kentucky in maine

Don't You Want My Teeth

2009-11-14T10:33:00.005-05:00

Salt-encrusted skin, tangled hair, sore legs, soaked clothes, broken necklace: a great dance night. Shawn Saindon plays a great mix of 80's and modern stuff (from the Human League to M.I.A.)

Maybe the world didn't need a close-up of this guy's teeth. Great song, though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPudE8nDog0

and then i remembered i wasn't in Portland

2009-08-14T18:19:00.000-04:00

I saw what I thought was the most hilarious bumper sticker in Bath the other day: "Thank you, George Bush, for protecting our country."

Oh.

Vacation plans fo Vacationland

2009-08-14T17:02:00.009-04:00

Things I plan to do next week:
-be a beach bum DONE
-buy some pretty lingerie DONE
-go to Old Orchard beach or Canobie Lake and ride the rides SCHEDULED
-get a new cowgirl hat
-go camping
-swim in a lake or river DONE
-loiter at Arabica and the Hilltop
-ride my bike all over the place ON-GOING
-play some guitar
-work in my garden DONE
-throw a baseball
-play lawn games
-hike a mountain DONE
-look for gems
-get a fabulous haircut from Kate at Head Games
-watch barnacles eat
-search for starfish
-nap in a meadow
-finish my book
-eat pancakes DONE
-have a campfire and s'mores
-make a ridiculously amazing meal DONE
-start a new craft project
-bake a pie PLANNED
-drink lots of beer and vacationy-drinks, too ON-GOING

Who's in?

Portland, how I love you

2009-05-07T20:55:00.002-04:00

Two best things I've seen lately:

1. Tin foil guy in a suit, sans tin foil, looking for the speed-dating at the Empire.
2. Pigeon guy, looking as if he's experiencing the rapture as about 6 pigeons land on him while biking on Congress.

Sullen child

2009-03-04T08:03:00.000-05:00

This is a repeat from my FB status that's absolutely worth repeating:
Saw this note taped to a first grader's shirt today:

Don tok
tome
rit nao.

It's not scientifically proven, but

2009-02-03T10:24:00.001-05:00

women with glasses have a definite disadvantage when it comes to shaving legs.

Walk Along Casco Bay, Jan.

2009-01-06T12:57:00.004-05:00

Bay: Pantone PMS 300
Staghorn sumac berries against the water: Pantone PMS 186

Rugged, determined stubs of apple tree twigs make me think of penguins huddled together in winter, or the lone horse standing still in a bleak field peering out only through eyelashes of tight-pressed lids: "I will get through this."

Bright sun.

A cloud of government-check-cigarette smoke from the chain smoker in the wheelchair at the edge of the beach. Baked beans. Diesel fuel, plowing the last edges of the trail. A bufflehead dips into the blue paint.

resolutions

2009-01-06T09:54:00.003-05:00

1. To play more games. People keep snickering when I say this. Games bring joy into my life, why should I not want to play more? Cribbage, backgammon, euchre, Shanghai rummy--all good times. Played scrabble on Jan. 3. Need some stiff competition, if anyone wants to lend themselves.

2. To learn to bake homemade bread very well. I got a good start on Jan. 2 making homemade sunflower bagels. They were very good, chewy on the inside, crunchy outside, if a bit on the thin side. Oh, and dropping them in the oven onto the hot coils kinda blew.

3. To get new baking pans that I don't drop.

4. To organize my craft area and use up most of the old stuff.

5. To overcome my songwriting block. The first step is recording what I've already written!

Southerners vs. Yanks, cont'd

2008-12-01T08:27:00.004-05:00

Things I will never understand about northerners:

8. Restaurant service. I will not go on a rant here, but maybe, once, you should go out to eat in the south and you will weep to return to a restaurant in Yankee world.

9. They don't realize that putting spaghetti noodles in chili is perfectly normal.

Things I love about them:

5. There's a certain independence or DIY-ness here. It's quite charming and very useful. I am not sure that I have ever met a Mainer, for example, whose parents don't "put up" food for the winter in loads of canning jars.
6. I like about Maine that the world does not stop in the event of a snowstorm. In Louisville, they predict a few inches, and the Kroger's is literally cleaned out of milk, meat, and bread (apparently the essentials.) The city shuts down. In Maine, you get a foot, most people still have to go to work. Oh, well that part sucks, but the rest I like.

A thrill of hope

2008-11-30T22:54:00.002-05:00

I have been practicing singing and playing "Oh Holy Night" for Christmas carols. Jon remarked that he preferred the less religious carols. While I do not consider myself a religious person, I do love the beautiful songs and do not want to shy away from them because they are religious. After all, I am a bluegrass musician, we like the old-timey gospel stuff.

Then I listened to the words:

"A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices-for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!"

What a gorgeous thought. A friend remarked that it reminded her of Obama. Listening to only those words--not the rest about the Saviour, etc--there is a nice bit of truth to that.

We certainly live in a weary world. How beautiful the idea that for this weary world, there might possibly be a thrill of hope. Whatever that hope is, it is lovely.

Southerners vs. Yanks

2008-11-26T17:52:00.003-05:00

...part one of many, I am sure.

There are several things I will never understand about Mainahs:

1. Why they insist on complaining about the weather unless it is 76 degrees. Otherwise, it's either too cold, too hot, too cold in the shade, too hot in the sun, etc. Um, you live in MAINE.

2. Why they insist on eating fruit that is not remotely close to being ripe, and then they insist that it's really good. Peaches, nectarines, and pears should absolutely never crunch. And no, they are not good that way.

3. Why they insist on eating huge holiday dinners at 2 PM. Why not at a regular meal time, so your body is actually hungry when you eat? And so you don't get a weird hunger pang at 9 PM?

4. Why they really don't say much ever. Believe it or not, in the south, we actually do care how the people in the coffee shop line are doing. We actually do call lots of people, "Honey," and we actually bond over things like the grocery store being out of pecans.

5. Why they say they don't like grits. Most of the time, they have never had grits. (Once they try some cheese grits with garlic, like any smart person, they realize their folly.)

6. Why they don't pay attention to basketball. I understand that they don't have great college teams to rally around like we do in Louisville (go Cards!), but UMass is good, and being from Boston has not stopped the Red Sox from being the object of many a Mainer's affection. I ask this in true astonishment: how can anyone watch the thrilling action on the NCAA courts and not get totally wrapped up in March Madness?

7. Allen's Coffee Brandy.

8. Why they don't see the importance of serving bread warm as opposed to at room temperature.

OK, on the flip side, here are some things I love about Mainahs:

1. They tend, and I do say tend (ahem), to mind their own business when it comes to whom you worship, to whom you are attracted, and the color of your skin. At least they tend more than the south.

2. They know how to make some good chowder.

3. They like their beer strong and flavorful. Mmmmmmmmmm Geary's. Southerners are pretty darn attached to their cans of Bud Light.

4. They are not afraid to eat their own lobster.

A wish list...

2008-11-25T10:23:00.003-05:00

..that has nothing to do with gifts, and yet is still completely self-centered.

1. I wish that predictive text weren't so prudish as to not have in its dictionary words like, "pissed" and "damnit."

2. I wish that Veggie Sausage weren't so expensive.

3. I wish that there were a faucet in my apt. that would pour bourbon.

4. I wish that I had planted butternut squash and a few more beets this summer.

5. I wish that people from my past did not think it is OK to scan pictures of me from age 15 and post them to facebook.

6. I wish that we could claim Thanksgiving as a "friend" holiday without insulting our families.

7. I wish that one could choose a few default dreams to re-dream at night upon demand, especially when one is dreaming about fending off child murderers.

8. I wish that Mabel were not a "sinker".

9. I wish that I had a job whose contribution to society were greater than the ability to make a good latte.

10. I wish that there were a radio station that played music that might challenge the masses.

my xmas list

2008-11-21T22:26:00.003-05:00

1. Still looking for that air-brushed t-shirt that says "Tooken" on it.
2. A second earring to match the one I lost, made by the very talented local artist Alicia Allen
3. A jar of Smith's Family Farm yogurt.

Considering no one we know has any money right now, I guess that'll just about do it. Although there are plenty of free things I would love for Xmas:
-rock and roll band of my very own
-a question
-a gift card for a one on one day with some very busy friends
-jobs for the several people I know who really need them
-Upping the amount of funny stories, smiling eyes, occasional southern accents, and bone-crushing hugs that help me get through my days.

Cheap Living

2008-11-10T11:01:00.003-05:00

Hey, anyone hear about the times lately? They're tight. Jon and I are on a semi-spending freeze. Which means that we are not spending money outside of necessities (a loose word in our book.)

When I was a student I learned some ways one can conserve money while still consuming lots of the all-important carbs. While I do not advocate dumpster diving (gross), with a little of the Artful Dodger in you, you can eat quite a few meals for free.

Openings: art openings, grand opening celebrations, book signings, ribbon cuttings, any kind of community celebration. There is always free food at these and often free wine. First Friday art walk is a good choice for even supplementing the carbs with some protein-rich cheese. But you have to get there early. Just think, you could eat for free and culture yourself at the same time.

Jobs: There are two kinds of jobs in which free food is available. The first is, obviously, a food service job. (I highly recommend working for a local company vs a chain restaurant for many reasons, not the least being that large corporations often do not include free meals in their benefits.) The second is a job at a place that hosts a lot of events, meetings, workshops, etc. I worked at a National Park for a year and ate so many free bagels, muffins, and scones, and an occasional score of a veggie wrap left behind that I gained several pounds.

Church: Almost always, where one finds God, there is also coffee and donuts.* (The exception being Catholics--they're pretty hit and miss on the donuts.) Many churches give out free food as well. The pastor at the church across the street once said to me, "Excuse me, are you homeless? Cause this is for the needy!" My response (in my head, as I was too shocked and embarrassed to speak) was two-fold: "Uh, lady, this is a residential neighborhood. And, yes, I am needy, I am unemployed and have a $40,000 student loan and my rent is through the roof. It's Portland. Heard this story before?"

*The problem with this is that they do it after church so you have to praise the Lord to get the donuts! If you're stooping this low, you might as well wander your way into weddings and funerals too! I can assure that my family is so large no one would ever notice that there was an unfamiliar face.

Greedrinks: Could it be any better? The second Tuesday of every month, Greendrinks rocks again with free beer and free food and a lovely crowd of eco-conscious folks! Tomorrow it's at the Maine Rock Gym. Happy hour time.

More cheap living skills soon to come.

pro-life

2008-10-06T12:25:00.004-04:00

I recently received an email from someone I know. It was a thinly-veiled pro-life video encouraging me to "vote my conscience". Great, thanks, I will!

In the video, there is a picture of-you guessed it-a fetus, with the words, "Some issues are more important."

I do not ask this question as an attack, but because I seriously want to know: Why is an unborn baby more important than a living child? Because, if I voted for McCain and Palin, the policies they promote will hurt living children. For example, McCain promises a $5000 tax rebate for every family so they can buy insurance. The average premium for a family, according to this website is over $12,000. That's not doing much for families who make too much to qualify for state funded health care, but who cannot afford insurance (and who can at that cost?) and don't get it at work.

Other Republican policies leave children behind. Let's take a look at No Child Left Behind. A great idea, but the federal government has failed to fund this, leaving states to fund it themselves (they have to!) and therefore cutting costs in other ways (like shortening the week to four days!!!!) that drastically affect the education system in our country. Better educating kids can help them to climb out of poverty, but that takes funding, and right now Republican policy is more concerned with funding "rebuilding" in Iraq, a country that has a very large surplus, according to Barack Obama and this article.

So, when I think about voting my conscience, I know I want to cast a vote that will help our country now, and for the future. I strongly believe that the future of our country lies in providing an opportunity for our youth to be well-educated and healthy. And that is why my conscience tells me to vote for Obama/Biden.

short list

2008-10-04T15:33:00.001-04:00

thing i like:
squashing fallen cherries while walking home on Vesper St.

thing I dislike:
foam soap

Maine, the way life is.

2008-09-20T13:49:00.002-04:00

I have succumbed to the Maine way of life, and become a patcher. Meaning: I have a myriad of jobs that I patch together. And they are all very unique and interesting. Over the course of a month, I will have been paid to be:
1. Assistant Manager of the Portland Observatory
2. A Barista
3. An afterschool teacher
4. A pie-maker
5. A model
6. An elected official
7. A field hockey coach
8. A musician

While the lifestyle can be a little harrowing, it is always full of surprises, many of them pleasant. Take modeling, for example. Craigslist gigs is a great place to find very short-term work, usually involving getting paid very well to pass out promotional shwag or talk very enthusiastically in a focus group about breakfast cereals or such. Recently there was a post for a size 14 model. I looked at the listing, as I sometimes wear a size 14. It was a yarn company in Portland, and I wrote them to say that while I was not a model, I was a knitter, and I would be happy to be their size 14. Well, to make a long story a little shorter, after sending them some completely unprofessional pictures taken by Jon at Kettle Cove, my mom at the Aquarium, Mandy at my Derby party, and Darcy for my campaign, they hired me!

I was to be picked up, along with the size 18 model, and driven to New Harbor for the photo shoot for Classic Elite Yarn's Curvy Knits pattern catalog. I got in the car and a gorgeous woman with an equally gorgeous name, Ondine, introduces herself to me. When I ask her what she does for a living and she responds with something like, "Fashion designer and model," I begin to think that this adventure might involve a little more than some little yarn company taking my picture.

We pull into a driveway of a rented farmhouse on a hill overlooking New Harbor, about as picturesque as it gets. I meet the make-up artist and the stylists and am asked to try on several knitted garments with a mess of clothes with tags still on (all "borrowed" from some big stores.) Then the stick thin models walk in wrapped in blankets, shivering from their "spring" photo shoot down on the water. They quickly get naked, change outfits, the make-up artist gets very concerned about their wind-blown hair, and off they go for another shoot. I read for about 30 minutes (I was told to bring a good book), and then it's time for my face to become a canvas.

The make-up artist plucks, shapes, trims, gels, and pencils my brows. Then she puts layers and layers of make-up on my face, curls my hair, and uses about a half a bottle of hairspray for my half-updo. I put on the salmon colored knit tunic (NOT at all my favorite color, but it was matched with accessories that I chose!) and I am instructed to walk and skip in a swingy way through a field while the photographer's assistant walks beside me with a screen filling in shadows and the photographer shoots picture after picture after picture.

I remove the tunic, leggings (which fit perfectly and I got to keep!), and boots, and change into a loose cotton dress and a silky periwinkle cardigan (again, so not my color). We went to set up the shoot while Ondine was putting on a beautiful green lacy cardigan for her next shoot. Apparently the photographer was so happy with the look of our practice shoot that she decided to shoot it for real, in between the make-up artist running in and spraying my hair again and again. I had to hold some flowers, flirt with the assistant, play with my hair...

It was all so surreal. I was a model! For realz! Apparently I did so well the photographer had no idea it was my "first" time (I say that in parentheses because--as if I am going to become a model!) And I got paid good money for it! Of course, I will post some photos when I get them.

Heh. Maine.

seasons and change and me feeling blue about it

2008-08-21T12:39:00.003-04:00

Can it really be? The chill in the air...hot in the sun, cold in the shade...is summer really coming to an end? Did we even have a summer?

I love fall. But this year, I am not ready for it. Not yet, and I will go down fighting. On top of the usual Maine winter, we had a pretty crappy spring. Then, after a glorious start to summer's immortal days of sun and breeziness and wildflowers and limey drinks, it started to rain. For, um, a month or so? Many of us die hard ocean dippers even became wussified.

And I start to ask myself: why in the world do I live here? Where it's cold 8 months out of the year and summer, if you're lucky, lasts maybe 2. Where you even have to wait till May for daffodils and then it all goes so fast.

When I go home for the all-too-rare visit to the hot hot south, it seems as if I've waited my whole lifetime for one bite of that juicy,ripe peach; for that one encompassing whiff of sweet magnolia breeze.

O.M.G.

2008-08-11T22:26:00.003-04:00

The fabulous blog thingsyoungerthanmccain.com has a video on which McCain refers to "Vladimir Putin, president of Germany."

OH MY GOD!!!!

How...oh, forget it, I've said it before.

I love Maine food

2008-07-28T20:21:00.002-04:00

Sigh...For years I have wanted to rid my life of plastic. Cloth bags are easy. Many foods are not. Try finding yogurt and cottage cheese in glass! Well, after years of longing, I finally found local yogurt in glass jars! Smith Family Farm, on Mount Desert Island, makes the most delicious organic yogurt. If you're used to the over-sugared (or aspartamed) glorified candy that most grocery-store yogurt is (27 grams of sugar in yogurt!) it will taste different: it is not pasteurized and has not traveled to New Jersey and back. But once you get used to that tangy taste (which is amazing mixed with a bit of Jon's parents homemade rhubarb jam!), you will not want to eat that store stuff again.

The best part about this is that my friend ordered it from the buying club for me and so it was only $3 a quart--about the same as what I used to buy in the store.

Yay for local foods. Yay for Maine for supporting this kind of stuff. We are so lucky to have lots of glass-jar milk around (I love you Smiling Hill Farm!) Yay for glass jars that can be returned and used again!

hahaha

2008-07-26T08:42:00.001-04:00

Go to Cake Wrecks for a good laugh.

GET A BIKE!

2008-07-22T20:08:00.004-04:00

Carpooled to work today. Biked home.

-Saved 1/2 gallon of gas on round trip commute: $2.05 saved
-Calories burned: 426.
-Time spent biking: 40 minutes. In a car, it takes 20 minutes to get there, so I spent a net time of 20 minutes. Time usually spent going to gym to burn 426 calories (including transit): 1.5 hours.

So, I saved money, time, and auto emissions today. By the way, biking to work wakes you up more than coffee.

GET A BIKE!

Would someone give McCain a map?

2008-07-22T20:01:00.004-04:00

John McCain claims to be the candidate with foreign affairs experience. But, he needs a lesson in geography! In one video posted to thingsyoungerthanmccain.com, he mentions the "Iraq-Pakistan border!" In another he refers to, in present tense, Czechoslovakia!

Now, if I go to an doctor who claims to have experience in eyes (i.e., an eye doctor), I would certainly want him to know where my iris is.

Just a thought.

Oh, by the way, don't vote for this guy.

Farm Camp

2008-07-21T22:39:00.006-04:00

This summer I am working at Farm Camp. Here are some highlights and things I have learned:

-Pigs are extremely loud and will risk shock by electric fence just to get some new scenery. I recently re-read Animal Farm and the pigs now disturb me. However, they are just as afraid of large bugs as people are.

-Chickens are disgusting. But their eggs are so tasty they are worth it.

-I gave a five year old boy a time out. He got upset and started looking around the forest floor to find something to poison me with. Originally he wanted to poison me for 3 years but upon second thought he settled for 3 days. I really wanted him to find a mushroom to see how he might trick me into eating it.

-extra cool things found in the pond:
salamander larva

black-crowned night herons
and hog dragonfly nymphs that eat everything in sight. I could spend the whole day watching the violence! Today two dragonfly nymphs were fighting over the same prey and one tried to eat a frog!

(Dragonfly nymphs are a young stage in metamorphosis that live in water. They can extend their lower jaw about a third the length of their body and can eat things bigger than themselves!)

-Lambs are amazing. They instinctively know that if they say "Baaa" when we leave them it makes the kids very happy. One kid told me he spoke sheep, so he translated for me. Apparently when we leave the lambs and they say Baaa they are actually saying "Bye." In Sheep.

-And lambs' lips tickle your hand when they eat grain out of it.

-If you give a little girl a big flower her face will light up and make you feel like a million bucks. All for one flower.

-Some kids just seem to know when you are about to lose your mind. Then they run up to you, throw their arms around you and kiss you and say, "I yuv you!" Yay.

bikes bikes bikes

2008-07-21T22:26:00.002-04:00

I think people should ride bikes way more often. Let's put the environmental, economic, and health benefits aside, and talk about fun. Riding a bike makes you feel like a kid again. Seriously! Try it! and then try with no hands! Ride to somewhere fun like the beach or the movies or the sprinkler park or the bar. To maximize kid-feeling-ness, wear flip-flops or cowboy boots and even a skirt. (I vouch that it is entirely possible to ride across town comfortably in cowboy boots.) Also, riding with lots of friends in a bike gang is pretty rad and you feel like you should be in an after-school special where you make fun of some kid, calling him "King of the Flots" until you learn that he's pretty cool after all.

I'll tell you what makes me feel damn cute: when I ride my bike to my garden, fill my bike basket with beets and collards and sunflowers and daisies, and then ride home with the basket overflowing. I would post a picture but I have not figured out how to safely take a picture of myself whilst riding a bike. Someone should take a picture, though: Munjoy Hill--are you listening??

John McCain's so hip

2008-07-04T09:59:00.001-04:00

This video was posted on the blog ThingsyoungerthanMccain.com. It's a great blog. And the guy is right, the video starts getting funny around 2:30, so you might as well just skip ahead.

On another note, it has been a month since my last entry. June was a crazy month, but there is a lot to write about. More soon.

Thank you!

2008-06-04T08:30:00.002-04:00

Thank you America. I am very excited. For the first time in my life, I will fill in that circle in November with a smile on my face, knowing that I am voting for a candidate that has a strong chance of winning and that will be able to take our country in a positive direction. It's been a while since we went in a positive direction.

On a less serious note, I got so many lovely, thoughtful, fun, handmade or at least hand-chosen gifts for my birthday and it was one of the best birthdays ever!

birthday!!

2008-05-31T12:16:00.002-04:00

So far, I have had an amazing birthday weekend! And it's only halfway over! My lovely friend Daisy came in town and we got to spend some good QT together watching Sex in the City with a theater full of ooh-ing and ah-ing women. Plus my brother and niece are coming in town this week! Plus this morning I got flowers from the mum and pop. But the best part was the birthday gift left in my living room this morning from Jon. True to form, he got me something extremely practical, something he knew I would use every day, something I really needed. True to form, he didn't wrap it. With a nod to my recent wishes for something sparkly and expensive...he got me a gold sparkly BIKE!!! I feel like I'm 12 again! I got a bike for my birthday!

I love it. Love love love. Summer is here and I am gonna be a super fast bike riding machine!

Obama and McCain - The Art of Speech

2008-05-24T22:23:00.001-04:00

I wish they had commented on Hilary Clinton's speech. Not only do I like Barack Obama's political stance, but I just love listening to him speak. It's time we had a president who can deliver a great speech, one that will be remembered not for its grammatical errors, mispronunciations, or half-truths, but for its inspirational quality.

Plus, come on, it's funny.

My new favorite blog:

2008-05-12T20:01:00.000-04:00

http://www.thingsyoungerthanmccain.com

Also, if you haven't yet, check out stuffwhitepeoplelike.com

glasses

2008-05-11T09:48:00.002-04:00

Some of you might have heard that I broke my glasses down the middle recently. Apparently wiping them off was a hazard. Anyway, it's time for a new pair. I guess I could superglue them, but I have wanted a new pair for a while anyway. As I have no insurance and am low on flow, I am going to try the online thing. My friend Amanda did it and she was very pleased with the results. Plus, the online thing doesn't require a current prescription! I know my vision hasn't changed in about 10 years, so why do i need to pay a doctor $180 for her to tell me that! Anyway, what do you think of these?

oh, love!

2008-05-09T08:00:00.002-04:00

There is a lot in my life that's exciting right now, not the least of which is my new garden plot! I have been waiting for SIX YEARS for a plot in this community garden, across the street from the East End Community School (the country's first public Expeditiary Learning Elementary School, where I would be very excited to send my kids someday.) So, finally, I get not just any plot, but apparently the guy before me was the best gardener in there. That might mean I have a lot to live up to, considering it's my first garden ever, but it also means that the soil is amazing, chock fulls of shells and worms, well-tilled, and hardly any weeds from the winter compared to my neighbor gardens. Also, I inherited sunflowers, onions, chives, and some squash! I would love to wait and see what else comes up, but there is a rule that we have to plant by May 15. And with this gorgeous weather we've been having, and with the view from my garden of the Back Cove (I've seen several bald eagles soaring over the cove), I can't stay away!

There's one fly in the ointment, though--my garden neighbor has to be the single most annoying gossipy person in the city. I try to avoid her like the plague, but she's like Visa-everywhere I want to be. Guess I'll be wearing headphones to my garden!

Pictures to come!

Derby Derby

2008-05-06T13:34:00.002-04:00

Quite possibly one of my favorite pictures ever--except for the Derby ladies from several years ago. Can we please bring hats back into fashion? They create such a nice mood of glamour. I love it.

Derby!

2008-05-01T22:51:00.002-04:00

Oh, joy! This Saturday, two days from now, is the day that everyone wishes, for a few minutes at least, that they were from Kentucky.

What could be bad about Derby Day?

Here's what is lovely:
pie
mint juleps
grits casserole
Benedictine sandwiches
hats
sundresses
winning money
cheering
"My Old Kentucky Home"
Dan Fogherty
roses

10 new things I love

2008-04-20T20:14:00.006-04:00

or at least 10 things i haven't said before

1. Battlestar Galactica. There, I frackin' said it. Am I embarrassed? A little, but you're missing out if you don't watch it as well. I even dreamt last night that there was a Cylon attack!
2. birdies singing
3. Jon's nephew David's big huge cheeks

4. the Derby is in 2 weeks and I have the best Derby outfit yet!
5. Wilco's latest album Sky Blue Sky
6. BBC Planet Earth
7. www.purlbee.com
8. the cannonball stuck in building above Wyler Gallery on Upper Exchange: original cannonball from Brit. Cap. Mowatt who bombed Portland around the time of the Revolution.
9. There is a tree on my way home at night whose twigs and ever-enlarging buds (it bloomed overnight!) cast a shadow down on the sidewalk from the streetlight above. It is so strange to see shadows at night, after 6 months of seeing this several nights a week, it still stops me.
10. I am joining a women's field hockey league!

spring springgity spring springitty spring spring spa-ring

2008-04-20T20:01:00.002-04:00

The sun has shined and shined and shined for a straight week now. Short sleeves even! Tulips and daffydils bloomed overnight. Jon and I saw the greenest of snakes and a kestrel at Kettle Cove today. We also saw some fox doody and rubbed milkweed down on our faces. If you have forgotten how silky and soft milkweed down on your cheek is (because you are old and do not rub nature's things on your face anymore), I suggest you find a field tomorrow. Find that whitest of white things inside, and rub it on your cheek liberally. Then go home and ride your bike in cowboy boots and put on your baseball glove and throw the ball. Because spring is here.

in the future

2008-04-15T16:09:00.002-04:00

I was really in the mood today to come home and write some blogs. There has been such great material lately, which you will of course see in the near future: riot police all over Munjoy Hill, Battlestar Galactica, a cannonball stuck in a building on Exchange St., new antics from Mabel and Etienne, shoe shopping, cute nieces and nephews, and dressing to the nines for cheap sushi. However, I was swallowed by the Old Port today (the sun was shining nicely) and have no time left.

wite out adds to the fun of my day

2008-03-26T17:30:00.002-04:00

What can i say...it's a bloggy day.

So, I saved some wite-out for years, knowing that someday i would need it. That day was today. However, the tip got clogged, as one might imagine, and the plastic apparently became brittle. What do you get when you squeeze something with a clogged tip and a brittle case? That's right, wite-out all over your hands and in your hair and all in the wrong places on your job applications. (Luckily, though, not on my favorite Rogues Gallery t-shirt! Phwew!)

So, i looked online for ways to get it off, cause that shit's sticky. Here is a run-down of the suggestions:
1. Scrub with a green scrubby: My skin is too delicate. Didn't try.
2. Mineral or baby oil: In the days of sunscreen who the heck has this in their house?
3. Rubbing alcohol: didn't work.
4. Suncreen: I used the oldest, grossest bottle of Banana Boat in the house. You know that bottle, you buy better stuff cause you hate it but then you don't throw it away cause you hate to waste. Didn't work, my skin smells nasty.
5. Olive oil: no.
6. Nail polish remover: yes! Ouch! Stingy and stinky!

My hands are now crispy and wite-out free.

Moral: just cross a line through it and get on with your life.

bathroom reviews

2008-03-26T15:19:00.002-04:00

The new Hilltop Coffee Shop has my favorite restaurant bathroom ever. I want to bring my coffee in there and hang out. This is very important. It sucks to go to a beautiful restaurant only to find that they have not paid any attention to the bathroom. It makes you wonder what else they don't pay attention to.

Best ever personal bathroom: Kristen Penny's mom's house for having the coolest vintage frog wallpaper ever. Cory Lockhart's parents' house (dad is artist Bob Lockhart) ties for having wallpaper of art-naked-lady paintings.

cupcakes, sewing, and non-normal moms

2008-03-26T12:47:00.004-04:00

On Cupcakes
1. Cupcakes, when dropped, always land frosted-side down. I suppose it's because that size weighs more, so it falls faster. Or because of some karmic retribution for not sharing our cupcakes when we were kids.
2. Cupcakes are not usually my favorite thing. Cakes need to be so very moist to interest me at all. Cupcakes usually aren't. (Too much edge.) However, while it feels really strange to make a cake for no reason at all, cupcakes for no reason seem acceptable. Even though the recipe was the same.
3. Mocha chocolate vanilla marble with chocolate coconut frosting is not at all too many flavors.

On sewing:
I tried to get some friends to help me make a custom dressmakers' dummy (in exchange for some cupcakes?) and then help each other sew dresses. I was told that's what mothers are for. Sigh.

Some moms live far away. Sigh.

And also, there are those moms who don't make things, and yet are awesome in other ways. So, my mom never taught me how to make a dress. Did YOUR mom ride her bike in the Senior Olympics where she pantsed an 86 year old? I doubt it.

I did just finish taking in a skirt. Wanting to avoid the zipper issue, I only took in one side seam. I sorta forgot the butt seam. So now the butt seam is a little to the right. Or a lot. Well, it works OK.

cutest job ever

2008-03-21T15:01:00.002-04:00

I just accepted a very part time job as Assistant Site Manager of the Portland Observatory. I am very excited about it!

My first task of the day will be to climb to the top and raise the flags. Also, I get to chat with customers from all over the place waiting to take a tour. Which is a great job for me, as I enjoy talking. A lot.

Mabel update

2008-03-21T14:57:00.002-04:00

I also think Mabel is depressed. She just sits in the same corner of her tank every day looking very depressed. Either she is lonely or she overheard me saying she was losing her color, but it is making me very sad! Anyone know any good goldfish psychiatrists?

Mabel is really getting old!

2008-03-14T15:02:00.002-04:00

Seriously, I know I have mentioned that my fish has lost her color, but compare these pictures!

From 2-3 years ago?

And this one from the past 6 months (posted earlier on my blog, courtesy of Maggie Carey. Weird!

I am beginning to wonder if someone switched her on my surreptitiously.

I'm feeling hateful

2008-03-05T22:03:00.003-05:00

so here's what i hate:
-raw tomatoes
-Annie's Mac and cheese (it has never been creamy enough for me, sorry to all my earth saving friends, but i'm going back to the neon orange stuff)
-Miami airport
-non-dairy creamer
-people on airplanes who bathe in perfume
-that sound when people cough that sounds like they're dying, common in smokers, old men, and little children
-hangnails
-our government's lack of systems-thinking when it comes to education (resulting in a lack of funding)
-violent movies and tv shows
-long scary curvy fingernails
-people who can't use spell check in professional documents

oh the wind and rain

2008-03-05T14:53:00.002-05:00

Back from the Virgin Islands. Will write more about vacation when I have recovered from the 13 hour journey and cleared my mind a bit. But, what I am wondering, is: why in the world would anyone want to live in this godforsaken state they call Maine? When I left, it was rainy. When i returned, it was rainy. It is supposed to snow. There are no jobs. Companies think $8.50 an hour is a good salary.

Argharghargharghargh.

Coming back from vacation is hard.

tropical passions!

2008-02-22T10:01:00.010-05:00

I leave for St. John in 5 days! (Don't worry Jon, this isn't me, just another redhead. )

If I were that kind of girl, it would just make me the

I just came across the best website, www.bookscans.com. Some of you may know that I like to make artful collages and cards with old romance and sci-fi book covers. (see blog "Help Wanted" on Sept. 22 for pictures.) This website has a huge collection of scanned covers. If only I could search on things like "nurse" or "robot" it would be amazing. It's still pretty awesome, though. I particularly like the lesbian (gasp!) ones and the weird sci-fi romance ones. I wish I had scanned the ones I've cut up first. Here are some of my other favorites:

Three sexes!

I don't think this one is actually marketed to woman of any orientation...

This is cute and would be good for that dorky-cool boy in many of our lives.

And, lastly, the WHAT?!?!

Sometimes it's the illustrations (whether so sexist it's silly or so stylishly mod), sometimes, the titles, sometimes the text, but I can't get enough. This will save me some trips to the Salvation Army, though.

"and I mean fair."

2008-02-21T13:39:00.003-05:00

I couldn't let this one go by without a comment. I don't really have time to expound (don't worry, it will come...if you know me you know I can talk about Cuba for hours) but is George Bush really telling someone else that it is time they have fair elections?

Pot...kettle...eh, forget it.

B-52's Rock Lobster

2008-02-14T13:09:00.001-05:00

These guys rock!

Valentines

2008-02-14T11:33:00.004-05:00

Here is what I love:
-the Valentine bandit

-splooshing, splashing, and jumping in slush puddles
-waterproof boots
-fabulous haircuts
-cute dogs
-how dark is is when I walk home at night along the water (so dark that I almost walked right into a skunk!)
-1980's REM and B-52's
-cookies
-My goldfish Mabel
-vintage valentines from my dad
-fantastic coffee
-rosemary
-smiles
-my cozy robe that Jon gave me for Christmas two years ago
-sunshine

scalarious

2008-02-12T22:19:00.002-05:00

My dad sent me this today:

Thank you Maine!

2008-02-12T22:06:00.002-05:00

This weekend I felt very proud to be a Mainer. 43,000 people caucused on Sunday. That's only the Democrats and Greens. That number is almost one and a half times the previous record for caucus attendees, and it there were snowstorms to boot! Yes we can!

I am so fired up right now. Mainers spoke overwhelmingly in support of change. I even called one of my state representatives yesterday about the proposed changes to the education funding, then signed a petition to ask our Congressional Delegates to fund mass transit options instead of further widening of 295 (and forwarded it to all the Mainers I know--you can sign it at the League's website .)

Yes We Can Song - Barack Obama Song by Will.I.Am

2008-02-08T13:23:00.001-05:00

giving blood

2008-02-04T22:10:00.000-05:00

I got started on my New Year's Resolution finally today!

I finally went to donate blood. It is ridiculous that I haven't done this since 9/11/2001. I have the kind of blood that anyone can use. I used to get those letters from the Red Cross saying they need my blood. I guess they gave up on me.

Anyway, I finally went and I have to say this time it kinda hurt and I was very weak and woozy afterward. But you know, someone who needs blood was probably hurt a lot worse. I love how nice nurses can be when you tell them you are nervous or scared, which I was kinda even though I have done it before. (I guess it had been so long.) The nurse had a pretty smile and she walked me through what she was doing, and even gave me a hand-warmer when I was cold. The volunteers were so nice, too. They really went out of their way to make me feel better, offering me a blanket, pizza, sandwich, chips, cake, bread, juice, cookies, and even a sourdough sweetbread starter!

The Red Cross seems like a great organization. Once I went to a first aid class at the American Heart Association building and I kid you not, this is what they had in their lunch room: red meat, fried chicken, french fries, and cake. I guess they need to keep themselves in business.

little moments of love, part two

2008-02-04T21:57:00.000-05:00

when the sky and the ocean are black and the ferry is all light up and I see it move steadily across the water, getting smaller and smaller the closer I get to home.

when I leave the house and Jon is still asleep. His world seems so still at that moment.

when the little kiddos in your life leave messages on your phone, like the following:
Mom: (to special kiddo) "Tell her you love her."
special kiddo: (to me into the phone) "I love her."
special kiddo: "I hope you have a sooper dooper burfday."

as much as I really dislike it when the alarm goes off at 6:30 on Saturday mornings, I do get to catch glimpses of the sunrise, and I know that few others are catching it. It kinda feels like my secret with the ocean.

the bus driver pointed out a rainbow to me. Rainbows have a way of making everyone stop and point them out. And making everyone smile.

jon saw a red-tailed hawk nab a pigeon at our neighbor's feeder the other day.

the Mall

2008-02-03T16:50:00.000-05:00

Remember those 80s movies where an non-human object comes to life and walks around cities all fascinated and confused? Like Mannequin or Splash? That about describes me at the mall today. I went to Macy's to try to score some samples of Chanel Coco Mademoiselle to take to Daisy when i go see her in St. John. No dice. I am also on a search for tights. I actually went into Hot Topic--rad--and the girl working there was really nice and extremely helpful. They did not have the tights I was hoping to find despite their large selection of "novelty tights" which include black and purple striped, hot pink, fishnet, etc. The girl recommended I buy some kids' tights.

So I went to Claire's. It is a very bright store. It made my eyes hurt. There were a lot of people in the mall. There was a woman trying to entice me into buying a swimming pool. There is a store where little boys go in and their brains get sucked out while they stare blankly, mass-muderer-y, at a screen playing some game where they blow up things for fun.

I can't believe I actually hung around the mall on purpose as a pre-teen.

I did get the most beautiful dress ever. I can't figure out where I am going to wear it, as it is kinda fancy. But it was on sale for $17.80 and it is from Nine West and it made me very happy.

politics as usual

2008-01-25T10:51:00.001-05:00

I tend to write more about fluffy things like music and my favorite fashion, as opposed to politics, mostly because of my love-hate relationship with politics. I love politics. I find it fascinating. I could discuss politics for hours. I get very caught up in the debates when I actually sit down to watch them. I volunteered on campaigns and discovered the adrenaline rush of being in a campaign office in the last few nights before election. I fed on that collective energy, and felt the exaltation when we were successful. Then I won my own campaign, and I discovered the side of politics that I hate. I will not get into that. I am trying not to be too negative! (Besides, I think I really love to hate it, and that is just bad.)

Today, however, I read the New York Times endorsements and I am going to make some of my own comments. I need something to keep my brain from turning as mushy as the stuffing I use to make Thanksgiving sandwiches at my incredibly intellectually demanding job.

I will offer a disclaimer that I have not read a great deal about the candidates yet. I watched the New Hampshire Democratic Debates. (By the way, I can't stomach even the idea of watching a group of Republicans debate. Watching a group of people discuss the "appropriate" ways to reduce the freedom of Americans, one example being the ability of gays to marry--I'm sorry, what happened to separation of church and state?!? Who has the right to say who can get married and who can't!?!) The reason I have not followed this closely is that I can't vote in the primaries, as I am not a registered Democrat.

Yes, Virginia, there is a third party, and it's called the Green Party. I believe very strongly that this country needs a third party. Think about it: the candidates have to be centrist in order to achieve any success. Then we liberals all complain about the left moving too much to the right. But how can you win a primary and a national campaign without being centrist? Say you are a Democrat hoping to win the nomination. You have to say things that appeal to the Dems, i.e., liberal things; but, you cannot be too liberal, because once you get the nomination and then have to win Republican votes, you can't change your mind. Then you would be accused of Bush's favorite campaign term, "flip-flopping." (Thanks, George, for lifting the intellectual capacity of our nation.)

So we are left with two candidates sitting in the middle of a seesaw. The seesaw goes nowhere.

Anyway, as my dream of a viable third candidate for president is far from being fulfilled, I offer my thoughts on the candidates. First, I respect the New York Times' explanation of their endorsement of Hilary Clinton. I agree that she would do a fine job. Those people that like to call her a bitch need to learn that women can be just as strong as men. Do people refer to male candidates (other than Bush, Guliani, or Romney) as assholes because they speak strongly to each other? No, they roll their eyes and say, "politics as usual." So, Clinton is not going to roll over and let a man walk all over her: I think that's a prerequisite quality of a politician and commander in chief.

However, what worries me about Clinton is that she is more of the same. I just worry that her hands are too tied to corporations. Her husband got this country in a good place economically, I'll give him that, but he supported NAFTA and the FTAA, and I cannot deal with that. I know she is not her husband, but we can't separate any politician too much from their politician family members. If we are not going to do it for George and Jeb, we shouldn't do it for Hilary, feminist or not.

Maybe Barack Obama is more of the same as well. Let's face it, all the candidates have accepted campaign contributions from the same group of investment firms, most with some interesting ties to Enron and interest in privatizing social security, but I would like to believe Obama is more honest than the others. I agree with the New York Times that Clinton has more experience and that Obama might just be a hopeful voice without much to back it up, but right now, I'd like to go with hope. Call me youthful, call me idealistic, but I think this country needs some hope. When was the last time we had a presidential candidate that the country felt energized by and hopeful about? When was the last time this energy was created by someone not youthful and idealistic?

Don't you think it's time this country returned to idealism? Isn't that what our country was founded on?

two things

2008-01-24T13:17:00.000-05:00

1. There is still music I listen to after all these years. Pre-1992 REM, for example, is my all-time favorite music, and Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd is my favorite album of all time. But that's not all i ever want to listen to!

2. Speaking of going to the Caribbean, what in the heck do I wear when I am gonna board the plane in Boston (i.e. COLDCOLDCOLD) and get off in the tropics? Suggestions are welcome, I have never flown cross-climate zones in such a drastic way.

brief rant re: music

2008-01-24T11:48:00.001-05:00

Why, oh why, are we forced to listen to "adult contemporary"?

I am an adult, yes.

One might even call me contemporary.

However, "Pocket Full of Kryptonite" was not that good of a song when it came out, so why is it still on the radio? And, can Natalie Merchant get over the weather already? And, come on, "Fast Car" was a great song when it came out in 1988, but in the past 20 years, some other really great music has come out as well. Not that I mind listening to it every once in a while--but that stuff is all they ever play on the non-country, non-oldies, non-top 40 radio stations! How about some Arcade Fire? Iron and Wine? Cat Power for cryin' out loud?

Now, if I still read the same books I read in 1988, people would assume I were really unintelligent, unintellectual, and unchallenged. If I still read YM Magazine everyone would laugh. But I am still supposed to listen to the same music that has been on the radio for the past 20 years?

I am happy to make a list of suggestions that I would think appropriate for the radio. But I have to go watch Saved By the Bell. I mean, that show rocked the 80s, right?

A little fairy tale

2008-01-24T11:33:00.000-05:00

I have always been rich, but have never been wealthy. If I were wealthy, of course i'd donate lots of money and travel the world and yada yada yada.

But, having been not wealthy most of my life, i would think it would be OK to treat myself to a couple of things. Like season tickets to UL men's basketball. Dinner at Fore Street. Anarchy wine on a regular basis. And the following things from J Crew. (Who knew?)

I can't decide whether i like the red or the teal better. Not that it matters. The teal matches this cute necklace that I can't afford either:

And not that I need a new bathing suit, but of course I want a new one since I am heading to the bright blue waters of the Virgin Islands soon:

I think that this is cute as it has little sea critters on it. I could point to my parts and say, "This is an echinoderm. It is called that because it has spiny skin. All echinoderms have pentaradial symmetry, meaning 5 equal parts coming from the middle, like a star. This is a crustacean. Animals in the crustacean family have jointed appendages, like shrimp and crabs and lobsters, which I eat for dinner regularly as I am so wealthy" And then people would realize that even though I have lots of money, I am still a big, big dorkus melorkus.

update

2008-01-13T21:49:00.004-05:00

on the coat vote. I pulled out my old coat to wear to Mandy Sabine's New Year's Eve party. I decided it was not so bad after all, in fact, it's kind of fun. Plus, just bought a ticket to the Caribbean. So, I think i will save my money for things like fruity rum drinks and cab fares. Besides, who needs a coat in the Caribbean?

best names ever

2008-01-07T09:05:00.000-05:00

I really love cemeteries. In addition to the quirky or charming epitaphs, lovely statues, peacfulness, trees, and birds, you can see some really cool names. Like Mehetable Coolbroth, (West End Cemetary in Portland,) Fitzhugh McGrew (Evergreen Cemetary, Portland), and Hester Sylvester (Upper Mast Landing Rd, Freeport.) I also just learned that Lassie's trainer's name was Rudd Weatherwax.

Love/Hate

2008-01-04T16:39:00.002-05:00

I love basketball. And Love and Basketball.

I hate Franklin Arterial, especially in snow.

I love Hershey the Dog.

I hate shopping in the Mall area (because you have to listen the Sarah McLaughlin or the band that won the key to the City of Portland about 8 years ago.)

I love Matt's Bird Dog Coffee, which is available at Rosemont.

I hate wearing pants.

I love the foccacia at Micucci's.

I hate raw tomatoes.

I love Champagne.

2008

2008-01-01T10:57:00.000-05:00

I think New Year's Eve is my favorite holiday. Here's why:
1. A great excuse to dress up and wear sparkles.
2. A great excuse to kiss people.
3. A great excuse to drink champagne.
But what is silly, is that we shouldn't need an excuse to do any of those things. I discovered a great Prosecco last night, Sacchetto. It was $12.99 at Fat Baxter's, and is nice and sweet and very drinkable. Meaning I could very easily drink a lot of it. So, it went quickly.

Other reasons to love New Year's:
it's a great time to reflect on accomplishments (NOT failures!) and look forward to a fresh new start.

So, my New Year's Resolutions:
-give blood 3 times. I know it could be more, but that is a very accomplishable number. I always forget to donate blood and haven't done it in ages, and my blood type is the one that is universal.
-visit people far away more often.
-draw something once a week. I used to be very into art and when you get out of practice, i becomes very daunting. I am also very hard on myself if things are not perfect and it becomes crippling. So, I would like to become more fluid and use drawing as a way of recording.
-play music with Jon more instead of watching dumb movies. We sound so good together! It just takes a little more work.

What are your resolutions?

2007-12-19T10:50:00.000-05:00

I like this blog voting thing. I am going to do this more often.

vote for my coat

2007-12-18T13:00:00.000-05:00

you too can help me with fashion. Which of the following coats should I buy?
A. (The red one. I would buy the cream but I can't keep anything clean.) I like the way the belt is lower on the hips.

B. I really like the vintage look of this one. It reminds me of Charlize Theron in Cider House Rules.

Dear Sick People

2007-12-17T14:02:00.000-05:00

Moosewood Low-Fat Cookbook's Garlic Broth is the most healing food I can imagine. It is, basically, broth with a roasted and pureed head of garlic and miso. It is delicious, and when I drink it it just feels like the restorativeness just flows through my body. I know that sounds all new agey and crap, but it really f-in works. You'll get much better if you're sniffling and you have some. Just in case you might be sick for the holidays.
Love,
Rebecca

Xmas list

2007-12-17T12:37:00.000-05:00

THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE (from entirely reasonable to entirely unreasonable)
you knew it was coming...
-Frye black harness boots, blue harness boots, or the blue boots from a previous post

-a better iPod than my shuffle

-a new coat
-

-some new earrings
-Sontaigo's new CD Steel Yourself
-a new tablecloth
-Henckle knives
-a vintage spice rack
-a hanging pot rack
-egg poaching thing from Fat Baxter's
-a new guitar: Scott Conley acoustic and Fender Telecaster electric
-new potholders
-blue pitcher from Clay City Redux for cream
-this dress from Only Hearts, which would look better on me because I won't have that silly look on my face.
-Van Morrison and the Cheiftains Irish Heartbeat CD
-a new office chair
-my student loans paid off
-a Thai Yoga massage from Guy McChesney
-tickets all over the world
-an organizational consultant
-a cleaning person to do my fish tank
-something small, circular, sparkly, size 7. What?! A girl can always hope.

oh yes, more reasons...

2007-12-16T22:00:00.001-05:00

...to hate shopping (OK, to hate shopping at the Mall area.)
-you are forced to listen to Sarah McLaughlin or that band that won the key to the city of Portland or, even worse, Mariah Carey singing "All I Want for Christmas" or Bruce Springsteen singing "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" as if he were dying.
-you really want something and you can't find it.
-all the kids' toys these days are of characters such as Dora, Barbie, or the Hookerz-oops, I mean Bratz.
-everything in every store looks the same. NO ONE looks good in those stupid dresses and blouses that are shaped for pregnant people. Not even pregnant people. But that is all you can find because that is what someone decided was cool.

But here is what I love: shopping locally. When I wander around the stores in downtown Portland, I:
-get to talk with Diane at Ferdinand when I go buy some Police Puffy stickers
or some cool blue hoop earrings. Diane called me "so employable."
- can stop at a lovely coffee shop and have conversations with friends that work there.
- run into people i know.
- can find vintage clothes that are unique and cut in a shape that does not make me look pregnant.
-support local businesses owned by people that i have met.
-get better exercise and fresh air because i am walking around outside to the stores.

ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh

2007-12-13T17:22:00.000-05:00

I had to go shopping today. I had to return a gift that was purchased at the Mall. Oh, man. I hate the Mall. First, I watched as 3 people hurried past an old couple with canes, the woman dragging an oxygen tank, and none offered them help up the steep step. I almost stopped the car and got out and helped them.

Then, I was in Staples, which was strange to begin with, and the radio played "Kyrie Eleison" by Mr. Mister followed by "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley.

I wanted a soap dispenser and a coat, keeping my eyes open along the way for tights and gifts for me niece and nephew. It started snowing and 5 hours later I made it home. That's why I go only once a year.

little moments of love

2007-12-03T11:55:00.000-05:00

when i talked to my 6 year old niece Miranda last night she told me there were 23 days till Christmas. Then when i would see her in three weeks, she said, "Really, Christmas is three weeks away?"

when i asked her what she wanted and she said, "I don't know, it's a really hard decision."

when my nephew Dustin told me he wanted a batman mask.

when i come to bed and Jon is already asleep and he makes that little noise he makes in a half attempt to acknowledge me.

when i looked outside this morning and there was snow stuck to the red berries on the bush outside the window.

when i hear the foghorn through the snow.

recent knitting projects finally finished!

2007-11-29T18:57:00.000-05:00

This is my dear dear friend's new baby, Edith, wearing a hat I knit for her. I felted an old sweater and cut the star out of that.

And here are some fingerless gloves that I was supposed to make for someone last Christmas and just finished them! Which is silly, as they took all of 2 hours tops. Anyway, she'll be surprised!

makes me smile

2007-11-27T12:30:00.001-05:00

crepes, part deux

2007-11-26T11:10:00.000-05:00

This morning's crepes were quite a success! I bought a steel crepe pan at LeRoux Kitchen last week (thankfully, there was a very knowledgeable dude there this time). I have been itching to try it. I googled Martha Stewart crepe recipes, reluctantly admitting that she has really good baking recipes. That crazy bitch made me strain the batter! Oh, but they were so good. The filling was made with whipped cream cheese and Jon's sister Jenni's homemade cranberry sauce leftover from Thanksgiving. I am going to see what happens if I don't strain the batter next time, as that was a bit of a pain. But, holy cow, yum. Watch out Frenchies!

By the way, the crepe pan was awesome. I can flip the crepes without burning my fingers now.

Some other fillings I want to try:
carmelized apples
something pecan-y
something lemon-y
pesto and goat cheese
something butternut squash-y

Any ideas?

listful (of happiness)

2007-11-25T23:29:00.000-05:00

1. I talked on the phone for 45 minutes yesterday to an old friend today who always makes me laugh out loud. I love him. If anyone is single and living in Cincinnati and wants to meet a great guy, I'll accept applications.
2. A friend surprised me last night with a lovely and much appreciated gift. A real set of decent silverware! It is beautiful, and I donated our old stuff to a young, pregnant refugee. Etienne, your gift touched a lot of people!
3. It feels very warm when a child says your name for the first time. Then, they show up chanting your name a week later, and you fall in love.
4. I love my parents. They are fun, youthful, and very hip in their own ways.
5. OK, just knowing these boots exist makes me happy:

wistful

2007-11-25T23:21:00.001-05:00

Something about the weather today makes me want to be in Cherokee Park in Louisville more than any other place. (10 less degrees and I would say the Caribbean visiting Daisy.) The just-past-crisp temperature of late late fall and the soft blue sky just beg me to be outside in a comfortable and inviting place. Where better than the park in which I grew up? Cherokee Park has arguably the best sledding hill east of downtown. (A close contender is the Crescent Hill Golf Course.) I spent hours as a child searching for salamanders and crawdads under the flat stones in Beargrass Creek at Big Rock. I love the jigsaw bark of the enormous sycamore trees. And i flirted with germs and disaster barefoot at Hogan's Fountain. As a teenager, my friends and I would lay on our backs on the hill and stargaze, or sneak out onto the horse bridge connecting Cherokee to Seneca and drink beer. I think Cherokee Park is one of the most beautiful gems of Louisville. I can't wait to show it to Jon. I just wish there would be some leaves on the trees still.

when life gets a bit boring...

2007-11-24T12:32:00.001-05:00

...atomic fireballs are nice.

i would like my 2+ hours back please

2007-11-16T19:11:00.000-05:00

I love Beyonce. Jennifer Hudson has an amazing voice. But Dreamgirls is seriously in my top 10 worst movies ever.

oh, what a slut!

2007-11-16T19:10:00.000-05:00

This was sent to me today:

"I wonder if you know how inappropriate it looks to see a young lady chewing gum at all, never mind in front of a TV camera and during a meeting. Young ladies should not chew gum in public.

Please give this some serious thought. We do not need to give the general public any other reasons to comment. Thanks for your consideration."

crepes

2007-11-12T14:19:00.000-05:00

I feel a bit bad, today i was kind of mean to the ladies at LeRoux kitchen. I brought two crepe pans to the counter and asked if they knew anything about them. They then proceeded to tell me that one was non-stick and one was steel, which was clearly stated on the packaging. Then they told me that they sold a lot of a particular one. I worked at LeRoux one Christmas, and I can say that we sold a lot of stuff, and that did not necessarily reflect quality as much as consumerism.

Regardless, I am embarking on a journey to learn the art of crepe making (and maybe you might find some breakfast crepes at a certain hill-top market soon if all goes well). I tried this morning for the first time ever, using my iron skillet and the Joy of Cooking. They turned out pretty good for the first time, but the recipe could use some help, I think. And, with a lighter pan, I could get the motion better. I was pretty good at the flipping! Anyway, I served them with cinnamon cream cheese and some blueberry sauce that Daisy's mom or dad made. Yum.

Next I will try checking out Martha Stewart, and Etienne is going to come give me a tutorial. Oh, the dreary, hard work ahead!

EXCITEMENT! DRAMA!

2007-11-06T14:32:00.000-05:00

I just found out today that a group founded by Pat Robertson is suing the PPS over this birth control thing! The best part is that they sent a letter to all the committee members (one of which is me!) starting, "Dear SIRS". Apparently when you are that conservative you cannot imagine that a WOMAN could be elected to public office!

Maybe I'll get to meet Pat Robertson! What should I wear?

In the meantime, I love Portland. It is really great to know that most people in Portland can see through this and support us.

um, really?

2007-11-02T14:55:00.000-04:00

This, from the comments on MaineToday.com, is why we need to continue to teach science:

"God told Adam and Eve to multiply and fill the earth. His commandment has far yet to go to be fulfilled."

Excuse me? 6.5 Billion is not enough?

Not getting it in so many ways

2007-11-01T12:03:00.000-04:00

From www.freerepulic.com, "the premier online gathering place for independent, grass-roots conservatism on the web...working to roll back decades of governmental largesse, to root out political fraud and corruption, and to champion causes which further conservatism in America."
re: middle school birth control and the members of the school committee who voted for it:
"Rebecca Minnick: Member of the Green Independent Party. Plays in a band called Arms for Ex-lovers...Need I say anymore???"

And another from the site:
"I find it endlessly fascinating....parents who would go into vapors at the thought of their child with a loaded gun, have absolutely no problem with provding something roughly as dangerous...birth control and implied permission to use it."

Question of the week

2007-10-29T11:28:00.000-04:00

This week I started my new job at the very charming, brand-spanking new Fat Baxter's on Munjoy Hill. The food is good, people are excited, and there are jars of penny candy behind the counter.

So, a group of little boys (my favorite of whom is Dominican and has the biggest smile ever) come in several times on opening day with their pockets full of change to buy penny candy. By the third time, only one has any money left. "How many Swedish Fish can I get with this much?" And he puts 17 cents on the counter. Nice work cleaning out the couch cushions.

The answer was 5.

I'm quite charmed.

OK, OK, I'll smile

2007-10-23T14:33:00.001-04:00

Having a hard time finding time to do anything on the internet than read all the insane emails I've received lately regarding the middle school birth control thing.

Out of necessity, things that make me smile:
1. Those people around town that always have a smile for you. Currently I am enjoying smiles from Josh Loring and very cheery emails from the very cute Sena Phen and Katie Feltman (who was voted best smile in our class in college).
2. It smells like fall and the leaves are making a lovely crunching sound under my feet.
3. I watched the sunrise over Casco Bay this morning and remembered why I live in the best city in the world.
4. Jon was really hyper and cute last night and I am a very lucky girl. (Sorry, but it's true.)
5. I got the following email from someone: " From Tom Hanks in A League of Their Own: 'It's supposed to be hard! If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great.' You have made me very proud to live here."
6. Friends are the best. Especially when they call you just to say hi from the Caribbean!
7. Iron and Wine. Sam Beam has the vocal equivalent of a warm fuzzy blanket, a fireplace, and a cup of hot cocoa.

Cemeteries

2007-10-14T11:02:00.003-04:00

I absolutely love old cemeteries. Ever since I was a young girl, I looked forward to quiet, peaceful walks in a sea of statues and knobby trees. Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville is one of the most breath-taking places in the whole city. There are hundreds of species of trees in the arboretum, including swamp cedar that I called "Bell-bottom trees" when I was little. Cave Hill is home to such famous people as John Keats' brother George, Patty Smith Hill (who wrote "Happy Birthay"), famous generals, and--yes-- Colonel Sanders (who, much to the disappointment of many tourists, does not have a chicken or a bucket for a gravestone).

If you ever travel to Louisville, you must make a stop to see the Satterwhite Temple and to feed the ducks, turkeys, geese, and swans, and check out the koi and stripers in the ponds.

I love the ancient names, the sad little cherubs, the trees growing through the gravestones, and the bright colored lichens on crumbling granite gravestones that are so old that you can barely see the words. I love the incomplete stories the stones evoke, time and time again, telling of love ones remembered.

I have found none to rival Cave Hill, mostly because it was the place of my childhood, but I am sure we all have such attachments.

Portland has a few cool cemeteries:
-The Eastern Cemetery has some awesome Gothic stones in the oldest section. You can get in by the secret hole in the fence or by stopping by the book store across the street for the key. Rumor has it that the worst criminals were buried under the roads as one last "F You." The oldest known stone is dated 1717.

-Bring binoculars to Evergreen Cemetery, which is a big stop for migrating birds, especially warblers. Apparently they have a "problem" with coyotes eating the ducks. (Cause the happenings of nature are so problematic.) If you go another time, you can look for tadpoles, turtles, and gigantic snails in the pond. One spring we spotted a black-crowned night heron and a hummingbird sitting in her nest.

Here are my favorite cemetery names:
-Mehetable Coolbroth (Western Cemetery in Portland. There is also a Mehetable in Evergreen. Apparently this was a woman's name. FYI, this grave is a "hole" in the Western Cemetary Disc Golf Course.)
- Hester Sylvester (Upper Mast Landing Rd, Freeport)
-Anger Prout (Upper Mast Landing Rd, Freeport)
-Fitzhugh McGrew (Evergreen, Portland.) Wonder if he is related to Quickdraw McGraw?

Best epitaphs:
-"Jesus is mine." (Evergreen)
"Here moulders the body..."
and my favorite ever, "...His Radiant Wife, aged 84" (Prospect Hill, Brattleboro VT)

I hope when I am 84 someone would still describe me as radiant.

10 things i want

2007-10-13T17:40:00.000-04:00

1. A job that I want to stay at for years and can grow in and with a boss that I love.
2. Some silverware that doesn't have plastic blue handles.
3. An airbrushed t-shirt with the word "Tooken" on it.
4. A crock pot.
5. A doctor who knows my name without looking at a chart. Oh, OK, I would settle for just health care.
6. One more day of 65 degree weather so I can jump in the ocean one more time.
7. A mutt. (Part German Shepherd, part lab, maybe some Rottweiler?) Actually, a Mutt just like Hershey on Vesper St.
8. A Halloween costume idea.
9. Hot dance skillz.
10. Cheap plane tickets home for Christmas.

To Taste the Water

2007-10-11T14:05:00.000-04:00

So I finally read my brother's book, and it is really good! You should check it outas well. It as listed #2 on Carmichael's Bookstore's top 10 favorites a couple of weeks ago.

Josh Ritter @ SPACE

2007-10-03T13:32:00.000-04:00

Went to SPACE last night to see the sold-out Josh Ritter show. Here's what I loved about it:
-the age range, from middle-aged fans to 18 year olds, and the fact that most of them were not familiar faces.
-How much fun is it to watch someone with that much energy? Maybe he was baked, I don't know, but he smiled from ear to ear almost all night, and hopped little hops around all over the stage, both during the show and in transit. Kinda like a leprechaun.
-Who kicks off their tour in Portland?
-Nice mix of solo and full band.
-I love to see performers that actually dress up for shows.
-A great group bow, and a great encore with 3 or 4 songs.

6 things seen on the East Side

2007-10-02T23:34:00.000-04:00

1. Is that Jake Gyllenhall's face glued to the back of a stop sign on Vesper and Moody?
2. Councilor Kevin Donoghue riding his bike up Munjoy Hill while talking on a cell phone.
3. Partial pineapple and pair of pants (Fore St. at Munjoy South.)

4. Dude in SUV yelling and cussing out his window at me to get off my ----in cell phone . Apparently he did not want to stop for me in the crosswalk at Fore and Exchange and thought my talking would be a good scapegoat.
5. Lovely red poppies in the Garden in Progress at the St. Lawrence Arts and Community Center.
6. Dead, smooshed worm in the shape of a heart on the Prom.
7. Me working on my computer in my car at the corner of Vesper and the Prom because we can no longer get online in my apt! :(

flakiness is next to Godliness

2007-10-02T16:46:00.000-04:00

Yeah, I'm gonna brag: I won first place in an apple pie competition. Specifically, they said, for the crust. I don't think a pie is worth eating unless the crust is homemade and flaky.

So, once upon a time, I wanted to impress a boy. He was Quebecois, and I thought I would woo him with my southern charm by making my favorite dessert, Kentucky Derby Pie. (Now, this name is copyrighted, but I just don't believe in copyrighting a name as common as Kentucky Derby Pie, especially by a company who cares not about their crust.) You might find the recipe on the web under Kentucky Chocolate Pie, Horse Race Pie, or my favorite for silliness: First Saturday of May Pie. (I kid you not!) (You also will probably find it here some day.)

Anyway, I called my friend's mom who was a baker, and who I'd known for years, as she was a regular at the lovely and fantastic Paul's Fruit Market in Louisville's Chenoweth Square, where I'd worked for 7 years. She did not have a clue who I was. GREAT. Regardless, she shared with me her secrets and they have never failed me. Weirdo Canuck was impressed, award was won, and Portlanders anxiously await the first Sat. of May each year so that they, too, can have a piece of my pie.

Mama Siefert's suggestions: take any basic flaky pie crust recipe (I use Joy of Cooking, and I really have not memorized it yet after all these years) and add extra fat and extra water. Simple, non? She says she only uses Gold Medal Flour and Crisco. I use King Arthur Unbleached flour. As far as fat goes, here's the thing: vegetable shortening is very, very bad for you. Very bad. Butter is not so easy to work with and the results aren't as nice. Lard is out, as I am a vegetarian, much to the galette maker's dismay. I found some non-hydrogenated shortening at Wild Oats that works reasonably well for eating at home, and is much, much better for you (not that any of it is good for you!) than Crisco. However, if you want to win an award or a non-health-nut's heart, use the bad stuff.

So, for using extra fat: I use about 2 more rounded tablespoons? And really, I about double the water. (Sometimes even more!) And forget pastry blenders, two knives will do a much better job, and they are to clean. And don't touch it a second more than you need to, as the more you touch it, the less flaky it becomes.

I bought some pie crust guards, and those are nice to keep things from burning. And for the love of pie, please never use anything but a glass pie plate, the thicker the better. (Metal pie plates reflect the heat more and lead to a soggy crust.) I buy them at the Salvation Army so that if I accidentally leave one somewhere, I don't have to worry.

And one more word: pies are not for dieters. Do yourself a favor and don't try to make a low-fat pie. Either eat the good stuff and work out twice as long (isn't it worth it?) or choose another low fat dessert. Because eating a pie without a nice, flaky crust s like listening to an orchestra but only hearing the brass.

2007-10-01T17:40:00.000-04:00

My beautiful goldfish, Mabel (picture taken by Maggie Carey). She is 8 human years, which is apparently equal to 123 goldfish years, according to United States Patent 5023850, "Clock for keeping time at a rate other than human time"

10 different flavors

2007-10-01T11:00:00.000-04:00

1. My iron skillet is my favorite thing I own.
2. Approximately 53 "secret crushes" have tried to reach me through my yahoo bulk mail folder.
3. Jon and I picked apples at his parents' house yesterday and I am going to be canning some applesauce for the first time in several years.
4. Last night was the first night we slept with all the windows closed.
5. It's amazing how you can read the entire job section of the Maine Sunday Telegram and not see one that you will apply for.
6. I am going to make a quilt this winter inspired by this painting by Will Barnet:

7. On my desk is a Frisch's Big Boy coin bank with money from France, Cuba, Belize, Ireland, and Japan. I have only been to one of those places.
8. Some day I am going to own a tug boat company (run off biodiesel.)
9. I think I am not going to give up on music after all. Not just yet.
10. Sometimes I don't really like change (ahem, Iron and Wine, Local 188.)

Goodbye Soundpost

2007-09-30T22:59:00.001-04:00

Tonight we went to the almost-empty Soundpost, where I bought some Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera paper dolls for my dad's birthday present. (Hope he's not reading this!) We will miss the Sunday night shows where people actually listened to the music. I think my favorites were last week's show with Matt Rock (this is my favorite picture that Jon has taken of a musician) with Ben Russell (from New York), and Dylan from Groupo Esperanza; Jack Ohly, Jacob Mitas and Joshua Marcus (from Philly?), and Micah Blue Smalldone and Christopher Teret. There has been so much good music there and we will miss it a great deal.

On another note, isn't it funny how we sometimes feel shy around people, and so we never talk to them, and then right before they move away, we realize that they are quite nice and friendly actually?

best party ever:

2007-09-30T12:26:00.000-04:00

Last night, at our semi-new place. I think it was one of the best parties I've ever had, and definitely the best in our new place. Lots of great people, NO SPILLS!, great music, great munchies (thanks to Peter Smith for the apple galette), and dancing. Well, at least I was dancing. I think Maggie took some very Maggie-like pictures, so I'll see if I can post them here when she puts them on her flickr.

Observations:
1. At some age people start bringing their beer and immediately put it in the fridge (as opposed to keeping it near them in a bag or such). Our friends span an age of about 30 years, so this is very interesting to watch. I have not figured out the exact age yet, but I think it's around 26?
2. Apparently top-shelf liquor= no hangover, or so we hear-- we're not quite there yet! But our friend Alex brought over some Cold River Vodka, made here in Maine from Maine potatoes. I did not try it, as I had already mixed the grape and the grain, and did not want to throw root veggies in there as well! Alex had quite a bit of the potato, and was up kayaking this morning.
3. There are some people that you really want to like. And you do, so you invite them to a party. Then you meet them when they're drinking.
4. No one can really tell that you mopped your floor before they came over, and then, after the party, you have to mop it again.
5. If you are sick and trying to be a trooper and go out, people can still tell you're sick, and they will wonder why in the hell you are out.
6. Everybody likes The Cure
7. In a city like Portland, everyone really does know everyone else. (And you really have to watch what you say.) Everyone that showed up to the party seemed to know half the people there, and yet, I would say that I did not know half the people at the party. It's always interesting in a city this size to take note of how many women in your living room have dated the same men as you. Yikes! But I guess that's part of the charm of our lovely city.

Fall is the time for cozy, and cozy=homemade soup!

2007-09-28T12:43:00.000-04:00

Once you learn how easy it is to make a good homemade soup, you will never buy another can of soup. (I'll bet it's been 5 years since I bought one!)

So, for a normal sized pot of soup, you start with a mixture the French call a mirepoix: a couple of onions, carrots and sticks of celery (formally a 2:1:1 ratio, but it all depends on size), and saute in butter or oil with some salt. There is no hard and fast rule here--it depends on what is in the fridge. Don't skip this step, though, because it really adds a lot o flavor to any soup. Throw in your bay leaf while you're doing this, as well.

Next, you need some broth. I am a vegetarian, so I use one of 2 things: for soups that would use a chicken broth, I use this vegan broth powder that my old roommate's sister would send her from Italy, called Brodo. It is delicious, and if I ever go there I am stocking up. Otherwise, use any broth powder, just watch out for sodium content and adjust your salt adding, as most broth powders and canned broths are very salty.

For soups that want a beefy broth, here is my little trick:
In my freezer lives a large zip-loc bag. In this bag go the parts and skins that we remove from onions, tomatoes, garlic, carrots, potatoes, beets, peppers, and other non-bitter vegetables. When the bag is full, dump it in a pot and cover with water. I usually throw in a handful of lentils and a splash of tamari, and if I happen to have it, a spoonful of tomato sauce or paste and a splash of red wine. Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 30 minutes to an hour or so. Strain well, and there is your broth. This goes very well with Moosewood's French Onion soup. I usually try to have some of this broth in the freezer in plastic containers.

With the combination of the mirepoix and the broth and a bay leaf, you are good to go--anything from here on out is easy as pie (that comes later). Search the internet for recipes, but usually with soups, I just put whatever stuff needs to be used up in the pot, then find some matching herbs to add just before serving, and it comes out lovely and cozy. Hopefully this is enough direction--I am just not a recipe follower when it comes to soup!

Global warming, eh?

2007-09-27T12:25:00.000-04:00

Last week of Sept. and it was 90 degrees yesterday! Now, I work in the environmental field, and am totally concerned about global warming, and do what I can to try and reduce my carbon footprint. But, you gotta do what you gotta do. I rode my bike to my friend Jed's house and played in the sprinkler! And, I am a little bit excited about wearing my new summer dress before next year. (Maybe to the amazing Sontiago's new CD release party!) I got it for $10 at Marshall's on clearance, considering fall...was here.

Back to reality: I am also excited that in the past few weeks I have had more and more conversations with total strangers at the grocery store, farmers' market, coffee shop, etc, about our current administration, and it is giving me hope. Apparently George Bush doesn't need to be bothered with the UN workshops on global warming, or any binding international treaties. But, he'll make it to the dinner. Cause he really needs a free meal.

Fashion help wanted:

2007-09-22T16:15:00.000-04:00

Jon and I are both in the market for a new pair of sneaks. I am needing some all-purpose sneakers, good for wearing to the gym, power walks, my ridiculous attempts at playing tennis, etc. The problem is, all I find are really dorky sneakers. The fashionable ones do not feel like they'd be very useful when I put them on. There is not much arch support, and I really would not want to bounce around a court on them.

These are nice:

or these, for that retro feel:

I have to say, I really can't get into that super-dorky early 80's thing too much, cause, well...I already lived through that.

Anyway, here is what I end up finding that is actually functional:

It seems that lately many things have bridged the gap between fashion and function, so I would assume that sneakers have, too, no? So, any suggestions?

Low-budget apartment decor

2007-09-22T12:25:00.000-04:00

About a year ago, I decided that it was time to step up my apartment decor. Time to get a little hipper, and get rid of some of the old stuff still lingering from my hippie college days (not posting any of those pictures!) I looked for some nice decorative pillows and could not find anything I liked in my price range. Then I found these cloth napkins, bought some pillows at Pier One (it was summer, so they had these hideous Christmas pillows for $1 each), and with my meager sewing skills, created these:

I was pretty happy with them, and they ended up being about $8 each. I was quite happy when Jon and I happened to find this awesome couch (that matches the pillows!) in the "as is" room in Ikea for about $200 off because of a 2 inch tear in the back at the bottom.

Help wanted:

2007-09-22T11:18:00.000-04:00

Jon and I are not allowed to paint in our new place. And everything is white, white, white. I feel like I am in a hospital. We are on a very low budget these days (until I find my dream job), but we desperately need to get some color in our lives. The bedroom is the worst. Jon, God love him, bought a BEIGE bedspread when he was single. And his incredible photos are mostly black and white. So, we need some color on our walls! Any suggestions are welcome.

Speaking of color, here are some collages I made in my old place that have brought some color to our living room:

Gourmet Coleman Creations, part 2

2007-09-13T09:18:00.000-04:00

Nothing beats fresh vegetables when camping, except maybe homemade pesto. (OK, a tray of hot homemade lasagna would be fantastic, but let's be realistic.) There are some vegetables that travel well and do not take a very long time to cook. Onions, zucchini, summer squash, and green beans keep well and are not easily smashed. Root vegetables fit into this category as well, but take an awful long time to cook on a camp stove.

Now for the homemade pesto part. Whip up a batch of pesto at home before you leave for your trip. You might even try freezing it in an ice cube tray and putting the cubes in a plastic zip-loc bag in your cooler, which will serve to keep everything else cool while adding to the life of the pesto.

Despite what many people think, pesto is very easy to make, and much cheaper and more delicious than store-bought pesto, no matter how fresh it claims to be. Plus, when you make it at home, you can make it just the way you like.

If you live in Portland, a stop at Micucci's is a necessity. There you can pick up huge bunches of basil for around $1.50, enough pine nuts to get the job done, and a variety of parmesan, reggianos, and other hard cheeses. If you do not have enough olive oil at home, you can get some here as well (please, use only the good stuff, it's not worth it t.o skimp on olive oil. Extra virgin only.) Heck, while you're here, you might as well take advantage of some of the best wine prices in town (two good extremely affordable, AKA cheap, wines that I love are Mommesin's Baton de Reglisse Syrah, which is about 4.99, and La Vielle Ferme, which is about 6.50 there compared to 7.50 or 8 bucks at Wild Oats.) Oh, and in case you haven't heard, the baker from Sophia's is there now. I have not been fortunate enough to actually get there in time to get some of his bread, but Sophia's had some of the best bread in town. One last Micucci's recommendation: their deli cheese is incredible, especially for the price. Whenever I pick up a half pound of mozzarella slices, only a quarter pound makes it home.

So, you get home with the Micucci's loot, get out your belnder (a food processor works even better) and get to work. You might want to put some Pavarotti on the CD player and pour yourself a glass of that wine. Wash the basil (my $5 Ikea salad spinner is great for this) and remove the stems. (Put those in the broth bag in the freezer that you will start after reading a future blog about homemade soups.) Put the basil in your blender, about halfway full, then pour in some olive oil. Toast about 1/4 cup of pine nuts on medium-low heat on the stove or in the microwave for about 45 seconds. Then dump these on top. You can start blending any time. Making pesto in a blender takes patience and is a bit messier than a food processor, but who can afford one of those?

Shred about 1/4 cup of the parmesan cheese (or reggiano, or whatever you bought in that realm of cheeses). Dump that in the blender, top with some salt, pepper, and a small sprinkling of crushed red pepper. You will probably need to keep adding more olive oil so it will blend. Also, helping things along with a spatula will be necessary, if you have a $2 yard sale blender like mine.

When things are all saucy, you're done. A hint: my pesto almost always needs more salt. I just taste it with a spoon until it's to my liking. When it is to my liking, I will want to eat it with a spoon.

And voila! You are done.

Now, for the camp meal:
can of white beans
some leftover whole-wheat (much more flavorful than white) couscous from the night before
some sauteed zucchini and onions
pesto

Cook this all up together, serve it to your buddy with a glass of that red (white wine doesn't stay cold when camping), and watch the sun set. Marvel at how life is good to you.