Word Acknowledgement

I was reveling in the sensuous pleasures. My favorite sensuous pleasures of late seem to be tactile. There are three I have have enjoyed within 12 hours.

1. Last night while walking home from class I noticed a huge pile of Sycamore leaves, so I laid down in them. It was dark, and the leaves made a constant faint clinking sound, even when I didn't move, and they smelled like fall leaves. I could have lain there forever. It was nice.
2. Hot running water for showers. (hedonistic) I love to swim too, I feel like a slippery eel.
3. After that hot shower, having enough of a window of time to jump back into bed, naked, before having to get ready for the day. I love the feel of clean sheets and me being all clean too.

So grateful to have a healthy body to experience what my senses give me.

sensuous |ˈsen sh oōəs| adjective 1 relating to or affecting the senses rather than the intellect : the work showed a deliberate disregard of the more sensuous and immediately appealing aspects of painting. 2 attractive or gratifying physically.

USAGE The words sensual and sensuous are frequently used interchangeably to mean ‘gratifying the senses,’ esp. in a sexual sense. Strictly speaking, this goes against a traditional distinction, by which sensuous is a more neutral term, meaning ‘relating to the senses rather than the intellect’ (: swimming is a beautiful, sensuous experience), while sensual relates to gratification of the senses, esp. sexually (a sensual massage). In fact, the word sensuous is thought to have been invented by John Milton (1641) in a deliberate attempt to avoid the sexual overtones of sensual. In practice the connotations are such that it is difficult to use sensuous in Milton's sense. While traditionalists struggle to maintain a distinction, the evidence suggests that the neutral use of sensuous is rare in modern English. If a neutral use is intended, it is advisable to use alternative wording.


hedonism |ˈhēdnˌizəm| noun the pursuit of pleasure; sensual self-indulgence. • the ethical theory that pleasure (in the sense of the satisfaction of desires) is the highest good and proper aim of human life

Let there be Light

WOW!! 240 lumen light bulbs are awesome!! I needed a new light in my bathroom. It went out a week ago and I replaced it with a nice environmentally friendly bulb, but it was just too dim and took awhile to fully light up to that dimness. So today I went to ACE Hardware and bought a new lightbulb. WOW!!, I'll say it again, WOW! It is sooo bright. I can see every eyebrow that needs plucking, the one stray, mutant, whispy hair on my chin*. WOW!!! It is amazing.

On the downside, you can now see how dirty my bathroom is. Dusty, smudged mirrors. DRAT!!

I forgot to mention that while at ACE hardware, they had Good & Plenty candy, so I bought some. I like the salty licorice inside.



*of course I removed it the second I saw it.

a Tenge for your Thoughts

I was waiting at the bus stop when I looked down in the gutter, and in the water, I could see what looked like a penny, but too small in diameter, more dime size. I picked it up. It was 20 Tenge from Kazakhstan. I do think I get a lucky day when I pick up a penny, so what does 20 Tenge get me. It is worth almost 16 cents.

And as it happens I think I get a lucky day regardless of which side is facing up. I have heard some ludicrous notions that it being tails up, is an unlucky day. Heavens, I look for every portent of luck, who has so much they can cavalierly decide that a bottom up penny is poor luck. I don't think the rhyme makes the distinction. "Find a penny, pick it up, all day long you'll have good luck." See, it doesn't include the caveat "head side up".

I like coins and have always collected them. Currently I collect the commemorative state quarters. I of course like the ones from places I have lived, but outright, I think I like Texas, Colorado, and Alaska best. I would like Wyoming's best, but the impression is sort of shallow and I don't like that. If it were deeper then it would be my favorite. I like the ones with bold designs that aren't too busy. I sure wish Utah's was of a Bee-hive or the Delicate arch. Alas!!

I saw a shooting star the other night and I wished on it, I saw the first star on Saturday night and I wished on it. I wish on EVERYTHING!!

Falling

My super pleasant looking jack-o-lantern sure got angry looking as he desiccated. Oh well, don't we all. hahahahah.

I went on a lovely walk yesterday evening. I went down to Santaquin to do some canning. I had invited a beau as well, because nothing is as romantic as a walk in the orchards ( that might just be my opinion). But, he didn't come early enough for a walk, but we did bottle Tokay grapejuice. It was fun. When reporting how I had spent my weekend to some friends it was a hard sell trying to convience them that bottling is what all the hip young kids do nowadays for courting. Sheesh.

Pumpkins & Prizes

This is Marie and me at the pumpkin carving FHE. Marie drove and bought me a pumpkin too. SOOO NICE! I won a prize tonight for "simplest Jack O' Lantern". Simple as in uncomplicated I hope, and not in that it is not too bright. It is right now perched on my window ledge. I won a bag of peanut M&M's. FANCY!! I have a few secrets for carving a simple JOL*. Use a small pumpkin, use an apple corer, and make a hole in the bottom to remove the seeds. Then you sit the pumpkin over the candle, no messy top to worry about removing. TA-DA! I placed a single seed via a bit of gum under an eye for a tear. A sad JOL.

*JOL short for Jack O'Lantern

Let Us All Press On

Ah, ha. I did it! Today I bought a press. A Vandercook 317 . As you can see from the photo, there is a lot of work to do. Luckily my boss at The Mandate Press finds great joy in fixing presses up and has volunteered to help me. I can't wait!! I own a press, look at me, does that make me grown up yet?

Guess what friends, that means you all have a source for custom note cards, Christmas cards, birth announcements, and invitations for the rest of your life. Isn't that cause for joy? I think so.

Not to brag, ok, it really is blatant bragging, but at the Mandate, I am known for my keen ability to mix color. This will come in handy. I won't have to buy a ton of ink colors, I can do some skillful mixing. I love ink, I love paper, I love machinery, I love my new press, the 317!

Spirit of the Law vs. Letter of the Law

OK, so I believe in The Word of Wisdom, *that I may live long, and be beautiful and strong, tea and coffee and tobacco I despise, drink no liquor, and I eat, but a very little meat; I am seeking to be great and good and wise. But, dang it, I like coffee FLAVORED things. I have been enjoying coffee gelato at the Gallivan Center concerts and the Farmer's Market. Well, in my recent Gourmet magazine they had a delicious Mousse Au Moka Et Poivre. OOooooh, coffee and pepper mousse. I love pepper even more than I like coffee flavored things, and it's in French. I had to try it. I rationalize it because of a story told about President McKay.

At a reception President McKay attended, the hostess served rum cake. All the guests hesitated, watching to see what President McKay would do. He smacked his lips and began to eat. When one guest expostulated, "But President McKay, don't you know that is rum cake?" he smiled and reminded the guest that the Word of Wisdom forbade drinking alcohol, not eating it. [From David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism.]

I went to Whole Foods for the ingredients. The coffee was a quandry. I didn't want to buy a lot, so I bought the bulk stuff that you can grind there at the store. But, how? I am a coffee buying novice. I made one of the store employees do it for me and I bought just a few tablespoons. I didn't follow the reciepe in that it said to filter out the pepper and coffee grounds. I didn't have a fine sieve and I like a little texture anyway. I doubled the pepper but not the coffee. The coffee flavor was strong, but I didn't notice any peppery burn. Dang it!! I will have to add more pepper, and next time I will replace the coffee with cinnamon. It is delicious!...and easy.

I just talked to Lena, she will be home this evening and I am going to bring some to her. I want to share the delightful treat.

* In Our Lovely Deseret (Hymn)

FLW in SLC

Bradford talking about the abomination of having an air register in the entrance. (Phew, later we found out it wasn't in the original plan).

I heard that there would be a showing of the Frank Lloyd Wright Stromquist home in Bountiful. OH, delight! So I emailed a past beau who enjoys architecture and Bradford & Thomas and we all went. The docents told us not to walk on the carpet or sit on the furniture because it was for sale, etc. and there would be many visitors that day (we were some of the earliest), blah, blah, blah. Well, as a confirmed naughty, I tried to convince my old beau to sit down and let me take his photo, but people kept coming in so he gave up and left the room. Finally I had a chance and I sat in the chair pictured here. I would include the photo of the naughtiness, but in my vanity I cannot. I crashed on my bike earlier that week and besides the bruising, the photo is very uncomplimentary. Oh well. Knowing the old beau was a confirmed scoff-law, I briefly showed him the photo on my phone to impress him with my equally laissez-faire attitude toward the rules. I think it worked.

How High the Moon

Somewhere there's music
How faint the tune
Somewhere there's heaven
How high the moon
There is no moon above
When love is far away too
Till it comes true
That you love me as I love you

Somewhere there's music
How near, how far
Somewhere there's heaven
Its where you are
The darkest night would shine
If you would come to me soon
Until you will, how still my heart
How high the moon

Somewhere there's music
How faint the tune
Somewhere there's heaven
How high the moon
The darkest night would shine
If you would come to me soon
Until you will, how still my heart
How high the moon

After months in advance planning of letterpressed invitations with matching dance cards, reservations of the pavilion and band, my party planning impetus was dissipated. Crisis arose with my scholastic status, I crashed on my bike 4 days prior, leaving me with scratches on my face, scabs on my knees and wrist, overall body aches and a nasty bruise on my chin. Oh, if I could have cancelled, I would have. I was weary.

But too much was in motion and so on Saturday afternoon my co-hostesses met at the pavilion and we strung lights, moved & arranged impossibly heavy tables (which Bradford came to help with), cleaned the toilets, and ran some last minute errands. I admit I am fastidious, I want everything perfect. I have a vision and I want it implemented, but my co-hostesses kept me in check. We didn't have access to a tall ladder to hang the lanterns in key locations. NOPE, we had to cluster them on a rope and string them from the rafters. They hung x-mas lights and then discovered that ½ were out. If it had been me, I would have restrung the lights, but I couldn't restring their lights (it might offend them) so I had to let go. I disliked the table placement, but there were large rings (from where the tables had been chained) protruding from the floor as perfect tripping hazards. Lena was right that the only way to prevent an accident was to place the tables over them. I couldn't have done without their help and kept my sanity. Many friends brought treats, We provided lavender lemonade, spa water and 3 flavors of Italian ice (strawberry, lemon , & passion fruit).

We took shifts in watching the area and then going home and getting ready. I was late to my own party. Oh, but to arrive with luminarias lighting the walk and the band playing was lovely. Because I was weary, worn out, vision displaced, I was able to go and have a wonderful evening. I wasn't the perfect hostess, but I was a great guest. I did manage to maintained the punch bowls and fill up shy ladies cards for them. But, otherwise I negelected my guests and just had fun. The men were enormously good sports about the dance cards, many booked themselves up quickly. And then we danced. Most people didn't dance when there was no dance number, but some did.

Idols

I was cleaning up the collected images in my pictures folder and saw two that I thought would be worth mentioning. My idols. Katherine Hepburn and Emily Post.

I have had several people state that I reminded them of Katherine Hepburn. In my youth that was sad to me, I would rather have been compared to Audrey Hepburn, but alas. I am not a pixie, I am brash. So I developed a love for Katherine Hepburn. My favorite of her portrayal's is Miss Tess Harding, from 'Woman of the Year'. I even copied her calling card. She is competent, confident....well, woman of the year. I like the scene where Sam (played by Spencer Tracey) and she meet for the first time. She is in the editor's office straightening her stockings and Sam walks in, sees those legs and is a goner. It is a good movie about not being it all and making concessions.


Emily Post is the consummate lady. I love to read her writing. She was born 100 years exactly before me, had the luxury of being born into money, etc. And yet I aspire to her gentility. I read her books to prepare for any social function and her book 'Children are People Too', is very good. Good parenting advice. On my tea bag recently I had the note, 'Let your manners speak for you'. I think Emily would agree with that.

Vanity oh, Vanity

After the last cake for a friend's birthday I made, I found out that one of the guests had posted an image and a statement about my domestic acumen that made me blush on their blog, and so, OF COURSE, the pressure was on for this one. I have been wanting to make an 'icebox' cake for ages, since seeing the recipe on smitten kitchen, referred by popcorn and apples. You layer chocolate wafers between whipped cream. I LOVE whipped cream. Marie wanted chocolate so I made the whipped cream chocolaty. It ended up not lovely as the image in smitten kitchen, but UGLY and mis-shapen!! I know it was my first try and I would get better, but how could I present that for my blogging friends? My vanity was at stake, so I made another batch of regular whipped cream and spread it over and around the ugly cake to make it pretty (is that make-up for cake?). I then dusted it with a little chocolate powder. Voila', a pretty cake. It tasted ok, but I preferred the crepe cake, this one was a little sweet for me.

Trish had to leave for another engagement, so Lena, Marie (birthday girl) and I walked downtown to the Gallery Stroll. I will be honest, one reason I love the gallery stroll is the art, but another, I always run into people I know, usually cousins, and that makes me feel popular. My cousina Clare did have a print up in the basement of Slow Train, a music store, it was very good. Of course saw cousins there. Same thing at the farmers market. I always see ward members and/or cousins and I like that.

I hadn't had dinner and so around 10 we ended up at Sage's, a vegan restaurant, and Brad joined us and we sat outside enjoying mushroom escargot and later our vegan dinners. I don't know how the conversation went there, but cannibalism came up. After all what is a more natural topic of conversation at a vegan restaurant? Marie and I are both perverse or practical enough, that we were fully in favor if necessity dictated. Lena and Brad were against. Oh, well.

How Green Was My Valley

The title of a book/movie placed in Wales. I have lived in Wales and it is lovely, but I have never read the book nor seen the movie. Today though a group of friends went hiking up the Bonneville Shoreline trail. This veiw is overlooking City Creek Canyon. It is more green than usual due to our wetter than usual year. We were trying to look like bold explorers, but the camera-person was a little slow on the taking and everytime I thought she had taken the photo and began to move, etc. she would claim I had ruined the shot. Here I am passing my binoculars to some terribly persistant fellow. Lena and I tried to dodge him the whole hike up, but oh, boy didn't he persist. BOTHER!! Then we hurried down the mountian and went to Cucina's, a little deli in the Avenues. It was 5 minutes before closing, but they let us in. Lena got a delicious s'mores brownie (which she shared with me) and I got a little chicken penne salad as I had not had dinner yet. We then sat outside on a bench and enjoyed the summer evening. There is nothing like a summer evening to make you feel glad to be alive.

Brazil- It's only a state of mind

They need to come up with a quick key symbol that will make music notes around a word so you know you are supposed to sing it, rather than speak it. Brazil. After seeing the movie I can only sing the title (similar occurrence with Don Giovanni). The movie was recommended by DW, knowing how I like dystopian sci-fi. I loved the movie. It is a wonderful commentary on bureaucracy and wasting paper, but also a love story. The kiss is so filled with passion and tension that you have time to become invested. There they are lips close, he is filled with desire to kiss her, but also trepidation, a little closer, backing up, closer, the tension is divine. I think it may be the best on-screen kiss I have ever seen, well, off screen too. I promptly ordered the movie on Amazon as well as Amelie (just because I like it too). Then I returned the movie to Netflix so that I could get my next movie, The Day the Earth Stood Still, also recommended by DW. My sister remembers taking exception to the "un-happy ending" of Brazil, but after seeing enough foreign films I have become inured to tragic endings. And I don't think the end is that tragic anyway.

Additionally I have taken every opportunity to use my new favorite word.

INCHOATE

in·cho·ate
Pronunciation: \in-ˈkō-ət, ˈin-kə-ˌwāt\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin inchoatus, past participle of inchoare to start work on, perhaps from in- + cohum part of a yoke to which the beam of a plow is fitted
Date: 1534
: being only partly in existence or operation : incipient; especially : imperfectly formed or formulated : formless, incoherent.

D.H. Lawrence uses the word several times in his book Women in Love. I used it in two of my final papers this semester.

Great Crepe Cake, Batman

Well, a whole year since I posted last. I have been busy. I moved and started grad school. Now it is summer. Last Sunday a few friends came over to celebrate Lena's birthday. It really was only an excuse for me to show off my new red sofa and to try a recipe I saw in Gourmet, A Crepe Cake. First off, it just looks GREAT! and was a chance to showcase my new cake dome. Secondly, it contains Grand Marnier, and I look for every chance to use liquor in my cooking. http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/241754. I think my photo is better than the one Epicurious is using. It was amazingly simple to make and I added lavender to the mix as well. I served Elderflower Presse from Cost Plus World Market for drink as Lena is British and loves the drink. Sweet, but a good choice. Hurrah, it is fun to cook. Wait, I don't think making crepes counts as "cooking", oh, well.

This evening, the birthday girl of last week, Lena, called and suggested a walk. It was a lovely spring evening and so we went on a walk up into the Avenues, we ended up in the cemetery there, it was a lovely walk in and out of the lanes. Saw some interesting headstones too. We are both in favor of simple & cheap funeral arrangements. I am glad she can enjoy a graveyard, some people don't.