shop near campus had decent prices, so we ran over there (4 minute drive) and grabbed some to bring home. I had a tuna sandwich with all sorts of vegetables, I always liked tuna... And Aaron had one filled with roast beef and salami and all that stuff. When we got there, we realized that they delivered. I wonder if there is a minimum order... but no worries. We'll probibly order from them again. I never get lunch meat, and oddly enough I rarely have bread.
36 - Sunday Aaron and I rode our bikes to Market Square. It was just as much to just take them out as it was to go to Market Square to hang out and people watch without dealing with driving through downtown.
48 -
Imajica
Clive Barker - Fun Book Review (9/30)
Imajica was an epic story of multiple worlds that weave together, different types of huminoids, and magical creations. I honestly don't know how to summarize it. But it was really good.
72 - The office was fully emptied. I then moved my old desk to the opposite wall and the book case across the room. The old desk worked ok with my desktop computer, a little cramped but do-able. It is totally incompatable with my laptop, particularly if I need another book or notebook out. That is why it was religated to a stereo stand. It will now function as the stereo stand and as a set of shelving. Over the weekend, Aaron and I went out in search of another desk. I wanted something BIG and SIMPLE. I never liked drawers too much, I would rather pile books and notebooks underneath the dresser so I could grab them. I never needed much in the way of office accessories, just a few pens and maybe some post-it notes. My new one is about 70" x 30"... I found it at Big Lots for $65. Much less than I had planned to spend, as similar desks at Ikea (where I thought I would need to go) were atleast three times that.
I now have room to set up my scanner and my printer. Yay! I would still like to get another bookcase... I have two whole boxes of books still plus a bunch in my office on campus. That won't be hard.
Also, I went through all my old papers... I ended up shredding 4 garbage bags of old pay stubs, bank statements, and Important Papers. So there's less stuff to find places for. Now I'm going through my boxes of accumulated "stuff" and getting rid of a good part of that.
26 -
Try 10 New Restaurants (3/10)
Agave Azule - Friday night came, and I had told Aaron I would make dinner, but I was unable to get to shopping for componants. Our choice then was pasta and sauce or canned soup. As it was a very very warm night, where neither of us felt like dealing with an unairconditioned kitchen and boiling water or soup, we opted to instead go out. Aaron was feeling like Mexican, but neither of us wanted Sr. Taco, our normal spot for that... the heat had us somewhat finicky... and we didn't want to drive to far. Aaron also wanted to try someplace new, as I have this list running. I commented that we eat out often enough (about 1 time a week) that we'll find those ten before the 1001 days are over. But I was curious about Agave Azule, on the eastern edge of "out west", the "far away" part of the city. My neighbor had gone once, it bills itself as a Tequila bar, but it functioned more as a hangout for college kids wanting cheap, good margaritas and draught beer. Campus had been emptied weeks ago, so now would be a good time to check it out without dealing with the self important rapscallions that normally pass as undergrads.
We got there and sat outside, on the patio. The parking lot wasn't senic, but the air and the breeze were good and comfortable. We each got a Jumbo margarita (20 oz), Aaron ordered fajitas and I ordered pork in a salsa verde... I don't remember its exact name. It also came with tortillas to wrap the pieces in. Both came with a serving of rice and beans. The beans I found to be bland (which might mean they weren't made with lard... ), and the rice was ok, but the main dish itself was most awesome. Mine was just spicy enough, and Aaron's was very flavorful. The Margaritas were pretty good. These were the type that included orange juice, I normally like the "plain" type, but these were deliciously refreshing with the meal. We ate and then hung out as we finished our margarita. All in all, it went very well.
Restaurant (4/10)
Kaya
Aaron and I had just finished getting my desk and running it back home. Our next plans for the afternoon were to hit the mall to see Indiana Jones and to look for a few things. I wanted to get a pair of jeans, and he needed a flask and a messanger bag. We were heading to the mall and suddenly realized that with all the looking around, and heavy manuevering, and all, we were hungry. After a debate of "what do you want to eat, no what do you want" we had tentatively decided on Salsarita's... mexican again. As we pulled off the exit, I noticed the shopping center that has the Asian market I prefer, and I remembered that everytime I go I am curious about the Korean restaurant there. So "Would you like Korean?" "Dunno, never had it. " "Neither have I, but there's one in that shopping center." "Ok" And we go.
We were waited on by an awesomely enthusiastic woman in her 30s. There were a few quiestions about stuff on the menu (we steered away from the Beef Entrail Cassarole, no questions on that) and she was really great about it. Each dish came with "todays sides" and we decided just to see what those were when they came. There were 6 sides, each in their own bowl. Bean sprouts, spicy cucumber salad, kimchee, marinated eggplant, wasabi radish salad and... something else. Aaron ordered a pork dish, similar to twice cooked pork, at Medium spicy. I ordered a sweet potato noodle and vegetable stew. They were both very very good.
Restaurant 5/10
Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches
I went to the vegetable market, but I still hadn't gone grocery shopping. We had salads for lunch and the night was very warm, so we felt like sandwiches. I had noticed that a sandwich shop near campus had decent prices, so we ran over there (4 minute drive) and grabbed some to bring home. I had a tuna sandwich with all sorts of vegetables, I always liked tuna... And Aaron had one filled with roast beef and salami and all that stuff. When we got there, we realized that they delivered. I wonder if there is a minimum order... but no worries. We'll probibly order from them again. I never get lunch meat, and oddly enough I rarely have bread.
36 - Sunday Aaron and I rode our bikes to Market Square. It was just as much to just take them out as it was to go to Market Square to hang out and people watch without dealing with driving through downtown.
48 -
Imajica
Clive Barker - Fun Book Review (9/30)
Imajica was an epic story of multiple worlds that weave together, different types of huminoids, and magical creations. I honestly don't know how to summarize it. But it was really good.
72 - The office was fully emptied. I then moved my old desk to the opposite wall and the book case across the room. The old desk worked ok with my desktop computer, a little cramped but do-able. It is totally incompatable with my laptop, particularly if I need another book or notebook out. That is why it was religated to a stereo stand. It will now function as the stereo stand and as a set of shelving. Over the weekend, Aaron and I went out in search of another desk. I wanted something BIG and SIMPLE. I never liked drawers too much, I would rather pile books and notebooks underneath the dresser so I could grab them. I never needed much in the way of office accessories, just a few pens and maybe some post-it notes. My new one is about 70" x 30"... I found it at Big Lots for $65. Much less than I had planned to spend, as similar desks at Ikea (where I thought I would need to go) were atleast three times that.
I now have room to set up my scanner and my printer. Yay! I would still like to get another bookcase... I have two whole boxes of books still plus a bunch in my office on campus. That won't be hard.
Also, I went through all my old papers... I ended up shredding 4 garbage bags of old pay stubs, bank statements, and Important Papers. So there's less stuff to find places for. Now I'm going through my boxes of accumulated "stuff" and getting rid of a good part of that.
24 May 2008
Day 19... been having fun...
27 - New Wine
Stonehaus Winery - Davenport Red (1/20)
Stonehaus Winery is based in Crossville, TN right next to I-40. It's one of the many wineries in East/Central Tennessee. With our mountains, we have many many slopes with varied conditions - able to support myriad variety of grapes.
Davenport Red is a semi-sweet red wine made from concord grapes. I've taken to drinking my wine from a rocks glass, as I'm normally doing other things while drinking, and this time I was playing Wii. Anyway, this wine was served slightly chilled, as it was in my trunk and the day was somewhat cool. It was deliciously fruity - very GRAPEY, a trait I don't normally find in wine and honestly never expected. Very very full mouthed, not acidic, few tannins, no leather, aprocot, or floral notes. It tasted like GRAPE... it blows my mind. It was sweeter than I would normally have put with food, but it was recommended for pairing with Italian dishes. Good thing the liquer store near my house sells this too... we can experiment.
36 - Ride my bike...
I'm not sure if this counts, as my initial goal for 36 seems to imply transportation over recreation. This weekend, however, Aaron and I decided to take our bikes out. Mine had been out only a few times since I got it in 2004 and his not much since he got it in the last month. So, we looked up some local greenways and found one near his house. We ended up going about 6 miles roundtrip uphill, downhill, uphill again, and then back again. The furthest point of our trip was on a promentory in a Wildlife Management Area looking over the river. Very very pretty.
48 - Fight Club
Chuck Pahlaniuk - Fun book review 4/30
In my freshman year in college, my college roommate watched Fight Club at least once each week. I haven't seen it in a few years, though, so when I saw it on Aaron's bookshelf during my raid, I snagged it. It wasn't long, only about 200 pages, so it was a quick read. I finished it in less than a day.
It follows the general themes of the movie. Certain developments, however, were much better. The movie, I felt, was logical... well, logical enough. The book, however, was so much better.
Pahlaniuk, for example, explains the incidents leading up to Durdan's employment to a much better level. The narrator's office life, also, was much more detailed.
Books and movies have always been an odd compromise for me. To simply write a description... and to *show* a scene... and then to FILM... all very different arts. Very different expectations.
Imajica
Clive Barker - Fun Book Review 5/30
Aaron has almost a whole bookshelf full of Clive Barker. So I asked "If I were to read Clive Barker, what would be a good one to start with?" He responded imediately "Imajica" Now, this isn't an actual review as well... it's really long. So long that when Imajica was published in paperback, clive Barker realized the type was too small and the book much much to large. So... it is two 500+ page paperbacks. I finished the first in a few days. I'll read the second within the next bit and write its review.
Anansi Boys
Neil Gaiman - Fun Book Review 6/30
Neil Gaiman is a great story teller. He weaves componants together well. His descriptions and method of *showing* are masterful.
His plot, however, is almost always the same. A slightly unsure "everyperson" finds himself involved in a situation which seems above his ability. At the end, he rises to the situation, often with a Messianic near death/rebirth phase. This theme is seen in the Sandman comics, American Gods, Neverwhere, and now in Anansi Boys.
Anansi Boys plays off of the main theme of American Gods. In AG, old world gods tried to gain followers in America. Here, Anansi, the trickster/spider of west Africa, dies in a Karaeoke bar in Florida. It's in the first few pages, I'm not telling you anything spoiling. So then his son Charles (Charles Nancy) deals with the death of his estranged father, which includes the discovery of a brother named Spider. Charles had no idea his father was Anansi, he never ever knew that magic occured.
King Solomon's Mines
H. Rider Haggard - Fun Book Review 7/30
I have been "reading" KSM for a few months now. I acquired it through libravox (www.libravox.org), a site which provides mp3 and ogg audio book files of public domain or creative commons literature. The readers are volunteers, so the quality sometimes leaves one desiring.
There is normally some amount of hype about these "Classics," and I had wanted to read KSM for a while. The plot is basic: Alex Quartermain, gentleman adventurer/hunter/explorer, is included on a hunt for another gentleman's brother, who had been searching for King Solomon's Mines. He goes on the adventure, they almost die innumerable times, and eventually he succeeds. The reader knows that Quartermain will live, as he tells you at the beginning.
The fun, though, is the author's narrative style. Quartermain is a rough, gruff, adventurer, but the narrative and dialogue are so... proper. The juxtaposition and the story told are interesting. Haggard's depiction of the "noble savage" irks me also... but that's just my whole anthopology background coming out.
Roscoe
William Kennedy - Fun Book Review 8/30
I read Kennedy first after having left Albany, ironic, I know. Roscoe is written like Kennedy's other novels. Albany is a boys club of politics. No one is trusted, sex drives are high, and the good guy doesn't win. In this novel, Kennedy follows Roscoe, boss of the Albany Democratic Party, through the suicide of Elisha, one of Roscoe's friends, the Luitenant Governer of New York , and the father of the mayor of Albany. The plot of Roscoe protecting Elisha's estate serves more as a matrix for other anecdotes of Roscoe's past... and the past of the other characters who inhabit Kennedy's Albany: Mac and O.B., cops who executed Jack "Legs" Diamond; Hattie and Mame, women who operate "real estate" and "boarding houses"; chicken fighters; and the elite Fitzgibbons. Colorful, tragic, hopeful, gritty... Kennedy writes well.
47- See a movie without hesitating.
Iron Man - Aaron suggested Iron Man, and while I may have technically hesitated as I wasn't feeling well, we grabbed some food and I was feeling much better. So then we went. Yay!
70 - COMPLETION The other week the Post Office did a food collection. I took two bags, the one they provided and another, and filled them. One was filled with the stuff justin left behind: saurkraut, fruit salad, hamburger helper, and peas. The other was filled with stuff they might actually want: raisins, mac and cheese, green beans, corn, pasta, and sauce.
88 - Identify 100 things that make me happy
Senor Taco (3/100)
Senor Taco is a local Mexican joint. I would liken it to "Al's" in "Happy Days" or "The Maxx" in "Saved by the Bell." The servers know us, we know people there, the food is good, its cheap, and you can 't go without seeing atleast one other colleague / department member.
It won the Metropulse's 2008 award for best Mexican food and best Cheap Meal. The Chili Rellenos are awesome, food specials are regularly quality, and Monday... Monday!! Monday are 2 for 1 margarita nights.
Senor Taco was there during a formative period in my life. This period includes Eric, who encouraged my attendance. When I told Justin to leave, and when he finally left, I moped. Eric, a friend of a friend who I had just met, told me I had to go to Sr. Taco with him one day. Then he called me up a few days later. And then again. I went to Sr. Taco with him atleast twice a week, drinking margaritas, talking to someone NOT in the department, and getting a realistic, non pandering look back at me.
After this, Sr. Taco became the spot where I would meet up with people: cheap food, good service, good drinks. It is where we start our nights out. It is where we get together after class, where we run to after a rough day. Everyone knows how to get there, and everyone can find something they like.
It is a place to meet with friends. It makes me smile.
Writing and Recieving Letters and Postcards(4/100)
I am notoriously horrible when it comes to writing letters. I'll talk someone's ear off, but to sit and write to that person I fail. So I'm normally on the recieving end of this, and I know how great it makes me feel. I often end up with postcards from friends who have moved or are traveling. They're such a surprise to get in the mail. When I was a camp councilor, I would get letters from friends, Kazen sent me a few as did my Latin Teacher. I am going to make an effort to write some letters this year, even as extended greetings on Christmas Cards.
When I force myself to actually take the time to do it, I enjoy writing letters and post cards. I just continue to lack the motivation... something I keep working on.
94, 96: I changed goal 94. While Amphibian Ark is a good group: official, has a plan, all of that. I decided I would rather my money go to Safe Haven Sexual Assault Crisis Center, our local domestic/sexual abuse shelter organization. They provide a safe house for abuse victims, nurses and advocates for doctor appointments and legal cases, and therapists for residual meetings.
I feel that this local organization needs support more than my loved frogs.
This will also be the organization for number 96.
95: Kazen commented that 95 was rather ... ambitious. While it might *seem* that way... keep in mind that I will re-evaluate what has not been done. After 500 days, if all goes smoothly I may be looking at heading out of Tennessee. It depends on the thesis and the job prospects. And if I do end up moving, I might need to restart some goals... like cleaning and those regarding houseplants. Some will also be defunct at that point.
Stonehaus Winery - Davenport Red (1/20)
Stonehaus Winery is based in Crossville, TN right next to I-40. It's one of the many wineries in East/Central Tennessee. With our mountains, we have many many slopes with varied conditions - able to support myriad variety of grapes.
Davenport Red is a semi-sweet red wine made from concord grapes. I've taken to drinking my wine from a rocks glass, as I'm normally doing other things while drinking, and this time I was playing Wii. Anyway, this wine was served slightly chilled, as it was in my trunk and the day was somewhat cool. It was deliciously fruity - very GRAPEY, a trait I don't normally find in wine and honestly never expected. Very very full mouthed, not acidic, few tannins, no leather, aprocot, or floral notes. It tasted like GRAPE... it blows my mind. It was sweeter than I would normally have put with food, but it was recommended for pairing with Italian dishes. Good thing the liquer store near my house sells this too... we can experiment.
36 - Ride my bike...
I'm not sure if this counts, as my initial goal for 36 seems to imply transportation over recreation. This weekend, however, Aaron and I decided to take our bikes out. Mine had been out only a few times since I got it in 2004 and his not much since he got it in the last month. So, we looked up some local greenways and found one near his house. We ended up going about 6 miles roundtrip uphill, downhill, uphill again, and then back again. The furthest point of our trip was on a promentory in a Wildlife Management Area looking over the river. Very very pretty.
48 - Fight Club
Chuck Pahlaniuk - Fun book review 4/30
In my freshman year in college, my college roommate watched Fight Club at least once each week. I haven't seen it in a few years, though, so when I saw it on Aaron's bookshelf during my raid, I snagged it. It wasn't long, only about 200 pages, so it was a quick read. I finished it in less than a day.
It follows the general themes of the movie. Certain developments, however, were much better. The movie, I felt, was logical... well, logical enough. The book, however, was so much better.
Pahlaniuk, for example, explains the incidents leading up to Durdan's employment to a much better level. The narrator's office life, also, was much more detailed.
Books and movies have always been an odd compromise for me. To simply write a description... and to *show* a scene... and then to FILM... all very different arts. Very different expectations.
Imajica
Clive Barker - Fun Book Review 5/30
Aaron has almost a whole bookshelf full of Clive Barker. So I asked "If I were to read Clive Barker, what would be a good one to start with?" He responded imediately "Imajica" Now, this isn't an actual review as well... it's really long. So long that when Imajica was published in paperback, clive Barker realized the type was too small and the book much much to large. So... it is two 500+ page paperbacks. I finished the first in a few days. I'll read the second within the next bit and write its review.
Anansi Boys
Neil Gaiman - Fun Book Review 6/30
Neil Gaiman is a great story teller. He weaves componants together well. His descriptions and method of *showing* are masterful.
His plot, however, is almost always the same. A slightly unsure "everyperson" finds himself involved in a situation which seems above his ability. At the end, he rises to the situation, often with a Messianic near death/rebirth phase. This theme is seen in the Sandman comics, American Gods, Neverwhere, and now in Anansi Boys.
Anansi Boys plays off of the main theme of American Gods. In AG, old world gods tried to gain followers in America. Here, Anansi, the trickster/spider of west Africa, dies in a Karaeoke bar in Florida. It's in the first few pages, I'm not telling you anything spoiling. So then his son Charles (Charles Nancy) deals with the death of his estranged father, which includes the discovery of a brother named Spider. Charles had no idea his father was Anansi, he never ever knew that magic occured.
King Solomon's Mines
H. Rider Haggard - Fun Book Review 7/30
I have been "reading" KSM for a few months now. I acquired it through libravox (www.libravox.org), a site which provides mp3 and ogg audio book files of public domain or creative commons literature. The readers are volunteers, so the quality sometimes leaves one desiring.
There is normally some amount of hype about these "Classics," and I had wanted to read KSM for a while. The plot is basic: Alex Quartermain, gentleman adventurer/hunter/explorer, is included on a hunt for another gentleman's brother, who had been searching for King Solomon's Mines. He goes on the adventure, they almost die innumerable times, and eventually he succeeds. The reader knows that Quartermain will live, as he tells you at the beginning.
The fun, though, is the author's narrative style. Quartermain is a rough, gruff, adventurer, but the narrative and dialogue are so... proper. The juxtaposition and the story told are interesting. Haggard's depiction of the "noble savage" irks me also... but that's just my whole anthopology background coming out.
Roscoe
William Kennedy - Fun Book Review 8/30
I read Kennedy first after having left Albany, ironic, I know. Roscoe is written like Kennedy's other novels. Albany is a boys club of politics. No one is trusted, sex drives are high, and the good guy doesn't win. In this novel, Kennedy follows Roscoe, boss of the Albany Democratic Party, through the suicide of Elisha, one of Roscoe's friends, the Luitenant Governer of New York , and the father of the mayor of Albany. The plot of Roscoe protecting Elisha's estate serves more as a matrix for other anecdotes of Roscoe's past... and the past of the other characters who inhabit Kennedy's Albany: Mac and O.B., cops who executed Jack "Legs" Diamond; Hattie and Mame, women who operate "real estate" and "boarding houses"; chicken fighters; and the elite Fitzgibbons. Colorful, tragic, hopeful, gritty... Kennedy writes well.
47- See a movie without hesitating.
Iron Man - Aaron suggested Iron Man, and while I may have technically hesitated as I wasn't feeling well, we grabbed some food and I was feeling much better. So then we went. Yay!
70 - COMPLETION The other week the Post Office did a food collection. I took two bags, the one they provided and another, and filled them. One was filled with the stuff justin left behind: saurkraut, fruit salad, hamburger helper, and peas. The other was filled with stuff they might actually want: raisins, mac and cheese, green beans, corn, pasta, and sauce.
88 - Identify 100 things that make me happy
Senor Taco (3/100)
Senor Taco is a local Mexican joint. I would liken it to "Al's" in "Happy Days" or "The Maxx" in "Saved by the Bell." The servers know us, we know people there, the food is good, its cheap, and you can 't go without seeing atleast one other colleague / department member.
It won the Metropulse's 2008 award for best Mexican food and best Cheap Meal. The Chili Rellenos are awesome, food specials are regularly quality, and Monday... Monday!! Monday are 2 for 1 margarita nights.
Senor Taco was there during a formative period in my life. This period includes Eric, who encouraged my attendance. When I told Justin to leave, and when he finally left, I moped. Eric, a friend of a friend who I had just met, told me I had to go to Sr. Taco with him one day. Then he called me up a few days later. And then again. I went to Sr. Taco with him atleast twice a week, drinking margaritas, talking to someone NOT in the department, and getting a realistic, non pandering look back at me.
After this, Sr. Taco became the spot where I would meet up with people: cheap food, good service, good drinks. It is where we start our nights out. It is where we get together after class, where we run to after a rough day. Everyone knows how to get there, and everyone can find something they like.
It is a place to meet with friends. It makes me smile.
Writing and Recieving Letters and Postcards(4/100)
I am notoriously horrible when it comes to writing letters. I'll talk someone's ear off, but to sit and write to that person I fail. So I'm normally on the recieving end of this, and I know how great it makes me feel. I often end up with postcards from friends who have moved or are traveling. They're such a surprise to get in the mail. When I was a camp councilor, I would get letters from friends, Kazen sent me a few as did my Latin Teacher. I am going to make an effort to write some letters this year, even as extended greetings on Christmas Cards.
When I force myself to actually take the time to do it, I enjoy writing letters and post cards. I just continue to lack the motivation... something I keep working on.
94, 96: I changed goal 94. While Amphibian Ark is a good group: official, has a plan, all of that. I decided I would rather my money go to Safe Haven Sexual Assault Crisis Center, our local domestic/sexual abuse shelter organization. They provide a safe house for abuse victims, nurses and advocates for doctor appointments and legal cases, and therapists for residual meetings.
I feel that this local organization needs support more than my loved frogs.
This will also be the organization for number 96.
95: Kazen commented that 95 was rather ... ambitious. While it might *seem* that way... keep in mind that I will re-evaluate what has not been done. After 500 days, if all goes smoothly I may be looking at heading out of Tennessee. It depends on the thesis and the job prospects. And if I do end up moving, I might need to restart some goals... like cleaning and those regarding houseplants. Some will also be defunct at that point.
18 May 2008
Day 13 - more done
At Aaron's place, dinking around on his computer. I've felt rather blah (bad blah, very bad blah funk) for the most of the week, so I've really done little except sit around and read. Cleaning came to a halt, so my bedroom looks good, but my house is still a wreck. I hope to be better this week. Borrowed more books from him, not that that's what I need necessarily, but I'll try to be more sparing in my reading. At least trying to get tasks done.
48: "Fun Book" Book Reviews
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Hunter S. Thompson - Fun book review 3/30
I had been wanting to read this book for a while, so when I raided Aaron's shelves and saw it, I snatched it up. It was interesting. It was hard to understand the author, hard to be emic, empathetic, as I don't have experience in chemicals (I am a horrible square) and particularly not to the extant of him. The book was ... most words that I would use to describe sections: interesting, funny, odd, annoying, energetic, poignent.... they don't seem to work. I think... frenetic might be the best.
Other than that... I really don't know what to say.
Fight Club
Chuck Pahlaniuk - Fun book review 4/30
... will be continued later .... tired of blogging
88: Identify 100 things that make me happy and why
Pollywog in a Bog
Aaron got the new Bare Naked Ladies CD this week, he preordered it. I liked BNL before, they were good, but I never really got to get into them. But this CD, while cheesy, most things that make me happy are cheesy, including cheese itself, is adoreable. Some songs are overly childinsh, but one I love. It may have something to do with me liking frogs, but the song is simple, it makes sense, the words pleasingly flow, and the different sections are .... well, just watch the clip after my spiel.
I was actually feeling low last night, headache and tired and just fatigued in general, concerned about things, overly reflective and critical, and Aaron, after sitting and listening to me for a while (see object 1 for this goal ... I hope he realizes how much sitting and listening sometimes helps) suggested that we get some sleep. While I was crawling under the covers he turned on his stereo and flipped to this song, knowing it was my favorite. I was all snuggled up under the comforter (I've been oddly cold lately) and he sat there and we sang it. It's just a happy song about how awesome metamorphosis is. It makes me happy.
Lyrics:
In the puddle by the trail it flips its tiny tail
Just like a great big whale but smaller than a snail
It's a pollywog in a bog, swims under soggy logs
One day he'll be a frog, pollywog in a bog
Overhead a cedar tree gives the shade he needs
Munching while he feeds on lily pads and weeds
Knows not where he's from, or how his life had begun
He's not the only one, and soon he'll breathe through lungs
It's hard to believe
With the arms you'll receive
You'll life your head above the water and breathe
Gills shrink away and may there come a day
When you reach the shore with a whole world to explore
Ribbit ribbit a tadpole exhibit
It's a transformation no one can inhibit
Amphibian change may seem strange
Take them gills and the tail and they all rearrange
Out come the legs for the jump! jump!
Hope to the top of the stump! stump!
Out come the legs for the jump! jump!
Hope to the top of the stump! stump!
Where the mud is deep frost will soon creep, and without a peep a frog is fast asleep
It was a pollywog in a bog, swam under soggy logs
In the morning fog, pollywog in a bog.
92a: I went through my sweaters, so now 4 more objects to goodwill (total of 76). I honestly didn't think it would be this easy to finish this goal. I thought it would be motivation to go through a bunch of the stuff that has been piling up thanks to my mother's decision that "you need these napkins" or "this candle holder" or many other things.
93: to the person involved, we still haven't actually figured this out.
48: "Fun Book" Book Reviews
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Hunter S. Thompson - Fun book review 3/30
I had been wanting to read this book for a while, so when I raided Aaron's shelves and saw it, I snatched it up. It was interesting. It was hard to understand the author, hard to be emic, empathetic, as I don't have experience in chemicals (I am a horrible square) and particularly not to the extant of him. The book was ... most words that I would use to describe sections: interesting, funny, odd, annoying, energetic, poignent.... they don't seem to work. I think... frenetic might be the best.
Other than that... I really don't know what to say.
Fight Club
Chuck Pahlaniuk - Fun book review 4/30
... will be continued later .... tired of blogging
88: Identify 100 things that make me happy and why
Pollywog in a Bog
Aaron got the new Bare Naked Ladies CD this week, he preordered it. I liked BNL before, they were good, but I never really got to get into them. But this CD, while cheesy, most things that make me happy are cheesy, including cheese itself, is adoreable. Some songs are overly childinsh, but one I love. It may have something to do with me liking frogs, but the song is simple, it makes sense, the words pleasingly flow, and the different sections are .... well, just watch the clip after my spiel.
I was actually feeling low last night, headache and tired and just fatigued in general, concerned about things, overly reflective and critical, and Aaron, after sitting and listening to me for a while (see object 1 for this goal ... I hope he realizes how much sitting and listening sometimes helps) suggested that we get some sleep. While I was crawling under the covers he turned on his stereo and flipped to this song, knowing it was my favorite. I was all snuggled up under the comforter (I've been oddly cold lately) and he sat there and we sang it. It's just a happy song about how awesome metamorphosis is. It makes me happy.
Lyrics:
In the puddle by the trail it flips its tiny tail
Just like a great big whale but smaller than a snail
It's a pollywog in a bog, swims under soggy logs
One day he'll be a frog, pollywog in a bog
Overhead a cedar tree gives the shade he needs
Munching while he feeds on lily pads and weeds
Knows not where he's from, or how his life had begun
He's not the only one, and soon he'll breathe through lungs
It's hard to believe
With the arms you'll receive
You'll life your head above the water and breathe
Gills shrink away and may there come a day
When you reach the shore with a whole world to explore
Ribbit ribbit a tadpole exhibit
It's a transformation no one can inhibit
Amphibian change may seem strange
Take them gills and the tail and they all rearrange
Out come the legs for the jump! jump!
Hope to the top of the stump! stump!
Out come the legs for the jump! jump!
Hope to the top of the stump! stump!
Where the mud is deep frost will soon creep, and without a peep a frog is fast asleep
It was a pollywog in a bog, swam under soggy logs
In the morning fog, pollywog in a bog.
92a: I went through my sweaters, so now 4 more objects to goodwill (total of 76). I honestly didn't think it would be this easy to finish this goal. I thought it would be motivation to go through a bunch of the stuff that has been piling up thanks to my mother's decision that "you need these napkins" or "this candle holder" or many other things.
93: to the person involved, we still haven't actually figured this out.
17 May 2008
Day 13 - Quick update
To come: book reviews on Fight Club, Imagica, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
Aaron and I rode our bikes down one of the greenways in town.
More clothes for Goodwill
Wine: Stonehaus Wineries Red
Happy: Pollywog in a bog
Why I'm set up to re-evaluate
Aaron and I rode our bikes down one of the greenways in town.
More clothes for Goodwill
Wine: Stonehaus Wineries Red
Happy: Pollywog in a bog
Why I'm set up to re-evaluate
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