NaBloPoMo Reflections

So, like last year, I guess, I didn’t write my end-of-NaBloPoMo post on November 30 because the date fell on a day when I have regularly-scheduled posting themes, and apparently I’m too OCD about my blog-post themes to re-arrange them. Also like last year, I realized: (1) I probably should spend more time on my posts, and (2) if I really want to build a following, I have to comment more on others’ blogs.

I think I had more fun this year, though. Maybe because I didn’t pay too much attention to the prompts, and mostly did my own thing? I usually do better with writing when I don’t have to come up with an idea, but this time, even after setting up Twitter lists of blog-post-prompts, I really didn’t follow anybody else’s suggestions that much. Perhaps the addition of my Tuesday Tea themed-posts helped some? Also, I decided to give myself I break if I just wanted to post a picture, even if it wasn’t Wordless Wednesday.

I also have become convinced that I should improve my “About” page. I never bothered, because I figured people could read my blog and figure out what I was about. But, it is true that the “About” page is one of the first places I go when looking at a new blog, so … Perhaps I should crowd-source it? Let me know if you have a brilliant idea of what I should include in my “About” page that perfectly captures the essence of “me.”

Rockin’ a Cowl

 

Cowl by jkbeitz

I think I could rock a cowl.

Do you think I could rock a cowl?

Maybe I can’t rock a cowl.

Routines

I typically work out in the morning. And by “work out” I mean, “take a walk” (a 90-minute walk, though!) or some low-key elliptical in the basement (if it’s too cold, rainy, or what-have-you). Yesterday morning, though, my throat was a bit scratchy, and I just said, “Ugh. I’ma gonna stay in bed where it’s nice and cozy.” (I said it to myself, though, so as not to wake anybody up).

And the morning just went downhill from there. AG woke up late, and dawdled, and I snapped at her, and I was late to work, and I just was in a foul mood all day. So last night, I said to spouse, “Unless I’m sick tomorrow morning – like, really sick, I am exercising.” I think I need the extra time in the morning by myself, the getting the blood flowing, the reflection … whatever it is, I need it. This has happened before when I skipped a morning constitutional* for no good reason.

Of course, that promise was made before the 1:30 wake-up call occasioned by AG’s … ah, need to toss her cookies.** Poor kiddo. On top of that, I had forgotten that she had had pizza and raspberries for dinner the night before, so at 1:30 a.m. I thought she was dying or something. (Note – she appears fine now; we think the raspberries might have been to blame).

But! I did make it up this morning to get some exercise, so I’m in a better mood today.

Better, but more tired. Oh, so tired.

*Not meant in the euphemistic sense.
**Meant in the euphemistic sense.

Dusk (last March)

Paris

Note – I typically drink the loose tea. But I do have some bags on hand. Let me know if you’d like to try it sometime!

I first tried Paris by Harney & Sons at a great bakery/cafe in Yakima while visiting my sister last year.

If you’re ever in Yakima, you really should go to the Essencia Bakery.

They topped it off with frothed milk, and I thought it was the best tea I’d ever tasted. Immediately I purchased some myself. It’s pretty strong (or at least, I brew it that way, with 3 teaspoons loose tea) and invigorating. It smells delightfully fruity, although I don’t see anything but black tea when I look at the leaves. It’s got bergamot in it, which I thought I didn’t like, because I don’t like Earl Gray tea (don’t judge me, tea aficionados), and which I just learned today is a kind of a citrus fruit! Which would explain the fruity-ness.

It’s still one of my very favorites. For my birthday that year, Sis got me a milk frother, so I can better replicate the taste at home. It does taste like Paris.

Thanksgiving Leftovers

As I said before, it was kind of a grey Thanksgiving, weather-wise. Because hunting season is going on in Wisconsin during Thanksgiving, we can’t go tramping through the woods with our dogs like we normally do when we’re visiting Spouse’s family. So, what we do during times like these, after large T’giving dinners and whatnot, is tramp around Oak Island and Fern Island Parks, an island park in Wausau.

We have to tramp around it approximately 24 times to equal the 90-minute walk at 4 mph that I normally give the dogs, but … (I keed, I keed).

Anyway, back to the old grindstone! Hope you all had a great, long weekend.

Pinkie Pie Problems

This is not Pinkie Pie. This is Minty.

When we asked our almost-four-year-old what she wanted for Christmas, she replied with a very serious, “I want a Pinkie Pie pony.”

A little back story is in order here. About a year ago, spouse stumbled upon a bag of My Pretty Little Ponies at a garage sale, for, like, two bucks. They’ve proven mighty adept at soothing the dread of dentist and doctor appointments, as well as forestalling potential tantrums at restaurants and photo shoots. He found another such treasure at a later garage sale, and thus our house has been happily overrun by pretty rainbow-sherbet-colored equines with rather raggedy, snarled hair (see above).

This was followed by the discovery of the MLP books at the library, and thus AG learned of the confectionery-like names given to the creatures (previously, she’d been giving them her own, and better, to my mind, names), as well as their wholesome adventures. Alas, however, we do not have a Pinkie Pie (who seems to feature prominently in said adventures, for some reason).

We didn’t know at the time that the Ponies have enjoyed a sort-of emergence of hipster-cool. Nor did we know – although spouse eventually discovered this through some admirably diligent research – that the Ponies have gone through several incarnations, and the ones we have are the somewhat old-school “Generation 3″ versions (I love how the MLP Wikipedia page has the “this page is not unbiased” warning. Kids writing essays on My Little Ponies – take note!)

Have you seen the new ones? They’re hideous! The look like they were born too near Mr. Burns’ power plant or something, with their swollen foreheads, their too-big big eyes, and their shrunken noses. They completely creep me out.

So, I guess what I’m asking here is, (1) how horrible of me would it be to track down an older (probably used) version of Pinkie Pie on eBay and give it to the kid for Christmas?, and (2) can I do it in a way that avoids “vintage” pricing?

Just a few quick links …

Was in Wausau, WI for the holiday. Cold and grey.

It was a short week. I didn’t mark too many things in Google Reader as being worthy of passing on. Here are a few that made the cut:

• yes and yes: Mini Travel Guide: Ireland. We spent our honeymoon in Ireland. I’d love to go back (protip: tell people it’s your honeymoon when you’re in Ireland. They fuss over you and give you perks. At least, that’s how I remember it).
• Messy Nessy Chic: Color Snapshots of Paris in another Era. I know I link to Messy Nessy every week, but these pictures are so cool.
• The Tangential: An Existential Nihilist Guide to Tying Your Shoes. Hee! “Is the shoe still a shoe when it’s on your foot?”
• The Classic TV History Blog: WKRP’s Turkeys Away: An Oral History. A little late for Thanksgiving now, but very funny. Also, am totally adding this blog to my Google Reader.

And that’s all, folks! Hope you’re having a scrumptious weekend.

The day after Thanksgiving, style-wise

The day after Thanksgiving by jkbeitz

Yesh.

Thanks …

… an incomplete list, in no particular order:

• loving family
• wonderful friends
• bright, (usually) cheerful, talkative, funny, interesting kiddo
• understanding, affectionate, unflappable, stalwart spouse
• continued good health of those above (and myself)
• beautiful music
• supportive, hard-working, intelligent colleagues
• thoughtful and inquisitive students
• fuzzy, cuddly pets!
• sturdy roof over my head
• literal and metaphorical warmth
• peace