Not Dead, Just Crazy

I've been out of commission over the past weekend (and then some) on account of a national professional exam I had to study for, obsess over, and then take (yesterday). So, I've been a bad blogger for virtuous reasons, and I feel oh-so-much-better now that I took my exam. I think I passed, but I can't be sure, and won't know for about three months. So I'm trying, with moderate success, not to get myself all worked up about the results.

With this milestone (hopefully) passed, though, I can move on to gardening! and knitting! and cooking! and sewing! and reading! and doing yoga again! and ... remembering that I have two young children and work mostly full time. So while I feel free and invigorated, like a bird ready to soar (or something), I have to caution myself to be more realistic. I am famous for setting myself up with unreasonable expectations, and then getting all grumpy when I fall short. The Hubby, he would probably prefer if I manage to avoid the grumpy part.

Tonight I hope to aim low (literally) and do some gardening with The Young Man. I'll try to take the camera, so I can illustrate any progress. I am not great friends with our digital camera, but I am trying to get to know it better.

On the reading front, now I can commence with the 1% Well-Read Challenge! So, I'll have to pick the first book of the ten soon.

Also, I just purchased a new cookbook, 660 Curries by Raghavan Iyer. I originally picked up the book at the library, simply because I was floored by (and curious about) the very idea of 660 curries. What I honestly thought would be a gimmick is clearly a very well-researched and lovingly-presented intro to Indian cooking. Already it reminds me of Deborah Madison's Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone and Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything, both of which are standard references in my kitchen (his NYT blog Bitten, is wonderful). There's even a 660 Curries blog! The proof, of course, is in the cooking, and I'll be sure to report back on the first experiment.

Pics, reviews and a decision on "which book first?" to come.