Make me see Your great distress,
Anguish and affliction
Bonds and stripes and wretchedness
And Your crucifixion
Make me see how scourge and rod,
Spear and nails did wound You
How for them You died, O God,
Who with thorns had crowned You
("Jesus, I Will Ponder Now," v.2)
A photo of me:
The least "scary" (you're welcome?) of the incision photos from 18 hours post-op.
1) Candle scents this month:
Red Berry & Cedar. Pumpkin Pie. Cinnamon Stick.
2) What I am reading this month:
American Wife (Curtis Sittenfeld). Baby Proof (Emily Giffin). About halfway through Firefly Lane (Kristin Hannah.
3) Top three songs I was drawn to:
"What Do You Want From Me?" Jerrod Neimann. "Hello World," Lady Antebellum. "Come Away With Me," Norah Jones.
4) Movies I saw:
Juno. Social Network. The Book of Eli. Winter's Bone.
5) Favorite tv moments of the month:
"The Fragile Beast" (Harry's Law) really impacted me. I keep thinking about when she says "Men are fragile beasts, aren't they?" I think we forget sometimes... And I also officially got sucked into Mad Men (thank you, Nichole!) and managed to watch Seasons One and Two in under two weeks.
6) Something yummy I made:
I didn't make a heck of a lot of anything, but Nichole stuffed me full of homemade chocolate chip cookies and scones and strawberry shortcake and sweet potato chili.
7) Restaurants where I ate:
Golden Corral. Hillstone. The Firkin & Hound. Akamaru. Haven Gastropub.
8) Something I am thankful for:
A completely successful surgery with zero complications, minimal discomfort, an outstanding surgeon and lots of people who love me to take care of me while I recovered.
9) A goal I had for this month:
Oh, gee, waking up from surgery? ;-)
10) This month I looked forward to:
Getting my surgery behind me. And spending some time with my California "family."
11) Something I want to remember about this month:
My imagination is always far worse than reality.
12) A photo I took this month:
Beautiful flowers from my very thoughtful friend, Giuseppina!
Jesus, I will ponder now
On your holy passion
With Your Spirit me endow
For such meditation
Grant that I in love and faith
May the image cherish
Of Your suff'ring, pain and death
That I may not perish
("Jesus, I Will Ponder Now," v.1)
"Can words describe the fragrance of the very breath of spring?"
(Neltje Blanchan)
I may find myself fumbling for words in recent days, but the other afternoon, I managed to bring to life, for the first time, my most favorite scent on Earth, in a way that pleased me. I've struggled for the whole nine years I've lived in Florida to find words that would do justice to a scent so marvelously perfect, I have to believe it floats down straight from Heaven.
When someone has never breathed in of orange blossoms, the first thing I'm always asked is what they smell like. Equate them to something that can be grasped. Categorize them. I can't compare them to anything else, but in an effort to draw on what one might have experienced, I cast in the general direction of honeysuckle or jasmine. They are close...though not the same. An orange blossom's scent is sweet but in a very pure way. They are pungent but delicate. They are intoxicating but not overwhelming. The scent can carry for miles, reaching your nose with delight...or you can stand in the center of a grove in full blossom & catch just a hint. They are there...but not.
And then the words fell fluid from my tip-tapping fingers: They are Mother Nature instructing us on proper perfume application. Be subtle, yet unmistakable. Let just enough linger on the air to catch the attention...but the moment you seek out another sniff, it's danced away, almost as if you imagined it. It toys with you, leaves you wanting more, makes you want to breathe it into your memory. It is there...but not.
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Friday, after work, I made the trek to my hair appointment. Due to some nifty rescheduling maneuvers to accommodate my unusually tricky calendar this month, I found myself making the trip in the evening, rather than my typical early Saturday morning routine. The rural drive always appeals to me, but I look forward to my March appointments with increased anticipation. The winding back roads weave through and around no fewer than twenty orange groves in varying stages of life. Some with perfectly pruned trees in neat rows, stretching out of sight. Others with tall wild grasses filling the open spaces between the trees with branches, much like my hair, in desperate need of some attention. And then there are the aging groves, left totally unattended, some trees having gone bare & empty among the unruly chaos of their brethren, gnarled branches with sparse leaves and whatever withered fruits the wildlife left behind. One common thread, no matter the state of the grove: sweet white blossoms filling the air, waiting for a breeze to carry their perfume along. A handful of blossoms or thousands, it does not seem to matter. They make the Spring air magical. And for reasons I cannot nail down, though I speculate March after March, something about the gathering darkness heightens the scent, multiplies it without ever overdoing or becoming obnoxiously excessive.
It was bordering on chilly Friday evening. A brisk wind had been blowing all day & when the sun set, all trace of warmth was gone. Though I shivered, even with my jacket on, I drove the whole sixty miles home with my front windows down, the wind whipping through my car. My nose was like a bloodhound's hungrily sniffing at the air, waiting to catch it, unwilling to miss even a drop. And there it was again, and I am inhaling deeply, trying to breathe in as much of it as I can hold. These fragrant blossoms are instant happy for me.
My hands & cheeks were like ice by the time I pulled into my parking space at home, but it was worth every mile. They'll be gone again soon, for another year. And though I will try to engrave it indelibly into my sense of smell to call upon at will, I will fail yet again. So I'll wait for them eagerly each March in the years to come, this same scent that welcomed me to Florida on the day I first arrived. I was instantly enamored & like the glorious Autumns I lived for back in New England, now I feel myself coming to life each March, invigorated & joyful.
It's getting late, as the clock ticks forward to the eleventh hour. I should power down for the night & tuck myself into bed. But still I cannot bring myself to close the window, shutting out that olfactory delight. Not yet. They'll be gone again too soon...
It feels as if there are a million thoughts tumbling around in my head these days. So many words in a jumbled ball. Kind of like yarn. Each string is a different color, making it easy to see that each individual piece is woven in there, but they get tangled & knotted, difficult to separate into a neat pile. If you could just find the right string to pull, the whole mess would begin to loosen itself.
Too many words in my head means too few figure out how to escape.
Monday: Lasagna, garlic bread & salad.
Tuesday: Hamburger Helper & a salad.
Wednesday: BLTs.
Thursday: Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken & broccoli.
Friday: Scallops, grilled tilapia, a quick noodle side dish & a salad.
Saturday: Strawberry Festival!
Sunday: Pork chops & rice in the crock pot and Asparagus Parmesan Au Gratin.
Notes from last week's menu: I slacked with posting the menu the last two weeks, so a brief overview from last week included burgers on the grill, really yummy kabobs, barbecue chipped ham sandwiches, Crab Cakes, and Chipotle Chicken Quesadillas.
The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!
A photo of me:
I really should make a point to be better about this...
1) Candle scents this month:
Red Apple Wreath. Warm Apple Crisp. Autumn Fruit. Peppermint Swirls. Welcome Christmas. Frosty Air. Apple Pie. Christmas Wreath. White Christmas. Be Thankful. Gingerbread. Autumn Wreath. Holiday Bayberry. North Pole. Mistletoe. Autumn Leaves.
2) What I am reading this month:
I have a great list of books I want to read. I need to get to the library.
3) Top three songs I was drawn to:
"Who Are You When I'm Not Looking," Blake Shelton. "Back to December," Taylor Swift. "A Little Bit Stronger," Sara Evans.
4) Movies I saw:
Tombstone. Coyote Ugly.
5) Favorite tv moments of the month:
No specific scenes, but I have been loving the heck out of Harry's Law, Parenthood, The Good Wife and Blue Bloods.
6) Something yummy I made:
I made some brownies that were exactly the right amount chewy-gooey.
7) Restaurants where I ate:
Ling's.
8) Something I am thankful for:
Knowing exactly how to reach my inner peace.
9) A goal I had for this month:
To get caught up on some of the shows that lived too long on the DVR. Lofty, huh? Almost caught up on two of the four!
10) This month I looked forward to:
The start of Spring Training. It always feels like an eternity between the Super Bowl and Pitchers & Catchers Reporting. (Yes, that does deserve to be capitalized. It should be a flipping holiday, it makes me so happy.)
11) Something I want to remember about this month:
Blink & it's gone. Good thing it's the only 28-day month.
12) A photo I took this month:
We keep Valentines Day simple in Dawnsworld. Our gift to each other is the Extra Innings cable package so we can see the Sox play all Summer long: money well spent on a gift that gives us six months of something we love & it's something we'll enjoy together. And a little bit of red to make the day special:
Monday: Ravioli with sausage, salad and garlic bread. And strawberry shortcake for dessert!
Tuesday: Grilled ham & cheese with tomato soup.
Wednesday: Sloppy Joes, salad and a side dish to be determined.
Thursday: Pizza night!
Friday: Tuna casserole.
Saturday: Clam Chowdah!
Sunday: Leftovers.
Notes from last week's menu: After the fish appeared to be of questionable quality, we opted for some Zaxby's chicken strips on Friday and got some fresh fish to make on Saturday.
The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!
Outside my window... it's sunny & a bit brisk. A perfect February day.
I am thinking... about Girl Scout Cookies. I am very much looking forward to when they go on sale in two weeks. I need to stash away my year's supply. I got 8 boxes last year & I just recently broke into my last box of Tagalongs this past week. I'm really good about rationing them to make them last.
I am thankful for... a guy that treats me well.
From the kitchen... there will be pork chops and Summer squash. I really love steamed squash with a little butter & a dash of salt.
I am wearing... jeans & a big comfy Red Sox tee.
I am creating... a list of things I need to address before my surgery next month.
I am going... to clean off my desk this afternoon. It has been far to cluttered for far too long.
I am reading... here & there but I am saving a small stack of books for while I am taking it easy & recovering.
I am hoping... to make some brownies this evening. Mmmmm... chewy gooey brownies...
I am hearing... the quiet sounds of nature. I love how even though nature has noises, it still feels like silence.
Around the house... I am seeing the effects of slowly tackling my To Do List.
One of my favorite things... are tulips. They make me happy.
I don't understand... all the obsessing over Valentines Day. It never bothered me when I was single. I've always had lots of people who make me feel loved, no matter what my relationship status has been or what day of the year it happens to be.
I wish... replacement ink cartridges for the printer weren't priced like they were made of gold.
A few plans for the rest of the week... a visit to Kohl's for some potential new sneakers for Troy, after-work walks in the beautiful weather, and tackling some more of the To Do List.
A picture to share... of some favorite Winter decorations.
Time to wrap it up. The 2010 season is officially in the books when the boys roll into Ft Myers. Truth be told, it seems like nearly half the team has found their way to the fort in advance of their mandatory report date. As if I'm not already crawling out of my skin for a baseball fix, just knowing that the boys are as hungry as I am pushes me right around the bend.
I am always excited for a new baseball season. I think the anticipation of the next season is even stronger when the one before it came with excessive challenges that ended in a degree of disappointment. I don't know if it's the new hope brought by a fresh slate or the curiosity to meet the new faces or just the glaring hole left in one's routine when the daily ritual of settling down to a game most evenings comes to a sudden halt. There's no way of knowing how this season will play out, if the positive projections will pan out or if we're heading down a road we all pretend, for the sake of sanity, isn't possible. It's that delicious unknown and all the promise of triumph that comes with the arrival of Spring Training.
What I *do* know is that I'm ready. It's time for 2011, Red Sox style.
Wishes on October 3, 2010
**To see this team, as constructed, play 2010 actually healthy.
**For the rotation to remain intact & see what they've *really* got because I have to believe that wasn't it.
**For Beltre & Victor to be back in 2011.
**One more contract for Papi. But not with a lot of years on it.
**Speedy & complete recoveries for Youk, Pedey, Scoot, JD, Ellsbury, Tek...and ummmm, yeah, how about just everyone.
**Jed Lowrie, Super Utility.
**A totally revamped bullpen, save for Bard, Wakey & Atch.
**Tek in a back-up role, with the opportunity to retire while he's still ours.
Hopes on February 10, 2011
**Health for the team & happiness for the fans.
**For the off-season wheelin' & dealin' to make Theo look like a rockstar genius.
**A less lukewarm start for Papi because I just can't take the drama another year. It starts my season on such a sour note.
**An auspicious start to the Adrian Gonzalez years in Boston. (And the discovery of a good nickname for him! He is not AGon--we already had one of those.)
**Jed Lowrie, Super Utility.
**Success from a reinvented bullpen.
**A real look at what Tek can do as a backup backstop.
**We've figured out how to slow down the running game of our opponents.
**Dice is less of an enigma.
**We get to see the realization of how awesome the 2011 team looks on paper.
I cannot remember the last time the Hot Stove sizzled like this in Boston. Sure, we've picked up new guys each off-season, but it seemed like every time I checked my sources, a new blockbuster-type deal was being revealed. Every big free agent name that hit the market had word of Theo sniffing around, kicking the tires, sending up question marks. The dust wouldn't even begin to settle around one name when another would hit the headlines.
There were a total of four big signings (some certainly bigger than others). I have feelings on each of them. You're shocked, I know.
Bobby Jenks: This may be my least favorite of the four. Not even so much because he slumped a bit in Chicago last season, but his attitude. He kind of reminds me of another Papelbon in personality and I feel like we've already exceeded our limit of that with the one we've already got in the house. Yes, I know Papelbon has his apologists fans, but he's grated my nerves one too many times, leaving me a bit gun shy--both when he opens his mouth and when he gets called in to close. I had been hoping that another year might bring some maturity, along with the "contract season" encouraging some immediate turnaround on Papelbon's performance, and now the presence of Jenks (and his God awful beard) has me a little worried the attitudes might just feed off one another. I hope I'm wrong.
Dan Wheeler: So, we've established that the Jenks signing leaves me casting a wary eye in its general direction. The Wheeler deal has me dancing a jig. This guy is a horse. He's competed in the AL East. He's a rather unassuming fellow (reminds me a bit of Wakey, in a way, maybe?)(remember I've seen a lot more of him, his old stomping grounds being in my local media coverage area). I feel like we made our bullpen considerably more solid by his addition...and I am even willing to tolerate The Bobble Glove (TM) as long as he remains as reliable as he has been.
Carl Crawford: Our second new former-Ray (funny how they picked up two former-Sox as well, though it appears Tampa is hoping for a time machine headed back to 2004 with their choices) created a huge stir in Red Sox Nation. I am of split mind on this. Yes, he's got some talent (though I don't necessarily subscribe to the local media's turning him into their Sunshine State version of Derek Jeter, complete with slobbering all over him, nor do I think I shall ever refer to him as The Fastest Man Alive). I am not disputing the talent. And I am relieved (borderline giddy) that he won't be stealing two and three bases at a clip off of our battery, because very little was as painful as watching him swipe bases like Danny Ocean stole millions from Terry Kennedy's casino vault. But heaven help my sanity when NESN sticks a microphone in front of him. My skin is already crawling at the recollection of his mumbling, which is a pet peeve of mine that runs deep to my core. Short of hiring a speech coach & learning to properly pronounce his words, he'll never fully grow on me because I cannot get past his (or anyone's) lack of enunciation.
Adrian Gonzalez: Ah, the crown jewel of the Winter! My defense-loving baseball heart is all a-flutter at the acquisition of a Gold Glove first baseman to pair with our Gold Glove former-first-returned-to-third-baseman. In fact, the whole Boston infield is about as defensively glorious as I could possibly dream up. (Scoot or Lowrie at short may not provide Alex Gonzalez-style defense but they are still a far cry better than some of the cardboard cutouts we've had playing there, so yes, I'm still happy about the state of the infield.) Add to that, the coaches all gush about a swing that is built for Fenway Park & the Monstah, and I just can't wait to see all the hype play out to the roar of a home crowd.
I'd be lying if I said I'm anything short of turning inside out to see Red Sox v.2011 take the field and show us what they've got.
Top Ten Must-See TV for Dawn
1. How I Met Your Mother
2. The Good Wife
3. Harry's Law
4. Parenthood
5. Blue Bloods
6. The Big Bang Theory
7. Grey's Anatomy
8. Private Practice
9. Fringe
10. Dexter
Monday: Steak on the grill, baked potatoes and a salad.
Tuesday: Egg and Sausage Bake and some fruit.
Wednesday: BBQ chicken, corn and a noodle side dish.
Thursday: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes and green beans.
Friday: Tilapia with Lemon-Butter Wine Sauce, wild rice and steamed cauliflower.
Saturday: Leftovers.
Sunday: Golden Crusted Pork Chops, steamed Summer squash and a salad.
Notes from last week's menu: We stayed right on track. Saturday was lunch at Animal Kingdom & since we had already polished off the leftovers for work lunches, we stopped on the way home for some ham from the deli and just had sandwiches for dinner.
The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!
Outside my window... it is overcast. The kind of day that makes you want to curl up on the couch for a nap.
I am thinking... I wish I didn't know this much about the making of cold cuts. Maybe that nap is something I should consider further to escape this television program...
I am thankful for... the mysterious reappearance of the missing half of my favorite pair of socks in the laundry room.
From the kitchen... there will be some comfort food for dinner: roasted chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy and some steamed zucchini.
I am wearing... yoga pants and a long sleeve red tee.
I am creating... a mess.
I am going... to clean up said mess.
I am reading... my Twitter feed. And shaking my head at the overall angry overtones there today. Yikes.
I am hoping... the Packers win the Super Bowl tonight.
I am hearing... the tap-tap-tap of fingers on the keyboard.
Around the house... I am reminded that it's time to put some of the snowmen to bed to make room for my February decorations.
One of my favorite things... is a cold crunchy green apple.
I don't understand... people who seem to thrive on being bitter & mean.
I wish... I had more storage space in my kitchen.
A few plans for the rest of the week... sapping out some seasonal decor and playing a bit with my camera. This week appears to be of the low-key variety, at least from today's vantage point.
A picture to share... from our trip to Animal Kingdom yesterday.
I'm just about to ruin my credibility when it comes to staunch proclamations that I do not like a particular player. Before you point your finger accusingly, I refer you to Julio Lugo, who, to this very day, remains one of my least favorite players of all time to have never donned pinstripes. So there.
I spent a good portion of 2010 insisting that I did not like Adrian Beltre. I would like to state, for the record, that when the announcement came last off-season, this was as a true a statement as could possibly be made. It had nothing to do with the position he was taking over; I just didn't like what I knew of him and I was less than thrilled that I would have to root for him to do well. (Lest there be any question, I *always* root for the laundry, even if the guy filling it is otherwise known as E6.) (For the love of Jobu, please let's never revisit that little experiment though.)
I heartily maintained my position on Beltre in Boston, but... I suppose I should come clean. There came a point--I'm not even sure exactly when--that I had to admit that he'd kinda-sorta-maybe grown on me. Despite an inordinate number of errors, it may have been his defense--my ultimate baseball weakness--that lured me over to the dark side. What he contributed with misplays, he more than made up for with face-in-the-dirt effort and some fairly spectacular fielding, though I was loathe to admit it even to myself. I pointed to the error column in his stats, my Angry Eyes firmly in place.
He chiseled away at my cold shoulder in other ways as well: The infamous head-rubbing escapades. Gritty displays of effort, often playing through various aches & pains that have been known to sideline certain other former members of the Red Sox. And quite possibly one of my very favorite qualities, the Knee Bomb. While many fans are drawn to the hitting aspect of the game, relishing the glorious arc of a ball bound for the moon, that is rarely what catches the eye of this defense-oriented girl. However, with each trip he made to the plate, I found myself hoping he would send one sailing into the Monster with his back knee resting in the dirt. I don't even have solid explanation for why that appealed to me so much, except that perhaps it just seemed another instance of all-or-nothing effort--quite easily my second favorite aspect of the game.
A fellow Sox fan or two *may* have approached me with their suspicions that my heart had warmed a bit in regard to the third baseman. I brushed off any inquiry with a disdainful sniff. Not out of shame, but because as he grew on me, I started to worry that Theo would send him the way of other players I had liked. (It is entirely possible that Theo caught on as well, come to think of it.) So I kept my mouth clamped shut and continued holding my ground: I liked what Beltre brought to the table, but it would go no further.
Now that the Fates have dealt their hand & we know he will be swinging his bat in Arlington in 2011 (and beyond), I feel it's finally safe to give him a long overdue nod of respect. And maybe a little apology for keeping it under wraps while he was still one of ours. I'll be among those fans who will applaud his return to Fenway as the opponent now, because he put on a heck of a show during his brief pass through Boston, the proof being my 180-degree change of heart.
My Dad always tried to find a greeting card for me that was touched with hints of glitter. I can't recall exactly when we started this little "tradition" but to this day, it's one of the first things I notice when I open a card I've received from him in the mail, and it makes me smile.
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It's nearly impossible to get snow off the brain these days, even here in Florida. Every evening and every morning, the news shows fresh images of snow drifts and weather people bundled up in lined parkas with furry hoods. As I was waiting to doze off last night, my memory flitted back a couple of decades to Gram & Gramp lying in their own bed across the hall from mine late at night or in the pale pre-dawn hours, listening for the snow plows to come up over the hill clearing the fallen snow off the roads. The house would be silent, save for the muffled sounds of plow scraping against frozen surface and a barely audible whisper of one grandparent to the other: "There's the plow, Ma." "Yes. Second one this hour." There is something uniquely comforting about this memory. It isn't profound or deeply meaningful. Just a recollection of a cozy everyday life, reliable and familiar right down to the dialogue.
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I have a love/hate relationship with the color yellow. It was my Gram's favorite color & so on that hand, it makes me think of her & smile. But on the other hand, I really just do not like the color yellow (and it was the color of *both* my childhood bedrooms--the one at home and the one at Gram's house--though I swear my dislike of the color has nothing to do with that fact). It doesn't look good on me. I'm not drawn to it in decorating or accessories. I'm not a huge fan of flowers that are yellow. And yet, inexplicably, the other day, while looking at the (dark, dreary, half-wood-paneled-ew!) entry way of a house online Troy was showing me, I nonchalantly commented that it really wouldn't be so bad if the wood paneling (ew) was gone and the walls were painted a cheery yellow. Um, say what? No idea where *that* came from. Because I still don't like the color yellow.
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This lady right here was one of the finest I've ever known.
I wish I could hug her tight. She would have been 94 today, if she weren't singing with a Heavenly choir & watching over me.
No matter how much sunshine I try to flood over the 2010 season, it doesn't light some of the deepest shadows that clung relentlessly to the Red Sox. Like cat hair on black pants--you try to brush it away, but no matter what you do, you always find another cat hair...and another.
It started with the injuries, right out of the gate, and went from frustrating to worrisome to downright ludicrous. It got to the point that even on off-days, we would find new names on the DL. And not even with mundane reports of sore hamstrings & tweaked obliques. Really bizarre stuff like not one but *two* players out with broken feet, not one but *two* guys out with torn tendons in their thumbs, multiple sets of broken ribs. It just would not let up. It made 2006's Curse of the Gimpy Crow seem like child's play, as 2010's crew not only dropped but didn't get back up again.
On top of the injuries, we dealt with drama (are Ellsbury's ribs *really* THAT broken?), curious inability to pitch effectively (namely Mr Beckett and Mr Lackey--and I'm looking at you both and your big fat contracts, and let's not be having this same discussion a year from now, hmmm?), nothing even remotely close to consistency in the world of Tim Wakefield (both out of his hand and in what the team asked of him on seemingly a daily basis: he's a starter, no wait a reliever, oops we need a starter, can you pitch some mop-up today actually?), another controversial start to the season for Papi, and the smoking crater of a bullpen that made my stomach ache just seeing the phone hanging on the dugout wall in the background, doubly so on nights I knew it wouldn't be Atch or Bard who got up from the bench to warm).
How was that for a run-on sentence? It's like I'm Joe Morgan, only slightly less hung up on talking about myself.
And through it all, the albatross hanging over all the entire season was the terror of waking up some morning to learn Mike Lowell had been traded to the Royals for a six-piece Chicken McNuggets and a program from the 1987 season. Or even worse, to the Yankees, and I wish I were kidding. The thing is, I knew we would be saying goodbye to my favorite player. He was very clear on the fact that this would be his final season. I just wanted, more than anything, to see him go out still "ours." And it seemed Theo was hell-bent on preventing this from happening, if it was his last act on Earth. (I'm still fairly convinced that Theo has a personal mission to torment me by finding out who my favorite player is & then batting him around like a cat with a half-mangled bug, my sanity being the bug in question.) The constant turmoil kept me from fully relishing the last days of Mikey as a Red Sock, which had been high on my wishlist for 2010.
For every high, there was a low. For every triumph, a cleat in the gut. You couldn't turn your face to the sun without catching sight of clouds gathering on the horizon. Or, you know, imminent doom. My hope? Following each of the most painful seasons we've been handed in recent history (2003, 2006) came a season filled with the kind of joy you can't fully capture in words. They say no pain, no gain. So it stands to reason, 2011 is going to bring a brand of awesome that leaves me reeling with delight, right?
It would be easy to look back on the 2010 season & see only the low points. They come to mind in a steady stream, a demented parade, one after the other. Tending toward optimism most of the time, I would rather recall the fun, the joy, the pure awesome, if given the chance. Because really? There was so much to love about 2010.
I remember this time last year, wishing mightily that Mike Lowell would enter retirement in Boston whites with the roar of the Fenway crowd echoing in his ears. I couldn't have foretold it any more accurately.
I got to see my favorite starting pitcher in the All Star game and he had his name mentioned in association with the Cy Young Award. I have taken immense pleasure in watching the maturation of Jon Lester. I love his straight-faced concentration, his head-down trips from dugout to mound and back again, his silent execution of pitch after pitch. Even when he struggles, you can sense the fierce drive to win boiling beneath that stone-faced surface, willing himself to snap out of it. And the sunshine of his beaming smile, rare in its occurrence but no less filled with sheer joy.
I was pleasantly surprised by the switch that clicked on in Clay Buchholz. I don't know what happened between last season and the one that preceded it, but he went from one of the most frustrating pitchers to endure to one that I looked forward to with great anticipation. There is something to be said for watching these green young boys come up from Pawtucket and Portland, wet behind the ears and wide-eyed, and become competitors filled with confidence and swagger. (Not too much swagger though.)
I remember hearing the names of players being invited to Ft Myers, names that were has-beens, and some, names I'd never heard at all. Scott Atchison was one of those names. He struck me immediately as a little bit awkward--the running joke at home, over the course of the season, was that he looked like he belonged more in an orange Home Depot apron than getting the ball handed to him in the late innings of a game--but less than a third of the season had passed before he was affectionately known as Atch (a "word" my cell phone recognizes & suggests while I type out texts to this day--it's amusing the "words" my phone "knows" now: YOOOOUK, Pedey, Tek) and outside of Daniel Bard, he became the safest face I would see peering out of the pen, waiting for the phone to ring.
There was my introduction to Ryan Kalish. He who appears to have Dirt Dog coursing naturally through his veins. I love his intensity. I love that he seems to be born of the same stuff as Youk & Pedey, a deep-seeded need to finish the game covered in dirt and grass stains and pine tar. I love that he throws himself headlong at the ball in play. I love that he looks like a puppy about to wag its tail clear off his backside just to be sitting on the bench as a Red Sock. His enthusiasm is contagious and I look forward to the day that he is permanently and officially a member of the big-league roster.
I got to see Tito show what he was made of. Sure, he came in here & gave us what we had been lacking for most of a century. He did it with the rag tag Idiots in 2004 and again with a somewhat more reserved team in 2007. But those seasons seemed to just unfold before our eyes like a dream. We clicked, and not only that, but we clicked on all cylinders, and the baseball gods smiled upon those seasons. 2010 did not play out to the same end nor with the same harmonious tune of those Championship years. Even though he was not awarded a plaque with the title, to me, he was Manager of the Year, navigating a sea of misfortune and orchestrating a lineup that seemed to be a new variation on a theme every night. And despite the speed bumps and the pot holes, this team never took a downward spiral into the abyss, even when it was clinging to the edge with its fingernails. They were close enough to taste contention.
Which brings me to the most amazing fact: somehow the 2010 Red Sox were not eliminated from the playoffs until the final week of the season. I am still not sure how that was possible, because it sure felt like the fates had been decided a long long time earlier. And yet there we were, in the fading weeks of 2010, praying for a miracle of numbers to nudge the Sox just a wee bit higher on the standings board.
Ultimately, the highest point of 2010 for me was the heart this team brought to the field. It didn't matter which names were penciled into the lineup, only to be scratched through and replaced with other names. It didn't matter what news fell on our apprehensive ears. It didn't matter how many teams they stared up at in the standings. None of it mattered. They came to play, as if every game was an elimination game. They played hard. They played hurt. They played until the schedule ran out. And I will never forget that about Red Sox 2010.
A photo of me:
Ummm...oops?
1) Candle scents this month:
Fall Festival. Mountain Pine (I did not like this one. At all. I tossed it after about half an hour.). Gingerbread. Red Berry & Cedar. French Vanilla. Frosted Pumpkin. Gingersnaps. Christmas Wreath. Hot Apple Pie. Hazelnut Coffee. Welcome Christmas. Oatmeal Cookie. Sparkling Snow. Mulling Spices. Christmas Cookie. Moonlight Harvest. Christmas Cupcake. Vanilla Caramel. North Pole. Mistletoe. Boo-nilla (yep, I raided my Autumn stash).
2) What I am reading this month:
Blogs. Articles. Magazines.
3) Top three songs I was drawn to:
"Remember When," Alan Jackson. "At the Foot of the Cross," Kathryn Scott. "Bless the Broken Road," Rascal Flatts.
4) Movies I saw:
Finding Nemo. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. The Town. First Knight. The Bourne Ultimatum.
5) Favorite tv moments of the month:
Grey's Anatomy: Disarm: There were actually three scenes in this episode that really got me. The first one was when Derek is giving Meredith a difficult time for continually leaving the OR to update the wife of their patient. I loved her reaction when she told him what it was like for her to be the wife left waiting, how personally she takes this part of her job now, and how while he & Cristina have been helping each other cope, everyone seems to have forgotten what she went through too, and how she's done nothing but take care of everyone since the shooting. The second was the scene when Mer asks the family members who are waiting on the shooting victims to come up to the bridge & see the assembled members of the college holding a candlelight vigil & singing their support outside the enormous glass windows of the hospital. And the third moment was when Jackson swallows his hatred of the shooter whose surgery he could not bring himself to assist in & remembers that the scared broken mother sitting alone in the corner needs to be treated like the mother of any other patient. The kindness he shows as he crouches before her & provides the comfort of knowing her son has not died was just incredible.
6) Something yummy I made:
Devils food cupcakes with vanilla frosting.
7) Restaurants where I ate:
No restaurant dining at all this month. We did attend the local pig fest though. Yum!
8) Something that made me cry:
The story of Ted Williams, the homeless man with the amazing voice, who has been given another chance at life. And all the stories that came out of the terrible mass shooting in Tuscon.
9) A goal I had for this month:
To get my planner set up & functional for the new year. I am very pleased with the tweaks I made & we are off to a promising start.
10) This month I looked forward to:
The return of new television episodes.
11) Something I want to remember about this month:
Sometimes you accomplish more when you set just a few small obtainable goals, slow down your pace & take time to breathe, than when your To Do List is a mile & a half long, moving at breakneck speed in 38 directions at once.
12) A photo I took this month:
My camera & I have not been on the same page this month. I didn't keep a single image I took. Blah. I hope February proves better. I have a list of ideas I want to work on, so maybe that will help? And of course, the one time I was really feeling inspired, I didn't have my camera with me. So, all I have to show for January, I already shared:
Monday: Hot dogs & tater tots.
Tuesday: Stuffed Shells, salad and garlic bread.
Wednesday: Hamburger Helper & a salad.
Thursday: Fish sandwiches and a noodle side dish.
Friday: Going out for some Chinese.
Saturday: Leftovers/WDW (depending on the weather).
Sunday: Roast chicken, mashed potatoes & gravy, and steamed zucchini.
Notes from last week's menu: we ended up doing a couple of swap-arounds. Wednesday & Thursday flip-flopped. And steak sandwiches got nudged to Sunday when we decided to check out the pig fest on something of a whim.
The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!
Sometimes I have words on his birthday. They flow from my memory bank, out through my fingertips, effortlessly. Sometimes a snippet of song lyric plays in my mind as it captures just an essence of who he was. And sometimes, like this time, I just flip through the photos, recalling his booming laugh, the contrast of his giant presence and quiet demeanor, his mannerisms. My mind skips along happy memories and I feel blessed, on the anniversary of his birth, that I was blessed with the gift of my Gramp.
And I smile.
Outside my window... squirrels chase each other around the tree in a frenzy, fighting over a peanut. Never mind that there are a half dozen more laying on the ground.
I am thinking... about my Gramp today. It would have been his birthday.
I am thankful for... always having enough food, to the point that the weekly menu often requires a "leftovers" day to prevent waste.
From the kitchen... there will be steak & cheese sandwiches this evening. We needed something that *wouldn't* create more leftovers, and these are easy. Plus, it uses up something that was hanging out in the freezer long enough.
I am wearing... yoga pants and a Red Sox t-shirt. It's my anytime-I'm-just-hanging-out-at-home uniform. This time it's a classic Red Sox tee: navy with Red Sox in an arch across the front.
I am creating...a newly revised To Do List system for 2011. 2010's needed a little tweaking. January is a great time for evaluation & adjustment, with a brand new planner for a fresh clean slate.
I am going... to get the laundry from the dryer in four minutes. I will not miss schlepping to the laundry room, come the day I no longer need to. Having your own laundry facility is highly underrated.
I am reading... a little of this, a little of that.
I am hoping... for the best, in many many situations, most of which aren't my own.
I am hearing... squirrel claws scampering around the tree outside my window, a car starting and the daughter of a neighbor playing some childhood game of pretend. I can't figure out if someone else is out there with her as well or if she is caught up in her game & talking to herself.
Around the house... are some things that need my attention. I am pretending I don't see them right now but they're going to win. They keep staring at me.
One of my favorite things... is pausing to take in the scenery.
I don't understand... the humor in most episodes of The Office or Seinfeld.
I wish... the NFL could find a way to make the Pro Bowl less lame. It always is & I bet tonight's will be no different. MLB really does a great job with theirs. I'm not even sure what they could do to improve football's but I know it needs it, badly.
A few plans for the rest of the week... stay on top of my To Do List, file my taxes, decorate for February (some snowmen come down to make room for a bit of pink & red to brighten the place up), and considering a trip to Animal Kingdom while the weather is still cool & the animals are more active, as long as it doesn't rain.
A picture to share...
Yesterday, we decided to head over to a Pig Fest on the other side of town. I don't know why I didn't think to grab my camera, but I didn't. Until I started seeing all kinds of fun opportunities. So I was left with just my crappy little cell phone camera. Rather than call it a loss, I decided to collage it instead. There were delicious eats (pulled pork sandwich, strawberry shortcake), amusing signs all over the place advertising all the different barbecue booths, entertaining sights (fried gator tail?!) and the glorious sight of a baseball field getting prepared for Spring Training! Someone really needs to remind me that I always wind up kicking myself when I don't bring along my camera. It's easy enough to just leave it in the case if nothing catches my eye, but I cannot make it materialize if I leave it at home.
1. If you could bottle something in nature and sell it, what would you choose?
The scent of orange blossoms. Sure, there are lots of products that *try* to capture it--and some even come close--but there is none that I have found have managed to truly capture it to perfection. My second choice would be somehow bottling the unique silence of a snow-covered world.
2. What are you drinking?
Water. Pretty much my answer 98% of the time.
3. How old were you when you stopped believing in Santa Claus?
You assume that I stopped believing. What I did was learn the true identity and meaning of Santa Claus. That made it even more magical for me.
4. What's something that gets better when the newness wears off?
Jeans, when they are broken in just right. And friendship.
5. If you could go on a road trip with any person (dead or alive) who would you go with and where would you go?
I would love to go on a road trip with my Gram & Gramp. Each Autumn, they would load up their car and take a month-long cross-country road trip to California, Texas and Florida, stopping to see relatives and the sights. I would love for them to show me the places they would talk about long after returning, sharing the memories that came back as familiar landmarks came into view.
6. What first got you started blogging?
I can't recall how I found it, whether she shared a link or if I merely discovered it one way or another, but I saw Chele's blog and was immediately intrigued.
7. What room in your home is the most cluttered?
My living room. It's where the bulk of the "living" happens.
8. How cold does it have to get for you to turn on the heat?
Whatever the temperature outside, the inside would have to dip below 70 before I would spend the dollars (and put up with the smell of dust burning off) to run the heat. I have to run my air conditioner from May through October. I staunchly refuse to run my heat unless absolutely necessary. I live in *Florida*.
9. How warm does it have to get for you to turn on the air conditioning?
Probably mid-80s? I set the air to 80 when I'm at home, to 88 when I'm not so it doesn't run all day. I try to hold off as long as I can, with fans & open windows, because I know once air-conditioning season starts, it sticks around for a good long time.
10. If you were suddenly told you had to change to your career choice from age ten, what would you be doing right now?
Teaching elementary school.
11. What would you like to whine about today?
Not a thing. The weather is perfect. I'm smack in the middle of the weekend. And when the stupid laundry room washer ate one of my favorite socks, T hopped right online & replaced it for me and then some.
12. What is your favorite board game?
Hmmm... I've loved Monopoly since probably the second or third grade. And I always had fun playing clue. Does Scattergories count as a board game?
13. What kitchen gadget do you use the most?
While the Slap Chop gets used the most, it is rarely me who uses it. (Someone else finds it great fun & has put an unofficial regulation on the use of it. LOL!) I think I will have to go with... my citrus trumpet.
14. What kitchen gadget would you most like to acquire?
The list is not short. Heh. But the most? If I had the funds and the actual kitchen space, it would be a KitchenAid Stand Mixer. In Candy Apple Red. With a glass mixing bowl.
15. How many bottles of wine are in your home right now?
Four. Two small bottle of white. One small bottle of red. And a bottle of cooking sherry. To be fair, they are all here for the purpose of cooking. I don't drink much wine at home, mostly because I can't finish a whole bottle by myself.
16. What color do you look great in?
I know it isn't yellow! I get the most compliments when I wear a deep red, chocolate brown or a pumpkin orange.
17. How far in advance of traveling do you usually pack your luggage?
Most of it, a couple of days in advance. The items I use right up until the morning I leave have to stay out until I am done using them. What I do is make a packing list for myself & it is all in my luggage by the time I head out.
18. What have you lost recently?
One of my favorite Red Sox socks. =( Just this afternoon in fact.
19. What was for breakfast?
A glass of juice (a blend of unsweetened cranberry and pineapple). Wasn't hungry for more before I had to leave for my hair appointment.
20. Would you rather drive or be the passenger?
I would always prefer to be the passenger. Being in the car doesn't bother me, but I only drive out of necessity.
We've finally counted down to those final few weeks before baseball players make their annual Grapefruit-or-Cactus-League-direction trek to begin the process of stretching out those sleepy Winter muscles and dusting off of leather & maple equipment that was tucked away a long three months ago.
Everyone else reflected on the past season in the days & weeks immediately following its abrupt close. I took a different approach, opting instead to digest the 2010 season quietly. And now that we're almost to the starting line of a fresh new season, I am ready to lay my thoughts to rest as a baseball warm-up of my own.
Last season, as a Red Sox fan, was an exercise in extremes. For every incredible high, there was a counter-balancing low. No moment of wonder was allowed to sit for too long without a crushing blow to follow in its wake. It was a season of "almost" and "if only" and yet I loved it as much as every other season. Every frustrating, fearful, fantastic play of it, from the team taking the field for the first time on Opening Day, full of fire & anticipation, to the final war-weary limp off grass and clay in early October, spent & disappointed, but still loving the game with every fiber.
Injuries have healed. Old friends have moved along to the next phase of their stories. An off-season with new names & dramatic unveilings around every corner had fans on their toes, speculating, curious & filled with excitement. I've passed the days watching football, episodes of new television programs and movies, but I am so ready for the comfort of my familiar evening companion: the sights & sounds of Red Sox baseball.
Periodically over the next 18 days, I intend to wax poetic about the 2010 highs, weigh in on the lows, capture my reactions to the Hot Stove acquisitions and record my wishes for 2011. And by the time I have crossed each item off my list, Tek's catcher's mask will be perched atop his head, Jon Lester will be rolling his shoulders in preparation for a game of catch, Pedey will arrive early to get a head start on heckling his teammates and Papelbon will be practicing his "Face of Intimidation" in the mirror.
Two and a half weeks are all that remain between me & my favorite addiction companion.
**Right now, I have a desk that is glass and metal. It works just fine. It's not totally my "style" but it has certainly served its purpose & will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Someday, when I have a beautiful wooden desk, I Want a clear glass desk blotter to protect its surface. I am fascinated by the idea of being able to personalize my desk just by changing out what lies beneath the blotter. Pretty *and* functional!
**I Want to smell this lotion. I need to know if it smells like sunscreen & the beach.
**I'm thinking I don't need to explain why I Want this bag, huh?
Monday: Brats and oven fries.
Tuesday: BLTs.
Wednesday: Roast pork, roasted potatoes and green beans.
Thursday: Grilled chicken with a veggie & frozen SteamFresh side dish.
Friday: Spaghetti with Sausage and Goat Cheese.
Saturday: Steak sandwiches with mozzarella sticks. (Cleaning out the freezer this week. Can you tell?)
Sunday: Leftovers.
Notes from last week's menu: The new recipe for Chicken and Dumplings was an absolute keeper. Perfect comfort food and the dumplings were not pasty or dense, just perfect warm fluffy goodness.
The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!
Outside my window... it is sunny & cool. Pretty much the perfect sort of day in my book.
I am thinking... about watching the Law & Order:SVU that is on the DVR, except I think I need to save it for Tuesday night during the State of the Union Address. I know that's not very mature of me, but I have zero interest in hearing any of it & it's pre-empting all my other tv options.
I am thankful for... awesome doctors, even more awesome friends and the time & space to make decisions that are right for me.
From the kitchen... will come a brand new recipe tonight & just the right sort of meal for a chilly day. Perfect timing!
I am wearing... yoga pants & a Red Sox t-shirt. It's kind of my uniform when I'm just hanging out at home.
I am creating... my "February lists." I can't believe January is nearly over!
I am going... to root for the NFC in the Super Bowl.
I am reading... the latest issue of Bon Appetit magazine.
I am hoping... my last W-2 arrives soon. I want to get my taxes filed.
I am hearing... some sports chatter playing quietly on the television & the ceiling fan which apparently is slightly off balance.
Around the house... the carpets are wonderfully clean after their bath last weekend. It makes *such* a difference.
One of my favorite things... watching squirrels chase each other over one nut when there are another dozen or so on the ground.
I don't understand... why people are so averse to just leaving a voice mail.
I wish... I knew the right thing to say to people when the circumstances call for the "right thing" to be said.
A few plans for the rest of the week: filing my taxes, conquering the To Do List and getting my hair trimmed on Saturday.
A picture to share... a blast from the past this week, back to January 2007, because nothing I took this week escaped my ruthless deleting.
1. Soup or sandwich?
I would really prefer that they come as a pair, but if you're making me choose, I guess it will have to be sandwich. Unless the soup of the day is clam chowdah.
2. How many cookbooks do you own?
Six. Seven, if you count my recipe blog, which is an ever-evolving collection, part of which you can see (the recipes I've tried & will make again) and part of which you can't (my drafts are jam-packed with recipes I have found online, in magazines, on packaging, from friends, you get the idea, that will eventually be tried & either deleted or published). The six "traditional" cookbooks I have are: The Pioneer Woman Cooks. Rachael Ray's 30-Minute Get Real Meals and 2, 4, 6, 8: Get Real Meals for Couples or Crowds. The classic Betty Crocker's New Cookbook, as well as Betty Crocker's Good & Easy Cookbook. And a compilationstyle cookbook that was part of a fund raiser.
3. What operating system do you have on your computer?
I am a Windows girl. My desktop has Windows XP and my laptop has Windows Vista. At work, I have Windows XP Pro.
4. What is one place you haven't yet been that you'd be ridiculously bummed to never travel to in your lifetime?
Hawaii, maybe? So many places I haven't been. And so many places I've been that I want to revisit.
5. If you could pick an age to be on your next birthday, which age would you pick and why?
I'd choose to be 35. I've done all the earlier ones but I'm in no hurry to rush forward either. ;-)
6. Why did you choose your blog name?
When I first created my blog, I was in an..."interesting" place in my life. My gut knew that something wasn't quite right but I was in no way ready to admit that to myself...or all that came with such an admission. I heard the Rascal Flatt's Song "Bless the Broken Road" one day & it just fit, in some resonating internal way. I knew, deep down, that I hadn't reached my destination yet; I was still traveling that broken road. My life has taken some twists & turns since the day this blog was born. And yet the title still fits. The road through this life is always broken in places, because this is a flawed world we navigate through. But bumps & potholes are more spaced out now, the road itself has become considerably smoother. It has emerged from the "Dark & Twisty" shadows that hid the stumbling places, and now it winds gently through patches of sunlight & shade. This road may be broken but it is beautiful even in its imperfection.
7. What three foods remind you most of your childhood?
Apple pie. Boiled potatoes with butter & salt. Sugar cookie Christmas trees.
8. What part of your day-to-day life requires the most patience?
Tolerating the other commuters on the road. I'm actually ok with this. There was a time when they were the least of my problems.
9. How seriously do you take gift-wrapping when you wrap gifts?
I love to take my time & make a gift look lovely. Sometimes having to ship said package kind of sucks the fun out of it though. Pretty packages rarely survive the journey.
10. What is the first book that you can remember reading by yourself as a child?
'Twas the Night Before Christmas.
11. Which is worse when you're trying to sleep: being too hot or too cold?
Being too hot. I can always grab another blanket to snuggle under. When I'm too hot, there's really only so much that can be done. And the more annoyed I get at being too warm *and* being awake, the warmer I get.
12. What is your favorite cheese?
Mmmmm... cheese. So many different options! It really depends on the day & the purpose of the cheese. Maybe Colby Jack? It's pretty versatile.
13. What is your favorite curse word?
Rats. What can I say? I don't really curse.
14. Does weather affect your mood?
Only in the following situations: It is preventing my flight from taking off or landing or being non-turbulent. It is preventing me from doing something I was really looking forward to doing. It is scaring me with its ferocity. It has interrupted my electricity. I am soaked to the skin from being forced to walk from Point A to Point B in the rain.
15. When was the last time you put gas in your car?
Last Sunday. I almost always top off my tank on Sundays while I run my errands after church. Needed a whopping five gallons this week.
16. What is on your bed right now?
Sheets, a comforter & a bunch of pillows.
17. What is the last sporting event that you watched?
Ugh. The AFC Divisional Playoff game between the Patriots & Jets. Thank you for the reminder.
18. Have your ever built a snowman?
Not in years & years, but plenty of times as a kid.
19. What is your favorite kind of soup?
Ha! Clam chowdah. Absolutely not a contest in any way, shape or form.
20. What do you do with all those photographs you keep taking?
I look at them & smile. Some I share on my blog or on Facebook. They all get uploaded to my Web Albums & copied onto my external drive. My goal is to eventually get them all into printed form in books for my bookshelf.
Monday: Burgers and mac & cheese.
Tuesday: Spaghetti & meatballs, and a salad.
Wednesday: BBQ-glazed chicken, some sort of quick noodle side dish and a salad.
Thursday: Shepherd's Pie.
Friday: Pork steak on the grill, boiled potatoes and steamed baby sweet peas.
Saturday: Scallops with Mushrooms and Spinach.
Sunday: (new recipe!) Chicken & dumplings.
Notes from last week's menu: The Crab Cakes were very tasty, really good flavor. However, they were very crumbly, so we (and by "we," I mean "Troy") did a little poking around online & found that many crab cake recipes call for an egg (this one didn't), so next time we'll give that a try.
The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!
**I Want this pillow. Really really want. It's sold out right now, but they claim it will return in September 2011.
**I may be a little late to the party on this one too, being a seasonal flavor & all, but oh how I Want to indulge my recent chocolate-peppermint cravings with Dark Peppermint Lindor Truffles by Lindt. They're no See's but they will definitely do in the absence of See's! I recently finished off the last of a bag of Stracciatella Chocolate Lindor Truffles that were a ball of cookies-and-cream heaven.
**And now we come from behind to jumping the gun. The NFL playoffs are still going (and my Patriots are still alive!) and yet I cannot help thinking about baseball. We're 33 days from pitchers & catchers reporting to Fort Myers and I miss the frantic pacing soothing sounds of baseball filling my living room in the evenings. My inbox is starting to fill with emails enticing me with the newest version of Red Sox wear. (Yes, I need more. I feel about Red Sox tops the way most normal women feel about shoes, apparently.) Most of what I own is either red or navy blue. After some light window shopping, I have determined that I Want this grey one and this white one. You know, for a change of pace.
Monday: Pot roast with carrots & potatoes in the crock pot and rolls.
Tuesday: Grilled ham & cheese sandwiches.
Wednesday: Brown Sugar Glazed Pork, wild rice & asparagus.
Thursday: Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken and broccoli, garlic bread & salad.
Friday: (new recipe!) Crab cakes, mashed potatoes & corn.
Saturday: Subs from the Publix Deli.
Sunday: An easy frozen skillet meal with a salad.
Notes from last week's menu: One adjustment, the zucchini became yellow Summer squash (didn't like the looks of the zucchini). The stir-fry will be a keeper, with a tweak or two to personal taste, but it was best fresh so in the future, we'll halve the recipe. The new garlic-butter sauce recipe turned out to be more of a cream sauce, which was tasty but not what we had in mind. We'll be trying another recipe next time around.
The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!
Outside my window... it can't decide if it wants to be grey & dreary or sunny.
I am thinking... about the families affected by the shootings in Tuscon.
I am thankful for... the fact that shooter was stopped before he could take more lives.
From the kitchen... will come the smell of garlic later as dinner cooks.
I am wearing... yoga pants & a Sox t-shirt.
I am creating... a To-Do list of varying levels.
I am going... to nap soon if this football game doesn't get a little more exciting.
I am reading... my Twitter feed.
I am hoping... that my W-2s arrive before the January 31 mailing deadline. I like to file early.
I am hearing... the wind rustling the leaves & the chatter of the football announcers.
Around the house... it is empty without the Christmas tree.
One of my favorite things: the snowflakes & snowmen that brighten my home when Christmas is put to bed for another year.
I don't understand... the phenomenon wherein the second you need a red light for some reason, every single one you approach turns green.
I wish... we would spend less time finding ways to make each other & ourselves miserable. "We" being of the collective variety.
A few plans for the rest of the week... have a nice quiet uneventful week, maybe give the carpets a good thorough cleaning on Saturday & watch some NFL playoffs.
A picture to share...
The happy I got in the mail from K this week. =)
Monday: Cheeseburgers & some tater tots.
Tuesday: Parmesan chicken tenders, mozzarella sticks & broccoli.
Wednesday: Pizza!
Thursday: Fish on the grill in foil packets, wild rice & zucchini.
Friday: (new recipe!) Beef & veggie stir fry over rice.
Saturday: Kielbasa, sauerkraut & pierogies.
Sunday: (new recipe!) Linguine with chicken in a garlic-butter sauce.
Notes from last week's menu: We stayed right on track other than getting to Sunday & deciding to just clean up the collection of leftovers we still had on hand.
The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!
Outside my window... sits my poinsettia plant, getting a little sunshine.
I am thinking... that a cocktail that contains bubbles & raspberry was pretty much made for me.
I am thankful for... an approved MRI. Finally.
From the kitchen... came leftovers. Some people don't care for them. I welcome it as a break from needing to actually cook.
I am wearing... yoga pants & my Patriots t-shirt.
I am creating... a list goals I want to tackle in 2011. Just one per month though.
I am going... to have a hard time working five whole days this week, I think. Heh.
I am reading... an old issue of Real Simple magazine.
I am hoping... to bake some cookies later this week to feed my recent chocolate-mint cravings.
I am hearing... the Patriots on my tv! I love when I get to see them play.
Around the house... is a bunch of old paperwork I need to shred. I feel like I work for Enron, I've already shredded so much, and it seems as though I've hardly made a dent.
One of my favorite things... crossing items off my To Do List.
I don't understand... how Alex Trebek is seventy years old. Have you watched Jeopardy recently? I would have never guessed over mid-fifties.
I wish... it were possible for me to type 'stir' without first typing 'stor' every.single.time.
A few plans for the rest of the week... baking those cookies, walking when I get home from work, taking down my tree over the weekend and watching some NFL playoffs.
A picture to share...
Christmas decorations at the Contemporary (WDW).
A photo of me:
1) Candle scents this month:
Apple Butter. Autumn Fields. Cranberry. Mulling Spices. Hollyberry. Cinnamon Roll. Amber Glow. Spiced Pumpkin. Autumn Gold. Spiced Apple. Apple Cider. Gingerbread. Balsam & Cedar. Autumn Woods. Applewood Orchard.
2) What I am reading this month:
Blogs. Magazines.
3) Top three songs I was drawn to:
"A Baby Changes Everything," Faith Hill. "Song for a Winter's Night," Sarah McLachlan. "Let It Be Christmas," Alan Jackson.
4) Movies I saw:
Elf. The Polar Express. Toy Story. Jack Frost. The Santa Clause. Toy Story 2. It's a Wonderful Life. Home Alone. True Grit. Plus a bunch of Christmas specials: A Charlie Brown Christmas, Prep & Landing, Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Shrek the Halls & Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.
5) Favorite tv moments of the month:
There weren't many new episodes of tv shows this month, between Christmas specials & college football bowl games. I was particularly struck by Olivia's vulnerability on Fringe: Marionette. I also really enjoyed Hop a Frieghter and The Big One, the final two episodes of Dexter, Season 5.
6) Something yummy I made:
Soft Molasses Cookies.
7) Restaurants where I ate:
Bonefish Grill on New Years Eve. The one & only time we went out to eat in December.
8) Something that made me cry:
Every time I heard the song "A Baby Changes Everything." I kept thinking about the movie "The Nativity Story," which I saw for the first time a couple of years ago, and for the first time, changed Mary & Joseph in my mind from the crayon-drawn pictures of my youth into a young woman & a man, *real* people, who had a whole host of emotions & very human reactions to the task set before them. Something about the words of that song really strike the same chord deep within me & make me reflect on the Christmas story in a whole new way.
Bonus 8) Something that made me laugh:
Both my parents got me the exact same Christmas card this year, and since they've been divorced for many years now, there is no way they could have known. There was either a shortage of Christmas cards for daughters in the state of Connecticut this year or they have grown more alike over time.
9) A goal I had for this month:
To get Christmas prep finished by December 17th. Mission accomplished.
10) This month I looked forward to:
All my favorite Christmas shows & movies and the Christmas Eve Candlelight service.
11) Something I want to remember about this month:
We had record-breaking cold this month. The only time I complained was when it was 50 degrees in the office. Justifies my whining about the humidity in August, no?
12) A photo I took this month:
Two trees at Disney's Wilderness Lodge--my very favorite WDW resort hotel.
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