tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248726632259563319Tue, 21 Feb 2012 01:05:04 +0000cookinggrumblingsfridaynprreadingtechnologybluemaisieobservationsmoviesoccasionspartingsblissobjectsmusiceventsartweekendneighborhoodfashioncritterscraftsemilyhomeyearningtravelrunningyumquoteworthylovelinessholidaysbakingisabelfamilyseasonspoetrydesignself-improvementbloggingwritingbostonmusingsworkdancebpsfriendshttp://www.whatmaisieknows.com/noreply@blogger.com (Mari Nakamura)Blogger420125whatmaisieknowshttp://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248726632259563319.post-7348522362553411919Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:59:00 +00002012-02-20T20:05:04.458-05:00maisieseasonspresidents' day Maisie's recommendation for how to spend a sunny winter Monday holiday. I wish you could feel the fur on her round, sun-warmed head. So soft and so cozy.http://www.whatmaisieknows.com/2012/02/sun-worshipper.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mari Nakamura)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248726632259563319.post-8733167223551827064Wed, 15 Feb 2012 05:31:00 +00002012-02-15T00:31:44.857-05:00familyoccasionsbirthday boy Wishing you the happiest of birthdays, Aidan the Boy! (photo by Sachi)http://www.whatmaisieknows.com/2012/02/five.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mari Nakamura)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248726632259563319.post-7722407493431227311Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:32:00 +00002012-02-09T21:56:12.816-05:00observationsflashbacks to childhood television The March issue of MSL arrived this week. This is the cover. I find this photo totally disorienting. What's going on with the the gargantuan plants and oversized pillars?* Martha looks lilliputian. I think the effect is especially jarring because MSL covers are usually artfully arranged, gracefully proportioned glimpses of a perfect world. My first thought: http://www.whatmaisieknows.com/2012/02/martha-to-meet-sleestak.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mari Nakamura)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248726632259563319.post-8001133460746230349Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:30:00 +00002012-02-09T21:39:23.909-05:00observationscrittersthe kindness of strangers Spotted this sign near work. I was impressed that its creator not only took in the lost kitty, snapped a picture, and made the sign (complete with the tear-off tabs), but even covered it in plastic. Which, as you can see from the raindrops in the photo, was a smart move.http://www.whatmaisieknows.com/2012/02/found.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mari Nakamura)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248726632259563319.post-1713665688416183523Wed, 01 Feb 2012 04:07:00 +00002012-01-31T23:08:34.309-05:00quoteworthyquotations featured this month on what maisie knows “I want to appreciate the health, happiness, and home-life, and the people and pets, that I am so lucky to have. I want to be more generous and helpful, because I haven't felt like I've had much to offer anybody lately. I want to be a better friend and listen more when people are talking. I want my shoulders to relax because they're just http://www.whatmaisieknows.com/2012/01/well-stated-in-january.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mari Nakamura)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248726632259563319.post-8749784906531800819Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:34:00 +00002012-01-31T22:34:10.589-05:00eventsmy own phlebotomy experience You may recall that I mentioned having come up as a potential match for someone who needs a bone marrow transplant. Last week, I had blood drawn for further testing to determine how close a match I might be (and to verify that I don't have any blood-borne infectious diseases). I lucked out and ended up with a terrific phlebotomist. After pronouncing that my veins http://www.whatmaisieknows.com/2012/01/matched-pair.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mari Nakamura)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248726632259563319.post-2369327865077040333Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:47:00 +00002012-01-26T21:47:40.517-05:00grumblingsisabela tale of two temporary invalids We, meaning Isabel and I (Maisie has been happy, healthy, and hungry as ever, thank heavens), have been under the weather these past few days. Right after I noted that Izzy's been doing great lately, her appetite dropped off and she had a few episodes of vomiting. The explanation, discovered incidentally on last week's routine labs, turned out to be another http://www.whatmaisieknows.com/2012/01/recovery.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mari Nakamura)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248726632259563319.post-8263841449439820282Sat, 21 Jan 2012 01:10:00 +00002012-01-20T20:12:13.985-05:00objectsseasonsperfect snow "A light snow last night, / and now the earth falls open to a fresh page." - Billy Collins, from "Ornithography" Happy Friday! We had a beautiful winter day today. Last night about two inches of snow fell, but the morning dawned crisp and sunny. The snow was powdery and crunchy under foot, and as my boss astutely observed, there was just enough to be pretty without interfering http://www.whatmaisieknows.com/2012/01/just-enough.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mari Nakamura)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248726632259563319.post-5113079643088360913Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:06:00 +00002012-01-19T22:36:30.532-05:00isabelisabel meets vet wrap Tonight Isabel the Princess Kitty went in to the veterinary hospital for some follow-up labs. She's been doing very well for the past couple months, thank goodness, but was sick in late October with a quite severe kidney infection. We were lucky enough to get one of the best vet techs today. When Izzy had some oozing from the blood draw site, rather than subject her to http://www.whatmaisieknows.com/2012/01/stymied.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mari Nakamura)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248726632259563319.post-3405996055105740809Thu, 19 Jan 2012 02:03:00 +00002012-01-18T21:04:50.694-05:00maisieobjectsyumlovelinesshomewelcome, pretty lamp I'd had my eye on the Gemma lamp for ages now. Part of her allure for me, I've realized, is her name. What more perfect moniker than Gemma for an old-fashioned, wasp-waisted lady such as she? Those product naming people are wily indeed. When Gemma went on sale last week "for a limited time," I couldn't help but snap her up. She was waiting for me in the front foyer when I http://www.whatmaisieknows.com/2012/01/and-there-was-light.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mari Nakamura)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248726632259563319.post-6383577228702374973Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:22:00 +00002012-01-16T18:37:33.861-05:00maisieseasonsblissyumisabelwintry mornings Recently I discovered Harney & Sons' SoHo tea. The distinctive lilac and black tin first caught my eye - the tea buying analogue of judging a book by its cover, I suppose - but it was upon reading "notes of chocolate and coconut" that I was sold. Happily, the book lives up to its cover. The tea is delicate and light, suited to porcelain cups, quiet conversation, Chopin http://www.whatmaisieknows.com/2012/01/solace-of-tea.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mari Nakamura)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248726632259563319.post-5296177520136747769Sat, 14 Jan 2012 02:44:00 +00002012-01-14T18:20:27.658-05:00musingsdancewritingbrief reflections on ballet Happy Friday! The idea for this piece started floating around in my head last fall. One night in late October, my ballet teacher announced that the school was seeking perspectives from adult students to feature in a blog post. That provided the push I needed to finally put my thoughts down on paper. (The web team wanted only excerpts, so just the last paragraph endedhttp://www.whatmaisieknows.com/2012/01/restorative.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mari Nakamura)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248726632259563319.post-6185499737613261041Wed, 11 Jan 2012 02:10:00 +00002012-01-31T23:05:28.571-05:00crittersa much-loved hamster Possibly the cutest pet adoption update we've received to date: Hi Berry, Here is a picture of Bounce and me. Bounce is now 10 months old. Bounce doesn't bite. She is a very good hamster. My mom calls her Hammy. Daddy calls her "the mouse" and won't hold her. He says, "He will bite me" - he doesn't even know Bounce is a girl! Bounce likes to hide in the sofa http://www.whatmaisieknows.com/2012/01/bounce.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mari Nakamura)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248726632259563319.post-9096184551167798472Fri, 06 Jan 2012 03:28:00 +00002012-01-10T21:03:59.082-05:00technologygrumblingson hubris and plumbing I'd gone for a run after work and had already fed Maisie, eaten dinner, and showered by 7 o'clock. I had a blog post already planned (not this one) and was congratulating myself on being on track to have a productive evening and early bedtime.* And then, unexpectedly (okay, I realize this never happens expectedly), the toilet backed up.** Bad: I realized a toilet plunger http://www.whatmaisieknows.com/2012/01/evening-in-life-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mari Nakamura)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248726632259563319.post-4024687170134233816Wed, 04 Jan 2012 03:03:00 +00002012-01-10T21:10:45.821-05:00artobjectsoccasionslovelinessPretty new calendars for the new year. For work, I enjoyed the elegant calendar by Satsuma Press so much last year that I chose the 2012 calendar by the same artist. For home, this delicate creation from Moontree Press and Studio Carta. They offer matching blank books, too. So far I've managed to resist.http://www.whatmaisieknows.com/2012/01/2012-calendars.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mari Nakamura)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248726632259563319.post-5703844365279023742Mon, 02 Jan 2012 03:08:00 +00002012-01-10T21:11:13.452-05:00bakingfamilyoccasionsisabelreadingwritingrunning The blog, that is. Not the wooden dove. Happy New Year, dear friends! If you're reading this, I know it means you're remarkably loyal because you've not given up on what maisie knows despite its long hibernation. Thank you. To all of you who've gently said, "I miss reading the blog" or "You must be busy lately," you've made me feel so pleased to realize you enjoy and missed my natterings herehttp://www.whatmaisieknows.com/2012/01/its-alive.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mari Nakamura)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248726632259563319.post-7000735141888585207Wed, 14 Sep 2011 00:42:00 +00002011-09-13T20:47:47.167-04:00nproccasions"ten years in" I didn't tune in to much of the media coverage of the 9/11 tenth anniversary, feeling, as my friend, Eileen, said, that I didn't really want to be further reminded. I don't think any of us - even those like me, who were nowhere near the East Coast and knew no one who died - can forget that day or the ways in which our country has since changed. But while walking home today, I http://www.whatmaisieknows.com/2011/09/i-didnt-tune-in-to-much-of-media.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mari Nakamura)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248726632259563319.post-2428733532666660583Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:11:00 +00002011-08-21T20:41:34.568-04:00bakingyumreadingthe power of suggestion "We finished the oysters and moved on to an enormous salad. It had every expensive green known to mankind, nuts, berries, and a delicious dressing made with champagne vinegar and olive oil that Matthew whisked together at the table . . . . The next course was a stew, with chunks of meat in a fragrant sauce. My first bite told me it was veal, fixed with apples and a bit http://www.whatmaisieknows.com/2011/08/few-crumbly-biscuits.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mari Nakamura)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248726632259563319.post-770177748822965782Sun, 21 Aug 2011 00:33:00 +00002011-08-21T20:10:17.390-04:00maisieblissisabelhomevacation I am taking next week off, which makes today the first day of vacation, one of the very best kinds of days there is. I love how the beginning of a vacation is simultaneously relaxed and yet filled with possibility. I'm simply staying here in Boston, but homebody that I am, staycations (what an annoying but efficient word) are one of my favorite kinds of vacations. I have a couple of http://www.whatmaisieknows.com/2011/08/at-leisure.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mari Nakamura)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248726632259563319.post-1718107387733290991Fri, 19 Aug 2011 00:34:00 +00002011-08-18T21:39:43.606-04:00self-improvementworkmusingsthe grant score Back in February, I submitted a grant application after pouring months of thought, effort, and time into it. This was a reflection not of my stupendous work ethic but rather the type of grant, which requires intense work on the part of anyone who prepares one. Since then, I've been waiting and waiting and waiting for the score from the grant reviewers. Today I found out what it http://www.whatmaisieknows.com/2011/08/bummer.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mari Nakamura)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248726632259563319.post-1720032141471417471Wed, 17 Aug 2011 00:29:00 +00002011-08-20T21:05:13.780-04:00familyoccasionsfirst day of preschool Aidan the Boy attended preschool today for the first time ever! We've been excited about his starting because he hasn't had regular opportunities to socialize with kids his own age. Because he has a speech delay (specifically, in his ability to articulate certain sounds), we've also figured preschool would provide good opportunities to talk with people outside the familyhttp://www.whatmaisieknows.com/2011/08/aidan-school-boy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mari Nakamura)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248726632259563319.post-2447918067471776644Sun, 17 Jul 2011 23:36:00 +00002011-07-17T20:00:35.930-04:00occasionsisabelhappy birthday, isabel!I've begun another of my two-week blocks of patient care, so barring a miraculous lack of childhood infections (wouldn't that be great!), I'm afraid there'll be more blog silence over the next several days. I'll be back at the end of the month.I did want to stop in and mention that yesterday was Isabel the Princess Kitty's twelfth birthday! And happily, she's feeling much http://www.whatmaisieknows.com/2011/07/twelve.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mari Nakamura)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248726632259563319.post-1163522217147316970Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:09:00 +00002011-07-04T20:55:40.465-04:00fashionfamilybostonyumfaneuil hallWhenever my family comes to Boston, we include Faneuil Hall in our itinerary of places to visit. Yes, it's quintessentially touristy and kitschy, but eating at Quincy Market and browsing the shops is just fun. I never go there on my own, which is probably why visiting always feels a bit festive.With its infinite variety of food and communal seating, Quincy Market feels like a http://www.whatmaisieknows.com/2011/07/june-visit-part-2.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mari Nakamura)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248726632259563319.post-7372586990355151980Sun, 03 Jul 2011 19:08:00 +00002011-07-04T20:58:13.793-04:00artfamilyisabelchihuly exhibit, mfaIt has been too long, I know. Two reasons explain my long absence. The first, admittedly lame one is that a couple weeks ago, on a whim, I watched an episode of Glee via streaming Netflix and was utterly hooked. My useful activity ground nearly to a halt as a I raced through season 1 and the available episodes from season 2. Technology is wonderful, but for those of us with http://www.whatmaisieknows.com/2011/07/june-visit-part-1.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mari Nakamura)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248726632259563319.post-5577430353893221918Tue, 14 Jun 2011 00:50:00 +00002011-06-13T20:55:52.600-04:00emilycrittersemily's new family Hello! My mom and dad visited for a week and departed on Friday. Now it's kind of quiet and lonely around here, plus today was back to work for me. We had a great week, gallivanting around Boston, day tripping to Newport, and eating our way through new and old favorite restaurants. I have lots of photos to share, but first, some fantastic news: Emily got adopted! The lovelyhttp://www.whatmaisieknows.com/2011/06/fantastic-news.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mari)2