My new sandals just arrived

Happy birthday to me!

Currently reading

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver has a simple message: eat local, organic, seasonal food. Similar to The Ominivore's Dillema by Michael Pollan and Food, Inc. but it's good to be reminded that eating cheap food doesn't taste as good, is not as nutritious, and is bad for everyone. There are essays written by her husband and her daughter, recipes, and weekly meal plans. It's a good read and has kept my bedside lamp on after Max has already turned his off to go to sleep. I feel a renewed desire to buy more from the farmer's market - even if it does cost more. And I'm intrigued about the possibility of making my own cheese.

My friend is getting a puppy!

Isn't he the cutest?!?!?!?? Here's the fat one on the right. He's a thai ridgeback.

Flowers

From Max!

Something to think about... in death

So recently I read this article, Parting Gifts, about donating your body to science. Not something I've ever really thought about before but it definitely got me thinking. I'd like to do it. Not just organs, which I've always been for anyway, but whole body donation. Kind of morbid? Sorry. That's me sometimes.

Read the article and let me know what you think.

Here's information about BU's donation program:
http://www.bumc.bu.edu/anatneuro/anatomical-gifts/

The University of Toronto also has a program:
http://anatomy.utoronto.ca/body.htm

I found information for the state of Virginia as well:
http://www.vdh.state.va.us/medexam/donate.htm

And then there's the Anatomy Gifts Registry.

For most of these programs, they pay for cremation and return the cremated remains to your loved ones. And lest you think that the remains are destined for an urn on the fireplace mantle, there are other options:

• DNA2Diamonds
  
• LifeGem
• Memory Jewels
• Art from Ashes
• Memories from Ashes
  
• Death beads

Some knitting

I haven't felt like knitting in months... my basket of UFOs (unfinished objects) has been sitting in my living room untouched, more decoration than anything else. Yesterday, Max and I went to a small arts and crafts festival in Old Town Alexandria. There was a booth there for Fiber Space, with some pretty yarn for sale. And a project that had just been started with big needles and big yarn. I sighed. "Kind of miss it," I said to Max. "Really?" He hasn't seen me display any interest in knitting in awhile. Even more surprising that I would do so when it was 93°F and so humid that I felt soggy. But after we got home, I started looking at my yarn. For something big. And big needles. What I found was worsted weight and US size 13 needles but still, it fit the bill good enough. And so I started knitting. For the first time in months. Felt good actually. A little hot, but good.

Jane Bites Back

Just finished reading Jane Bites Back by Michael Thomas Ford. It's a fun read and I finished it in only a couple of days.

Basically, Jane Austen is a vampire and still alive, living in a small town in New York state. She owns her own bookstore and has been trying for hundreds of years to sell her last manuscript. Other literary vampires show up... there's friendship, love, and a bit of excitement.

Funny birthday cards

My boss's birthday is coming up and so I was looking for something funny to get for her. She has a great sense of humor, but still... don't think I should get her these!

FRONT: Happy Birthday!

INSIDE: There. I came to your party. Now you owe me.

FRONT: Happy Birthday! Here's to another year...

INSIDE: ...older than me. Sucks to be you.

FRONT: Happy Birthday.

INSIDE: You've just turned an insignificant age that nobody really cares about.

4 day weekend

Got to love it! And I did.

Friday
Went for a run with Max in the morning. Had drinks at the Front Page and dinner at Firefly with the BU crew (Slav, Natalia, Alex).

Saturday
Had brunch at Food Matters with Natalia and Alex. Went shopping at Potomac Mills. Bought a new dress for Candi and Mike's wedding from Ann Taylor! Sangria and tapas at La Tasca.

Sunday
Battled DC traffic with Natalia and Alex. Made our way out to Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa for Candi and Mike's wedding. Had SO much fun!



Monday
Breakfast with Slav and his work crew from the VA at Traders. Dropped off Natalia and Alex in Dupont Circle.
Rest.

Pretty things I would like to buy if I weren't being good

Parental visit

My parents are in town this week, visiting from Canada. They arrived on Saturday and we had a great Mother's Day dinner. For dessert, I made the lemon tart from Bouchon. Mine wasn't quite the same but still quite delicious. The recipe is still up on their site if you're interested.

On Sunday, my Dad made waffles for breakfast. We went to the Air and Space Museum in the morning, Ben's Chili Bowl for lunch, and then shopping at Pentagon City Mall in the afternoon.

Today, they are on their own. We had breakfast together but then I headed to work. Their plans included the Library of Congress, Botanic Garden, and lunch at the Air and Space Museum. Can't wait until dinner to find out how their day went!

Wordle

My favorite Disney memory

Fireworks at Magic Kingdom

I took these last Thursday. Seems like a lifetime ago already...

Dinner at the Flying Fish Cafe

Max and I went to the Flying Fish Cafe for dinner while we were in WDW. It's on the boardwalk. A very good meal.

Max had the Yellowfin Tuna Tartare and Crispy Tempura Tuna-Vegetable Sushi Roll
Hijiki and Wakame Seaweed, Yuzu Tobiko, Wasabi Foam, with Sweet-and-Spicy Sauce



I had the Salad of Local Vero Beach Arugula and Watercress, Candied Walnuts, Red Pears, Gorgonzola Dolce, and Artisanal Montegottero Walnut Oil Vinaigrette



For our main entree, we both had the Oak-grilled Maine Diver Scallops Butternut Squash, Sage, Mascarpone and Pecorino-laced Risotto di Carnarolli, Proscuitto di Parma Cracklins’



For dessert, Max had the Trio of House-made Sorbets with Fresh Plant City Berries, and Vanilla Cookies



I had the Berry tart. Delicious!

Good eating

Dinner at Jiko:

Crispy “Savanna” Rolls with Sweet Corn, Bitter Greens, Goat Cheese and Curry Vinaigrette



Jiko Seasonal Salad with Baby Romaine, Watermelon Radish, Pine Nuts and Blood Orange Vinaigrette



Roasted Apple Tarte Tatin with Vanilla Sauce and Cinnamon Ice Cream



Kenyan Coffee Ice Cream with Spiced Doughnuts



Ham and cheese terrine; Strawberry tart from the bakery in "France"

A week in WDW

Max and I got back on Saturday from a week in WDW. It was fantastic - best trip ever! We had so much fun and we were there long enough that it was also relaxing, very little rushing. Plus the weather was great, not too humid for the most part and in the 70s... which is unseasonably cool for this time of year - what a blessing!

Here's some of the highlights:

Fireworks at Magic Kingdom



Parade at Animal Kingdom



Beauty and the Beast musical at Hollywood Studios



Max at Animal Kingdom



And me!

Japanese forest grass

Newest addition to our garden

Baby shower

One really tiny green hat and one small blue hat are on their way to a new home.

Baby showers are so precious!

My new piece of luggage!

Bought it at Macy's for only $160! (There were two discounts and a gift card involved)

By the bus stop

Driving update

Over the weekend I tried out something new - driving to AC Moore. On the surface, it was running an errand to buy yarn but the greater purpose was to get me to drive somewhere new. It's a 15 minute drive, one of the longer ones for me, and included highway driving and narrow road driving (both of which make me nervous). I did fine. Sweaty, but fine. Enough so that I even drove home - something I don't usually do but I figured if I was going to push myself then I should really do it.

Agricola

Happy owner of my own set of Agricola.

But I love chewing gum...!

So sad to learn that chewing gum is primarily made out of plastic.

:(

http://fakeplasticfish.com/2010/01/chewing-on-plastic-yum/

Brookline in a box

Tired of Comcast? Consider Google!

Want more choice and competition for Internet access? Let Google know that we want them to choose Alexandria for their Fiber for Communities pilot.

Google is planning to test ultra-high speed internet access networks in one or more trial locations across the country. According to Google, these networks will deliver Internet speeds more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to today.

Google is asking communities to submit responses to a Request for Information by March 26, to determine where to build the network. You can help by nominating Alexandria.

Learn how you can help bring Google to Alexandria!

Longest conversation with my brother since January

Nicole: hey marc

Marc: hey

Nicole: you're up early

Marc: yeah, I have to go to work soon

Nicole: email me back sometime then

Marc: ok

Nicole: ok. have a good day

Marc: thanks...you too

Gardening

The weather has been nice for the past few days so after work yesterday, Max and I headed to Home Depot to pick up a giant pallet of stuff from the garden center. When we got home, I planted some lilies of the valley while Max repotted one of our hostas. Then the two of us covered our front garden in a fresh layer of black mulch. Suddenly everything looks great! It's amazing what mulch can do. For now, it's a little bare with only the tiny green leaves of our chrysanthemums peeking up but we're expecting rain from Thursday through Monday so hopefully soon there will be more.

Tonight we tackle the back yard - including moving a giant juniper tree. THAT should be fun. But totally necessary. Luckily the hole is already partially dug (Sunday's effort) so maybe it won't take that long. My Dad gave me some chive heads to plant so those will go where the tree used to be, along with more mulch.

Allergies?

Is it allergy season already? It's only March! But I've been knock-me-over tired for the past two weeks... anyone else out there already feeling the effects of allergy season?

Mardi Gras Rock n' Roll Half Marathon

On Sunday, Max and Slav and I completed the Mardi Gras Rock n' Roll Half Marathon in New Orleans. Slav came in first, then Max and then me. I finished with a time of 2h48min. Longer than my first half but the circumstances were completely different.

It was 45 degrees when we started at 7am. I was wearing a long sleeve shirt and capri pants. Was I cold? Definitely! But I warmed up soon enough and the miles started rolling by. The three of us stayed together for a little while but I had a hard time keeping up with the boys and by the end they were well ahead of me. I managed to continue running without stopping until the 10 mile mark but after that I had to walk a little and run a little to keep on going. My legs just wouldn't cooperate. But my mind was strong and I managed to sprint into the finish. It was a good run, great scenery, and the weather was beautiful. Sunny and warm by the time I crossed the finish line, definitely the best day of the entire trip.