July in Review

July is over. How did that happen?

Turns out I didn't take many pictures this month, but I did spend a few minutes today putting together this page about the month.

I used Cathy Zielske's kit from Designer Digitals and a paper pack from oscraps.com.

Back from CHA.

Hello! I've been busy enjoying myself this week. I hit the road Monday to visit with Em and enjoy CHA. There wasn't (amazingly enough) much picture taking - unless you count this lovely shot. Captured by a random CHA-goer, the picture was meant to showcase our love of all-things Thickers. Manual focus wasn't a great choice. Oops. I think you still get the idea, though. For more, read here.

The whole show experience got me to thinking about scrapbooking. . . I do love cutting up paper and learning to take pictures and collecting ribbon. That's not all of it, though. I've made great friends through scrapbooking - people I never would have known otherwise.

To the Sea

We saw Jack Johnson at Alpine Valley this weekend. We got there really early and caught a little pre-show show in the pavilion. Jack played an impromptu mini-concert before the show. ALO and G.Love opened.

I loved seeing all the different instruments and was completely impressed by the piano / accordian / weird mouth piano thing player.

And, now I'm off to Chicago to visit Em, snuggle Miri, and go to CHA.

July 23

Because I haven't taken many pictures lately.

And because there just hasn't been much to take pictures of.

I leave you with July 23, 2009.

I ended a fabulous visit with Katrina. We need to do that again. . . soon!

And, July 23, 2008.

I had the great misfortune of seeing Mamma Mia - the movie. 

Great company. Terrible movie.

Turns out July 23 has never been a particularly important day.

But, here is a little about July 23, 2010 (format compliments of Tina).

listening: Abundance of Katherines (audiobook by John Green)
eating: shrimp fajitas (with zucchini) for dinner
drinking:diet Cherry Dr. Pepper

wearing: flip flops pretty much every day
feeling: a little restless
weather: rainy and humid
wanting: a different job
needing: to pay bills
thinking: happy thoughts about next week (visit with Em and CHA)
enjoying: air conditioning
wondering: if a cleaning person can be worked into the budget

I made stuff.

I had a really fun time making this. I think it was because I really loved thinking about the memory.

Photo Source (for large photo on left side)

It is a two-page 12 x 12 layout. The left side is a single 12 x 12 page with an enlarged photo. The other side is a divided page protector with space for six 4 x 6 photos. I added an additional page protector to hold an invitation and two notes; I just stitched the page protector to make it the size I needed.

Supplies:
Studio Calico January 2010 Kit (Whodunit) and Add-ons
Alphabet: Harmonie
Cardstock: Bazzill Paper Basics
Embellishments: American Crafts (ribbon), Maya Road (stick pin), Prima (pearls)
Other: We R Memory Keepers (divided page protector)
Patterned Paper: American Crafts, Basic Grey, My Minds Eye
Tools: Martha Stewart (punch), Typewriter (vintage)

What I Read: Stitches

This is another one I selected for a summer course I'm facilitating about using book discussion groups in middle school and high school. I selected it because I don't think teachers talk enough about graphic novels, particularly their appeal to reluctant readers.

 

Stitches by David Small

This memoir, set in Detroit, discusses David's life from age six through about 15 focused on his relationship with parents and his many illnesses. The story is told in more than 300 pages of black and white illustrations - much like a comic book - sprinkled with occasional dialogue and thoughts.

The illustrations capture every emotion of David''s devastating childhood. David was always a sickly child. His father, a radiologist, believed that the illness could be cured by high doses of radiation. David developed a growth on the side of his neck around age 12. The growth (probably caused by the exposure to radiation) was eventually removed; however, the surgery permanently damaged David's vocal cords, making him mute for several years. After his recovery, David discovers an unsent letter written by his mother to a relative. The letter explained that the growth was cancerous, and David was not expected to survive the illness. His parents decided to keep the severity of his illness a secret from David.

The sadness and tragedy of David's illness is sprinkled amongst dramatic scenes in which David is abused by his grandmother, witnesses fighting between his parents, and is emotionally isolated from his mentally ill mother. It was a difficult childhood, and all of the emotion is captured perfectly in the illustrations. 

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed reading this book. I thought it would be difficult to concentrate and confusing to read only illustrations. It wasn't boring at all, though. I was drawn into the story and really interested in the characters - primarily the main character.

Middle and high school students would really enjoy the book, especially those who are drawn to Dave Pelzer's autobiographical writing. I recommend it to adults, too. It doesn't take long to read and really gave me a new appreciation for graphic novels.

Meal Plan

Monday:
Barb has book club.
Brad is on his own.

Friday: Tuesday
Pasta Puttanesca

Tuesday: Wednesday
Pot roast with mashed potatoes and carrots

Wednesday:
Beef and Bean Burritos

Thursday:
Pad Thai
Barb has Ladies' Night at Melting Pot.
Brad is on his own.

Friday:
Shrimp Fajitas

Saturday:
Jack Johnson concert @ Alpine Valley

Updated Wednesday 7:13 P.M.

The Black Space.

Photo source

"Personality is the glitter that sends your gleam across the footlights and the orchestra pit into the big black space where the audience is."
-Mae West


I love to make people laugh and be interesting and charismatic. I'm proud that I know what I stand for; I won't hide my beliefs. I am smart and confident and outspoken. I'm proud that I vocally and passionately fight for what I believe in. I know who I am and am comfortable with it, for better or worse.


But, it sure does suck when these very things that I am seem to get in the way of getting what I want.

Dreaming of Vacation

It's the weekend; there isn't anything interesting happening around here. I have been thinking about some amazing vacation destinations, though.


Blackberry Farm
Beautiful and amazing working farm in the Appalachians.

Petite Saint Vincent
Remote Caribbean Island with private cottages.

Oregon Coast
Ideally, I'd like to land in Seattle, rent a car, drive to the coast, and keep driving down the coast until I get to Northern CA. Oh. I'd win the lottery before leaving on the trip, and the whole thing would take at least two months. I'd fly in a variety of people to drive with me - rotating people in and out, so as not to drive any single person insane from having to ride around in a car with me for months.

I was inspired by this post on Noble Pig. But, this has tons of helpful information, too.

Other possible vacation destinations:
Yellowstone National Park (and Old Faithful Inn)
New York City
Alaska - maybe a cruise
Hawaii - maybe here
Thailand
New Zealand

I made stuff

It's been awhile since I've shared anything I made. I have been putzing around a little, though. Here are a few featuring the nephews. I can't believe how big they are!

 N & C
Studio Calico January 2010 Kit (Whodunit) and Add-ons 
Alphabet: October Afternoon
Cardstock: Bazzill Paper Basics
Embellishments: Jenni Bowlin (journaling tag), Jillibean Soup (button), Unknown (red baker's twine)
Patterned Paper: American Crafts, Basic Grey, October Afternoon
Photo by Homburg Photography

5
Studio Calico January 2010 Kit (Whodunit) and Add-ons 
Alphabet: American Crafts
Cardstock: Bazzill Paper Basics
Embellishments: Unknown (staples)
Patterned Paper: American Crafts, Basic Grey, Jenni Bowlin, Studio Calico
Stickers: Studio Calico
Tools: American Crafts (pen), Staz On (ink), We R Memory Keepers (corner punch)

What I Read: Punkzilla

One of my summer projects is facilitating a book discussion group for middle and high school teachers about using book discussion groups with students.

This book was one of my choices for the course. Each person is reading one of the 2009 Michael Printz award winners for our final discussion; our conversation will be focused on what it means for a book to "exemplify literary excellence in young adult literature."

Punkzilla by Adam Rapp

Jamie (aka "Punkzilla") suffers from ADD, a marijuana habit, and sticky fingers. His controlling father, not-so-lovingly called "Major," decides that military school will help Jamie conform and lead a responsible life.

Not the case.

Jamie goes AWOL from military school, landing amongst a group of street-smart teens living on their own in Portland, Oregon. Jamie receives an unexpected letter from Peter (his gay, older brother who moved to Memphis to escape his family's homophobia) that contains some terrible news. Peter is dying of cancer.

Jamie is compelled to visit his brother and leaves Portland with less than $200 and a Greyhound bus ticket to Memphis. Along the route, Jamie does have some insights into himself, his relationship to his family, and his situation. These insights are tucked discretely between plenty of life experiences including: being raped, getting jumped, meeting a transsexual, and losing his virginity. Each experience is described in-depth using language that would make even the hippest grandmother blush.

The stories of Jamie's cross-country adventure, his life in Portland,  his life at military school, and his life before military school are told in a series of long never-mailed letters from Jamie to Peter. There are also letters from Jamie's mom, dad, brother, grandma, and friends sprinkled in for more insight into Jamie's character.

I didn't love this book as an adult. I was annoyed by the long, stream of consciousness letters.  There were a lot of repeated details that just seemed superfluous -Jamie is continually mistaken for a girl and  wears a Keanu Reeves mask he steals from a kid regularly. I kept reading because of morbid curiosity; I wanted to see what to see what random situation or bad choice Jamie would find himself faced with next, and I wanted to know whether Jamie made it to Memphis before his brother's death. I just don't feel like it's something I need to tell everyone to read.

And, I'm not sure how the book fits into a classroom. It isn't something I would share with students in a book talk or something I'd use for a book discussion group. I might put it in my classroom library, but I really hesitate because of the language and content. I think teenagers would read the book; I'm not sure if they would devour it because it's a good story or because it has dirty parts and plenty of f-bombs.

Adventure: Ann Arbor

I spent the last week of June with Em and Miri. We visited Ann Arbor and then hung out for a few days. I made a quick digital page. . .

I have tons more pictures. I will probably add a divided page protector or two to share my favorites.

Here's the journaling:

1. The 3+ hour drive required lots of road trip food like s'mores crackers, Cherry Dr. Pepper, Bugles, and Red Vines. In our defense, we never did get to eating the Red Vines.

2. I fell in love with all things Zingerman's  - sandwiches, mac and cheese, coffee, chocolate, bread, lemonade, brownies, cheese.

3. The main reason for the trip was a stop at a store Em has been stalking on-line for a while, Red Shoes. We both got fun prints with lots of words on them. I bought a necklace, and Em bought a candle. It was even better in person than on-line.

4. Treasure Mart was another great shopping stop. Em found a fun rocking chair ($15!) for Miri, and I bought a vintage produce scale.

5. We stayed at Weber's Inn. Miri was pretty happy to have a place outside of the car or stroller to crawl around.

6. We stopped at two cupcake shops, Just Baked and Cupcake Station. My favorite was the Bump-a-licious (it tastked like a Ho-Ho). The Fat Elvis was also pretty delicious, and I can't complain about the Red Velvet Cheesecake Cupcake either.

7. There was plenty of other eating. Lunch on Monday: BLT, Zingerman's. Dinner on Monday: Bolognese and snagria, Palio. Dessert on Monday: Ice cream, WAshtenaw Dairy. Breakfast on Tuesday: French toast, Afternoon Delight. Lunch on Tuesday: Mac and cheese, Zingerman's Roadhouse. Dinner on Tuesday: Too full for dinner.

8. There wasn't nearly as much picture taking as there should have been.

9. Our official last stop was a visit to Greta in Clio. She is just as fabulous as I knew she would be. We laughed, gossiped, took a pictuer, ate strawberry shortcake, and made plans to meet again.

10. The fun continued as I spent a few more days at home with Em and Miri visiting the farmers' market and children's museum, scrapbooking, cooking, and visiting.


Supplies:
Digital Template - Ali Edwards for Designer Digitals "10 Things Layered Template"
Digital Paper - Katie Pertiet for Designer Digitals "Spot Dots No. 10 Paper Pack"
Font - Courier

Meal Plan

All the ingredients for ratatouille waiting on top of my new vintage kitchen scale. The ratatouille was a dinner I cooked with Em and the vintage scale was an Ann Arbor find.

Sunday:
Lasagna with (frozen) garlic bread and take-out tiramisu

Monday:
Thai-style Basil Chicken with broccoli

Tuesday:
Greek Panzanella Salad with Marinated Chicken


Wednesday:
Marinated pork chops, potatoes, fresh corn, and green beans


Thursday:
Pot roast with mashed potatoes and carrots

Friday:
Antipasto Calzone (made with my own pizza dough)

Breakfast:
Cereal with berries
Waffles with yogurt

Lunch:
Healthy Chopped Salad
Mexican Pizza

Other fun things:
Blueberry Coffee Cake Muffins
Rainbow sherbet with raspberries

I owe you.

I owe you many careful thought out, witty, and interesting blog posts to compensate for not having said a single word since June 27.

How is it that June 27 was 15 days ago?

It doesn't seem like 15 days ago.

I've been busy vacationing, visiting, laughing, cooking, eating, sleeping, reading, and dazzling. Really, I've just been busy enjoying myself. It's not that I didn't want to tell you about it; it's just that with every single day that passes with me not telling you makes it a little more overwhelming for me to actually sit down and tell you.

But, this week will be different. This week I will write to you and share pictures - lots of pictures.

Lollipops from This Charming Candy.