Speaking of warm fuzzies, did any of you ever make these as a kid?
I think we made them in our 5th grade Human Relations class. These look cuter than the ones we made.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
warm fuzzy
It's always nice to know that something you put a lot of work into has been very much appreciated:
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
about time
So last week, Raybert and I were celebrating...
...the fact that I got a new job! I will shortly be leaving MIT to take a new position as a Young Adult Librarian at one of the branches of the Boston Public Library. I am very excited to finally get started in my chosen career, but more than a little nervous at the start of this new adventure. My hope is that one day they will make a librarian action figure of me!
...the fact that I got a new job! I will shortly be leaving MIT to take a new position as a Young Adult Librarian at one of the branches of the Boston Public Library. I am very excited to finally get started in my chosen career, but more than a little nervous at the start of this new adventure. My hope is that one day they will make a librarian action figure of me!
Monday, February 21, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
meal with a view
Friday, February 18, 2011
Good News
The Beets did some celebrating tonight...
Tell you why when we get back from our mini-break!
Friday Book Review
Since my last review I have finished 3 books and am currently reading 2 more:
I read this book for the book club I will be attending in Puerto Rico with my mom and one of her friends, so it is not necessarily a book I would have chosen to read on my own. But it was a quick read and I enjoyed it. It is a non-fiction story of 13 women in California who chipped in to buy this crazy expensive diamond necklace together. The woman were loosely acquainted at the beginning, and the story talks about how sharing the necklace affected each of their lives. Mostly it discussed how important it is to have girlfriends, especially as you get older and have families and a million things that take up your time. And that is something I believe to be true at any age.
One of Entertainment Weekly's picks for the best books of 2010. It was an interesting set-up in the it followed two people's lives and relationships with one another through writing about their days on one particular date, the date they met in the mid 80's, over the course of 15 or so years. It was easy to track the ups and downs they'd encountered over all the previous days in the year and to see how their relationship changed. I thought it was a good, quick read and alternated between sad and humorous, but I did foresee the ending.
I have always been kind of really into saving money and preparing for the future. I started discussing my nest egg when I was 13 or so. But it's something I needed to learn more about as I start planning for my future with my husband. I knew the goals I wanted to reach and the things I wanted to do, but I wasn't sure where to start. So I'm really enjoying this book, which I didn't think I was going to. It's specifically written for my age group and offers clear advice on how to tackle money issues from getting out of credit card debt, to paying off student loans, to saving for a house and starting to think about a retirement fund. I know that doesn't sound crazy fun, but it's been a really useful tool so far and is helping me put a plan in place. Just today I increased my contributions to my 401(k) and opened an IRA account! Woo, responsibility!
I read this book for the book club I will be attending in Puerto Rico with my mom and one of her friends, so it is not necessarily a book I would have chosen to read on my own. But it was a quick read and I enjoyed it. It is a non-fiction story of 13 women in California who chipped in to buy this crazy expensive diamond necklace together. The woman were loosely acquainted at the beginning, and the story talks about how sharing the necklace affected each of their lives. Mostly it discussed how important it is to have girlfriends, especially as you get older and have families and a million things that take up your time. And that is something I believe to be true at any age.
One of Entertainment Weekly's picks for the best books of 2010. It was an interesting set-up in the it followed two people's lives and relationships with one another through writing about their days on one particular date, the date they met in the mid 80's, over the course of 15 or so years. It was easy to track the ups and downs they'd encountered over all the previous days in the year and to see how their relationship changed. I thought it was a good, quick read and alternated between sad and humorous, but I did foresee the ending.
I have always been kind of really into saving money and preparing for the future. I started discussing my nest egg when I was 13 or so. But it's something I needed to learn more about as I start planning for my future with my husband. I knew the goals I wanted to reach and the things I wanted to do, but I wasn't sure where to start. So I'm really enjoying this book, which I didn't think I was going to. It's specifically written for my age group and offers clear advice on how to tackle money issues from getting out of credit card debt, to paying off student loans, to saving for a house and starting to think about a retirement fund. I know that doesn't sound crazy fun, but it's been a really useful tool so far and is helping me put a plan in place. Just today I increased my contributions to my 401(k) and opened an IRA account! Woo, responsibility!
Escape
Sorry for the radio silence, kids. Ray and I were dealing with quite the illness last week that just knocked us on our asses. And now I'm dealing with a neck situation that is beyond uncomfortable and I'm starting to think that since turning 27.5 this past Sunday I am old and falling apart. I'd say we deserve a break, and hey!, it looks like we're going to get one. Ray and I are heading out tomorrow to Puerto Rico to meet up with my family and I could not be more excited. You may not have heard, but this winter has been a beast. I'm pretty tired of being cold and looking at snow all the time, so I am jazzed that tomorrow my view will be something like this:
Should be glorious.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Catching the Worm
Update 11:30am: Bird is injured and bleeding and still on ledge. The veterinarian's here keep coming by to look at it and debate what to do.
Update 11:47am: They are saying his wing is broken and that they can see some bone sticking out. Asking if we have a net to snag it with. I am considering going to hide in the bathroom.
Update 11:54am: It is apparently a Red-Tailed Hawk. Discussion switched to getting a sack, as it might escape from the neck. The scuttlebutt is that a blood-feather could be broken (?)
Update 11:57am: Best quote so far - "Monkey gloves won't work."
Update 12:02pm: Animal Rescue League is on it's way. Apparently they are bringing a net. I'm torn between equal desires to witness this and run far away from an injured wild hawk.
Update 12:06pm: "It's pupils look OK, I don't think it has a concussion." Who knew birds could get concussions?
Update 12:14pm: Bert's suggestions for the situation - "Suggest they knock it down gently with a beanbag gun, then catch it with a stretched out blanket. Or better yet, google "hawk cooking recipes" and leave the window open on your computer screen for all to see."
Update 12:40pm: A fight almost broke out between two veterinarians who couldn't agree if the bird was a Red-Tailed Hawk or a Peregrine Falcon. Popular opinion is holding at hawk. Which reminds me that dinosaurs supposedly tasted like hawk. Maybe Bert was onto something.
Update 12:59pm: Animal Rescue people just showed up...bird immediately flew away. Whereabouts unknown. Only blood splotches on the ledge remain. A bit of a letdown, I was looking forward to see the much discussed nets in action.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
January Book Review
I have been getting a lot more reading in already this year as I have been taking the T more due to the snow and that allows me a good 2 hours with my book a day. I have set up a second page on the blog so you can see what I've recently read as well as what I am currently working on. And I'd love to hear if you have read anything great lately - I can even have a guest blogger book review!
These are the two books I finished in January:
Assassination Vacation, Sarah Vowell - This book is enthralling, I cannot put it down, which is odd for me and non-fiction books. The book discusses the author's research of the first three presidential assassinations - Lincoln, Garfield and McKinley - and goes on a pilgrimage of sorts to see the artifacts of these assassinations. It is kind of a bizarre topic, but gosh, she knows her history and I have learned so much. She draws connections between the politics of those days of yore to modern times and now I really want to go around to see all of the historical places she talks about. The author has a very quirky sense of humor and is very engaging. This is not at all a dry history retelling, but is sprinkled with anecdotes and observations and I just could not put it down.
Peony in Love, Lisa See - I have read a number of books by Lisa See including Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and, more recently, Shanghai Girls. I loved both of these books and really enjoyed reading about such a different culture. These books talk about different times in Chinese history and give a lot of insight into the lives of women during those times. Peony in Love was not my favorite. The main character dies about a quarter of the way through the book, which then goes on to discuss her life as a spirit and the interactions she has with the human world. I don't mind fantastical elements in my literature, but I never felt like this book decided what it wanted to be and it did not resonate with me. But if you're a fan of Lisa See's work, it's a quick read and certain aspects were very interesting.
These are the two books I finished in January:
Assassination Vacation, Sarah Vowell - This book is enthralling, I cannot put it down, which is odd for me and non-fiction books. The book discusses the author's research of the first three presidential assassinations - Lincoln, Garfield and McKinley - and goes on a pilgrimage of sorts to see the artifacts of these assassinations. It is kind of a bizarre topic, but gosh, she knows her history and I have learned so much. She draws connections between the politics of those days of yore to modern times and now I really want to go around to see all of the historical places she talks about. The author has a very quirky sense of humor and is very engaging. This is not at all a dry history retelling, but is sprinkled with anecdotes and observations and I just could not put it down.
Peony in Love, Lisa See - I have read a number of books by Lisa See including Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and, more recently, Shanghai Girls. I loved both of these books and really enjoyed reading about such a different culture. These books talk about different times in Chinese history and give a lot of insight into the lives of women during those times. Peony in Love was not my favorite. The main character dies about a quarter of the way through the book, which then goes on to discuss her life as a spirit and the interactions she has with the human world. I don't mind fantastical elements in my literature, but I never felt like this book decided what it wanted to be and it did not resonate with me. But if you're a fan of Lisa See's work, it's a quick read and certain aspects were very interesting.
Snow Day Fail
It's really the worst having to get ready for work while your husband sinks back into slumber, happily returning to his dreams after receiving news that his office is closed for the day. Due to snow that we didn't get.
I'm super cranky. And this day is just not ending.
I'm super cranky. And this day is just not ending.
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