tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51966632011-10-12T04:52:59.215-07:00Writer, trapeze artist, mom.Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.comBlogger4421100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-38209087099928687702011-02-09T04:53:00.001-08:002011-02-09T07:28:20.979-08:00

Dear Circus,I think you're pretty great. Well, not the ones with abused animals and stuff, but you know. The people kind of circuses. Once, over 10 years ago, when I took up trapeze (and silks, for a brief moment), I thought I might like to run away and join you. That was mostly just fantasizing, though. When it came down to it, I was a little too old (near-mid-20s) and a little too rooted (

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-29371588494551579442011-01-28T16:23:00.001-08:002011-01-28T16:25:51.986-08:00

Tommy just dictated to Robert a list of activities he wishes to pursue tomorrow. He requested that a picture of a sword be added at the appropriate place. Then Tommy read it out loud to us, granted his approval, and signed off on it.I guess our Saturday is set, then.

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-76247489090358669952011-01-21T16:52:00.000-08:002011-01-21T17:26:57.441-08:00

This is what cheers up a sick mama:(Thank you, Allison, who oh-so-sweetly left these treats on our front porch!)And this is what cheers up a sick kid:Tommy had been wanting a Buzz Lightyear shirt for ever so long. Thankfully, we already had the white shirt. And we already had all the felt. We don't have a sewing machine, but we have plenty of thread and embroidery floss and sewing needles. It

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-72510027774829504672011-01-11T07:44:00.001-08:002011-01-11T10:02:24.704-08:00

My son is ill, everyone in this house is on Tamiflu, a record amount of snow dumped on us, Robert's work is closed for the second day in a row, and we're all sitting listlessly by the fire watching Scooby-Doo. I figure now is a good a time as any to update the ole blog.I finally finished the sweater I started over a year ago!I made the hat, too, actually. Anyway, the sweater is a super duper

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-35340165816259326052010-12-23T18:02:00.000-08:002010-12-23T18:47:47.756-08:00

First things first: Tommy and I went to see the holiday children's trapeze performance at Canopy, and he was smitten with a very particular costume: a kind of toy soldier/Sgt. Pepper shirt, most professionally made in some kind of stretchy swimsuit-type material by a local seamstress, worn entirely by a bunch of little girls. Oh, Tommy MUST have this shirt. It MUST be yellow, with red bars, and

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-84639831903095205622010-12-20T10:53:00.000-08:002010-12-20T11:15:47.891-08:00

Well, hello! Tommy and I took a lovely trip to visit my sister and her beautiful family in the mountains, where, among other things, we were accosted by some totally aggro ducks.Seriously, the crummiest ducks ever - just look at that one honking in the back like he owns the place - and one of 'em bit my sister on the leg. It was simultaneously hilarious and terrifying. If ducks terrify you.Anyway

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-63750979717758415572010-12-14T19:45:00.000-08:002010-12-14T20:02:12.519-08:00

The Advent Chain continues apace, except when it dawdles."Make pom-pom snowmen." The inspiration was this, but I did not have store-bought pom-poms in the house, nor did I feel like leaving the house to buy some. No problem, I thought! I'll just MAKE some pom-poms out of yarn! I know this can happen. I think I may have done it before. Did you know that making pom-poms out of yarn is actually kind

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-18087514332429663182010-12-08T19:56:00.000-08:002010-12-08T20:15:48.106-08:00

We're plodding through this Advent Chain business a little slower than I expected. I mean, we're taking down a link every day, but sometimes it takes awhile to build up (or simply have) enthusiasm for the project. I don't mind.We finally got around to making a candy cane mouse (or several). When we were coming up with ideas for the Advent Chain, this was the project about which Tommy was most

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-91357243662797118292010-12-06T08:41:00.000-08:002010-12-06T08:58:15.319-08:00

I have this thing I do where I like to put on a blindfold and do stuff on a trapeze. That's what I did Saturday night, downtown, as part of a fundraiser for Canopy.(photo by the oh-so-lovely Janet Frick)It was a wee reprise of a piece I performed in Canopy's last show, where it looked like this:(photos by the talented Stephanie Crouch)But anyway, before I did all that, Tommy and I took down a

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-15132811420445682212010-12-03T18:54:00.000-08:002010-12-03T19:16:30.833-08:00

Last night, we went to the Athens Christmas Parade, which featured Star Wars Storm Troopers, Rollergirls, various small dogs up for adoption, cyclists, a tractor, karate kids, a local beauty queen, cub scouts, high school marching bands, and a very special live rap version "God Ye Rest Merry Gentleman." Among other things.Tonight, we took off two links of the Advent Chain to make up for lost

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-37198336955908077982010-12-02T11:38:00.000-08:002010-12-02T11:53:46.429-08:00

It's certainly not my original idea, but we've made a paper chain with 25 links, counting down to Christmas. An Adventy kind of thing, right? On each link, I wrote down a holiday-specific activity. Tommy helped with this, until he grew bored and his ideas sort of meandered from "Have a drink of hot chocolate" to "Uh, go play outside." The only real requirement was that each activity be free or

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-89590837080455044342010-07-27T11:49:00.000-07:002010-07-27T11:52:19.435-07:00

Tommy (speaking very rapidly): Dada, I'm singing a song. I saw it on Netflix and it's by a band I think you would like.Robert: What's it called?Tommy: International Speed!Robert: And who is it by?Tommy: The Cock Pieces!Robert: Who?Tommy: The Cockpits!later...Tommy: The band is called The Coctails.Robert: Oh, I know them.Tommy: Yeah...and another name for it is Beetle Tom Bertie Cock Beetles.

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-65437815136157553942010-07-25T15:03:00.000-07:002010-07-25T15:19:57.803-07:00

Tommy (and I, to a lesser degree) have been ill for several days, stuck indoors with fevers and general misery. Today was not so bad. For one thing, we played "animal charades" - I wrote down a bunch of names different animals on pieces of paper, and the three of us took turns drawing cards and acting it out. Tommy's bee was something else. He tired quickly, and declined his elephant. Now what?

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-73805816278806192102010-06-23T18:50:00.000-07:002010-06-23T18:52:37.597-07:00

Everything's fine. It's just that this blog got very tired and needed to hibernate a bit. Maybe it overslept just a little. Maybe it needs to sleep a bit more. I'm still here.

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-50020619856501936032009-11-04T19:02:00.000-08:002009-11-04T19:09:20.107-08:00

Wanted for serving countless batches of weevil-infested hardtack. (Photo by Lauren Puls.)I tried to look as crazy-eyed as possible. I hope it worked. I don't actually perform this time around, you know - but all of the other performers thought it'd be fitting if I had my portrait taken for the Rogues Gallery that will hang in Canopy's front entrance. You can see the rest of the photos here!Things

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-23088592167655340062009-11-02T21:17:00.000-08:002009-11-02T21:29:31.486-08:00

Can you find me?Here is an amazing behind-the-scenes video of the pirate show I'm co-directing. Many thanks to creator Allyson Mann (who spends a good portion of the show being spun on a Spanish web). You guys! I am getting really really excited!Info on tickets and such here!

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-39149132584325793042009-10-30T13:18:00.000-07:002009-10-30T16:48:47.918-07:00

SPOILER ALERT! I mean, yeah, not 31. Not anywhere close. But I did manage:But if you count the efforts of friends, like these from from Karen and Linh......we came pretty close! Maybe next year I can make up the difference.

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-71314365938435968742009-10-15T18:28:00.000-07:002009-10-15T18:30:34.552-07:00

Maybe you noticed I posted some info about our pirate-themed trapeze show and then removed it...but now it's ready, so here you go.Join the crew for some high-seas (and high-in-the-air) adventure in Canopy’s “Pirates of the Airrrr!” repertory trapeze performance. Swashbucklers encounter treacherous sirens, a giant squid, an epic sword fight and more as they fly on trapeze, lyra,... silks,

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-51796453649683823762009-10-07T17:03:00.000-07:002009-10-07T17:19:53.236-07:00

from Haley:from Ruth:and from me:(all taken with laptop camera, obvs.)I am nearly done with #7. I have my doubts about this project. Can I really knit 31 pumpkins in a month while meeting work deadlines and hanging out with Tommy and co-directing a trapeze show and being a human being? We shall see. We shall see.Any other Pumpkin Brigaders out there? Let me know.

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-39825827081035038462009-09-29T05:18:00.001-07:002009-09-29T06:11:42.329-07:00

So I know that as a long-term vegan I am supposed to honor the majestic something or other of the cats who live with me (not "pets") but dude, can I just say that Hera and Plinko might as well be pillows. Or fluffy sausages. Did I ever tell you about the time where there was an actual mouse scampering across our kitchen countertops, and Robert had to catch the thing with a big cup and an envelope

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-61146553026027667672009-09-01T13:47:00.000-07:002009-09-01T13:56:23.622-07:00

...it was at The Varsity in Athens, and Tommy wanted to see every single fan under every single hood, and wanted to hear how every single piece of the engine worked together, and by the end of the evening (and it was pretty late by the end), he was teaching us how an engine works. Which is helpful, because honestly, I still don't really understand how an engine works.The next night, we went to "

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-37537199386292174372009-08-23T14:00:00.000-07:002009-08-23T14:04:49.991-07:00

Sometime around the summer of 2000, I saw a flier for trapeze classes. They were being offered by someone named Susan Murphy who was an adjunct dance professor at UGA. I was not in particularly great shape—the most exercise I did at the time was an occasional, weak bike ride, and a few years of bad food and beer had made me soft. But I was freelance writing for the local paper, and in an

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-20012350420270974832009-07-23T18:44:00.000-07:002009-07-23T19:02:36.988-07:00

Gardening. (More here.)Learning how to work the record player (all by himself!).Thinking about birds.Hiking.Making "stained glass windows" with coffee filters, markers and watercolor paints.Visiting magical farms.And, only very occasionally, napping.

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-13773969049521633892009-07-12T19:00:00.000-07:002009-07-12T19:08:20.609-07:00

And here are some of my favorites.

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-78628725889659345192009-07-05T09:10:00.000-07:002009-07-05T09:27:51.792-07:00

I find myself wanting to be close to the earth these days: outside in the garden, inside with the hula hoop. I don't think my days of flying are behind me completely, though. My dear friend Allison and I are co-teaching a toddler's trapeze class this summer, and we can both bring our boys and watch them take to the air with pure joy. It's amazing: put down a trapeze, and a child needs know

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-6795226090160915612009-06-27T07:25:00.000-07:002009-06-27T07:43:23.002-07:00

So, I was just at the library with Tommy, as is our once-a-week habit, and we went up to the circulation desk to get "In the Night Kitchen" by Maurice Sendak, which was on hold for us. The really nice fellow working there recognized me and told me that he had some of my mini-comics. Trust me, this never happens to me - I'm not generally well-known for my comics, and I'm certainly no local comics

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-31930045520094580762009-05-13T13:45:00.000-07:002009-05-13T14:05:24.122-07:00

Hey, friends. I have been writing, writing, writing, but not on this blog, obviously. Lots of writing work, for which I am very grateful, especially considering we are about to purchase new floors (bamboo, thanks for asking) for half our house! I'm extremely excited about new floors. Yes, I am.I don't even know how to catch up and share all of the stuff that's happened since my last post, so I

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-76299090227683738142009-04-01T05:22:00.000-07:002009-04-01T05:34:43.335-07:00

So, I got to interview Michelle Duggar for babygooroo.com - we chatted a good bit about breastfeeding, and what it's like to breastfeed, on and off, for nearly 2 decades! She was exceptionally easy to talk to and might be the nicest person I've ever interviewed (Although I remember interviewing Travis Tritt once, and he too was super nice).Anyway, you can read the article here.In case anyone is

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-11278696824810257182009-03-09T17:35:00.000-07:002009-03-09T17:42:18.727-07:00

What a satisfying day.Today was the first day since it snowed that I’ve been able to go outside – yes, I DID catch the stomach flu, or whatever it was that descended so hellishly upon us, and I honestly do not recall ever being so sick in my adult life. It was horrible. Anyway, now it’s practically summertime out there, and today was the first day that I’ve both had an appetite and wanted to be

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-85125225016933924542009-03-02T18:16:00.000-08:002009-03-02T18:34:06.462-08:00

Where to begin.Well, first of all, it snowed yesterday, of course. A lot – almost 7 inches, according to the news. I don’t remember the last time it snowed that much here; usually, it doesn’t snow at all, and we’re lucky to have a day of flurries all winter long. It started snowing right after lunch and didn’t stop until after dinner, and then started back up again after that for awhile. Around

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-52968957694602598912009-02-02T16:57:00.001-08:002009-02-02T17:46:37.956-08:00

I just came up with a few fake metal band names:Skies of Murder (or, alternately, Scythes of Murder)Doom MalletBrandybuckBuckleberry FerryYou're welcome.So, I've been reading this book, "Knitting the Threads of Time: Casting Back to the Heart of Our Craft," by Nora Murphy. Actually, let me clarify: a publicist for the publishing company, New World Library, sent me a copy so I can review it for

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-9688446047435259082009-01-31T16:10:00.001-08:002009-02-01T19:03:44.425-08:00

So I just found this old photo.That's me on the right, in my Red Bat costume - another lifetime ago. I think this was taken in 2000, but most likely 2001, right before the first time my trapeze partner and I (and anyone in recent memory) performed aerially in a bar. It was during AthFest, and my buddy The 8-Track Gorilla had asked me to put something together and play either before or after him,

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-52326411473823705322009-01-28T10:55:00.000-08:002009-01-28T11:22:25.349-08:00

At some point during the winter I realized that a box of my warm clothes had gone missing (and alas, remains missing). I needed sweaters. So I made some.Here's one.I neglected to do any shaping on the arms, and thus ended up with rather enormous bell sleeves.And here's another one.I meant to make full-length sleeves on this one, too, but I got bored, so I decided to leave them at three-quarter's

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-23236753027741554392009-01-24T11:17:00.000-08:002009-01-24T11:44:09.091-08:00

Tommy "read" this (including the title, which really has nothing to do with the story, as you'll see) out loud while looking through a Lemony Snicket book. I wrote it down."The little bubble that swims" (by Tommy, aged 2)"The wolf never offered to say things but the quiet one said 'woof, woof' and the quiet wolf went back to sleep."(Actually, I suppose this isn't his FIRST original story - that

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-48959732365017325032009-01-07T11:48:00.000-08:002009-01-07T11:52:32.304-08:00

Remember when my friend Claire, aka the Well Organized Woman, came to my house and made my craft closet beautiful? I just found out that the photos I took will be on the news tonight - the Atlanta affiliate of CBS 46 interviewed her and she'll be featured on the 11 p.m. news. Tune in and maybe you'll see my closet!Also, the ever-fabulous Carrie has lent me a camera while mine is being fixed, so

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-39134171306483856982009-01-03T15:39:00.000-08:002009-01-03T15:40:16.314-08:00

In the car, picking Robert up from a work a few minutes ago:Tommy (noticing R holding onto the ceiling handle thingy): I'm holding onto a handle so I won't fall down!Robert: Tommy, what happened to your brain? Did it get bigger this week?Tommy: Noooo.Robert: Is it working harder?Tommy: It is! It's working harder and harder and harder. (Sees traffic light sign) Hey! That sign says there is a

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-44094862878536618442008-12-29T19:50:00.000-08:002008-12-29T20:04:51.967-08:00

We spent some time in Savannah visiting family during Christmas, and so we took Tommy to River Street, where he was immediately captivated by everything: water, birds, boats. Especially boats. "That's a M tugboat with a big letter M on it!"That Maersk was a good looking ship.We got to climb in that boat. It pleased me to see him so enraptured by the water. Robert grew up near rivers or oceans and

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-56621582936417826642008-12-27T20:27:00.001-08:002008-12-27T20:32:01.968-08:00

If ever you are in a gift-buying predicament, I gently suggest a necklace from Jamie Voivedich at Soup Studios and a T-shirt from Toto at Book of Ax. Not only you will be supporting fine and wonderful people I admire greatly, but you will end up with some really cool stuff. Observe:(Seriously, how great is that T-shirt? When Robert and I saw it on the Web site, we could not stop laughing for a

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-58885174158552748072008-12-22T06:26:00.000-08:002008-12-22T06:29:11.236-08:00

Yeah, so...it only took us 27 months.We cut it ourselves (can you tell?). It's a big adjustment, as you might expect.Also, my first national magazine piece (that wasn't ghost-written) is out now!It's a little strange seeing my face on the contributor's page...Happy holidays, of course!

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-74965693903237335862008-12-12T06:57:00.000-08:002008-12-12T07:00:50.457-08:00

Me: Oh, no. Look, this ornament is broken on the floor. How did that happen? Tommy, did you take the ornament off the tree?Tommy: You DID get it off the tree!Me: Are you supposed to do that?Tommy: Thank you!Me: No, you're not supposed to do that. Tommy: I am very happy about that.Me: No, I'm not very happy about that.Tommy: Thank you for getting that ornament off of the tree and it broked. That

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-72603552880010893762008-12-09T15:08:00.000-08:002008-12-09T18:54:15.228-08:00

I just received a binder-clipped stack that was sent to my husband's office via campus mail earlier today: it's the entirety of Stephenie Meyer's unpublished draft of "Midnight Sun," with a post-it note that says, "To Mary Jessica, From your Secret SATAN."I cannot stop laughing. Fess up! Who was it? (I have an idea...)ETA: Figured it out by way of a super-sneaky Facebook message and it was not at

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-73755982470371804062008-12-08T18:08:00.001-08:002008-12-08T18:08:58.515-08:00

If you'd like to learn all about how I plan to ruin Tommy's childhood by telling him Santa isn't real, please feel free to read all about it right here in my latest Babygooroo article. Ho ho ho!Meanwhile, Tommy enjoyed watching his first Minutemen video earlier this evening. When "Political Song for Michael Jackson to Sing" ended, he shouted, "Hooray!"

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-33527610483441125982008-11-26T12:02:00.000-08:002008-11-26T12:13:29.661-08:00

Observe.He is also more cheerful than Edward Cullen.I think it has something to do with jumping in leaves.Perhaps if Edward Cullen jumped in leaves sometimes, he'd be a lot less angsty.And more people would want to be friends with him, not just Bella Swan, and then maybe Edward Cullen would have a fulfilling immortal existence complete with laughter and merrymaking. And maybe he should get

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-41875597966781124162008-11-18T18:23:00.001-08:002008-11-18T18:33:20.594-08:00

Today, I had no pressing writing deadlines, so I gathered firewood at my parents' house, brought in the Mother-in-law's Tongue from outside to once again assume double duty as a Christmas tree, and baked cumin bread. (What does cumin bread go well with? I have no idea, but it was quite tasty and we ate it with whole wheat spaghetti in a marinara/white bean sauce.)Welcome to Cozytimes, USA.

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-66179270412928398722008-11-17T14:32:00.000-08:002008-11-17T14:41:02.616-08:00

When it gets cold like this, maybe it's a good time for a rousing hula hoop session in the driveway of a good friend.Did I mention that Allison builds hula hoops from scratch? May I present to you: Allison the hula hoop queen!

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-18665646250302765302008-11-16T15:03:00.000-08:002008-11-16T15:05:53.378-08:00

Tommy saw this cracker box:And said: "That little girl is running in graham cracker boots."Also, just a few minutes ago, he pulled out his little drum and announced, "OK, here is what we gonna do. We gonna play the drums, and I gonna sing."

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-51663349141469970852008-11-11T20:59:00.000-08:002008-11-11T21:34:19.227-08:00

Um, sorry the video is all vertical - I don't think I can post it here in a horizontal position, even after I've tried all sorts of editing stuff. Next time (uh, if you WANT a next time) I'll get some horizontal footage. Until then, if you want to see these, maybe you can just tilt your head sideways (or hold your laptop all funny).ANYWAY. Here is me talking my way through a move, trying to

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-71944151666698973672008-11-11T12:44:00.001-08:002008-11-11T12:50:35.923-08:00

I'm working on an article now about new research that says that women exposed to environmental toxins should still breastfeed. Apparently, even breast milk that contains DDT, bisphenol A, hexachlorobenzene (and any other toxins that often appear in breast milk) contains overwhelming immunologic properties, still making it a better choice than formula.Dang! The article is forthcoming at

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-79491834387928879772008-11-09T05:33:00.000-08:002008-11-09T05:34:12.834-08:00

Until 10 a.m. EST, you can hear him play some mighty fine music on WUOG/90.5, and you can listen here. It's alumni weekend at WUOG, and he had a shift Friday night, too, which was a bunch of stuff like Slayer and Grim Reaper and Cynic and other metal stuff. This morning, though, it's all Ray Price and The Collins Kids and The Star Room Boys and a ton of old, old country and bluegrass he culled

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-7121985053589761992008-11-06T10:30:00.000-08:002008-11-06T11:34:12.051-08:00

I am so very, very excited and proud to announce that some of my very wonderful friends have started Athens Hoopdance.Let me back just a bit.My sweet friend Allison (that was her as my skele-friend a few posts back) and I spent many years at Canopy Studio in the trapeze repertory company together, teaching classes and performing in shows. (We were both, for a time, in the aerial fabrics/silks

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-57312842318439853642008-11-05T14:22:00.001-08:002008-11-05T14:22:53.302-08:00

Who wants to see "Twilight" with me? Let's talk.

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-90707247348228144812008-11-04T22:00:00.000-08:002008-11-05T03:40:22.215-08:00

I feel like I should say something important right now. At the risk of alienating some loved ones - though I suppose it can't come as a surprise - I was kind of astonished and pleased when election coverage was abruptly interrupted for the announcement that Barack Obama had won the presidency.But the thing is, I don't dislike John McCain per se. In fact, during his extremely classy and gracious

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-61188905609364937902008-11-04T15:37:00.000-08:002008-11-04T15:39:47.180-08:00

Me: You know what I just figured out?Robert: What?Me: I think I'm a socialist! What's wrong with socialism, anyway? Also, all republicans are RICH! They don't like socialism because it won't benefit them! Robert: Ding ding ding!Me: So, is there, like, a socialist party we can join?Robert: Yeah. But they've got their own problems, too.Me: Oh yeah, what?Robert: They're annoying.

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-89211032467204511712008-11-03T13:51:00.000-08:002008-11-03T13:53:55.057-08:00

"You peed on the carpet a little bit and it got on the Superman comic book and mama picked it up and wiped it off and you can play with it again."Also:"Batman is a nice man."

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-61795905519560753902008-11-02T06:45:00.001-08:002008-11-02T08:21:04.895-08:00

So, we didn't go trick-or-treating - Tommy is only 2,and doesn't really know what candy is, and I wouldn't mind keeping it that way just a little longer (he has his whole life ahead of him to develop a sugar addiction!). But we did go to two Halloween parties and had a ball.Here's the Halloween Queen in her proper clothes:Robert was Jerry Clower.(He made it from this LP:)At the first party of the

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-69948495108228961732008-10-31T12:50:00.000-07:002008-10-31T12:58:14.228-07:00

Hello. I am the Halloween Queen.And this is my crown.And this is my pumpkin.(Thanks to my mom who took these photos!)Have a wonderful, wonderful night!

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-76414952712840747542008-10-30T13:32:00.000-07:002008-10-30T13:53:36.054-07:00

Dudes, Halloween is my favorite time of year, and yet I have not immersed myself in the festive blogstravaganza I had been hoping for. I haven't even finished Tommy's Superman cape, but that shouldn't be too hard.I think I'm just going to post some photos.Robert found his old LOMO camera and took some pictures:That's on a farm in North Carolina.And here's us eating crackers on the way to North

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-26262645157910591492008-10-22T18:44:00.000-07:002008-10-22T18:52:32.834-07:00

I really want to talk about Halloween. Maybe I will tomorrow. It is my favorite holiday, you know.But for now, I thought you might like to see some really lovely photos taken of both the Obama and McCain campaign trails by two photojournalists. Both sets have some really stunning imagery, but I have to say - this is not a political bias, it's just true - the Obama photos are more interesting

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-79085122130668883652008-10-15T12:03:00.000-07:002008-10-16T09:49:42.821-07:00

In yesterday's New York Times (and probably other papers if aren't a member): "Infant Deaths Drop in U.S., but Rate is Still High."How high, exactly? Some quotes from the article: "Well above that of most industrialized countries...More than 28,000 infants under the age of 1 die each year in the United States...the nation’s infant mortality rate has been static for years despite enormous

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-23831859933831974472008-10-08T10:53:00.000-07:002008-10-08T10:56:04.954-07:00

Take a shoebox and build a Hulk House.That's all I got.

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-91927561511145141052008-10-07T18:11:00.000-07:002008-10-07T18:12:29.563-07:00

Yep.

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-82977757865777440042008-10-04T06:33:00.001-07:002008-10-04T06:36:04.403-07:00

You can vote early through Oct. 31 at the ACC Board of Elections and Registration (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 5p.m.) at 155 E. Washington St. downtown. Yes - you can cast your vote RIGHT NOW for the presidential election. More info here. Do it!

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-19158015296307965652008-10-02T18:17:00.000-07:002008-10-02T18:18:42.495-07:00

Maybe.Until I fall asleep. Or pass out from utter despair.

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-4109009402156094682008-09-17T17:05:00.000-07:002008-09-17T17:20:38.099-07:00

Remember this?All day, as I suspect I will do every September 17 as long as I'm in control of my mental faculties, I kept remembering bits and pieces of Tommy's birth story. "Ooh, it's 9 a.m., what was I doing now?" I asked this morning. "I don't know, grunting?" Robert helpfully replied.We're still at the beach, and I've been watching Tommy discover beach things, which is very precious to me. I

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-7726099358047917252008-09-13T13:51:00.000-07:002008-09-13T18:48:53.348-07:00

Friends!I've had the extreme honor of interviewing Amanda Soule of SouleMama for Babygooroo. The article is scheduled to run on Monday, Sept. 15 - and when it does, you can read how you can enter to win a free copy of her absolutely lovely book, "The Creative Family." WHOO! For what it's worth, I adore the book with an unnatural passion. I found it so inspiring, both in terms of concrete craft

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-9075616400002771552008-09-10T18:59:00.000-07:002008-09-10T19:25:49.895-07:00

PEARS.I don't often have time to bake or cook as much as I'd like, so I took advantage of Robert being home on Labor Day and made a dent in our overwhelming pear supply.Vegan apple-pear galette, from this recipe:Apple-pear "crumble," let's call it, also vegan:And, pearsauce!We still have a few pears. Of course, the REAL news is that the lovely, awesome, and frankly magical Claire of The

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-38640497682643342942008-09-05T12:50:00.000-07:002008-09-05T13:05:19.496-07:00

Thanks for the pear tips! I made a few things, and pictures are forthcoming!Anyway, my friend Cameron is a professional photographer, and I was absolutely HONORED for her to photograph Tommy when she was recently visiting Athens. She just posted her favorites to her amazing Web site, and you can see them here. THANK YOU Cameron! (By the way, she lives in Arizona and is available for weddings! Go

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-5677064188259007562008-09-01T06:33:00.000-07:002008-09-01T06:44:24.492-07:00

1. Do you have good (vegan) pear recipes? 2. Will you come over and please takes some of these dang pears?Two full boxes, two full bags. I see a lot of pear-themed food in my future.Send pear-eating help. The power of headstand Hulk Hogan compels you.

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-33049702984450720062008-08-27T05:14:00.001-07:002008-08-27T05:14:47.830-07:00

Thanks, Janet!

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-52503751013378087332008-08-25T18:35:00.001-07:002008-08-25T18:43:23.397-07:00

In the fall of 1994, when I was a senior in high school, I thought it'd be funny to sneak into the junior class' school photo-taking session and do this (Click to embiggen):(Thanks to my buddy Sarah R. who dug up our 1995 yearbook and scanned this!)

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-62696771409378199832008-08-19T18:49:00.000-07:002008-08-19T19:38:42.894-07:00

I think I finally get why all of those bratty kids sing about how they aren't going anywhere until they get some figgy pudding. I just ate some fresh figs from a friend's backyard and they are SO. GOOD. I can't get over it! I remember, way back in college, trying to be interested as a semi-artistic friend of mine enthused over the hermaphroditic aesthetic quality of figs, but the ones she made me

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-91445499120211126952008-08-14T09:16:00.000-07:002008-08-14T09:17:54.433-07:00

Tommy and I are enjoying a delectable lunch of dry toast as he appears to have some stomach virus and a low-grade fever. (I feel fine, I'm just eating the same thing so he won't want to eat off my plate. I'll get a proper lunch during his nap, I hope.) It started last night around 9 or 10 p.m., and he basically stayed awake from that point until around 1 or 2 a.m., chatting nonstop, saying things

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-65008364811506051092008-08-11T19:09:00.000-07:002008-08-11T19:18:47.740-07:00

My friends Andrea and Nicole - I used to perform trapeze with them at Canopy, and Nicole was my instructor when I was a member of the aerial fabrics repertory company - have started an amazing aerial dance studio of their own in Atlanta. They are amazing people, and were recently featured in on Georgia Public Broadcasting. This short video is a really great introduction to the kind of trapeze I

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-20026446281142014342008-08-08T11:27:00.000-07:002008-08-08T11:41:20.386-07:00

Have you read Breaking Dawn yet? I did. WHOOOO WEEEE! Maybe I'll post more specific thoughts here later; some of my friends are still reading the book. But how long should I wait to post spoilers? What is the limit? Is there a rule? I mean - for instance - I suppose I could post Deathly Hallows spoilers here by now, right? But the other day, I was looking at some Doctor Who-related forums (what?)

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-91579033553212374532008-07-22T20:24:00.000-07:002008-07-22T20:30:36.650-07:00

...Have some more Tommyness, courtesy my friend Janet Frick, who took these beautiful photos right after a very lovely swim in her backyard.'Til next time.

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-51692546960436425232008-07-16T11:55:00.001-07:002008-07-16T11:55:18.554-07:00

Loving would be easy if your colors were like my dream. Red, gold and green. Red, gold and greeeeeeen.

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-75816869721534058362008-07-08T17:00:00.001-07:002008-07-09T06:46:16.851-07:00

I can hardly blog these days, I've been so busy with writing work (which is very good) or else, uh, obsessively processing this season's finale of Doctor Who (which was...I just can't deal with it). I've just met a bunch of deadlines and my brain is sort of tired right now, so I think I'm just going to bore you a little bit about my kid (which I know EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU absolutely LOVES!).

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-16236260585359401312008-06-28T17:42:00.000-07:002008-06-28T17:44:08.974-07:00

(click for bigger.)

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-75486521959955572692008-06-14T17:56:00.000-07:002008-06-14T17:57:08.104-07:00

Thanks, you two.

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-53887815474486119712008-06-14T10:34:00.000-07:002008-06-14T10:39:26.271-07:00

Oh, hi, Internet!I hereby declare this summer to be Summer of Weddings. So many weddings. The last one we went to was in Ozark, Alabama, home to the illustrious Bama Nut Shack (we bought some boiled peanuts).The wedding was outside on one of the hottest June days on record. We spent as much time in the hotel pool as possible.This is Tommy looking angelic in our hotel room.And us, looking

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-63215190370257136812008-06-09T17:39:00.001-07:002008-06-09T17:54:40.257-07:00

Today was my first day teaching feature writing at the Georgia Journalism Academy, a weeklong camp for high schoolers held at UGA. I am convinced that I have the best class of high school journalism students in the history of high school journalism students. They are all so bright and enthusiastic and interesting and funny and just lovely. Also, some of them friended me on facebook, which makes

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-61944820003592059952008-06-03T17:40:00.000-07:002008-06-03T17:57:44.872-07:00

You know, I had almost forgotten all about you. Well, I didn't much think of you, most of the time, at least. But then my doula's freezer began to break down, and so we thought we better get you out of there and into the ground.So long, first home to my baby. Time to help something else grow now.

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-75850663716673999062008-06-01T20:13:00.001-07:002008-06-01T21:07:26.541-07:00

Man, I keep getting the most heart-warming and supportive messages from you guys. If I may be allowed to be a total and utter sap for just a hot minute, I'd like to say that I am so thankful for the sweethearts in this world who are my friends and blog-readers. I just got Benny's comment (hi, Benny! How's Maine?) and it took me a minute to wonder: am I really that lucky, to get such encouraging

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-69886402938617334292008-05-27T16:37:00.000-07:002008-05-27T17:36:08.447-07:00

My friends.I made some homemade vegan ice cream, just like I said I would!Before I regale you - Robyn, do you have a recipe for vegan green tea ice cream - or even a dairy version that I could tinker with and veganize? I would LOVE to make that, but I haven't found such a recipe just yet. OK, here's my adventure in ice cream making. My first thought was to keep it classy and make a fancy-pants

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-15645190571567418022008-05-25T10:26:00.000-07:002008-05-25T10:28:44.490-07:00

We bought an ice cream maker today. ROCK. We are one step closer.Also, I realized that I am a nice person, pretty mild-mannered actually, and so I very slightly edited my Angry Head Bursting into Flames Reaction Post a little while back. I just would never say that to anyone's face. I dunno. Maybe this makes me extra lame. I just got tired of all that negative energy focusing. So I'm about to

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-77952042045289462812008-05-24T11:08:00.000-07:002008-05-24T11:22:10.943-07:00

What's the best antidote to online drama? ICE CREAM. Duh. (Also, all of my friends are so sweet, get it?) (And one more time: thank you, friends!)Anyway, my sister's father-in-law (who we love) gave us a book a while back called "Vice Cream" - nothing but vegan ice cream recipes! Drool.Yet, it seems you really need an ice cream maker to make the recipes (or else be willing to constantly be

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-9446963409278420122008-05-23T04:03:00.001-07:002008-06-25T14:56:55.036-07:00

Thank you so much, my friends (and friendly anonymous types) for so quickly coming to my support. All of you made excellent points and were much more articulate than me.Carrie, you are inspirational and amazing, and I really mean it. Karen, your point-by-point and very reasoned response is probably what I should have posted, if I wasn't so hot-headed (and it was great to hear that from someone

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-26781707017146235982008-05-22T14:57:00.001-07:002008-06-25T14:55:50.774-07:00

Some extremely brave soul who decided to remain anonymous just left me a ridiculous comment on my blog, and I decided to publish it because I want to publicly address it.In case you missed the comment, here it is:"the breastfeeding obsession on yr site has grown. Well, you lose some demographics, you win some. It's very mommy centric, and not even those of us who breastfed for a while want to

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-17779873205439148282008-05-18T17:29:00.001-07:002008-05-18T17:52:31.538-07:00

Remember how I wanted to write more about my scattered thoughts on "The Business of Being Born?" Well, I did - and it's my new column at Babygooroo, and you can read it here!Yesterday was the first (annual, I think) Breastfeeding in the Park event held at Memorial Park here in Athens. My friend Catherine and I made nursing necklaces to have on display to encourage other moms to make their own (

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-3657288161100723842008-05-08T13:48:00.000-07:002008-05-08T13:51:48.805-07:00

I watched "The Business of Being Born" last night and it blew my mind. I'm going to write a proper post on this later, but I wanted to share two quick things.1. I was showing my dad an article I wrote that is a little about home births in Georgia, and I told him that home birth was technically illegal in Georgia. My dad, who is in his mid-80s, nearly dropped his sandwich. "WHAT?" he exploded. He

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-82999754697992235182008-05-07T14:50:00.000-07:002008-05-07T15:08:50.505-07:00

After I wrote this post, the term "Bella Beets" has been stuck in my head, almost taking on its own unique meaning (though I'm not sure what that would be). It seemed natural that Bella Beets should be the name of a knitted sleeveless sweater, one designed by me in blood-red yarn (GGH Samoa, a kind gift from Jenny) with cream-colored picot edging around the neck and sleeves.I swear to you I had

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-2981904343027426292008-05-02T19:31:00.000-07:002008-05-02T20:06:27.414-07:00

There's a meme going around among some cartoonists I really dig; I first spotted it here, from the incomparable Raina. So here it is - me at 16, me now:That was a fun evening's activity! And it got me thinking about that time in my life. Would you like to see photographic evidence?OK.Wearing the exact same outfit, described above (it was practically a uniform):Nearly all of my clothes were

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-41043015593607464562008-04-29T11:07:00.000-07:002008-04-29T12:45:04.861-07:00

For a long time, there was a part of me that was a little embarrassed about still living in the same town I was born in and had grown up in. Some how, I had gotten it in my head that independent and brave go-getters just didn't do stuff like that. They moved to some Big City and Did Stuff. Here and there, I started picking up clues that maybe that way of thinking was really just a pile of horse

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-72056974710374339082008-04-25T13:47:00.000-07:002008-04-25T15:43:17.308-07:00

Dudes, WHAT?This was spotted in an AC Moore store in Durham the other day. Some of you might recognize that little illustration - it's a drawing I made of my friend Carrie for her Web site. Neither of us was asked permission to use the drawing.Carrie e-mailed me the picture today (an eagle-eyed friend of Carrie's sent it to her). My first reaction was all, HAW HAW HAW that's kind of funny! Then I

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-71167939778417153572008-04-15T20:20:00.000-07:002008-04-15T20:30:54.324-07:00

My new Babygooroo column has been posted here! I used to have long hair.Now I have short hair.(With cracker, for scale.)Robert had a birthday.(That's "Aunt Bonnie's Wacky Cake," or chocolate cake, from "How it All Vegan," plus the simplest glaze you can do - orange juice and confectioner's sugar. That's actually my plate - Robert would never voluntarily eat a strawberry. Weird, I know.)My baby

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-75499227969155225202008-04-11T09:32:00.000-07:002008-04-11T09:33:06.242-07:00

Hey dudes! Just checking in super quick to say there are two great articles on FLUKE this weekend, both of which extensively quote my smart-soundin' husband, Robert.Item 1,and Item 2.Hope to see some of y'all there!

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-34623717026461809462008-04-07T11:38:00.000-07:002008-04-07T11:48:57.611-07:00

I'm really excited! Remember that little writing project I briefly mentioned earlier? Well, I'm now a weekly contributor to BabyGooRoo (cute name, eh?). I am absolutely flattered that Amy Spangler asked me to contribute. You might have heard of her name - she's an incredibly well-respected nurse and lactation expert, and she's written several books on breastfeeding. She's also just all-around

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-71474574452907972992008-04-04T16:30:00.000-07:002008-04-04T18:07:53.739-07:00

I'm such a heel! I beg for inspiration and it takes me this long to acknowledge it!JM: "Twelve Swans" is a gorgeous poem; thank you for recommending it. Is it so wrong that it immediately brought to mind my latest obsession, the "Twilight" young adult novel saga by Stephenie Meyer? Hot and foxy teenaged vampires and werewolves IN LUV with humans? Sign me up! Ahem, anyway. And those photos make me

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-74999711748921622442008-03-07T20:26:00.000-08:002008-03-07T20:40:19.405-08:00

I need some inspiration for the following things: Writing. Making art again. Keeping my house clean (and organizing the clutter that threatens to engulf it). Engaging my child in interesting activities every day. Making delicious vegan meals for the whole family. I bet some of you are in similar need.So this is what I'm going to do: give you some links for things that are currently inspiring me

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196663.post-80187352089686023952008-03-02T11:50:00.000-08:002008-03-02T12:13:55.796-08:00

Man. I've been busy. In a good way. I just updated my writing blog, so if you'd like to know what I've been up to (and it's a lot), please check that out.Tommy and I made biscuits the other day. It was extremely cold outside, I was searching for things to do, and I had drunk a small cup of caffeinated tea, which - now that I'm an utter lightweight - has the capacity to make me decide to do

Mary Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318433972463150815noreply@blogger.com5