Day 30

And we're done! While writing everyday is hard (even if you cheat and solicit guest bloggers), remembering to write every day is by far the hardest part. Often I'd be going happily up to bed and see my little reminder post-it yelling "POST!" and trudge back down and sit myself in front of the computer.

And wow, writing about myself really made me sick of me. A big big thank you to the guest bloggers for keeping me from going insane and better yet, providing some fun content.

Thanks for sticking with me! See you soon (but not tomorrow!).

Monthly book post: November

November list:
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A year of food life, by Barbara Kingsolver. Barbara and her family commit to eating (mostly) local foods for one calendar year, growing most of their own food. I was so looking forward to this book that I was a bit let down when I finally read it. I wanted more what-life-was-really-like-living-local, and less politics and information. But I still enjoyed it overall... it really made me think of things differently and gave me some practical ideas about different ways to live. So, who wants to can tomatoes with me next year?

Identical Strangers: A memoir of twins separated and reunited by Elyse Schein and Paula Bernstein. Elyse and Paula were part of the Louise Wise adoption agency study that separated twins to explore the nature vs. nurture question... without telling them or their parents Alternating viewpoints, Elyse and Paula are unfailingly honest as they get to know each other (admitting that at times they wonder if they'd been better off not knowing) and investigate the study, tracking down the doctors who participated as well as other separated twins.

The Water's Lovely by Ruth Rendell. An murder mystery about a pair of sisters who were involved with their stepfather's death many years ago... and now that they are older, one finds herself wondering what really happened that day. An entertaining cast of characters forge unexpected connections as the plot twists and turns toward its conclusion... in all a captivating and well done book.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. I wouldn't have read this book were it not for my book club (circuses are not a topic I'm usually drawn to), but it was a fun read. I'm not sure what we'll talk about... but if you're looking for something to keep you occupied on an airplane ride or to escape to for a weekend, this would suffice.

Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume. I love Judy Blume. There's such a perfect simplicity in her writing... and she captures all those what-you-think-are-taboo-at-the-time subjects of adolescence. I realized I hadn't read this one so I checked it out... a good read about a girl whose dad dies. My favorites of hers are Starring Sally J. Freedman, as Herself, Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret, and Just As Long As We're Together. She's also written a few books for adults, such as her classic, Wifey, a story about a woman who is "tired of chicken on Wednesdays and sex on Saturdays."

Other books:
Gluten Free Girl by Shauna James Ahern
The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler (I really disliked this book!)

Guest blogger! Husband on comics, cont'd

Recommendations

Here they are. These are the comics that I love. These are things that I think you might like as well, oh, anonymous reader.

Oh...by the way there is an excessive use of the word 'awesome' in what follows. This is something I would not allow in my prose...but the world just isn't ready to bring back 'rad'.

The Holy Trinity of things comics. There are three books (two collected editions, one graphic novel) that every person lionizing things comics recommend to everybody…ever:

1. Watchmen. Written by Alan Moore. Pencils, inks and letters by Dave Gibbons. Coloring by John Higgins. This is the most artful super-hero comic I have ever read. It deconstructs the archetype and makes you think “damn…this could happen.” And then you flip the page and see a giant, naked, blue, radioactive man and realize…nope…it couldn’t. Crazy stuff aside, this is true literature and the illustrations are some of the industry’s finest. The only warning I can offer is that this book was released in 1986 and as such is four-color so the coloring isn’t that nuanced. I have only met one person who likes super heroes that doesn’t like this book…and his only criticism is that it is overrated.

2. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. Written, drawn and inked by Frank Miller. Colored by Lynn Varley. Again this is a superhero book but dang is it awesome. This deals with Batman at 50 trying to come back. He is old, tired and pissed. We watch him training himself to come back (training!) and then watch him kick butt. Frank Miller is somewhat of a wunderkind in Hollywood right now. 300 is a comic he did in 1998 (again with Lynn Varley) was made into a film. Sin City (which is entirely his creation) was also a film. He will now be directing The Spirit which is the creation of Will Eisner who is the God of all things comics (to the extent that he even coined the phrase graphic novel). Give it a read. It is dense but it is awesome.

3. Maus. Written and drawn by Art Spiegelman. When described in short this sounds like an exercise in bad taste. This is a comic book series dealing with the Holocaust with a cast of anthropomorphic animals. This is the story of Art Spiegelman’s grandfather’s experience in concentration camps. The Jews are represented by mice, the German’s by either cats or dogs, and the result is a completely heart-rending and informative experience. The fact that we are not looking at humans allow us the distance we need to deal with the horror. I have seen 14-year-olds read this in one sitting and senior citizens reading it as well--it is amazing. Everybody recommends this who has read it…everyone.

Superhero ongoing series that I love:

4. Justice Society of America. Written by Geoff Johns. Pencils by Dale Eaglesham. Inks by Art Thibert. Colors by Jeromy Cox. This is fun. It uses really old characters from the D.C. Universe and some new ones. It is great fun: crazy adventures and deeply character-driven stories.

5. The Fantastic Four. By 17,000,000 different writers and artists. Talk about crazy nonsense--the fantastic four wins. So much fun. A guy who eats planets. Parents with super powers finding child care. A guy made of rock who has a blind girlfriend. Come on. It’s awesome.

6. Powers. Written by Brian Michael Bendis with art by Michael Avon-Oeming. Here is the Hollywood pitch: A homicide unit specializing in super-hero crime. That is awesome. Also I love the dynamics of the detectives the villains and the whole world. It is atmospheric and super fun.

7. Various Spider-Man titles. Again, 17,000,000 million creators. Smart-ass person with super powers who simultaneously deals with crazy villains and figures out how to pay the rent. I even love the stupid issues. Of late in Amazing Peter Parker (Spider-man) has been a little full of pathos and nasty and things aren’t looking good for his marriage but damn is it fun. However Ultimate Spider-Man (which is essentially a retelling of the early stuff) is always awesome. Always. I would suggest that one for the newbies.

8. Daredevil. Written by many but the best have been Frank Miller, Brian Michael Bendis, and Ed Brubaker. The art has been by many but best by Frank Miller, David Mack, Alex Maleev, and Michael Lark. Matt Murdock is a blind guy whose four other senses were heightened but here’s the kicker…he doesn’t have fear. Oh, he is also a lawyer…and an informal detective. The single coolest thing about Daredevil is that his stories are Shakespearian in construct. His villains don’t punch him in the face and run away they make his life miserable. This is a strange thing to enjoy reading but damn is it entertaining.

Non-Super Hero and Slice of Life books:

9. Blankets. Written and drawn by Craig Thompson. The Hollywood pitch isn’t that inspiring. Guy is sad. Actually there is quite a bit more to it. If you are put off by super-hero fun then take a look at this one. Visually it is awesome and the story is very evocative of young love from the male perspective.

10. Mouse Guard. Written and drawn by Brian Petersen. High fantasy with mice. The protagonists fight crabs and snakes and stuff…it’s cool and has shockingly awesome visuals.

11.True Story Swear To God. Written and Drawn by Tom Beland. The title says it all. It is bittersweet but awesome.

12.Fun Home. Written and drawn by Alison Bechdel. The subtitle of this piece is A Family Tragicomic and it is fitting. It is funny in spots but always lyrical. The issues of sexuality have never been better dealt with in this medium (in my limited experience).

13. American Born Chinese. Written, Drawn and lettered by Gene Yang. Colored by Lark Pien. Just freaking awesome. Five different vignettes that draw a broader conclusion. Funny, sensitive but above all: awesome.

For T.V. Fans (of which I am not a member):

14. Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, Season 8. Written by Joss Whedon. Pencils by Georges Jenty and Paul Lee. Inks by Andy Owens. Colors by Dave Stewart. I have been “waiting for the trade" (often comics are collected in 6-8 issue arcs as trade paperbacks that are released 3 or 4 months after the periodical series reaches the end of the story arc) on this one. I haven’t read it yet. My friends who have (read: nerds) have loved it. I too will love it as I am one of the Buffy-Faithful (there is a pun there if you know the series (if not my geek is stronger than yours)).

15. Red Menace. Written by Adam Brody with Bilson and Demeyo (the latter two having had written the 1980’s Flash TV series). Penciled by Gerry Ordway (if you are a nerd it’s a big deal). Adam Brody is a super-hot TV star…according to my 12 year-old students. He was on the O.C. which was apparently a T.V. show. I’ve not seen it. But the comic is all about what if the red scare was not about commies but supers…its good. It’s short (115 pages). Give it a look.

16. Wolverine.Written by Marc Guggenheim. Art by Huberto Ramos. Guggenheim has worked on all of those Law and Order, CSI: Duluth andPolice-Cops shows (the latter two shows were cleverly cynical…he actually worked on Law and Order: SVU and CSI:Miami).

17. Young Avengers. Written by Allen Heinberg. Art by Jim Cheung. The stupidest, money-grab idea in the last 20 years becomes an awesome story with beautiful art. The story is a group of kids who have the powers of the Avengers (the Marvel super group) who are put to the test by both super villains and their own soap opera like trials and. All of this written by Gilmore Girls (and The O.C. though I have never seen that) writer Allen Heinberg. Where can I get mine?

18. The Astonishing X-Men. Written by Joss Whedon. Pencils and inks by John Cassiday. Colors by Laura Martin. If you want to sound like a comics glitterati the only X-book you can claim to like is Astonishing. I agree…it is great. Whedon’s feel for dialogue made popular a television series that lasted seven seasons based on a film that 18 people have seen (see next entry (ooh, he also was a writer on Toy Story). The art is clean, clear and kick-butt. If you are of a mind, check it out. Seriously the only comic that could get my money faster would be Aaron Sorkin writing…anything…ever…seriously he could make anything interesting. Even a list of recommended comics on a blog that normally has nothing to do with comics.

Lastly is a lightning-round-esque list of stuff I love (not like…love) for more info email Tacohead…she’ll forward it to me.

Newspaper stuff…

Peanuts by Charles Shultz. I get it...it's good...gotta say though...little depressing.

For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnson.…OK a Canadian is going to get my vote regardless…but the continuity and the clarity is amazing. I love it

F-Minus by Tony Carillo. Funny as Far Side and more incisive. Check it out.

Far Side by Gary Larson. Every time I laugh at this I feel I am closer the dark side.

Boondocks by Aaron McGruder. Right up my alley political satire...actively anti-racist and has a ton of heart.

Zits written by Jerry Scott and illustrated by Jim Borgman. Made me wish I had treated my parents better.

Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson. As much as I love comic books…I love Calvin more. This is the single greatest achievement in graphic fiction…ever. I kid you not. If it were not financially stupid I would own his whole run. I love it. Caveat emptor: I have been told that as far as sequential art goes whatever you most loved at 12 is what you are going to love the most the rest of your life. I think it holds up but I am biased.

Other worthy Comics I read monthly.

She-Hulk written by Dan Slott and more recently Peter David. Illustrated by many. This is a funny, funny book full of fanboy in-jokes. Not for the newbie.

New Avengers written by Brian Michael Bendis and art (most recently) by Francis Lenil Yu. Consistently fun and will be leading into the new super big crossover full of (wait for it...) awesome.

Cassanova written by Matt Fraction with art by Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon. I honestly can't tell you what this is about. I am a smartish guy and whenever I finish an issue as I am wiping the laugh-tears from my eyes I am thinking "what the hell just happened?"

Punisher: War Journal written by Matt Fraction with art by Ariel Ollivetti. I hate the Punisher. Dumb character but Matt Fraction is nearly getting to that Joss Whedon/Aaron Sorkin/ David Mamet level of awesome.

All-Star Superman written by Grant Morrison with art by Frank Quietly. I can't believe I like this comic. It is the only Superman book I would not ever miss. Crazy strange 1960's storytelling with a modern sensibility.

The Hulk titles written by Greg Pak. Trust me they are fun.

Teen Titans written by Sean McKeever. Again, fun.

Justice League of America written by Duane McDuffie art by various. All the big names in DC comics in one book...hello?!

Runaways currently written by Joss Whedon but created by Brian K. Vaughn with art by various. Best teen book there is.

Books to read in trade paperback.

Y: the last man. Written by Brian K. Vaughn with art by Pia Guerra. The story of the last man alive with many, many women. Sci-fi soap opera pathos...yum.

The Walking Dead written by Robert Kirkman with art from Tony Moore and others. This whole book happens after most zombie movies end. Yes there are zombies but they are a plot device to tell truly human stories.

Ex-Machina written by Brian K Vaughn with art from Tony Harris. The premise makes it sound lame...it is not. A guy with super powers becomes the mayor of New York City.

Fables written by Bill Willingham with art from Lan Madina and many more. Fairy tales are real and they walk among us but live in small enclaves not unlike Little Italy or China Town.

Crap there are so many more but I have definitely gone on too long. Thanks for letting me share stuff I like with you.
Best,
Husband

Guest blogger! Slumlord on finding women

Today, as a special treat for sticking with me throughout November, I bring you the Slumlord, who allows us a peek into his obsession with spreadsheets and their uses beyond the usual work applications. He also gives us a peek into his kitchen... or at least, what used to be his kitchen. Thanks Slummy!

A hearty thank you to She of the Stolen Bike for allowing a numbers and spreadsheet guy like me, the Slumlord, to share this space.

Before we get into the dark and scary mind of the Slumlord, a bit of background is needed. For example, one might wonder why a person would be called the Slumlord. I agree with you, good reader, this is an unjust term given to me by my Hetero Life Partner aka Tenant aka Señor Ferret. Apparently, he requires a more functional kitchen than this:

Personally, I see this as the perfect rustic kitchen with a nice…ah…shall we say "Open floor plan." In many countries this would be luxurious and I should increase his rent accordingly. It has a refrigerator and a stove, what else does he need?! Running water is not needed, nor is a prep area! As you can see, the title of Slumlord is completely unjust.

I am frequently mocked for my use of spreadsheets by my tenant, Señor Ferret, because I use them for nearly every important decision in life. Sure, a normal person might use spreadsheets for financial decisions such as purchasing a home or remodeling the kitchen, but I take it one step further - even emotional decisions can be made with a spreadsheet. As a single man, finding a woman (Yes, a WOMAN) to spend my life with is a good example of how a spreadsheet can be used to make a decision.We all know that no one is perfect (except for me, of course) and compromises need to be made to make the happiest match. The only way I know how to compromise is based on data, so it is time to create data. Rate each important aspect of a person such as intelligence, sense of humor, life goals, personality, and looks based on your ideal. Once you average the scores you have an accurate numerical assessment of the person against your ideal which will assist in determining if this is a good compromise. You can add some conditional formatting where certain deal breakers aren’t met to draw your attention to any issues, such as a 5 in intelligence – a woman smarter than me would not be good. For the more detail oriented people, like me, each of these parent categories can be broken down into individual components to allow a thorough examination of each category. Clearly, you need to see the Girlfriend Rater v1.02 for you to fully appreciate its brilliance:

Lame? Yes. Emotionless? Yes, that’s the whole point. It’s the perfect way to make a decision and feel comfortable that all aspects are reviewed. In other news, if anyone knows a 8, 9, 8, 8.5, 9 looking for a 10, 12, 10, 10, 10 you know who to call.

Black Friday

I lied. Husband is continuing his post tomorrow. Stay tuned!

At 5:55 on Friday morning I was shivering outside Macy's, preparing to run in and grab the Hannah Montana doll doorbuster that we had convinced ourselves my little cousin wanted more than anything in the world. We were successful, only to get mesmerized by the pretty, pretty boots minutes later and when we left Macy's for Caribou, boots in hand, poor Hannah was left behind. We didn't realize it until Sunday, when in the name of holy Christmas miracles, she was waiting patiently for us in the lost and found.

Guest blogger! Husband on comics

I never would have opened up a comic or a graphic novel if Husband hadn't given me a few recommendations for titles that challenged the stereotype I had about comics. So I asked him to write a bit about comics for those who haven't picked one up since the Betty and Veronica days, and to provide a few recommendations to get you started. Thanks Husband!

A few people know this about me but it is time to come out of the long box…er… closet to a broader group.

Here goes (clears throat) I am a fanboy.

(crickets)

Sorry my geek:English dictionary wasn’t working. I am a comic book fan.

(hushed silence)

Whoo…I feel so free. I never anticipated feeling like this. I am a comics fan…a geek…a nerd…I am a Fanboy. Wow. (sniff) I love you all.

Here is the thing. When a fanboy or girl first “comes out” the thing most expected of him or her is to justify their particular hobby. I understand this tendency given the stigma associated with comics fandom. To a non-comics fan, the idea of the comic book is a quaint one. One envisions oneself at twelve years old with skinned knees drinking Hi-C, chewing Big League Chew and flipping through the latest Archie Digest and laughing along as Jughead yet again foils his own plans because of his lust for the cheeseburger. Your parents then call out to you and tell you to put down that trash and go outside and play.

However, when somebody thinks of a Fanboy one pictures the following. A sallow-skinned well-fed (or anemic depending on your preferred stereotype) person living in their parents basement surrounded by long white boxes of funny books, a life sized storm trooper suspended from the ceiling by an intricate system of pulleys and levers and a melange of discarded take-away containers covering the floor screaming the names Dominoes, Lui’s Chow Mien, and Taco Bell. There is a piquancy that permeates the air that has tones of ball sweat, discarded chili-cheese burrito and lost hopes. This person can quote chapter and verse from the book of Batman. This person does not understand why the “Comic Book Guy” on the Simpsons is funny, s/he thinks they have been separated at birth.

The truth is that the average fanboy (only adults are fanboys…kids can love comics but it takes a bit for those seeds of obsession to percolate to the role of fanboy-I-tude) is faintly bookish, given to obsession and above all loves stories.

That is what comics are…stories. True the cleavage, spandex, and heat vision to reality ratio is a lot higher than in Dostoevsky’s oeuvre but still…stories. But here is why I like comics. They are Awesome.

Some stuff I like about comics:

The gutters
A gutter is the space between two panels. In that space you are responsible for the fate of that character. This allows you to fill in the details. Here is a common conics scenario.

Panel One: Buxom young woman in extreme foreground facing the reader, making a salad. Drunk guy holding an axe in extreme background.

Panel Two: the neck and shoulders of the buxom young salad-maker.

What happened? In a movie you watch Hacky McChopsalot decapitate Suzie Mixedgreens. In a comic there are infinite options. I can see the appeal but I prefer to have the option that an invisible chipmunk came into the room used a rusty paring knife to sever the head of the soccer mom who ran over her boyfriend in her Cadillac SUV.. Uh…never mind…I take that back.

Options
There are three basic types of comics.

1. The ongoing series. These are the titles where every month you will get an installment of a title that may date back as far as 1938 (Action Comics if you are keeping score at home) and you will read part of this broad history while continuing a story arc. A story arc is a story that takes 2-12 issues and they are always self-contained while adding to the broader story (story in fanboy-speak is called continuity).
2. Limited series: Limited series are just that if you wanted to take a character from a book or an alternative future of a book you can tell that story, but it won’t happen in the normal title. Let’s say you wanted to create a story of spider-man where he was thinking he might be a furry. This would not happen in the regular book…but in a six issue series why not dress Peter Parker as Scrappy-Doo and lock him in a room with Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer with a bottle of champagne and a copy of Laying Private Ryan. Um…let me just say that idea…Husband TM.
   
3. The graphic novel. If you are a fanboy and want to sound cool you call all comics graphic novels. I actually know the derivation of the term “graphic novel” but I won’t bother you with it. The only things that you can actually call “graphic novels” are things intended to be one story. In that story you get the whole story you don’t think…”wait but what happens next?”

TOMORROW: A few specific comics that I love and recommendations you may enjoy (assuming you are not well versed in the comics world).

Crafty 2: Scavenged Crafts

A couple of years ago I noticed that nearly every other house on the street displays something pretty and seasonal in planters on their doorsteps... spring annuals, robust summer blooms, harvest colored mums, and then piney boughs and berries for the winter. Since then I've been trying to keep up... but have felt bad because it seems so wasteful to spend all this money on things that I end up throwing away when the season's done.

I was thinking about this the other day when I noticed all the planters were filled with wintry bouquets... and my eyes alighted on the dogwood bush in the corner of our yard. Hey! The same red branches that I saw for sale at local fancy grocery store! Then this morning I drove over to my parents and found a teetering stack of pots next to their garbage. Hey! Two perfect planters! A sweep of their backyard (part of a former pine tree farm) and I had arm fulls of boughs and a sack full of pine cones.

It's a bit free-flowing and needs a little touch-up after some of the branches settled, but hey, it was free!
























My second scavenged craft isn't something that I put together but something that will enable me to do crafts. Since I got my sewing machine in June I've been thinking idly about a table for it... wondering if I should buy something cheap at Ikea... or ask around... or make something from an old door in the garage.

Then Husband and I were driving home from running last week and I spied a table on the curb with a FREE sign. I'm not usually one to pick up random stuff, but after half a block I asked Husband to drive around again. We hobbled out the car, inspected it, and shoved in it the back.


















It's got a metal top and is nice and big, and has these extensions tucked under the top to make it even bigger. It just needs some fresh paint on the bottom part.


















Good timing, as I start my sewing classes next week!

Guest blogger! Bino on sleeping

When I was thinking of potential guest bloggers to ask, I thought of people who didn't have blogs but who should because they have interesting things to say. I'm very pleased that Bino accepted my invitation, and lo, how he outdid himself. If you're ever attempted a top 10 list, you know how coming up the material for 10 is pushing it. Bino crushes us all and busts out an impressive 25 without breaking a sweat. Or without falling asleep, which, as you will soon learn, is more impressive. Thanks Bino!

Over the past weekend wife LEH and I spent time giving thanks (mostly for food and liquor) with our soccer team at our 2nd Annual Soccer Thanksgiving Festival. Après consuming too much food, too many“Little Smokies,” and imbibing a few too many shots of tequila, the fellas proceeded to lounge around in the reclining leather chairs… mmm, very comfy. Shortly thereafter we somehow stumbled on to our hosts’ stash of magazines (I was definitely not the one snooping!), the topmost one which proclaimed “Top 50 Places to Ski.”

I don’t know what it is, but nothing captivates your attention like a “Top 25” or “Top 50” list. Many people attempt to mesmerize the masses with their “Top 10” lists, but these just don’t cut the mustard. Perhaps it’s that a Top 10 list is not robust enough, or perhaps we recognize the lackluster attempt inherent in cultivating 1000’s of items down to a paltry list of 10. Needless to say we were all spellbound with reading and discussing the list created by the readers of Ski magazine. In the magic of the moment we shared stories of past experiences (“This one time I was skiing at ___ and, oh man, there’s this one run where…”), we hatched plans for future vacations together, and created a Top 25 list of our own.

In the spirit of Top 25 Lists, I thought it might be appropriate to provide my own enthralling list, but what to choose? After waffling for a few days, I decided to proceed with what I do best. So here you have it folks, unrestricted and uncensored (excluding the descriptors and/or caveats), in no:

Bino’s Top 25 Places To Fall Asleep

1. In a snuggly warm bed (preferably pre-warmed by wife LEH)
2. On the porcelain chair in the “office”

THUD!
LEH: Bino, are you okay in there?
Me: Yep, just dropped my book on accident, that’s all.

3. On the couch by the window (preferably with the sun shining through)
4. At a Smashing Pumpkins concert (I was rather sick, but still!)
5. In the car on the way to church (darn those heated seats)
6. In the car on the way home from church (mmm, I love these heated seats)
7. In the car on the way to soccer (Can you drive LEH, I’m low on gas.)
8. In the car on the way home from soccer (hey, I worked hard out there)
9. Riding in the car on the way home from a party

LEH: Are you going to fall asleep?
Me: No, I’m not tired.

10. In the car during a road trip with LEH to Michigan, to Utah, to Illinois, to Lutsen, to…
11. Pretty much anytime I ride in the car. No, seriously, anytime I’m in the car I’m a disaster.
12. In the middle of my own sentence…
13. While opening gifts for family Christmas gathering (scoring negative points as it was the in-laws again!)
14. At the computer in my office (Place the beaker in theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee)
15. In a chair, on the couch, or on the floor at the aforementioned party (especially post drinking)
16. On the floor in the hall outside of my dorm room in Ellingson, in the middle of a conversation
17. In the middle of lecture in college, complete with the GIGANTIC full-body muscle jerk that scares the people sitting next to you
18. While playing Catch Phrase at the 1^st Annual Soccer Thanksgiving Festival
19. While watching TV in the old apartment

Roomie: Bino, it’s late (11 PM), go to bed.
Me: Wha, what? Oh, thanks, yeah, I’ll get up soon.
Five hours later…Me: Ugh! What time is it, and why does my neck hurt?

20. On my bed in the middle of my own party (thank you mystery person for setting my alarm clock early enough for the next day to make it to work on time)
21. While taking the PRAXIS II exam (requisite for receiving my teaching license)
22. While grading papers for class (“Mr. Bino, what’s this big green line on my paper for?”)
23. On the porcelain chair in the “office” (yes, it’s happened more than once!)
24. Hanging out with friends at Perkins

LEH: Are you sure you should take that cough medicine?
Me: Yeah, I’ll be fine. It says “May make you drowsy” but this stuff never really works…

25. On the floor of my in-laws dining room, under the table, with feet propped up on chair, post dinner

Oh dear

I got all wrapped up the day that I forgot to post! Somewhere between the running and the getting ready and the packing and the leaving I forgot all about posting. Blogger would allow me to cheat and post as if it were yesterday, but no. I admit. I lost. But since it was by accident and not for lack of things to say, I'll post twice for Friday to make up for it.

Here's the post I had all queued up, too:

What greater holiday is there than Thanksgiving? Its entire purpose is to eat, be with others, and give thanks, three things that I love. There isn't even church. And it's followed by a three-day weekend, so it has that kick-off-the-season feel, instead of the have-to-go-to-work-tomorrow shadow that haunts Easter.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Crafty

Christmas is a good excuse to indulge your crafty side and make a few homemade gifts. Every year I try a couple of things... some have been more successful than others, but here's a little list if you're looking for a few ideas. If you have favorites of your own, please share them with us!

GIFTS
Organizers. I made these pretty accordion-style organizers last year and was quite pleased with the results. PaperSource had all the supplies (nice envelopes, fancy ribbons, and label stickers) for pretty reasonable, especially if you're making a few sets.

Ornaments. A perennial favorite, and couldn't be easier. I've taken seashells from our beachy trips and put a dab of glue in them and inserted both ends of a foot-long ribbon, making a loop so it hangs on the tree. I took a silver pen and wrote the year and destination on the ribbon. I've also taken photos from the year and made a little paper frame and glued on a ribbon length to the top corners to hang on the tree. Anything + glue + ribbon = a pretty little gift.

Other ideas...
EC and I made these marble magnets once up at the cabin... they are quite fun and easy, and who couldn't use a few stylish little magnets?


FOOD GIFTS
Biscotti. I made two kinds - cranberry ginger and orange hazelnut, and wrapped about five pieces each in tissue paper, clear bag, and a ribbon. I think biscotti's quite tasty and is a perfect winter coffee/cocoa break, not-too-sweet treat, but it's so dry and doesn't look very appealing so I'm not sure whether I'll do this again.

Spiced/glazed nuts. I put these in a big glass jar tied up with ribbon... and it didn't look nearly as pretty or yummy as I thought it would. I was even kind of embarrassed to hand them over when the time came. Perhaps one of those clear bags instead? They are tasty to eat, however, whether you choose a spicy recipe or one that's more sweet.

For this year, I was thinking about this pretty looking pistachio brittle in the latest Martha Stewart Living... but I always feel like sweet treats are enjoyed yet also resented. At least the brittle has some protein. Oooh... I've also wanted to try one of those homemade marshmallow recipes... wouldn't that be a nice treat to receive? The airtight container and keeping only 3 days would be a trick, though.

Day 20

10 whole days left! You might be wondering, can I make it? Yes, I can feel the doubt, even as I type. Your lack of confidence... your pity... your concern for how low the blogging standards can sink. What will she post next? A photo of her freezer? Daily updates about the cats? A blow by blow update on her cold? Yet more Pillow Book? When will blessed December arrive?

But lo! Fear not, gentle reader, for the best is yet to come. I have two more Guest Bloggers gracing us with their insightful wisdom and wit, and one Guest Blogger making a valiant return, not unlike when a coach with a checkered past and a local drunk train a small town high school basketball team to become a top contender for the championship in the classic training movie Hoosiers.

Yes, we all may have something to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Tacohead on beachy vacations

I've always thought I have only two skills to offer people: proof-reading their Christmas card letters and advising them on where to go for a beachy vacation. Inspired by the guest bloggers, I decided to have some fun with the vacation topic and create a little quiz.

Tacohead's Beachy Vacation Indicator Test
To take: Grab a sheet of paper and write the following letters across the top: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I. Then read the first statement. If you agree with it, give each letter indicated a point. If you strongly agree with it, give each letter a few points. If you feel neutral, skip it and go on to the next statement. If you disagree or strongly disagree with it, take away a point from that letter. (That may mean some letters will have negative points).

I want to use my passport – A, B, C, H, I
A short flight is important – A
I want to avoid small island-hopping planes – A, B, D, E, H, I
I get sea-sick – no ferries please – A, B, D, E, F, G, H, I
I want to be able to drive a car and have it be easy – D, E, F, G
I want to be able to drive a car... on the left side of the road – B, C, I
I don’t want to drive a car – A, H
Gorgeous beaches are important to me – C, E, H
Being able to hike is important to me – C, E, F, G
I like to shop for great deals on jewelry, cologne, etc., haggling required – A, B
I like to shop for goods in stores found on Rodeo Drive – D, E, H, I

To have the following cuisines/drinks on my trip sounds appealing:
Pineapple – D, E, F, G
Guacamole and margaritas - A
Sushi – D, F
West African – B, C
Familiar chain restaurants – D, E, G
Rum drinks – B, C, H, I
Cheap drinks – A, B, C

It would be fun if the destination felt a bit like visiting England – H
It would be fun if the destination felt a bit like visiting Japan – D, F
I don’t want to spend much money, but I want to stay in a hotel in a lively place – A, B, D
I don’t want to spend much money, but I want something quiet, and would consider camping-like accommodations – C, E, F, G
I like places known for impeccable service – H, I
It is important to me that the people who live there have a decent standard of living – C, D, E, F, G, H
I have money I want to hide in an off-shore account – I

NOW:
Tally up the smiley points under each letter. The ones with the highest totals are the places you're most interested in!

So, here's where to book your trip. DISCLAIMER - this indicator is for fun, and is severely limited by the fact that it includes only destinations I've been to. And it has many flaws (including grouping Mexico together as ONE GIANT MASS but then parsing out the Hawaiian islands).

A Mexico
B St. Thomas
C St. John
D Oahu
E Maui
F Kauai
G Hawaii (the island of)
H Bermuda
I Grand Cayman

Cadbury is like a 12-year-old girl

He won't go to the litter box alone. He meows and meows until Stilton goes downstairs and stands by him while he uses it.

IN OTHER NEWS
I am sick! Well, I have that regular old cold that is going around. I keep berating myself for wanting to lie around but then I remember: I'm sick! That's part of the deal! It's what you do.

Must go:
1. do quick chores like put away laundry that will make me feel all stress-y and gloom-and-doom Monday-y if I find them un-done when I go up to bed
2. prep dinner (baked BBQ tofu and sweet potato fries)
3. make cocoa
4. light a fire in fireplace
5. sit by fire and drink cocoa

Nada

I'm sorry to report that I'm not posting today. There's this rule, you see. You run 20 miles, you get an all-day pass to do whatever you want. They hand them out when you're done, with the Endurox. And I'm flashing you mine.
Good. We understand each other.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go back to (nerd alert!) doing puzzles and hanging with the cats. And eating, as soon as Husband comes back with the goods.

Guest blogger! AP on fall projects

A quick introduction: While I write jubilant posts about knitting a scarf or the first and only time I've canned anything, my friend AP knits sweaters and puts up provisions for the winter that would make anyone's grandma proud. She can brew beer, make cheese (from cows she's milked), and makes a mean pear pie. No wonder she was better at Girl Scouts than I was. I've asked her to tell us a bit about what she's been up to... she makes all the amazing things she does sound so easy and doable.

I keep trying and not getting around to writing my own blog about projects I’m working on so I thought I’d use my five minutes as a “guest blogger” and stick to my theme by telling you about some of my fall projects. We finally had a frost here in my northern Midwest City a full month later than our September 25th average, and I’ve decided I better get to all of the fall projects I’ve been putting off for weeks. They’re some of my favorite tasks of the year so I don’t know why it’s been so difficult. An afternoon of time away from work has been extraordinarily helpful.

1. Seed Saving
Well, really my primary task was to clean out all of the ugly, dead, frozen things from the garden in front of the house. I have a neighbor who pays more attention to my yard than I do and has even been known to mow my lawn and cut back my plants that don’t meet her specifications. So, for the neighbor’s sake, I thought I’d relocate the in situ compost to the proper bin in the backyard. In the process, though, I collected some seeds from my scarlet runner beans to plant again next year. Though my trellising was quite inadequate this year, I’m convinced scarlet runner beans would look great climbing up the front of my house all the way to the roof. Now that they’re all cleaned out, my front gardens aren’t much to look at—I’m considering talking a friend into painting some faux plants on my foundation. Instead, here’s a photo of my saved scarlet runner bean seeds. Aren’t they gorgeous?



















2. Salsa Verde
A few years ago, I was all excited about growing tomatillos so I planted a whole bed in my garden and, as anyone who’s ever grown tomatillos can imagine, I came to regret it. Even if I liked tomatillos, which it turns out I don’t, not much anyway, a whole bed, no matter how small the bed, is WAY TOO MANY (unless you have a good market). Tomatillos are prolific in a big way. Not only will one plant produce an unfathomable number of fruits that are incongruently both sickly sweet and bitter, there is no way you will possibly pick all of the fruit and they will self seed and come back many times over the following year again and again and again. So it happened that without planting a single tomatillo plant in my garden this year, I felt obligated during a recent afternoon in the garden to harvest a full paper grocery bag of the little buggers.


















I gave away an armload to a friend who thought they might be good roasted with honey, my roommate made a triple batch of enchilada sauce, and I still have too many for my liking. I haven’t heard how the roasting with honey went, the enchiladas were quite tasty and I’ll be making salsa verde tonight. It’s really quite convenient that I also harvested a bag of jalapeno peppers during the same trip to the garden.















3. Garlic
Though she may have crossed the line in doing my gardening for me on occasion, it turns out that my neighbor may have a point. Last fall, after moving away from many years on a farm into an urban house with a very small yard, I tried to compensate by planting my backyard full of garlic. This summer, when the garlic should have been pulled out of the ground and hung in a cool place to dry, I was busy living my new, urban life and didn’t get to it. Today when I went to see if all was lost, I found that my undug garlic bulbs had actually sprouted into a second generation. I decided to make the most of my inattentiveness and try an experiment—will pre-sprouted garlic cloves survive transplanting just before winter? I dug a few clumps of new shoots, separated them and replanted them in a different garden. They’re well mulched to keep the weeds out while I’m ignoring them next year. We’ll see how it goes.


















4. Horseradish
Another thing I inherited in my garden this year was a copious supply of horseradish. I’ve wanted to make horseradish sauce for a few years and never seem to get around to it so I decided this was my year.

















It’s really a very easy process. You dig up the roots, clean and peel them, blend them with water, drain the water off, pack the mush in a jar and top it off with vinegar. Apparently, the longer the ground horseradish is exposed to air, the more hot and pungent it gets due to some enzymatic process. So, well prepared cooks who manage to top their horseradish mush off immediately will end up with a milder version while disorganized folks with too little counter space who wait at least three minutes to get the vinegar poured will have a hotter product. I have a heck of a lot of horseradish now so I hope it’s tasty.









5. Herbs
I was going to write a little more abut drying herbs and how I killed half of my houseplants this week but there’s not really too much to say. I’ll leave it at this: Herbs are super easy to dry. If you have a garden or know of a garden that you can snip a few herbs from (thyme, sage and rosemary have all probably survived the frost we’ve had to date), snip a few, tie a string around them and hang them upside down until they’re crunchy. When they’re completely dry, pull them from their stems and store them in a lidded glass jar (they get dusty if you leave them hanging from the curtain rod in your kitchen all winter.) This also works with bunches of herbs you buy from the grocery and don’t use all of.


















And my poor houseplants. They’re dropping like flies. So far this week, I’ve lost my mint, a huge old aloe, and a lavender plant that had been doing SO well all summer.

















Perhaps it’s the aphids that I found on my pretty indoor pepper plant.

In the fridge

Another interesting? strange? internet trend is to post the contents of your fridge.
So here it is. Uncensored. Quite full from a recent grocery run and a few treats from my parent's Costco run.
























My god the condiments. Especially the hot sauces. What is wrong with us?
And I don't take responsibility for those Velveeta (i.e. emergency comfort grilled cheese) slices. Although I don't deny partaking.

Day of no multitasking

If you've ever done yoga or meditated, you know what not multitasking is like. The constant fight to be in the moment, not thinking or doing anything else... and failing... then trying again, and achieving moments of restful calm... before thinking about that email you need to send and what you're going to have for dinner.

Here are the things I didn't do today:
1. Read the newspaper while drying my hair and then eating breakfast
2. Listen to the radio while driving

















3. Open multiple programs or tabs on my computer, as best as I was able (Man, you have to try this one. It's comical).

















4. Do anything while eating lunch (Boring! I finally stopped halfway through and returned some email; then stopped and finished lunch.)

















5. Listen to the radio while driving home.
6. Listen to music or clean up while making dinner. (This was the hardest. I'm always putting away the dishes/sipping something/playing with CDs/cleaning/tidying while cooking... so it was really hard to just do one thing).
7. Do anything while eating dinner, alone. Damn.

I like experiments, so I think I'm going to try keeping up with some parts of this for a few more days to see how it goes. I feel like I noticed a lot more today, and felt calmer.

1+1=3?

First, a short quiz!

At this very moment, are you:
1. Eating or drinking
2. Listening to something
3. Keeping an eye of your email/IM/etc.
4. Toggling between reading blogs and your work.

If you can answer "none of the above," you win a prize.

I've always seen multitasking as 1+1=3, an efficient use of time that allows you to get much more done. Then I read Walter Kirn's article in the November 07 Atlantic Monthly.

According to Kirn, "Multitasking messes with the brain in several ways. At the most basic level, the mental balancing act that it requires--the constant switching and pivoting--energize regions of the brain that specialize in visual processing and physical coordination and simultaneously appear to shortchange some of the higher areas related to memory and learning. We concentrate on the act of concentration at the expense of whatever it is that we're supposed to be concentrating on."

He cites an experiment at UCLA that studied a group of 20-somethings who were asked to sort index cards in two trials, one in silence and one while listening for specific tones in a series of randomly presented sounds. The findings: "The subjects managed to sort the cards just as well with the musical distraction--but they had a much harder time remembering what, exactly, they'd been sorting once the experiment was over."

Also: "Certain studies find that multitasking boosts the level of stress-related hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline and wears down our systems through biochemical friction, prematurely aging us. In the short term, the confusion, fatigue, and chaos merely hamper our ability to focus and analyze, but in the long term, they may cause it to atrophy."

Scary stuff. Instead of learning to meditate, maybe we should start with trying to eat breakfast without reading the paper or watching TV.

TOMORROW: I put Kirn to the test, attempting A DAY WITHOUT MULTITASKING.

UPDATE: AP reported that someone she knew suffering from the early symptoms of Alzheimer's was told to multitask more! to ward off further regression. Cooking was recommended in particular. Interesting!

Oops

Things I have dropped down the bathroom sink:
1. Toothpaste caps (3)
2. Hair clip
3. The little silver "H" button that goes on top of the hot water tap
4. Eyeshadow brush

NaBloMoPo

A spinoff of NaBloMoPo this year is NaBloShoeMo: a daily picture of your shoes. I don't think I have 30 pairs of shoes, but to play along for just one day, here are a few samples from my closet:


















black metallic Privo Blink

















My latest running shoes: Asics Gel Kayano


















A blast from the past: purple foil Doc Martens


















Sock monkey slippers

Guest blogger! Husband on training movies

Today I bring you a special treat! Standing in for boring-ol-me is handsome and erudite Guest Blogger Husband.

Hi. This is Husband. As he with the ultimate capacity for self-destruction, the topic of my guest-blog (yes, we live in a society where that is an acceptable phrase) refers specifically to a subject where you feel as though you are doing something of observable benefit to the world but in point of fact are doing absolutely nothing.

Allow me to rephrase. I do not mean a task like alphabetizing your CDs or cleaning out your inbox. I mean doing something that while you feel you are making yourself a better person, you are actively making yourself feel worse and making your self-esteem look much more like self-loathing.

This quality is imperative in somebody with a high capacity for self-destruction. If this is something to which you aspire...read on (which guarantees you a spot in my camp). If you don't want to fall in a recursive loop, then go vacuum, rake, or fold something.

The point of this particular blog is to highlight the greatest training sequences in film (read: movies). I love training sequences. Male or female, something about watching somebody put themselves through hell to make themselves better and more fine tuned for the sport of their desire gives me warm fuzzies and makes me want to raise my fist in the air in exuberance (read: like Judd Nelson in The Breakfast Club).

The following is a list with some anecdotes as to why I love them and why you should watch them wearing appropriate workout gear and Protein Shake in one hand.

10. Personal Best. OK so this one is a little specious because it is basically a lesbian love story and as a boy of 14 when I first watched it on Bravo at 1:00 am, the running may have not been the center of my focus. However, I have watched this movie since, and found the desperation to improve one's physical performance (not in the sack...well...OK in the sack but that is not what I meant) quite inspiring. Lots of running much, much faster than I will ever run.

9. Major League. A comedy. I use that term loosely. I does contain a lot of actors. One who went on to play the President (in 24), one who killed vampires (in the Blade oeuvre...that's right oeuvre), one who starred in the Hot Shots movies and that guy from all of those things who you can never place. Anyway. You watch a band of mediocre baseball player train up to become a team (dammit) and kick some major tail. Some things that are important for the genre that we have learned from this movie. One: first basemen must be fat, rude, and spit tobacco. Two: women who own sports teams desire failure (I know...it's sad.) Three: all baseball players who are at all from the Caribbean are superstitious to the extent that they perform quasi voodoo rituals in the clubhouse, but can only truly succeed when one renounces one's traditions and adopt a more Judeo-Christian attitude (every bit as sad). The reason I love this is because it makes me want to strive.

8. Miracle. Come on. In addition to all of the awesome with the hockey it's all about people's dreams and aspirations. The only way the characters can obtain them is by kicking their own asses every day. I remember being totally inspired to kick ass while watching this move and eating potato chips, French onion dip and a bourbon and diet coke. Needless to say asses have yet to be kicked.

7. Rocky. This one is easy. Brother wants to kick ass in order to win the love of Talia Shire(!). I defy you to not feel like you want to be the most awesome person of all time after watching Sly drink four raw eggs and run up the stairs of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. After finishing the film for the first time I considered making my fight name the Norwegian Gelding....but I just couldn't pick what color robe so I abandoned it.

6. Spartacus. Ooh...Stanley Kubric...look at me being cinema savvy. But really, guys training together only to kill one another...awesome. Reminds me of middle school *rimshot*. Spartacus had a dimple in his chin...I have a dimple in my chin...I am Spartacus.

5. Karate Kid. So Ralph Macchio was 31 years old playing a 16 year old. Pat Morita was playing a somewhat embarrassing stereotype but damn. Wax-on wax-off. Paint the fence. Grab the fly with the chopsticks. That would definitely make me want to learn the damn crane kick and hit Johnny in the face. I cheered...but of course I was 9. Sweep the leg Johnny. Yes sensei indeed.

4. Chariots of Fire. Come on you know the ditty. Dun dun dun dun dun dunnnn. dun dun dun dun dunnnn. dun dun dun dun dun duh dunnnn. dun dun dun dun dun. doo doo doo doo do do do. doo doo doo do doo. doo doo doo doo doo doo doo. dun dun dun dun dun. I defy you to watch that movie and not sing that in your head at some point in the race.

3. Prefontaine. Jordan Catalano playing a distance runner (OK it was Jared Leto...but come on...brother will be 78 playing the senior Bowling with the Stars circuit and I will think of him as Jordan). This is the single most awesome running movie of all time that has nothing but terrible acting and an embarrassing script. That being said. If I were asked what I would rather watch right now: Citizen Kane, The Godfather, Apocalypse Now or Prefontaine...I would go with Pre every time. He runs a lot...he's good at it. It's awesome.

2. Remember the Titans. Denzel. (wait, read in movie trailer guy voice) In a world full of racial tension, two groups of players must come together for a common goal. With forced sentimentality and Disneyfied struggles and strife, we find that we are all the same. We all want to kick ass. With the ass kicking. Oh, Denzel's in it too. (end movie trailer guy's voice). Movie's awesome they have to work damn hard and they learn lessons about diversity. Love it.

1. Bend it Like Beckham. OK. So I know I mentioned Personal Best first which pushes my dirty-old-man meter to like 7.5. already, so a movie about attractive teenage women soccer players being my single favorite training sequence movie of all times probably makes me the guy you hope doesn't sit next you you on the bus. But I am admitting this to all 15 of you who read this. This is the movie that made me start running. She of the Stolen Bike and I saw this movie in the theatre in April of 2002. The next day I started running. After having finished four marathons and training for my fifth I think the inspirational qualities of this film could not be overstated. God bless you Keira Knightely.

Other movies worth noting for specious reasons. Marathon Man with Hoffman and Olivier...not about running but the Holocaust. Well, I know that now. Logan's Run, not about running...and pretty crap. Ran by Akira Kurosawa...actually a Japanese retelling of King Lear...very few instances of body glide or water stops. 300 - I really want computer generated abs...but hell...who needs a six-pack when I have a keg. Spider-Man - Peter figuring out his powers is cool...but he is a superhero who has probably not thought of the phrase "florp chafing." And last but not least ,the Joss Whedon oeuvre because its awesome.

So thus concludes my list of training awesomeness. Any time any of you want to watch any of these movies let me know...but make sure to bring workout clothes because I am powerless against their jazzercizing influence.

Thanks She of the Stolen Bike. It's been fun.

Signing off
Husband

Drinking local

I thought I was so clever when I realized that out of all the things you can't get locally, you can get one very important thing: vodka.

My celebratory jig was quashed when I remembered that vodka has two best buddies: tonic and limes. Decidedly not local.

Sigh.

Coffee, fixed

I'm sometimes late to the environmental game. While everyone else is warming up and getting ready to take the field, I'm still tying my shoes and fiddling with my glove.

I was convinced that part of the coffee experience was the paper cup. Its smooth clean white paper sliding against your thumb. The crisp logos, and even better, pretty holiday designs. I was so sure that I never even tried bringing my own stainless steel travel mug... until I was on my way to a camping trip a few weeks ago and realized that I already had my mug with me.

Shock: Coffee tastes better and stays hot longer in a travel mug.

If that weren't enough, today I noticed that local coffee shop charges me the small price, even though the mug holds at least a medium.

I'll be damned.

I'll give it back

Dear Daylight Savings Time,
Why do you bring so much joy on Sunday only to kick our asses the rest of the week? You freely give us that extra hour, then make us pay, pay, PAY!
With sorrow,
Tacohead

Up to her earrings in murky territory

I went to a women's conference today. There were a lot of tremendous things about it... but I couldn't decide what to think about the resource fair that took place right before lunch. It was one of those things with the booths and the drawings and free samples. I'm sure they let pretty much anyone who wants to pay to exhibit do so, but in between all the booths that seemed right (MBA programs, women's bookstores, health insurance), there were all these booths that seemed murky (spas, high-end purses) and the booths that seemed downright wrong (Mary Kay makeup, gimmicky soap).

Why is a spa OK but makeup not? Would it have been different if it were a high-end, mineral-based makeup? What about it being Mary Kay--is it a company that empowers women or exploits them in a sketchy pyramid scheme?
And am I being naive? Are makeup and purses really part of the businesswoman's attire, and therefore, no different than having a tie booth at a men's expo?

More Pillow Book

A few more lists from Sei Shonagon*:

64. Surprising and Distressing Things
While one is cleaning a decorative comb, something catches in the teeth and the comb breaks.
A carriage overturns. One would have imagined that such a solid, bulky object would remain forever on its wheels. It all seems like a dream--astonishing and senseless.
A child or grown-up blurts out something that is bound to make people uncomfortable.
All night long one has been waiting for a man who one thought was sure to arrive. At dawn, just when one has forgotten about him for a moment and dozed off, a crow caws loudly. One wakes up with a start and sees that it is daytime--most astonishing.

148. Pleasing Things
Finding a large number of tales that one has not read before. Or acquiring a second volume of a tale whose first volume one has enjoyed. But often it is a disappointment.
Someone has torn up a letter and thrown it away. Picking up the pieces, one finds that many of them can be fitted together.
A person of quality is holding forth about something in the past or about a recent event that is being widely discussed. Several people are gathered around him, but it is oneself that he keeps looking at as he talks.
I am most pleased when I hear someone I love being praised or being mentioned approvingly by an important person.
When one is competing in an object match (it does not matter what kind) how can one help being pleased at winning?

And another from me:

Things that make you feel virtuous
Having broken shoes repaired
Making and then drinking tea
Using an off-misused word correctly
Crossing something off a list
Throwing/recycling away empty shampoo bottles

*Ivan Morris translation

Christmas spirit

The holiday issue of Blueprint arrived on my desk with a thunk last week, and by the time I was halfway through the issue I was dreamily composing a wish list of holiday magic. At this time every year I fantasize about creatively wrapped presents, homemade goodies to give away, and gifts that are so well chosen they make the receiver weep with joy.

Yes, the holidays have arrived. Blueprint and Mighty Goods have published their gift guides. My parents have shared the family holiday travel schedule 2007 and reminded me that it's my turn for a real bed at the cabin... and that I may want to remind my brother of that well in advance.

What visions of sugar plums are dancing through your head? Finding the perfect Christmas tree? Crafting or cooking up homemade gifts? Really doing the whole holiday card thing right?

Running in the winter

As the weather gets cooler, a lot of people start heading indoors for their runs. But it can be done! I don't think it's as hard as people think. Here are some tips:

Tacohead's Guide to Running in the Winter
1. Start out slow so you don't get the burning throat thing. It is possible to run in cold weather without it! Just take it easy until your body warms up. Gaiters also help.
2. Where I live, most common running paths (lakes, etc.) are plowed regularly--after a snowstorm they're usually clear before the streets get plowed. Slipping and ice isn't as much as a problem as you'd think.
3. To ward off windburn, WarmSkin, available at local coops. Good enough for Ann Bancroft, good enough for me!
4. Favorite clothing options you may not have considered: SmartWool socks instead of your regular running socks, a gaiter (mine converts to a hat), and shirts with built in "hobo" gloves or thumb holes. Wind is also a huge factor, so consider a wind-proof layer.
5. When dressing or purchasing clothing, look for bright colors or reflective gear. Or, if you're bad at this like I am, then look for running companions who have bright/reflective gear!

MOST IMPORTANT THING NOT TO UNDERESTIMATE:
How tough and awesome you'll feel when your done! And no matter how cold you get, there's always that hot shower afterward.

Pillow book

Over a thousand years ago (c. 990), a woman in Japan named Sei Shonagon kept a series of diaries about her life serving as a lady-in-waiting to Empress Sadako. Heian court life is full of receiving and rejecting lovers, taking nature-viewing trips, and writing poetry, and Shonagon records and reflects on it all in her Pillow Book, a blogger before her time.

Shonagon is famous for her lists, which are surprisingly timeless.

For example:

54. Things That Give a Pathetic Impression*
The voice of someone who blows his nose while he is speaking.
The expression of a woman plucking her eyebrows.

63. Embarrassing Things
A man whom one loves gets drunk and keeps repeating himself.
To have spoken about someone not knowing that he could overhear. This is embarrassing even if it be a servant or some other completely insignificant person.
Parents, who are convinced that their ugly child is adorable, pet him and repeat the things he has said, imitating his voice.
An ignoramus who in the presence of some learned person puts on a knowing air and converses about men of old.
Lying awake at night, one says something to one's companion, who simply goes on sleeping.

Her work inspires me see lists wherever I look:

Things that are surprisingly sweet (if done by the right person)
Having something pressed into your palm
Being called "hon"
Receiving a hand-written letter
Having your birthday remembered
Being tucked in
Having something pinned on your lapel

*Ivan Morris translation

Monthly book post: October

October list:
Warm Springs: Traces of a Childhood at FDR's Polio Haven by Susan Richards Shreve. Shreve is a talented writer, and her short but incredibly rich account is as much about family dynamics, race, and human nature as it is about polio and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, two topics that are compelling enough on their own.

Here if you need me: A true story by Kate Braestrup. The story of a suddenly widowed mother of four who becomes a game warden chaplain in Maine. When loved ones go missing in forest or lakes, Braestrup is the one who stays with the family. With frankness sometimes even humor, the way she assesses and provides the needed comfort to families (and to her fellow officers) is nothing short of grace.

Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher. This sweet children's story deserves to be shelved alongside the works of L. M. Montgomery and Laura Ingalls Wilder. I can't remember where I just read about Fisher, but she's a fascinating woman, credited with bringing the Montessori tradition to the U.S.

Also read:
Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Novel by Leonie Swann (Yet another international best-selling mystery must lose something in translation).
The Headmaster Ritual by Taylor Antrim (Joins the list of books I wanted to throw across the room)
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards