Shudder Inducing Words

Grovel: to lie or creep with the body prostrate in token of subservience or abasement; to abase oneself

Conventional a: according with, sanctioned by, or based on convention; b lacking originality or individuality, trite; c: ordinary, commonplace

Thinking about them puts my stomach in knots.
Read more . . .

Gail Collins in Person

On Tuesday, I was listening to our public radio station and heard that Gail Collins was coming to town and that Kerri Miller would be interviewing her in a live forum about her new book. I literally ran to the phone to get tickets.

#1 reason to go--The topic and the author: Collins is a NYTimes Op Ed columnist and has written several books, including America's Women, which I read a couple of years ago and really liked (a perfect birthday present from AJ). Her new book is about the women's movement and all that has happened since 1960--When Everything Changed.

#2 reason to go--Kerri Miller. She is the host of a two hour MPR program and is engaging and great to listen to. In all the different places we've lived, I've listened to lots of different local public radio hosts and she is one of the best. She beats Marty Moss-Coane, hands down. Her voice is so familiar, it was a bit surreal to see her as she was speaking.

#3 reason to go--I could leave the house and all domestic responsibilities to AJ. I needed to leave.

#4 reason to go--Gail Collins could sign her book. I'm not a big one for collecting autographs, and I thought I would just wait to get her book from the library, but she was so engaging, so interesting, so fun to listen to that I plunked down my $30.12 on the spot to buy the book from a local independent book seller that was on site, and then stood in line to chat with her and get her to sign my book. And darn it if I didn't forget my copy of America's Women.
Read more . . .

Minnesota Fall

After a warm September with lots of hot days, we are in the throes of cool weather. And fall in Minnesota means delicious apples. Last year, our apple tree produced virtually no fruit, but this year we pruned it and thinned out the blossoms, all to great results. The tree was overladen with apples, so much that one branch broke. We also have visited a nearby orchard and bought some Minnesota apples from the grocer.




Here is what we've eaten with apples this season:

apple cream pie, for book group in early September
apple crisp, one of our favorites, we've made it three times
apple cake
apple pancakes
curried apple soup
apples with greens, chives, and goat cheese
caramel apples
applesauce

Yum!

Read more . . .