Maybe I'm just a nerd but

I really dig the library where I am doing my practicum. For those of you who don't know, I graduate in August but in order for that to happen I have to intern (sort of) at an archive or special library, since I NEVER want to work in a public library...and had to have some sort of library experience.

Anyhoo, I'm interning at this special library and am really enjoying it. The collection is pretty neat, they have books from the 160o's, old suffragette papers, Billy Ireland cartoons from the 1910's and loads of other cool stuff.

One of the interesting things about this place is that they focus solely on writers who are native Ohioans or have lived in the state for a significant portion of their lives...oh yea and if they write something about Ohio. So that means in their collection they have things from awesome authors, composers, and illustrators. These include Toni Morrison, Gloria Steinem, and my favorite poet of all time Nikki Giovanni. What's awesome about all of this you might ask? Sometimes I get to talk to these people on the phone. I've already spoken with two very cool people, one was nice the other was sort of a dick...but it was still great!

The other awesome thing about this place is that I have access to papers with author's signatures on them, original manuscripts with corrections in their own handwriting, and the topper is that I have access to their home addresses and personal email accounts. Stop! I know that sounds completely creepy and stalker-ish but I do not mean it like that. It's interesting to see where they live and if they live in Columbus to have a general idea in the city of where they are. It's all very cool...now if only I could get them to offer me a job ;)

34!!!

Today is my 34th birthday! Can you believe it? I cannot believe it! I feel 19...really I do.

It was a good day. I got all of the things that I asked for and a few of the things that I could only have hoped for. I also received gobs of Birthday wishes on Facebook, which of course if very sweet because you hear from people that in life without Facebook you'd never hear from. You might cross their mind on your birthday but that nudge from FB helps out.

Oh happy day, I almost want to cry.

To make you smile

Cooking

In general I'm not a very good cook. I do have a few things that I make well but not many and certainly nothing fancy. I can never remember recipes so I have tons of torn out pages from magazines in notebooks and loose ones just floating around in my desk. But...and this is a big but, I'm getting into it. I am liking foods that I never thought I would , especially green foods, spinach, asparagus, artichokes, and my favorite leeks.

I've been scouring the Internet for some good food sites, not sites like allrecipes.com (although I do use it) but ones that feature recipes without much searching on my part or guessing of what the hell an ingredient is...anyway, here are three that I really like.

101 Cookbooks

What I love about this site is that I keep coming across it on blogs that I love and read weekly. These blogs are my favorites because they are so family focused...so I know that what I find here will be healthy, fast, and delicious.

Serious Eats
Not only great because you get quick recipes in nearly every post but I like recipes to include pictures. If I can't stand how it looks then I won't eat it. These pictures are as good as the ones featured in those great glossy magazines that make you drool at the book stores.

The Dinner Files
Simple as its title the author of this blog discusses dinner each day. Sometimes it includes recipes or just interesting trivia, either way I really dig it! I mean who knew that you actually could pop, literally pop, wild rice.

New look

Hate it, haven't yet decided...stop judging me!

Oh and...

Happy Birthday in about 45 minutes, friend!

Winding Down

Although I officially started my final semester of grad. school things feel like they are winding down for me.

I am away from home and toddler G four days a week now and it feels strangely good and bad all at once. I miss her fiercely and am enjoying what I'm doing equally fiercely so I'm at an odd crossroads.

I am thinking about writing more and more, I have a title and a beginning floating around in my head. I know it could be good because usually these fly right out of my head within the hour of thinking of them but this one has remained, it's dug in, and is currently holding on with all of its might. I know it's going to sound crazy but I'm regretting more and more deferring the MFA program in Virginia and am now considering going back for it when toddler G goes to Kindergarten. So you my friends have four years to talk me down from this ledge, or contribute funds so that I don't dig myself into more debt with student loans.

Over the next three months my life is going to come together in some ways and fall apart in others and for once I feel ready and I don't feel like I give a fuck either way. I'm ready to speak it aloud and face the consequences of years of inaction. I guess we'll see. By the end of this my family might remain intact or it could just be in shambles. I guess you never know.