and so I begin a life in a world without Kurt Vonnegut

This post is from a flickr project called 365days.

"So the America I loved still exists, if not in the White House or the Supreme Court or the Senate or the House of Representatives or the media. The America I love still exists at the front desks of our public libraries."
http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/i_love_you_madame_librarian/

I am a librarian. While that doesn't necessarily make me a reader - I am. I love a good book - I can even love so-so books if they entertain me. Certainly, I have favorite authors and favorite books. Certainly, I try to pass books off to others as things they must have in their lives.

This morning, after dropping of my son at school, I heard the news on NPR that Kurt Vonnegut died of complications due to a fall from a few weeks ago. I have not read everything he's written (a copious list); I do not own a copy of every title. But I am an admirer of Kurt Vonnegut: his works and his opinions. His books, essays, plays, etc. will live on but there won't be a new one and I won't get to hear his live commentary anymore.

I've never had to live in a world without Kurt Vonnegut before.

live and love

The word "love" gets tossed around a lot these days. People "love" tv shows. They "love" their new Prada bag. They "love" their coffee. They "love" that new comedian...what's his name??? And I do it, too. I "love" jujubes and the garlic tofu dish at that Chinese place on campus. I "love" my soft green bedspread and I "love" when a book I'm reading surprises me and make me say, "(gasp), No!" I "love" my Convrese All*Stars and that kicky little skirt I found on sale. I "love" Reese's peanut butter cups. And I "love" my family. I truly do.

But, these two boys.

These two boys who live my house. The ones I make meals for, share toothpaste with, whose towels I wash. The ones whose messes I help clean, whose jokes crack me up, who pour out of the same juice carton as I do. These two boys whose tears tear my heart - they are a part of my everyday. They are the only other people I consistantly think about daily besides myself. I wonder what they are doing; I make plans for our weekends; I become a barometer for their moods and state of health.

These two boys know the intimate details of my life. They know when we need toilet paper or when we take shortcuts in cleaning the house. They know when one of us is hurting and taking it out on the other two.

These two boys - I don't just "love" them like some piece of chocolate that you can pick up for $.79.

I "live" them.

Day in and day out - they make my life.

ice rope

ice rope
Originally uploaded by libraryann.

Last week was a strange one in Austin, Tx. It started sleeting and snowing and all activity came to a halt. Roads iced. Schools and businesses closed. Cameras came out.
I've seen more pictures of iced leaves, grass, and fence posts than I can count.
Now the temp has risen and we have been released from our iced vehicle cocoons. Those pictures and piles of damaged tree limbs piled on the curbs are all thats left of the Jan Ice Storm 2007.

Tuna in the year 2007

Does anyone else think it is odd that my can of tuna fish doesn't expect to "go bad" until my son's 10th birthday? I'm almost tempted to keep it and open it on that day as a special treat. Sort of a time capsule, if you will. Who knows what the state of the oceans will be in 3 1/2 years? Who knows what conservation laws will be passed perhaps outlawing tuna fishing or somesuch. Maybe by then aluminum cans will be replaced with some miracle canning material of the future, polyester sacks or organic meat bags made of sheep bladders.
Of course, I can't keep it. I've already eaten it, are you kidding? When you have the magic combination of tuna, miracle whip, sweet relish and hard boiled eggs in the house who waxes poetic about the future? I had just enough presence of mind to get the camera out for this shot.

Migas

For those of you poor souls who don't get to live in Texas - I'm going to post the best recipe for migas so you don't miss out on this taste of Tex-Mex. They are great anytime but I especially like them on Sunday mornings. Enjoy!

Amaya's Migas

1 tablespoon veg oil
2 cups dime-sized torilla pieces or crushed tortilla chips
1/2 cup chopped tomato (I like the small romas)
2/3 cup chopped onion (burmuda works for me)
1 jalapeno chile, stemmed, seeded, and chopped
2 eggs
1/2 cup Cheddar cheese

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat and saute the tortilla pieces or chips until slightly crisp, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the tomato, onion, and chile and cook for 5 minutes. Pour in the eggs and mix with a spatual, scraping up the eggs as they cook. When the eggs are partially set, add the Cheddar. Cover. Toss a few more times until the cheese melts.

Serves 2.

Walsh, Robb. (2004) The tex-mex cookbook: A history in recipes and photos. New York: Broadway Books.

My Age?

I used to look 10 years younger than I was, now at least I'm supposedly living like I am:

You Are 30 Years Old

Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.

What Age Do You Act?

Hey, it's on the Internet...it must be true!

Funky Monkey

http://www.careerbuilder.com/monk-e-mail/?mid=7371252

A friend of mine sent me one of these and it's a good thing I wasn't drinking or driving (or drinking and driving!) at the time - major nostril snorting. I went through a period of about 3 days where I sent these to friends all over the country. The fun part is typing the words and then listening to the pronounciation.

These little monkeys won't censor you either. Go ahead, get angry, get dirty. It won't tip the tiara in the least.