Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Things that are fall.

Boston.
Apples.
Orchards.
Back to school.
Pumpkin pie.
Squash.
Red leaves.
Orange leaves.
Yellow leaves.
Crunch of acorns under foot.
Eating soup again.
Drinking tea again.
Crisp air.
Jack-o-lanterns.
Halloween.
Trick-or-treating.
Caramel apples.
Tallest Man On Earth.
Shorter days.
Longer nights.
Thanksgiving/Friendsgiving.
Turkey.Tofurky.
This picture (drawn by Meggie in Sac. Meeting when we were 19ish):

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Small and simple things for which I am really grateful, part II.

As motivated by Joseph B. Wirthlin's sound advice
Meditate for a while on the things for which you really are grateful. Look for them. They don’t have to be grand or glorious. Sometimes we should express our gratitude for the small and simple things like the scent of the rain, the taste of your favorite macaroni and cheese recipe, or the sound of a loved one’s voice. Thinking of things we are grateful for is a healing balm. It helps us get outside ourselves. It changes our focus from our pains and our trials to the abundance of this beautiful world we live in.

  • H & P's hospitality (i.e., that I have a place to lay my head and a Volvo to drive, among other things).
  • Mint brownies that come in the mailbox. (Thank you, Kaci.)
  • Acceptance letters that come in the mailbox. (Thank you, Claremont.)
  • Discovering my town possesses a serve yourself frozen yogurt place.
  • Blue skies/sunny days.
  • Strolls with and without strollers.
  • The fall air.
  • Community.
  • Glee.
  • The length of my hair.
  • Cartoons and/or children's books while Henry cuddles on my lap.
  • Holding Jags as she falls asleep.
  • Soup season.
  • Tea season (particularly blueberry and raspberry).
  • Blankets.
  • A visit from my mama. 
  • Persian feasts.
  • Neko Case, Rilo Kiley, Morgan Handley, The Glendale Rabashaw, etc.
  • Occasional skype chats with my favorite Baratta sisters.
  • Getting into a sun warmed car.
  • That 50 degrees feels cold.
  • Mosiah 26:30.
  • Barnes & Noble.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

The most beautiful thing/ode/poem that has been written for me.


Written in a g-mail chat sometime in September, after discussing GRE studying and my fear of math. It is the one thing that has brought joy to me in my efforts to tackle that portion. As I take the test on Monday, this has become important.


Jeff: math you beast... you shall be tamed
  your percentages and time tables shall no longer be a mystery
7:29 AM but be known.
 your word problems shall not confuse and disarm but tell what train will get there first or how tall that flag pole really is
7:30 AM math you shall have a bridle placed upon your snout
  and your power shall be a means unto me
7:31 AM I just wrote that
  what did you think?
  do you think Virgil would be proud?
  or ashamed?
7:32 AM glad that he was dead because it was so poor or glad that he was dead so he would not suffer the pangs of being out done?
  the sad thing is... he remains dead
  and nothing but the day of resurrection shall bring him back
  and on that day.... who knows where he'll be
7:33 AM he died just 30 years close to when Christ was born
  almost made it
 but he is still just left of the meridian of time
  
don't worry there is a way for him
  
I feel more coming on
7:34 AM oh math you rambunctious and overambitious and over anxious subject
  you think you hold the planets in orbit and mans foot on the ground?
  I say not
7:35 AM but you are merely a collection of scribbles in the sand
  that the ocean of time will wash away
  you are but a symbol of man's attempt to explain nature
7:36 AM you are a construct of man's thoughts
  not the actual force in play
7:37 AM that makes children cry when their little hand lets go of their balloon filled with helium
  as it floats away--- you should not gloat
  you math... aged sir... had nothing to do with it
7:38 AM you are merely the face book page for the real powers of nature
  what i'm trying to say Rachel is this
  there is no need to fear math
  you've got that math
  you know that math
  math is but a lullaby to you
7:39 AM softly spoken to lull you to sleep
  as you dream of philosophical greatness and where all those philosophical books should be properly placed on the shelves
7:40 AM and what books should be placed on the discard pile to be sold out on the street
7:41 AM where homeless people will buy them to create loft from the pages to keep warm during the cold nights on the park bench
  no no
  fear not the math
  math is but a subject that will work for your good
  so you don't get over charged at the barney's sale
7:42 AM when you buy things at 80% off
  and you realize that you can buy more
  and look more attractive then you already appear
  but I digress

Thank you JLB!

Monday, November 8, 2010

Baby Jags.

Jagger was born on Tuesday. I met her in a ritzy Beverly Hills hospital on Wednesday. (An original Warhol hung outside their room.) P is a perfect mother. I like seeing how happy/tender she is with her babes. Everyone came home on Saturday, which was good news for me as Valencia is boring without them, and good news for them, as hospital rooms are small, and it is generally better to be home. Jags has lots of dark, dark hair, and looks a little like her brother, but in other ways looks more like my brother, and a traditional Hunt baby. Either way, she is pretty pretty, and oh, so very tiny.



Welcome to the world, little one.