- Picnicking at the train station today :) http://t.co/TUodEPsW #
- From the archive: : Make me smile… http://t.co/47nHKnit #
- From the archive: : non, je ne regrette rien http://t.co/gauD16qb #
- From the archive: : we're all cheering http://t.co/VdRgH3SK #amputee #
- Bless the 2 women on the L-train who squeezed me on with my bags & crutches & helped me navigate the rush hour jam of bodies #chicago #
- Hot, humid, gorgeous @ Museum of Contemporary Photography http://t.co/9NGBZLxd #
- From the archive: : back on track http://t.co/cfAyolGc #
- Such a gorgeous library–stained glass dome @ chicago cultural center http://t.co/wTOpXcmU #
- Chicago river tour today… http://t.co/wcYz2SZw #
- Chicago at sunset http://t.co/aG86Gyv5 #
- Truffle-basil risotto. Wherein I'm told that no, it's not ok to lick my plate… http://t.co/I3khy8MO #
- Chicory….amazing http://t.co/hePJtnI3 #
- Second course on the tasting menu @ Graham Elliot http://t.co/jDpYR7HS #
- From the archive: : mornings http://t.co/e8JGlpf3 #
- From the archive: : re-boot http://t.co/au1JMu42 #amputee #
- Millennium park, in a summer rain shower http://t.co/bInylIhl #
- Train station signage http://t.co/03sOpS1e #
- Birthday boy with his 1st frozen yogurt cone http://t.co/L4c2bbqN #
- Just posted a photo @ chicago history museum http://t.co/B4dTiP73 #
- From the archive: : Because I am hoarding muscle and bone density like the compulsive cat lady and her… http://t.co/d5ykx9FU #women #
- I do love a good train map… @ Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) http://t.co/PRi0JtEw #
- My favorite way to start the weekend :) http://t.co/4IDbw9ax #
- From the archive: : As busy as a…bunny? http://t.co/h2n4Hfbr #
things I like
- From the archive: : day's-eye http://t.co/Vv8njcgE #garden #
- From the archive: : my feet, they're all wet… http://t.co/wprZRKXu #amputee #
- Fashionable bionics on the streets of NY: http://t.co/q1JIdADk #lifeofanamputee #whatacuteskirt! #
- From the archive: : blogher http://t.co/oPW61W8Y #women #
- From the archive: : paddling http://t.co/R3qblEuO #
- From the archive: : Make me smile… http://t.co/xmShcv1n #
- From the archive: : I'm a survivor… http://t.co/zp3BRarn #
- Kid doodles on my copy of Dinesen #itscutenow http://t.co/IxZBneNY #
- From the archive: : Make me smile… http://t.co/pNNL3kuc #
- From the archive: : escape http://t.co/OrEuvJAG #body #
- From the archive: : it's now 3 for 3 http://t.co/Ss4M2ZFj #school #
- From the archive: : when you hear that unmistakable pounding… http://t.co/SfbvLAJq #love #
- Happiness is: watching the birdshow in my neighbor's trees during golden hour #simplepleasures #
- From the archive: : Boston, Boston, Boston! http://t.co/xzfwWXMf #
- From the archive: : John's version of the story http://t.co/RBry8X2r #Random #
- From the archive: : short and stout http://t.co/KSYxG4CE #photo #
- From the archive: : off-season http://t.co/XHHpWXRN #photo #
- These crocheted playgrounds are stunning–I wish I could play on one myself: http://t.co/IN3Ip4tq #
- From my blog archive, a post explaining my ambivalence abt the 4th: "Fireworks" http://t.co/1MOEUcVl #
- Mango sticky rice tastes even better after a day in the desert… http://t.co/7F5dJFTQ #
- Breakfast in the desert, after sleeping under the stars http://t.co/YHmWApzV #
- Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail http://t.co/x8Q3Dke8 #
- Last nite, slept under a bright desert moon. 1st time sleeping outdoors sans tent. Coyotes barking, wind rustling, crickets. :) #
- Heading deeper into the desert #roadtripping http://t.co/D86S6XIR #
- Bless the hotel valet who stocked my car with water bottles & a cup of hot coffee as I left in a tired fog this morning. #doeshisjobsowell #
- That's a first–a chalkboard in our hotel room #likelikelike http://t.co/bklcMCGJ #
- Adding this to my list of vacation ideas (h/t @stijnvanorbeek): Wild swimming in France via @Telegraph http://t.co/NDntED3j #
- Summer salad, from the garden http://t.co/zLsU2mFu #
- Beach strolling by the light of the moon #happyhappyhappy @ Main Beach And Boardwalk http://t.co/WRxWW4Vq #
- Enjoying a bit of Belgium tonite @ Brussels Bistro http://t.co/oaZMjK0V #
- Grilling! #yum http://t.co/TUWNfswS #
- Reading stories abt California landmarks in decay, makes me want to visit w/camera in hand: http://t.co/JqoQP60s #lifeofahistorian #
A few years ago, whenever I was faced with a situation where I would typically insert deity into my thinking, I started inserting the ocean instead. It seems something worth worshiping (whereas God was no longer something I could worship) because it is vast and ineffable and powerful. I find it easier to surrender to the currents and ways of the sea than I do to anything else in my life right now, and find that time out on the water also seems to put everything into perspective.
Perhaps that’s why this song struck me so powerfully when it came onto my Pandora playlist recently…
And it’s peaceful in the deep,
Cathedral, you cannot breathe,
No need to pray, no need to speak
Now I am under.
And it’s breaking over me,
A thousand miles onto the sea bed,
Found the place to rest my head…
And the arms of the ocean are carrying me,
And all this devotion was rushing out of me,
And the crashes are heaven, for a sinner like me,
The arms of the ocean deliver me.
Though the pressure’s hard to take,
It’s the only way I can escape,
It seems a heavy choice to make,
Now I am under.
- Wonder if they're related to the funky chicken-buses that we rode on daily from New Jersey to NYC last year: http://t.co/gAJ14m9E #
- Re-cataloging my books & finding sweet memories in the pages. :) @ Memorial Hall http://t.co/J4GCAsxw #
- .@horse_thatbooks awww, that's kind of sad #thatcamp in reply to horse_thatbooks #
- Blessing the bees in NYC: http://t.co/dnt0DMQn #
- IMO, everyone ought to paddle in their local waterways–for understanding & appreciation: http://t.co/zLYAfSRd @LAReviewofBooks #
- The graduate & his celebratory cupcake :) @ Claim Jumper http://t.co/PBQv6GxC #
- Huge graduating class! @ Bren Events Center http://t.co/bXY4TUpi #
- So excited to be at Gameboy's graduation–he's magna cum laude from UniHigh, such a huge achievement! #proudmama #
- Saying goodbye again, but I'll be back…#thatcamp @ The Well (@ The Mason Inn & Conference Center) http://t.co/EFCKl8i3 #
- Mango sticky rice! @ Fairfax, VA http://t.co/jM8GURLX #
- Will any #thatcamp ers still be around at The Well tonite? #
- MT @dancohen: Public Google Hangout w/ @angshah for the #thatcamp "Digital Journalism and Digital Humanities" session: http://t.co/2tC1hqpW #
- RT @briancroxall: RT @captain_primate: Nerds doing nerdly things at #THATCamp (playing Resistance) http://t.co/2QamFSEq // fun game! #
- Love the idea of doing collaborative orals prep with committee members via a group blog #thatcamp #
- RT @dpmckenzie: Students want the good grade. That's usually structured. RT @retius: Students only think they want freedom. #THATCamp #
- God idea: Using online forums for Intercampus collaboration (interacting w/students studying the same novel at other unis) #thatcamp #
- Example of using @anthologize in the classroom: creating a document for each student's blogposts that they can use for their exams #thatcamp #
- Can someone tweet the link to the schedule googledoc? #thatcamp #
- Interesting, two podcasts in the first few dorkshorts. A new trend? #thatcamp #
- MT @boone: Is it too late for a last-minute #thatcamp proposal? http://t.co/OIHVyi5i // would love to talk w/others abt LMS administration #
- Happiness is: dining outdoors with friends by the light of fireflies #thatcamp #
- It feels like a bit of a homecoming to be back at the Mason Inn again. Wish all my #oneweek friends were here… #thatcamp #
- Breakfast of champions #ontheroadagain #thatcamp @ Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) http://t.co/TgullF28 #
My birthday fell about halfway through my trip to Europe in May, while we were in Tuscany and staying at a villa just outside of San Gimignano. The night before I thought a lot about what I wanted to do that day. We’d already had several whirlwind days of traveling so I thought it would be nice to something a bit slower-paced for a change. What I did for my birthday:
- Slept in a bit and then headed for the nearby town for a bit of sightseeing and wandering
- Had my first and only Italian gelato
- Shopped for a few small gifts for my kids
- Did my daily 40 laps in the cold water of the villa pool
- Spent an hour or so lying in the sun and dozing
- Watched an afternoon storm roll across the sky and across the valley around the villa
- Ate a simple dinner of bread, cheese, olives, and charcuterie, along with a bottle of local wine
- Took a rambly walk around the grounds of the villa with my camera, including a visit to the organic garden
- Went to bed a bit early
Here’s a slideshow of photos taken on that day:
[flickrslideshow acct_name=”pilgrimgirl” id=”72157630166422846″]
- Anyone else arriving at IAD early tomorrow morning for #THATCamp I've got a cool carpool oppt'y available to GMU :) #
- Such a delight to go to the library yesterday & come out with an armful of novels. #postPhDlifestyle #
- Anyone else going to #THATCamp from IAD early Friday morning? I'm looking for a lift. #
- Annie Dillard, on writing #justwhatIneededtoday #knowyourownbone http://t.co/YErImG22 #
- I think #ChapmanU should offer free chair massages for staff everyday! #soblissedoutnow #chapmanrocks #
- Catgirl's self-portrait, all of the details/shading are handwritten text http://t.co/FWzhEefe #
- Me & my awesome adviser #uci http://t.co/lxL26NRs #
- The podium view #uci http://t.co/7Pojr441 #
- Being a doctor is hot (these robes are keeping me more than warm) #uci #
- Wonder if I dare not remove my hat, as instructed, for the anthem #becauseImaQuaker #uci #
- I'm the lone student in the stage (for now) h/t Lorie for the pic #uci http://t.co/NHc2pYRR #
- I think they're playing the Harry Potter theme song instead of the graduation song #uci #
- View from the podium (empty chairs are for other grads who haven't yet arrived) #ucigr @ Bren Events Center http://t.co/h52dkLWi #
- Just became Dr. Remy! #butitsnotofficialuntilIwearthefunnyhattomorrow #happyhappyhappy #
- This might be the 1st year that the squirrels haven't eaten all of my peaches http://t.co/U5zj5alr #
- Prepping dinner in the evening sun #happysimplethings http://t.co/Zd8GdUM4 #
- Confession: I do love me a wooden pencil & bought myself an old-school crank sharpener for my office: http://t.co/OsH3shoj #lifeofahistorian #
- Our first course: trout #sotasty @ A Wolf In Sheeps Clothing http://t.co/oze1OijW #
- Wow, Gameboy is attending his senior prom tonite. :) #timeflies #somedaysitfeelslikehesgrowinguptoofast #
- Still hard to believe that this is where I was last Friday (in Volterra, Tuscany) #europe2012 http://t.co/DClpKqo2 #
The photo above was snapped about 10 miles into the race, when my sunscreen melted into my eyes and I couldn’t see a thing, and didn’t want to stop paddling to clear my vision.
And this was as I was yelling to the team to get our second wind, because we had some boats to pass before we reached the finish line:
I don’t have photos of me getting out of the boat after the race or of that sublime bubble-bath about three hours later…I’ll let you just imagine that part.
- My first Violet Crumble just arrived, all the way from Australia. :) http://t.co/ossT14ZF #
- Can't wait to jump on Mieville's train: http://t.co/l3wvVtWO #booksonmynightstand #
- Tonite: Moroccan food! Yum! http://t.co/OjaEZviB #
- Belgian frites! http://t.co/ZQNMjLz9 #
- This one's to make my beer-living American friends jealous #europe2012 http://t.co/jDxJJKlg #
- Sunset a Bruxelles http://t.co/XUVQxp3K #
- A good memory: chugging the last of our Tuscan wine just before passing thru airport security (on our way back to BRU) #europe2012 #
- En route to Volterra #europe2012 http://t.co/wSQ5sjbY #
- Happiness: sitting under a grapevine gazebo in a rainstorm & sipping local wine as the wind blows rose petals at your feet. #europe2012 #
- The colors of an afternoon storm in Tuscany #europe2012 http://t.co/BQl0MJ42 #
- Some roses (for my birthday) #europe2012 http://t.co/KoWiFHYM #