Books | M. Suzanne Terry

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Real Talk Tuesday – God in the Everyday

Posted in Books, Real Talk Tuesday on November 18, 2014| 4 Comments »

The quiet season has begun.

November and December are busy months in the everyday, but they are quieter months as far as blogging goes. During the last two months of the year (particularly November), it’s normal for me to average a post or two a week. Part of this phenomenon is taking a break after the madness that is 31 Days. Part of this phenomenon is due simply to my writing being directed elsewhere.

Mostly, though, I’m just more reflective during these days. While reflection tends to make me more melancholy, it also makes me more…me. When the weather starts (finally and hallelujah) getting cooler, my soul cools down its surface angst and mindless busyness as well. I am more content to get slow. I am more content to savor small things.

I am more content – happy, even – to focus on simple things and to focus on one thing at a time. Other times of the year, my mind would be focused on what is coming up at work or my to-do list. Those things are there, but they stay at work and on the list until it is their turn. That leaves focus for important things, like inviting the spider family who keeps trying to come in from the cold to hang out in the tree outside instead.

[Seriously, spiders. Just feel free to make that whole tree your home. You don’t want to come in my house anyway. It smells like tea tree oil and lemon (and, coming soon, cinnamon and peppermint). You would hate that, spiders.]

I am more content to go to bed early – and to get up early – to read.

A good predictor of my mental state is whether or not I am reading or writing. If I’m not reading or writing (or, God help us all, if I’m doing neither), I am not myself. All the ordinary, wonderful things become just more annoying things on my list to get through and check off. I forget this so easily. I am relieved to be in a season of remembering and watching again.

I am re-reading Barbara Brown Taylor’s An Altar in the World.* I am reading it a chapter a night and making room for it to sink in. It’s no coincidence that I’m taking more walks, drinking more tea, and seeing the daily activities that I often view as chores as spiritual disciplines.

I’m linking up with Marvia’s Real Talk Tuesday. Join us?

*Affiliate link

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Bookworm

Posted in 31 Days, Books on October 27, 2014| 1 Comment »

Yesterday, my sister and I met Margat at Ol’ South for (late) breakfast before hitting the Fort Worth Friends of the Library Book Sale. I enjoy book sales at the Denton Library, but the one in Fort Worth is massive, so I like to make it to that one at least once a year if I can. I especially like to make it on $15-a-box day, which is what yesterday was. Happy.

Step 1: Carb loading at Ol’ South (mmm…Belgian waffle…).

Step 2: Drive to the FW Friends of the Library Bookstore. Follow the crowd to either of the large surplus rooms near the store.

Step 3: Put your name on one of the empty boxes in the corner.

Step 4: Get a handheld basket.

Step 5: Go a little crazy.

I made out like a bandit:

Those two boxes represent several hours of collecting a basket of books and hauling them over to my little corner of the room where the treasures I found were being held. It was a lot of work. I sweat a lot. My arms and legs are sore today.

Then I came home and hauled all of them up the stairs. Then I took a nap.

I made some great finds. Lots of Isabel Allende that I didn’t have before. Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg. Many books to fuel my Feast course (including a copy of The Joy of Cooking, which I’ve always wanted and just never got around to buying).

But I think my favorite find was this one:

I feel that the person who came up with that title could be my friend.

So that was my movement for Sunday. Now to find a place on the shelves for my new books…

I am committing to 31 Days of Movement.

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What I’m Into – September 2014

Posted in Books, Denton, Food, What I'm Into on October 1, 2014| 9 Comments »

September is always such a tease. It gives us a few cool days. A friend whose birthday is in the middle of the month says that Jesus always makes the weather nice for her special day, and I’m inclined to believe her. It always manages to make its way back up to the 90s at some point during the month, though. I could do without that.

Looking forward seemed to be the theme of this month. I am about to start October Unprocessed and 31 Days of Movement, so I have been collecting recipes and ideas for exercise that fits into a busy lifestyle. So I have stacks and stacks of cookbooks and get-your-life-together books all around the apartment.

September was full of friends and food. The DFW Story Feast had fondue night. There is a particularly telling picture of me where I am not at all looking at the camera but rather am focused on the smothered piece of bread at the end of my fork. I do love cheese. We meant to art journal that night, but…cheese.

I tried Hypnotic Donuts and Cultivar Coffee for the first time. They have branched out from Dallas and made their way up to Denton, and I’m so glad that they did. Sonja and I each had a donut and then went back for poutine and a chicken biscuit. And it took me the entire time I was there to realize where I had seen this couch before:

My grandmother had this exact same couch. If you look closely, you can see the pictures of the pheasants. This made me feel oddly at home. It seemed fitting that I should be eating biscuits and drinking really strong coffee near this couch.

That’s right. Getting all my bad habits out of the way before I start an October of eating and doing things that are good for me.

Other than cookbooks, I have only read two books, but I enjoyed them both. Cassandra Clare’s City of Heavenly Fire was a quick read and a nice (albeit very predictable) conclusion to the series. But Jasper Fforde’s The Eyre Affair was my favorite. I feel bad for it, being my favorite in a slow reading month. It’s not hard to be the better of two. But even if I’d read twenty books this month, it probably would still have been my favorite. It was clever cornucopia of literary references, and it made me want to read everything mentioned.

As far as music goes, I have had either Rude or All About That Bass stuck in my head all month. I only find one of them tolerable. It’s been tedious. I would like to say that this is teaching me patience, but I’m pretty sure it’s just fueling my rage.

Micah and Raven both had birthdays this month. They’re getting so big, and I see them so rarely. I might have to make a dash to Fort Worth in October to visit.

So that’s my September. What was your September like?

I’m linking up with Leigh Kramer – join us!

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What I’m Into – July 2014

Posted in Books, Denton, Food, Story Sessions, TV, What I'm Into on July 30, 2014| 2 Comments »

July is pigtail weather. July is also finding-things-to-do-indoors weather.

What I did:

For July 4th, I made Sloppy Joes (Mom’s recipe that is basically meat, ketchup, and sweet pickle relish – also good on lentils but drain the relish first to avoid soupiness), Caprese Salad bites (although mine didn’t look that pretty…in fact, they were mostly assemble-yourself bites), and White Sangria (after comparing several recipes, I just dumped peach nectar, vanilla vodka, brandied peaches – aside: delicious – and Moscato in a pitcher) and made everyone come to me. Then I watched the fireworks from my couch. Happy.

The DFW Story Sisters came to Denton this month. So naturally, we hit the square. We started at Jupiter House, wandered through Recycled Books and SCRAP, and followed dinner at Abbey Inn up with ice cream.

Michelle, Steve, and Savvy came to visit the next weekend. They brought over Mr. Chopsticks for lunch, and then we spent the afternoon on the square collecting leaves, looking at books and candy, having a little dance party, eating ice cream at Beth Marie’s, and having dinner at LSA.

Her fannish glee in mid-squee. We swear she picked Smallville up all on her own with no coaching. I love this little face!

Supper Club hit Wine Squared again this month. I think we’re in love.

What I read:

I again spent the month looking over cookbooks. I’m going to stop pretending this is a seasonal thing. Cookbooks are my jam. Ohhh…jam cookbook! *plots*

Moving on…

My two favorite recommendations:

– Joy the Baker. If it were possible to make love to a cookbook…

And apparently, others have felt the same. About every ten pages or so of the library’s copy, I would find crumbs or flour dust between the pages. On the one hand, I totally understand. These recipes demand immediate baking. On the other hand, come on, people! Library books are communal books! All the more reason to buy my own copy, I guess.

Everything I have tried so far is glorious, but I especially recommend the vegan pumpkin walnut bread and the banana rum cake with brown butter frosting. Or the goat cheese-pepper-cocoa truffles. Or the coconut macaroon ice cream. Oh, I can’t choose. Just buy it and make it all.

– The Runner’s World Cookbook. Part of me thinks, “Most of this information is on the Internet somewhere. I could just look there for free.” I can’t bring myself to settle for that, though, when all of it is right here, neatly organized into one beautiful book.

Reasons I will be buying this book:
1. The charts and lists. It gives a easy comparison guide for different grains, fats, and proteins.
2. A basic whole grain pancake recipe, followed by two pages of batter and topping variations – most of which I would have never thought of on my own, and I experiment a lot. I can’t wait to try the Speakeasy Special and the Sweet Southerner pancakes.
3. Chicken Not Pie. As a loather of chicken pot pie, I appreciate a recipe that takes everything I would like about it and leaves out the rest.
4. Steel Cut Oatmeal Risotto. This is an example of my favorite thing about this book – they took food I love and made in a slightly different way to make it new and interesting.

To watch:

This is a short list. I’m making my way through Boston Legal. It’s hilarious. I recommend it, if for no other reason than to see William Shatner and James Spader in flamingo costumes.

My favorite things people did on the Internet:

I’m linking up with Leigh Kramer – come on over and tell us what you’re into!

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The Light Between Us – Interview with Beth Morey

Posted in Books, Story Sessions on July 16, 2014| Leave a Comment »

(Originally posted at Story Sessions)

I pre-ordered a copy of Beth Morey’s new book The Light Between Us. Then, because I just couldn’t wait for it to get to me, I grabbed the ebook the day it was free on Amazon. Whether you read the paperback or ebook – this book will delight. If you haven’t had a chance to read it yet, follow these instructions:

1. Buy this book.
2. Find a large, uninterrupted block of time, because once you start, you’re not going to want to put it down. Have to work? Two words – personal day. Have kids? One more word – babysitter.
3. Spend the day inhaling this book (on a beach with a cabana boy who brings you umbrella drinks, if at all possible).

The Light Between Us is the perfect beach read. It’s fun and full of romantic angst, and some of the scenes will definitely steam up your sunglasses.

And now, I bring you Beth Morey:

1. As an indie author, you had a longer task list than the average author to get this book to print. What was the most challenging part of the process? What was your favorite part of the process?

The most challenging part was editing. And then realizing that I hadn’t edited nearly well enough before I released my book. That was, um, painful. But also educational. I still hate editing, though.

My favorite part was writing, and watching the story unfurl. I have never felt so full of soul purpose, so in line with how I am made. It was (and is) a very powerful experience. I also loved picking out my cover. The thrill that gave me was possibly embarrassingly strong, but I’ll own it.

2. You have mentioned that The Light Between Us was a romance, but not necessarily a Christian Romance. Why is it important to make this distinction?

I kept having this curious experience. I’d say that I was writing a romance, and then the person I was talking with would say, “Oh, I love Christian romances!” But my book is not a Christian romance; The Light Between Us shares none of those standard Christian romance genre characteristics. It is more explicit sexually and in terms of language, and the values of the characters are not at all what a reader would expect from a Christian novel. Faith is barely mentioned. So I felt I needed to make this distinction to be fair to my readers. I didn’t want them to feel misled. If I hadn’t been [LS1] such an openly Christian blogger, I don’t think I would have felt the need to delineate this.

3. What is the most surprising thing that has happened since The Light Between Us was released?

I have been able to not take on some seriously negative reviews of my book. I am a person who has a deep (and unrealistic) need to be well-liked by everyone. And writing a book and putting it out there for all the world to consume? Yikes. I had a coaching call with Elora a few weeks prior to my book’s release, and dealing with negative reviews was one of the three things I wanted to talk with her about.

That said, I think I’ve dealt surprisingly well with the negative reviews. I have been able to find some distance, to take what’s constructive and leave the rest. It has actually been a deeply growing experience. I feel like I am maturing both as a writer and a woman through this experience.

4. Tell us about your new project. What are you working on now?

I am working on a contemporary fantasy that is based loosely upon Celtic myth, starring a main character named Eveleen. It might be Young Adult, but I’m not sure yet. In any case, it’s something completely different from The Light Between Us! It’s also feeling a good bit longer than The Light Between Us. My romance novel was a short novel, about 66,000 words long. Eveleen’s story is currently 30,000 words long, and I’m feeling like the story is only just ramping up.

5. Who are your favorite writers? Why?

Neil Gaiman, Audrey Niffenegger, Anne Lamott, Mary Oliver, Rainer Maria Rilke, Rumi, Terry Tempest Williams. They write with texture, grit. It is a visceral experience to read them. I feel as if I am almost literally chewing, tasting, and swallowing their words. Also, they tend to write on multiple levels; a bird is never just a bird, a laugh is never just a laugh. I long to write with this power.

6. If you could be a character in any story that you’ve ever read, what story would you want to join? Why?

Oh wow. What a question! How can I choose? Perhaps I could be Bastian of The Neverending Story, stealing away to a musty tumble of blankets in his school’s attic to literally fall into the book he was reading. Or Lucy of The Chronicles of Narnia, with her courage and goodness and faith, not to mention all her adventures.

7. Finally, for the writers who have an idea for a book or have started the book or have even finished a manuscript…and now they’re stuck – what advice do you have for them?

Get help. I could never have finished The Light Between Us without the support of dear friends. I had a few friends who welcomed my daily emails bearing the new words I’d typed into being. I didn’t need them to read these words, only to expect them, to receive them, and to come back with a resounding “you can do this; you are doing this!” At about 30,000 words into The Light Between Us, I was ready to quit. Their support rallied me, assuaged my doubt, and gave me strength to continue writing into the unknown.

You don’t have to work in a vacuum. In fact, I think you should consider avoiding doing so. Find a kindred or two that you trust, and ask them to walk with you. Life begets life.

Beth writes, paints, and dreams in Montana. She is the author of The Light Between Us, a new adult romance, and the creative healing workbook Life After Eating Disorder, and is also the owner of Epiphany Art Studio. Her words and art have appeared in various publications, such as Somerset Studio, to linger on hot coals, Still Standing Magazine, Wild Goslings, and Disney’s Family Fun. In addition to her quirky little family and their three naughty dogs, Beth is in love with luscious color, moon-gazing, and dancing wild. She writes soul into flesh at her blog, and is saving the world at Act Small, Think Big.

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What I’m Into – June 2014

Posted in Books, Story Sessions, What I'm Into, Work, Writing on July 3, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Oh, June. I’m into you. I didn’t expect to be. Maybe the surprise of it is what makes it so mesmerizing.

The snow cones don’t hurt, either.

Words:

Poetry, food, and friends. Even with two jobs in full swing, June demands vacation reading. I moved my reading lamp to the bedroom, so I have been drenching myself in the poetry collections I keep on my bedside table every night and every morning. Suddenly, waking up isn’t so hard to do.

Chocolat – Long-time lover of the movie (because Johnny Depp. And chocolate. But mostly Johnny Depp), I knew I’d love the book as well. This book will make you hungry…in so many ways.

Ruth Reichl’s debut novel Delicious! was wonderful. I am biased, because having collected most of her other books and tried most of the recipes within them, I love her and sort of want to be her when I grow up, but Reichl knows how to tell a story. Also – don’t worry – the gingerbread recipe is at the back of the book.

And my friend Beth Morey’s The Light Between Us was launched this month. I ordered a paper copy but I couldn’t wait for it to get to me, so I grabbed an e-copy as well. It’s a fast read, because you don’t want to put it down. This book + beach + mai tai = perfect day.

Friends:

June was full of fun.

Our Supper Club went to Wine Squared for Sumptuous Sundays on Father’s Day. We enjoyed a wonderful three-course meal with wine pairings for each course which included the most glorious pork loin I’ve ever eaten and a port I actually enjoyed. We, of course, hastily signed up for their wine club. We’re hooked.

Summer seems to be the time for transitions. Several friends have moved/are moving/got new jobs, so I got to celebrate with them. My old boss Dennis got a job at another school, so the Dean of Students office (where he worked at UNT) had a farewell party for him. Lisa from my book club moved back to the east coast, so we had a special book club meeting (read: night of wine and Texas-themed food/presents) to send her off. And Jayne and Connor are moving to Juneau soon, so I got to see her last week and will see her again at their garage sale on Saturday. Added bonus – I bought this adorable thing from them, which is the perfect cabinet for my liquor:

Dear Savvy turned two. What she’s into? Daniel Tiger and butterflies.

(And cake. And Daddy.)

Because none of us could make the in-person Story Sessions retreat in Austin, the DFW Story Sisters decided to have our own party. Adela hosted us for an evening of wine, food, and conversation, and it was a balm to my soul.

Products:

Um, who knew about Arbonne and failed to tell me? Kim lured me to a party one Friday with the promise of wine (pretty much the only reason I’ll ever leave my house on a Friday evening), and I’m so glad she did. I tried all the things, and I AM NOT ALLERGIC TO ANY OF THEM. This never happens. I ordered the daily face regime for sensitive skin and the deodorant, but I want to buy everything. I’m having a party in August, and I’m at least going to sign up to be a preferred customer.

Equal Exchange’s Red Cherry Challenge -in addition to their already stellar business practices that ensure a livable wage and a workable business model for coffee farmers, Equal Exchange is donating ten cents for every pound of coffee purchased this year to the Red Cherry Fund, a grant program for farmers in El Salvador and Guatamala, where climate change has wreaked havoc on their businesses. I pledged to buy five pounds of coffee a month (which is actually a pretty conservative estimate for me). Will you join the challenge?

TV/Movies:

The first weekend of the month, I did a little dogsitting, which means I also did a lot of Netflixing. In one weekend, I watched Season 3 of Sherlock (!!!) and both seasons of Orange is the New Black (also !!!). The dogs were incredibly calm, aside from during that pesky storm incident, and I like to think it had something to do with my good taste in programming.

Well, I say they were calm. This is the look you get from Maddie when you suggest that she “go outside” during OITNB:

No one gives side eye like Maddie.

I also watched The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. I liked it, but I don’t know if I would have liked it as much as I did if I hadn’t been chatting about it via Facebook with the Story Sessions while watching it. It was clever. You should see it.

The Internet:

– Women ignoring men as art

– June 4 was National Hug Your Cat Day, and The Bloggess encouraged all of us to celebrate.

– This was followed two days later by National Donut Day. Mmmm….donut….*salivates*

– Addie Zierman wrote The Non-Blogger’s Guide to Blogging series. This is the first blogging series that hasn’t made me want to throw my hands up in the air (and wave them like I just don’t care) and erase everything I’ve ever done online because why bother if I’m not going to be perfect at it. If you want to improve your blog but can’t stand advice on how to improve your blog, go give it a read.

So you can see why I have such a crush on June this year. Link up with us over at Leigh Kramer’s blog to let us know what you were into in June!

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What I’m Into – May 2014

Posted in Books, Food, Getting It Together, What I'm Into, Work, Writing on May 31, 2014| Leave a Comment »

I love this May. May is usually crazy and full of transition. And this one was, too, to an extent. But the weather has been unseasonably cool and gorgeous:

And my day job is Summer Housing (i.e., working with college students) instead of Summer Conferences (i.e., working with minors…who…I’m sure it’s different when they’re your own…but working with other people’s children makes me never want to find out). So I had a fantastic May and a fantastic start to summer.

How May makes me feel. This cat understands me.

Here’s what I’m into this month:

To write:

I started my Getting it Together series on the blog. I am enjoying the food. I am tolerating the cleaning. My entryway is giving me fits. I hope the rest of the rooms aren’t this much of a struggle.

My favorite post that I wrote this month was Badger. It was good to talk about it, and I think I was fair enough. It’s hard to be fair when you’re telling your side of the story.

To read:

Summer (and perhaps my Getting It Together project) have me dreaming up food ideas and being drawn to ideas that others have dreamed up. So I read cookbooks and foodie memoirs and foodie fiction even more than usual.

There are not many books that I read and then need to go immediately and buy because I can’t stand the thought of being without it. A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg is one such book. This is my favorite book that I’ve read this year. It’s a treasure. And arugula salad with dark chocolate bits? Pretty much the best idea ever.

I also read Keepers by Kathy Brennan and Caroline Campion. Most of the book is meat-intensive, which I am not, but I will end up buying it for the sauces alone. I’m a sucker for a sauce.

To watch:

I have continued my obsession with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and I will probably end up buying it by the end of the summer. Such great characters. Such amazing one-liners.

I have also watched Chocolat four times. Because chocolate. And France. And Johnny Depp. I will probably watch it four more times before I return it to the library. Because I checked out the book, so I’ll need to watch it again after I finish the book. NEED.

To hear:

I’ve been writing and scheduling posts for What Not to Say, so I’ve been listening to my WNTS station on Spotify. Maybe not safe for work, depending on your workplace.

To eat:

May has been DELICIOUS. As part of my Getting It Together series, I’m going through some of Mom’s recipes, so May has tasted like my childhood. There was cavatini (which is basically pasta, sauce, ground beef, pepperoni, and cheese, all in one glorious dish), chicken salad, and sausage balls. I’ve also made a couple of loaves of beer bread, which makes fantastic toast for breakfast. Food at my house has been so good that I haven’t even wanted to go out, which is unusual for me, but it was a nice change.

We’re gathering at Leigh Kramer’s blog to talk about what we’re into – join us!

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What I’m Into – March

Posted in Andilit, Books, Food, Story Sessions, TV, What I'm Into on March 31, 2014| 4 Comments »

March is my favorite month. October is a close second, but it cannot compare to March, because March is my birth month! The thing I was into the most was turning 39. I received both yoga pants and wine as gifts, and I appreciated them, so clearly I am right on schedule with fulfilling the stereotype.

Winter persisted into the first week of the month and royally screwed up my class schedule, but I can’t even be mad about it. It turned Spring Break into two weeks for me at the school where I teach, since I’m only there on Mondays.

Story Sessions had its first Story Feast (in-person meeting of local peeps), and ours was a small feast, but Marvia and I had fun hanging out at La Madeleine.

I got to spend a little time with Mom and Dad over break. Mom had her first cataract surgery, so I went along to keep Dad company while he waited.

I took care of my friends’ dogs while they were out of town for about half a week. While I was there, I had an uncomfortable realization. One of the dogs was dumb and needy but the sweetest dog in the world, and the other was smart and funny but also kind of an asshole. I was dog-sitting every guy I’ve ever dated or liked.

I am also in the middle of two classes – Brandy Walker’s Be Course for Lent and the Reframing Collective through Story Sessions led by Jennifer Upton. That’s why you’ve been seeing more pictures than usual. I’m taking more.

Oh, and I got an iPhone. This will be the first phone with a data plan I have had (I know, welcome to the 21st century, and I can stop churning my own butter now). I haven’t activated it yet, but I do have active plans to become addicted to Instagram.

Those are the highlights. Here’s what was playing in the background.

To write:

I have Fishbowl mapped out. I put the chapters in order. I know how it’s going to end, and I know how I’m going to get there. This is huge.

I have an idea that’s been brewing a while concerning the things people say to single people (and specifically, what I could stand for them NOT to say. . . just ever again). So April, I’m going to write it out. I’m going to bleed 2,500 words a day to see if I have enough words to start another project. This could easily become a community project in the future, but for now, I’m going to see what I have to say about it.

My two favorite posts I wrote this month:

– My link-up piece for The Girls We Once Were, called Renaissance Girl.

– My answer to Andi’s prompt to give myself ten nuggets of writing advice.

To read:

– Rilke’s Letters to a Young Poet. I loved it, particularly the parts about solitude.

– Vonnegut’s Welcome to the Monkey House. My favorite story was “Who Am I This Time?”

– Stephen King’s 11/22/63. Whose idea was it to have an 800+ page book for book club? Oh, right. Mine. Well, I share the blame. I guess we all chose it. It’s a quick read, though, for 800 pages. Because Stephen King.

Goodreads tells me that I am 11 books behind schedule on my reading challenge (100 books) for the year. I would exclaim, “800 pages!” but that first book I read this year was really just a transcript of a speech, so I’m going to call it even. I am trying to remember that I catch up in the summer and not let Goodreads psych me out. And maybe I could also remember that the world won’t end if I only read 90 books this year.

Some gorgeous things were written on the Internet this month. These are my favorites:

When I Measure the Distance of God by Preston Yancey

Speaking Fear, Praying Shalom by Osheta Moore

You Don’t Have to Be Pretty – on YA Fiction and Beauty as a Priority on the Belle Jar

How Riding is Worship by Katie Rutledge

When World Vision Drops Me by Benjamin Moberg

The Internet has also been a tough place to be this month. Lord, have mercy.

To watch:

Three words –

House.

Of.

Cards.

I watched both seasons in three days. I couldn’t look away.

I am avoiding Psych and Scandal spoilers. I’ll watch them after the semester’s over, when I can devote the appropriate measure of time to them. I think I’m actually going to start Psych over and watch from the first season. That will give this season time to come out on DVD so that I can have it for my very own. I love that show.

I finally saw Catching Fire. I liked it just as much as I liked the first one. As much as I like the story, I feel that I should have more to say about it, but no.

I had a nice time this weekend re-watching one of my favorite movies – Under the Tuscan Sun – and drinking wine and eating my weight in pasta.

But my favorite thing that I saw this month? Veronica Mars, of course. These were the highlights for me (and I don’t think any of them are spoilery):

– Veronica is back with the old school pop culture references – “You weren’t planning on carrying me through the airport, were you?”

– “You should only wear this.” Both times.

– Logan leaning against the car. Rewind and pause.

– Dax Shepard cameo, for the win.

– Mac’s hair. If I could pull off short hair at all, this is the haircut I would wear forever.

There were so many other things I loved about it, but any time you could spend reading about them would be better spent watching it.

To hear:

The Be Course has me dancing as a spiritual practice and also eating very fattening things so that my spiritual practice needs to take on some movement lest I gain 50 pounds during the class. So music has been mostly house and trip hop. My neighbors don’t even know what to do with me.

To eat:

I have had a lot of baked goods this month (observe the pear tart above). Brownies, cookies, cake. I am in a constant state of sugar high. This has to stop. Of course, it’s chocolate chip cookie week in our e-course, and I’m a very good student. . .

During the dog-sitting/House-of-Cards-watching days, I developed an unholy affinity for peanut butter puff cereal. I enjoy both the Mother’s and the EnviroKidz (yes, with a z) versions of this treat. As with all sugar-laced cereals, I try to mix it with plain Cheerios or plain puffed corn or wheat, but I have had at least one bowl a day for the last half of the month.

On Saturday, I took the marinara that was left over from supper club and mixed it with browned sausage. I shaved a liberal dose of Parmesan over the top and put it on pasta. So simple, yet so perfect when paired with birthday wine.

I’m linking up with Leigh Kramer – come by and tell us what you’re into!

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Happy birthday, Flannery O’Connor

Posted in Books, Writing on March 25, 2014| 1 Comment »

“I think it is safe to say that while the South is hardly Christ-centered, it is most certainly Christ-haunted.”

“People without hope not only don’t write novels, but what is more to the point, they don’t read them.”

“I don’t deserve any credit for turning the other cheek as my tongue is always in it.”

“Everywhere I go I’m asked if I think the university stifles writers. My opinion is that they don’t stifle enough of them. There’s many a best-seller that could have been prevented by a good teacher.”

“Fiction is about everything human and we are made out of dust, and if you scorn getting yourself dusty, then you shouldn’t try to write fiction. It’s not a grand enough job for you.”

“The novelist with Christian concerns will find in modern life distortions which are repugnant to him, and his problem will be to make these appear as distortions to an audience which is used to seeing them as natural; and he may well be forced to take ever more violent means to get his vision across to this hostile audience. When you can assume that your audience holds the same beliefs you do, you can relax a little and use more normal ways of talking to it; when you have to assume that it does not, then you have to make your vision apparent by shock — to the hard of hearing you shout, and for the almost blind you draw large and startling figures.”

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What I’m Into – February 2014

Posted in Books, Food, What I'm Into, Writing on March 3, 2014| 2 Comments »

February was a fun trip to meet dear ones from the Internet in person, a gathering, and weird weather.

It was affirmation, anxiety, a bit of melancholy, and a grounded feeling that I’ve been missing lately. Welcome back, old friend.

I attended the IF: Gathering in Austin, and I stayed with Story Sessions sisters at a house in Dripping Springs. The conference was good and nerve-wracking and triggery and crowded and inspiring and loud. The stay at the house was relaxing and lovely and easy (for the most part). And Nicole and Jennifer gave me shells and found poetry (don’t judge their gift by the quality of the picture above).

February weather is on crack. I mean, I know I am in Texas, so I guess I am used to it. But it was icy the first half of the month and 60-70 degrees the second half. And today it’s “icy” again.

Here’s what I was into this February:

To write:

I am on schedule with my goal to write 100 blog posts this year. I totally count posts that I guest-write for other places.

One of my poems was featured on the Story Sessions site – How It Begins and Ends

Possibly the most important thing I will do this year – guest praying as part of Osheta Moore’s Standing our Ground…in Prayer series

I am also on schedule with Fishbowl word count. It might actually get finished this year!

To read:

I read about poetry and food this month. More accurately, I read books that made me want to go to places.

My favorite poetry was Mary Oliver’s A Thousand Mornings. It makes me want to go back to Cape Cod.

I finished Plum: Gratifying Vegan Dishes from Seattle’s Plum Bistro. There’s not much chance that I will ever make any of the gorgeous dishes in this book, but if I decided to, there’s plenty of detail in the recipes. There is a great chance, however, that I will make a point to visit the Plum Bistro the next time I’m in Seattle to taste the gorgeous dishes in this book.

My favorite thing that I read in February was probably Style Me Vintage: A Guide to Hosting Perfect Vintage Events. When and if, at long last, I finally get married, the bachelorette party will be a Speakeasy. I already have the playlist started and half the menu planned (and by “half the menu,” I do mean the beverage portion).

To watch:

This month, I learned what everyone was raving about. Downton Abbey and Sherlock. I love Downton Abbey, but I need to own Sherlock and watch it forty-two times and maybe write some fanfiction.

I also started watching The Following. My boss suggested it, and I agreed to give it a try, because I love me some Kevin Bacon. I don’t know if I can recommend it, because you guys – this show freaks me out. It’s so damn creepy. I wouldn’t wish the emotional and mental torment this show has put me through on anyone. I am also attracted to the serial killer on the show, and I am a little uncomfortable with that. If you watched Dexter or Breaking Bad, you can probably handle it. I’m just not used to this sort of thing. But it’s so good, so I just can’t quit it.

To hear:

Because I’m super excited about the Veronica Mars movie, and I’m currently reading Welcome to the Monkey House (Vonnegut), it just seems fitting that February would be full of The Dandy Warhols.

Also, Stephanie Trick on piano makes me miss my piano:

And I have basically been listening to every version and spoof of Let It Go I can find. Here are my favorite three:

To taste:

So, on the way home from Dripping Springs, Adela and I stopped at Rolling in Thyme and Dough. Weird name. GLORIOUS BREAKFAST SANDWICH. Egg and cheese on a croissant….with pesto. Also, it’s just a cute place. It would not be unreasonable for you to travel from wherever you are just so you can enjoy this sandwich.

This pales in comparison to the Breakfast Sandwich of Glory, but I have also been on a chicken salad kick. I normally despise mayonnaise, but occasionally, I just have to have chicken salad. My favorite – rotisserie chicken (because I totally cheat and get my chicken already roasted at the Kroger), Vegannaise, red grapes, celery, and pecans on rye.

I’m linking up with Leigh Kramer – go over and see what everyone is into!