Fall weather, good food

I have so many student papers to comment on. But! I thought I'd procrastinate some more and write an entry. I've been pretty damn pleased with what I've been making to eat lately so I thought I'd share. I've been playing around with food a bit over the past couple of weeks (there is no rhyme or reason to it--I'm probably breaking every culinary rule) but it's been fun and everything I make somehow turns out tasting good. To name a few, I made some red pepper bruschetta, various kinds of stir fries, stuffed pepper, and all kinds of omelets. Below is what I've been putting into my belly lately. :D

Stir-fry with red peppers, onion, tomato & basil MorningStar burger (chopped up), basil, crushed red pepper

Mushroom & herb couscous, tofu, egg, onion, basil, cilantro

Hash browns, locally bought eggs with Daiya vegan cheese on toast, avocado (sliced)

Stuffed green pepper with garlic & herb couscous, tofu, basil

I can't take credit for this--Dennis made it-- and it was amazing! Poached pears simmered in black tea, melted dark chocolate, mint leaves and vanilla ice cream

Also, this is unrelated to food, but here's another outfit inspired by the chilly weather.

Circle scarf- gift, Half jacket- thrifted, Long-sleeve shirt- Target, Blue skinny jeans- thrifted, Oxfords- thrifted

Weekend

It's been a strange weekend. I've more or less been a hermit the past few days. I've been doing nothing but drinking, making lesson plans/assignments, writing, and watching Battlestar Galactica (Seriously, if you've never watched this show, START. It's one of the most intuitive shows I've ever seen. It says so much about human nature and religion.)

I haven't had time to go shopping, therefore, I've been wearing a lot of the same stuff (it's difficult to be inventive with clothing with slim pickings).

But anyway, an outfit I wore the other day and my new hurr color (it's basically jet black--I feel like I'm in high school again).-->

Floral shirt- Meijer, Black leggings- Target, Knee-high socks- Target?, Boots- Amazon

The air has changed with my mood

The air is cooler today and I'm getting a handle on a lot of things that I've been grappling with lately (new school/town/job, difficulties with writing/self-identity/self-worth/relationships, and on and on). I tend to speak a lot in terms of clarity and confusion. I have to follow this by saying that there is never a time in my life when I am capable of experiencing ultimate lucidity. I'm afraid that I overthink too much without doing very much analysis (this makes me wonder what it is I think about in the first place if I seem to get so little out of it). It helps me tremendously to write things down--I realize things I wouldn't have known without putting it on paper--but yet, I am still never certain about anything it seems.

How did this post become so self-deprecating? Despite everything I said, I'm actually writing this post because for the first time in months, I am genuinely happy. I discovered a lot about myself over the weekend and over the preceding couple of weeks. I feel fulfilled in many ways, prepared. I understand this post is very vague but I guess I just wanted to write this all down. I'm looking forward to the months that follow.

Also, my writing rut has ended! I wrote a poem over the weekend, and, although I don't feel ready to share the entire thing yet, I'll share the first two stanzas (something I've never done before).

UNTITLED

There is no reason for this, only
a starved dog's logic about bones

            -Margaret Atwood

I worry that everything will fall out of me at once like 

many small knives. The other woman inside of me 

protests through steely throat and tongue—all red 

hair and sour nerves. I can’t shake this feeling of 

being filled up, filled up, filled up (there must be rooms in 

my chest I haven’t discovered yet).

Last week, a hard, black kernel settled itself beneath 

my ribcage. No matter how many times I cough, it 

doesn’t go away. It grows heavier each morning—I 

think it’s been fattening itself up on pieces of my 

diaphragm. I keep telling it to leave but it doesn’t 

speak my language.

Chapbook's done!

The chapbook is done! I'll be selling them for $2 a piece until this Sunday when I move to Bowling Green (although I'll leave some with my sisters in case anyone would like to have one after I move).

Front and back covers (designed by my sister Courtney):

It's been a long, long time

One.) Two weeks until Dennis returns from Germany. It'll be really nice to see him again.

Two.) I have one more poem that I'm in the middle of writing/revising until my chapbook is finished. SO CLOSE. I have the beginning and the end of the poem. I just need the middle. This type of thing seems to happen a lot when I write. Always missing the middle.

Three.) My mum took me shopping yesterday for things I need for my new apartment since I'm poor. And while we were at Target, she bought me a dress! So here it is (as well as my new hair color). My sister Courtney called this my "teacher dress."

The feeling of turning into someone else

I finished reading No Impact Man today and got restless after all that sitting around. Sooo I played around with some new/old pieces of clothing.

I've been recently trying to play with layering (although I haven't been able to too much due to the heat). It's funny the things you can do with fashion that you've never even thought of doing before until you see it on someone else (like wearing a skirt under a dress that sort of acts as a petticoat).

Hat- Target, Pleated dress- yesstyle.com, Floral skirt- thrifted, Necklace- Wal Mart, Oxfords- thrifted

I've also been trying to find more professional clothing, for two reasons: 1. To look less like a fifteen-year-old, 2. To look more like a professor (when I start teaching in a month)

Blazer- JCPenney, 3/4 sleeve shirt- thrifted, Skinny jeans- Macy's, Heels- Deb

I've also been all about really simple outfits. I tend to like them better than over-complicated outfits with a billion accessories.

Striped shirt- yesstyle.com, Capris- Target?, Necklace- Wal Mart, Brown flats- thrifted

I am also really happy that I found these shorts. They're suuuuuper comfy and good for summer or lounging around.

Shirt- Wal Mart (men's cropped), Necklace- H&M, Shorts- JCPenney, Black flats- thrifted

Side note: I'm almost finished with my summer chapbook! I need to buckle down and sit with it for a few hours tomorrow to make all of the final revisions. Then, I just have to collaborate with my sister in designing it and get them printed. I'm excited/I hope everyone likes it!

Side side note: Just ordered these (in the cafe creme color). http://us.asos.com/ASOS-ASOS-Tailored-Low-Slung-Mans-Peg-Leg-Pant/uo94s/?iid=1249704&MID=35718&affid=2134&siteID=0RpXOIXA500-1Br45Pw_DtfP8.bHZLxI3g&r=1&mk=VOID&mporgp=L2NvdW50cnlpZC8xL0FTT1MvQVNPUy1UYWlsb3JlZC1Mb3ctU2x1bmctTWFucy1QZWctTGVnLVRyb3VzZXIvUHJvZC8. Super pumped.

Yes yes yes

One of the best conversations I've had all year. Unconditionally and unabashedly happy right now. :))))

On a side note, my hair has turned into an interesting color during its fading process.