Crazy that it was 64 degrees today. I brought my bike to school and went for a ride outside, first one of 2011. It felt awesome. So awesome. It still blows my mind that I can ride outside in shorts and a tank top in February. Oh, Denver.
Time for lots 'o work. I need to be researching more for my bilateral trade agreement work. I'm also planning some lectures on civil society, democratization, and anti-corruption. Then there's the regular homework for, among other classes, evidence.
But who can do work when it's so nice outside!?
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Humble Pie
I ate it today on my run. No, no, I didn't fall. I just died HARD and ate some humble pie. Wow, you think you're fit and that you can dictate how your body should move and feel, but no. It's good to have runs like today where I just feel horrible and really, truly suffer through the run as if I were a novice and hadn't run a single step in my life. I can't chose to have my body do whatever I wish. I am not as strong as I think, and there's always more to improve upon. It happens to everyone. So, a staggeringly awful run like today gives me great perspective from which to appreciate the good runs even more. I'm already hobbling around and it's only been a few hours.
Another day, another run. Tomorrow will be better.
Another day, another run. Tomorrow will be better.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Little Bee
A quick book review of Little Bee by Chris Cleave.
3/5 stars. Liked it and recommend it.
The book starts with a Nigerian girl in a British detention center. Although not given asylum or refugee status, she's released. She makes her way to the home of the only person she knows, a woman whose own life has left her - albeit in a different sense - also seeking refuge.
Honest. Heartbreaking survival. Real.
Here's the NYTimes review.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
project365
I started a new thing this week. I'm taking a picture a day for a year and calling it "project365." Maybe it would have been nice to start on January 1, but starting on February 13, 2011, seemed like just as good a day as any. I'll be posting all seven photos together once a week. Here is the first installment. February 13 - 19.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Snippet
Things I've thought about or done in the last few days --
Heard Heraldo Munoz speak (U.S. Ambassador to Chile) about inequality in Latin America.
Realized winter is in full force because my leg hair swings in the breeze. Why shave in winter, what with pants and leggings galore?
Had a fantastic hill run that left me breathless and almost too tired to make it back to school.
Sat outside in 72 degree weather.
Had a scrumptious Valentine's Day meal replete with wine, bread, homemade pea pesto, eggplant lasagna, kale, homemade cream puff pastries and - best of all - my favoritest girls, KS and GC. Couldn't have asked for better dates!
Finished reading Hygiene and the Assasin. Not sure I loved this disturbing, morbid tale. Unique, at least. Now I'm reading Little Bee.
Searched 5 grocery stores in Denver for 7-grain mix. To no avail. Date bread will have to wait until I can resume the search. I don't understand, though, because I've made this bread before in Denver ... which means I found the 7-grain mix somewhere. Riddle me this.
Here's heading into the weekend!
Heard Heraldo Munoz speak (U.S. Ambassador to Chile) about inequality in Latin America.
Realized winter is in full force because my leg hair swings in the breeze. Why shave in winter, what with pants and leggings galore?
Had a fantastic hill run that left me breathless and almost too tired to make it back to school.
Sat outside in 72 degree weather.
Had a scrumptious Valentine's Day meal replete with wine, bread, homemade pea pesto, eggplant lasagna, kale, homemade cream puff pastries and - best of all - my favoritest girls, KS and GC. Couldn't have asked for better dates!
Finished reading Hygiene and the Assasin. Not sure I loved this disturbing, morbid tale. Unique, at least. Now I'm reading Little Bee.
Searched 5 grocery stores in Denver for 7-grain mix. To no avail. Date bread will have to wait until I can resume the search. I don't understand, though, because I've made this bread before in Denver ... which means I found the 7-grain mix somewhere. Riddle me this.
Here's heading into the weekend!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Estes Park
Alo, faithful readers!
Yesterday I got out to Estes Park for a hike with a friend. It was 65 degrees in Denver. A bit colder in the mountains, but still really nice. So windy, I was especially glad I picked up my shell instead of just my fleece. We could have used snowshoes, but decided to wing it and just hike in boots. Worked out great, minus a few falls in thigh-high snow, resulting in screams of snow-in-sock shock. We made it out to the lake in the photo above, chatted with some snowshoeing, older men who were super nice, and headed to Mountain Sun in Boulder for Stout and delicious food. Good fun!
Two photos for you all...
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
TBWOTY
We had the first annual sibling-cousin shin dig last weekend. A.k.a. The Best Weekend of the Year. It was so fun! We met in NYC. I got there early so I had a day with Dr. Baby Brother. I cooked him a bunch to have in his freezer for when he was too busy to cook. Don't want him losing weight!
We didn't do a whole lot, but we ate good food, talked and laughed in various locations like the Met, FAO Schwartz, The Strand etc. I soaked it all up and felt happy to have such great family (& significant others). I was pretty exhausted the whole weekend from the busy week before, the red eye flight, and general lack of sleep. Yesterday was rough, coming back to freezing temperatures (literally, it's 2 degrees and we're in the middle of an 8 inch snow storm. no snow day.) I rallied hard with no second coffee, no nap, and a trip to the bike at the gym.
In other news, I went to a Conference for Women in International Trade yesterday. Only so-so. The talk I really wanted to hear was canceled, but there were still some other interesting talks.
I also discovered and bought new music by a South African guy, Vusi Mahlasela. It's beautiful. Have a listen:
River Jordan
We didn't do a whole lot, but we ate good food, talked and laughed in various locations like the Met, FAO Schwartz, The Strand etc. I soaked it all up and felt happy to have such great family (& significant others). I was pretty exhausted the whole weekend from the busy week before, the red eye flight, and general lack of sleep. Yesterday was rough, coming back to freezing temperatures (literally, it's 2 degrees and we're in the middle of an 8 inch snow storm. no snow day.) I rallied hard with no second coffee, no nap, and a trip to the bike at the gym.
In other news, I went to a Conference for Women in International Trade yesterday. Only so-so. The talk I really wanted to hear was canceled, but there were still some other interesting talks.
I also discovered and bought new music by a South African guy, Vusi Mahlasela. It's beautiful. Have a listen:
River Jordan