Stuff I Didn't Know I Needed

I've been told there are not enough "nice things" are my wedding registry. I'm rather confused by this because when I first started my gift registry, I was afraid I was asking for too many nice of things. I feel like I am the lucky one to be getting married to a great guy, and as much as I would like the $350 Le Creuset round dutch oven, I don't expect anyone to buy it for me just because I am beginning a new chapter in my life. Is this wrong of me?

I also think, "nice things" is code for "what the hell are you thinking registering for all green cookware" and "why don't you register for something flowered". Not so much me, but in trying to appease all my new aunts, I have spent the last 30 minutes randomly adding items to my Macy's registry. If they won't be happy until they buy us ridiculously expensive crystal, then I have picked out some beauties (who knew Kate Spade is now designing home goods as well as purses). I also wasn't aware that Robert Mondavi is now "designing" wine glasses as well as crafting the wine to pour into them. Speaking of, I could use a glass now. I hope those glasses hurry up and get here.

Gone South

We headed down to Nashville this past weekend for my friend's 30th birthday. From the previous post, you might remember that I am something of a history geek. For this reason, one of the highlights of the weekend was visiting the Hermitage (President Andrew Jackson's home - plantation really). I don't think I would have much liked Andrew Jackson. The museum kind of glossed over some of the more interesting parts of him - the duel, the whiskey and the slavery. I got the distinct impression that the restorers of the property didn't want you to think too much about him as a person or about how the 140 slaves he had were treated. There was even a sign that said something to the effect of "The slaves here at the Hermitage were comforted by the fact they lived in close quarters and were able to keep some of their heritage because the slave compound was far enough from the main house." Maybe so, but they were still owned by someone at the main house. I guess things are different in the South. In fact, people kept telling me things such as "In the South we don't do that" and "That's pretty common in the South" as if it were a different country. I don't think I have ever used the expression, "Things are different up here with us Yankees" or ever really felt the need to.

All in all though, we had a great weekend visiting friends and helping to celebrate a milestone birthday...it's just things are different down there.

So You Say You Want a Revolution...

This morning I was explaining to Prada why we were home from work on a weekday. I reached back into my mind for the exact reasons we were home today. I used to be something of a history whiz in high school. I scored a 5 on the AP history test (much to the surprise of even my teacher) which meant I tested out of taking any history in college. This actually made me sad and in hindsight, I should have taken some classes because now the facts and reasonings I once all knew so clearly are simply lurking in my head somewhere.

So this morning Prada, got a lesson that was a little convoluted. It's a good thing she didn't have a clue of what I was talking about because it went from some quotes from the Declaration, to a discussion of French involvement. I worked Betsy Ross in there. And mentioned some of the key players - Jefferson (who really thought Independence Day should be celebrated on July 2 since that was the day the secret vote was taken to formally secede from Great Britain), Adams, Washington and Hancock. I finished up by telling her that several of these characters, in their final days hung on until the Fourth of July to finally call it quits. Both Prada and Chris were quite impressed by this bit of information.

So that is what we are all celebrating today with parades, fireworks, and barbecues: some guys who decided that in the course of human events it was time to go out on their own because all men are created equal and have certain unalienable rights. They were radicals of their time and it's interesting to see how far we have come from the ideals they fought so hard for. I'm not sure that in today's political climate most people would agree with our founding fathers.

Independence Day

My office closed at noon today. Why is it that hours you suddenly don't have to be anywhere are more fun and precious than hours that are scheduled to be off? I love bonus days as I like to think of them. Days when you fully expect to be busy for a full eight hours, but are surprised with an e-mail saying the office is going to be closed at 12 p.m.

To fully take advantage of my windfall of time, I made a filling and healthy lunch of cucumbers, tomatoes, feta and chick peas. I headed to the pool to read and bask in the sun (plus do a few laps). And to really top off the afternoon, I went and got a much needed pedicure (my feet have been in sorry sorry shape). My little pedi place has recently gotten new massage chairs so I am currently in a state of sun and massage induced bliss. I feel like my back muscles are on their own little vacation.

Talk about a Independence Day.

Hobbies We Aren't Very Good At

Chris and I both have the tendency to delve head first into hobbies / projects we just aren't very good at or committed to. For example, you may remember the DIY Diary posts from last month...yes, well, the majority of the cabinet doors are still not hung.

As I mentioned earlier today, we biked down to RiverFest. The biking 14 miles total, although tiring, went okay. Since we already have the bike equipment (ie bike and helmet) we can keep that hobby. We can't, however, buy a canoe. Having a free (and legal) chance to canoe on the Scioto River today left us going mainly in circles and hitting a large tree. Canoeing, not so much for us. I thought rock climbing would fare better, but neither one of us made it too far up the wall. Guess rock climbing is out, too.

Am now going to take a nap, make dinner and light the fire pit for s'mores...all things we excel at.

Saturday

This morning we were determined to the get to the Clintonville Farmer's Market earlier than last week - it seems things go fast, really fast. It didn't so much happen. Well, we got there a whole hour earlier than last week, but still were greeted primarily by a slew of zucchini. We did get some string beans which I will lightly steam and mix with olive oil and garlic scabs (thanks to Lisa of Restaurant Widow for cluing me in that you could do something with these guys I have growing in the backyard). We also got some grass-fed hamburger patties. After Chris talked to the farmer last week, he is a convert to local grass-fed beef. To go on the burgers we bought a couple of tomatoes (not sure how these are ripe yet because mine here are just getting the slightest tint of yellow) and some cucumbers to make a feta, cuke, tomato salad.

After attending the farmer's market, we pulled a couple of weeds out back because we were inspired. After the rains of this week, all of our plantings are looking great. I managed to get a nasty mosquito bite on my cheekbone. Ouch.

We're planning on biking downtown to attend RiverFest today. It's a smaller festival, but has some neat opportunities to learn about watershed, a chance to canoe on the river and a rock climbing wall. I've always meant to go and have been wanting to test my bike (and myself) on a longer ride, so thought it would be a good opportunity.

So it's only 1ish on Saturday and already so many things are planned or in the works. I feel positively domesticated.

Something Wicked This Way Comes...

No, I'm not going through my annual Shakespeare phase, tomorrow we are going to see Wicked. I'm excited about this for various reasons. One because I had the foresight to buy tickets back in December. Columbus has a history of selling out touring Broadway shows pretty quickly (remember the first time Phantom came through?) and this show is no exception. Some crazy people stood in line in the rain early one morning to get these tickets. Needless to say, I didn't. I'm also excited because we are going to celebrate my dad's birthday and my parent's anniversary. All good stuff there.

I saw the show in New York a couple of years back and I'm interested to see it again and on the road. I saw it with the original cast (except Galinda who had the night off) and the show was simply fantastic.

I read the book years ago, so along go in fact, I think I might have been in college at the time. The first time I read it, I was taken in by the Wizard of Oz connection. What a great idea to write the prequel to a much loved American icon! The book really kept the political undertones of the Frank Baum book in mind and though at times it was hard to get through, Wicked became a favorite of mine.

A book becoming a favorite of mine means it gets revisited, so upon subsequent readings, the story took on new meanings for me. The Wicked of Witch isn't so much evil as she is misunderstood and made out to be bad by a society heading the opposite directions of her ideals. I was happy to see this theme became such a focal point of the musical and I can't wait to revisit the theatrical version again to see what else I get out of it.