long and winding road

On the Mend

2011-12-01T21:46:00.001-06:00

A few months ago it was Little Miss Kate who was under the weather. Yesterday and today was Jack's turn. We spent the morning at the vet and fortunately there's nothing wrong except for an upset stomach.

The vet gave me doses of medicine to help him feel better. She looked at me and asked, "will he take a pill?". Of course I laughed and replied, "are you kidding me? He won't let me trim his claws never mind feed him a pill.". So she gave me liquid meds to squirt in his throat. The caveat with that? It's incredibly bitter so he won't want that either. We'll see how it goes tomorrow when I try it for myself. I imagine it will devolve into a gooey mess of epic proportions. And some scratching to boot.

Jack will be 7 in the Spring. I can hardly believe it. And in all those years this is the first time he's been ill. Hopefully his streak goes for another 7 years after this week.

Day of Reckoning

2011-11-11T20:53:00.001-06:00

Tomorrow is a day of reckoning. Back to my weight watchers meeting after a three week hiatus. I have a feeling it isn't going to be pretty. Sigh. Why does everything that tastes so so good have to be bad for the waistline? And why do I have to be one of those people who gain weight easily but lose it excruciatingly slowly? Double sigh.

While tomorrow's weigh in will not be stellar, I have taken steps to ensure future success. I rejoined my gym this week. I miss the pool and the variety of workout options. I am going to start tracking all my food again. I have cleaned out all the junk food and grocery shopped for a week's worth of healthy meals. While I know tomorrow's weigh in will be bad, next Saturday's will not.

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T07:53:00.004-05:00

I love Halloween - costumes, candy, and excited kids. I live on the third floor of an apartment complex though so I'm not anticipating many trick or treaters. I have some candy just in case. The rest will end up in the office tomorrow so they can give it away at the front counter. Every year I watch the original Halloween. AMC usually runs a Halloween marathon. Yes, I live alone and end up scaring myself silly and not sleeping well afterwards, but it's fun and it's one night a year. I started this tradition back when I was a senior in college. I was on duty in the townhouses. My roommates had all gone out to a party so while I was waiting to do rounds I started watching Halloween. I thought it was a pretty great idea until it was time to do rounds, alone, in the dark, through one of the remote parts of campus. Genius.

Sunday Day Book

2011-10-30T09:08:00.003-05:00

Outside my window ...sunny and chilly, 46 degrees

I am thinking … about potential possibilities and it's making me crazy

I am thankful for ... feeling better. I haven't had a stomach bug in years. Still not a fan.

I am reading … Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie (in my opinion one of her best)

I am hoping …that whatever the right thing is, happens

On my mind ...a lot on my plate at work this week, then it's off to San Antonio for TACRAO

I'm learning ... about the cyclical nature of education

Noticing that ... the beeping of the dying smoke detector is incredibly annoying, I hope the maintenance guy makes an appearance today

From the kitchen …crock pot Sunday - cheesy chicken

Around the house … it's a little chilly, but I refuse to turn on the heat, time to break out the sweatshirt and slipper socks

One of my favorite things … when Jack decides he's going to snuggle up against me to sleep, he can be stand offish unless it's on his terms; he's such a loner kitty sometimes

Finest Hour

2011-10-29T09:44:00.000-05:00

Ah, Teen Witch. Another great 80s movie. One that my sister and I both love. In honor of Halloween, here's a clip from the movie. There are so many good parts to this movie, it was hard to choose, so I went with the "musical number" from the end of the movie.

Friday Fun

2011-10-28T09:40:00.000-05:00

Thursday Recipe

2011-10-27T09:35:00.000-05:00

How about something tasty and definitely adult for Halloween? I found this recipe for a Candy Corn Cordial on foodnetwork.com. It sounds delicious and I can't wait to try it out.

Ingredients

For the infused vodka:

1/2 cup candy corn
1 1/2 cups vodka

For the cordials:

2 ounces orange liqueur
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 large egg white
Candy corn, for garnish

Directions

Infuse the vodka: Combine the candy corn and vodka in an airtight container; set aside for at least 3 hours, then strain.

Make the cordials: Add 4 ounces of the candy corn vodka, the orange liqueur, lemon juice and egg white to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously for at least 30 seconds. Strain into 2 chilled martini glasses and garnish with candy corn.

It's Halloween

2011-10-26T21:32:00.002-05:00

I post this every year for Halloween. If you've never seen The Worst Witch, you need to. It's a great Halloween movie with a particularly 80s cast - Tim Curry, Fairuza Balk, Charlotte Rae, and Diana Rigg.

Someday

2011-10-25T07:26:00.001-05:00

I forgot how much I LOVE this song. Added it to my ipod this week.

Creature Stole My Twinkie

2011-10-24T19:23:00.004-05:00

Today was the Monday-est of Mondays. Back to back meetings all day while trying to ignore a raging headache? Sign me up. Of course not. I made it through though and am eagerly counting the days until I head to sunny California to visit with my super awesome sister Melissa. I don't talk about her a lot on this blog. In a nutshell, she is my total opposite in almost every way except for our devotion to really bad 80s movies like Undercover Blues, Grease 2, the Pirate Movie, and the Monster Squad. She is one of the funniest people I know. We are way better to each other when we aren't living in the same house. If we have a few days together though, we have a blast. Hands down she is the most important person to me so I am excited to be heading west. I've never been to California. I've hit up the west coast via Vancouver, BC and Eugene, OR, but not Cali. I'll try to remember to take some pictures to share with you all.

Saturday Day Book

2011-10-22T20:02:00.002-05:00

Outside my window ...dark and chilly, around 55 degrees - perfect sweater weather

I am thinking … about a wonderful Saturday - the fair, good friends, good food

I am thankful for ...the chance to take this trip to visit NC

I am reading … Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by Ree Drummond (aka The Pioneer Woman)

I am hoping …that things turn out the way I want them to

On my mind ...that I have to head back to Texas tomorrow

I'm learning ...about Teaching and Learning this semester

Noticing that ... my throat is a little scratchy, I think I'm getting a cold

From the kitchen …nothing, but the hotel I'm staying in is gorgeous

Around the house …hoping the cats haven't torn the place apart while I've been gone

One of my favorite things …North Carolina (in case y'all haven't been paying attention...)

Duke

2011-10-21T20:44:00.003-05:00

I've worked at a lot of places. Having had some type of job since the time I was 17, I have a pretty good basis for comparison. I had the good fortune to spend the last two days at my favorite - Duke University. I spent approximately three years at Duke and from the moment I stepped on campus for my interview, I knew it was a special place. I had the chance to work with some incredible people within my office and across campus. People that I was thrilled to be able to catch up with this weekend. I had supervisors that mentored me and helped shape me into the professional I am and the one I want to continue to become. I miss it very much. That's not to say that I don't like Texas. As I said in my previous post, I like Texas. I love North Carolina. Walking around campus today felt wonderful. It made my heart happy to see the students and the campus, not to mention spending time with some of my favorite people. I was very very lucky to have had the chance to work there.

A Dangerous Method

2011-10-20T19:43:00.001-05:00

Viggo Mortensen + David Cronenberg = Gold

Viggo Mortensen + Michael Fassbender + David Cronenberg = Must See

Back in the RDU

2011-10-19T19:13:00.002-05:00

I'm here! I'm so excited!!! I'M HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA! Sorry for the shouting y'all, but I can't tell you how tickled I am to be back in North Carolina. To all my family back in New England block your ears for this next part, hmm hmm hmm nothing to see here. Coming back to North Carolina feels like coming home. Apart from my home where all my family is, of all the places I've lived, North Carolina is home. I love it here and I miss it terribly. Now Texas friends, that's not to say I don't like Texas. I am thoroughly enjoying living in Texas - I have my favorite places and my dance class and school. It's not the same though. I can't explain to you why it feels so good to be here. It just does. I love all of the Triangle - from Chapel Hill to Raleigh. The people, the places, my friends. Knowing Charlotte, NC (and by extension Kelly, Korey, and Kennedy) is only a couple of hours away warms my heart. I've been here just over an hour and I'm already dreading flying back on Sunday.

The hotel I'm staying at for this conference is the one I stayed at for my interview with Duke 4 years ago. It's kind of eerie. In a good way. I still remember what I wore to dinner the night before my interview. I remember what I wore to my interview. I remember being sunburned as all get out because I had spent a few days before the interview in Charlotte visiting and went to a tennis tournament and got burned bad. It was a great icebreaker for all my interview sessions. Truly, I looked like a lobster, ha ha.

I am going to enjoy these next four days.

Sunday Day Book

2011-10-16T18:44:00.003-05:00

Outside my window ...it's hot, 80+ degrees, but sunny and not a cloud in the sky

I am thinking … about my trip to North Carolina, I can't wait!

I am thankful for ...the opportunity to continue my education, even when I'm buried under work

I am reading … Sparkling Cyanide by Agatha Christie

I am hoping …that things turn out the way I want them to.

On my mind ...school, work, travel, work, school...

I'm learning ...that I need to just let it go

Noticing that ... the cleaning lady really does a good job cleaning my apartment. Best decision ever.

From the kitchen …chicken and apple salad with cranberries and walnuts for lunches this week

Around the house …bought a pumpkin for the dining room and orange lilies for the mantel. It may not feel like autumn outside, but it looks like it in my apartment.

One of my favorite things …Pottermore. JKR really did a great job with that one.

My Favorite Times of the Week

2011-10-15T10:39:00.003-05:00

There are two parts of the week that I look forward to, regardless of how my week is going - good, bad, or ugly. Wednesday nights I get to dance. I love to dance. Great big puffy heart love to dance. I used to take lessons and assistant teach up until the point I left for college. I did some dancing in college, but not much. I haven't actively taken lessons in about 14 years. For an hour and a half I get to assistant teach a class of 7-10 years olds. They are new to dance so we start simple - shuffle, plie, jazz square, etc. They are so earnest and try so hard; they are a joy to work with. After that class I have my own, an hour of tap lessons. Such bliss. And I push myself, hard. I am a competitive person by nature and when the teacher asks if I want to try that up to tempo, of course I say yes. Everytime. It's a great workout and definitely a highlight of my week.

My other favorite part of the week is Saturday morning. I don't sleep in, I don't lounge around. I am out of my bed and out the door in time to get to my Weight Watchers meeting by 8:30. I have an awesome, amazing, inspiring leader. She really energizes me and inspires me to make good food choices throughout the week. The other people in the meeting are great. It's only 45 minutes out of my Saturday but I look forward to it every week. I enjoy it so much it almost makes me want to stay in Texas.

Friday Fun

2011-10-14T06:41:00.003-05:00

Thursday Recipe

2011-10-13T18:34:00.003-05:00

This is another recipe courtesy of Pinterest. Chicken and Apple salad. How yummy does this sound? I'm thinking of making this on Sunday to take for lunches next week.

Ingredients

2 chicken breast halves
2 small apples
1/2 medium red onion (I'm including this in the recipe but since I don't like raw onion, will omit when I make it)
1/4 dried cranberries
1/3 cup light mayonnaise
1/3 cup fat free plain yogurt
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
salt & pepper to taste

Directions

1. Cook the chicken breast - however you want, in a Foreman grill, in the oven, on the stove. Cook all the way through. Allow to cool.

2. Wash and dice the apple and onion.

3. Dice the chicken and place in a bowl with apple, onion, and cranberries.

4. In a separate bowl combine mayonnaise, mustard, yogurt, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Stir, taste, add more salt & pepper if necessary. Stir dressing into bowl with chicken, apple, onion, and cranberries. Enjoy!

Sweet Escape

2011-10-12T21:43:00.003-05:00

Three weeks ago I made a decision. I follow Alton Brown of Good Eats/Food Network on Twitter and he was talking about giving up soda. I haven't had regular sugared soda in years, but I was drinking a lot of diet soda. Diet Coke, specifically. Oh how I love Diet Coke, and Diet Sunkist, and Diet A&W. Tasty tasty tasty. But I also got to thinking, there are a lot of chemicals in diet soda. It's not cane sugar. It's chemical sweetener. No calories, which is good, but a lot of aspartame. So I made a decision that night. No more soda.

It's not like I kept a lot of it in the house. I don't, but if I was out to dinner or passing by a Sonic, then there was definitely soda involved. But I quit. I pretty much stick to water and maybe a glass of crystal light iced tea with dinner. 99% of the time though, it's water. The third day was the hardest. I really really wanted a soda from Sonic. I held on though and now I don't even think about it really. I just automatically go for the water. I feel better. I don't know that I've noticed anything else different, other than that I use the restroom ALL THE TIME. I feel good about my decision and I feel good and that my friends is what it's all about.

Single Ladies

2011-10-11T09:22:00.003-05:00

I happened to catch this clip on the today show this morning. For the longest time - high school, college, grad school, I thought all I wanted was to get married and have babies. Then I fell in love with being single. (I can hear my grandmother weeping now). I travel when I want; I have a career that I love; I'm back in school working on my doctorate. It's not that I don't think I could do these things if I were in a relationship or married. The decisions are just easier when you're the only one you need to consider. I've moved all around - much to my family's chagrin. I've tried new places and made friends all over the country, all on my own time. It works for me. I'm not downplaying being married or having kids. Being married makes some people happy; having kids makes some people feel complete. I'm not those people. While I will admit to the occasional bout of homesickness for New England or wistful longing for a return to North Carolina, I never feel lonely. Here's the clip from Today:

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Kate on the Mend

2011-10-10T12:32:00.001-05:00

Lo and behold when I woke up this morning she had eaten a little bit of kibble. She's still not to 100% and I need her to drink water but I think we're making progress.

Jack has also stopped hissing at Kate which probably helps her feel a little better too. It can't feel good to be hissed at every time you come within 10 feet of another cat.

It Feels Like Fall

2011-10-09T12:20:00.002-05:00

Finally it feels like October. At the moment it's overcast and rainy and there's a chill in the air. Today is the perfect day for cooking. I've got a couple of things up my sleeve to cook for the week. I have a new blender, a vitamix, and I hear it's excellent at making soup in. I've never made soup from scratch before, just from a can or a box. I found a recipe for celery and buttermilk soup. Sounds yummy, right? I'm going to make that so I can have it for dinner this week. I'm also going to pull out the slow cooker and make a barbecue glazed turkey meatloaf. Another yummy recipe. This one will be for lunches this week. Since it's only me that I cook for, I like to find recipes that I can cook on a Sunday and then eat well into the following week. I don't waste food that way and I eat healthier that way. Knowing I already have dinner made at home keeps me from stopping and picking up dinner on the way.

Sick Kitty

2011-10-08T20:14:00.003-05:00

My poor Katie, she's feeling a bit under the weather. We spent a hissy and growly hour at the vet's this morning to rule out an obstruction. By all appearances she's perfectly healthy. She's not eating though, or drinking. She's still her usual playful self. I've got to keep an eye on her the next few days though. I really hope she starts to at least start drinking water again soon. To top it off, Jack is a hissy grump any time she comes near him. Poor Katie, she doesn't feel well and the other kitty in the house makes it worse by hissing at her anytime she looks in his direction.

Friday Fun

2011-10-07T07:30:00.000-05:00

Thursday Recipe

2011-10-06T08:26:00.002-05:00

Thursday Recipe is back! I discovered this one on Pinterest. It looks so so yummy. Not very Weight Watchers friendly, but a delicious fall treat.

Bourbon Pumpkin Pie Milkshakes

makes 2 shakes

2 cups vanilla ice cream

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup cream or half and half

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

2/3 cup pureed pumpkin

1/2 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice

1/3 cup graham cracker crumbs

2-3 ounces of bourbon

frosting + sprinkles (or cinnamon sugar) for glasses

Add all ingredients to a blender and mix until combined. Rim glasses with a light coating of frosting then dip in sprinkles. Pour in shake and sprinkle cinnamon on top. Top with whipped cream if desired. Serve!

Harper

2011-10-05T07:23:00.001-05:00

Such an amazing story - this will definitely make you smile this morning.

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Halfway Through

2011-10-04T18:43:00.003-05:00

I am almost halfway through another semester - school for me, not work (but that semester is almost halfway through as well). I'm taking three classes this Fall. Fortunately two of them are online so I only have to drive up to Denton for class one night a week. And this week it was canceled. Boy that feeling never gets old. It's almost akin to hearing "Snow Day". I've been crunching numbers and looking at my degree plan. I was going to meet with my advisor tonight to turn in my NC State documentation so we can get the official transfer of courses done, but she's the one who canceled class. It'll have to be next week. I'm hoping to map out with her the rest of my coursework and file my degree plan. Last time she and I met we discussed my potential dissertation topic. Rather than a study, I asked if I could do a historical analysis of a topic in education for my dissertation and she said yes. Oh happy happy day. This means no IRB! No SPSS or SAS! Heavenly words to my ears. I'm very excited about the possibility of finally merging my love of history (and my undergraduate major) with my current field of study. If everything goes according to plan, I should finish coursework next December and then start writing after that. My own personal drop dead date for writing is for it to take no longer than a year. As a procrastinator this worries me. I do better on a deadline. My writing is better that way. But I also know I want to be finished so that may light a fire and hopefully I'll be done in summer. If I can start reviewing literature this summer, then I may be able to pull off finishing in Summer term. We'll see what happens.

That Magic Moment

2011-10-03T22:14:00.003-05:00

Isn't that what everyone looks for? That spark, that something intangible that makes someone right for them? Well, the lovely gentleman I had dinner with tonight did not have it. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that he looked about 10 years older than the picture on his match profile. I'm not being ageist, he just didn't look the way I thought he would. He looked my parents ages, which kind of weirded me out. I don't have hang ups about dating someone older, I just have an issue if they look like they went to high school with my dad. If the man I had dinner with tonight had that spark, I could have overlooked the age thing. Not to mention he had a terrible time reading me. We parted after dinner and already he was blowing up my cell phone with texts. Really? I didn't even kiss him good night and the man was already sending an endless stream. Don't get me wrong, I was flattered, but he obviously didn't read that situation well.

So what am I looking for, you may ask? I've only felt it one other time. I'm not going to quantify it with time, so those of you following along won't be able to pinpoint who it was. But talking with him, being with him, just seeing his name on paper gave my heart a thrill. You know, that pulse racing, catch in your breath moment. That's what I want. If I can't have that, I'd rather be single. And single isn't default for me. I love being on my own. I have friends, I travel, I like my life. So if I do find that magic moment, life will just be sweeter than it already is.

Discovering Dallas...and Fort Worth

2011-10-02T14:22:00.003-05:00

I've been in Texas for over a year now. One year, three months, and two weeks, but who's counting? I like Texas (politics and government aside). I like my life here. Work is a zoo, but outside of 8-5, I really like my life. I've discovered a dance class I love, I'm taking three more classes toward my Ed.D., and I'm making friends. I mention all of this because my long term goal is not to stay in Texas forever. I'd love to go back to North Carolina someday or back to New England. It would have to be the right job at the right time to take me there, but who knows when that will happen.

I mention all of this because I've been in Texas over a year and there are still so many things to see and do and my goal is to try them all at least once before I leave the state someday. No use planning for where I'm going to end up next if I don't know when that's going to happen. In the meantime I'll miss out on all the fun things around me. I've been to a few Rangers games, ostensibly to cheer on the Red Sox, but I like the Ballpark at Arlington. I want to go to a Mavericks game and see the Dallas Stars play. There's theatre and music - too many venues to count from as small as House of Blues to the big ones like Cowboy Stadium. And that's just in Dallas. Fort Worth has lots to do as well. I like Texas, so I don't want to have regrets when I leave some day that I didn't make the most of my time here.

31 for 21

2011-10-01T20:57:00.003-05:00

It's that time of year. This will be my third year participating in the 31 for 21 blogging challenge. I discovered the challenge when I started to follow Michelle's blog Big Blueberry Eyes, where she blogs about her life and the life of her daughter Kayla. Kayla, who does indeed have beautiful blue eyes, has Down Syndrome, aka Trisomy 21 (hence the name of the blog challenge). I think the third year will be my most challenging. I'm taking three classes this semester, plus work, and some travel this month as well. I'm determined though. If any of you want to join in the challenge, click on the 31 for 21 button on the right side of the blog. Happy October everyone!

posting

2011-09-25T19:12:00.001-05:00

I will post again, I promise. I had a few posts all planned out and realized it's almost time for 31 for 21 - the blog challenge I participate in for Down Syndrome Awareness Month, aka, the month of October. So sit back, I'll be back to posting next Friday!

Friday Fun

2011-08-19T09:16:00.002-05:00

The Help. Sob...

2011-08-15T17:26:00.002-05:00

I went to see The Help this weekend. Oh, such a moving film. There are parts where you laugh and parts where you feel your heart is being ripped out of your chest. I don't want to give away any spoilers, so I'll say these few things. The cast was amazing. Amazing. Viola Davis turns in a performance of a lifetime in my opinion. And that's not just because she's from my home state of Rhode Island. The last scene left me leaving the theatre fighting back tears, my throat was scratchy from stopping myself from sobbing. Octavia Spencer is a scene stealer. Her eyes are so expressive. Emma Stone is a great Skeeter. I didn't read the book until I had seen the trailer, so I didn't go into it with another vision of Skeeter in my head. Skeeter will always be Emma Stone. The chemistry among this cast was palpable. Bryce Dallas Howard, Allison Janney, Jessica Chastain, Sissy Spacek...all perfect. So if you've read the book you should see the movie. If you haven't read the book, you should see the movie.

Leaving the theatre ready to burst into tears left me thinking about other movies that make me sob. So I've come up with a list. There are scenes in movies that make me tear, others that make me feel emotion. These scenes make me sob until my eyes are red and puffy and I have a headache. Warning - there be spoilers ahead

1. The Man in the Moon (1991) - One of Reese Witherspoon's earliest performances and it's stellar. Some people say the graveyard scene is what makes them lose it. For me, it's the moments immediately after Cort and the tractor accident. Dani (Reese Witherspoon) is running for home and starts screaming for her father. "Daddy! Daddy! Cort...the tractor...help". She can't even get the words out. Start watching at the 1:40 mark. Just remembering her crying for her father makes me tear up. She can't even stand up and her father (Sam Waterson) picks her up like she's nothing more than a feather and leaves her on the front steps. Sadness abounds.

2. Hope Floats (1998) - It's the end of the movie. Why are these scenes always at the end? Bernice (Mae Whitman) overhears her mother (Sandra Bullock) and father talking about a divorce. She decides she wants to go back to Chicago with her father. Dad has other plans. Watch from the 2:30 mark. Sigh. She is so heartbroken.

3. Steel Magnolias - 1989. Oh Lordy, you know what I'm going to say next. "I want to know how that baby will ever know how wonderful his mother was? What she gave up for him?" Sob...sob...sob...

4. Beaches - (1988) The grandaddy of them all, in my opinion. The first notes of "Wind Beneath My Wings" starts and the tears start streaming down my face. Only to turn into great big heaving sobs at the funeral. It's Victoria that gets me started.

Please pass me the kleenex...so what are your go to movies when you feel the need for a good cry?

It All Ends

2011-08-06T08:12:00.002-05:00

I've seen Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 2 twice now. It's kind of like reading the books. When a new HP book would come out I'd race through it, eager to see what happens. Then I'd have to read it again to pick up on the stuff I missed the first time around. I felt the same way about the movie. I was so excited to see how they wrapped everything up that I wanted to go back and watch it again. David Yates and David Heyman did such an excellent job, but what really stands out for me is the score. Alexandre Desplat created something magical. I discovered that the first time I saw the movie. I ran out and bought the soundtrack. Everytime I hear Lily's Theme I want to weep. It's so haunting. The score has always been done well for these movies, but Desplat really outdid himself this time.

As for the acting...the trio of Harry, Ron, and Hermione were excellent. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, have grown so much in these roles. We've literally seen them grow up on screen. Their acting talents have only gotten better. The real stand outs for me though were Alan Rickman and Helen McCrory. In the books, up to the point of Half-Blood Prince, Narcissa is portrayed as cold and unfeeling. Helen McCrory does an excellent job of portraying that icy reserve, except where it comes to her son - Draco. You can see it in her eyes. One of the most memorable scenes is towards the end as Voldemort starts to realize his downfall. His followers start to disperse. Narcissa takes Draco's hand and the walk away from Hogwarts, not once looking back. Their walk is determined and purposeful. Lucius meanwhile is unsure and continually looks back as he stumbles to keep up with his wife and son.

And now on to Alan Rickman as Snape. Amazing scenes. His anguish is palpable. You get a sense of it from Jo Rowling's excellent writing, but Alan Rickman puts incredible feeling behind it. The pensieve scenes after his death are some of the most poignant, engaging, heartbreaking moments in the film. More so than Harry's conversation with Lily, James, Sirius, and Remus with the Resurrection Stone. Movies like this don't generally get awards consideration except in technical categories, but Alan Rickman is deserving of some kind of recognition for how well these scenes turned out.

If I had one bone to pick it would be this. All through the books, from Book 1 to Book 7, from Movie 1 to Movie 7.2, they make a point of noting how Harry has Lily's eyes. Everyone says it - Sirius, Severus, Remus...so why then could casting not hire a young Lily with the same color eyes as Daniel Radcliffe. She was a darling sprite of a girl with the cursory red hair and dark brown eyes! Dark brown! The first time we see Daniel in movie one it's a close up of his scar and his blue eyes! So casting went with a brown eyed girl. In editing and with all the CGI effects, they couldn't make her eyes blue? They completely missed this in editing. A small point in the grand scheme of things if it weren't for the fact that it's mentioned all the time! It's not a throwaway line by one character in one book.

Apart from that, it's a great movie - they really wrapped up the series well. Points of humor, moments of sadness and resignation, and a point of moving on. Well done.

The IBKC Fundraiser

2011-06-27T09:45:00.004-05:00

If you don't follow Laurie and the gang over at the itty bitty kitty committee, you should. You definitely get your daily dose of cute. She does a great job fostering kitties. It's a good thing I don't live in the Sea-Tac area because my house would be overrun with ibkc alumni. She somehow manages to wrangle the cutest kitties in the world. Every year the ibkc participates in a fundraiser to raise money for the Humane Society of Tacoma and Pierce Counties. They have managed to raise so much money and it goes to great things. They were able to raise enough money last year to help build a quarantine area for incoming cats. Such amazing things happen. The fundraiser has started again this year. Every penny helps. If you have a few spare dollars, please consider helping them reach their goal this year. And if nothing else, spend some time reading through her blog. I promise your head will explode from the cute.

30 Songs Challenge - Day 30

2011-06-17T11:56:00.002-05:00

Here it is - the last day, last challenge, last song. Today's challenge - my favorite song at this time last year. Hey, Soul Sister by Train. I still like this song, I haven't grown too tired of it. Love the band. One of the best concerts I've ever been to was Matchbox Twenty and Train at Jones Beach. They were amazing.

30 Songs Challenge - Day 29

2011-06-16T10:00:00.002-05:00

Today's challenge was another fun one. A song from my childhood. There are so many songs from my childhood. I grew up in the 80s so there's lots to choose from. I'm going to go with something from New Kids on the Block. They were the first concert I went to. The Right Stuff - New Kids on the Block.

30 Songs Challenge - Day 28

2011-06-15T09:30:00.001-05:00

A song that makes me feel guilty. Well, I already admitted to my love of Britney Spears. What other guilty pleasure is out there? I'm trying to think of other CDs I own that I would cringe over other people knowing about. How about the Grease 2 soundtrack. Yup. I own it. I LOVE this movie.

30 Songs Challenge - Day 27

2011-06-14T08:30:00.000-05:00

Today's challenge was slightly easier than yesterday's - a song that I wish I could play. I really would love to learn to play the piano. I've always wanted to learn. I think it's such a beautiful instrument. As far as classical music goes, I've always been partial to Beethoven. I would love to learn to play Pathetique.

30 Songs Challenge - Day 26

2011-06-13T09:00:00.002-05:00

Today's challenge was hard - a song you can play on an instrument. I don't currently play an instrument. I used to play clarinet a long long time ago back in elementary school. I don't remember many of the songs. My sister used to have a keyboard that you could slide a disk into and you could follow the lights on the keyboard to play a song. She had a Beatles disk so I learned to play Hey Jude. As long as I could follow the lights it sounded okay.

30 Songs Challenge - Day 25

2011-06-12T09:20:00.002-05:00

This one was fun. The challenge for Day 25 was a song that makes you laugh. I immediately thought of Cupid's Chokehold by Gym Class Heroes. This song makes me grin every time I hear it.

30 Songs Challenge - Day 24

2011-06-11T09:05:00.002-05:00

A song you want played at your funeral. Kind of morbid. This one was hard. No one really wants to think about their death, or dying. Hmmm. I Will Remember You by Sarah Mclachlan is a really pretty song and one of my all time favorites.

30 Songs Challenge - Day 23

2011-06-10T10:00:00.001-05:00

Today's challenge was kind of fun - a song you want played at your wedding. I've had this one in my head forever. I'm a single girl, I love thinking about what-ifs in the event that I someday actually get married. Sara Evans - I Could Not Ask For More.

30 Songs Challenge - Day 22

2011-06-09T10:54:00.002-05:00

Today's song was hard - one that I listen to when I'm sad. I'm not sad a lot, and as I said in a previous post most of my music listening happens in the car. I'm not one to listen to music at home when I'm in a particular mood. On the occasion I am sad and I happen to be in the car, I turn to Don Henley - End of the Innocence.

30 Songs Challenge - Day 21

2011-06-08T08:51:00.002-05:00

On the 21st day...a song I listen to when I'm happy. The first thought that popped into my head was Amy Grant - Good For Me. Just the melody alone sounds happy, and the lyrics are cute too.

30 Songs Challenge - Day 20

2011-06-07T08:48:00.002-05:00

Today's challenge is a song that I listen to when I'm angry. Since most of my music listening happens in the car, I try not to get too angry when I drive. There are times though when I come out of work super stressed and feel the need to blast something good and loud on the radio. I find that You Oughta Know by Alanis Morissette works well on those occasions.

30 Songs Challenge - Day 19

2011-06-06T08:47:00.002-05:00

Some of these are so difficult! Especially when it comes to picking a favorite. I love love love music, so it's hard to pick a favorite. Today's challenge is a song from my favorite album. This would mean I need to pick a favorite album. So hard. So so hard. One of my favorite albums is Tonight & the Rest of My Life by Nina Gordon. It's one of those CDs where every. song. is. good. This is the title track off the album.

30 Songs Challenge - Day 18

2011-06-05T11:00:00.002-05:00

Today's challenge is a song you wish you heard on the radio. I hear this song occasionally, but wish I heard it more. I think it's such a pretty song, and as I've mentioned earlier, I love Dido's music. I wish I heard White Flag on the radio more.

30 Songs Challenge - Day 17

2011-06-04T09:34:00.002-05:00

The challenge for today is a song you hear often on the radio. I spend about an hour or so in the car every day and I listen to the radio most days. Sometimes I plug in my ipod instead, but it's usually the radio. A song I hear all the time on the radio is Adam Lambert, Whataya Want From Me. I'm not tired of it yet, but I'm getting there.

30 Songs Challenge - Day 16

2011-06-03T10:27:00.002-05:00

So today it's a song I used to love but now I hate. This one was hard - as I mentioned in a previous post, there are few songs/groups that I hate. There are songs that I am tired of hearing them since they were so overplayed on the radio. One that immediately makes me change the radio station is Big Girls Don't Cry by Fergie. Ugh, so overplayed I can't stand it. Not to mention everytime I see her, I think of Kids, Inc.

30 Songs Challenge - Day 15

2011-06-02T08:14:00.001-05:00

It's kind of fitting that the song for today should fall on my birthday. Today's song is a song that describes me. I thought about this one for a little bit and then came up with Miss Independent by Kelly Clarkson. I can't help it - I love doing my own thing and being on my own.

30 Songs Challenge - Day 14

2011-06-01T09:01:00.000-05:00

Today's song choice was fun too - a song no one would expect you to love. I love all kinds of music, I have a pretty eclectic collection. I could have gone in a bunch of different directions. California Love by Tupac, Beautiful People by Marilyn Manson. This one is probably a song that most would not think is in my library - Stripper, by the Soho Dolls.

30 Songs Challenge - Day 13

2011-05-31T09:58:00.000-05:00

Today's choice was fun - a song that is a guilty pleasure. I think the whole Britney Spears library is a guilty pleasure. It was hard to pick just one. I went with the one that started it all, Hit Me Baby, One More Time.

30 Songs Challenge - Day 12

2011-05-30T08:56:00.000-05:00

Hate is a strong word, I don't know that there's a band out there that I hate. There are bands that I don't care for much. I randomly picked a song by the Rolling Stones. I know, I know, I know. I've just never cared for their music.

30 Songs Challenge - Day 11

2011-05-29T13:53:00.000-05:00

Today's post is a song by my favorite band. This one came to me pretty quickly. It took about 2.8 seconds to pick Matchbox Twenty as my favorite band and Back 2 Good is my favorite song of theirs.

30 Songs Challenge - Day 10

2011-05-28T14:49:00.000-05:00

Day ten's song was a little tricky. I had to think about this for a bit - a song that makes me fall asleep. I don't know that there's one that makes me fall asleep, but there is music that I find soothing. Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven is one of those.

30 Songs Challenge - Day 9

2011-05-27T15:42:00.000-05:00

This one was easy - a song I can dance to. I love to dance. It's one of my favorite things. There are so many to choose from because I can dance to almost anything. At the moment it's Dynamite by Taio Cruz.

30 Songs Challenge - Day 8

2011-05-26T09:36:00.000-05:00

Today's song is a song that I know all the words to. This one was hard. I'm one of those people with that kind of memory. I think I remember the words to every song I know. It's a matter of just picking one. I went with Here With Me by Dido. She has such a lovely voice and I love love love her music.

30 Songs Challenge - Day 7

2011-05-25T11:31:00.000-05:00

Day seven is about a song that reminds me of a specific event. I'm reaching back to high school now, to my days being involved with CYO (Catholic Youth Organization). So involved was I that I was a Diocesan Youth Officer, I think I was a senator or a rep or something to that effect. That particular year our group was responsible for some kind of opening performance. For my NACURH peeps, it was kind of like roll call, but Catholic :) Anyhow, I actually was selected to be the lead in the performance. I was supposed to be a troubled teen tempted by drugs and alcohol, but found my way. The whole performance was set to music, and I Have Decided by Amy Grant was the last song we played, after I had made my choice to stay true to myself and to God.

30 Songs Challenge - Day 6

2011-05-24T09:25:00.001-05:00

The song for day six of the challenge is a song that reminds me of somewhere. I picked Bust a Move by Young MC. This reminds me of Townhouse 121, where I lived senior year in college. We would blast this song as we would get ready to go out on the weekends.

30 Songs Challenge - Day 5

2011-05-23T10:00:00.001-05:00

A song that reminds me of someone - this one was hard too. I had to go back to the summer I worked orientation in college and the amazing people who worked with me. We had a blast. During prep we would blast the radio and the song Barbie Girl by Aqua was popular that summer. Mark did a great impersonation of the guy who was "Ken" in the song. I still grin every time it comes on the radio.

30 Songs Challenge - Day 4

2011-05-22T13:28:00.003-05:00

If yesterday was about the happy, today is a song that makes me sad. I actually didn't have any problems picking this one because this one makes me sad as well as homesick. I know the message is supposed to be uplifting, but it makes me sad all the same. Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson

30 Songs Challenge - Day 3

2011-05-21T10:25:00.002-05:00

Day 3 - a song that makes me happy. Music in general makes me happy, but a song that puts a smile on my face? Twist and Shout by the Beatles

30 Songs Challenge - Day 2

2011-05-20T13:21:00.002-05:00

I found the challenge for Day 2 to be almost as difficult as yesterday's - my least favorite song. There are many songs out there that I don't like, how do I decide which one I like least? Then it came to me...I really really dislike this one. Hot, hot, hot by Buster Poindexter.

30 Songs Challenge - Day 1

2011-05-19T13:15:00.002-05:00

One of my friends on facebook started doing this and I found it intriguing. I LOVE music. All kinds, so I thought this would be a fun experiment. I know I'm heading on vacation, but the great thing about blogger is I can create in advance and schedule it to post while I'm away. So today's challenge is "favorite song". You would think this might be easy but I am having a heck of a time trying to come up with my favorite of all time. I'm trying to think of a song that transcends all the different decades and I'm finding this difficult. I feel like I'm going to settle because I can't think of the one. So we'll go with "Walk This Way" by Aerosmith.

The Countdown is On

2011-05-18T21:44:00.004-05:00

To say that the last few weeks have been crazy insane would be an understatement. Work is bonkers bonkers bonkers. I won't bore you with the details but between the end of the semester with my own classes and wrapping up grading and putting on commencement for the institution where I work, I've been hopping. My friend Karina and I planned way back in November that we were going to go on a cruise when she was finished with her doctoral course work and when I finished the school year. We arrive in Miami on Sunday and the boat leaves on Monday! The timing could not be better. I've never been on a cruise and I'm really looking forward to a week sailing around the Bahamas and enjoying the sun, surf, and sand. And utter and complete relaxation. I am turning off my work email on my iphone and not looking at it until I get back. I haven't been on vacation like this in so long. I am giddy. I've taken vacation time and gone home to visit, but those trips aren't incredibly relaxing. I spend most of the time trying to get to see as many people as possible that there's little downtime. It's action packed from the get go when I'm home in Rhode Island. I am so looking forward to a week where I don't have to respond to anyone or anything. Sigh.

Free Saturday

2011-05-14T21:50:00.005-05:00

This was such a nice Saturday. I'd like to think of it as the calm before the storm that will be Commencement on Monday. Oh, also, grades are due Monday as well. I love it when things come together like that. Sigh. Back to Saturday. The weather was gorgeous. Sunny, blue blue skies, and a high of 72 degrees. I threw open all the windows and the sliding glass door and gave the apartment a well needed breath of fresh air. I felt quite productive. By 10 am I had worked out, cleaned the apartment, straightened out all my school papers from the last semester, showered and was ready to go. Not that I had anything specific planned.

After I showered this morning I tried a new tanning product. I don't want to go on my vacation looking like Casper the ghost. So I tried these towelettes from L'Oreal. My stars. I read about them initially on Kelly's blog and knew I had to try them out. Best thing ever. Because you swipe the towelette all over, there is no streaking. It dries quickly and isn't sticky. Highly, highly recommend this product (I wasn't compensated or anything for this rave review, I bought them on my own at Wal-Mart).

So what to do with my evening? I went to the movies. There's a cinema the next town over that is a movie tavern. They serve food during the movie. The food was good. I probably would have designed the interior a little differently, but it was still a nice change from the normal movie theatre. So what did I see, you ask? Bridesmaids. It was hysterical. I haven't laughed like that in a theatre since I saw Wedding Crashers. Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph were so so funny. I won't spoil it for you, just take my word for it that you should see it. The only thing that would have made the night better would have been if my sister and my cousins were there too. We tend to have a little bit of fun at weddings, so I would have liked to see this with them. Alas, we're all spread out. I'm in Texas, Melissa's in California, Carolyn is in Massachusetts, Ally's in New Jersey, and Kell's in North Carolina. There were so many moments in the movie where I thought, oh my gosh, that could so be us. Kind of like how I feel watching My Big Fat Greek Wedding. My family craziness aside - Bridesmaids was fun, definitely a must see.

Wednesday Day Book

2011-05-11T19:06:00.001-05:00

Outside my window ...storms are clearing and the temps and humidity are dropping

I am thinking … that I just need to get through commencement

I am thankful for ...the end of another semester

I am reading … The Inflammation Syndrome

I am hoping …that things turn out the way I want them to.

On my mind ...commencement, commencement, commencement. Why must people wait til the last minute

I'm learning ...that some people just really don't get it

Noticing that ... my wanderlust is ebbing

From the kitchen …made my homemade salsa this week and everyone at work loved it

Around the house …my new mattresses arrived!

One of my favorite things …Wednesday Night TV - ANTM, Criminal Minds, and Top Chef. A little bit of everything :)

Rolling in the Deep

2011-04-27T22:20:00.001-05:00

Amazing amazing amazing. That is all.

Procrastination Station...Come on in...

2011-04-22T19:47:00.002-05:00

I'm attempting to write a book review for a class tomorrow. I'm about 1/5 of the way through and I have no motivation to finish. I will finish, I'm just going to do a bunch of other things first. I need to make more iced tea as I seem to have run out. I need to dust the spare room. The carpet guys were here today to replace the padding you see, and now it's dusty in there. Oh, I should also fold the laundry sitting in the dryer. I need to do another load this weekend and I'll need a free dryer for that. I could also wipe down the kitchen counters, sink, and stove. I already swept the floors.

I also cruised craigslist to see what apartments are available in Boston. Wishing very much lately that I was there rather than here. I think it's a sign. The Passion of the Christ was on. I really wanted to watch that as I've never seen it. I know, I know, I know. But I saw that the station was playing it again later, so I set my dvr to record it. I'll watch it tomorrow night. I could very easily have sat down and watched tonight though. In the end, I suppose I'll just make the iced tea and get back to writing the book review. The review is supposed to be no longer than 1200 words, so it's not like I have pages of writing ahead of me. Time to buckle down and get it done. Then I believe I will treat myself to a very much deserved glass of wine or maybe whiskey. I'm thinking it's a whiskey kind of night.

Sunday Day Book

2011-04-17T09:41:00.002-05:00

Outside my window ...clear blue skies and 62 degrees

I am thinking … that the semester is almost over - thank goodness

I am thankful for ...gorgeous spring weather. Last week was a little rocky.

I am reading … Women's Ways of Knowing. It's for a class. My last major read for the semester.

I am hoping …for the next 4 weeks to fly by - Bahamas here I come!

On my mind ...I need to recommit to the weight loss. I've only been half-hearted about it really and I need to focus.

I'm learning … to not sweat the small stuff

Noticing that ... it may be time to purge my closet again

From the kitchen …not much. I've had a request for cupcakes for Easter so I'll probably bake this week.

Around the house …laundry is going and dishwasher is running.

One of my favorite things …Harry Potter. Deathly Hallows pt1 DVD arrived on Friday. I cannot wait for pt2.

Sunny Saturday

2011-04-16T17:33:00.003-05:00

We're enjoying a sleepy, sunny, Saturday here in Texas today. After some wild weather including hail and 50 mph winds this week, this blue-sky 70 degree day is perfection. I went to AquaFit, tackled a little homework, did some house cleaning (open windows and ash from the wild fires blown in by those 50 mph winds require some dusting!), and napped for a bit. As you can see from the picture, Jack is in his favorite spot. Since the weather is nice, when I'm home I open the sliding glass doors to the balcony and he just curls up there and is content for hours. Kate is napping on the window sill in the bedroom.

I am counting down the days til my cruise! My friend Karina and I are headed out on a Bahamas cruise in May. I am so excited and in desperate need of a vacation. Six weeks after I get back from Miami/the crusie, it's off for a long weekend home. I haven't been home since October, so I am super excited about the visit. I've been missing home a lot lately and have been pondering what my next move will be when I'm ready to move on from Texas. I've loved these last four and a half years in the South. I've met some amazing people who I hope to keep in touch with for a long time. I've worked for some great people who have taught me a lot about the professional that I want to be. I've enjoyed the weather and the snowless winters (for the most part). None of them are home though and my mother will probably do a dance in the street when I say this, but I think I'm ready to go home.

I don't know what sparked my wanderlust. I'm going to assume it's from my dad. I have a sneaking suspicion that if he had had the opportunity once upon a time, he would have had a similar life to mine. Not the job per se - I can't picture my dad sitting still long enough to do what I do - but the trying new cities, seeing what fits, and then trying something new. I've lived in nine states. I think the wanderlust is ebbing. Especially since I live in one of the most vibrant parts of the country. I don't know if I'd go back to Rhode Island, but I'd definitely live in Boston or outside the city somewhere. In a heartbeat. Close enough that I can go home whenever I want. I miss my family. My immediate family yes, but you're talking to a girl who was raised on Sunday dinners at grandma's with my extended family. We don't do that anymore, but I've missed more get-togethers with them over the past four years than I'd care to admit or wish that I hadn't. So it's kind of simple really. Home is where the heart is and my heart is about 1800 miles away.

Friday Fun

2011-03-18T08:55:00.000-05:00

Thursday Recipe

2011-03-17T20:52:00.002-05:00

One of my favorite summer treats is the Lobster Roll. I'm picky though, I don't like onion so I am particular about my recipe. This one from the Deen brothers meets my criteria perfectly.

Ingredients

4 (1 1/2-pound) cooked lobsters or 4 lobster tails or 1 1/2 pounds lobster meat
1/2 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 inner celery stalks and leaves, finely chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 rolls, split and lightly toasted
Melted butter, for brushing

Directions

Remove the meat from the lobsters, chopping any large chunks into bite-size pieces. In a bowl, combine the lobster meat, mayonnaise, lemon juice, celery, parsley, and salt and pepper to taste.

Cook's Note: Place lobster salad in refrigerator for 5 to 10 minutes. This allows the salad to absorb the flavorings.

Brush cut sides of the rolls with melted butter and fill with the lobster salad.

Jack is Six Years Old Today

2011-03-15T10:55:00.002-05:00

Pardon the blurry picture - but this is the only picture I have of Jack when he was still a little kitten. He's six today. It feels like yesterday that Steph and I went to SPCA/Angell in Boston to find a cat for me to adopt. He was the first one I held. He looked at me with those huge eyes and that was it. I was hoping for a cat that would love to curl up on my lap. I soon discovered that wasn't in his nature. He comes to me to be petted only when the mood strikes him. He can be grumpy and he's not incredibly playful. I feel bad for Kate sometimes because all she wants to do is play and Jack wants no part of it. But he's still a gorgeous kitty with his big eyes. While he's not a lap cat, he does love to curl up on the pillow next to me while I sleep at night. I think that's as close as it's going to get. I still remember him as a sweet little kitten in that little studio in Boston. He would sit on top of my old CRT computer monitor and watch all the squirrels and birds in the park next door. My RAs loved it - he finally got accustomed to them after a few weeks and I never had better petsitters. Happy Birthday Jack!

Saturday Day Book

2011-03-12T14:07:00.002-06:00

Outside my window ...it's a gorgeous, sunny, 70 degree day in the DFW

I am thinking … that I am taking today off from work and from homework. Bliss!

I am thankful for ...the wonders of modern medicine - LASIK was the best decision.

I am reading … The MacGregor Grooms. Again. I'm also reading Cinderella Ate My Daughter. It's good.

I am hoping …to book my cruise next week!

On my mind ...I need to recommit to the weight loss. I've only been half-hearted about it really and I need to focus.

I'm learning … that I have zero tolerance for incompetence.

Noticing that … it's time to dust. I'm seriously considering hiring a maid to come clean every two weeks.

From the kitchen …baking cookies tomorrow

Around the house …Jack is napping next to me and Kate is snuggled under the covers of my unmade bed.

One of my favorite things …getting a pedicure. Sigh.

Friday Fun

2011-03-11T06:24:00.000-06:00

Thursday Recipe

2011-03-10T07:17:00.001-06:00

For those of you who don't know, I am a practicing Catholic. As of yesterday we have entered the Lenten season, which for me means many things, one of which is I don't eat meat on Fridays. I'm not a huge meat eater to begin with, but this gives me an opportunity to look for new seafood recipes. Here is one from Paula Deen for Shrimp and Grits. I'm not normally a grits girl, but it provides such great texture with the shrimp. It's a great combination.

Ingredients

2 servings cooked grits
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup diced tasso ham*
2 tablespoons diced leeks
2 tablespoons diced onion
2 tablespoons diced green peppers
20 medium to large shrimp, peeled and de-veined, with tails on
1 to 2 tablespoons white wine
1 cup heavy cream
Salt and pepper
Green onion tops, chopped
*Cook's Note: Tasso is a Cajun ham and is often hard to find outside of Louisiana, but you can find it at some specialty gourmet shops or by mail order. If not, you can substitute salt pork, pancetta, or prosciutto, but you will have to beef up your seasonings, as tasso is very flavorful.

Directions

Cook grits according to package directions; set aside and keep warm.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add tasso and saute until crisp. Add diced vegetables and saute until onions are translucent. Add shrimp and saute for 30 to 45 seconds, or until pink. Remove from the pan and set aside. Deglaze the pan with a little white wine. Slowly add the cream and let reduce until thickened. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Divide grits among 2 serving plates. Line plate edges with shrimp (10 shrimp per serving). Pour sauce over grits. Garnish with green onion tops.

For a great wedding idea, use martini glasses to serve shrimp and grits, with the grits on the bottom and shrimp and sauce on top.

**not being in Louisiana, I would substitute prosciutto for tasso

In Your Eyes

2011-03-09T19:06:00.003-06:00

It's a whole new world folks. I took the plunge and had LASIK surgery last week. I knew a couple of people who have had it done and they were thrilled with the results. I went for a consult and decided to do it. PEOPLE. If you have ever considered having it done, DO IT. Seriously. No pain, you can't even tell what they're doing. It's not like you can see them or feel them doing whatever it is they're doing. I won't go into detail for those of you who are a little squeamish, if you want all the details, let me know and I'll be happy to fill you in. I could see clearer right off the bat. Was almost back to normal the next day. I was more tired than I expected, so I slept a lot that weekend, but I've been fine ever since.

I have had a few moments though. The first time I got in the shower I had a revelation. Oh. My. Word. THE DUST. I needed to dust the shower. I never looked at the shower with glasses on, so I never saw the dust. We set that to rights immediately. I also had a moment this morning where I went to adjust my glasses, out of habit. I had a mini-panic attack when they weren't there. Then I quickly remembered, oh yeah - I don't wear them anymore. Ha ha.

Truly the best decision I've made in a while. And if you're in the Dallas area and want a LASIK consult, go to Key-Whitman. They are THE BEST. So no more glasses or contacts for me. It has been a revelation. I never imagined I would be able to see like this.

Valentine's Prayers

2011-02-14T06:21:00.003-06:00

On this day set aside for love, dear readers, if you could take a moment to offer up a prayer for a family I know. The mom is someone I knew back when and she and her husband are in need of a miracle. Their newborn was brought into the world 20 days ago and there have been complications. They are bringing her home today to pass away in the love and comfort of her parents arms. Please pray for them on this day.

Nine Degrees

2011-01-13T20:01:00.004-06:00

On Tuesday I called my grandmother. I was on my way home from work and thought I'd give her a call. New England (and Rhode Island and Massachusetts in particular) was expecting some pretty decent snow and I wanted to check in with her. I figured if Grandma was anything like my mom, she was thinking maybe she could make it into work Wednesday morning. I wanted say hi and and let her know that she was too important to us and not nearly important enough at her part-time job at "the Dunkin Donut" to attempt to drive. Texas, in the meantime has been in the middle of a cold snap. Our conversation went something like this:

Grandma: Hi Nichole
Nichole: Hi Grandma. I hear you all are due for some snow.
G: Are you calling to rub it in since you're in Texas?
N: Ha ha, Grandma with the windchill it was nine degrees this morning when I left the house. It is COLD here right now. I am so not calling to gloat. I'm calling to make sure you don't try to go to work tomorrow...

She assured me she wouldn't go to work and we lamented that my mom was sure to try to drive in to work in the morning no matter what and moved on to talking about our mutual dislike of Rex Ryan and the Jets. I adore my grandmother. She and her husband dress alike when they go out (matching shirts and the like). She worked hard all her life. She has been incredibly supportive of her children and grandchildren.

I'll admit it, I'm her favorite. Ha ha. I think if you asked her she'd admit it too...maybe not. But everyone else will tell you I'm her favorite too. Ha! She's not as active as she used to be, but when I was younger she used to take me on trips with her - Florida, Virginia, Martha's Vineyard. I spent many many weekends at her house. I'd leave and not look back, even though the only board game she would agree to play with me was bingo. I had fun just hanging out with her, going to the market or to the local high school for band stuff. All her friends knew who I was - Pam's daughter - and I remember a lot of them, even to this day. Most of my first memories are memories of that time spent with Grandma in Somerset. My sister never wanted to go, she hated leaving my mom. So a lot of the time it was just Grandma and me. So you can see why I thought she was too important to go out in the blizzard and I'm glad she agreed with me.

Good Show

2011-01-02T08:49:00.002-06:00

I love Matchbox Twenty. I have for many years. I've been fortunate enough to have seen them in concert three times now. It's always a good show. Nothing terribly flashy, just good music. I think my favorite of the three was the Jones Beach concert the summer of 2001. What's better than a concert at an amphitheatre on the water? And Train was the opening act that night. Last night's New Year's show was still a good show. No opening act, just 2 hours of mb20 music. They didn't play all of my faves - I would have loved to hear Mad Season or Last Beautiful Girl, but they did play Back 2 Good which is my all time favorite by them. And when you have three CDs and a new one coming out this year, you can't possibly fit everyone's favorite into 2 hours. I had great seats though - about 12 rows back. The acoustics were good, the band sounded great, I'd see them again with no hesitation. They're only one of two groups that I've seen more than twice - the other is Aerosmith. So if MB20 comes back through on tour with the new album in 2011, sign me up!

**the above clip isn't from last night (obviously, with the multiple camera shots), it's from when they did StoryTellers on VH1 a few years ago

Friday Fun

2010-12-31T08:33:00.000-06:00

Blizzard!

2010-12-27T18:19:00.001-06:00

I saw this video today - it's a time elapsed video of the snow piling up from the blizzard this weekend that slammed the northeast. Seeing this is a reminder for me why I relocated to the South :)

December 2010 Blizzard Timelapse from Michael Black on Vimeo.

Sunday Day Book

2010-12-26T08:32:00.002-06:00

Outside my window ...it's cold! Only 28 degrees...brrr!

I am thinking … that I had a lovely Christmas, despite the fact that I didn't get home this year

I am thankful for …an amazing family

I am reading … The MacGregor Grooms. I've been flying through Nora Roberts' MacGregor family series this weekend. Just because.

I am hoping …that with the blizzard on the way, my family and friends in the Northeast get to where they are supposed to be going.

On my mind ...I need to do more strength workouts. I did my first one in months on Friday and I am sore.

I'm learning … that Kate is a nosy little thing. Couldn't leave me along while I put together their new kitty condo yesterday.

Noticing that … they finally mowed the field outside my window. It was getting high and kind of unsightly.

From the kitchen …debating whether to have a bagel thin or cinnamon toast for breakfast.

Around the house …vacuuming and some peripheral laundry (towels, a few blankets, bathrobes, etc.).

One of my favorite things … A Christmas Story marathon. Every year, I watch it multiple times. One of the best Christmas movies.

Happy Christmas

2010-12-25T10:26:00.002-06:00

Friday Fun

2010-12-24T15:32:00.000-06:00

Thursday Recipe

2010-12-23T18:23:00.004-06:00

It's the holiday season...Christmas is in 1.5 days!!! And what is better than a warm gooey cinnamon roll on Christmas morning? I found this recipe for cinnamon rolls on the food network website. Ooey, gooey, warm, and melty. Yum!

Ingredients

Dough:

1/2 cup water
1/2 cup whole milk
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1/4 ounce package)
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted, plus more for the bowl
1 large egg yolk
1 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 3/4 cup all-purpose flour (13 ounces)
1/4 cup sugar (1 3/4 ounces)
3/4 teaspoon fine salt (1/8 ounce)
1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg

Filling:

1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
3/4 cups (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, very soft, plus more for coating the pan

Glaze:

2/3 cups confectioners' sugar
1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
1/4 cup melted unsalted butter
3 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

Combine the water and milk in a medium saucepan and warm over low heat until it is about 100 degrees F (but no more than 110 degrees). Remove from heat and sprinkle the yeast over the surface over the liquid. Sprinkle a pinch of the sugar over the top and set aside without stirring, until foamy, about 5 minutes.

Whisk the butter, egg yolk and vanilla into the yeast mixture.

Whisk the flour, the sugar, salt and nutmeg in a large bowl. Make a well in the center of the flour and stir in the yeast mixture with a wooden spoon to make a thick and slightly sticky dough. Turn dough onto a floured work surface and knead until soft and elastic, about 6 minutes. Shape into a ball.

Brush the inside of a large bowl with butter. Put dough in the buttered bowl, turning to coat lightly with butter. Cover bowl with plastic wrap, trace a circle the size of the dough on the plastic, and note the time. Let rise at room temperature until doubled in size, about 1 hour 15 minutes.

Turn dough out of the bowl and knead briefly to release excess air; reform into a ball and return to the bowl. Lightly butter a large piece of plastic wrap and lay it on the dough. Cover the entire bowl tightly with plastic and proof in the refrigerator for 4 hours or overnight.

To fill and form the rolls: Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Whisk the sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl. Turn prepared dough onto a floured work surface and press, then roll into 10-by-18-inch rectangle, with a long edge facing you. Spread the softened butter evenly over the surface of the dough, leaving about an inch border on the side opposite you. Evenly scatter the cinnamon-sugar over the butter. Starting from the long side facing you, roll the dough up into a tight cylinder. Lightly brush the clean edge of the dough with water. Press the open long edge to the dough to seal the cylinder.

Slip a long taut piece of string or dental floss under the roll, about 1 1/2 inches from the end. Lift and cross the string ends over the roll, then pull the ends tightly in opposite directions to cut a single roll. Repeat, cutting every 1 1/2 inches, to make 12 rolls. Place the rolls cut-side-down in the prepared pan, leaving 1 inch of space between them. Cover the rolls loosely with plastic wrap. Set aside in a warm place to rise until rolls double in size, about 1 hour 10 minutes.

Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.

Bake buns until golden brown and the tops of the buns spring back when pressed lightly, about 30 minutes. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes.

To make the glaze: Sift the confectioners' sugar into a medium bowl. Whisk in the condensed milk, butter, and lemon juice to make a smooth, slightly loose icing. Add the vanilla and cinnamon. Drizzle the icing over warm buns. Serve.

*Cook's Note: These may be refrigerated or frozen after forming. If refrigerated overnight, allow buns to come to room temperature for about 1/2 hour, then proof fully (until doubled in size) before baking, about 2 hours. If frozen, allow buns to come to room temperature, about 1 hour, and then proof fully (until doubled in size) before baking, about 2 hours.

Storage: Though the buns are best eaten on the day they are baked, they will keep, covered, for a day. They freeze well.

Wednesday Day Book

2010-12-15T12:40:00.002-06:00

Outside my window ...leaves flying in the wind. It's a sunny, windy day.

I am thinking … that my mom and Rich are awesome. Can't wait for Vegas!!!

I am thankful for …a 10 day Christmas vacation. Counting down to 5pm on December 23.

I am reading … Mysterious Affair at Styles. Another Agatha Christie. Trying to get in as much pleasure reading as I can before school starts in January.

I am hoping …that everything works the way it's supposed to on Sunday.

On my mind ...commencement. 24/7 til Sunday.

I'm learning … to get it right the first time for a certain person, I need to do the exact opposite of what I'm thinking. Sheesh.

Noticing that … the new. vet is not as good as I anticipated. I think she spent 5 minutes with Jack. We'll see if she's better when I bring Kate in the summer, but if not, time for a new vet

From the kitchen … crunchy noodle salad for the staff holiday party on Friday. I need to shop for ingredients today.

Around the house …there is a huge box in the hallway. It's the kitty condo I bought for Jack and Kate. I just haven't had the time or energy to put it together. Maybe December 24.

One of my favorite things … 75 degree days in December. One of the perks of being in Texas.

Thanksgiving Top Ten

2010-11-25T10:47:00.004-06:00

Since I started this blog, every Thanksgiving I've listed the top ten things I am thankful for. Why break with tradition?

1. My family - first and foremost, always. I have, hands down, the best family in the world. I am blessed blessed blessed by my wonderful, crazy, huge, amazing family.

2. My education - it's not that my parents pushed me. Not in the way you hear about where kids are expected to bring home A's. I was expected to do my best, go to college, and make my way in the world. I would not trade my education for anything. I went to excellent schools that taught me how to think, create, analyze, and write and they've shaped who I am today: BayView, Fairfield, Ohio State, NCSU, and starting in spring, UNT.

3. Jack and Kate - what's not to love about their sweet, furry faces. I can't believe Jack is going to be 6 this spring. I feel like it was yesterday that Steph and I went to Angell to pick him out. He can be a grump, but he can also be affectionate. And Kate is a sweetie, she's not a lap cat by any stretch of the imagination, but she wants to be near you, no matter where you are.

4. My job - I love working in higher education. I couldn't imagine doing anything different. Especially right now. I have the immense good fortune to work at a new institution. New. That hardly ever happens. Those of us who work in higher ed often wonder - if I could start my own place, what would I do? I actually get to do that. Even though it drives me crazy sometimes, I'm happy I made the decision to leave Duke (sob) and come to Texas.

5. My friends - I have amazing friends. They are scattered all over and doing all kinds of different things with their lives. Some travel the world, some are stay at home moms, some are musicians, some are executives, some are married, some are single. They run the gamut, but they've all enriched my life in some way.

6. My cousins - I know I already mentioned my family, but my cousins are in a class of their own. When I mention to people that I grew up with my cousins and that we're really close, I often get weird looks. I've run into very few people who have as many I do and who remain as close to their cousins as I do. Some say things like, I haven't seen my cousins in fifteen years. I can't imagine that. When we get together we're silly, we're goofy, we have a blast, and I wouldn't trade those moments for all the tea in China.

7. Facebook - yes it can be a colossal time suck. But it gives me the chance to see what the people I've connected with in my life are up to. I'm able to cheer on high school friends who run marathons, congratulate college friends on weddings, see my friends' children grow up, play word games with my Aunts. Moving around like I've done, facebook has helped me stay in contact with what they all are doing, and I don't feel so far away.

8. DVR - whoever invented the DVR is the best. Now, at the moment I have about 33 episodes worth of General Hospital to catch up on, but I like knowing that anything I have a passing fancy for, I can record and watch whenever I want - even while I'm watching something else on the tv.

9. Dance - I used to take dance lessons when I was growing up. I loved it. I did some choreography in college and took a musical theatre dance class, but haven't done anything formal since then. Until now. I've been wanting to take a lesson for years, but it never really worked out til now. I take a tap class on Wednesday nights and I have fallen in love with it all over again. It's a time for me where I get to slip into some tap shoes and dance to my heart's content for an hour.

10. My sister - we don't always agree on things, but I adore her. She's funny, sweet, beautiful, intelligent, and in some ways my complete opposite. But I'd do anything for her and I can't imagine having a different sister than Melissa.

Secrets

2010-11-22T19:00:00.003-06:00

I can't describe why, but something about this song just strikes me the right way. Love it.

Hiatus

2010-11-08T11:03:00.003-06:00

After blogging for the whole month of October, I am taking most of November off. A lot of work and travel. I'll still do my regular blog rounds and comment, but no new posts from me, at least until around Thanksgiving. I have a new recipe I'm trying and for the first time since I've had the cats (going on 5 years) I am going to attempt a Christmas tree, so come back later in the month to see how it's going. Katia's going to keep an eye on things while I'm gone.

Friday Fun

2010-10-29T10:06:00.003-05:00

Thursday

2010-10-28T13:43:00.002-05:00

This is a repost of a recipe I posted a few years back - Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies. So so yummy and I get requests for them this time of year, so I thought now would be a good time to repost the recipe.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 cup canned pumpkin puree

1 egg, beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 package (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips or chunks

1/2 cup walnuts or pecans (optional)

1. Set the oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Set aside.

3. In an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed until fluffy. Add the pumpkin, egg, and vanilla and beat just until blended.

4. Mix in the dry ingredients.

5. Remove the bowl from the mixer stand. With a rubber spatula, stir in the chocolate chips or chunks and nuts, if using.

6. Drop the batter by heaping tablespoons 1 inch apart on the baking sheets.

7. Bake the cookies for 13 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Rotate the sheets halfway through baking to ensure even baking. Let the cookies cool on the sheets for a few minutes. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Adapted from "Too Busy to Cook?" Volume Two

© Copyright 2006 Globe Newspaper Company.

** notes ** I find this recipe easier to make in the stand mixer than by hand or with the a hand mixer, with the exception of adding the chocolate chips in the end. I also omit the nuts. While I generally love all variety of nuts, I don't care for them in my cookies.

It's Halloween...

2010-10-26T10:45:00.002-05:00

I think I post this clip every year. It's of Tim Curry playing The Wizard in The Worst Witch. One of the best Halloween movies ever made - hands down. It's up there with Teen Witch for me. So in honor of the upcoming Halloween night, enjoy!

Monday Daybook

2010-10-25T20:04:00.004-05:00

Outside my window ...the sounds of the cars passing on the highway.

I am thinking … that I'm off to Galveston in a few weeks. It's for a conference, but it's at the beach!

I am thankful for …my wonderful, awesome, crazy family

I am reading … Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I need to brush up before I see he movie in a few weeks.

I am hoping …that maybe Grandma will come visit in April. I told her the Red Sox were playing. She said maybe :)

On my mind ... work work work. Lots going on right now.

I'm learning … the winds in Texas can be fierce. When it's so flat, there's nothing to stop it.

Noticing that … I still haven't watched the NetFlix selection from 2 months ago. I think that was a failed experiment. Time to cancel

From the kitchen … pumpkin chocolate chip cookies for the staff potluck on Thursday.

Around the house …I think it's time for another closet purge.

One of my favorite things … A&W diet soda - the root beer or the cream soda. Both are tasty.

O-H-I-O

2010-10-23T20:46:00.004-05:00

It is my favorite time of year. Not only is it AUTUMN (although, autumn is considerably lacking in TX - no falling leaves, no crisp wind, no hot apple cider - just 80 degrees...) with the pretty colors and scents that come with it, it is also college football season and we are right smack in the middle of it. My Ohio State Buckeyes had a brilliant weekend, trouncing Purdue, after a dismal outing against Wisconsin last week. Texas lost (again), Michigan State squeaked by Northwestern to remain unbeaten. LSU lost to Auburn. It was a fun, exciting weekend for NCAA-FB, and it's wrapping up now with Alabama beating Tennessee (drat!) and Mizzou currently ahead of Oklahoma (woohoo!). Let's see if Missouri can hold on. I'm all for rooting for the underdog unless they're playing OSU.

Friday Fun

2010-10-22T06:13:00.001-05:00

Thursday Recipe

2010-10-21T07:31:00.001-05:00

Since the pumpkin has started appearing on the store shelves, I've been searching for pumpkin recipes. Nothing says fall like pumpkin scented things, pumpkin flavored things, and pumpkin colored things, right? I found this recipe from Paula Deen, so you know it's tasty. These are her pumpkin bars, perfect for a fall afternoon.

Ingredients

Bars:

4 eggs
1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
15-ounce can pumpkin
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda

Icing:

8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Using an electric mixer at medium speed, combine the eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin until light and fluffy. Stir together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and mix at low speed until thoroughly combined and the batter is smooth. Spread the batter into a greased 13 by 10-inch baking pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting. Cut into bars.

To make the icing: Combine the cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the sugar and mix at low speed until combined. Stir in the vanilla and mix again. Spread on cooled pumpkin bars.

Wednesday Daybook

2010-10-20T19:25:00.003-05:00

Outside my window …darkness, it's getting dark earlier now.

I am thinking … about what to get Kennedy for her birthday. I think I've decided.

I am thankful for …this great opportunity I have here in Texas. It's very rare in higher ed to be able to start your own school.

I am reading … Spoken From the Heart. Laura Bush's memoir, it's an interesting read.

I am hoping … that Ohio State makes up for last week's embarrassment by beating Purdue (sorry Purdue fans).

On my mind ... deciding what to do about Christmas. Go home or stay here. I want to go home, but tickets cost money...

I'm learning … that fall comes really really really late in Texas. It's still not here yet.

Noticing that … I need to reorganize my files. I think that's a November project. I've always wanted a labelmaker...

From the kitchen … maybe whipping up a batch of pumpkin chocolate chip cookies this weekend.

Around the house … I cleaned this past weekend - I love a clean apartment (I just hate the cleaning that gets you there).

One of my favorite things … tap class, it's Wednesday night.