...if i could be who you wanted, all the time

I may be going into a very serious Radiohead phase (yes, I do realize I'm always years behind everyone else). I've always liked them and enjoyed their music, but I believe it is turning into something more. Typically, I turn to Pandora when I have a general unspecific taste for a certain type of music, and lately that's how I've been feeling. But today I am exploring The Hype Machine, which is what Justin uses a lot. I searched "Radiohead" and was met by blog postings that contain Radiohead material-- both by Radiohead and other artists performing their covers. I like it.

And on another note, this is the ad that is showing up on The Hype Machine right now:

Such funny/interesting boots. I'm sure there's plenty of people who could pull off such a look... but I really don't think I'm one of them.

As for my resolutions that I made at the beginning of last month, some have had moderate success, while others complete failure. Tea time doesn't happen often, but only every now and then. When it does happen, I enjoy it immensely... especially when combined with "dark chocolate time" :) I have been cooking more and "shopping from the edges" (buying more fresh ingredients), so I feel pretty good about that. I was talking with Brooke, my... cousin-in-law(?), about gardening and having a farm. It sounded so wonderful, something we would both like to do. Anyone want to go in together on a plot of land and turn it into a community farm?

Lately, I haven't been creating much, which is disappointing... I really enjoy it-- whether it's baking, or drawing or playing with play dough with the little ones. We, meaning myself, Elsie, and Judah, do tell stories quite often... which does fall into the "creating" category, I guess. It's especially fun when they participate and add to the story, telling me who shows up next or what is going to happen. Judah's favorite characters are Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Elmo, and (of course) himself. Elsie usually just comes up with the next scene... She really likes it when any of the characters are walking down the street, or when they get ice cream, or when they have a crown that falls off their head and breaks (so then they have to go buy a new one). Elsie is actually very particular when it comes to stories. I think she gets spooked easily. She likes the way Grandma tells the story of David and Goliath, but not the way I tell it (Mom, I don't want to hear the story about Goliath , ok?). She also did not like the story about Goldilocks and the Three Bears, even though I tried to tell it very light-hearted and silly. Her favorite stories are about Elsie and Judah and the various characters they encounter on whatever adventure they are having at the time.

I caught myself making a lot of spelling and grammar mistakes in this post, so I feel as though there are several that I did not catch. Please excuse any that you find.

Y.U.C.K.

{that's how i'm feeling right now}

Two for two!

I feel accomplished.
Not only have I managed to publish two posts in just two days, but I also went to the grocery store *alone* with ALL three of my children. Yes, I did have to push the hideous "bus cart," and we lost both of Judah's boots in the process (one was found by a kind man walking behind us, the other we had to hunt for). However, it was a success, overall. I spent an hour and a half, got everything I needed, had no serious disasters, and everyone is alive! I probably won't try to do it again any time soon, but at least I know I can.

Some things that I love:

• A well stocked kitchen (with lots of fresh foods!)
• Blueberries
• Whole wheat -- when used correctly
• My sweet family
• Good friends
• Old clothes
  
• "Spare" time
• Spring... [coming soon!]

Now I'm going to use my spare time to clean the kitchen and prepare for supper :)

Make a funny face, mom

Elsie is much better than me at the funny-face game.

tea time resolution

A friend mentioned wanting to have tea every day as part of her new years resolution, and I've decided that I want to do that as well. Babies nap time is going to become my tea time :) Yay! Today I am having Moroccan Mint Green Tea from Intelligentsia. It is one of the best teas I've ever had (and i really haven't had that many...).

Other "resolutions" or just little things I'd like to start doing more of:

• Shopping from the edges of the grocery store (natural and fresh). I've been hearing this a lot lately, from various sources, and I like it.
• Make time each day for creativity. "The Creative Family" by Amanda Blake Soule has inspired me, and I'm only just now in the third chapter.
• COok.
• Keep bedroom clean. 
• Read.
  
• SLOW DOWN.
• Forget past mistakes, especially in others.
  

I will add to the list as I think of things. I remember each year in middle and high school making a list of my resolutions. It would be interesting to see those now. Haha. Just found one from 2001 (as in, Dec. 31):

1. By Jan. 1, 2003 will weigh 100lbs.
2. Will do something active every day missing only 2 a week (unless special occasion).
3. Will worry less about what others think of me and focus more on how I feel about myself.
4. Will build deeper friendships.
5. Will be more friendly... taking to one person I don't know every week [hahahahahaha.]
etc.... I went back in and crossed off (or checked off) things I did or didn't do. Needless to say, there weren't many checks... And several of the items are still applicable today.

However, I don't "disbelieve" in new years resolutions by any means. I think its a good way to get back on track and motivate yourself. Even if it doesn't last very long. At least you are thinking through your goals and priorities and putting them into some sort of objective form.

Jan 2004
1. Set aside a few hours a week for guitar and piano.
2. Reach 104 lbs -- currently 115.

Journals are entertaining.

So I failed...

But it's ok. I have a lot going on. But I'll continue with the challenge and do as many as I can...

December 3 Article. What's an article that you read that blew you away?

Wow. I actually have an answer for this. "Is There Hope for the American Marriage?" in Time. It was... thought-provoking (I think that's the word I'm looking for...). "An increasingly fragile construct depending less and less on notions of sacrifice and obligation than on the ephemera of romance and happiness as defined by and for its adult principals. . ." The article really depicts the state of marriage in this country.

December 4 Book. What book - fiction or non - touched you?

I have to agree with Abby. The Stranger is the book that stood out to me most, with Naive Super coming in at close second. I had to read the Stranger for my online World Literature class, and I connected with it more than the other stories I had to read, for the most part. It was intriguing. Here is part of my discussion post on Meursault: (caution-- contains spoiler if you haven't read it) "Meursault appears to possess a sense of rational indifference. He feels things physically but not emotionally. He feels the sexual desire for a woman, but he doesn’t feel love for her. He remembers the wise words of his mother, but he does not miss her. It isn’t until the end, during his encounter with the priest, that he has any sort of emotional outburst. After his burst of anger, he feels refreshed and renewed-- like he is ready to begin his life. The reason Meursault acts the way he does is because he lets his physical feelings outweigh reason or consequence at times. When he killed the Arab man, he was overwhelmed with the heat of the sun, the air, the ocean and everything around him. That physical heat seemed to completely overcome him, and he acted without even thinking."




On another note, this coming week is the last of my undergraduate college career. It's really hard to think about, because I have so much to do between now and graduation on the 19th. In fact, I had my "final exam nightmare" last night, which is always my indication that exam week has finally arrived.

I'm nervous.

December 2

Restaurant Moment.
Share the best restaurant experience you had this year. Who was there? What made it amazing? What taste stands out in your mind?

This is silly, but the best restaurant moment I think I've had this year was going to Fusion for the first time with Abby, Amy, and Mandy (I feel as if someone else was there... I will feel bad if I left someone out). It was amazing because of the food I got. So delicious! The massaman curry with avocado and cashews. MMM. I could eat some right now.

That's all I have for now. I feel as though I've been wasting precious time.