Norah & Company

Ray and Norah
Bonnie and Norah
Keith and Norah
Willie and Norah

Opinions and Choices

Weighty and bold. Subtle and light. Friendly and intimidating. Like everything else, there is a huge spectrum. Some opinions matter, some don't. Some choices change everything, some just change what you eat for dinner.  Some opinions are offered in an off-handed way, never expecting to make any impact but end up stuck in another person's memory forever. Some choices seem insignificant, but change the course of events in ways you would never predict.  Of course, it's not all topsy-turvy, some decisions are painstakingly weighed, and more or less, the events that follow take shape in the generally predicted way. And some opinions are given with care, and considered appropriately.

I've been thinking a lot lately though, about the tactless or judgmental opinions that are volleyed about --by family members, by friends/neighbors, by coworkers -- regarding appearance, college majors, sports performances, careers, relationships, cars, lifestyle... The list goes on.  I'm not sure if the expressed opinions which contain negativity and judgment are tools for control, or a way to express inner unhappiness (e.g, misery loves company-- if I'm miserable you should be too)-- or both. At any rate, when expressed opinions have morphed away from the realm of constructive, it's time to consider what the value is and how damaging the consequences can be-- insecurity, stress, rebellion, depression...

And I've been thinking about Society with its 'norms'.  Society which has a tendency to simplify life and present complicated issues as black or white. Society which seems to relegate decisions into right or wrong, good or bad.  But life isn't simple; virtue is relative. There are a million shades of gray.  Maybe we need a reminder now and then.  Perhaps people could consider holding their tongues more, when all they are offering is negativity or judgment in their opinions.  Perhaps people could give themselves a break-- be kinder to themselves, too.  Be braver. Allow themselves to deviate from the norm to find happiness, if that's what it takes.  To make choices based on who they are, not who others want them to be.  To make choices based on where they want to go in life, what they want to do, what's healthy for them.  Not based on what their parents always dreamed they would do. Not based on a competition with their siblings. Not based on what their friends or neighbors think is acceptable. Not based on what Society has on its current list of "should be" or "should have"... Not to make choices based on fear or intimidation.  Life has enough challenges without adding this kind of pressure to it.  Each of us comes from a different background, has had different life experiences-- so the choices we make to get to a 'happy place' are going to be different. It would be nice if we could all remind ourselves of that a little more often. Choices will always contain risk, and always have effects, but maybe we could get to that 'happy place' faster and help each other get there too, if we refrained from judgment and negativity a little more often.  I think we'd all be better off in society if we could support each other in a variety life choices--whether they are easy or tough, trivial or serious-- to find a way to feed into the inertia of positive energy.

That's not to say that we should all go around agreeing with everyone else's choices all of the time. Or not speak up when when we have a difference of opinion or different point of view. It's just a reminder to think about what your opinion is offering, and how it is being offered.  If it's just negativity, think twice about sharing it. If you're about to carelessly cast judgment, before you do, remember you might not have all the information. 

Kindness matters. And we could all use a little more of it in our lives.

Stand Still

It feels like a Melody Gardot night...

200 More Miles

200 More Miles

Baby Please Don't Go

Pre-Derby

I had a fabulous pre-Derby Thursday evening. There are very few things which could make me happier right now. 

I'm enjoying a pre-dinner cheese & crackers. And wine. Second course, a beautifully done fish. I hope. 

But really the highlight of the night was not food.

Féis

-Nathalie Anderson

"How long since you last gazed into a face
this beautiful, since a face this beautiful
opened its gaze for you? A full moon couldn't
loom any larger, rising late and low
in hazy autumn, couldn't fill any
lake or pool more full than your eye is full,
holy water rising in the holy well.

You can't follow a third of what he's saying,
his lips moving slow, then fast, then slow, tilting
his face from seduction into friendliness
and back again, the words flying fast, birds
surprised from hedges, the lashes raising
and lowering their heavy wings, the hair
a dense cloud stroking and unravelling..."

Songs from Commercials...

Or songs that commercials made more famous....(or not).

Sky Blue Sky

Falling in Love At a Coffee Shop

Bruises

Moderator

I like this plan. 

La vie en rose...

La vie en rose...

Quiche Delish...

... my Sunday morning kitchen dish. Yes, I just wanted to rhyme.

But, here is a little step-by-step photo-journal of my Quiche Delish. Oh, by the way, Quiche Delish has red onion, smoked gouda, broccoli, and just a tad bit of bacon (3/4 of a slice)....well, and of course eggs & milk.

DDFN

Drop in the Ocean

Dancing in the Dark

Featherstone

Nothing Like You and I

game

What are the rules? I said & she said, Do exactly what I want whenever I want, make no demands of me whatsoever & love me forever, no questions asked & I said, how do you win? & she said, you don't understand. I'm the only one who wins & then she laughed & clapped her hands. Isn't it a great game? she said.


-storypeople

pretty amazing

This is why I love dance. How amazing.

Vienna Teng

Recessional

Blue Caravan

Swan Dive

Ani tonight.

Swan Dive

UpUpUpUpUpUp

Hypnotized

Studying Stones

Welcome To:

Both Hands

Balance

Balance

There is distance.

Questions outnumber answers.

No map.

Not even a compass.

Emotions gain weight.

Peaks and valleys

surround her.

Dreams pile up.

What emotion is north?

Love? Sadness? Peace?

She’s not sure.

She is balancing

in the in-between.

Moonlight

on the path

waxes and wanes.

She counts the days.

Recounts his words.

-kari thostenson

Download

You can consider this blog, a direct down-load of random, not particularly interesting or useful information directly from my brain, to my blog, via this computer.

First things first, I have really been enjoying Falbo's pizza lately. I've ordered it twice. I am not sure what is behind this new preference.  Maybe it's just that I ordered Canadian bacon, and I now continue to crave the salty goodness.  I had left-overs from the freezer tonight.

Second, I was graced with a lovely white-burgundy this weekend. I'm enjoying my last glass of it tonight. Mmm. Thank you for the wine delivery among other things. You know who you are.

Next announcement, I have TV! T-V! Tee-Vee. TEE-vee... It's only been a little over a month, but I am so appreciative to have it murmuring in the background as I write this blog. I love NPR, but it has its limits. Such as ... lack of The Big Bang Theory.

Also, in case I haven't mentioned it, I love my new job.

Alright, next I think is the music selection for the evening... to warn you, there's quite the range this evening.

All the Pretty Girls

Be My Honeypie

Just So

Product Vs. Ingredients

Product Vs. Ingredients

Lykke Li

Tomorrow

Unchained Melody

I Follow Rivers

I Know Places

excerpts

"straight lines only 

no curve or arc
to double back

no circle in sight
from which silence might slip 

like the strap of a dress
off a shoulder
one summer field"

"X", Vona Groarke

----

"keep changing the subject in hopes
that the subject will change you."

"How to Be a Surrealist", Dean Young

---

"Don't tell a soul, but once,
over the Azure Coast, I felt a letter
slipping from me. In panic,
I dropped the whole word.
Forgive me, I was distracted—
a naked young man was singing hymns,
his long fingers separating tangled
grape vines."

"Carriers", Christopher Hennessy

Filled to the Brim

Filled to the brim with dangerous thoughts & no where to put them since she lives in a small town & everybody's always watching.

likes her body a lot, especially the way she can fling it all around in all sorts of directions & it still stays connected in one piece

You're not going to see people like this again for a long time, he said & I said I always saw people like this & he looked at me for a moment & said, You're not from around here, are you?


-StoryPeople

Better

What comes is better, than what came before...

Dreams

I've been having extremely vivid dreams the last couple of weeks.  This isn't exactly abnormal, but I had a period of time where my dreams were far less involved and detail.  I think I might finally be sleeping deeply enough these days, that I have gotten back to this level of dreaming.   The last three nights I had dreams involving my washing machine. As boring as that might sound, these dreams were far from boring. Parts of them were actually alarming... although the alarming part was less about the washing machine which just seemed to sneak in there. And recently I had another dream about not going to class and knowing I was going to fail the class as a result. I've never been a huge-class skipper, and I've never failed a class so I am not quite sure why that's popping up right now. The rest of the stuff, even the alarming stuff, seems otherwise be pretty explainable (even the washer appearing multiple times). I guess it's only surprising that I'm not also having dreams about angrily confronting the president of UPS... long story.
Anyway, in the spirit of dreams, here is a song about dreams: Dream.

Britta's a B

So, I can't help it. I've already posted this song but I'm a little "taken" with it. I think it's hilarious and catharic. Gettin' Rid of Britta. Sometimes it's just the perfect attitude.

Cat Empire

Alright...how about a little dancing now? Do you have Two Shoes?
I think I need a mojito or two too.

Distracted

Admittedly, I've been a little distracted and caught up in other activities. But not to fear, I'm not abandoning my blog.

Among other things, here is one my recent personal accomplishments:

Transforming this:

To THIS!

Question

A little dose of humor for your Thursday evening... how do you like to spend your vacation time?

Songs for a Monday

The Chinatown Bus

It Was Right There

Magic Touch

Night and Day

Control-Alt-Delete

It's nice to have options for a "control-alt-delete" to clear your mind.  Usually that's something that takes all of my concentration, for a least a little bit-- or turns my mind almost all the way off for at least a little bit. A full distraction. Stephen Colbert, for example, can create a few moments with humor. I like the blue-tie/red-tie face-off.  Anyway, and that means this blog also one option for control-alt-delete.  Other options include: The Big Bang Theory, Law & Order, NPR, dance class, the gym.... wine and good company. And if you have more ideas, as usual, send them my way ;)

Never Be Daunted

This song has popped into my head a couple times in that last few days... Never Be Daunted.  Apparently it's from HappyThankYouMorePlease. Maybe I should put that movie on my queue.

Project

So, with the addition of outdoor space to my new home, that means I can take on projects that have never really been convenient.  In a few days, I will have 'before and after' pictures of my first project which I started today and will possibly be able to complete tomorrow (drying time...).

Let's leave tonight with a little music. A Lullaby I think.

Healthcare for Women

The War on Women- Extended Cut

...And more from Jon Stewart, my hero, in some moments.

If I want to...

More Cat Power.

Snow White

Not your typical Snow White...and I must stay it looks like it has some interesting visual effects.

A Fox's Tail is Called a Brush

A Fox's Tail is Called a Brush
by Emily Pettit

There is the room I will pretend does not exist,
for now. For now that room does not exist.
Really remember colors reflected in pools of water.
The marshaling of evidence. Cats of what colors.
A spectrum. Color to describe the cat that is down.
That cat that is to the side. With one eye. What is
scratch made up of? A florescent rhibisom is working
on figuring it out. Figuring it out in a mouse's mind.
I break up all the leaves into bits. I am hard at summer.
Let the music loud! I can have a color in my mind
and I cannot make it. How do you make a mirror?
I want you to understand. Do you understand me?
I understand. They understand. You understand.
I hope your summer is being a good summer.
Grasses and radios. Get archaic. A hunter looking
for a streaming blue. You were in the weather.
You idea. A not new idea. A room. I got home
and my door was blue. It was a fox and a picture
of you.

Live to See the Day

Live to see the day...

Settling In

It's been a while, but I'm back! I am finally settling in to my new place and have internet again. We'll see what kind of posts my new spot on the map inspires.

I am feeling a bit mischievous tonight so here's my StoryPeople quote for you:

these are house demons & their favorite thing is to get dressed up & go to an open house & pretend it'd be absolutely perfect if it just had one more bedroom


-StoryPeople

Rum or Whiskey

What you’re drinkin’

Rum or whiskey

Now don’t you have a…

Double with me

I’m sorry I’m a little late

I got your message by the way

I’m calling in sick today

So let’s go out ...

The beginning of this song always kind of makes me want to get up on a stage, lip sync, and dance =)

I'm less taken with the chorus, but the verses are fun. Fun for me anyway.

And I must admit, this one is pretty catchy too...I must be in a retro kind of mood tonight.

Sweet Nothin' 

Folding Chair

My new place has a lake view... and today it was gorgeous out.
I think that calls for a warm-weather song... Come and open up your folding chair...

Mini Sabbatical

I took a mini sabbatical from posting. I'm in transition, but a certain song has been in my head, so I'm posting it. It's from An Education. I haven't seen the movie, but now I kind of want to... I'll be back again soon, but maybe not for a few days...

Please, Please, Please

I'm in a She & Him mood.
They should make another album for me.
Yes, just for me.

NPR

Today I listened to the Diane Rehm Show on NPR. DARE, or Dictionary of American Regional English,  was the topic today. I thought it was fascinating.  But I suppose that's not shocking given my love of words and language. Maybe reading DARE will become my new hobby.

Feeling Good

I'm going to post a few songs where the words aren't the reason I'm listening to them, it's much more the way the song is sung, and the feel of the music.

Syrup & Honey
I Put A Spell on You
Rolling in the Deep
Feeling Good

4 and 20

4 and 20 ... in the spirit of count-downs. Here's a song right in-line with that idea. At least in some ways.

Rhinestones

Confession. I am not into rhinestones. I am not opposed to quote-unquote 'costume' jewelry but... rhinestones aren't really up my alley.  Just felt like sharing.

Community

While searching for new music, I came across the soundtrack for Community. HILARIOUS.
I had to download it... Here's a sample. Maybe it's only funny because I've seen the show.  And how can you not like the show? It has Joel McHale on it (you know, The Soup).

Addis Red Sea

Today I had lunch with a friend at Addis Red Sea. I always think of When Harry Met Sally when someone mentions Ethiopian food. This was my first time trying it. It was quite good and I would definitely go again. Here's a mini pictorial of my lunch.

 

Awesome

Sometimes we all need a little street art. Whether or not we admit it. Or call it that.

Here's the reminder for the day:

Penny

I love Penny. If you're in the 'cool-kids club' -- you'll understand.

Radiohead

Thursday night.  A slow song for the night fits my mood right now.

Neighbors

Neighbors. Fences make good neighbors. Just kidding. 

When people surprise me in humorous or good ways, I notice. Anything to liven up an otherwise mundane or average day, should be appreciated-- and maybe shared too.  So, I'm holding up my end of the obligation to share some unusual neighborly interactions.  Note, for those of you who may not know, my name is not Dave, Julian, or Monica. I was on the sidelines for this interaction. The pictures tell the story below.  I'll help with a few captions.

This Morning

Note taped to windowed panel by the front door of the building:

(Dear Salty Dave in Apt 12:
THIS MEANS WAAAAR!!!

Just kidding. Your message is humbly received.
Our apologies to you and our neighbors-
no more smoking in front of the apartment! 

-Monica and Julian)

Tonight:

 When I came home you could see Salty Dave's response:

(Thanks for your consideration.
And apologies for the saltiness. - Dave)

Cream Sauce

Lately I've made a cream sauce a couple of times, on a whim, not following a recipe. I mentioned it to a friend and she wanted the recipe. One snag, this friend doesn't eat pork. So, I made a new version of the cream sauce recipe tonight, minus the bacon/prosciutto. If you want to add back in the bacon/prosciutto, you need about two pieces of either, (bacon already cooked) and add it in with the onion and garlic. I usually add spinach during the last step, and maybe peas, carrots, and broccoli if I'm trying to cram in a lot of veggies.


Here is the recipe:


Parmesan Cream Sauce Recipe (serves 2):

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 pint of non-fat half & half

1 chopped garlic clove

2 tablespoons chopped red onion

1 teaspoon sea salt

pinch of black pepper

a few flakes of crushed red pepper (or more if you like it spicy)

1 cup of chicken (cooked)

1/4 cup grated Parmesan, or Parmesan-Romano blend

On low medium-low heat, saute chopped red onion and garlic clove, until tender, in 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add 1/4 cup of cooked chicken, saute another 30 seconds. Add 1/2 pint of half & half. Continue to simmer on low heat (if it starts to bubble turn it down). Add sea salt (I did three turns on my sea salt grinder), black pepper, and crushed red pepper. Continue to simmer on low-heat another 2 minutes. Add parmesan cheese and remainder of chicken. Remove from heat, toss with pasta.

Peanut Butter and Chocolate

Mmm. Peanut butter and chocolate is a great dessert combination. Reminds me of the cupcakes my friend made me for my birthday once. Black-bottom cupcakes are also delicious. Savory and sweet. I have neither tonight, but there is always tomorrow...

Equal Attention

As I walked through Boston's Public Garden this morning, there was a little girl-- probably just over a year old-- who made sure she gave the same loving attention to each of these ducks. It was quite cute how she systematically went down the line to make sure they all got the same pat and rub on the head. I thought I should share because it made me smile.

Blues Run the Game

Home again, after a day spent wandering, browsing in shops. I'm about to make dinner (I think BBQ chicken quesadillas)... and I have my feet up for a few minutes while I listen to some music. Here's what's playing now: Blues Run the Game and next up... Florence and the Machine.

Dreams

A nice, mellow song to listen to while drifting off to sleep... Dreams.

Dear Photograph

An interesting website... Dear Photograph.

We Address

We Address


                by Norma Cole 



…a lead pencil held between thumb and forefinger 
of each hand forms a bridge upon which 
two struggling figures, "blood all around"… 



I was born in a city between colored wrappers 



I was born in a city the color of steam, between two pillars, between pillars and curtains, it was up to me to pull the splinters out of the child's feet 



I want to wake up and see you sea green and leaf green, the problem of ripeness. On Monday I wrote it out, grayed out. In that case spirit was terminology 



In that case meant all we could do. Very slowly, brighter, difficult and darker. Very bright and slowly. Quietly lions or tigers on a black ground, here the sea is ice, wine is ice 



I am in your state now. They compared white with red. So they hung the numbers and colors from upthrusting branches. The problem was light 



Our friend arrived unexpectedly dressed in black and taller than we remembered. In the same sky ribbons and scales of bright balance 



The problem and its history. Today a rose-colored sky. Greens vary from yellow to brown. Brighter than ink, the supposition tells the omission of an entire color 



Which didn't have a musical equivalent. In those days the earth was blue, something to play. A person yearned to be stone 



Clearly a lion or sphinx-like shape. The repetition of gesture is reiterated in the movement of ambient light on the windows, curtains, and on the facing wall, the problem 



and its green ribbons. The hands almost always meet. Turquoise adrenaline illusions adjacent to memory, to mind. We address 



memory, the senses, or pages on a double sheet, classical frontal framing. I want you to wake up now



Lime

Well, well, well... Maybe my Friday needs a little lime.

Check-List

So, rumor has it I'm moving again. And I am. The planning is underway, and although I haven't officially written a list of things to do, I am already mentally ticking things off.  I've made a lot of progress in just a few days. And I'm drinking juice instead of wine. It must mean I'm getting down to business. Or, that I'm out of wine. Just kidding. I'm going to have a little down-time while I wrap up one place, and head into my next. I have a couple of ideas for some things I might do...But if you have any interesting suggestions that I can squeeze while packing & planning, send them my way. I am not promising I'll take you up on them, but I'll read them and if they sound fun or 'up my alley' I might actually explore them.

Okay, it's getting late. Here's a night-time song.

Song of the Day

Song of the Day

Living Room Dancing

There was this great song for Saturday afternoon living room dancing... It came on my ipod just as I was going out for my run. I had to stop and do a little living room dance. I can't find the right version on youtube though... So, I found another one to share with you. I picked this version, instead of the original Cheap Trick version, because it looks fun & people are dancing...

Bishop Bucks and Other Stuff

As of late, you may have noticed more postings related to politics and activism around various issues (a few in particular). By and large, I do not think the very LOUD, very DIVISIVE, very UNREASONABLE voices that are flooding the media (mostly due to the election cycle), reflect the views of the average American-- Democrat, Independent, or Republican; male or female. I think, instead, we just have a few very obnoxious, power-hungry people on an irrational tirade that often isn't even loosely linked to facts or real understanding of the issues.  Issues are being distorted, facts are being ignored, and there is clearly a lack of respect for integrity.
Unfortunately, those people are getting a lot of attention right now. It's scary because they behave as if they have the majority of Americans 'on their side' and are 'speaking out' under the guise that they are looking out for the best interests of the American people. They dismiss or ignore any factual evidence to the contrary. They don't care if they are perpetuating information that is not based in reality. They don't care if they are twisting statistics. They don't care if they are taking words out of context.  They only care about their own selfish motives-- usually power. The adage 'the squeaky wheel gets the grease' comes to mind.
So, I feel like I need to do my part to speak up to try to provide some counter balance to the dialogue. To let people know that I do not agree with or support, these really vocal, really extreme, really unbalanced men and women who are permeating the media. To speak up to point out the absurdity.  As Ani would say "Face Up and Sing." And I appreciate that some people, like Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart can do it with humor... there's nothing like a little Satire to the Rescue.

GOP

We all like a good laugh. But seriously, stop it. 

We do vote.

I learned 2 things early on, my sister said. The first is don't blame people for being the way they are. What's the second? I said. She smiled. If they're really stupid she said, go ahead & blame them. It's a really simple philosophy, she added.

-StoryPeople

Up, Up and Away

'Up, up, and away' as one of my friends wrote to me recently.  Somehow this seemed to be just the kind of advice I was in the mood to get. Interpret it as you wish.


StoryPeople quote of the day:
What happened to you? I said & she said she was nurturing the cat against its will & that was the end of that conversation.


Song of the day:
The Calculation


Food for thought:
How casually and unobservedly we make all our most valued acquaintances.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

I Plaza San Martin (Tango)

(side note, I've been here!)

JOHN BURNSIDE  

IN ARGENTINA

I Plaza San Martin (Tango)

---------

I keep coming back

to the city I know from a dream:

no one at large on the streets

and the land all around me

haunted by winds

and the silt-coloured murmur

of gauchos.

By day, it is never like that:

there are buildings and people,

women with flames in their eyes

and a river of boys

who are hoping for something more

than manhood

- a tango, say,

a dance they can sift from the night

or a song in the blood

that others could see

in the slow work we make

of a lifetime.

The days are all guesswork and noise,

like the business of a home,

but now and again

for moments that don’t quite begin

a person can come to himself

on San Martin

-a person not quite

the person I might have been

and no more or less happy or true

than a stranger’s childhood

-come to himself at noon

as a waking dream

and matching the shadows he knows

with the shadows he finds

in the garnet and star-tinted blooms

of the palos borrachos. 

Cat Power

Musician of the evening, Cat Powers... I like her voice.

Lived in Bars

Maybe Not

Dreams

Earth/Art

Photo Credit: FinerMinds

Story Time

My mother always told me to finish what I started, but she had no idea of some of the people I'd be dealing with. 


Some of the stuff I learned early on was useful, she told me, but most of it was obviously meant for someone who was not me.


My grandmother kept a box of old photos in her attic & we used to go up there on rainy days & sit on the floor in the dusty light & go through them & she would tell about witches & broken hearts & how we came from royal blood & it was all there in the pictures, she said & then we'd lose the light & we'd all go downstairs for dinner & in our secret hearts we sat taller knowing once we had ruled the world.


-StoryPeople

plural happiness

                                -David Rivard

"A curtain bellying like a pregnant cloud, warm white

light refracted through a tumbler of peat-smoked scotch—

a scorcher of a day at cooling end, with stupendous berries

to eat in lieu of supper, the scoffed pint box of blueberries

chased by a half of cantaloupe & Maytag blue cheese

spread across the remains of last night's baguette—

a plural happiness—I feel encouraged for all

within range"

Simple Life, Sunny Days

Well, it's time for the weekend... something relaxing...

Simple Life

I Was Made for Sunny Days

Gotta Have You

Afternoon Tunes

Some afternoon tunes:

The Joker

Good Things

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Contraceptive Nonsense

I'm getting super angry about this 'debate' about whether or not contraception should be covered. Of course it should be covered and there are a lot of other people who agree...

"While GOP and some religious leaders are busy blasting the new birth control regulation, are they even listening to the 99% of sexually-active women who use birth control? Might be surprised at what they find – the majority of Catholics are actually more supportive of the provision than the rest of the country." Planned Parenthood.


End the nonsense conversations about contraception.

Coffee

Coincidentally, I have a coffee-story post today. I don't usually share personal experiences but this one was interesting.
Monday I stopped by Finagle a Bagel on my way to work for a coffee. I ordered a French Vanilla coffee, medium. They have a habit there of not asking if you have a cream or milk preference and assume you'll add an inch of cream to your coffee. So, they don't fill it up all the way.  However, I don't put that much cream in my coffee, so I asked if my server if he would add a little more coffee. And that was when I noticed he was giving me regular coffee, not French Vanilla. So, I politely said- that's regular, not French Vanilla, to which he shrugged and said "It's all the same." And I said, "No, it's not.  I ordered French Vanilla." So, he got a new cup and started pouring French Vanilla...when the coffee pot ran dry, he decided, knowing I was watching, to start adding REGULAR again. I interrupted and asked what he was doing, and at that point his co-worker kindly jumped in to rescue me. He said it would just take a few minutes to brew some more, and handed me an empty cup to add as much cream and sugar as I wanted prior to the cup being filled. He said "It'll save you a little time." I was relieved someone was making sense. I eventually got my coffee and left.
The story doesn't end here though. Today I went back...and it was "Mr.-It's-All-The-Same"...and I didn't say anything but ordered my French Vanilla coffee. He immediately said, "Are you that girl from the other day?" And I said yes. He said "I'm really sorry about that. It was a long morning, the Pats had lost...it was just a bad day. Really, I'm sorry about that." To which I smiled, and happily accepted his apology.
So, how about that? Who would think that someone would apologize 4 days later for something like that? I was totally surprised. And totally impressed.
People act in frustrating/upsetting ways you don't expect, but they also act in surprising good ways, too. I like it when the good surprises come out. It's a good reminder.

Blue Moon

A lovely, relaxed version of Blue Moon.

Strawberry Shortcake, Banana Split...

I know this great soccer chant that starts that way...
But anyway, everyone can use a little dessert now and then... so, a banana split might be in order.

Maybe some more new music.

Norah Jones

Sarah Blasko

Admittedly Stolen

Okay, this post is admittedly stolen from a friend (Gifted). But it's too good to pass up...

Read the article: How Susan G. Komen For The Cure Torpedoed Its Brand

The Cigarette Duet and Others

The Cigarette Duet

It's Raining

Wish I Only Knew

Bobbing for Apples

Potato Chip Cookies

Time for an update from the blog of Smitten Kitchen. Yes, she has a recipe for Potato Chip Cookies. I really love people who are big enough to admit quirky, possibly disdainful, guilty pleasures that might gross out a few people. What's yours?  

I'm sure I have a lot...Eggs on toast with peanut butter and home-made strawberry jam (freezer jam, not cooked fruit). Often when I was sick as a child, when I would wake up at 10pm, hungry I would often get this as comfort food.  Hmm... American cheese. I love many, many cheeses, but I also love American cheese... on cheeseburgers, in grilled cheese, etc.  Sorry, but cheddar doesn't cut it here. Cheddar isn't a particularly good cheese for melting... What else? Hotdogs.  Spam—I argue it’s not much different than sausage or pâté. Okay, Spam isn’t a guilty pleasure food for me but I am not opposed to it. I'm sure I have more though.

Dislikes... jalepeños, green bell peppers, raw tomatoes, liver, seaweed, pâté… and no interest in caviar.   


Song of the day: I Go To The Barn Because I Like The 

i want to

And I need something new
Yes I need something new

The phone line outside my house
Wonder what words it has seen
What would happen if they all spilled out
And, I got the lovley ones for free

Tie them in a bow and send them your way
On the fastest train I know, to get to you
Do I really need a reason besides "I want to"...


...jllian edwards

Red Wine

It's been a while since I've had some delicious red wine.  People often ask me if I like red wine or white wine better. I always say I like both. Which is true, except that 75 percent of the time my ritual glass of wine after dinner is white. There are two reasons for this. However, it doesn't mean that I don't like them each equally well for their own characteristics. It's just under different circumstances sometimes.

The first reason is that, in my opinion, a bottle of white wine is easy to stretch into the third day, or even 4th if necessary.  And for some reason, very few reds seem to hold up more than a couple of days. Feel free to disagree. But, I enjoy reds best the night that I open them. So, that means I need to share a bottle with someone on a school night, and on a weekend night...two bottles with someone. I mean, it's kind of fun to try a couple of different wines if you have company.  Also, if I have leftover white wine that is no longer "drinkable" it's always useful to have some extra cooking wine, and I tend to use white more than red when I cook. 

The second reason? Well, I think I am a bit pickier about my reds. My stance is that it is waaay easier to drink a bad (or mediocre) white wine, than a bad (or mediocre) red wine. Maybe it's the fact that white wine is chilled. Chilling subdues the flavor, etc, etc.  Usually, my 'pickier' also equates to mean more expensive. I'm not talking a lot of money, but 1.5 to 2x as much as I spend on a white for a random Tuesday night (unless it's a special or occasion or I'm mad at the world and am willing to spend a ridiculous amount of money for a Tuesday night wine that I'm probably not pairing with dinner or sharing with anyone cool...or anyone).  My usual price range for a bottle of white is between $4 and $13 (thank you Trader Joe's for $4 bottles of Vinho Verde).  But, I'll easily spend $15 on a white burgundy...but that's a story for another post. My red wine price range usually starts at.... $10 and goes up to $25... I'd pay more for something really special, but usually I just settle for something more economical.  So, you can see...my wine budget stretches much further when I buy white.  

But, I do like reds...And I'm craving some now.  Mmm, reds can be beautifully complex with a hit of mocha, blackberry, cherry, mushroom, tobacco; velvety or super smooth; pair beautifully with red sauce or lamb.  Maybe it's the complexity that I look for in my reds that drives up the price.  Maybe it's one of those personal-palate mysteries. Some of my favorite varietals are: pinot noir, syrah/shiraz, malbec, tempranillo, cabernet sauvignon. Favorite region-based wines are Burgundy (France), Rioja (Spain), Clare Valley (Australia), Marlborough (New Zealand), Willamette Valley (Oregon, USA).

Come drink some with me. I'll supply the wine and music (maybe a little Eva Cassidy?). 

See you soon. 

Top Five

Top Five Movie Quotes (for today, anyway):

"Stop saying you told me, you're a terrible liar, it's one of your best qualities." Kissing Jessica Stein

"I feel totally ridiculous. Like why do I have to be in camouflage? So the big bad quail doesn't see me? " Wedding Crashers

"Have you figured out what you're going to say to your board when they realize you paid me thirty million more than others were offering?" Thomas Crown Affair

"He's so cheesy, I can't watch him without crackers." Reality Bites

"Well, I just want it the way I want it."  When Harry Met Sally

Song of the day: How We Love