February 2012
8 posts
Sigh
Whoever came up with the phrase ‘second is the best’ didn’t make it from scores of resumes stacks, to dozens of phone interviews, to half a dozen in person interviews, to three people teaching sample lessons, to two people getting their references checking to being told they were second. Being told “this was the most agonizing decision of my career” doesn’t help...
Things growing in my yard
Well I certainly don’t have a green thumb yet, but the sunny skies and 50 degree February weather have helped moved my previous Black Thumb of Death up to… purple? Let’s take a look at a few of the things that are (moderately) working.
Resolutions
Oh no! Lindsey’s a month into her resolutions?? I guess I’d better at least pick some!
Just kidding… I have already chosen my resolutions, and I also have been working on them, too! Here’s what they are, in case you were wondering:
Earn/finish my master’s degree.
Take ownership of my health by learning more about how all the systems in me work.
Make being honest...
January 2012
1 post
Hey Whit
The trick is soft chalk in a chalk holder. Soft chalk breaks easily, therefore writes more smoothly as you move your hand. Then a chalk holder helps you put downward pressure as you write without breaking the chalk. I had a chalk chalkboard my first year of teaching. It really is an art… and also is the reason most schools see them as relics…
it’s tricky! Doing it well every day requires an...
December 2011
3 posts
October 2011
9 posts
For Whitney
Changing jobs is tough, and you are most likely to feel depressed when you are coming off an emotional high + physically exhausted + isolated.
So I wanted to share some reminders:
Use extra time on your hands to cook healthy, vegetable-filled meals and stay on a regular schedule by going to bed by 1 am, even if you have nowhere to be the next day.
Stay connected. Make regular phone calls to...
Fig-citement
When Josh asked me to move to Portland, he promised me a new house as delightful as my Auburn Avenue apartment. Since we’ve moved in to our yellow house, we’ve been working hard on growing some food in the yard. Things are starting to come around. But Josh really made good on his promise today, when the first food from the yard came into the house! While the days of nonstop rain were...
For Lindsey
Day 7
Day 7 of Claritin 24hr + heartbeat monitor + walk jog run walk jog run walk
= 2 miles in 25 minutes with white palms at end of first run but not at the end overall and no hives below my heart anywhere
= Progress.
Oh Yummmm Apple Pie
1.) Prepare 1 mixing bowl’s worth of apples (Quarter, cut out the stems/seeds, then hand slice each quarter into thirds. Leave the skins on. You should have about six or seven cups.) Put the apple slices in lemon water while you complete step 2.
2.) Turn the oven on to 425F. In a saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter. Stir constantly with spatula this whole step. Add in 3 tablespoons of flour one at a...
September 2011
8 posts
Elusive things
I know it’s a recession, but my inability to find a job is starting to make me feel dumb. In the meantime, I’ll just keep throwing my efforts into cooking. Below are some things that have been successful over the past few weeks… farmers market shopping, homemade bread, pizza with homemade sauce and dough, blueberry walnut oatmeal with blueberries straight from our friend...
August 2011
2 posts
Response
Yes, why are those consignment ladies always so judgmental?! Exasperating, to say the least.
Shakes
Am I now the only one of us who has never felt an earthquake? I think I am. I know that’s probably a good thing but I am so curious! Glad you are all well…
June 2011
11 posts
Yowza
So far I’ve made it from Cleveland to Ballston Spa (just before Saratoga Springs) in one day. I’m actually going to make it to Vermont today! So far the food has been great… but a bed tonight will be even better I’m sure. This has been one busy, busy week! The goal? Done with dinner/back on the road by 5:30, in my room at Bread Loaf by 8.
Madepoorly
Madewell’s been around since the 1930s?
Yeah right. Super yeah right.
If there was the fashion equivalent analogous to predatory lending, it would be Madewell’s marketing tactics. There are all those different brands? There are all those established in signs to suggest their vintage?
It’s all poorly designed, overpriced JCrew, no matter what the label says!
PS laying down...
What is it? What what what what is all this stuff and when did I get it and what do I do with it and how?
Yikes a long day of brutal choices ahead.
This week
3 new babies (a boy to Porsha, a girl to Erin, and a girl to Kim)
+
3 seven month babies (Hazel, Fiona, and Elsabeth)
+
8 planes
+
3 mountains (Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Ranier)
+
The Columbia River Gorge
+
A fifty degree climate span (46 up in the Oregon mountains at night, 96 at the pool in Durham :)
+
2 interviews (one for me, one for Josh)
+
1 meeting with the...
May 2011
5 posts
Checklist
Moving to the ‘done’ list this week:
Finishing Pinocchio
Making it to the half way point of Anna Karenina
Selling a lot of my furniture
Quitting my job
Telling my students I won’t be back
Reading letters from my lovelies about how they’ll miss me
Graduation rehearsal
Underclassmen awards night
Student Council elections
Student Council new seniors meeting
Recruiting...
Again to reiterate, it’s not that Friends is bad, it’s just that watching every episode in one month would be a LOT.
Tolst OY
Being asked to read Anna Karenina is like being asked to watch every episode of Friends.
At the heart of the circle, you’ve got a dark haired brother and sister.
Ross = Stiva
Monica = Anna
Like Monica when she fell in love with Chandler, Anna goes to ridiculous extremes to cover up the scandal even though its obvious to everyone else.
It’s working, all in all. There are excellent...
My Molly profile
Glasses/contacts wearing
Book loving
Tap dancing
Girl with strong sense of self
and an undeniable need for attention?
Well, that doesn’t describe me AT ALL.*
*There was also something about a sharp sense of sarcasm as an adult? ;)
Rollercoaster!
What an emotional weekend… and now Osama is down? I’m gonna need some time to catch my breath!
Ladies, pictures please, ASAP!
April 2011
17 posts
The Test of Time
With startling consistency:
In the keep pile:
Nordstrom/Von Maur
Ralph Lauren
The Limited
Eddie Bauer
KMart
Walmart
In the pitch pile:
J.Crew
The Gap
Lands End
New York & Company
Target
Old Navy
Guess I know where to avoid on my window shopping!
Westervillergy
I went back to the 43082 part of Westerville today. The traffic was awful, the people weren’t very friendly, and chain stores were everywhere! Nothing in the whole city said independent thinking or follow your own drummer. Every building north of county line was made of identical red brick—even the white castle!! That’s too pretentious. All of it seemed so… I don’t...
(Many) Spring(s worth of) Cleaning
Remember that dreaded day once or twice a year when Mom would make us try on EVERY single piece of clothing we had? In a marathon day of agony and misery, we would cull out the clothes that were too small, too short, or too no longer our favorites, and we would box them up and ship them to Ashley. Remember that day? That’s what I’m doing today.
When Josh moved out of Milo, he had been...