Baby Deer and Rice and Beans

If you missed your dose of Cute Overload today, or even if you didn't, check out Mindy and Tim's latest Adventure in Homeowning:

Oh Deer!

It will make you kick yourself for not living in Monterrey, CA, where they have beautiful weather, breathtaking coastline views, superior food and wine, and also, apparently, helpful singing baby animals in every backyard. ("Lalala... we three deers... mow the yard... prance and sing... eat your lemon tree... [bluebird solo]...")

I guess they are only singing in my head.

Anthropomorphic!

My friend Julia recently accepted an offer to attend Columbia University's school for fancy writers in NYC. I am so proud of her! She also keeps winning prizes, which afford her the opportunity to schmooze with poets the likes of Naomi Shihab Nye, who called her writing "absolutely delicious." (Says Jason: "Naomi says that to everyone.")

Anyway, Julia's family is pretty great too. She recently e-mailed her big brother about her imminent life as a poor poet graduate student in NYC living on beans and rice.

"Awwww, Guez.." he writes back. "That is so great that you are being so optimistic. Really... rice with your beans?"

Back!

I know I haven't posted in a long time.

Sometimes that happens. It could happen again.

I just want you to be prepared for these things.

In the meantime, I have been watching this all day, every hour, on the hour:

Nerves of Bic

This pretty much sums up my life:



I have bitten off all my nails, and now I'm subconsiously drawing all over myself.

From what I can gather, my tool is not currently the sharpest in the shed. Maybe I need a vacation.

But my hair looks GREAT! (Because someone else cut it and all I had to do was sit there.)

So, internets!, how are YOU doing? Are you hanging in there? Are you eating well? I know that springing forward is a difficult transition, and the economy blows, but we will all get through it. Take a deep breath and put away the sharpie markers.

Love,
Mary

Yoga Cat

Thanks Jason!

Caroline said I should post so here goes

I am organizing the books on the shelves BY COLOR. Before it was by genre and then alphabetically but by color is sort of interesting. I'll never be able to find anything except the three copies of (the bright yellow) Love That Dog. Soon perhaps if there is popular demand I will tell you some of the anchor red, blue, yellow, green, black, tan books. But not on the iPhone. It is great in theory but sucky to write on.

Tataa
Mary

I Get Up and I Go

For the past month and a half, I've been working with a physical trainer at my local gym. It may be the best $2,000 I've ever spent. I wake up, I go, and I do whatever she tells me to do. Because when you're tired and hurting and your muscles are sore and you don't want to run anymore, the last thing you have energy to do is think through your next move and force yourself to finish x repetitions. There may be cheaper ways to lose weight, but I'm willing to spend the money in lieu of intrinsic motivation.

Now I just need a personal trainer for all the other parts of my life.

Your Life, For Sale (or Lease)

I found the online listing for my apt ("apart") today and it sort of creeped me out.

For one, the inside picture is not my apartment. It never was my apartment. It must be some other apartment. Some BORING apartment.

For two, there's no built-in-microwave. It's MY microwave and it's coming with me. Bitches.

For three, my landlord upped the rent by $55 dollars -- and that is already more than I could have paid had I signed a year lease agreement. So, a total increase of $75 dollars/month since December 1. (And when I rented the place, it was newly renovated and CHEAP(er).)

I was going to link to the post, but I still don't trust you internet jerks, even if I'm only living here a few more weeks.

But, according to the internet, it is "awesome" and "has it all." But, no microwave. You don't want my microwave, anyway, new renters. Many vegetables have died in there.

Ur Mah Cupcake

M: Is that cupcake for me?

J: What? No! You looked?

M: I mean... what's in the foil?

J: A cupcake. My mom made them for me.

M: And you brought one home for me?

J: No, I brought it home for me.

M: ...

J: What?

M: Can I have half? Can we share the cupcake?

J: No you can't have half.

M: You are sleeping on this couch tonight.

J: Me and my cupcake are sleeping on this couch tonight.

WE ARE MOVING

The long, frustrating, drama-laden search for a new apartment is over.

It's hella-scary and filled with trepidation, and we have to move on my BIRTHDAY WEEKEND which kinda sucks because it should be filled with champagne and raspberries and not lifting boxes, but it is OVER. So, let the adventure commence, Great Gatsby style.

I posted some pictures on flickr which is over there -->

I dig the heck outta those glass blocks and high ceilings.

Also, I dig the heck outta Jason. I think sometimes we both forget it in the fray.

This Will Change Your Life

ROASTED CHICK PEAS

Dried or canned

With garlic salt

(I don't think you need all that oil in link 2)

So good! They taste like popcorn!

I am going to try this with one of the seven cans of black beans in my pantry right now. Seriously, lady, quit it with the black beans.

In other news, did you know you could grill romaine lettuce?

Uh huh. The internet tastes like awesome.

Mr. Seven Sixty Three

Stolen from Kim, 'cause you gotta see this.

(Some explicit language.)

(Ok, a lot.)

Happy New Year's Eve! Chili Day Take 4

Look at these lovely cranberry beans soaking for tomorrow's chili! In a pink bowl!



I am not a huge fan of black eyed peas so we are making a new tradition. These beans are especially gorgeous bought fresh, which mine are not, but check them out in their spotty pods.

Jason suggested making a Tabasco cream sauce but IKEA scale says I am officially FAT so I will be eating mine simply, with some lemon and herbs, per the Eat to Live guide. I suppose it is not strictly chili, but it is beans and so we press on.

I think I did pretty well for December blogasm. I missed some days but did not beat myself up about it. In the spirit of success and new chances, here are a few modest resolutions:

-Eat better and move more. Now that I know I have a good 50 pounds to lose (the internet says I am officially "obese" which is something of a wake-up call) I'm resolved to cram myself full of beans and vegetables until I can at least qualify for "pudgy" again -- and maybe less.

-Reclaim my hobbies. I love to knit but it all has been stuffed in the closet for so long that it is hard to get started on anything. Likewise, I am a huge theater buff but I rarely go to shows anymore. It is desirable to spend money on things that will make me happy and more interesting.

-Do not sweat the small stuff. 'Cause, you know, it's all small stuff.

Happy new year to all!

Chili Week Day 2 - Dumplins

3 bean chili with corn dumplings, from Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker.

This is so neat because it cooks all day (or, night, as the case may be) and then you drop the dumplings in during the last 45 minutes and they cook right in the pot.

Nom!

Chili Week! Day 1

Sunday: steamer broccoli; Hormel chili in a can

Questionable Gifts for Your Formerly Vegetarian Friends and their Omnivore Children

Hubert the Pudge might be considered hilarious or it might get you off the xmas list permanently.

Let's find out!

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Benji Bean Sprout Doesn't Eat Meat
Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon