Back when I started this blog I owned a house on Watts St in Malden, MA. I fantasized about starting a little neighborhood newsletter called Watts What, but that didn't pan out so I started a blog instead.
Since then, I moved to D.C. for a year and a half. And then to Salt Lake last December. But I kept the blog name Watts What. When I moved to SLC, I knew that the time here was short, at most, a year and a half, until I started grad school in August of 2011.
The mast plan got sped up a bit and I'll starting grad school Feb 1, 2011 instead of in the fall. I'll be doing a one year Master of Research with the Univ of Gloucestershire in Cheltenham, England and then begin my PhD studies. Visa in hand, I've booked my plane ticket and paid January rent on a shared flat and will move from the U.S. on January 18th.
I think it's a good time to change the name of the blog. For now I'm going with Cheltenham Chat. If you have any other suggestions, let me know. I hope to be a bit better at blogging so that I can capture my experience living in the U.K. Hope you follow along!
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Weighing In
I like to think that I am above having vanity issues, but I know it's not true. I don't fret too much about my hair, or make-up, or the state of my fingernails. I don't care if I wear the latest fashions. But one thing that I have struggled with for a long time is my weight.
I know that I am not overweight but I'm also not skinny. And I'd be fine with it if it weren't for the fact that I work out ALL THE TIME and eat really healthy. An average day for me is: early morning - 45 minutes of yoga, pilates or a jog, depending on the day of the week, bike to 5 miles to work, bike 5 miles home, evening - walk 1.67 miles to the gym, workout of an hour (weights or cardio depending on day of the week) walk home 1.67 miles. And sometimes there is walking in the middle too. I go through a lot of tennis shoes. Then there are things like tennis and swimming and other things that I throw in. I never drive to the grocery store, so I'm like a little sherpa packing groceries home too.
I've been fairly consistent with my activity/eating level my entire adult life. So you would think that I'd consistently stay in the size. But I don't. I range from size 10 to size 14. (Okay, there was one short period that I got a little out of control and was down to a size 8. It wasn't pretty on me.) Needless to say it gets frustrating and I have no idea why I fluctuate so radically. It's like every eight to ten months.
In the summer I finally went to my dr and had a little bit of a break-down. I mean, I seriously can't keep this fitness routine up for the rest of my life and I was starting to get fat. We did all the test - yes to hypoglemia and yes to a small thyroid imbalance, but nothing she wanted to start treating just yet. The two things she did put me on though - vitamin d two times a day (I already take a b-complex) and sleeping medication.
I'm not going to be a super-model anytime soon, but those two things have changed my body for the positive.
I've never been a huge fan of magazines like Shape and Fitness and am now even less so. Eat sensibly, work out, be honest with yourself, and if things aren't happening the way they should. Go see your doctor. It took blood test and a consultation. A $10 bottle of vitamin D and a $4 bottle of sleeping pills and I'm healthier than I've been in a long time.
I know that I am not overweight but I'm also not skinny. And I'd be fine with it if it weren't for the fact that I work out ALL THE TIME and eat really healthy. An average day for me is: early morning - 45 minutes of yoga, pilates or a jog, depending on the day of the week, bike to 5 miles to work, bike 5 miles home, evening - walk 1.67 miles to the gym, workout of an hour (weights or cardio depending on day of the week) walk home 1.67 miles. And sometimes there is walking in the middle too. I go through a lot of tennis shoes. Then there are things like tennis and swimming and other things that I throw in. I never drive to the grocery store, so I'm like a little sherpa packing groceries home too.
I've been fairly consistent with my activity/eating level my entire adult life. So you would think that I'd consistently stay in the size. But I don't. I range from size 10 to size 14. (Okay, there was one short period that I got a little out of control and was down to a size 8. It wasn't pretty on me.) Needless to say it gets frustrating and I have no idea why I fluctuate so radically. It's like every eight to ten months.
In the summer I finally went to my dr and had a little bit of a break-down. I mean, I seriously can't keep this fitness routine up for the rest of my life and I was starting to get fat. We did all the test - yes to hypoglemia and yes to a small thyroid imbalance, but nothing she wanted to start treating just yet. The two things she did put me on though - vitamin d two times a day (I already take a b-complex) and sleeping medication.
I'm not going to be a super-model anytime soon, but those two things have changed my body for the positive.
I've never been a huge fan of magazines like Shape and Fitness and am now even less so. Eat sensibly, work out, be honest with yourself, and if things aren't happening the way they should. Go see your doctor. It took blood test and a consultation. A $10 bottle of vitamin D and a $4 bottle of sleeping pills and I'm healthier than I've been in a long time.
Monday, December 6, 2010
More Zurich
Thought I'd share a little more about my trip (esp for those not on Facebook)
This is my tiny hotel room. I knew that European hotel rooms would be small, but I had expected a musty room covered with fabric. This was very clean and industrial. and cold. And there were no chairs in the room or the lobby, so it wasn't a very comfortable place to be. It took me a few days to figure out things like how to turn on the lights and hot water in the shower.
The hotel staff didn't speak English very well, nor were very helpful so I tried to figure things out on my own. I saw the cleaning woman insert the door key-card into a pocket on the wall and viola! lights. The hot water was something else. The universal sign for hot is red and blue for cold, and that worked fine for the sink, but the shower didn't seem to cooperate. The first few days involved me filling up my water bottle from the sink, and pouring it on myself while standing in the shower. Luckily my room was small enough that I could reach the sink from the shower.
Zurich isn't really a hot spot of tourism, but there was a river that ran along the length of the city with a jogging path on both sides of the bank. It was a flourish of activity and I went for a walk along it every day.
Directly across the nearest bridge from my hotel was a playground and this little zoo. It had goats, very feathery chickens and some pigs.
It seems anytime I am at an event with Middle Eastern men, at least one of them falls in love with me. I kid you not. I have had three marriage proposals after things like Embassy dinners, etc. This poor guy spent the entire week trying to woo me; fetching me water, making sure I was warm/cool enough in the class room, general staring, and trying to get me to go to lunch/dinner with him every night.
To be fair, there were only four women in the class and the other three were all married.
This is my group, the WI dairy cluster project team.
Returning from my daily stroll, I passed by a small family carrying illuminated vegetables. As i continued on I met up with the entire neighborhood out in a parade. There was a marching band, carts lit up with candles, and singing and talking. I followed along for several blocks and finally found someone to ask what the celebration was for. She couldn't explain it in English very well, but it was something to do with celebrating Fall. Similar to our Halloween but more about nature and less about goblins.
The next day as I went out for a walk I found these carved out turnips hanging from a tree. This is what the kids were walking around with! I can't imagine carving a turnips is easy!
Along that same street was a neighborhood park. On this particular day there was a hot game of bocce and some ping-pong going on.
The Saturday after our class, four of us still in town went on a guided tour. This is a scene from inside the bus.
Three of us along the banks of the lake. The fourth person wasn't actually in our class. There were two classes being held that week. This poor guy came to our class the first day, sat through the entire day, and at the end, realized he was in the wrong class.
On the tour we went outside the city and up a tram to the country side. This is me with very hairy cows in the back ground. I don't think you can see the cows.
Me on the ferry to the Gold Coast. It's called the Gold Coast because there are vineyards along the banks. During the Autumn, when the grape leaves change colour, it shimmers like gold. The tour guide also said that people call it the Gold Coast because only rich people can afford to live there. Tour guides are so funny.
Amitav and I on the ferry.
Sunday walk in the rain. There is a very cool museum in the back ground.
The museum from the other side of the river. This is about two miles down the river path from my hotel.
Mostly I ambled about and picked random streets to go up. I have no idea what I'm taking pictures of but felt pressure to show something of my trip.
This was another random street. Reminds me of Boston. And thus concludes my trip to Zurich. I did enjoy that pedestrians have the right of way, though the streets and sidewalks aren't very clearly separated so there were a few times when I didn't know where the sidewalk ended and street began. I was also struck by how many men took their children out for a walk. I saw as many men walking around with baby carriages as women. And there were lots of people on crutches. I mean, enough that I noticed how many people I saw on crutches. And it's not because there were more pedestrians and therefor I'd see more people using crutches instead of driving in cars. There are just as many pedestrians in Boston and NYC and I can think of a single time I saw anyone walking around on crutches that didn't involve a cast. This was like two or three people, of different ages, a day. It just struck me as odd.
This is my tiny hotel room. I knew that European hotel rooms would be small, but I had expected a musty room covered with fabric. This was very clean and industrial. and cold. And there were no chairs in the room or the lobby, so it wasn't a very comfortable place to be. It took me a few days to figure out things like how to turn on the lights and hot water in the shower.
The hotel staff didn't speak English very well, nor were very helpful so I tried to figure things out on my own. I saw the cleaning woman insert the door key-card into a pocket on the wall and viola! lights. The hot water was something else. The universal sign for hot is red and blue for cold, and that worked fine for the sink, but the shower didn't seem to cooperate. The first few days involved me filling up my water bottle from the sink, and pouring it on myself while standing in the shower. Luckily my room was small enough that I could reach the sink from the shower.
Zurich isn't really a hot spot of tourism, but there was a river that ran along the length of the city with a jogging path on both sides of the bank. It was a flourish of activity and I went for a walk along it every day.
Directly across the nearest bridge from my hotel was a playground and this little zoo. It had goats, very feathery chickens and some pigs.
It seems anytime I am at an event with Middle Eastern men, at least one of them falls in love with me. I kid you not. I have had three marriage proposals after things like Embassy dinners, etc. This poor guy spent the entire week trying to woo me; fetching me water, making sure I was warm/cool enough in the class room, general staring, and trying to get me to go to lunch/dinner with him every night.
To be fair, there were only four women in the class and the other three were all married.
This is my group, the WI dairy cluster project team.
Returning from my daily stroll, I passed by a small family carrying illuminated vegetables. As i continued on I met up with the entire neighborhood out in a parade. There was a marching band, carts lit up with candles, and singing and talking. I followed along for several blocks and finally found someone to ask what the celebration was for. She couldn't explain it in English very well, but it was something to do with celebrating Fall. Similar to our Halloween but more about nature and less about goblins.
The next day as I went out for a walk I found these carved out turnips hanging from a tree. This is what the kids were walking around with! I can't imagine carving a turnips is easy!
Along that same street was a neighborhood park. On this particular day there was a hot game of bocce and some ping-pong going on.
The Saturday after our class, four of us still in town went on a guided tour. This is a scene from inside the bus.
Three of us along the banks of the lake. The fourth person wasn't actually in our class. There were two classes being held that week. This poor guy came to our class the first day, sat through the entire day, and at the end, realized he was in the wrong class.
On the tour we went outside the city and up a tram to the country side. This is me with very hairy cows in the back ground. I don't think you can see the cows.
Me on the ferry to the Gold Coast. It's called the Gold Coast because there are vineyards along the banks. During the Autumn, when the grape leaves change colour, it shimmers like gold. The tour guide also said that people call it the Gold Coast because only rich people can afford to live there. Tour guides are so funny.
Amitav and I on the ferry.
Sunday walk in the rain. There is a very cool museum in the back ground.
The museum from the other side of the river. This is about two miles down the river path from my hotel.
Mostly I ambled about and picked random streets to go up. I have no idea what I'm taking pictures of but felt pressure to show something of my trip.
This was another random street. Reminds me of Boston. And thus concludes my trip to Zurich. I did enjoy that pedestrians have the right of way, though the streets and sidewalks aren't very clearly separated so there were a few times when I didn't know where the sidewalk ended and street began. I was also struck by how many men took their children out for a walk. I saw as many men walking around with baby carriages as women. And there were lots of people on crutches. I mean, enough that I noticed how many people I saw on crutches. And it's not because there were more pedestrians and therefor I'd see more people using crutches instead of driving in cars. There are just as many pedestrians in Boston and NYC and I can think of a single time I saw anyone walking around on crutches that didn't involve a cast. This was like two or three people, of different ages, a day. It just struck me as odd.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Zurich
I went. I loved the week long of class. Hated the rest of my time there. Were you really expecting me to enjoy myself? You really don't know me if you did.
The class was great. I loved meeting everyone, and have a slight crush on my professor. It's not the first professor I've had a crush on. And it's always the Middle-Eastern men who get crushes on me. We met Monday-Friday and worked from 9:00 am - 9:00 pm working on projects. We did a large multi-class lunch on Thursday and I met even more interesting people. I wish the group was doing more classes together but this is the last class for most of us. Definitely should do this as the beginning of the program, not at the end.
The rest of the time I found very stressful. I don't do vacation. I don't even like a three day weekend. So two weeks in a foreign country, in a tiny hotel room that doesn't even have a chair to sit on, with lots of idle time, is not my idea of fun. I don't like to shop (couldn't afford to even if I did like it) and don't enjoy eating out. (Definitely couldn't afford to eat out in Zurich where lunch started at $20) And even this introvert needs a little human interaction so going alone was extremely lonely. In fact, both border patrol, Zurich and US, when asking length of stay, purpose of visit, was I traveling alone, did a double take when I said "Yes. I'm traveling alone." "Really?"
This is the other sad thing I realized I'm now not normal for the rest of society. Out of 30 classmates there were only four women. And there were only three single people. I realized I am now not part of a larger statistic. Up till 30 it was abnormal to be single and LDS, but the rest of the developed world was still single. But now I'm in a demographic that pretty much everyone is married, or married and divorced. People, even non-LDS people, think its a bit strange for someone my age to be never-married and childless.
Anyway, I'll post additional Zurich photos in the next post.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Tennis
I love tennis. We didn't grow up in a house that watched football or baseball, rarely even basketball even though we all played. We watched things like tennis, track & field and swimming. I think this may have been because my dad worked over seas where those sports were more popular and televised so we watched them when he was home as well.
I've been a fan of tennis since the days of Boris Becker, Ivan Lendle and Stephan Edberg. There were some heated debates in the house about who was better looking; as I have a tendency to be attracted to red heads, I favored Becker.
Every now and then, when we were in town, Dad would take us to the tennis courts. He'd be on one side, we would all be on the other and he'd still win. Granted none of us knew much about technique and such. When I moved out on my own, I would find a court with a backboard or wall and play by myself. But again, I've never known technique.
Liberty Park, a short two mile walk from home, has adult tennis classes. During the summer break I signed up for the adult beginner class. It was a short, fun six week class. Now that school is back in, I think I have to postpone taking the second class, but I have had so much fun the past six weeks and can't wait to take another class.
To end my summer tennis, I decided to watch a little Boris Becker vs Stephan Edberg on YouTube. They were amazing tennis players.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
I am usually okay with changes and updates to software and search engines, but Google, you have failed with the new way that you search. Hate it Hate it Hate it. May start using Bing instead.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
In about six months I have to decide what I'm going to do with Pennywhistle and Maltie. If all goes according to my master plan, I will start a PhD programme next fall in the UK.
Do I take the cats with me? I hate the idea of putting them on a plane for that trip. Plus, to take pets into the UK you have to have a six month quarantine to prove they are rabies free. (I'd start that process in January. The vet test them for rabies, then puts a chip in them, and if the cats don't go outside for six months they can safely enter the UK.)
But the idea of giving them away also makes me really, really sad. Who is going to love them as much as I? Who is going to cater to their every strange quirk? (They have many.)
Here are two photo's that capture a snippet of their daily lives:
This is Pennywhistle fanning herself. She LOVES to sit in front of the fans!
I call this hydration station. They both love to drink water from the running tap. They both have different techniques. As you can see from this photo, Maltie likes to lap straight from the running stream. Pennywhistle sticks her paw in the stream and licks from that. Or licks from the base of the sink where the water is hitting.
Strange creatures.
Do I take the cats with me? I hate the idea of putting them on a plane for that trip. Plus, to take pets into the UK you have to have a six month quarantine to prove they are rabies free. (I'd start that process in January. The vet test them for rabies, then puts a chip in them, and if the cats don't go outside for six months they can safely enter the UK.)
But the idea of giving them away also makes me really, really sad. Who is going to love them as much as I? Who is going to cater to their every strange quirk? (They have many.)
Here are two photo's that capture a snippet of their daily lives:
This is Pennywhistle fanning herself. She LOVES to sit in front of the fans!
I call this hydration station. They both love to drink water from the running tap. They both have different techniques. As you can see from this photo, Maltie likes to lap straight from the running stream. Pennywhistle sticks her paw in the stream and licks from that. Or licks from the base of the sink where the water is hitting.
Strange creatures.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
CSBG
This past week I attended a two day conference on The History of CSBG (Community Service Block Grant) hosted by David Bradley. I know, the title makes it seem like the conference would be as interesting as watching mud dry. But it actually was a very intriguing, inspiring, and informative conference.
CSBG was started as part of Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty and was headed by Sargent Shriver. (Yes, Maria's father.) CSBG is a large part of what funds Community Action Agencies throughout the U.S. (Who I work for, hence the conference.) I won't go into much detail here because I'm afraid my blog post will not be as intriguing as the conference was.
But, I had quite a few thoughts that I wanted to share with you.
One - I believe humility is an important tool in powerful leadership.
Martin Luther King Jr has always been one of my favorite leaders of the 20th century. As part of the conference we watched several news clippings of his work and speeches and I came away more impressed than ever. I believe there was humility in his non-violent approach to activism. I also think to understand people in humble circumstances takes a like heart.
We also learned much about Sargent Shriver. He is now my 2nd favorite leader in the 20th century. Watching his interviews is what got me rethinking the importance of humility. He was so competent and passionate and called on to lead many important organizations (He was the first director of the Peace Corps!) but watch interviews of him and he comes across as the most sincere and humble person. You want to follow him not because he forces you, but because you want to emulate him. Seriously, if you are into watching historical podcast and such, try to find some interviews with him. You will not be disappointed!
Anyway, that will be the one thought I share today. Look for the next untimely installment which may be on the immigration debate, Albert Bandura's work on Self-Efficacy, or on my upcoming trip to Philly...
CSBG was started as part of Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty and was headed by Sargent Shriver. (Yes, Maria's father.) CSBG is a large part of what funds Community Action Agencies throughout the U.S. (Who I work for, hence the conference.) I won't go into much detail here because I'm afraid my blog post will not be as intriguing as the conference was.
But, I had quite a few thoughts that I wanted to share with you.
One - I believe humility is an important tool in powerful leadership.
Martin Luther King Jr has always been one of my favorite leaders of the 20th century. As part of the conference we watched several news clippings of his work and speeches and I came away more impressed than ever. I believe there was humility in his non-violent approach to activism. I also think to understand people in humble circumstances takes a like heart.
We also learned much about Sargent Shriver. He is now my 2nd favorite leader in the 20th century. Watching his interviews is what got me rethinking the importance of humility. He was so competent and passionate and called on to lead many important organizations (He was the first director of the Peace Corps!) but watch interviews of him and he comes across as the most sincere and humble person. You want to follow him not because he forces you, but because you want to emulate him. Seriously, if you are into watching historical podcast and such, try to find some interviews with him. You will not be disappointed!
Anyway, that will be the one thought I share today. Look for the next untimely installment which may be on the immigration debate, Albert Bandura's work on Self-Efficacy, or on my upcoming trip to Philly...
Monday, August 2, 2010
Yes. I'm still alive. Just busy working on that five year plan.
Just submitted finals a week ago. Can't believe that I only have two courses (and one major dissertation!) left and I will be done with my MBA! Holy-Smokes!
I have a few weeks before the next course so I am busy working on the novel. Sometimes I read a few pages and I think "Wow! Where did I come up with that?" And then sometimes I read and I shake my head in embarrassment.
I did have a great weekend meeting up with friends from the past. Heather Durst and her husband and children came into town, and Tara was driving through so we met up for lunch. I haven't seen either of them for well over *gulp* 15 years, but it was like no time had passed at all. It is truly great to be in the presence of people who have probably seen you at your worst and still like you!
On Saturday one of my roommates from Boston got married. There was a little mini-reunion at the reception. It was lovely and I am homesick for Boston.
(when am I not?)
Just submitted finals a week ago. Can't believe that I only have two courses (and one major dissertation!) left and I will be done with my MBA! Holy-Smokes!
I have a few weeks before the next course so I am busy working on the novel. Sometimes I read a few pages and I think "Wow! Where did I come up with that?" And then sometimes I read and I shake my head in embarrassment.
I did have a great weekend meeting up with friends from the past. Heather Durst and her husband and children came into town, and Tara was driving through so we met up for lunch. I haven't seen either of them for well over *gulp* 15 years, but it was like no time had passed at all. It is truly great to be in the presence of people who have probably seen you at your worst and still like you!
On Saturday one of my roommates from Boston got married. There was a little mini-reunion at the reception. It was lovely and I am homesick for Boston.
(when am I not?)
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Twist
I just finished a popular novel written by a popular author, and that has been made into a popular movie. Most people who've heard of the book/movie knows that there is a twist at the end. Even the brief description on the back of the book says "and so-and-so isn't who he really is".
After finishing the book I've decided I concretely hate twist endings. Even the most well done ones (like the just finished book) don't seem that clever to me.
First, it seems the author is afraid the reader can't commit to the fairy story created and so gives and easy out. Think "Life of Pi". There were moments of complete magic and crafted well enough that I could accept what I was reading, even though I knew it couldn't happen in real life. probably. But then there was the escape hatch for the realist at the end.
Second, I don't like committing myself to a character, hating or loving him, and then 300 pages later, find out that none of him is real. All those emotions that I went through were for nothing. Most good novels are worth at least a second read. I want to study my faulty hero again, what did I miss, what more should I feel. But a novel with a twist? Why bother?
Last week LOST ended it's six year run. A lot of people were disappointed because all the mystery's of the island were not revealed. I'm glad they weren't. I think some major twist and escape routes would need to be created to end the show on time. Instead, despite all the weird twist that happened DURING the show, the characters ended true to the fashion that they began. And I'd be happy to take the journey with them again.
I won't tell you the book I just read, just in case you've been thinking of reading it, and didn't know there was a twist ending. Just don't wait in anticipation for me to write a twist/dream/face story anytime soon.
After finishing the book I've decided I concretely hate twist endings. Even the most well done ones (like the just finished book) don't seem that clever to me.
First, it seems the author is afraid the reader can't commit to the fairy story created and so gives and easy out. Think "Life of Pi". There were moments of complete magic and crafted well enough that I could accept what I was reading, even though I knew it couldn't happen in real life. probably. But then there was the escape hatch for the realist at the end.
Second, I don't like committing myself to a character, hating or loving him, and then 300 pages later, find out that none of him is real. All those emotions that I went through were for nothing. Most good novels are worth at least a second read. I want to study my faulty hero again, what did I miss, what more should I feel. But a novel with a twist? Why bother?
Last week LOST ended it's six year run. A lot of people were disappointed because all the mystery's of the island were not revealed. I'm glad they weren't. I think some major twist and escape routes would need to be created to end the show on time. Instead, despite all the weird twist that happened DURING the show, the characters ended true to the fashion that they began. And I'd be happy to take the journey with them again.
I won't tell you the book I just read, just in case you've been thinking of reading it, and didn't know there was a twist ending. Just don't wait in anticipation for me to write a twist/dream/face story anytime soon.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
2012 Summer Games
Today I realized, that if all goes according to my most recent five year plan, that I will be starting grad school in Sept 2011. My top school choices are in the UK, which means I will be in England for the 2012 Olympics to be held in London. And anyone who remotely knows me, knows that I am a HUGE fan of the Summer Games.
So, while not as cool as actually being a competitor of the games (still thinking that kayaking is my best option), it has me excited enough to try even harder to stick to the game plan.
Whatever motivates us right?
So, while not as cool as actually being a competitor of the games (still thinking that kayaking is my best option), it has me excited enough to try even harder to stick to the game plan.
Whatever motivates us right?
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Award Week
It's been a fun week around work.
Wednesday, my boss, Heather Tritten, accepted her award as one of Utah's 2010 30 Women to Watch. The other 29 women were cool, but it was really great to have our boss win this award.
Today, our entire staff got to accept an award from United Way as the Community Change Partner of the Year. (Even though I've only been there since January, I'm still pretty excited to be an award winner!)
It's been like the Golden Globes and Oscars around our office!
Us. (check out my co-worker's tie! It's pretty awesome.)
Wednesday, my boss, Heather Tritten, accepted her award as one of Utah's 2010 30 Women to Watch. The other 29 women were cool, but it was really great to have our boss win this award.
Today, our entire staff got to accept an award from United Way as the Community Change Partner of the Year. (Even though I've only been there since January, I'm still pretty excited to be an award winner!)
It's been like the Golden Globes and Oscars around our office!
Us. (check out my co-worker's tie! It's pretty awesome.)
Monday, March 8, 2010
Space
Aside from the castle my future husband is going to buy for me, I don't really fantasize about having a huge house. I see a big house as something that cost more to heat and cool and clean. I especially don't understand why small families need big houses. Why does a mom, dad and two kids need a four bedroom house? Or bigger?
In my neighborhood, the houses are pretty small. Little post-war ranch and bungalow styles houses. Most are about 1400 sq feet, have a living room, kitchen, one bath, three bedrooms. Maybe there is a dining alcove set off from the kitchen. These are the size of houses that our grandparents raised our mom's and dad's in. Kids shared a 12x12 room. And it was doable!
Having visited a friend who recently bought one of these houses, I felt a little claustrophobic. And it makes me feel bad because I feel like I'm trying to create a justification for having a larger house. And then I started thinking about the relativity of size. These houses were built for my grandparents generation. both of my grandmothers were 4'9". I'm 5'9" And entire foot taller.
My 4'9" grandmother could be in a 12x12 room, which is 144 sq feet. She would have an approx arm reach of 5'0 so let's just round up and say my grandmother could take up 25 sq feet which would leave 119 sq feet of non-human space available. At 5'9" and a 6 foot reach I take up about 36 sq feet which would leave 108 sq ft. And we aren't even calculating actual body mass. I know 11 feet of difference doesn't sound like a lot, but section off that much from one of your rooms and see if you don't notice it. And then section of that much from every room...
And then there's just being a whole foot closer to the ceiling too!
In my neighborhood, the houses are pretty small. Little post-war ranch and bungalow styles houses. Most are about 1400 sq feet, have a living room, kitchen, one bath, three bedrooms. Maybe there is a dining alcove set off from the kitchen. These are the size of houses that our grandparents raised our mom's and dad's in. Kids shared a 12x12 room. And it was doable!
Having visited a friend who recently bought one of these houses, I felt a little claustrophobic. And it makes me feel bad because I feel like I'm trying to create a justification for having a larger house. And then I started thinking about the relativity of size. These houses were built for my grandparents generation. both of my grandmothers were 4'9". I'm 5'9" And entire foot taller.
My 4'9" grandmother could be in a 12x12 room, which is 144 sq feet. She would have an approx arm reach of 5'0 so let's just round up and say my grandmother could take up 25 sq feet which would leave 119 sq feet of non-human space available. At 5'9" and a 6 foot reach I take up about 36 sq feet which would leave 108 sq ft. And we aren't even calculating actual body mass. I know 11 feet of difference doesn't sound like a lot, but section off that much from one of your rooms and see if you don't notice it. And then section of that much from every room...
And then there's just being a whole foot closer to the ceiling too!
Friday, March 5, 2010
The Atlantic
There's an article in the March issue of the Atlantic on assisted suicide. Though very well articulated to the benefits of it, I didn't finish reading the article. But it did get me thinking.
In my heart, I wish that I could believe it was okay. I remember going to visit my dad in the hospital when he was dying from cancer. He was really sick for a very long time. He had always been an active man. Not even five kids could wear him out. And then he just laid in a hospital bed. Shut off from sunshine and movement.
I know people watch loved ones as they suffer even worse fates than that. And my heart does wish that we could bring closer what is inevitable.
For me it's not even a question of is it right or wrong and how does God see it, as much as looking at what God's purpose for us on this earth. And it's to learn. And learning causes pain a lot of the time. There are things we learn in our own suffering and there are things we learn in watching the suffering of our loved ones. I know that our experiences and learning are taken with us into eternal life. It is not our place to say when that learning should end.
The article says that assisted suicide is about human rights. We really want to control so many things, even our own deaths. I myself have perfectly thought about how I want to peacefully die on the summer solstice of my 120th year.
I don't know why this article made me want to post something. I think I just get sad when we fail to realize the purpose of our life and try to avoid pain. Pain isn't the purpose, but pain is part of the process. I know I want to enter into eternal life gleaning all that I can from this mortal life.
In my heart, I wish that I could believe it was okay. I remember going to visit my dad in the hospital when he was dying from cancer. He was really sick for a very long time. He had always been an active man. Not even five kids could wear him out. And then he just laid in a hospital bed. Shut off from sunshine and movement.
I know people watch loved ones as they suffer even worse fates than that. And my heart does wish that we could bring closer what is inevitable.
For me it's not even a question of is it right or wrong and how does God see it, as much as looking at what God's purpose for us on this earth. And it's to learn. And learning causes pain a lot of the time. There are things we learn in our own suffering and there are things we learn in watching the suffering of our loved ones. I know that our experiences and learning are taken with us into eternal life. It is not our place to say when that learning should end.
The article says that assisted suicide is about human rights. We really want to control so many things, even our own deaths. I myself have perfectly thought about how I want to peacefully die on the summer solstice of my 120th year.
I don't know why this article made me want to post something. I think I just get sad when we fail to realize the purpose of our life and try to avoid pain. Pain isn't the purpose, but pain is part of the process. I know I want to enter into eternal life gleaning all that I can from this mortal life.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Deseret Industries
When I lived in Springfield, MO I used to go to the 'antique' stores all the time. A lot of it was junk, but it was still very interesting junk. One of my particular favorites stores was an old three story brick building. It had lamp post and street signs, carousel horses and giant plaster gargoyles and griffins. I can't imagine there is a huge market for these items, but I loved walking along the hardwood floors fantasying about living on the top, sun-filled open room with a griffin in the corner. Now of course, a place like that would cost a nice million in a gentrified downtown area.
Here in Salt Lake I don't find many stores like that, but they do have the great D.I. where though it may not be eccentric junk, it's very functional. And as I am trying to stay as transitional as possible, a lot of my household belongings are being acquired there.
Last week I was able to take a large desk and tiny table home from the office. At D.I. I was able to find the perfect cheap seating to go with the table and desk. I mean PERFECT fit for each at a total of $15.
AND I was able to get a few great books too! Malcollm Gladwell's Blink that I've wanted to read but after my disappointment in Freakenomics refused to pay full price for. $1. Drucker (whom I love) Post-Capitalist Society. $1. The New Encyclopedia of the Great Composers and their Music. $1! (yeah, okay, that one they probably should have paid me to take it, but I'm pretty excited about reading it...)
$18 dollars for three exciting books and two chairs to sit and read them in.
I bet if they did have a griffin for sale it would be $10 and I would buy it too.
Here in Salt Lake I don't find many stores like that, but they do have the great D.I. where though it may not be eccentric junk, it's very functional. And as I am trying to stay as transitional as possible, a lot of my household belongings are being acquired there.
Last week I was able to take a large desk and tiny table home from the office. At D.I. I was able to find the perfect cheap seating to go with the table and desk. I mean PERFECT fit for each at a total of $15.
AND I was able to get a few great books too! Malcollm Gladwell's Blink that I've wanted to read but after my disappointment in Freakenomics refused to pay full price for. $1. Drucker (whom I love) Post-Capitalist Society. $1. The New Encyclopedia of the Great Composers and their Music. $1! (yeah, okay, that one they probably should have paid me to take it, but I'm pretty excited about reading it...)
$18 dollars for three exciting books and two chairs to sit and read them in.
I bet if they did have a griffin for sale it would be $10 and I would buy it too.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Periodicals
I have mid-terms this week. (yes, but I'm blogging instead) I find when I am stressed, my relief is buying a book or magazine. Doesn't really make sense that if I'm stressed about reading one thing I want to read something else, but that's just how my pressure valve works.
And the pressure has been mounting in me even worse than normal as I put a cease on my book and magazine buying the moment I put in my two week notice at F.I. I couldn't justify spending money on non-essentials as long as I didn't have a job and had to embrace the idea of the public library.
Last weekend I finally caved. I'm well employed. I've been a good girl in my spending (well, there was the whole Pennywhistle incident...) and it's time to lift the magazine ban with a quick trip to B & N on the way to the gym.
I purchased.
But here is the funny thing about buying a magazine in UT. The demographics, and thus the magazine readership, is somewhat different than back East.
My top tier magazine choices are: The Economist, Inc., Harpers, Hobby Farms
Second tier: Entrepreneurship, The Atlantic, Fast Company, Success, The New Yorker
Third: Eating Well, Yoga Journal, Writers Digest, Scientific America
Fourth: Anything that might catch my fancy...
In the East, my top two tiers are readily accessible, eye level, in the Current Events section. You know, with magazines like Time and Newsweek. Here in Utah, I had to walk up and down the magazine racks, searching for them. I finally found them on the very bottom row, two shelves deep. (Meanwhile, I did find an ENTIRE section devoted to crafts and scrapbooking.)
Everyday I keep finding new things that remind me I'm not in the East anymore. But I guess trading easy access to literary diversity and global knowledge is worth the benefits of affordability, easy commuting, warm winters and friendship.
And yes. I could subscribe and it would be less expensive. But I like going to the bookstore, buying it, and bringing it home.
And the pressure has been mounting in me even worse than normal as I put a cease on my book and magazine buying the moment I put in my two week notice at F.I. I couldn't justify spending money on non-essentials as long as I didn't have a job and had to embrace the idea of the public library.
Last weekend I finally caved. I'm well employed. I've been a good girl in my spending (well, there was the whole Pennywhistle incident...) and it's time to lift the magazine ban with a quick trip to B & N on the way to the gym.
I purchased.
But here is the funny thing about buying a magazine in UT. The demographics, and thus the magazine readership, is somewhat different than back East.
My top tier magazine choices are: The Economist, Inc., Harpers, Hobby Farms
Second tier: Entrepreneurship, The Atlantic, Fast Company, Success, The New Yorker
Third: Eating Well, Yoga Journal, Writers Digest, Scientific America
Fourth: Anything that might catch my fancy...
In the East, my top two tiers are readily accessible, eye level, in the Current Events section. You know, with magazines like Time and Newsweek. Here in Utah, I had to walk up and down the magazine racks, searching for them. I finally found them on the very bottom row, two shelves deep. (Meanwhile, I did find an ENTIRE section devoted to crafts and scrapbooking.)
Everyday I keep finding new things that remind me I'm not in the East anymore. But I guess trading easy access to literary diversity and global knowledge is worth the benefits of affordability, easy commuting, warm winters and friendship.
And yes. I could subscribe and it would be less expensive. But I like going to the bookstore, buying it, and bringing it home.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Little Pennywhistle
We had a rough weekend last weekend. Little Pennywhistle, who seems to get more blog time than Maltie, and whose name is just Pennywhistle but somehow I always call her Little Pennywhistle, had to take a few trips to the Pet ER.
Thursday evening I came home to a little 'treat' on the living room floor. I wasn't too concerned as it happens on occasion. However, Friday I came home to multiple piles of 'treats'. I was starting to get a little concerned. Several hours later, and halfway into a Lost catch up episode, and after having noticed that it was 55 degrees in the apartment and that the furnace had stopped working, Pennywhistle started emesising and howling in pain. It was 10:30 on a Friday night (um, yeah, I have a REALLY exciting social life), new to the area and not knowing any vets, I was a little frantic.
I finally found an emergency clinic. I stayed until about 12:30 while they did a few xrays on her and then they kept her over night.
The next day I collected her about 1:30 in the afternoon. She seemed worse than the night before. Wobbly and weak and hair all matted. Maltie went on the attack the minute we came home. Animals are not kind in the face of illness.
For the next 12 hours I worried and fretted. Come bedtime, I couldn't sleep and would get up at the smallest sound to see if she was still okay. The 3:00 a.m. check and it was 50 degrees in the apartment and she was huddled up on a box along an outside wall. I put a towel over her hoping to help her keep warm. 8:00 a.m. I brought her back to the ER again.
Having grown up on a farm, I have a great love and respect for animals, but I also don't believe in spending large sums of money on pets. animals are animals. humans are humans. All weekend long I was contemplating what my price threshold was and what illness I was willing to treat and which I were not.
The second check-in the vet sat with me and asked, "is there a possibility she could have eaten a foreign object?" A possibility? Oh, it's a certainty. I am always having to pull plastic and string from her mouth. I try to hide these non edibles but she hunts them out! They did an ultrasound and knew that it was something lodged in her stomach. He didn't ask, so much as told me, they were prepping for surgery. So I guess I was glad that I didn't have much choice in saying "yes" or "no" to the procedure.
She was able to come home Monday evening. Almost a week later, after hand feeding her yogurt and wet cat food and struggling to shove antibiotics into her, she is starting to put a little weight back on. She's not as wobbly and can now jump into my bed, but can't yet make her higher perches. Maltie has stopped hissing at her. And my landlord did get the furnace back on so the apartment is now warm again.
The one 'good' thing that came out of the weekend was that I was able to get completely current on Lost as we head into the final season.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
The plan is coming together
Check 1 thing off my 2010 to do list. I started my new job today with the Community Action Partnership of Utah. Seriously, Seriously so excited and happy about this job. More info to come.
However, this is the first time in a month that I have gotten out of bed at 6:00 a.m. and was awake and productive through the whole day, and now at 9:55 p.m. I am exhausted. A good exhausted.
However, this is the first time in a month that I have gotten out of bed at 6:00 a.m. and was awake and productive through the whole day, and now at 9:55 p.m. I am exhausted. A good exhausted.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
The Library
In concept, I love the idea of a public library. A large building with many, many, many books and cd's and magazines. All free for you to check-out and use at your own will. Books. Music. Free.
I like all of these words.
However, the actuality of a library doesn't work for me. Why? Possession. If a book is worth my time to read, I want to possess it. I don't want to borrow it and give it back. I want to put my notes in it, catalog it and put it on the shelf in my living room where I can pull it out occasionally and flip through it's pages again.
A week ago I checked out a book titled Cowgirls: Women of the American West. I'm not sure what the impetus was writing this book, but it speaks to me. It's not extremely well written and is more of a transcript for the lives of women the book is about, but it has engrossed me. It speaks to me. Insert verdant hills and sheep for the dusty mountains and horses, and the expressed feelings and experiences could be me.
The book is due back at the library on the 25th. That's a lousy birthday present to myself: return fantastic book back to the library.
I will. But I'm also ordering a copy off of amazon. so much for free reading.
I like all of these words.
However, the actuality of a library doesn't work for me. Why? Possession. If a book is worth my time to read, I want to possess it. I don't want to borrow it and give it back. I want to put my notes in it, catalog it and put it on the shelf in my living room where I can pull it out occasionally and flip through it's pages again.
A week ago I checked out a book titled Cowgirls: Women of the American West. I'm not sure what the impetus was writing this book, but it speaks to me. It's not extremely well written and is more of a transcript for the lives of women the book is about, but it has engrossed me. It speaks to me. Insert verdant hills and sheep for the dusty mountains and horses, and the expressed feelings and experiences could be me.
The book is due back at the library on the 25th. That's a lousy birthday present to myself: return fantastic book back to the library.
I will. But I'm also ordering a copy off of amazon. so much for free reading.
Monday, January 11, 2010
All dressed up and no place to go
This time one month ago today I was sitting behind my wheel, exhausted but trying to press on to the first stop, on what was to be a four day drive.
No earth shattering anything has happened in the past month since arriving. It's gone by fast, but peacefully. It's been a good feeling.
I did have a bit of disappointment Saturday evening. Once I decided to move back to UT, I excitedly updated my calendar with one special event per month. One of the things I hated most about D.C. was the inability to go to concerts and plays. Sure, D.C. has plenty of events, but they cost an arm, leg and at least 100 hairs off your head. As an example, the only thing I went to was West Side Story. It cost $75 for nose-bleed seats, took an hour to commute via bus/subway connection and then coming home $25 for subway/taxi connection. $100 for bad seating and no food. It was actually easier and cheaper for me to take the Chinatown bus to NYC and catch shows that way. (This I did do several times.)
So, needless to say, I was very excited at the prospects of a 15 minute drive and $20 dollar seating for really good quality performances.
This past Saturday I had planned to attend the Utah Symphony performing Rachmaninoff symphony #2. I really struggled with myself about if it was the most prudent thing to do as I don't yet have a job. I decided that for $20 (and this included parking) I could afford to attend. (and then I fretted over parking which turned out to be wasted anxiety. This isn't Boston. There is no traffic downtown and ton of easy and cheap parking!)
I walked in to the ticket counter, and shock of shocks, they did not have one single $16 dollar seat. The ticket agent claimed the only seats they had left were $40 dollar tickets which are at the top of the price range for Abravenell Hall. I've been so used to Boston and NYC where a) people pay for the better seats so there are always cheap seats available and b) there are so many venues for patrons to attend that there are always seats available. I'm not used to UT where there may be one symphony, and one play, and maybe one dance production in a weekend.
I had struggled, but rationalized $20 for a ticket. There was no way I could part with $40. That's grocery's for a week. Not to mention that I find it statistically improbable that they would not have ONE cheaper seat available...
So I drove over to Charles and Peter's and watched a little old Star Trek with the family.
So I guess it wasn't a total lost, but all that make-up, hair and jewelry was kind of a waste.
No earth shattering anything has happened in the past month since arriving. It's gone by fast, but peacefully. It's been a good feeling.
I did have a bit of disappointment Saturday evening. Once I decided to move back to UT, I excitedly updated my calendar with one special event per month. One of the things I hated most about D.C. was the inability to go to concerts and plays. Sure, D.C. has plenty of events, but they cost an arm, leg and at least 100 hairs off your head. As an example, the only thing I went to was West Side Story. It cost $75 for nose-bleed seats, took an hour to commute via bus/subway connection and then coming home $25 for subway/taxi connection. $100 for bad seating and no food. It was actually easier and cheaper for me to take the Chinatown bus to NYC and catch shows that way. (This I did do several times.)
So, needless to say, I was very excited at the prospects of a 15 minute drive and $20 dollar seating for really good quality performances.
This past Saturday I had planned to attend the Utah Symphony performing Rachmaninoff symphony #2. I really struggled with myself about if it was the most prudent thing to do as I don't yet have a job. I decided that for $20 (and this included parking) I could afford to attend. (and then I fretted over parking which turned out to be wasted anxiety. This isn't Boston. There is no traffic downtown and ton of easy and cheap parking!)
I walked in to the ticket counter, and shock of shocks, they did not have one single $16 dollar seat. The ticket agent claimed the only seats they had left were $40 dollar tickets which are at the top of the price range for Abravenell Hall. I've been so used to Boston and NYC where a) people pay for the better seats so there are always cheap seats available and b) there are so many venues for patrons to attend that there are always seats available. I'm not used to UT where there may be one symphony, and one play, and maybe one dance production in a weekend.
I had struggled, but rationalized $20 for a ticket. There was no way I could part with $40. That's grocery's for a week. Not to mention that I find it statistically improbable that they would not have ONE cheaper seat available...
So I drove over to Charles and Peter's and watched a little old Star Trek with the family.
So I guess it wasn't a total lost, but all that make-up, hair and jewelry was kind of a waste.
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