Ah...the things that I indulge in even when they aren't sound-thinking. The things that bring a wry smile to my lips, a blush to my cheeks when I'm caught doing them. Only five? *laughs*
fiction novels
Initially, I wrote "romance novels" but that isn't exactly true. The only ROMANCE author I seek out is Laverne Spencer, while there are several fiction writers who I thoroughly enjoy. Starhawk wrote my all-time favorite book, Fifth Sacred Thing. Jodi Picoult, whose books often have deep themes and ethically challenging situations. Sarah Addison Allen writes with an undertone of magic in everyday life. Charles DeLint pens urban fairytale stories. Mercedes Lackey is complete fantasy. C.S. Friedman offers several science-fiction titles. Jean Auel *used* to enthrall me and I still recommend and re-read her first three books. Truthfully, I love BOOKS, period. There's a reason we have three WALLS of books in the den...most of them are mine!
ice cream
Unless it is Butter Pecan, ice cream just isn't safe around me. It isn't that I *have to have it*, but once I start, it's hard to stop at just a little. I love finding specialty ice creams stores, too. That's an extra special guilty pleasure!
holiday decor
I am no Martha Stewart, but I have a soft spot for decorating for the holidays...ANY holiday. Beloved indulges me, but I have bins and collections and actively fight the "after-holiday" decor clearance signs. I'm not often successful...The attic is proof of that!
clothes
On the one hand, I take pride in my thrifting. I save a ton of money that way, do good things for the environment, avoid supporting the corporate insanity, yadda yadda yadda. On the other hand, I have WAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYY too many clothes. Without worrying about underware or favorites, I probably could go a month...maybe two?...without doing laundry. It's a little ridiculous. I think it mostly is because I like thrifting, but...well, I like playing dress-up, too.
school
Does this count, I wonder? I'm not a fan of homework...unless it's a research paper or something of the like...but academia is definitely a guilty pleasure! If I could be a forever-student, I would. I love the challenge, love the explorations, love the supplies, love the change. I have mentioned that I have multiple degrees and certificates. I am always finding classes I would like to take, if I had the time/money.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Sacred
By spring and winter, by seed and tree, with strength and growth and serenity, by my life and my love for you, I take you in the Sacred Marriage. I pledge to you my heart, my body, my life, and my spirit. I will be to you as the moon to the stars. I will be the wife of your home, the friend of your heart, and the companion in your life.
Always and forever
Vows exchanged in 1996 ring ever true. Beloved, you are my always and forever. Thank you for all that you have made possible in my life. Happy anniversary!
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Five Favorite TV Shows
Mind you, I don't really watch television any more. First, we don't have it hooked up...I have access to NetFlix, YouTube, Hulu, etc, but I don't watch whatever the current craze is. If it really strikes a fancy, I will eventually order it...once it's available...
That said, the shows I have gotten totally hooked on include:
StarTrek: Next Generation
FireFly
Law & Order
ForeverKnight
Better Off Ted
That said, the shows I have gotten totally hooked on include:
StarTrek: Next Generation
FireFly
Law & Order
ForeverKnight
Better Off Ted
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
busy day...
11:30 am...I have answered several personal e-mails that have been hanging over my head, painted a wall in the kitchen, gotten Girl bathed, run the dishwasher, put in a load of laundry, and started fresh bread for supper. I'm still aiming to clean the bathrooms and get a little more garden work in before picking Boy up from school...
As Beloved said, "it's like you save up all your initiative for a burst...then you change the world."
As Beloved said, "it's like you save up all your initiative for a burst...then you change the world."
Five Most Annoying Things About Yourself
Ha! Things that *I* find annoying about myself? Or that others likely find most annoying? I bet they overlap quite a bit. I'm most annoyed that I am:
quite so stubborn
Life would be much easier if I didn't have an enduring stubborn streak. As it is, I will pick a path and (mule-headedly) stick to it. Sometimes this gets in the way of a thing I actually want because I'm not getting it on MY terms in MY way. While some have said I have a submissive heart, I doubt I could ever be a slave. *shrugs* Just as well, since Beloved would find a slave even MORE annoying than a pixie!
practical
Beloved and I took a ceramics class together in college. He did all kinds of interesting things with the assignments...twisted gobblets, a dragon teapot (tea poured out of the ear), Death on a motorcycle (18" high and realistic details!). Me? Hand-building was a disaster and the instructor commented that he had never seen a first-time student who could make the exact same bowl over and over and over and over... *chuckles* There isn't much "artist" in me and I am overly practical in my approach to just about everything. Sometimes I wish I could drop it and just be fanciful once in a while. It was easier when I was a kid...
generally pessimistic
Blame it on dysthymia or personality or the weather, but I am more likely to spot the things that are imperfect, bad, disappointing, etc. Especially with my children, this is perhaps more damaging than simply annoying. I have to actively work on seeing the good things and I am trying to re-train myself. Beloved is an amazing inspiration in this department!
curious
Gods save me from myself! It is almost irrelevant what the topic is, I am drawn to dig into a topic and get lost in the stream of interesting details. I start looking for a recipe and end up trying to find the history of heirloom tomatoes. Searching for pictures for a vision board, I stumble on an article about computer chips and lose an hour reading. There are piles of magazines, bookmarks galore, and post-it notes of things I "will get back to". I also poke at other people more than I should, which can lead to stained relationships.
a borderline perfectionist
Too often, I cripple myself because I can't do "it" perfectly. Weightloss, organizing, gardening, cleaning, future planning, blogging. I don't want to commit because I'm afraid I won't be perfect at it or I won't be satisfied with what I accomplish. Over this weekend, I saw a fantastic quote from Steve Jobs that I want to embrace and fly with:
quite so stubborn
Life would be much easier if I didn't have an enduring stubborn streak. As it is, I will pick a path and (mule-headedly) stick to it. Sometimes this gets in the way of a thing I actually want because I'm not getting it on MY terms in MY way. While some have said I have a submissive heart, I doubt I could ever be a slave. *shrugs* Just as well, since Beloved would find a slave even MORE annoying than a pixie!
practical
Beloved and I took a ceramics class together in college. He did all kinds of interesting things with the assignments...twisted gobblets, a dragon teapot (tea poured out of the ear), Death on a motorcycle (18" high and realistic details!). Me? Hand-building was a disaster and the instructor commented that he had never seen a first-time student who could make the exact same bowl over and over and over and over... *chuckles* There isn't much "artist" in me and I am overly practical in my approach to just about everything. Sometimes I wish I could drop it and just be fanciful once in a while. It was easier when I was a kid...
generally pessimistic
Blame it on dysthymia or personality or the weather, but I am more likely to spot the things that are imperfect, bad, disappointing, etc. Especially with my children, this is perhaps more damaging than simply annoying. I have to actively work on seeing the good things and I am trying to re-train myself. Beloved is an amazing inspiration in this department!
curious
Gods save me from myself! It is almost irrelevant what the topic is, I am drawn to dig into a topic and get lost in the stream of interesting details. I start looking for a recipe and end up trying to find the history of heirloom tomatoes. Searching for pictures for a vision board, I stumble on an article about computer chips and lose an hour reading. There are piles of magazines, bookmarks galore, and post-it notes of things I "will get back to". I also poke at other people more than I should, which can lead to stained relationships.
a borderline perfectionist
Too often, I cripple myself because I can't do "it" perfectly. Weightloss, organizing, gardening, cleaning, future planning, blogging. I don't want to commit because I'm afraid I won't be perfect at it or I won't be satisfied with what I accomplish. Over this weekend, I saw a fantastic quote from Steve Jobs that I want to embrace and fly with:
Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Five Most Useful Inventions
Wow...this one is a little boring.
agriculture
Neolithic populations gained control over food supply, allowing them to settle down and begin the real work of inventing. While settlements might have cost humans in health for millenia, we eventually learned all kinds of hygiene and health lessons. Some, we are STILL learning.
writing
Writing is something we, in the computer age, take for granted. What incredible imagination was involved in creating written language so that information could be preserved? Even more, things like the Rosetta Stone demonstrate forward thinking in multilingual translations in 196 BCE.
germ theory
It wasn't until the 1800s that we realized that most communicable diseases were caused by "invisible" germs. The simple steps of hand washing cut down significantly on the mortality rates. Who'd have thought that soap and water would do more than just make you smell better?!
climate control
I am thinking about the ability to create and preserve habitable environments, such as in a submarine, airplane, or space lab. We even have individual environments, such as scuba suits or space suits. Figuring out how to create moveable human environment has enabled us to explore "where no one has gone before," from the depths of Earth's oceans to the surface of the moon...and someday, beyond.
Internet
Maybe cliché, but I think the Internet is comparable to the printing press. It is an incredible tool that has enabled billions of people access to information, from news and science to entertainment and social outlets. This is one of those inventions that is truly changing the world as we know it. Neuropsychology postulates that such changes are in fact re-wiring how the human brain processes information. You've probably noticed that you don't remember phone numbers, partly because you don't have to. It isn't because you're going senile; you simply don't use that part of the brain as much anymore. It is likely that we will literally not understand how the next generation thinks...their brain patterns will be so very different from those common today. A lot of that is because of technological advances and global information sharing.
agriculture
Neolithic populations gained control over food supply, allowing them to settle down and begin the real work of inventing. While settlements might have cost humans in health for millenia, we eventually learned all kinds of hygiene and health lessons. Some, we are STILL learning.
writing
Writing is something we, in the computer age, take for granted. What incredible imagination was involved in creating written language so that information could be preserved? Even more, things like the Rosetta Stone demonstrate forward thinking in multilingual translations in 196 BCE.
germ theory
It wasn't until the 1800s that we realized that most communicable diseases were caused by "invisible" germs. The simple steps of hand washing cut down significantly on the mortality rates. Who'd have thought that soap and water would do more than just make you smell better?!
climate control
I am thinking about the ability to create and preserve habitable environments, such as in a submarine, airplane, or space lab. We even have individual environments, such as scuba suits or space suits. Figuring out how to create moveable human environment has enabled us to explore "where no one has gone before," from the depths of Earth's oceans to the surface of the moon...and someday, beyond.
Internet
Maybe cliché, but I think the Internet is comparable to the printing press. It is an incredible tool that has enabled billions of people access to information, from news and science to entertainment and social outlets. This is one of those inventions that is truly changing the world as we know it. Neuropsychology postulates that such changes are in fact re-wiring how the human brain processes information. You've probably noticed that you don't remember phone numbers, partly because you don't have to. It isn't because you're going senile; you simply don't use that part of the brain as much anymore. It is likely that we will literally not understand how the next generation thinks...their brain patterns will be so very different from those common today. A lot of that is because of technological advances and global information sharing.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Five Products You Most Desire
*chuckles* The fact that it is products is not lost on me. This is my chance to reveal my inner Material Girl, eh? geez. Okay. Individual THINGS I would like to own include:
Toyota Prius
This is my non-house desire. I'd like a hybrid for a whole lotta reasons, but I've actually driven the Prius. I like the roomy, hatchback options for hauling STUFF. I like the gas milage. I like the status attached to the Prius. *shrug* If I could, it's probably the car I'd buy next.
iPad 3
Do I get geek points for knowing that it was released in the US markets just sixteen days ago? *sigh* I've played a little bit with others' iPads, and okay, I'll admit, they seem pretty dang cool...
an air bed
I am not real happy with my mattress right now and neither is Beloved. Shado loves the sleep number, and while I'm not 100% sold on his bed, there is a certain interest in trying my own air mattress out.
mulch
This might seem like a silly desire, but I want about 10 yards of mulch for my garden. Enough to put a 3" layer in ALL my plant plots and (mostly) eliminate weeding.
crushed limestone
Another oddball, but desired for the car park in the back of the house and much for the same reason. It is a little annoying to have to mow the area every week in the summer and deal with the ice and puddles in the winter.
I don't know how much individual "products" these are, but my major house desires include...
basement rec room
Last year, we retreated from the heat by abandoning the house. Beloved and I are trying to imagine what we need to do to move into the 1000 square foot basement this summer. If you have ever walked through IKEA showrooms, it would seem very doable. If only it really WAS that simple!
authentic wood siding and windows for my Victorian
Beloved and I have lived here for seven years now, and it is getting to the point that we are the shabbiest house on the block. Peeling paint and rotten window sills are among the worst of the crimes. We have gotten quotes for painting the current asbestos siding (starting at $15,000) and if I have a choice, I would LOVE to restore the house to it's original glory. A mere year's salary would probably do it...
flooring on the first floor
I *hate* the vinyl stick-on tiles in the kitchen and foyer. They were poorly installed eight years ago, and now just look like hell with nail-heads pushing though in places. Washing the floor is a chore because it is so scratched and stained and never looks GOOD. I also would love to lose the carpet in the dining room and refinish the original wood floor in there. A much lesser grumble is the carpet in the Great Room; it has spots, but it still cleans up pretty well.
living room furniture
When I bought the furniture for our first apartment, I was super-excited about the set I got. I still love the heavy wood, but the cushions desperately need to be replaced. Lately, I've daydreamed about new furniture almost as much as I have new flooring...
Toyota Prius
This is my non-house desire. I'd like a hybrid for a whole lotta reasons, but I've actually driven the Prius. I like the roomy, hatchback options for hauling STUFF. I like the gas milage. I like the status attached to the Prius. *shrug* If I could, it's probably the car I'd buy next.
iPad 3
Do I get geek points for knowing that it was released in the US markets just sixteen days ago? *sigh* I've played a little bit with others' iPads, and okay, I'll admit, they seem pretty dang cool...
an air bed
I am not real happy with my mattress right now and neither is Beloved. Shado loves the sleep number, and while I'm not 100% sold on his bed, there is a certain interest in trying my own air mattress out.
mulch
This might seem like a silly desire, but I want about 10 yards of mulch for my garden. Enough to put a 3" layer in ALL my plant plots and (mostly) eliminate weeding.
crushed limestone
Another oddball, but desired for the car park in the back of the house and much for the same reason. It is a little annoying to have to mow the area every week in the summer and deal with the ice and puddles in the winter.
I don't know how much individual "products" these are, but my major house desires include...
basement rec room
Last year, we retreated from the heat by abandoning the house. Beloved and I are trying to imagine what we need to do to move into the 1000 square foot basement this summer. If you have ever walked through IKEA showrooms, it would seem very doable. If only it really WAS that simple!
authentic wood siding and windows for my Victorian
Beloved and I have lived here for seven years now, and it is getting to the point that we are the shabbiest house on the block. Peeling paint and rotten window sills are among the worst of the crimes. We have gotten quotes for painting the current asbestos siding (starting at $15,000) and if I have a choice, I would LOVE to restore the house to it's original glory. A mere year's salary would probably do it...flooring on the first floor
I *hate* the vinyl stick-on tiles in the kitchen and foyer. They were poorly installed eight years ago, and now just look like hell with nail-heads pushing though in places. Washing the floor is a chore because it is so scratched and stained and never looks GOOD. I also would love to lose the carpet in the dining room and refinish the original wood floor in there. A much lesser grumble is the carpet in the Great Room; it has spots, but it still cleans up pretty well.
living room furniture
When I bought the furniture for our first apartment, I was super-excited about the set I got. I still love the heavy wood, but the cushions desperately need to be replaced. Lately, I've daydreamed about new furniture almost as much as I have new flooring...
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