Today began as a productive day. I woke up a little before 8am and listened to the news on NPR for a while in bed, then I got up at 8 and turned on a dance workout dvd and did the 20 minute work out. I cleaned my room and drank some water.
I also planted some seeds of madagascar palm and strawberries in these little terrarium kits I got. Now they are on my window sills and I hope they will grow up big and strong.
I practiced accordion for 40 minutes, I watched a psychology/philosophy lecture at the U of M channel stream and it was VERY interesting, it was about how to measure and understand the influences of what makes a person's well-being.
I made an easy vegetable soup out of carrots and zucchinis i steamed last night, and the onions that I sauteed. I basically mixed that with vegetable broth, little nood's, and an egg. Quite tasty.
Besides that I read a little, but that's it so far. I sat on the computer for just a little while...
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Tuesday
I took a walk over the highway overpass today, into Mary Beth Doyle Nature Preserve, down the nature trail. I took a trail I hadn't before, and apparently every day is a new adventure (!). Today they were doing a controlled burning, it was really interesting. I've heard of these things, but I've never been in the midst of one.
From a distance I see a smoke cloud rising and I assume someone is burning leaves, when I started walking into the woods I saw yellow suited people walking around, and at the same time I saw the smoke was actually rising from in the trees. I thought maybe there was a forest fire, but they were actually lighting the fire and controlling the flames.
The trail I took today drew me straight from my 'hood to Packard where I was across the street from Cobblestone Farm, the historic farm and park house in Ann Arbor. The house was locked up today, but they have a little animal farm where I saw tiny, sturdy horses, chickens, goats, pigs (I've never been so close to a pig) and a funny little squirrel in the midst of it all. I don't usually see squirrels around other animals, so that was pretty interesting, and made me chuckle.
While admiring the animals I met a man who was also socializing with the barn mammals and he told me to come to his church, or his house.
The Ann Arbor Parks have a lot to offer including fitness classes, a swimming pool, an indoor and outdoor ice skating rink and all kinds of fun days at these places. I need to sign up for the email list.
In addition to this walk, I cooked dinner, and I made meatballs for the first time. I didn't eat them because I prefer not to eat meat unless I know the animals were treated well and unnecessary chemicals. So I didn't, but I learned a new cooking technique.
That's about it!
From a distance I see a smoke cloud rising and I assume someone is burning leaves, when I started walking into the woods I saw yellow suited people walking around, and at the same time I saw the smoke was actually rising from in the trees. I thought maybe there was a forest fire, but they were actually lighting the fire and controlling the flames.
The trail I took today drew me straight from my 'hood to Packard where I was across the street from Cobblestone Farm, the historic farm and park house in Ann Arbor. The house was locked up today, but they have a little animal farm where I saw tiny, sturdy horses, chickens, goats, pigs (I've never been so close to a pig) and a funny little squirrel in the midst of it all. I don't usually see squirrels around other animals, so that was pretty interesting, and made me chuckle.
While admiring the animals I met a man who was also socializing with the barn mammals and he told me to come to his church, or his house.
The Ann Arbor Parks have a lot to offer including fitness classes, a swimming pool, an indoor and outdoor ice skating rink and all kinds of fun days at these places. I need to sign up for the email list.
In addition to this walk, I cooked dinner, and I made meatballs for the first time. I didn't eat them because I prefer not to eat meat unless I know the animals were treated well and unnecessary chemicals. So I didn't, but I learned a new cooking technique.
That's about it!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Monday
- Made roasted (burned, actually) walnuts with sesame oil, little bit of honey, sesame seeds, salt, and curry powder. Turned out tasty, but overdone
- practiced accordion for about 30 mins
- exercised for about 45 mins
- read some anthropology essays
- crocheted afghan
- The day is only half over -- more to come!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
The Future: Goals and Aspirations
Future goals and aspirations are not something I have focused on a whole lot since the beginning, and I need to.
1. limit TV intake
2. read instead of watching TV most of the time
2.5. exceptions are educational TV (I include recipe/cooking TV shows, but note taking should be integrated to make this legit)
*includes cultural studies - which I must write a report (summary + analysis) following the study
*the occasional entertainment allotment - about 30 minutes a day.
3. read 1 book every 2 weeks, unless the book is long or dense, then it can take up to 4 weeks.
4. exploring the present - there is so much to take in, interpret, learn from, add to, give back by paying attention to the details of a space, or landscape. This is definitely unconventional education but I love it and I stand by the meaningfulness of exploration of landscape.
5. create - (music, word, art, yarn, cloth, beauty, food, positive energy (dance, meditation, exercise)) this is nearly a constant for me. really it is what fills up my empty time so I might do it less when I start working though I hope not.
7. exercise - this deserves it's own category; staying healthy is important
6. practice for GRE (30 questions a week)
1. limit TV intake
2. read instead of watching TV most of the time
2.5. exceptions are educational TV (I include recipe/cooking TV shows, but note taking should be integrated to make this legit)
*includes cultural studies - which I must write a report (summary + analysis) following the study
*the occasional entertainment allotment - about 30 minutes a day.
3. read 1 book every 2 weeks, unless the book is long or dense, then it can take up to 4 weeks.
4. exploring the present - there is so much to take in, interpret, learn from, add to, give back by paying attention to the details of a space, or landscape. This is definitely unconventional education but I love it and I stand by the meaningfulness of exploration of landscape.
5. create - (music, word, art, yarn, cloth, beauty, food, positive energy (dance, meditation, exercise)) this is nearly a constant for me. really it is what fills up my empty time so I might do it less when I start working though I hope not.
7. exercise - this deserves it's own category; staying healthy is important
6. practice for GRE (30 questions a week)
A Quick Update
I've been at Dad's since Monday. I practiced accordion Monday for 40 minutes, but I have not since then. I am lazy here. I sewed, but my sewing machine is acting weird and not working, so I have to muster the motivation to sit and attempt to repair the machine. I just need a little time...
I've done numerous unconventional things this week, like hiking, bowling, darts and great chats/ deep conversations with my wonderful friend Laura! Oh, and this morning I went to Detroit with Dad and wandered downtown amongst the Modernist architecture from the '20s. That is one thing that's great about, and unique to, Detroit. In many cities the architecture is mostly classical and Greek Revival. It is ornate and beautiful but very traditional (at least that is how I perceive it). Detroit has some very Avant-Garde architecture that is so startling for it's unique and unknown beauty. Like the Guardian building where my Dad had to go today and the Penobscot building across the street. Both are on Griswold near Jefferson. These buildings were inspired by the strength that the Native Americans represent, and so instead of Anglo models on the buildings, they have Indians. The Great Plains or Desert landscape of Indian reservations as well as a generic print of their facial features are the inspiration for the decorations on the exterior and interior. These buildings surprised me for all of these reasons, they were spectacular.
After that we ate lunch in Mexican Town, and got some Mexican sweet breads! The Bagley Street Pedestrian Bridge is open now. how exciting! That's such a great project, and I am glad the two halves of Mexican Town have been reunited. The introduction of the highway to the City of Detroit really did a number on the life of that place. This is one reason I resent American progress...
I've done numerous unconventional things this week, like hiking, bowling, darts and great chats/ deep conversations with my wonderful friend Laura! Oh, and this morning I went to Detroit with Dad and wandered downtown amongst the Modernist architecture from the '20s. That is one thing that's great about, and unique to, Detroit. In many cities the architecture is mostly classical and Greek Revival. It is ornate and beautiful but very traditional (at least that is how I perceive it). Detroit has some very Avant-Garde architecture that is so startling for it's unique and unknown beauty. Like the Guardian building where my Dad had to go today and the Penobscot building across the street. Both are on Griswold near Jefferson. These buildings were inspired by the strength that the Native Americans represent, and so instead of Anglo models on the buildings, they have Indians. The Great Plains or Desert landscape of Indian reservations as well as a generic print of their facial features are the inspiration for the decorations on the exterior and interior. These buildings surprised me for all of these reasons, they were spectacular.
After that we ate lunch in Mexican Town, and got some Mexican sweet breads! The Bagley Street Pedestrian Bridge is open now. how exciting! That's such a great project, and I am glad the two halves of Mexican Town have been reunited. The introduction of the highway to the City of Detroit really did a number on the life of that place. This is one reason I resent American progress...
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