An Education (in Solitude) (no. 91)

A couple weeks ago, I didn’t have to work on Veteran’s Day.  With all of my friends busy with work and the arrival of Oscar season (my favorite!), I headed over to the local movie theater and caught An Education, written by Nick Hornby and starring the luminous Carey Mulligan in a breakout performance.  Given the reviews, I had very high expectations and while they weren’t entirely met (the ending wrapped up a tad too nicely), the small and quiet film was the perfect accompaniment to a rainy day of solitude (in no small part because there was no need to grasp someone’s hand at a suspenseful moment).  Basic synopsis: Mulligan plays sixteen-year-old Jenny, a discontented girl who dreams of symphony and art but feels destined for a dull life until she meets and willingly is seduced by the much-older David.  The acting is truly superb and director Lone Scherfig has a perfect grasp of the place and time (London, 1960s) on the cusp of great social revolutions (civil rights, feminist/sex).  I additionally appreciated a few small scenes in which David’s contradictory nature (particularly that of experience v. awkward ignorance) hinted at the coming revelation.  After completing this item, I’d willingly do it again!

fABulous (no. 15)

I’m in week six of The Internship of Diminishing Returns (copywright pending) and desperately trying to think of ways to make the minutes pass between the tasks I’m handed.  Since I just finished a lovely novel (The Help by Kathryn Stockett) and have nothing on hand to read and as I appear to have exhausted the Internet, I decided I’d update the list with a(n unnecessary) note that I remain on pace to complete number 15 – attending an abs class at the gym once a month.

I’ve never been much of a gym class person.  I find it preferable to do my weight training (with a magazine in hand) and cardio (plugged into the TV) solo.  When Mark and I have belonged to the same gym, I”ll weight train with him.  But I don’t really enjoy the closed-door, mats down, everyone in sync feel to gym classes.  Plus I boast both a bad lower back and shaky right knee that makes some classes (like step) painful. 

Abs classes, however, have become an exception (it helps that they are 30 minutes at both the Boston and Washington Sports Clubs).  And the instructor at the WSC has been great at pointing out and offering modifications for exercises that might trigger lower back issues.  So I’ve participated in 10 of the 34 classes I need to qualify for a green item (which means I’m narrowing in on 1/3 of the way through my 1001 days?!)

 

According to one website, here are the 10 most effective abs exercises.  In my abs classes, I’ve done 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, and 10.

Sister Act (no. 33)

"Greenville" by Jeff Pittman (click painting to go to website)

I’m not sure if readers (not that I have any) would get the allusion to Whoopi Goldberg’s 1992 movie but this post’s title actually refers to a 24-hour trip to Greenville, NC, to visit my sister and her family.  Although Sharon and I get together a few times a year, I haven’t been to her home since college!  It’s a bit off my beaten path (I never drove within an hour of it during the time I lived in Atlanta and it’s obviously not close to Boston), and we end up seeing each other at my parents’ home in Richmond or at family beach weeks.  But this fall, the timing is perfect as I am currently interning in Washington, DC, for ten weeks (this is my fourth).  I hopped on a train to Richmond last Friday, went out to dinner with friends, and the next morning, headed down to Sharon’s with my parents.

The day was low-key and relaxing.  We spent most of it in Sharon’s beautiful house, chatting and watching college football, and took a late afternoon walk through the neighborhood.  It was a lovely fall day!  After a nice home-made dinner (warm chicken salad, broccoli, and challah bread), we went to the high school chorus’s production in which Lauren (my youngest niece) performed a duet of “A Whole New World” from Aladdin.  She was adorable!  The rest of the evening included more catching up and warm brownies with ice cream.

Unfortunately, I failed to take pictures though I’m hoping Mark and I will be able to go back in June for my oldest niece Taylor’s high school graduation.  But since a blog post without color is inappropriate….

The Agony, No Ecstacy (no. 51)

I abhor needles, so I didn’t give blood until 2007 when I made a pact with God to donate should my beloved Indianapolis Colts win the Superbowl.  When they did, I cried tears of joy, called my brother who was in Germany to dance around the kitchen, and then sobered up when I realized a date with Red Cross was in my future.  This dutiful and irrationally superstitious person found herself on a makeshift stretcher two months later, chatting nervously with a Red Cross worker and trying to ignore the situation.  The blood giving went pretty well.  I read a magazine and averted all attention from the tube sticking into my left arm.  After I had been sucked sufficiently dry, I was escorted to a table for juice and cookies where I continued to read my magazine until I began to feel uncomfortable… looked lopsidedly at a volunteer….tried to say something….and fainted.

Even this image makes me feel ill...

In addition to being dutiful and irrationally superstitious, I am apparently a glutton for punishment so a few months later, in summer 2007, I signed up for a blood drive at the law firm where I was summering.  I warned the Red Cross personnel about my previous fainting spell, got myself stuck, and again tried to ignore the pulsing, uncomfortable sensation emanating from my left arm.  Once done, I sat up, chatted with a technician who started discussing Mel Gibson’s movie, Apocalypto*, and shortly thereafter, half-passed back out onto the stretcher where I remained for a good 20 minutes until I was able to rise safely.

*note: I have never seen this movie but talking to a woozy girl at the blood station about a movie that apparently involves human sacrifices was not the technician’s smartest decision that day.

Giving blood nonetheless has reappeared on my 101 list.  Surely, this indicates that in addition to be dutiful, irrationally superstitious, and a glutton for punishment, I am likely clinically insane.  But blood drives were offered several times over the course of my year clerking for a federal judge in Boston.  So when one popped up the very last week of my clerkship, a week in which work was almost entirely wound up, I decided I had no excuse.  I made my way to the mobile blood bank, filled out my paperwork, and got onto my bed.  Positioned with a window view, I ignored the Mass General worker who got my needle and tube ready.

The mood to which I aspired

And then, my friends, what can only be described as a painful shock to my system occurred.  Eyes afixed to some lone construction worker in the distance, I braced myself for impact (“please relax your arm,” I heard) and then felt a slicing knife-like sensation burn across my arm.  Sucking in my breath sharply, I heard the worker mumble something, move something around on my arm (OUCH!!!), and then ask me to please wait while she called over her supervisor.  The two women softly discussed something. Then, as the supervisor explained she was going to reposition the needle, massive pain ripped through my arm. A yelp and a grimace later and the needle was removed.  Apparently, the first nurse failed to steady my vein which moved upon needle entry.  And with that, my day of volunteering was done.  Apparently, once the vein is stuck, there is no more sticking for it that day…or for three months.

Such agony with no ecstacy.  Instead, I fear I will be forced to try yet again to give blood at some later date.  Yes, with that sentence staring back on the page, it is confirmed.  Clinically insane.

Slice of Heaven (no. 21)

The stars aligned this week for me to attempt to make my childhood favorite lemon cream cheese, graham cracker crust pie: (1) I have been feeling crummy and have lost my appetite (not the worst thing the week before I need to squeeze into a dress for a wedding in which Mark is the best man) but for some reason, the memory of the smooth lemony filling coupled with the grainy texture of the crust had me craving a bite, and (2) I was bitchy to Mark over the phone and needed a way to make it up to him.  Solution: pie!  The fastest way into a man’s heart is….sex…but after that, sweets!

Cooking really intimidates me (see no. 19) so of course, I hemmed and hawed about getting started. I checked my shopping list twice, stumbled over to the local grocery, and got everything…except the premade graham cracker crust which was lacking in the store’s inventory.  Back home, I called around to all the stores that might carry said crust (including behemoth supermarket) to no avail.  A quick google search resulted in a recipe for the crust.  Two recipes for one dish??

After a second trip out of the apartment to a second grocery spot, I was armed with the ingredients and two recipes…It was go time.  Can I just say the joy experienced from the discovery that one of your favorite dishes, a dish that takes you back to the innocence and wonder of childhood, takes mere minutes to make is unparalleled!  I pounded away on the graham crackers and then got the crust concoction carefully placed in the pan to cook; whipped up the filling and sour cream topping; and had it chilling in the refrigerator in 15 minutes!

And voilà: Mark forgave me (the pie didn’t hurt!) and I was actually hungry when I took my first bite!
Recipe:

• Crust: Mash up 1.5 cups of graham crackers and place in bowl with a 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, 6 tablespoons of melted butter, and 1/3 cup of sugar.  Mix and then place in pan.  Use the bottom of a cup/glass (mixing cup, drinking glass) to mash crust until flat.  Bake 7 minutes.  [Recipe courtesy of Marie here.]
• Filling: Mix 8 oz cream cheese, a can of Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk, 1/3 cup lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon vanilla until smooth.  Pour into graham cracker crust.
• Extra: Take some sour cream (maybe 1/2 cup) and mix in brown sugar.  Add thin layer on top of filling.
• Let sit several hours in fridge!

Julie and Julia and Kate (no. 19)

Because my job this summer is very low key (and presumably, my upcoming law firm job will not be), I realized now would be the perfect time to attempt to cook at least five meals in one week.  It also happened to correspond with the opening of Julie and Julia which was not intentional on my part but makes for a neat coincidence!

I am definitely not a cook. I once asked my mother why she never taught me to cook and she replied, “So you would find a husband who would cook for you.”  This arrangement showed a lot of foresight because Mark is an amazing cook! I am blessed to have a husband who makes dinner for us every night we eat in.  Of course, given my track record, Mark is probably blessed as well — that I’m not cooking! The first (and one of the only times) I attempted to cook for Mark, I decided to include corn on the cob. I filled a ceramic bowl with water…put it on the boiler…and three minutes later, the bottom of the bowl cracked open and the hot water spilled all over the kitchen floor.  So it was not without trepidation that I enlisted the help of various cookbooks we received as wedding presents and the handy computer (sample searches during the evenings included “boil broccoli” and “ounce to cup”).

Despite my own misgivings, the week was a complete success!! Mark raved about each of my dishes (four of the five were totally new recipes for both of us).  Below is a pictorial tour of our dining adventures…

I’ve added the recipes (most involve a Word document download) so that you can try them!  I definitely recommend all of them.  Not only were they lovely dishes, none was particularly time-consuming. On average, you can whip these together in 30 minutes!

Sunday: Summer Chicken and Caprese Salad

Monday: Tuna Steaks with White Beans accompanied by White Beans, Artichoke, Sundried Tomatoes, and Black Olive Tapanade

Tuesday: Prosciutto and Fig Pizza

Wednesday:  Mexican Pork Chops (slow cooker)

Thursday: Clams Linguine

Fore! (no. 13)

Back from a full round of golf with Mark and our friends, Sam(antha) and Mike! I am totally exhausted and I have a feeling my glutes are going to be sore tomorrow! According to Mark’s calorie tracker, we burned nearly 1000 calories playing for 5 hours. We teed off around 2 at President’s Golf Course and finished just before 7. I shot a 56 on the front nine (which included my best hole a par five which I parred!) and a lowly 62 on the back.  I don’t know that I’ll rush to do 18 again as I find nine holes to be quite satisfying and also better for time commitments, but it’s nice to know I can do a full 18!

California Dreamin’

Last week, Mark and I took our big trip of the year — we visited my brother in Seoul, Korea! Somehow, despite our five days in the city of 23 million, I didn’t get to knock off any of my 101 things. But obviously, it was a unique experience and wonderful to see Adam.

To ease the travel pains a bit (but only a bit), we did a weekend layover in Wine Country, California.  We flew in San Francisco and met up with our good friend, Doug, who I met in college and lived with for three years in Atlanta. After a night in San Fran, we followed Doug the next day across the Golden Gate Bridge and into Sonoma County for a day of wine tasting and great food. The following day, Mark and I enjoyed a day alone in Napa Valley. The weekend was wonderful, completely relaxing with hot but dry weather, visits to four wineries* (#29), a leisurely picnic with a bottle of Ferrari-Carano fume blanc and goodies from Oakville Grocery (#42), and two nights in a nice B&B in the town of Napa (#41).

Some pictures:

Sharing a bottle before lunch

Lynmar Winery in Sonoma - my favorite of the day

Picnic in Yountville

Picnic provided by...

Mark’s Big 3-0

Mark, my husband, turned 30 this past weekend.  Birthdays are a big deal to Mark and he really likes surprises, so I spent several months carefully planning a surprise party and pulled it off last Saturday!  35 family members and friends were on hand for food, drinks, balloons, and dancing — and Mark wasn’t onto the plan at all.

Kudos to my brother for giving me the perfect set-up: On Friday, I told Mark that I’d gone to the tavern where the party would be the next day for happy hour and had forgotten to close my tab; he suggested we stop by on our way to dinner the next night — perfecto!  (I’d made a restaurant reservation for that night, sent an email confirmation to Mark, and then promptly canceled it.)

Saturday, I ran errands and picked up the cake and 12 balloons which gave me a ton of trouble when I had to drive over to the tavern to set up the room! I was a nervous wreck for the rest of the afternoon at home but Mark didn’t notice. When we arrived at the tavern, I had him come into the tavern with me and only when I began to lead him upstairs to the private room did he begin laughing.  I was thrilled it all came together so well and Mark has mentioned several times it’s the best birthday he’s ever had.

May Update

1. I’m near completion of reviewing everything I/we bought in the month of April. It’s given me a real appreciation for people who take the time to do it! I certainly rely on reviews often for my purchases, from movies to restaurants to clothing items.  Here and here are a few of the Yelp posts I added recently. I will look back over my debit card purchases to make sure I’ve caught everything. #60 is pretty much done!

2.  On Friday of last week, I went to Nordstrom and had a  fitting.  It was very informative and helpful!  A friend who worked in the lingerie business before law school recommended Nordstrom because employees are required to attend training.  I bought two new bras and am happy to have a sense of how to feel more comfortable from here on out!  Nordstrom provides some helpful online pointers here.  I’m crossing off #18!

3.  Mark and I went to the driving range last night and I hit a bucket of balls. This morning, I signed up for some private lessons and will have my first one next week. I hope by the end of the summer, I’ll be able to play a round of 18 and complete #13! (Picture to the right is of me in Kilkenny, Ireland, in the summer 2007.  That trip is the last time I really played any golf…)

4. I bought downloaded another album last week on April 30.  I selected Kelly Clarkson’s latest as I’ve enjoyed the songs that have been played on the radio.  Will update #96 accordingly.