The Nichols-Buckley's

Tupelo and Twilight

2009-04-28T06:57:00.000-07:00

So the last couple weeks have been taken up with these two topics. First of all, Tupelo will be our new home come July. I accepted a teaching position at the high school last week (though I'm not sure about grade level...10th or 11th). Charlie and I will be moving home at the end of May, but since we're travelling so much in June (a trip out West including Arches National Park, Antelope Island at the Great Salt Lake, Park City, Utah, Missoula, Montana, Yellowstone, finally ending up in Omaha to visit Charlie's family), we decided not to look for a place to live in Tupelo until July when we get home.

So, we'll be staying with family for about two weeks (and all of our junk will be staying in family's houses for about a month) until we can get settled. We are luckly to have such a supportive family who would put up with us and our junk for the summer. I can't wait to get home and spend some time with fam (especially with my almost 4 year old nephew, Caleb)!

Now, on to Twilight. So, for Easter, Charlie got me the Twilight DVD (which, though the movie wasn't all that great, I still really wanted because I absolutely love the book series). I'd borrowed all of the books from friends, so I didn't actually own the copies of the books, but the movie made me want to reread them, so I went out and bought the complete set, and for the past two weeks or so, I've consumed nothing but Twilight saga (even going back and rereading after I'd finished my own set!) Those books are CAPTIVATING!

So, I've been living and breathing vampire stories! And dreaming about coming home!

Charlie, Art, and Broccoli-n-Cheese

2009-04-01T07:41:00.000-07:00

Charlie's in Columbus today hanging another show (that will be up simultaneously with his thesis show)...no wonder he's been a crazy mess lately! His thesis goes up in 4 days, and he feels pretty prepared (even though he needs to finish his artist statement), but I attribute all of those little gray hairs I'm finding to the culmination of his graduate experience. Thankfully, he will be finished once he defends the thesis (which is next Friday), so all of the pressure will be off in a little over a week. I will be so happy to have my husband back.

Last night, Charlie needed me to take him to the rental place to get the van for the trip. I unfortunately left my broccoli-n-cheese on the eye without turning the heat down (it was on "3" or low heat), but still...the broccoli was already cooked and I was simply melting the velveeta (yes, food snobs: occasionally we break down and buy that delicious orange box of yummy goodness). When I got back, the entire pot was burnt to a crisp, and the cheese was dark and curdly... I was pissed! But, the reason I'm writing this it is to inform everyone about how YUMMY burnt velveeta broc-n-cheese is. I tasted it, just to see if it'd been a complete loss, and it was really good. I thought, "You're crazy and desperate to keep this dish," but then Charlie tried it and loved it too. I think it's the best broc-n-cheese I've ever had! So, if you're interested, next time you make it, just burn the hell out of it and see for yourself!

Books and Steamer Bags

2009-03-30T07:10:00.000-07:00

So, yesterday was a freakin' cold day here in Ohio (raining too), so I did not get out of my pajamas. Instead, I looked on my bookshelf and saw Larry Brown's The Rabbit Factory (which I think I stole from my sister at some point), and I decided to reread it (since it's been about 5 years since I'd read it). It is one of the fastest reads ever. It's a book that connects the lives of many different characters (all of whom live in the Memphis/Desoto County/Marshall/Lafayette County area...so all of the local references are so fun). It's a dirty, raw novel...mostly about sex, murder, drugs, and general immoral behavior. But, literally, you cannot put the book down when you start it, thus...

I wasn't able to do my normal Sunday cooking (which sets up most of our meals for the week). What's a girl to do?

This is my plug for the ziploc steamer bags, which literally are the greatest 21st century invention, in my opinion. All you do is take what you got, toss it in the bag, put in some seasonings, and follow the instructions on the bag to prepare. Very healthy alternative to my traditionally-country kitchen.

Last night, we had salmon, asparagus, and mushrooms. All we did was take the frozen salmon fillets (yes, frozen..you don't have to thaw your frozen meat out! I know, right?). Put the fillets in the bag, tossed in some fresh asparagus (in season, so it's really cheap) along with some mushrooms. I like to put in a capful of Newman's Own Balsalmic Vinagrette (yum) and some lemon juice, salt and pepper, and close up the bag. Microwave for 5-10 minutes (depending on how "done" you like everything).

Wa-laa... Healthy meal in 10 minutes and almost zero cleanup (though I do have my Maw Maw's genes and tend to wash out and reuse plastic ziploc bags).

SPRING! And Chicken...

2009-03-29T11:27:00.000-07:00

My sister wanted a couple of recipes of mine, so I thought...why not start posting my recipes to this site?? Earlier, I had my own food blog, but if you're a blogger, you understand that having three-four different blogs floating around becomes a bit overwhelming. So, I'll start keeping it all here!

Chicken-n-Rice
2 c. rice
14 oz chicken broth
3/4 c. buttermilk
1/2 c. white wine
sliced mushrooms (about a cup)
2 tsp. salt
whole, cut-up chicken
1 tsp. pepper

Preheat oven to 350. Stir together rice, chicken broth, milk, wine, mushrooms, and 1/2 tsp salt. Put mixture in lightly greased baking dish. Place chicken (sprinkled with remaining salt and pepper) on top. Bake uncovered for 1 1/2 hrs. (This recipe is super simple; if you like more spice, add more! The wine gives it a nice flavor, but again, it may not be seasoned enough for your taste!)

Chicken-n-Dumplings

* First, you have to have cooked chicken for the chicken and dumplings. If you have a delightful Sunday to let your chicken perk in the slow cooker, then use it. I have found that the juciest chicken I can cook comes from the slow cooker. And, it's so EASY!

* Start with your whole chicken. Wash it real good with cold water. Cut up a couple of carrots and celery stalks into your slow cooker. You may also want to cut a lemon in half and stick it in the cavity of the chicken (as this gives it good flavor). Throw your chick-a-dee in there; place pats of butter all over the chicken. Put it on low and let it cook for 4 hours or so (or until it falls apart). This makes the RICHEST broth to be used later for the chicken and dumplins.

* Trick: Let the chicken cool at room temperature in its own broth; this will keep it moist. Once the chicken is cool, pick that sucker clean. You do not need to use all of the chicken for the chick-n-dumplins (only about 2-3 cups of pulled chicken). Keep the rest for a chicken breast dinner, chicken salad, chicken tacos...whatever! You can get at least 3 meals out of a whole chicken.

* Don't forget to save your chicken broth for the chick-n-dumplins.

Chick-n-Dumplins (Nichols-Buckley style)

2-3 cups of chicken broth (either from cooked chicken or canned/boxed)
2-3 cups of pulled, cooked chicken (pulled just means shredded or cut up...however you like it)

In a pot on medium-high heat, heat the chicken broth until it begins to roll (you don't want it bubbly-boiling...just rolling). While the broth is heating, make the dumplins:

Mix together:
2 c. all-purpose flour
1 Tb. baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
3 Tb. melted butter
1 cup warm milk

Stir with a fork; then knead by hand until mixture just comes together. Roll it pretty flat (about 1/2 inch... the dumplins will puff up in the boilling broth, so you want it very thin to begin with). Cut to size...mine are always tiny squares, but you may want bigger dumplins.

Once the broth is rolling, add the dumplins one at a time. You'll see them puff up instantly. Once they're all added, stir it up a little bit. Dump the cooked chicken on top of the rolling dumplins, sprinkle some pepper (and any seasoning you like...dried basil, thyme, whatever!). Turn the heat to simmer, and let it all simmer for 10-20 minutes. You may stir is a little more to make the "gravy" thicken. You may need to add a little more broth (or water) depending on how it's doing. If it's too watery, you may add a little more flour. Just feel it out.

* TIP: If you have cooked chicken already and some chicken broth, this meal literally takes about 10-20 minutes to make. It is so quick. You can also make a big batch up dumplin' dough, put it in the freezer, and unroll it for chick-n-dumplins later in the week. This cuts time in half too...

ENJOY!

Food and Writing

2009-01-25T12:31:00.000-08:00

My students are writing food poems this weekend, and they're already posting them to our Ning site. They're awesome. They inspired me to write my own little funny piece about a memory of mine from long ago. When Mama was trying to make homemade plum jam. Here it is:

when mama burned her belly makin jelly

a ripe plum doesn't look delicious at all, more like a pruny peach or moldy moro and, when you're ten and your fingers are sticky and you don't have a basket so you fold your hyper-color t-shirt up to form a bowl, the heat of Mississippi August turning the colors blue to green, you especially think those plums are disgusting

it doesn't help that mama's sweaty and yelling for you to hurry as she skins the soft fruits and boils the water for mason jars and you're hearing the lids go POP POP POP and you peel your dirty bare feet from the sugar water floor, all syrup sounds. And then a misstep: and a YOOOOWWWW and then those same colors, tortured tangerine and blood red

and mama becomes the skinned plum

Who doesn't love Bill Cosby?

2009-01-18T19:27:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading Bill Cosby's Come on People!: From Victims to Victors. What an inspirational read! Not only does it address the importance of the country NOT ignoring scary statistics about the black community (as in 50% of young black men in inner-cities are dropping out of school), but it is a book that transcends race and discusses healthy ways for all of us to live our lives. The book is informative, passionate, and of course, often full of wit. I mean, the author IS Bill Cosby!

The most important thing I've taken from reading this text (and from having my life enriched and made meaningful by working in Holly Springs, Mississippi- a school system considered "critical needs" by state standards but full of the most inspirational young minds I've come into contact with) is that we as a nation will not grow and be what we are supposed to be if we continue to ignore the situations in our OWN communities. Systemic racism is REAL. The fact that a small percentage of our population (black men) make up the largest percentage within our prisons is only a small piece of proof of the ocean of systemic racism that continues to threaten our nation. It is up to us to stop ignoring what's in our faces, to become active members of our communities, to embrace people who are different from us, to stand up to bigots that try to tear the progress made not only by political movements but also by community picnics, church gatherings, food shared between families, and the love of a human race of PEOPLE that refuse (REFUSE!) to give this up. Everyone should read this book. COME ON, PEOPLE!

I just have to comment

2009-01-17T17:43:00.000-08:00

I just have to comment on my excitement about the events of this Tuesday, January 20th, 2009, when I will watch as our country swears in Barack Obama, our first black president, and a candidate that I believe in with my whole heart. Tonight, while I sat lazily watching some ridiculous "gameshow" on CBS, a commercial came on advertising Obama's new service campaign website: http://www.usaservice.org/.

I grabbed my laptop immediately and found a website that allows you to easily search for service projects in your area. It also allows you to share these projects with people on facebook, bringing the people in our country (especially our young people) together like no other person has. I can't express my joy... my gratitude...

As a woman who is proud to be from Mississippi, a state that is the poorest in the nation, but gives more to charity each year than ANY other state in the union, I can't wait to cry tears of jubiliation on Tuesday at noon when I can see an event that will live in history books for years to come. When my president (MY PRESIDENT!) will swear in and prepare to make true on the promises of this great nation.

My cup runneth over, people! If you're reading, visit http://www.usaservice.org/.

Book Two 2009

2009-01-10T19:32:00.000-08:00

Today, I finished Toni Morrison's new book, A Mercy. It was classic Morrison. A neo-slave narrative set in the late 1600's, it is a story about a young slave named Florens who can't get past her mother's abandonment and forms unhealthy attachments because of it. I don't want to ruin the ending for anyone reading, but it's a beautiful and painful story (as are all the true stories).

My favorite line comes from the end of the novel when Florens' mother (who gave her away to protect her), thinking of her, whispers to the wind some advice: "In the dust where my heart will remain each night and every day until you understand what I know and long to tell you: to be given dominion over another is a hard thing; to wrest dominion over another is a wrong thing; to give dominion of yourself to another is a wicked thing."

I want to teach this book when I get the next opportunity.

Book One 2009

2009-01-06T17:53:00.000-08:00

I just finished rereading Meeting of the Waters, a novel by Kim McLarin. The book is about the complexities of an interracial relationship; how two people come together and try to get past the judgments of the world, as well as their own judgments (maybe ones they didn't know they had). I remember this book being an eye-opener for me about my own views on the world, my own judgments. Rereading it now, though, through older eyes (and maybe through married eyes), I see it more as a story about a couple who are fighting incessantly to make something that is too awesome to lose work. Which is hard work.

I also reread it because I couldn't remember if they could make it work. Now I know...

Holidays!

2009-01-03T08:04:00.000-08:00

Here are some pics from the holidays! Also, special shout out to the REBS for winning the Cotton Bowl last night! Hotty Toddy! Just to clarify the cow picture: My aunt commissioned Charlie to turn her recent purchase (a lifesize aluminum cow) into a Texas longhorn...I think he did a pretty good job! :)

New Year!

2009-01-01T14:58:00.000-08:00

2009...

Today, I ushered out the dust of years past...literally! And, I have a raw nose (from sneezing and dust-induced sinus trouble) as evidence. But, nothing in the world feels better than the evening after a day of cleaning out junk closets. Plus, it gets me excited about the prospect of what this year means!

Let's see...this year Charlie will graduate with his masters. I will look for a permanent job in a permanent school! We will move somewhere (hopefully, Oxford, MS, but who knows??). We'll finally make a real "adult" income again! And, we'll spend our last winter in this frigid (but beautiful) area.

So, when I complain about the cold and the snow...just remind me to enjoy it while it lasts!

Tonight, I'm content as I listen to Mary J. Blige, hear the sounds of Charlie making homemade pizza in the kitchen, feel the warmth of sweet Zo next to me, and contemplate all of the goodness and possibility of the new year.

If you're reading, I wish you and your family a blessed new year.

Resolutions???

2008-12-30T19:58:00.001-08:00

So, one of my resolutions is to get on here more often! It is now the end of my first semester of teaching; also the last semester that Charlie and I will be here in Ohio. I can't believe the end is so near.

So, highlights of this holiday:
1. Making 15 loaves of Challah bread for family.
2. Watching Caleb open presents.
3. Putting together Caleb's trampoline.
4. Watching Charlie paint the giant cow for Aunt Ann.
5. Bottle-feeding the baby lamb at the farm.
6. Getting new tires on the car. Yay!
7. Being with my Mama.
8. Presents!
9. Seeing Evie!
10. The run to the lake in the freezing cold.

Wow...it's been months since I posted!

2008-09-24T19:01:00.000-07:00

So I have a new food blog that I've been adding to (once a week for the past six weeks or so). Thus, I have neglected my own blog! Shame on me! Here's an update:

I am now in my fifth week teaching freshman composition at Miami. I have wonderful students (only about 5 our of 70 that bug me, so that's definitely good). I know all of their names and have begun building a good writing community, though it's much harder to do with college students because they don't see each other every day. I keep telling Mom that I'm in this "dream world," working 3 days a week at a job I love and then having 4 days a week to myself. I should start subbing at the local high school on available Tuesdays and Thursdays in the coming weeks; this will give us a little extra money, as adjunct faculty are practically paid in peanuts. But, being broke is worth it!

Charlie's kicking butt at teaching this semester. He loves coming home and chatting about it; letting me know how awesome his students' pieces are. I'm super proud. I know he's an excellent teacher. He had a show in Oxford, Mississippi over labor day weekend, and it was very successful. His show will be at the Powerhouse all this month, while the infamous debates are going on at Ole Miss. The Powerhouse is a venue for the international journalists, so hopefully, his work will be seen by lots of folks! I couldn't be a prouder wife.

In my spare time, I've been doing a little research on food writing (and also bringing my research into the kitchen). Charlie's loved all the "research;" particularly the cajun food: homemade jambalaya and red beans and rice. Cajun food is the most fun because it is so rich and spicy, and it needs time. I like food that is easy to make AND gives me an excuse to read all day while different dishes simmer on the stove (my Sundays have all been devoted to cooking and reading).

That's about all for now...

Alan Turns 30

2008-08-11T06:21:00.000-07:00

Charlie and I are into the 2008 summer Olympics in Beijing, but we took a break on Saturday night to go and celebrate Alan's 30th birthday. It was the perfect temperature for a birthday party (this entire weekend has been in the upper 70's each day), so we ate some yummy snacks (including Alan's homemade tomato salad), and actually surprised him with a cake and candles (he hates "birthday"ish stuff...like singing with a lit cake). Then, we played "botchy" ball (I have no idea how you spell that...it was my first time playing), and Charlie got "killed" at croquet. Lots of fun. Plus, we got back in time to see Michael Phelps make a new world record in swimming!

King's Island

2008-08-04T11:45:00.000-07:00

So, I've always LOVED amusement parks, and there is a world reknown park here in Cinci called King's Island. It has two of the world record wooden roller coasters (The Beast...which is the longest wooden roller coaster in the world and Son of the Beast...which has the biggest drop of any wooden roller coaster in the world). Charlie and I road so many roller coasters: the Beast, the Vortex, Flight of Fear, the Stunt Coaster, and I know there were at least three others. It was crazy! We loved spending time with Eric and Maureen and Karyn. Here are some pics of our adventures:

Ready to Teach

2008-07-29T09:09:00.000-07:00

Only about one month until school starts! I'm getting very excited about it, and have begun thinking about pursuing my own research interests: right now: southern food writing. The Southern Foodways Alliance is a group in Oxford, MS that publishes essays from food writers from around the south, so I've gotten all of the books (Cornbread Nation I, II, and III) to see if food writing is something I may be interested in. So far, I love how the food of the south is just an alphabet for the greater language that is southern culture... I like the anthropological feel of food writing. It also makes me miss the south desperately... not just the food but the community (even though the spirit of the south is everywhere... it's not specific to geographical lines). My community, my home is in the south, and it has taken this experience of living north of the Mason-Dixon line to reinforce that.

Charlie will start school soon too. He is gearing up to teach his class, and he should be starting on some of his thesis work in the coming weeks. It's all very exciting. Summer is winding down rather slowly, but soon, we'll have so much going on that it will speed up again.

Just a couple of things going on: Caleb went to his first vacation bible school last week at Bethel Presbyterian Church in Olive Branch. He did well, until the final night's program where he got mad and yelled "Don't sing, Mommy!" at the top of his lungs when Heather went up with the other children. He loves his mommy and doesn't like to see her "taking care" of other kids. What's so funny about all of this is that I went to bible school at Bethel, and preschool, and youthclub, and all of those things, and now, I'm watching as the next generation goes there too. It is more special than I can express.

Just some celebrations: Our good friends, Jason and Alicia Bouldin will have a son in November of this year. This couple has been married 17 years, and this will be their first child. We can't wait to see them grow as parents...that kid'll be so lucky!

Other than that, life as usual.

Sanibel Island

2008-07-17T13:44:00.001-07:00

Here we are in beautiful Sanibel Island...by far our favorite place in Florida. I told Charlie that he must bring me back here every year. Some cool things about Sanibel: it is a bird refuge, so there are no street lights to keep the birds feeling all safe / you can't set off fireworks on the island because of the huge wildlife refuge here / you can bike the whole island...all you need is there and it's a flat terrain / there are shells as far as the eye can see (and I'm talking huge shells) and that's because the island is shaped like a scoop facing the gulf, so the shells get trapped on the beach. My favorite parts were hanging with Joe and Charlotte, riding bikes to the lighthouse at night (when it was pitch dark), kayaking in the Ding Darling Wildlife preserve, seeing the stingrays swim right around Charlie's legs, and seeing the perfect rainbow after the afternoon storm on our last day. Ohhhhh, I wish I was still there!!

2008-07-17T06:27:00.000-07:00

Okay...finally some pics. These first pics are from Columbus, where Charlie and I went for a gallery hop with Andy and Kelly, Alan and Iwona, and Josh and Tiffany. Lots of weird art, but Columbus is a really cool place.

There are some pics of our garden. This is when we first planted seeds in early June. Pretty soon, I'll post pics of what it looks like now...which is a JUNGLE!

I GOT A NEW JOB!

2008-07-16T08:37:00.000-07:00

About five weeks from now, I will begin my career in higher education. I'm THRILLED! I have always been passionate about writing, and I'm extremely passionate about teaching. And, now, I get to teach freshman writing classes at Miami University. It's very much a "dream come true" kinda thing. Unfortunately, I will not be paid very well to do this (as it's an adjunct position that pays per section), but the experience far exceeds the money...so it's all good.

Charlie will also be teaching this fall. He has a 300 level painting class that he'll be responsible for, and I can't wait to see how he likes it. I know he'll be an amazing teacher, but I have a feeling he will also fall in love with teaching itself...so I'm excited about that.

I must post some pics soon from our summer trip to Sanibel Island (by far, my favorite place in Florida). We had an amazing time and we were very happy to spend quality time with Charlotte and Joe (who met us there from D.C.). I will post pics soon!

Adventures

2008-06-23T11:11:00.000-07:00

It's been too long since I posted last! This last weekend, my mommy came to town. I'm so proud of her because most of you who are reading this know that my mom is losing her sight to acute glaucoma, so most of her independence has been taken away. She can't work anymore. She can't drive anymore. And, she often feels out of place in this world (because if you know her, you know there's no more independent spirit than her!)

This last weekend, however, she took her own taxi to the greyhound bus station, boarded a bus in Memphis, and came 10 hours on bus to Cincinnati, where we picked her up and had an awesome time! She did the whole trip by herself, and she's on her way home today. While she was here, we went to Cincinnati's Conservatory (where we saw the most beautiful flowers from all over the world). Then, we went to Newport on the Levee and ate pizza on the Ohio river with the awesome Cinci skyline in the background. We went swimming, had a cookout with some friends from Ohio, and toured around our little town of Oxford. It was very fun, and it was good to spend some quality time just mother/daughter!

Here are some pics from the weekend's adventures...

Music and Hair

2008-06-06T05:35:00.000-07:00

Zoey and I both got haircuts yesterday (which was perfect because yesterday was our first 90 degree day in Ohio). To celebrate, we took Zoey uptown to hear some wannabe blues musicians (who turned out to be pretty good). It was funny how they referenced Hwy 61 in the same song as "It's hell in the Cincinnati jail." Here are some pics from the night, including some of Andy and Pepper (our "lost" night friends). Andy and Pepper are both art historians. Andy teaches art history at Miami, and Pepper is working on her dissertation. She's also teaching a class this next year. They're the coolest people!

Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble

2008-06-04T12:24:00.001-07:00

So, there was a friggin' tornado in Oxford last night! Poor Charlie had to comfort my shaky self down in our dungeon of a basement as hail and wind and thunder pounded our house. Luckily, we had no damage...just another complete emotional breakdown on my part! I HATE storms...let me repeat...I HATE storms. And, we're in for a bit more rough weather tonight.

Just an aside...we did go to a cincinnati reds game last weekend that was SO MUCH FUN! Here are some pics! Charlie and I singing "Take me out to the ballgame." The awesome "Great AMerican Stadium" which is right on the river. Me with some delicious cotton candy. Brent with an armload of baseball snacks. We had a great time!

Busy Busy Times!

2008-05-30T11:13:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I posted, and lots has happened! We went home last week (which was so much fun!) Charlie and I got to visit family (help Heather mulch her flower beds, eat Mama's good cookin', see Bilbo and meet his new girlfriend, Elizabeth, play pirates with Caleb, visit with Maw Maw, hug Mimi and Margie, talk to all of my graduating seniors from Holly High, be a part of a beautiful (though a little soggy) wedding with Amber and Chris, and top it off with a surprise birthday party for Charlie where we got to see Erin and Josh, James and Christy, Jason and Alicia, and our wonderful moms, mimi, sister, and nephew)! Whew!! I will post pictures soon. My camera has disappeared on me, and some of the pics are on Charlie's camera, but I'll get them updated as soon as I can!

It's been weird being back in Ohio. We really miss Mississippi, but we know it won't be long before we're back in the deep South! It was hot while we were home, but if felt so good to me, and though I love the more temperate Midwest, there's nothing like hot, humid Mississippi air. Such a great trip! Everything I needed to get me motivated for the next year!

Silvoor Wildflower Preserve

2008-05-14T08:24:00.000-07:00

Everyday we seem to find something new in this town. Last night, we went on a mini-hike at the Silvoor Wildflower Preserve (literally about a mile from our house). It was gorgeous...with tons of purple wildflowers and creeks and little waterfalls. There was a swingset out there too, so Charlie and I went swinging (which we really can't do these days...both of us get nautious after five minutes on a swing...what's happened to us??) I posted pics from the swingset and a pic of our new porch swing. Some college students just "threw out" this perfect pink porch swing, so Charlie very bravely stole it, and we set it up. Here's Zoey swinging away on it!

In Style

2008-05-13T06:11:00.001-07:00

Here we are posing with the old-school Packard...

First Wedding of the Summer

2008-05-13T06:04:00.000-07:00

We had the best time this last weekend at Andy and Kelly's wedding. It was a 1920's themed wedding, and it was PERFECT for the two of them. It was so much fun... The wedding was in the Dayton Art Museum in this beautiful courtyard. Then, the reception was at a Packard museum (Packards are the old-fashioned, gangster-era cars...straight out of Roger Rabbit!). Kelly's dress was gorgeous, and Andy got his hair cut just for the occasion. We were at the gangster table with all the other grad students (Casey and his fiancee, Laura, Alan and Iwona, Brent, and Josh and Tiffany). Great party with a brass band and old-fashioned bottles of soda pop! (Look...I'm calling it pop now instead of coke...weeeiiirrddd).

Charlie is finished!

2008-05-09T11:21:00.000-07:00

Today was Charlie's last test...EVER! From here on out, he will be graded through critiques...not paper/pencil tests! Plus, as of today, Charlie is HALFWAY finished with graduate school. I can't believe it! The time has really flown by! I'm so proud of him...he has worked his tail off this year, and it's been really hard, but he is already finished. YAY!

What A Weekend!

2008-05-06T13:32:00.001-07:00

I'm still recuperating from this weekend! On Friday, Eric hosted the "Farewell to Billiam," and a bunch of library folks gathered to bid Bill farewell. It was a lot of fun. Then, on Saturday, I drove to St. Louis to hang with Amber and her girls for Amber's bachelorette party. This was tons of fun, but the night went really late, so I was super tired on Sunday when I had to drive back. I was also a little sad because I missed Caleb's third birthday, and I feel like such a crappy aunt. I swear that once Charlie and I get back there will be NO MORE missing family birthdays and holidays and whatnot!

Spring Cookout

2008-05-01T09:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we had a cookout for the library staff at King Library. It was a beautiful day...all sunny and cool. It made me realize how many friends I've made here at Miami; I don't think you ever truly feel like you're home until you can walk down the streets of the town and actually know the names of some of the faces in the crowd. Our life is getting that way, and I'm so happy about that.

Charlie will be teaching a 200 or 300 level painting class this fall, and I can't wait to see how he adapts. I hope he enjoys it because I think he's a great artist and could influence so many other artists. I believe he'd be a fantastic teacher.

Mom and Dad and Caleb are coming a week from today for a short visit. I can't wait to see Caleb. It's been almost five months since I've seen him last, and I can only imagine how he's grown. We're going to have lots of fun, going to parks, seeing the cows at Bill Snape's house, and walking on the trails (we want to take him to the swinging bridge). I hope the weather holds out and that it's nice and cool (to give those southerners a break from the heat).

I've included a pic from the cookout yesterday. These are two of my students from Brill, chomping down on a hamburger. We ate until we were stuffed yesterday. I ate a huge hamburger and hotdog...which is very unlike me. Just smelling food cooking out makes you ravenous!

Green

2008-04-28T11:40:00.001-07:00

Everything outside is green right now, and I can't believe that merely a month or so ago, we were knee-deep in snow! Today is a crappy Monday, but this morning was such a glorious color...bright green against a somber gray background (it's a rainy day). It was perfect because it showed that the outside world wasn't sure what it wanted to be today, and neither am I!

I love Miami in spring

2008-04-25T07:02:00.000-07:00

There was a humongous party at our neighbors' house last night (they had a live band in the backyard and everything). We heard them until way past midnight. I'd complain, but I actually kinda liked listening to the band from the porch. I told Charlie we had the best seats in the house. Miami is a gorgeous campus, probably the most beautiful one I've ever seen. Here is a pic of one of the sidewalks on campus with a spectacular shadow from a tree nearby. The other is of the tulips in front of the main administration building (Roudabush). This campus is covered in tulips and cherry blossoms. It's amazing!

I also included a picture of Zoey with his friend Pedro. We visit Pedro during our walks each morning/afternoon, and their routine is to touch noses and then pee practically on top of one another. It's kinda gross and kinda sweet. Makes me want to get a companion for sweet Zo...

My tiny screened-in porch

2008-04-24T07:47:00.000-07:00

Charlie and I have a little screened in porch at the back of our rental. We bought some cute wooden folding chairs, and Charlie put together an old table that was in a shed on the property. We LOVE being out there, especially right now when all of the temperatures are perfect. I took these pics last night of Zoey and Charlie enjoying the porch. With a duo like that, who couldn't just bubble over with love? Zoey loves when Charlie holds him, but he hates when I do...probably because he feels like I'm going to drop him, which I almost do! That dog's gotten so fat!

Spring in Oxford, Ohio

2008-04-23T07:17:00.000-07:00

It is officially spring, and when Zoey and I went out for our morning walk, I had to capture some of it. Here is my favorite picture of the morning: there is an old widower who lives up the street. He is so sweet and he has a little poodle who loves to sniff Zoey. He has the most quaint front porch, with an old-fashioned picnic chair and a ceramic duck wearing a quilted vest. I love walking by his house each morning, especially when I get to see him. I'll call this photo "Waiting."