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December 31, 2008
Book Review: "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle"
I'm ringing in 2009 very quitely, curled up under my "blanket of sleep" with the book "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" by Barbara Kingsolver. I love the stories of her family's journey into producing their own food, or at least obtaining it from the most local source possible for an entire year. Reading about their adventure has me itching for spring and the reappearance of local farmers at the farmer's market. I can imagine tomatoes, strawberries, watermelons and other fruits and veggies fresh from the garden just begging to be consumed. Or perhaps some homemade mozzarella cheese. Saving the planet from certain destruction by exchanging non-genetically modified seeds with other like minded souls sends shivers through me. I feel more wholesome already, simply by having read less than a third of the way into the book.
The reality, however, is that I completely fail at keeping plants alive for very long and only managed to make it to the local farmer's market once in the past year. Something about having to get out of bed early in the morning. Cooking, much less canning, are not in my genetic makeup. The voices inside me argue vehemently over the repulsion of having my diet so closely tied to petroleum products, and my addiction to Starbucks. Living for months without lemon water made from fresh lemons? Unthinkable.
At a time when setting goals, making vows of personal improvement and other such nonsense run rampant I find myself wondering if it's possible to make the occasional attempt to shun the supermarket and buy food directly from the hands of the person who produced it.
Posted by Anna at 7:22 PM | Comments (0)
December 29, 2008
Highlight Reel: Christmas 2008
Driving 6 hours Christmas Eve to trick Santa into bringing you presents because you have not been good enough to get him to come to your house.
Getting lost in the same exact place you were lost the last time you visited.
Running around trying to find a grocery store open after 6:00 pm, winding up in the Starbucks drive thru instead, because they were open.
Tracking Santa through New York City on NORAD
Whispering from your niece and nephew daring each other to wake you up. At 7 am.
Watching the gift wrap go flying.
Finally understanding what the "Santa says you should sew" tag means.
Food. Lots. Of. Food.
Laughing until your sides hurt.
Snuggling under toasty warm blankets
Waking up at 5 am on Boxing Day to go shopping.
Bargains so good it's almost like stealing.
Starbucks.
Napping.
Movie night: Bedtime Stories and Night at the Museum
Watching your nephew wrap more lights around the house even though Christmas was two days ago.
Caramel, dark chocolate and sea salt. All at the same time.
A 14 year old parked on you lap to prevent you from leaving town.
Returning the crocheted corn-on-the-cob. Twice.
One last Starbucks run, and teary good-byes in the parking lot.
Posted by Anna at 8:22 PM | Comments (1)
December 19, 2008
Civic Duties
How many times have unspeakable acts occurred simply because reasonable citizens "didn't want to get involved". I think there are times when it's inappropriate to remain a bystander, like today in Walmart for instance. I was standing in an aisle, debating between various stocking stuffer options for little girls when the man occupying the aisle with me pushed his cart away muttering "A woman who sends a man to buy her nails will just have to take what he gets".
Although he was a total stranger I felt an obligation to my community. Springing to action, I demanded he show me what he was getting. Although they were not nails I would ever wear, they were not totally offensive, and he insisted she had specified that brand. I approved of his purchase and sent him on his way.
Posted by Anna at 5:46 PM | Comments (0)
December 17, 2008
Do you ever get the feeling that you are the bad driver everyone will be bitching about today?
Posted by Anna at 12:23 PM | Comments (2)
December 15, 2008
Mistletoe Intolerant
*catching up with an old friend while waiting on my clothes to dry*
Friend: "So how's your love life?"
Me: "Ummmmmm..... I love my new blanket?"
F: "Your new blanket?"
M: "Uh huh, I made it myself."
F: "You had time to make a blanket. That tells me how your love life is."
M: "I made thirteen blankets."
Silence
M: "And ten towels."
Posted by Anna at 1:43 AM | Comments (1)
December 13, 2008
Small Pleasures.....
... a weeks worth of gas for under $15.00
Posted by Anna at 5:05 PM | Comments (0)
December 4, 2008
Before there was blogging....
I recently uncovered this treasure in my Grandma's attic:
letter written on the day I was born, along with artwork from my 4 older siblings
Posted by Anna at 12:02 PM | Comments (0)
December 2, 2008
Posted by Anna at 9:58 AM | Comments (2)