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Wednesday, June 14th, 2006
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11:34 pm - Change of address card
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After YEARS of blogging -
the good, the bad, the ugly, the 'then I had a bowl of cornflakes' posts, the baby -
I have started a new blog.
It's just like this one, only pink and black, with GREAT NEW FEATURES:
[the bare beginnings of a] Blogroll!
The chance for you to rss feed me!
(but then you wouldn't see the nice pink and black, would you??)
The ability to trackback (I THINK but perhaps not but I really do think so.)!
Plus, Blogger has no spellcheck, so the depths of my depravity will be obvious, and you can laugh at me.
However can you contain yourself? Rush right over!!
www.funkyfatgirl.blogspot.com
Sadly, looks slightly better in (shiver) explorer.
I'll still check my friends pages here, I promise.
I've also started a baby blog there, building on the fabulous legacy of Life With Sticky:
www.mulliganyears.blogspot.com
[
***Boy howdy, that design's ugly. I can't stand it. It'll get better, I swear. I'll find a nice template somewhere. With God as my witness. Eventually.***
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| Monday, May 22nd, 2006
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5:20 pm
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| Thursday, May 4th, 2006
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12:09 am
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| Wednesday, May 3rd, 2006
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11:34 pm
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| Monday, April 24th, 2006
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9:58 am - Bob sees all and knows all.
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This seems fascinating. I'm just starting to explore it. They meet right around the corner, in Takoma Park, but of course I would never have heard of them if not for Bob Carlton. (Sigh.)
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| Wednesday, April 19th, 2006
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10:05 am - Ah, small-town life
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This news story comes, via my brother, from a daily paper in Central Pennsylvania. When I spent my formative years. Hmmm.
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| Monday, April 10th, 2006
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2:19 pm - Today's news
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| Sunday, April 2nd, 2006
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11:33 pm - Electric eels, I might add, do it (though it shocks them, I know.)
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This weekend was weird. I had a good, productive week at work, but was feeling a little (A LITTLE? ARE YOU KIDDING?) at the end of my rope as the weekend started. In the first place, I've been exhausted - no more exhausted than any other job-holding new mother, I'm sure, but more exhausted than I have ever been. And I was a theatre major, people! A theatre major! We're famous for our exhausting schedules. (And for drinking. Which in fact can be pretty exhausting, when you do it as much as we did.)
So, more exhasuted than I have been in 22 years, for a start, and no real rest in sight. Various obligations kept The World's Best Husband (tm) away for most of the weekend, which means a lot of kid responsiblity and no one to 'spell' me a couple of days. (Also no one to praise my superior mothering technique! Or hug me.)
I may have mentioned (a time or two)(not that I'm complaining)(endlessly)(Good Lord, how boring am I?) that I go to work kind of early Sunday mornings.
And this Sunday, you'll recall, was the day to 'spring forward' for daylight savings time.
So I was feeling just a little hopeless at the start of the weekend. World's Greatest correctly diagnosed me as needing a vacation; between feedings, I began to muse on what might function like a vacation, what would be the most like a vacation that I could do on a Saturday afternoon. "I know!" I yelped, frightening the baby. "We'll go down to Fell's Point! And bask in the sunshine! And eat pastries - well, I will, you can't yet - and peoplewatch and see the sun dance on the water and make fun of the tipsy tourists waiting for the water taxi. Oh, it'll be brilliant, you'll love it." It would be a change of scenery and it would suffice for now.
As I was putting my key into the ignition to drive to Fell's Point, my cell phone rang with a dumbass work emergency. Oh, fine, I said, and drove in the work direction instead of the tipsy-tourist-and-pastries direction. It didn't take long to solve (NOT THAT I SOLVED IT - my dear friend Barefoot Jesus, who was in the building for another activity, solved it. As is usually the case with these sorts of things, it was worthwhile for me to show up and try a few things, until someone who actually knew what they were doing arrived.) But by the time that got solved, and the kid got through eating, it was too late for pastries.
I was not livid, just felt a little beaten.
So what then? I wanted to hit the sack very early, basically spend the whole evening in bed, which would at least be relaxing if not actually restful. Should we order chinese? Drive over and pick up some Thai? Stop by the bookstore for a Vogue?
No. We cooked. I had purchased about a bushel of chicken earlier in the week - reduced for quick sale, but still safely before the sell-by date. But not for much longer. It definately needed to be prepared or it would begin to rot in the fridge, like so many of our unfortunate, well-intentioned groceries. "We'll make chicken!" I declared brightly, again frightening the baby.
I dragged his swing into the kitchen with me, slapped this in the cd player, opened this and made chicken in vinegar. It was a moderate success - only disappointing because it had been so so so delicious the first time I made it. It all depends on the vinegar (duh, who would guess?) and the cheapo stuff I used on Saturday made a just-okay dish.
With the other package of chicken, I tried a Martha Stewart recipe - roast chicken and onions - and when it was about half-roasted, I realized it was very nearly one of my father's signature dishes, a masterpiece of Scottish cuisine called "Chicken Stovies". I made some quick additions to the pot in the oven, et voila - an accidental taste of home!
This is something you can do on the stovetop, in a crockpot, or, as I did, in a glass mixing bowl in a 450 degree oven.
Cut up 2 or 3 large onions - fairly large slices, or they'll disintegate entirely. Lay some chicken parts on top of that. Drizzle with oil, season rather agressively with salt and pepper. Throw it in the oven. Stir occasionally.
When you check it in about 40 minutes, realize it needs some potatos. Cut some into smallish pieces so they'll cook faster, and drop in the end of the stick of butter from the butter dish. Cook until the chicken registers 180 on the instant-read thermometer. It's kind of bland - real comfort food, and not exactly spa cuisine. But it reminded me of Dad.
But the Cole Porter Songbook is the really important part. It won't taste right if you don't sing.
This ended up being nearly as relaxing as the mini-vacation.
Which I finally got this afternoon.
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| Saturday, March 25th, 2006
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11:29 pm - No idea...
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10:49 pm
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| Friday, March 24th, 2006
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11:47 am - Actually, Natalie Portman was trying to look like me
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| Sunday, March 19th, 2006
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11:04 pm - What I did on my birthday
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| Sunday, March 12th, 2006
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9:33 pm - No Beer and No TV make Homer something something
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don't mind if I do.
EDIT: can't figure out why this link won't work, but it leads to www.lifewithsticky.livejournal.com/, to an entry titled, not unexpectedly, 'Go Crazy'. So much for my cleverness. Sigh.
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| Wednesday, February 22nd, 2006
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10:52 pm - Two Good Quotes from Utne Reader (May 2005)
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"Fashion can be dangerous. That's why we have to take off our shoes at the airport."
-Glenn O'Brien, in the essay "Requiem for a Tux", originally in Black Book.
(It's actually a thought-provoking essay. That quip is uncharacteristic. Not of OBrien, but of this piece.)
"Of all the members of a rock band, the drummer succumbs most frequently to the urge to remove his shirt."
-Robert Pollard of Guided by Voices, originally in Magnet.
(I can verify this.)
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5:48 pm - We're Famous! And Good-Looking!
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| Monday, February 6th, 2006
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8:00 pm - What is wrong with me?
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I am considering participating in The Knitting Olympics. (The short version: cast on the project of your choice during the opening ceremonies, and complete it by the end of the festivities 16 days later. The project should be "challenging", but not ruinous. 2,642 knitters had declared their intentions as of this afternoon.)
I haven't knit a stitch in months and months; in fact, I haven't done anything more creative than this, blogging. (Other than, you know, creating life.) My cooking has been notably uncreative; all the pictures I have taken have been standard baby snapshots.
The question is: what to knit? What would be interesting, challenging, but still do-able, even with the kid and the pumping and the trying to be a decent wife for a change and the obsessive watching of the Project Runway?
Plus, with all the EATING I have to do? I have to do an awful lot of eating these days. It's kind of troubling, actually, how much eating I seem to have to do. This rang a bell.
My only idea - something that's acually challenging, but not TOO challenging, that I might actually be able to get done, that I might be able to make with yarn I have sitting around, and that I'll enjoy having or want to give to someone once I finish it. Some kind of wrap or small afghan with a more advanced stitch pattern seems ideal (in terms of the 'challenging but doable' part.) However, several people made us really nice lacy baby blankets, and so we have plenty of nice throws around here at the moment.
Maybe that sleeved wrap from Vogue Knitting last winter - they have back issues at the library.
That might be perfect. If I recall, it's an easy pattern, but it's a challenge for me to follow a pattern at all. I mostly make things of my own design. In fact, I usually make stuff up as I go along. For that reason, I rarely make things that have to fit a person. So making a sweater from a commercial pattern - even a loose-fitting one in a simple stitch - would be new territory for me.
Hmmmmm.
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| Thursday, February 2nd, 2006
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10:48 am - Brokeback Mountain, Harry Potter, Learning how to see
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I have regained the ability to read. Thank God!
Probably the most alarming - in fact, the only really alarming - aspect of my very smooth pregnancy was the fact that I lost the ability to read. Oh, sure, I could still make out words, still regonize stop signs and cereal boxes, but, on owing to hormones or perhaps exhaustion, I didn't have the mental stamina to get through more than a photo caption. Also, I retained NOTHING, even when I really made a huge effort. I could discipline myself to read a whole news story, and recall that I had read it, but nothing about the content, within half an hour. It was downright chilling. It was Flowers for Algernon.
I had been wondering if I would ever get to feel like myself again, reading-wise. I brought some chick-lit paperbacks to the hospital when I went to have the kid, but was unable to follow any of them. (Something about fashion editors and faux pas at parties in London flats...) I had despaired.
But this Sunday, as a gesture of optimism, I went out and bought a New York Times. While I read almost none of that, I did read parts of the Post, including the book review section. I found this review very exciting, and I think I might actually be able to READ THIS BOOK. I'm certainly interested enough to give it a shot. So I might go out tonight and get it.
Another thing I read in the Post, which I found totally worth reading, and perhaps clipping: this essay in today's Style section, by Stephen Hunter on Brokeback Mountain. Ignore the part at the beginning where he talks about the culture wars, blah blah blah. Instead, admire the clarity with which he explains how films work, and how filmmakers 'speak', at the level beyond plot and character.
As I talk to regular people - that is, people who were not drama majors and literature minors in college - I find that this sort of writing is very much in need. Something that introduces a kind of entry-level critisism, and reveals it to be NOT scary and NOT impossibly head-up-one's-own-butt; something that helps people learn to see.
When I say that more people need to learn about critisism, it's only for this - looking at, and 'getting', works of art (to the extent that I do) has added so much pleasure to my life, and has been so thought- and feeling-provoking, and has built my spiritual life to an amazing extent. And it doesn't take much! I'm a liberal arts girl through and through, and though I have artistic pretensions, I ain't no genius. Believe me.
Also, I think Christians would look a lot less stupid to non-Christians if more of them could recognize, say, social satire and creator intent before they start objecting to things - The Simpsons, The Book of Daniel. (Also before they start approving of works, which are at their hearts utterly empty, but at least have no dirty words or bare boobs.)
The very best book I know for this -the one I would use, if I was teaching a class to teens or regular adults - is Looking for God in Harry Potter by John Granger.
(My husband's a Rowling fan, like practically everyone else in the family and most of my friends. I hereby admit I have not yet gotten through a Potter book. I could try harder, I guess. And I can't blame pregnancy - it was prior. But, in my wan defense - there are so many things I want to read! And write! Sometimes I have to pick and choose.)
Anyway, my husband, as a Rowling fan, a magician and a Christian, has heard some of the arguments about the Potter books, and dismissed them as uninformed thoughts from people who hadn't read the books, and perhaps were unclear on the concept of 'fiction'. When he saw the Granger book in the store, he bought it, curious about a less dismissive, more thorough look at the conflict.
It's a slim volume - he read it, and passed it to me. As I said, this is absolutely the best book of entry-level critisism I've ever seen. Granger carefully (and un-boringly, though keep in mind, lit minor - my threshold of boring may be a little different than most people's) demonstrates how authors use imagery, setting, word choice, scene structure, allusion, character names - all the things that make a book resonate, make it about more than just this plot. The same thing Hunter does in that essay with the visual details of Brokeback Mountain.
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| Tuesday, January 31st, 2006
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12:17 pm - Q: What happens if you find God? or God finds you?
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EDIT AGAIN, as of Sunday night:
My weird friend Jim Henderson, founder of Off The Map, placed the winning bid for the eBay Atheist! (That seems like a disrespectful thing to call him, but it was kind of his identity of choice.) They'll be blogging about the continuing process at Jim's site.
(Why am I worried about disrepecting the eBay Atheist, but willing to casually call Jim 'weird'? If you knew Jim, you'd know. I think he's be proud. Not everyone likes Jim - his presentations make people uncomfortable, by design.)
I was unable to reproduce the Off The Map logo that I saw on the site, but I very much admire the tagline:
'Helping Christians be Normal.'
THE ORIGINAL POST:
Okay, of the two issues burning up blog bandwidth today:
1. I have no interest in getting more attention for/driving traffic to the Mark Driscoll thing. It is beyond predictable; it is, in fact, PREDICTABLY predictable, and just so tiresome.
2. But this seems kind of interesting. It's an ebay auction. Here's an excerpt from the text:
"I'm a 22-year-old Atheist from Chicago. I stopped believing in God when I was 14. Currently, I am an active volunteer for a couple different national, secular organizations.....
I don't take my non-belief lightly. However, while I don't believe in God, I firmly believe I would immediately change those views if presented with evidence to the contrary. And at 22, this is possibly the best chance anyone has of changing me.
So, here's my proposal. Everytime I come home, I pass this old Irish church. I promise to go into that church every day-- for a certain number of days-- for at least an hour each visit. For every $10 you bid, I will go to the Church for 1 day. For $50, you would have me going to mass every day for a week...."
For the record, I see nothing scandalous, disrespectful or shady about this. It is what it is, and I think it's pretty intriguing.
The bid is up near $175.00, at the moment, with days left on the auction. The seller has amended his offer to mention that he'll be donating the money to the non-profit that he works for (Why? Perhaps shamed into it, by people questioning his motives. Perhaps not.)
(But I say: keep the money, dude. I predict that, by the end of your 17+ hours, you will have earned it and then some.)
I found this through Monday Morning Insight (attached to Churchstaffing.com). At least as interesting as the auction itself, and the concept, are the comments at the blog from pastors and others in the God biz. Many fear that we (the Church) are being made the butt of some 22-year-olds elaborate joke; others point out that Jesus Paid It All already, and so Todd (the blogger who was bidding) should keep his wallet pocketed.
Other people gently pointed to the traditional role of bribes and threats in religious life - every thing from the Lifesavers in mom's purse to the role of pretty girls (who, being church girls, probably won't go all the way with you, but hey...)
(To that list I would add, parenthetically:
the rocking praise band,
the super-cool Vacation Bible School cirriculum,
ice skating trips,
better coffee,
free donuts for first-time attenders,
good graphic design,
that guy I heard on the radio/saw on TV.)
Certain inducements played a role in getting me to church when I was younger. In fact, I listened to the gospel as a college student ONLY BECAUSE I was attracted to the young man pitching it. I ended up in a sincere committment. I'm pretty sure God doesn't mind.
And now, while we're not giving away TVs, I do always keep the seeker in mind as I help to plan services. What will be stimulating for the people who aren't yet completely sold on Jesus? What will make worship attractive? Compelling? Magnetic? What human things can we do, to keep this person involved while God a chance to work?
A separate question, worth considering: Is church even the right place for this guy to meet God? Upon reflection, I realized that the seller is a apologist for atheism, and has correctly identified the church as the place to find apologists for God/Christianity. But if someone really wanted him to experience God in an undeniable way - is church on Sunday the place for that? I mean, I know it's possible, but is it the best bet for a 'seeker' with a pre-determined number of hours to devote to this?
One scandalized commenter wrote "He's just trying to see how far Christians will go!!"
Hmmm, could be. I'm curious myself.
How far is that, exactly?
EDIT: On Feb 2, I found that the seller has started a blog about his experience: An Atheist Walks Into a Church...
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| Sunday, January 29th, 2006
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12:20 am - AHA! JUST AS I SUSPECTED!
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Observe the Mystery Comment from a couple of weeks ago.
It's very rare that I get an anonymous comment here - I know nearly all of you, either is person or through the wonder of the internet; 99.8 of 100 times, when I get an anonymous comment, it's followed immediately by a second comment: "Oh, by the way, that was me, [name of a friend]".
So the Mystery Comment bugged me - just a little. I had a suspicion of who it was, who it sounded like, but I said to myself, "it couldn't be __________; ___________ doesn't read my blog." (Pause. Experience mild nagging feeling, which builds up to this thought:) "And yet, who else would say something like that? Plus, it's someone who has been to the house." (Pause. Run once more through the list of people who that might include.) (Continue to be bothered - just mildly.) (Repeat about once a week.)
My Encyclopedia Brown-like powers of deduction had let me down. Or so it seemed. Besides, one hates to obsess about dumb stuff. (Especially when one has that tendancy anyway.) So I decided to let it go.
But today, on the phone, my suspicions were confirmed! The Mystery Commenter, a person well, well, well known to me for many, many years, found the blog a while back, poked around, left the Mystery Comment, and promptly FORGOT MY BLOG ADDRESS. So he has never been back.
So hello, Mystery Commenter! If you're reading this, I guess I got around to emailing you after all. Incidentally (and I was thinking this the other day while I was becoming blond again) - the pink dye is in no way corrosive. Right, like I would put corrosive pink dye on my head, so close to my precious, precious brain.
The bleach, however - THAT's corrosive.
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| Monday, January 23rd, 2006
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11:03 pm - This makes me sound fascinating. (Ha.)
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Four jobs i've had:
Stage manager, puppeteer, Christmas elf, window dresser/merchandiser (and some more, since I have them to spare: theatrical props fabricator, vitamin saleswoman, editor, membership director for a nonprofit, computer network administrator, legislative assistant to a lobbyist, plus-size model, wedding planner, minister, and Buddy, The Talking Easter Bunny.)
Four Movies You Could Watch Over and Over:
Scrooged, Rules of the Game, Kiki's Delivery Service, Stop Making Sense
Four Places You've Lived:
Selinsgrove,Pennsylvania; downtown Baltimore; Stockbridge, Massachusetts; Montclair, New Jersey.
Four TV Shows you love to Watch:
House, Medium, Fashion Police, Queer Eye
Four Places You've Been on Vacation:
Barbados; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Paris, France; New York City (but almost always Rehoboth, Delaware.)
Four Websites You Visit Every Day:
Finslippy, Things My Boyfriend Says, A Visual Planet, Brandy's blog at Loosetooth.com. Bonus (since I'm home and have some websurfing time on my hands...) Going Jesus, 43 Folders, and One Good Thing. Oh! And FLICKR!
Four Of Your Favorite Foods:
Will Burgess' chocolate chip cookies; fried plantains; pad thai; cheese blintzes with strawberry jam at the IHOP.
Four Places You'd Rather Be:
any fabric store, any bookstore, any museum (but especially Philadelphia Museum of Art), a sidewalk cafe (or a seat by the window - it is January, after all) in any big city
Four Albums You Can't Live Without:
London Calling (Clash); This Year's Model (Elvis Costello); Kurt Elling Live at the Green Mile; The Messiah (Academy of St. Martins-in-the-Field/Neville Mariner)
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