Well, based on my last post and the fact that I said I'd be back on Monday...I guess some of you must think that I'm buried under a pile of clothes at the bottom of my closet. But, not to worry, I didn't perish in a freak accident doing chores...I was just exhausted yesterday from my weekend and didn't get around to posting! By Sunday evening, I was exhausted. I did manage to finish my to do list, however. I'm thankful that I got so much done because I'm headed down to NC this weekend to see my cousins...2 of whom are flying in from Spain! It should be a fun weekend of visiting, playing, and relaxing.
The post I planned on writing yesterday is about how much I love Sunday evenings. It's funny, because I used to hate them...when I didn't enjoy my job. While I don't LOVE going to work, there are a lot of aspects of it that I do enjoy.
Sunday evenings are just very relaxing for me. Recently, I've started swimming in the late afternoon on Sundays, which is very relaxing. Maureen and I usually cook dinner of some sort, and last Sunday we even put together a fair number of meals for the week. Preparing for the week is always relaxing, too. Hopefully, I'll continue to like Sunday evenings as much in the future as I do now!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
Weekend To Do List
Whew! After my post on organization earlier this week, I came up with a list of things I need to do this weekend to get caught up (including regular "chores"). Looks like I won't be doing too much relaxing this weekend!
Clean Kitchen Counters
Clean Kitchen drawers, straighten
Clean top of Fridge
Polish oven top
Windex oven front, dishwasher, fridge, microwave
Clean out inside of microwave
Clean Fridge (mini clean)
Clean Room
Clean bathroom
Organize under sink
Tilex shower
Wash half bath towels
Wash throw rugs
Wash sheets
Switch Winter/summer linens
Sweep front and back deck (clear cob webs, wipe fruniture, etc)
Clean Windows
Change air Filter
Clean lights
Wipe down Washer and Dryer
Clean returns
Switch Winter/summer clothes
Organize closet
Organize jewelry box
Clean Car
Sam’s Club
Finish up limoncello/start new batch
Yikes! See you on Monday...
Clean Kitchen Counters
Clean Kitchen drawers, straighten
Clean top of Fridge
Polish oven top
Windex oven front, dishwasher, fridge, microwave
Clean out inside of microwave
Clean Fridge (mini clean)
Clean Room
Clean bathroom
Organize under sink
Tilex shower
Wash half bath towels
Wash throw rugs
Wash sheets
Switch Winter/summer linens
Sweep front and back deck (clear cob webs, wipe fruniture, etc)
Clean Windows
Change air Filter
Clean lights
Wipe down Washer and Dryer
Clean returns
Switch Winter/summer clothes
Organize closet
Organize jewelry box
Clean Car
Sam’s Club
Finish up limoncello/start new batch
Yikes! See you on Monday...
Thursday, September 25, 2008
The Thursday Commute
I've been thinking about kicking off a weekly series of posts about what my coworker, Laura, and I see during our daily carpool commute to work. After discussing some of the funnier things/people we've seen yesterday, I thought today might be a good day to begin the series. I'll post about our week's commute on Thursdays.
Before I began to carpool with Laura, I didn't notice too many odd things on the road. I guess I was lost in my own little world. I would notice the occasional odd license plate phrase, or a woman attempting to put make-up on in the car, but since we started carpooling I've really started noticing some wild things!
The Truck that is also a Submarine- well at least it looks like a submarine. While stuck in traffic one day, Laura saw this truck drive by with a big pipe sticking out of the passenger side mirror. We were trying to figure out what it was...it literally looked like a periscope! After 5 minutes of deliberating, Laura rolled down her window to ask. "It's an intake" the driver replied. Neither of us knew exactly what an intake is...but we assume it is something fancy to make the truck go faster. In any case, the truck looks like a submarine with a periscope!
Maxine- when I lived in my apartment and commuted to the west side of Baltimore, there was a woman that must have been on the exact schedule that I was. I would end up behind her on the way to work almost every morning, and occasionally on the way home in the afternoons. I always knew it was her because her license plate says "Maxine". Then, I started seeing Maxine's car around town...at the library...at the store...and then I didn't see her for a long time. When I started my new job commuting just outside of DC, I started seeing Maxine again. I guess she now works in or around DC like me...perhaps we are living parallel lives!
The Sleepers- there is a car with a Bryn Mawr College sticker that drives by us occasionally in the afternoon. There are three older, business-type people in the car...2 men and one woman. One of the men and the woman are always asleep, and the woman is always sitting in the back seat. Sometimes her face is smashed up against the glass. It's quite entertaining!
Hopefully, I'll have a few interesting tidbits to bring you each week during "The Thursday Commute"!
Before I began to carpool with Laura, I didn't notice too many odd things on the road. I guess I was lost in my own little world. I would notice the occasional odd license plate phrase, or a woman attempting to put make-up on in the car, but since we started carpooling I've really started noticing some wild things!
The Truck that is also a Submarine- well at least it looks like a submarine. While stuck in traffic one day, Laura saw this truck drive by with a big pipe sticking out of the passenger side mirror. We were trying to figure out what it was...it literally looked like a periscope! After 5 minutes of deliberating, Laura rolled down her window to ask. "It's an intake" the driver replied. Neither of us knew exactly what an intake is...but we assume it is something fancy to make the truck go faster. In any case, the truck looks like a submarine with a periscope!
Maxine- when I lived in my apartment and commuted to the west side of Baltimore, there was a woman that must have been on the exact schedule that I was. I would end up behind her on the way to work almost every morning, and occasionally on the way home in the afternoons. I always knew it was her because her license plate says "Maxine". Then, I started seeing Maxine's car around town...at the library...at the store...and then I didn't see her for a long time. When I started my new job commuting just outside of DC, I started seeing Maxine again. I guess she now works in or around DC like me...perhaps we are living parallel lives!
The Sleepers- there is a car with a Bryn Mawr College sticker that drives by us occasionally in the afternoon. There are three older, business-type people in the car...2 men and one woman. One of the men and the woman are always asleep, and the woman is always sitting in the back seat. Sometimes her face is smashed up against the glass. It's quite entertaining!
Hopefully, I'll have a few interesting tidbits to bring you each week during "The Thursday Commute"!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Organization
I've been trying to get my life re-organized for a few weeks now. I'm usually organized to the point of being obnoxious about it...but recently I've just been too busy to care! I think I like to be organized because it lets me feel like I'm in control. When I first moved to Annapolis and lived in an apartment by myself, I was ultra-organized in everything...the apartment, my office, my music for chorale, my schedule, my cooking habits...literally everything! However, I was also spending most of my weekends in the apartment by myself since I didn't know many people yet. I can remember some weekends I would come in from work on Friday evening and not leave again until Monday morning! So, I had plenty of time to keep myself organized...and it was a pleasant diversion from the fact that I was lonely. Now, I'm lucky if I can find the time to clean my bathroom and do laundry...much less alphabetize my music or ensure that my closet is in perfect order.
I'm trying to find a nice balance between being organized enough to make it through a week with minimal stress and being so focused on organization that it is detrimental to my relationships with people. I knew I needed to reform my obsession with organization a few years ago when a friend called to invite me out and I almost said, "I can't...I'm supposed to clean my carpet tonight". Thankfully, I caught myself before the words were out of my mouth!
At the moment however, my life needs a bit of organization. My car is a mess, my bed currently is unmade, I have no idea where half of my clothes in my closet are, the dry cleaning pile contains most of my nicer outfits, and my desk at work has a pile of papers a mile high that need to be thrown away or transferred into outlines. So, I'm going to do what I can to get some of these things back in control!
I'm trying to find a nice balance between being organized enough to make it through a week with minimal stress and being so focused on organization that it is detrimental to my relationships with people. I knew I needed to reform my obsession with organization a few years ago when a friend called to invite me out and I almost said, "I can't...I'm supposed to clean my carpet tonight". Thankfully, I caught myself before the words were out of my mouth!
At the moment however, my life needs a bit of organization. My car is a mess, my bed currently is unmade, I have no idea where half of my clothes in my closet are, the dry cleaning pile contains most of my nicer outfits, and my desk at work has a pile of papers a mile high that need to be thrown away or transferred into outlines. So, I'm going to do what I can to get some of these things back in control!
Monday, September 22, 2008
Odd and Ends
I had a fun, yet exhausting weekend. Somehow, I managed to cram 2 shows, a football game, a few dinners, a rehearsal, and 3 late nights all into one weekend. When my alarm went off at 6 AM this morning for an early Monday morning training...I was far from a happy camper. After a few expletives left my mouth (a rare occasion for me!), I got to work and had no internet. It was up in time for my training, but went down again in the afternoon...so I got to work from home for the rest of the day. Once my last training was complete, I took a nap. Now I feel much more refreshed and back to my normal, cheery self. :)
On a lighter note, here are a few funny things that have been running through my head recently:
-All over Annapolis there are signs for the High Holy Days services at one of the synagogues in town. It's not the one that we sing at...I just find it interesting that a synagogue feels the need to advertise. I don't know of many churches that put up signs everywhere for their Christmas or Easter services...maybe the synagogue is an evangelical one? Although, my theological brain can't recall an evangelical aspect to Judaism. I've just never seen a synagogue advertise before!
-Facebook gives me the urge to refer to myself in the 3rd person. But not out loud to other people....I find myself describing my movements in my head as a facebook status..."Page is walking to the kitchen", or "Page is driving home", or "Page just accidentally hit herself in the head with a spoon". I guess as long as I stick to referring to myself in the 3rd person in my head I'm ok...although if I start doing it out loud, perhaps it will add another layer to my already quirky personality. :)
-In case anyone is wondering, my bruise is healing nicely. Looks like I'll be able to wear shorts again in the next few days...
On a lighter note, here are a few funny things that have been running through my head recently:
-All over Annapolis there are signs for the High Holy Days services at one of the synagogues in town. It's not the one that we sing at...I just find it interesting that a synagogue feels the need to advertise. I don't know of many churches that put up signs everywhere for their Christmas or Easter services...maybe the synagogue is an evangelical one? Although, my theological brain can't recall an evangelical aspect to Judaism. I've just never seen a synagogue advertise before!
-Facebook gives me the urge to refer to myself in the 3rd person. But not out loud to other people....I find myself describing my movements in my head as a facebook status..."Page is walking to the kitchen", or "Page is driving home", or "Page just accidentally hit herself in the head with a spoon". I guess as long as I stick to referring to myself in the 3rd person in my head I'm ok...although if I start doing it out loud, perhaps it will add another layer to my already quirky personality. :)
-In case anyone is wondering, my bruise is healing nicely. Looks like I'll be able to wear shorts again in the next few days...
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Music Reviewers (Critics)
The software my company produces has a media monitoring component that pulls news clips from various media outlets. In the demo system I use for training, I track music groups in the Baltimore/DC area. Part of my daily organization of the software requires me to look at the clips, so I read A LOT of concert/performance reviews. When I read a review of a show/concert that I was a part of, I tend to take the reviewer's comments as fact, since my perception of the performance is skewed by where I stood on stage, the fact I'm in it, etc. There are times that I disagree with the review (both good ones and bad ones), but since I wasn't part of the audience I don't feel like my opinion or perception has much weight. I never really take reviews to heart, but it is interesting to read them.
However, I feel a bit differently about reviews of performances that I attend as an audience member. I think I have a fairly discerning ear- based on my musical experience as both a choral singer, horn player, and countless hours of listening to classical music. I have been to performances that I have not enjoyed, and I used to wish that God hadn't provided me with such a musical ear because it can make the music I hear sometimes at church painful (as much as I love my church they don't seem to understand that just because someone wants to sing doesn't mean they should...). So when I go to a show, enjoy it, and think that quality of the music was top-notch, I'm often shocked to read negative reviews from big name publications.
Take Washington National Opera's production of La Traviata for example. I attended the simulcast and thought the peformance was fantastic. The Washington Post review used adjectives like "adequate" and "thin" to describe the performance and the lead performers. I did hear a few issues here and there, but OVERALL I thought the performance was splendid. Granted, my ears were at a bit of a disadvantage with the stadium sound system instead of hearing the music live...but still. Shouldn't a reviewer present an overall impression instead of picking apart tiny issues here and there? Did people enjoy the opera? Was it moving? Were the singers great OVERALL? How about the sets and the staging? Were they visually pleasing? I guess I think negative reviews should be reserved for really terrible productions and singing...not performances that were excellent overall, with a few minor issues here and there...but nothing that detracted from the overall performance.
In a day where interest in the arts is waning, I think it's imperative that people be encouraged to attend musical performances. When a negative review is written for what was overall a good production, it might prevent people from attending that production....or even attending another production by the same company/music group. Reviewers should realize that the lack of interest in the arts puts their jobs in jeopardy as well.
Now don't get me wrong... a poor performance deserves a negative review. I've been to some performances that were terrible...and was stunned to read a rave review later (usually in small community publications). It's just that, especially in the Post, I read very few positive reviews. A lot of the groups in the DC area are world-class....so I can't imagine that they put on that many poor performances! So, if you happen to read a picky/negative review of a performance...don't let that stop you from attending! It could be that the reviewer is just a bit caught up in their own musical knowledge and can't enjoy a performance for what it is!
However, I feel a bit differently about reviews of performances that I attend as an audience member. I think I have a fairly discerning ear- based on my musical experience as both a choral singer, horn player, and countless hours of listening to classical music. I have been to performances that I have not enjoyed, and I used to wish that God hadn't provided me with such a musical ear because it can make the music I hear sometimes at church painful (as much as I love my church they don't seem to understand that just because someone wants to sing doesn't mean they should...). So when I go to a show, enjoy it, and think that quality of the music was top-notch, I'm often shocked to read negative reviews from big name publications.
Take Washington National Opera's production of La Traviata for example. I attended the simulcast and thought the peformance was fantastic. The Washington Post review used adjectives like "adequate" and "thin" to describe the performance and the lead performers. I did hear a few issues here and there, but OVERALL I thought the performance was splendid. Granted, my ears were at a bit of a disadvantage with the stadium sound system instead of hearing the music live...but still. Shouldn't a reviewer present an overall impression instead of picking apart tiny issues here and there? Did people enjoy the opera? Was it moving? Were the singers great OVERALL? How about the sets and the staging? Were they visually pleasing? I guess I think negative reviews should be reserved for really terrible productions and singing...not performances that were excellent overall, with a few minor issues here and there...but nothing that detracted from the overall performance.
In a day where interest in the arts is waning, I think it's imperative that people be encouraged to attend musical performances. When a negative review is written for what was overall a good production, it might prevent people from attending that production....or even attending another production by the same company/music group. Reviewers should realize that the lack of interest in the arts puts their jobs in jeopardy as well.
Now don't get me wrong... a poor performance deserves a negative review. I've been to some performances that were terrible...and was stunned to read a rave review later (usually in small community publications). It's just that, especially in the Post, I read very few positive reviews. A lot of the groups in the DC area are world-class....so I can't imagine that they put on that many poor performances! So, if you happen to read a picky/negative review of a performance...don't let that stop you from attending! It could be that the reviewer is just a bit caught up in their own musical knowledge and can't enjoy a performance for what it is!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Busy Week
Well, it's the first concert week of the year which means a busy week for me! Tonight is the only night this week that I don't have a rehearsal or a performance. Add to that a busy training schedule at work, and I'm a little bit in the "Ahhh!" zone. But I'm not complaining...I enjoy being busy so much more than bored...
Of course, for the type of show we're doing this month (Broadway in Concert style...which is really more staged show than concert), much patience is required. The chorus is actually not singing in this show- just a small group of us that make up a "semi-chorus". We don't even have that much to sing...we'll mostly be just moving props on and off the stage as scene-changers. So, during rehearsals there is a lot of sit-around-and-wait time. Our creative side came out last night as we were devising ways to get from place to place on the stage. One idea was wires attached to our waists to magically move us through the air Peter Pan style from one end of the stage to the other. Add parasols and a lovely arabesque and we're Mary Poppinsish. At one point, I looked at a platform across the stage and decided it would work well as a slip-n-slide. I didn't act on that urge, thankfully! As much as I love how my creative side comes out during slow moments, tomorrow I think I'll bring a book...
Of course, for the type of show we're doing this month (Broadway in Concert style...which is really more staged show than concert), much patience is required. The chorus is actually not singing in this show- just a small group of us that make up a "semi-chorus". We don't even have that much to sing...we'll mostly be just moving props on and off the stage as scene-changers. So, during rehearsals there is a lot of sit-around-and-wait time. Our creative side came out last night as we were devising ways to get from place to place on the stage. One idea was wires attached to our waists to magically move us through the air Peter Pan style from one end of the stage to the other. Add parasols and a lovely arabesque and we're Mary Poppinsish. At one point, I looked at a platform across the stage and decided it would work well as a slip-n-slide. I didn't act on that urge, thankfully! As much as I love how my creative side comes out during slow moments, tomorrow I think I'll bring a book...
Monday, September 15, 2008
Weekend Mystery
Sometime between the hours of 8:00 PM Saturday night and 8:00 AM Sunday morning, I did something to create this nasty looking contusion:
(I'm sure it's unladylike to post a picture of one's leg on the internet...but oh well)
The problem? I have no idea how it got there! I don't remember running into anything significant on Saturday night. I can be a bit of a klutz so I'm used to running into things...but I would have to have really smacked into something to create this monster bruise! It's even a big, swollen knot!
I could have run into a seat or something at the ballpark, but I was wearing shorts on Saturday night and I think I would have noticed the bruise then. I also was fully awake, and I hope I would have remembered running into something that hard. I fell asleep watching Saturday Night Live on the sofa, so perhaps when I woke up in my groggy state at 2:30 AM to go upstairs I unknowingly slammed into the piano or something. Or perhaps I got up on the wrong side of the bed in the middle of the night and ran into the window sill.
In any case, I didn't find the bruise until I was in the shower Sunday morning and wondered why my thigh hurt when I ran soap over it. When I saw it, I was shocked and tried to figure out what I'd done to cause it. It hurts a little bit (not anything too bad), and it's swollen so I've been icing it a bit. Soon, I'm sure I will be sporting the nasty yellow/green healing bruise version. Joy. I guess I won't be wearing shorts or short skirts for the next few weeks...
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Opera in the Outfield
Last night, a few friends and I drove into DC for Washington National Opera's simulcast of their opening night of La Traviata. The simulcast was at Nationals Park on the gorgeous new Jumbotron. It was my first time in the new stadium...and it's really nice. While it felt a little odd to be drinking beer and eating hot dogs while watching opera, I enjoyed every minute of it! The production was fantastic...and both Violetta and Alfredo have tremendous voices.
We knew a few folks in the production, so that was fun as well. I was amazed at the clarity of the picture on the jumbotron. The sound wasn't half-bad either...we were a little concerned about how the music would translate, but it really worked well. It wasn't what we would have experienced in the opera house itself, but for a free simulcast it was pretty good. They said there were around 15,000 people there...seemed more like 7 or 8,000 to me, but then it is hard to judge crowd size in such a large stadium.
As usual, during the dying scene in Act III I got pretty teary...but I've learned that's my usual response to tragic operas. I first watched Aida on DVD on a Friday night at my house last year and was sobbing through the whole last scene!
Here are a few photos from the evening:
Lauren and I waiting on the performance to begin
Our whole group waiting
The beautiful HD Jumbotron
Violetta during "Libiamo"
Violetta and Alfredo
The moon over the stadium
Creative short intermission title
Opera is better with gelato!
Violetta dying in Act III
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Fall is on its way
Every year in early September I'm itching for fall weather to make an appearance. And by fall weather, I mean cool temperatures. We've had a little taste of cooler temps in the 70s this week, and it's gotten me excited for fall. Sleeping with my windows open to the cooler air is one of my favorite things to do during the fall. Anyway, here are 10 things that signal fall to me:
1. Since last year, I know it's fall when we start singing in Hebrew to get ready for High Holy Days.
2. I am not panting and dripping sweat after a run.
3. Fall air has a different smell- probably rotting leaves, but I like it all the same.
4. On Saturdays, I'm either at a college football game or watching a college football game.
5. I'm back to hot coffee in the morning instead of iced coffee.
6. My "extra-curricular" schedule shifts into warp speed.
7. I tend to get antsy at work (I guess I get "fall fever" instead of "spring fever").
8. I get nostalgic for college.
9. I have the urge to buy new clothes
10. Traffic woes seem to plague me more than any other time of year...
1. Since last year, I know it's fall when we start singing in Hebrew to get ready for High Holy Days.
2. I am not panting and dripping sweat after a run.
3. Fall air has a different smell- probably rotting leaves, but I like it all the same.
4. On Saturdays, I'm either at a college football game or watching a college football game.
5. I'm back to hot coffee in the morning instead of iced coffee.
6. My "extra-curricular" schedule shifts into warp speed.
7. I tend to get antsy at work (I guess I get "fall fever" instead of "spring fever").
8. I get nostalgic for college.
9. I have the urge to buy new clothes
10. Traffic woes seem to plague me more than any other time of year...
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
I'm a Princess!
Well, at least I'll be one for a day on March 8th. A few friends and I are going to Disney World to run the Disney Princess Half Marathon. Many of you know I love, love, love Disney- so this will be a fun trip for me! It's an all-women's half marathon, and many people will be dressing up as their favorite Disney Princess. I'm thinking Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty...of course if I'm Ariel I can sing "Part of Your World" all day as I run...
I haven't run a long race since the marathon (over a 10K), so it will be nice to increase my running mileage again. I'll probably start moving up from 6 miles in December. I've only run one other half-marathon ever (my very first road race...yeah, I'm a bit of an overachiever!), but I think it's a good endurance distance for me. As accomplished as I felt after the marathon last year, I just don't think I want to put the training time in again. Having every Saturday sucked away by preparation for and recovering from a long run just doesn't sound appealing! I'm glad I did it once, but don't think trying again is in the cards for me.
I haven't run a long race since the marathon (over a 10K), so it will be nice to increase my running mileage again. I'll probably start moving up from 6 miles in December. I've only run one other half-marathon ever (my very first road race...yeah, I'm a bit of an overachiever!), but I think it's a good endurance distance for me. As accomplished as I felt after the marathon last year, I just don't think I want to put the training time in again. Having every Saturday sucked away by preparation for and recovering from a long run just doesn't sound appealing! I'm glad I did it once, but don't think trying again is in the cards for me.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
On my nightstand and playing on my iPod
I've been on a bit of a book kick recently. Not the "light" novels that I usually read to distract myself, but some good fiction and informative nonfiction. I joined Audible.com this summer, and I highly recommend it. For $7.50 a month, you get one credit. A credit is good for one audiobook download (with the exception of some of the unabridged new releases).
For our drive to Maine, I downloaded and listened to Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer. It's about fundamentalist Mormonism, polygamy, and a murder by some of the fundamentalist Mormons that they called "a revelation from God". Good book, but pretty disturbing. We listened to it for Maureen's book club, and I went to the meeting...great discussion.
Right now, I'm listening to City of Falling Angels by John Berendt. He wrote Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil about Savannah. This book is about Venice, it's people, and the controversy that occured after the 1996 fire at the Venice Opera House. So far, it's pretty good. I have learned, however, that nonfiction is more captivating when I read it instead of listening to it.
I just finished Chalked Up: Inside Elite Gymnastics' Merciless Coaching, Overzealous Parents, Eating Disorders, and Elusive Olympic Dreams, by Jennifer Sey, a former National Champion. Very interesting memoir. Her stories about her early years in gymnastics at some of the lower levels brought back good memories for me, but reading all that she went through as an Elite gymnast was discouraging. The book has generated a lot of controversy about women's gymnastics and it's coaches...as I wrote a few months ago I tend to think the bad stuff happens, but not in all situations.
Anyway, that's what I've been reading lately. Next up are a few novels based in Charleston...
For our drive to Maine, I downloaded and listened to Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer. It's about fundamentalist Mormonism, polygamy, and a murder by some of the fundamentalist Mormons that they called "a revelation from God". Good book, but pretty disturbing. We listened to it for Maureen's book club, and I went to the meeting...great discussion.
Right now, I'm listening to City of Falling Angels by John Berendt. He wrote Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil about Savannah. This book is about Venice, it's people, and the controversy that occured after the 1996 fire at the Venice Opera House. So far, it's pretty good. I have learned, however, that nonfiction is more captivating when I read it instead of listening to it.
I just finished Chalked Up: Inside Elite Gymnastics' Merciless Coaching, Overzealous Parents, Eating Disorders, and Elusive Olympic Dreams, by Jennifer Sey, a former National Champion. Very interesting memoir. Her stories about her early years in gymnastics at some of the lower levels brought back good memories for me, but reading all that she went through as an Elite gymnast was discouraging. The book has generated a lot of controversy about women's gymnastics and it's coaches...as I wrote a few months ago I tend to think the bad stuff happens, but not in all situations.
Anyway, that's what I've been reading lately. Next up are a few novels based in Charleston...
Monday, September 8, 2008
The Hills
**To make up for not posting this weekend, I decided to throw in an extra post**
I have a secret. I'm addicted to MTV's reality trash show The Hills. Silly, I know. But I just watch in fascination as a bunch of 20-something girls and guys spend their lives in clubs, at lunches/dinners out, at fake jobs, and creating silly drama among their friends. I know the show is staged, and I know I should probably not watch it...but I'm kinda hooked. I think I watch it completely amazed that people waste their lives in the way this crowd does. Anyway, here are a few of my observations/questions about the show.
- What does Spencer spend his time doing and how does he have any money to buy clothes and go out every night?
- How does Lauren (or any of the girls on the show, really) drink so much, eat out so much and still stay thin? I know they show her at the gym occasionally, but still!
- Does anyone on the show but Heidi ever actually visit their family?
- Can anyone find any redeemable qualities in Brody Jenner? Anything?
- My favorite quote from the show this week "You broke up with a guy who owns a jet?"
Well, now that you all know my shameful secret and addiction, I'll have to redeem myself tomorrow by writing about the books I've been reading and listening to...which have much more substance than The Hills!
I have a secret. I'm addicted to MTV's reality trash show The Hills. Silly, I know. But I just watch in fascination as a bunch of 20-something girls and guys spend their lives in clubs, at lunches/dinners out, at fake jobs, and creating silly drama among their friends. I know the show is staged, and I know I should probably not watch it...but I'm kinda hooked. I think I watch it completely amazed that people waste their lives in the way this crowd does. Anyway, here are a few of my observations/questions about the show.
- What does Spencer spend his time doing and how does he have any money to buy clothes and go out every night?
- How does Lauren (or any of the girls on the show, really) drink so much, eat out so much and still stay thin? I know they show her at the gym occasionally, but still!
- Does anyone on the show but Heidi ever actually visit their family?
- Can anyone find any redeemable qualities in Brody Jenner? Anything?
- My favorite quote from the show this week "You broke up with a guy who owns a jet?"
Well, now that you all know my shameful secret and addiction, I'll have to redeem myself tomorrow by writing about the books I've been reading and listening to...which have much more substance than The Hills!
Oops
Oops. I've already messed up on my NaBloPoMo post once a day for the month of September. It was an accident, really! I meant to write a quick post on Saturday morning...but then forgot. Since I left for the evening, I was without a computer until yesterday evening. At that point, I decided to wait until today to post. I guess I'll have to try again next month...for now, I'll consider this a "practice" month and try to get myself in the habit of posting every day anyway!
My weekend was really quite nice. I did manage to sleep in a bit on Saturday morning, with cozy rain falling courtesy of Tropical Storm Hanna. After spending the morning and early afternoon cleaning and getting things done around the house, Maureen and I headed down to her brother's place at Solomon's island. We had dinner, watched the sunset, chatted, and listened to music until about midnight.
Sunday morning, after a much-needed Starbucks stop, we arrived at Parkers Creek on the Chestnut Land Preserve. The storm had blown a tree onto the road to the water, so we spent some time clearing that out with a chainsaw that didn't want to start. An hour or so later, we managed to get the canoes of the car and into the Bay. The beginning of the paddle was a little tough- some rough water and a stiff downstream current that we were paddling against. It calmed down after a bit and we enjoyed a nice canoe trip up the creek. We had some bald eagles following us up the creek, and at one point spotted 8 eagles circling at the same time!
It really was a peaceful and gorgeous day to be on the water!
My weekend was really quite nice. I did manage to sleep in a bit on Saturday morning, with cozy rain falling courtesy of Tropical Storm Hanna. After spending the morning and early afternoon cleaning and getting things done around the house, Maureen and I headed down to her brother's place at Solomon's island. We had dinner, watched the sunset, chatted, and listened to music until about midnight.
Sunday morning, after a much-needed Starbucks stop, we arrived at Parkers Creek on the Chestnut Land Preserve. The storm had blown a tree onto the road to the water, so we spent some time clearing that out with a chainsaw that didn't want to start. An hour or so later, we managed to get the canoes of the car and into the Bay. The beginning of the paddle was a little tough- some rough water and a stiff downstream current that we were paddling against. It calmed down after a bit and we enjoyed a nice canoe trip up the creek. We had some bald eagles following us up the creek, and at one point spotted 8 eagles circling at the same time!
It really was a peaceful and gorgeous day to be on the water!
Friday, September 5, 2008
Weekend Plans
This will be my first "free" weekend in about a month. I'm looking forward to a little downtime. With the possibility of Hanna coming through, looks like I'll be staying in on Saturday. Maureen and I are headed down to her brother's house in Solomon's Island Saturday evening in preparation for a canoe trip down there on Sunday morning.
Other than that, I plan on sleeping, cleaning, and doing a lot of relaxing. Hopefully I'll be happy and rested by the time Monday comes around again...
Other than that, I plan on sleeping, cleaning, and doing a lot of relaxing. Hopefully I'll be happy and rested by the time Monday comes around again...
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Come Sail Away...
No, this blog is not referring to the jingle I mentioned a few posts ago. I've actually been thinking about sailing a lot recently. I'm not a sailor at all (have only been out a few times...and didn't do anything but sit and enjoy the ride), but something about sailing appeals to me. Since I live in Annapolis, maybe one day I'll get to actually do something on a sailboat other than sit.
Anyway, I was looking for blogs about Annapolis and found a few travel blogs of folks who are sailing in the Bahamas, up and down the East Coast, and around the world! I've always been fascinated by people who live aboard their boats and the freedom of sailing to a port, choosing to stay awhile, and then sailing on. It's something I'd love to do- and it's interesting to read blogs of real people who have taken time off from "real life" and are just sailing around experiencing life on a sailboat and in various ports.
I think I'd like to live like that one day for a while, but I'll definitely need to actually know how to sail. So who knows.
I did have a dream last night that someone gave my coworker a sailboat and she and I decided to fix it up and sail to the Bahamas. It was quite a funny dream...concocted by my subconscious based on these thoughts I imagine.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Triathlon Photos
Here are a few photos of Jenny, Lauren and I after the triathlon. Please excuse my appearance. I'm standing next to a tiny person (Lauren), my hair had been stuck under a swim cap, sweated through on the bike ride, and hastily put in a rubber band during transition #2. Just be glad you couldn't smell us...lake water and sweat don't mix well!
Proud of our medals 
Iron girls!
On to another run...
Proud of our medals 
Iron girls!
On to another run...
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Food
I've eaten so much good-tasting, not-so-good-for-me food in the past week. A trip to SC didn't help...caramel cake, chicken salad, southern barbecue....mmmm yummy! However, I need to get myself back on the wagon! I'm not sure what that wagon is (I'm not really a dieter), but I need to eat healthier for awhile! More fruits, veggies and whole grains, I suppose.
Training for an event (marathon, triathlon, etc) always causes me to up my calorie intake, and it's hard sometimes to bring it back down. I guess I'll have to go gradually, and perhaps keep my exercise time up. On that note, I'm off to change my clothes for our run tonight!
Training for an event (marathon, triathlon, etc) always causes me to up my calorie intake, and it's hard sometimes to bring it back down. I guess I'll have to go gradually, and perhaps keep my exercise time up. On that note, I'm off to change my clothes for our run tonight!
Monday, September 1, 2008
NaBloPoMo Day #1
Well, I'm home from SC and had a great, albeit busy, visit. I did all the things I wrote about in my last post, with the addition of a little shopping, a tiny bit of sleeping, and A LOT of talking and catching up. But, that is how visits to the Homeland should be, right?
Today, I'm embarking on an endeavor which requires me to post at least once a day for the month of September. My blogging frequency has fallen off dramatically in the past year or so, and I'd like to jumpstart my writing again. So, I joined NaBloPoMo. Which is essentially a challenge each month to write one blog post a day. We'll hope that I can meet the challenge...
Today, I'm embarking on an endeavor which requires me to post at least once a day for the month of September. My blogging frequency has fallen off dramatically in the past year or so, and I'd like to jumpstart my writing again. So, I joined NaBloPoMo. Which is essentially a challenge each month to write one blog post a day. We'll hope that I can meet the challenge...
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