jd salinger

the world's most perfect little book

My copy looks almost like that, but very dirty and messy with a crease in the cover.  This book to me is genius for so many reasons.  When I read it in college, it literally changed my life and spoke to me in a way I needed.  When I read it in China, it felt like home.  When I read it last month, I found new things that made me smile at a former version of myself as well as new ways to identify with the characters. 

I won't get all sentimental, but I will say thank you.  Thank you to JD Salinger for this book.  And for his three other books.  And for the characters.  And for the thought provoking prose.  And for self editing and publishing just these four masterpieces.  And for the fact that I will read this book many, many more times and marvel in it all over again.

_______

"It's everybody, I mean. Everything everybody does is so--I don't know--not wrong, or even mean, or even stupid, necessarily. But just so tiny and meaningless--and sad-making. And the worst part is, if you go bohemian or something crazy like that, you're conforming just as much as everybody else, only in a different way."


"You can't live in the world with such strong likes and dislikes."


"The only think you can do now, the only religious thing you can do, is act. Act for God, if you want to - be God's actress, if you want to. What could be prettier? You can at least try to, if you want to--there's nothing wrong in trying."


- J.D. Salinger, Franny and Zooey

the art of pen pals

I have a new pen pal! And when her letter came to me on hysterical photo paper bearing a stamp from far away Hawaii, I remembered just how much I adore mail.  And just how much my pen pals meant to me as a child.  Her letter was complete with hands down the funniest pen pal story I've ever heard.  Here's to real mail!

...and to me learning how to spell "Hawaii", since that took quite a bit of effort just then.

frank sinatra

My favorite Christmas gift this year was my new record player.  It plays all three speeds and closes up to look like an old suitcase.  Pretty much a dream come true.  And I can't believe how easy it is to choose Coltrane over reality television (embarrassingly, I'll even watch "Tough Love" if left to my own devices...)

Last weekend I had Julia and Rachel over for brunch and we listened to Frank Sinatra while eating a Sausage, Spinach, Roasted Red Pepper Torta Rustica* and delicious fruit salad and apple muffins with some mimosas.  The company was great, the food was fantastic, but I must say the record player made the party.

Thank you, new record player, I'm looking forward to many more lovely mornings with you.

*I strongly recommend this for a brunch.  It was simply fabulous.  I lightened it up with ff half and half and skim milk and used a Parmesan and cracked pepper baguette.  I could eat this every day. 

Work and Play

I'm not sure if I've mentioned recently that I have literally the dream coworkers.  In fact, they are quite literally among my very best friends in the world.  And I have so much respect for each one of them.  We often sit around at lunch talking about how there is absolutely no way any of us will every be lucky enough to strike gold twice with the situation we have.  Our personalities just seem to compliment each other perfectly - so we really try to cherish the time we have together.

I'm so cheesy.

Anyway, for our second annual white elephant christmas party, Paul and Kate had us over for appetizers and desserts.  The white elephant was ridiculous as usual - resulting in a 15 lb bucket of sunflower seeds that expired a month ago, lil smokies, a bright pink curly wig, and a shirt with "chingrish" that Kate brought back from Taiwan.  A truly lovely night.

When I got there, Kate told me that she loved my boots.  Her daughter, Anna, loved them too and tried to steal them for her mom.  Good taste runs in the family.

no. 39 and no. 40 scary leeks

For a cold December day, I tried a new ingredient:  Leeks

the scary leek

I know, its a little weird that I've never used leeks, but I was always a little intimidated by them.  To be honest, unfamiliar produce terrifies me.  Its a fear I obviously need to overcome.  I added the leeks to my hands-down favorite slow cooker recipe, Slow Cooked Beef Minstrone.  This recipe is ridiculously good and can stand up to alot of alterations (i.e. I put every vegetable I have in the fridge into it).  I typically up the meat to 2.5 lbs because Pat is a baby if there isn't enough meat.  But there is enough that it lasts for a really long time - or could feed up to 8 I'd say.

The leeks were great in it!  I'm no longer terrified. 

Slow Cooked Beef Minestrone

The best accompaniment for this stew is perfect Fly Off Your Plate Rolls.  I literally never feel as accomplished and proud of myself as I do when I successfully bake bread from scratch.  (Yes, that is me patting myself on the back).

perfection

Cakes and Streamers and Candles Oh My!

I love birthdays, particularly mine.  And I have some pretty amazing people in my life that help me have awesome birthdays.  Pat decorated our little place with streamers and banners while I was at the grocery store, which was a total surprise.  AND he made his first cake in my honor!  A pretty bad snowstorm thwarted Pats incredible birthday plans, but my parents were still able to come and took us to lunch at a restaruant with a giant cow on the roof - it doesn't get much better than that.

Here's to an incredible 2-7!!

For those just joining....

Check out my Project Renovate Post where I explain my project!

Bathroom Christmas Tree

So I love the kittens - they are an endless source of entertainment.  But they are also an endless source of frustration. 

Their fascination with the Christmas Tree led to this:

My good friend Rachel said it reminded her of an advent calendar - open the bathroom door and there's a tree. 

For some reason I could NOT remember that it was in there, so Pat would burst out laughing every single time I opened the door and then I would stomp upstairs to the other bathroom.

This weekend I heard screeching in the kitchen and found that Wally had pushed his head in the drain of the sink and was stuck with his head in the garbage disposal.  I would have taken a photo, but I was too concerned.  No worries though, he is just fine :)

Inspiration

Between travelling and laying and eating and laughing, I had no time to post.  Please forgive me. 

However, I have a million things to tell you.  Including (but not limited to): some awesome books I read, some perfect gifts I gave, a poker game in a garage, Happy Birthday to Jesus, and amazing beef stew.

But, in the meantime - I'll leave you with this, which made me smile today.

Found at http://thebedlamofbeefy.blogspot.com/