Geoduck Love

No need to hide the kids' eyes. These are large (sometimes up to six pounds), edible clams. They can be found in the sandy mud of the Pacific Northwest. AND they can live, rather comfortably, for up to 150 years. -No wonder! Who would want to eat something that looks like this?

They're pronounced- Gooey Ducks. -Who knows why. There are so many words out here that I botch on a daily basis. AND they're the mascots for The Evergreen State College. -Again, who knows why. Maybe because they're quirky, and so is the Evergreen? (Clayton, if you're reading this, I mean that from a place of love).

In fact, here are the lyrics to the Evergreen State College's fight song:

The Geoduck Fight Song

words and music by Malcolm Stilson, 1971

Go, Geoducks go,
Through the mud and the sand,
let's go.
Siphon high, squirt it out,
swivel all about,
let it all hang out.

Go, Geoducks go,
Stretch your necks when the tide
is low
Siphon high, squirt it out,
swivel all about,
let it all hang out.

Okay, so yeah- if you look at the picture, and then read the words to the song, it does all strike a rather naughty note. And it's pretty hilarious.

All that to say: I ran the Geoduck Gallop Half Marathon with my friend, Evan today. We ran it in 2:00:09. (Two hours and nine seconds). My personal goal this spring is to run a half marathon in less than two hours.

Fortunately, I'll have lots of chances to try for that goal. -And it turns out the Evergreen campus is so beautiful that I'm sure Margot and I will begin training there on a weekly basis.

And who knows? Maybe if I added geoducks to my training menu, I'd get just a little faster!

Funky Cold Medina?!

So I've been thinking... I don't know how much longer I have in Washington. But what I DO know, is that I feel like I identify with this segment of the American population more than I have anywhere else I've ever lived. (To the average observer, I probably appear to fit in somewhere in say, Lansing, Michigan. But au contraire!)

While I'm a planner and am nailed down, I think I'm open minded and accepting. I want to try new things and branch out on new adventures, to push myself in new ways. And my more ummm... Right Wing friends just roll their eyes and say, "Oh, that's just Liz being Liz." And I LOVE that they (you?) accept me for that. So how do I make the outside match this inside attitude?

I've got to take Washington with me wherever I move next. So when I move to Kansas or Georgia or Texas (oh, dear!), I hope they think this about Liz Cornelius: "Hmmm... she dances to the beat of her own drum. And that's refreshing."

But I suppose if I really let loose, then I wouldn't care what people think at all. Baby steps.

Maybe I should start by burning my Polos? I'll get there.

My Reading Life

I read Pat Conroy's newest book, My Reading Life, recently.

Let me first say: it was outstanding! Conroy is a brilliant writer who is truly a wordsmith, a word master! I always find it interesting to see what my favorite authors read and enjoy or discount.

Conroy, since he was a sophomore in high school, has consistently read 200 pages a day. Can you imagine?! How wonderful! How time consuming. Clearly, I need to make it as a big-time novelist, so I can find time in my day to read 200 pages. This teaching business coupled with parenting a toddler and being a wife, really cuts into the day! As it is, I'm writing in the wee hours of the morning and late at night. And my reading? I'd say it's coming in at between 50-70 pages a day. But I'm inspired to push that number higher.

Anyway, Conroy talks about how his prolific reading and writing have been intertwined over the years, and it makes perfect sense.

I feel like he wrote the book to me. I am NOT a book highlighter, and I wore out two highlighters (that might have been on the brink anyway, but still) highlighting sections about writing novels and fiction. It's powerful stuff.

Five stars. If you're a reader and/or a writer- buy this book. Have Kleenex and highlighters at the ready!

You'll want to come back and thank me later for recommending this title to you, but really- it's not necessary.

As Always, Julia

When I purchased this book in December, I originally thought these were letters between Julia Child and her husband, Paul Child. However, these are the letters between Julia and her friend/ publicist/ editor Avis Devoto.

As Always, Julia seemed quite timely to me, as I am endeavoring to write my first book. There are many days where I am absolutely plagued with self doubt (and so was Julia). And Julia had a dear friend who said: You're on to something! Write, write, WRITE!

I've got that friend, too. Her name is Annette Wells, and maybe when/if/Godwilling I make it in the writing world, I've got much to say about how encouraging Annette has been in my endeavors.

The book is amazing in the fact that the letters are real. (Mailed back and forth from Paris to Massachusetts). They talk about things like are these newfangled dishwashers any good? Would people really use an electric mixer? Have you heard of MSG? McCarthy is mid-reign of terror at the time the book is written, and both the Devoto and the Child families are on his radar. It's fascinating.

Word to the wise: this is a LONG book. 400 pages of tiny type. But it's quite good.

Five stars out of five stars.

What drives you?

I recently posted this picture on Facebook, along with a tag line about Bob being calm and centered, and I'm usually all over the place- busy, busy, BUSY!

I love January, because it's a beautiful gift every year. A gift of new beginnings, a chance to tweak your life and make yourself better than you were last year. A fresh slate.

So I start January with a bunch of lists, and most of them are empty. For instance, I'll have a list where I will record every book I read that year, or every mile I run. Two nights ago, I was sitting in bed making a list in my journal, and Bob says to me, "What are you making a list of- things you plan to make lists of?"

All these lists mean one thing: I'm not short on motivation. What I AM short on is time and energy. So my big goals this year are:

1. Finish my manuscript.

2. Find an agent.

3. Sell the novel.

4. Run a sub 2 hour half marathon.

5. Run 1,000 miles (Or MORE!)

6. Read 52 books (Roughly one a week)

All of this while balancing my amazing family, and the job I hold dear to my heart: teaching. Oh, also throw in a move sometime this summer to... still don't know where yet.

It's enough to cause a heart spasm. So maybe goals are good. They're a starting place. And motivation is necessary to kick start me in the gut (thus sitting here ready to write before 6:00 am on a Wednesday morning).

But I think breathing is important too. And playing tea party with Margot without thinking about the other thousand things that need me at the moment.

Somehow it will all get done.

~Namaste~

An Object of Beauty

Bob gave me the book, An Object of Beauty, for Christmas (Actually, Book-Eve- December 23).

It's an interesting book about the last 15 years in the Art World, specifically in NYC. It's cleverly written and is obviously well researched. The best part of the book is that when a painting is described in the story, there is a full color picture printed on that page with it. So the reader gets a vivid description and gets to see it for himself.

The plot was strong, but the character development was marginal. The formatting and all the things I learned about art made up for the fact that I didn't feel strongly one way or another about any of the characters.

Another compelling read by Steve Martin, renaissance man. I mean really- is there ANYTHING this man can't do? (I might have a slight crush on the guy).

Four out of Five Stars

Top Ten

I was thinking about the thinking I'll be doing tomorrow... for my "official goals" for 2011, and I started to mull over 2010.

You could make a top ten list for just about anything, and I wanted to see what friends remember from the year.

I'd love to hear your pics, in any category you want. (And they don't really have to be ten, they could be two).

*Obviously my friends and family are more important and more enjoyable than anything on this list, that goes without saying. So AFTER my family and friends...

Top Ten Books Read In 2010:

1.The Help

2. South of Broad

3. The Speed of Light

4. People of the Book

*Okay, those are only 5. But those were the BEST 5 of the bunch this year* 5 Stars to each of them.

Top Ten Everyday Pleasures (That don't break the bank):

1. Writing a chapter in my novel- a chapter I feel great about.

2. Reading an excellent book.

3. Finishing an excruciating run.

4. Enjoying a seemingly effortless run.

5. A date with Margot at the Bread Peddler on a Saturday afternoon.

6. Playing backgammon with Bob every night at dinner.

7. An excellent glass of Merlot.

8. Clean sheets.

9. Skyping with my parents and Bob's parents

10. Walking around Olympia, especially in the Farmer's Market with a cup of Batdorf and Bronson coffee. -It's heaven, I'm telling you!

Top Ten Happy Memories from 2010:

1. Bob returning home from Iraq.

2. Margot's first... smile, crawling, walking, teeth, etc. They're all great.

3. Bev's wedding. It was lovely and fun, and an amazing opportunity to see my dear friends from college who I miss SO MUCH!

4. Margot's Christening, with all of our families there.

5. Margot's first birthday (with friends and family attending).

6. Running two half marathons and a full marathon. It was incredibly empowering after having a baby.

7. My cousin Hana's visit out to Washington. It was very cool to play tourist and have late chats into the night.

8. The first week or so when the idea of writing a novel occurred to me. (It's been great since then as well, but that was magical for the first little while).

9. Any time I spend with my friend Annette. She's grounded and nurturing. She's a great book critic/ editor/ sounding board.

10. The day I realized I weighed less after the baby was born, than before. (In Birmingham, on Bev's scale. She saw me go berserk with happiness. It's shallow and stupid, I know. But it felt like a victory to me!)

It's been a fantastic year. Tough, but still positive.

I'm really looking forward to next year... I'm sure it will be outstanding as well.