19 February 2016

Long time no.....

How has it been 3 years since I visited my little blog! It seems like everyday I tell myself to write and suddenly a lifetime of adventures have gone undocumented!

I have no hope of chronicling 3 years today, so I will, as in so many aspects of my life, start fresh yet again....

It is 2016! Wowee! This year, I turn 39, which seems like it should feel important, but it doesn't.

What does feel important is the huge sense of personal change I recognize in myself since that last blog post! Professionally, I've grown into my work in a way it seemed I never would. Personally, I've had a rough go - fluctuating in health, drive, interests, and energy more dramatically than the characters in an after school special.

So, what do I tell you, now that I am, for the moment, back?

Nowadays I:

1. Play ukulele - who would have ever guessed! I even have a YouTube channel!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKt0_gBvQmAel7DgQJgs3FA






2. Ride my bicycle every day! - It's my favorite part of the day!

3. Eat really badly and enjoy it! - I finally realized I am allowed to be happy and fat at the same time!

4. Swim! - Every morning, in fact - to balance out all that delicious food!

5. Have 3 cats, but one is new. We lost our Annie a couple of years ago, and now we have wild monster Harriet keeping all of us on our toes!

6. Sail as often as possible! - I've conquered (for the most part) my anxiety on the water!

That's my update for now, let's see if I can get this going again!

17 June 2013

I feel like a movie star!

"Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen." - Conan O'Brien

Hello all!
I just wanted to let you know that I was featured on a stunning blog, penned by a wonderful friend of mine who came to visit me in NOLA last week! Not only does her camera have magical properties, she is one of the most energizing and fun people I know! Check me out here, and take a peek at the rest of her clever meanderings as well!

Have a wonderful Monday!



07 June 2013

What I did on my Summer Vacation (Spoiler: the answer is - eat and drink too much)




Vacations are necessities, not luxuries. - Linda Bloom

Before the madness of summer school begins next week, Husband and I decided we needed a little road trip to fulfill our vacation quota for the season. We hadn't been up to Kentucky to see family in a while and also needed to stop off in our old, Mississippi stomping grounds to pick up some equipment for Husband's summer research.

First, we drove to Kentucky (12 hours, wah-waaaah), where we enjoyed food and drinks with good friends and family. 

On Sunday, my family drove to Eminence, Kentucky to have some nerd fun at the Kentucky Highland Renaissance Festival 

This festival is set in 13th century Scotland, complete with King Robert the Bruce, traditional celebrations, bards, jousts, and comedy shows. My whole family attended as did my very best friend from high school. All in all, an excellent reunion!

Wrapping the ugliest maypole ever.

Fun, family-friendly mud show

It ain't faire until I've got a turkey leg!

It ain't faire without a mug of cider and a rocking pig!

That's my kick-ass brother. We both got the costuming gene.

Long live the Bruce!

Sir Tristan of Scotland (most importantly wearing the fleur de lis)

After 3 days in Kentucky, it was time to move on. We headed south to Oxford, Mississippi, where Husband and I spent 10 pretty much awesome years studying and working at the University of Mississippi and meeting genuinely amazing people we very seriously consider family. Surprisingly, I didn't take ANY pictures of my time with friends! I guess I was so tied up in conversation that I just didn't think about it (it couldn't have had anything to do with wine...). I should just mention the wonderful places we visited and recommend:
       

            - City Grocery - Best place in town for a martini on the balcony!
            - Ajax Diner - Recently voted "Best of the Best," 'nuff said. GO THERE.
            - Boure - I was really impressed with the big, new venue for this old favorite!
            - The Cellar - go there if you want to watch 12 year old frat boys call eachother "Bra"
            - Square Pizza - go there after an evening on the town for the best pizza ever!
            - Bottletree Bakery - Best ginger scone and homemade granola! (and everything else!)
            - The Blind Pig - Go there for good live music and pool!
            - Volta Taverna - Go there for Mediterranean cuisine and delicious margaritas! (seriously)

From Oxford, we headed into the Mississippi Delta for some archaeology and music in Clarksdale, home of the Blues!

First, we had to get some work done. By "work," I mean I took some pretty pictures and then returned to the car to read about zombies while Husband set up a digital, globally oriented grid at the site.

Scenic View from the top of an Indian Mound

Husband gets his coordinates set!
After checking into our downtown Clarksdale hotel, we walked around in search of libation. First, we had some snacks and drinks at the Stone Pony (I'd never been there) a casual pizza-and-beer place with excellent movie-themed trivia on Wednesday nights!

After that, we wandered over to Morgan Freeman's blues club, Ground Zero. I have to say, I've always loved this place, but it's gotten really touristy and the band playing put me in the mind of Tropical Isle, not the true blues capitol of the world.

I forgot my coozie. #hatetouchingcoldthings

We look good, but the band sounds awful!
We didn't stay at Ground Zero long. Determined to find better music, we wandered towards Red's juke joint. There was no music that night, but Red was there and regaled us with tales of celebrities and annoying tourists. It was pretty awesome and authentic, hence I took no photos, obviously.

After our night in Clarksdale, it was time to head home. But not before one final, and very important, pit stop: The Jim Henson Museum in Leland, Mississippi!


Most awesome photo op ever!
The Jim Henson Museum is very small, but packed full of memorabilia, actual original Muppet props, as well as biographic info and photos of a young Jim Henson, growing up in Mississippi.


Original puppets from Spirits of the Cloud Forest

Animal!

Me and Kermie!

The museum is magical, and it was a perfect way to end our trip!

Now we're back home, but, of course, our adventures aren't over! I have lots of trouble to get into soon, so stay tuned!


Breaking into Summer: Crawfish Extravaganza!


Summer afternoon - Summer afternoon... the two most beautiful words in the English language. - Henry James




To celebrate the beginning of summer (well, weather, anyway), good friends J and D hosted a gigantic crawfish boil and invited all the best people (and dogs) in the neighborhood.

I had a little double-boiling accident with my petit four icing, so I showed up to the party with a tray full of ugly and a grimace, but, it turned out all my anxiety was for naught! Everyone loved the little cakes, even if they did look like a 3 year old made them!

Ugly, yet delicious Petit Fours!
Sangria in the shade with my best girlies!

Friendship Photos!
Roxie stayed in the middle of the circle for maximum foot-petting potential!
Three rounds of boil later, we all had teary eyes and burning lips, but big smiles on our faces!

And now for the main event: Yum!!!

Happy summer, y'all!






A new anniversary tradition!

It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.  ~Rita Rudner


Just a couple of weeks ago, it was our 4th/14th anniversary (4 years ago, we got married on our 10th anniversary)! I can't believe it!


For the second time, Husband and I decided to spend our anniversary on Pensacola Beach, at the luxurious Holiday Inn resort! We can only go for one night, so we try to cram in as much excellent food/drink/beach/pool time as possible!

We arrived and checked in to our hotel, then immediately tossed away our shoes and strolled down the beach to The Dock for a Miami Vice (half pina colada-half strawberry daiquiri)!


After that, it was time to hit the sand!

I'm on a beach!

Beach hooping is hard work!

Husband goes for a swim!
 After all that hard work, we needed some dinner! We headed back down the beach to our favorite casual dining establishment, appropriately named Crabs on the Beach!


After gorging ourselves on grilled seafood, fresh salads, and margaritas, we strolled for a bit to appreciate the skyline.

We can't wait to ride the ferris wheel next year!

There was loads more beach and pool time the next morning!

Sunrise


Nerds on the beach!

Hanging out at the hotel bar


Lazy River pool and hot tubs are my favorite!

It was ALMOST a perfect trip...until this happened....

Don't worry! A friendly surfer-dude with a big truck pulled us out!


Well, nothing can ever be absolutely perfect. It was a wonderful way to celebrate all our amazing journeys together. I'm so glad this is our new anniversary tradition!


20 May 2013

His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.
                - His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama


This weekend, Husband and I were offered tickets to another amazing, decadent, and satiating event...no, not a fancy dinner gala! This time, we had the opportunity to hear His Holiness the Dalai Lama speak at Tulane University's 2013 Commencement ceremony.

Commencement took place in the Superdome! It was my first time inside, I'm somewhat ashamed to admit. Husband pointed out the disparity in my embarrassment meter, as I regularly and unabashedly tell people that I play Dungeons and Dragons...but I digress...The Superdome! It's so big! And confusing! And we sat WAY UP HIGH, so my pictures don't really do it a lot of justice.

Waiting for the ceremony to begin.
Is anyone else weirded out when they put dresses on chairs?

The procession. Also a good reference to how high up we were.


I should note that, while not represented in pictures, the speech given by Tulane president Scott Cohen was extremely moving. He emphasized the importance of hope in troubling times. His closing remarks had me all misty eyed. I paraphrase: Hope didn't die in Boston. It didn't die in Sandy Hook. It didn't die in Hurricane Sandy or Katrina, and it didn't die on Frenchman Street.

This was the only reference today (or really in many days) to the Mother's Day shootings here in New Orleans which has had me seriously thinking about violence and how we use language to categorize violent acts. This may seem cruel and simplified, but it's what I've come up with: If violence is perpetrated by a white person, it is a tragedy. If violence is perpetrated by a "brown" person, it is terrorism. And if violence is perpetrated by a black person, it is what? Expected? Street violence? Someone else's problem? These words are imbued with prejudice, as is our framework for thinking about violent crime. I don't know how to express how I feel about this problem, or how to solve it, but I will be seeking out people who may have the ideas or power to do so.

So, after the president's moving and thought provoking speech, there was a speech by a graduating doctoral student that was so contrived I wanted to gag. But, in the spirit of compassion and hope, I will refrain from publishing negative impressions here. Instead, I will move on to the words of the Dalai Lama himself.

His Holiness Speaks

First, let me say, that being a language teacher, while fulfilling and exciting, sometimes annoys the hell out of me. Case in point, His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama is, obviously, a second (or likely 3rd or 4th) English language speaker. Most of the beautiful quotes you edit into a waterfall photo to post on Facebook have been translated by professional interpreters and written in a way to make them more poetic. In real life, his English is halted, simplistic, and heavily-accented.

In many ways, I think hearing him speak is absolutely more powerful for exactly those reasons. He doesn't have (or need) complex grammar or excessive adjectives to express his teachings. Everything about his message is simple, smoothed down to the most basic of words: peace, trust, hope, patience, compassion. It's beautiful. It's powerful...

And it is completely outside my power to not try and pick apart his accent for ideas about how to help my Asian students with particular sounds. I can't stop recognizing patterns of language mistakes that my students make and immediately try and figure out why? how? It's so frustrating. Especially when you are trying to clear your mind to welcome a message of hope.

But I managed to still find the Dalai Lama's message. He began by talking about hope. Hope, he insists, leads to trust. If people can only trust each other, if they aren't afraid of each other, there can be peace. The only way, he says, we can really trust each other, is if we stop thinking that we are better or worse than other people. I paraphrase - Whenever I meet someone I think he is just a person, but so am I, so I am glad to meet him.

His Holiness encouraged students to not value their education too highly. Education alone is not enough, in fact, it can be dangerous. Education plus compassion leads to inner peace, which also allows people to trust each other and find peace.

It was very inspiring. You can watch the whole thing here (the Dalai Lama's speech begins at 5:30):



Afterward, Husband and I took a walk through the French Quarter and reflected on the idea of equalizing how we categorize people. It is amazing how much negativity we project onto the world without realizing it. In a matter of hours, we'd busted ourselves making snide comments about people's clothing, tourists' ignorance to local customs, even each other's choices for lunch - giant hamburgers from the Clover Grill...don't judge, we're not Buddhists.

So, we're going to focus on positive thinking this week. Hope, compassion, peace. I'll let you know next week how we do!


Here are some beautiful, professional photos of the event, borrowed from the Tulane University Facebook page:


His Holiness and Tulane President Scott Cohen Second Line into graduation


The Dalai Lama and Dr John, who also received an honorary degree
His Holiness speaks of hope, peace, and compassion







09 May 2013

And now back to our regularly scheduled sewing...

Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. - Abraham Lincoln

Whew! The spring semester is over, and all teachers and students are alive and accounted for! It has been the most whirlwind year (possibly ever in my entire life) so far, and I really can't complain because, barring some horrible illnesses and mild anxiety attacks, all the mayhem has been of the most positive variety.

The one thing that I do truly feel has suffered so far this year is my creativity. I've been so busy working and being social and working and being more (too?) social, that I haven't made ANYTHING in months! Once my final grade reports were submitted, it was time to remedy this problem!

First, I caught up on the epic pile of mending that had been sitting on my dryer for, no lie, a year. That done,  I moved on to my WIP pile. First up, a red plaid, princess-seamed, goth column dress I snagged at a thrift store ages ago. In general, I hate a column silhouette. I think unless you are 6'5" and weigh 85 pounds, it's just a super non-flattering look. So, I spent about 3 hours seam ripping 6 of the skirt seams out to just below the waist. Then I cut black godets to give the dress some much needed flare!

That was a LOT of seam ripping.
Unfortunately, I don't have an "after" photo for you yet, but as soon as I wear it, I will post one! Needless to say, the dress is much improved in my estimation and it was an important first project after a long crafting hiatus!

Next! Good friends T and Z needed matching seersucker shirts for an upcoming fundraising event! Sippin' in Seersucker is a super fun fete sponsored by the Ogden Museum of Southern Art. There's live music, craft cocktails, and gourmet snacks from several local restaurants. We went last year and it was a blast! T and Z got a hold of a really fun, fruity seersucker print! Here are the final products!

Z's flirty fruity safari top! She's actually going to wear it with a red belt.

T's fruit adventure shirt! The buttons are stylized watermelon!

As payment for the shirts, T and Z are generously taking us to the event with them! I won't have time to purchase/make a new dress, so I'll be sporting the same green seersucker dress I made last year. I'm normally dismal about costume repeats, but, since I've lost 25 pounds since last year's Sippin' I'm actually really excited to alter the dress and do a little before/after set up for you in my next post! I'll also make sure to post pics from the event and the fruity duo! Until next time!