Category Archives: muttering

All You Need is Love (and a job and a place to live)

Posted on May 23, 2011 | 3 Comments

oh, my practical middle-class heart… These are favors  from my cousin Molly’s fabulous Chicago wedding. Due partly to my own damn fault and partly to outside factors I managed to squeeze a whole year’s worth of events into the past month. On Easter weekend we said goodbye to a great man, my step grandfather Johs Clausen. Then I returned to Beverly to say a less permanent goodbye to all my North Shore friends and colleagues in a whirlwind of weepy story times, tasty dinners, and a lovely party hosted by my dear friend Pat Danielson overlooking Beverly Harbor. Then to Chicago to toast Molly and Jeff and sample local cheese and beer at the Haymarket Brewery. We squeezed in an architectural boat tour on the Chicago river. Then back to Beverly to pack the truck. Caper and I moved on Nick’s birthday into Nick’s home.  Surprise!  Then I headed right back to Massachusetts for my college reunion with awesome Park House friends. Then back to NYC,  to a conference for Museum Educators. And then I got the “you are finally on vacation” flu.  And now I’m finally settled enough to jot this down for my few faithful readers. More about the job once I’ve started and much more about Astoria, my new neighborhood, but I am pleased to have carried off a number of challenging life changes in a short period of time and I’m sorry I’ve been off the grid here for a while, hope to catch up with you all soon.

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Posted in muttering

More coping mechanisms, as the snow swirls

Posted on March 24, 2011 | 2 Comments

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Posted in muttering, photography

It is melting.

Posted on February 13, 2011 | 1 Comment

The only way out of the winter is through February. (And the only way to get to work is by walking in the road.)

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Posted in muttering, photography

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Happy New Year! No Resolutions.

Posted on January 3, 2011 | 4 Comments

I gave up daily journal keeping three or so years ago because I felt it was tying me to particular mental states and perceived problems. Instead, I wanted to be able to let go of all the score keeping or obsessing and move with the moment. Yesterday I decided I wanted to keep some kind of record of those moments: the weather, where and what I ate, the books and movies I have been reading- not for the public, but for me. Then of course I came across this discussion of keeping a logbook instead of journal. That’s the ticket. Facts. And staying in the present.

Hope you all had a lovely holiday and this year will bring much joy.

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XMAS Travels in Time

Posted on December 15, 2010 | 3 Comments

This is the South Fourth Bar in Williamsburgh Brooklyn, right across the street from Mose, Karl, and Christine’s old apartment on Berry Street. You remember the horrifying anti-smoking mural? That building.

Nearly ten years later, the neighborhood is different- and we sure are different- all three of my hosts are newlywed. Mose is in Texas, Karl in Winnipeg, Christine is still in Brooklyn and expecting her first child.

I like this growing up although I do wish my friends were not quite so widely dispersed. Especially as they start families – I fantasize of a Sesame Street city where we all live and look after each other together. Hearing about my friend Claire’s son over the phone (in Chicago), I wish I could be a more regular kind of auntie, visiting on Sundays. Ah well. Christmas Greetings to all my old friends and their new loved ones!

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Posted in muttering, photography

Seasons and Cycles

Posted on December 6, 2010 | 15 Comments

December raises my creative energy- making cards and gifts, cleaning and organizing, and already making resolutions for the new year. Coming off the noveling in November I see great expanses of time and have lots of ideas for how to spend it.
Is it too early for resolutions?

In rereading my resolutions from last December, I find I want the same things: keep writing and work towards publishing, keep up with museum club in a more dedicated way, and one thing I didn’t do at all this year- make short films.
But of course, apart from all these creative resolutions I had a completely wonderful, educational and perfect year. Travel, cycling, romance, time with friends and family, all bedrock things that I did not resolve but that arrived as gifts throughout the year. Do the resolutions help? Or do they just fill up time that otherwise could be put to more wonderful use?

So it is cookie contest time: If you have read to the end of this meandering entry please comment below and I will send you some cookies with your New Year’s card.

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Posted in arts and crafts, cooking, muttering

Emily’s Guide to Romantic Living: Off to Kansas!

Posted on November 4, 2010 | 1 Comment

Back Tuesday, hopefully 10K words richer, novel-wise.

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Posted in muttering, novel

Halloween Cupcake Factory

Posted on October 29, 2010 | 2 Comments

What I thought while I made cupcakes, drank a glass of wine, and chatted on the phone: If I had children, I wouldn’t have time to do any of this! How do you do it, mamas?

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Posted in cooking, muttering

Minor Milestones

Posted on October 4, 2010 | Leave a comment

To keep track of the distance I’ve traveled recently: This is my four hundredth post on this blog, and this week two years ago I started my job here on the north shore of Boston.

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Packing Books

Posted on August 13, 2010 | 1 Comment


books of my extended childhood

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Posted in muttering