A Good Pupil

Lately, I've been noticing that the pupils of my eyes seem abnormally dilated, without the influence of drugs, alcohol, or medicine.

And at first, I summed it up to the company I was with at the time (which still applies).

But then, I noticed it happening more frequently, and in a variety of contexts. And I realized: this is what my eyes look like.

This is what my eyes look like when they are letting the light in. When they are seeing and are wildly attracted to the world.

Cheers

Do you remember how, last year, I proclaimed this champagne the "best champagne ever"?



Well I went looking for it at Spec's today and found it, and then a Spec's employee helped me find the smaller bottles (because it is hella expensive). I picked it up and I'm standing there and he waits a minute and says, "Actually... can I make a recommendation?"

And he tells me to try this stuff instead:



He tells me that it's infinitely better, cheaper, and that after I drink it I will never go back to that Orange label swill again.

I am in the market for other beverage and life recommendations, if any of you would like to make them, oh ye people who know things about things.

Let's try new champagne this year. Let's act like a grown-up and discover wonder again all at the same time. Let's pursue joy until our hearts are just full of it, and let us be gentle with ourselves and others.

On a scale of 1 to 10

Dad says:
I’m a cat... no wait, now I’m a bunny.

I say:
Haah! I was thinking, "On a scale of 1 to 10, I'm Debbie Harry" but thought I should shut up and listen for a minute. I also don't know where Ms. Harry falls on that scale but I have been listening to a lot of Blondie.

...

Just play the game how it's meant to be played, jokers.

Things I Have Been Thinking About

1. This poem:

The Quicksand Builders

The quicksand builders built
against the Folly of All.
They built from ancient custom.
They built for the good of the Wall.

As fast as they built, it sank,
and as fast as it sank, they built.
They felt no loss or sorrow,
no residue of guilt.

As long as they stayed on the job,
there was hope that the job would go.
The common people knelt
and prayed to the gods below.

The builders knew no gods
could save like a hard bed of silt,
and as fast as they built, it sank,
and as fast as it sank, they built.

-William Logan

2. This picture:



3. Not much else.

True, that.

"Sit down! You bewilder me," said the Duke. "Explain yourself!" he commanded.

"Isn't that rather much for a man to ask of a woman?"


--From Zuleika Dobson by Max Beerbohm.

True Stories

i.

Don't ask for the true story;
why do you need it?

It's not what I set out with
or what I carry.

What I'm sailing with,
a knife, blue fire,

luck, a few good words
that still work, and the tide.



-Margaret Atwood

Wrong Email Address

Gary wants me to come on Friday, and bring chicken (oops, too late)

Prof. Wolf's assistant would like to know if she will be brought to dinner directly from her plenary, or like, what.

An unknown phone # texted my email address to say "BRISTOL HAS TO GO! DID YOU SEE THAT?!?"

Deaona says: Happy anniversary! She says that Jackson will be Darth Vader this year as he is really into Star Wars.

Kelly says Happy Birthday and welcome to your 40s!

Jean & Don sent a very involved holiday schedule. For example: 12/11 is Grandaddy's Christmas, unless he calls it off. This will include Aunt Judy, Aunt Kay, etc. And whomever he chooses. For the Jean family, gifts will be for children only (Michael, Mathew, Meagan, Mason, Ava, Kayden, Riley, Joey, Duncan and Madilynn). Grandaddy will make his own choices and decisions.

...

They become white noise, easily passed by in the "not for me" 2 second skim.

Each misdirected; each remarkable in its own way.

Siam, favorite photos.

Look how excited we both are to be going to the park with Jason. Positively glowing!


When Siam and Jason moved in with me, and I would get home first--there was a whole lot of this: waiting at the door for Jason.


One of my favorite pictures ever. The animals never reached the "snuggle" stage like I hoped but it only took a few months for them to get used to each other in a "mutually-respecting-your-personal-space" type way. I was floored and so so happy to find them both chilling on the bed this day.


Christmas morning 2009 at Jason's mom's house in north Texas. It snowed.



We love you and we miss you, buddy dog.

Tomato part deux

Mary: Buddy! Buddy we have a problem.

Jason: I doubt that.

M: I can't put the tomato in the tomato holder because the tomato holder is already holding a tomato.

J: So put it in a bag.

M: Oh, like this bag here that was holding the tomato before I moved it to the tomato holder?

J: ...

M: This is really happening.

Whole Wheat Hater

(Sent to me via e-mail; note commentary which I have italicized here)

pasta rosa verde
Makes: 4 servings
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

8 ounces whole wheat (yeah, right... -J) penne pasta
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 to 6 medium tomatoes, seeded and coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)
3 cups arugula, watercress, and/or spinach, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
2 tablespoons crumbled Gorgonzola or other blue cheese

Directions
1. Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and keep warm.
2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute the onion and garlic until the onion is tender. Stir in the tomatoes, salt, pepper, and red pepper, if using. Cook, stirring, about 2 minutes, until the tomatoes are warm. Mix in the arugula, watercress, or spinach and heat until just wilted.
3. Spoon the pasta into bowls and top with the tomato mixture. Sprinkle with the toasted pine nuts and cheese.


nutritional facts
362 calories, 12g protein, 55g carbohydrate, 12g fat (2g saturated), 5g fiber

Hello!

I happened to be in the neighborhood, and thought I'd stop by and say hi.

Hi!

How are you?

I am doing great.

Quick trip to Baltimore this week and saw many wonderful people I am so glad to see. And missed some, which is always sad, but inevitable.

And, considering I had a bonafide panic attack about a week before takeoff, not too shabby.

Mary, get a grip.

BABIES! Let's have babies.

A few "when are you getting married" inquiries this week, which was weird. Why would I want to do that? Other people do that, and I am happy for them. But, no thank you.

However, babies, YES.

I hope it is ok to ignore babies and carry them around in a bag for five months, because that is what I have done with my work responsibilities. UNTIL NOW! We never stopped getting things done, but now we will get them done with confidence. And less stress. Because we can access the appropriate folder. Uh-huh. For future reference, the appropriate folder is not that shady area of the brain where you try to store all important information including names, dates, places, things you are supposed to do, things other people are supposed to do, and things that need to be done but you are not really sure what to do or who should do it and then it all gets displaced by something mindblowing on Star Trek: TNG.

That poker game!!! Deja vu and altering your current reality! Crazytown.

Well, this was fun. Take care, blogosphere. Until the next bloggy business...

Sam Beard

Sam Beam, I love you, but I don't want to make out with you.

(Shave your beard.)

Upwards Over The Mountain

(Not the Austin City Limits version, which is amazing and not anywhere available on the internet. Check PBS.)

I Love This. Sign me up for Bible School.

"Don't worry about tomorrow, This is not a suggestion, but a command. I divided time into days and nights, so that you would have manageable portions of life to handle. MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU, BUT ITS SUFFICIENCY IS FOR ONLY ONE DAY AT A TIME. When you worry about the future, you heap day upon day of troubles onto your flimsy frame. You stagger under this heavy load, which I never intended you to carry."
Matthew 6:34, 2 Corinthians 12:9

#misdirected-emails-thanks

You Say Tomato...

M: I need you to get on board with me on something.

J: Ok, what's that?

M: The leftover onion... is in the tomato holder. It looks like a tomato, but it is an onion.



J: No.

M: What?

J: 1. It needs to be refrigerated, and 2. it will ruin the plastic and smell like onion forever.

M: Well, GEEZ, ok.

J: It's in there now?

M: I'm MOVING it. I thought I was making a funny, but apparantly I am causing a vegetable disaster.

J: You should put it in an onion holder.



M: I don't have an onion holder. I have a tomato holder. That was holding an onion. That is now going in a plastic bag.

J: Well, you should get an onion holder.

M: YOU should get an onion holder.

Don't show your neck around here anymore

Subject: Dress Code
From: Les to bob, Lynn, mark, me
9:03 PM (21 minutes ago)

"Bob please inform gail of Ross s surname who played at quinns last night as I gave him his first warning for not wearing a collared shirt."

-------------------------------

OHHHHHHHHH SNAP.

(file under misdirected e-mails)