daily pie

floats.

noreply@blogger.com (nomadshan) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:28:00 +0000

Yes. This.

Biscoff cookies. You may recognize these from your last Delta flight. Or your last cookie bender. Ginger-spicy and crazy-crispy. And their website has recipes; Caramel Biscoff Coulant, anyone? (I don't know, but it looks good.)

Mayor of Nerdville

Leaving work early to go to the library. I mean, I'm going for Magik, to book a workshop space, but still. The library! WOOT!

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but I'm actually going to two libraries because a book I'm previewing for the next show's book recommendations isn't at the workshop-space branch. Two! Two libraries! Ah-ah-ah!

Question of the Day

What was the last word of the most recent book you finished?

Eyeballs (With Mini Cameras, Of Course)

noreply@blogger.com (nomadshan) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:44:00 +0000

Yes. This.

My Dad! Today's his birthday. I wish I were there to see him blow the candles out because there are 66 of them this year, and that means a lot of cake!

Mayor of Nerdville

Dad's the reason I'm a science nerd. His fault, my joy.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but Dad has bionic knees. He's that cool.

Question of the Day

If any part of you could be bionic, which part would you choose?

Short

noreply@blogger.com (nomadshan) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 04:05:00 +0000

Yes. This.

SCBWI's national conferences. Worked the winter conference this weekend as a regional advisor. Such a nurturing organization, but a straight talker, too. It was a great experience to be in a position to help people, put them at ease, etc. Got to catch up with Super Agent Chris and meet several of his clients -- even record a podcast with client Matt (more about that later). And I met so many great folks! Loved it. A much fuller experience than when I attended in 2010 strictly as an author.

Mayor of Nerdville

Conducted my first workshop for Magik today, a professional development workshop showing elementary classroom teachers ways to use theatre techniques to teach core content (language arts, reading, math, science, social studies). Went very well. Always something to learn, but I'm looking forward to doing many more of these workshops. My parents are retired teachers, so I knew where these folks were coming from.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but every night, around 9 or 10, we call No Pants O'Clock at our house, and we both get rid of work pants in favor of pajama-type wear. Tonight I called it at 7:15. Couldn't wait to chill after the workshop.

Question of the Day

Long hair or short, currently?

Nine

noreply@blogger.com (nomadshan) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 21:22:00 +0000

Yes. This.

Tomás and the Library Lady / Tomás y la señora de la biblioteca by Pat Mora, illustrated (beautifully) by Raul Colón. Sad that I haven't read it till now, but glad I finally caught up.

Mayor of Nerdville

Conducted my first workshop this morning: Goals: Set, Track, and Meet Them in 2012 (and Beyond!). Lots to learn about presenting, but I enjoyed it. I get to make a goal-setting spreadsheet as a followup for participants. Yup, I said "get to."

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but my reward for finishing the workshop (besides making a spreadsheet) is to watch the rest of Tudors Season 4 tonight. He's on his last wife, who -- spoiler alert ;) -- survived him, but there's still a good five episodes left. It's going to be an awesomely late night.

Question of the Day

How many books did your last trip to the library yield?

Period Drama All the Way

noreply@blogger.com (nomadshan) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 18:18:00 +0000

Yes. This.

The Indiana University Smoking Survey. In the early 80s, IU surveyed all of the 7th-to-11th graders in Monroe County public schools to collect information about smoking -- experiences, attitudes, habits, etc. Since then, I've received a survey packet every five or ten years and filled it out. This Christmas, I got a postcard from the survey team that said (1) they're now the longest ongoing study in the U.S. to focus specifically on cigarette smoking, (2) their findings to date will be in the Surgeon General's report this year, and (3) 70% of the original 8,500 participants still fill out their surveys. Some of the survey findings are here.

Mayor of Nerdville

Have watched Downton Abbey through twice now. Impatiently searched NetFlix for the second season, only to discover it starts its initial U.S. run tonight on PBS.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but I tried a few other Netflix programs today before I found news of Downton's season premiere. I'm sure to be ribbed for the state of our Recently Watched list, cluttered as it is with chickly period pieces.

Question of the Day

What's your favorite movie genre?

Japanese With Friends

noreply@blogger.com (nomadshan) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 01:02:00 +0000

Yes. This.

Making fresh pasta. I use a formula given on Jamie At Home: 100g flour + 1 egg per person. Made it last night for lasagna. Dave's fresh sauce brought it all together.

But Not This.

This topic. A downer after the cool stuff above. Today's the last day you'll see it.

Mayor of Nerdville

Last year, my focus was discipline. This year it's balance. Will spend part of the weekend expanding on that.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but I finally finished a chapter rewrite I've dodged for months. I tend to write in chapter order, so now...onward!

Question of the Day

What's for dinner?

Natural

noreply@blogger.com (nomadshan) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:32:00 +0000

Yes. This.

But Not This.

Most bulldogs have to be delivered by C-section because we've bred their heads too big for their mothers' birth canals. Not cool.

Mayor of Nerdville

Had a dream about running last night and woke up feeling great. So, went running on my lunch break. Making myself save my unheard back episodes of Two Gomers for running sessions only.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but I forgot to put an essential piece of clothing in my bag for post-run.

Question of the Day

Your fingernails right now: painted or natural?

Fine Cooking

noreply@blogger.com (nomadshan) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:51:00 +0000

Yes. This.

Being in the world of my book. Grasping for the voice.

But Not This.

Sore knees. Whyfore do I have them? Not sure. I've done zero exercise lately.

Mayor of Nerdville

Recently converted another acquaintance to Dropbox. The mission continues.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but I bought out our World Market's bedraggled, post-Christmas supply of stollen. Have not been good about making it last.

Question of the Day

What magazine have you read most recently?

Goals

noreply@blogger.com (nomadshan) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 23:33:00 +0000

Yes. This.

A new year, fresh and shiny.

But Not This.

Feeling like I'm already behind.

Mayor of Nerdville

Can't wait to set goals for the year, and then lead my local SCBWI chapter in a goal-setting session later this month. WOOT goals!

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but spreadsheets play a prominent role in my goal-setting shenanigans. Shocker!

Question of the Day

Preferred method of annual self-torture: resolutions or goals?

Like I Said: Scorpions

noreply@blogger.com (nomadshan) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:41:00 +0000

Yes. This.

My friend Gabel's daily paint studies. Like any reasonable person, her posting probably won't be daily during the December holidays, but check them out. She does beautiful work.

But Not This.

The jackwagon who stole my scooter helmet last night. I'm staunchly pro-helmet (because I'm staunchly pro-brain function), so that ride home wearing a crocheted hat blew.

Mayor of Nerdville

Preparing lobby displays for Magik's next production, Diary of a Worm, a Spider, and a Fly. Today I'm compiling info and photos about this summer's spidernauts.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but not all arachnids are equal. While spiders live in my midst happily, scorpions quickly find themselves dead.

Question of the Day

What gives you the wooblies down your spine?

Adults

noreply@blogger.com (nomadshan) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 23:33:00 +0000

Yes. This.

Dark chocolate anything.

But Not This.

White "chocolate" anything.

Mayor of Nerdville

Spent many minutes looking up synonyms for "middle" for a class title, then went a different direction with "apprentice." We'll see if it sticks.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but I used a stool at my stand-up desk yesterday. *old and tired*

Question of the Day

Are there more kids or adults on your holiday gift list?

Hot and Humid

noreply@blogger.com (nomadshan) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:31:00 +0000

Yes. This.

Paul Fleischman's Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices. I'm not a poetry lover. I find the cadence with which many modern poets read their work to be stilted and too easily parodied. Most of my admiration in the world of verse goes to Jack Prelutsky, Shel Silverstein, and Jon Scieszka. What I like about Joyful Noise: all of the poems are about bugs! And the two-voice delivery is cool; some lines come together, some are spoken apart, and some overlap. A lot of the poems are cooperative, but "Honeybees" presents a fun dichotomy between a queen bee and a worker bee, who have very different levels of enthusiasm for being a bee. I'm making the book a Magik Must-Read for our January production of Diary of a Worm, a Spider, and a Fly. I'm also going to buy a copy for Magik's library because the poems would make great stage dialogues. And then I'm going to bribe two kids to do "Honeybees." :)

But Not This.

Waiting till tomorrow to eat the chocolate-cherry bread that's about to emerge from the oven.

Mayor of Nerdville

The intro from the most recent Freakonomics podcast:

"My eleven-year-old son, like every eleven-year-old boy in America, has the same three posters on his bedroom wall: Peyton Manning, Barack Obama, and Kai Ryssdal."

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but when I went running at lunch and it was pouring rain and I passed two other runners huddling under a bridge, I felt superior. Real women run in the rain.

Question of the Day

xWhat kind of weather, if any, would keep you from exercising outside?

This year, I at long last achieved time travel. Before I went back, you were king of the world. Sorry 'bout that.

noreply@blogger.com (nomadshan) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:01:00 +0000

Yes. This.

Marzipan stollen, a sweet yeast bread filled with dried fruit and almonds, with a marzipan core, and dusted with vanilla sugar. It's usually a touch dry, so it's great to eat with hot tea or coffee. It's also usually only sold here around Christmas, so I stock up. This year, I'm going to finally come up with a recipe so I can have it whenever I feel like making it.

But Not This.

Author Russell Hoban passed away yesterday. Bread and Jam for Frances is one of the earliest books I remember reading on my own (I think I had a read-along record of it) (blog post). He also wrote Emmet Otter's Jug-band Christmas, later adapted by Jim Henson for the Muppets. Don't my childhood influences know they're not allowed to die?

Mayor of Nerdville

Spent part of my lunch hour looking up info on Mozart. Just because. Also, he's part of a planned book project I want to start next year. But mostly he's just fascinating.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but I recycle Christmas cards as soon as I get them, unless they're funny or homemade. I still have Mig & Gabel's homemade card from last year. Couldn't part with those sweet zigzag stitches.

Question of the Day

If you were to send out a fictitious year-end brag letter, what would you claim to have done in 2011?

Artificial

noreply@blogger.com (nomadshan) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:31:00 +0000

Yes. This.

USAA auto and property insurance. If, at year's end, they have funds left over from premiums after paying claims, USAA refunds a dividend to policy holders. I think you need to be military or a USAA employee to get their insurance (Dave's insurance is a carry-over from when he was a minor and his mom was a USAA employee). But USAA's bank and investment company are awesome, too, and open to the general public.

But Not This.

(Nothing. Life is swell today.)

Mayor of Nerdville

Excited about putting up our tree tonight. Making soup with homemade stock, lighting the new fireplace, then trimming the tree to Christmas tunes. Musical highlights will include John Denver's Rocky Mountain Christmas, John Denver and The Muppets' A Christmas Together, Jewel's Joy: A Holiday Collection, with a little Barenaked Ladies, Sarah McLachan, Amy Grant, and Michael Bublé on the side.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but I'm a nonbeliever who loves traditional Christmas carols, especially those written in a minor key (or which sound minor to my untrained ear): Carol of the Bells, Coventry Carol, What Child Is This? It's mostly a musical thing -- I love hearing them sung in a cathedral -- but I like some of the themes, too. Hope, in particular.

Question of the Day

Holiday tree: real, artificial, or none?

Anchovies

noreply@blogger.com (nomadshan) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 03:40:00 +0000

Yes. This.

In looking for sentences that put vocabulary words in context in Stevenson's Treasure Island, I found this gem:

I had not then seen a coracle, such as the ancient Britons made, but I have seen one since, and I can give you no fairer idea of Ben Gunn's boat than by saying it was like the first and the worst coracle ever made by man.

But Not This.

The Stamps.com commercial in which the guy says, "There's nothing worse than going to the post office and standing in line." Really, guy? There's nothing worse than that?

Mayor of Nerdville

Made a digital grocery list and put it in the Dropbox folder I share with Dave.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but I looked through ESPN's Bodies We Want 2011 photo gallery (safe for work if you work around naked people). Yeah, there are a few bodies there to aspire to.

Question of the Day

What's the first item on your current grocery list?

Mulled Cider

noreply@blogger.com (nomadshan) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 02:50:00 +0000

Yes. This.

Began installation today on a gas fireplace. Will build a surround, but for now, we're enjoying comfy temps and the way it reflects in the hardwood floor (the flame's high here -- we've had it on low most of the evening)...

But Not This.

The fireplace is missing its fan and a front plate that would hide the inner ceiling. Gotta go claim those at the shop.

Mayor of Nerdville

I'm starting to dig into my nonfiction to-be-read list, mostly memoirs about cooking and farming. As Dave said a few days ago, "As soon as the weather gets cold, you turn into Laura Ingalls Wilder." I guess all the arduous work of self-reliance is more attractive when it's not a billion degrees outside.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but Dave and I got the dancing started at a friend's birthday bash last night. Possibly, others took to the dance floor to hide our outdated gyrations. OR WE ROCKED. Either way, we boogied, and it felt good.

Question of the Day

What's your favorite fireside drink?

< Pause >

noreply@blogger.com (nomadshan) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:07:00 +0000

Probably Not

noreply@blogger.com (nomadshan) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:43:00 +0000

Yes. This.

Rain! And cold wind! It arrived this morning, and I lurve it.

But Not This.

People who heap their trash around the Theatre's dumpster. Money that would otherwise go to arts services must then be used to have the extra garbage picked up.

Mayor of Nerdville

Finished the classroom guides today for our tour production of Davy Crockett, Hero of the Alamo. They completed the guides for this season -- 3 guides each for 13 productions. Pretty sure one of them had a word problem like that in the math section.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but when I finished the Davy guides, I did a little dance.

Question of the Day

Today is National Harvey Wallbanger Day: will you drink one to celebrate?

37F!

noreply@blogger.com (nomadshan) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 03:04:00 +0000

Yes. This.

Got this description from Dwayne for National Sandwich Day (I won't torture you with the photo):

Chorizo Torta at Xoco (Chicago): There are breakfast sandwiches born of convenience, and then there are breakfast sandwiches that are worth getting up early for. It shouldn't surprise anyone who's eaten at Rick Bayless's Xoco that the Chorizo-Egg Torta ($7.50) is one of the latter. Soft scrambled eggs, ripe, buttery avocado, and two kinds of cheese (totally melted jack and salty, crumbly queso fresco) form the sandwich's creamy core. But they're all just there to highlight the mind-blowing chorizo, commingling with roasted poblanos, falling apart into a soft stew of cinnamon and vinegar-laced meat.

But Not This.

The three different solicitors who jammed their flyers in my screen door yesterday. They keep popping the screen material out of the frame -- geeaarrrrgh! I need a no-flyers sign. *shakes cane at passersby*

Mayor of Nerdville

Went to see Puss in Boots tonight at Alamo Drafthouse, where they make their own pre-show entertainment. Tonight's pre-show included lots of cat videos. The best: Many too small boxes and Maru. (Maru is the cat's meow on YouTube. Don't get sucked in!)

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but I followed my onion-barley soup at lunch almost immediately with a big bowl of apple + brown sugar oatmeal. Not sure yet what the outcome will be, but I'm glad I've already gone running today.

Question of the Day

What's the temperature supposed to be tonight where you are?

Owning

noreply@blogger.com (nomadshan) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 22:45:00 +0000

Yes. This.

We've committed to paying off our mortgage by the end of 2012. We'll save over $49,000 in interest.

But Not This.

If we followed our 30-year note's schedule, our house would cost us twice the list price. Not big news -- mortgage interest is the price of borrowing -- but we're opting out.

Mayor of Nerdville

Any new financial project sends me to my pimped-out financial spreadsheets. I've done a general projection of our proposed mortgage pay-off -- with graph, of course :) -- but I could really go much more in depth. And then there's the matter of how to invest after we're paid off.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but I can barely wait to get home to play with more numbers.

Question of the Day

Which do/would you prefer: owning or renting?

You can probably guess.

noreply@blogger.com (nomadshan) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 22:59:00 +0000

Yes. This.

Our Roomba, dubbed Rosey for the Jetsons' housekeeper. We have a good house for it: very little on our floors besides furniture, and the floors are wood, tile, and linoleum (I think carpet puts more drag on the Roomba's battery life). Our house looks like I know how to clean it. I shall fool everyone -- ha-HA!

But Not This.

The hairball I had to extract from Rosey's brush roller. Dave shaves his head, so...all my fault. Lucky for me, iRobot includes a very handy brush cleaning tool with the vacuum.

Mayor of Nerdville

A cool time-lapse shot of one Roomba's path. And a nice Shining reference. And the Roomba does this funny little back-and-forth shimmy as it approaches its charger and then plays a beepy victory tune when it docks.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but the first time the Roomba docked itself on its charger, we cheered.

Question of the Day

What's been your best recent investment in technology (cutting edge, back-to-the-land, or somewhere in between)?

#Frankensmack

noreply@blogger.com (nomadshan) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 23:52:00 +0000

I thought it’d be the perfect present.

Lizzie had to beg for Rex. Even though she’s older than me, Mom said Lizzie couldn’t handle it: feeding, walking, poop-scooping. But Lizzie didn’t give up. And she and Rex loved each other. Then he got hit.

So I gave her a better puppy. He’s slower than Rex 1, he drools a lot, and his bark sounds like snurf. But he’s fluffy and bouncy when I unhook the electrodes. He still loves her, I can tell.

But Lizzie doesn’t love him now. She won’t stop screaming.

Mom looks like thunder.

I’ll fix it.

Fritos!

noreply@blogger.com (nomadshan) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 22:49:00 +0000

Yes. This.

Frito Pie. My Indiana childhood deprived me of this Texas high school concession-stand staple. I've tried to make up for it since I arrived here 15 years ago.

But Not This.

One of the Occupy San Antonio protesters was using her iPad as a mirror to fix her hair this morning. And that's the situation in a nutshell.

Mayor of Nerdville

Still digging my homemade project-management spreadsheet. Needs more color coding, though.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but I my Frito Pie fest at lunch may adversely affect my dinner appetite. And my fat stores.

Question of the Day

What is your favorite crispy snack?

Clove and Black Pepper

noreply@blogger.com (nomadshan) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:09:00 +0000

Yes. This.

Zagnut bars. Did I really go 41 years without one of these?!

But Not This.

Vanilla. I'm over it. How can one flavor be blah and cloying? And vanilla scent? Hurl.

Mayor of Nerdville

Felt like a mover and shaker today, setting up workshops at schools. Hoping to get Magik's teaching artists into schools even more than they already are.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but I took more half'n'half from the company fridge today. Slippery slope!

Question of the Day

What are your favorite spices?

Myers. (His mask is way creepier.)

noreply@blogger.com (nomadshan) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 23:25:00 +0000

Yes. This.

The Freakonomics Radio podcast. Two economists on a variety of topics. I know, sounds dull. It's all about human decision making...but more interesting than that sounds, too. (No wonder they called their book Freakonomics. Straight-up econ is a hard sell.)

But Not This.

What I thought was pecan tree sap falling on my scooter? Coworker Dave says it's aphid waste. Yech.

Mayor of Nerdville

Got a Roomba today. Not to be confused with a Woomba.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but I charged up the Roomba at work so I can use it as soon as I get home.

Question of the Day

Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees?