Hey Lover Birds,

I missed my day -- Rachel can attest -- I sent her an email and that did me in. Way too sleepy. Ha. I am still home... trying to be productive and tackle the way too many projects I've decided to do. Unfortunately, each day seems to slip by with startling rapidity, so no real progress has been made anywhere! Except that I've been working out a lot with my parents, which means fiercely competitive weight lifting sessions, and this super hard-core hip-hop aerobics class with my mommy. yes, she's definitely getting her groove on. i think this comes with a personality change. yesterday she described something as "big ass" and today she said "we gotta blow this joint."

anyways, selena requested dress pictures, so here they are! i will send pictures (before and after) of other stuff when i produce it... hopefully you'll have SOMETHING next week? making no promises. love you all and miss you terribly.

ps sorry for the ridiculous photos. its kinda lame taking pictures of yourself... and i look silly! :)

High School Reunion and My Mommy

Man -- I love you all AND this blog. How else would I get a sense of what each of you is doing every week? Love it.

SO: on Thursday I came back from England, sick as hell -- I ended up with a ridiculous chest and sinus infection -- so nasty -- to TONS of family here for the weekend. My uncle Woody practices "body talk" and managed to partially heal my sickness, and then I went to the doctor for serious antibiotics and chest clearing meds. I am mostly better. My cousins were here with their funny/cute babies and their husbands -- 2 1/2 year old Pele was chased a little by my dog Sophie and so he freaked out a little. I picked him up and said, "Sophie's kind of big isn't she," as I imagine it would kind of be like having a Polar bear chase you around this enormous dining room table, and Pele said "too big." I took a long late night hot tub with my cousin Juliette (Pele's mommy), during which we carefully monitored the temperature -- she's preggo again (which I of course love) and doesn't want to overcook that bun in the oven. We speculated about family relationships and whatever. It was good. :)

On Saturday, I left the family and sped up to my high school! Woot! My five year reunion was unbelievably fun -- definitely didn't expect it. It was SO nice to catch up with people -- many of whom I hadn't seen or communicated with since graduation and to be reminded of how much I really love so many of them. We got drunk in the cafeteria and then went out to Cambridge for a high school style house party -- so fitting. On Sunday I went into Boston with my HS roommate and saw one of my favorite high school friends from the class below us.

ANYWAYS, now I am home. Before going to my reunion, I accompanied my mommy to her gym so I could use the machines and she could go to a step class, and sadly, she had yet ANOTHER fight with her instructor. She's been sticking up for herself lately at her stupid gym full of really caddy and lame women, which has made her pretty damn unpopular. But she's gotten pretty good at coming up with snippy one-liners. Anyways, this particular instructor is a real bitch, but oh well. I'll spare you all the details. In any event, she had heard about a different gym, but have never checked it out, so I looked it up and pretty much FORCED her to go with me to a class there today (she only does classes -- she detests treadmills etc. Too boring for her.), and we both LOVED it. It was a mostly dance focused class that was actually kind of hard and was a combo of hip-hop, salsa, merenge, swing and jazz all mushed together back to back. So she's particularly happy and she's leaving that other gym for good. :)

HA! I hope that all made sense -- have been on this computer for too long getting some random stuff done, so I REFUSE to read over my post!

Love and miss you all,
Megan

WOWOIEOJSOIDJG

Tuesday!

It's my day -- and I will maybe forever have horror associated with days of the week typed out on a screen -- I watched The Shining last night for the first time, and it was SCARY as hell for me, and the scary music and creepiness would build and build and then it would cut to a black screen with Tuesday written in white letters on the screen... ha.

ANYWAY, -- Julian: you and every other Chapmanite is invited to visit the farm whenever I'm there -- my parents would be totally happy with whoever coming to pull weeds, pick some veggies, roll around in the dirt, or play with the new lambs (sadly, they are named "Crown Roast," "Shank," and some other cut of meat... and they will go in pieces into the freezer in the fall) at any time. And also Julian, you should look into my high school (Concord Academy) about a job. I'm serious, and I'll look into it a little also if you wouldn't mind. I really really really think the place would suit you big time.

Still in Oxford, but I am leaving on Thursday. :( Still having a really great time, it's a little tough leaving, but it's gotta happen at some point, so whatever. Just because this is a really silly video and will make you laugh a little, watch it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1lqWZ6RYSQ

Love and miss you all,
Megan

Hi Dears,

Sorry for missing my day... it was yesterday!

I am in Oxford, and having a really really really nice time. Lots of walking around, and going to the pub with Milo and his parents (not with Malu -- she pretty much refuses to leave the house, but will have to when her boy Dan arrives on Friday), playing frisbee, having picnics, running, going out for coffee and mixed drinks... I had TWO drinks the other night that had egg whites in them -- isn't that weird? They were delicious.

The other thing I've been doing is making more T-shirt dresses from shirts Milo didn't want anymore. I will post pictures of them either sometime this week or next Tuesday (my day).

Just before I got on the plane to come to England, I talked to my high school roommate (Amelia -- none of you have met her) and just was struck and shocked by how much I still love her and how close I feel to her even though we have actually been AWFUL at staying in touch since our graduation. Talking to her really gave me lots of hope and excitement for my continuing relationship with all of you -- this past year in Chapman really is exploding out and will expand expand and expand indefinitely -- or at least, that's how I'm planning it.

Love you all -- I'll send silly pictures of me in my dresses soon. Muah.
Megan

Black Bean Brownies! And Funny Video

Hi Loves,

Selena (i.e. the Blog Police) just called to tell me today was my day! I've got it down now -- I promise I won't be latish anymore...

Anyways dears -- two things:

1) I was thinking that now you have nobody to make you black bean brownies, and that you should learn to make them yourselves and spread the chocolatey beany love. SO, below is the original recipe, and the ** indicates my changes, which I think makes them better. :)

Ingredients
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1 cup unsalted butter **1/4 cup butter, 1/4+ cup plain yogurt (non- or low-fat), 1/4- olive oil**
2 cups soft-cooked black beans, drained well (hs: canned is fine)
1 cup walnuts, chopped **1/2 cup walnuts (I just don’t put in walnut chunks**
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
¼ cup (granulated) natural coffee substitute (or instant coffee, for gluten-sensitive)
¼ teaspoon sea salt
4 large eggs
1½ cups light agave nectar **3/4 cups agave nectar or honey**

Process
Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line an 11- by 18-inch (rimmed) baking pan (hs note: or jellyroll pan) with parchment paper and lightly oil with canola oil spray. **I like 9x9 better; the brownies are too thin otherwise... and never used parchment paper... Don’t have any! Just put LOTS of butter**

Melt the chocolate and butter in a glass bowl in the microwave for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes on high. Stir with a spoon to melt the chocolate completely. Place the beans, 1/2 cup **that is, all of the walnuts** of the walnuts, the vanilla extract, and a couple of spoonfuls **usually need more than a couple spoonfuls for successful blending** of the melted chocolate mixture into the bowl of a food processor. Blend about 2 minutes, or until smooth. The batter should be thick and the beans smooth. Set aside.

In a large bowl, mix together the remaining 1/2 cup walnuts,**so, no walnuts here** remaining melted chocolate mixture, coffee substitute, and salt. Mix well and set aside.

In a separate bowl, with an electric mixer beat the eggs until light and creamy, about 1 minute. Add the agave nectar **and the yogurt and olive oil** and beat well. Set aside.

Add the bean/chocolate mixture to the coffee/chocolate mixture. Stir until blended well.

Add the egg mixture, reserving about 1/2 cup. Mix well. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Using an electric mixer, beat the remaining 1/2 cup egg mixture until light and fluffy. Drizzle over the brownie batter. Use a wooden toothpick to pull the egg mixture through the batter, creating a marbled effect. **This part is beyond me. Plus, I put yogurt and olive oil in the egg part, so I just pour it all in and forget the marbling** Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until the brownies are set.**Or until a toothpick/fork comes out cleanish** Let cool in the pan completely before cutting into squares. (They will be soft until refrigerated.) **Way easier to cut and more delicious and fudgy chilled... I don't know, recently I've started liking them warm/hot.**

**AND: something I haven't tried yet, but you should -- mix in a box or two of raspberries or your favorite berries into the batter as the last step before pouring into the baking dish. One other note: you can really use any kind of beans you have -- they don't have to be black beans.**

Makes 45 (2-inch) brownies.

And, 2) Some video humor. If you have not yet seen the video/song "Dick in a Box," watch it FIRST: http://www.hulu.com/watch/1596/saturday-night-live-dick-in-a-box-uncensored. Then, watch the sequel, "Mother Lover" -- http://www.hulu.com/watch/72434/saturday-night-live-digital-short-motherlover-censored.

Love and miss you all! Definitely already feeling nostalgia for Chapman. AND: Milo is sitting right here and says hi to everyone!

Muah,
Megan