Accio Success

"Success comes when you vigorously grab every day by the nape of the neck, and then kiss it gently."

-J. Sinsabaugh

For the Love of Grammar

Only One More Sleep 'Til Christmas

One of my very favorite holiday movies...

Merry Christmas Eve, everyone!

Sand, Sun, and Surf

Day 3 of the Muffin:

It's the close of the third day of Wags' Hawaiian vacation. This morning, the trio threw our towels and body boards in the back of the car and drove to White Plains Beach in Kapolei, where we soaked up some sunshine and splashed around the Pacific.  (point "B" on the map below)

The waves perpetually rolled in with enough promise for a good day of beginner surfing. 

It didn't take the boys long to throw off their shirts and grab their boards. Nick and Wags dove into the water and paddled out far enough in search of a quality body boarding experience. 

Rather, I settled into my towel on the shore and made a conscious effort to be in the moment. 

The blazing sun.

The cool breeze.

Rolling sand grains between my fingers, 

sticking to my legs.

Salty air prickling my skin.

December 21, 2011 at a beach in Hawaii with my husband and our muffin, the sunshine and the sea, and I wasn't going to miss a moment of it.

When the boys returned, Nick and I decided to rent a couple of surf boards and take a lesson. The pristine waves and the abundance of water-goers inspired me to journey into the ocean despite my innate fear of it.

Well, perhaps it should have been a sign that surfing lessons were filled for the day AND I couldn't physically pick up the board to carry it out of the shop on my own. Nevertheless, off we paddled. 

I won't pretend that I didn't panic. Leaving the shoreline means relinquishing some amount of control, which, let's be honest, is not something I like to ever willingly do. Nick and I paddled out passed the buoys before I froze in terror. My thoughts at that moment:

I can't see the bottom.

The waves look awfully big out here.

I saw "Box Jellyfish" warnings on the weather channel this morning.

Help.

Unfortunately, regardless of the distance that we had already paddled, Nick and I were not quite far enough out. Far enough? Yes. Far enough. 

And the waves rolled in...

Each time, the waves would break about 10 yards in front of us and the surf would crash over us. This meant one of two things:

1.  If my board was parallel to the wave, then the wave lifted us (me and the board) into the air, flipped us and crushed us under water. 
2. If my board was perpendicular to the wave, and I didn't want to be flipped backward, I had to go through the wave, meaning it had to crash over me. This seems harmless, perhaps, except that the force of the wave and the constant waves the followed meant that it was semi-equivalent to drowning, I'm sure of it.

The water was in my nose. The sand was in my eyes. Both pulled at my bathing suit bottoms. Every time I was knocked off the board, which was damn often, I was sure something was going to bite me, sting me, pull me under, or just plain touch me. Let's be honest, after about 20 minutes (which is far longer than expected), I was exhausted, water logged and ready for solid land. 

I am positive that you are all wondering about Nick's surfing experience. For those closest to him, you are exceptionally curious because of his dislike of water and swimming. That husband of mine rocked it. In fearless boy nature, he caught at least two waves (that I saw) and stood up on them both! Aside from needed a quality rash guard if this is going to become a regular Reis activity, Nick absolutely loved surfing. And for our very first time hitting the waves, he surely displayed promise for being good at it!

I wish I had pictures for proof. Before he and Wags retreated to the 'man room' with their Johnny Walker Gold, I promised Nick that I will be persistent in my surfing until I'm either decent or I enjoy it. Hey--- I did better at Day #1 surfing than Day #1 snorkeling.

Off to drink my Wags-made daiquiri and watch Elf. Goodnight all :)

M.

                     

   

A Neat Little Stumble

Nick is using "Stumble Upon" this evening while the three of us (Nick, Wags and I) watch the pre-holiday Law & Order: SVU marathon [god, I wish Kage was here].


[Starmer Tangent/Explanation]
"Stumble Upon" is a self-propelled search engine on the web that selects random websites based on a pre-search survey of your interests.


Between B.D. Wong analyzing a mentally unstable suspect and Ice-T's "That's messed up" comments, Nick hands me his iPad to show me this:

http://bookshelfporn.com/

I promise, despite the crude domain name, this is NOT a spam website, nor will it direct you to any actual porn. It is a blog collection of some pretty extraordinary bookshelves. For an English teacher or a book lover or an academician, this blog is orgasmic. 

I drooled a little... and you might, too.

Cheers, fellow readers <3 

Photojournalism

- 20 December 2011 - 

Sunset Beach, North Shore

Oahu, Hawaii

Happy Christmas Week, all! :)

A Small Recommendation

"I want words at my funeral. But I guess that means you need life in your life."

-Markus Zusak The Book Thief

Read it. It's very much worth your time.

Now and Then

It's funny how so much distance and change is thrust between today and 365 days ago...
I can begin with last year-- Nick and our Wags and our joined families of Wags', Reeses and Starms met up in Manhattan. 
Nick and I first took our conjoined families on the Metro North to Grand Central. Bundled in comfy, cozy layers, the 8 of the Starmwebers walked around Time Square, up 5th Ave, over to Columbus Circle (where Nicholas proposed only two weeks prior) and then back up into Mahattan, where we meet the Wags clan at a fabulous Brazilian Steakhouse called Plataforma (definitely check it out if you're looking for an entertaining dinner experience!). We indulged in dining gluttony in pure and joyous celebration of Nick and Wags' college graduation. 
As the wind whipped between scrapers and through allies, our families shared wine, stories, and plate upon plate of the most delectable foods -- sushi,  prime rib, filet mignon wrapped in bacon (Wag's favorite!), pork tenderloin, fried plantas, potatoes and pasta and the list is almost endless. Our three families exult infinite love for both Nick and Wags, and my mental photo of our families toasting their accomplishments and our adoration for their friendship will forever be one of my top 10 moments of last year.

        

          

And so 365 days pass ever so quickly, despite periods of seeming endlessness. Today, Nick and I trekked to the North Shore of Hawaii (6,000 miles southwest of NYC) where we spent the day soaking up December sunshine on some beach between Waimea Bay and Sunset Beach, watching surfers rip waves that I sure as hell would never brave. We ate lunch in the historic little town of Haliewa (pronounced: Holly-Ava), and of course, treated ourselves to shave (not "shaved"... it's like scratching a nail on a shiny, metal plate for an English teacher) "shave" ice (for Nicholas) and ice cream (for me). Let's be honest, I think I boycott the "shave" ice purely because of its lack of grammatical correctness.  Oh and p.s., I find it a personal oddity seeing photos of my black hair juxtaposed to my blonde hair...

          

            

Although the morning started off rainy and it rained through lunch, the weather was agreeable (yes, I just finished Alcott), so Nick and I were able to enjoy a quiet, relaxing day before .....
WAGS ARRIVES TOMORROW!! <3 Ah, perhaps it will be a reese/wags weekend always for the rest of our lives! I think a new tradition is surely in order. Our Wags arrives at HNL tomorrow night at 6:45 p.m. So tomorrow is comprised of cleaning, grocery shopping, (more importantly) booze shopping, present wrapping and then our Wags will be here!! :)


The boys' graduation, our big family dinner, moving back to our homes and celebrating the holidays in 2010. It's a mind-baffling feeling to think it was a whole year ago, and yet, so much time, so many moments, so much change has happened since; ha-- I must be feeling especially nostalgic this evening.


Anyway, it will be SO good to have our Wags here.... ah, if only my Kage could come, too, then our little family of four would be complete again :)

I hope to be diligent and sober enough in the next week to upload photos of our trio's escapades. For those of you who know us at all, you know that when Wags is in town, I am merely Nick's mistress on the side. Don't worry, I set up the guest bedroom for myself so I have a bed. Thanks for your concern...
 I ascertain that Hawaii is not quite ready for the Nick-Wags combo...
Watch the news, everybody. If there's smoke coming from Oahu, it's not any volcanos....


I wonder what the next 365 days will deliver <3 


Me ke aloha,
M.

Most Polska 2011

The Most Polska Award
This award was created by my husband's family to honor the most ridiculous Christmas decoration around the Buffalo area. According to my father in law, you must be partly Polish in order to vote on candidates, and my mother in law has a 51% voting because she is 100% Polish.
To give you an idea of winners of year's past:
1. The outdoor plastic nativity set: What makes this a Most Polska winner? Because the owners displayed the outdoor plastic nativity set indoors, in the front, bay window.
2. The two geese dressed up as santa and mrs. claus
3. My father won one year, recently. He took our pumpkins, set them on top of one another, speared them so they stood up on their own, and then spray-painted them and painted on a face. Our halloween pumpkins magically turned into a winter snowman. 
4. The Christmas tree decorated in beer cans


You get the idea?


Well, three weeks ago, I submitted an essay to my in laws wherein I nominated my husband for his decorating efforts. You will see the essay below. Alas, this evening, I retracted the nomination for my husband and renominated my father. Story is also below. Enjoy the epic absurdity of it all!


Mom and Dad Reisweber,

Please carefully study the attached photograph of our Christmas Tree.

Nick and I decorated for Christmas right after Thanksgiving dinner. The tree, like you know, is pre-lit so we only had to put on our ornaments. My ornaments aren't here yet so we have Nick's ornaments and the ornament's from Papa's basement. 

After putting the tree together, Nick and I snuggled up on our couch to admire our first Christmas tree together. Nick immediately noted that something seemed to be missing. 

We considered ribbon, like your tree, and beading, like my parents' tree. We talked about bows or tinsel, but the night thickened and we grew tired, and alas, we made no definitive decision regarding the completion of our Christmas tree. After all, it is our first year, and so we can accumulate a fuller tree over time.

Sometime in the next few days, our daily routine and activities were such that I hadn't sat down to admire our tree, and Nick certainly couldn't have had the extra time to admire it either.

Or so I thought.

But a few days ago, I snuggled on the couch to watch a Christmas movie, and in doing so I took a moment to breath in our holiday decor. And this is what  I found:

Our tree has quite a unique topper. 

Top 5 Reasons Why I think our tree topper justifies the Most Polska Award

1. It isn't an angel or a star
2. While it is green and while (arguably two very 'christmasy' colors), it is also a hat that humans are supposed to wear on their heads. And nothing other than the colors (which, in my opinion are secondary to red during the holidays) suggests that this hat is christmasy at all.
3. Nick doesn't even watch Notre Dame football
4. Nobody is our family is Irish and the closest thing to Irish culture is our super sugary version of Bailey's Irish Cream (we've even butchered the recipe, also very Polish of us)
5. Nick has proudly pointed out our tree topper to guests

I sincerely hope that the award committee accepts my nomination of their first born son to receive Most Polska 2011. He has worked very hard to earn it this year.

Thank you for your time.

Now, the nomination of my father:

And just when I think I've married into most polska, my father gets creative again. 

Ah.. So as told by Mr. Luka, just Saturday evening, my 28 lansing ave family was putting up the Christmas tree. It's a pretty-unmotivated process this year. My dad's been busy with finals, my mother doesn't care about a tree because she's coming to Hawaii and Luka is never home. Whereas the Starmers typically set their tree up the first weekend of December, this year, they've slacked a little.

Regardless, the tree-decorating was in (slow) progress on Saturday between Army v Navy, grading papers, creating finals and the like. It was later in the evening when the crew finally began to string the christmas lights onto the tree. Half way through, my mom realized that the rest of the light sets didn't work. To an unmotivated bunch, this glitch could have ended the tree decorating. But my father, Ron, agreed to make the sacrifice to venture to The Wal*Mart and buy some more lights. Luka even chimed in and offered to pick up a pizza for nourishment, and alas, the Starmers were back on track.

(bare with me... we're almost to the winning Polska moment)

My dear father returned from The Wal*Mart and luke from Pontillos.  Dad maintained his endurance and proceeded to continue stringing lights on the tree while Luka, Mom and John Sinsabaugh (a fellow decorator and Starmer kin) munched on some pizza pie. 

Suddenly, Luka, John and Mom paused, momentarily, in their merriment to commend Dad on his decorating drive when, to their horror, they realized my father, who was practically finished stringing the lights, had purchased indoor lights with WHITE wires. ARGH! Connie blew up in fumes and Luka just shook his head. Ron's response? : "What!? It's like snow on the tree."

Ah, dear Reisweber family, I must retract my nomination of my dear husband and in his place, renominate my father, Ron Starmer, who again, may be a strong contender for Most Polska 2011. Can you have a two-time winner?

Oh dear god.

Ha!

Rochester, New York: Hilarious photo of a sign, courtesy of my dear friend JWS! Love the humor!
Happy Wednesday and Happy Winter Concert Day to my Mama! 


Me ke aloha,
M.

Juxtaposition

Living here in Hawaii, on December 13th, I feel like my body is split right in half. One half of me is yearning for the crisp chill of winter and the Holiday back north. The other half of me basks in the daily sunshine and steamy, Hawaiian weather. Ah... I am a living juxtaposition :)
These are what my innards look like ...


Fab.you.lous! <3 I mean really, I live about 200 yards from the western coast of Oahu!

Photography is so beautiful... I  love the snow, and the dark hair, and (gasp, will I dare say it?) the pale skin! Ok Kage, I'm officially pushing for Colorado <3 

Greener pastures, like CNY !

I love wedding photography in the snow :) It would have been my second choice for a season <3 But I can't deny the beauty of the october leaves!

High fashion on a beach... If only I had the model-esqu legs to pull of boots with a skirt in Hawaii.

Buttercups! I've always found photographs or movie scenes of couples laying in a field of tall grass and spring-like flowers to be one of the most romantic things a couple could do: just be one, together, with nature. 
Ah, but in reality, I am terrified of bees, grass makes me itchy and girls who wear pretty, white dresses while lounging in a grassy field probably never wear those white dresses again. *Sigh* Damn those hopelessly romantic intangible expectations.

I think my younger brother is capable of perhaps this particular moment of brilliant athleticism. 
This past summer, he casually decided to hop aboard a plane and ski the Andes Mountains in Chile. He's an old soul.  I love his sense of adventure and excitement! My older brother and I admire him dearly :) I, on the other hand, am physically incapable of anything remotely similar. If I ever get this high on a snowboard, it'll be because I missed a sign that says "cliff".

Courtesy of a dear friend who posted this beautiful photo on her own blog. Thanks, The Inbetween Times! <3 

And then there is the indisputable fact that I just straight miss winter fashions....Ah, Kate Hudson, you look fabulous and cozy.

Alright, I guess I'll go continue my inner struggle while I clean the house in preparation of two weeks of guests! The sun isn't even out today, anyway, so the guilt affiliated with avoiding sunshine is minimized.


Me ke aloha,
M.

I Hate Chicken

... but I found a stellar chicken recipe tonight, courtesy of The Taste of Home's Simple and Delicious Cookbook.  Here's the recipe just in case your spouse is as chicken crazy as mine.  I did it up with some steamed carrots and instant tatoes <3 yum!

Garlic Chick & Gravy

Chicken breast

salt

pepper

4-5 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped

butter

3/4 cup chicken broth

basil

oregano

1 tbs flour

Rub breasts with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, cook chicken and garlic in butter over med-high heat for 5 min or until browned on either side. Add broth, and white wine if desired, basil and oregano. Bring to a boil. Cover and let simmer for 7-9 min or until no longer pink. 
Remove chicken. Keep warm. Combine flour and broth in a small bowl. Shake or mix well until no lumps. Stir into pan juices for 1-2 min or until thick. Serve over chicken!


Me ke aloha, oh fellow chicken lovers (or haters)
M.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things - Dec 2011 Edition

In the name of the Holiday and the spirit of Christmas, I thought I'd compile a few of my favorite things. 
Happy Holiday!
10. Skaneateles, New York: About 13 years ago, my mom and I began one of my favorite traditions. We would venture to the pretentiously historic village of Skaneateles in Central New York in celebration of our birthdays. It is, of course, always early November, but we are usually lucky to experience the first snowflakes of the year while on our adventure. Mom and I always begin our Christmas shopping this day. We meander around the main street that parallel Skaneateles Lake. We mosey through shops with our cups of coffee and our Holiday spirit, calling to one another, usually in bursts of loud laughter, when we find the perfect gift for someone. We eat lunch at the same place, and we visit the same store. Although we were not able to uphold our November tradition this year, it is certainly only on pause until Nick and I live closer to home again. At least close enough to throw Rosalie in the car and head to Cortland for the weekend :)

9. The entire idea of sleigh riding. Perhaps this is because I'm in the midst of Little Women. Perhaps it's just because I miss the snowy blowy northeast winters. Regardless, the idea of sleigh riding reminds me of trekking to Grandma and Grandpa's house for Christmas. Over the river and through the woods...

8. Trident Booksellers and Cafe, Boston, MA: If Nick and I could miss the concept of this store anymore. Trident is a Newbury Street treasure <3 It is a flawless merge of a coffee shop and a bookstore. A beautiful marriage, if I may attest to its brilliants. Chilly Newbury shoppers can seek refuge from the brisk Boston winds inside Trident where they can peruse the bookstore in its quaint aisles and disheveled bookshelves in search of the perfect novel or magazine. Then, they find an empty seat in the cafe and can order hot tea, wine, breakfast, hummus and pita, a bowl of soup or a crisp salad while they sit and read their find. JAKE AND MINDY!! This is still one of our favorite Boston spots. Thank you for bringing us here!Dear owners of Trident, could you please set up shop out here in Kapolei?

7. Coffee Mania! This unique little dive in Cortland, New York is one piece of my little hometown that tops my favorites list! It's a stationary trailer that allows cars to pull up along either side of the trailer and order hot coffee, scones, tea and iced drinks to go. Sub favorites list? Hot Lavender tea, iced almond joy coffee + skim milk + raw sugar, Cooper + skim milk + slenda.

6. Peppermint Hot Chocolate: This is an extension of Coffee Mania. Coffee Mania has many of my favorite things, to include peppermint hot chocolate, but this Holiday drink is unlike no other. And unlike Coffee Mania, it DOES exist in Hawaii :)

5. Route 13 through Cortland and Dryden, NY. I know it's typically an accident-ridden road during the wintery months, but I have fond memories of white-knuckled driving on that road! 

4. A Wintery ride through Central New York <3 

         

      




3. Panera Bread's broccoli cheddar soup bowl. Baguette or apple? Um. Baguette please! Panera does not exist in Hawaii. Please, if you are reading this and are near a Panera, please please go enjoy a broccoli cheddar soup bowl for me!!

2. The Bluewater Grill in Skaneateles, NY!  My mama and I always eat here when we shop in Skaneateles. We always sit in the back room (pictured here) where there is a cozy wood stove warming you up while you eat. We typically snack on baguettes topped with brie cheese and apples, drizzled in raspberry sauce. 

   

1. My wonderful husband and our puppy girl Rosalie <3 My #1 favorite thing <3