Quick Hit: Ahhhh!

Quick Hit: Ahhhh!, originally uploaded by mrs.chili.

The First Day of Forever

This morning, love expands my family.  My sister is marrying her best friend; the woman who makes her laugh, makes her think, makes her crazy, and makes her whole.

I cannot adequately express how full of joy I am today.  I have always wished for my sister the kind of stable, strong, and nurturing love that she deserves, and she has found that in The Girl.  They make an amazing pair, and I feel like the Universe is breathing a sigh of relief that they’ve found each other.

The other day, Mr. Chili said “I hope that Auntie and The Girl are as happy as we are.”  I nearly burst into tears.  I wish exactly that for my sister and her bride; a lifetime of small joys, warm contentment, supportive challenges, and everyday wonder that make up a lifetime of happiness.

image credit

I love you both so much.

Blog Break

I took a blog break today.  I was too busy to even sit down to write.  There’ll be more tomorrow…

Thoughts for Thursday

I’m busy, busy today, so you get a quick hit of randomness.

• Seriously?  I’m betting I could put cream cheese frosting on just about anything and be happy for the rest of my life.  All of the carrot cake muffins are baked, as are the lemon poppy seed muffins.  The cream cheese frosting is made, but not applied; I’ll have the girls do that tomorrow night.  Auntie’s chocolate cake will be baked tomorrow, as will the blueberries-and-cream cakes.  Mmmmm…

• In a little bit, the girls and I will pile into the Puck and go forth to collect Bruder from the airport.  I’m terribly excited to see him; I love my brother-in-law and always enjoy spending time with him.

•  I’ve been working on eating better.  The results of my check-up blood tests showed that I’m on the underside of borderline for my cholesterol numbers, and given my abysmal family history, my doctor wants us to get that number even lower.  I’m eating less more often (does that make sense?) in an effort to reawaken my metabolism.  Is it possible I’ve lost two pounds in two days?  The scale at the club yesterday said I was two pounds lighter than the scale at the doctor’s office said on Monday (and I have faith in the accuracy of the club scale)…

•  The chair of the English Department at Local U. sent me a letter asking me to write a commentary on one of my former professors who’s being considered for full professorship.  This is the second time I’ve received such a letter, and the second time I’ve received a letter for a professor I didn’t really care for much at all.  I’ll have to write something, though; I can’t get away with pretending I didn’t get the request.  Last time, I wrote a lukewarm, “there’s nothing wrong with the guy, but I didn’t count him among the better of my educational experiences” letter; I’ll compose its twin for this one.

• I’ve updated my “Reads ’10″ page, in case you’re interested.  I’ve also updated my sidebar reading list.  What are YOU reading?

Okay – that’s all I’ve got for you.  Have a great Thursday!

Quick Hit: Calling Out the Crazies

Ugh.   I’m all about humane treatment of animals (hell, I’m all about humane treatment of people, too, but we can’t seem to manage that, either), but the people at PETA regularly take their message far too far, discrediting the good work they could be doing to defend animals.

Drop-Dead Gorgeous

I love my friend’s pathologies.

O’Mama, it seems, has developed a taste for online jewelry shopping.  In the past few months, she’s managed to score some incredibly beautiful pieces for, if she is to be believed, about the cost of a good cup of coffee.  Seriously.  She’s currently wearing a stunningly beautiful cocktail ring that looks as if it was made for her; it’s got a sort of low-profile, art-deco feel to it that resonates exactly with her energy, and I think she paid about 20 bucks for it, with shipping.

A few weeks ago, she gifted me with a beautiful three-stone garnet ring and an apology.  She was sorry, she said, but she’d been looking for something similar to her grandmother’s ring (which I covet, and have for almost as long as I’ve known my friend), but this three-stone piece was the best she could do (I’d give you a picture of it, but it’s currently at the jeweler’s being sized).  Seriously – she apologized for giving me a lovely, extravagant, and singularly thoughtful piece of prettiness.

Pathological, I tell you.

Well, today, O’Mama and I met for a much-anticipated (and incredibly yummy) lunch, and she produced from her purse a little box.  She showed me the gorgeous rings she bought for her daughters which, like the cocktail ring she bought for herself (O’Mama, post a picture of that, would you?), fit their personalities exactly.  Then, she pulled out this stunning thing:

Isn’t it BEAUTIFUL?  It’s EXACTLY what I had been fantasizing about; a center garnet surrounded by pretty sparklies (in this case, white topaz).  She gave it to me on the spot, which is another thing I love about her; she can’t keep presents to herself, which means I didn’t have to wait until December to wear this, and to feel pretty doing it.

ThankyouthankyouTHANKyou, my friend.  I’m over the moon tickled with this bauble.

Ten Things Tuesday

Ten Awesome Things

1. Making my sister’s wedding cakes. I love that this is something she wanted me to do, and I’m excited to be able to do it. Good thing I’ve got a couple of really amazing recipes (here, here, and here).

2. Compassion. I’m seeing a therapist to get through some stuff that is cluttering up my energy, and she is making me feel gently well-cared for.

3. Green tea and Juicy Juice orange tangerine juice. I fill a Nalgene bottle almost full of green tea, then splash in a little juice and that’s what I drink all day long.

4. Pretty toes. Though I’m pissed that I broke a couple of fingernails and had to chop them all down to nearly nothing, I’m consoling myself that my piggies are pretty.

5. Vacations. I’m very much looking forward to our time at the lake this year. Last summer was a bit of a challenge for me, and even though we did our annual trek to the lake then, too, it wasn’t nearly as “ah” inspiring as I needed it to be. Going there this year completely unencumbered by the cares that dogged me last year is very, very pleasing to me.

6. Fudgecicles. Really; do I need to editorialize on this one? I’ve made a commitment to get healthier by reining in my weight, and these yummy little bits of chocolate-y goodness feel like cheating, but really aren’t.

7. My coworkers. I have found myself at a bit of loose ends during this summer; while I’m grateful for the time to do things for me and my family, I really miss my job (and I mean really – I wonder if I’m not a little insane). I’ve got a couple of coworkers with whom I’m keeping in sporadic touch, though, and they’re helping to keep me from spending all my time planning.

8. Good books. Again, do I really need to explain this one? I’ve got a lovely stack I’m bringing to the lake (Pilars of the Earth, The Boy in Striped Pajamas and The Hunger Games, in case you were wondering), and I’m just about finished with Walking to Gatlinberg. Reading really does set one free.

9. Checking things off my list. Yes, I’m one of those people; I can’t leave for a vacation without having a clean house and a completely crossed-off list. I’ve made my list a bit more than just simple housekeeping this time around, though, and I’m delighted to report that I’m making good progress. Today, for example, I bought some frames for art that was gifted to me years – yes, years – ago. I’m eager to get those pretty things on my walls.

10. Presents. I’ve had the opportunity to buy (and make) some really lovely things for some people I love, and I’m looking forward to giving them. I feel like my good energy goes with them, and I like the way that feels.

Happy Tuesday, Everyone!

Monday Meme

Boosted from NurseExec and Kwizgiver, who steal it from Sunday Stealing (and from the title of that, I gather that ‘stealing’ is the point…).

1. What is your favorite color?
My favorite color changes with my mood, but I tend to gravitate toward autumnal colors; greens, rich blues, and browns.

2. Have you ever slapped someone?
I’ll occasionally backhand Mr. Chili on the upper arm when he’s being a wiseass, but I’m not much into getting violently into another’s personal space.

3. Is your hair curly?
Gloriously so. I’m pretty pleased that I’ve figured out how to work with, instead of against, my wavy mane.

4. What was the last CD you bought?
We very rarely buy actual CDs anymore. The last hold-it-in-my-hand disc I purchased was a live CD I bought at the Vertical Horizon concert I went to last fall.

5. Do looks matter?
That depends; are we talking about personal looks? The level of importance I put on that depends greatly on my mood and my level of self-esteem. Lately? Yes. While I recognize that looks aren’t what’s most important, I’m not going to lie and say that I’m not sometimes conscious (sometimes, a little too much so) of how I perceive myself.

6. Could you ever forgive a cheater?
No. That is a betrayal that I could not get over.

7. Is your phone bill sky high?
Not really. We use our cell phones for most calls; in fact, we’re considering giving up our land line altogether, but our cell service is still sketchy enough at the house that we’re reluctant to cut that curly cord just yet.

8. Do you like your life right now?
I always like my life. I’m often astounded that I get to live the way I do; I grew up thinking that my life would be much less than it is now.

9. Do you sleep with the TV on?
We don’t have TVs in the bedrooms, so no. I’ll occasionally fall asleep on the couch while Mr. Chili is watching baseball, but that’s as close as I get.

10. Can you handle the truth?
I always – always – prefer the truth over a lie (or an omission, which I consider a lie, as well).

11. Do you have good vision?
I have perfect vision… with my contact lenses properly installed..

12. Do you hate or dislike more than 3 people?
I don’t keep track of such things. I prefer to spend my energy on people I love, and those number far more than 3.

13. How often do you talk on the phone?
Every day. I tend not to talk for long, though; I’m not very good at extended phone conversations. I much prefer face-to-face.

14. The last person you held hands with?
I like to hold Mr. Chili’s hand under our pillows.

15. What are you wearing?
Right now? My pajamas. I’m going to do a personal yoga practice when I’m done here, then I’ll shower and change. I’ll probably end up wearing a scooter (a skirt with shorts under) and a short-sleeved shirt today.

16. What is your favourite animal?
I have two of them at the moment; their names are Toeses and Taters.

17. Where was your favorite picture taken?
My favorite picture is of Mr. Chili and I, standing at our places at our wedding lunch, holding our champagne glasses in toast to each other.

18. Can you hula hoop?
Probably. I’d need a few minutes to remember how, though; it’s been a while.

19. Do you have a job?
I have several, though I’m only paid a salary for three of them. I’m a housekeeper, a personal assistant, a chauffeur, an accountant, an acquisition specialist, a nutritionist and chef, a yoga instructor, a high school English teacher, and a college writing instructor. I’m sure I’m forgetting a few jobs in there somewhere, but you get the idea.

20. What have you most recently bought?
I bought Auntie’s and The Girl’s wedding gifts.

21. Have you ever crawled through a window?
Yes. About a month after we bought the house, Mr. Chili and I locked ourselves out. Of course, this was before the house settled and all the doors failed to close properly, so we were well and truly shut out. With the help of my neighbor (who’s also a police officer), I staged a breaking and entering through the guest room window.

Quick Hit; Pretty Piggies

Quick Hit; Pretty Piggies, originally uploaded by mrs.chili.

The Chili women spent the day at Aunie’s getting our toes wedding-
ready. It was a lovely time, and we all feel pampered and pretty.
Thanks, Auntie, for setting that up and inviting us to be a part of it!

Busy, Busy

We’re pretty much out straight today, you guys (but in a good way), so this post is going to feature a bit of randomness.

• Auntie is being wed in a week.  Tomorrow, the girls and I pack up and head to her place for a pre-wedding gathering of friends for a breakfast and an opportunity to have our piggies painted.

• I’ve still not decided on all the cakes.  I’m sure about Auntie’s chocolate – that’s not really even a choice – and I’ve got to call the bakery on Monday to make sure they’ll have one of The Girls cupcakes that I can pick up on Friday.  I’m sure I’ll be making my grandmother’s carrot cake (and she was delighted when I told her that her recipe would feature in my sister’s wedding day), but that’s all I’m 100% about.  I’m leaning heavily toward the coffee cake, the lemon poppy seed (which I’ll make in loaves, I think), and the light strawberry cupcakes.  Sorry, Dudley; no bacon, though I was momentarily tempted by these.

• It occurs to me that I’m running out of summer.  I need to get off my intellectual duff and start planning some classes sometime very soon.  Not today, though.

• Almost as soon as Auntie’s wedding is over, the Chili clan is packing up and heading to the lake (in fact, we’ll likely arrive at the wedding in a car pre-packed for the trip).  I’m very much looking forward to this vacation, and I’m kind of loving that it’s become a tradition for us.  We’ll have some visitors over the week – the bridal couple is contemplating spending Sunday with us, O’Mama and Sphyrnatude are coming for an afternoon, and BlueMoon and Babycakes will come at the end of the week, after which we’ll all trek around the lake to see Vertical Horizon and The Goo Goo Dolls in concert.  I think the week has the potential of being a lovely bit of activity punctuated by periods of nothingness.

• I’m trying to wake up a little earlier every morning.  I’m doing this for two reasons – the first is that I don’t want the first few weeks of school to be torture in the morning.  The second is that I’m recognizing that I need more yoga practice than I have been giving myself, so my plan is to take that time to unroll a mat in the family room and do a silent practice just for me.  Teaching is very, very different from a private practice, and I think that the private practice will do me a lot of good.

Okay – I’m out of here.  I’m taking the girls to the library and visiting my grandmother this afternoon, and it’s about time to get started.  Have a great day!