Cool Cucumber

As some of you know, I am recently back from France and England. While I expected superb coffee from Paris, before I left I was extremely worried about how I would keep my caffeine habit going in England. The British are known for their tea, not their coffee. Panic ensued, as any coffee drinker could imagine.

So to be prepared, I created coffee bags, to be used like tea bags in the hot water that was offered. Here’s how I made 8 emergency coffee bags:

First, I cut 16 coffee filters into 4×4-inch squares. I lined up two filter squares, then used my WONDERFUL sewing machine to sew 3 of its sides.

Then I scooped 4 tablespoons of medium-ground, locally roasted coffee into each of the pouches. (YES, I like my coffee strong. You could probably get away with just 2 tablespoons. If you’re a wimp, that is.)

Next, I used my sewing machine to sew that last side snugly.

Now I was ready for England and all of its weak coffee!

I was saddened when I discovered that the coffee in England was not so bad. Not comparable to the French coffee I had experienced in the week prior; however, drinkable.

I was only able to use one of my coffee bags.

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Recently I’ve been frustrated when I run, partly because I run with Royal and can’t move my arms naturally when I’m holding a leash. At the end of a run I tend to feel a little lopsided and my lower back is sore from running awkwardly with only one arm swinging. Yes, I’ll bet it was quite the sight to see. However, I found a solution: the belt leash!

Royal does a good job of not tugging me along, and while I have to take the end of it sometimes in my hand (particularly when we cross paths with humans or other canines), he’s been very nice about staying close. I say hooray for belt leashes and for running without looking like a fool!

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Rob, Mark, and I hiked at The Crags this past Saturday- a nice mild hike with Royal. It was so much fun taking my dog on his first “real hike”. He had the time of his life, as did we. Here’s a photo of us trying to get him to go in the creek water. He seemed terrified of the moving water, so we found this nice tranquil spot where the cold water had pooled. Here we are throwing dog treats into the deep and then trying to get him to go get them. Hmm, it didn’t really work so well, as he would only go far enough to get his feet wet!

Here, Rob and I rest while posing with the dog. Photo credit goes to Mark, boy-genius behind a camera.

Here’s Mark with Royal on the drive home. Everyone was exhausted and hungry, but sadly, Royal missed out on the little bar-b-que joint we hit on the return trip. Do you see the sadness in his big brown eyes?

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I don’t really get into most TV, with the exception of LOST, but my newest indulgence is So You Think You Can Dance. I don’t like American Idol (poor singing… bleh), but THIS competition is fun! I love all the different styles of dance that they have the contestants learn, as well as all of their personal stories. A must-see!

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I just downloaded the new Dixie Chicks album. Instantly I feel myself transported back to the days of college in Springfield, Missouri… college.

Let me preface this entry by saying that I have a fond spot in my heart for country music, particularly clever lyrics and vocals. Somehow through the friends I made in college, I grew a craving for unique country. Granted, Dixie Chicks is more of a rock-country, but I also love Diamond Rio. Patty Loveless. Now, THAT’s country.

I’m writing this as I listen to “The Long Way Around” for the first time. I feel an indescribable joy in hearing it- there’s such familiarity and newness at the same time. It’s music like this that makes me feel as if we’re driving around P’Ville with straw hats on, Hadler at the wheel (a maniac driving on all those turns) and the windows all the way down. Excellent lined up harmonies, soaring fiddle, brisk strum. Makes me remember Branson too, and the hills around it. Satisfaction. There was a sense of freedom as we piled into a car and just drove….

This is why I like country music.

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Today I worked myself into a bit of a wedding fever. I don’t know what came over me, really, just that I felt very panicky all of the sudden about a budget and guest list and I could honestly feel the churning in my abdomen as a result of the worry. I had also neglected running this week as a result of all this engagement happiness. I mean, why run 7 miles at night when you could be sitting at the computer, reading about wedding etiquette on The Knot?

Anyway, I made myself go run at the Santa Fe Trail, which is a 10-minute drive from my house. (I didn’t take this photo, and no, there wasn’t any snow on the ground today.)

The exciting thing is that I ran for 50 minutes and enjoyed it! I just amazed myself and really felt like a runner, instead of the imposter I usually feel like. I couldn’t have run 1 mile in January, and now I’m running 4.5 and thinking I could keep going. I was very aware of the silence, the birds, my breathing (I’m trying 2 steps inhale, 3 steps exhale these days), and most of all, the beautiful stream. The only thing that would have made the run better would be to have Rob with me. When we run together, I feel like I can go twice as far.

My knee had been hurting this week and I had dragged my feet about running. Funny thing is, once I started running the pain went away. Maybe it was computer desk induced knee pain.

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It is my sincere personal belief that every person should have a photo album full of self portraits. A home for those photos of yourself that your mom sends you or the silly shot that proves to the world that you conquered the ropes course in 8th grade. I’ve got a Me Album- it’s modest and only holds 3 1/2 x 5’s, but it represents me in all of my glory and stupidity, even dating back to 4th grade. Here’s a very typical nerdy photo of me at the 7th grade science fair.

I would like to point out that this was my first perm (ack- did I just admit to having more than one?), for which I saved both my allowance and babysitting money. I was so proud of my frizzy mop.

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Ah, this is my most favorite time of year to be outside. It’s still not hot yet, and everywhere I look I see this:

On the other hand, they’re calling for snow tomorrow. It’s never truly summer here ’til JULY.

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A Fibonacci poem, for your enjoyment:

There’s
a
slight chance
I’ve been now wooed
by this strange new verse;
math and words beautifully collide.

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My students looked at me quizzically as my left eye fluttered involuntarily almost all day… through reading, science, math, and writing.

On the bright side, I’ve been wanting to try a Lost-esque photo of my eye for some time.

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