Houston, We Have a Blog

San Antonio

2011-09-05T15:23:00.001+12:00

Garrett and I drove to San Antonio to spend some labor-free time there.

There were many street vendors near "El Mercado" selling Lucha Libre masks for children.

I posed with this conquistador outside the Spanish Governor's Palace.

The remains of Travis, Crockett, and Bowie -- the heroes of the Alamo -- are located at San Fernando Cathedral. A nice air-conditioned stop on our travels!

The River Walk was beautiful and hot, as expected! We considered taking the boat tour, but the path beside the river was much shadier than the path in the water. We enjoyed some tasty Mexican food and mariachi music. Hasta luego, San Antonio!

Good-bye, New Zealand!

2011-08-07T11:42:00.004+12:00

Today I fly back to Texas! I've had a wonderful time in New Zealand, but I am eager to return to the familiar surroundings, routines, and amenities of home. At last I will no longer be (literally) living out of a suitcase!

Garrett's program lasts one more week in Auckland, and then he has another week to explore more of New Zealand (or perhaps Australia). He is jealous that I get to go back to the States now!

There's no place like home!

Waipu

2011-08-05T17:47:00.001+12:00

Here is the last batch of photos of our road trip adventure! We explored Waipu Cave and its glowworms on our own!

Egmont and Tongariro National Parks

2011-08-05T15:52:00.002+12:00

We saw majestic volcanic mountains on this day, but it was too cold to enjoy any good hiking! What can we say? We prefer the Floridian climate! We came... We saw... We took photos... We left!

Otaki Forks and Waverley Beach

2011-08-05T15:32:00.001+12:00

When you come to Otaki Forks in the road, take it!

Wellington

2011-08-05T12:50:00.002+12:00

Wellington is New Zealand's capital city, but it has the feel of a large town. It reminded me of San Francisco in some ways! Check out these pics.

Scenic Train Ride

2011-08-05T12:02:00.001+12:00

All aboard! Check out the photos of the first day of our adventure here!

Road trip!

2011-07-30T21:16:00.003+12:00

Early tomorrow morning, Garrett and I embark on a five-day adventure. We're taking the scenic train to Wellington and spending a day there. After that, we're renting a car and driving up the west coast of the North Island. We plan on seeing Egmont National Park and Tongariro National Park before driving back to Auckland on Thursday night. I probably won't post more pictures until next weekend, or possibly until I return to Houston on August 7th! We shall see. Have a great week!

Tiritiri Matangi Island

2011-07-29T20:19:00.001+12:00

Tweet tweet! Hope you enjoy these bird pictures.

Heaters of New Zealand

2011-07-28T14:21:00.004+12:00

Very rarely does one encounter central heating of the conventional kind here in New Zealand. Here are some of the heating gadgets we've experienced so far.

This is the wall unit in our apartment (with a remote control for distance heating). It's effective at heating the room in which it is located (kitchen/living room), but the heat does not cross the threshold into the bedrooms.

This was at a hostel in Taupo. You pull the cord hanging at right, and heat comes shooting out the bottom black edge. We had to turn it off in the middle of the night because we were sweating!

Heat came up through these floor vents at another Taupo hostel. When we first arrived, sitting on the floor next to the heater was the best option. Over the course of several hours, the room warmed up to a comfortable temperature. However, around midnight, the heat stopped coming! It was quite cold after that... and that was the morning we woke up to frost on the car!

I've seen this type of indoor heating lamp at several restaurants and cafes. As soon as the person sitting directly beneath this heater left, the waitress turned it off!

How about an indoor wood-burning stove to warm your toes? This was at our hostel in Waitomo.

And this one was at our fancy restaurant in Waitomo! We were seated right next to it.

And of course, if all else fails, there are a variety of possum fur products to meet your heating needs!

Seriously, possum products can be just as expensive as -- if not more than -- wool products here. Who knew?

Waiheke Island

2011-07-28T11:24:00.001+12:00

All I can say is, "WOW!" Along with Piha Beach, this is the most beautiful place I've seen in New Zealand. Hope these photos convey that!

Wintergarden

2011-07-25T19:47:00.002+12:00

To paraphrase "Alice in Wonderland" -- You can learn a lot things from the flowers, especially in the month of July...

Harry Potter and the Theater of Confusion

2011-07-25T09:12:00.002+12:00

Yesterday afternoon while out on a walk, Garrett and I decided to see the latest "Harry Potter" movie. We were going to purchase tickets for a show later in the day. The nearest theater is located inside a mall with a very confusing layout. There are escalators wherever you turn, and the circular floor plan makes it hard to tell how to get from one place to another. We were able to find the theater lobby on the third floor, where the concessions stand is, as well as Fandango-like kiosks.

"But where's the box office?" I asked. "I think I remember seeing it outside." However, after navigating our way out of the building, we discovered I was wrong, and there was no box office on the sidewalk. We agreed to just return later and figure it out then.

Several hours later, we were back on the third floor by the concessions stand. We then spotted a sign that said, "Tickets and Concessions." It turns out that you pay for your tickets and your popcorn in the same place! Of course this means it takes nearly as long to get your movie ticket as it does to go through customs at the airport (i.e., "some time"). Nevertheless, we were able to purchase student tickets (sweet as!*) and made it just in time for our show.

As the woman tore our ticket stubs, she said, "Cinema 6... J-8... and J-9." Juggling those numbers in my head, I looked at my ticket and realized we had assigned seats! Amazing! The aisles and seats are labeled. There weren't ushers to make sure people were sitting where they had been assigned, but it seemed to work out well. The computer program must scatter everyone throughout the theater, because no one was really in anyone else's way.

The movie was excellent and made for an exciting yet relaxing afternoon. Well done, New Zealand.

*"Sweet as!" is a New Zealand exclamation that translates as, "Awesome!" Perhaps they need some tutoring in how to complete similes.

Waitomo

2011-07-24T21:58:00.002+12:00

"Waitomo" literally means "water hole" in Maori... Enjoy this tour of Waitomo's caves and streams!

One cool thing about Auckland

2011-07-22T15:35:00.003+12:00

All of its quirks, one of Auckland's most novel and convenient features is the diagonal crosswalk. On the main shopping thoroughfare in downtown Auckland, Queen Street, the traffic light will turn red for all four directions of traffic, and pedestrians will flood the intersection. Our roommate Yousef, who has traveled the world quite a bit, agrees that this is something only seen in Auckland.

Another plus that you can make out in this photo is that most of the sidewalk space on Queen Street is covered by overhangs. Wonderful on rainy days!

Bay of Islands

2011-07-21T12:31:00.002+12:00

Welcome to the Northland! I apologize in advance for the quality of these pictures, as 1) it was overcast all day, and 2) I took most of them from a moving vehicle. Still, enjoy!

One Tree Hill, or "The Sheep Album"

2011-07-19T17:02:00.004+12:00

Ewe can see this baaa-tch of photos here and watch U2 perform "One Tree Hill" here.

Wai-O-Tapu, the Thermal Wonderland

2011-07-18T15:35:00.001+12:00

Photos erupt here!

Taupo

2011-07-18T13:24:00.001+12:00

Get all the goodness here -- but be careful! You may get wet, or get burned!

Experience nature!

2011-07-18T11:51:00.002+12:00

Feel the spray of Huka Falls...

Hear the earth steaming at Craters of the Moon...

Watch the mud dance at the pools of Waiotapu...

Rangitoto Island

2011-07-14T10:44:00.001+12:00

Get all the volcanic goodness here!

More of Auckland and Kelly Tarlton's

2011-07-13T22:39:00.001+12:00

Get all the goodness here!

Coromandel, Day Two

2011-07-12T15:58:00.001+12:00

View the album here.

Coromandel, Day One

2011-07-12T15:01:00.001+12:00

Click here for another view.

Auckland street art

2011-07-11T17:19:00.003+12:00

I walked with Garrett to the university this morning, and afterwards paused in Albert Park to drink my coffee. I noticed something had changed at the fountain (besides the weather!)... Can you spot it?

Last Monday:

Today:

A street artist has left some stencil art along the base of the fountain, alternating cupids and capitals!

I also found this in a car park -- Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring."

Pictures of our weekend getaway to the Coromandel Peninsula coming soon!

Mt. Eden

2011-07-08T14:44:00.001+12:00

You can also link to the photo album here.

Trivia, toilets, and Thai -- oh my!

2011-07-07T21:31:00.004+12:00

Yesterday we went to a trivia night at a local bar with some of the other American students here. It has become a weekly tradition for the group. They're determined to beat the New Zealanders at their own game! It was certainly unlike any other trivia night I've attended, with questions such as the following:

Name the famous New Zealand cricketer pictured here!
These three rugby players retired in which year?
Who trained the horse that won this race?
Which netball team merged with this other netball team in 1996?
Name one of the three singers in New Zealand's hottest band, Atomic Kitten!
Which female duo sang back-up for Wham?

Nevertheless, Team FREEDOM! was in the lead for several rounds... but we came in third at the end. We'll try again next week!

***

Look what we found in the camping section of a local store. It comes with a snap-on toilet seat!

***

We had dinner tonight at Food Alley, one of the many fine "food courts" of Auckland. This particular food court boasts 10-15 different stands -- Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Korean, Vietnamese, Turkish, Malaysian, and Indonesian. There is one stand ("Alley Cats") that sells only drinks (including beers and cocktails). Each place has a menu featuring 15 or 20 pictured meals, for easy ordering. Most meals cost about $10. My pineapple fried rice was cooked to order and was delicious! The crowd was varied, from long-haired hipsters to a gentleman sipping wine with his meal. We'll have to return and eat our way around the world (or at least East Asia!).

Check out my slideshow

2011-07-07T21:14:00.003+12:00

You can also link to the photo album here, if you'd like a larger picture!

Musings on a cold, cold, wet day

2011-07-06T16:25:00.004+12:00

Here are my accumulated New Zealand observations to tide you over until the next photo album:

It's a small world after all: The Casey Anthony trial has been covered in the newspaper and on television here.
I have to remember to walk on the left side when using sidewalks, stairs, and building entrances... not to mention thinking extra hard at intersections when looking for oncoming traffic.
My coffee beverage of choice this week has been the "flat white," rather similar to a latte.
Placing an order to-go is called "take away."
It's "tyres" and not "tires."
College kids are referred to as "tertiary students," ostensibly because university comes after secondary school.
And, as I'm sure you've been dying to know, the water in a flushed toilet goes straight down, and not counterclockwise. It's just the way toilets here are designed, I suppose! Most toilets have two flush buttons -- I think so you can choose the "intensity" of your flush. :) I considered uploading a video of this, but decided it would take too long and be in poor taste.
New Zealanders are generally not a people who believe in heating during the winter. It seems to be the fashion to wear your coat always. Buildings are not really insulated or heated centrally, and Garrett's fancy apartment building has single-pane glass. This means that his bedroom, in which a window makes up one entire wall, is quite chilly (even with a curtain)! There is one small heater for the whole apartment, in the main room. However, the hotel allots residents a certain amount of energy they can use per month... so we use the heater sporadically. The New Zealanders with whom Garrett has spoken have told him that they use HOT WATER BOTTLES to keep warm at night! We haven't tried this yet because Garrett has purchased several blankets made of wool and fleece that, when piled on top of each other, make a cozy cocoon. Also, because this is 2011.
Similar to Europe, New Zealand boasts bills for $5, $10, $20, et cetera. (And they all have a small "hole" on one side, with a thin transparent sheet and hologram. It seems that the front always features a famous person, and the back a New Zealand animal.) They have coins for $2, $1, 50 cents, 20 cents, and 10 cents (with Queen Elizabeth II on one side and Maori designs on the other). Because there are no "nickels" or "pennies," businesses engage in "rounding." This can work in your favor, or against you. For example, if the total price comes to $3.98, you are expected to pay $4 and will not receive change. New Zealand taxes 15% on goods and services, but this is included in the cost. Also, tipping is not a custom. This makes mental math somewhat easier.

Auckland, City Center

2011-07-05T11:13:00.003+12:00

Yesterday morning I walked to the City Campus of University of Auckland with Garrett. Because Auckland is incredibly hilly, we took the shortcut: You enter the Lumley Centre skyscraper near the water, take the public elevator to the ninth floor, and exit the back of the building, popping out further up the hill! Even then, it's still a bit of a climb.

While Garrett was working, I explored Albert Park, across the street from the university.

The Clock Tower is the Student Information building. I went inside, but could only go as high as the third floor (that's the fourth floor in the States!).

I wandered back down the hill, towards the "harbour." I explored the wharves and took plenty of pictures.

I met Garrett and his roommate, Yousef, for lunch at the university food court. It seems that the majority of the food options in Auckland are Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and Korean. (Garrett made the mistake a few weeks ago of trying a "Mexican" place.)

After lunch I visited the Auckland Art Gallery (Toi O Tamaki). The gallery is undergoing extensive renovations and will reopen in September (in time for the Rugby World Cup!), so they are temporarily operating out of a smaller space across the street. I took a gallery tour with a docent originally from Scotland. At first I was the only one on the tour! Then three other women (mostly South African) joined in. I learned about two painters from the late 19th century who specialized in portraits of Maoris in native dress. Europeans here in and in Europe were enthralled with the "exotic" at the time, and also it was believed that the Maoris were dying off. Often times the painters worked from photographs (cartes de visite) and not sitters.

I met Garrett after work and we visited a couple bookstores in search of particular items. We decided to make nachos for dinner (Happy Fourth of July!) and went to the local grocery store in search of ingredients and basic necessities. Upon entering the store, I had PTSD flashbacks to my first days in Belgium, when it took twice as long and twice as much brain power to shop. At least in Auckland, everything is in English! However, the prices seem so high, and everything is measured in metrics. It made my head hurt! Surprise, surprise, there were only a few options for chips and salsa. I guess we're not in Texas!

The most surprising thing was that the eggs are on a regular shelf -- not refrigerated! Whoa!

The meal was a success (though we decided creme fraiche is not an adequate substitute for sour cream!). We retired to bed with full bellies (and tired legs!).

I'll send a Picasa photo album soon!

Piha Beach

2011-07-04T08:28:00.002+12:00

Aotearoa

2011-07-03T19:51:00.002+12:00

Welcome to the Land of the Long White Cloud!

After a long day (or was it two?) of traveling, I arrived at 5:30am in Auckland.

Some highlights from my time in airports:

*Weirdest sight: A vending machine at the Houston airport that dispensed only Proactiv products.

*How I knew I was flying to Los Angeles: By eavesdropping on the conversation between the two men sitting next to me, a 40-year-old guitarist and a 27-year-old dancer/choreographer.

*Best sensory experience: The several minutes spent outside one terminal in L.A., waiting for a shuttle to another terminal. The temperature was PER-fect - somewhere in the 70s, with a cool breeze blowing. Refreshing, even with the car exhaust.

*Worst sensory experience: Laying eyes upon a naked Natalie Portman, advertising perfume on a giant poster outside the Duty Free shop. Stop haunting me!

The Air New Zealand flight from L.A. to Auckland was somewhere between 12-13 hours -- and it wasn't so bad! The plane was huge, with more than 60 rows (9 people per row in the economy section). I think because the plane was so large, it was hard for me to feel claustrophobic or anxious about being on a plane for such a long time. There were two young women sitting next to me, so unfortunately I couldn't spread out... but they were polite and they didn't smell.

Every seat had its own built-in TV entertainment system, with hundreds of movies, TV shows, music videos, and albums to keep us amused. I knew it was going to be a wonderful trip when the safety video came on... and Richard Simmons appeared! Watch it for yourself here.

I perused some of the entertainment options but spent most of the flight trying to sleep. I also watched the flight tracker on my screen to see what kind of progress we were making. There aren't many geographical reference points when you're flying over the Pacific Ocean. "Wow, we're flying past Nuku'alofa!" (That's the capital of Tonga, if you're playing along at home.)

Garrett was at the airport to pick me up in his rental car, a "Nissan Sunny." Then, and several times since, I went to get in the car on the wrong side! It was somewhat strange to be driving on the "wrong" side of the road. The signage in most places is absent or incomprehensible, so we did get lost driving into the city. Additionally, most intersections are rotaries, which are even more incomprehensible. But in the end we made it to the Waldorf (yes, owned by the same company!), hotel apartments. It's very close to the harbor, and the neighborhood reminds me somewhat of downtown Seattle.

We went back to sleep for a few hours, had breakfast (or "elevensies," the good Hobbits we are), and then went out exploring. Garrett drove us an hour west, to the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park. He had been there the previous day with his group of American students and wanted to share it with me. Once we exited the suburbs and passed my first sheep-seen-from-the-road, we entered the Waitakere. The roads were narrow, winding, and generally ridiculous. I'm surprised my stomach survived it! The area is heavily forested and resembled a jungle; I imagine it's similar to Hawaii. There were crazy signs, such as frequent squiggly arrows to indicate the hairpin curves and, my favorite, a large exclamation point. This indicated that there were hidden driveways along the route. Even though it's technically a park, many people make their homes there.

We descended the road and arrived at Piha Beach, at the Tasman Sea. The scenery was, to say the least, jaw-dropping. Unfortunately, Garrett has not charged my camera's battery since arriving a month ago in New Zealand... so I took only a handful of photos before the battery went dead. :) It was a good excuse to stay focused in the present moment! We climbed to the almost-top of Lion Rock, a giant mass of a rock that resembles a reclining lion from the south when the sun begins to set. (There's a good picture here.) We watched surfers wrestle with the enormous waves crashing on shore, and we watched small children and dogs run wild on the sands. We rock-hopped over boulders covered with hundreds of glistening black clams to explore more remote coves. Garrett pointed out a sleeping seal hidden in the rocks. At "The Gap," we watched enormous waves gather in the ocean and then crash and spill between two rock faces. The water was an incredible shade of blue-green in most places.

I was sad to leave, but we had to return the rental car. It cost 52 New Zealand dollars (about $43 U.S.) to fill the gas tank. Yikes!

Garrett showed me around his neighborhood, City Center. It seems to be a mix of tall office buildings, upscale retail shops, karaoke bars, coffee shops, Internet cafes, and stores selling outdoor gear. I will do some more exploring on my own this week. We finished the evening with an amazingly delicious Indian dinner at the restaurant next door to Garrett's building. Phew!

Photos to come soon!

The adventure begins

2011-07-01T04:40:00.002+12:00

Welcome back to our blog!

I have dusted off the keyboard and resurrected this website so that I can chronicle herein our experiences in New Zealand! Thanks to the National Science Foundation and some hard work, Garrett is doing research this summer (or winter) at the University of Auckland. He has been there since the beginning of June, and I leave tomorrow, July 1st, to join him. I'll be there for five weeks, and I plan on posting comments and photos as often as possible. Garrett has my camera, so you'll have to wait a few days for pictures... but you're probably not interested in photos of airports!

As of this afternoon, I am mostly packed. Despite my interest in minimalism (documented elsewhere on this blog), I plan on taking more than just a backpack and deodorant. I think I am adequately supplied to face the New Zealand winter.

I am somewhat nervous about the 13-hour flight from Los Angeles to Auckland. However, I hope that my books, iPod, and some melatonin will see me through to the other side.

Stay tuned!

Christmas came early

2010-11-16T15:54:00.003+13:00

Behold, my Christmas present to Garrett: a ukulele!

Massachusetts Institute of To-do-ology

2010-11-14T14:56:00.002+13:00

When we aren't living minimally, we tend to maximize the stress in our lives. There is always something to do -- whether it be related to work, school, family, the house, or one's hobbies. This seems to be true especially during the holiday season, which is upon us!

Remember the minimalism philosophy? First, identify what's important to you. Second, eliminate everything else. This is a helpful perspective when creating to-do lists.

Garrett and I got this idea from zenhabits. Create focus (and success) but identifying the three most important things you want to accomplish each day -- your MITs (Most Important Tasks). You may accomplish more than just three goals for the day, but if you can tackle your three main objectives, then you should feel a sense of fulfillment -- and pride!

Personally, I love to-do lists. I live by to-do lists. Writing this blog post was on my to-do list. But my organization and forethought can be my downfall. My to-do lists quickly snowball into lengthy scrolls. As I cross off one task, I add three more. I rarely feel that I am "finished." I usually feel guilty or disappointed at the end of a day when I haven't crossed everything off my list.

About a month ago, I started implementing the MIT philosophy at work, where I type a to-do list each day. This used to be a monstrous list of 10-20 bulleted points. Rather than helping me focus my energy, this kind of list left me frazzled and disoriented. So I began to choose my three MITs each day -- three and only three! At the top of my list, I prioritize the three tasks that I must accomplish that day -- meeting with a teacher, finishing a report, testing a student, filling out a special education form, etc. And then I tackle them, one by one. This keeps me from going cross-eyed, scanning through 20 tasks. On most days, I can accomplish my MITs, and then a few extra tasks that are bulleted below my top three. That's like icing on the cake!

Being organized in this fashion decreases my stress at work and at home. I usually write my 3 MITs for tomorrow at the end of today's work day. That way, I leave work with a clear head. I'm less likely to stress about work at night if I have already laid out my plans for the next day.

Garrett and I have recently started using this strategy on the weekends. Rather than put pressure on ourselves to do all of the things we meant to do during the week but didn't, we chat over Saturday breakfast, naming a few simple goals that are related to both errands and leisure time. It helps! A to-do list shouldn't get the better of you -- especially on the weekend.

Whether you're in Cambridge or Texas, let MIT into your life.

Happy Halloween!

2010-11-01T07:15:00.004+13:00

It's Garrett's favorite time of the year! We spent Halloween eve at a party at Beth's apartment, followed by a pub crawl in the area of Houston known as Montrose.

Here's Indiana Jones and his goddess! This year's addition to Garrett's costume was a handmade fedora -- from scratch! (Or "from felt.") He worked very, very hard on it, and the end product is fantastic. Soon I'll be putting together an online photo album to document the making of the hat.

Beth dressed as a sailor, and Stephanie was Miss Piggy!

Even Lucky had a costume. He was supposed to be a dinosaur, but has also been described as a Reluctant Dragon.

Chris is an engineering student. One of his hobbies is making speakers. It took him about two hours to construct this mobile boom box, using an iPod, some wires, a lot of duct tape, and the speaker from his guitar amp. He was the most popular member of our group on the pub crawl, blasting music wherever he went!

After several hours at Beth's place, we went out to the pub crawl. There were tons of costumed people roaming the streets. Here is Laura, Patricia, Spencer, and me. Laura and Spencer are teachers at my school.

I didn't get any photos of them, but some of my favorite costumes were Quail Man (from the Nickelodeon cartoon "Doug"), Tippi Hedren from "The Birds" (a blue dress with birds attached to it, and scratches on her face), and Mormon missionaries (two guys wearing white short-sleeve button-up shirts, ties, nametags, black pants, backpacks, and bike helmets). Finalists in the official competition included a group dressed as the cast of "Spaceballs."

We ended the night at the Firkin & Phoenix, a pub next door to Beth's building. She goes there on a regular basis and knows the staff -- it's her "Cheers"! Yesterday the bartender presented her with her very own mug, which sits on the Tuesday shelf. She is very pleased.

We plan to go on a walk this evening around dusk to check out the trick-or-treaters in our neighborhood. Have a spooky day!

Down in Frugal Rock

2010-10-24T08:01:00.002+13:00

One of the key tenets of minimalism is frugality. This doesn't mean that Garrett and I aspire to live in a cardboard box (though he sometimes fantasizes about living in a van). It's more about resourcefulness.

Examining the material goods you own is a good first step on the path to minimalism. When you think about it, a lot of the stress (and debt) in your life can be attributed to THINGS and the pursuit thereof. Our obsession with acquiring things can be harmful to ourselves and to the environment. (Check out "The Story of Stuff" for more insight.)

It's rewarding to look through your belongings and think seriously about why you own them. Ask yourself:

1) How often do I use (or wear) this?

2) Have I ever used this?

3) Will I ever use this?

4) Is this broken?

5) Don't I have three others of this?

6) Could I put this closet space to better use?

7) Could someone else enjoy this more if I donated it or sold it?

8) Do I really want to pack this when we move again?

Bit by bit, Garrett and I have gone through most of the corners of our apartment. Such a task can be overwhelming, so it's best to break it down into more manageable chunks. Start with one bureau. The next day, move onto one closet. Later, tackle a drawer, cabinet, or bookshelf. Another strategy is to choose a surface area (say, a desktop or a tabletop) and clean it. Not just take things off it and stuff them into drawers, but really look at them and decide if they're worth keeping.

As part of our downsizing, we've donated clothes, shoes, and hats to Goodwill. (They'll even take your used eyeglasses.) We've trashed odds and ends that were just taking up space. I recycled old papers I haven't touched since filing them away. I gave half-used-but-still-fresh beauty products (shampoos, hand creams, etc.) to friends and co-workers. We've given blankets and towels to the Humane Society. (We had enough sheets -- if not enough air mattresses -- to sleep a family of ten.) I've sold a number of books to the used bookstore around the corner -- though you'll never catch Garrett doing that!

I've also tried to minimize the amount of trash I produce by recycling even more. I placed a gift bag next to my desk for scraps of paper (old to-do lists, receipts, etc.), so that I will recycle them instead of throwing them in the nearby wastebasket.

Of course this system doesn't work if you turn around the next day and buy a bunch of new things. The other side of the frugality coin is to think seriously about your purchases. When Garrett thinks about a big purchase, he writes it down, along with the date. He revisits the note 30 days later to decide if he still wants it. That's restraint! Other bloggers have suggested that, if you buy something new, you should donate something old -- so it balances out.

You can take the project as far as you'd like. Some people set a cap at 100 personal items. I'm not ready for that quite yet. Our next project might involve bigger items, like a sofa.

By reducing the number of things we own, we've added to our serenity. Our place is neater. And, hey, there are fewer things to clean! There's also a light, happy feeling that goes along with getting rid of THINGS.

We're moving towards independence by limiting our possessions. Most people work long, hard hours so they can buy cars/video games/clothes/etc., and then they work longer and harder so they can earn more money to buy better cars/video games/clothes/etc. When you limit yourself to the essentials, you can be satisfied with what you have. You can step off the consumerism hamster wheel!

Alright, I'm stepping off my soapbox for now. Enjoy the weekend!

Independence, Meaningfulness, and Serenity

2010-10-21T12:17:00.003+13:00

The blog is back!

Apologies to friends and family disappointed by the lack of posts since July. I'd like to think of it as a sabbatical. We now return to blogging with a sense of eagerness and purpose!

At the beginning of September, Garrett and I embarked on a journey. As we started our third year in Houston, we reflected on where we had been and where we would like to go from here. Thus began Project: Minimalism.

Prompted by a news story, we started exploring blogs about living simply. One of our favorites is Zen Habits. As stated on that blog, the philosophy underlying minimalism is this:

1) Identify what's most important to you.

2) Eliminate everything else.

Simple but powerful!

I'd like to use this blog as a forum to document our journey and explain our rationale.

In the first few weeks of minimal living, we identified our goals. Here are our lists --

Kristin

1) Nurturing my relationship with Garrett

2) Working with and on behalf of children, especially those with disabilities

3) Staying fit and healthy

4) Living near nature, among a community with shared values

5) Living a debt-free life

Garrett

1) Kristin

2) Finishing my PhD

3) Becoming more autonomous

4) Being healthy

5) Being creative

Together we decided that our mantra will be "Independence, Meaningfulness, and Serenity." When we examine how we spend our time, energy, and money, we will ask ourselves, "Is this helping me achieve independence, meaningfulness, or serenity?" If the answer is no, we should probably place our efforts elsewhere.

I hope that this blog will add to the meaningfulness of our lifestyle -- or at least some clarity! Stay tuned for more ideas and achievements.

These are the objects in my neighborhood

2010-07-23T04:20:00.004+12:00

On a walk yesterday, Garrett and I discovered this casa, decked out to celebrate Spain's victory in the World Cup.

On an unrelated note, I purchased a field guide to trees about three months ago. Since then, Garrett and I have been becoming experts on the flora in our little Houston jungle. I admit it is a nerdy hobby, but I find it very rewarding! It's like our own little CSI. We get quite excited when we solve the riddle that is an unknown tree. So far, we have identified more than 30 types of trees!

This tree is one of my favorites, because it is so unusual! It is a Northern Catalpa, also known as a Cigar Tree.

The leaves can grow up to 12 inches long, and the podlike capsule that contains its seeds can grow up to 20 inches long!

Wish us luck as we continue our identification endeavors! We hope we can leaf our mark on Houston.

Even Garrett gets the blues

2010-07-08T09:44:00.002+12:00

In a fit of creativity and good ol' hard work, Garrett recently made himself a cigar box guitar!

He turned a corner of our apartment into a workshop.

Amazing!

Next project -- learning how to play it!

Awe-stin

2010-06-21T11:09:00.003+12:00

Last weekend, I visited my friend Faye and her family in Austin. It was a great time! Here are some scenes from our walk around Lady Bird Lake.

These adventuresome Austinites are practicing the art of stand up paddle surfing. Amazing!

Nothing is certain but death and TAKS

2010-04-30T10:54:00.003+12:00

TAKS week is nearing its end! Students across the state took the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills this week in a variety of subject areas. At one of my schools, the third grade hallway was decorated in celebration -- stars and paper chains hanging from the ceiling, glittery good luck wishes from parents prominently displayed, and handmade posters by the students along the lower part of the wall. Though there was a "block party" in the hallway last week, I didn't take a close look at the posters until this week. It's one thing when I rant and rave on the blog about standardized tests; it's another thing to see how the kids really feel about them! Should I notify a psychologist?

The last one reads (or can be translated as), "The TAKS has been terminated! And I got commended." Some students receive "Commended Performance" for very high scores. But it looks like that TAKS got commando-ed!

Making it official

2010-04-30T10:37:00.004+12:00

Rice recently opened up a shiny, new gym facility. Thoughts of the upcoming summer caused me to wonder if I, somehow, could have access to such riches. A few e-mails and a few weeks later, Garrett and I found ourselves at the Rice police station, making it official. I am now the proud owner of a Rice Spouse ID card! This means I can access, among other things, the gym and the library at Rice. Woohoo! "Domestic Partner" was the phrase Garrett chose when filling out the form -- it was he who had to sign off on the card and swear that he would assume financial responsibility for any damages or fines I may incur while assuming my Rice identity. Afterwards we tossed around other phrases, such as "Sugar Mama of Garrett Grolemund" or "Personal Servant of Garrett Grolemund." The ID is valid for one year, so we have plenty of time to brainstorm.

Deep thoughts, by Kristin

2010-04-26T04:36:00.002+12:00

I like to study language. Whether it's when I'm reading, when I'm listening to NPR, or when I'm having a conversation, I sometimes lose track of what people are saying and begin focusing on how they're saying it. So I've made a decision to write a brief post on it. Or did I take a decision to do so?

Turns out that in Spanish and in French, and in British English and Australian English, people say "to take a decision" instead of "to make a decision." I think this is fascinating. Why the distinction? Does it have a cultural significance? Is it the difference between a more laidback, or passive approach to decisions -- and a more trailblazing, defining, aggressive approach to decisions? "Taking a decision" conjures up an image of an array of choices that are already laid before me on silver platters -- and that it's just a matter of selecting which is the best fit for me. "Making a decision" conjures up an image of a sculptor carving out his destiny -- of seeing something one wants, and going out and seizing it. This seems to me to be a division of temperaments -- European vs. American. Are we as Americans obsessed with creation and progress and the idea of the self-made man? Is making more empowering than taking?

William Safire wrote a column about such "Britishisms" in the New York Times more than 20 years ago. Read it here! I like that he compares "taking a decision," "taking tea," or "taking your point" to accepting a serve in tennis.

What do you make of that? Or, what do you take away?

Easter graffiti

2010-04-10T09:30:00.002+12:00

Spring has sprung!

2010-03-30T12:50:00.005+13:00

Garrett and I are giddy! The weather in Houston can be described as sunny, 70s, sublime! We went on three separate walks this weekend to take it all in. Here are some snapshots from our neighborhood. I heart flowers!

I match the azaleas!

On Saturday, we saw a women emptying junk out of her garage. On Sunday, we saw that she had placed this scarecrow in a raggedy chair. If it's at the end of the driveway, does that mean he's waiting for the garbage truck? Or is it a piece of art, something about the scarecrow kicking back to enjoy spring since his autumnal duties are complete?

I like the ivy on this front porch.

The handiwork of our local graffiti artist! We noticed his (her?) work around the neighborhood during the 2008 elections, small "Tron" images that read "Vote Right" (like the one seen in the upper right corner of this image). This piece is on a non-functioning door on the back of a shop, in an empty parking lot. She has the presidential seal on her neck. Spring is an excellent season for smirking!

Where's the common sense-us?

2010-03-09T12:43:00.002+13:00

I was actually excited to find an envelope from the U.S. Census in our mailbox this afternoon. As a freshman in college in 2000, I somehow missed the census a decade ago. I am now eager to contribute to such an impressive national project.

So imagine my surprise when I opened the envelope to find a single sheet of paper informing me that, in one week, I will receive a 2010 Census form in the mail. Huh? Is this how we're spending -- or wasting -- government funds? To preserve my sanity, I am not going to ask the statistician of the house to calculate how much paper this endeavor has wasted, or how much carbon dioxide was released during the delivery of this important news.

Sigh!

Flying saucers

2010-03-02T16:33:00.004+13:00

Garrett and I went for a walk yesterday and discovered some beautiful and enigmatic flowering trees in our neighborhood. After learning on Google that they were saucer magnolias, we ventured out to get some photos today after a rainstorm. I think they're fascinating!

I caught this one peeking around a fence!

This is not a saucer magnolia, but some kind of sculpture that perhaps stands in honor of rodeo season. I call it "Surprised Longhorn."

Rodeo Tailgating

2010-03-01T14:01:00.002+13:00

It's that time of the year again, when every Houstonian dusts off his cowboy hat and boots and the trailriders make their way into the city on their horses. It's the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo!

Garrett and I joined another couple this weekend for the rodeo "pre-party." Next to a carnival of enormous proportions lies the World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest. This is a sea of more than 400 tents, wherein various restaurants, individuals, and teams compete for a variety of BBQ trophies. Garrett was so excited to go, as someone who starts drooling at the mere mention of a pulled pork sandwich.

We were disappointed to learn upon arrival, however, that the average Billy Joe Bob who pays his $10 admission fee is admitted to only two tents! At the "Chuckwagon," the public can enjoy a free sandwich, baked beans, and chips. The "barbeque" sandwich, though, tasted more like the Sloppy Joe found in your local cafeteria. At the Hideout, Billy Joe Bob can drink overpriced alcohol. The remaining 431 tents are PRIVATE parties, which you may attend by invitation only. There wasn't even a stand where we could purchase some samples of these award-winning dishes. With no personal connection/hook-up, we spent most of the night wandering around, sipping beer, looking at tents, and breathing in the aroma of barbecue. We also enjoyed a nice funnel cake. Disappointed, we didn't even stay for the live music events.

The highlight of the evening was stumbling upon this tent, where whole pigs were being roasted on spits. We caught this chef putting an apple in the pig's mouth. Too bad there wasn't an accompanying spider web advertising, "Some pig!"

Stopping by Woods on a Sunny Afternoon

2010-02-21T15:42:00.007+13:00

Enticed by warm temperatures and sunshine, Garrett and I spent a couple hours getting lost in Houston's own Memorial Park. We encountered other hikers, and even bikers, but still managed to steal some quiet moments of solitude.

I spotted Bigfoot crossing this gully.

I was very amused by the fungi we saw on this trip. These mushrooms were growing on many fallen trees. "Oo!" I said. "They look just like oysters!" Garrett replied, "Yes, that's why they're called oyster mushrooms." That's my mycologist!

Here's a colony thriving on a partially submerged log!

This wet part of the park has been transformed into a swamp!

We made our way to Buffalo Bayou and took in the impressive real estate across the way. This house had what appeared to be miniature horses grazing upon the lawn!

Some of the paths were actually quite steep.

Many of the exposed roots on the path, having been traversed by hikers and bikers, looked buffed or polished from all of the action they've seen.

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in Midtown though;
He will not see me stopping here
To take too many photos.

My boyfriend must think it queer
To stop without a landmark near
Between the woods and flowing bayou
The sunniest afternoon of the year.

He gives his pocket watch a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only sound's the sweep
Of pony tail and muddy lake.

The woods are lovely, bright and deep.
But I have blog posts to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Fun in the kitchen

2010-02-14T09:30:00.003+13:00

The dirty dishes really piled up this week... but so did the clean ones, thanks to Garrett! A modern art display in our kitchen... that turned into a game of Jenga when the dishes had dried.

The SarcMark

2010-02-08T10:36:00.002+13:00

When the winky emoticon just isn't enough, try the SarcMark -- the punctuation mark that denotes sarcasm! Perfect for people who don't know how to write well or those who just can't pick up on sociolinguistic cues.

It's not just the roads that are bad

2010-02-02T15:57:00.003+13:00

There's nothing quite like getting ready for work on a Monday morning, doing one's best to be chipper and optimistic about the week, and then hearing not one, but two, stories on NPR about pollution in Houston.

KUHF reports that a new study from the non-profit, The Environmental Working Group, ranks Houston 95th out of 100 cities when it comes to the quality of drinking water. Over a four-year period, 46 chemicals were detected in the city's water. Yet the amounts of these chemicals did not exceed the limits set by the EPA. Which is more disturbing: the chemicals in the water, or the fact that it's legal to have 46 of them?

KUHF also reports that Houston is trembling in its cowboy boots because it looks like the Obama administration is going to set stricter limits on ozone and other air pollutants. Last year was the first time Houston met the EPA's limit of 84 parts per billion. That might soon change to less than 70. (The World Health Organization, by the way, recommends 51 ppb.) A long-term study detailed in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the risk of dying from lung disease was 30% greater for people living in cities with high ozone levels (Houston, Los Angeles).

I plan to continue to use my Brita water filter... and I might just hold my breath until Garrett finishes his PhD.

Before & After

2010-01-26T16:46:00.003+13:00

Before the qualifiers:

After the qualifiers:

I'm not the woman they think I am at home --- oh no no no, I'm a Rocket Woman!

2010-01-25T09:44:00.006+13:00

Last night was our Jazzercise performance at the Houston Rockets game! After a very long afternoon rehearsal to coordinate 300 participants, we were ready for our 3 minutes of fame. I was chosen to be in the front row! See the YouTube video here! (I'm the pale one with the ponytail.)

Garrett and Jaime came out to support me. We were excited to see Yao Ming play, but apparently he has been out all season with a foot injury! I guess we don't keep up with the NBA like we should. Here's how Jaime's wingspan and my shoe size compare with Yao's.

The Rockets trailed the Bulls for the whole game, but the Power Girls (whose moves -- and outfits -- were much more scandalous than us Jazzercisers), the cheerleaders, and Clutch the Bear (NBA Mascot of the Year, 2005) were entertaining. Before and after the performance, several of my instructors -- including the woman who owns my local franchise -- told me that they think I have instructor potential and should consider becoming one! I'll let you be the judge.

The race continues

2010-01-22T07:26:00.003+13:00

With this week marking the original deadline to apply for Race to the Top, President Obama has now decided to increase the funding available to recipients and also to extend the invitation to apply for grants to individual school districts (and not just states). Houston ISD, it seems, can't wait to apply. Thank you, Mr. Obama, and good luck, Dr. Grier!

O Fortuna

2010-01-21T05:49:00.003+13:00

Returning from a long weekend away (Phoenix post to come!), Garrett and I went to the cupboard only to discover it was bare. We walked over to our local Chinese eatery to get some take-out. When we arrived home and reached into the bag to pull out our containers, we nearly drowned in a sea of fortune cookies! Not two, not three, but SEVENTEEN cookies!

We have also been inundated with fortune in another way: Garrett passed the qualifiers! (He also received all A's for the semester.) He is very excited about his newfound freedom and a somewhat less demanding semester ahead.

Race to the Bottom

2010-01-16T05:42:00.002+13:00

In an example of what makes Texas so... Texan, Governor Rick Perry announced this week that the state will not be applying for federal education grants through the Race to the Top program. I guess Texas pride supercedes $350-700 million to improve education.

Like the members of 'N Sync, Perry enjoys no strings attached to funding. "Our states and our communities must reserve the right to decide how we educate our children and not surrender that control to a federal bureaucracy," he said, sounding like he was hunkered down at the Alamo. Last year, to prove this point, Perry and Sarah Palin were the only governors to refuse to participate in efforts to move toward national curriculum standards.

What are the feds asking of grant recipients? The Race to the Top website says that states should:

Adopt standards and assessments that prepare students to succeed in college and the workplace and to compete in the global economy;
Build data systems that measure student growth and success, and inform teachers and principals about how they can improve instruction;
Recruit, develop, reward, and retain effective teachers and principals, especially where they are needed most; and
Turn around our lowest-achieving schools.

I guess we're already doing that in Texas, Gov. Perry? The new superintendent of HISD is quoted as saying, “If our standards are that much better, why don't we get in there and convince everyone else in the nation to rise to our level?” The School Board was set to vote last night on "the consideration of value-added data in personnel decisions" (i.e., TAKS scores tied to teacher evaluations). Many Texas teachers groups seemed to be against Race to the Top for fear of this kind of evaluation. However, it seems to be the wave of the future -- like it or not.

Education Week just released their Quality Counts study on education in America. In 19th place, Texas received a C+ as its overall grade. Within that grade, the study awards grades in the areas of Chance-for-Success; Standards, Assessment, and Accountability; K-12 Achievement; Transitions and Alignment; The Teaching Profession; and School Finance. Texas received a D+ in that last category. Perhaps we should be quoting another 'N Sync song from 2000, "It Makes Me Ill."

The truth is out there

2010-01-12T17:08:00.004+13:00

Garrett and I have gone Mulder and Scully. We're growing our own crop circle! A modern day Chia, the crop circle begins as a "crop-growing mat," sprinkled with seeds and misted with water. Here is a photo from Day One. Thank you, Amanda and Ben, for helping us to become occultivators.

I have been pondering my last post some more, after watching Garrett and his classmate study furiously this weekend for the second part of their qualifying exam. They have been pulling their hair out for the last six months, teaching themselves the complex material that was never adequately taught to them and agonizing over the possibility of failing the exam. Why, I wondered, is there less accountability at the PhD level than at the elementary level? If Garrett were taking the PhD TAKS, his professors would actually be invested in this exam. They would teach the material on their syllabi, giving clear and precise lectures and offering insightful feedback on meaningful assignments. They would care about their PhD students and how they performed on this exam, because their bosses would expect them to put in 100% effort and would take the PhD TAKS results into consideration when evaluating the professors. Heck, they might even give a nice little bonus to the professors if their students do well on the test! If the statistics department had to demonstrate Adequate Yearly Progress under the No PhD Candidate Left Behind Act, they would have to show that each year, more students pass the qualifiers. Garrett and his classmates shouldn't worry about failing -- their professors should be worried if their PhD students fail, and it should be seen as a reflection of the professors' teaching abilities and not the students' ability to learn or to take high-stakes tests.

Is school fun anymore?

2010-01-08T17:19:00.003+13:00

Cold winds have swept across our state, sending shivers down the spines of many a Texan. No, it's not the Arctic blast (which sounds like a Slurpee flavor in my opinion) -- it's testing season!

The first week back at school following the winter break brings discussions of vacations past and tests of the future. Though the pressure has been on since August, things really heat up this time of year when standardized testing rolls around. (Sorry for my mixed meteorological metaphors.)

An assistant principal at one of my schools sent out an e-mail on Tuesday with the testing schedule for the next four months -- and an ominous warning that there were only 38 school days before the writing test and 55 school days before math and reading! (Eeps! Make that 36 and 53!) The tension is palpable. There are eight tests that will be given on this campus (more, if you count all the subject/grade variations).

Everyone knows that high-stakes standardized tests have been the focus at most schools (and most curricula) since the No Child Left Behind Act was passed in 2001. In Texas, we live and die by a) the Texas flag, b) Texas football, and c) the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS). TAKS begins in third grade, but the pressure starts in pre-school.

In two days, Saturday tutorials begin, and run through the spring. Children who were somehow deemed "at risk" have had letters sent home informing parents that they need to bring their child to school every Saturday morning. This even includes children in the gifted program.

I've heard horror stories of fourth graders staying up until 9:30 or 10:30 doing homework to prepare them for TAKS.

Another teacher described to me the Stanford, a multiple-choice achievement test that is administered every year starting in kindergarten. That first year, the teacher reads the questions aloud while the students bubble in their answers. My friend told me how the children have been taught how to bubble in answers, and, every year, on a question with a picture of a door, many kids bubble in the doorknob.

What is going on? The early childhood educator in me is curled up in the corner, rocking back and forth, and crying.

On a somewhat similar note, I'm pleased to say that Garrett has made it through day one of the written portion of his qualifying exam. One-third of the way there!

Think of Kramer with the set of the old Merv Griffin Show

2010-01-04T16:55:00.003+13:00

Though the holiday season is winding down, the season of college applications is still chugging along. For the second year, I have volunteered to interview applicants to Harvard. Two seasons ago, I had a lot of fun meeting bright and bubbly seniors in Orlando. This year, it's time to show Houston some Crimson love.

Garrett was surprised when I told him that everyone who applies to Harvard is granted an interview (except for, perhaps, the lone homeschooler in the Alaskan wilderness). He said he had been very excited when, lo, those many years ago, he found out he had landed an Ivy interview. That's one of the great things about Harvard: every applicant is special and worth at least an hour of an interviewer's time.

The alumni associations across the country are facing a big challenge this year, since the university did away with the Early Decision process. All applications were due by January 1st, and all of our interviews need to be completed by January 31st. With nearly 30,000 applicants, that's a lot of schmoozing to fit in!

Here are some of the things that go through my mind during the typical interview:

Was I this energetic and optimistic when I was 17? These kids are intensely interested in so many academic areas and passionately committed to righting all of society's ills.
Have I met the expectations I set for myself when I was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed? What would the 17-year-old Kristin say to me today?
Does the overachieving teenager manage to find more than 24 hours in the day? I am vicariously exhausted reading long resumes and hearing about packed schedules.
If the tables were turned, and this student asked me to expound on MY interests and outline MY goals for the future, would I be able to do so, enthusiastically and articulately? It's a lot to ask of anyone, let alone a senior in high school.
I'd like to think I have a good sense of who would make a good Harvard student, but do I really? Are there unknown biases affecting my judgment? What is the value of an impression after one hour of talking to someone? With great power comes great responsibility, as someone once said.
And what every Harvard graduate thinks at some point: Would I be accepted if I applied today? For the class of 1983, the admit rate was 17%. For the class of 2013, it was 7%. Yikes!

I'm looking forward to meeting more youngsters, so that I can be dazzled and inspired... and so that I can continue to use the phrase, "Back in MY day..."

Happy New Year!

2010-01-02T09:26:00.002+13:00

Happy 2010, faithful blog readers!

Garrett and I celebrated New Year's Eve first at the movie theater ("Sherlock Holmes" -- excellent!), and then at the apartment of our friend, Jaime. The crowd was international, hailing from South Korea, Mexico, Colombia, and Venezuela. We Americans brought our appetites for the tasty South American cuisine, while the others brought their Latin traditions. After toasting with champagne at midnight (and strangely viewing a delayed showing of the celebrations in Times Square), we were each given a bunch of 12 grapes and told to make a wish for each month of the year as we ate them. Then a few brave souls went out into the cold with assorted pieces of luggage (containing a shoe from each of the guests) and circled the block -- making it known to the gods that they would like to travel in 2010. Finally, Jaime produced a stack of 12 quarters. He explained that we were to bend our arm, balance the stack on our elbow, and then quickly throw and catch the quarters with the hand of the same arm. I managed to catch 4 of my 12, which I think means that I will come in to some money in 2010.

I started off New Year's Day with a Jazzercise class. Trying out Jazzercise was one of my 2009 Resolutions, and I'm proud to say that I've stuck with it (and thoroughly enjoyed it) since last January. I knew today's class would be special, with two instructors -- one of whom is the franchise owner and a truly inspiring teacher. So I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised when I showed up right as class was starting to find about SEVENTY people in attendance! Participants included veteran Jazzercisers, newcomers with 2010 resolutions, a girl of about age 10, and a man who was wearing what can only be described as exercise suspenders. It was a great workout to start the new year -- part aerobics class, part music video, and part church revival! The women love to hoot and holler during their favorite songs, and the instructor's encouragements make everyone feel good about themselves and their bodies. Tomorrow I am embarking on a new Jazzercise adventure: a Houston Rockets halftime show! Practice begins on Saturday, and the performance is three weeks later.

This afternoon I reflected on last year's resolutions and drew up some new ones. I'm pleased to say that I met many of my objectives for 2009. Last year I expanded my exercise regimen -- I tried spinning and yoga and continue with Jazzercise. I spent quality time with Garrett, in and out of Houston -- as confirmed by the entries and photos on this blog, I hope! I explored my career options and became an educational diagnostician. I encouraged others to recycle in our apartment building, sent letters and cards to friends throughout the year, and decorated our apartment to make it vibrant yet inviting.

Here are my new goals for the upcoming year:

Return to daily meditation.
Be positive about Houston -- investigate activities and pursue friendships here.
Blog more frequently to exercise my writing muscles.
Continue the quest for a good pilates mat class.
Explore ESL certification (English as a Second Language) to add to my professional profile.
Continue to spend quality time with Garrett in and out of Houston!

Wish us luck! Happy New Year!

He's gonna find out who's naughty at Rice...

2010-01-02T09:16:00.003+13:00

Santa Claus came to town... and was pulled over at the Rice University police station! This wins my award for favorite holiday decoration in Houston.

Snow Day!

2009-12-06T09:48:00.005+13:00

Meteorologists were tickled pink (or white) when their forecasts came to pass and it snowed in Houston yesterday! The snow began during the morning commute and lasted well into the afternoon. All told, about 2 inches fell. It was enough so that, after work, I went MacGyver and used a plastic ruler to brush the accumulated snow off my car! The Prius handled the strange weather and the slippery streets with aplomb.

Last year when it snowed, Garrett didn't believe me when I said it had snowed. This year, he couldn't argue!

By the time I got home, warmed up, and went back onto the streets with my camera, the snow had stopped and was even starting to melt. Here's what I saw!

This scruffy snowman stood about 2 feet tall.

This soldier is remembering what it felt like to serve at Valley Forge!

I love that Garbage song, "I'm Only Happy When It Snows"!

While it was beautiful and whimsical to see it snow, unfortunately it was also bad news for our friend Sandhya, who was supposed to fly in to visit us from Phoenix. When she booked her tickets a couple months ago, she never imagined her flight to Texas would be cancelled due to snow and ice! We are saddened but have plans to see her in Arizona in January.

Lazy Sunday

2009-11-16T13:10:00.003+13:00

Glimpsed through the smudgy window in our apartment this afternoon -- Can you find the kitty?

It made me smile to see him enjoying a siesta in his very own quiet place.

Walking by on the ground, I could only see his ear at first!

I hope everyone enjoyed a restful weekend!

Texas Renaissance Festival

2009-11-03T05:04:00.009+13:00

Garrett and I returned to the Texas Renaissance Festival, this time on Halloween.

Garrett disguised himself with a dashing cloak.

My Waldo costume was a hit! As an adult, I have never received so much positive feedback on a Halloween costume. People shouted at me, "Hey! I found you!" or "Have you seen Waldo?" Some comments were disappointing (i.e., "You're the third Waldo I've seen today!") or sexist ("Are you Waldo's girlfriend?"). The comments did wear thin as the day went on, but all in all I was just pleased that people recognized me. Garrett observed, "I guess we have disproven the notion that it is hard to find someone in a crowd wearing a red-and-white striped shirt." Indeed!

The best part of the day was the people-watching. Or monster-watching.

It was comforting to know that even Gandalf has to stop and ask for directions sometimes.

These girls had pretend squirrels (or other small rodents) on their shoulders!

We took in a very entertaining fighting competition. The actors battled it out using a variety of medieval weaponry and dirty jokes. Oh, those codpieces!

It's not a day at the festival without some mead!

I think these guys have a big head about their costumes.

This shop sold satyr horns. I thought this drawing would make Matisse proud!

Where's Waldo? Hint: She's carrying a bottle of mead!

The pirate hanging out in the second-floor shop window found Waldo.

Can you see the man in the Ghillie suit? The suit is usually worn by hunters. (And, I'm not talking about a baseball cap and jeans.)

This Native American was a hit with the ladies.

David the Gnome counseled a lady in need. He was a real midget!

We concluded the day with the jousting tournament. We sat in the winning section -- Spain!

After a long day of fun in the sun, we returned to Rice Village. Now that Halloween is over, we can start looking forward to Christmas! Santa picked the best bench in the shopping plaza. He's gonna find out who's naughty and nice!

Happy Halloween!

2009-11-01T15:40:00.004+13:00

Smile! It's Halloween! Check out the pumpkin that Garrett carved!

Good-bye, Daylight Savings Time! Remember to turn back your clocks!

Renaissance Festival photos to come soon!

A Vision Realized

2009-10-29T15:52:00.007+13:00

While Garrett has had his Halloween costume ready to go for a week or two, I have only just put the finishing touches on mine.

To make the perfect Waldo shirt, I first tried to create white stripes by spraying bleach onto a red shirt. That resulted in a red-and-pink shirt. Perhaps the right shirt for a new rugby team, but not the shirt for me!

I then tried spraying (and sponging) red fabric paint onto a white shirt. It worked!

The entire ensemble will be revealed on Saturday! Stay tuned!

Into the Wild

2009-10-27T15:15:00.004+13:00

Garrett and I began last weekend by fighting this giant, red-eyed longhorn armadillo with our bare hands!

Actually it's just the prominent mascot of a local bar, Goode's Armadillo Palace.

The following day we embarked on a hiking adventure. The weather has finally cooled off so that going outdoors is now (somewhat) bearable. We drove up to Lake Houston Park, about 45 minutes north of Houston.

This bridge over Peach Creek was the most visually exciting part of the hike.

Given its muddy color, Peach Creek is more like Latte Creek! It's hard to discern mud from water in this picture...

We saw squirrels, birds, mosquitoes, butterflies, ants, mosquitoes, what seemed to be deer hoof prints, mosquitoes, and Cub Scouts. And mosquitoes! Those insects never give up. Isn't it time for them to migrate south? further south?

Scenes from the Bayou City

2009-10-15T07:13:00.004+13:00

Here are some snapshots of Houston in October!

Our neighborhood is safe, thanks to the Texas Rangers!

Follow the yellow brick road... to fall!

Nothing says "upscale neighborhood" like a shrunken head!

Lizard close-up!

"Hoot, hoot!"

We've had a lot of rain recently, and little mushroom cities have sprung up.

Garrett and I attended the Bayou City Arts Festival in downtown Houston last weekend. So did this polar bear!

Steel cacti, steel skyscrapers.

How does your garden grow?

Sculptures appropriate for Halloween!

Seen from the Metro train on the way back to Rice.

The second most surprising award of the week

2009-10-10T15:59:00.002+13:00

Forget Norway and Nobel! Another set of awards was announced this week that shocked many Americans. The part of Houston known as Montrose was named one of the ten "Great Neighborhoods" of America by the American Planning Association! Montrose is a hip part of town known for its antique stores, cafes, thrift shops, restaurants, bungalows, art museums, Halloween pub crawl, and annual gay pride parade. The college where I am currently taking a class, the University of St. Thomas, is also in Montrose and has on its property the boyhood home of Howard Hughes (1924 Rice University drop-out). Garrett and I agree that Montrose is a pleasant place to visit and/or to drive through.

Check out the website for the lists and slideshows of great neighborhoods, great streets, and great public places honored by the APA.

Am I getting old?

2009-10-10T09:09:00.004+13:00

Garrett and I attended a Kings of Leon concert at the Toyota Center here in Houston. We had general admission tickets that gave us access to the floor of the arena. After entering through a side door, we were ushered to the wrist band table. This is what we had to wear:

"Should I have brought my bike helmet with me?" I thought.

As it turns out, the crowd (as well as the band) was generally mild-mannered. By night's end, my legs hurt and my ears were ringing. As we were leaving, and I was wondering if this was my last concert, I saw a mom depart with her young daughter. The girl was about 7 years old and wore a homemade Kings of Leon shirt that read, "My First Concert." Ah, the circle of life!

The Old West... and the New Pest

2009-09-27T14:08:00.004+13:00

I went for a late-afternoon bike ride today and captured these images around the neighborhood.

At Fleming Park, rodeo rugrats can play. (I guess in Texas you can have guns on the playground!)

Down the street, at an art gallery, roams the mighty buffalo.

Rice University, to protect us from H1N1, recently installed hand sanitizer by the doors in our apartment building. "Nice!" says Garrett. "It's like we live in a bathroom!"

Fun with Road Signs

2009-09-16T23:48:00.003+12:00

Seen consecutively on our Alamo trip.

Remember the Alamo!

2009-09-08T14:05:00.006+12:00

After watching the 2004 movie "The Alamo" (entertaining but, sadly, not worth remembering), Garrett and I journeyed westward for the day to visit San Antonio.

San Antonio is famous for its downtown Riverwalk. Below street level, canals and sidewalks wind their way through the city. Restaurants and shops line the water, and boat tours cruise past. I couldn't help but cry, "It's like the Mexico pavilion at Epcot! but real!"

We ate lunch at Casa Rio, which has been serving delicious but affordable Mexican cuisine since 1946.

Many of the trees along the river are junipers. Very beautiful!

All of the boats are named after real women. We saw the "Miss Sandra" go by (for Sandra Day O'Connor) and the "Miss Carol" (for Carol Burnett). Then we saw the trash boat (I'm sure it has a fancier name). The driver pushes a button and -- whoosh! -- its arms sweep out, and the little nets along the arms collect any debris.

Yeehaw! We ambled along the Riverwalk. Notice that there are no barriers between pedestrians and the water. I wonder if anyone ever falls in?

There are many scenic bridges along the way.

This restaurant features wreaths made of cacti!

Crossing the Crockett Street bridge. Rumor has it that it goes all the way to Tennessee! Just kidding.

We made it to the Alamo! The low wall at the left is part of the original structure (the long barrack), and the famous facade at right is the church where Davey Crockett and a few others made their last stand on that fateful day in 1836. I don't know what the building in the middle is, but it is very tall and imposing.

The plaza in front of the Alamo was actually part of the original mission (built in the early 1700s); the church was at the rear, within the compound. On the opposite side of the plaza are a Ripley's Museum, a Guinness World Records museum, and a wax museum. (I didn't take a picture of those.) Texans are so darned proud of this place today, but most of the original site was leveled only 40 years after the siege at the Alamo. I guess they didn't appreciate history the same way. Since 1905, the Alamo has been run by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas.

From the gardens on the Alamo grounds, you can see the nearby Crockett Hotel. We really enjoyed learning more about the history of the Alamo and seeing its artifacts (sorry, no photos allowed!). There was a particularly cool display on the history of Bowie knives. It made me want to learn more about Davey Crockett, Jim Bowie, and William Travis.

The final assault at the Alamo took place on March 6, 1836. The Battle of San Jacinto, which secured Texas' independence from Mexico, followed in April. Now that we've visited both places, I have a better understanding of what it means to be from Texas.

This is also what it means to be from Texas -- to pile as many of your belongings as possible, no matter how dangerous, into the back of a pick-up.

This explains alot

2009-08-20T14:08:00.006+12:00

Today a poster in a school room caught my eye. It wasn't of a kitten dangling from a tree, or of a boat sailing above an inspirational quote. The poster featured a cartoonish rendering of the Alamo and the words to one "Texas Pledge." Astounded, I asked my co-workers if they knew about this craziness. "Yes," they replied. "The kids say it every day!" I shook my head.

The words to the Texas pledge of allegiance are:

Honor the Texas flag;

I pledge to allegiance to thee, Texas,

one state under God,

one and indivisible.

(The God part, if you're keeping track, was added two years ago, to "acknowledge our Judeo-Christian heritage" and "the presence and influence of God" in the U.S.)

I am surprised I haven't yet heard a recitation of this pledge, in school or at the rodeo. I am intrigued to see if everyone takes off their cowboy hats to say the pledge, and if it's appropriate to shout, "Yeehaw!" at the end.

Cheers!

2009-08-01T06:44:00.003+12:00

First, Harry Potter and friends cope with the horrors of the Dark Lord returning and puberty hitting by gulping down butterbeers in "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince."

Then, President Obama eases racial tensions by inviting Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and Sgt. James Crowley over to the White House for a beer summit.

I would like to suggest that when butterbeer and Bud Lite isn't strong enough to solve life's major problems, world leaders and heroes turn to other culinary strategies for help.

When meeting with key figures in North Korea to discuss nuclear disarmament, Hillary Clinton could arrive armed with cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery. Or when visiting French President Nicolas Sarkozy, she could bring the Franzia. In Iran, she could bring Bobby Flay for a "throwdown."

Bon appetit!

The Invisible Hook

2009-07-28T11:02:00.002+12:00

If there's one Amazon review you read this season, let this be the one!

Houst-zen

2009-07-28T10:42:00.002+12:00

Last week, Garrett and I began an exploration of Zen meditation. We're enrolled in a 5-week introductory class at the Houston Zen Center. In the first class, after leaving our shoes and our worries at the door, we shared our reasons for being there ("Garrett made me come!") and learned a little bit about the history of Zen. We also had the opportunity to practice meditating on some cozy pillows.

The first week's "homework" is to meditate each day for 15 minutes, and to practice "mindfulness." To practice mindfulness, we are to pay full attention to the activity of opening and closing a door (in the natural context, not as an autistic activity): reaching for the knob, turning the knob, crossing the threshold, etc. It sounds silly, but it is actually a great example of the spirit of Zen. Rather than focusing on where we've been or where we're going (which the brain is very good at doing), we are to focus on the here and now. Oh, meditation! Where you Zen all my life?

My Kind of Town

2009-07-10T14:43:00.003+12:00

After writing yesterday's post, I was surprised to read an article about Chicago in the New York Times today. Apparently, people from the suburbs are buying up condos in the city as their second homes! Not only that, but people from Europe (Europe!) are snatching up homes in Chicago. One family from Switzerland "wanted a modern American counterpart to the slower European country life." I wonder if this same family would be willing to swap residences with someone who would prefer the slower European country life?

I think Kunstler would be very pleased with the "revitalization" going in downtown Chicago (homes! parks! art! dining! entertainment!), but would argue for a more democratic rebirth of the city -- one in which people who do not have $300,000 to spare on a second home could also find a place to live, work, and play.

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily on our way to nowhere in particular

2009-07-09T09:39:00.003+12:00

I recently read "The Geography of Nowhere," by James Howard Kunstler. It examines the landscape of America, from the earliest settlements until today. Kunstler details the rise and fall of small-town America, in particular the demise of our physical and cultural landscape in the 20th century. Since World War II, America has been on a slippery slope to ruin, he argues, because of the automobile. The rise of suburbia means the death of communities. We are leading empty, isolated, destructive lives. Developers, car companies, zoning laws -- all are contributing to our "geography of nowhere."

Midway through the book, after extolling Portland, Oregon, as one of the few exemplary American cities, Kunstler visits three places that serve as an escape from the modern landscape crisis -- Atlantic City, New Jersey; Woodstock, Vermont; and Walt Disney World, Florida! You can imagine my interest in this chapter. Kunstler does not hide his hatred for Disney World. While some of his critiques have merit (turning over real dollars for Disney Dollars! rides that empty out into gift shops!), others are somewhat outdated (Fast Past has helped with long lines, and Tomorrowland received a makeover). He wrote the book in 1993, so it's amazing to read that it cost him only $32.50 to get in to the Magic Kingdom! (Today it will cost you $75.) Other observations of Disney sound like a high falutin undergraduate term paper: the ferry ride across the Seven Seas Lagoon is like crossing the River Styx, and the entry procedure into the park is like a Protestant's vision of entering heaven. My favorite was his obsession with "the theme of death and mayhem" as seen in attractions such as Pirates of the Caribbean, the Jungle Cruise, and the shoot-outs of Frontierland. We can only imagine the ranting that would have ensued had he chosen to go on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.

Overall, the book was enlightening, if somewhat depressing. He likes the idea of Main Street U.S.A. but is disappointed by the souvenir shops behind the architectural facade. Disney guests say that Main Street makes them feel good. Kunstler writes, "Disney pretends so hard to be wholesome. The customers go along with this falsehood, because it makes them feel better about themselves, the same way that Main Street U.S.A. makes them feel better about the scary places where they actually live." Hear, hear!

If you too are intrigued by Kunstler's theories, I would recommend his new novel, "World Made by Hand," as a more accessible work. It speaks to all the same ideas, but with engaging characters and a gripping plot. It's the story of a not-too-distant future in which there is no more oil, no more electricity, and no more order. It's the end of the road on which we're currently driving.

Happy Fourth of July!

2009-07-05T10:58:00.007+12:00

Armed with bottles of water, sunscreen, and battery-powered handheld fans, Garrett and I set off to Bayou Bend to celebrate Independence Day 2009. The thermostat read 102 degrees.

Bayou Bend is now part of the Houston Museum of Fine Arts but used to be the home of one Ms. Ima Hogg (yes, that's really her name and not a Moe Syzlak joke). The house was built in 1928, but Ms. Hogg had a penchant for all things colonial America. Since 1966 it has been a museum for the decorative arts, with items dating from 1620-1870. The land also boasts a large garden with winding paths and a somewhat wobbly but fun bridge that crosses over the bayou.

Today the museum offered free admission, free fans, and free snacks. There were crafts for the kids (paint fireworks using watercolors and straws! make your own drum from a coffee can!), tours of the house, people in period costume, and a brass ensemble.

A giant copy of the Declaration of Independence was posted for everyone to sign -- with quills, no less!

After a rousing performance of "Stars and Stripes Forever" by the brass ensemble, with the small children providing back-up on their newly made drums...

...the Declaration of Independence was read out loud. Afterwards everyone celebrated with a birthday cake for America. Yum! Freedom is delicious; it tastes of buttercream.

We returned home to refreshing patriotic showers. Now we plan on curling up next to the AC and spending the evening indoors. Happy Holiday!

Weird Science

2009-06-29T11:38:00.006+12:00

For the last several weeks, the temperatures in Houston have routinely been in the 90s and even 100s each afternoon. We're breaking a sweat -- and records! Today, when we nearly passed out walking from the car to our building, Garrett made an offhand comment about frying an egg on the sidewalk. So we thought we'd give it a try.

We placed a frying pan on the driveway and left it in the sun for about 10 minutes. Then we attempted to cook an egg on it. The Prius said it was 102 degrees at the time.

Short story short, it didn't work. But it was fun to try!

This is your weekend. This is your weekend when it's really hot out and your brain is fried. Any questions?

The Art Guys Marry a Plant

2009-06-15T08:02:00.002+12:00

On Friday night, my friend Lori called and invited me to a wedding the following morning. "The Art Guys are marrying a plant," she said. Count me in!

In an eccentric event I'm surprised I didn't witness while living in New York, the Art Guys (local Houston artists Jack Massing and Michael Galbreth) were married to an oak sapling in the sculpture garden at the Museum of Fine Arts. The festivities included an ordained minister, a string quartet, and a number of guests wearing fancy hats.

During the processional, the Art Guys wheeled in the tree in a small wagon. There were readings from the Book of Genesis and from William Clifford, English philosopher and mathematician. Vows were said, and a ring was placed on an upper branch. A lovely reception was held inside the Contemporary Arts Museum, with refreshments and cake.

I was there, and I'm still not clear on the meaning of the event. It's part of an exhibit called "No Zoning: Artists Engage Houston." I liked Lori's theory best, that it was a statement about the artists' commitment to the environment. Garrett (who chose not to attend) didn't see it as art, and even thought the ceremony was mocking gay marriage (i.e., "If we let homosexuals marry, what will happen next? a man getting married to a tree?!").

All in all, I was pleased. It was a beautiful, simple ceremony -- and I didn't have to bring a gift.

Hot air, of the nicer variety

2009-05-31T08:49:00.004+12:00

I took Garrett and my brand new digital camera to downtown Houston to see an exhibit of inflatable art (see previous entry for history of whimsy).

One installation evoked both sea anemone and trash bags. The long, dark arms absorbed the heat of the sun, causing the air inside to rise and the balloon to lift and wave as if moved by an invisible breeze. (And believe me, there was no breeze!) The accompanying description said it was a commentary on waste and the pollution of our oceans. Interestingly, Garrett made his very own hot air balloon last summer using the same heated-trash-bag method.

The Wicked Witch of the West was not well-received on her recent visit to Houston.

Garrett found the sailboat for which he has been yearning, while I meditated upon the sacred lotus.

Om!

Houston Highland Games

2009-05-24T09:38:00.010+12:00

In the spirit of pursuing all things "quirky" (Kristin) and/or "cultural" (Garrett), we attended the 37th Houston Highland Games and Celtic Festival last weekend. It was just like the rodeo, except with much smaller crowds and much more plaid.

We perused the vendor booths (you could purchase an ocarina, the flute-like instrument featured prominently in the video game Zelda) and took in some highland dancing (did you know the girls raise their arms to imitate the antlers of a stag, an important animal back in the day?). We also learned how to herd sheep (a very useful asset when the economy is down).

Other highlights included Scottish food. We were feeling cautious and passed, but I thought this sign sounded like a Celtic law firm.

There were pony rides with horses featuring most excellent bangs.

There were nearly as many dogs present as people -- mostly collies, shelties, and terriers. Then there was this impressive Irish wolfhound.

What we were most looking forward to, of course, was the men's athletic competition. You know: big, burly men in kilts from competing clans throwing heavy objects. It was very impressive and was what made the trip worthwhile.

There are a variety of tossing events, in which the greatest distance makes you the winner.

In the weight toss and the sheaf toss, you must throw a weight over a high crossbar. The sheaf toss simulates the act of tossing hay into a barnloft.

The crowd favorite is the caber toss -- "caber" being Gaelic for "tree trunk." Each competitor must lift and then toss, end-over-end, a 19-foot pole weighing 120 pounds. The winner is the person who can complete the straightest flip (i.e., a "12 o'clock" toss). Amazing!

Overall, it was a very entertaining day -- We "clan't" complain!

Where's Noah? Do you know-a?

2009-04-29T10:56:00.002+12:00

First swine flu, and now fjording rivers -- Am I on the Oregon Trail? A massive storm system dumped tons of rain (nearly a foot, in some places) on Houston last night. I knew this would mean trouble, as the roads here flood after 5 minutes of heavy rain. But I was not prepared for what I saw on my morning commute -- or rather, what I couldn't see, as most of the city was underwater. It was more rain than we received during Hurricane Ike, and worse than anything I've seen in Florida.

A drive that normally takes me 15 minutes took about an hour and 45 minutes and had me zig-zagging across town, as every route I took was impassable. Where there was an underpass yesterday, there was a lake today. Once on the highway (the highest ground, I reasoned), I saw dozens of cars pulled to the side of the road with their flashers blinking. I didn't think that many cars could have stalled, but then realized what had happened when I tried to get off at my normal exit -- there was an ocean of water that was coming up the ramp onto the highway. People could not get off the highway!

I was able to find a dry route a few miles down the freeway. Armed with my coffee, my Houston map, and my U-turn skills, I navigated my way to school. The staff who had made it were turning away kids, as there were no teachers! After a "delayed opening," two students (out of 400) showed up. I left after a couple hours. I hope that because I got extra credit for going in today, I won't have to go in tomorrow.

History, in fact, does not repeat itself

2009-04-29T10:18:00.005+12:00

Last weekend, Garrett and I loaded up the covered wagon and drove to La Porte to celebrate the anniversary of the Battle of San Jacinto. In 1836 (in about 18 minutes), the Texans defeated the Mexicans to achieve independence (kinda). Despite having lived in Boston for a number of years, hotbed of the American Revolution, neither of us had ever been to a battle reenactment and were eager to see one.

After fighting our own battle (with traffic, high winds, and "county fair" lunch fare), we made our way toward the field where the "Texan soldiers" and "Mexican soldiers" were camped out. We happened to talk to a park volunteer on the way. He told us that the reenactment had been cancelled due to heavy rains the night before. As Santa Anna himself probably said, "D'oh!"

We stayed for a little while to enjoy the very tall monument (the world's tallest memorial column, according to the Guinness Book), people in costume, and livestock (apparently a recurring theme in our Texan lives).

Perhaps the most interesting part of the experience was the area around the monument, an eerie, unsettling, and seemingly endless landscape of chemical plants and oil refineries. Every now and then, however, a magnificent mural would brighten the scenery. I think Sam Houston would be pleased.

Creature Features

2009-04-26T05:06:00.005+12:00

Garrett recently celebrated the end of his first year of PhD classes. Woohoo! Or should I say, "Hoot hoot!"? For the Statistics Department's end-of-year party, Garrett's friend and officemate Beth made owl cupcakes to honor Rice's mascot.

Giddy with extra time in his schedule, Garrett recently researched in depth the 1937 disappearance of Amelia Earhart. One theory postulates that she and her companion landed on a deserted island (or, more specifically, atoll) in the South Pacific. The island is home to an amazing and disturbing species called the coconut crab.

It is the largest land-living arthropod in the world! They climb coconut trees to eat coconuts! Imagine poor Amelia, straggling onto an island, only to find monster crabs sipping pina coladas.

The Cruciverbalists

2009-04-12T12:40:00.003+12:00

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Kristin and Garrett completed their first New York Times Sunday crossword! Woohoo! Maybe it was the fresh spring air or the energy of a long weekend, but we decided to go the distance and tackle a stress-inducing Sunday puzzle instead of a stress-free Monday puzzle.

The title was "The Cruciverbalist," and the long answers were:

BRAINSTORM THEME IDEAS
DEVELOP BEST ENTRIES
CONSTRUCT SUITABLE GRID
RESEARCH AND WRITE CLUES
SEND PUZZLE TO EDITOR
SEE BYLINE IN NEWSPAPER

Clever!

After finishing the puzzle, we decided to celebrate with some archery! It's what Orlando Bloom would have done, really.

The Happy Couple

2009-04-05T04:47:00.006+12:00

This morning while making pancakes and coffee, we discovered that there is another happy couple living in our apartment. What a sweet team! The bride and groom will be honeymooning in our kitchen.

Leapin' lizards! Gators in Texas!

2009-03-29T11:50:00.013+13:00

Today we took advantage of sunny, brisk conditions and headed for the great outdoors at Brazos Bend State Park, about an hour south of us in Needville. We were attracted to the park's description in our Houston hiking book, which described its numerous alligator habitants. Alligators in Texas? Really? RE-ally? Driving there along "farm-to-market" roads, past ranches and longhorn cattle, I was dubious. But, soon after arriving, a brief walk (down a short pier -- phew!) led us to 8 alligators!

Numerous signs implored us to be on our best, most cautious behavior. I was alarmed at the number of people who brought along their dogs and/or small children. But according to the visitor's center, there have yet to be any alligator-related fatalities in the state of Texas.

"Wild alligators are smart. They did better than you on the SAT!"

We began a running tally of the number of gators we saw as we walked the 1-mile-long trail around this lake. Almost 2 dozen by the time we reached that observation tower in the distance!

Here is a view of the lake from the observation tower...

Garrett has a great eye for gators. He always sees them first! I think it's a sixth sense he has. We suspect that the alligator is his "spirit animal." Maybe my spirit animal and I need to get our eyes checked.

I named this fella (on the left) "Bubba." He was at least 8 feet long and very, very close to us!

All in all, after spending a couple hours at the park, we spotted THIRTY-SEVEN alligators! This is a personal record. I think if the two of us added up all of the gators we have seen in our lifetimes, we might get this number... but outside of our trip to Gatorland, this was the greatest density of gators we've experienced! Sorry, Florida! Maybe we'll have to make a special trip to the Everglades this summer to make things right.

It's been weighing on my mind...

2009-03-24T14:50:00.003+13:00

As an addendum to the previous post about being fat in America, a couple news stories of note:

"Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), Boston Medical Center Harvard University, and Cambridge Health Alliance found that more than 75 percent of emergency responder candidates for fire and ambulance services in Massachusetts are either overweight or obese." (courtesy of Harvard Science)
One-third of the nation's military-age youth are unable to serve because they are overweight by army standards --even though the army's definition of "overweight" is more generous than that of the CDC. (courtesy of NPR)

If an emergency responder is at a higher risk for a cardiovascular problem and/or a musculoskeletal injury, the safety of the community he serves is also compromised. Similarly, the safety of troops and those whom they protect is compromised when soldiers are in poor health. Then we must ask, "Who watches the Watchmen?" Concerned health care providers, I hope.

Rodeo Houston

2009-03-23T12:58:00.017+13:00

After enjoying a restful spring break in Orlando, I returned to Houston ready to put on my [proverbial] cowgirl boots and take in the Texan cultural phenomenon that is the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Garrett, his parents, and I took the Metrorail (no horses available) down the street to Reliant Stadium. It was a first for everyone, and we were pleasantly surprised that no one ever checked our tickets. A knowledgeable Texan who rode frequently told us she had only been asked once before to show a ticket. We wondered how the city affords to run this form of public transportation. On this day we saw someone with a clicker counting the people getting off the train at Reliant, so maybe the Rodeo has to [pitch]fork over some moola later.

We first ventured to the building housing the Livestock Show. It was a huge convention hall featuring what seemed like hundreds of booths. Merchandise booths were selling hats, boots, belts, jackets, jewelry, horse trailers, pick-up trucks, spas, Texas-shaped waffle irons, boomerangs, and of course John Deere tractors.

Aliens were a recurring theme, with exhibits set up by both NASA and the Texas Border Patrol. Visitors could get their photo taken while sitting atop a real longhorn cow, or their handwriting analyzed by a machine that looked like it was created by Professor Frink of "The Simpsons."

The real highlight, though, was the livestock. And believe you me, you could smell 'em before you could see 'em! First we admired the cattle being vacuumed.

Then it was on to the rabbit showcase. The French Lop variety is as big as a dog! Yowzah!

Isn't it Easter on its way?

After we had had our fill of animals, consumer goods, and overpriced food, it was time to mosey on over to the stadium for the rodeo! 70,000 people filed in to be entertained. Lucky for us, the "Super Series Championship Round" takes place the last weekend of the rodeo. We saw the top ten cowboys in each of the rodeo's categories: tie-down roping, bareback riding, team roping, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing, and bull riding. It was really impressive and really exciting! We had a good time trying to figure out the physics (how exactly does one ride a horse, rope a calf, and tie 3 of its legs in under 4 seconds?), the scoring of spurring techniques (some events are time-based, while others are graded "artistically"), and the insanity of it all (how can you not break your body riding a buckin' bull?). Because we were sitting so far up, I didn't get any good photos of the action, but I highly recommend visiting your local rodeo for a thrilling experience.

As the rodeo staff prepared the arena for the evening's concert, two youth events helped to pass the time. The first was the Calf Scramble, in which a group of calves was set loose, and young adolescents (Future Farmers of America) chased, tackled, and tied them. It reminded me of a day in the classroom.

Next was "Mutton Bustin'." This has to be, hands-down, the most entertaining thing I have ever witnessed. Unsuspecting children (aged 4-6) were dressed in helmets and padding, and then placed on excited sheep. As the sheep raced out of its cage, the plucky kiddo had to hold on for dear life and try to stay on! Watch an exciting YouTube video of it HERE.

The night ended with a performance by Brooks & Dunn. Brooks and his moustache had laryngitis, so long-haired Dunn took the lead, singing about trucks, girls, Jesus, America, and girls. I think Garrett's parents enjoyed the music more than we did, but Garrett and I were happy to recognize a couple songs at the end -- the hits "My Maria" and "Boot Scootin' Boogie" (ah! flashbacks to middle school country line dancing classes!). We were dazzled and slightly frightened by the indoor pyrotechnic display. Yeehaw!

That's what's new in Texas! And, oh yes, due to local construction, we now have a Porta Potty in our front yard! Now I feel like Bob Dylan. I'd write more -- but when you gotta go, you gotta go!

America's Fattest Cities

2009-03-15T10:10:00.004+13:00

After visiting the Cheesecake Factory the other night, I got into a conversation with some teachers at school about obesity in America. There was a debate about whether Houston or Dallas was the fattest city in the country. I decided to Google it myself and discovered that Men's Fitness magazine has rated Houston at #6 this year, behind Miami, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Las Vegas, and New York City. Congratulations!

According to Men's Fitness, "donuts are 132% more popular here than average," and we have "the 6th highest number of donut outlets per capita." (Is Boston #1?) I can tell you that about twice a month, one of my students brings in delicious glazed donuts for his lovely co-teachers. He is one of my favorites, needless to say.

But surely there is something greater at play here than donuts? My hypothesis is that poverty rates and obesity rates are closely related (though again I must state that I am not the statistician of the household). After some census-searching, this is what I found:

According to the U.S. Census, in 2007, the national poverty rate was 12.5%. For Hispanics, the rate was 21.5%.

For the city of Houston, the poverty rate was somewhere between 16-21%, depending on which study or graph you read. The Hispanic population of Houston is 41.87%.

I'm not saying that all Hispanic people are poor and/or fat, but I think we can agree that when you are poor it is very difficult to afford healthy food. If you work long hours at a low-paying job, it is also probably very difficult to find time to go jogging or the extra money to afford a gym membership. The obsession with being fit is very class-specific.

The American Community Survey lists the national poverty rate at 13.3%. Here are the poverty rates it gives for the other cities:

Miami (Congressional District 18) - 17.7%

Oklahoma City - 17.4%
San Antonio - 18.3%
Las Vegas - 11.4%
New York City - 18.9%

Okay, Las Vegas is the outlier there. But otherwise, there seems to be a correlation between poverty and obesity.

The fittest city in America, Colorado Springs (Congressional District 5), has a poverty rate of 10.7%, and Minneapolis (Hennepin County) at #2 has a poverty rate of 10.8%.

On an interesting sidenote, 44 out of 61 Texas communities have poverty levels above the national average.

Garrett tells me there are already studies out there that discuss poverty and obesity rates. But sometimes I like to play Malcolm Gladwell and figure it out for myself!

Diagnosis: Diagnostician

2009-03-10T13:07:00.002+13:00

Today I turned in my application for the educational diagnostician program that the Houston school district offers. It's a two-year program that would teach me how to administer tests and evaluations to students being referred for special education services. It's an opportunity to work one-on-one with children in a variety of schools, and to be a part of multidisciplinary teams that evaluate students and determine what supports they need. I should be called in for an interview within the next month. Wish me luck! I could be the next Dr. House. But in a school, not a hospital. Now where is that cane of mine?

It's official: We live in Texas!

2009-02-27T12:23:00.002+13:00

Today I journeyed to a faraway place called South Houston for a special education meeting. It is an area best described as desolate and inhospitable. I was happily driving to the highway to return to Rice Village, when what to my wondering eyes should appear but a man riding a horse down the median! I couldn't believe it. He appeared to be a Mexican cowboy of sorts, with a cowboy hat and an unbuttoned shirt fluttering in the breeze created by passing automobiles. I'm sorry I didn't take a photo.

A few minutes later, as I exited the highway, I drove by Reliant Stadium, which is hosting, for the next month, the Houston Rodeo. (We already have tickets to attend this extravaganza, so expect a post about it soon!) Today, the rodeo kicks off with the World's Championship Bar-B-Que contest. There were pick-up trucks, cowboy boots, and watering mouths aplenty, as seen from my car window! Even a ferris wheel! The website says that in addition to BBQ awards, there are also "recycling awards" given. I shudder to think what this might mean!

Is it good things, bad things, or weird things that come in threes? When I arrived home and checked my e-mail, there was a message from the City of Houston imploring me to participate in the "Great Texas Warrant Round Up" on March 7th. Starting that day, "HPD officers will aggressively target those people on the warrant list and arrests can take place at any location, including the person's home, school or workplace." Where can I get a lasso and form my own posse?!

Oh, and I can't forget to mention that tomorrow is "Go Texan Day" throughout the Houston Independent School District. In preschool, we are have a school-wide parade, wherein the students (and teachers) can dress up in their finest Western wear. This week as a fundraiser we have been selling cowboy hats and bandanas in anticipation of this event. Yeehaw!

Laissez les bon temps rouler!

2009-02-23T16:20:00.008+13:00

Happy Mardi Gras!

Rather than trek to New Orleans, a stalwart krewe of ten graduate students and signficant others drove down to Galveston yesterday to partake in their famous version of the Mardi Gras celebration.

We were very interested to see what Galveston looks like, 5 months after Hurricane Ike. The brief answer: Not much. Most businesses appeared run-down or deserted, but it was hard to say whether it looked the same before the storm.

We arrived as the sun was setting.

The Strand was filling up with people begging for beads beneath the balconies.

There were some reminders of Ike. What a water line!

As the evening wore on, the throng of bodies grew denser. Walking through the crowds was a challenge, but some people were motivated by things other than debauchery. (I particularly like the contrast between the yellow sign and the Budweiser sign.)

The night's parade finally made it to the Strand. We enjoyed many a high school marching band, and tons of creative floats. (Sorry, no photos -- it was too dark!) At first I was perplexed and a little bit scared of people's zealous thirst for beads, but then I quickly got swept up in the excitement and was jumping and screaming for beads to be thrown at me. Fun times!

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

2009-02-22T09:40:00.003+13:00

This morning while listening to NPR I heard a "medical breakthrough" clip, brought to me courtesy of the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Scientists are studying the affect of inhaled anesthetics on people with post-traumatic stress disorder. In one study, patients were shown a series of images, some of which were disturbing (i.e., a severed hand). One group was then given inhaled anesthetics, while the other was given a placebo. A week later, the patients given the inhaled anesthetics remembered fewer of the images (and the less disturbing ones at that, I think). Scientists believe this is a breakthrough in treating people with PTSD, particularly soldiers who have been through the trauma of war. I would cite more medical research here, but my attempt at a Google search on this topic didn't turn up any satisfying results.

The doctors in the NPR clip hinted at the ethical questions these studies raise. All I could think of was the movie (one of my favorites), "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," in which Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet go to a doctor to have the memories of their failed relationship erased from their minds. Will "regular" people, not just soldiers, be able to have their bad memories erased? Will we be able to isolate specific memories to delete? Would we have to take a test to determine the "seriousness" of memories to delete? If I can wipe from my mind the death of a loved one, can I also wipe out that really horrible movie I saw at the theater? Could we keep teacher attrition to a low if teachers were inhaling every Friday afternoon? Isn't there something valuable to be gained by going through a painful experience? Where is Michael Crichton to write a socially relevant science fiction novel when I need him? or did I already have the memory of his death erased from my brain?

Here is the exerpt from the poem by Alexander Pope:

How happy is the blameless vestal's lot!

The world forgetting, by the world forgot.

Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!

Do do dee do

2009-02-13T07:21:00.002+13:00

Garrett recently compared his life as a PhD student to a game of Tetris. He works so hard to stay on top of all of his reading and problem sets. If he lets down his guard for even a second, the books/blocks start to pile up quickly, and he has to redouble his efforts to get things in order. I overheard him humming the Tetris theme song at his desk the other day. Maybe I should buy him some Tetris shelving for Valentine's Day...