Rumination Avenue

Favorite Things Vol. IV

Christi — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:42:48 +0000

Gratitude-time! I haven't written one of these posts in a while, it is high time. What are your favorite things that make you happy? Here are some of mine:

My Schwinn

One anniversary - before kids- my husband surprised me with this refurbished, red Schwinn bike. He found it on garbage day in West Campus, Austin. Score! Erik is a bicycle ninja and overhauled this vintage beast into a beauty of a bike. Click Read more..

Puppets, Pint-Sized Philosophers, Coincidence & God

Christi — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 19:48:30 +0000

My 5 year old has always tried to delay bedtime. You know, one more story, one more sip of water-the usual kid stuff. But this last year, she is giving me a real run for my money. Her questions are becoming complex as she deals with death, my brother's, a squirrel's, a fly's. Where do we go when we die? she asks. This, I sidestep, with a generic description of heaven. Will we come back after we die? she asks. I think so, I say. Fighting the urge to say she must be a good girl to come back as something fantastic and not a lower tier being. Last night,... Read more..

Crazy for Scones – Cranberry Oatmeal

Christi — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 17:46:04 +0000

For me, the act of baking can be relaxing, but the clean-up, not so much. So, I have not baked anything recently because the thought of any extra dishes to wash made me cringe. But, I had been craving something sweet, but not too sweet, for breakfast. Dishpan hands aside, I decided on scones a few weekends ago. Scones are really just a glorified biscuit that is best washed down with something hot to drink...coffee, anyone?

Silly Austin, Texas is for Traffic

Christi — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 19:39:08 +0000

I tend to say, I don't have enough time to x,y, z and BUT, I had time to watch this Sh*t Austinites Say video. So true, so true. Check it out for giggles: httpv://youtu.be/Sel1qIWg5w0 If any of you experienced the atrocious traffic in Austin yesterday, my heart goes out to you. I spent 1.5 hours creeping. Gah! Why can't we have good public transportation? Oh yeah, because this is Texas and it is not a priority. Texas makes the list in top 10 worst traffic cities TWICE. Yeehaw! Btw, this is the second time this month that I've used yeehaw. Not sure what possessed me to. The first ti... Read more..

Book Review: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

Christi — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 19:52:51 +0000

I am probably the last person in the United States who has not watched The Office. Sure, I've seen it in passing on syndication, but since I didn't watch the series sequentially, I often feel lost in terms of plot and subplot and haven't made the effort to work my way backwards. What I do catch is nuanced and quietly funny. Some of the dialogue is so true, so experiential that I know the writers are a talented bunch. That is why I chose to cheat on my homework and read Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me by Mindy Kaling, a writer and st... Read more..

Death and Disconnect

Christi — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 04:14:22 +0000

How's that for a morose title? Today was an odd day. I've been hopped up on Sudafed for the last few days and feeling like my head is flying over me like a balloon. Out of body and disconnected. School was so busy that I hardly had time to think. Ha. But on my way home, I saw something that made me ill at ease. While riding on the UT shuttle to my parked car, I looked up to see police cars, a fire truck and crime scene tape. Seeing as this was right down the street from the downtown public library, I didn't really think anything of it. In fact, downtown Austin has become anesthetized to... Read more..

First Draft

Christi — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 03:18:28 +0000

Crumple: 1- To crush together or press into wrinkles; rumple 2- To cause to collapse

So much more satisfying than Backspace or Delete.

Let the Muppets Sing!

Christi — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:25:20 +0000

Jim Henson's The Muppets have always held a special place in my heart. Growing up, I didn't watch much TV, we didn't even own one until I was 8. But, when I would visit my extended family in the US, I would geek out to Sesame Street and the The Muppet Show in between bowlfuls of Cheerios. My favorite muppet was Kermit the Frog and I hated Ms. Piggy for making life so difficult on him! Read more..

Zen and the Art of DIY

Christi — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:29:55 +0000

Do you DIY? Do it Yourself has always existed, but has been rebranded to entice Generations X and Y to engage in producing something themselves rather than purchasing products. Practically every magazine on the newsstand expounds the virtues of digging into an interest and independently performing the tasks associated. Blogs, books and online videos and television shows have exploded onto the market with step by step instructions and a ready made community for those would be DIYers. Read more..

5 DisLikes Vol. VI

Christi — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 03:44:08 +0000

Patchouli Bomb

This has happened to me several times. I turned a doorknob right after someone who had just doused with patchouli. Holy shit! I could not rid myself of the smell for the rest of day. Word to the wise, beware of lethal nature of this hippie essence.