Project Life: week 1

Well, so far Project Life is a success! We've been keeping it simple so far: some photos, some micro-journals, some ticket stubs, but I can see us introducing some more scrapbooky things later. Shon's only written one entry for it as of now, but he's reminded me to take snapshots and seems to be interested in the project.
Here's our first week:

It included a canceled flight from Milwaukee to Boston (snowstorms!), 46 hours in Maine (family! snow!), driving through 4 states in one day (Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Georgia), working on turning an old dresser into a TV stand, and taking Bruno for a jog.

New Project

So here I am, embarking on a new project - Project Life. I saw a mention of it somewhere on the web a couple of months ago and fell in love: I've always wanted to make scrapbooks, but never had a) money, b) more importantly, the talent and the style for it. This thing, however, I can manage: take pictures, write notes/quotes/micro-journals on pre-designed card that fit into a matching binder, repeat 365 (or 366) times. What's even better, I can get Shon to participate without having to break both of his legs.
The things arrived yesterday, we are starting today. I will try hard to make a weekly wrap-up and blog about it.

The Hated Question

Yesterday, I  read Jon Acuff's post about the pressure to get married. If you are married now, do you remember your single days? If you are single, how often are you being asked the dreaded "Well, when are you getting married?" Oh, the numerous instances when I wished I could pull a baseball bat out of thin air the way cartoon characters do! You know what the worst thing is? You can't tell the truth. You can't say, "Probably never, since the guy I've been dating for 3 years doesn't know if I'm good enough to be his wife" or "Actually, my boyfriend dumped me for another woman last week" or even "I have not been asked out once in the last year." You can't say those things unless you want a lecture - or a pity party.

One would think that after the marriage finally happens, the curious well-wishers will move on to something else. Heck, no. The question changes, however. It's "So, when are you going to start having babies?"

People! Do you not realize that we can't answer you honestly? A number of my friends who are my age want kids, but don't have any. The reasons vary: a drawn-out adoption process not going as planned, a year of fertility treatments not doing what they are supposed to do, a recent miscarriage, an outrageous amount of school loans, a spouse who refuses to hear the mere mentioning of babies, let along have them. If you know us, but don't know why we don't have kids, it means we can't tell you. It may be too painful, too humiliating, too much. We don't want you to pity us or give us a talk on how "if you wait until you're ready, you'll never have kids" or "you should take your time." We heard it all already, thank you very much. Don't pour salt on our wounds. Ask us about the book we're reading, the movie we saw recently, the politician who's getting our vote. Darn it, ask us about our pets, our jobs, or the color scheme of our master bedroom, but leave the babies out of it. Please. Pretty pretty please.

So can you guess the four-letter word that can turn a normal Valentine's Day into a not-so-awesome Valentine's Day?

RACK 14-22

14 - I was exhausted, so I stayed home and played FreeRice. Hopefully, I answered enough answers correctly to feed somebody.
15 - Bought a Christmas album to support my friends' adoption fund
16 - Insisted on leaving a larger than usual tip. Left a kind note, too
17 - Took baby pictures for friends for free.
18 - Gave Christmas gifts to friends' kids
19 - Gave a box of cookies/truffles to the post office
20 - Gave a box of cookies/truffles to the ladies at the bank
21 - Took a plate of cookies to the CVS ladies. They were excited!
22 - Donated a box of books to the local library

RACK 12 and 13

Monday, I took a bag of dog food and a bag of dog treats to Animal Friends Rescue Group.
Tuesday, I took a scarf I made to a lady who used to run a gift shop/sandwich shop in town. She let me sell my crafts there. She always loved that scarf, but never bought it. I figured she should have it.
Today I'm so exhausted I don't know what to do.

RACK 10 and 11

Yesterday for the best one so far!
After staying up pretty much all night, I fell good enough in the morning to make a trip to Albany (1hr away). Half-way there, though, coffee sounded like a very good idea, so I pulled into McDonald's drive-thru (we're too rural for Starbucks). I had no ideas for RACK and was praying all morning for a good opportunity to do something.
I noticed two kids in the car behind me. A guy and a girl, anywhere between 16 and 20, by the looks of them. They looked kind of tired. After paying for my coffee, I asked the lady how much was the bill of the kids behind me. She said it was $5. I thought, "I can afford that!" and handed her my card. A minute later, when she returned it, we had a conversation:
Her: So, you know 'im? (the boy was driving and making the order)
Me: Nope!
Her: Do you think he's cute? (a knowing smile on her face)
Me: Ehh... not really, I don't know.
Her: (truly perplexed, after a moment of silence) So why are you doing it then?
Me: Well, it's Christmas time, you know.
Her: Words of praise, beaming smile, laughter and an attempt to find out my name.
As I moved to the next window, I looked in rearview mirrow. You should have seen those kids' faces! Shock, then joy, eyes wide open, giggling :) I waved at them, and they waved back. I could swear the girl was bouncing in her seat.

Today I'm exhausted and staying at home in my pj's. In an attempt to still do something kind without leaving the couch, I researched the Internet and found a charity that accepts and sells video games with all proceedings going to children with rare diseases. I printed a shipping label and will mail the game tomorrow.

P.S. Seeing those teens yesterday made my day. For $5, which won't even buy you 2 gallons of gas these days, I got a real boost. My hope is that I made their day and that at some point they will do something similar because of the memory.

RACK 7, 8, and 9

My heart is in Russia, my heart is not here... Sorry, Robert Burns.
I spend my time at work and home reading twitter and livejournal, trying to stay updated on what's going on. An old friend of mine got arrested yesterday for, literally, holding a poster. She's free now, after 24 hours at the police station/court and a $20 fine. She's saying it was worth it. I'm scared and hopeful at the same time.

On the RACK side of things, on Wednesday, I collected my three not-quite-working cell phones and mailed them to National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. They recycle or refurbish them and make money. On Thursday, Shon had to work until 9pm, so I went home, fixed dinner, delivered it to him and hung out with him for some time. Today, on Friday, I took a card and a homemade loaf of blueberry gingerbread to our campus Chief of Police, whose last day at AC is tomorrow.

I don't know what tomorrow holds yet. I am seriously considering getting up at 5am to watch and read live feeds from the planned protests in Moscow. For the first time in over 4 years I'm wishing I were in Moscow right now.

RACK 4, 5, and 6

Life intervenes and prevents me from blogging. 

So, on Sunday my RACK was a really small one - Shon and I were in Callaway Gardens and I offered to take a picture for the couple who were trying one of those "extended arm photos." Like I said, it was small, but it was very much random.

Our tickets to Callaway Gardens are good until the end of the year, but between Shon's trip to Michigan and our trip to London, we won't be able to go. So as my RACK for Monday, I offered the tickets to friends of ours. I hope they get to go and have as much fun as we did. 

And today I made and wrote 4 Christmas cards for Holiday Mail for Heroes, an American Red Cross program. My cards aren't fancy, but the message is heartfelt. I hope it will cheer somebody up this season.

On a completely different note, my heart is in Russia today. If you have no idea why, take a look at one of these articles: TIME and RT. If I were still in Moscow, I'd be out there with the crowd. I don't want a revolution, and I definitely don't want a war, but something needs to happen there. 

RACK 3

Today I did a really simple one - I made a little something for our mail man. I put several homemade brownies and cookies into a little goodie bag, put a small bow on it, and attached a tag with a note. I placed the bag in the mailbox and I know he picked it up, but I don't know if he liked the cookies. I sure hope so!

RACK 2

So, RACK continues :)
Yesterday was day 2, and it was kind of scary, I should admit! I decided to go to Subway for lunch, buy a gift card at checkout, and give it to the person behind me in line.
Well, at first, I was worrying that I'll be the last one in line. Then I started worrying about actually giving the card to the man behind me - what if he refuses to take it? What if he starts thanking me loudly and profusely in front of everybody? I was quite nervous, which sounds silly now. In the end, I bought my food and a $10 gift card and quietly asked the lady at the register to give the card to the next customer. It took her a moment to get it, but once she did, there was this huge smile on her face.
I left the restaurant rather in a hurry and did not witness what happened next. It made my day, though.

RACK 1

Have you read this blog post? Well, you should.
Reading it made me want to do something similar for my own birthday, but then I decided I didn't have to wait until the end of April to be kind. Thus, I introduce the Random Acts of Christmas Kindness. In place of an Advent calendar or an Advent lent this year, I will be trying to show some extra kindness every day.
I'm going to keep record of it not to show off or feel good about myself. It's just that I wouldn't have gotten this idea if I haven't seen that blog. Maybe someone else will read this and decide to spread some kindness, too. God knows we could all use some.

So, day 1. My RACK today wasn't too random - it was well-planned, actually. This afternoon, I surprised my Freshman Year Experience class with homemade cookies and brownies, and  some hot chocolate (thank you for the crockpot, Ms. Sandra! I would have never been able to bring a gallon of milk to a boil in the dancing studio otherwise!) No, they didn't exactly deserve it. Yes, they could use a good surprise, a little bit of love from a teacher who assigns too much homework, and something warm to drink.

It's 10.35pm and I'm falling asleep as I'm typing. Staying up till 1am to bake the aforementioned cookies is not an easy thing anymore. Old age, here I come!

Pasta with Salmon, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, and Capers

Wow, is this amazing!

5oz whole grain spaghetti, linguine, angel hair or farfalle
2 salmon fillets, cubed
4oz sun-dried tomatoes
1/2 cup white wine (or water with white wine vinegar)
3Tbsp lemon juice
1Tbsp capers
1 clove of garlic
3/4tsp italian seasoning
1/4tsp pepper
16 kalamata or black olives

Cook pasta according to package directions.
Heat the oil from tomatoes in a non-stick skillet.  Add salmon and cook until done.  Add all the other ingredients.  Bring to a boil and cook 1 minute.  Toss the pasta with the sauce.  Serve with parmesan.

P.S. This is as good or better as a similar dish I had at restaurants before!

My biggest wish,
your biggest fear.
How can we love so many things
together,
yet
cannot agree
on one thing, that's
your biggest fear.
My biggest wish.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

 

 As usual, the photo is by the amazing katieriversphoto.com Please, check her out!

 Coming soon:

A report on our trip to DC

A story of a brave family

Recipes for eggnog and marshmallows

Guilty

I feel so bad about not posting here enough, but life just seems to be a little too hectic right now. I started a new job - my first full-time job in 3.5 years! - at the local college. We are leaving on a road trip to Washington D.C. this weekend (I have to go to the Embassy) and I still don't have all the necessary papers ready, and my bags are very much not packed. Christmas shopping is almost done. 3 gift baskets filled with homemade goodies are packed and delivered. Christmas cards are mailed. The house is decorated. I have to finish one purse a girl is waiting for, make another purse, and make 5 more pairs of baby booties some time soon. I have several things that I made a month or so ago that haven't been photographed and displayed yet, as well as a dozen pictures of new meals I cooked that await being posted here. Add to this cooking meals for a constantly hungry male who is trying to gain weight (while I'm hopelessly trying to lose it) and P90X 3 nights a week...
And I just don't function well in winter. It seems that all of my energy goes on staying warm.

A chance to win

A really cool handmade bunny. Oh, how I want one! 

http://beautifulthings-tatcon.blogspot.com/2010/12/blog-post_03.html

The Time Traveler's Wife. Book Review.

I have just finished reading Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Traveler's Wife, and my feelings are mixed. On one hand, it is a very engaging novel, a page-turner, an interesting blend of science fiction and romance. At different times, the story made me hold my breath, envy, smile, and (almost) cry. There is one big "BUT" though.

To put it simply, I would have enjoyed the book much, much more if the characters were, well, nicer people. I don't see how casual use of drugs, getting drunk, and (SPOILER!) sleeping with one's best friend's boyfriend/spouse on two separate occasions add to the plot. I'm not trying to ignore reality here - I know that a lot of people practice destructive behavior, but I am against making it look normal. The numeral occurrences of the "f-word" and other vulgarities seem unjustified as well.

Also, there is (in my humble opinion) a major plot issue: until Henry and Clare meet in real time, he leads an absolutely selfish yet self-destructive life. He is the kind of person I would pity, but wouldn't want to have anything to do with. And then Clare comes along, and he suddenly turns into a nearly angelic being. Just like that. "I don't believe it!" - as Stanislavski would have said.

All in all, it was a good read, but not something I would purchase, want a hypothetical teenage daughter to read, or recommend to my pastor's wife.

I'm going to try to make these for Christmas!

Cutest bunnies

Panama City Beach. The same Bed & Breakfast. Enjoying being alone as much as we enjoyed having company last time.
I say, "Hello, God!" as I walk into the water.
Sand crabs all over the place.
The water is green. The sky is blue.
I feel renewed, recharged, giddy, relaxed.
Being at the beach is a spiritual thing for me.
It all started the first time I saw the ocean.
Shon is a mountain man. He, who grew up in Maine and is used to the raw ragged beauty of the beaches there, thinks the southern beaches are boring. However, even he can't resist the clear waters and the white sand here in the Gulf.
Isn't it funny that in the middle of October the water in the Gulf is warmer than the water in the Great Lakes in the middle of June?