I really enjoyed . . .

seeing Michelle Obama, Jill Biden and Yogi Berra walk into Yankee Stadium together.

Harriet Hosmer/ Watertown Public LIbrary

Hosmer's sculptures in the Watertown Public Library Local History Room.


Self portrait with Harriet Hosmer's sculpting tools (and new red digital elph!)

Happy Birthday Mary

50_mary hosmer c. 1992
Originally uploaded by Red Peonies

Today would have been Mary's 65th birthday. I've been thinking about her a lot lately, maybe because there are so many things happening that she would have enjoyed. How much would she have loved the new generation of Culkin munchkins? And dancing in a ski coat at Eric's wedding? She would have been excited to talk to Kym about her dissertation, and Janelle and Jane about college, and me about my book (or so I like to think). And Obama! And Michelle Obama! They would have made her very happy. I always wish she had met Neilson--they would have spent hours talking about the evils of Republicans. And I'm sure she would have been satisfied that I fell in with a libra. I know it always pleased her that she shared a birthday with Carrie Fisher, so she would have gotten a kick out of Fisher's recent renaissance.

ETA: On the subway, I thought of a few more things Mary would have been enjoying these days. Celebrating the fact that there is a female lawyer in the family. Philosophizing with Marc. Keith Olberman and, even more, Rachel Maddow.

If Mary were around, I'm sure we would all be heading to Boulder for a party in her great house. I always think of the parties there when I hear Bruce Springsteen sing "Mary's Place." I don't have any real belief in an afterlife, but I still like to think of Mary, Florence, Hosmer and Elvis (the cat) sitting around together, having a cocktail and some cheese, crackers, and pepperoni. With occasional visits from Betty Connolly.

Block Island Choices

Neilson and I recently went to Block Island. One reason I love it there--sometimes you are on a hike, and you are presented with the choice of going to the Enchanted Forest or the Turnip Farm.

There are also beautiful sunrises:

Happy Birthday 'Toons!

Sonja Kiley is a year old today--and just keeps getting better and better.

NPR Music Taste: DORF?

Does NPR favor Dead Old Retro and Foreign Black Musicians? Read about it in Slate.

Easiest Indian Stew, ala Martha

On the blog I have with my friends, we have started a little recipe exchange. Here is my first post. (Fellow Martha fans might want to read to the end, for the academic Martha survey).

I have made this recipe from Martha Stewart's Everyday Food twice--once for dinner and once as a cook-ahead meal so I would have lunches to take to work. It's quick and good. It's not, of course, like eating in a great Indian restaurant, but still tasty.

The recipe is supposed to serve 4, but Neilson and I ate almost all of it when we had it for dinner.

1 cup long-grain white rice

2 tablespoons vegetable oil, such as safflower

1 medium onion, minced

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

Coarse salt and ground pepper

1 tablespoon curry powder, plus more for garnish

1 teaspoon ground ginger

3 cups homemade or best-quality store-bought tomato sauce2 cans (15 ounces each) chickpeas, rinsed and drained

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, plus lime wedges for garnish

1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt

Directions:

1. Cook rice according to package instructions; cover, and keep warm.

2. While rice is cooking, heat oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add onion and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until onion is tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Add curry powder and ginger; cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute.

3. Add tomato sauce, chickpeas, and 1 1/2 cups water. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in lime juice; season with salt and pepper. Serve stew with rice and yogurt, garnished with lime wedges and a pinch of curry

Speaking of Martha, I recently received this message on a listserve, which might interest any of you fellow Martha fans:

I am a scholar working on a project about Martha Stewart (placing her discourse in context with the history of domestic advice), and am looking for respondents who currently (or in the past) subscribe to Martha Stewart Living_ magazine, or who currently (or in the past) watch "The Martha Stewart Show." If you think this description fits a friend, colleague, or family member, I would appreciate it if you could forward the note.

Clicking the link will take you to the 10-15 minute survey: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB229NCLYWM2S. Thanks for your help!

Give to Harvard or give to BMCC?

Times piece considers this dilemma

What's inside a cup of coffee?

Read about it on Wired.

Sonia Sotomayor Throws a Pitch