Category: Ten on Tuesday

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I start almost every day with a to-do list.  I keep them in little notebooks; this year, I was given a fantastic moleskine Daily Planner, and I used it with abandon.  When I find a little notebook that has served as my to-do list keeper, I enjoy flipping back through it, recalling the urgency of projects that are long past.  I usually toss them after a while (though I still have the one I used during my transition from New York to New Mexico.  All the lists from selling my co-op and buying my condo are there.  I'm sentimental that way).  This is one of my busiest weeks of the year as I not only work to get grades submitted but to also plan the spring semester (book orders are due!) and manage holiday activities. 

Here, then, is my Ten Things on My To-Do List list

1.  Grade Composition 101 portfolios (today)

2.  Print materials to bring to interview (today…interviewing tomorrow for contract renewal.  Fingers crossed, please).

3.  Dust and vacuum (today…company coming!  Hurrah!)

4.  Put up Christmas tree and decorate (Friday night)

5.  Grade Bus/Tech writing projects and reports (Friday)

6.  Finish reading client's novel manuscript & provide feedback (by Sunday, ideally)

7.  Wrap gifts to ship to TN (yikes! Today!)

8.  Order Neal's gifts (today!)

9.  Sit quietly and knit (every day, for at least 30 minutes)

10.  Tell Neal he is a rock star (our basement flooded yesterday; from 7-9:30, Neal worked in the cold, wet basement until everything was as it should be) (I've told him this already, but that kind of uncomplaining hard work deserves extra praise, don't you think?)

How about you?  What are you dreading most on your to-do list?  What are you eager to get to?

*Somehow this shot of little cairns, found all over the woods where the dogs and I hike, reminds me of to-do lists.  The little stack of activities that make up a to-do list lead to something more powerful.  Or something.

Today's topic is Ten Favorite Holiday Shows.  

1.  Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular.  Rockettes.  Live Nativity.  It can't be beat.  As long as you're going to be in Manhattan for the Christmas show, you might as well make reservations at Rolf's. I love it any time of year, but it is pure magic at Christmas.

2. A Christmas Carol at Hartford Stage.  Need to feel festive?  This show will get you in the mood, no matter how Scroogey you've been!

3.  It's a Wonderful Life.  I always get choked up when the town rallies around George at the end of the movie.

4.  White Christmas.  Snow, snow, snow!  This one gets me when the all the former soldiers sing "We'll Follow the Old Man" to the general.  What loyalty!  What generosity of spirit!

5.  A Charlie Brown Christmas.  Is there a better Christmas soundtrack?  Way back in 1990 when I was first married (the first time) and spending my first Christmas away from my family, my ex and his sisters, seeing how sad and lonely I felt, did the Charlie Brown Christmas dance.  It always reminds me of their sweetness to me right when I needed it most.

6.  How the Grinch Stole Christmas.  Every word, every moment is fantastic.

7.  Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.  One of my mom's favorite holiday songs is "Silver Bells". The show is great, and hearing my mom's favorite song is even better.

8.  Miracle on 34th Street.  I always like seeing that cynical little girl find her way into a miracle.

9.  A Christmas Carol with Alistair Sim.  My favorite film version.

10.  Santa Claus is Coming to Town.  My sister MB will often sing "put one foot in front of the other", which cracks me up.  "Eat, Santa, eat" is another of her favorite quotes.  Apparently, this show made quite an impact on the Army girls!

Time for a confession: I might be the only person I know who does not appreciate A Christmas Story.  I had an ex-boyfriend who loved it, which might be what soured me on it.  I just don't get it.  Am I going to get drummed out of Christmas now?

Now that I've confessed, tell me what your favorite holiday shows are.  Or…what do you NOT like that the rest of the world seems to adore?

Carole gave us another great topic this week: Ten Things to Love about Thanksgiving.

1.  Spending time with my family.  I am fortunate to live within a twenty minute drive of my folks.  It's always more special to hang out with them on a holiday, though.

2.  Mashed potatoes.  I rarely have them.  I guess to my way of thinking, they're a side dish for meat, and I don't ever fix meat, so I don't fix mashed potatoes.  Hmmm…maybe I should change that.

3.  Stuffing.  I have a very kind sister-in-law who goes out of her way to accommodate my being a vegetarian.  She always makes a little bit of stuffing sans meat for me.

4.  A morning hike.  I love to take the dogs on a long, vigorous walk and build my appetite.  Thanksgiving hikes are somehow more fun.

5.  Stuffed celery.  The bane of my childhood holiday meals.  How I dreaded shoving the cream cheese into the stalks of celery.  I was a particular little girl and could not stand cream cheese being all sloppy on the celery.  It was a real chore to get it right.  The leftovers, though, rock my world.  That's one of the tastes of my childhood holidays.

6.  Variety. So many sides to try!  So many desserts to nibble!

7.  A long weekend.  The university closes just after noon on Wednesday, and I don't have to go back to work until Monday (although I did promise students revising essays that I would check emails over the weekend).

8.  Memories.  Neal and I had our first date (back when I was 18) the weekend after Thanksgiving.  In 2006, just after Thanksgiving, Neal asked me to marry him.  It's a sentimental time of year!

9.  Lack of pressure.  The day is all about the meal.  It is purely about the joy of sharing food. (Can you tell I'm not cooking the full meal this year?!)

10.  Gratitude.  It is far too easy for days to blend together without pausing to be grateful for all the wonders in the world.  What a lovely thing to have this day to remind me to cultivate an attitude of gratitude.

What do you like best about Thanksgiving?

I'm excited about today's Ten on Tuesday topic:  Top Ten Movies I'd like to see in the Theater.  I have been fortunate to see several movies that might have been on the list in a theater: Gone With the Wind, The Wizard of Oz (what great fun: I was on tour w/my ex. and we were killing time before an evening gig.  Only other people in theater were a grandmother, mother, and daughter trio.  Much singing ensued.), The Rear Window.  There's a fantastic Paramount theater where I used to live in New York, and I saw many, many classic movies on the big screen there.  Still, there are plenty I'd like to see:

1.  Breakfast at Tiffany's

2.  Star Wars

3.  Fantasia

4. Sabrina (the original, of course)

5.  The Sound of Music

6.  Mary Poppins

7. Jaws

8. Funny Face (Think Pink!)

9.  Dirty Dancing

10.  Top Hat

These are all movies I've seen on the little screen.  I chatted with Neal to get ideas, and he poo-poo'd my choices.  "Epics," he cried.  "That's what you want on the big screen!"  I disagree, though.  I want to see some of my favorites (Jaws and Starwars aren't faves, but I was too little to see them in the theater when they came out) in their full, original glory.  

How about you?  What would you like to see on the big screen?

Lately I've been feeling like I have so much I want to do and so much I have to do and so much I'm not doing well.  In an effort to get back on track, I've been thinking (and taking action) a lot about how to simplify my life.  I'm no Thoreau, although I agree with much of his philosophy.  

This week's Ten on Tuesday list couldn't have come at a better time for me.  Some of the items are ones I've implemented and find work well for me, and others are reminders to myself of what I ought to do.

1.  Menu plan.  Even before I was in charge of cooking, I planned meals, one week at a time.  I like to do this on Sunday with a cup of coffee and my notebook of recipes.  I usually grocery shop on Sunday, so I can jot down what I need to buy while I figure out a menu that will make the most use of whatever is in season.  This also reduces the number of trips to the grocery store, which can get out of hand if I don't plan.

2.  Keep a list of go-to seasonal meals.  This is ever-evolving for me, but it simplifies the meal planning process.  I have a list of meals that are healthy, that Neal and I both like, and that I can fix quickly.

3.  Cut back on magazine and journal subscriptions.  I go through phases when I subscribe to way too many magazines.  I enjoy magazines, but I don't always have the free time to read them all.  I've been letting subscriptions run out.  Many are available on line or in my library, so if I can read them, I can save money, too.

4.  Sort and attend to mail immediately.  If it has to be paid, I have a place for it.  If I need to respond with a letter, I have another place for it.  If it can be recycled, I bring it to the bin right away.  Done.

5.  Get rid of clutter.  One of the greatest benefits when I moved to my little co-op on the Hudson was that the minimal space meant I had to pare down my possessions.  Some were stored, but I was also pretty ruthless about recycling and donating things I did not love and need.  I plan to tackle my books and crafting supplies soon!

6.  Minimize how you spend your time.  This is my big problem right now.  I'm teaching at the university.  I'm writing my novel (hey, yes, it is NaNoWriMo time again).  I'm writing a proposal for another project.  I'm doing research for my grant.  I'm designing some hairpin lace goodies.  I'm… You are the same way, most likely, filling your days with your passions.  Sometimes, though, I need to let go of a little passion and do everything a little better. 

7.  Don't join a gym.  I work out via exercise I can do from my house.  I ride my bike, hike, cross-country ski, garden, do calisthenics, run.  I save money and time by not joining a gym.  Some people love working out at a gym, and I think that's great for them…it just doesn't suit me.

8.  Don't multi task too much.  I like talking on the phone and dusting.  Other than that, I'm a pretty crappy multi-tasker (probably why #6 is a problem for me).  My life is more serene when I tackle one task at a time.  I usually do the task better and faster than if I try to do four things at once.

9. Be a one-car household. I dream of living someplace more walkable, but while I live in the woods, I find it too challenging to do without a car.  We have two vehicles right now: my car, the one we use to go almost anyplace we have to drive to, and Neal's train car.  Technically it's a bus car, but when I lived in NY, everyone called the spare vehicle the train car, and it has stuck with me! Still, we've managed pretty well for long periods with one vehicle.

10.  Pare down your wardrobe. I'm loving Project 333.  It is easy to get dressed in the morning and easy to take care of my clothes.  I've enjoyed reading notes from folks who aren't participating but have felt inspired to clear out excess or ill-fitting clothes.  

What is your favorite tip for simplifying your life?

Carole's asked us to share what is in our freezer.  Here goes!

1.  Lots of jars of strawberry freezer jam.  I save it until it gets really cold.  You know, when it gets so cold and dark so early that you can't believe it will ever be warm and light again?  That's when I put it on my yogurt.

2.  About ten ziplock bags with two cups of blueberries each.  I discovered it is vital to use them immediately after defrosting.  One of these days I'll get back in the habit of making a batch of muffins every week, and those sweet little blubs picked in July's heat will feel a little more heat!

3.  Five bags of pitted cherries.  We're big fans of cherry clafoutis.  I think it will be festive to serve around the holidays.  I don't go in for the traditional way of making it with pits in; I just add a little almond extract to mimic the taste.  Sorry, purists.

4.  Ice cream bowl.  I had some Bing cashback in my Amazon account this summer and splurged on an ice cream attachment for the Kitchenaid.  Guess I probably won't be using it again for a while.  Maybe I should make one last batch and call it the end of the season.

5.  Half a bag of ice.  I've mentioned before my addiction to ice.  I know it's bad for my teeth, but it's one of my few vices.  I prefer the cocktail-sized cubes.

6.  Edamame.  I bring about 1/2 a bag to work with me when I remember.  By the time I'm in my office after teaching, they're thawed and ready to eat.

7.  Pinons aka pignoli aka pine nuts.  It kills me to buy them around here where they are super expensive.  When I lived in Albuquerque, they were available seemingly on every street corner for a song.  Note to self: stock up next time in NM!

8.  Containers of last year's soup. Is it still edible, do you think?  When I make a large batch, I freeze some, but I don't always remember to thaw and eat it.  Oops.

9.  Morningstar chicken patties.  I'm not looking for a meat substitute here.  I don't like most commercial veggie burgers, but these are okay in a pinch.  I like to eat them on a wheat English muffin with some hot sauce when I'm in a rush between teaching gigs.

10.  The bag of peas.  Neal uses it as an ice pack when he has aches and pains.  It thaws, and we refreeze it.  It will never be eaten, but wrapped in a towel, it does provide relief.

Next year we're hoping to add a chest freezer to the basement so Neal can buy meat locally and in bulk, and I can take better advantage of summer crops.

How about you?  What's in your freezer?

Carole gave us a fantastic topic this week: 10 Ways to Have Fun on Long Car Rides.  I'm interpreting this as Road Trip!!

1.  The most obvious: have a great take-along knitting project.  I tend to bring simple shawls or socks.  I like to be able to look around and enjoy the scenery while I'm knitting.

2.  Stop at local tourist sites.  On our drive from New York to New Mexico in 2004, Neal insisted that we stop at some quirky place every day.  It was super fun to walk through a Rte. 66 Museum in OK.  I'm a drive-until-you-get-where-you're-going kind of girl, but these little stops have made road trips more fun.

3.  Start a sing-along.  I tend to prefer tv-show themes and musicals, but Queen makes for good sing alongs, too.

4.  Have a project going.  On that same road trip out west, I sent postcards to two recipients every day in which I tracked miles travelled, states traversed, weather, town in which we were stopping, and average miles per gallon.  My ex, a musician, once undertook a rate-the-reststops project with travel partner.  Projects give purpose!

5.  Get way off the highway to eat.  The food will be so much tastier.  I promise.

6.  Try to find last-minute deals to stay at swanky hotels.  We usually end up in not-so-swanky places on road trips, but with the magic of George the iPhone, this summer I found a cheaper rate at a boutique hotel than I could find at any of the budge places.  Who wouldn't want to spend the night here:

7.  Bring along something to read out loud.  I like The New Yorker because there are lots of shorter pieces.  Read, then debate.  Repeat. (can you tell I prefer to be the passenger on a road trip?)

8.  Make special Road Trip mixes to play.  They should be energetic and relevant to the trip.  They should include favorite songs of all who will be in the car.  They should encourage sing-alongs.

9.  Conversation.  I love the time in a car because my chatterbox tendencies have an audience!  When traveling with a girlfriend, it's a fantastic time to catch up and dream together.  When traveling with Neal, it provides excellent time to do the same thing (only I end up doing most of the talking).  

10.  Bring good snacks.  My dad always, always had Canada mints on road trips, and now I have to bring them along, too.  I also like pretzels, fruit (grapes are my favorite in the car), and a big water bottle of ice.  

How about you?  What makes a long car ride fun?

Today's topic is Ten Reasons to Love Fall.  Since it is one of my four favorite seasons, this should be easy!

1.  Baking.  Apple crisp, pumpkin pie…fall's produce makes me want to don my apron and get something in the oven!

2.  Soup.  I'm a big fan of homemade soup. My favorite recipes are for tomato soup and butternut squash soup.

3.  Butternut squash.  I cook with it a lot in the fall.  It's the ultimate comfort food to me.

4. Leaves.  My time in New Mexico made me appreciate the riot of color that we get around here in the fall.  This year promises to be nothing short of glorious!

5.  Sweaters.  Cozy!

6.  Fires.  I can't wait for the first fire of the season.  If the chilly weather keeps up, it might happen this weekend.

7.  Hiking. I'm in the woods with the dogs almost every day, and in the fall, I'm much more inclined to go for really long walks that I don't feel shy about calling hikes.

8.  Halloween.  Without kids, this might be a glum holiday, but our neighborhood sees quite a bit of action from trick or treaters.  I get a lot of laughs from seeing the funny costumes.

9.  Thanksgiving.  No turkey for me, but the sides.  Oh, the sides!  

10.   Rhinebeck.  I look forward to seeing my  crafty peeps there.  Will I see you?