February Schmebruary

Febs, what, really, do you have to offer me?  Yeah, you birthed two of my favorite people (mom, Abe), but aside from that, I'm inclined to think you kinda suck.  Dark.  Dreary.  COLD.  Everyone's cranky.  TV sucks.  My tax return is not yet here.  And now with the added suspense of grad school applications, I just need you to be over with so I can get on with March and life and stuff.  

I'm also inclined to invent a time machine so I can go back to 1582 and kick Pope Gregory in the nuts for giving you an extra day.

Also, that "R" before the "U"?  Who pronounces that?  No one.  You just do it to be difficult, don't you?  

* also, i have to give props to natalie dee because i stole the last two images from her site and i adore her.

The only time you'll ever hear me say anything nice about Florida

 ... in celebration of Rudy's crushing defeat in Florida.  Hallelujah.  The crazies are finally dropping off.  Thanks Floridians.    

Dear FAFSA,

So that's how it's gonna be, huh? I tell you my net worth is $0. You tell me my expected annual contribution is $10,000. Then you go ahead and tell all my school friends. That's like 1/3 of my income, homes. I thought you had a heart. Disappointed, Kate

Pics Up!

Finally got around to posting my England & Barcelona pics from our recent trip! Check them out here:

England 2007/8

Barcelona 2008

Nutrisystem Commercial Defies Laws of Grammar

"It works.  So.  Good."

"After two weeks, I could tell my jeans were fitting looser."

Thumb vs. Mandoline: The Ultimate Slice

Top three shitty things about slicing your thumbprint off with your new mandoline:

1) It fucking hurts.  Oh, and it bleeds a LOT.  All over the place!    

2) Your solo-Sunday plans are shot to shit (finishing baby blanket, piano playing, etc.) and you are left to do nothing but hold your right hand over your head and watch Juno (again) and Northanger Abbey and try to do a crossword with your left hand (difficult).

3) Ambiguity over where piece of thumb actually ended up.  Possibly mixed in with delicious home-baked apple chips.

Top three awesome things about slicing your thumbprint off with your new mandoline:

1) Awesome story to tell next time you re-enter the U.S. and you have to stick your thumber on that DHS machine thing!  Identity, Schmidentity!

2) You are left to do nothing but hold your right hand over your head and watch Juno (again) and Northanger Abbey.

3) It almost makes you forget how much your TMJ hurts!

TODAY IS FUN!  

the apple chips are delish, though.

Mi hermano

So my amazing little brother got me an amazing, completely out-of-the-blue surprise subscription to the New Yorker for Christmas and my first issue just showed up in my mailbox.  I can't contain my excitement.  Now I don't have to steal Carrie's leftovers!

'bama Drama

So I've signed up to be a part of an all-girl political roundtable on Seattlest ... the first installment of which will probably be popping up there soon, FYI. I'm trying to "Be impeccable with my word," this year, so it's a good exercise in helping me articulate why I'm voting the way I am. Some weird chain of events has led me from writing that piece to sitting here at work at 9:39 a.m. reading Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address and biting my lip. I'm realizing I read Lincoln for the same reason I watch "Sense and Sensibility:" they're quick, emotionally swollen punches in the face that get me all teary and doe-eyed ... which for some reason I crave on a dreary Friday in January. I've spent the last week fighting with people about "womanity" but now realize that this is something that genuinely sets me apart from the dudes. Also, I'm about to add something REALLY EXCITING to my Lincoln shrine; I won't spoil the surprise, but OH MAN is it awesome.

A little color

From the sun and sea of Barcelona to the showers and sea of Seattle.  I'm back.  Partially.  My mind is definitely here, but my body, somewhere over the Atlantic.  I'll have plenty of wonderful wonderful stories of Barcelona (and London New Years) once I get my pictures up; this hasn't happened yet, so I'll wait.

Today was a long and bitterly cold Thursday, seriously wearing on my psyche.  Until I picked up my farmshare and opened up a box of glorious, glorious color.  This week's box included cabbage, red potatoes, celery, yellow onions, red beets, sweet potatoes, leeks, rainbow chard, baby carrots, curly parsley, fresh mint, apples, juice oranges and a mango.  Nothing makes a dark winter night like a treasure trove of fresh produce.

The farmshare has completely changed my cooking life.  Local, fresh, organic, it forces me to cook things I've not ever invited to my table before.  Two months ago, I had never eaten a beet or a sweet potato.  Now I can't live without them. 

I might even like looking at these fruits and veggies as much as I like eating them.  Oh I can't wait for summer produce.