blistermoth

Finding the silver lining after last night's Cubs loss

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:24:04 GMT

Rockford derailment

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 17:46:18 GMT

Rockford Register-Star coverage here.

If anyone knows any info that can help please email tbona@rrstar.com

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 23:27:26 GMT

My husband, Thomas, did an awesome job on this story about the "boy businessman." Rockford represent! http://tinyurl.com/cx6qao

Writer's Block: And the Oscar Goes To

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 15:00:37 GMT

What movie, whether it was nominated by the Academy or not, gets your personal vote for Best Picture of 2008?

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I think Slumdog was my favorite of last year's films. But the Academy really screwed up IMHO. Films that should have been nominated for Best Picture that weren't: Dark Knight, Wall-E, In Bruges.

And this video should convince you that Benjamin Button isn't that great of a film. Just a film with some good performances. Not anything worth 13 nominations.

And if Tomei wins tonight and Winslet doesn't = Tomei - 2 Oscars, Winslet - 0 Oscars.

But I'll still watch tonight, if only for the dresses and to see how Jackman does as host.

Inauguration

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:03:58 GMT

I'm starting to get chills.

Made to be God's Joy?

Sat, 27 Dec 2008 12:39:38 GMT

Good wisdom from the Church of the Saviour blog, Inward/Outward:

"I want to believe in the possibilities of joy. I want to believe, even in the dark and dread of this particular winter, that joy is abundantly accessible, and not only if I find the right places to dig for it (drill, baby, drill!), but that we are actually created to BE it. That joy is our primary identity.

Well, anyone with half an eye open can see that the stuff we call “reality” is a bit darker, a bit gloomier than what we usually think of as joy. That we are made to bask in God’s joy—to BE God’s joy—can be difficult to believe. But let’s say we did begin to believe it, even in spurts, and then maybe for a couple of minutes on several mornings in a row for starters, what would happen then? What would it require of us? What would it give to us? Would anxious striving cease? Would we see/act/listen differently? Would our inner fists begin to unfold like the petals of a long-dreamed-of flower into something of rare beauty? Would we be so intrigued by one another’s quirks and oddities that we’d yearn to know, really know, each other and the very things that used to set our teeth on edge?"

I think I might go outside and watch the sunrise on this unseasonably warm morning.

Writer's Block: Eat, Drink, Be Merry

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 23:47:00 GMT

Thanksgiving is almost here in the U.S., heralding the start of the holiday season and the first of many meals where you might be confronted with a traditional dish that you happen to find disgusting. What holiday food do you hate to see on the table?

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Canned cranberry sauce is a travesty. If I make can the recipe on the back, so can you.

I also don't understand putting marshmallows on sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes are just fine with some butter and brown sugar.

I also could live without the green bean casserole. Overcooked green beans with deep fried onions. Pass.

I'm ok

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 23:30:59 GMT

Nearly every day I hear of someone close to us who has been effected by this economy. Today I heard that someone who has been very helpful to me lost her job on Friday.

I'm not sure what the right response is in these times. I *think* it might be a call to not whine as much and to help take care of those who are hurting. And to listen to music that keeps my head straight.

Bruce Cockburn's "Fascist Architecture" is a song I thought of today:

Bloody nose and burning eyes
Raised in laughter to the skies
I've been in trouble but I'm ok
Been through the wringer but I'm ok
Walls are falling and I'm ok
Under the mercy and I'm ok

Let's be merciful to each other.

Quote of the Day

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 13:23:29 GMT

From Mary Rose O'Reilly's "The Love of Impermanent Things: A Threshold Ecology"

"I wish that in times of crisis the president would institute a national day of silence and discernment, a news fast, a darkening of the nation's TVs. What might come of that? What new voices might be heard?" (p. 176)

Trying to stay awake until Palin's SNL appearance.....

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 03:03:58 GMT

Newsworthy things of recent note

I've inherited Thomas' old laptop so now I have my own computer again. Can't wait until he transfers files so I can delete the Mastodon from ITunes.

We're going to Tucson Halloween weekend for a friend's ordination. Suggestions for interesting stuff to do in Tucson would be welcomed and appreciated.

I'm contemplating starting a second book group (maybe focusing on Classic mysteries) at work so I'm trying to work my way into the mystery genre. I've started listening to Tana French's Into the Woods which is quite good so far.

For non-book group related reading/listening...I finished The Lace Reader which I enjoyed thoroughly with the caveat that I found the ending a tad confusing. I'm slowly plodding through Kathleen Norris' Acedia and Me which is as well-written as Norris' other books but I think is trying to do too much in one volume.

cubs

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 10:56:00 GMT

I'm a jumble of emotions right now. But mostly angry.

I seriously think the Cubs just gave up after the Loney grand slam. The dugout was dead for all 3 games, someone should have showed some leadership and tried to rally the team.

I've been a Cubs fan since 1984 and this is the one that hurts the most probably because it was the first Cubs postseason since 1989 where I was able to see every pitch. 1984 was a heartbreaker too but my mom and I were fortunate enough to go see Game 1 where the Cubs whooped on the Padres.

Here are a couple of things that could ease the heartbreak over the long winter:

I want Soriano gone NOW. I'm tired of the hop, I'm tired of the long stints on the DL and I'm tired of paying him $14 million a year to suck in the postseason. (I also wouldn't be sad to see Aramis ubsgo...he's a talented player but I don't think he cares half the time)

Mark Cuban needs to be allowed to buy the team. I don't even care right now if he wants to tear down Wrigley Field and move the team to Schaumburg. After 100 years of suckitude something drastic needs to be done.

I'm watching the game by myself.

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 02:02:29 GMT

Feel free to post your thoughts here.

A Quiet Evening By Myself

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 23:59:01 GMT

Thomas is off to Indiana for the weekend, I got an eggplant roasting in the oven for eggplant dip and Bruce Cockborn playing. What's up with you all?

Paul Newman dead at 83

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 14:29:44 GMT

link.

My mother's favorite actor now gone.

Someday We'll Go All The Way

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 23:01:47 GMT

Cubs

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 11:41:04 GMT

For the heck of it, I clicked on the link for tickets to tonight's Cubs-Astros game in Milwaukee. There were two AWESOME seats....for $140 a ticket.

I love my Cubbies but I'll think I'll pass.

Besides we're going to see them on Friday vs. St. Louis. :)

Happy Meme

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:51:49 GMT

10 Things That Make Me Happy

1) bona

2) Cathleen Falsani's new book Sin Boldly: A Field Guide to Grace

3) String cheese

4) Jhumpa Lahiri's writing

5) Having a clean desk at work

6) Quiet early mornings

7) Fall clothes

8) Baseball pennant races

9) Knowing I am LOVED.

10) Being barefoot.

Music recommendation!

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 20:48:53 GMT

The Sleeping World....the best band you've haven't heard of yet...except if you regularly listen to WXPN where they've been the "Local Band of the Day".

If you're within a few hundred miles of Lancaster, PA...they're having their CD release party TONIGHT at the Lizard Lounge.

Details and the MUSIC! can be found here

Departures

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:55:57 GMT

bona and I had the privilege of spending a good part of the weekend with costello1177 who is leaving Chicago in search of adventures in Madrid.

I just wanted to say I will miss her muchly.

Another weblog & vacay

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 13:27:48 GMT

I've finally gone and started a library-related weblog Old Library Books, a tribute to some of the many books I'm weeding from the collection.

In other news, we've been back a couple weeks from a ballpark vacation which bona describes in some detail here. We saw 6 ballgames in five parks (Comerica in Detroit, PNC in Pittsburgh, Camden in Baltimore, Great American in Cincinnati and Nationals Park in DC.

We had a great time on our trip, despite getting rained in during 5 of the 6 games. I think my favorite park we saw was PNC (and that was the game that was completely rained out!), too bad the Pirates play there :) We had pretty good seats for all the games. If you're looking for a pretty good but not horribly expensive seats, I'd recommend the upper deck behind home plate, you get a nice view of the park at a good discount.

We had only planned on seeing 5 games but decided to add a second game in Baltimore as it wasn't supposed to rain and there were lots of good seats available. (Orioles vs. Royals what do you expect) We treated ourselves to 7th row behind the visitors dugout seats, not cheap but available at the box office 7 hours before gametime. All in all, a good trip.

Ladies and Gentlemen

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:01:06 GMT

AKA deb live blogs Wimbledon:

Naomi Cavaday (currently ranked 197) is in a 1st set tiebreak with Venus Williams.

Upset anyone?

edit: venus wins the first set.

sweep!

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:50:54 GMT

Tim Russert dead at 58

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:43:39 GMT

of a heart attack.

A beautiful morning

Sat, 17 May 2008 14:06:44 GMT

I got walked to our local farmer's market. It's just under a mile away. I got some oatmeal and raisin cookies, wheat bread, snap peas and asparagus. I think this needs to be a regular part of my Saturday morning this summer.

Tonight we go for fondue to celebrate our first anniversary, which is Monday.

Help Yourself, Help Others

Wed, 14 May 2008 11:48:52 GMT

Bone Marrow Donor Registration is FREE until the 19th of May. And the registration doesn't hurt at all. Would you want a chance to save someone from death?

Donating bone marrow if you are a compatible donor for a person with lynphoma or other cancers can give them their best chance at survival.

The national bone marrow registry usually charges $50 to cover the typing of your tissue. You can register on line and they will send you a tissue typing sample kit to use at home. No blood draw or lab visit required. You just swab some of your cheek cells onto a special container and send it in. Then they test your DNA to see what your HLA profile is. That's biochemical information that is used to work out transplant compatibility. It's like blood type but a bit more complicated and involved.

You can go here to register: http://www.marrow.org/

It's free until the 19th. Free. Free. FREE.

This is very important, especially if you are non white or are of mixed ancestry. Those people and their HLA types are not currently well represented in the registry. Some people with cancer are dying for lack of a compatible donor.

text swiped from wordweaverlynn