13 autumns ago today
I agreed to exclusivity
Forecasting futures at 18
A lucky shot
A good investment
One of many steps
On our tour of bliss
Flat Butts and Joint Settling
I need a health check.
(I may not look like Jabba, but I’m getting a sense of that flabby, I’ve been sitting too much feeling.)
As I’ve mentioned before, work is picking up, and that’s an excellent thing.
But. There’s the butt. It’s sitting – a lot.
While I feel like I bounced back pretty quickly after Iris was born, I’m still not quite where I was before I got pregnant, and I have some pants I really want to wear again.
Filed under Health, I'm a Professional
Checkin’ In
Whatever. My time is so very limited; that’s the picture I went with.
Besides, when I looked up “peek” to try to find an image, I got mostly naughty things.
Anyway.
I miss you! Things have been quite busy work-wise, and the baby certainly isn’t becoming any less demanding of my attention. Needless to say, the blog is the one getting a vacation this year.
But it’s good. First of all, we neeeeeed the money. I mean, I never became a writer with the sole purpose of getting rich, but we’ve been cutting it close. I mean, to the point of buying non-organic eggs.
First world problems, I know.
It’s actually nice to be working, really working, again. While I still spend a lot of time being maternal (which is spectacular), I do need a chance, here and there, to strut my stuff as a ghost writer/web consultant/t-crosser and i-dotter.
And, I’ll simply never be a mommy blogger. Iris is my priority, my prize and my favorite pass time, but my blog is for me – like a champagne bubble bath or a Tudors marathon. It was around before her time, and will hopefully occupy me once she no longer requires my 24/7 services (perish the thought).
So, one day I’ll be back, three days a week and adhering to topic guidelines. For now, take care, behave yourselves and tip your servers.
Filed under AutoBio
Am I *Actually* a Successful Freelancer?
I am so busy. All of the sudden. Like, I have to remind myself to go to the bathroom.
Not that I’m complaining. I’ve been working toward this for a year, and it’s good to see things finally get going.
But I’m hungry, and would like one evening – just one – to sit and relax without my head spinning from new assignments.
Good thing I’m going to the beach this weekend. Any more time at the dining room table and I might start rocking back and forth while chanting things about keywords and duplicate URLs.
Again, this is a good thing. Just didn’t see it coming.
I may have to go underground for a bit. See you when I resurface!
Filed under I'm a Professional
Biological Origami – Trojan Horse of Cancer Treatment?
Those of you that know me know I have a cancer phobia. It’s the disease that’s most profoundly impacted my life, and I hate it.
Aside from taking very, very seriously the notion that we can significantly reduce risk by taking care of and educating ourselves, I perk up my ears whenever I hear a hint of hope for that magic cure, the silver bullet, the jackpot.
I then suppress the cynic inside when she reminds me that cancer treatment is a huge industry. The focus will always be on cure rather than prevention, and chemo and radiation are probably going to stay on top of that pile for a while.
Filed under Science
Free Range and Breastfed
A little update from the boob article…
We have success! After three and a half weeks of nearly constant breastfeeding and pumping and a couple daily supplemental formula bottles, Iris weighs 12 pounds and five ounces, as of her last weight check. If I did the math correctly, she gained over seven ounces each week. That’s at the higher end of healthy growth, and the pediatrician is very pleased.
She’d better be.
The whole thing was physically and emotionally trying, and I’m glad we came out good on the other side.
Filed under AutoBio, Of Family and Children
“After” Jenkins, by Mark Twain
I always enjoy Mark Twain’s short stories. He seems to have a thing about glass eyes, and I think it’s hilarious.
Today, I give you the piece “After” Jenkins, which recounts the dress of ladies at a ball, parodying newspaper society columns:
A grand affair of a ball–the Pioneers’–came off at the Occidental some time ago. The following notes of the costumes worn by the belles of the occasion may not be uninteresting to the general reader, and Jerkins may get an idea therefrom:
Mrs. W. M. was attired in an elegant ‘pate de foie gras,’ made expressly for her, and was greatly admired. Miss S. had her hair done up. She was the center of attraction for the envy of all the ladies. Mrs. G. W. was tastefully dressed in a ‘tout ensemble,’ and was greeted with deafening applause wherever she went. Mrs. C. N. was superbly arrayed in white kid gloves. Her modest and engaging manner accorded well with the unpretending simplicity of her costume and caused her to be regarded with absorbing interest by every one.
Filed under About a Freak
Rye Pasta Delightfulness
Gonna boast – when I took a bite of this, I almost died a little bit. That’s how good it was.
You may or may not agree. Still, if you like the ingredients, you’ll probably find the dish palatable. And (bonus), it’s good for yaz!
After my grain adventure, I had to find something to do with the rye pasta spirals.
I toyed with ideas about veggie versions of corned beef dishes and the like, but then remembered that we had a ton of artichokes and tomatoes that had to be used. Here’s the Haphazard Recipe:
Filed under Recipes
Hunting for Freelancers
Don’t mind old Herne up there. He’s just being a god of the hunt – possibly a Celtic one.
I got bored with the idea of a “freelance” picture.
Anyway.
It’s nice to feel wanted. This week, I was twice – twice – approached for freelance work.
Filed under I'm a Professional
Grainy Update
(This post might be a little bit of a cheat, but I promise there’s some good stuff in those links!)
Last week I posted this entry about whole grains and trying to vary them.
A couple of days later I went to my beloved Harvest Health and picked up rye pasta and hulled barley. I’m guessing plenty of pesto and spaghetti sauce are in my near future, but I’m also thinking about experimenting with (veggie) corned beef inspired pasta recipes and maybe some soup.
Filed under Health