ratatouille and yoga.

Oh my god. I made some ratatouille the other day. I've been craving it, but it surprisingly is not well-represented in my rather large collection of cookbooks. Finally, I decided that satisfying the craving was more important than doing it "right," so I went to the store for supplies based on the one recipe I had. YUM.

There were a few problems:

1) Thyme is a spice frequently used in French cooking but the recipe didn't call for it.

2) Ratatouille usually has EGGPLANT in it, which I hate, as those of you who know me know.

3) When I last ate it, it was wrapped in a crepe with goat cheese. I'm not ready to make crepes.

Solutions:

1) After smelling fresh thyme in the store, I realized that this was definitely a spice I wanted to incorporate into my spice cabinet, so I bought some. I later discovered that thyme is actually an important component of herbes de provence, named after the area where the dish originated, it being a "provencial" dish. :)

2) Ratatouille originally only had zucchini, tomatoes, green and red bell peppers, onion, and garlic. That's exactly what my version had, except I used yellow instead of red peppers, and I added carrots and yellow squash.

3) I ate it in the provencial style, with crusty bread, and added crumbled goat cheese.

YUM. And it's so easy! You should try it.

Charity's Vague Outline of Ratatouille

(All vegetables should be chopped rather largely.)

Soak garlic in olive oil. Saute onions and carrots until onions are clear, adding thyme (largest proportion), basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Add yellow pepper, green pepper, one big zucchini, and one yellow squash. Saute for a few minutes, until the veggies start to get a little tender. Add a big can of crushed tomatoes and a touch of sugar. Bring to a boil, and then simmer, covered, for about 15 minutes, or until vegetables are tender. Add more seasonings (listed above) to taste during the simmer.

Serve with crumbled goat cheese and big slices of crusty bread and make sure you are wearing your elastic waist britches!

Oh, and I've been trying to bring yoga back. I have been enjoying the work I've been doing lately to learn to let go, and yoga is part of that. I've also been doing Tai Chi, and working on clearing out my apartment of accumulated un-necessities. Anyway, the cats are enjoying it, too, and Sam is even starting to participate...



Charity :)

movies and b-s-.

Actually, I had a tough day today. Alison, Vaughn and I did some work on the coding scheme for our music consecration paper and it really took a lot out of me. It's been hard for me to get it up for sociology lately, what with all the doubts and concerns I've been having, and the mid-life/pre-career crisis I find myself in at the present juncture. I'm trying though. A friend of mine serendipitously got back in touch with me to give me comfort and encouragement about the dissertation. He recently got his PhD and has been helpful in listening to my grumbles and telling me that I can go to the Peace Corps maybe or get a job in North Carolina doing something non-academic, but that I really should finish my dissertation. Mom keeps telling me, too, but it's a lot of work. It's not just a matter of time wasted; it's emotionally and intellectually exhausting. But as I was telling Alison, this is closest I will ever be in this lifetime to getting my doctorate, so I should definitely do the work if I'm at all interested. Of course, I saw the chair of my committee today at school and I swear he gave me the evil eye...

I watched Dog Day Afternoon when I got home from school. It was pretty good. Definitely worth seeing, especially if you like Al Pacino; he gives a great performance. Of course, he's awesome, so that's no shock. But really a great performance. It's hard to say it was subtle, since it was about a bank robbery gone wrong, but it was in a way. You slowly become attached to Pacino's character, the tension slowly builds to an almost unbearable climax, turns in the story and revelations are striking, yet almost mundane seeming. I thought it was "ok" when it first ended, but the more time passes, the fonder I grow of it. I mean, it's no Man With the Golden Arm but hey, we can't all be perfect.

I rented Double Indemnity, and when I checked out my friend the videostore guy asked me about Dog Day Afternoon. I blathered for a moment then mentioned The Man With the Golden Arm. He recommended Anatomy of a Murder, another Otto Preminger film. I'll have to see it next. He claims it's his best, and I looked it up and it looks great. I remember it's one of those that's been on my list for some time but I keep forgetting.

Another I've been wanting to see is Pinky, which I almost got tonight. I've been wanting to see that for years! It looks fascinating. I'll just save it for next time I suppose...

charity :)

Oh, and the b-s- refers to the State of the Union address, which I tried to watch but was only able to endure for five minutes. That's when I went to the videostore. God, what have we done to ourselves...

me today.

Nicholas Celebrates Four Years with Us.

Today was Nicholas' birthday celebration. Lots of fun was had by all, but unfortunately I missed my nap afterwards. I don't normally take one of course, but after that party I needed one. Sitting in Borders, spacing out after gorging on pizza, mimosas, and cake, and exhausted after chasing 4 year olds around a small apartment for a couple of hours, I realized that unfortunately I am now too old for kids. I missed my window I guess. By like ten years. Lucky for me my friends have had kids, so I can still enjoy them and yet not worry about going to IKEA and chasing them around and around and around and around....



Just kidding. I actually like chasing kids around, but I prefer watching them chase themselves and/or each other around. Kids are so funny!

Anyway, good day, but not enough work done. As usual. :) Who cares? I had a nice day. I always love spending time with the Elliots, and I got a cheap coffee table and a nice file drawer on wheels from IKEA. I even talked to my dad on the phone for a minute. It's not all my problems, and I definitely spent more than $10, but it's a start.

I think tomorrow I'll watch Dog Day Afternoon. I'll let you know what I think.

charity :)

the low price guarantee.

I was on my way to babysit tonight when I noticed a sign on a telephone pole. As luck would have it, I was compelled by a traffic light to stop right beside it, giving me plenty of time to read the following:

Indian Healer

Love Luck
Money Health

Solves All Problems $10

Now, in terms of marketing, sure it grabbed my attention. However, the sign left many unanswered questions.

For instance, what exactly is an "Indian Healer"? Is that Native American, or Indian the continent? Do they include this qualifier to give the healer more legitimacy? Would fewer people feel inclined to call if the sign simply read "Healer"? Would they think they wouldn't get their money's worth or that their hopes for satisfaction would be unrealized?

How did they come up with the four advertised rewards? Are these the main things people desire? Did they sample the population to make sure? Why does health come last and love first? Would the order be different in, say, Santa Fe or Minneapolis? Wouldn't good luck be unnecessary in most cases if people's dreams for love, money, and health were realized?

By "all problems" do they really mean that the Indian Healer can solve any problems even if they aren't related to love, luck, money, or health? Really? Like, what about indigestion? Can this Indian Healer help me find my life's passion? Can this Indian Healer open my heart and let me trust people and forgive those who have hurt me in the past? Can the Indian Healer make my apartment slightly bigger so that my cats don't have to use the litter box right under my work desk? Can the Indian Healer make H & M hurry up and open here in Atlanta? Can this Indian Healer help me stop playing "Oregon Trail" on Facebook?

And finally, $10? Seriously? I'm surprised the sign didn't say "OBO" (or best offer). Any legitimacy the "Indian" label gives is somewhat diminished by the fact that the solutions are practically free. It kind of makes me not want to trust this sign stapled to a phone pole on Ponce de Leon Avenue.

Of course, I do have several pressing problems, to which I have been looking for solutions...

Drastic Life Changes? or Easy Survey?

Right now, I'm reading this book, "The Way of the Fertile Soul: Ten Ancient Chinese Secrets to Tap Into a Woman's Creative Potential" by Randine Lewis, Ph.D. (who lives in Asheville, I might add). I'm currently doing some Yin-Yang Exploration, which is very hard. I'm writing about it in my journal. It's good to know that there are some things even I won't put on my blog, I guess. I'm hoping to learn more about my creative potential and why it is apparently stifled. I have some ideas, but solving the problems I think I have involves making some drastic life changes that I'm not sure I'm ready to make. So in the meantime, I'll just keep doing what I'm doing. I'll keep you posted, though, as I begin to think more about this. (And the beauty of it is that this is a book on Chinese Medicine and fertility, which is actually part of my dissertation!)

Anyway, since I'm being stingy with that information right now, I thought I'd post this survey that my cousin posted on MySpace.

1 . If someone doesn't like you, it's usually because:
I have insulted them or made ugly faces at them. Intentionally or unintentionally.

2. Last Saturday night you?
It was really snowy but my friend Stephen came over anyway and we made tacos with fake chicken. It's funny to watch meat eaters try fake meat for the first time. :)

3. What are you excited about?
Honestly, not really anything. I'm feeling rather equanimous. Although I just drank a coke which I never do, so I imagine I'll be pretty excited by the time Jazzercise rolls around.

4. Do you remember the most naughty night of your life?
It's not that I don't remember, it's just that describing something that way sounds lame, so I don't.

5. Have you kissed someone in the last 24 hours?
No. Unless you count my cat, which most people wouldn't.

6. Favorite scent?
It's hard to narrow it to one!

8. How long you been at your job?
I've been working at my part-time job for about 8 months. It's really starting to grow on me!

9. What kind of music do you like best?
It's hard to narrow to one.

10. Who's the last person to sleep in your bed?
Me. Do cats count? Because they are probably there right this very moment.

11. Whose bed did you last sleep in besides yours?
A friend of mine's.

12. Ever been in love?
Sure. Most people my age have been at least once, I guess.

13. What is today's date?
22 January 2008.

15. Who is the funniest person you know?
It depends on what the joke is about. Nikki and Stacie can always make me crack up, though. And when my brother Baxter gets going, he can be pretty hilarious too.

16. Are you in high school?
No.

17. What grade?
Uh, no.

18. Do you smoke?
No. I accidentally used to. It's so very bad. I quit for good when I found out Mom has emphysema.

19. You admire people who:
Can get things done quickly when they set their minds to it. And people who are organized. And people who have found a job they are TRULY passionate about where they do what they love doing.

20. Can you keep a secret?
Um, when necessary, but I really hate to.

[21 through 31 are gone, and I don't feel like renumbering, so I'll just pretend I don't notice.]

32. What were you doing this morning at 8?
Trying to wake up. I'm not a morning person.

33. What were you doing 15 minutes ago?
Working.

34. Are you mad at any one?
No. Still equanimous.

36. The last person to say they loved you?
Probably Nikki the last time I talked to her. Or maybe my mom.

37. What was the last present you received?
I don't know, probably something for Christmas.

38. Last thing received in the mail?
Hmm, probably a bill. Or junk mail. I get one or both of those every day.

45. Are you any good at math?
I am. I wish I'd gone into accounting. I would be making a lot of money by now. I didn't used to care about money, but after 8 years in grad school, it's starting to sound pretty good.

51. What did you do two nights ago?
Sunday night I watched Law and Order Criminal Intent.

52. Are any of your great-grandparents still alive?
No. In fact, not even any of my grandparents are still alive.

53. Would you rather sleep with someone else, or alone?
I would rather sleep alone, honestly. I spread out. I need my space.

54. Most amazing thing you did in Summer 2007?
I actually got work done on my dissertation. Like, a significant amount.

55. Are there any previous relationships you wish could have lasted longer?
No.

56. Whats the most annoying thing anyone could do?
Be rude, inconsiderate, or unreasonable. Although I do that sort of thing ALL the time.

57. How is life going for you right now?
Pretty well, if I could get my head out of my butt.

58. Are you keeping a secret from someone that needs to know the truth?
No way.

60. What do you think of your siblings?
My brothers are the best. I love them both dearly. My sister-in-law is better than I could ever have hoped for. My stepbrother is awesome and fun to be around, my stepsisters are both take charge, dynamic people who go after what they want. We're a pretty good, although disparate, group.

61. What was the reason you last cried?
Blame it on grad school, as usual.

62. What was the first thing you said when you woke up today?
Usually, aside from a groan and moan, the first thing I say is "Hey Sam!" to my cat who is waiting outside the door for me to wake up. That was true today as well.

63. Last time you couldn't take your eyes off someone?
I don't know. That's weird.

64. Who is your celebrity crush?
Justin! Or James Marsden. Boy, is he cute.

65. Are you more independent or dependent?
I'm more independent.

66. Who will you see tomorrow?
Stephen and whomever I see at Borders.

69. Do you give out second chances too easily?
No.

70. Whats your middle name?
Elizabeth. (Haha, I don't have to change this from when my cousin filled it out!)

71. Are you a bitch?
No, but I sure can do a good impression of one.

72. Where do you see yourself in 4 years?
Still in graduate school. It's a nightmare based on a very unsatisfying reality.

73. What did you do last night?
After avoiding work by watching Law and Order Criminal Intent, I watched the 1986 film "A Room With A View" based on the E.M. Forster novel of the same name. It was pretty good.

74. Who text messaged you last?
Stephen.

75. What did the text message say?
"Still at my friends..." (Nosy!)

76. How are your parents?
I miss them. Hopefully they are super. Like Big Gay Al.

77. Who were you last in a car with?
Susanna. We went to see 27 Dresses this weekend. It was fun.

78. Do you drink?
Yes.

80. Last thing you ate?
Lunch. I think the last bite was some Baked Lay's.

Wow, so that's how the story ends. Pathetic. I'll add a last question or two.

81. What's next on your Netflix queue?
Once. I'm excited to see it.

82. If you could have anything for dinner tonight, what would it be?
A buffet at an Indian restaurant.

83. What skill do you wish you had?
Organization and/or time management.

84. What is your dream job?
Wow, that's an interesting question (thank you!). I would like to be a graphic designer, honestly. But I went into sociology. I thought I could change the world, but I just learned through my studies that the world couldn't change by my will alone. If I'd gone into graphic design, though, at least I'd be able to design killer pamphlets and newsletters for activist and/or non-profit organizations.

85. What are you excited about? (I remembered something, now that the Coke has set in--yay caffeine!)
I am excited about H & M opening in Atlanta this spring!! (Too bad I don't have a full-time job and too bad it's opening in Atlantic Station. Good thing it won't stop me from enjoying it.)

Alright, now I'm going back to work. I've got a newsletter to amateur-ly design!

Charity :)

Resolutions 2008

Last night I dreamed that I was at some sort of convention with one of my dissertation committee members, who was my lover. I woke up unsure of what this says about my inner turmoil regarding both my dissertation and the guy I've been seeing. I guess I'll leave that question for my psychoanalyst when I get one.

Anyway, better late than never I guess: My New Year's Resolutions.

1) To lose, um, 20 pounds. Actually I've already lost ten of them before, but I gained them all back. And in fact, I've lost about 5 since the new year, somehow. It baffles me since I've been trying to eat up all the noodles and candy I have left before the diet technically begins. I've decided to do something like the Zone Diet. I saw this program on TLC about "The World's Heaviest Man" (BBC Story here), who has lost 500 pounds on the Zone Diet. I like the sound of a diet where I get to eat all day, but I'm not sure I will be able to work it with being a vegetarian. I can try, though. Anyway, I'll let you know how that goes. I will also go back to Jazzercise after a month-long hiatus.

2) To finish (at least a draft of) my dissertation. I'm applying for a fellowship, but probably won't get it. In that case, I haven't decided if I will teach next fall. I may be able to at Oxford again, and it would be hard to say no to that, but I have absolutely, positively, GOT to get out of school. I've started fantasizing about my life if I had gotten an MBA and gone into advertising or something. It's not looking good. I need to start making a salary and stop living off student loans, if for no reason other than my own sanity. Of course, I'd like to go back to North Carolina, but maybe that will be a resolution for 2009. First things first: finish the dissertation.

3) I think I will try to participate in the "365 Days" group on Flickr, but I haven't quite worked up the nerve. I will probably try to get a few good ones "in the can" first. Many of the people in this group are like really into it. They use Photoshop or something to put two images of themselves in one shot--things I'd love to be able to do but don't know how to. And yes, maybe I could take a class to learn, but remember Resolution 2? Anyway, I have at least one for you, even if I haven't yet decided to give it to Flickr...


(This photo was actually taken October 06.)

Also, I saw a few movies:

Juno: highly recommended. I added another of Ellen Page's films, Hard Candy, to my Netflix queue. That one looks good, too. But really really different...

28 Days Later: highly recommended if you like "disaster"/dystopic/horror/zombie movies (along with its successor 28 Weeks Later which I saw in the theater).

American Psycho: not recommended. Well, I mean recommended maybe for fans of Chuck Palahniuk.

Oh, and Live Free or Die Hard: recommended for people who like action films. And sexy mens.

charity :)

Brief Update

Right now, I am avoiding my department holiday party. Am I pouting? Am I being immature? Am I being anti-social? Yes, I guess the answer to all of those would be yes. I don't know half of the people anymore. The people I do know all have less in common with me now than they used to. Basically, I'm waiting for the singing, which I have committed to, and then I will get back to work on the exam I am writing. I can't even enjoy the free food, because for the first time since I can remember, we have "Mexican" rather than Mediterranean, so there is nothing for me to eat except beans and rice. Some party. I could be having falafel.

I have to admit that this anti-social-ness began with an awkward interchange I had with someone I don't really like very much. Pretty much, it was downhill from there. I'm just finishing my beer, singing, and then getting back to work.

Anyway, I've been meaning to write, but currently my cable is out due to some malfeasance on the part of someone at the cable company (jerks), so this is the first time I've had to write in a few days.

I am thinking of joining the "101 Things in 1001 Days" Project. Stephen says that's too easy, since 1001 days is almost 3 years, but these are big things, not little things like "Do laundry" so I think I need some extra time. The problem is coming up with things I want to do. So far I have a few things, but definitely less than twenty. I'll keep working on it, but any input you have would be appreciated. I'll post what I have the next time I can. Let me know if you come up with any good ideas. Although I know technically, this list is supposed to be things that *I* want to do, so soliciting suggestions is tantamount to cheating.

[Sigh.]

More about project: http://www.triplux.com/dayzero/
One thing I'm considering (among others, and with modification): http://www.flickr.com/groups/365days/

michelle and charity go to the mall aka possession.

Michelle was here this weekend for a conference and we got to hang out Saturday. We wanted to do something where we could talk all day, so we decided to go to the mall.

Michelle and I arrived at the mall only to be assaulted by the sight of the "pink pig" which comes out every christmas to brainwash the kids into buying more stuff than they need and can possibly use with money their parents are looking for ways to throw away, apparently. Again, it's not even Thanksgiving yet. Shouldn't this a time to be thankful for what we already have? No? It's a time for buying countless stuffed pigs that look like they are possessed by demons? Oh, ok, my bad.

Of course you also realize this means the mall was FULL of kids. The more time I spend around large numbers of children, the more convinced I become that I don't want them. Not because I don't like kids, but because their parents all seem to become possessed by spirits that force them to buy incredibly expensive strollers and toys and candies at every turn; they blindly allow their children to run around the mall eating chicken fingers and yelling at strangers, and for some reason still expect all of us single childless people to be jealous of them. I can't understand it. I just know that I don't want to join their numbers. Sure, some people might say "Oh, but I would never be like that!" But what if you can't control it? Yikes.


Anyway, here's me in front of the pig. This is why I will never be a model. The camera comes out and I begin to look like a goblin. Who can explain it? Ah, well. I blame the pig.


Michelle, on the other hand, is incredible photogenic. And beautiful.


The young woman in the store came up to me while still folding sweaters and said, "Excuse me, but you are NOT allowed to take pictures of the mannequins." I guess this must be a common problem for them. I thought she was going to confiscate my camera. Lucky me and you she didn't try, I guess. No wait, I mean lucky THAT BITCH.


Welcome to my nightmare! Thanks for stopping by! Leave your sanity at the door! You won't need it where you're going!

Be good! (Or beware the wrath of the pig! I'm just saying!)

Charity :)

Old picture of me and Michelle (December 2004).


Another old picture of me and Michelle (December 2004).

ice cream!

I totally almost forgot: last night I got some Haagen Dazs Pomegranate Chip Ice Cream and it was pretty much the best ice cream I ever remember having in my entire life (except maybe the lemon ice cream from Yum-Yums in Greensboro). I'm sad it is a limited release. And I'm also sad it is ridiculously expensive, because I'm definitely going to have to go get some more.



I watched "It Happened One Night" last night, too (photo source). Excellent. Claudette Colbert is absolutely beautiful and so charming and clever. And of course, Clark Gable is just a really great match for her in the casting. How great this movie was! It is light-hearted, it pulls at your heartstrings, it makes you nervous and excited, it is in turn hilarious and touching; it's just marvelous. Any fan of romantic comedy definitely needs to watch it.

And I highly recommend the ice cream accompaniment.

Charity :)

well, well, well.

It was nice to visit with Richard when I was home last weekend. He seems to be doing well, lately, and really enjoyed driving my mom's new (used) Avalon since she was in Egypt. (And I enjoyed sleeping in her comfy bed! Although sharing a queen bed with several stacks of devotional and Sudoku books still doesn't leave much room to stretch out... I miss you Mom!)


There's a new addition: Pumpkin-Jack. Too bad Richard is "not a cat person."


(Can you tell?)


Yoda did not seem happy about not being the kitten-baby anymore. However, he did better than Tubby, who wouldn't even come near the house, and instead tried to get me to let her into the neighbor's house. She sat next to her screen door, meowing and looking plaintively at me. Crazy lunatic.

I had a nice weekend. I visited with Richard obviously, but also a little with Isaac, and I spent Saturday night with Sarah and Daddy. Daddy and I watched 300, which kept making me laugh. I remembered that hilarious review I read about it. I posted a link to it on my blog I think. But anyway, it was so funny. And we got to see it in Hi-Def, which really brought out the six-packs and quadriceps of the good guys (sex-non-neutral language used intentionally). It also brought out the grossness of the bad people and monsters and gushing spurting blood, so there was also that. Good times.

Anyway, since then, I've finished my new favorite book: "The Late-Bloomer's Revolution" by Amy Cohen. I wrote a review of it on GoodReads in case you're on there. I've also finished 2 of the Harry Potter books of the 7 I'm re-reading. I have lost a bit of the steam, though, and might wait to read the rest. I was really inspired by Cohen's book to find another great new book to read. Sometimes life seems too short to re-read Harry Potter books. So if you have any good recommendations, I'd love to hear them. I'd like to read Slam by Nick Hornby. That will be good I think. And undoubtedly a quick read. Anyway, I'll let you know what I decide.

I hope you're all doing well. We moved from drought to cold dry winter and my skin is killing me. I'm going through lotion like it's going out of style, and to no avail. Remember the days when Atlanta was humid? I'm going to have to crank out my humidifier again, I guess.

Oh, and I got on Facebook. How silly!

Charity :)

Before heading home, I was lucky enough to catch a quick glimpse of this beautiful car! As far as I can tell it's a 1949 Coronet, and very shiny and pretty. I have a weakness, I know.

some recent pictures: mom on her way to Egypt

A nice woman sitting next to us in the airport took this picture of mom and me. She had a layover last night at the airport here in Atlanta, so I went to visit with her a minute. I missed the Office, but it was worth it.


Mom got a new camera from Richard for her birthday. He got her one a few years ago, but my younger brother has taken it over. Can you claim squatters' rights on a camera? If so, he would.


Mom waving good-bye from the security checkpoint. She's the one waving goodbye at the security checkpoint.


My dad posted this picture of me a while ago and I thought people who know me might get a kick out of seeing it.

Charity :)

some recent pictures: Halloween

Little Jack was a Hershey's Kiss, but he hated the hat, so he kind of looked like a silver shopping bag. But how cute he was anyway!!


Nicholas saw this picture after I took it and was fascinated by it. He made me show it to him again.


What a cute non-threatening skeleton!


Susanna and the skeleton.


Time to go!


The patience of this woman was incredible! Nicholas wasn't a bother, but some of those other kids were crazy annoying. Nicholas was looking over at his parents, rather than at the photographer. He seems skeptical of this whole process. And rightly so, in my opinion.


Nicholas liked my hat.


My babies were cats. :)

i've been thinking of writing...

1. EVER BEEN GIVEN AN ENGAGEMENT RING?
haha. no way. not even close.

2. LONGEST RELATIONSHIP?
11 months. i know. i can't even make it a year.

3. LAST GIFT YOU RECEIVED?
technically, i think it was these earrings from my dad.

4. EVER DROPPED A CELL PHONE?
yes. yes. yes.

5. EVER LIKE SOMEONE FOR A LONG TIME AND STILL NEVER GET THEM?
wait, am i the only one?

6. THING(S) YOU SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON?
relative to my income: groceries.

7. LAST FOOD YOU ATE?
i am currently eating salt and pepper potato chips.

8. FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT THE OPPOSITE SEX?
good-lookingness.

9. ONE FAVORITE SONG?
look, i'll limit it to one album and screw you for asking such a hard question: waterloo, tn by uncle earl.

10. WHERE DO YOU LIVE?
atlanta.

11. HIGH SCHOOL YOU ATTENDED:
western guilford! fighting hornets! [blows raspberry]

12. WHAT CELLPHONE DO YOU USE:
LG chocolate phone. it's pretty sweet. blue.

13. FAVORITE MALL STORE:
except for not being able to afford anything in any of these stores, i would have to say the apple store, teavana, and anthropologie. my favorite store though is h & m. it's swedish. "ha om" or something.

14. LONGEST JOB YOU HAD?
for four years off and on i worked at asheville pizza company.

15. DO YOU OWN A PAIR OF DICE?
probably.

16. DO YOU PRANK CALL PEOPLE?
no.

17. LAST WEDDING YOU ATTENDED?
carrie and jake's in september.

18. FIRST FRIEND YOU'D CALL IF YOU WON THE LOTTERY?
nikki.

19. LAST TIME YOU SAW YOUR BEST FRIEND(S)?
well, i just recently saw my best friends in atlanta.

20. FAVORITE FAST FOOD RESTAURANT?
subway?

21. BIGGEST LIE YOU HAVE EVER HEARD
every time i have told my parents that i'm almost done with my dissertation.

23. WHERE'S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT WITH FRIENDS?
wherever. maybe fellini's.

24. CAN YOU COOK?
yay! love to! good at it!

25. WHAT CAR DO YOU DRIVE?:
my corolla!

26. BEST KISSER:
me.

27. LAST TIME YOU CRIED?:
about a week ago i think. unless i've repressed something. ;)

28. MOST DISLIKED FOOD?
eggplant, maybe?

29. THING YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOURSELF:
my good intentions.

30. THING YOU DISLIKE MOST ABOUT YOURSELF:
my poor follow-through.

32. LONGEST SHIFT YOU HAVE WORKED AT A JOB?:
16 hours, but i think i got a two hour lunch. it was at a hotel during a snowstorm.

33. FAVORITE MOVIE?
the maltese falcon maybe.

34. CAN YOU SING?
most people can. i can also carry a tune.

35. LAST CONCERT ATTENDED?
ooh, two days ago i went to see my favorite band, uncle earl.

36. LAST KISS?
"recently".

37. LAST MOVIE RENTED:
i've got a couple of marlene dietrich films on netflix. at the video store, the last thing i rented was the last disc of the first season of heroes.

38.ONE THING YOU NEVER LEAVE THE HOUSE WITHOUT:
(eye)glasses.

39. FAVORITE vacation spot?
i think i'll like barcelona. and i'd like to go to scotland.

43. LAPTOP OR DESKTOP COMPUTER?
i have a laptop.

44. FAVORITE COMEDIAN?
i can't think of anyone off hand, so i must not like anyone enough for them to count as my favorite. my ex-boyfriend took a standup class but at his show he made jokes about me. that was the end of the beginning of the end.

45. DO YOU SMOKE?
no.

46. SLEEP WITH OR WITHOUT CLOTHES?
i haven't worn my clothes to bed in years. pajamas or a nightgown maybe.

47. WHO SLEEPS WITH YOU EVERY NIGHT?:
no one.

48. DO LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIPS WORK?
i tried, ok?

49. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU BEEN PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE?
several times. 3 or so?

50. PANCAKES OR FRENCH TOAST?
YES! french toast on whole wheat toast, preferably with that sickly sweet strawberry flavored syrup from the IHoP.

51. DO YOU LIKE COFFEE?
i haven't had coffee in about two months. i'm very proud.

52 HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR EGGS?
the other day i had an omelette and it was almost like a crepe taco. it was so yummy i couldn't even believe it. it even had yolky bits on the inside and i loved it anyway. crazy.

53. DO YOU BELIEVE IN ASTROLOGY?
it seems there is something to the patterns, but as a sociologist i feel guilty admitting it.

54. LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?:
sylvia, i think. i left a few messages since then but no one has called me back.

55. LAST PERSON ON YOUR MISSED CALL LIST?
kristy.

56. WHAT WAS THE LAST TEXT MESSAGE YOU RECIEVED?:
it was long ago enough to have forgotten about already.

58. NUMBER OF PILLOWS?
two and a throw pillow.

59. WHAT ARE YOU WEARING RIGHT NOW?
work clothes. i'm at home right now, but they're comfortable.

60. PICK A LYRIC, ANY LYRIC:
"there's some some honest work left for bearded ladies"

61. WHAT KIND OF JELLY DO YOU LIKE ON YOUR PB & J?
strawberry jam. and only strawberry jam. keep your fake grape goo please.

62. CAN YOU PLAY POOL?:
i can. i can't win unless i'm playing an armless person, though.

63. CAN YOU SWIM?
yes.

64. FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
napoleon because i can have whichever flavor i want.

65. DO YOU LIKE MAPS?
i guess.

66. TELL ME A RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOURSELF:
i got a massage yesterday.

68. EVER ATTEND A THEME PARTY?
sure.

69. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SEASON?
fall. too bad it's getting to be so short.

70. LAST TIME YOU LAUGHED AT SOMETHING STUPID?
i can't imagine it was too long ago.

71. WHAT TIME DID YOU WAKE UP THIS MORNING ?
geez. way too early (5:45) and i was still late for work.

72. BEST THING ABOUT WINTER?
warm soup?

73. LAST TIME A COP GAVE YOU A TICKET?:
in college.

75. NAME OF YOUR FIRST PET?:
we always had pets. my first pet on my own was tubby, who now lives with my mom.

76. DO YOU THINK PIRATES ARE COOL OR OVERRATED?
They've got booty so hey, good for them.

77. WHAT ARE YOU DOING THIS WEEKEND??
going to nc.

78. BIRTHDATE?
in september.

79. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE:
a professor on a tenure track. happy.

85. ARE YOU ON A LAPTOP?
i'm on a chair.

87. ARE YOU SMILING?
nope. that was a dumb question.

89. DO YOU MISS SOMEONE RIGHT NOW ?
not really. i'm getting ready to go meet my mom at the airport.

90. IF YOU COULD GO ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD WHERE WOULD YOU GO?
i'd go to egypt with my mom, i think. except she'll be working the whole time.

92. ARE YOU IN HIGH SCHOOL?
ha.

93. DO YOU HAVE A CRUSH?:
not really.

94. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE NAME?
no idea.

95. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR BATHING SUIT?:
black with a little white.

96. DOES YOUR SCHOOL START IN AUGUST?
like the last day.

97. DID YOU GO ON VACATION LAST MONTH?
not unless you count going to visit my mom.

98. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ON A CRUISE?:
no. i think i would like it, but i might get stir crazy.

99. DO YOU HAVE A SISTER?
a sister-in-law and two stepsisters.

100. ARE YOU UPSTAIRS?
from the basement.

101. ARE YOU OR WERE YOU IN LOVE?
i have been but am not now.

102. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL?
just passing through.

103. DO YOU WISH YOU COULD SEE ANYONE PARTICULAR RIGHT NOW?
i wish i was already at the airport with my mom. i wish visiting her didn't conflict with my previous plans to watch the office with michael and susanna.

104. WHAT JEWELRY ARE YOU WEARING?
rings, a necklace.

105. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO AFTER THIS SURVEY?
finish my beer, wash my cereal dish, play with the cats for a minute, then go to the airport.

oh, right. re: confusion.

I didn't actually like those guys anyway. Weird. I am very grateful for all my wonderful friends and family, but they have really spoiled me when it comes to dating, because no one is ever as good as they are.

Still, lucky me.

charity :)

am i or am i not?

--I spent $125 total in two stores last night: the Apple Store and Teavana.

--I'm going out to eat with my bosses. For fun.

--A man I don't even know just set me up with a man I hadn't even met because I "need to get married."

Good question.

ps-what's going on today?!

Well, I've posted the article below about the Climate Change focus in the UN General Assembly today, and how, alarmingly but not surprisingly, Arnold Schwarzenegger is the lone voice of reason from the United States.

In addition:

-- tens of thousands of monks are part of a crowd 100,000 strong protesting in Myanmar today, and although the government is has kept out of it thus far due presumably to pressure from China, who doesn't want to look bad before the Olympics in Beijing, it seems only a matter of time (photos, story)

-- Iranian president Ahmadinejad is speaking at Columbia University amid scores of protesters (source), and I am freaking out, although my dad would be proud, because I agree with Michelle Malkin

-- GM workers are going on strike after talks stall between GM and the UAW (source)

-- although the United States government desperately needs a budget passed before the new fiscal year begins 01 October, Bush is saying that he will veto any legislation that spends more than he wants to spend, since those pesky democrats keep insisting on spending for education, health care and veterans programs (source)

-- and it's 50 years since the Little Rock Nine first entered Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas (source).

big day, I guess.

But I don't like Arnold, right?

I love my country so much, but what is the matter with our leaders? It's embarrassing, really.

U.N. Chief Urges Immediate Climate Action
By WARREN HOGE
New York Times September 24, 2007

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 24 — Secretary General Ban Ki-moon opened a meeting of world leaders on climate change here today stating that the scientific evidence of its global impact was sound and the moment to act was now.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon opening the United Nations High-level Event on Climate Change at the United Nations General Assembly in New York today.

“Today, the time for doubt has passed,” he told delegates in the packed United Nations General Assembly hall.

Saying that “the scientists have very clearly outlined the severity of the problem, “ he said their message was that the world knows enough to act, that failure to act will bring “devastating” consequences and that affordable technologies exist to start addressing the problem promptly.

“Inaction now will prove the costliest action of all in the long term,” he said.

The one-day debate on climate change, with more than 150 nations participating, was organized by Mr. Ban to prepare the ground for launching negotiations on an agreement to succeed the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, the international accord that limits the emissions of greenhouse gases.

More than 80 heads of state and government are expected to attend this week’s opening of the 62nd General Assembly session, which has adopted climate change as its central theme.

The United States rejected the Kyoto conclusions, and President Bush is not participating in the day’s meeting. Instead, he is coming to New York only this evening for a dinner of major national leaders hosted by Mr. Ban.

Mr. Bush, who opposes negotiated limits on greenhouse gases, has scheduled his own two-day climate meeting of 16 major industrial nations in Washington on Thursday and Friday this week at which he is expected to put forth his administration’s competing view that nations should be permitted to set their own limits rather than having them dictated by a binding treaty.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was to present the United States case to the delegates in New York later today, but another American with a conviction similar to Mr. Ban’s, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, came to the podium shortly after the secretary general finished speaking.

Under his leadership, California is promoting the kind of legal limits that the Bush administration opposes, and Mr. Schwarzenegger asserted, “It is time to come together in a new international agreement that can embrace the rich and poor nations alike.”

“California,” he pledged, “is moving the United States beyond debate and doubt to action.”

He added:. “The time has come to stop looking back in blame or suspicion. The consequences of global climate change are so pressing that it doesn’t matter who was responsible for the past, what matters is who is answerable for the future.”

He said the responsibility of all nations was “action, action, action, action.”

Two Surveys

I don't fill out surveys on myspace anymore, but I couldn't resist this one, so I am doing it here. The rule is that the answers can be no more nor less than three words. I felt like: survey + challenge = fun!

1. Where is your cell phone?
in my purse?

2. Your boyfriend/girlfriend?
don't have one.

3. Your hair?
could use haircut.

4. Where is your father?
in north carolina.

5. Cheesecake?
sadly, no dairy.

6. Your favorite thing to do?
get acupuncture, massage.

8. Your favorite drink?
soy latte maybe.

9. Your dream car?
convertible carmen ghia.

10. The room you're in?
my living room.

11. George Bush:
should be accountable.

12. Your fears?
not having family.

13. Nipple rings?
absolutely no way.

14. Who will you hang out with tonight?
my school work.

15. What you're not good at?
time management, concentration.

17. One of your wish list items?
convertible carmen ghia?

18. Where did you grow up?
in north carolina.

19. The last thing you did?
eat breakfast. yum!

20. What are you wearing?
old nightgown. weird.

21. Tattoo on the small of a back?
several in area.

22. Ketchup?
not a vegetable.

23. Your computer?
been through much.

24. Your life?
good; getting better.

25. Your mood?
happy, excited, sleepy.

26. Missing?
my friends, family.

27. What are you thinking about right now?
lists of things.

28. Your car is?
reliable, a blessing.
(if "a" doesn't count, I'd like to say "nice")

29. Your work?
want academic job. :)

30. Your summer?
not productive enough!

31. Your relationship status?
currently nothing serious.

32. Your favorite color(s):
navy, green, red.

34. Last time you cried?
tuesday or wednesday?

35. High school:
time of frustration.

Maybe this is supposed to be angsty, or maybe they expect the last answer to be more positive? Anyway, so I'll revisit one of my favorites. This should be good, because I just uploaded some new music. :)

------

IF YOUR LIFE WAS A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE?
So, here's how it works:

1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool... and alot of the songs fit with the setting

---------------------------------------
Opening Credits:
Porchlight--Neko Case and Her Boyfriends (oh, this movie is going to be a search for meaning in a seemingly meaningless world, I think)

Waking Up:
Jiang He Shui--Chen Dacan (maybe I woke up after getting acupuncture treatment?)

First Day At School:
Monster Man--Soul Coughing (Interesting. At first I didn't see the opening credits one, so this was supposed to be with "falling in love." I feel better about it being about school.)

Falling In Love:
Peer Pressure--Jon Brion (from Eternal Sunshine. Interesting--sweet and/or melancholy. Yes, that sounds like the type of music that should be playing.)

Fight Song:
If I Needed You--Townes Van Zandt (I think this fight might be depressing and pitiful, and involve falling in love)

Breaking Up:
Dry the Rain--The Beta Band (Wow, either I got dumped, or I wasn't getting what I needed from the relationship. It's a new beginning. Good for me!)

Prom:
Innervoice--Hooverphonic (Hopefully my inner voice is telling me to leave the prom immediately, as I graduated from high school 12 years ago. Maybe it's some sort of trippy flashback...)

Life:
The More I See You--Sondre Lerche (Geez, I think my movie must be a romantic comedy along the lines of When Harry Met Sally or something. Or maybe a romantic drama that ends tragically. We'll have to wait and see, I guess.)

Mental Breakdown:
Regulate--Warren G (...)

Driving:
Ladies Love Country Boys--Trace Adkins (what th... This movie is f'ed.)

Flashback:
Staple it Together--Jack Johnson (I have to admit that my iPod is much better at this game that my iTunes' performance thus far.)

Getting back together:
I Melt--Rascal Flatts (God, my computer is super cheesy. Maybe it needs more love.)

Wedding:
Virgin State of Mind--K's Choice (I think maybe in my movie there must be some dramatic irony associated with my wedding; I think maybe it is a mistake.)

Birth of Child:
All Sparks--Editors (Another mistake, apparently. A dreadful one.)

Final Battle:
505--Arctic Monkeys (Oh, I think I'm getting back with the first person I was with-my melancholy sweetie. I wonder what happened to my baby? Maybe I abandoned him or her. How sad for me. Oh, or maybe some tragedy happened.)

Death Scene:
Down the Drain--Jon Brion (Wow, short death--56 seconds)

Funeral Song:
Something--Cary Brothers (Geez, what a sad movie. I hope you learned your lesson.)

End Credits:
Drift Away--Dobie Gray (What, so now we're trying to cheer up a little? My poor, depressed, love-starved computer.)

Well, I tried at least.

lifestyles of the thirties

I just watched Year of the Dog. It was very good. And now I want a dog. Very badly (but not fifteen of them). I liked the ending. And the rest of it. A very interesting love story. I remember now why I wanted to see it in the theater so much, and also why I wanted to see it alone. Recommended.

-----

I was just thinking this evening about something several people told me before I turned thirty. They said, "You know, the thirties were/have been great! You get so much done, and you don't have to worry about the bullshit from your twenties. It is a time of reevaluating and finding what makes you happy/complete/etc and then really making it happen. I love(d) my thirties."

I just realized why this must be the case for so many people.

It's because when people turn thirty, because it's some socially constructed (and culturally specific) "milestone," I think they must commonly look around themselves and think: "Oh my god, where is X and why am I doing Y since it makes me miserable? I was after Z so how did I end up here?" Then, feeling desperate, they start on a "search and attain" mission, thus finding what makes them happy/complete/etc and then really making it happen - out of desperation if nothing more.

And maybe they also realize that their twenties were filled with insecurity and doing what they thought they should, or going after what they thought they were supposed to want, and by the time they reached thirty, they realized that maybe the things they wanted weren't the things everyone else wants. So again, out of desperation among other things, they reevaluate their lives and goals.

So even though this mythical "thirty" is making me feel like an utter failure because of all the things I have not yet accomplished, I see it as a good (albeit difficult) thing, because it's also as a result making me reevaluate all the accomplishments I thought I wanted. At this point, I want to try to stop doing what I feel people expect of me or giving people what I think they want from me, and I just want to find out what makes me happy and single-mindedly go for that.

I honestly don't know what compels me or what I could possibly achieve that would make me feel satisfied and complete. This to me seems like a question that needs an immediate answer.

So, wish me luck, I guess!

...I also was told that the thirties are "the new twenties," and if that's true I'm pretty much screwed for another decade it would seem.

charity :)

JAWS update (Spoiler alert)

Jaws was pretty good, by the way. Not really comparable to The Host though. It's impossible to say which is "better."

I watched it some time ago with my good friend Michael, who sent me this email:

Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2007 11:10:12 -0400 [08/24/07 11:10AM edt]
From: Michael E.
To: Crabtree Charity
Subject: An overdue obituary

Here Lies Quint.

He was the saltiest of seaman who harbored a death wish, an unfortunate grudge against sharks, and a love for Spanish, bow-legged women.

R.I.P.

------------

Quint: Y'all know me. Know how I earn a livin'. I'll catch this bird for you, but it ain't gonna be easy. Bad fish. Not like going down to the pond and chasing bluegills and tommycocks. This shark, swallow you whole. No shakin', no tenderizin', down you go. And we gotta do it quick, that'll bring back your tourists, put all your businesses on a payin' basis. But it's not gonna be pleasant. I value my neck a lot more than three thousand bucks, chief. I'll find him for three, but I'll catch him, and kill him, for ten. But you've gotta make up your minds. If you want to stay alive, then ante up. If you want to play it cheap, be on welfare the whole winter. I don't want no volunteers, I don't want no mates, there's too many captains on this island. Ten thousand dollars for me by myself. For that you get the head, the tail, the whole damn thing.


Mayor Vaughn: Fellows, let's be reasonable, huh? This is not the time or the place to perform some kind of a half-assed autopsy on a fish... And I'm not going to stand here and see that thing cut open and see that little Kintner boy spill out all over the dock.

------------

Good old hilarious Michael.


Check out this toy replica.