Duly Noted

Mike called me to the front window to spy a pair of cardinals protected together in our ugly evergreen bush.  A beautifully feathered male and female snuggled side by side as a leap day wintery slush weighed down on the green's outer boughs.  It made me happy to see those patient birds find a spot to rest.  Mike and I grinned at each other and wondered if we might have a nest in a month or two...a gentle reminder that spring will come. 

What is marvelous about today? Mid-quarter grades are due...which means that there are only 1 and 1/2 quarters left of school!  Which means summer is not unimaginably far away! Haircut!  Shorter...and a touch darker!  Yes, I got some rich dark brown highlights.  I think one person noticed. I run after school almost daily.  Once and a while though, I cut myself some slack and veg out with a diet coke, a blanket, and a stack of reading material.  Today is one of those days.  Rachel is bearing with me and being cozy too. Today is Greg Vasich's birthday.  Mike and I are honoring him tonight with an annual burger night.  If only he were here to share it with us.

This post is a tribute to Miles and Laurel and all other bloggers who participate in the Marvelous Monday phenomenon. 1) The McCarthy parents visit.  In addition to playing cards and drinking Slivovitz , we decided to pack a little entertainment into our presidents' weekend itinerary. Friday: Fame, as performed by my high school students! Saturday: Sherlock Holmes, Part I.  Everyone fell asleep except Dad. Sunday: American Teacher at Bryant Lake Bowl AND Cat On A Tin Roof at the Guthrie Monday: Breakfast with Downton Abbey.  OMG. Each of these showings could really be a post on their own so I will leave it at that for now, but prepare for a critical review in the near future. 2) At Bryant Lake Bowl, a poster advertised Orange Mighty Trio's spin off group, NES.  They are performing this Thursday along with an 8-Bit beer release.  I quite enjoy seeing my husband's photo in the window! 3) Speed workout!  Tried and true running partners, Rebecca...

  These days, Sunday mornings are usually reserved for church or yoga class, but this Sunday called for a long run.  I was going to go running on Saturday, but decided against it due the freezing cold weather.  Sunday, on the other hand, was gorgeous.  The major highlight of the run was discovering some pond hockey rinks along Minnehaha Creek.  I have noticed a few before but these ones were very nicely composed.  If I have children one day, they will be winter sport athletes, and in terms of spectator appeal, ice hockey is at the top of my list. Rachel relaxes for a moment and takes in the hockey rinks.  She is actually a very competent figure skater. Rachel and I napping in the sun post run.

Tediously trucking my ol' achin' feet through ten, twelve hours days at two different part-time jobs, I went into auto-drive. I didn't complain, but I also didn't really live this past week...or at least live meaningfully. There were, of course (or rather, thank God!), moments of beauty that I can recall (the daily morning cup of lavender earl gray tea with milk and honey, riding my bike through rain puddles, the savory deliciousness of Mike's famous sauteed rosemary pasta done to perfection), but, truth be told, I struggled to wrap my mind around anything once I was outside of work. I tried to read one of the library books I selected...I couldn't get through a paragraph. I tried to run. No way. Go to Yoga. No. Call a friend. Couldn't deal with talking about stuff cause stuff was work and work was, well, generally uninspiring. The dullness of too many hours in too uninspiring of settings tends extends to my off time. I lose Molly-toodling capa...

Typically anti-technology in social settings...these photos reveal another story.  Okay, so I'll admit it, every once and a while, the ipad can bring joy and intrigue to a gathering.  But, it is very rare.

*invite friends- new and old- over for a home-cooked dinner . *practice good table manners as a guest. *exist as a tourist..even in my own city . *only keep things that I need or I consider beautiful . *make something.  use my hands. *try something just a little exotic . *write something.  document. *Embrace the season .