Finals... yay

So maybe starting an online food diary the weeks right before finals wasn't a good idea.  I'm busy working on final papers, studying for music history AND preparing for an interview at Davis tomorrow.  Yay grad school!  I'm super excited, I'm even really enjoying my paper topics, I just wish I had one less thing on my plate.  I did mess up on my meatless lent.  I was digging through my cupboard looking for something easy and quick to eat for dinner between paragraphs, and found a can of ravioli.  I didn't even think, it didn't even occur to me till I was halfway through the bowl.  Hey, these are BEEF ravioli!  Darnit!  I guess I just figured I ha rid the house of meat products and could eat anything I had.  Oops.  I have been enjoying cooking vegitarian.  I made spring rolls, and potato soup, and next week, after finals, I'm going to splurge on some fresh fish.  mmmmmmm.  Back to the paper writing...

My Birthday Goals

Today is my twenty second birthday.  Aside from a tiny panic attack due to my inability to stay 21 forever, I am enjoying myself.  I did want to set a few goals for this year, and I thought I would be more likely to accomplish said goals if I told other people about them.  Here goes...

1. Eat less meat.  I'm doing this for environmental reasons.  Eating meat has a huge environmental impact that I would like to lessen, but I don't think I can give up meat entirely.  I'll start small.  I gave up meat for lent this year, and so far so good, but once Easter rolls around I will not eat meat two days out of the week.  No meat Mondays and any other day of my choice.

2. I will go on a bike trip.  This is an idea I've been toying with, but havn't gotten around to.  This year I will.  A long day trip will suffice, but ideally an overnight camping trip exclusively bike powered.

3. Start my Graduate Studies.  This is the next step in my education.  All I have to do is do it.

4. Write twelve more chapters for D's book.  I have been writing installments of a book for a young friend of mine (he's now seven) for several years now.  This year I want to write twelve more chapters.  One chapter a month.  I can do it.

5. Go on a silent retreat.  Another idea I've wanted to try for a long time.  Even if it's just me going on a camping trip by myself, I want to try this.

So to keep myself honest, I'd like to keep a food diary here.  Should be interesting.

Food diary 3-1-2009
Breakfast - yeah... I sept through it.
Lunch - Tomato bisque soup and french bread with blueberry soda
Dinner - Veggie burritos (lettuce, cheese, salsa, sour cream, tortillas) more blueberry soda, and a salad with parmesean ranch dressing
Dessert - Chocolate birthday cake and a glass of milk!

A little Free Form

Often I'm intimidated when starting a new project. Will it turn out? Will it be pretty? I rarely work from my own drawings, and mostly depend on patterns. I decided to take a different approach on this project, and be impulsive for once. I drew no lines, and only flipped through my embroidery books for inspiration. It gave me a good chance to try some new stitches without worrying if they fit into whatever pattern I'm using. So for your viewing pleasure...
I particularly liked this part with an altered feather stitch.

Meow!

I worked on this dish towel on the train last weekend.  It's a Christmas present, and I think it turned out quite nicely.  I hope he likes it!  The little blue lines will wash away when I get around to washing this.

My new discovery

I've been toting around reading material, because I'm regularly the first person to class, and I get bored on the bus etc.  Reading was working really well, until I began reading a great big thick book of Louisa May Alcott's short stories.  This book is huge.  Really too heavy to add to my already over-filled backpack.  I needed something else.  You know what is fun, portable, light, and starts conversations?  Embroidery projects!  So I've been getting a lot of embroidery done.  Here's what I worked on yesterday during the super-Saturday orchestra rehearsal...

It's a handkercheif!  I'm doing the entire scalloped edge by hand, and then I'm going to add a monogram!  Then I will have my own personal handkercheif for those 18th chentury moments.  And Timm(ie), tomorrow I'm posting the thing I made you for Christmas, so if you don't want to ruin the surprise, don't check.  Or, you can just pretend to be surprised in December :).

Luandry

Today I did laundry.  I miss the on campus laundry rooms, where I rarely saw another human being, and didn't have to worry about someone stealing my clothes, and it only cost me $1.50 to do a whole load of laundry!  Now it costs me $1.75 just to wash a load at the laundromat next door which is noisy, and full of people.  Then I have to dry my clothes (another $.75 at least) and lug it back to my apartment.  It is unpleasant.  I wish I had a clothesline...

P.S.
Good Lord Timm[ie].  That's all I have to say.  Nice to see you found me.

Taking the train!

Today I am on my way to visit my little brother across the state! Instead of driving, I decided to take the train! Of course, the train doesn't come to Santa Cruz, so I have to take a bus and the train. I don't like the buses well as the train, but it's definitely better for the environment so I'll deal with it. Riding the train is my favorite way to travel. I love the sound of the wheels and the gentle rock back and forth. I'll probably get an embroidery project done too. I hope.