The Athenian Life

Recommended Listening: The Magnetic Fields

2011-02-18T16:40:00.000-08:00

I literally can't stop listening to this band right now. It's getting ridiculous. (Hat tip to Joe for introducing me to them.)

Blue Mood

2011-02-12T07:58:00.000-08:00

This blue and white stuff from Target makes me want to clean out our whole apartment and start fresh.

Candle (Okay, it's not all from Target. I had to get a little Anthropologie in there somewhere.)

the warm glow

2010-12-31T19:05:00.000-08:00

Well, the last glass of the eggnog has finally been drunk, and thank goodness for that.
Joe and I are staying in and taking it easy this New Year's Eve, glad to be home after many wonderful days spent with family and many hours in the car (some of which were not so wonderful, because we decided to drive through a blizzard). It was a beautiful Christmas, though. The delights for the senses and the soul were almost more than I could handle. Here are a few snapshots of Christmas at my mom's house. The way these pictures turned out--soft, warm, twinkly, and a little out of focus--made me think of Christmases in my memory. As time passes things lose their distinctness, sometimes gain intensity, and often acquire a rosy glow. Like the memory of driving through that blizzard; it already seems like a fun adventure . . .

That Sweater Again

2010-12-10T08:57:00.000-08:00

So I was dreaming about that sweater last night, when a vision came to me--a dressed-down, lodge meets prep school vision . . .

American Eagle Striped Long Sleeve T
ModCloth Oh, Deer Sweater
Target Suede Wrap Carpe Diem Bracelet
Free People Hunting for Fairisle Tall Sock (in Ivory Reindeer)
Urban Outfitters BDG Marbled Sweater Skimmer Shoe
Gap Corduroy Mini (in Flint Gray)

Pastel Christmas

2010-12-09T10:30:00.000-08:00

Whenever I go to a holiday party, I feel like I have to wear red if I want to look festive. Anybody else have that hang-up? Just me? Okay. Well anyway, today I saw this holiday-ish sweater on Modcloth.com that has nothing to do with red. Inspirational! (I love this sweater also because it's kind of humorous but still 100% pretty.) So now I want it . . . plus a few other things to go with it. (If only ~~Joe~~ Santa read my blog. His job would be so easy.)

ModCloth Oh, Deer Sweater
Gap Forever Skinny Jeans
Fossil Ceramic White Multifunction Dial Watch
Charles David Nitrate Pump
Target Pink Enamel Stone Ring

Creamy vanilla tangerine pudding

2010-11-22T18:29:00.000-08:00

A little dessert dreamed up from what I had on hand tonight . . .

Ingredients:
2 cups milk
1/2 cup sugar
3 Tbsp corn starch
dash salt
1 Tbsp vanilla
1 Tbsp butter
zest and juice from one tangerine (because that's what I had lying around. I'm sure you could use the zest and juice from one half of an orange instead.)

Instructions:
Combine dry ingredients (sugar, corn starch, and salt) in a small sauce pan. Add milk gradually, stirring to prevent lumps. Cook mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens enough to coat a spoon. Do not boil. When the mixture has thickened, remove from heat, and stir in vanilla, butter, tangerine zest and juice. Cool thoroughly and enjoy!

sweet dream

2010-11-15T18:24:00.000-08:00

If I ever live in a bedroom with a fireplace, I will consider myself to have arrived.

Photos from here, here, here, here, and here.

While We're On The Subject

2010-11-04T18:35:00.000-07:00

Guys need to stay warm too! Here are a few cold weather items I think Joe needs this year.

Eddie Bauer Rugged Leather Gloves
Urban Outfitters Dad's Reader
J Crew Cashmere Scarf
Lands End Duck Boots
Old Navy Plaid Flannel Surplus Coat

Okay, so the reading glasses aren't really cold weather gear--but like 'em.

This Is No Joke

2010-11-03T15:49:00.000-07:00

The title of this post refers to WINTER in the great state of Connecticut. Yes, I know I have not actually experienced winter in Connecticut yet because it's only fall, but I have already started wearing my winter coat--and my little South Carolina nerve endings are telling me that if this is not yet WINTER, then I am in serious trouble. I think I need to invest in some new outerwear.
Here's what I want . . .

COZY CLASSICS

Anthropologie Coat
Banana Republic Sheerling Hat
Urban Outfitters Suede Glove
Banana Republic Scarf
Anthropologie Boots

SHADES OF GRAY

Anthropologie Alva Glove

Athleta Wool Cadet Hat

Athleta Maxi Down Coat

Michael Stars Wrap of Luxury

Guess Boots

ROUGHING IT

Ralph Lauren Sunglasses
ModCloth Vail View Coat
Anthropologie Plaited Head Wrap
Ugg Classic Bailey Glove
Rocket Dog Boots

Date Nights and No Utensils

2010-11-01T05:45:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned on Facebook the other day, Joe has been planning some great date nights. Last week he took me to hear the Yale Philharmonia play Russian music. (Loved it! The second half of the program was a double bass concerto. Imagine that--a concerto where the double bass gets to solo the whole time. Those crazy Russians!) After the concert we strolled over to Miya's for some late night sushi, which was the best time I've had at a restaurant in . . . maybe ever.

This week's date night was Ethiopian food at Lalibela. I had no idea what to expect from this dining experience (except for a rumor we'd heard that this restaurant serves lion meat in a back room). Well, it turns out I LOVE Ethiopian food. It is delicious, and so much fun to eat.

For those who, like me until two days ago, have never tried Ethiopian, let me explain how it's eaten. There are no utensils on the table at all. Just napkins. The food, most of which is the consistency of thick stew, is served on a large, round piece of injera, which is basically a sourdough crepe. You tear off pieces of the injera and use it to neatly grab bite size portions of food. At Lalibela they also bring a basket of rolled up injera so you have enough bread to eat the whole meal. When I first saw the meal we ordered, I didn't think it looked like very much food. But it was really filling. (Obviously if you're eating a piece of bread with every single bite, you're going to get full pretty quickly.) We tried one chicken, one lamb, and one vegetarian dish. I loved all three, but the vegetarian was my favorite. Based on my limited experience with Ethiopian cuisine, I would describe it as comfort food--warm, filling, and delicious--and I would definitely recommend trying it if you ever have the chance.
Photo from here.

Baking For Gifts

2010-10-29T11:37:00.000-07:00

I've been baking this week! (A word of explanation: I know in the past I've said that I don't have an oven right now, but I actually do have access to one most of the time. The basement apartment where Joe and I live has a little countertop burner but no oven. But the family whose home we live in has generously allowed me to use one of their ovens upstairs almost any time I want.) Anyway, here's what I've been up to:

Pumpkin Cupcakes
This is a great recipe from Martha Stewart. I don't know what makes the difference between a muffin and a cupcake (maybe some informed person can fill me in), but these are definitely cupcakes. And so delicious.
I borrowed this photo from Martha. The cupcakes I made do not have fancy handmade marzipan pumpkins on top. (I once saw a segment about marzipan on Martha's old TV show, and now I can never see that word without hearing it in her distinctive contralto voice.) I did, however, make mine in black-and-white brocade baking cups. (I love Reynolds' line of decorative baking cups.) Pumpkin cupcakes in black-and-white brocade papers--now that's an application of Halloween colors I can get behind. Oh also, I used this recipe for cream cheese frosting.

Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies
This recipe from Crisco is an old favorite. I don't know how many batches of these cookies my mom, my sister, and I have made over the years. I made a bunch of them earlier this week and gave them all away. All but like 4 . . . or 5. Something like that. (A girl's got to eat!)

Before taking the cookies to friends, I packed them up in colorful Chinese take out boxes that I found in the dollar section at Target. Those take out boxes were so cute, I almost hated to to see them go. I searched all over the internet for pictures of them and there are none to be found. Why didn't I just take a picture of the boxes, you ask? Because a certain someone I'm married to took our camera down to a wedding in South Carolina and left the camera cable and battery charger down there. But I'm not upset about it or anything. :)

While I was looking for pictures of boxes online, I ran across these from Paper Source. Wouldn't it be fun to give (or get) a box like this full of cookies or cupcakes?

Recommended Listening: Shawn Colvin

2010-10-24T10:51:00.000-07:00

I saw this performance on PBS Sound Stage the other night and fell in love. I'm sure a lot of people are already familiar with Shawn Colvin and her song "Polaroids", but it's worth listening to again. The folks you see on stage in this video are Patty Griffin, Emmylou Harris, Shawn Colvin, and Buddy Miller, who collaborate and tour together as "Three Girls and their Buddy". The music is amazing.

Recent Acquisitions

2010-10-22T12:54:00.000-07:00

I just bought some jewelry at Joyce Leslie.
Joyce Leslie is one of those stores that's definitely for teenage girls. Like Charlotte Russe and Wet Seal--you know what I'm talking about. The kind of store that moms of teenage girls everywhere probably hate. Everything they sell is a little too tight, made of polyester and/or spandex, and obviously disposable. I know I'm too old to be shopping at these stores, but I'm drawn in by the siren song of cute jackets for $17.99 (So what if it will only last one season and I can't move my arms while I'm wearing it!), sparkly ballet flats for less than $10, and the gaudy, cheap jewelry. Oh the cheap jewelry.

I remember the day I realized I was too old to shop at these stores. It was after Christmas last year. I had my heart set on some jeggings (that would be jean-leggings), and I knew just where to find them: Wet Seal. As I browsed through racks of tiny acrylic sweaters, faux-leather belts, and plastic platform pumps, I began to notice that everyone around me was about 15 or 16. Then I noticed that they all had the same look, sort of sullen with too much eye makeup and a side bang hanging in their eyes. The music was really getting to me too. It was so loud . . . and inane! The dressing room was crowded, and the curtains that were supposed to serve as doors didn't provide much privacy, but nobody besides me seemed to care.

The jeans fit, so I took them up to the register where I waited in a very long, slow-moving line to check out. As I waited I found myself getting more and more bothered by everything around me. Why do all these girls have such poor posture? Why is this music so annoying? Why do they wear their jeans so low and their icky long sleeves pulled down to cover their hands? By the time I got up to the register I was fed up. The girl ringing me up looked just like the rest of them. It was all I could do to restrain myself from fishing a bobby pin out of my purse and using it to pin her hair back out of her eyes--and then telling her to go scrub her face clean! Yep, I was definitely too old to be shopping there.

But I still drop by those stores once in a while. Like today when I found this pretty jewelry. The necklace was so cheap that I decided to get a cuff bracelet too. (I couldn't get a good picture of the bracelet, but it's sort of brushed silver, about 4 inches wide, with a basket-weave texture.) Also, I know I look really awkward in the photo below. I was trying to get both the necklace and the cuff in one shot without making my forearm look giant. Clearly I didn't succeed.

Custom Laptop Sleeves from Snupped

2010-10-05T07:35:00.000-07:00

Found today via The Daily Muse from Skirt.com (which you should definitely join if you haven't already): Snupped.com, who makes the Prettiest Laptop Sleeves Evah. All their products are fully customizable--you can even choose a cute print to go on the inside. (Isn't it just the best when something has a cute print on the inside?)

I think I want this one.

Or maybe one of each.

Apple Filled Crepes

2010-10-04T16:47:00.000-07:00

I just made these--seriously just now--and they were so good I had to share the recipe right away. This is a delicious fall dessert that's so easy you don't even have to turn on the oven (which is great for me because, as I already mentioned, I'm working without an oven these days). I got the basic crepe recipe over here, and I kind of improvised the rest.
Note: I think it's best to make the filling first and have it on hand so you can fill the crepes immediately as they come off the griddle. Also, the crepes are great all by themselves with just a sprinkling of confectioners sugar, but I had some apples on hand that I wanted to use, so I made the filling.

For the Crepes
Ingredients:
1 cup all purpose flour
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter, melted
One of the people who commented on this recipe over at allrecipes.com suggested adding sugar to the batter, so I added about 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 1/4 cup confectioners sugar.

Directions:
1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and the eggs. Gradually add in the milk and water, stirring to combine. Add the salt and butter; beat until smooth.
2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each crepe. Tilt the pan with a circular motion so that the batter coats the surface evenly.
3. Cook the crepe for about 2 minutes, until the bottom is light brown. Loosen with a spatula, turn and cook the other side. Serve hot.

For the Filling
Ingredients:
1-2 apples, peeled, cored, and chopped into 1-inch pieces
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Directions:
Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. When butter is melted and the pan is hot, add chopped apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until apples are tender and a thick sauce forms, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

Assembly:
As each crepe comes off the griddle, place a line of apple filling down the center of the crepe, roll it up, place on serving plate, and sprinkle with confectioners sugar. A little scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side couldn't hurt either.

sad but true

2010-10-01T18:06:00.000-07:00

I'm sad to report that I have recently diapered a dog. Maggie, the sweet (and elderly) cocker spaniel that Joe and I take care of has a little problem. Nothing serious; just that it's been rainy all week and the room inside where she usually does her business is off limits for cleaning. This situations has caused me many hours of anxiety and hand-wringing about the fate of our apartment's carpet. So here's the solution we've come up with.

I was overjoyed to find that Petco sells doggy diapers in several adorable patterns. (Maggie has the pink plaid ones and the pink and gray polka dotted ones.) I don't know yet if they actually work, and to be honest I don't really care because in my opinion, they just look awesome.

(Sorry for the webcam photos. Didn't have our normal camera.)

Generations

2010-09-29T06:14:00.000-07:00

This spring I became an aunt. My sister Lauren had her first baby, a little girl, and named her Margaret after my mom. She decided on the name, I don't know, midway through her pregnancy but kept it a surprise until the baby was born.

Here's the moment, right after Lauren had the baby, when we were first allowed to come into the room and visit. She's introducing my mom to the new Margaret for the first time.

Best thing I've seen this year, without a doubt. One of the most precious things I've ever seen in my whole life. (I just wish my pictures weren't so grainy. I'll learn how to use my camera one of these days.)

I felt kind of dumb snapping pictures left and right while this great family event was taking place. I think there's a danger these days (with all of our digital cameras and camera phones and Facebook updates, not to mention all the silly blogs like this one) of getting so caught up in documenting life that we forget to experience it. But now, a few months after the fact, I'm so glad I have these images. Isn't it crazy how quickly even the most important moments can fade in your memory? I think those really momentous occasions can be the hardest to remember because there's just too much to take in. If it weren't for my wedding pictures, I don't think I would have any idea what in the world happened that day. I would probably just have some vague memories of being very happy and very hot. Very very hot. But that's another story for another post.

Here's Lauren and her husband Ethan and little Margaret, who is five months old now! I love these three so much. (Yes Ethan, even you.)

what a waste

2010-09-28T09:07:00.000-07:00

I have one great regret from this past week, and that is wasting three quarters of a perfectly good pineapple on an abortive attempt at peach-pineapple cobbler.

Let's just say I should have followed a recipe for the cobbler topping.

And I should have thawed and drained the frozen peaches before using them.

And I shouldn't have tried to cook the thing in a toaster oven whose temperature guage bears no relation whatsoever to the temperature inside. (We don't have a regular oven in our apartment, OKAY. Long story.)

It turned out to be a soupy mess.
And I ate it anyway.

Compliment

2010-09-27T06:11:00.000-07:00

Yesterday at church a very nice lady said that Joe and I look like brother and sister. I take that as a compliment because I think he's a beautiful man.

Here he is looking fine--in the Garden of the Rodin Museum in Paris no less. And if he happens across this blog post today, he will most certainly kill me. (Fortunately he's usually too busy reading about French intellectual history or the evolution of evil or the history of wartime mental illness or something fun like that to worry about what I'm saying over here.)

Give & Take

2010-09-23T07:16:00.000-07:00

If you have a couple of minutes to spare today, read this: "On Keeping a Notebook" by Joan Didion. I was assigned to read this piece a few weeks ago for a class I'm taking, and it's been on my mind ever since. I think it's an entertaining read for anyone and particularly helpful for those who write or who have the impulse to write.

So that's what I think you should read today. What do you think I should read--or look at or listen to?

tidbit

2010-09-22T19:28:00.000-07:00

Just made the bed. I'm pretty sure that, next to human companionship, freshly-washed white sheets are about the best thing this old fallen world has to offer.

The Space Between

2010-09-20T18:02:00.000-07:00

There are about a hundred other things I should be doing right now, but I'm in the mood to blog so that's what I'm going to do. (Believe it or not, I'm stricken with the urge to blog at least two or three times every week, but I usually reason myself out of it before I get around to writing a post. And this is not a bad thing. No, if there's one thing I've learned during my 26 years on this earth it's that roughly 70% of the things I feel the need to express, do not in reality need to be expressed. I'm usually better off if I keep my mouth shut. And my fingers away from the keyboard. Or whatever.)

My life has changed so much since the last time I posted, I hardly know where to begin to catch you up. I'll just hit the highlights:
1. I quit my job.
2. I went to Paris for a few weeks.
3. I gave Simone away (to a very nice couple who agreed to take her in because I was going to be moving and could no longer keep her).
4. I moved to New England.
5. I went back to school. (Just started my first semester of a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program.)
6. I gained a new pet--a 14-year-old cocker spaniel named Maggie who Joe and I take care of in exchange for our lodging.
7. I became an aunt.
8. I took some fun trips (to NYC and Hilton Head, SC and New Jersey and Mystic, CT).
9. I sunned myself on many beaches.
10. I watched many stupid TV shows, and I also read a few good books.

It's been a good summer. I won't pretend that moving away from my hometown and my family was an easy thing. It wasn't. I'll never forget how it felt to be driving out of Greenville, SC in the early morning pitch darkness. Joe drove the U-Haul truck that our closest friends and family had just the day before helped us pack full of all our worldly belongings. I followed behind him in our little Mazda SUV. As we rolled out of town in the darkness, the pain took my breath away.

Now I'm here in New Haven, CT, and everything's okay. I'm not a person given to homesickness, but even if I were I don't think this town would allow it. It's a great place to live, with amazing things to see and do and buy and taste everywhere you look. I still have moments--like today in the grocery store when I saw apples for sale in those paper bags with handles. It reminded me that it's apple picking season, and I felt my knees get a little wobbly because I don't even know what it means to go apple picking anywhere besides Skytop Orchard in Flat Rock, NC. I'm not sure I want to know.

But those moments pass, and then I remember that I really do want to know where people around here pick apples. I'd like to go pick apples there too, maybe with some of the new friends we've made here in New England.

Leftovers

2010-05-06T11:17:00.001-07:00

Here's an easy lunch I just made from leftovers in our kitchen.
Arugula Salad with Bacon & Goat Cheese

It's really simple. I like to use the pre-washed arugula that comes in the clear plastic box. (I know the hard-core couponing, grocery-budgeting crowd would have my head for this because you're supposed to avoid anything that's been prepared for you. I actually heard a lady on the radio the other day preaching the virtue of making your own maple syrup with sugar, water, and maple flavoring. Now that may be a great money-saving tip for someone with a certain lifestyle, but for my lifestyle, I have to consider what my time is worth. And personally I'm going to leave the making of imitation maple syrup to Mrs. Butterworth. I will also let someone else wash the arugula for me. End of tirade)
So about 2 cups of arugula
Bacon crumbles (for me alone, I used 1 strip of bacon)
Goat cheese crumbles
Asian Vinaigrette, which is my favorite dressing to make; I eat it on lots of different salads. For a single serving of dressing, I use:
1 Tbsp rice wine vinager
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp peanut butter
A pinch of brown sugar

And to think, I sent Joe to his office today with a lunch of cheese and crackers. I feel sort of guilty.

catch up

2010-03-26T08:06:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures of some nice things in my life recently:

Top Row, Left: table of daffodils at my mom's house; Right: spring cleaning

Second Row, Left: daffodils and blue china; Right: dinner for one, a new discovery (just because Joe's working late doesn't mean I have to eat junk)

Third Row, Left: cat nap; Right: comfort food at Riley's Drive In, Anderson--one of our favorite Saturday morning spots

Bottom Row, Left: inside Riley's Drive In; Right: me at Riley's

a friend's home

2010-03-09T12:48:00.000-08:00

Last weekend some good family friends hosted a baby shower for my sister. I took the opportunity to snap some photos of their beautiful home, which is (I think) a really successful blend of modern and traditional design. This home deserves to be photographed by someone who knows what he's doing.

Serene bathroom with lots of nice textures

Cool lighting in the kitchen

no special occasion

2010-02-20T10:33:00.000-08:00

When I got home from work yesterday, I found Joe in the kitchen washing dishes and these daisies sitting on the table. My life is so good. Much better than I deserve.

I thought the flowers would look nice and springy in the hall bathroom.

So there they are.

Don't you think gestures of love and appreciation, especially unexpected ones, are such an important part of a beautiful life?

Some Nice Things to Look At

2010-01-23T17:22:00.000-08:00

New throw pillows I purchased to console myself after taking down the Christmas tree.

And . . .

. . . Coffee and Beignets at Cafe du Monde in New Orleans. (Photo by Joe.)

the last three and a half months

2009-12-31T13:25:00.001-08:00

So . . . I'm thinking about nominating myself for the title of World's Most Inconsistent Blogger. Can I count on your vote? I think the last 3 1/2 months of complete inactivity make me a prime candidate for the title.

Oh my, so many things have happened since my last post. I'll just share a few quick items. (Those of you who are friends with me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter already know about some of these happenings.)

1. We acquired a cat. She showed up at our front door one day, and (against Joe's wishes and my own better judgment) I started feeding her. So she stuck around, of course. Now she lives inside with us and has become our beloved pet. She's by far the most affectionate cat I've ever known. And she loves bacon. Doesn't want anything to do with cheese, but she LOVES the salted, cured meats. Her name is Simone.

Simone exploring on the first day she was allowed in the apartment.

2. I cut and dyed my hair. I've had long hair with blond highlights for years, but a few months ago it occurred to me that my hair was beginning to rule my life. That's a bit of an over-statement. It wasn't really "ruling" my life, but it was taking up hours and hours of my time and costing me hundreds of dollars each year. So I decided that the vicious cycle of highlighting had to end, and since I didn't fancy having the half blond / half brown look for the months it would take to grow out, I knew I had to dye it all dark.

I also wanted to cut down on the time I spent drying and straightening my hair, so I thought I should go shorter. To figure out how short I wanted to cut it, I used this website that lets you upload a picture of yourself and see how different hairstyles would look on your face. (Before I share the link I have to warn you that it's pretty addictive, so you may not want to start playing with it unless you have like, oh, half a day to waste.) Ok, here's the link: http://www.instyle.com/instyle/makeover/. Anyway, with the help of this cool little website, I found a hairstyle I liked, and then I took the plunge. The new cut and color were great and exactly what I asked for, but I almost immediately regretted the loss of my long hair. I think I'm going to grow it out long again, but I'll probably keep it dark. No more expensive highlights for me.

The new do.

3. I also read several great books. This year I've been trying to improve my knowledge of contemporary fiction. I've been aided in this endeavor by Joe (of course) and by our good friend Jordan, who both gave me some great recommendations. Here are a few of my recent reads:

The Honorable Schoolboy, John le Carre
The Bonfire of the Vanities, Tom Wolfe
All The Pretty Horses, Cormac McCArthy
Netherland, Joseph O'Neill
The Ladies Paradise, Emile Zola (Obviously not a piece of contemporary fiction, but interesting nonetheless.)
And right now I'm in the middle of A Man In Full by Tom Wolfe.
Tom Wolfe Tom Wolfe Tom Wolfe!!! I love him.

I wholeheartedly recommend all of these books. Over the next couple of months I plan to read the books Joe gave me for Christmas: A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole, Wise Blood by Flannery O'Connor, and The Crossing by Cormac McCarthy. I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks for reading. I'd love to hear what you've been up to this fall and winter.

in all fairness

2009-09-11T12:21:00.001-07:00

Since I have at times pooh-poohed the clothing selection at Walmart (and by "pooh-poohed" I mean I may have implied that Walmart bathing suits are the root cause of any and all self-esteem issues I currently suffer from and that no woman ever, under any circumstances should try one on. SELL A KIDNEY IF YOU HAVE TO, BUT DO NOT BUY A WALMART BATHING SUIT!!!!!). Yeah, since I may have said some things like that in the past, I think it only fair to give Walmart a little praise when they do something well in the clothing department.

Here's a scarf I bought at Walmart today for $5. Pretty, right?

Couldn't get a good picture of it on me, so I decided to let the desk chair wear it instead. I think I'll be throwing this scarf on with a lot of different outfits this fall and winter. Hooray for Walmart!!!

Make It Beautiful: Folding the Laundry

2009-08-23T16:30:00.000-07:00

This may sound silly, but I've found that folding towels is easy and almost enjoyable if I have a place to display my work when I'm finished.

I bought this chrome shelf unit a few months ago to give us a place to store towels in one of the bathrooms, and since then I've started to really enjoy folding towels. Honestly.

Fluffly white terrycloth folded into neat, uniform stacks--I feel happy just thinking about it! (Is that normal?) Anyway, I would imagine that opening the door to behold an organized, well-stocked linen closet is a very pleasant experience as well and would provide adequate motivation to get those towels folded.

Thanks for reading! I love hearing from you all.

happy thought indeed

2009-08-21T12:31:00.000-07:00

Today I've been creating cosmos from chaos. In the closets, that is. I'm so proud of my accomplishment that I just had to share the results with you. So here you go . . .

You cannot imagine what this moment means to me.

And if you don't think these shots are impressive . . . you should have seen the closets before.

As part of this process, I ruthlessly culled my wardrobe of things I haven't worn in the past year. I did show mercy on a few unworn items, most notably a yellow halter neck dress with butterflies on it. I'm not really the type of person who wears butterflies (the dress was a major impulse buy), but I'm beginning to think I could be that kind of person. . . once in a while. I wouldn't want to make a habit of it, but once in a while couldn't hurt.

I guess that's one of the reasons cleaning out your closet is so important and (for me) therapeutic. It's not just cleaning an area of the house, it's a chance to re-evaluate what kind of person you want to be.

New possibilities, happy thought indeed.

The Athenian Table: Retro Dinner Salad

2009-07-27T18:29:00.000-07:00

This is one of those salads that probably has more calories than a Big Mac and fries. It also tastes great, and, more importantly, it has challenged one of the axioms by which I've lived the last 24 years of my life, namely that I do not like blue cheese. I'm calling it a "retro" dinner salad because it's my understanding (based on one conversation with my mom and many hours of Food Network viewing) that the idea of a dinner salad made from a wedge of lettuce was popular in the 1960s or 70s or something like that. Anyway it was popular back in the days of Green Goddess dressing, which I might add seems to have also made a resurgence in popularity recently and can now be purchased in packs of six on Amazon.com of all places. (No kidding. And gift wrap is available on that purchase in case you were wondering.)

Here's the recipe:
2 steaks (I don't know enough about cuts of meat to say what kind is best.)
1/2 bottle Italian dressing
4 strips bacon, cooked
1 head iceberg lettuce
1 red onion, diced or cut in slices, whichever you prefer
1 cup ripe cherry tomatoes
1 1/2 cups blue cheese crumbles
1 bottle balsamic vinaigrette
croutons

Marinate steaks in Italian dressing overnight. Cook bacon as you normally would and crumble into small pieces, set aside. Grill steaks to desired "doneness" and allow to rest 5-10 minutes. While steaks are resting, sprinkle about half of the blue cheese crumbles over them so the cheese gets warm and flavorful. Wash lettuce, keeping the head intact. Cut lettuce head into wedges. (I cut this one into quarters, but you may need to cut it in more pieces if you have a larger head of lettuce.)

When steaks are rested, slice them into 1/2 inch thick pieces, cutting on the bias. Place one wedge of lettuce on each plate. Lay steak strips across lettuce and spring each serving with remaining blue cheese, bacon, onion, cherry tomatoes, and croutons. Drizzle balsamic vinaigrette over all and enjoy!

Another view of the salads, and notice the portion size disparity here. Just to be clear, that's Joe's plate on the right.

your imagination is showing

2009-07-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

I once had a friend (oh all right it was a boyfriend) who had this interesting conversational habit. He would pause every once-in-a-while and ask, "If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?" It was a fun little ritual. We would usually invent fanciful scenarios involving exotic locales, sports cars, white sands, and all that. Sometimes our answers took a more thoughtful turn, sometimes more homely and practical. Occasionally (if we couldn't think of anything else to say, I guess) we would resort to romantic drivel along the lines of "I wouldn't want to be anywhere but right here with you."

I should mention, in case the friend I'm referencing ever stumbles across this post, that I didn't consider those romantic sentiments to be drivel at the time. I did however, even at the time, realize that to say something overtly "romantic" was easier, somehow less intimate, and probably less meaningful than to share something from my imagination.

I've always felt imagination to be a very personal thing. The thought of opening up and telling someone a scenario or a story I've invented frankly terrifies me. I guess that's one of the reasons I find creative writing is so difficult. I can't help thinking that to share what you imagine is to give a glimpse of your inner life.

I should stop here because this post has become something completely different from what I intended. I set out to write a quick couple of lines that would invite feedback, and it seems I've ended up doing my very best to discourage feedback. I hope some of you readers out there are less reluctant to share your imagination than I because I would like to ask . . .

Where would you be?

Summer Splurge

2009-06-25T18:48:00.000-07:00

It's been a while--half the summer almost! And we have lots of catching up to do, but if I tried to relate everything I've been up to since the last time I posted, it would only overwhelm us both. For now, let me just share with you one resolution I made this week. It's a simple thing really, and I won't be surprised if many of you have already come to this conclusion on your own long ago. I guess I'm a slow learner. Anyway, after years of misery and self-punishment, I've finally seen the light. I WILL NEVER SHOP FOR BARGAIN SWIMWEAR AGAIN.

No longer will I go slumming among the racks of discount swimwear at low-end retailers looking for a cheap thrill. I'm talking about Walmart, Kmart, TJ Maxx, and yes, even Target. I won't go so far as to say it's wrong for anyone to buy swimwear at such places, just that it's wrong for me.

Without getting into details that would offend the delicacy of our male audience members--who, I might add, have it so extremely easy in this department that I believe they should have to do some type of penance. Perhaps shuffling five laps around the pool deck on their knees once a day or listening to a woman describe in detail the woes of bathing suit shopping might affect some measure of expiation--anyway, without offending the gentlemen in our audience, I will simply say that bargain swimwear DOES NOT WORK, for a number of reasons. There are issues of torso length, fabric quality, cut, and how shall we say . . . substructure that make cheap bathing suits completely inadequate.

The bottom line is this (allow me to be quite frank): unless you have a skinny teenager body--and bless you if you are one of those people--cheap swimsuits do not make you look good. They don't. So next time, instead of having a total body image meltdown in the Walmart dressing room under those awful fluorescent lights, go to a department store and try on a real bathing suit. You'll probably be surprised at how good you look. Seriously, when all you're covering your body with is a scrap of spandex, make sure it's a good-quality scrap--for everyone's sake.

And just one more thought about swimwear: this year I decided to go with a dressier, more girly style rather than a sporty one and I'm glad I did. I was inspired by Garance Dore who was reminiscing on her blog the other day about a bygone era when "the beach was a scene as glamorous as the nightclubs, where bathing suits were more elaborate than cocktail dresses." So when I came across this white, almost vintage-looking suit, I thought, why not? If it makes you feel beautiful, who cares that you can't play tackle football or ultimate frisbee in it, right?

(Below is a photo to illustrate how amazing one can look in full-price swimwear. Just kidding. I thought you'd want to see the suit.)

Summer Beauty Bargains

2009-05-22T06:45:00.000-07:00

"In these tough economic times . . ." Just kidding. I would never start a post like that.

Here are two ideas for looking beautiful this summer for very little money:

1. Learn Pilates - Visit http://ultimatepilatesworkouts.com/, create an account, and get access to a whole library of Pilates workouts for free. The workouts range in difficulty from very basic to very advanced, and the instructors are really careful to explain correct form and technique so you get the maximum benefit from each move and protect your spine at all times. I've used several other Pilates workouts/videos in the past, and the ones from Ultimate Pilates Workouts are by far the best.

I recommend starting with the beginner workout, even if you've done Pilates before, because these ladies do such a great job of explaining the basics. You may not feel like you're working very hard, but I can almost guarantee that you will be sore the next day. For me, Pilates yields better results and cultivates a stronger mind-body connection than any other workout I've ever done. If I were a more secure person, I would totally show you a picture of my abs before and after these workouts. But lucky for you, I have too many body image issues to do anything of the kind.

2. Makeup for $1 - E.L.F. Cosmetics (http://www.eyeslipsface.com/) sells makeup for $1 per item. Need I say more? It's actually pretty good quality makeup too. My favorite products so far are the Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder (in Warm Tan for bronzing and contour and Luminance for cheek bone highlights) and the Brightening Eye Color in Silver Lining. I've tried the Hypershine Gloss, and it's ok, but a little too sticky for my taste.

This very morning I ordered some of the Shielding Hydro-Tint SPF 15. I'll let you know how it goes. :) I'm not really too worried about whether it works great or not because, well, IT COST ONE DOLLAR. I mean, really. Oh also, when I was checking out this morning, a window came up saying that if I referred 3 friends I would get a free gift. I don't know what the free gift is yet, but I threw my mom, my sister, and my friend Kristen under the bus to get it. Sorry, you guys, for the annoying spam that is undoubtedly coming your way. Next time we're together you can borrow my lip gloss.

It's going to be a beautiful summer!

Effortless: A Belated Mother's Day Post

2009-05-18T12:30:00.001-07:00

My mom lives a beautiful life. She's doesn't work hard at it or fuss over it. In fact, sometimes she hardly seems conscious of it. But she lives beautifully, and she sheds a little beauty everywhere she goes.

When I say she doesn't work at it, I don't mean to say that it doesn't take some time and care. She's working (at something) almost all the time. But when it comes to making things beautiful, it seems like she hardly has to try at all.

To illustrate how these beautiful things just happen, I'll describe the centerpiece she created for our Mother's Day lunch. Let me start with the soft sage tablecloth that served as a backdrop for the arrangement. It's actually a matte lisse coverlet she picked up somewhere (on sale no doubt) and decided should go on the dining room table instead of on the twin bed in the guest room. The immaculately arrange vase of flowers is the prototype for a bridesmaid's bouquet she was working on at the time. (I failed to mention earlier that she works with flowers--has her own small business doing flowers for weddings and events--and on Mother's Day weekend was busy preparing for a large wedding the next week.) She just took something she had on hand, dropped it in a vase with a few extra flowers tucked in, and set it on the table. It looks like she set the vase on a little blue and white saucer, not something most people would think of adding to this arrangement, but it works really well. Finally, the small wrapped package was an actual Mother's Day gift, one my dad gave her either that morning or the night before. See how these beautiful things just drift her way?

But really, I don't think the beautiful things in her life are the result of serendipity. I think it's that she sees possibilities and connections that most people don't. She's imaginative and resourceful and completely unbound by rules. She has fewer rules about what does and doesn't match than anyone I know. And yet she always matches. She lives her life in such a way that beautiful things are always "ready to hand", and she knows instinctively how to use what she has on hand in new and special ways.

I love her, and I hope some day I can be like her.

dear diary

2009-05-08T06:39:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I was organizing one of the bookshelves in our study and came across an old journal of mine. It was the journal I kept while traveling in the UK with a group of college students during the summer of 2002. Upon making this little discovery, I paused my cleaning for a moment and started flipping through the pages. Before long I was completely engrossed. I sat there for over an hour and read the whole thing cover to cover--sometimes laughing out loud, often cringing with embarrassment, but throughout enjoying the pleasant ache of nostalgia.

Below are a few excerpts from the journal. I've resisted the temptation to edit these selections at all. They are recorded exactly as they appear in my journal--misspellings, silly high-school-ish sentiments, poorly executed purple prose--it's all there in its virgin state. And although this stuff is sort of embarrassing, I'm posting it because I think it has significance on a couple of levels. First, there are a couple of humorous passages (some even intentionally so). Second, there's nothing like a journal to remind you how much you've forgotten. In this journal there are people and places I write about at length that I now have no recollection of whatsoever. It's kind of startling actually. But I guess that's why we write things down. Finally, I'm recording these entries because, for me, they are a "collision with a former self", a brief look at the person I once was, which, for better or for worse, is always instructive. I'm sure I'll look at these blog posts in a few years, and I hope by that time be able to make some halfway objective judgments about the person who's typing right now.

So I guess the intended take-away from this post is simply . . . keep a journal, or at least write things down once in a while. It's a good mental exercise and you might just enjoy reading that stuff later. The journal entries below will probably not be of interest to most readers. A lot of what I've included is here for the benefit of the people who were actually on this trip with my family and me. Others, feel free to read on if you like, but be warned that you may not find what follows the least bit entertaining. :)

Here we go . . .

Monday, May 20
I'm writing this entry on Tuesday morning because I ran out of time yesterday. Our flights were uneventful except for a little turbulence, which is normal. . . . We made it in only 6 hours because of a very strong tailwind. If that wind continues, it could take 10 hours to get home!

* * *

We got to the Japanese school at about 7:45 and had breakfast. [Interjection by 25-yr-old Jenny: The Japanese school is the place where our group stayed during the first week of our trip.] The cook here is a lovely British lady who says "Thank You" after every item you order. (Ex. Egg, Thank you!, Um kippers, thank you! Lovely choices you've made, very sensible.)

* * *

But now . . . about the school lounge. It is quite the place. There are ping pong tables in the middle over which hang bear light bulbs suspended by wires I guess. [Another interjection: I know I've already made apology for all the errors and such, but let me just say one more giant SIC for this whole thing.] The walls are lined with green chairs, and there are green pillars running the length of the room on each side. Two very sad blue couches sit at one side of the room. One couch has its back completely ripped out. Jon and Ben just informed me that all the surfaces in the room that appear to be wood are actually concrete made to look like wood. (How strange.) I really can't describe the whole aura of the room.

* * *

Funny quote of the day: "The fabric looks like it says, 'I just give up on life. I'll be watching the television, so just bring me TV dinners. I'll be wearing sweatpants.'" -Marianne (about the fabric on the couches in the school lounge)

Tuesday, May 21 . . . We sang and gave testimonies at a meeting of a Brethren group today. Ironically, the Brethren group consists entirely of women."

Friday, May 24
Today was cleaning day at the church. Laurie and I washed forks all morning. It was a bigger job than you might think because the church has a ridiculously large collection of forks which has not been very well maintained (i.e. washed). We used brillo pads to scrape in between the tongs of each one.

Monday, May 27

It's still before 10 am, so I don't have much info about the day yet, except that I slept in an hour later than normal, went to breakfast looking like something I'm not going to talk about, and repacked may suitcase.

* * *

[Later that day, after traveling to the next church where we would be staying for a week]

Once at the church, we were shown to our "rooms". Lauren, Liz, Marianne, and I were supposed to be housed in a tiny trailer-type thing that only sleeps 3 and has zero floor space.

[Writing the next day about our first night sleeping in the camper.]

We ended up putting three of us on the double bed and one on the one-man. The events of the night go as follows:

Item 1 - an asthmatic cat wandered into the camper and coughed up a lugi on Marianne's bag. [apology for the grossness]

Item 2 - we found a spider

Item 3 - after going to brush my teeth, I found, upon re-entering the trailer, a cat sitting on the bed. This followed by another spider sighting

Item 4 - the heater stopped working

Item 5 - the heater started up again

Item 6 - middle of the night, the heater blew up (this involved much smoke and even more screaming)

Item 7 - Lauren retreated to the main house in a sneezing fit

Item 8 - Marianne coughed all night keeping herself and Liz awake (I slept thanks to a little Tylenol PM)

Despite what I have said about our accommodations, I have to say that [our hosts] are wonderful people. Their kindness never fails even though they are housing 12 extra people this week.

Funny quote: "Oh look! You have a cat en suite." - Ben

Thursday, May 30

Our day at Winchester was lovely. First, we drove around looking for a parking spot for quite some time. After successfully completing that mission, we went to Winchester Cathedral, which houses the bones of King Cnut and Jane Austen. (What a funny pair!)

I'll stop here for now. There's so much more I could share, and maybe I will later. Actually, let me close with a couple more funny quotes I recorded:

"I'm sorry but we're going to have to revoke your birth certificate." - Jay Bopp

"I wish my mama didn't smoke" - Unknown (Title of one of the 742 Heart-Warming Poems compiled by John R. Rice)

"Will dance for food." -Jon (Jon referring to a dancing derelict in London)

"About my laundry, can I just say, 'soccer practice in the mud.'" - The person who said this will remain nameless, but you know who you are.

"That's the showering equivalent of free verse!" - Sam

"Booze truly is the devil in liquid form" - quote from How to Live Happily Ever After from the Life-Changing Pamphlets series

"Hi, we're from Troon Baptist Church, and I was just wondering, do you have any serious rashes on your body?" -Jay Bopp

Until Friday . . .

2009-05-05T07:44:00.000-07:00

Sorry my posts have been infrequent of late. I've been busy. I'm planning a longer post for later this week, but until then, I leave you in the care of Dave Matthews Band. Hard to believe this song is 14 years old. No matter how many times I hear it, it still makes me smile.

This version is better, but the embedding is disabled:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t7xE8yovw4

Guest Book

2009-04-28T06:13:00.000-07:00

For the first year of our marriage, Joe and I lived in a tiny (seriously, TINY) one-bedroom apartment in Greenville, SC. It was a nice place, and it holds lots of good memories for us. We learned during that year that there are some real advantages to living in a place that small: I could clean the whole apartment top to bottom in about 20 minutes. Also, we very seldom misplaced anything, for the simple reason that there weren't very many places to place things. (Except there was that one time I lost my KitchenAid mixer. No kidding. Finally found it in the storage closet under the suitcases and the beach chairs--where else?)

But for us, one of the biggest drawbacks to living in a place that small was that it hindered our ability to entertain guests, and Joe and I love to entertain guests. So when we moved into a larger two-bedroom, two-bath apartment (almost a year ago now), we felt like a whole new world of entertaining opportunities was open to us.

Appropriately, our first overnight guests at the new apartment, Katie and Micah, brought as a host/hostess gift this handmade book which is now the Peterson family guest book. The book was made by a friend of ours, Christin Pratt, who makes all kinds of beautiful stuff. I especially love her handmade books like this one that incorporate pages from old dictionaries. To see more books, cards and other cools stuff made by Christin, visit her Etsy store, Just Between You & Me.

password strength

2009-04-21T06:46:00.001-07:00

Good morning! You're reading the second installment of Make It Beautiful, a series where I offer practical advice for making everyday tasks more enjoyable. Today's topic: the computer password. Most of us have a preferred password that we use for all of our computer/internet activities. I probably type mine 10-20 times a day, maybe more. And even though, wherever possible, I have my password saved so it's entered automatically, I still kind of think that word every time I face a log in screen.

A password is a powerful thing. You memorize it. You repeat to yourself over and over. You keep bringing yourself back to it throughout the day. Consciously or unconsciously, it's got to be affecting your mind. So my advice is to make your password a word that you want to train your mind to think about. Make it something positive that gives you joy or gratitude or power or creativity. (In the interest of security you might want to add some joyful and creative numbers too.)

As an added bonus to today's post, here's a picture of me working at my computer and thinking about how inspiring my own password is. (This morning I showed Joe this picture and asked if he thought it was too self-conscious to post a picture of myself. His response: "It's too bad you don't have like a cute kid or a dog to post pictures of." So, sorry this isn't a cute kid or a dog, people.)

Oh, and a big thank you to monomoda.com for inspiring me with this post a few weeks ago.

Athenian Table Part the Second or The Best Lunch in Town

2009-04-17T09:50:00.000-07:00

I'm not going to try to pass this off as a recipe. Even posting it here feels a little silly. It reminds me of a rather embarrassing moment on Oprah a year or so ago when she and Bob Greene were talking about The Best Life Diet, and they kept saying throughout the show, "Coming up, we'll share a healthy and delicious recipe created by Oprah!" Of course they string you along and save "Oprah's very own recipe" for the climactic last moments of the show. Are you ready to hear this amazing recipe that Oprah invented BY HERSELF?! Ok, here it is . . .

2 cups of lowfat chocolate soymilk
2 medium bananas

2 cups of cut strawberries

Put it in the blender with a couple of ice cubes.

I don't know about the rest of America, but I was thinking, is that a recipe? I mean, does that really qualify as a recipe these days? Is the woman not aware that this is just a basic smoothie? I intend no disrespect to Oprah here. I enjoy her show and watch it whenever I can, but this was not one of her finest moments.

All that being said, I'm about to do the same thing . . . but I won't try to convince you that making this meal required the least bit of skill or originality on my part. It's just a sandwich.

But it is a really great lunch and it costs, I don't know, 50 cents all told, which is why I think it's . . .

The best lunch in town

1 egg fried in olive oil

2 strips of bacon, cooked

2 pieces of bread, toasted (I like Arnold's healthnut bread. The nuttier and grainier the better.)

1 or 2 slices fresh tomato (optional--come to think of it, every ingredient in this sandwich is optional)

Mayo

Mustard

Instructions: Make a sandwich.

I use just one piece of bread because I find that I can't eat more than half of a sandwich like this in the middle of the day.

Hey, if you're ever in the Anderson, SC area at lunch time, stop by and I'll make you one. Seriously.

Confession, New Perception, and Spring Flowers

2009-04-14T07:09:00.001-07:00

Well, as you may have noticed, I'm pretty good at proposing new series of posts. I've started three so far: "The Athenian Table", where I plan to share recipes and thoughts about food and hopefully get some of your recipes and thoughts in return, "The Best Thing I've Seen Today", which is a catch-all category for anything I want to post, and the "Make It Beautiful" series that began last week. What I'm not so good at is following up those initial posts with an actual series. In fact, I haven't written a second installment for any of them yet, but I will. I promise. Just not today.

(I realize that the underlying assumptions of the last paragraph--namely that you remember what I've written and that you care whether or not I continue these little series--are tenuous at best, but I thought I should at least assure you that I remember what I've written.)

As I said, the continuation those series will have to wait a while longer because I want to devote today's post to spring flowers. I guess this could be an installment of "The Best Thing I've Seen Today", only I saw it on Saturday, not today.

This year more than ever before I've been struck by the beauty of each new season. I don't know what's different, but I feel like I've never seen this stuff before. It's the funniest thing--for instance this autumn, just driving to work through the colored leaves almost brought me to tears. So when the sights of spring started to emerge a few weeks ago I was kind of giddy to exercise my new super powers of perception and feel the emotion that accompanies them. The season has not been a disappointment. It's been enjoyably overwhelming, and it's given me the feeling that I really should be recording what I see. Seems like the Athenian thing to do, right?

So Saturday morning, armed with my trusty point and shoot camera, I ventured out on a mission to celebrate beauty and create something permanent. Here's some of what I got.

All of these pictures were taken in my parents' yard. The spring bouquet on the front door was made by my mom. Some day I'll post more pictures of her flower arrangements. She's quite amazing.

How do you tip a Pullman porter for a short ride?

2009-04-10T06:39:00.000-07:00

I recently acquired a copy of Amy Vanderbilt's Everyday Etiquette at a local library book sale for $0.50, and I have to tell you it's the best $0.50 purchase I've made in quite a while. (I can say that last statement with confidence since full-size Almond Joys are no longer available at that price.)

Everyday Etiquette is a shortened version of the Complete Book of Etiquette by the same author and follows a question and answer format. It's sort of a pocket reference edition that you can whip out throughout the day as you're confronted with issues like: "Should a Protestant send flowers to an Orthodox Jewish funeral?" (Incidentally, the answer is no. As Ms. Vanderbilt explains, "To Orthodox Jews flower are a sign of joy--they should never be sent to a funeral. Often, too, flowers are not desired at a Conservative or Reform funeral.")

Oh, and here's another one I think we can all identify with.
Question: "Is it ever correct for a man to go without garters?"
Answer: "The matter of garters for gentlemen is a very touchy question. Of course, it is neater for them to wear garters, especially for business and social occasions, but the fact is that many do not. Some men who are quite fastidious in their dress get around the sloppiness of socks without garters by wearing wool socks which seem to stay in place. They wear them winter and summer. Nylon, rayon, and silk socks do seem to require the support of garters if a man is to look well-groomed."

Thanks to the invention and widespread use of elastic, this socks/garters issue has been pretty much put to bed.

But there are countless similar pearls of wisdom in this book such as . . .
. . . What to do as a hostess when a guest tries to extinguish his cigarette in one of your coffee cups
. . . How to dress and comport oneself while on board a ship
. . . What is correct way to eat lobster? (Don't worry, the answer to this question is accompanied by a full-page diagram)
. . . When dining at a smorgasbord restaurant, should the hostess lead the way to the table or should the men go first and choose the women's food?
. . . And of course, the question that's on all of our minds: Is it permissible to wear black shoes in the country?

Anyway, the book really is a treasure. Our society has changed so much since the 1950s that most of the "problems" she addresses are just plain humorous to us. But I think what makes the book so enjoyable is that it's from a time when people cared to do things correctly. There was a general standard of what was acceptable, and people, for the most part, wanted to adhere to that standard. Today you'd be hard pressed to find any rule of etiquette that is non-negotiable.

Yes, manners have changed quite a bit--manners are always changing and that's ok. But what troubles me is that we seem to have lost the principles behind the manners. Some of the specifics of Amy Vanderbilt's advice are outdated, and for that reason the overall tone of the book sounds a little fussy and "nice" to our 21st century ears. However, if you read her advice carefully, you'll notice that hardly any of it is based on arbitrary custom or elaborate social ritual. It is all in service of two main goals: making other people comfortable and showing them respect.

So although some of the forms have become archaic, the principles are timeless. We practice good table manners so that the sight of us eating doesn't make other people at the table uncomfortable (or, in extreme cases, render others unable to eat). We introduce this person before that person because age deserves respect. And we take care in how we dress (even when going to the grocery store) to show the people we will encounter that we respect them enough not to present ourselves to them in our pajamas.

But it's important to remember, especially in today's society where so little is standardized and so many people are untaught, that sometimes not adhering to the etiquette book is what best serves our goals. I think even Amy Vanderbilt would agree that "good manners" that make another person feel inferior or inadequate, are not good manners at all.

You can purchase a revised and updated version Everyday Etiquette here.

If you're wondering about the question in the title of this post, the answer is:
"For a very short train ride in a Pullman, say two and one half hours, it is usual to tip the porter twenty-five cents--even if he has performed no service for you such as brushing your clothes or handling your luggage."

Make It Beautiful

2009-04-07T08:05:00.000-07:00

This is the first in a series of posts that I'm going to call "Make It Beautiful". The series will focus on taking everyday objects, tasks, or "problems" and turning them into something . . . beautiful or at least pleasant, I hope.

The thoughts behind this series:

Our days are filled with countless little repetitive tasks--entering a computer password, washing our hands, hanging up a jacket, reaching for a writing utensil, stuff like that--that we do without really thinking. And if we did stop to think about them, we would probably lump them all together into the category of speed bumps in the day or "stuff I have to do in order to get back to what I was doing"--sort of the negative space between the real objects of life.

But if we were to add up all the time spent on those little tasks, we'd find that they make up a fairly large percentage of our lives. So my conclusion is this: if we're going about these small tasks thoughtlessly or with a sense of mild irritation, then that means we're living a large percentage of our lives in a state of thoughtlessness and/or mild irritation. And who wants to live like that?

So the goal is to find ways to make those minute tasks into things that we enjoy doing. It's my experience that usually just one simple change is required to affect the transformation. To explain what I mean, let's get down to the first example and the real topic of today's blog post:

Keeping Track of the Remote Controls

Yes, I know I could scarcely have started with a more banal issue. But it's a real one, right? Especially if you have sloppy, over sized slipcovers, like we do, that provide huge folds and flaps of excess material for remote controls to hide in while they wait to be sat upon. (My hatred for slipcovers is another topic for another post. Suffice it to say that if I ever meet the person responsible for taking those photos that go on the slipcover packages--you know the ones where the covers fit tightly and neatly over couches of all shapes and sizes without the slightest hint of a wrinkle? The pictures that make you think it's a good idea to buy a slipcover? Yes, if I ever meet that person, I will punch him in the face. And I am not even kidding.)

Anyway, I think most people can identify with the problem of lost remote controls. For us, the solution came in the form of this dish that Joe gave me for Christmas two years ago.

(Please forgive the very amateur photography.) I love this dish, and I used to display it on a plate stand on top of one of our bookshelves. Then one day I decided to try putting it on the coffee table where I thought it might be a little more prominent. As soon as I put it on the table, I realized it was the perfect home for our two remote controls.

Because I love the plate so much, I have no problem remembering to set the remotes back each time I use them. (The bright color probably helps me remember too.)

Here's a picture of the whole coffee table. (You'll notice one of the accursed slipcovers weaseled its way into the background of this picture.)

And I thought you might be interested to know that the small green dish has two brothers who also live at our house. One resides above the commentaries and biblical reference books and the other above economics and politics (and, it appears, the Associated Press style manual for some reason).

This week in bullets

2009-04-03T07:40:00.000-07:00

Goals

spring cleaning
3 workouts
2 blog posts
reserve hotel room in Chicago
work

Accomplishments

banana bread
2 workouts
3 blog posts
spent too much on hotel room in Chicago. Found out parking is an additional $50/night. Tried to cancel room. Couldn't, so decided I will just enjoy it.
worked

Indulgences

popcorn
sunless tanner
Marley & Me
crying while watching Marley & Me

Big Ideas

take pictures of the tree outside our apartment while it's in bloom
learn to make a good hard-boiled egg
learn French
learn how to sew (so I can make big silk throw pillows to go all over the house)

In Praise of Garance Dore

2009-04-01T05:36:00.000-07:00

I love mornings. One of the highlights of my morning routine is the moment when I sit down at my computer, cup of coffee in hand, and check my RSS feeds for updates to my favorite blogs. I don't keep up with many blogs (who has time?), but I'm a devoted reader of a few really good ones.
Garance Dore is one of the select few that I read every day. Garance is a fashion illustrator who started a blog in 2006 to showcase her sketches. In the years since, her blog has transformed into one of the most famous of the "street style" blogs, on par with the great Sartorialist. The majority of the posts are now photographic, and I love her photography, but I really look forward to the illustrations. Here are a few of my favorites.

Her images are always accompanied by charming anecdotes and interesting tidbits from her jet set life. She attends every fashion week, so she'll be writing from Stockholm one day, Paris the next, and New York the day after that. Then occasionally after a grueling week of looking at gorgeous clothes, she simply has to get some rest and get back to her roots. Here's one of my favorite quotes from a recent post:

"Friday, I suddenly had the overwhelming feeling that I needed to go give hugs to my family and eat some sea urchins. I jumped in a plane and a few hours later, touched down in Corsica."

Just reading about a life like that makes me feel excited. I don't envy it one bit, but I do enjoy experiencing it vicariously through her, which is why every morning I grab a cup of coffee and take my daily trot around the globe courtesy of Garance Dore.

Best Thing I've Seen Today

2009-03-25T07:49:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure this post falls within the parameters established by the blog's "mission statement", but I like to think it does. Anyway, here's the best thing I've seen today.

Let me just share a quick anecdote to help you understand my feelings for James Taylor. This is a story about the worst fight Joe and I have had (to date). The issue over which we fought: James Taylor. To really grasp how this argument came about, you first have to understand that I was raised on James Taylor. The melodious strains of sweet baby James are the soundtrack to all the family road trips I can remember and the inspiration for countless dance routines performed by my sister and me in our living room during our growing up years. (To this day she and I cannot resist the urge to break into dance whenever we hear "Mexico". So just a hint, you don't want to be walking through the aisles of WalMart with either of us when that song comes on or you WILL be stared at.)

For these reasons, I have a deep-rooted loyalty to James Taylor. I know the guy hasn't led an ideal life, but the sound of his voice has intertwined itself with all the feelings I have for family and home, so if someone criticizes him, I feel like they're attacking a member of my family. (Wow, now that I've put those thoughts in print I realize that I sound kind of deranged. I'm not really. It's just that James and I were meant to be together and some day he'll realize that . . . )

Anyway, back to the story: Joe and I were riding in the car one day listening to JTGH2 (for the uninitiated, that stands for James Taylor's Great Hits Volume II), and Joe says something about how James Taylor has a "singer/songwriter voice". So I asked what he meant by that, and he said, "You know . . . it's a good thing he's a great songwriter because his voice isn't that great. It's not like he would ever be a solo artist if he weren't a great songwriter."

Well needless to say, I was completely nonplussed. I started talking as quickly as I could, throwing out superlatives like "multi-platinum", "quintessential", "definitive of Americana", "greatest folk artist of our time", and and . . . And when I finally stopped for a breath, Joe said, "You know he's always a little flat, right?"

At that point, my head exploded.

I don't remember how the conversation went after that. I know I must have said some pretty crazy things because Joe has told me since that he actually considered pulling over to the side of the road and throwing me out of the car, which I'm sure I deserved. In fact, I might be a better person today if he had actually done it.

Of course our relationship recovered from this little tiff, and we love to laugh about it now. But it's amazing to realize that something as simple as music could bring out such strong emotions. I guess if there's a point to this post (besides the obvious, that if you are ever stuck in a confined space with me, such as a car, you should agree with everything I say) it's that music is powerful, it's evocative, so listen to the good stuff.

Here's a picture of the one singer/songwriter who supersedes James Taylor in my affections.

Joe

The Athenian Table, First Installment

2009-03-25T06:39:00.000-07:00

One aspect of my life that I've been trying to pay closer attention to is my diet. It's not that I sit around scarfing down potato chips and ice cream all day, although I do--ahem--occasionally indulge in junk food. My problem is just general thoughtlessness about when and what I eat. Some days it'll be 4 or 5 pm before I realize I haven't eaten anything all day except a handful of craisins and a Werthers Original that I stole from the candy dish on my boss' desk. And then there are the days that I do remember to eat breakfast before going to work, but--Oh look! So-and-so brought doughnuts. Sure, I'll take one. Or when I actually take a sensible packed lunch to work, eat it, and then find out everybody's going out for lunch, so--Sure, I'll join you. You know what I mean. (Come on, I can't be the only person who's eaten two breakfasts and two lunches in the same day. Right? Please?!)

Then at dinner, we're faced with the choice of cooking or eating out. I'm ashamed to admit that during the first year and a half of our marriage, Joe and I ate dinner out about 80% of the time. We were both working full time, and we didn't have much time to grocery shop, so even when we had the inclination to cook something at home, there was nothing on the shelves to cook with! So then we would eat out again and ease our consciences by saying that "since there are only two of us, it's just as cheap to eat out as it is to buy groceries." (Besides the fact that that last statement doesn't take into consideration the negative effect that eating out all the time--especially eating out inexpensively--can have on our health nor that it denies us the opportunity to take part in one of the most enjoyable domestic activities, planning and preparing meals, it is also by the way NOT TRUE!)

So I decided a few weeks ago to start taking control of what we eat and keeping a closer eye on our food budget. Coincidentally, Oprah ran an episode with that same emphasis not long ago, which was really helpful and informative. Now I'm making shopping lists, consulting the coupon section of the paper (usually before I make my list so I can plan some meals based on the current specials), and I'm getting out of the grocery store with much better food and spending a lot less. It feels great to open the refrigerator and instead of seeing nothing but lonely, half-used jars of spaghetti sauce and mustard, to find things like (imagine this . . . ) milk that is not expired!, chicken waiting to be cooked, cartons of strawberries that were on sale 3 for $5, and other similarly edible items.

I'm sure all of this sounds very elementary to those of you who are experienced homemakers, but it was a real breakthrough for me.

Anyway, to wrap this up I'll share one new recipe that I tried out last week. This is Cat Cora's recipe for Greek Cinnamon Stewed Chicken. It's delicious, very inexpensive, and you can get the recipe and full instructions here. Enjoy!

Greek Cinnamon Stewed Chicken--in my kitchen.

If you have any tips on planning meals, saving money on food, or eating nutritiously for less, please share them. Or if you just want to share a great recipe you've found, I'd love to hear that too. Thanks!

Proper

2009-03-20T07:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the TODAY show aired a segment that made me so happy I could hardly wait to tell you all about it! It seems that a large number young parents today are placing a renewed emphasis on teaching their children traditional etiquette. The segment indicated that this shift in thinking is primarily due to the influence of the first lady, who has stated publicly that she holds her two girls to strict standards of good behavior and will continue to do so while their family lives in the White House. Whether or not you agree with the Obamas' politics, I think this is a wonderful and very appropriate way for the first lady to use her influence to better our country. I can't think of anything more practically important for our future than teaching young people to respect those around them. Watch this video. It will be a bright spot in your day.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Hand-written

2009-03-17T13:06:00.000-07:00

When my sister and I were little, almost as soon as we could write, Mom began requiring us to write thank you notes. Any time we received a gift or ate a meal at a friend's home, she made sure that we sat down as soon as possible and wrote a note of thanks. If we complained about this task, her response to us was always the same: "Bread and butter notes hold society together." I'm not sure I even knew what the word "society" meant at that point in my life, but whatever it was, I understood that I was expected to have an active hand in preserving it. Years later, I reflect on that saying and realize how true it is.

Pictured above is one of the most beautiful hand-written notes I've ever received. It was sent to me by my friend Nancy back in 2007, and I've kept it on the cork board in front of my desk ever since so I can look at it often.

Anyway, the habit of writing thank you notes has stuck with me, and I'm so thankful that it has. A few days ago, I decided to make it a goal to write at least one thank you note every week. (If you were following me on Twitter, you would have seen my tweet about it.) It's only been one week, but so far I've kept my resolution.

I think the secret to being faithful in this area is to keep yourself provided with plenty of beautiful stationery--you know, the same way it's easier to go to the gym when you have cute new workout clothes--and I've come across several very pretty and very inexpensive types of stationery recently. Here are two cute patterns I found at Target. A 10 pack of each cost less than one normal greeting card.

Unfortunately both of these patterns are available only at the brick and mortar store, but there are a lot of other nice options available at Target's online store. So get some cute note cards and start writing!

Getting to know you

2009-03-14T18:29:00.001-07:00

Here's a little questionnaire I found recently. Thought I'd post it here so you can get to know me a little better.

What is your salad dressing of choice?
Honey Mustard

What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?
a little place in our town called Thai Spice

What food could you eat for 2 weeks straight and not get sick of it?
Tapioca (I know that's so weird, but I like to think that when I finally end up in a nursing home I'll be one of the few happy people there.)

What are your pizza toppings of choice?
Extra cheese, banana peppers

What do you like to put on your toast?
Strawberry jam

How many televisions are in your house?
One

What color cell phone do you have?
Silver

Are you right-handed or left-handed?
Right-handed

Have you ever had anything removed from your body?
No. But if I had, I don't think it would be in anyone's best interest for me to share that information here.

What is the last heavy item you lifted?
Joe's toolbox. I carried it from the car to the garage and thought I was going to die. Sadly, no one was there to see me do it, so Joe's still not sure he can believe I really lifted it myself. Oh wait, I just saw that this questions says "the last heavy item" not "the heaviest item". Ummm . . . I don't know about that. Maybe the groceries earlier this week because I would rather do permanent damage to my elbow joints than make more than one trip to the car.

Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
No

If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?
No. Or maybe yes, because it might help me deal with the irrational fears I've developed from reading Readers' Digest Drama in Real Life stories and watching Oprah. Right now I go into each day pretty much certain that I'm going to die that day as the result of either a bizarre malfunction of an everyday tool (like a toaster) or a medical error. That's really common, you know, medical error. I can give you some exact numbers if you're interested.

If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
Gunther Badoo. Oh wait, is that one already taken? I don't know then. I'd probably just stick with the one I have. (Sorry, that's a reference to a personal joke. I'll share the full story some day.)

Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000?
My experience with hot sauce is pretty limited, so I don't really think I have all the facts I would need to make an informed decision here. Probably yes.

Last run-in with the cops?
Last year Joe and I got pulled over on a major thoroughfair in our town for accidently flashing our brights. According to the officer, such an action "angers the gangs". We're still pondering that one.

Last person you talked to?
Joe

Last person you hugged?
Joe

Favorite Season?
Summer. I love hot weather.

Holiday?
Christmas

Day of the week?
Friday

Month?
Either March because we have a lot of family birthdays during that month or June because it's early summer and we have our anniversary that month.

First place you went this morning?
The coffee maker

What's the last movie you saw?
Mission Impossible 3, but I'd rather go with the one before that which was Dr. Strangelove--so weird and funny.

Do you smile often?
Yes, I believe I do.

Do you always answer your phone?
I try to, but my family tells me I'm uncommonly bad about answering my phone.

It's four in the morning and you get a text message who is it?
My brother-in-law Ethan saying something sassy and unnecessary.

If you could change your eye color what would it be?
Dark brown like my sister and my dad have.

What flavor drink do you get at Sonic?
Diet cherry limeade!!!

Do you own a digital camera?
Yes

Have you ever had a pet fish?
Yes, at one time my sister and I had 4 fish: Florizel, Perdita, Othello, and Desdemona.

Favorite Christmas song?
"Hark the Herald Angels Sing" or "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming". I like them all.

What's on your wish list for your birthday?
I just had a birthday and got a lot of nice things. Haven't made a list for next year yet. Come to think of it, I've never really made a list.

Can you do push ups?
Yes

Can you do a chin up?
Last I checked the answer was no.

Does the future make you more nervous or excited?
Excited!

Do you have any saved texts?
Yes, I am very bad about deleting texts. The only ones I intentionally save are from Joe.

Ever been in a car wreck?
I've been rear-ended twice.

Do you have an accent?
No, I don't think so.

What is the last song to make you cry?
I don't know. I cry a lot when people sing specials in church.

Plans tonight?
Go out for dinner to celebrate my mom's birthday!!!

Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom?
No, I can honestly say I've never felt that way.

Name 3 things you bought yesterday?
Didn't buy anything yesterday (amazingly). Today so far I've bought something I can't disclose because it's related to my mom's birthday, a cake (also related to her birthday but not a surprise), and paper plates and napkins.

Have you ever been given roses?
Yes

Current worry?
That the chicken in our fridge will go bad before I get to use it. I hate wasting food.

Current hate right now?
Mean people, bratty kids, Taylor Swift, CSI Miami

Met someone who changed your life?
The obvious one is Joe. Also sort of obvious is the fact that everyone we meet shapes us in some way.

How did you bring in the New Year?
Oh this is a good one--watching a really awful Christian film at a church watchnight service. After the movie was over, we actually prayed in the new year, which is one of my favorite traditions.

What song represents you?
It would make me really sad to say that I could find a pop/contemporary song that represents me. There are a lot of songs that express things I think or feel, but I can't think of one song that "represents" me.

What were you doing 12 AM last night?
I'll go with night before last because it's funnier. Sitting in bed by myself eating mint milano cookies. Ha!

What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up?
I don't know exactly, but it was something hateful about the garlic mashed potatoes I ate last night. (Sorry, I know that's unladylike, maybe even un-Athenian.)

If you're reading this, I'd love to hear your responses to some of these questions. Do share.

Ground Work

2009-03-12T15:19:00.000-07:00

So now you know how I got the name for the blog. (If you don't know yet, go ahead and read this before proceeding.)

Such a noble introduction may lead you to believe that what follows will be equally grand--art or aesthetic philosophy or something like that. But I assure you, it will not. What I have in mind for this blog is much humbler, but (I think) no less important. My intention is to use this blog as a place to talk about applying the Athenian ideals of beauty, creativity, and excellence to everyday life. Because being an Athenian isn't just about creating art; it's something that extends to every part of our lives--how we clothe ourselves, eat, entertain ourselves, and furnish our homes. It's about making a conscious effort to live life beautifully, striving for something better than Hamburger Helper, top 40 music, sofa art, and e-cards. It's understanding that even in the small choices of life the criteria shouldn't be what is most expedient but what will elevate me and those around me to make us more worthwhile humans.

I guess this blog will be a chronicle of my own quest to become an Athenian. The fact that I'm chronicling anything is a step in the right direction; who knows, I may even be writing poetry by the end of this.

Well, thanks for reading and here we go . . .

Where I got the name

2009-03-10T11:31:00.000-07:00

The name of this blog comes from the following speech by Neil Postman. Thank you to Zach Franzen of Portland Studios for bringing this speech to my attention in a blog post from last year. It's been on my mind ever since. Apparently Postman prepared these comments to be used in case he were ever asked to give a commencement address. He never had the opportunity, but the speech is too good to be forgotten.

I know this is a little longer than the average blog post, but please read it. The reward will be great.

. . . I want to tell you about two groups of people who lived many years ago but whose influence is still with us. They were very different from each other, representing opposite values and traditions. I think it is appropriate for you to be reminded of them on this day because, sooner than you know, you must align yourself with the spirit of one or the spirit of the other.

The first group lived about 2,500 years ago in the place which we now call Greece, in a city they called Athens. We do not know as much about their origins as we would like. But we do know a great deal about their accomplishments. They were, for example, the first people to develop a complete alphabet, and therefore they became the first truly literate population on earth. They invented the idea of political democracy, which they practiced with a vigor that puts us to shame. They invented what we call philosophy. And they also invented what we call logic and rhetoric. They came very close to inventing what we call science, and one of them-Democritus by name-conceived of the atomic theory of matter 2,300 years before it occurred to any modern scientist. They composed and sang epic poems of unsurpassed beauty and insight. And they wrote and performed plays that, almost three millennia later, still have the power to make audiences laugh and weep. They even invented what, today, we call the Olympics, and among their values none stood higher than that in all things one should strive for excellence. They believed in reason. They believed in beauty. They believed in moderation. And they invented the word and the idea which we know today as ecology.

About 2,000 years ago, the vitality of their culture declined and these people began to disappear. But not what they had created. Their imagination, art, politics, literature, and language spread all over the world so that, today, it is hardly possible to speak on any subject without repeating what some Athenian said on the matter 2,500 years ago.

The second group of people lived in the place we now call Germany, and flourished about 1,700 years ago. We call them the Visigoths, and you may remember that your sixth or seventh-grade teacher mentioned them. They were spectacularly good horsemen, which is about the only pleasant thing history can say of them. They were marauders-ruthless and brutal. Their language lacked subtlety and depth. Their art was crude and even grotesque. They swept down through Europe destroying everything in their path, and they overran the Roman Empire. There was nothing a Visigoth liked better than to burn a book, desecrate a building, or smash a work of art. From the Visigoths, we have no poetry, no theater, no logic, no science, no humane politics.

Like the Athenians, the Visigoths also disappeared, but not before they had ushered in the period known as the Dark Ages. It took Europe almost a thousand years to recover from the Visigoths.
Now, the point I want to make is that the Athenians and the Visigoths still survive, and they do so through us and the ways in which we conduct our lives. All around us-in this hall, in this community, in our city-there are people whose way of looking at the world reflects the way of the Athenians, and there are people whose way is the way of the Visigoths. I do not mean, of course, that our modern-day Athenians roam abstractedly through the streets reciting poetry and philosophy, or that the modern-day Visigoths are killers. I mean that to be an Athenian or a Visigoth is to organize your life around a set of values. An Athenian is an idea. And a Visigoth is an idea. Let me tell you briefly what these ideas consist of.

To be an Athenian is to hold knowledge and, especially the quest for knowledge in high esteem. To contemplate, to reason, to experiment, to question-these are, to an Athenian, the most exalted activities a person can perform. To a Visigoth, the quest for knowledge is useless unless it can help you to earn money or to gain power over other people.

To be an Athenian is to cherish language because you believe it to be humankind's most precious gift. In their use of language, Athenians strive for grace, precision, and variety. And they admire those who can achieve such skill. To a Visigoth, one word is as good as another, one sentence in distinguishable from another. A Visigoth's language aspires to nothing higher than the cliché.

To be an Athenian is to understand that the thread which holds civilized society together is thin and vulnerable; therefore, Athenians place great value on tradition, social restraint, and continuity. To an Athenian, bad manners are acts of violence against the social order. The modern Visigoth cares very little about any of this. The Visigoths think of themselves as the center of the universe. Tradition exists for their own convenience, good manners are an affectation and a burden, and history is merely what is in yesterday's newspaper.

To be an Athenian is to take an interest in public affairs and the improvement of public behavior. Indeed, the ancient Athenians had a word for people who did not. The word was idiotes, from which we get our word "idiot." A modern Visigoth is interested only in his own affairs and has no sense of the meaning of community.

And, finally, to be an Athenian is to esteem the discipline, skill, and taste that are required to produce enduring art. Therefore, in approaching a work of art, Athenians prepare their imagination through learning and experience. To a Visigoth, there is no measure of artistic excellence except popularity. What catches the fancy of the multitude is good. No other standard is respected or even acknowledged by the Visigoth.

Now, it must be obvious what all of this has to do with you. Eventually, like the rest of us, you must be on one side or the other. You must be an Athenian or a Visigoth. Of course, it is much harder to be an Athenian, for you must learn how to be one, you must work at being one, whereas we are all, in a way, natural-born Visigoths. That is why there are so many more Visigoths than Athenians. And I must tell you that you do not become an Athenian merely by attending school or accumulating academic degrees. My father-in-law was one of the most committed Athenians I have ever known, and he spent his entire adult life working as a dress cutter on Seventh Avenue in New York City. On the other hand, I know physicians, lawyers, and engineers who are Visigoths of unmistakable persuasion. And I must also tell you, as much in sorrow as in shame, that at some of our great universities, perhaps even this one, there are professors of whom we may fairly say they are closet Visigoths. And yet, you must not doubt for a moment that a school, after all, is essentially an Athenian idea. There is a direct link between the cultural achievements of Athens and what the faculty at this university is all about. I have no difficulty imagining that Plato, Aristotle, or Democritus would be quite at home in our class rooms. A Visigoth would merely scrawl obscenities on the wall.

And so, whether you were aware of it or not, the purpose of your having been at this university was to give you a glimpse of the Athenian way, to interest you in the Athenian way. We cannot know on this day how many of you will choose that way and how many will not. You are young and it is not given to us to see your future. But I will tell you this, with which I will close: I can wish for you no higher compliment than that in the future it will be reported that among your graduating class the Athenians mightily outnumbered the Visigoths.

Scribbles, Scraps, and Snapshots

2009-03-09T10:59:00.000-07:00

Welcome to The Athenian Life, a place where I log the scribbles, scraps, and snapshots that make up my life. There's not much to see here yet, but if you come back in a few days hopefully there will be. Thanks so much for stopping by!

The Athenian Life

Recommended Listening: The Magnetic Fields

Blue Mood

the warm glow

That Sweater Again

Pastel Christmas

Creamy vanilla tangerine pudding

sweet dream

While We're On The Subject

This Is No Joke

Date Nights and No Utensils

Baking For Gifts

Recommended Listening: Shawn Colvin

Recent Acquisitions

Custom Laptop Sleeves from Snupped

Apple Filled Crepes

sad but true

Recommended Reading: Simply Seleta

Generations

what a waste

Compliment

Give & Take

tidbit

The Space Between

Leftovers

catch up

a friend's home

no special occasion

Some Nice Things to Look At

the last three and a half months

in all fairness

Make It Beautiful: Folding the Laundry

happy thought indeed

The Athenian Table: Retro Dinner Salad

your imagination is showing

Summer Splurge

Summer Beauty Bargains

Effortless: A Belated Mother's Day Post

dear diary

Until Friday . . .

Guest Book

password strength

Athenian Table Part the Second or The Best Lunch in Town

Confession, New Perception, and Spring Flowers

How do you tip a Pullman porter for a short ride?

Make It Beautiful

This week in bullets

In Praise of Garance Dore

Best Thing I've Seen Today

The Athenian Table, First Installment

Proper

Hand-written

Getting to know you

Ground Work

Where I got the name

Scribbles, Scraps, and Snapshots