Leap Day 2012

It just struck me that in four years, I will be four days from forty. I am not sure why that is so startling to me right now, other than the fact that there is a symmetry of four's.  And I'm still grappling with 36, in my last four days as a 35 year old.

This coming weekend will be a whirlwind with the cross the country and back trip, Steve's birthday, and a whole host of other things to focus on, including meetings and traffic and another trip next weekend. 35 has been a decent year, with the most remarkable thing that we moved out of that condo. We survived. And we can thrive in the coming year, hopefully.

I also gained a new nephew this year, visited Jamaica, became a premiere member on United, and was lucky enough not to lose anyone close to me. I hope this coming year is even better.

Michigan Ground Zero

All eyes are on Michigan today, as voters participate in the state's Republican primary. It really is the Romney vs. Santorum show, with each side picking their surrogates (like, say, Kid Rock).  I think Romney will pull it out, though I don't discount the likes of Dems supported by Michael Moore voting for Santorum in order to get their "preferred" opponent for Obama. I'm not sure who I would vote for if I still liked in Michigan. I guess Santorum, Or Romney; I'm not convinced by Taranto's argument that Santorum could be more electable. 

Either way, I'm actually interested in a primary. Let's see if Romney can win.

Weekend Wrap-Up

1. Dinner was fun with T&M on Saturday, but my purse still reeks of Indian food. Sigh.
2. I did not watch the Oscars. I don't even know anything about most of those movies, except for the Help.
3. Pearl Dive Oyster Palace did serve a good brunch, but man, were portions small and overpriced. It took about six bites to finish my itty bitty omelet. Next time, I go big for brunch.
4.  My favorite thing to cook is my shrimp scampi. Garlicky buttery goodness. So bad but so so good.
5. I will miss my Saturday a.m. shopping routine for the next few weeks. I will miss having Saturdays off for a few weeks, CA and LA be damned.
6. I started Mad Men Season three. Is it possible for a show to stay this good?
7. I also finished Nothing to Envy.  I already ordered Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader. Highly recommend.
8. One more day until Fanfarlo's album comes out.
9. It feels spring like today. Almost 60 degrees and sunny. I am SO ready to say goodbye to winter!
10. It's birthday week...that is all.

Quiet

I've been intrigued by this book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking. I flipped through it at the airport the other day. As a classic introvert, I certainly felt that I could relate to a good part of the book's premise. And I think introverts can easily be confused as shy, or dismissed as boring or stuck-up, when there are really just different philosophies/personalities at play here. Extroverts are favored because of their outgoing nature, their story telling ability, their natural gregariousness.  And I like to think I am just that way in certain circumstances, in smaller groups. In larger groups, I get talked over and feel like I need to shut down.  But I'm not shy--I can easily speak in a big group, or talk on a conference call.

I've been enthralled with Nothing to Envy, by the way. Such a fascinating account of North Korean refugees who lived to tell how they fled their homes to head to South Korea. I never really how truly, horribly desperate the famines of the 1990s were and how many victims they claimed. I am sure I will finish the book by this weekend.

A New City

I went to Louisville yesterday for a quick trip to see Rand Paul speak. I am not quite sure I've been in Louisville before, so I added that to the list of cities I've been to. There are only a handful I really haven't been to...Cleveland, Salt Lake City, St. Louis, Tampa, Pittsburgh, Memphis, and Nashville are certainly some places I'd like to get to. And I'd like to get up the NE to Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire. It is amazing how much I've been able to travel in my time here. I have not taken that for granted, even though at times it is a great hassle. Now I really need to add some international destinations to my list. Life is far too short to not, right?

A Good Weekend

We had an action packed weekend. Dinner at Shawafel and drinks at Jimmy Valentine's on Friday night.  Dinner at the Atlas Room on Saturday followed a drink on U Street. And then dinner with Nate & Meg on Sunday with happy engagement news! It was just a good weekend, and I followed it up with lots of relaxing Mad Men Season Two on Monday. Oh I am obsessed with that show and must catch up before March 25 when season five premieres!!

Good weekends like this make up for less than great ones, and it almost makes up for mediocre traveling ones. I'll happily take it.

Can they Tigers Win?

Expectations are high for the Tigers this year. As spring training is about to begin, lots of questions still hang in the air for this team. The question is: Can they bring a World Series championship to Motown for the first time since 1984? And with a Red Wings team setting records and the Lions playing in the postseason for the first time in forever, 2012 should be a good year to be a Detroit sports fan. Hopefully.

Valentine's Day, Belated

I didn't write about Valentine's Day, but it was quite nice. I bought our favorite lamb loin steaks from Whole Foods (from New Zealand!) and I grilled them with S&P, garlic, and rosemary. I also sauteed some asparagus as well as made our favorite mashed potatoes.  I bought some cajun shrimp and bread/olive oil dip for snacks, and we each had mini fruit tarts for dessert. Simple and easy, and less pricey, even with the inflated Whole Foods prices, than going out. I also received some beautiful roses.

Valentine's Day is a good moment to ponder having so much love in my life, particularly after all of the craziness of last year.  I am happy to have wonderful parents, siblings, three awesome nephews, gracious in-laws, great friends, and of course the husband.  A girl can't ask for much more (can she? Well...).

Best Children's Books

I saw this list and immediately wondered how many of these "Greatest Books for Kids" I had read once upon a time. Of course, Charlotte's Web; Anne Frank; Shel Silverstein; Judy Blume; The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; and The Secret Garden were on there, but I think there were some notable omissions in favor of some modern stuff. Um, now Little House on the Prairie?  And I guess the Shoe books are too old, sadly.  And Beverly Cleary? No Ramona? Hmm, definitely not happy about some of these choices.

Grandpa Joe

Yesterday was the 18th anniversary of Grandpa Joe's death. It struck me that I had now lived more than a half life since that day my senior year in high school, three weeks before I turned 18.  It is amazing at how that day can feel like yesterday, and how it can feel like such a lifetime ago. I wrote this tribute two years ago. And after my workout, I did go to McDonald's to have a quarter pounder with cheese as a nod to him.

I will always be grateful and fondly remember how he came up north with us every summer.  He was a good buffer for those car trips with three bickering children. Later he brought Blackie, the car sick doggie.  Oh, memories.  He loved the outdoors, hitting the golf balls around and then looking for his much sought after morel mushrooms.  Gosh, he knew everything about gardening; perhaps he will channel some of that spirit toward me as I embark on taking care of our little garden patch in front of the house.  It is hard to recall his voice after so many years. Though I do hear echoes in his little namesake of a great-grandson. I am sure we will tell a lot about Grandpa Joe to Joey in the years ahead.  Love you, grandpa Joe.