Pile of Failure

nataliedee.com

I haven't given up. Fall is just getting started, along with a new scarf.

so...

I have accounts at Wamu and own JP Morgan... what's next?

Yes, we can! Well, not yet actually.

Dangit. Readers of the formerly Fuller & Fuller blog know that I'm a fan of homegrown foods. As a long time vegetarian, I realized I wasn't really eating my vegetables enough. Processed foods and convenience had become a habit, one I have made a conscious effort to break over the past two years. My goal is a home garden that sustains me year round. In addition to yard work, this involves kitchen work. Phase I: getting more whole foods into my diet, from garden whenever possible. Phase II: cooking foods from scratch. Phase III (in progress): preserving food from garden. Yep, eventually I'll have to learn to can. On the to-do list. Eventually.

Meanwhile, canned tomatoes (sauce and paste) are one exception to the processed foods rule. Soup, pasta sauce, etc. with no rush to homemade. But it's funny how those eventuallys get kicked ahead to ASAPs. The time to learn how to can your own tomatoes may be now.

I'm somewhat between yards right now, but it's peak tomato season with a long winter ahead. Maybe time to get to the farmer's market, buy some mason jars, and get that Obama spirit brewing in the kitchen.

Running in a Fur Coat

I've been "running" a lot lately, in a shuffley kinda way. Looks funny, but feels good. Feels so good, in fact, that I'm planning my first marathon. It's not until May 2009, but there are plenty of runs in between, including the Santa Barbara Half-Marathon, 13.1 miles on November 1. Not only will this be my first half marathon, it also gives me a chance to tout a worthy cause as a member of Team DAWG, even if my dogs are sidelined (cause: littleness).

By any measure, except physiological, I am a dog person. Over the years, I've adopted quite a few from the animal shelter, many in their golden years—not that any of them were actual Goldens, they were just old. It breaks my heart that some of the sweetest, most loving creatures in the world are going to spend tonight in a kennel with a concrete floor. At least Santa Barbara strays have DAWG working for them, organizing a steady stream of volunteers to walk and foster them.

Team DAWG is raising funds during the SB Half-Marathon by asking team runners to raise at least $100, with 100% of the money raised going to the Dog Adoption Welfare Group. So, here's the audience participation part of the blog: would you consider sponsoring me as I run 91.7 dog miles?

Maybe it's more accurate to call it 6.55 dog miles, since dogs run with twice the number of legs and half the distance per leg... but 91.7 miles sure sounds more impressive, especially considering they do it wearing fur coats.

You are free to learn how to do stuff at any time

nataliedee.com

Happy first day of college classes, Princess Whackamole!

In the clearing stands a boxer

Princess Whackamole is off to the land of Sox and Celtics. During orientation in the truly majestic Cutler Majestic Theatre, the incoming class practiced a ritual call and response common to the natives (College Official: "Sweeeeet Car-o-line" 775 freshmen: "BWAH BWAH BWAAAH!!!").

I could not be more proud of what she has achieved already. Her new kingdom is broad and rich with possiblities and really good restaurants.

Thus it is that I am spending this morning clearing and boxing, sorting through the rush and rubble she left behind, preparing to move. It's comforting and bittersweet being surrounded by all her things: scripts, homework, souvenirs from high school and travel.

During the course of almost two decades, this amazing transformation from the time when I watched every tiny panda-like sneeze to now when I get txts from foreign countries and look forward to video-chatting with her in her dorm. I used to know the story behind every thing she owned (Christmas gift from my grandma, dress she wore to her first day of kindergarten)but where the heck did the rest of this stuff come from? Is this empty bottle of Kutztown Birch Beer a memory to her, or just something she didn't get around to recycling? Then there's the knit David Bowie that Santa brought this year. Oh, Ziggy, all these Ch-ch-ch-changes...