The time has come

to get serious. 

Really, really serious. 

See, I made a deal with god today. (No, not that one. Dr. god. Hence the lowercase 'g')

It was my three-month check in with them--they have a special post-tx CF clinic for all of us. The last time I went was the same day as Parade's final tech rehearsal. (That was a long day) 

Anyway, today it was just me and god. We did the normal things--the rundown of the meds, checking to see if there were any complaints, basic exam, etc. Nothing too important. 

Then we had a Chat (and made a deal). 

See, before transplant, I weighed like nothing. (Check the photos in the May 06 archive if you don't believe me). Really, we're talking nothing. I couldn't wear size 0 clothes. It was bad. 

Now...let's just say we don't have that problem. 

Before t/x, exercise was supposed to happen, but, as things got worse, just existing was hard, so no exercise. And the exercise gene, in general, skipped me. My brother ran Boston in 2 hours in 54 minutes. Me? No. Running is a four-letter word to me. As Mia says in The Princess Diaries, "I'm a yoga girl." 

Well...now I have to be more than a yoga girl, apparently. As you know from some previous posts, I have been trying to work on this. Now I have to work harder. 

God wants exercise 5 days a week, at least 30 minutes at a time. 

My initial reaction? Four letter words. That I didn't say. 

Now I basically listen to everything she tells me to do, because she's god. But I really am not an exercise girl. I'm just...NOT. 

But I have agreed to become one. I see Dr. A in the t/x clinic on June 23, and I imagine Dr. god would take a peek at my chart on that date. So. 

We're going to make it happen. I think. Well, OK, it has to happen. I made a promise. 

• So--BalletMet summer session starts early in June. I can do that. 
  
• I have new workout shorts on the way (I didn't have any that weren't like a size -1), so I can work out in the incredibly hot apartment clubhouse gym and not die. 
  
• I am downloading the rest of my CDs onto my iPod, so I will have a gym-worthy playlist. 
  

Accountability can be here, via the blog. 

Hope y'all are ready for some fun reading. At least all you have to do is read it!

Peace Rules

This is one of the best things ever. Go get one. 

PENS

Going to the Big Dance again!

I think Detroit is goin' down. 

Monday

So, to wrap up the three day weekend:

• movies watched: The end of Junebug, A Midsummer Night's Dream. Hmmm more Christian Bale. 
• Books read: Volume 1 of S&S; more David Copperfield; the Terminator Salvation movie book. 
• iPod updated and charged
• Sewed the hem of a skirt that came undone. Yes, the skirt is beige. Yes, the thread I had was pink. But it's OK.  Also stitched up a hole in the underarm area of a cardigan. 
• Went to Olive Garden w/ Mom, Dad and Mel for dinner. Yummy. 
• Kroger for groceries. Stuff at Target is a lot cheaper, but they don't have produce. Sadly. And the north market stalls were mostly closed today. 
• Wrote letters to far away friends. Yes. Real letters. As in pen and ink. I know, that's a bit archaic.
• Finished the bread. One loaf for freezer, one for now. 
• Coffee ready for tomorrow. 
• Started a short story, which you can read here. Sort of dystopian. 
• Made list of food for the week. 

I am ready for the new week. I think. Maybe. 

The Simple Woman's Daybook--May 25, 2009

For Monday, May 25,2009

Outside my window...
It's almost dark, but it was a very pretty day. HOT though, about 86. 

I am thinking...
That it was a great weekend. Do I have to go back to work? (answer: Yes)

I am thankful for...
My family, days off

From the kitchen...
I finished brioche today. 

To live the liturgy...
Magnificat, Bible reading, rosary, St. Francis prayer book 

I am wearing...

>A raspberry colored tank top, and shorts

I am creating...
A new short story

I am going to breathe deeply ...
And relax--work will be fine!

Bringing beauty to my home ...
the house is clean!

I am going...

to take my pills, have a snack and go to bed. 

I am reading...

Sense and Sensibility, David Copperfield

I am hoping...
For a good, sane week. 

I am hearing...
The Star Trek soundtrack (n the car)

One of my favorite things...
Jane's books :) 

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:
Classes in general...

W: Volunteering at LOOP

Th: Post-tx CF clinic

Sunday report

*Mass at noon

*Lots of movies: finished Pursuit of Happyness, watched Pochahontas, then saw Star Trek at the theater with my dad and siblings. It's been awhile since I'd seen a movie in the theater, so it was fun. The movie was really good; the last Trek movie I saw in the theater, I was about six, and fell asleep about 10 minutes in. I also saw that with my dad (he loves the Trek. Loves it.). The soundtrack is excellent, and so is the acting. J. J. Abrahms does a commendable job resurrecting this franchise for the big screen. I, for one, hope there are more films featuring the young Spock and Kirk. (Side note: I didn't think Spock had a girlfriend! What is up with that?!) After the movie, I went home and started watching Junebug, Amy Adams' breakthrough film (for which she was nominated for an Oscar). 

*Baking: started making brioche loaves (recipe below). Right now the bread is "coming to room temperature" (36 minutes to go there). 

*Read more of David Copperfield. 

Rainy Sunday Baking

Brioche Loaves (from Ina Garten's Barefoot in Paris) 

Makes two loaves

1/2 c. warm water (110-120 degrees) 

1 package dried yeast

3 tbsp. sugar

6 extra-large eggs, at room temperature (I've used large just fine)

4 1/2 unbleached flour (I use King Arthur All-Purpose)

2 tsp. kosher salt

1/2 lb. (2 sticks) unsalted butter,at room temperature

1 egg mixed with 1 tbsp. milk, for egg wash (on second day)

Day One: 

Combine the water, yeast and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix with your hands and allow to stand for 5 minutes until the yeast and sugar dissolve. Add the eggs and beat on medium speed for one minute, until well mixed. With the mixer on low speed, add 2 c. of flour and the salt, ad mix for 5 minutes. With the mixer still on low, add two ore cups of flour and mix for five more minutes. Still on low speed, add the soft butter in chunks and mix for two minutes, scraping down the beater, until well blended. With the mixer still running, sprinkle in the remaining 1/4 c. flour. Switch the paddle attachment to a dough hook and mix on low speed for two minutes. Scrap the dough into a large buttered bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate over night. 

Day Two:

The next day, allow the dough to sit at room temperature for one hour. Grease two 8 1/2X 4 1/2X 2 1/2" loaf pans (regular bread pans). Turn the dough onto a lightly floured board and cut in half. Pat each portion into a 6x8" rectangle, then roll up each rectangle into a cylindrical loaf. Place each loaf, seam side down, into a greased pan. Cover the pans with a damp towel and set aside to rise at room temperature until doubled in volume, 2 to 2 1/2 hours. 

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. When the loaves have risen, brush the top of each with the egg wash and bake for 45 minutes, or until the top springs back and it sounds slightly hollow when tapped. Turn the loaves out onto a wire rack to cool. 

Saturday

So, the first day of my three day weekend leave us with this tally: 

*Movies watched: 1 1/2 (Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day--review later--and the first half of The Pursuit of Happyness--finishing that right now)

*Books read: More of David Copperfield (he just got engaged to Dora, if you want to know where I am). 

*Chores done: staples bought at Target; general cleaning

* MA classes: Sacraments lecture 

*Games watched and won: 1 (Pens!) (For more hockey, check out this bad blood in the West)

*Taco Dip Consumed: A Lot

*Pizzas eaten: 1/2. Mel at the other half. 

A good day. 

Nicholas' Gift--15 years later

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

(If you don't know: Nicholas Green and his family were vacationing in Italy. While driving through Calabria, the seven-year old was shot during a robbery attempt. His family donated his organs, and the number of people signing organ donation cards in Italy quadrupled.) 

His story has been made into a movie, and his father wrote a book. (Which is very good--Karen gave it to me as a discharge gift.) 

Here's a related story the PPG also ran, about shortening the length of the transplant list. 

If you're NOT a donor, please sign up today! 

Random thoughts, linkage, etc.

• OK, yes, I've been AWOL for a bit. But between the Penguins winning, insanity at work, and friends' visiting, it's been busy here!
• So, first, some linkage. This is a great, great blog post. Really great. Go. Read. 
• Above I mentioned I had friends visit this week. Who? These two: 

That, my friends, is Karen, my transplant nurse, and her adorable, soon-to-be-one-year-old daughter, Paige. Paige was focused on the bit of lucky muffin that Karen was holding out--and Paige loved them. Every time she had a bite, she did this little head-bang/nod thing. It was adorable. Karen hadn't seen my apartment since I first moved in, so there were lots of changes! In honor of Paige's birthday, I got her Go, Dog, Go! which was my brother and I's favorite Dr. Seuss book when we were kids. I would read it to him over and over. We actually have that on videotape at my parents'--me reading to Bryan in my dad's big recliner. I was doing all the voices, too. Bryan was entranced. 

• And yeah, speaking of the Lucky Muffins--Pens up 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals against The Carolina Hurricanes. Game 3 tonight in Carolina. 
• Also in sports news: this is a good column. 
• In MA news: working on both classes, slowly but steadily. More up at CPG later. 
• The unread book pile? Remember this?

We're working on it! David Copperfield is actually being read, and I'm making progress! Of course this weekend starts the Great Jane Re-Read (I think this is the fourth year for it? Not sure), wherein I re-read all of Jane. I will be starting with 

S&S later today. 

• OK whew. I think that's it for now. More as the long weekend progresses....

ha!

I went to the gym. At like 8:00, I just up and said, I'm going. 

No one there, did the treadmill. 

I am happy with myself. 

And..

my Sacraments prof and more links here. 

Some random linkage

Food snobbery at....food banks?!

The Simple Woman's Daybook--May 18, 2009

The Simple Woman's Daybook
For MONDAY, May 18, 2009
Outside my window...
It's a beautiful spring day! High 60s, a bit of a breeze, the trees are all green. 

I am thinking...
That it has been a good Monday so far. 

I am thankful for...
My family, my vocation

From the kitchen...
Not sure yet. A few options, including shrimp or pasta.
To live the liturgy...
Magnificat, Bible reading, rosary, St. Francis prayer book 
I am wearing...

A DKNY green plaid skirt; green camisole; green cardigan (all different shades of green so I don't look like a Leprechaun)
I am creating...
Files for my MA classes (I know, not very exciting)

I am going to breathe deeply ...
And enjoy this lovely day

Bringing beauty to my home ...
the house is clean!
My kitchen table is finally clear!
I am going...

to listen to my next Sacraments lecture and do the homework (if any. This prof isn't real big on assignments). And then follow the Pens online. 
I am reading...

A lot of the CCC. :) And then...On Being Catholic, David Copperfield
I am hoping...
For good classes this week.
I am hearing...
The Juno soundtrack

Around the house...
not a lot to do. General tidying. 
One of my favorite things...
My new file folders :) 
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:
T: A meeting w/ a friend of mine from church about a youth ministry he's involved in here in the city. 

Th: Lunch w/ Dad, ballet class (I will get there!!) 

F-M: Long weekend, yay! 

A Picture Thought I am Sharing:

Another pic of me and the cutest babe ever. Behind us is my cousin Kelly. My brother took this while Justin and I were playing "airplane", or whatever you want to call the game where you rock the baby back and forth. 

(sorry the spacing is all funny--blogger was going nuts as I composed this) 

Sacraments 101

(well, OK, really 516, but who's counting?)

Second class here. 

Seven Quick Takes Friday--Vol. IV

I. 

Market Day was on Thursday this week. For $19, I bought: two large lemons, a pint of strawberries, a bunch of bananas (for the making of these), a quart of local,non-fat milk (that tastes AMAZING), and a pound of hot dogs from the local butcher. $15 more will buy you two delicious pints of ice cream from here. (And if you don't live in Columbus, get this delivered. Seriously)

II. 

Had my first MA class yesterday-Principles of Biblical Study I. You can read about it here. I have my first Sacraments class tonight. I'll let you know how it goes. 

III. 

Addendum to point II--I still can't believe I read all of Genesis in one sitting. I guess reading the Bible is more fun when you understand how it works, or you're looking for things. Not that I didn't like Genesis before, but it makes more sense when you understand it. True of life in general I guess. 

IV. 

Auditions for Hilliard Summer Theater's musical--Big River--are next Sunday. If I can swing clips rotation with my boss and co-workers, I will be there. I am looking forward to seeing lots of old friends! If you want to read about my first year of summer adventures with them, check out the 'j_h' category on the sidebar.  Still not sure what next year's theater line-ups are for other theater companies. 

V. 

In apartment news--my dad thinks I need a new garbage disposal. Yay! 

VI. 

Not a lot of reading this week. I got Scott Hahn's "A Father Who Keeps His Promises", and began to read it, but since my MA stuff came the next day, I"ve been reading that. I will probably read some more over the weekend and have bookshelves if there is anything new (as in, anything from the ever-growing 'to read' pile that gets finished). The new Duck's Cottage book club book should be arriving tomorrow or Monday, so I'm excited to see it!

VII. 

We have had a lot of rain this spring, so much that when it's sunny (like today) everything is a brilliant green. BUt when it's not sunny, when it's overcast and rainy, I'm reminded of a phrase of Annie Dillard's, from Pilgrim at Tinker Creek. She talks about the "fecundity of spring"--how things are growing and green and alive, how it's a powerful thing to witness. So while I love the sun, seeing that power and growth when it's grey and raining is quite wonderful as well. 

For more quick takes, hop over to conversion diary. 

"So, how did it go?"

My first day of school. 

YES!

My first two MA courses have arrived!!!

CPG stuff

A post commemorating the first Fatima apparition here. (With links to movies!) 

Bookshelf: The Whole World Over

This is the second Julia Glass novel I've read, following Three Junes, for which she won the National Book Award. I've had my eye on this one for awhile and finally picked it up last weekend.

Greenie owns a bakery in lower Manhattan, and is married to Alan, a psychologist, with whom she has a son, George, who's about 5. Walter, Greenie's friend and owner of a local restaurant, gets Greenie a 'tryout' with the Governor of New Mexico--after tasting her coconut cake at Walter's, he wants to hire her as his personal chef. While their political opinions don't exactly mesh, he offers her the position. 

The offer comes at the right time for Greenie (whose real name is Charlotte). She and her husband haven't been getting along; she thinks it's some sort of midlife crisis. So she takes the job in New Mexico, brining her son with her. Alan is supposed to move out there with them. But he never does, only coming for occasional visits. 

While in New Mexico, Greenie reconnects with a former high school fling, and seriously considers beginning a relationship with him, after she discovers that Alan has fathered an illegitimate child with a former schoolmate. The two consider divorce but, as Alan bring George back to New York City to live with him, they never begin the proceedings. 

All of this is interrupted by the events of 9/11. This is the second 9/11 book I've read (the first being A Little Love Story, which is superb), and in this book the events are the catalyst for everyone to "come to their senses." Greenie flies back east, to her parents' cabin in Maine, where Alan and George have gone post-attack. Will there be a reconciliation?

The book's secondary characters are fantastic. There's Walter and his multiple, complex relationships; Saga, an epileptic who works for an animal rescue, and has a few run ins with Walter, Alan, and Fenno, a bookstore owner; Saga's family, including the domineering Michael; and of course, the clan in New Mexico, including the governor's chauffeur, "Big George." 

A theme throughout the book is nicknames, or misplaced names. Saga's real name is Emily; Greenie's is Charlotte, but she's called all sorts of things. Fenno even has a few different names in the novel. Identities and motives are not what they seem throughout the entire book. 

I liked this one better than Three Junes--it seemed to move faster. Both books involve lots of food, so it's not something I recommend to read if you're hungry. (My mistake) Some of the secondary plots seemed unnecessary, but all resolved satisfactorily. I would read this one before Three Junes, and I'll tackle Glass's third book, I See You Everywhere (about the relationship between sisters) once it's in paperback.