an exchange on facebook:

Jodie wonders if it's shallow that she only listens to NPR to chat up nerds...


Bethany 

I download the podcasts of wait wait don't tell me and listen to them while doing sudoko puzzles and drinking white wine. I obviously subconsciously REALLY miss connecticut...

Jodie  

Wow Bethany...do you do this while wearing cable-knit sweaters & boating shoes? Cuz WOW is that W.A.S.P.Y.

Bethany

dude, I know. I stop just short of the nautical footwear, but I am fully aware of the cultural implications of my actions...

Jodie 

Hey, you just keepin' it real, yo.

Bethany 

word.

.

this is for my mother

.
.
I am not dead.
.
.

 

mysterious letters:

"We intend to write to everyone in the world..

In April 2009, we sent a personal, handwritten letter to each of the 467 households in the small Irish village of Cushendall. We hoped these unsolicited letters would prompt neighbourly discussion, spreading across the town, promoting community curiosity.

In November 2009, we sent another bundle of letters, this time 620, to each home in Polish Hill, Pittsburgh, USA.

The art work consists solely of the discussion between the recipients about what on Earth these letters are, who sent them and why, etc.

Lenka Clayton & Michael Crowe"


ummm, this is really really awesome.

they talk about anything and everything in their letters.
the weather.
the fact that they are in desperate need of a haircut.
their flu-like symtoms.

it's brilliant.

good on them.
bring back the lost art form of the handwritten letter.
prompt discussions amongst neighbours who may not have even spoken to eachother the entire time they have lived near by.
provide a catalyst to bring communities close together again.


go on!
change the world!

[just don't tell me how much all this postage is costing...]


[via]

guys, it's a hedgehog family.

in scarves, hats and mittens.

me = in love.

.

 

 word.
.

it's back.

the obsession.

all it took was the waitrose by my new office to stock them.

yes, that's right.

I'm back on sweet chili rice cakes.

and it's so so good.
.

oh the pain!

the sun can be a harsh mistress.
and apparently spf 25 just wasn't enough to keep her at bay this weekend.

haven't been sunburnt in two years (and never in england before). forgot just how not fun it is.

and how much I resemble a lobster when burnt.



but the weather was still wonderful. and lying out in the people covered clissold park, under a tree, with friends, eating ice cream was just how a sunday ought to be spent.

just with some spf 100 added in....

also polka dots.

just so you know.

[via]

been getting rhubarb in our organic fruit pick-ups.
not gonna lie, we were quite excited about it.
we lurve rhubarb.

this recipe was in the newsletter than came with pick-up with rhubarb numero uno.

de-freakin-licious.

do yourself a favor and go bake it.
now.

Rhubarb Cake

Ingredients:
* 500g rhubarb chopped into approx 5cm pieces
* 60g butter (softened)
* 1 tsp vanilla
* 1 3/4 cups brown sugar
* 2 eggs
* 300g sour cream
* 2 cups plain flour
* 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) sift flour and bi-carb together
* 1tsp cinnamon

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 180 degrees C.

2. Beat together the butter, vanilla, sugar and eggs. Add the sour cream then stir in sifted flour together with the bicarbonate of soda and cinnamon. Then add the chunks of rhubarb.

3. Spread the mixture into a greased pan with extra sugar and cinnamon on top.

4. Bake for 1 hour (if your oven is fan assisted) or longer in conventional. Test with a fork to see if cake is cooked. Leave in the tin for 5 minutes before removing.

5. Serve warm or cold. Great with ice cream!

some morning commute observations

1. thank goodness for bendy buses. ideal for when you know your oyster is tapped and you just don't have the energy (or money) to walk down the street to the shop to top it up at 7:30 in the morning.

2. saw a woman painting her fingernails on the bus this morning. bold.

3. tookanother stab at it. still can't read a book on a moving vehicle. shame.

4. watching people walk by on the sidewalk from the window of the bus completely stopped due to excessive (in my opinion) construction works at Angel, I have come to the realization that the ornate strappy sandals I thought I found utterly ridiculous, I actually rather like. who knew.

5. also, I covet anything anybody is wearing/holding that has polka dots on it.


some mid-day observations

1. I forgot just how evil new versions of autocad are. non-compatible, not at all user friendly, especially if you are used to another version. bunch of bastards, those people at autodesk.

2. also forgot just how quickly the time goes when you are actually working on something you like (or like well enough) instead of doing everything in your power to get absolutely no work done at all. it's kinda nice.

3. is there anything better than the post-lunch cup of tea? I think not.

4. I have had "Walking on Sunshine" (the glee version, for those who are curious) stuck in my head all day. the weather is finally starting to comply.

5. church bells are the bestest.

your daily dose of hedgehog.

.

damn straight.
.

it's a velveteen rabbit kind of day.

[via]

alright england. 

get your act together and form a government. 

you're killing my exchange rate.

 

[via]

I am in a dorky mood today.

I am also in a "let's see how much work I can not do" mood today.

thus, today's time-waster:

http://diaryofnumbers.blogspot.com/

algebraic and physics equations used to solve arbitrary life problems?

yes please!

[me=dork]

.

.

[also, thank god blogger's spellcheck is back]

.

.

I want this necklace in the worst way.

[via]

 

 nesting teacups.

NESTING!

[via]

oh yeah.

and we set a date for the wedding.

no big deal.

just something we did.

you know what?

I could really go for a cupcake right about now...

this is my ideal bedside table.

I want it.

badly.

 "7. There are approximately 198 calories in a pint of Guinness. Less than a pint of orange juice."

like I needed any more reasons...

a scarf with pockets???


 


 this, my friend, is what heaven is like.

thoughts on weather.

as mentioned in the last post, I left an oddly sunny and warm london for an unusually drizzly and slightly chilly dc/east coast.

but wait!
there's more!

wednesday morning woke up to 3 inches on snow on the ground in northern nh.

sunday in boston?
88 freakin' degrees (fahrenheit)

talk about your opposite ends of the spectrum.

got use out of both the heavy sweater and the sleeveless sundress I packed (on a whim).

ahhh, new england.
your weather pendulum swings never fail to amuse me.