Lice, Ice, Bitches & Barf (LIBB)

Among my goals for this school year was to have better work/life balance. Among my goals to achieve that for the winter break was to do some journaling, especially with prompts from this book. So here are two entries the book inspired me to complete.     And:   

EDITED Dec 27, 2018 After a busy fall semester that included publishing an article, presenting at a conference, overhauling curriculum, starting work on an intense committee, and leading a tenure-track search for a new colleague, I'm looking forward to a better mix of activities over the break. Here are a couple of goals: To read these: To do these: To cook these: Pretzel rolls and then this beer cheese dip to go inside plus my Grandma Neenah's pumpkin bars with cream cheese icing,   DONE peanut butter filled chocolate cookies, DONE and LOTS OF SOUP. I've already made: rice pudding (Grandma Pickett's recipe) stovetop (cornstarch) chocolate peanut butter pudding Paleo shepherd's pie cheesy hash brown pork chop bake chocolate pumpkin brownies (I need to retire that recipe, it turns out too cakey and dry) kale, mushroom baked pasta with goat cheese béchamel sauce and garlic breadcrumbs on top Grandma Neenah's pumpkin bar...

My aunt and uncle have lived in Toronto for about 40 years. He passed away the end of May so my mom and I went to visit my aunt. We were there for 3 days and saw a TON. The overarching theme was food.  Day 1:   Upon arrival at the train station Linda made it a point to go here to pick up provisions for dinner. I love the way she thinks! Day 2 : Day 3 :

I've been wanting to take J to a move for a while and decided "The Incredibles 2" was an excellent choice. We saw an afternoon show, complete with popcorn and lemonade, in the Hilldale complex. The movie theatre is right across from Gigi's Cupcakes and I figured we could indulge in a sweet treat too. J was amazed when she remarked wistfully "I wish we could get a cupcake there" and I immediately said yes, that's where we were heading next. On the way back home we passed an elementary school with a large playground full of unique fixtures. She said wistfully, "I wish we could stop there and play but I know we can't." Without saying a word I turned around. We approached it again and she repeated her earlier longing to go there. I parked and said "You're in luck. We are going there." "REALLY??!!" We got home and she asked if I'd like to do an art project with her and since it ...

I suspect like a lot of people the 2016 presidential election really galvanized my positions on political issues. I've been working hard to be more civically engaged in ways that are relatively easy like regularly calling my elected officials to urge them to take a certain position or vote a certain way.  I tried to step up my game a bit by also attending events. It started with a march in Minneapolis to protest the treatment of asylum seekers at the border, particularly the separation of children from their families, especially without any plan or intent to reunite those families later.  It continued with a protest outside Senator Ron Johnson's Madison office (on Wall Street, no less.🙄) We were urging him to be a leader in his party and stand against the appalling treatment of asylum seekers, particularly the separation of family members.  And then I attended another event at Johnson's office, this time protesting the likely nomination o...

Here are some random snaps from Memorial weekend.  I discovered the podcast "Levar Burton Reads" and this short story by Neil Gaiman was my first. It was such an enjoyable way to walk the dog.  J made this family artwork expressly for K's room. Besties. Visit with Grandpa.  Big girl undies. In the months since this photo she has not made progress on this front, unfortunately. It's a love/hate relationship with nature around here. She loves being outside but grass is prickly. My French dad gave me an extra bottle of my favorite French wine, a dry white from the Loire region called Muscadet. My dad loves it too. I saved it for his visit this weekend. It was sweltering and the chilly crispness of the wine was perfect. This was the #1 birthday gift-a collection of stories from Disney films. She poured over it and "read" it to herself with utter fixation for about 15 minutes. More birthday gifts