BloomingtonGirl

The Power of a Network of Women

2011-11-06T22:57:00.000-05:00

Good Evening, Loyal Readers. I should be in bed at this very late hour getting my beauty rest, but for you, I will sacrifice my vanity just a little bit to write here an inspiring tale about the power of the female network.

Today, our daughter Kate called from Brooklyn to tell me that her (and my) friend K was having a terrible time trying to breastfeed her newborn (on Friday) daughter. She was trying and trying and it was very painful and not much was happening in the way of food flowing from mama to baby. I related to this in a big way having never really produced enough milk to keep Jack remotely sated in the first four weeks of his wailing, starving, miserable life. (My DD cup mother was right when she said, "How do you think you're going to breast feed with those?" Yes. I'm adopted.) I never even got out of an A cup when I was pregnant. No heaving breasts for me, no. Just the same old same old paltry...Oh! I digress....back to our story...

So, Kate called me, full of concern for our wonderful friend K. I knew immediately what to suggest and whom to contact to make sure that K got the very best advice in her stressful, hormonal, sleep-deprived, emotionally loaded, overwrought situation. (Do I project based on my own experience? Maybe just a little.)

I told Kate that K needed to find a Very Good Lactation Consultant. (Not a Very Crummy one like the one I got stuck with. Oh Brother! She was 38 (my age at the time) and single and just about all she talked about during the sorry hour for which I paid her probably 75 smackers was how she despaired of being single and how much she wanted a baby of her own. Seriously. She did this. I got just about no help from her.

And to make sure that K got a Very Good one, I emailed my friend Ann Marie who works at BABS here in Bloomington. AM is a Lactation Consultant EXTRAORDINAIRE. If I had had her, Jack might have been breast fed for more than the short four weeks he was and might not need the therapy he will most certainly need in later life for attachment and insecurity issues. What? I digress again? So sorry, Loyal Ones.

Anyway, within twenty minutes of my reaching out to Ann Marie, Kate and K had a contact on the ground in K's neighborhood to call for help. Isn't that so completely cool? I think it is!

It is time for bed now. Nighty Night, Loyal Ones.

Your BloomingtonGirl Needs You...Okay, She Needs Your Money

2011-10-07T18:59:00.000-04:00

Loyal Readers, you are probably wondering what the picture to the left signifies. Has your BloomingtonGirl become a baseball player? A baseball fan? A photographer of balls on a plate?

No, silly ones. This picture is part of a promotion for the Bloomington Playwrights Project Annual PlayOffs! On Friday October 21, nine playwrights will assemble at the BPP in the early evening and will be thrown a "pitch" consisting a line of dialogue and a prop that must be incorporated into a ten minute play. The playwrights then draft directors and actors to be on their team. THEN, we head home to write fast because the script has to be submitted by 7AM the next morning so the directors and actors can rehearse. The play goes up that very same night. Phew! It's a whirlwind.

Your BloomingtonGirl wrote (a brilliant short play) for this event a couple of years ago and had a great time doing it. This time, Your BloomingtonGirl want to raise lots of money because it's a good cause and (mostly) because Your BloomingtonGirl is CRAZY COMPETITIVE!

Here's where you come in, Loyal Ones. Click on the link below and support me by donating some green to the cause in my name. Make sure to mention that you are donating because you love your BloomingtonGirl, or if you prefer, you can donate in the name of my alias, Joni McGary. Now, here's the exciting part: (are you ready?)

For each donation of $25 or more, you will receive a dozen of your favorite cookies, brownies or muffins from your BloomingtonGirl's very own

LuckyGuy Bakery

(Think HoosierMama Brownies, Oatmeal Jacksons, Spicy Chocolate Snaps, Amazing Chocolate Chip Cookies, HomeMade English Muffins, Biscotti...)

I will keep tabs on who is donating and contact you OR you can send me an email with your email and your address.

Please do this! I want to send you cookies and I know you want to have them. I know it.

Here's the link:

I Want Cookies!

I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I know that you will thank me from the bottom of your tummy.

Green Tomato Cake?

2011-10-02T22:57:00.000-04:00

Green Tomato Cake. Who knew? I'll be baking up some of this yumminess tomorrow to use up the bags and bags of green tomatoes we have. Damn the frost, which cares not a hoot for Your BloomingtonGirl and her poor overworked Kitchen Frau Hands.

Today, Chris and I chopped about 12 pounds of green tomatoes, green peppers, red peppers, onions and cabbage for Linton Hopkins' ChowChow relish, one of the vehicles for the tiresome green tomatoes. Hopkins' ChowChow is amazing and delicious - I've made it a few times before - but the prep work is a %$!@#, if you know what I mean.

We were short on red bell peppers from our garden so we used some red hot peppers that we had. I donned gloves for that portion of the chopping but the right glove apparently had a hole in it and my right palm is ON FIRE. If I were an adolescent boy in Catholic school, I'd think I were being punished for you know what and going straight to hell.

In other news, this weekend has been a whirl of all sorts of things wifely and maternal. Jack had his birthday sleepover last night. Five 11-ish year old boys arrived mid-afternoon yesterday and were picked up late morning today. I'm happy to report that a great time was had by all of the boys. I'm not surprised but not happy to report that as soon as everyone left, Jack had a complete and profound meltdown. This happens every time after a sleepover and each time it happens (which is, I remind you, EVERY TIME) Chris and I say we aren't going to allow another sleepover , and then we forget - well, I forget, more accurately and allow one - and the cycle continues. Jack really throws himself into the day-after-sleep-deprived-let-down-from-all-the-excitment "fit", having inherited, unfortunately, Your BloomingtonGirl's impressive TEMPER. For those of you who haven't experienced my temper first hand, you'll just have to take it on faith that when Your BloomingtonGirl gets really angry, it ain't pretty. My daughter Meg once said, "When you get mad, you can be a scary little person." I wish this weren't the case and I really, really (reallyreallyreally) wish that Jack had not inherited this gene, but if wishes were horses....

I suspect that being a woman of a certain age, hormones are playing a role in my volatility, but I've been like this since I was a little kid. A very wise person characterized me once with that little rhyme...

"There once was a girl with a curl in the middle of her forehead.

When she was good, she was very, very good.

And when she was bad she was horrid!"

Good thing I'm a good cook and that good food is very (VERY) important to my husband. Otherwise, he might not overlook my fits quite as much, right?

Okay, it's late and time for bed. I have to get up early and can CHOWCHOW and make Green Tomato Cake. (Every now and then, I read these sentences and am rather shocked and amazed that Your EAST COAST BloomingtonGirl is living in the HeartLand canning things and making cakes from garden vegetables. I just felt the need to point out that occasional disconnect.)

Nighty Night, Loyal Readers.

A Cautionary Tale for your Bicycling BloomingtonGirl

2011-09-21T22:13:00.000-04:00

Greetings Loyal Readers on this dark and rainy night. Just got finished watching the season premiere of Boardwalk Empire. What a visually gorgeous show with conflicted and interesting characters. I just love love love it. In a little bit, I'm going to snug into bed, but first, I wanted to share with you a little cautionary tale I was told last week about cycling.

Last Sunday, I was working out at the Y. I saw a guy who was wearing this very, very fancy neck brace. I thought, Wow, look at that thing. Neck braces have really come a long way since I had to wear the foam doughnut around my neck after a car accident over 20 years ago. I got a little fixated on that fancy brace, how nicely it supported his head and thought, Oh! That looks relaxing. I'd sort of like to have my head held up for me right now. I could almost imagine how restful it would be. (Yes, I know. It was a strange flight of fancy, but I am simply reporting it without judgement of the whims of Your BloomingtonGirl.)

My reverie about resting my head in such a fancy brace was shattered when I overheard my brace-wearing friend saying a thing that I never ever like to hear -- that he had been in a cycling accident.

I knew I shouldn't hear any more about it because I like to pretend that crashes happen only on the Tour to those crazy fast riders in that crazy large group (yes I do know what the crazy large group is called, if you must know). I try hard to ignore anything that might make me nervous about getting on my bike.

And yet, like a moth to a flame, I couldn't resist seeking him out later to ask him more about it.

"I overheard that you were in a cycling accident. Was it a road bike?" (Please, please, say no! Say, I ran into a tree on a mountain bike!)

"Yes."

I pressed on, hoping to hear what I wanted to hear. "Please tell me you were doing something really stupid when you crashed." (Please?)

"Actually, no."

And he went on to tell me that he was on a wonderful ride in Greene County alone, just going along on a beautiful day enjoying himself. He was going over a bridge when his wheel (his skinny little road bike wheel, just like my skinny little road bike wheels) got caught in a little groove. He was going 20 miles an hour when it happened.

"I was going about twenty, which doesn't really feel that fast, you know?"

I agreed because it I never feels like I'm going too fast at that speed. Thirty is fast (and rare for me). Twenty is not rare and has never made me nervous.

"Well, my wheel caught and I ended up getting thrown right off the bridge. And, I realized that while twenty on the road doesn't seem that fast, twenty in the air is. It's really fast."

He landed on his head, broke four vertebrae and fortunately was able to call 911 on his cell. He has a steel rod in his head and has been recovering since May. The fact that he is still fully mobile is a miracle and he knows it. His face showed no evidence of injury. If he lost any teeth, he sure has a good dentist.

We talked about whether he'd ride again. He wasn't sure but thought that if he did, he might get something with slightly fatter tires like a hybrid. He talked about how it could have been catastrophic but how he was lucky, etc. His attitude was impressive.

I've ridden since, but I find myself being a little more alert, more careful. I think of him every time I notice that I'm going over twenty and his comment that it's much faster when you're flying in the air. I know, though, that riding a road bike is dangerous. I weigh this every time I go out but the sheer joy of doing it (and of course, the calorie burn) outweighs for me the possibility that I might crash or get sideswiped by one of those drivers that clearly have some kind of weird hostility toward cyclists. They are typically driving large cars and even when they are very VERY able to give you room, they don't give you very much. It's like they're trying to make some little point in a passive aggressive way, but what they don't' realize is that one false move, slip up on either side and a person could be a goner. That person being me! It's nerve wracking. In case any of them is reading this (and of course they are not, because no Loyal Reader would do such a thing)...STOP IT RIGHT NOW!

People ask why not ride on the shoulder so you don't have this problem? Thank you for asking! Most of the routes I bike have either no shoulder or very limited and intermittent ones. If you ride on the shoulder and it ends while a car is passing you, you've got nowhere to go.

Okay, enough about all that. My blood is starting to simmer and that is not a good thing before bed.

In nicer news, I made biscotti (again!) today. Whole wheat with oats, dried cherries & almonds. Substituted flax oil for butter and they still came out great. Yes. I'm an addict. See why I can't give up cycling? Do you understand how fat I would be? Really, really FAT. I'm not willing to give up baking these days so a-biking I must go.

Well, Loyal Readers, I wish you a good and gentle night's sleep. I am looking forward to my own.

A Love Letter

2011-08-26T19:46:00.000-04:00

Dear Bike,

I adore you.

Love,

BloomingtonGirl

Philadelphia (and nearby) People....Listen Up!

2011-07-08T11:01:00.003-04:00

If you are in Philadelphia on Sunday July 17, please come to see my short play read at the Adrienne Theatre as part of the PlayPenn Workshop Whirlwind. The reading starts at 6PM. There are five playwrights participating and each will develop a new ten minute piece for the evening. We are working on them right now. It's very exciting and scary and wonderful and scary and inspiring and scary...you get the picture.

Please come! Click on the link below for information. Workshop Whirlwind!

www.playpenn.org

What I'm Doing on my Summer Vacation by BloomingtonGirl

2011-06-20T22:29:00.047-04:00

Your BloomingtonGirl is off to her beloved East Coast for a whirlwind of great activity over the next four weeks. Here's a synopsis of the plot:

The day after tomorrow, Jack and I leave for New York where I will deposit him at camp for four weeks. After a very tearful goodbye...well, okay, pretend tearful, because let's face it: He's eager to be there and I cannot utter the words "get off the computer" or "shut the TV off" one more time without wanting to blow my brains out. (Please don't call social services).

Where was I? Yes, after our good byes, I shall head to Manhattan where I will see my friend Max Newman perform at the Gotham Comedy Club. Can't wait to see my fearless, talented writing partner strut his stuff. NY peeps, you should meet me there.

Then, I head back to the Heartland for ten days to indulge my obsessive biking/swiming/writing urges sans bored son. He will be living large at the best camp ever, so I need not feel any guilt. My husband and I will soak up the summer goodness of Bloomington during those ten days - Farmer's Market, Summer Music Festival...etc., without the thought of having to get a babysitter or arrange a playdate. Luxury!

THEN, oh THEN, Loyal Readers, I fly back East to Philadelphia to participate in The PlayPenn Workshop Whirlwind. I'll be one of the July 17 playwrights!!! Is your BloomingtonGirl excited? Just a little...okay, okay.... I'm Over the Moon if you must know. Why? Because I will develop a new short piece during this workshop and it will be read at the Adrienne Theatre on Sunday night, July 17. I think that there will be nine people participating - I don't yet have the details. I am just excited to be able to fit a workshop in this summer and this particular workshop is particularly compelling. I haven't been to Philadelphia in over ten years, so it will be fun to visit. I have a few must do's on my list and I am very excited. Between classes, I'll be writing, writing and writing some more.

I'm off to iron on name labels for Jack's camp clothes and then to make sure we have our favorite playlists all ready to go on the IPod for the drive. Good thing we both love Green Day.

Introducing Sage

2011-04-01T23:11:00.000-04:00

Greetings Loyal Readers. This gorgeous young fellow is the new addition to our family. His name is Sage. We brought him home today and already he is brilliant and perfect.

You may pick your jaw up off of the floor now. I do concede that it is more than a little shocking that your BloomingtonGirl, formerly no lover of dogs, would adopt a dog. And that she finds herself absolutely besotted with this pup is beyond her own imagination.

Of course, he hasn't ruined any of her boots just yet...

More on this love story as it develops.

Nighty Night.

Yeah Baby

2011-03-24T12:01:00.002-04:00

Cross-Training

2011-01-09T14:41:00.006-05:00

Loyal Readers,
I recently ventured out in the snowy evening to have a glass of wine with two fellow writers - a poet and a novelist. We were talking about being stuck in our work. The (soon to be published) poet suggested that we consider cross-training as a way to become un-stuck. Not in the athletic sense, but in the artistic sense. She reported that was going to try quilting as a way to stretch herself creatively. She thought her poetry would be stronger when she returned to it.

Having experienced first hand how cycling improved my swimming, I was open to this concept. Indeed, I am very, very open to it because I am as stuck as I have ever been in my writing . I have two scripts in progress - one that appeared at first to be promising and now has me riddled with self-doubt and a second that is a variation on the first that all out (forgive me) sucks. I have a great many ideas but can't seem to string together something remotely skillful in the way of a plot line. Perhaps I am not as open to writing shit as one needs to be in the process. I am going to write some right after I finish writing this and see what happens.

But first, I wanted to post some pictures of my own cross-training efforts. When in doubt, I bake. It is something that I do well and is finite. Measure, mix, form, bake. Done. If one pays attention...voila! Success. the results make others very happy - I give away much of what I produce lest I become huge - and I have a feeling of satisfaction having made something beautiful to eat. It doesn't lift fully lift the writing cloud that has been following me along lately, but it helps. Below are photos of Brioche, English Muffins on the griddle, English Muffins in fancy bags (I have lucky neighbors if you ask me) and of a loaf of cinnamon chocolate chip bread with icing.

Another way in which I am trying to jump start my creative writing process is by reading as much as I can. I'm reading a play (The Price by Arthur Miller) and a fun fun little book called Bike Snob. If you like cycling, you'll enjoy this witty read, complete with an interesting history of cycling in this country. It's a fun diversion.

I also hope that seeing some good theatre when I'm back East will inspire me. If nothing works, maybe I'll pick up my camera again or stick to baking. Perhaps there is a bakery in my future with walls hung with my own photographic work.

Then again, maybe not. We'll see.

Farewell for now, Loyal Ones.

Romance, Writing, Baking, Skin Care & Christmas Cards & A Brief Comment on Mean People...

2010-12-07T09:50:00.007-05:00

First, Romance. I love this little series of pictures taken (using the Mac Photobooth application) last Saturday night after the Bloomington Hospital Gala. It was a fun night and I am happy to report that I purchased not one new item of apparel for the event. I have a closet full of party clothes from the old days and I am determined to start wearing them all again. If you see a woman in the grocery store or pumping gas in a vintage cocktail dress or a full length ball gown, it's probably your BloomingtonGirl. The world needs dressing up, don't you agree?

Next, writing. I am having serious problems in that area, Loyal Readers. I thought by posting a little something this morning, it would warm me up for my planned writing session this AM. I am working on a new play that started out quite promising and has stalled rather - dare I say - dramatically. I just don't know what the play is about, though I swear that I did when I started out. After this post, however, I am determined to slog on for a good deal of the remaining morning, writing whatever leaden crap I can write. If it is really dreadful, I will bake something just to remind myself that I do indeed have at least a modicum of creative talent. My baking has been - all (false) modesty aside - rather stellar lately. I've been working my way through three baking cook books one recipe at a time. Maybe I should start a blog about that and then get a movie deal? Does anyone know if that has been done before?

Now, on to skin care. I treated myself to a Sonicare Skin Care machine. I am in the process of charging it for 24 hours as instructed (I actually read the instructions) and will begin using it this evening. Prepare yourselves, Loyal Ones. I might look years younger instantly. I know some people who use the thing and they swear by it, so I thought I would give it a try. I ordered the one that came with four complimentary but normally uber expensive skin care products. The testimonials on these cleansers/serums/moisturizers would have you believe that after one use you can no longer see your pores or wrinkles. I think that the writers of such nonsense just forgot to put their reading glasses on after they dried their face. But, still, there is a part of me that hopes for these little miracles, although the comic fact is that nobody will notice but me. If I were wise, I'd throw these products away and stick with my drug store cleansers and health store moisturizers, less I too forget to put on my reading glasses after I use them and become addicted. Stay tuned for more exciting news about my pores and wrinkles. Such excitement, I know.

One last thing. Someone was recently mean to me. Well, actually, two people were mean. One was an absolute stranger who gave me the finger, vigorously I might add, as she sped by me. I was pulled to the side of a road on my bike, not in her way or anyone's way for that matter. It was so hostile and random and it felt like a tiny little assault on my otherwise pleasant day. The other was someone I knew, which made it much worse. While it stung to be the object of real meanness, it made me realize - quite gratefully and happily -how very very very few mean people I know. Yes, someone might be nasty or grouchy or say something in anger, but being mean is a horse of a different color and one to be avoided if possible. I take for granted sometimes the number of exceptionally fine people I have in my circle. It's good to be reminded - albeit in a backwards and unpleasant way - how fortunate I am.

In other news, I have no ideas for the McGary Christmas Card as of this writing. Perhaps I should simply send out cookies instead? Any comments on that idea?

Happy day to you, Loyal Readers.

Silver and Tomatoes

2010-10-24T23:19:00.002-04:00

Good Evening, Loyal Readers! It is a Sunday night and I am cozy - but chic! - in casual clothing and one show stopping piece of jewelry. The jewelry to which I refer is shown at left, The Elsa Peretti Tiffany Silver Cuff. I did not purchase this fine piece of sculpted silver. No, it was given to me by someone who had tired of it, had worn it little and was glad to pass it along. I can see why she wore it little - it isn't exactly the most comfortable bracelet on the planet. It does make my arm look sort of elegant, though...

Well, yesterday, Jack and Chris were talking about silver coins and the price of silver (Jack is a budding little coin collector) and I was prompted to weigh the cuff just to calculate what the basic market melt-down value of it was. It weighed about 3.5 oz. The price of silver is about $23 an oz, give or take, making the bracelet worth a paltry $80.50 if I were to sell it for metal. (I wouldn't, but that's not the point.)

But, the retail price of the piece on the Tiffany website is $800.

I just find that absolutely incredible. I can see some kind of mark-up for craft and design - especially if the piece were hand crafted by an artist, which, I suspect this is not. $300 for something of this kind (at the 4th Street Fair, for instance) wouldn't be too too outrageous: $400 if it had more interesting work on it. But, $800?? Crazy. And, Tiffany isn't quite that special anymore, now that it has "chainified", so they have no business asking such a ransom.

Don't get me wrong, Loyal Readers. I am not so outraged that I would toss this lovely bracelet from my collection. That would be just plain silly and counter to your BloomingtonGirl's fashion lust.

In other news, I have been up to my eyeballs (again) in tomatoes this week. We have many pounds of green tomotoes and many many pounds of red. It is a strange thing to be having garden fresh tomatoes in late October, but I really can't complain. They are very delicious.

Over the past few days, I made about a gallon of oven roasted tomato sauce to freeze, green tomato preserves - more like a spiced chutney (yummy) and Sriracha, a (Thai?) chile hot sauce. I canned nine little jars of the Sriracha and it is gooooooood. It has the right balance of heat and pepper flavor. I used a bunch of pretty tired red jalapenos Chris picked a few weeks ago and it was still delicious. I just LOVE when things come out that well.

In other news, I continue to be an absolute biking addict. I didn't even feel well today but got on my bike and had a surprisingly mighty ride. The weather has been so unseasonably warm and dry, so every day is an invitation to ride. It's like flying. Makes me giddy. Absolutely giddy. Did I mention how giddy it makes me?

I mostly ride my road bike but a couple of times a week, I get on my mountain bike and drive myself over to work out at the Y, which is about five miles away. I ride almost all of the way on sidewalks. Why? Because pedaling along on sidewalks never fails to make me feel as if I am nine again, riding over to a friend's house to play. I actually keep the bike in a lower gear than I normally would so I pedal fast, like a little kid. I am not kidding - it makes me feel so joyous. It's the fountain of youth, Loyal Readers. Get on your bike this week and ride on some sidewalks and you will see exactly what I mean. Just thinking about it makes me giggle.

Off to bed. What a great week it has been. Worked on a new play that might actually have some legs and had several good hair days in a row, no small thing for a woman growing her hair out from a pixie cut.

I have such a sweet life. So lucky.

Friday Night at Home

2010-10-15T19:27:00.003-04:00

It is a Friday night and I am writing to you after mopping my kitchen floor. Glamourous? No. Satisfying? Mais Oui! Now, I can wake tomorrow to a clean kitchen. I'd say that there is nothing better, but we all know that there are better things, many of them rather unmentionable in polite company.

I spent my day intending to write a Pantoum but ended up writing a grant instead. It's submitted now, so I have no excuse not to write creatively. I don't know why I chose to embark upon a Pantoum. Perhaps it is because I have been reading the wonderful, the inimitable Frank Giampietro's Begin Anywhere, and in it is a poem called "Foreplay Pantoum". Maybe I can start one tomorrow. Or, maybe all I'll do is arrange play dates and make grilled cheese sandwiches for ten year olds. One never knows. Such excitement and suspense in the life of your BloomingtonGirl. Stay tuned.

Random Things on a Tuesday Night

2010-10-12T21:00:00.003-04:00

Isn't this a cool bike, Loyal Readers? It was made by a company called Independent Fabrication. I don't recall how I stumbled across their site, since I am not in the market for the class of cycles they make and sell. But, the site is full of interesting bikes and the back story of the company and the bios of their people make me want to move to where they are and work for them just to be as cool as they seem to be. Yes, Loyal Readers, Your BloomingtonGirl has not outgrown wanting to be cool. One would think, however, that she would have realized by now that the quest was rather in vain.

I'm off to bed to snug in and read The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen. His insight into people and the American family is stunning and rather disturbing. I wish I could write as he does. I'd settle for a quarter as well, actually.

Warming Up

2010-10-11T12:38:00.004-04:00

Happy Monday, Loyal Readers! I am enjoying a delicious Oatmeal Jackson and a cup of coffee as I write. It had been many moon since I made these cookies and I'd forgotten how good - nay, DAMNED good- they are. They are better a couple of days after baking, weirdly enough. But that makes them the perfect cookie for shipping to Loyal Readers and friends.

I decided to post today not because I have anything terribly interesting to say, but because I needed a warm up exercise to get my writing muscles going. I have so many plot sketches swirling around in my little bean but nothing is wrapping itself around a play just yet. It could be that I just don't have any more work in me and that I should go back to baking as a creative outlet. But, I'm not ready to give it up just yet. Today, I am free until late afternoon and am going to use at least a good hour of that time to write something. Maybe a ten-minute piece of some kind.

The morning has been nicely productive. I biked to the Y, worked out with my friend Deb, and biked home. I feel so mighty and happy when I ride my bike. My friend Cindy said it right when she said that biking for her was a "kind of freedom she can't find anywhere else". I agree wholeheartedly. I feel free, young and joyous. It's even better - dare I say it - than a great new pair of boots! (I know! Who is this BloomingtonGirl?)

Well, that's enough of this for now. I'm going to get some work done. I wanted to post some pictures of the lovely parties I attended this weekend but those from the first came out badly and I forgot my camera for the second. Next time...

BloomingtonGirl as Biking Babe and Commentary on Trying to be Beautiful

2010-10-05T16:50:00.009-04:00

Loyal Readers, your BloomingtonGirl has turned into a regular Biking Babe, now that she has some bee-you-tee-full new jerseys to wear. I did not buy them, Loyal Readers. No, no. I got them for my recent birthday and I couldn't be happier. Okay, two of them were technically ordered by yours truly, but I used a birthday gift certificate (Yay! - I love gift certificates, except when my husband gives them to me and causes me to have -in Jack's words - a nervous breakdown.)

Here are my lovely new fashion statements for your viewing pleasure:

Aren't they all so purty? I have to say that I have developed a lust for cycling clothing that surprises me. Perhaps it is because I am not buying any regular clothing these days or maybe it is just that I have been fatally bitten by the riding bug and am enjoying cycling in a way that I hadn't before. Who knows? I just feel so mighty in my bike fashion as I zoom down the road. I am truly a legend in my own mind. A fashion legend, that is.

If only I'd had my biking gear on when I got stuck standing in line next to the resident supermodel in town the other day at Target, I might have felt just a teeny bit better for those absolutely dreadful five minutes. But no. I was wearing jeans and a bazillion year old flannel shirt. I wore no makeup and my hair was limp and stupid looking. And there she was, also without make-up, hair piled into a cap, skinny jeans, UGHs, a long sleeve T with no bra (yeah, they're perfect and they don't even look a bit fake)...and yet, she was perfectly beautiful in an American textbook way.

How does someone look that good in real life with no airbrushing? And, she's not a youngster, either, I might add.

I realized then that the very beautiful are a slightly different species altogether. And, it was a weird relief to understand it. To feel pressure to look like a model is silly and futile. It would be like trying to be a pretty bird, or perhaps an exotic fish.

You cannot be something you're not, no matter how hard you try, no matter how much "help" you get...

And, the really wonderful thing about it all is that it just does not matter. I wish I had known this twenty years ago, ten years ago, last week, even.

It just does not matter.

For now, anyway. And, if it starts to matter at some point in the future - and I know that it will - I'll just put on my sassy biking gear and go for a ride.

Celebration

2010-09-24T17:29:00.002-04:00

Loyal Readers, I just had to post this picture of me in my beeeeeyoutifull new bracelet. It is a beaded cuff with black and shiny/silvery beads that makes me so happy.

We are on our way out for a little joint birthday dinner for Jack and Me.

Have a nice evening, Loyal Ones.

Clothing?

2010-09-23T21:11:00.005-04:00

For my birthday, I got a gift certificate for my favorite cycling apparel company - TwinSix. I don't think that it counts if I use it to purchase a jersey. Here is what I am coveting. (In case you are wondering, I might change my name to Trixie, or at least answer to it when riding.)

I have not purchased any clothing for myself since I signed up for the Great American Apparel Diet in July. It hasn't been difficult at all, actually, because I have been losing weight and all sorts of "new clothing" has been coming available in my own closet. (You didn't hear that from me because women who talk about dieting and losing weight are tedious and I am anything but tedious. Right? Right, Loyal Readers?)

Anyway, back to my writing project.

48

2010-09-18T00:38:00.003-04:00

Here is your happy BloomingtonGirl t in her teeniest of all weeniest hotel rooms ever. It was chic, yes, but oh so teeny. I just liked the picture.

I turned 48 yesterday. I am not put off by the number of years that has crept upon me while I wasn't paying so much attention. I have already been through (and am so over) the Botox phase - for a brief period, I resembled Spock in an alarming way whenever I raised my eyebrows - and plastic surgery is not even on my radar anymore. I don't know what happened, but something did, and I no longer stand in front of the mirror pulling up my slackening facial skin, imagining what I might look like were I to surrender to the embrace of the scalpel. It could be that I am not obsessing lately because I am tan from outdoor swimming (I do wear sunscreen and lots of it) and when winter arrives and I am pallid and looking haggard...Oh, who knows. But for now, I'm not really troubled by growing older. It's rather shocking, isn't it?

I spent my birthday celebrating what my body can do - I went on a bike ride and then did a swim in the wonderful IU Outdoor pool. I felt quite mighty for my age. I had lunch with a dear friend who gave me a gorgeous present and then I took (gasp!) a delicious nap. All in all, a good day. My husband brought home some very fancy cupcakes and my boys and I had a nice little birthday party.

More soon, Loyal Readers. I have to go and get my little guy to bed.

All Sorts of Things

2010-09-07T18:14:00.007-04:00

Loyal Readers! It's been ages. I don't even know where to begin, not that there is anything thrilling to disclose. I can begin, I suppose, with the picture at left. The little trio got together to celebrate Lauren's birthday (middle). From left, Susan, Lauren and Your BloomingtonGirl. It was a fun night at Farm - the food was REALLY good. Farm has been hitting constant home runs, in my never humble opinion. Everything I've had there lately is fresh and delicious. Go there right now, Loyal Readers.

Well, go after you finish reading the brilliant words of your BloomingtonGirl, that is.

In other news, I've decided that I need to do a Sprint Triathalon. (Isn't that a great graphic above? It's from Flirtees, a Canadian t-shirt company for women who ride. They have sweet graphics, but their stuff runs small. I know this because I ordered this shirt for my good friend and cyclemaniac Cindy and it arrived too teeny weeny. )

So, back to my Sprint Tri. I'm not planning on doing it anytime soon, but next summer at the latest. I swim and bike well enough to finish those segments of such a trial, but I have long stopped running because it hurts too much and I haven't liked the feeling of fat jiggling when I've done it. I know, I know. It's hard to imagine that Your BloomingtonGirl has jiggly fat, but you'll just have to take that on faith. Unless you are one of the Loyal Readers who has glimpsed it for your self. But, as I used to say in the early days of this Blog, I digress.

Anyway, I decided I would begin to run again a couple of weeks ago. I commenced following a Runner's World eight week program. I made it through week one soundly, with no aches and pains to speak of and a sense of mightiness and hope. The second week, however, found me hobbling after day two with an ouchy muscle in my right calf, another one in my right butt and two slightly pained knees. I was so frustrated because I could easily have kept on track from a cardio standpoint, but my flesh and bones were just not having any of it.

I was about to abandon my hopes and dreams of being a (mini mini) tri-athlete, when my friend Jenny suggested that I try Chi Running. A few years back, my husband received a book on this very subject from his brother, so I went to our library and pulled it off the shelf. What serendipity to find it right here, at the ready!

I read the first several chapters and recognized many Pilates principles and remembered some stuff I learned in a Chi course a million years ago at Zen Mountain Monastery. It all makes perfect sense and has everything to do with relaxing and with form. My form is dreadful and stilted - can I hope to become fluid and pain free? Stay tuned, Loyal Readers. Ohm.

Today, I took my newly fitted road bike out for a 20 mile spin and I was really pleased with the changes that Fred Rose at the Bicycle Garage made. I'm going to make him some HoosierMama Brownies as a thank you. What a LuckyGuy he is! (I might have some extras, so if any of you Loyal Readers are hankering for some, drop me a line.)

My hands did not go numb until the very end of my ride - a miracle - and I retained feeling in my right toes for most of the ride, thanks to Fred moving my cleats back a bit. The adjustments made riding so much easier. I am hoping that changes in my running form will do the same for my nascent running endeavor. I am determined.

In other news, the weather has been splendid, my hair is crazy long (for me), I've been dancing around the kitchen to Lady Gaga a lot and I've started writing a new play. Jack is thriving in his new school. What more can I ask for? With a birthday on the horizon...I'll have to come up with something.

Sunday Evening

2010-08-15T19:24:00.004-04:00

Loyal Readers, here is a wonderful picture of our daughters getting along splendidly on our recent family vacation in Michigan. If only they could have communed that peacefully growing up...

The other two pictures are of the Crazy Tomato Bounty from my husband's Crazily Bountiful Garden. We were gone for a week and the vines were laden with about 40 pounds of ripe tomatoes. Chris canned 21 pounds today (7 quarts) and I will do the rest tomorrow. There are more coming. He also made 8 batches of pesto for freezing from the piles of basil he picked. We will be up to our eyeballs in pesto this winter. Call me if you want some.

I am writing to you on a Sunday evening, while Chris is sweltering outside, grilling filet mignons that were sent to us by accident. I ordered a dozen steaks for my parents recently and the company mixed it up and sent them to us. I can't say that I mind terribly much.

LATER...

The steaks were sublime. To accompany them, I made Green Beans Braised in Tomatoes. Chris and I agreed that we'd never had beans that good. The recipe is here. Reminded me of Italy.

More on the Great American Apparel Diet

2010-08-02T16:20:00.000-04:00

My Latest Post

Sunday Evening

2010-08-01T18:27:00.003-04:00

A Sunday Good Evening to you. Your BloomingtonGirl is snug in her little office, sipping on some strange quasi carbonated white wine from Portugal that her husband bought recently - not sure if I love it yet - and writing to her dear Loyal Ones. Said husband is busy in the kitchen cleaning freshly picked greens and being (as usual) a one man water theme park.

In a few moments, I must take over in the kitchen and make some barely cooked tomato sauce and some caramelized red onions for the greens. But first, I wanted to link you to a post for one of the very nicest blueberry pies in the universe.

One Crust Fresh Blueberry Pie

Get some blueberries and make this right now, Loyal Readers. You'll thank me.

More later.

Questions about the Apparel Diet

2010-08-01T10:12:00.004-04:00

Loyal Readers, your BloomingtonGirl has gotten a few questions about the 'Diet'.

1. Am I allowed to buy for others?

Great question. I would imagine so, but my guess is that one would want to use some restraint in that area in the spirit of the project. That said, I do find myself wanting to buy my friends and family clothing over the last week...

2. Can one buy accessories?

The vague instructions on the website say YES on this one. Shoes are also allowed, but in my case, given that I am a bit of a boot whore, I am going to count boots in the forbidden list. I am going to allow myself athletic gear as needed, including shoes in that area.

3. Can one buy underwear?

Absolutely. In my case, however, I am going to abstain from picking up those way too cute bras/panties at Target because I just don't need them. Besides, maybe the world doesn't need middle aged women letting their fuscia/bright blue/grey/whatever colored straps peek out of their summer apparel...

4. Can I get gifts of clothing?

Yes. But, I can't give money to someone else and ask them to buy something for me. I will be putting only clothing on my birthday and xmas lists this year. Only things I really need, which should be very few.

There. Questions answered.

Off to do a bike ride. This time, I won't make that wrong turn and end up, 40 miles later, finally home. More on that story later.

My First Post on The Great American Apparel Diet

2010-07-31T18:56:00.001-04:00

Greetings from A New Dieter

Here we go, Loyal Readers! Here we go!

Your BloomingtonGirl Goes on a Diet

2010-07-29T17:41:00.006-04:00

Loyal Readers, it isn't what you think. Your BloomingtonGirl has not gone on a reducing diet, though it might be a good idea if she did right about now given that she is in danger of developing a middle-aged middle if she is not careful. No. She has joined a group of dieters who are abstaining from the purchase of apparel for a year. The project is called The Great American Apparel Diet. I read about it in a recent NYT Article and thought I should give it a try. I'll be blogging about my experience on their website and I'll post links here to my posts there.

I joined the party quite late - there is only about a month to go - so it didn't seem too daunting. But! I just saw that the woman who conceived this project is going to run it for another year. Is your BloomingtonGirl brave enough to take that challenge? Will there be a day off between "sessions" during which I can purchase a new rain jacket or trench coat?

The fact is that I do not need another item of clothing (with the possible exception of road bike gloves - do they count?) so it isn't as if I would go without should I take the pledge for a year. Indeed, I have items in my overcrowded closet that still have the tags on them after months or even a year. I'm going to give some serious thought about extending my participation for the year.

You are probably asking yourself why your sometimes fashionable BloomingtonGirl would do such a thing as deny herself new fashionable items. I asked myself that question as well. And, the not so satisfying answer is that is just feels like the right thing to do. I might even tally up all of the money I would have spent and put it aside and take a trip with the first of my daughters who is lucky enough to read this. My motivation is not entirely financial here, though I do like the idea of smaller monthly bills and less excess in my closet. There is something else that makes this compelling for me. I'm not exactly sure what that is, but I think I'll be able to put my finger on it over time.

I saw a few bike jerseys I might have ordered today were I not on this diet. I'm going to share them with you in the event that you have an extra sized M one in your closet that you aren't using and want to send it to me. Aren't they rather fetching?

Stay tuned for more from your Great American Apparel Dieter.

Bull's Eye!!!

2010-07-22T08:27:00.002-04:00

S'mores

2010-07-21T10:13:00.004-04:00

This is a guy who is going to be very sad to leave camp.

Happy Jack

2010-07-14T09:13:00.002-04:00

Loyal Readers, here is the latest photo of my happy kid at sleep away camp. In the absence of any communication from him, save the three lines he scribbled during his first few days there, the daily photos on the website give me all the information I need. He's happy and having fun.

It was such a leap of faith to send him this year. It could have gone either way. It has been deeply gratifying to see that he has the inner resources to not only be away from home but to thrive in the environment. And this is a kid who is (or perhaps was) very attached to his mommy. I am beyond happy for him. YAY!

I miss him, but not in a way that causes me to suffer. The hard part of it - and it is not very hard, really - is realizing that the time is coming soon when he will grow up for real and I won't have a little guy anymore. My husband kids me every time I say I miss him. "Let's see what you're saying the day after he gets home." Jack and I have one of those intense bicker-y fight-y relationships. Or maybe we used to. Who knows how he has changed? We'll see.

In other news, I am struggling to finish what I am calling the first last draft of Over the Moon. The characters are getting very tired, Loyal Ones, having to say lines and then having to say new ones as I rewrite and rewrite. Poor things.

More not so thrilling posts coming your way soon. Stay tuned.

More From the North Country

2010-07-05T10:07:00.001-04:00

Loyal Readers, the photos below make me speechless with Joy.

Sunday Stuff

2010-07-04T14:31:00.005-04:00

It's an actual typewriter that actually works, Loyal Ones. My only question is why the man gets to wear regular clothing and the woman has to be all tarted up, showing lots of leg. Oh, right. That's when men ran the world and women ran around looking sexy for them.

We've come a long way baby. Or have we?

Anyway, on to my rather boring reflection on writing....

Loyal Readers, now that your BloomingtonGirl has reasonable evidence that her little guy is having the time of his life at sleep away camp in the scenic Adirondack Mountains (photos of him smiling, one and only one hastily scribbled note of joy), I almost don't know what to do with myself. I see now that the anxious worry about him occupied a great deal of space and time and now that it has subsided, it has left a great deal of space and time to now occupy with something else. But, with what?

The obvious answer is writing, and even as I write those five words, I think, "What's so obvious about that?" After all, such a statement makes it appear as if I take myself seriously as a writer. Do I? I guess it depends on when you ask me. If you ask me lately, I will answer a with definite sort of. Other times, the answer is absolutely. And sometimes, not at all.

Having kept company with many writers, I realize that ups and downs in confidence and feelings of strong purpose, etc., are quite common. In fact, they appear to be universal. But, suppose my dips are based on the bon a fide fact that I have nothing terribly important to say and no talent with which to say it? How will I know?

(I know. I will never know. I just have to keep on with it.)

So, I am keeping on with it today in the form of trying to rewrite Over the Moon for what I hope will be the last time before I put it aside for a new piece. I haven't done any substantial work on it since it was read (by an excellent cast!) in Cincinnati. There were some very solid suggestions at the talkback and I am restructuring the end of Act I based on one of them. This presents a problem for Act II as written and so I must begin it anew. It has been slow going today, but I am making some progress.

I am torn between thinking that this play, while a decent first attempt at a full length play, does not merit additional time and work and thinking that given all the time and work I've put into it, I should at the very least make it the best play I can. Just the act of working more on it is educational and furthers my craft. Or, so I would like to think.

Enough of that prattle. I'm going to get back at it. Wish me luck. Better yet, wish me brilliance and wit.

Camping Genes Must be Dominant

2010-07-02T08:24:00.005-04:00

Loyal Readers, here is proof that Camping Genes are indeed dominant. Your BloomingtonGirl has no such genes. This is no surprise to you if you know me. I am not an outdoor girl by any means. (My husband seems never to tire of telling the story about how I mistook a pile of animal poop for a turtle once, but I digress.) My husband has plenty of outdoor loving, outdoor capable genes. Clearly, Jack got some of them. He's a Lucky Guy.

By the way, Jack's campmates really do have faces. Your BloomingtonGirl has blurred them because it wouldn't be right for me to post photos of other people's little guys. (The two big guys are his cabin counsellors.)

Continued Happy News and A Garlic Epipany

2010-07-01T14:45:00.008-04:00

Loyal Readers, your BloomingtonGirl is feeling absolute Jubilation at continued news of Her Son's happiness at camp. I heard just today that he is making friends in his cabin and in the cabin of boys a year older and that he is "keeping company with a very active group of boys." (!!!!!) I am so excited for him. I'm actually happy that he can't be bothered to write to his long-suffering-missing-her son-mother because he is busy having too much fun and hilarity. (In actuality, I am not suffering at all. If I know he's fine and happy, I am fine and happy.)

The picture here is of some kind of ceremony in which campers are assigned their color. The boys can be either red or blue and we believe from scanning this picture that Jack has been assigned to the blue team. Don't strain your eyes trying to find him...just take our word for it that he is likely the guy at the upper right corner with the blue bandana completely over his face.

It is strange to have a house with no Jack. Chris is off this week and we are just puttering, having decided to skip our planned Canada vacation. We were simply too road weary after dropping Jack off. It was nice to be able to just cancel the plans and come home to relax.

One last note before I go and indulge my latest addiction (the Scrabble App on my ITouch), I have to rave about the garlic that my husband has grown in the garden. I must confess I never put too much stock in everything said about garlic (don't use cloves that have sprouted...etc...) and I never worried about whether it was fresh or not. I simply used whatever was in the fridge, sprouted or not, dried up or not. Shocking, I know, for such a foodie to admit this. I was an ignorant BloomingtonGirl, indeed. Tonight I put together a simple pasta sauce by warming fresh picked garlic in olive oil, adding some tomatoes and basil and cooking briefly. All I can say is that the garlic flavor was otherworldly. No sharp or hot sensations of over garlicy-ness. Just a mellow gentle but robust garlic flavor. It was amazing.

Never will I use substandard garlic again. Your BloomingtonGirl wanted her Loyal Readers to be the first to know.

Off to find a word that will use my Q and J.

First Word From the Happy Camper

2010-06-30T15:42:00.004-04:00

Random Photos of the Drop off Day

2010-06-28T10:09:00.009-04:00

Loyal Readers, it was a very long drive to camp. We picked Kate up along the way - she took a bus from NY. Fortunately, my driving sometimes makes my husband nervous, so he tends to like to drive. Here he is, steady behind the wheel in his extra cool sunglasses.

Here's the intrepid Katie, smart in her very cool jacket we picked out together on my last trip to Manhattan. I don't know what we would have done without her on this trip.

And, there's Jack, in his traveling get up, wondering what is in store for him at camp.

Here's Jack again, showing his nervous excitement as we approach the camp road. I was busy mentally stopping my full blown anxiety attack at that time.

This photo is of the area where the boys can congregate during free time. And, last but not least, a photo of Jack (choking back tears of terror) and one of his counsellors, Dustin, and his new friend who couldn't be any funnier and cuter. Stay tuned.

The Eagle Has Landed

2010-06-27T15:05:00.003-04:00

We dropped Jack off at camp earlier today. He was nervous but brave. I am beyond proud of him.

Photos to follow. I'm heading down to the fancy indoor pool at the fancy resort we're in to do some lap swimming.

Then, I might have a martini or two.

Getting My Kid Ready for Sleep-Away Camp (Part 4)

2010-06-24T21:28:00.005-04:00

Here's a picture of Jack with his house of cards a couple weeks ago.

Tonight is our last night at home before leaving to take Jack to camp, Loyal Readers. (!!!!!)

We depart tomorrow after Chris gets out of work. Jack is ready - as ready as anyone his age could be for this sort of adventure. His sisters keep calling to answer his questions and give him advice. It's very sweet. I can't remember whether I mentioned this before, so bear with me, but both Kate and Meg went to this camp for years and then became counsellors. So did Phil, Kate's husband. It's so cool that Jack can have this experience in common with them.

After we drop Jack, we will go to the Sagamore for a day of pampering and relaxation and then on to Montreal and Ottawa for the first vacation we've had without Jack since we had that lovely week in Cleveland when Chris's heart was opened and repaired. I don't think that counts as a vacation, especially for my husband.

Well, I am off to bed. More updates to come.

A Thought Provoking and Entertaining Video

2010-06-24T15:16:00.001-04:00

Thanks to Nancy DeKraker for sharing this with me. It provided a welcome distraction from camp prep and convinced me that sending Jack to a four week electronic moratorium is probably good for his little brain...

Click Here.

Getting My Kid Ready for Sleep-Away Camp (Part 3)

2010-06-23T21:18:00.005-04:00

Here is my gorgeous son in his Cardinal Stage Company T shirt. (Don't miss their c urrent show, Loyal Readers. It's nearly a sell out, so get your tickets now!)

This picture was taken earlier this evening. Jack is having (yet another) sleep-over party. I tried very hard not to get talked into this one, but this week he is really milking the "Mommy, I'm going to camp for four weeks....pleeeeeeeaseeee...." and I find myself either too lazy or too weak to put up the good fight. The upstairs AC is on the blink, so the poor dears might roast a bit tonight when they go to bed, but the way I see it, it is just a little taste of their parents' childhoods for them. (I roasted for years in my bedroom in my childhood home only to have my parents buy an air conditioning unit for it when I left for college. What was that about? Oh! Sorry. That's a question for my therapist, not my beloved Loyal Ones.)

I just finished packing up most of Jack's clothing and miscellany into his camp trunk and will finish the job tomorrow. There is only one little crisis and that is the matter of jeans. The camp recommends that I pack 3 pair for Jack but the kid abhors jeans and can't find a pair that feels comfortable even though I've brought home over a dozen styles for him to try. I am the queen of returns, believe me.) I shall pack cargo pants in lieu of jeans and hope that they provide enough of a barrier against the mosquitoes at camp fire. If not, there's always DEET.

Sometimes chemical warfare is what it takes.

I'm off to herd the little guys into bed and get them to settle down. And then, I'm off to bed myself. Stay tuned for more tomorrow.

Getting My Kid Ready for Sleep-Away Camp (Part 2.5)

2010-06-23T16:48:00.002-04:00

This is a picture of my new PF Flyers. I love them. No. I LOVE them.

Now, on to our Summer Camp Preparedness Update.

I was just about to begin photographing each item I am packing for Jack for use in a pictorial inventory of his stuff. I intended to tape the inventory to the inside of his camp trunk so that when he packed to come home he could know what he should be packing.

(I am pausing here so you can get over your hysterical laughter at such a ridiculous over the top obsessive notion.)

A special thanks goes out to my friend Jenny for intervening and giving me some tough love. She talked me down from this ledge and now I am happy to report that I shall just throw said items into said trunk with careless abandon and make myself a cocktail.

More later.

Getting My Kid Ready for Sleep Away Camp - Part 2

2010-06-22T22:25:00.004-04:00

Here is your BloomingtonGirl with her son holding a turtle. This was taken at the Grand Cayman Turtle Farm last month. The photo has nothing to do with my post today. I just thought I would share it.

Today, I continued to get my kid ready for sleep away camp. Mostly I gathered the outstanding items he needs and listened to him grouse while he tried them on. It's clear to me that we are both anxious about camp, but we pretend that we aren't. I think that my husband is a little anxious as well but he has a policy, something to the effect that discussing anxiety provoking topics worsens one's anxiety and leads to thinking of all the things that might not go so well.

Believe it or not, I'm with him on this one, and I think that the proper way to go is to put one foot in front of the other without too much thought.

In that spirit, I am going to bed to read something that has nothing to do with summer camps.

Friends

2010-06-22T09:11:00.002-04:00

Susan, Lauren and I at the somewhat strangely decorated Sweet Grass Restaurant. The food is quite good - a little on the southern fried heavy side, but tasty.

Now, back to packing for camp. More on that later.

Getting My Kid Ready for Sleep-Away Camp (Part 1)

2010-06-21T15:43:00.003-04:00

Loyal Readers, at left is a summer portrait of your Bloomingtongirl, freckled and fretting, fraught with anxiety about sending her son to sleep-away camp for the first time ever. And below, are photos of the fruits of my organizational and personalization efforts. I've labeled every item that he is taking to camp with his name, but I am sure that the return percentage will be 50% or less. That's how it went with the girls, anyway. (On the flips side of that, they did bring home other kids' stuff to make up for their losses - namely a Today Show Beach Towel that fell apart only last year and a pair of shorts from some boy camper that I wore until recently (when the five pounds I've gained made the wearing ever so uncomfy, but I digress.)

I am certain that the question on my Loyal Readers' minds is, "How is BloomingtonGirl coping with the upcoming separation?" Loyal Readers, I will tell you the honest truth, as I always do. I'd like to be able to say that I am breezing right through this week, without a worry about how Jack will do during his four weeks of relative independent adventure. But alas, I cannot say that. I wake up every night, right about three AM with a pit in my stomach - also known as separation anxiety. It isn't a rational thing - I know. I think Jack will succeed at camp and do well and have a great time. I believe that this is the right time for him to try this out for a million reasons, many of which just came clear over the last several weeks. Sure, he'll get homesick and have normal tough adjustment period, etc., but I really feel that overall this will be a game changer for him. The anxiety is a completely irrational and visceral feeling that I cannot explain. I'm glad that I feel such attachment for my (sometimes maddeningly difficult) son. It reassures me that I do have a maternal instinct somewhere inside... ;D

In other news, there isn't much other news. I'll keep you posted when there is, of course. I'm off to bed for a few hours before I wake up with the sharp intake of breath and the sense of panic at 3AM. If it's okay to call you at that time, just post a comment with your phone number and I'll give you a ring.

Nighty Night.

Forget Overpriced Designer Lighting...

2010-06-15T22:00:00.002-04:00

Loyal Readers, I was recently at the home of one of Jack's classmates. This family had just completed a most thoughtful and excellent remodel of their first floor. Their contractor suggested that they design and put together their own lighting fixture to illuminate the kitchen island, which the family also designed and built. (Yes, they are way cooler than we are, I know.) Anyway, I absolutely fell in love with this light fixture. The picture does not do it justice. It is rustic and modern and quirky all at once. The wood beam was salvaged from a Pauley's Island Hammock the couple was given for their wedding. Everything else was picked up at the hardware store for minimal cost. I am considering being a shameless copycat and putting together one for over our pool table or over our kitchen table.

Jack surprised me again today by saying that he is "excited about going to camp." I still cannot believe he wants to do this, but I'm going with it. It occurred to me today that this separation might be harder for me than for him. The fates say "Hah! Joni McGary. " Motherhood is the funniest combination of wanting to run away from it all and loving your kid so much you think you'll burst. Call me crazy. I can take it.

I did a workout yesterday on a rowing machine and followed it up with a swim, only to find that I had made my neck quite stiff as a result. By the evening, I was in minor agony and this morning it wasn't much better. I booked a massage with a person who was recommended to me by the most fit woman on the planet ( it is hard not to hate her, I admit it). This massage therapist worked me over like I was a piece of meat in need of tenderizing. It hurt in the hurts- so-good kind of way. I have been looking for a good deep tissue massage therapist and I think my search has ended. Her name is Marisa and she works at Hair Techniques on Liberty Drive. She used to be in the Army before she went to massage school. She's tiny and far stronger than she looks. I can't recommend her enough for you athletic types out there.

In other news, I am in the thick of what I hope will be my final re-write for Over the Moon. It is time to start my new play and put that one in the drawer for awhile. I'm waiting to hear on one or two more workshops and that will be it for awhile for that piece.

I'm off to bed, Loyal Ones. Sweet Dreams.

Exciting News for a Fellow Sewanee Writer, Channeling Dorothy & Twelve More Days

2010-06-14T19:30:00.006-04:00

First of all, your BloomingtonGirl extends her most joyous congratulations to fellow Sewanee writer, John Reimringer! Publishers Weekly has chosen his new novel, Vestments, as their pick of the week and given it a starred review. I've preordered my copy. I got a brief preview at Sewanee last summer and can't wait to read all of it. You can order yours on Amazon.

Read the Publishers Weekly Review HERE.

And, just so you know, this success couldn't be happening to a nicer guy.

Now, on to your BloomingtonGirl's far less exciting stuff. Earlier this evening, I was secured in our basement, waiting out this evening's Tornado Warning in our little corner of the heartland. Now, as I write, the front and back yards are bathed in an otherworldly, post storm golden hue. There are two large rainbows to our East. We get some big (and fast changing) weather in these here parts.

Now, there is a (relatively) gentle thunderstorm rumbling outside my window, providing uneasy background music for my writing. Worry not, Loyal Ones. I'm wireless and not on line as I write this. I didn't used to be this cautious but once your house gets hit, you realize it can happen to you. It goes without saying that I don't shower during a storm, but sometimes, I'm even afraid to go to the bathroom when lightning is striking nearby. (Think of the possibility of an electrical arc straight from the toilet to your BloomingtonGirl's unmentionable lady parts! And what a problematic obituary. Cause of death? Oh! The indignity!)

In other news, there are just twelve more days before we take Jack to four weeks of sleep-away camp in New York. What? Did you read that right? Indeed you did, Loyal Ones. I know! I am as shocked as you are, believe me. We have been planning for Jack to go to this particular camp since he first visited it when he was in utero when we drove his older sisters to their second year of camp. Both of our girls attended for years and loved it enough to become counsellors. This is a stellar camp and if you'd like the particulars of it for your younguns, just email me and I'll send them along.

We originally thought we'd send Jack for two weeks, this year but his sisters recommended strongly that he commit to the four week session. There were many good reasons, so we did. The most astounding thing is that Jack is completely on board with it and looking forward to going. I think that it has the potential to be a game changer for him. It's possible that he will completely hate it and be overwhelmed with home sickness, but I think it's more likely he'll move through his discomforts and come out on the other side to have a GREAT time. Keep your fingers crossed, Loyal Ones, and I will keep you posted.

Well, I'm off to read and get some shut eye. We're up early tomorrow for a 7 AM (what was I thinking??) orthodontist appointment.

God Save the Queen

2010-06-08T22:18:00.003-04:00

How fabulous is this, Loyal Readers? I just love Queen Liz. You just might spot me wearing this bag in the fall, so stay tuned.

My New Favorite China Pattern

2010-06-05T19:52:00.001-04:00

Available at FishsEddy.com

No Mom Award...Continued

2010-06-05T17:24:00.002-04:00

Loyal Readers, please phone the appropriate authorities to come to my home and straight jacket me and take me away. I agreed to have three of Jack's friends for an overnight this evening and an hour into the trip, we are experiencing turbulence. This is a group of four, three of whom have very strong personalities, each in conflict with the other. The fourth is the easiest kid in the world. He gets along with everyone. What would that be like, I wonder?

Anyway, the pizza was just delivered and maybe consumption will soothe the savage beasts. If not, they are all going home after dessert. I didn't sign a contract with the parents that I'd keep them all night.

I'm thinking about having an MRI to see if I was born without a maternal instinct. Where is it located? Would it show up? I'd ask my husband but, (lucky him), he's at work tonight.

Is it wrong to sedate other people's children? If it's illegal, I hope one of my Loyal Readers will bail me out of jail later.

Super Mom Award! NOT ME

2010-06-02T20:31:00.005-04:00

No, no, Loyal Readers! Your BloomingtonGirl is not the recipient of the Super Mom Award. She's not even close, doesn't have a chance to be in the running, wouldn't be considered if she were the last reproductive woman on the planet.

As you might surmise, I've had a day of it with my kid. I say black, he says white and he's only 9. This should not be a surprise to me since he's been largely this way for years now. I'm starting to truly believe that they come out of the chute who they are. What we as parents do or don't do may very well be of little consequence. (So, why not send their impertinent asses off to military school while they're still young and no homicides have been committed?)

I know there are moms out there - I know this - that don't bat an eyelash when their kids resist cleaning up, doing a chore...etc. Those women (they are my idols) just toe the line. Their kids will do what's asked, period. If they balk, so what. Me? I just cannot stomach the resistance. It isn't that I feel guilty for asking Jack to do something or that I think he shouldn't have to do such tasks. I just get so disgusted and angry about any fuss he puts up - and it is often considerable and relentless - that I feel that I can go one of two ways. I could beat the ever loving crap out of him or I could cave and say, never mind. Since the former will put me in trouble with the law, screw up my kid mentally and physically (I have a huge temper), while the latter will only do subtle (albeit lasting) damage to my child, I often just go with the latter. I do know better. Really, I do. But I CANNOT STAND TO ARGUE WITH HIM AND HE DOES NOT STOP. SERIOUSLY. DOES NOT STOP. Even after I stop, he keeps going. He can't stand to win or lose and even when I let him have the last word, he has more to say. It's something. (I know, I know. He is a little version of me. It is painful. I'm sorry Mom and Dad. Truly. I don't know how you didn't just throw me in front of a truck on the New York Thruway.)

If you had told me I would be this kind of a crappy parent before Jack was a glimmer in my eye, I would have been offended. But, the truth hurts. And the truth is, I have no business on some days being a mother. The problem is, I don't get to skip those days. And they tend to happen when it's just Jack and me...all the live-long day.

But, as Scarlett so aptly said, Tomorrow is another day. And, Loyal Readers, I intend to start fresh in the morning give it my best try. I will be patient and gentle, yet firm and consistent. I will be supportive and provide many opportunities for my child to be appropriately challenged and to develop his character. I will toe the line when necessary without once raising my voice. I will be June Cleaver. I will wear a circle skirt and pearls and when working in the kitchen, the ever so lovely apron.

And pigs will fly. Keep your eyes out for them.

Last Day in the Islands...For Now, Anyway

2010-05-28T21:53:00.008-04:00

Today was a superb last day on Grand Cayman. We snorkeled for hours. The highlight was seeing these fish that changed colors before our eyes, depending on what surface they were above. Amazing and beautiful. The reefs right off our beach are perfect. I feel so happy and I can't wait to come back. This is the most relaxed I can remember being in quite some time. I might be wrong about that, but I'm too relaxed to worry about it.

Tonight, we ate at Agua, an outsanding, nay, OUTSTANDING, place. It ties with Morgan's Harbor for our favorite. Below are some pictures of us there. (I have been a silly shameless tourist taking pictures at restaurants on this trip, but I'm glad I did it.)

At left are Jack and Chris. Jack is growing up so fast.

Below is evidence that my appetizer was superb. I ordered a trio of Peruvian seafood preparations.

More Chris.

Might be my favorite picture of this trip.

How We Are Spending Jack's College Fund

2010-05-28T11:00:00.006-04:00

Fine dining abounds on this island and there is no shortage of establishments that will nice you to death, serve you beautiful and delicious food and then present you with a bill on the order of magnitude of a small mortgage payment. Last night, we emptied our wallet at Luca, a pretty slick and swanky place. Tonight, I think we will compensate by eating at a local Kebab joint or a place called the Tim Buk Tu diner.

Below are some photos of our evening at Luca. (We do other things besides eat here, honest. But, the things are mostly underwater and your BloomingtonGirl does not have the proper digital photographic equipment to capture such activities. Stay tuned next week for underwater shots, that is if they come out...ah film. )

Jack and I before dinner. This might be your BloomingtonGirl's new favorite dress. Don't be afraid to say how much you love it, too.

Chris, happy at dinner. (Before the bill came.)

Jack, giving Luca two thumbs up. This kid loves good food.

More Jack. What can I say? BloomingtonGirl loves her kid. (Most of the time, anyway.)

A view from our table at the Swanky Luca.

Best mussels I've ever had. Hands down, no contest. The broth was a symphony of yumminess.

Chris looking not like Chris in his new reading glasses.

Mousse au chocolat. Beyond, Loyal Readers. Beyond.

More from Paradise

2010-05-26T18:51:00.004-04:00

Loyal Readers, it is once again cocktail hour in Paradise and I am taking a little break from our adventures today to write to you and share some pictures. Today, we drove to Rum Point, a little beach on the other end of the island. It is a very charming place with a cute little bar and grill on it. The snorkeling was supposed to be really great, but it was just okay. Turns out that the snorkeling right off of our beach here is much better. There are reefs all over the place, not too far out, with abundant and beautiful fish. The three of us spent a couple hours there in the late afternoon. Fabulous. I'm trying to talk Jack and Chris into diving, but so far, no luck. I was thinking of taking a "tourist" course here. You take a course in the morning and then can go for a relatively shallow dive in the afternoon. We'll see. I do intend to get my PADI certification in Bloomington in the near future. I'm hoping that Kate will get hers as well so we can go on diving trips. (C'mon Katie!) If not, I'll have to tag along with the Geigers next time they come down.

Here's Jack at the Rum Point Bar and Grill, examining an onion. He has decided to become a restaurant reviewer. It is rather hilarious to listen to his high fallutin' BS.

This picture needs little explanation other than Jack wanted to be the "Free" Jerk.

More Grand Cayman Fun

2010-05-25T18:08:00.007-04:00

Loyal Readers, here are some more photos from our vacation. Enjoy.

Here are Simon, the first mate of our sail boat yesterday, and Jack with the Conch shell that Simon found for Jack. Simon has 15 kids, 2 of whom were born on the same day to different mothers. Did I already mention that? Sorry, but I can't help myself.

Here's Jack at the (really awful) restaurant where we dined (and I use that term loosely) last night. The view was lovely but the food was quite bad. A rarity on Grand Cayman, I think, but we were unlucky enough to experience it. Tonight, better cuisine planned.

Here are Jack and Chris under the little structure on our beach this afternoon. We snorkeled a whole lot today, right off the beach of our place. It was amazing and so easy.

Your BloomingtonGirl and her Honey, happy after our little sailing cruise. It's good to be silly, isn't it?

Jack and Chris at said awful restaurant. I won't mention its name in case it is Al Fresco. The deep fry exhaust fan was pointed at the outdoor dining area. Seriously unbelievable.

Your BloomingtonGirl's happy, happy feet at our beach earlier today, while reading her favorite magazine (Vogue) and enjoying the day.

Grand Cayman

2010-05-24T19:24:00.003-04:00

Loyal Readers, your BloomingtonGirl spent the afternoon swimming with Stingrays, snorkeling and relaxing on a catamaran as it sailed back toward the island. Now, she is sipping a lovely glass of crisp white wine and writing to you, Loyal Readers, in our incredibly well appointed condo overlooking the water.

Below are some photos from last night's dinner at a fabulous spot on the island called, well, I can't remember the name, but it was great. Something like Morgan's or you know, something like that. Two words. Whatever.

Anyway, it was very very pricey - like everything else on the island (a half gallon of milk and a box of cereal was $13.00 at the convenience store last night) but it was really delicious. We ate on a deck overlooking the water and according to Jack, the best feature was the "chicken entertainment". Chickens roam free on this island and mill about in outdoor restaurants, even the very nice ones.

We are on our way to sample another culinary delight at a place called AlFresco, also on the water. Hey, what isn't here?

Okay, now, we are back. AlFresco was pretty awful, other than the incredible location. We'll live, however, having eaten (albeit mediocre at best) food on a pristine beach at sundown. Can't have everything, they say, though I do continue to try to have everything. Guess I'm greedy, eh?

More later from this not-so bat vacation.

Over the Moon

2010-05-13T20:25:00.002-04:00

This is the cast and me and the director of the Cincinnati reading of Over the Moon. More later, but for now, your BloomingtonGirl would like to express her amazement that this outstandingly talented group of people took up her humble script in earnest and made it sing. Wow! How did I get so lucky?

9 Tickets Left!

2010-05-05T11:48:00.005-04:00

Loyal Readers! There are only 9 tickets left for my reading next week in Cincy. I am SO excited!!!

Party Pictures and a few Recipes

2010-05-03T20:40:00.003-04:00

Good Evening, Loyal Readers! I just put up a website of pictures of our dinner party. If you are interested, click here. If you want to cook up a couple of the dishes that were served, click on any of the items below for the recipes:

Moroccan Carrots

Perfect Potato Salad

Simple, Elegant and Out of this World Cheesecake

And a Good Time Was Had

2010-05-02T20:13:00.006-04:00

Your BloomingtonGirl is a tired girl this Sunday evening, Loyal Readers. Tired, yes, but bathing in a most delicious afterglow of a most delicious dinner party. Last night, we hosted 22 people - Chris's current and retired partners and wives - for cocktails, a magic show and dinner. If I do say so myself, it was a smashing success. Preparations started on Thursday - planning the decor for three tables, ironing linens, grouping china/crystal/silver, etc. On Friday, I cooked for twelve hours straight (!). I have to say that although it was hard work, it was really enjoyable. On Saturday, I set the tables, arranged some flowers and did some last minute stuff while my husband did the guy things - got ice, roasted the tenderloins, etc. Promptly at six, people started arriving and the party was off to a great start. We hired a magician to do close up card tricks between cocktails and dinner (Steve Bryant - here's his website - he's amazing). It was simply a delightful evening of big fun.

You will agree, I am sure, that there is nothing better than being invited to someone's home for a dinner party - that is if you like the hosts and other guests and the food and drink are plentiful and good. People host parties too seldom these days. People think that they are too busy to undertake such an activity. I say that's Hogwash! Anyone can make time to throw at least one dinner party a year - even if you invite some friends over for pizza and beer and scrabble or dominoes. Your BloomingtonGirl encourages you, Loyal Readers, nay, she implores you to make an effort, no matter how busy you may be. Why? Because such gatherings spread good cheer and that is a very important thing to do in these angst-y times. Throwing this party made me so very happy, Loyal Readers, because I know that all of the hard work put into it made a difference in the world. A small difference, yes, but I am a true believer in FUN, and whatever I can do to spread a little around is my greatest pleasure.

Tomorrow, if time allows, I shall post pictures of the party along with my recipes for everything I served. But, for now, your BloomingtonGirl is off to get her beauty rest.

Melody Gardot

2010-05-01T10:35:00.002-04:00

Click here to listen to her.

Something jack Said

2010-04-29T23:08:00.002-04:00

So, the other day, Loyal Readers, your BloomingtonGirl was talking to her son about going into fourth grade next year. The school year is winding down (his school gets out on May 20!!) and he is visiting the age 9-12 class next week, which is sort of a big deal for him. (He goes to a mixed age classroom Montessori School.) I asked him how he felt and kidding him, asked if he felt old.

He replied:

"I don't really feel old, but going into fourth grade, I feel closer to dying."

I was a little alarmed by my nine year old expressing such a sentiment. I asked him to explain.

"Well, first I'm in fourth grade, then high school, then my driver's license. Then, I'm forty, then, I'm ninety. I probably won't make it that long ..."

He wasn't morbid or upset, but simply stating the facts as he saw them. It was something to hear a kid that young talk about life this way.

I remember that right after I got married, I felt the same way - closer to dying. (Not because I was unhappy with my choice, but because it was such a huge milestone and I was older when I did it.) Somehow, having passed the marriage milestone made me realize how mortal I was. I know I am not doing a good job explaining this, but believe me, it was very real. And still, almost thirteen years later, I lie in bed each night, drifting off to sleep, and the thought crosses my mind that this life is finite.

But, for Jack at age 9 to think these thoughts? Wow. Is this a harbinger of his development into an angst ridden artistic type? Stay tuned.

Manifesto

2010-04-29T10:25:00.004-04:00

I wrote this for a playwriting class I am taking.

BloomingtonGirl

My Manifesto April 29, 2010

(Okay, it’s really the ideal of my manifesto, but still.)

There is enough room in the world for many different kinds of theatre and so it follows that there is enough room for many different kinds of playwrights.

Some playwrights have to write very serious and lofty works. If such a one is skillful, a great play may result. If such a one is in love with his words or premises, and is not keenly insightful, an exhausting or stupid play may result. There will be audiences for both, though I steer clear as a rule of reading or seeing the exhausting play. I also steer clear of writing serious and lofty works because I’ve made peace with the fact that I am not interested in doing it.

Some playwrights have a heavy hand with which they hold forth their opinions – comic or tragic - through their characters and rather obviously. I hope I am not one of these, but I might be and not know it.

The best playwrights have a light touch and a deft hand. The writer is invisible – there is only the drama itself. The audience is invited into the play unawares and is richer for the experience, whether it is light or heavy, silly or tragic. Even in a large house with a proscenium stage, one finds oneself in the play, not thinking about the play. I aspire to be in this group of writers. Though I may never be skillful enough, I hope I never give up trying.

Some playwrights think that their work is terrible, but they keep writing anyway. I am often in this group.

For every five minutes of accolades I get about my work, there are days of self-doubt and self-criticism. I will savor those five minutes of praise each time and take it as true. Why not?I never doubt the truth of the self-criticism, do I?

It is absolutely okay that I take myself seriously as a writer, whether or not I write consistently or well by whatever standards are said to matter. I need not apologize to anyone for my work. I still will, of course, but I ought to remember that I don’t have to.

I am allowed by the only person who matters in this – ME – to enjoy writing on my own terms. I strive to be a more skillful writer so that I can craft a play that reflects my ideas, so that I can write what I think is a good play. I am not required to strive every day to be a serious writer, though. There are other things and people in my life that need my attention, too.

If in the future, I no longer wish to write plays, I never need be embarrassed that I thought that this was the thing for me. Life is like that and too short for such silly conceits.

Manifesto

2010-04-29T10:22:00.002-04:00

I wrote mine today.

I'm just saying.

It was empowering.

It probably will need editing.

Maybe not.

Tuesday

2010-04-27T19:11:00.005-04:00

I miss Chinese Food, Loyal Readers. Good Chinese Food, that is. As far as I can tell, there is quite a bit of Chinese Food in this town, but I have yet to have any that is good. I also miss good Italian Food. What passes for Italian here is criminal. There are several very good restaurants here, but being back East reminded me how much better the food is there. How is it, then, that I am not the size four BloomingtonGirl who moved here? Perhaps it is better not to ponder such a question, especially on a day like today - a rotten horrible day.

There were several things that conspired to make my day horrible and rotten but the biggest one was slipping and falling (hard) on the floor in our foyer. I slipped on and - horror of horrors! - landed in, a rather large puddle left by our poor dog who is starting to stand on the threshold of the great doggy beyond. The indignity of it all. When I was mopping it up and then shampooing the carpet (our thoughtful pup is no stationary urinator - no! - she walks around while she does it, leaving a large area to be cleaned by my lucky self), I was feeling entirely defeated (and sore from the fall) and I sobbed uncontrollably, racked in waves of self-pity. It was PAH-thetic and yet weirdly cathartic. It's good, every now and then to have one of those nobody-can-hear-me-no-holds-barred cries.

After I cleaned the floor and myself, I went about my day, feeling that things could only look up. I was wrong, Loyal Ones. I picked Jack up and brought him (and two of his friends) home for a playdate. I fed our pup and while she was eating, went to get some laundry done. (I know, I know, your BloomingtonGirl's life is very glam). I figured I would take the dog out right after she finished eating. (She has to be carried down the stairs to the yard and back up again...something I said I would NEVER do, but here I am, doing it). I heard a yell from the living room. Jack and his friends screaming "Gross!" She did it again, this time, in an arc over the carpet and across the best Oriental Carpet in the house. Suffice it to say that I did not give her a treat for her accomplishment. On the other hand, you can't really punish her because she is a million years old. If it weren't for Jack, she would have been voted off the island some time ago. I find myself dragging my feet because I don't want to face how grieved he will be. Why does anyone have pets or children? Why, Loyal Readers, why?

In other news, I cannot wait to climb into our huge soaking tub tonight and fill it up to the brim with hot water to soak out all of my ills. I am going to pour in large amounts of these wonderful lavender scented sea salts, sink in, put on my reading specs (ah! middle age) and read Othello. It is SO good. Iago is so skillfully written and so wonderfully evil and devoid of guilt. A juicy read indeed.

In other other news, Jack is out playing with the neighbor boys again tonight and Chris is working late. I love the quiet of an empty house. And I deserve it after this kind of day.

In other other news, there are only 24 tickets left for the Cincinnati reading of Over the Moon on Tuesday, May 11. Let me know if you want me to reserve one for you. I am very excited about the cast (they are stellar!) and having a pretty good sized audience for the talk back afterward. This reminds me that I need to book a hotel!

I'm off to clean up the kitchen, put my (not so) little (anymore) guy in bed, and book a nice hotel for Cincinnati.

I wish you a good night, Loyal Readers, and a good tomorrow, devoid of any unseemly accidents.

My New Favorite Actors & Other Things

2010-04-26T18:12:00.004-04:00

Loyal Readers, during her Heart Zone workouts on her bike in the basement, your BloomingtonGirl has been watching an old movie called That Hamilton Woman, starring Vivien Leigh and Sir. Lawrence Olivier. It is, except for an interminable and dull battle scene toward the end, terrific. It has started a new obsession with these actors. I'm embarrassed to say that I am woefully unfamiliar with Olivier's work and only recall seeing Leigh in Gone with the Wind. I'm hooked on both of them, Loyal Ones, and I also find their own love affair very interesting and tragic. Aren't they absolutely gorgeous?

I am writing to you while dinner is in the oven (from the Moosewood Cookbook, Bulgarian Pepper and Cheese Delight) and Jack is outside playing with the neighbor boys. Chris is working out and I have a little time before dinner to write my blog. When I first started blogging, I wrote just about every day. The blog was called "Life in Bloomington, Fairfield County Girl Makes Good in the Midwest" . My first post was on December 31, 2003 (!!) and it was this:

So, before today, I really didn't know what a blog was, exactly. I would read about them and I sort of knew but felt stupid to ask. Today my friend Michelle mentioned the term and I broke down and asked her. We decided I should have a blog for our move. So here it is.

Now, on to recipe comments...

The chicken so far smells wonderful. More as it develops...

Today I sent in the contract to the moving company. We are officially moving during the last week of January. Wow. This blog will be all about the move, settling in & freaking out. Oh, and I will of course include some recipes.

It seems a million years ago. Sometimes I still cannot believe that I live in Indiana. No offense to any Hoosiers, especially Bloomington Hoosiers, but I am really an East Coast girl through and through and I probably would not live anywhere in Indiana besides Bloomington. I continue to miss easy access to Manhattan - I can never get enough of that place - but I don't miss living in Connecticut. I like going to visit CT and I have to admit that the amount and variety of amenities far outweigh those here. But, there is an insidious "keeping up" that happens when the average home price in a town is north of a million dollars. There is an enormous amount of wealth there that I took for granted when I was a resident. Now, when I go back, I am a little dazzled by it. It is all very gorgeous and grand. I don't think I would have the energy for it anymore. I like the pace of life here and the kind of people in this town. Who knew I would ever feel this way? I would like to retire in Manhattan (alas, my husband does not) but I'm happy we moved here.

BloomingtonGirl Brews Tea to Elevating Her Life

2010-04-22T21:07:00.005-04:00

I recently visited a Tea Store to purchase some good green teas for my green tea drinking husband. The lovely woman who ran the shop was happy to tell me all about the teas and how they would elevating my life. She had a clear glass pot containing a light tea and in it, this beautiful and strange looking flower thing - very similar to the photo at the left . She poured me some and I was hooked. It was delicious and delicate and floral. It was, Loyal Readers, Jasmine Tea. I was very excited to take some home and brew it, drink it and enjoy the visual of the beautiful flower thingy in my cup or tea pot. Well, Loyal Ones, your BloomingtonGirl has only been able to recreate part of the experience. The tea was lovely but the flower thingy, not so lovely. Here's a shot of how mine looks below.

How did she do it, I wonder? I followed the directions and I even prodded the thing a bit to make it open up more. Alas, this was as close as your BloomingtonGirl could get to the beautiful flower thingy. I hope it doesn't mean that this tea won't elevating my life. I need all the elevation I can get to fight off the literal gravity of middle age. The nice tea lady recommended that I even put the flower thingies in my bath, but I am going to decline. Soaking in a tub filled with multiple things like the above thingy isn't my idea of soothing. Besides, at about fifty cents a thing, it could get a little steep, no pun intended.

In other news, my leg of lamb dinner was sublime, I am happy to report. I served the lamb with black quinoa and freshly picked spinach from my husband's garden. I exaggerate not at all when I say that it was the best spinach I have ever tasted.

I like the early part of the garden. There are little harvests, just enough for a meal here and there. But the tyranny of it will befall me before too long and I will be up to my elbows in large quantities of things such as chard, kale, cucumbers and tomatoes. Worry not, though, because your BloomingtonGirl will be more efficient this year. I am going to get me one of them pressure canners so I can put things up more quickly. Stay tuned and keep your fingers that I don't blow the place up.

Beautiful Food

2010-04-22T10:19:00.002-04:00

I wish that I could share the aroma of this paste right here on this page. I suppose at some point we will have the technology to do that, for better or worse, but for now, Loyal Readers, you will simply have to imagine how gorgeously appetizing this smells. It is a paste made from fresh lemon zest, rosemary leaves, kosher salt, garlic, black pepper and olive oil. Otherworldly, if I do say so myself. I just finished rubbing it all over a leg of lamb, which I put in the fridge to marinate. I will roast it later to perfection and make my husband the happiest of all men.

Don't you wish you had a BloomingtonGirl cooking for you every night? Of course you do.

I'm a Pokemon

2010-04-21T21:20:00.000-04:00

Check out my awesome attacks!

Ethereal & Bloody Bloody & Fat Girl

2010-04-21T19:29:00.006-04:00

Loyal Readers, you see at left an open bag of LuckyGuy Bakery Double Chocolate Delights. Your BloomingtonGirl should not, I repeat, should not, have opened said bag. There are three fewer cookies as a result and a slightly fatter - yet still somehow attractive, I hope - middle aged woman as another result. Ah, desire! You were simply too much for the demure and delicate BloomingtonGirl!

I made these treats for the wonderful and creative people in my playwriting class yesterday. I bagged up the rest to give as a gift and then neglected to decide upon a lucky recipient. There the cookies sat, on my island, staring me down, eroding my willpower. I caved at last and I am here to report that these might be the finest cookies I have made in many a baking moon. They are deeply chocolately, yet delicate in texture. The flavor is not too sweet, not too bitter, but juuuuuust right. There is a perfect amount of salt (essential for a baked good, I don't care what anyone says) and that perfect amount really brings it all home. Heavenly they are and I do not exaggerate. I think that I must make a few more batches for mailing to those on the LuckyGuy Bakery A-List. They are a bit delicate for shipping, but I posit that even humble shards of these would be welcomed by the most discriminating of LuckyGuy Customers. Hold on a second while I reseal the bag. Four would be simply too much of a good thing.

There.

Now, on to other topics. If you are in NY, I highly recommend the show Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. (Here are a couple YouTube Videos for it: Interviews with the creators/current relevance and another one.) It is up for a limited run at the Public, so you will have to hurry. It is a 90 minute whirlwind of a play with lots of EMO Rock and irreverent humor. It tells the tale (duh) of our nation's 7th president in a most innovative and entertaining way. It is hilarious and moving and quite thought provoking. If you are a parent of a high school or college student and don't mind if he or she hears the word Fuck lots of times in an hour and a half, you might want to take your kid to see it. It will provoke interesting conversation about the state of affairs of our country. The take home message for me was that things haven't changed all that much since then. Bloody was one of the best things I've seen in a long while. I wish I could say the same of A Behanding In Spokane by (usually fabulous) playwright Martin McDonnagh. It was a dreadfully weak play made okay by the amazing Christopher Walken (Hey...I'd pay to hear him read the phone book) and the charming and talented Sam Rockwell. Rounding out the cast was Anthony Mackie (making the very best of his role) and Zoe Kazan who was pretty dreadful. Shame on you, Martin McDonnagh. You are so much better than that. (Apologies to my friend Larry who liked the show.)

I lament that I do not live closer to NY because I could see a couple shows a week and never tire of it.

Well, I am off to do some rewrites of Fat Girl. I hope I get it right. Maybe I can look at my three cookie binge as method writing...

Culinary Heaven, A Stellar Reading and Some Encouragement

2010-04-20T18:09:00.005-04:00

Loyal Readers, the identity of the woman in the photo has been concealed in case it is me. Will you look at the size of that Dosa? Masala Dosa, that is. Crazy, right? This was the luncheon portion of said dish at Tiffin Wallah, a delicious little place in Murray Hill. My friend Cindy and I stumbled upon it while there last week and were rewarded by the most excellent Indian Food I have had in years. Outstanding. Run, do not walk there.

You are all wondering if the woman in the photo finished the entire thing, aren't you Loyal Ones? I'd love to tell you but I must protect her privacy.

In other news, I was Over the Moon about the reading of Over the Moon at the Playwrights Center in Minneapolis last Monday night. The cast was nothing short of stellar and they made my work just sing! (The actor who played Andy Levine literally did sing some of his role. Ben Rosenbaum is his name. He was an outstanding and believable Andy. I wish I had links to the other actors who read, but alas, I do not. Suffice it to say that it could not have been better.

The audience was modest, but the talk back was quite fruitful. Besides some people I knew from Sewanee, there was a small group of students from a local college that attended as part of a class requirement. I was a little uncomfortable when I saw them enter because the females in the group were black and I was worried about how Andy Levine's stage name - Big Black Cock Daddy - would play. I hadn't tested that demographic yet, so...

One of the young women, I put her at about age 20 maybe - was rather effusive - to put it mildly. At intermission she immediately turned around and said to me with great enthusiasm:

"You gotta make this into a screenplay. I can just see it as a movie, you know. Are you gonna make it into a movie?"

"I've actually had feedback before that it would be a good screenplay, but at this point, I'm going to keep it a play. Unless Meryl Streep wanted to play Elaine, then I might reconsider."

"I don't know who that is."

Seriously, this girl had never heard of Meryl Streep. It was remarkable. During the formal talkback, she had so much to say about the relationships of the characters. At one point, she said, "When Andy takes Elaine to that place - what was it? Car-something?"

"Cartier."

"Yeah, Cartier. I didn't understand what was happenin', like I was tryna figure out where he was takin' her - like was it a strip joint or sompthin."

I just loved that she had no acquaintance whatever with the world of the play - upper class CT and NY - and that she was far younger than the main characters whose relationships play out most strongly - and still, she was completely engaged in the story and very excited about it. It was gratifying to see and hear it.

That said, Sarah Slight, the dramaturg who lead the discussion did a good job at not allowing her to monopolize the discussion, which she was in grave danger of doing, and for that I was grateful.

All in all, the experience was exceptional and I really felt at the end of the evening that the script was close to being in final draft form. A year ago, I could not have imagined that I would finish a script- a decent one at that - and have it read by such amazing actors. I hope that I'll be equally pleasantly surprised a year from now at my place in the playwriting world. Who knows? Keep your fingers crossed, Loyal Readers.

I did get a rejection letter this week from the Seven Devils Conference but it was a very nice one with some encouraging words. Perhaps everyone got those same encouraging words, but I'm just going to assume that was not the case. Why not think good things rather than bad? It's all in one's imagination anyway. Might as well create my own world.

Following that thought, I just purchased some polarized sun glasses. Not only do they make your BloomingtonGirl look like a sexy rock star, they rest her eyes rather nicely. I noticed that some things - like the screen of my I-Pod, for instance - look different with the glasses on. It reminded me that if you change the lens through which you view the world, things appear different. That can be a good thing indeed if you keep your lenses a little rosy. I believe in that.

Monday Night

2010-04-10T10:46:00.002-04:00

Over the Moon gets read on Monday night at the Playwright's Center in Minneapolis. Make your travel arrangements right now, Loyal Readers. See you there.

Click here for details!

Fat Girl

2010-04-09T20:39:00.002-04:00

Loyal Readers! I finally finished the first draft of a new one act play entitled Fat Girl. It isn't very good yet, but I think it has some potential. I had to write it for a class I'm taking at IU and it was hell getting it done. It is good to have a deadline to force me to break through the resistance I feel. I'm excited to refine the piece and see where it goes.

I behaved like a perfectly spoiled woman today. I had a massage today, Loyal Ones and I have to say that it was long overdue. I also went shopping and picked out some smart new outfits for my trip next week. I have gained an unsightly five pounds - all in the mena-pooch region, I think - and I decided that rather than torture myself with my current wardrobe while I pretend to get serious about losing this poundage, I would just pick up a few new things to make me feel better. It worked. I feel much better. I rationalize it all by saying that I am quite fit underneath my fat (I am indeed rather fit, if I do say so myself) and that at least I don't have to lose weight and get in shape. For a laugh, click on this link for Poo Chi.

In other horrible news, I lost my entire address book on my mac. I don't know how it happened but what difference does it make? It's too late now. Or, at least I think so. I'm taking my desk top into the Mac store tomorrow AM and making them (yes making them) retrieve it.

In other other news, my friend and writing associate Maxie is screening his movie tomorrow night at the Whittenberger Auditorium tomorrow night. Here is the trailer and information about it. Get Jak. I will be there with bells on, so look for the beautiful poochy middle aged woman with bells on.

Food Art

2010-04-06T17:42:00.001-04:00

Loyal Readers! Your BloomingtonGirl has been on a cheesecake baking extravaganza of late. Here is one of my little beauties, all decked out in strawberry finery. I hope I'm not being too immodest when I say that it tastes every bit as delicious as it looks.

Many people have asked for the recipe, so I've posted it on my recipe blog. Here it is for your cooking enjoyment.

Really Great Recipes: Cheesecake

Strawberry Love

2010-03-28T21:36:00.003-04:00

I think that I shall never see

Another Heart Shaped Strawberry.

That's it for now.

Back to Basics (or Shoe Love)

2010-03-26T21:26:00.003-04:00

Loyal Readers! Those who have been reading for a time know that your BloomingtonGirl has a weakness for beautiful footwear. In winter, I wear exclusively boots but when spring comes, your BloomingtonGirl's Boot Fancy turns to thoughts of Shoe Love. (apologies to Tennyson for such bastardization of his lovely words.)

Here are two delicious examples of shoes I would love to own and would indeed own if I were inclined to (or insane enough to) shell out a bazillion dollars per pair. These beauties are by Christian LeBoutain, but you probably already knew that. The red sole gives them away. The first one, at left, has a price tag of about $1700 (!!!). I am reminded of dragees (please forgive the lack of accent mark...I don't know how to do that in Blogger). I never enjoy eating a dragee, but they look so beautiful and I have no objection to wearing them or a clever and expensive representation of them.

The second pair below simply reminds me that I LOVE shoes. I'm off to Manhattan in a few weeks and I have decided that I shall try them on just for the thrill of it. I am going to have a much needed pedicure before my trip so my feet will be worthy. I have no intention of purchasing them, but a girl can dream, right? (Of the two pair, I favor the blue suede. What say you, Loyal Ones?)

In other news, my friend Jenny came over for pizza tonight with her two boys in tow. They are two of Jack's best friends and Jenny is one of mine, so the evening was lovely. Chris was working late, so he was spared all of the girl talk and the rambunctious boys' yelling and running around. As I write this, Chris is home and relaxing in front of an NCAA basketball game, Jack is snug in his bed and I am writing to my Loyal Readers. Life is remarkably good.

I'm off to take a luxurious bath and then to bed to read Othello. I am reading it for the first time as part of an independent study I am doing on the Narcissistic and Psychopathic personalities. Iago is really something. Shakespeare really got people.

Bye for now.

Boots and Natural Disasters

2010-03-25T17:58:00.004-04:00

I love these boots, Loyal Readers. I made the mistake of not ordering them when I first fell in love. Now, they don't have my size. That'll teach me. I'll just have to find another pair to love.

As I write, it is pouring down rain. It has rained steadily off and on today and I have to say that I find it a relief to have a day of lousy weather after a couple of weeks of beautiful days. Gorgeous weather makes me feel pressured to be outside every minute, taking advantage of the fresh air and sunshine, perhaps prancing around in the spring clothes I have not yet unpacked for the season. Does this make me a bit of a lazy depressive? Well, so be it. Give me Seattle anytime.

In other news, Jack's class had a parents' night this week and he showed us the book he has been reading every day during silent reading period. It is a handbook about natural disasters in which events are rated with a number of skulls to illustrate how common the thing is and how likely the event or thing is to kill you. These values taken together produce some kind of deadly rating for the thing. Examples range from black widows and sting rays to killer whales and pyroclastic flows (uber uber deadly). Following a description of each event, survival tips are given. Jack is not just reading it. He is reading it over and over in order to memorize it. He is becoming a little actuary for natural disaster. I can't decide if it is incredibly neurotic or amusing. Either way, the number of facts he's memorized is impressive. He'll be a laugh riot at future parties.

I'm off to work out and watch Season Four of Weeds. It keeps me on the Nordic Track for close to an hour, the time an "aging" woman must exercise each day to avoid becoming a flab-a-lanche, according to a recent article in our paper. I don't think Weeds is all that good but it is a nice mindless escape. I LOVE Celia. She's such a disaster.

Bye for now, Loyal Readers.

Lamentation

2010-03-24T12:46:00.003-04:00

Here is a photo of one of many bags of LuckyGuy Bakery HoosierMama Brownies that were made as part of a fundraiser for Jack's school. They are pretty little bags, full of rich rich richrichrich chocolate goodness. These days, I (really) don't enjoy being in the kitchen too much, truth-be-told, but as I gazed at the beautiful finished products of today's labors, I was reminded how instantly gratifying baking can be. Most people love LuckyGuy products and are always so happy to get them. One of my "customers" buys a full batch of HoosierMama Brownies from time to time to give as her signature Thank You Gifts. A professor I know at IU used to buy them for her grad students from time to time. I ran into her and two of her grad students one day on the street. When one of them realized that I made the brownies he so adored, he threw his arms around me and waxed effusively about how mine were the best brownies in the world. I felt like a rock star.

In contrast to my writing life these past weeks, my baking life - if you will - gives me an opportunity to create something delicious and beautiful that is almost certain to be enjoyed and appreciated. I have full and sole control of the quality of the product, and thousands (or at least many many hundreds) of hours of experience at the craft. I am confident of my abilities and know that I can produce a delicious product, beautifully packaged. My writing life, on the other hand, is in such a slump. I can't seem to finish anything or come up with any novel ideas or even clever ways to present a not so novel idea. I just shipped off the copies of my Over the Moon script for an upcoming reading at the Playwright's Center in Minneapolis and I was overwhelmed with negativity about the work. The plot is predictable, cliche and the play has some serious problems. I don't know if I have the ambition or the talent to fix them. I don't write this to evoke reassurance. I have no idea why I'm writing it. Maybe it is to avoid going back into the kitchen to make Rogan Josh for dinner tonight. I unwisely defrosted some lamb yesterday and now I have an imperative to get it cooked. (My responsible farmer/uber healthy eater husband bought an entire locally raised lamb late last fall and we are working our way through various cuts of it over time. It's great stuff, but some days I just want to have a bowl of cereal for dinner, feed my husband and kid something ready made from the store and call it a day, you know?)

I started my creative endeavors later in life than many people I know. It is hard not to get discouraged by that fact, even though it shouldn't matter much at all. I'm in a class at IU right now with several undergrads (and one woman in her thirties and a grad student) and I envy them their early creative start in the arts. On the other hand, I know I have the wonderful circumstance of not having to make a living from art and reasonable time in which to produce it. It is never lost on me how fortunate I am. But, I gotta tell you that lately, I wish I'd never taken up the pen in earnest. It won't give me peace and I feel an almost constant pressure to produce something that is reasonably good. I am starting to think that I aspire to something I don't think I have the stuff to create.

I am going East in a few weeks to see some theatre and some friends and maybe this will pull me out of my slump. Here's hoping. Until then, I think I'll stick to baking as much as possible. Success breeds success and maybe some of that will spill over into my writing. You never know.

Exciting Stuff

2010-03-21T11:28:00.001-04:00

Because I can't help myself. Here are some links to the exciting things happening for your BloomingtonGirl!

Playwright's Center Roundtable Reading 1

Playwright's Center Roundtable Reading 2

Cincinnati Playwright's Initiative Reading (Scroll Down until you see my name)

Over the Moon

2010-02-22T13:00:00.002-05:00

Loyal Readers, I write to you from the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport, where I am waiting for my connecting flight home. I should be doing homework (I have the first fifteen minutes of a play due tomorrow and I am a void of creative ideas for it), but I thought I would warm up my writing muscles by posting a little blog to you.

Yesterday, I was fortunate enough to hear my play Over the Moon read in its entirety by six actors at the Vortex Theatre in Albuquerque. There were even people in the audience and the people even liked it!!! It needs a great deal of work but the experience was encouraging enough to keep me committed to the project.

It was really fun to reunite with the people I met in Albuquerque when I went to see my ten minute piece done. Two of the actors in my last play read in this one. I really really hope I can get this piece fully produced at some point. Keep your fingers crossed for me, Loyal Readers.

Our Beautiful Screened Porch

2010-02-16T20:58:00.003-05:00

Snow graces our screened porch. The picture does not do it justice, but it is still quite lovely.

Warm Winter Wishes from Your BloomingtonGirl.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T12:31:00.002-05:00

Your BloomingtonGirl wishes you a Happy Valentine's Day with her favorite new footwear.

xoxoxoxoxo

A Good Idea!

2010-02-12T22:41:00.003-05:00

Vote for your BloomingtonGirl!

Your brilliant and talented BloomingtonGirl has penned a super short play that will be staged as part of a very very fun fundraiser for the Bloomington Playwrights Project next weekend and the weekend after that. The show is called Blizzard Rewind and you can find information about it here. Thirty-one super short plays will be performed in 75 minutes and they will be performed in the order the audience wants each night. (Apparently, you can shout it out!)

If you would like to vote for your BloomingtonGirl's play - and I know that you would - click on the link below and vote (with your pocketbook) for my play, We Interrupt This Program. You'll be supporting The Bloomington Playwrights Project while making me look like the Rock Star that I am.

Yes! I want to vote for BloomingtonGirl!

So much going on

2010-02-09T17:38:00.003-05:00

Hello, Loyal Readers! Your BloomingtonGirl has been in a whirl (she might do a twirl). Here are some photos to prove it. The first two are from my below mentioned play produced in Albuquerque at the Vortex Theatre and the third is a picture of your BloomingtonGirl at the Diva Show:

Seriously, it has been a very very busy couple of months since my last posting. I have been to Albuquerque to see one of my short plays produced in a Women's Writing Festival (it was good!) and I scripted a show for The Grateful Divas, a quartet of uber talented Ladies. We did the show as a benefit for Cardinal Stage Co. and raised over $5000. How cool is that?

I sit here this evening, listening to my son practice piano and sipping an extra-dry martini. The snow is still blowing around outside. Today was a snow day for my little guy. I am beyond grateful that I shared child care with a sister mother. I got the kids in the AM, she got them in the afternoon. I was able to do some rewrites of my play. Heaven. I am not the kind of mother who can enjoy a full day cooped up with her offspring. I freely admit that I am not a model maternal unit. I'm okay with that some days. Other days, I feel absolutely unfit. The bottom line, though, is that my kid still has it better than most. Right? (Don't hesitate to reassure your BloomingtonGirl. I am nothing if not an insecure mass of jelly.)

In other news, I have three readings for my full length play coming up. It is beyond exciting. I need to do rewrites and start another. And, from an unrelated "to-do list", I should also finish sewing together the pieces of a sweater I finished knitting about 12 years ago. Pathetic? Yes. I know.

Valentines Day is coming up. Don't forget to romance your ladies, loyal male readers. They want to be romanced, even if they say they don't. Trust me on this one.

Happy New Year

2010-01-02T11:10:00.002-05:00

I once again post my New Year's Idea. Apologies to you if you are one of the people about whom I complain...

New Year's Idea

Please Help Us Keep the Waldron for Community Arts

2009-11-28T16:49:00.003-05:00

Loyal Bloomington Readers, I am asking you to do something for your BloomingtonGirl and for the City of Bloomington.

I want you to write to Mayor Mark Kruzan and to the HT Editor in support of the Bloomington Performing Arts Coalition. We are a group of over 21 members (and quickly growing it seems) who are protesting the enormous rate increases at the Waldron and are concerned that the current management of the Waldron - the BAAC leadership - is not being true to the mandate that the building be used as a Community Arts Center. Community based performing arts groups including Cardinal Stage, Jewish Theatre of Bloomington, Jazz from Bloomington, Oasis Productions/Interaction Theater, Theater of the People, Monroe County Civic Theatre....etc., can no longer afford to rent performance space at the Waldron. And the current management's posture is "take it or leave it". They have not ever reached out to the arts community to engage them in discussion about their decisions. Indeed, they appear to find the very groups they are supposed to be serving as obstacles in their path.

Here is what you must do if you care about the performing arts in our community:

1. Read the Herald Times Article on the BAAC price hikes that ran on Thanksgiving Day.

2. Read the letter below, which is what was sent to the BAAC leadership, the mayor, the city council and the BAAC board a few days ago.

3. Write to Mayor Mark Kruzan and to the HT Editor expressing your support for our cause and your outrage at the current situation. (You should only do this if you believe as I do, and surely you do, Loyal Readers). It does not have to be a long email - we just want lots of them to go out.

4. Email your BloomingtonGirl and let her know you did this so she can be in your debt.

Letter from BPAC to Rob Hanrahan and Ashley Fisher:

November 24, 2009
Ashley Fisher
President, Bloomington Area Arts Council Board of Trustees

Robert J Hanrahan III
Executive Director, Bloomington Area Arts Council

John Waldron Arts Center
122 South Walnut Street
Bloomington, IN 47404

Dear Ashley and Rob:
We the undersigned represent 21 performing arts organizations and concerned individuals in Bloomington who have come together to form the Bloomington Performing Arts Coalition (B-PAC). The primary concern of our organization is the recent increase in the rental rates and fees of the Waldron Arts Center, a building donated to the Bloomington Area Arts Council (BAAC) by the City of Bloomington for use as a “community arts center.”
While we understand the BAAC’s current financial dilemma, we believe that the Bloomington Area Arts Council’s current fiscal and rental policies imperil our member organizations by establishing rental rates and fees that make our access to the Waldron Art Center Auditorium and Rose Firebay (“performance spaces”) unaffordable. Further, we believe that the BAAC’s building management policies have created an environment at the Waldron that is inhospitable for our member organizations. Taken together, these things directly contradict the city’s mandate of the BAAC: to make the Waldron a home for performing (and other) arts organizations.
Since our chief concern is that those community groups that have historically rented this facility will no longer be able to do so, we wanted to remind you of the city’s original intent for the use of this building: Attached for your easy reference, please find Resolution 89-16 (Attachment 1) and Purchase Money Promissory Note dated July 31, 1990 (Attachment 2) in which the BAAC’s mandate is made clear. The city conveyed the building to the BAAC to be used as a “community arts center”. The current policies of the BAAC are not in keeping with this resolution and contract.
B-PAC’s goals are threefold. First, we believe that the Waldron must be restored to its intended use as an Arts Center; specifically, we ask that fair rental rates and service levels for the performance spaces be restored to those that existed prior to the current management’s tenure. Second, we ask that the BAAC reinstitute Stakeholder Relations by meeting regularly with organizations that utilize the space; the current leadership has been in place for nine months and has yet to reach out to stakeholders or the public for input. Third, we suggest that the BAAC must exhibit reasonable transparency with regard to renters and costs; B-PAC members and the public deserve to know who is renting the space (arts organizations versus private events) and also what costs are driving current BAAC policies. We also request that the BAAC work with stakeholders to develop a policy that arts organizations receive priority booking opportunities over non-arts events.
The BAAC’s current rental rates (published on the BAAC website) represent a dramatic overall increase from the 2008-2009 season. In its press release dated November 2, the BAAC announces that it is providing discounts and rehearsal rate breaks and positions the Waldron as “More Accessible and Affordable”. Instead, organizations that are currently negotiating contracts with the BAAC report that the reverse is true. The Waldron is less accessible and not at all affordable for our members. To illustrate this, we have included rate sheets from 2008-2009 (Attachment 3) and 2010-2011 (Attachment 4). A starting point for comparison is a full day Friday rental—in 2008-2009 the auditorium cost an organization $330 to rent. It now costs $1075 or $950 (non-profit) or $712.50 (once the organization has paid a $1000 membership fee). We have also undertaken a comparison of rates paid by representative B-PAC member organizations in 2008-2009 versus what each organization would pay under the current rate structure for the same rental time and space. Two examples are below (rate increases vary because rental structures have changed). A more complete comparison is attached for your review (Attachment 5.)
Company 2008-2009 Current Rates Increase
Jewish Theatre $675 $1381 $724 (110%)
Reefer Madness $740 $2115 $1375 (186%)
It is important to note that the rate comparisons do not take into account the additional fees that have been established for the use of the performance spaces (Attachment 6). The $250 fee for performing arts groups to access risers and chairs in the Auditorium is the most confounding and exemplifies the Waldron’s shift away from its mandate. The one line item that is offered at no or minimal charge is “Tables and Chairs” for non-performance use (i.e. private weddings and receptions).
B-PAC fully supports the Waldron’s need to be fiscally sound. But we must not lose sight of the fact that the building was donated by the City of Bloomington to be used first and foremost as a “community arts center”. We believe that “community arts” must include community-based performing arts organizations as represented by our membership. At the same time, we do not think it appropriate that the performing arts spaces subsidize other BAAC activities. Further, we believe that any pricing model for the Waldron performance spaces should consider the relative commercial values of performance space in Bloomington and other communities (e.g., The Buskirk-Chumley Theater’s Friday rate is $2.16/seat [capacity of 612] while the Waldron Auditorium [capacity of 170] rents at $5.59/seat).
The Bloomington Performing Arts Coalition invites you to contact us early next week to set up a time during the week of November 30 to meet and work on this together. We hope that you will accept our invitation to work jointly to develop a solution; we are, by definition, primary stakeholders and beneficiaries of the agreement between the city of Bloomington and the BAAC.
We look forward to a productive discussion with you on the above issues and trust that you share our commitment to restoring the Waldron performing arts spaces to their original mission and purpose.

Yours in the Arts,

Joni McGary
Spokesperson, B-PAC
jonimcgary@mac.com
812.322.4597

B-PAC Members
University Players
Theatre of the People
Story Theatre - Nell Weatherwax
Stages Bloomington
Peasant Disco
Oasis Productions / InterAction Theatre
National Society of Arts and Letters, Bloomington Chapter
Monroe County Civic Theatre
Martha Jacobs
Kaia
Ken Weitzman, Playwright and Visiting Assistant Professor, Indiana University
Kathy Romy
Jewish Theatre of Bloomington
Jazz in Bloomington
Grateful Divas
Fiddle ‘n’ Feet
Eric Anderson, Jr. Presents
Dynamic Presence Project
Cardinal Stage Company
C. David Higgins, Indiana University Opera Theater
Burnin’ Daylight Productions, Inc.

cc.
Bloomington Area Arts Council Board of Trustees
Sally Walker, Secretary
Marci Widen, Treasurer
Lance Eberle, Finance Committee Chairman
Pam Kinneman, Governance Committee Chairman
Martha Moore
Ron Stanhouse
Jim Whitlatch

Mayor Mark Kruzan, City of Bloomington

Miah Michaelson, Assistant Economic Development Director, City of Bloomington

Bloomington City Council:
Andy Ruff, City Council President and At-Large Representative
Isabel Peidmont-Smith, City Council Vice President and District V Representative
Steven Volan, City Council Parliamentarian and District VI Representative
Timothy Mayer, City Council At-Large Representative
Susan Sandberg, City Council At-Large Representative
Chris Sturbaum, City Council District I Representative
Brad Wisler, City Council District II Representative
Michael Satterfield, City Council District III Representative
Dave Rollo, City Council District IV Representative

Save the Date for the Diva Show!

2009-11-18T20:51:00.002-05:00

First publicity for the Diva Show! My name in lights. (okay, my name in white capital letters on a black background). A BloomingtonGirl has to start somewhere, right?

Save the date, Local Loyal Readers. January 22 & 23. More to come.d

Advice for the Day

2009-11-17T09:55:00.004-05:00

Best advice I've gotten in ages from one of the wisest people I know:

"Don't stop being who you are. Don't let some passive aggressive masochistic rat fuck deter you."

I cannot tell you how liberating that is for me.

Jack Plays Bach

2009-11-16T18:36:00.001-05:00

Don't Miss This

2009-11-08T15:04:00.003-05:00

Cardinal Stage has done it again! Boom is a hit, people. It runs through next weekend, so you still have a chance to enjoy this really funny and thought provoking play.

The acting is excellent, the set is nothing short of spectacular. You can buy your tickets on line at Cardinal Stage. Don't wait too long because the last couple of nights have been full houses and usually Cardinal sells out for closing weekends. The show runs about 90 minutes with no intermission.

I know it might seem that I am biased because I am on the board of this fine organization, but believe me. I know good theatre when I see it and this is good theatre. It is as good as anything I've seen in NY.

Really?

2009-11-05T16:04:00.003-05:00

Your BloomingtonGirl loves fashion and especially loves footwear. I have, in the past, posted pictures of beautiful boots and shoes. Today, however, I am going to post a couple of the latest offerings from very high end designers that cause me to say, What? Really? Maybe, I'm getting frumpy in my middle aged tastes, but I truly think that some of these shoes and boots are absolutely dreadful. As in the Emperor has no clothes dreadful. Who designed these ugly extravaganzas? And who would pay north of $700 for a pair? Not to mention the obvious question: How does one walk in these stilts?

Kandinsky and My Late Friend Michele

2009-11-01T21:42:00.003-05:00

Years ago, my late friend, Michele, and I went into NY to see a Kandinsky exhibition. I think it was at MOMA, but I'm not certain. I enjoyed it quite a bit and always now associate Kandinsky with Michele. We went many months before she got too sick to do things like that. (Our last trip into the city together was some time after that to see Wit. We were curious to see what the stage representation of ovarian cancer would be. Michele had, at that point, had months of chemo and a few surgeries and I had pretty much held her hand through all of it, so we knew that drill quite well. We didn't care much for the show; perhaps it was too close to home. Who knows?)

What brought this to mind is that there is a large exhibition now at the Guggenheim in NY of Kandinsky's work. I hope that my husband, who is in Manhattan this week, will go to see it. I plan on seeing it when I am there in early December. It looks really gorgeous.

Why did I post this? Maybe because it reminds me that life is short; you have no idea how short it might be. It is good for me to be mindful myself of this so that I don't squander my life with silly things. I tend to do that sometimes.

Right now, though, I am just going to go to bed. Sweet dreams. Loyal Ones.

BloomingtonGirl Gets a Sassy New Skirt

2009-10-31T17:26:00.004-04:00

Greetings and Happy Halloween, Loyal Readers. Here is BloomingtonGirl's new skirt. That's all for now.

Rejection Number One

2009-10-29T10:35:00.002-04:00

Loyal Readers, I have gotten my first rejection for Over the Moon. It came in the form of a very nice email this AM. I am not crushed. A little unhappy, but not crushed. This is the way it will probably go with most if not all of the submissions, but at least I am getting my work out there. I am absolutely determined to keep at it.

I have decided to post whenever I have a rejection for two reasons. First, because writing about it makes it less ouch-y. And second, because I think it is helpful to share this kind of thing with the fellow writers who might be reading this blog.

My husband said all the right things again, Loyal Ones. He's on a perfect husband roll. Well, almost perfect...he did drive me a bit crazy yesterday on his day off, but that's a tale for another time my friends.

Sad

2009-10-28T22:21:00.002-04:00

Greetings Loyal Readers from a very blue BloomingtonGirl. I am feeling rather down this evening, even though I am just back from a fun gathering of girl friends and Cardinal Stage's excellent production of Boom. (See it, Loyal Readers! Click here for more info: Boom.

It has been a very trying couple of weeks, truth be told. I'll spare you the details, but there have been a few situations that have really sucked up my mental energy. What's been keeping me excited and up beat is submitting my play to various workshops and contests, but I think I have submitted it to just about every place that would consider it. So, it is time to start another play in earnest so that I don't hang too much on Over the Moon. My first rejection - a "soft" rejection, if you will - is coming (or not coming, more accurately) in the next week or so. One workshop (one that I really wanted to get into for some reason) asks for full scripts right about now if they are interested in you. They only take ten pages of your script initially, along with your bio and plea for admission. I check my email every day, multiple times hoping against hope that there will be one from them asking for the script. Doing this kind of work sort of gives one a split personality. There are times when I am completely convinced that my writing is good enough for me to get into these programs. And, in the next breath, I feel absolutely certain that my writing is really stupid. There isn't much middle ground. It's either good or ROTTEN. And, the sad fact of the matter is that most of it is luck. Talent plays into it to be sure, but luck is part of the mix as well.

I hope that my sense of humor returns with the morning. It has flown the coop today in a big way. Some days are simply that way.

Night night. Of to try and try to read Ionesco.

I love my little guy and some great spaghetti

2009-10-27T19:59:00.002-04:00

This picture was taken recently at a family wedding. It isn't the best representation of either of us but we sure are happy and what is better than that?

Loyal Readers, your BloomingtonGirl took a nap today and it was delicious. It is something that I don't normally do, but for some reason, I woke up at 5:00 AM, all stressed out and couldn't get back to sleep for way too long. I needed the nap and slept like the dead, though without the all knowing thing that comes with (I hope) being actually dead.

In other news, I am on a media free diet as much as it is possible in this world. I just cannot stomach all the politics and hyping and stupidity that passes for news these days. There is a part of me that feels guilty about not being actively participating as a citizen of the world, but I just can't do it right now. I apologize to my fellow Americans. There.

Your BloomingtonGirl is not one to boast (what?) but she will tonight. Dinner was, if I may say, superb! I made a simple pasta sauce by sauteing (on low) a very small white onion and a carrot in olive oil and then adding frozen tomatoes (from our garden). To that, I added some dried parsley and basil and salt an pepper. I boiled up some whole wheat spaghetti and tossed with a little butter and olive oil and added the sauce. A little grated cheese and we were right in Italy. Or IT-lee as some people say. Delishioso.

In other news, tonight is our switch to flannel sheets. Take that, nature.

Play Off Euphoria

2009-10-24T09:26:00.003-04:00

Good Morning, Loyal Ones. Last night, I was up until well well past my bedtime writing The Love Translator, a brilliant new play, all modesty aside. ( I know, your BloomingtonGirl hasn't much modesty to push aside, but still.)

I had to write a ten minute script that incorporated a baseball bat as a prop, the line "Failure is Not an Option" and has the theme, Lost in Translation. My play is about a completely mismatched couple at a resort who go to a "Love Translation" class. I had one evening to write the play (or all night, but your BloomingtonGirl can't forgo her beauty rest.)

The director and cast have been at it since 7AM and I sat in on their blocking rehearsal at 8:30. The show is already hilarious - this team is doing great work. It was very gratifying to hear them praise the script. (That was how I could tell that they were smart people of excellent taste.)

If you'd like to support my brilliant team, click here and donate some cash in our name. The team is "The McGary Mashers". Or attend a performance. More information on times/dates are here.

The Play Offs

2009-10-23T16:59:00.004-04:00

Greetings Loyal Readers,

Tonight I am participating in the Bloomington Playwrights Project Play Offs. In a few short hours (I hope), I shall have finished writing a play that will be staged tomorrow evening. I just hope my script doesn't completely embarrass me. In high school drama, our teacher, Mr. Martin, would always get us in a huddle before the curtain and repeat what Tallulah Bankhead prayed before every one of her own performances. Something like "Please God don't let me make a fool of myself out there tonight." (That's the gorgeous Tallulah at left.) I might be doing some similar petitions later on...

I just read some of her other quotes on line and they are fabulous. I'll leave you with one and then I'll update you later after my script is finished.

"I'm as pure as the driven slush." Tallulah Bankhead.

Play Notes

2009-10-21T21:20:00.005-04:00

Good Evening, Loyal Readers. Please forgive your BloomingtonGirl for being so quiet these days. She has been very very busy with playwriting. I've finished my first full length script entitled Over the Moon and have been submitting it to every workshop I can find. In about two months, I should start getting crushed by rejection letters. But no matter. I've already begun incubating my new work, working titled Skin Deep in the End Days. It is about a dysfunctional family coming apart at the seams. I figured I would write about something new. Something nobody has written about before. As part of my research, a local physician has agreed to let me watch her inject herself with Botox. The mother in my script will do that very thing and I want it to be authentic. Plus, maybe I can get my husband to write me a different kind of script for Botox and I'll need to know how to do it to myself. Just kidding about the latter thing. ("It's a poison!" my scientist daughter never tires of pointing out.)

In other playwriting news, I have won a spot in the Vortex Theatre's "Womensworx at the Votex" festival that will take place this January in Albuquerque, NM. I was one of eight playwrights selected in a national contest to have a play fully staged for a four week run. The play is a ten minute piece entitled Dance Lessons for Catherine. I'm pretty excited to say the least.

It amazes me that after about a year and a half of being at this, I have three full productions of short plays under my belt and two more coming up in January. One is going to be here in Bloomington in January. It is a benefit show called Practice Makes Perfect: A Diva's Guide to Life. More on that as it gets closer.

I cannot believe my good fortune. Seriously. I cannot believe it just about every day. I get to do what I love to do almost each and every day. I never forget how lucky I am.

I started this post intending to write about marriage and how incredibly fortunate I am in that area of my life, but somehow, I couldn't find the right words without sounding all cliche and smarmy. I'll say briefly for the record, though, that my husband is the finest man I know. Every day, lately, something happens that illuminates that more and more for me. Today was really that way. I had a very unfortunate situation that broke my little heart and my man said all the right things and all the smartest things. I'm keeping him. For ever.

Nighty Night.

Help Your BloomingtonGirl Look Good (and raise some money for a good cause at the same time)

2009-10-13T15:52:00.002-04:00

I am going to be a "Manager" (playwright) in the upcoming Play Offs at the Bloomington Playwrights Project. The "press conference" is Friday, October 23. At 6:30, Mayor Mark Kruzan will throw out the opening pitch - one theme, one line of dialog and one prop - to nine teams. The teams then have 24 hours to write and produce a ten minute play. The play goes up on Saturday October 24 and also runs on the 25th, 30th and 31st.

I need your help to be the highest fund raiser in the league. All money raised goes to the Bloomington Playwrights Project. Click on the link below to donate on line (securely). In the comment space, write Team McGary or Team Joni or BloomingtonGirl is a Goddess...whatever you like. Just mention ME.

Click HERE to donate.

You can also support me by coming out to see the shows. Here's more information on them:

Bloomington Playwrights Project Ike & Julie Arnove Play Offs

Your BloomingtonGirl thanks you for your support!

BloomingtonGirl's Husband Bakes Her a Cake for Her 47th (!) Birthday

2009-09-22T14:22:00.005-04:00

Loyal Readers, today is your BloomingtonGirl's 47th birthday. I feel so grateful to be on the planet and living such a deluxe life. I am doing exactly what I want to be doing. Lucky, lucky me. My husband was off from work today and took me out to lunch and then came home to bake me a cake. Here are some photos from his kitchen efforts. More as this story develops!

Chris Makes and Cans Three Bean Salad

2009-09-21T18:52:00.005-04:00

A brief photo essay. Note the careful attention to the math of cooking.