I got a thermometer.
I've been temperature-charting for the past few days. Temperature is a good indicator of metabolic disfunction- low and stable equals thryoid problem, low and unstable (high variability) equals adrenal problem. I always thought my temperature was pretty steady at normal, but it turns out I was wrong! I've got medium variability in the low 97's so far. This stuff is so interesting...
05 June, 2008
Pasta
Making pasta is such a satisfying experience! I made fettuccine for dinner Tuesday, and it was delicious. Fresh pasta is much more filling than dried; it's also much more toothsome and fun to eat. I served my pasta with a cream sauce that had asiago, parmesan, and mozzerella cheeses melted into it. Then I sauteed some mushrooms, garlic, chicken, and prosciutto, and mixed those in, too.
I love cooking. I do. That's just all there is to it. I think I'll make tortellini next...
Fresh Pasta
Mix 3 3/4 cup flour* with 2(ish) teaspoons of salt. Pour out onto the counter and make well in center. Break four eggs into well, and beat with a fork. Drizzle in some olive oil. Use the fork to beat the flour and eggs together (slowly, from the inside out- the eggs will try to escape and run all over the counter). Add a few tablespoons of water as you're mixing. The dough should start to come together, and will now need some handwork. Knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic (it will be heavier than a bread dough). Let the dough rest for an hour or so, then roll it out -as thin as possible!- and cut it however you like. The pasta will expand and get thicker and wider. Fresh pasta takes only a few minutes to cook, so keep an eye on it.
*You can use unbleached, all-purpose white flour, wheat flour, semolina, or any combination of flours you like. I prefer a mix of mostly semolina, part white.
I love cooking. I do. That's just all there is to it. I think I'll make tortellini next...
Fresh Pasta
Mix 3 3/4 cup flour* with 2(ish) teaspoons of salt. Pour out onto the counter and make well in center. Break four eggs into well, and beat with a fork. Drizzle in some olive oil. Use the fork to beat the flour and eggs together (slowly, from the inside out- the eggs will try to escape and run all over the counter). Add a few tablespoons of water as you're mixing. The dough should start to come together, and will now need some handwork. Knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic (it will be heavier than a bread dough). Let the dough rest for an hour or so, then roll it out -as thin as possible!- and cut it however you like. The pasta will expand and get thicker and wider. Fresh pasta takes only a few minutes to cook, so keep an eye on it.
*You can use unbleached, all-purpose white flour, wheat flour, semolina, or any combination of flours you like. I prefer a mix of mostly semolina, part white.
27 March, 2008
If eating fat makes you fat, why do I only weigh 157 lbs?
Seriously, how is that hypothesis not totally shot by now?
I just finished my second 29 oz. container of coconut oil this week. I take a tablespoon with breakfast and another right before bed. I'm also finishing off my second bottle of cod liver oil. I take it right after the coconut oil, in the same amounts. I started the coconut oil about two months ago, I'd guess, and the cod liver oil about a month ago. I also pop evening primrose oil gels at every meal (8 per day). I take lots of other supplements (a la Dr. Cowan's Fourfold Path to Healing), but I take more fat than anything else. Not counting whatever butter, olive oil, coconut oil, milk, avocado, cheese, or yogurt I eat every day.
And I haven't gained a pound. That's because I'm at my ideal weight for my body type, height, and age. And when you eat healthy, natural fats, your body uses them instead of storing them. I offer myself as a case in point. My body is using the fats I ingest to heal what I've messed up with previous dietary blunders. Nifty, isn't it?
I just finished my second 29 oz. container of coconut oil this week. I take a tablespoon with breakfast and another right before bed. I'm also finishing off my second bottle of cod liver oil. I take it right after the coconut oil, in the same amounts. I started the coconut oil about two months ago, I'd guess, and the cod liver oil about a month ago. I also pop evening primrose oil gels at every meal (8 per day). I take lots of other supplements (a la Dr. Cowan's Fourfold Path to Healing), but I take more fat than anything else. Not counting whatever butter, olive oil, coconut oil, milk, avocado, cheese, or yogurt I eat every day.
And I haven't gained a pound. That's because I'm at my ideal weight for my body type, height, and age. And when you eat healthy, natural fats, your body uses them instead of storing them. I offer myself as a case in point. My body is using the fats I ingest to heal what I've messed up with previous dietary blunders. Nifty, isn't it?
01 March, 2008
Fermentation
Last night, I made sauerkraut and ginger ale. They will sit on the counter and bubble for a few days, and then I will consume them! Mwahahaha! I used a mixture of red and green cabbage for the kraut, so I think it will turn out to be a sort of pinkish colour. Maybe I can borrow someone's camera and post pictures...
I also obtained permission from the Odor Police to make kombucha again. Hopefully I can keep it from violating the their nose-space this time. :)
I also obtained permission from the Odor Police to make kombucha again. Hopefully I can keep it from violating the their nose-space this time. :)
23 February, 2008
Interlibrary Loans Are Great.
Thanks to interlibrary loans, I have these books on my shelf right now:
Life Without Bread,
The Fourfold Path to Healing,
Relearning to See, and
Better Eyesight without Glasses.
Hooray for the library!
Life Without Bread is good so far: right off the bat, the authors recommend only six bread units (bu) per day- that amounts to 72 grams of utilisable carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are in some vegetables and dairy products, as well as in all of the obvious foods (pasta, grains, sweets, and fruits). They count a cup of whole milk as one bu, but I decided not to count milk at all. I drink enough milk in a day to use up all of my allotted bread units! Which means I can't eat yoghurt, vegetables, avocados, molasses, beans, OR kombucha if I count milk!
The book is very helpful, though. Right away, I was reminded that I eat way too much bread and too many potatoes. I had been eating half of a bagel with butter in the morning- I definitely don't need that. If I'm not careful, I slide into eating carbs instead of meat or fat. I like those quick fixes, but my adrenals don't!
Life Without Bread,
The Fourfold Path to Healing,
Relearning to See, and
Better Eyesight without Glasses.
Hooray for the library!
Life Without Bread is good so far: right off the bat, the authors recommend only six bread units (bu) per day- that amounts to 72 grams of utilisable carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are in some vegetables and dairy products, as well as in all of the obvious foods (pasta, grains, sweets, and fruits). They count a cup of whole milk as one bu, but I decided not to count milk at all. I drink enough milk in a day to use up all of my allotted bread units! Which means I can't eat yoghurt, vegetables, avocados, molasses, beans, OR kombucha if I count milk!
The book is very helpful, though. Right away, I was reminded that I eat way too much bread and too many potatoes. I had been eating half of a bagel with butter in the morning- I definitely don't need that. If I'm not careful, I slide into eating carbs instead of meat or fat. I like those quick fixes, but my adrenals don't!
19 February, 2008
No Mushrooms = Sadness
Tonight I'm making my famous manicotti for dinner; it's in the oven right now. I realised earlier that I don't have the recipe- it's on the box of noodles that I usually buy and I bought a different brand this week- what am I going to do?! I panicked momentarily, until I remembered that I don't follow recipes. I just make them up as I go along. Phew! Crisis solved.
Anyway, for this recipe, I made a tomato-based sauce with carrots and mushrooms in along with the usual garlic and onion. It looks and smells really tasty. I can't wait to eat it all up! Later this week I'll get to use the rest of the mushrooms I bought: I'm making a copycat dish from Johnny Carino's. Chicken with mushrooms, spinach, and provolone layered on top. The original dish had ham and no mushrooms, but we all know that's not right, don't we? Anyway, where would we be if I followed recipes all the time? Without any mushrooms, that's where. And that, my friends, is a sad place to be.
Anyway, for this recipe, I made a tomato-based sauce with carrots and mushrooms in along with the usual garlic and onion. It looks and smells really tasty. I can't wait to eat it all up! Later this week I'll get to use the rest of the mushrooms I bought: I'm making a copycat dish from Johnny Carino's. Chicken with mushrooms, spinach, and provolone layered on top. The original dish had ham and no mushrooms, but we all know that's not right, don't we? Anyway, where would we be if I followed recipes all the time? Without any mushrooms, that's where. And that, my friends, is a sad place to be.
18 February, 2008
Planting Future Food
Today, I went to the store with my mother, and we bought one of these (ours is bigger). I planted food in it! I planted chamomile, oregano, rosemary, lavender, dill, and tomatoes. The tomatoes were in an heirloom mix pack, so we don't know exactly what we'll end up with. Could it be these? Or these? I can't wait to find out!
14 February, 2008
11 February, 2008
Right, so I'm not very good at remembering to post...but I can't decide if that's bad or just The Way Things Are.
Regardless, I do need to update you all on What's What here in my corner of the blagosphere. I decided to postpone school for now, being that I have no monies, and that it's not important enough for me to go into debt to get there. Instead, I'm going to keep saving money, and get to work on another kind of dough. I'd like to work more on my baking and candy-making skills (Not for my own consumption, of course). I've been dreaming big with a friend about starting our own bakery/pub (didn't know you could combine those, didja? Well, you can if they're right next door to each other). This (these?) bakery/pub will need some good food, so we're expanding our chefly repertoires. This work has the added benefit of being really, really fun.
If you have any good recipes, please be sure to pass them on!
Here are some from me.
Regardless, I do need to update you all on What's What here in my corner of the blagosphere. I decided to postpone school for now, being that I have no monies, and that it's not important enough for me to go into debt to get there. Instead, I'm going to keep saving money, and get to work on another kind of dough. I'd like to work more on my baking and candy-making skills (Not for my own consumption, of course). I've been dreaming big with a friend about starting our own bakery/pub (didn't know you could combine those, didja? Well, you can if they're right next door to each other). This (these?) bakery/pub will need some good food, so we're expanding our chefly repertoires. This work has the added benefit of being really, really fun.
If you have any good recipes, please be sure to pass them on!
Here are some from me.
04 December, 2007
There are six things that the LORD hates...
...seven that are an abomination to him:
haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that make haste to run to evil,
a false witness who breathes out lies,
and one who sows discord among brothers.
haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that make haste to run to evil,
a false witness who breathes out lies,
and one who sows discord among brothers.
25 November, 2007
That's just disgusting.
"After pasteurization, dead white blood cells and bacteria form a sludge that sinks to the bottom of the milk. Homogenization spreads this unsightly mass throughout the milk and makes it disappear."
from page 76 of Real Food, by Nina Planck
from page 76 of Real Food, by Nina Planck
21 November, 2007
20 November, 2007
08 November, 2007
I really am a reformed blogger...
See? I'm posting again! And it's been less than a week since my last post!
I'm currently looking over my admission essay requirements. I have to write an essay (500-ish words) on my Christian faith and how it relates to my desire to attend NSA. I wrote a bit a couple of months ago, and now I need to pick it up again and take another stab at it. I'm not really sure what to write; I really just want to quote the Nicene Creed and be done with it. I think, though, that I will focus on the latter part of the question and just skim over the former. If you all are interested, though, here's what I already had written down:
I believe in a sovereign God, one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; Who created the earth and all things in it for man's dominion and pleasure; this was accomplished in six days. The seventh day He rested.
Man fell from God's grace by his own disobedience, but God provided a Saviour, His only Son, Jesus Christ, through Whom we are reconciled to Him. We are received by Him by grace alone through faith alone. His Holy Spirit is poured out upon us to regenerate us and to work out our daily sanctification.
His Holy Word, which is inerrant and inspired by the Holy Spirit, reveals what He requires of us. This includes His command to teach others of God and His world, to His glory. In order to teach, we must ourselves learn about Him, by studying the Scriptures and the creation, as well as all of the gifts of knowledge He has given us in books written by men made in His own image. Because God made the world to fit together as a whole, we must not separate out certain parts, claiming them to be more sacred than others. Instead we must study to discover how these all fit together under God's perfect rule.
...
That's where I ran out of steam and started to dislike what I'd written. I knew that the Divines had a hard time of it, but I never realised how difficult it really was! Anyway, I've got to rehaul it and write in some things about why I want to learn the things they teach, and what I'll do with the knowledge after I leave (teach others).
Knowledge is like a pile of leaves: it makes me want to just jump in feet-first and thrash around for a while. I don't suppose I can put that in my essay?
I'm currently looking over my admission essay requirements. I have to write an essay (500-ish words) on my Christian faith and how it relates to my desire to attend NSA. I wrote a bit a couple of months ago, and now I need to pick it up again and take another stab at it. I'm not really sure what to write; I really just want to quote the Nicene Creed and be done with it. I think, though, that I will focus on the latter part of the question and just skim over the former. If you all are interested, though, here's what I already had written down:
I believe in a sovereign God, one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; Who created the earth and all things in it for man's dominion and pleasure; this was accomplished in six days. The seventh day He rested.
Man fell from God's grace by his own disobedience, but God provided a Saviour, His only Son, Jesus Christ, through Whom we are reconciled to Him. We are received by Him by grace alone through faith alone. His Holy Spirit is poured out upon us to regenerate us and to work out our daily sanctification.
His Holy Word, which is inerrant and inspired by the Holy Spirit, reveals what He requires of us. This includes His command to teach others of God and His world, to His glory. In order to teach, we must ourselves learn about Him, by studying the Scriptures and the creation, as well as all of the gifts of knowledge He has given us in books written by men made in His own image. Because God made the world to fit together as a whole, we must not separate out certain parts, claiming them to be more sacred than others. Instead we must study to discover how these all fit together under God's perfect rule.
...
That's where I ran out of steam and started to dislike what I'd written. I knew that the Divines had a hard time of it, but I never realised how difficult it really was! Anyway, I've got to rehaul it and write in some things about why I want to learn the things they teach, and what I'll do with the knowledge after I leave (teach others).
Knowledge is like a pile of leaves: it makes me want to just jump in feet-first and thrash around for a while. I don't suppose I can put that in my essay?
03 November, 2007
Cleaning Supplies
I got my recipes from this book (I like this woman for her recipes, not for her philosophy of life). They've worked very well so far, and all you need are a few simple ingredients!
You need:
borax (on the laundry soap aisle)
baking soda (big box is on the same aisle as borax)
vinegar (white distilled)
washing soda (possibly at a pool supply store, or a commercial cleaning-supply store)
vegetable-oil based liquid soap (castile soap, like Dr. Bronner's)
You can also add essential oils to your recipes; they smell good and certain ones have antiseptic properties. I like to use Tea Tree oil. It smells nice and clean, and I can get a fairly good bottle at Wal-Mart for $5. It matches the scent of my Dr. Bronner's, so I don't leave a house with conflicting smells.
Kelly currently has my recipes (she's copying them down), so I'll just give you the ones I remember. There's a good disinfectant scrubber that's just 1 cup baking soda plus 1/4 cup borax. I mixed it up in a mason jar and poked holes in the lid with an ice pick. The jar is reusable and the lid was rusty- perfect for this use. For a better scrub, add some salt (the coarseness saves you some elbow grease). For a soft scrub, add enough castile soap to make a paste. You can also add a bit of an essential oil.
For toilets, I wet the inside of the bowl, then sprinkle about 1/2 cup borax around the bowl and leave it for as long as I can; Annie recommends letting it rest overnight. Then I scrub it out and flush.
If a sink isn't draining as well as it should, I sprinkle some baking soda down the drain and chase it down with vinegar. It's bubbly action will loosen gunk (and it disinfects the drain). I'm not sure how effective it is on super stopped-up sinks.
To mop a floor, I put 1/4 cup vinegar in my bucket, then start to fill it with hot water. While it's filling, I squirt in some castile soap, then add some borax for a bit of stronger disinfectant. My castile soap reacts strangely to vinegar, so I add them separately to reduce the reaction.
To clear the air in a sickroom, or to fix that musty smell, I mix water and Tea Tree oil in a spray bottle and just mist away! I mist it on doorknobs, on our fabric shower curtain, on the window curtains, the computer keyboard, &tc. I also spray it on the toilet about midway between cleanings. I use Lavender oil and water for my mattress and pillows. The ratio is 20 drops per 1 ounce of water.
To remove a bad odor from carpet, sprinkle it all over with baking soda and leave it overnight, then vacuum.
Also, check this out. She's got an article to help you get started.
You need:
borax (on the laundry soap aisle)
baking soda (big box is on the same aisle as borax)
vinegar (white distilled)
washing soda (possibly at a pool supply store, or a commercial cleaning-supply store)
vegetable-oil based liquid soap (castile soap, like Dr. Bronner's)
You can also add essential oils to your recipes; they smell good and certain ones have antiseptic properties. I like to use Tea Tree oil. It smells nice and clean, and I can get a fairly good bottle at Wal-Mart for $5. It matches the scent of my Dr. Bronner's, so I don't leave a house with conflicting smells.
Kelly currently has my recipes (she's copying them down), so I'll just give you the ones I remember. There's a good disinfectant scrubber that's just 1 cup baking soda plus 1/4 cup borax. I mixed it up in a mason jar and poked holes in the lid with an ice pick. The jar is reusable and the lid was rusty- perfect for this use. For a better scrub, add some salt (the coarseness saves you some elbow grease). For a soft scrub, add enough castile soap to make a paste. You can also add a bit of an essential oil.
For toilets, I wet the inside of the bowl, then sprinkle about 1/2 cup borax around the bowl and leave it for as long as I can; Annie recommends letting it rest overnight. Then I scrub it out and flush.
If a sink isn't draining as well as it should, I sprinkle some baking soda down the drain and chase it down with vinegar. It's bubbly action will loosen gunk (and it disinfects the drain). I'm not sure how effective it is on super stopped-up sinks.
To mop a floor, I put 1/4 cup vinegar in my bucket, then start to fill it with hot water. While it's filling, I squirt in some castile soap, then add some borax for a bit of stronger disinfectant. My castile soap reacts strangely to vinegar, so I add them separately to reduce the reaction.
To clear the air in a sickroom, or to fix that musty smell, I mix water and Tea Tree oil in a spray bottle and just mist away! I mist it on doorknobs, on our fabric shower curtain, on the window curtains, the computer keyboard, &tc. I also spray it on the toilet about midway between cleanings. I use Lavender oil and water for my mattress and pillows. The ratio is 20 drops per 1 ounce of water.
To remove a bad odor from carpet, sprinkle it all over with baking soda and leave it overnight, then vacuum.
Also, check this out. She's got an article to help you get started.
30 October, 2007
Ha ha! No more math!
Well, I did it. I took the ACT. I'm so very glad it's over! Now I have to focus on the application and various essays that go with it.
Also, I need to start planning for caroling, a cookie exchange, the Halloween party (this week!), Thanksgiving dinner, and Christmas dinner. I love planning parties!
Also, I need to start planning for caroling, a cookie exchange, the Halloween party (this week!), Thanksgiving dinner, and Christmas dinner. I love planning parties!
26 October, 2007
Natural Cleaning Supplies Are Great
I used my new-and-improved cleaning supplies today, and they work just as well as the commercial stuff. And they don't gas me. Definitely a bonus, no? I like the smell, too: a touch of tea tree oil (essential oil, not fragrance). I don't think I'll ever go back!
Another thing that made cleaning more pleasant: my new Zune. I got it on sale (huge sale! very cheap!) and I've been putting songs on it yesterday and today. It's quite handy, and I feel so stylish and in-the-now.
Being trendy isn't really what I'm going for, but my Zune is brown (a very unpopular colour), so hopefully that makes up for it! Ha!
Another thing that made cleaning more pleasant: my new Zune. I got it on sale (huge sale! very cheap!) and I've been putting songs on it yesterday and today. It's quite handy, and I feel so stylish and in-the-now.
Being trendy isn't really what I'm going for, but my Zune is brown (a very unpopular colour), so hopefully that makes up for it! Ha!
22 October, 2007
Books & Other Things
As I said, I've been reading quite a bit more lately than I was able to do this spring. It's been nice to have that time to myself. I've read lots of Terry Pratchett; in fact, the library doesn't have any more of his books- I've read them all! I'll need to use the interlibrary loan system from now on. I don't have many left to read, so I hope he continues to write...
I've also been reading a biography of C.S. Lewis by Alan Jacobs. It's called The Narnian. I think I may have started it before, because it seems awfully familiar. But I don't think I finished it. I was reading Joseph Pearce's bio. of Lewis, but it turned ridiculous. When I left off, Pearce was talking about Lewis' feelings of sadness that he could not be reconciled to the Catholic Church, or reveal his true feelings for it. A little odd, if you ask me. Pearce isn't usually this denominationally dogmatic. Perhaps it's just that this is the first non-Catholic biography of his I've read. I've borrowed his biographies of Solzhenitsyn and Wilde, and I'm beginning to wonder if they'll be any good.
I'm in the middle of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm; it's very entertaining. I like Rebecca, she's a good character. Paige got the book from the library for me to read to the kids, but we're already reading The Railway Children and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Unfortunately, the kids have already seen the movie. It ruins the story a bit.
We've also been looking at some art recently. I got a book of Gustave Dore's engravings through the interlibrary loan system (quite handy, isn't it?). The kids really like his illustrations of the Bible. Caleb's favourite is David, standing on Goliath's body, and holding his head up in the air. In the background, you can see the Philistines on one side (running away, of course), and the Israelites on the other, cheering. I can see why he likes it so much. Some of the flood pictures have incited interesting questions. I haven't shown them the ones with all of the nudes (at Paige's request), but the one they have seen shows some small children and animals clinging to a rock. Caleb and Colin were very concerned, and Caleb said that the children didn't get to choose whether or not they would obey God. I had to remind him that we are born with evil hearts. We've gone over that quite a bit; I've had to, considering their t.v. diet. It's very Disney, and it makes things difficult.
I'll be staying the next two nights over at "school". Paige's mother is having surgery, and Paige is staying with her in the hospital, so I'm staying with the kiddies (Mr. Dad will be out of town). We're going to a pumpkin patch on Wednesday for hay rides and such. It should be fun, but also very tiring. I'll be back home Thursday, but then I'm taking the ACT on Saturday.
I really, really hate algebra. And I really, really hope I don't fail.
I've also been reading a biography of C.S. Lewis by Alan Jacobs. It's called The Narnian. I think I may have started it before, because it seems awfully familiar. But I don't think I finished it. I was reading Joseph Pearce's bio. of Lewis, but it turned ridiculous. When I left off, Pearce was talking about Lewis' feelings of sadness that he could not be reconciled to the Catholic Church, or reveal his true feelings for it. A little odd, if you ask me. Pearce isn't usually this denominationally dogmatic. Perhaps it's just that this is the first non-Catholic biography of his I've read. I've borrowed his biographies of Solzhenitsyn and Wilde, and I'm beginning to wonder if they'll be any good.
I'm in the middle of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm; it's very entertaining. I like Rebecca, she's a good character. Paige got the book from the library for me to read to the kids, but we're already reading The Railway Children and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Unfortunately, the kids have already seen the movie. It ruins the story a bit.
We've also been looking at some art recently. I got a book of Gustave Dore's engravings through the interlibrary loan system (quite handy, isn't it?). The kids really like his illustrations of the Bible. Caleb's favourite is David, standing on Goliath's body, and holding his head up in the air. In the background, you can see the Philistines on one side (running away, of course), and the Israelites on the other, cheering. I can see why he likes it so much. Some of the flood pictures have incited interesting questions. I haven't shown them the ones with all of the nudes (at Paige's request), but the one they have seen shows some small children and animals clinging to a rock. Caleb and Colin were very concerned, and Caleb said that the children didn't get to choose whether or not they would obey God. I had to remind him that we are born with evil hearts. We've gone over that quite a bit; I've had to, considering their t.v. diet. It's very Disney, and it makes things difficult.
I'll be staying the next two nights over at "school". Paige's mother is having surgery, and Paige is staying with her in the hospital, so I'm staying with the kiddies (Mr. Dad will be out of town). We're going to a pumpkin patch on Wednesday for hay rides and such. It should be fun, but also very tiring. I'll be back home Thursday, but then I'm taking the ACT on Saturday.
I really, really hate algebra. And I really, really hope I don't fail.
21 October, 2007
Catch-up
Right. Sorry I sort of dropped you and then forgot all about you. I've been very busy, you know. Not too busy to post, but busy enough to try to use it as an excuse! I understand if you don't forgive me. While you're deciding whether or not to accept my apology and renew your hopes that I'll remember to post more often, why don't I tell you what I've been doing and thinking lately?
I've been reading quite a bit. Mark Beauchamp (Moscow, ID) recommended an author to me while I was there: Terry Pratchett. He is hilarious and I have been devouring every one of his books I can get my hands on. I also found some new dystopian fiction that I'm reviewing. I didn't get to do much reading earlier this year, so I'm making up for that lack now.
I went to the library book sale on Friday & Saturday (I'll be going to the $3/bag sale on Monday) and I found some good books. I got David some books on body language (he likes to read people), Paige & Kelly some gardening books, and some hardback classics for me. Also a book on cryptography and two on shorthand. I'm going to learn and it will be such fun! ("'Amusing', or 'quite diverting', dear, but never 'such fun'!")
I've been studying algebra in preparation for taking the ACT this coming Saturday. As in, six days from now. I really hope that I don't fail miserably.
I'm looking into making some natural cleaning solutions for my housecleaning "business". I've had headaches and sinus troubles ever since I started. No wonder, either, what with all those dangerous chemicals I've been inhaling five or six hours a week! I think proper ventilation would help, too, but these houses all have air-conditioning and they feel quite sealed-up.
I found an interesting website (they sell hats!) that I thought Mrs. Badgermum might like to see: www.queenofhats.com. They have a few hats for men, too, but the women's hats are prolific! Actually, you should look at this post on Haute*Nature about millinery. There are a dozen or so links to some very interesting hatmakers.
I've been thinking about mimetic desire and scapegoating lately, as Doug Wilson has been posting some interesting things about Rene Girard. I got the Girard Reader from the library, and have started reading. It's very enlightening. I definitely need to read more.
That's all for today; I'll try to post again sometime this week and tell you about the other books I've been reading.
I've been reading quite a bit. Mark Beauchamp (Moscow, ID) recommended an author to me while I was there: Terry Pratchett. He is hilarious and I have been devouring every one of his books I can get my hands on. I also found some new dystopian fiction that I'm reviewing. I didn't get to do much reading earlier this year, so I'm making up for that lack now.
I went to the library book sale on Friday & Saturday (I'll be going to the $3/bag sale on Monday) and I found some good books. I got David some books on body language (he likes to read people), Paige & Kelly some gardening books, and some hardback classics for me. Also a book on cryptography and two on shorthand. I'm going to learn and it will be such fun! ("'Amusing', or 'quite diverting', dear, but never 'such fun'!")
I've been studying algebra in preparation for taking the ACT this coming Saturday. As in, six days from now. I really hope that I don't fail miserably.
I'm looking into making some natural cleaning solutions for my housecleaning "business". I've had headaches and sinus troubles ever since I started. No wonder, either, what with all those dangerous chemicals I've been inhaling five or six hours a week! I think proper ventilation would help, too, but these houses all have air-conditioning and they feel quite sealed-up.
I found an interesting website (they sell hats!) that I thought Mrs. Badgermum might like to see: www.queenofhats.com. They have a few hats for men, too, but the women's hats are prolific! Actually, you should look at this post on Haute*Nature about millinery. There are a dozen or so links to some very interesting hatmakers.
I've been thinking about mimetic desire and scapegoating lately, as Doug Wilson has been posting some interesting things about Rene Girard. I got the Girard Reader from the library, and have started reading. It's very enlightening. I definitely need to read more.
That's all for today; I'll try to post again sometime this week and tell you about the other books I've been reading.
07 September, 2007
Part Three
Oy, this story is long.
Right. So, I met the Roises, and they are all very nice. I enjoyed the few days I had with them. They had an appointment in Portland for Nelly, so they left Monday morning. They let me stay at their house while they were gone. That first night was not so great; it hit me all at once that I was alone and far away from home. I was tired out from travelling and I didn't know anyone there. And I was hungry. That tends to make everything worse. So I ate some dinner, drank some beer, and went to bed.
Next day I was feeling better, and I had a good time at the conference. The speakers were hilarious and very good. I met a nice lady from Texas and she took me under her wing for the rest of the trip. She's six feet tall, so we got along very well. We ran around all over downtown Moscow; we saw the Kenworthy Theatre, NSA, Mark Beauchamp's bookshop, Bucer's, the local Greek restuarant, West of Paris...it was fun. I met some people from NSA, and they were all very kind. They were genuinely interested in me and my plans. Moscow is a nice little town; I'm really looking forward to living there for a couple of years.
I caught a ride up to the airport in Spokane and flew home on the ninth. It was so nice to have such a short trip. Even my layover was pleasant! I met an NSA student in Virginia (Alexander) who was there for a short visit. I saw him again in Idaho, and he gave me a ride to the airport. His brother, Nate, was on the same flight as I, so we got to hang out a bit. We had dinner and beer together in Colorado and talked about school and the Lord of the Rings. It was nice. It was nice to finally get home, too. I was home in time for my birthday, and I get to sleep in my own bed now, in my own room with my own books.
Quite a journey, eh? I don't know if I'd like to ever do that again, but it was interesting. And it makes for some great stories.
There it is. Questions?
Right. So, I met the Roises, and they are all very nice. I enjoyed the few days I had with them. They had an appointment in Portland for Nelly, so they left Monday morning. They let me stay at their house while they were gone. That first night was not so great; it hit me all at once that I was alone and far away from home. I was tired out from travelling and I didn't know anyone there. And I was hungry. That tends to make everything worse. So I ate some dinner, drank some beer, and went to bed.
Next day I was feeling better, and I had a good time at the conference. The speakers were hilarious and very good. I met a nice lady from Texas and she took me under her wing for the rest of the trip. She's six feet tall, so we got along very well. We ran around all over downtown Moscow; we saw the Kenworthy Theatre, NSA, Mark Beauchamp's bookshop, Bucer's, the local Greek restuarant, West of Paris...it was fun. I met some people from NSA, and they were all very kind. They were genuinely interested in me and my plans. Moscow is a nice little town; I'm really looking forward to living there for a couple of years.
I caught a ride up to the airport in Spokane and flew home on the ninth. It was so nice to have such a short trip. Even my layover was pleasant! I met an NSA student in Virginia (Alexander) who was there for a short visit. I saw him again in Idaho, and he gave me a ride to the airport. His brother, Nate, was on the same flight as I, so we got to hang out a bit. We had dinner and beer together in Colorado and talked about school and the Lord of the Rings. It was nice. It was nice to finally get home, too. I was home in time for my birthday, and I get to sleep in my own bed now, in my own room with my own books.
Quite a journey, eh? I don't know if I'd like to ever do that again, but it was interesting. And it makes for some great stories.
There it is. Questions?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
