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August 30, 2004
sharing the love
I gave 80% my closet away yesterday. It was a happy event in several ways, in that it was because the clothes no longer fit me and because two of my girlfriends ended up with a big bag to take home with them. They were so funny, like kids in a candy store, with all the free clothes piling up for them. Many of them were just purchased a few months ago, so they are like new.
I made the bold move before summer to give away 80% of my winter clothes as well. I determined that I wasn't going to fit into them. And the good news is, I wouldn't be able to if they were still in my winter stash in the attic.
But what this means is that I barely have any clothes to wear! I'm nearly down to about 3 pairs of pants that fit me really well. I suppose that I shouldn't complain about having to go shopping, right? Still, it's hard to think about the fact that in a few months I'll be giving away the newly bought clothes once more. I'm ending up spending a lot of money in transition clothes. Lots of TJMaxx in my future, I think.
Being 40 lbs lighter than I was a year ago is a pretty darn good problem to have. I'm back down to my pre-college weight...pretty cool, huh?
Posted by crystallyn at 10:32 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
August 29, 2004
summer's end
Friday and Saturday nights this weekend really spoke to the foodies in us. We dined in style at both 33 and then at Mantra. Mmmmm. Mantra is a definite recommend. Interesting, innovative food and the atmosphere is delightfully modern and stylish.
Labor day is going to be a quiet one for us, with an evening with friends on Friday night and then me hoping that the beach will be in order at least one of the subsequent weekend days! I want one more day at Crane's before the season ends!
But what I'm really looking forward to is Brimfield, which is September 7-12 this year. If you live in New England and love antiques, this is the place for you. Every kind of antique you can imagine...linens, dishes, furniture, sports equipment, posters, jewelry, art, ephemera, and on and on! We're going to take off Friday the 10th and head on down to see what we can find. In past years we found our dining room table, our really nice wire plant stand on the porch, jewelry
and this wonderful antique egg print for our kitchen:
I need a dresser, so we'll be on the lookout for a good bargain. I'll also have the chance to look for antique postcards of Seattle and Boston. My collection is really growing these days.
After Brimfield, back to the Berkshires to spend time with Joe's family, who are the most wonderful people in the world. I really love the Berkshires, and it's been too long since we've been back. We didn't make it at all this summer, even though I vowed I would finally see a concert at Tanglewood. Next year.
Posted by crystallyn at 06:55 PM | TrackBack
August 23, 2004
sparkling whites!
So I decided to give it a shot...and try out Crest White Strips. I was shocked to discover that they really work! Even after just one application I could tell the difference.
They're not too terrible, but you can't really talk to people when you have them on. I have a tough time with the one on the bottom...it makes you salivate a bit and then the strip gets slippery, which then gets icky. But for the most part, they are pretty easy to use.
But seriously, one application really brightened my teeth...dramatically. I don't think I have terribly yellowed teeth or anything, but definitely have the effects of years of coffee. I don't even think I need the whole 7 day treatment, but I'll keep at it. On day two and I already think that the nearly $20 price tag is worth it.
Now I'll have the sparkly model smile to go with my sparkly blue eyes.
Vanity kills...it don't pay bills. But my teeth are whiter! Who knows what's in this stuff though!
Posted by crystallyn at 09:52 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
August 20, 2004
French food and conversation, turkeys and giants!
Very cool things:
Joe, who is the coolest in my book, picked us up tickets to go see They Might Be Giants in a few weeks! They're playing here in September, and I'm SO excited! If you don't have The Spine yet, you HAVE to go grab it...it's a great album!
After two weeks of not seeing turkeys at work, finally five of them, picking away at the grass along the parking lot. They crack me up. ;-)
That same cool Joe grabbed us reservations at Lumiere for Restaraunt Week (which is pretty difficult to get right now...all the restaraunts are booked up). Lumiere picked up accolades from the Food Network for one of the best French Bistros. Can't wait!
I'm brushing up on my French too, and it's definitely coming back. I picked up a Pimsleur set of CDs for the car. I'm flying through them pretty fast though but the brush up is good and I think that it's helping me with pronunciation quite a bit. The big set of Pimsleur CDs are pretty expensive unfortunately. But after this semester, I think I'm going to take a course at the Boston French Center and see if I can get back in the swing of things. I may get Joe to take a one-day beginners immersion course with me on a weekend too. He thinks he can't learn French, but I don't believe him. :)
Then again, he would tell you I never believe him (not true!)...
Posted by crystallyn at 06:31 AM | TrackBack
August 15, 2004
RIP Czeslaw Milosz, Julia Child
On Saturday, one of the world's greatest contemporary poets, Czeslaw Milosz, passed away.
THE THISTLE, THE NETTLE
Let the sad terrestrials remember me,
recognize me and salute: the thistle and the tall nettle,
and the childhood enemy, belladonna.
-O. V. DE L. MILOSZ, "Les Terrains Vagues"
The thistle, the nettle, the burdock, and belladonna
Have a future. Theirs are wastelands
And rusty railroad tracks, the sky, silence.
Who shall I be for men many generations later?
When, after the clamor of tongues, the award goes to silence?
I was to be redeemed by the gift of arranging words
But must be prepared for an earth without grammar,
For the thistle, the nettle, the burdock, and the belladonna,
And a small wind above them, a sleepy cloud, silence.
--Czeslaw Milosz, trans. Hass & Milosz.
His poetry is wonderfully accessible, and his words have directly touched and influenced my life. I am greatly saddened by the loss of this great poet.
And Julia Child, the most celebrated chef of our times...possibly ever, passed away on Friday. She lived for much of her life in Cambridge, and when she moved from there, her kitchen was donated to the Smithsonian. Few know that she was a spy in World War II.
Julia Child's Chocolate Mousse
Serves 8
8 oz. Sweet or semi sweet baking chocolate -- melted with:
1/4 c. Strong coffee
6 tbsp Unsalted butter
3 Egg yolks
1 c. Heavy cream (make sure it's the heavy variety)
3 Egg whites
1/4 c. Instant (finely ground) sugar
-----OPTIONAL----
Whipped cream
Beat the soft butter into the smoothly melted chocolate. One by one, beat in
the egg yolks. Beat the cream over ice until it leaves light traces on the
surface. Beat the egg whites until they form soft peaks. While beating,
sprinkle in the sugar by spoonfuls and continue beating until stiff shining peaks are formed. Scrape the chocolate mixture down the side of the egg-white bowl, and delicately fold in the whipped cream. Turn the mousse into attractive serving bowls. Cover and chill several hours.
You may wish to decorate the mousse with swirls of whipped cream, or to pass
whipped cream separately.
Julia Child - The way to cook. Published by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Copyright 1989 by Julia Child. Isbn 0-394-53264-3.
Rest in Peace, Czeslaw and Julia. Our world is much brighter because of you.
Posted by crystallyn at 11:20 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
August 05, 2004
so it turns out
that I have a wedding to go to the day after Manilow. In New York. From one magnificent party to another.
Other things of note:
1. I have a tan. Really. Imagine...pasty white me, tan. :)
2. Joe forgot to pull the paper off the disposable litter box while we were out at Mirror Lake in NH on vacation last week and Romeo decided that the big rubber plant in the living room was a suitable cat box. Well, he is smart, I have to give him that. We at first thought he was disgruntled, but then realized that he was just using his next option. Besides, how could he be disgruntled? He had Paulette taking care of him (in between hanging out with Jerry Springer (literally!) that is).
3. CONGRATULATIONS TO BRENT AND MARY ANN!!!! WOOOOHOOOO YOU TWO! You better be sending some pictures in my direction! I want to see this Dreat guy once and for all. ;)
4. Joe and I have decided that we're going to France next year. No clue how or when, but it is going to happen. We're targeting 10 days. I minored in French...figured I better actually put all that education to use. But it's been 10 years now and a brush up is DEFINITELY in order. Would welcome any recommends on places to eat or stay in Paris or any of the wine regions.
5. When I get my first paycheck from the super cool new job (I haven't had a paycheck in a month!!), I'm getting one of these:
6. I learned about the wicked cool Archimedes Palimpsest today.
7. Urbanoutback pointed out what someone else pointed out...in that every day you think of a monkey. OMG it's SO TRUE! Every day since then, a monkey has surfaced at some point during the day. Amazing. EVERY DAY YOU THINK OF A MONKEY.
8. In case you ever wondered about the evolution of food, now there is the Food Timeline
9. WOOOHOOO I made the Wikipedia. Who knew that a little jaunt by Joanie and I would end up being a bit more than 15 minutes of fame?
And I'm sleeeepy.
Posted by crystallyn at 09:19 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack