20090129

Statistics



Dear Blogosphere,

I just finished the first stats paper of the semester. I have no idea if I did it right. Or wrong. Or somewhere in between. It certainly isn't creative but I think I succeeded in writing "plain English." When I finished it I thought, "That's it? Should I have more to say?" Is that a good feeling to have? Yikes.

Since I've gone gluten-free, I've been forced to look at ingredient lists on food (before, with type 1 diabetes, I was looking only at nutrition facts). It's pretty scary. I was at the grocery store this evening and saw that there was a sale on "Guacamole Dip." Holy crap. What is that stuff? Just chemicals after chemicals and the mysterious "natural flavors." I decided to see how much "Guacamole" was. It was twice the price, but had very few ingredients. And, interestingly enough, less than half the calories (40 per 2 tbsps versus 100 per 2 tbsps). "Guacamole Dip," by the way, is not vegan. Weird.

Speaking of gluten, perhaps it would be fun for me to let you, dear Blogosphere, know about the crazy things that contain gluten. I will list more as I find more. Anyway, here are some tonight.

-Makeup - including lipstick, glosses, eyeshadow, etc.
-Shampoos and conditioners
-The sticky part of envelopes (possibly the best thing about having Celiac disease)
-Orange Shasta
-Licorice
-Flavorings, like vanilla, lemon, etc.
-Rice Krispies
-Cream of Mushroom Soup, Chilis
-Lots of meat products -- lunch meat, hotdogs, bacon, etc.
-Mustards
-Pringles

Well, I shall post again soon, Blogosphere! Until then, good night and good luck!

-Natalie

20090125

Come and Knock on Our Door



Dear Blogosphere,

I stumbled upon a Mary Blair piece today that I had not seen before. These parrots are quite the charmers, no? Ha ha. I'm about to get to work. I've had too much fun today, so tomorrow is going to be a little hectic. Here come the boring details of my life: tonight I'm going to continue reading Becoming Attached by Robert Karen, do some work in webCT, and hopefully figure out more to say on a stats paper. Exciting, exciting! I must say that Becoming Attached is a very good book. It's a fairly easy read. The main point that I'm getting from it is that today is better than ever. We've had some pretty screwy ideas about children and development in the past. And that's not to say that we don't have wrong ideas today, but I think we are improving.

Anyway, to all reading, have a fantastic Monday and enjoy some of The Kinks' music (jaja, why not recommend some music?). I'm currently listening to This Time Tomorrow.

Love,
Nat

20090123

Because It's Not Love (But It's Still a Feeling)

RULES:
1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.
4. Have Fun!

IF SOMEONE SAYS 'ARE YOU OKAY' YOU SAY?
I'll Never Fall in Love Again (Elvis Costello)

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF
Powerman (The Kinks)

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
How Sweet it is to be Loved by You (James Taylor & Carly Simon)

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Simple Song of Freedom (Bobby Darin)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Somewhere Along the Line (Billy Joel)

WHAT'S YOUR MOTTO?
Tuesday's Dead (Cat Stevens)

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Kate (Ben Folds Five)

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
One is the Loneliest Number (Three Dog Night)

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Bastard (Ben Folds)

WHAT IS 2 + 2?
Different but the Same (Ben Kweller)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Ready (Cat Stevens)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Sex (The Pipettes)

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Minnie the Moocher (Cab Calloway)

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Pretend to be Nice (Josie & the Pussycats)

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
I Don't Know Why (Ben Kweller)

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
The Wind (Cat Stevens)

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Imagine (John Lennon)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
The Girl from Ipanema (Nat King Cole)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Coffee Song (Frank Sinatra)

WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?
Tangerine (Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass Band)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Jerry Falwell Destroyed Earth (Ben Kweller)

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Because It's Not Love (But It's Still a Feeling) (The Pipettes)

Me - Part 4: Misc

I tap dance. And not to toot my own horn, but I'm pretty good at it.

Freckles are adorable.

This is the late Hufflepuff. We had been good friends since I was in 8th grade. She passed away this November. She is a Netherlands Dwarf.

Seattle. Need I say more?

This is Benjamin Jeremiah Rumson (Ben for short). He's my French or Mini Lop sweetie.

Me - Part 3: Music

I play the soprano saxophone. This is my black Cannonball.
I can't play the piccolo. But I thought I'd learn a few years ago when I picked this one up for $100.
I love piano.
I am a poor audiophile. I wish I had more records but I have a great turntable. If you know your album covers, you'll recognize that this is Sgt. Pepper's.
I do this a lot. Slip on the headphones and slip out of the world.


I played bassoon in high school and a little beyond. I loved it. Someday I will be able to afford one and I will take it up again.
This is my silver alto. I have played alto sax for quite a few years. This (another Cannonball) has a great tone for jazz.

Me - Part 2: Pennsylvania


I went to Muhlenberg College, a small (about 2000 students) liberal arts school, in Allentown Pennsylvania for a year.


It's cliche to talk about the leaves, but until you've seen Pennsylvania in the fall, you have not seen red and orange.


The Canadian geese lined up nicely for me here. But they were loud.


Trees. Trees. Trees. As far as the eye can see. Green! Green! Green!


Our home back there, where my dad currently resides.

20090122

Me - Part 1: Utah


This is a rose from the house I grew up in.

Dear Blogosphere,

I thought it would be a good idea to let you know more about me. Instead of a boring old washed up survey with the same old lameXcore questions, how about a different way of presenting myself? Through photographs this time, in the future I might add some of these cool word things I figured out how to make. All in due time.

First up... Utah


This is in Southern Utah. The red rock gets its color from oxidized iron, the white rock, from calcium.


This is up East Canyon. I took this photograph in January when I tested the water for various forms of pollution. Very cold but lovely.


This is in Zion's. What a landscape.


This is in Southern Utah, but I can't recall the location.

My First Post

Dear Blogosphere,

This is my first post to my new blog. I'm not sure what to do with this. I've tried blogs before... and never could keep them up. I suppose I'll fill this in with mundane details of my life with random bits of hilariousness. Right now I am eating conversation hearts. It reminds me of a guy I dated in high school. We passed conversation hearts to and from each other on a Valentine's date, involving Phantom of the Opera and some fancy Italian food. Then it got awkward. Now I am eating "REAL LOVE" alone.

COOL

My sister just gave me some "Bumble SOUTH Surf Spray." I love hair products... I just don't use them. I would use them if it took no effort. But I think I will try this product that will make my hair look more surf-y.

LOVE HER

I got into a heated debate about marriage equality today. I love arguments. I like to try to understand what a rather misinformed person thinks. Apparently the Ten Commandments is in the Constitution(?!?!). Golly, I missed that in my American socialization.

KISS ME

Well, I guess that's about it, Blogosphere. Thanks for reading!

-Nat

P.S. Please leave Michael Cera alone.