Today we got new kitchen counters. They're granite and they're beautiful. Now a thin layer of dust has settled on much of the kitchen. Drat those construction workers who moved the towels I so carefully placed above the silverware to avoid having to wash it all.
The weather in Columbia is absolutely beautiful right now. I just hope it lasts. Today it was about 75 and sunny. Tomorrow it'll be almost 80. For the past few days, my afternoon routine has been taking a book out to the backyard and soaking up sun. I think I need to make up for the four winters in Ithaca.
I might have two possible internship offers, although no one is getting back to me like they said they would. I also have a job shadow and two more interviews set up for next week.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Lessons learned from little boys
Thursday night, I learned some valuable life lessons from three brothers, age 3, 5, and 7:
- Soon, there will be an elevator to space.
- 'Rocket ship' are the best words to yell while bouncing on the bed and climbing on top of laundry baskets.
- It's more fun to hide under the bed than to brush your teeth.
- It's always better to be snuggled against someone when being read a story in bed.
- If gravity pulled one sideways direction as well as down, we wouldn't need gas to make our cars run - they'd just fall down the street. The only problem is going home, you'd either need an airplane car or to go all the way around the world.
-If the clouds were made of marshmallows, then it would rain hot chocolate.
Yesterday, I had a great interview. It started out as an informational interview from a local financial planner, who turned out to be more of a financial analyst, and ended up offering me an internship! I was so happy, I jumped for joy in the parking garage and lost a shoe. Fortunately no one was watching. I also realized, when I got home, that our bedroom hallway is almost as long as the diagonal in a ballet studio, so I could dance out my happiness.
Today, I'll be making peanut butter cookies with chocolate chips, because ever since I realized the amazingness of Nutty Buddy Franklin at the Cornell Dairy Bar, I've been fixated on chocolate and peanut butter in desserts. Soon, I also want to make a chocolate meringue pie.
This weekend I also need to keep working on making my Ayyam-i-Ha gifts. It's just a few weeks away! Plus, since it's going to be oh-so-beautiful outside, there will probably be a walk down at the riverfront again. I love South Carolina in February.
60 degrees > 10 degrees, in all ways.
- Soon, there will be an elevator to space.
- 'Rocket ship' are the best words to yell while bouncing on the bed and climbing on top of laundry baskets.
- It's more fun to hide under the bed than to brush your teeth.
- It's always better to be snuggled against someone when being read a story in bed.
- If gravity pulled one sideways direction as well as down, we wouldn't need gas to make our cars run - they'd just fall down the street. The only problem is going home, you'd either need an airplane car or to go all the way around the world.
-If the clouds were made of marshmallows, then it would rain hot chocolate.
Yesterday, I had a great interview. It started out as an informational interview from a local financial planner, who turned out to be more of a financial analyst, and ended up offering me an internship! I was so happy, I jumped for joy in the parking garage and lost a shoe. Fortunately no one was watching. I also realized, when I got home, that our bedroom hallway is almost as long as the diagonal in a ballet studio, so I could dance out my happiness.
Today, I'll be making peanut butter cookies with chocolate chips, because ever since I realized the amazingness of Nutty Buddy Franklin at the Cornell Dairy Bar, I've been fixated on chocolate and peanut butter in desserts. Soon, I also want to make a chocolate meringue pie.
This weekend I also need to keep working on making my Ayyam-i-Ha gifts. It's just a few weeks away! Plus, since it's going to be oh-so-beautiful outside, there will probably be a walk down at the riverfront again. I love South Carolina in February.
60 degrees > 10 degrees, in all ways.
Monday, February 07, 2011
Amelia
Today, my childhood cat Amelia died. She had been horribly sick all weekend, and so we took her to the vet to be put down. I stayed for the sedation part, but then left. The vet said that often cats will howl and scramble during the sedation, but Amelia just laid down and closed her eyes, with Mom and I petting her. She was ready to be done being sick. It's been hard to see her being sick, so I'm glad it's done, but it was still a really hard decision to make.
Yesterday, my parents and I took a walk by the river, to enjoy the sunshine and warmer weather - a whole 60 degrees. We saw a blue heron as well as 3 large, dark-colored water birds that we don't quite know what they are. We saw a ton of dogs, from still fluffy puppies to much older adult dogs, all very cute.
Now it's time for ballet, which I hope will go well, very different from last week where everything I did hurt, and I left in so much pain I was crying after only 15 minutes. Hopefully, this week I can dance my heart out.
Tomorrow - job interview and class.
Wednesday - Informational interview (and another one next Monday).
Yesterday, my parents and I took a walk by the river, to enjoy the sunshine and warmer weather - a whole 60 degrees. We saw a blue heron as well as 3 large, dark-colored water birds that we don't quite know what they are. We saw a ton of dogs, from still fluffy puppies to much older adult dogs, all very cute.
Now it's time for ballet, which I hope will go well, very different from last week where everything I did hurt, and I left in so much pain I was crying after only 15 minutes. Hopefully, this week I can dance my heart out.
Tomorrow - job interview and class.
Wednesday - Informational interview (and another one next Monday).
Sunday, February 06, 2011
Hooray for the weekend
This weekend has had delightful things...A beautiful sunny Sunday morning
Delicious gluten-free French toast
Baking amazing macarons, French almond cookies - vanilla, raspberry, and chocolate
An oh-so-fun games night with friends
On the not-so-wonderful side of things, my childhood cat Amelia is spending her last couple of days of her life. She got really sick on Friday and is not improving. The vet gave her medicine yesterday, but she hasn't eaten anything in 2 days. It's looking like tomorrow we'll have to take her in to get put to sleep. She's just in so much pain. She's 16 years old and has been a good pet.
Thursday, February 03, 2011
Laugh out loud funny
A book I'm reading right now has made me laugh out loud I don't even know how many times. Here's some of my favorites from this morning's reading...
"It must be hard to get up in the morning when you're that empathetic."
"Greta appeared out of nowhere, dropping a box of tissues on the table, handing each of us a smile, then wordlessly retreating back to the living room."
(I like the idea of handing a smile to each person in a room.)
Here's a classic from the chapter I read yesterday outside in the spring air:
"'I want to sue the city of Hastings, Hastings General Hospital, and Channel 8. Oh, and my ex-husband.'
Walter's eyebrows lifted. 'Your ex-husband? What did he do?'
'He's alive. I want you to sue him for not being dead yet.'"
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Sunshine or snow
In honor of everyone drowning in snow today, I decided to sit outside on the lawn and read a book. It was partly sunny and 65. Today's one of those days that I love living in South Carolina. Come July, I will hate it. But in February, it's a great place to live.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Amazing weekend
This past weekend I went to beautiful Pensacola Beach, Florida, for a fabulous Baha'i Winter School on the theme of "Forces of Our Time". The main speaker was Mr. Dunbar, who led a weekly class for the youth (youth = age 18 - 30 there) at the Baha'i World Center for over 30 years. Mr. Dunbar and that class were a major part of why my year of service was so meaningful and transformative, and it was wonderful to hear him speak again. He is an incredible Baha'i scholar, a world-traveller, and an amazing story teller about his experiences with some of the phenomenal early Baha'is. Beyond that, when he speaks, he just pours love and meaning into the words. When he makes eye contact with you, it feels like he truly sees you, loves you, and wants the best for you. I loved every minute of it. I'm running out of adjectives, the weekend was that great :).
Beyond that, the book Forces of Our Time that he wrote and compiled is so timely. It is based on the Baha'i Writings about the forces that are put into this world with the coming of each Messenger from God. The first part has his thoughts and explanations of the images and connections of the Writings. The second part includes the quotations that the first part was based on. Baha'is believe that Baha'u'llah is that most recent Manifestation of God, who has come with the teachings and guidance from God that we need to move forward as a world civilization. The forces that accompanied Baha'u'llah's coming to the world and His Revelation are incredible. We studied a collection of writings about the source of these forces (both now and with past Manifestations like Christ), how they come into the world, and the effect they have on us. Right now we can see two things happening in the world - the forces of darkness facilitating the breakdown of many of the standing institutions, economies, and infrastructures, as well as the forces of light inspiring new concern for our fellow human being, human rights, education, aid efforts, environmental stewardship, and the building up of new frameworks that appreciate the nobility and equality of mankind. We, as Baha'is, have Baha'u'llah's message as to the reason for all of the suffering and challenges the world is facing, as well as what we can do to move forward as a civilization. In fact, in one of the quotations it says that we as Baha'is are "custodians" of the forces of light, "of love, of unity, and of peace and integration," and we have a tremendous responsibility. Who wouldn't want to be a custodian of the forces of light? So awesome! And that's what we talked about this weekend.
Beyond that, the book Forces of Our Time that he wrote and compiled is so timely. It is based on the Baha'i Writings about the forces that are put into this world with the coming of each Messenger from God. The first part has his thoughts and explanations of the images and connections of the Writings. The second part includes the quotations that the first part was based on. Baha'is believe that Baha'u'llah is that most recent Manifestation of God, who has come with the teachings and guidance from God that we need to move forward as a world civilization. The forces that accompanied Baha'u'llah's coming to the world and His Revelation are incredible. We studied a collection of writings about the source of these forces (both now and with past Manifestations like Christ), how they come into the world, and the effect they have on us. Right now we can see two things happening in the world - the forces of darkness facilitating the breakdown of many of the standing institutions, economies, and infrastructures, as well as the forces of light inspiring new concern for our fellow human being, human rights, education, aid efforts, environmental stewardship, and the building up of new frameworks that appreciate the nobility and equality of mankind. We, as Baha'is, have Baha'u'llah's message as to the reason for all of the suffering and challenges the world is facing, as well as what we can do to move forward as a civilization. In fact, in one of the quotations it says that we as Baha'is are "custodians" of the forces of light, "of love, of unity, and of peace and integration," and we have a tremendous responsibility. Who wouldn't want to be a custodian of the forces of light? So awesome! And that's what we talked about this weekend.
I met very interesting people, mostly from Louisiana, Alabama, and Georgia, of all ages and backgrounds. I am now eager to visit New Orleans, Huntsville, and Atlanta to see my new friends again. There's such a feeling of love, appreciation, and encouragement when I'm with other Baha'is, even if I've never met them before, that is so renewing. I also got to reminisce about favorite memories in Haifa with the various former BWC staff that were there. Plus my hotel room overlooked the Gulf, and I had pretty neat views. One was of the beginnings of sunrise, while the crescent moon still shone on the water with stars all around it (I had a hard time sleeping and adjusting to Central Time).
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Ladies' Tea
This afternoon we had the second Ladies' Tea - a time when seven women gather for good food, company, conversation, and a little something special. Mom and I hosted the first one in November on my great grandmother's china set. Today was at B and her "fairy godmother"'s house, and we had...
chicken salad in cantaloupe
strawberries
grapes
gluten-free crackers with havarti and dill, cheddar, goat cheese in pesto (amazing), and brie
assorted almonds (roasted, hickory roasted, and sugared)
pine nut and pecan tart with fresh whipped cream
freshly brewed (from loose tea) earl grey or chai teas
plus many good stories and thoughts from women of all ages.
this past week, I finished the transcription, went on a job shadow, started contacting references for applying for internships/part time jobs, and started playing DDR again. It's something to make exercising a little less odious.
last night, we made a fire in the fireplace and just relaxed. I read my book (getting ready for next weekend's awesomeness), did a sudoku, toasted marshmallows, and enjoyed the warmth of the fire.
yesterday and tonight I hurt... a lot. yesterday, probably because i did too much wed - fri. today, i guess because i did too much while wearing pretty but uncushioned shoes and sitting in a pretty yet uncushioned chair. why can't all things be like my fabulous new red crocs - pretty, fun, and cushioned? The world seems hard to handle tonight... I guess it would when you feel like you're getting stabbed in the back, punched in the ribs, and needle pricks shooting down your legs. I really hope the pain will stay away tomorrow, since I really want to go to ballet and feel graceful and strong.
chicken salad in cantaloupe
strawberries
grapes
gluten-free crackers with havarti and dill, cheddar, goat cheese in pesto (amazing), and brie
assorted almonds (roasted, hickory roasted, and sugared)
pine nut and pecan tart with fresh whipped cream
freshly brewed (from loose tea) earl grey or chai teas
plus many good stories and thoughts from women of all ages.
this past week, I finished the transcription, went on a job shadow, started contacting references for applying for internships/part time jobs, and started playing DDR again. It's something to make exercising a little less odious.
last night, we made a fire in the fireplace and just relaxed. I read my book (getting ready for next weekend's awesomeness), did a sudoku, toasted marshmallows, and enjoyed the warmth of the fire.
yesterday and tonight I hurt... a lot. yesterday, probably because i did too much wed - fri. today, i guess because i did too much while wearing pretty but uncushioned shoes and sitting in a pretty yet uncushioned chair. why can't all things be like my fabulous new red crocs - pretty, fun, and cushioned? The world seems hard to handle tonight... I guess it would when you feel like you're getting stabbed in the back, punched in the ribs, and needle pricks shooting down your legs. I really hope the pain will stay away tomorrow, since I really want to go to ballet and feel graceful and strong.
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