writing and procrastinating.

(picture of me in front of Chenonceau July 2003, taken by Holly Rebert)

I have been absent from the blogging. Sorry.  

I am supposed to be writing the papers that will end my semester.  I suppose I am writing them, sometimes it seems like I am not, even when I am hitting the keys.  I am a horrible procrastinator, a bad habit that I can link directly to my study habits in high school.  I am specifically thinking of the book reports I had to write for Sister Eustasia's honors freshman english class (Kon Tiki one beautiful Sunday afternoon - due Monday).  

I am trying really hard to relearn good study habits, but it is hard.  I am trying not to go clean the bathrooms instead of writing, but the end result is my paper is not finished and the bathroom is still dirty.

Work in progress...

coiling and coiling.

I finally bought Kerry Bogert's terrific book, Totally Twisted, about a month ago.  I had a coiling gizmo that I had never used, so I gave it a go. It is so much fun!  The book is nicely laid out, easy to understand and a lot of photos to illustrate the steps of the project. 

Here is a version of her Bang Gals project.  I am disappointed with focussing of the Nikon point and shoot, but I like the bracelet.

Here is a modified version of the butterfly clasp.  The clasp in the book was WAY too big for my wrist, so I made it about half size.  I used steel wire and love the matte black!

After those projects I turned to these lampwork glass beads that look like macaroni.  I bought them at the Tucson Gem Show two years ago, but never had an idea for them.  I wrapped the coils around them and made them into a necklace with a butterfly clasp from the book.

These projects were fun and rather easy once you get going.  I really enjoyed working with the wire.  Thanks, Kerry, for a well-done book!

a marathon view.

Photo courtesy of the Baltimore Examiner.

I think this is the first year that I did not think about the marathon until it was over.  I turned on the internets and checked the NYTimes, and the marathon photos were posted on the front page.

Before we were married, Mike and I always had breakfast together and watched the marathon, dreaming of living in New York City.  I remember the November we were engaged, Mike was in Nashville and I was in Wichita.  We talked on the phone before the race.  After the race started, I got a call with a fuming Mike on the other end raging about bible belt television with no marathon coverage!

One year, we were in town for the marathon staying in a friend's apartment for the weekend.  It was on the upper east side in the 90s.  We watched the local coverage and when the race got close we went down to watch the elite runners pass by.  We also saw Mayor Dinkins' car zipping by and slowing down when he got to Spanish Harlem.

Later, after we had made it to the city, I was lucky enough to volunteer.  My sister, Janet, had joined the NYC Road Runners and got us a couple of spots at the finish line distributing water and gatorade.  It was a long cold day, but we had a blast and a great warm up meal at a terrific upper west side restaurant where my intern bartended.

Thinking about the city today... I don't know that I would want to live there now.  The rhythm of my life is much slower and quieter.  I enjoyed living in Hoboken and working near Lincoln Center.  Sometimes I miss the bustle of the city, the vibe that makes my heart race.  But I really enjoy the quiet of sitting in the shade watching the hummingbirds and a sky so blue it hurts your eyes.

For a street view of the marathon route, click this slide show.

a marathon view.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/10/30/sports/20091101-marathon-timelapse.html?ref=new_york_city_marathon

my day started out nice...

I got to campus early and had a nice walk.  Not too many skateboards and bikes jockeying for position amongst the pedestrians.  It was still cool.  

Then we had a discussion in class about responsibility to our students and to society in general.  It is appalling that we as a society and as individuals are very self centered and have a "take what you can, leave nothing behind" attitude.  I am always surprised when people I thought were raised with the same values I was talking about refusing to help their fellow man.  They may not realize that is what they doing when they want to cut spending for education, or stopping stem cell research.  It is very disheartening.

Then spent the rest of the day in the computer labs with students learning a new software.  That helped a bit, sharing knowledge always brightens my day.  

I did find a bird of paradise plant blooming under a massive White Mulberry tree, which is native to China.  I never thought I would live in a place that had tropical blooms outside and not in a hothouse.

 

 This is around the corner from a little zen garden next to the Language and Literature building.  When I figure out how to upload videos I will post the one I took of the fountain there.

I hope you have a wonderful end to your week.  Thanks for stopping by.