Reasonably So

I have spent a lot of the past few weeks thinking about arts and crafts projects that I’ll be starting once I’m finished all my schoolwork. My inspiration has come from several places. One of the projects, I have actually completed!

I like this idea of multi-post-topics, it’s working for my hectic schedule. SO we’ll have another short series! It may be inter-cut by other posts… I’m still trying to get the hang of patterns of blogging. You may have noticed some of the recent changes to the blog– new header picture, author picture, organization of widgets in the left-hand column, and also more logical use of ‘categories’ and ‘tags’ (because I didn’t understand the difference until recently). Feel free to offer comments that may aid in ease of navigation of Reasonably So!

Meanwhile, back on the ranch, check out what I made!!

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I believe there’s a general consensus that the book versions of things are better than the movie versions. I certainly agree, but this is a pretty good interpretation of one of my favorite books. You’ve heard of this one: Norton Juster’s The Dot and the Line. It’s not only the origin of this blog’s name, but it helps me live my life, in a way. Cheesy? Sure. Useful for me? Absolutely. I wanted to share and let it speak for itself.

Let me know what you think.

Hungry Mother. HUNGRY MOTHER.

Alon and Rachel Munzer, have stepped expertly and gracefully from Mom & Pop breakfast/lunch gem, the original Rachel’s Kitchen (RIP), to comfy chic full service bar and dinner. And they are no fools… they’ve got a great team, and they really know how to make earth tones and minimalism work in their favor.

Barry Maiden, a Virginian well-schooled in French cuisine, is a genius for the following three reasons.

1. I worshiped the Roasted Chicken with Sweet Potato Spoonbread and Red-Eye Gravy Jus (I am salivating just from typing that)

2. My hungry mother (seriously, she was there) was blissfully sated by the Cornmeal Catfish with Collard Greens, Cauliflower Grenobloise and Mustard Vinaigrette and…

3. My man gobbled up the Bourbon Braised Pork Shoulder with Creamy Grits.

For all three of us: Love at first bite. And second. And third. Barry-Maiden-Love is cooked into every bite.

John Kessen (I believe he’s manager? Correct me if I’m wrong) may have been nervous on opening night, but his comfortable chit chat and winning smile made us feel quite at ease.

All-in-all, it was a dining experience worth noting: From the familiar-Rachel’s-Kitchen-friendly smiles to the mouthwatering treats to the cookbook pages from “The Virginia Housewife” on the bathroom walls to way-reasonable pricing considering the caliber of the food to the excellent draught selection to the Ball Jar drinking glasses to the cast-iron skillet on the wall.

Good work, Hungry Mother. I am thrilled about our future together.

Cinnamon, Brown Sugar, and Brandy Ice Cream.

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Today’s theme is green! Green Beer! Green Potatoes! Green Small People! Green Blogs! Green Lifestyles! Mostly those last two…

My first entry was kind of poking fun at being “green,” but since November the reality of Green living has become something I am much more willing to adopt. I try to turn off the lights and water when I don’t need them, and I still recycle as much as I can. On top of the other small-time changes (toilet paper, dish soap) I have in-store for myself, the subtle-eco-consciousness to Spoken Contract’s bike-riding-commuting-lifestyle-blogging has caused me to mull over the shade of Green I might already be (I’m thinking Asparagus, but that might just be a result of liking the taste of it). In yet another attempt to free myself of some guilt, I’ll admit something to you right now:

I drive at least 10 miles every day. Usually I am driving solo. I don’t even want to think about my carbon karma. I drive for 14 minutes per day. The alternative? Walking 20 minutes to take a bus for 20 minutes to take another bus 20 minutes and then doing that all AGAIN to get home? We’re talking 2 hours of commuting if I decide to give the Earth a big fat kiss every day. Does it make me an asshole that I can’t afford the time it takes to commute consciously? I have things to do, Momma Nature, I’m sorry! Right now, I don’t really feel like I have much opportunity to be greener in the ONE way it would really make a difference.

However, lots of big changes are in the wind for me:

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Dear Kate Nash,

Pandora introduced us the other day, and I’m so glad for that. I liked you so much that I even gave you your own station. I watched a few of your videos. I wondered if the only thing that set you apart from Feist and Regina Spektor was that charming accent you’ve got. But after hearing your whole album (released in the US in January ‘08), Made of Bricks, I’m kind of sweet on you. In fact, you’re stupidly cute. Not like you’re stupid, but you make me stupid because you’re so cute. I mean, seriously, just take a look at you:

Whilst stuffing your face, you are still cute.

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As I write to you, dear readers, I’m drinking tea.

Double Bergamot Earl Grey.

With milk and two teaspoons of sugar.

Until very recently, I have covertly slipped sugar into my tea. Maybe I let you see me put one teaspoon in, but never both. I thought tea with that much sugar made me weak. I AM NOT WEAK. I AM A BEACON OF LIGHT. THE CUP IS HALF FULL OF DELICIOUS, SWEET TEA. My spoken affirmations are not for nothing. I am still working on setting myself free, remember?

I am a sucker for milky and sweet Earl Grey tea.

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It’s time that I stop pretending. It’s time to remove guilt from the “guilty pleasures.” I don’t want to keep anymore secrets from you.

This is the first of a short series of posts that aim to set me free.

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Blogging gets hard when you’re trying to find a place to live and write a thesis and produce/direct a play and eat and brush your teeth and get a grown-up job and sleep.

That’s not an excuse for my lack of posts, just an explanation

I have something in the works for you, blog-o-mine, but today is just not the day.

In the meantime:

- Emily