Published by theiowan June 26th, 2005
in Bizarre.
As many of you know, I’m not very good at listening to music while working. My brain has a hard time multi-tasking, i.e. dealing with more than one stimulus at a time. But because I grew up in a house where piano lessons were going on for several hours every day, I have developed a special ability to focus on schoolwork while listening to piano music.
As a result, there are a few notable exceptions to my inability to listen to music while working, and they’re all CDs of piano music. Particularly Chopin and Beethoven piano music.
So, just now I was listening to my trusty CD of Chopin favorites while working in a coffee shop. And I heard something familiar invading my earspace. I removed my earphones and noticed that the same CD of Chopin favorites was playing over the coffeeshop sound system.
Weird.
Published by theiowan June 19th, 2005
in Iowa and Pleasing.
“And what is so rare as a day in June?

Then, if ever, come perfect days.”
–James Russell Lowell
Thanks to Gretchen for this quotation.
I must say the weather has been pretty spectacular these past few days. To all of you who are (or were) still at the lake: you’re welcome. If I would have known that the weather would change from bad to AMAZING the minute I left, I would’ve gone sooner!
Still: even though I wasn’t at the lake today, it was a pretty great day. I got a bunch of work done at the library, got to play with Otto outside, got to eat a delicious dinner of grilled butterfly pork chops, mashed potatoes, and baked beans. Mmmmm.
Also, in the past 10 days I:
- finally got to stay at my parents’ new house, which is AWESOME!!
- got to go kayaking and on a boat ride during the 4 hours that the weather was good while I was at the lake,
- got to go (with Otto) for a run along the lakeshore at sunset.
- knit some booties for my friend Nikki’s baby, who is supposed to arrive in a month or so
- took care of my four cousins for two days (which basically consisted of driving them around to their various basketball, baseball, and soccer practices, to the pool, to their driving lessons, etc.),
- watched Oceans Twelve twice.
All in all, it was not a bad week!
Published by theiowan June 8th, 2005
in Pleasing.
It is hot and humid. Lots of people are complaining. Not me. Hooray!!
Published by theiowan June 8th, 2005
in Random.
Can anyone (especially my aunties) tell me if I have to dead-head petunias? Any other care tips? I have a fantastic hanging basket and I want to make sure I don’t kill it…
Published by theiowan June 6th, 2005
in Pleasing.
Here is a scenic pic from our recent trip to the north shore of Lake Superior:
This lighthouse was pretty awesome. It was built in response to a storm in 1905 that sank dozens of ships in a 24-hour period. Since the lighthouse began operating in 1910, there have been no major disasters along this shore.
More pics from our trip to come…
