Jarrett House North: Esta

Happy birthday, Esta

Tim Jarrett — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 20:04:01 GMT

It’s a big milestone birthday for Esta this year: she turns twenty-something . Happy birthday to my favorite seminarian.

Lordy, lordy, look who’s...

Tim Jarrett — Tue, 20 Sep 2005 22:47:57 GMT

...No, Esta isn’t 40, but today is one of those other big milestone birthdays for my kid sister. What a long strange ride it’s been: a ballerina, cellist, artist, writer, Wahoo, archaeologist, financial analyst, sometime blogger, preacher, and all around great person. I’d be happy to recommend her as one of the finest people I know... odd incriminating bandana’d pictures notwithstanding. And she’s just entering the best years of her life, whether she knows it or not.

By way of present, I offer these words from a better writer than I:

you shall above all things be glad and young
For if you're young,whatever life you wear
   
it will become you;and if you are glad
whatever's living will yourself become.

Feel free to send her happy birthday wishes using this handy spam-free form. Or check out her 2001 proto-blog on this site (her personal blog is no longer available).

Here comes a special font

Tim Jarrett — Thu, 12 May 2005 15:20:18 GMT

I’m jealous; my sister gets a font named after her before I do. (Not that it’s really named after her, but the new DSType font Esta at least shares her name, and there aren’t any typefaces out there called Tim.)

Randomness

Tim Jarrett — Wed, 01 Sep 2004 04:21:33 GMT

Esta and I were at the MFA today (pictures to come). On the way home, we were discussing “Long Distance Salvation,” which Esta has yet to receive (once I design the CD label, we’ll be in business). I was giving her a track-by-track breakdown, and said,“I am living liner notes.”

She said, “Huh?”

I said, “There are no liner notes for this mix, so I’m giving you your living liner notes.”

She said, “Ah. I thought you said you were living liner notes.”

We were silent for a second. I said, “I’ve been living liner notes. But it’s been for a John Cage album. And I don’t know what the hell is going on.”

—Hey, it was funny at the time.

A quick shout to Esta

Tim Jarrett — Sun, 08 Aug 2004 12:48:26 GMT

And I’m bummed that estaminet is closing, but I understand. You’re still welcome to post here any time.

Preaching to the choir

Tim Jarrett — Tue, 25 May 2004 18:05:23 GMT

Esta has been too busy to post for most of this semester, but wrote late Sunday night/Monday morning about her debut as a preacher. She had quite a baptism by fire, though I have to say that even compared to preaching a sermon at a retirement home and co-leading morning chapel, the most difficult of the three experiences for me would have to be helping to lead worship at the church in which we grew up.

I can say that from experience. In high school I gave a sermon in that church one Youth Sunday. If I recall correctly, I was quite the judgmental little snot, too. Of the two of us, I’m really glad that Esta was the one that got this particular Call. Her gifts are so much more suited for God’s word.

Esta: Faith and loaded guns

Tim Jarrett — Thu, 26 Feb 2004 18:14:25 GMT

Great post today by Esta about her first trip to a shooting range (yes, a seminarian with a loaded Armalite. Be afraid. Reminiscent of Gandhi 2: No More Passive Resistance!). I too am coming to the conclusion that one’s faith is too important to just pledge church membership before one is old enough to drive.

Hee-wack, she’s back

Tim Jarrett — Fri, 13 Feb 2004 05:51:27 GMT

After a long unplanned hiatus involving a catastrophic server failure, my sister Esta returned to blogging today for the first time in nearly four months. Hoo-rah. About time, too; my inbox was starting to get heavy. She was definitely getting the bug back well before her server got healthy again.

Happy Birthday, Tim

Esta — Tue, 02 Dec 2003 12:12:00 GMT

I'm using my long-neglected status as contributing editor at JHN to jump in and wish my brother an unmitigatedly happy birthday. All the best, Tim; you deserve it. In the words of Ogden Nash:

Year swallows year and licks its lips,
Then down the gullet of next year slips.

Esta is alive, and living double rainbows

Tim Jarrett — Tue, 09 Sep 2003 15:26:08 GMT

Esta found a minute to update her blog amid the hectic joy of starting classes at seminary (finally having Internet connectivity at her apartment might have something to do with it). She reports that she’s making friends, even if they do tend to be considerably younger than she is; that Julia Child’s recipe for baked cucumbers is as good as Julie Powell reports; and that updates on classes are forthcoming, including Hebrew I (I always wanted to be able to read Biblical Hebrew; now she’ll be living the dream! Sniff.). Hope she can keep posting.

And hey, Esta, if you haven’t discovered them yet, you might want to download NetNewsWire Lite and Manila Envelope. The former will make it MUCH easier to keep up with your weblog reading; the latter just might make it easier to post.

To Esta, who is making it real

Tim Jarrett — Fri, 22 Aug 2003 13:52:01 GMT

Esta writes about her last day in the office before starting her course of study at Union Theological Seminary. I want to offer my heartfelt congratulations to her for finding the courage to make a really, really big move, and doing it it with clear vision and optimism in spite of the uncertainty. Esta, you may be my little sister, but it’s a big step—probably bigger than mine—and I wish you all the best luck in the world, and God’s guidance.

Adam: xserve ahoy

Tim Jarrett — Sat, 07 Jun 2003 15:46:09 GMT

Adam Curry writes: “Tuesday my new Xserves arrive. This is good news for users of schoolblogs, my jamby and diaries.com.”

Since the latter is Esta’s weblog host, that’s good news for her too.

Esta discovers Tiffany

Tim Jarrett — Thu, 05 Jun 2003 03:11:44 GMT

Esta: The Blue Box. Speaking from personal experience, Esta, it’s a slippery slope. Pretty soon you’ll be waiting for the Tiffany catalog with bated breath and picking through the newspaper ads, muttering, “If I don’t eat this month…”

… What? It’s for my wife. Get over yourself.

Esta: back, without photos

Tim Jarrett — Tue, 18 Mar 2003 16:09:18 GMT

Esta reports on her trip home to the family ancestral stomping grounds, where they visited Dave and Sally’s home at Betty’s Cove on Bear Creek, and came away with memories but no photos:

Through the entire expedition I'd been taking pictures like a madwoman, with my aunt joking about Pulitzer prizes. I had my Dad's camera slung around my neck, and took rather painstaking care with focus and light, hunting for unique perspectives. From the cove we went to Antioch church, where my grandparents and many other relatives are buried. I took more pictures of the headstones, documenting dates and relations for future reference. Willie, Johnnie and Alice; distant cousins I hadn't known existed, all dead before they reached 25. A Lunsford ancestor who died in the Spanish-American war. Obidiah and Polly O'Dell — I don't have enough time for all the stories about them.
Yeah, lots of pictures. Too bad there wasn't any film in the camera.

I talked to her late yesterday morning as she was driving home. She’s bringing back a stack of recipes from my grandmother’s collection. Apparently most of them are clipped rather than written down, since she mostly made up what she cooked, except for cake recipes. But we’re still hopeful to find some gems.

Esta: “I got in”

Tim Jarrett — Tue, 11 Mar 2003 15:39:30 GMT

Big huge congrats to Esta are due:

...no sweat on the admissions. You're in as of yesterday afternoon. A letter goes in the mail today.

My sister, the seminarian. I’m so proud (sniff).

It’s worth noting, now that we can’t jinx the admission, that she’s continuing in a long tradition of ministry on my mom’s side that goes at least as far back as Benedictus Brackbill, who was born in 1665. No pressure, kid. :)

Stop reading this page...

Tim Jarrett — Wed, 26 Feb 2003 21:33:12 GMT

And go read how my sister almost got stranded, twice, on a trip to Kenya and how an amazing stranger rescued her. Not only is it an astonishing story, it’s one of the best things I’ve ever seen on her site.

Digging through Virginia

Tim Jarrett — Thu, 20 Feb 2003 16:17:34 GMT

Esta breaks what was for me a five-year-old cone of silence and gives a peek inside her year as a professional contract archaeologist. Her job had her contracting to the state of Virginia, digging (per state law) at sites where the state planned to construct new public works to make sure that nothing of historical significance would be disturbed. A really cool job, right?

The constant traveling wore thin quickly, but the honeymoon would have lasted longer if not for the minimum wage, lack of decent benefits, creepy bosses and that thing about telling people their houses were going to be bulldozed.

Still, it taught her to swing a shovel. And gave her fantastic grist for the writing mill:

Rolling out of bed at 5 a.m. to get to the site on time and make the most of the sunlight. Living in longjohns, ripped jeans, flannel shirts, wool socks and beat-up boots. Staying covered in a poison ivy rash for nine months straight. Scraping deer ticks from my jeans with a trowel. The infamous black widow bite that didn't kill me but made me wish it would. Eating lunch wherever we could, with preference given to rural gas stations that serve fried frogs legs and potato wedges, all-you-can-eat Mexican buffets that didn't mind mud on their carpets, and diners with good pie.

Esta gets better comments

Tim Jarrett — Thu, 12 Dec 2002 15:36:16 GMT

I will say nothing more about how the conversations between me and the anti-Win Without War folks are going save to note that the fine art of the ad hominem attack is alive and well.

Esta seems to be luckier. Her post about same-sex marriages attracted a thoughtful and responsibly articulated opposing view, in her comments rather than in email so it could be easily publicly shared. And so she started a real dialogue. This just goes to show that her language skills are more advanced than mine, I suppose...

BTW, happy belated BlogBirthday® to Estaminet. When I lost a guest blogger over a year ago I gained a keiretsu. Not a bad tradeoff.

Payback will be hell

Tim Jarrett — Mon, 02 Dec 2002 16:37:51 GMT

Good morning! Thirty years is far too short a time with all of you. As Bilbo Baggins once said, I feel I know less than half of you as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as I should.

And thanks to Esta for the technicolor reminder of my mortality. Never fear, dear, I’ve got September 20 circled in my calendar for a few years hence...

Esta’s ghost stories

Tim Jarrett — Fri, 01 Nov 2002 03:04:58 GMT

Esta tells some outstanding ghost stories from her days in Colonial Williamsburg and philosophizes about why Halloween is so cool:

On Halloween we realize that everything we trouble ourselves about is as fragile and fleeting as water in a cupped palm, and rather than howling about it, in our inimitable human logic we put on face paint and howl with it. Tell me that ain't cool.

Esta Minute

Tim Jarrett — Tue, 22 Oct 2002 14:13:29 GMT

There’s a blog I’ve wanted to point to for a while, but because it wasn’t yet a fully public project I’ve refrained. Today I’m proud to point to the new location of Esta’s blog, now named “Estaminet” (which is not to be pronounced Esta minute, as tempting though it is). To make up for my not linking to her before, today is officially Link to Esta Day. Mark your calendars.

Move count: Two Jarretts

Tim Jarrett — Mon, 05 Aug 2002 19:17:21 GMT

Esta moved into a new place in downtown Richmond this weekend. Apparently she's quite happy with her new place, 6-minute commute and all.

One word of advice to Esta for her new place's hardwood floors: Swiffers. A finer cleaning product has yet to be seen. Not an employee, just a happy customer. Procter & Gamble really understand their customer too. There's nothing more satisfying than picking up the Swiffer mop, shuddering at all the dust, hair and other detritus that's been picked up, then throwing the crap away.

Another Jarrett on the move.

Tim Jarrett — Tue, 23 Jul 2002 18:48:50 GMT

After several years in the farmhouse with Debbie, Esta is moving. Debbie leaves this weekend for vet school, so Esta had to find a new home. It seems she's found a new place in the Fan District--pretty cool...

pilgrimage

Esta — Fri, 05 Jul 2002 18:12:06 GMT

Thanks to Tim for mentioning my pilgrimage trip a few days ago. The trip, to the Borderlands Ranch in South Dakota, was part of the youth program at my church, for which I have been a leader during the past two years. I've posted my journal from the trip if anyone's interested in reading it.

Accidental Pilgrim

Esta — Fri, 29 Mar 2002 23:43:21 GMT

I don't think Tim and Lisa are visiting any of the places mentioned in this article, but it makes good reading nonetheless. The author's description of Rome on Easter makes me wonder what the heck my brother is getting himself into.

Next, the Emmys!

Esta — Mon, 18 Mar 2002 16:22:43 GMT

Popping on quickly to share some family news: Tim's and my father, Gus, auditioned for a walk-on spot on a TV pilot yesterday. Andie MacDowell is starting something up in the Asheville area. At this point I think I can legitimately say: our Dad is cooler than your Dad.

bragging on the homestead

Esta — Tue, 12 Feb 2002 16:01:13 GMT

From Mom's email yesterday:

"Your dad...recieved a note from the house editors of Southern Living and they love our house. They encouaged him to enter it in their Great homes contest of 2003-2004."

grr. grr. grr.

Esta — Wed, 16 Jan 2002 20:16:49 GMT

Today's the day: the company deadline for removing all IM software from our computers. Management, in its less than infinite wisdom, thinks its distraction potential outweighs its usefulness as a business tool. Personally, I'm not over-fond of IM, and amn't particularly sorry to see it go. But what does it say about managers that, rather than search for the real reasons that their employees' productivity is dropping, would rather rant, rave, treat the employees like children and take away their toys? 1. The economy's too bad for them to give us the bonuses and raises we need to make this job worthwhile. 2. They're idiots, and bad managers. 3. They're just as addicted to Solitaire and Minesweeper as the rest of us.

Back, with tangerines

Esta — Wed, 16 Jan 2002 16:02:29 GMT

My turn to rise from the blogger dead. I've been laid flat (lain flat?) for the past few days by a very nasty cold bug, which I unintentionally and not on purpose probably gave to Tim during his visit. And my Internet connection at home isn't working for the very simple reason that someone out there is out to get me. Seriously, I'm back, I'm eating tangerines, I'm reasonably content and on the way to being more so.

About Pop Pop: like Tim said, it's been incredibly hard on the whole family -- I don't think any of us had realized how much we rely on Pop Pop to hold us together. Mom says that he's doing better, though -- his blood sugar was way, way down last night. As long as Mom has reason to be optimistic, so do I.

Have a great day, all...

Mice. Lots and lots of mice.

Esta — Fri, 11 Jan 2002 19:12:51 GMT

Am I a bad person for thinking this is funny? All but the part about leaving the pitifully squeaking things out in the rain while the narrator walks away sadly...yes, I am a bad person. Sigh.

Cheney, tarred with the Enron brush

Esta — Wed, 09 Jan 2002 16:30:26 GMT

This is sketchy. Oh, this is sketchy.

Dave, we hardly knew amiable entrepreneur ye

Esta — Tue, 08 Jan 2002 16:34:48 GMT

(I asked Tim at our family reunion on Saturday if he intended to do any blogging while on the road. "Maybe a little," he said. I'd like to draw derisive attention to the "little" that takes up the rest of this page. Geeze Louise.)

Sad news today, folks: Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy's, has died. Hats off and a moment of silence for the creator of the Spicy Chicken Sandwich.

Richmonders: easily impressed

Esta — Thu, 03 Jan 2002 21:33:37 GMT

There’s an icicle outside my window. There’s an icicle outside my window! Hate me, one and all — it’s a snow day. There’s too much of the white stuff for me to get out of my driveway. “Tom n’ Jerry”’s on now, please excuse me...

women musicians

Esta — Mon, 31 Dec 2001 17:00:46 GMT

A friend and I have been discussing lately how hard it is to sort through all the mess to find really good music by women artists. I decided to put my money where my mouth is and pull cds out of my collection that feature women singers/songwriters. The list is here. A few notes: Lauryn Hill is missing, but only because Tim borrowed my cd. I've left out groups such as the Cowboy Junkies that only have a female lead singer, but included groups such as Concrete Blonde when that singer does most of the songwriting. I was pleasantly surprised; I've got more than I thought I did, although it's still not a big enough proportion of my collection. I offer this list (complete with web sites) as a starter's list for the uninitiated.

Yo, Ashcroft

Esta — Mon, 31 Dec 2001 16:11:57 GMT

"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the rights of the people by the gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." -James Madison, fourth US president (1751-1836)

Girlfriends and dressing

Esta — Mon, 31 Dec 2001 00:23:09 GMT

Happiness = sharing shellfish and wine with my best girlfriends. They, along with mucho crusty bread, a huge salad, and way too many old jokes, conspired to make Friday one of the best nights I've had in a long time. Many, many thanks to Christina, Jackie, Steph and Debbie (as well as Jack's golden, Millie) for putting up with what was basically a selfish impulse of mine to have as many of my girlfriends together under one roof as possible (we missed you, Pam and Mary). And thanks as well to Guido (no lie), our waiter at lunch on Saturday, for one of the more surreal dining experiences I've ever had. You know when the waiter says, "I want to bask in your radiance" that something loopy is going on.

Hey Stiz, here's that salad dressing recipe you asked for: coat the greens in olive oil till they're shiny. Combine balsamic vinegar with lemon and lime juice, sugar, salt, pepper and thyme to taste. Shake it all up and pour over the greens just before you serve. Credit where credit's due: Tim's mother-in-law, Ramona Lucadamo, taught me how to make it.

There was more to my weekend, but I'll have to tell you about it later. Dinner's ready! Man, I love it when Debbie cooks...

Sammiches!

Esta — Fri, 28 Dec 2001 16:04:30 GMT

My favorite thing on the planet (today): sammiches made with leftover Christmas ham. So good, your tongue'll beat your brains out. And yes, the technical term is "sammiches".

Je suis non blog

Esta — Thu, 27 Dec 2001 21:23:58 GMT

Just letting everyone know that at least one of the Jarretts is back at the helm. Some of us have to work, instead of being glued to (admittedly really cool) geek toys while eating truckloads of yummy food. 'K, so I'm a little grumpy at being back at the office. It was nice to be away from computers and TV and radio for 5 days. Really nice. See Tim's entry for a record of most of what we did. I'll fill in around the edges when work lets me up for air. And for the record, homecomings suck if you live on a farm where the pipes freeze in the winter. Hopefully they'll be thawed enough so I can shower when I get home tonight. Grumpy grumpy...

Holidays approacheth...

Esta — Fri, 21 Dec 2001 16:30:50 GMT

New story today about getting ready for Christmas. And cookies. And making kids cry. If I don't blog again while in NC, have a Merry Christmas, everyone. I mean it.

Mumia's death sentence overturned

Esta — Tue, 18 Dec 2001 23:35:34 GMT

This is huge. Mumia Abu-Jamal, possibly the most famous inmate in America's criminal justice system, was released from his death sentence today. The state has 180 days to re-sentence him. If you haven't heard of Mumia, crawl out from under the rock you've been living under, or come to Richmond and see the graffiti dedicated to him that covers the city's walls. He's a legend -- revered and defiled -- larger than life. I'm not an expert on the case, so I won't post my opinion on him here, but I definitely have one.

Reminiscent for the Blonde

Esta — Tue, 18 Dec 2001 22:37:55 GMT

No scripting news, petit, just music. I'm listening to Concrete Blonde this afternoon. "And I've been running all this time and I'm running out of places to go...and I am just so sick and tired of every face that I know...every thing I do, everything I say, every thing in my head, every night, every day, I been east, I been west, I been north, I been south, I feel your arms, I hear your voice, I see your eyes, I kiss your MOUTH and I am walking in London..." Awesome song. No one did lovelorn angst in the early 90's like Johnette Napolitano.

They even have a mailing list!

Esta — Thu, 13 Dec 2001 22:15:52 GMT

Like Tim, I haven't blogged much lately. Unlike Tim, I don't have as good a reason. Everything's okay, just not particularly newsworthy. At least not for public consumption. :) I've been feeling quiet about the upcoming holiday season...not a particularly jolly aspect. But I've finally decided that it's okay to have a blue, blue Christmas. I'll be with my family; that's what counts, and that's what I'm looking forward to. That, and my Mom's fruitcake. Don't scoff: this fruitcake is the king of the breed that will turn naysayers into ardent fans.

Can't even say I'm listening to any good music to redeem this blog. Yes, folks, I broke out the Mr. Mister today. I'm truly amazed that they have a fansite. Good for them!

virginia justice?

Esta — Fri, 07 Dec 2001 22:05:56 GMT

A first: today a Virginian was cleared of charges due to DNA evidence. He's a local boy, from Hanover County. After 15 years in jail, it turns out he didn't do it after all. There were charges of racism in the case: the judge, jury, and victim were all white, and he's black. Was his only crime being black, and having a white girlfriend at the time? What's wrong with my state that that's enough to make him look guilty of such an awful crime?

Friday fun

Esta — Fri, 07 Dec 2001 20:37:17 GMT

Fun stuff at work today. I went up to my manager and asked to be trained for a new project. His answer? "Sure thing!" Much goodness. Nothing like making yourself indispensible at the office to make you sleep better at night. I guess my manager's not mad at me anymore for showing him up in front of his boss.

Other fun: having lunch with a fellow UVa alum, 3 years my junior. Despite our differences (she was in a sorority, while I, um, was not) we had a great time chatting about the old days, and bemoaning how far our tolerances have deteriorated since graduation. Ah, college. "The good ol' song of Wa-hoo-wa..."

All told, I'd rather be a lizard

Esta — Wed, 05 Dec 2001 17:27:38 GMT

My results from the Art Test thingy:

"You are Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. You are extremely popular and widely known. Although unassuming and unpretentious, your enigmatic smile has charmed millions. You are a mystery, able to be appreciated from afar, but ultimately unknowable and thus intriguing."

Sure thing, hoss. And I gots some real estate in my back pocket for ya.

Changing the subject: has anyone else had trouble recently with Mail Boxes Etc.? They assured me that Tim's birthday present would be delivered last Friday, but it's still in limbo somewhere in South Boston. Irate...

Oops

Esta — Mon, 03 Dec 2001 19:08:40 GMT

Sorry for the repetitiveness, folks. Tim and I were messing with how-to details and I didn't think the Pogo blurb had been posted yet, so I did it again. My bad. :)

Pogo poem

Esta — Mon, 03 Dec 2001 19:03:04 GMT

Re-reading a favorite Pogo book yesterday, I came across this snip of verse, and thought I'd share it:

Now where we've gone
Through wood and field
The Sun has shone,
The Sun has shone;
The Rain did yield,
The ploughed Land sown,
Grain Blossom grown.
Can Storm attend,
Can Day be drear,
Can This be End,
Can there come End,
Because we're Here?
Because we're Here?

-- O. V. Bristol, "Cornerstones and Corbiesteps", 1801

Galosh galosh

Esta — Mon, 03 Dec 2001 18:50:21 GMT

...and then there's this one, by Walt Kelly. Love it:

"Lines to Celebrate the Loss of a Galosh"

Whither the Starling?
And whither the Crow?
And whither the Weather
When wither the Snow?

The weaver's wet Daughter
Has dampened the clothes
With wavelets of water
Left over from Snothes!

Left over from Snothes!
Left over from Snothes!

Right over and under,
And yonder She gothes.

Pogo poem

Esta — Mon, 03 Dec 2001 18:49:51 GMT

Re-reading a favorite Pogo book yesterday, I came across this snip of verse, and thought I'd share it:

-- O. V. Bristol, "Cornerstones and Corbiesteps", 1801

Jarrett House North: Esta

Happy birthday, Esta

Lordy, lordy, look who’s...

Here comes a special font

Randomness

A quick shout to Esta

Preaching to the choir

Esta: Faith and loaded guns

Hee-wack, she’s back

Happy Birthday, Tim

Esta is alive, and living double rainbows

To Esta, who is making it real

Adam: xserve ahoy

Esta discovers Tiffany

Esta: back, without photos

Esta: “I got in”

Stop reading this page...

Digging through Virginia

Esta gets better comments

Payback will be hell

Esta’s ghost stories

Esta Minute

Move count: Two Jarretts

Another Jarrett on the move.

pilgrimage

Accidental Pilgrim

Next, the Emmys!

bragging on the homestead

grr. grr. grr.

Back, with tangerines

Mice. Lots and lots of mice.

Cheney, tarred with the Enron brush

Dave, we hardly knew amiable entrepreneur ye

Richmonders: easily impressed

women musicians

Yo, Ashcroft

Girlfriends and dressing

Sammiches!

Je suis non blog

Holidays approacheth...

Mumia's death sentence overturned

Reminiscent for the Blonde

They even have a mailing list!

virginia justice?

Friday fun

All told, I'd rather be a lizard

Oops

Pogo poem

Galosh galosh

Pogo poem

More links