*the swooshing sound as i walk through dry leaves on the sidewalk. one of my favorite sounds in the world.
*sunlight firing up the deep red leaves and brightening up the gold ones on the trees on my street.
*snow that didn't stick and heat that works. oh, and fuzzy pink slippers and sweaters.
*baking and cooking and cleaning and organizing.
*working in annapolis. this place is so beautiful.
*my nephew G (4-years old) talking to me about watching Star Wars: Return of the Jedi for the first time. he loved it and was so excited to tell me about it. although he was terrified that Darth Vader was in his room for a few days afterward. it's so fun talk about sci-fi with my nephew.
*talking with my nephew B on saturday. he's very concerned that i'm going to "jump out of a parachute" someday. he also wanted to know if he could come over to have some of the cinnamon rolls i was baking for my party. i wish there were a secret portal between my house and his...
*hot spiced apple cider. seriously is there anything better?
*having all the new recipes i tried for the first time turn out well for the halloween sci-fi part of 2011. good friends who wore costumes to said party, and let their inner geek shine through. and even the friends who didn't wear costumes but came anyway to spend time with all of us.
*my housemate LP for helping me finish preparations for the party. without her i wouldn't have pulled it off quite as nicely. thank you.
*a housewarming gift of a starship enterprise pizza cutter from good friends. i smile every time i think about it.
*feeling like spiritual progress has been made.
Monday, October 31, 2011
to boldly show your inner geek
i have long wanted to host a sci-fi costume party, and so i finally did.
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| invitation from evite.com |
it was great fun and lots of people wore really imaginative costumes.
back l-r: a blind Romulan queen in disguise; Dr. Who; a short Storm Trooper;
and a crazy cat loving alien.
front l-r: "just another crewman" & a tribble; darth vader on his day off;
project runway's christian siriano (who really is an alien in real life)
more sci-fi fans: she-devil, a steampunk zombie hunter, and "just another crewman"
the cutest dolphin trainer ever.
(totally counts, because it's science.)
i totally want to be that when i grow up.
wolverine and his little boy.
best moment of the night was when he made his grand entrance carrying his little boy.
i'm so confused....
 |
| from thinkgeek.com |
the best housewarming gift ever from AA & TS. thanks you guys!
i'm totally making homemade pizza for the next party...
a brilliant use for that R2D2 cake pan you never use--cornbread to go with the chili!
(thanks to AA!)
remember this commercial?
we totally had to try...
check out romanesco cauliflower. amazing naturally occurring fractal.
(thanks for the great conversation piece ST.)
we watched this movie. so funny, it never gets old.
party tips:
party favors included
 |
| from amazon.com |
everyone who wore a costume got one of these.
 |
| from amazon.com |
muggles got their choice of pins of star wars, star trek or various super heroes.
menu:
chili con carne
chili con vegetables
toppings: cheese, sour cream and fritos
corn bread with homemade honey butter
tortilla chips, salsa and guacamole
drinks:
pineapple lemonade punch
(my housemate's recipe--yummy!)
hot spiced apple cider
desserts:
homemade cinnamon rolls
pumpkin cookies
apple cake (thanks mp!)
yo-yo cookies made to look like spiders (thanks kb!)
halloween candy
decor:
silver table clothes with orange rope lights intertwined through the food
star confetti and star garlands
vintage star trek plates, table cloth (banner)
dark blue plates, cups, and cutlery
sorry, i forgot to take photos of the decor and food.
all in all a great party. we had a lot of fun indulging our inner geeks.
thanks everyone for playing!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
reasons i love dc: c&o canal in georgetown
the c&o canal in georgetown at night in the rain.
just another reason why i love dc.
Monday, October 24, 2011
things that made me smile this week
*dinner at serendipity with two lovely friends. it was a fun girls night out.
*being brutally honest with myself and feeling so good afterwards for owning it. change is good.
*raking leaves and weeding. getting ready to plant bulbs. yay!
*pumpkins!
*seeing patrick stewart. more here.
*quiet time sitting in my new comfy chair in my bedroom. big sigh of contentment.
*the morning light on the trees with their colorful array of leaves on my way to work.
gorgeousness abounds.
*watching Galaxy Quest for the millionth time. i laughed until i cried.
*having my ht MQ stop by unexpectedly. a much needed visit.
*organizing the office/sewing/spare/common room upstairs. purging is good for the soul.
*being brutally honest with myself and feeling so good afterwards for owning it. change is good.
*raking leaves and weeding. getting ready to plant bulbs. yay!
*pumpkins!
*seeing patrick stewart. more here.
*quiet time sitting in my new comfy chair in my bedroom. big sigh of contentment.
*the morning light on the trees with their colorful array of leaves on my way to work.
gorgeousness abounds.
*watching Galaxy Quest for the millionth time. i laughed until i cried.
*having my ht MQ stop by unexpectedly. a much needed visit.
*organizing the office/sewing/spare/common room upstairs. purging is good for the soul.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
goats and chickens and pumpkins, oh my!
some friends and i spent the day at homestead farms out in the wilds of maryland.
i needed my fall fix.
it was good to get out of the city.
every now and then i need a little country.
a little fall color, a little tromp through the fields
pumpkins imported from tennessee because
the weather this year wasn't conducive to growing pumpkins locally.
pretty cute scarecrows at every turn...
including this one.
i think your tractor's sexy...
the great pumpkin rescue...
notice the pumpkin carnage on the ground behind me.
oh, i am a fan of carmel apples. yum!
just a little color.
boy, these piglets sure brought back childhood memories.
he was the cutest sheep!
everyone loved the goats and the goats loved them right back.
they had the best assortment of chickens and other fowl that i have ever seen on a farm.
lots of chickens, guinea fowls, turkeys, ducks and even the cutest fuzzy chicken.
i think i want one--a fuzzy chicken that is.
our fall treasures in the best shopping cart ever.
happy fall!!!
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
boldly
I do love a good looking older man and Sir Patrick Stewart is no exception. It's not even necessarily his looks; they are verra nice. It's the whole package, personality and looks all wrapped up nicely.
I sat last night for an hour and a half, and listened to him talk about life and passion for acting. It was a thrill to hear some of his stories and his perspective on Shakespeare. His wit, kindness, and sincerity were apparent.
He was completely unapologetic about his work for Star Trek, while sitting on the stage of the Shakespeare Theater Company in Sydney Harman Hall, and, in fact, takes great pride in his time spent as Captain Jean Luc Picard.
He even recited the famous ST voice over--"Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before."--in his native Yorkshire accent. And admitted to originally auditioning for the role in a toupee and reading lines with a French accent--"Spaze ze final frontier. Zese are ze voyagez of ze starship..." (Thank heavens we don't have to deal with another toupee wearing starship captain.)
I hope to see him at work on stage some day. He's a pretty fabulous actor and I always enjoy his work on the big and small screen.
A few things he said last night that have stuck with me are:
When asked which actresses he had a crush on as a young man: I wanted to marry Doris Day and if she wouldn't have me, then I would settle for Debby Reynolds. (Seriously, I love this man.)
"You will never achieve success by insuring against failure."
Which film had influenced him as a young man: On the Waterfront (I'm adding this my list to watch.)
"Banish fear."
When asked if he thought Shakespeare had indeed written all his plays, he said yes, then elaborated: It makes no sense that a glove maker's son with a grammar school education could write such plays, but that to me is the strongest argument for the power of creativity. (I've paraphrased this last quite a bit, and, yes, I agree.)
I sat last night for an hour and a half, and listened to him talk about life and passion for acting. It was a thrill to hear some of his stories and his perspective on Shakespeare. His wit, kindness, and sincerity were apparent.
He was completely unapologetic about his work for Star Trek, while sitting on the stage of the Shakespeare Theater Company in Sydney Harman Hall, and, in fact, takes great pride in his time spent as Captain Jean Luc Picard.
He even recited the famous ST voice over--"Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before."--in his native Yorkshire accent. And admitted to originally auditioning for the role in a toupee and reading lines with a French accent--"Spaze ze final frontier. Zese are ze voyagez of ze starship..." (Thank heavens we don't have to deal with another toupee wearing starship captain.)
I hope to see him at work on stage some day. He's a pretty fabulous actor and I always enjoy his work on the big and small screen.
A few things he said last night that have stuck with me are:
When asked which actresses he had a crush on as a young man: I wanted to marry Doris Day and if she wouldn't have me, then I would settle for Debby Reynolds. (Seriously, I love this man.)
"You will never achieve success by insuring against failure."
Which film had influenced him as a young man: On the Waterfront (I'm adding this my list to watch.)
"Banish fear."
When asked if he thought Shakespeare had indeed written all his plays, he said yes, then elaborated: It makes no sense that a glove maker's son with a grammar school education could write such plays, but that to me is the strongest argument for the power of creativity. (I've paraphrased this last quite a bit, and, yes, I agree.)
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
things that made me smile this week
*a few people this week paid me compliments, saying i looked great and happier. thank you.
*a nap in the sunshine pouring through my bedroom windows on saturday afternoon after spending most of the day at reserves.
*starting a new job, commuting to annapolis, getting a pentagon parking pass, meeting my new bosses, setting up a new office, figuring out the lay of the land.
*my housemate's friend came by to show off her new VW Beetle which she received as a guest on the oprah show. we stood in our street laughing, chatting and admiring her new car. it was fun.
*brent spiner and wil wheaton on the big bang theory. i laughed so hard.
*reading the scriptures and feeling peace.
*my nephew B asking about my house, where exactly i live and can he come for a visit. i told him to talk to his mom about it.
*playing the piano. it's still not old.
*the leaves are changing colors and the nights are getting cooler. fall is here!!!
*party planning.
*a nap in the sunshine pouring through my bedroom windows on saturday afternoon after spending most of the day at reserves.
*starting a new job, commuting to annapolis, getting a pentagon parking pass, meeting my new bosses, setting up a new office, figuring out the lay of the land.
*my housemate's friend came by to show off her new VW Beetle which she received as a guest on the oprah show. we stood in our street laughing, chatting and admiring her new car. it was fun.
*brent spiner and wil wheaton on the big bang theory. i laughed so hard.
*reading the scriptures and feeling peace.
*my nephew B asking about my house, where exactly i live and can he come for a visit. i told him to talk to his mom about it.
*playing the piano. it's still not old.
*the leaves are changing colors and the nights are getting cooler. fall is here!!!
*party planning.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
copycat
i cut my hair pretty short a couple of weeks ago. i had it cut shoulder length about a month ago, but i wanted it shorter so i could wear my hair down while wearing my uniform to work for the next 6 months. i love the cut and am having lots of fun of with it. and it looks super cute with my uniform. yay!
my sister bugged me for a few days, asking for a photo of the new do. i finally sent her one.
then on thursday i got this photo from her.
super cute COPYCAT!!!!
granted she said she had been planning on cutting her hair short for about a month now.
so, i take back the copycat.
sisters...!
i just think it's funny that we both got the same haircut.
it seems we do this frequently--
cut or color our hair at the same time without consulting each other...
love ya, becky-doodles.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
thoughtful thursday: the only realistic antidote
i have been thinking about this a lot for a very long time and thought i would share. 'cause life ain't perfect, ya know, and neither are people.
"Maybe creating a big enough space within your consciousness to hold and accept someone's contradictions--someone's idiocies, even--is a kind of divine act. Perhaps transcendence can be found not only on solitary mountaintops or in monastic settings, but also at your own kitchen table, in the daily acceptance of your partner's most tiresome, irritating faults.
What I am talking about is learning how to accommodate your life as generously as possible around a basically decent human being who can sometimes be an unmitigated pain in the ass. In this regard, the marital kitchen can become something like a small linoleum temple where we are called up daily to practice forgiveness, as we ourselves would like to be forgiven.
In the end, it seems to me that forgiveness may be the only realistic antidote we are offered in love, to combat the inescapable disappointments of intimacy.
~Elizabeth Gilbert, Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace With Marriage, p. 131-133
see my review here.
"Maybe creating a big enough space within your consciousness to hold and accept someone's contradictions--someone's idiocies, even--is a kind of divine act. Perhaps transcendence can be found not only on solitary mountaintops or in monastic settings, but also at your own kitchen table, in the daily acceptance of your partner's most tiresome, irritating faults.
What I am talking about is learning how to accommodate your life as generously as possible around a basically decent human being who can sometimes be an unmitigated pain in the ass. In this regard, the marital kitchen can become something like a small linoleum temple where we are called up daily to practice forgiveness, as we ourselves would like to be forgiven.
In the end, it seems to me that forgiveness may be the only realistic antidote we are offered in love, to combat the inescapable disappointments of intimacy.
~Elizabeth Gilbert, Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace With Marriage, p. 131-133
see my review here.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
things i love about dc
i have driven by this little park many times and never noticed this delightful statue. i always approached it from another angle, but this time i was heading south and stopped at the light. i looked over and immediately started to laugh with delight at this whimsical statue.
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| balance -by marcia billig |
a few days later, i took my new boyfriend josiah out for a walk and quickly snapped this photo.
read more about the statue here.
just another reason why i love dc.
Monday, October 10, 2011
things that made me smile this week
*hanging out with a good friend who makes me laugh and reminds me not to take life too seriously. thanks jp.
*being reminded yet again, that i am not alone and that i have guardian angels when i need them.
*playing the piano and singing in the evenings after work or during the day on monday, whenever the mood strikes.
*putting together the ikea bookcase to hold my music books. it fits perfectly between the piano and wall, just as i envisioned.
*cleaning my room and organizing.
*emptying boxes.
*going to church.
*sunshine. lots and lots of sunshine.
*six saltine crackers. only six of them.
*finishing up at work.
*singing the national anthem.
*buying bulbs for planting. and the prospect of weeding.
*getting my haircut even shorter and loving it.
*having monday off and sleeping in until 10.
*waking up on saturday morning at 0730 and going back to sleep until after 10. heaven!
*being reminded yet again, that i am not alone and that i have guardian angels when i need them.
*playing the piano and singing in the evenings after work or during the day on monday, whenever the mood strikes.
*putting together the ikea bookcase to hold my music books. it fits perfectly between the piano and wall, just as i envisioned.
*cleaning my room and organizing.
*emptying boxes.
*going to church.
*sunshine. lots and lots of sunshine.
*six saltine crackers. only six of them.
*finishing up at work.
*singing the national anthem.
*buying bulbs for planting. and the prospect of weeding.
*getting my haircut even shorter and loving it.
*having monday off and sleeping in until 10.
*waking up on saturday morning at 0730 and going back to sleep until after 10. heaven!
Thursday, October 6, 2011
thoughtful thursday
This is not to say that we should abandon hope or temper our goals. Never stop striving for the best that is within you. Never stop hoping for all of the righteous desires of your heart. But don’t close your eyes and hearts to the simple and elegant beauties of each day’s ordinary moments that make up a rich, well-lived life.
The happiest people I know are not those who find their golden ticket; they are those who, while in pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments. They are the ones who, thread by daily thread, weave a tapestry of gratitude and wonder throughout their lives. These are they who are truly happy.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
the perfect end to a crappy day
after a perfectly crappy day, do you know what the perfect remedy is to help me feel better?
going to see my hair guy steve, who seriously knows how to cut naturally curly hair and make a girl feel gorgeous. it's short, but so darn cute and sexy.
and coming home to my new boyfriend. i went straight upstairs and without changing out of my work clothes, let josiah out of his kennel. he was so excited to see me that he went straight downstairs grabbed his leash off the entryway table and brought it upstairs to me before i could even walk to my own room. i am such a softy, that i didn't even change clothes. i just hooked him up to his leash, while he behaved perfectly, sitting still and waiting for me to grab a bag to pick up his business and didn't even rush the door. we had a good little walk (except that i was still in my work shoes and my feet started hurting). i love this dog!
seriously, the perfect end to a perfectly crappy day.
going to see my hair guy steve, who seriously knows how to cut naturally curly hair and make a girl feel gorgeous. it's short, but so darn cute and sexy.
and coming home to my new boyfriend. i went straight upstairs and without changing out of my work clothes, let josiah out of his kennel. he was so excited to see me that he went straight downstairs grabbed his leash off the entryway table and brought it upstairs to me before i could even walk to my own room. i am such a softy, that i didn't even change clothes. i just hooked him up to his leash, while he behaved perfectly, sitting still and waiting for me to grab a bag to pick up his business and didn't even rush the door. we had a good little walk (except that i was still in my work shoes and my feet started hurting). i love this dog!
seriously, the perfect end to a perfectly crappy day.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
things that made me smile this week
*i have a new boyfriend. he's adorable, and adores me.
-lover boy sits at the door and waits for me.
-he runs round in circles when he sees me.
-he gets so excited that he forgets he's not supposed to jump on me when he sees me.
-when i'm sitting in the living room he tries to sneak in to sit at my feet even though he's not allowed in the living room.
-he sits in the back room and puts his head on his paws and watches me sitting in the living room after i kick him out.
-sometimes he sits and whines until i acknowledge his existence.
-he has the loveliest pout and he just cracks me up.
-he'll come up behind me when i'm sitting in the back room. the next i know i have a cold, wet nose being shoved up between my elbow and side, and he doesn't give up until i give in and rub his belly.
-he's not that great with raccoons that come to the backdoor. he just sits and looks at them, no barking or growling or anything...
-this canine friend of mine makes me smile, because he's just so ridiculously in love with me.
*lots and lots of general conference talks this week. i love conference.
*leaves are starting to change colors. i think fall is officially here.
*brunch with a friend at eastern market on saturday morning. (one of my favoritest things ever).
*a sci-fi movie party where we discussed the problem with timelines and plot holes in the star trek series and movies. (yes, i know they're not real, but it's still fun to talk about.)
*the phone conversation with my nephew B who isn't interested in me at all, and only asks about the dog and where he is.
"hi christine. where's your dog?" (it's too hard to explain to an almost 4-year old that the dog belongs to my roommate, so to him the dog is mine)
"he's upstairs in his bed."
"oh. why?"
"because he's tired and it's time for bed."
"oh. why?"
you get the picture...
*hearing brother J talk about his oldest son M who is 2 years old and walks around calling his little brother Will: "willis! where are you willis?" i'm seriously cracking up just imagining this.
*having the support and excitement of my family and friends as i get ready to transition to a new job. thanks everyone.
-lover boy sits at the door and waits for me.
-he runs round in circles when he sees me.
-he gets so excited that he forgets he's not supposed to jump on me when he sees me.
-when i'm sitting in the living room he tries to sneak in to sit at my feet even though he's not allowed in the living room.
-he sits in the back room and puts his head on his paws and watches me sitting in the living room after i kick him out.
-sometimes he sits and whines until i acknowledge his existence.
-he has the loveliest pout and he just cracks me up.
-he'll come up behind me when i'm sitting in the back room. the next i know i have a cold, wet nose being shoved up between my elbow and side, and he doesn't give up until i give in and rub his belly.
-he's not that great with raccoons that come to the backdoor. he just sits and looks at them, no barking or growling or anything...
-this canine friend of mine makes me smile, because he's just so ridiculously in love with me.
*lots and lots of general conference talks this week. i love conference.
*leaves are starting to change colors. i think fall is officially here.
*brunch with a friend at eastern market on saturday morning. (one of my favoritest things ever).
*a sci-fi movie party where we discussed the problem with timelines and plot holes in the star trek series and movies. (yes, i know they're not real, but it's still fun to talk about.)
*the phone conversation with my nephew B who isn't interested in me at all, and only asks about the dog and where he is.
"hi christine. where's your dog?" (it's too hard to explain to an almost 4-year old that the dog belongs to my roommate, so to him the dog is mine)
"he's upstairs in his bed."
"oh. why?"
"because he's tired and it's time for bed."
"oh. why?"
you get the picture...
*hearing brother J talk about his oldest son M who is 2 years old and walks around calling his little brother Will: "willis! where are you willis?" i'm seriously cracking up just imagining this.
*having the support and excitement of my family and friends as i get ready to transition to a new job. thanks everyone.
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