2005-11-26 11:40:47

Hi Ali! I'm the first one to post? KEWL!! :-) I loved your post about gratitude and blessings. Always inspiring to read your blog. I must check out the book in #4. Ironically, I am in SERIOUS cleaning mode right now and one of my BIG commitments in 2006 is to SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY in our small home. (think Zen-like). Thanks Ali, for always sharing your thoughts. You always seem to say something I can relate too. Thanks for being you!!

Hi Ali - Christmas album turned out great. Simon looks adorable in this pic., could picture him licking mashed potatoes off the beater, my younger brother used to do the same thing, and he would lick the bowl after they were all gone! Heading back to Ohio tomorrow after a great Thanksgiving with my folks in VA - ready to crank out my journaling for my albums in your classes!

Okay...I'm just lovin' that you have Johnny Cash, Tom Petty and Solitary Man all listed in one bullet. Those are truly some of my favorite things. The Solitary Man by Waylon Jennings is one of my all time favorite songs. It's an awesome Saturday!

I LOVE TAL! But I not longer subscribe to audible and have forgotten about getting the shows the RealOne. Gotta remember to do that. (Sure I understand their need for money but I love the convenience of listening to Podcasts via iTunes.) And I love that these shows let us know about music we should give a try.

Curse you, Al Edwards!!
I've just spent that last hour resigning up for Audible and am currently listening to the latest TAL. And I am looking at audible books to download for the boys.
;-)

I love This American Life! Thanks for the reminder to go listen to it =)

Ali--Thanks for sharing the link on that book about scaling down. Although I've not just moved..I totally NEED that book! I'll be ordering it right away!!! I hope it works for you and Chris too! Happy Thanksgiving!

I discovered This American Life back in college, when I was the weekend anchor at my NPR station. I almost applied to be an intern with that show... but it wasn't meant to be.
Give me a call soon... I haven't chatted with you in a while!

Ali, I had a look at the book, this is exactly what i need, I was just looking at my house this morning thinking, I just cant bear all the junk anymore. i love the story of the holiday house with judi in the book.
take care

Hey Ali-
How do we find out where you are teaching next??
I'd be willing to drive to take a class with you.
Thanks

Hey Ali,
So glad you're finding that book useful, and how sweet (and embarrassing) that you posted a link to my horribly out-of-date gallery. I need to do something about that. :) I thought the examples were so great in this book. I just kept nodding in agreement... and laughing out loud so many times about all our absurd reasoning behind holding onto pure junk. It's a fun and thought-provoking read, isn't it? So when do we get to see a pic of the t-shirt? Threadless.com could use a boost from the ever so popular A list... ;) Love your Thanksgiving posts. Thanks for reminding us of all the goodness in us all. :)
A

Ouch! I need that book. I confess that I'm a hoarder - magazines especially, just can't seem to let go of them.
Thanks for your awesome lists - they are soul fulfilling and bring a little joy to my day, so big thanks!

Ok, Southern Cross is seriously one of my fave, if not my ultimate fave, songs of all-time. It's so funny you bring it up today because I just saw the Crosby, Stills & Nash version on VH1 Classic so I've been singing it in my head all day. Weird! BTW, I've been reading your blog forever but finally felt led to respond when I read about this song......so hello there!

Ali every Friday I teach form that program and have my students listen to it. This American Life is such a wonderful teaching tool at so many levels. Ali I hope we can someday meet and talk politics and ways to change the world. Love ya Wanda

I told my husband about that book and he is out buying it for me right now! LOL! It is the one thing we don't have in common: I am a pack rat and he is a minimalist. He has been after me for years to simpilfy. I am feeling so overwhelmed in this house right now. There are sooooo many things that we do NOT need that I have a hard time parting with. We want to have another baby and I can't even begin to think about that when my house is in such dissaray.
Also, Marc's favorite song is Southern Cross. Must be because you share the same birthday. We once drove from Massachusetts to Florida on a 10 day road trip and I must have heard that song no less than 1,000 times!
So glad you had a nice Thanksgiving!

Ali,
I am in the process of scaling down right now (we are moving next year). I've accumulated so much stuff over the past 7 years and it's scary! I am such a book junkie and have decided I will check out more books from the library instead of just buying them at the bookstore. If I really, really like a book, I will purchase it. I can't tell you how many times I've bought a book and never looked at it more than once. I also donate books I no longer want/need to the library. Other people can enjoy them and I know where they are if I ever want to read them again. I went online and already have a hold on "Scaling Down". Can't wait to pick it up! :)

Hi Ali,
My recent favorite show on HGTV is small space big style.
They give you a lot of ideas on how to create storage spaces, might be helpful for you and I'm sure yours will be as pretty as theirs as you are good at decorating items with your scrapbooking stuff :)

Ali - OK you made me do it! I bought the Weepies CD, it's awesome. Even my daughter who is 6 perked up and wanted to listen to the sample songs.
And I've got to get that organization book as well! Moved last year and still trying to organize and I don't know where anything is!
Thanks so much for a great time at CKU Stamford (I was with those 'Recreational Liars'!

yay for scaling down! i've totally been cleaning out stuff recently and just made a big trip to goodwill! it feels good to let go of some of that stuff... love your scrapping ali and just found your blog. can't wait to see more!

i need to clean out my stuff. :)

Ali,
Not usually on this website, (in fact never) but you can thank my wife. I just happen to be looking over her should when I saw the music you are listening too. I have been on a Johnny Cash kick lately myself. Try the tribute album, lot of Hall of Famers singing Cash Classics, from Bruce Springsteen to Hank Williams Jr. My two boys (Nathaniel 4 and Nicholas 3) and me love to sing Hank Williams Jr's version of "Big River." Our favorite verse is "Make a Weeping Willow Cry, Cry" Of course, that is the only verse N&N remember. Take Care and Enjoy!
Your new fan,
Ed

completely random -- any advice on a paper trimmer? i'm in the market for a new one and am wondering which i should go with. have a favorite? thanks, ali. can't wait until the tenth for your class in indiana!

Thanks for The Weepies recommendation. and might I suggest a group called "Girlyman". They were the openers at a Dar Williams concert a few weeks ago and they are great. They have been described as Michael Stipe meets the Indigo Girls or a modern edgy peter paul and mary. I think both of these descriptions are sort of accurate, but in general I just think that they are really good and that you might enjoy them.

i LOVE this american life...sadly it's on at 10 on sunday...right in the middle of church...then 8 on wednesday nights which i never remember...i might just branch out & try to listen on the web:)...thanks for the rec on the scaling down book...i'm going to get it even though we moved into a bigger house i still only want what we need...especially with a new baby coming:)...happy christmas time!

I'm a huge TAL fan Ali. I think I've listened to all of them while scrapping. Have you listened to David Sedaris's Santaland Diaries? Hysterical. I can't remember which episode it is, but it is worth looking for :)
Also listened to a few snippets of the Weepies when I saw them on the Superhero blog. I liked, but didn't buy. You just convinced me :)