Pathetic Fallacy

Full

Editrix — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 02:35:19 +0000

It’s been an eventful, stressful, hopeful few months. And I don’t want to tempt the Fates by assuming anything. But a dream I’ve had for a good 10 years has gotten a lot closer to materializing. And for that — and for whom I’m so fortunate to have by my side throughout all of this — I am abundantly (fully) thankful.

In Soviet Russia, art buys you!

Editrix — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:55:39 +0000

Did you know you can buy art from Yakoff Smirnoff?

Sweet cuppin’ cakes!

Editrix — Thu, 01 May 2008 21:03:13 +0000

My workfriends are so awesome. I’ve been hemming and hawing all week about whether to take tomorrow off for my birthday or come in to take advantage of an unusual dearth of meetings and actually get some work done. So they totally surprised me today with an assortment of Kickass Cupcakes (mmm, chai and black forest and mojito and Green Monster [with Guinness goodness baked right in] and berry cheesecake and other deliciousness).

Tonight I’m dragging Summervillain to This American Life — Live!, a nationwide simulcast of the TV show, at the Fenway Theater. This is proof of how much he likes me.

Finished

Editrix — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 03:33:55 +0000

In more ways than one! Hickory Dickory Dot, with a bonus toy mouse for Claire Grace. It took 3 weeks to make, although most of it was completed in two knitting-intensive weekends.

Edited to add: The pattern comes from the redoubtable Anny Purls.

The outmoded design of everyday things

Editrix — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 02:40:19 +0000

Today’s article in the New York Times’ Style section on how toothbrush design has changed in a way that toothbrush holders can’t accommodate nearly made me pump my fist in the air while I was eating breakfast. Every time I buy new toothbrushes, I spend frustrated minutes trying to find a brand that hasn’t blimped out the handle. Reach toothbrushes used to be some of the last holdouts; the handle was narrow up to a modestly flared grip where, ostensibly, your thumb would or should rest. It fit easily in the ceramic toothbrush holder in our apartment’s bathroom, yet kept the bristles high and able to air-dry. Lately, though, even the Reach handles have bloated to compete with other brands.

I’m not about to spend $100 on the Novis bracket, which holds brushes by the neck, and the funky designs from Umbra both take up real estate around the sink and would get nasty in the bottom right quick.

Amusing search strings of late

Editrix — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 16:37:35 +0000

why buck and mccarver suck

definition of n bitch as a humanbeing

Some things

Editrix — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 04:01:31 +0000

Work. There’s a lot of it.

I’ve made a few batches of fresh ricotta cheese. I can’t quite describe how amazing it is to make cheese at home, let alone how delicious it is.

Friends have fed us better than we deserve these past two weekends: roasted lamb and asparagus; pan-grilled tempeh and sublime sweet potatoes; vegetable lasagna, heavenly spring green salad, and lemon pudding cakelets with the lushest blackberries I’ve ever tasted.

We’ve looked at some houses. It makes me feel better about my interior design sense.

I finally got the yarn I ordered for the frikkin’ awesome baby sweater pattern I found. (Hickory Dickory Dot by annypurls). Am being diligent and correct by making swatch (after swatch) in an attempt to get gauge, since I’m a Scottish tightwad bitch and ordered the bare minimum of yarn.

Spring seems to be approaching in all its humidity and mug. Bums me out.

And now you fully understand why I don’t post.

Somewhat kiboshed

Editrix — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 15:37:52 +0000

Hello from stormy D.C., where we have been visiting the Villain’s family and catching up with friends. Our plans today have been at least partially scotched by an unexpected ice storm that would make driving to rural, hilly Maryland treacherous at best, so I am right now somewhat decadently lying in a fancy hotel bed sipping coffee while the wind whips outside.

The road trip down was surprisingly easy — just over 8 hours from Boston. We had delicious wine and tapas (including my first sublime taste of jamón ibérico) at Jaleo, one of my favorite restaurants here.

Wednesday, we met one of the Villain’s friends for lunch at Café des Artistes, then took in a few exhibits at the Corcoran. My favorite was “Looking for the ‘There There”: California Art from the Collection, 1950–2000.” It included a couple of very nice pieces by Richard Diebenkorn and Ed Ruscha. We had drinks and dinner and more drinks with former Villainous housemates Dan and Dorothy. Every time we see them, I’m reminded of how much I miss them and how tolerant they were of my weekend visits.

The wine and Pernod caught up with me on the walk back to the hotel when my traitorous ankle twisted and I took a tumble in a crosswalk. I didn’t realize the extent of the damage until we got back and realized that my left knee had bled through my tights and down my boot. My beau bought most of the first aid aisle at CVS before I woke up the next day. I am lucky, if uncoordinated.

Yesterday we visited Mama and Papa Villain. Spending time with them resembles a graduate-level seminar more than a family visit. I learned quite a bit about the work and personality of physicist Richard Feynman, the British monarchy, the physical properties of the Space Shuttle Challenger’s O-rings, methods for restoring overwritten data on magnetic tapes, Jane Austen, London under Roman rule, and the Romans’ strategy for preventing colonial unrest, among other topics. I was shaken from a glazed daze during a lively debate on the nature of genius by a direct question as to which subjects I was passionate about. I’m afraid my mumbly answer added little to the conversation. A few hours later, we had dinner with the Villain’s sister, brother in-law, and nephews before heading back to D.C.

I’m not sure what we’ll do with today now that we won’t be driving to Maryland. We might see There Will Be Blood before meeting more friends for dinner and an art gallery opening. Or I may stay in bed and listen to music all day.

Boethius was right

Editrix — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:13:52 +0000

Fortuna’s wheel refuses to sit still.

Regno: On the walk to the subway this morning, a man came up from behind me and said, “Those are some great boots!” before dashing ahead of me and crossing Somerville Ave.

Sine regno: My fabulous stylist, Lauren Jeffries, has left Judy Jetson, and I don’t know where she went. Serves me right for procrastinating getting a cut for too many months.

I am so smrt

Editrix — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 05:16:21 +0000

Designating tomorrow (today!) as my ACD* was a damn fine plan. I got to spend my first day back on the East coast snug inside reading, learning how to crochet, and I still have another day to unpack, putter, maybe put a book in the mail to Australia, and relax.

San Diego was just as gorgeous as the last time I visited in September. I got to stay in a lovely resort in Coronado, and my balcony overlooked lush gardens and San Diego Bay. I loved how every cab driver was just completely nice. One was confident that I would “go home, visit again Sahndiahgo, decide not to leave.”

Home is awfully great, though, despite (because of?) the rain, subzero wind chills, snow squalls, and thundersnow. I walked into the house and fell into my fellow’s strong arms, enthusiastic cat twining around my shins. Heaven.

*Arbitrary comp day