Memory Lane: March 18, 2010

I am.

I am her cooking and baking.

I am her sense of organization, each task with its own day.
I am her joy in decorating for each season and holiday.

I am his blue eyes, that he passed to his son, who passed them to me.

I am his appreciation for the miracle of the amazing world around me.
I am his quietness, sometimes with nothing to say, because I don't believe in talking just for the sake of breaking the silence.

I am his love of Autumn days, Red Sox baseball, taking photos, and hot apple cider.

I am the shape of his face and the smile lines around his mouth.
I am his need for everything to have a place, even when it occasionally isn't in its place, just to know that it has a home.

I am her facial features.

I am the sound of her voice.
I am her creativity

I am bits & pieces.
Parts of each of them.
Constructed into a whole.

I see them looking back at me, reflected in so many ways.

I am daughter.
Granddaughter.
Descendant.

I am me.

I am.

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I Want Wednesday: March 17, 2010

**I Want to add this Stained Glass Butterfly Tea Light Lantern to my collection of Spring decorations.


**I Want curtains on my windows. I only have two windows in my apartment & they have blinds on them. I've been ok with just the blinds for more than three years now, especially because I do not want to lose even a smidgen of my precious natural light. But for some reason, I've really been wanting to put up some curtains lately.

**I Want to feel organized again. I felt scattered last week. I don't like to feel scattered. The inherent Libra in me thrives on balance & I can tell the minute it's off. I am mostly back to normal now, but still not quite in perfect balance yet.

**I Want to like dresses more. Because I do really like this dress. I'm just not much of a dress-wearing girl anymore though...

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Right Now: March 16, 2010

I am thinking... that men are just as gossipy as women, but women get blamed for it more. =P

I am thankful for... good health.

From the kitchen... comes the smell of meatloaf patties. They will be served with mashed potatoes (I make mine with sour cream--mmmmm...) and some French-cut string beans.

I am wearing... jeans with a long-sleeve red tee that has some lacy edging along the bottom and my new necklace that Andie surprised me with recently! It makes me smile every time I hear it jingle.

I am creating... smiles & sunshine, where ever I can.

I am going... to make a new to-do list tomorrow. My current one needs some revisions.

I am reading... the book of John, for the "Bible in 90 Days" goal. (Is it awful to admit that I am so glad the Old Testament is behind me?)

I am hoping... that the rest of the week goes as smoothly as it's started. I am all about my life being "boring." Because boring leads to drama-free.

I am hearing... the news on the tv, some laughter, the quiet roar of water heating to a boil & the pop-sizzle of the meatloaf patties in the oven.

Around the house... is a bit of clutter, but it's not stressful clutter. Just the clutter that shows a home well lived in.

One of my favorite things... is the cheerfulness of the color red.

A few plans for the rest of the week... midweek Lent service on Wednesday evening, a trim and some highlights on Saturday morning, and swapping out my Winter decorations for some Spring happies on Sunday. I'm all about a low-key weekend, with no one ill.

A picture to share... I can't say for certain, but I *think* this might be my favorite photo of E from when K was at WDW. Seriously, look at that expression on his face!

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Monday Stream of Consciousness: March 15, 2010

The last week was all over the board for me. Every time I thought I had it under control again, it wriggled free, kicked me in the shins and ran away laughing. I hate weeks like that, but they offer perspective too. At one point, today, after feeling particularly "Monday" in attitude, it occurred to me how much better this Monday is than the last one. It was while I was playing (eternal) catch-up on some blog reading. I was reading Cass Just Curious. Her blog is special. Something about the way she writes--and the photos, oh the photos!--just...speaks to me. I felt lighter. Perspective is a funny thing. We're so entrenched in what's happening Right Now, that sometimes we forget how much and how often things can change. A bad day today doesn't *have* to mean a bad day tomorrow. Or a bad week as the case may be. Last week is in the books. This week, I'm going back to being sunshiny.

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20 Questions: March 14, 2010

1. First movie quote to pop into your head right now:
Reporter at Spring Training: Where do the Sox rank in terms of importance in your life?
Ben: I say the Red Sox... sex... and breathing.
(Fever Pitch)

2. What was your fourth grade teacher's name?
Mrs. Raap.

3. Have you ever been to Denver?
Only if being in the airport counts. And that was also one pain-in-the-rear airport. It's one long strip, which means if your gate numbers are far apart, they are *really* far apart.

4. What is your favorite movie whose title begins with the letter C?
Maybe "Coyote Ugly"?

5. What do you think is one of the worst television shows ever created?
Not counting reality shows... (I'm sure I will be crucified for this) LOST. I hate tv shows that hurt my brain to watch them.

6. What do you recommend?
Not catching the Norovirus. And if someone does catch it, bleach everything you own. If you can't bleach it, Lysol III it. Take my word for it. And if you don't take mine, take Troy's.

7. What is your favorite kind of nut to snack on?
Cashews. Unless I'm at a ball game, then peanuts. *In* the shell. (But not boiled peanuts. Yuck.)

8. What kind of wedding did you have--or if you've never been married, what kind of wedding do you dream of having?
I used to want the fairy tale. Now? ::shrugs:: I want the one that means it's real. I guess that means I grew up...?

9. What is the most beautiful place you have ever seen?
The Catskill Mountains in the Autumn. Or Fenway Park.

10. What color are your toenails painted?
::hangs head in shame:: They aren't. It's not sandal weather for me quite yet. I promise they are properly groomed though!

11. What's the last thing you ordered online?
Daniel's birthday gift. I got him a "official" Belichick hoodie.

12. By noon, I’m usually:
Half-starved. I eat breakfast early so I am always very ready for lunch.

13. What is your favorite kind of gum?
Extra Wintergreen.

14. What color "grass" in the Easter basket?
Green! Preferably made of pale green paper. That plastic stuff is maddening. And I have always hated all the random colors. Who ever heard of bright pink grass??

15. What's for dinner tonight?
I had some pasta & some broccoli. I didn't feel much like cooking, so I went easy.

16. What is the last spice you used when cooking?
Ummm... I didn't cook much last week, what with the getting over The Ick & all. And what I did make wasn't very spicy. I'm going to guess it was Montreal Steak Seasoning some time the week before last.

17. How many varieties of mustard are in your refrigerator right now?
Just one. Grey Poupon Dijon. There will likely be a second coarse grain variety in there later this week. I need that one specifically for a recipe on the menu.

18. Zoo or museum?
I love a good museum...but I get to feed giraffes at the zoo! I can't choose. It's just too hard. You're going to have to pick for me.

19. Favorite cracker?
Anything wheat really. I like the flavor of it with cheese.

20. Which item from your wardrobe do you wear most often?
My jeans. I wear a pair almost every day.

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vanished.

yeah. so. ahem.

first, i had some...stuff going on.

then, i was at WDW with K. and again, adding Brandi.

*then*, i had The Ick. (i'll spare you the details. i'm nice like that.) (sorry, if you "really" know me, because you didn't end up so lucky on the sparing of the details.)

somehow that took over a little better than a week (??) and...

...now, i'm playing catch up. and apparently neglecting the blog in the process.

i'm going to get my act together soon. cross my heart.

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Snapshot from Along the Broken Road: February 2010

photo of me

courtesy of Brandi. we fed giraffes at the Lowry Park Zoo! yay zoo!

1) candle scents i burned this month:
Sparkling Pine. Balsam & Cedar. Mistletoe. Creme Brulee. Mountain Pine. Sparkling Cinnamon. Red Apple Wreath. Sparkling Angel. Hazelnut Coffee. Lakeside Birch.

2) what i am reading this month:
i've had to put my other books on hold for the moment, while i focus on this whole "Bible in 90 Days" project. i am determined to succeed and i have to be honest, sometimes it takes a lot of brain power to get through twelve pages. (hello, books of Numbers, Deuteronomy and Leviticus!) i'm on track though!

3) top three songs i was drawn to:
"Edge of Desire," John Mayer. "I'd Rather Be With You," Joshua Radin. "Some People," LeAnn Rimes.

4) movies i saw:
Edge of Darkness. (not to be confused with "Edge of Desire" from number three. NOT.EVEN.CLOSE.)

5) favorite tv moments of the month:
hearing The Star Spangled Banner play every time the U.S. won a gold medal. watching Evan Lysacek skate in the Men's Figure Skating competition with the same passion i love to see in my favorite baseball & football athletes. the "Jacksonville" episode of Fringe: holy jaw-dropping wow. "Valentine's Day Massacre" (Grey's Anatomy): i'm loving the MerDer storyline this season.

6) something yummy i made:
i've been baking fresh muffins for my mid-morning snack at work. apple spice. triple chocolate chunk. blueberry streusel. *yummy*.

7) restaurants where i ate:
Rainforest Cafe. Longhorn Steakhouse. Macaroni Grill. Wine Exchange.

8) something that made me cry:
that Canadian figure skater, Joannie Rochette, when she skated her short program a few days after her mother's sudden death. so much emotion and strength. i'm pretty sure it was impossible to watch her skate that program & not at least blink hard a couple of times.

9) a goal i had for this month:
to start walking again after work. the weather has not cooperated with this goal. i *want* to walk, but i refuse to do so in the cold rain, so it didn't happen consistently.

10) this month i looked forward to:
pitchers & catchers reporting to Ft Myers. it's a long cold lonely three weeks between the Super Bowl and the start of Spring Training.

11) something that made me laugh:
giraffe tongues. seriously. feed a giraffe some time & you'll see what i mean!

12) a photo i took this month:


and a bonus photo, because i just couldn't choose!

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