Aquarium of the Bay

This was a great place....very serene and lovely. I would definitely go back more often if the tickets weren't almost 20 bucks for an "adult" like me.

Days of Nature...uh...

Okay. I totally understand the goal. To get you doing something for 30 days to make it a habit, or to really get into the feel of things. 30 straight days of nature is a perfectly lovely idea. That being said: I live in a city. Yes, I do happen to live in an area where nature is coveted and coerced to come out of every nook and cranny of window boxes and sidewalk utility strips. But I'm not going to kid myself and call sitting on the sidewalk communing with hand planted greenery "nature." I guess I could stretch it my saying "human-nature" or "human-created nature," but this is for me. And that's not what I meant.

Despite the fact that I practically live in one of the largest cities on the west coast, there is plenty to do. And there is also the fact that I have and awful, terrible, no-good memory. So when things happen that I want to remember or to relate - I'll try to put it here. Starting today, because, psh. I've been here for 4 months? I don't remember ANYTHING (that's an utter lie. It's been perfectly lovely, but I've been a grump because I'm sorta lonely. So lets just try and forget that whole bit and learn to be lonely and appreciate it, right?)

Today, instead of struggling to focus on doing work in my house, or slurping down excesses of coffee to make up for my lengthy work stays in cafes, I went to the library. Duh, right? The library near me is far too small and well used (how cool is that?!) for me to focus on work. So I went to the San Francisco one. I'm currently shaking my head in disbelief that I haven't done that before.

It's a large library - I settled on the 4th floor, 2nd being the children's library, the third being too crowded, and I hadn't gotten to the 5th or 6th levels yet. I was instantly more productive. Of course that was once I figured out that I had to be close to a hot spot to get good enough wifi for all my work connections. I was there a good 3 hours before I took a quick snack break in the cafe at the lower level. Headed back upstairs because I figured, what the heck. If can pound out more work, it's worth it. I'm there for another...oh, 2 hours before a gentleman with a laptop came wandering by with some mumbles and eventually sat down across from me at the communal work tables. I don't think much of it.

Until he REALLY starts mumbling. Like. Focusing on stuff and talking in that direction. It got to the point where it would distract me. So, like I usually do, I start saying bits and pieces of the things I'm working on to keep me focused. ...and it actually quiets him down for a bit. I stop, because he's become quiet. A short while later though, he starts up again: "Your HOLE is OPEN. That's the reason..bladity..blah...mummble do." So, I start my bit up again. Thankfully, I was pretty tired of work by this point, so I finish up and pack up to the sound of this fellow, outraged that the holes are still open. Good luck with that buddy.

I did get a library card for there though! I'm excited, they let you PICK which decoration you want on your card!

So there are my city experiences for the day. As I walked to the BART, I pulled out my headphones and was content to pretend I didn't hear the city for the rest of the way home.

Day 2 - Redwood Regional Forest

This visit was such a renewing experience. The past few weeks have been emotionally hard on me for some reason, yet as I walked up the first path, barely out of sight from the parking lot, this is what I saw:

And yes, I got all teary. True, these redwoods are not the monsters that can be in other regions where conditions favor their growth. However, they still had that quiet majesty that I imagined Redwoods have. The eternal hum of the nearby highway near our house and the ruckus from construction a block away was hardly a memory here. I could hear voices and the happy shrieks from nearby summer day campers and yet there was that underlying stillness that you only find when you are amidst great amount of biomass to damper the background static of modern life.


So here I wandered for a good portion of an afternoon. A lot of it did happen to be aimless wondering (I had no map!) but it didn't matter. If you have no destination, then it can be incredibly relaxing.

Once I finally located a map, I decided to hike to the top of the noted Redwood Peak. It wasn't a very hard climb at all. At the top was several boulders and a United States Geological Survey (USGS) marker officially marking the highest point of the peak.

View of the peak:

USGS Marker:

I attempted to continue on a path identified as the Redwood Peak trail. However, as I discovered why my initial hike to the peak was easy - I had parked in a location that was already elevated. The Redwood Peak trail heading north away from the peak turned out to be a downhill hike to the nearby Redwood Creek. The map I had indicated that the trail to the creek was "only" bit over a half mile, so I figured I could take it without much effort.

Yeah. I think I got about halfway down the trail before realizing, I would have to come back UP that way. The trail spanned a 700 foot elevation change within that short half mile, so as I forgot to factor in, it was pretty steep. And seeing as I already used a lot of my energy by wandering aimlessly, I decided to try it again another day.

Here is a link to the map of the Redwood Regional Park. You can see the trail I took is just to the north of the area named Redwood Bowl.

30 Days of Nature

Since there is so much to explore here in the Bay area, that I figure I would give myself a place to start. This 30 day thing is a recent trend. Mightygirl.com is currently in the midst of 30 Days of Fun. While that does sound great, I find reading a book fun - so that wouldn't be all that interesting to get me writing about (currently reading The Baroque Cycle by Neil Stephenson...it's a tad challenging). Instead, to get me out of the house, I'll be trying to experience some sort of nature every day for at least 30 days. Here is where I'll write about it and hopefully post pictures (though I have misplaced my camera battery charger and won't have "real" photos until I do...). Anyway.

Day 1
Marina Park. Okay, So I started off "small." It's less of a park and more of a parking lot near the Bay. It's at the very tip of a curved peninsula off to the west side of Emeryville. It appears to connect to a large running/walking/biking/non-vehicular use trail that is along the eastern side of the Bay.

Looking north on the Bay:

Also: squirrels? that live in the ground? These need some investigating:

Aww...cute little feller! Especially seeing as he didn't try to attack me! And whatdda know, they are actually called California Ground Squirrels! Man, that's awesome. I didn't even have to do any digging.

Well, there. Now there are two things that I didn't know previously existed. Tomorrow: Redwoods. Things I did know previously existed, and may have gotten emotional being in their presence. Yes, I mean presence of trees. I was not kidding about the tree hugger bit!

Experiment in California Housewifery

Frustrating: Folding a fitting sheet.
Humiliating: The number of times I had to watch youTube videos to get it right. (when one woman said "one of the most challenging things you will have to do in your life is folding a fitted sheet" I wanted to reach in there and shoulder punch her. Lady. Rock climbing is challenging, relationships are challenging. This is just stupid.)

Frustrating: The amount of laundry I do in a week.
Humiliating: The excitement I had puling out that stupid pourer thing in the laundry bottle so I could get the remaining soap out for one more load. And cleaning it so I could recycle it.

When I worked I could care less about this stuff. Now that I'm home most of the day, I have time to contemplate it and spend the extra 10 stupid minutes to figure it out.

But now I'm off to explore the Redwood Regional Park(!).

...still trying to decide if the benefits outweigh the frustrations.

The CSA - Week one!

We finally got it!! Several anxious weeks after signing up for a share of the Windy Meadow Farms 2010 growing season, we went out to the farm and gathered our first weekly harvest.

We had been able to pick up our share since Wednesday, but the Boy and I went on Friday evening after work and rehearsal. As we pulled up, it looked pretty deserted, no people around, no doors open, no signs saying "enter here!" So I took a wild guess and opened the door to the metal framed garage.

Bingo.

I did the audible, 5-year old "WOOOW!!" It was just a little room portioned off from the rest of the building with canvas tarps. Yet....it was such a cool set up to display everything you were getting for the week. Three tables and a refrigerator formed a kind-of "CSA Buffet." The first table, right as you walk in, has the sign-in sheet so the farmers know you had been there to gather your things. Also displayed was the list of things you would be taking from the following two tables:
Romaine - 1 bunch
Carrots - 5-7
Onions - 5-6 medium
1 Bunch - Red or Green lettuce
1 pint Strawberries
Spinach - 1 Bunch.
Also - you can buy a dozen farm-fresh eggs, FOR A DOLLAR!! Not even Wegmans sells them that cheap (ok, they sell them for $1.09. But still, not farm-fresh!). The produce was set up in wooden bushels on the other two tables.

So the Boy and I gathered our tasty tasty loot (and me whining about how I neglected to bring a measly DOLLAR) and headed out of the garage/barn. We met another woman, her name was Dawn I believe...and she had the same reservations as we did upon first arriving: "Hi! This is my first time here! I wasn't sure it was open...do we just go right in?" Yep. We were the same way. Go right in and make sure you sign in and there's a sign to tell you what to gather.

As soon as I got home I set up everything and took a photo. Amazing:



I divvied everything up except for the romaine (which I did today) and brought the rest to my aunt. She told me the first thing she did was eat all the strawberries. I don't blame her.

(Saturday morning I was up early because I was dancing in a concert at 10:30 am. So, my breakfast was some sauteed spinach with egg and some strawberries to top it off. So simple, yet - it was a revelation. I CAN eat a good breakfast without feeling like a glutton and following my diet....if all the food is pre-prepared!)

I am realizing this experience will be a TON of work. Yet, I can't be more excited. It seems that this farm does not use pesticides. However, it does come right from a farm (aka" dirt) . I spent the bulk of my time preparing by separating and washing the lettuce and spinach leaves. I have them stored rolled between damp paper towels and placing them in a baggie in the crisper drawer. We have a full week of salad. Additionally, I cut up the celery that had been sitting in my fridge for a few days, chopped up the carrots, cut up the last head of broccoli from the last shopping trip, made a pinto bean dip for me for the veggies, prepared a pasta salad for a meal later this week, and rounded out the day by shopping for odds and ends for the meals. *phew* And I couldn't be more pleased.

But really, THIS is how things should be done. I am not a mother of 4 who works full time and has to put dinner on the table by 5. But my job is one where I am devoid of energy by 6 pm, and do not have the energy to prep, cook, eat, and clean up after a meal. One full day of prep and a good meal plan for the week is my new goal. Staying healthy and eating well is about the planning. Some people can think of great meals and whip them up on the fly. I have been thinking I was one of those people for the past....oh, 3 years or so. Man, I am sorry to say, that I am not. But it's okay that I am not. I just have to recognize that I need to plan ahead.

Later this week I hope to write about what we are doing for dinners this week and what we are using from our CSA share, and what we purchased. I am so excited for what else is to come and the creative meals I'm sure will be formed from the produce we get this summer (radishes? I can't say for certain that I have ever eaten them..). Unfortunately, this probably means that the summer will fly by. But, if it means tasty local food and habit forming planning, then bring it on.

Our CSA

Hooray! I received an e-mail from our CSA Farm that our boxes were ready tomorrow!

So we will be going to pick up our Windy Meadow Farms produce on Thursday or Friday. Perhaps Saturday morning if the week doesn't work out.

I'm so pumped for veggies! :oD

Snooping

Took this photo through a broken window in the building next door to one of the sites I am working on.....Can't be sure if they are full or not. But still, pretty intimidating.

Here fishy fishy....

For the health of myself, I am trying to eat more proteins.

This is tough for a few reasons:
1. I LOVE BREAD. Unfortunately breads are carbs which are high on the glycemic index. Damn.
2. I like being a "vegetarian." Sure I'd eat chicken once in awhile, but I always pick the vegetarian plates out at restaurants over anything meat.
3. I'm lazy. I gotta admit it. I dig convenience foods - cuz I'm lazy.
4. I really really don't like the texture of red meat. Sure a fillet mignon might taste all melty and buttery and good, but its weird (um, and expensive).

So, exploring other options for animal proteins, I come to fish. After my envi education, I know that a lot of fishing practices are unsustainable and are slowly killing off some varieties of fish. The one that comes to mind first is Orange Roughy. It takes up to 30 years for the fish to mature enough to breed and thus replenish lost population from catches. Tilapia is one kid of fish that can be sustainable. You can raise many in a small area and are quick to reproduce.

Other than those two fish, I wasn't aware of what other kinds of fish I should lean toward. Until I located this Blue Ocean Institute guide to sustainable fish species. How handy....you can even do a search and it will tell you how the species are raised/caught or if there is a risk for elevated mercury contaminants.

Thinking before you eat is so much easier. And of course, that appeals to my lazy side. :o)

Anger on a Sunday

And here I am again.

I was up early and of course hopped online. FOr some reason, compelled to check some news outlets covering environmental issues. Deepwater Oil spill in the Gulf is still making headlines....because they still haven't made any headway into stopping the flow of oil.

Found a documentary where even the TRAILER pissed me off:
Chevron Rep: "..no evidence contamination is causing these cancers, it is due to poor sanitation."
...you don't get cancer from crapping in a pit lady. Plus, they have been around as a culture long enough to work out sanitation issues before YOUR culture was even created. CRUDE

Also for some gruesome photos (don't we all love those..) : Discovery Photos of the Spill

And finally some words of wisdom from a seasoned worker for and with the oceans:
"Constantly being surprised by catastrophe is stupid because unpredictable events in nature are totally predictable." --Jean-Michel Cousteau

DIO

Oh man, I am so excited. I just started downloading Back Sabbath: the Dio Years. I listened to a few and it just happened to be just what I wanted to listen to today.

It's gunna be a good nite.

Things to come...

Many...many things to come. So much in fact that it's all I'm thinking about.

-Beach trip to Delaware in less than 2 weeks!
-Golfing. Anytime.
-Seattle in August.
-Philadelphia in September.
-CSA box in June.

I'm thinking that it would be pretty neat to document what I get with the CSA box and what I end up making with the vegetables. The Boy and I are splitting it with my aunt. Perhaps even photos of the farm where it comes from!

Not an original thought by any means, but it's something positive to post. :o)

Deepwater

This morning I heard on the news that the "oil spill" in the Gulf of Mexico- associated with the busted oil rig- is "leaking" at least 200,000 gallons of oil a DAY.

Here's one link. Then there's this link. ::sigh:: THIS is why we need to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

Recovery is a risky game. This scale of release is pretty unimaginable seeing as in my line of work, a spill of a few thousand gallons on land is a big event. This spill is hundreds of thousands of gallons PER DAY in a medium that readily allows for movement of contaminants. It's pretty intimidating. And it's more intimidating that no one really knows what to do. As of the date of these articles, decisions on what to do to staunch the bleed still haven't been solidified.

This the biggest reason I am opposed to expanding the natural gas drilling. Accidents. So far, I've been told that NYS is digging in their heels and denying the natural gas drillers rights to "pour billions of dollars into the economy." However PA is accepting drilling with open arms. Yes, I'm sure that this money will be good in the short term. But what happens in the "rare event" that groundwater aquifer is contaminated or a collapse would occur? I have a feeling this is a built-in cost for these companies, and the amount of money for compensation is much less than what they can make from natural gas recovery. Meanwhile, the local residents who were already struggling and accepted this drilling with the promise of money have to deal with the unsightly, unfortunate, and devastating consequences of an accident.

I worry for that area of the Gulf. Hopefully they WILL be on top of it all like they say. Right now though, all we can do is hope.

My baby bro - now a Rock star

He's the drummer.

A Meme, New Year, Old Year

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Joined a dance company, put a cat to sleep, went to the southwest

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I think I made a "resolution" to dance more. and dance I did.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Kind of, my cousin and his wife had a baby

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Just my kitty..

5. What countries did you visit?
No new countries...

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
energy

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
October 10, Molly and Aric's wedding.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Being asked to join a dance company!

9. What was your biggest failure?
Traveling for fun.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I got my wisdom teeth out, had food poisoning/stomach issues for about 2 months

11. What was the best thing you bought?
A mattress for the guest bedroom. now people don't have to sleep on the floor!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Mark, being a crazy grown up adult oficially making my little brother more mature than I.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled?
Politicians? well, that never changes, so I'm not sure if that counts.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Food. I love pricy food apparently.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Arizona... Molly's wedding

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Single ladies...wedding thing.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
- i. happier or sadder? um, happier I think. I'm just pretty content with my life in general
- ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner? I think?
- iii. richer or poorer? richer. got muh raise.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Vacation. I had a whole 5 days to use up at the end of the year. Oh and going to the gym. That membership finally expires this year tho.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
whining.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Well, spent it with my family. The boy's mother didn't want to see us. So, yeah.

22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
Even more with life, with my guy.

23. How many one-night stands?
I'm sorry, what?

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Hm, this was another good thing about this year. Hardly any tv.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't hate anyone. If I dislike someone I leave them out of my life.

26. What was the best book you read?
I spent most of the year reading the Wheel of Time series.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Neko Case

28. What did you want and get?
I don't really have severe wants. The Boy did get me a sweet cast iron teapot. (which I still have to use!)

29. What did you want and not get?
::shrug:: A even holiday?

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I have no idea, but we did watch more movies.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I worked. I turned 25. Getting old suuucks. But The Boy took me out for cajun BBQ :o)

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Vacations to look back on, not being to tired all the time.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Things I will still wear when I'm 40.

34. What kept you sane?
Dance.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
?

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Prop 8 being defeated and in NY and in Maine...so disappointing.

37. Who did you miss?
Family. And Leo. Stupid old kitty...*

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Um, a co-worker. we don't hang out really, but she's cool and not so anal.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
You. Are. Getting. Older.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
honestly....don't want to attempt this task!

41. How will you be spending New Years?
Spent it in the company of only 4 people. calm and relaxing.

I am writing here because I forgot my notebook. It's a pretty big annoyance because I use it to write down what pops into my head. If I don't it becomes a sticking point for my brain and then I can't focus on work until I get it down. Ya know, so I won't forget. HA.
The salliemae thing is still an interesting turn of events. Signing me up for some forbearance even though I didn't request it. Strange. So they are sending me a request form that "I" sent in. I'm interested to see what this supposed signature looks like. Seeing as I haven't done crap with them other than pay my bills on time and more than the minimum amount. Tsk. Nothing has changed for me financially, why would I be suddenly lazy and say, "oh, I don't want to pay for a year, but, yeah, sure, stack up all that interest in the meantime." dumb. So instead of putting more money in my savings, I will be again paying bills. It feels I will NEVER get ahead. bastards.

Anyway...really really looking forward to my massage on Friday - even though it's at 10 am. on a work day. I'm really suffering right now - my back feels like it has two twisted towels bunched up right beside my spine on either side. lovely. It's snowing out, my hands are cold, and gee, you would have no idea it's the first day back in about 2 weeks, huh? haha...I'm such a baby.

I am looking forward to being home tonight. I am making beef stew, and perhaps I will go to the gym. Not sure. But if not, there will be plenty of tea and blankets and Magic playing. That game makes me SO frustrated. The Boy thinks so quickly, and apparently there is this insane new way of doing combat...you can pick more than one blocker to defend an attacker. So technically, more creatures can die if you don't pay attention. OI.

I just finished reading Brian Sanderson's Elantris. Its a really really good story. This guy took over writing the Wheel of Time series when Robert Jordan, the original author died. I would highly reccomend the Elantris book to fantasy/sci fi readers. I think I want to mail it to my brother. I think he would like it too (he was also reading the Wheel of Time series).

I forgot a bunch of stuff at my parents house whil I was down there for the holidays. My organic sugar (it was for a recipe), the detachable fur lining to my coat, and the space heater. Augh, how I want that space heater for work. See? It all comes back to work.

• Sleep is much much too addicting.
• M&Ms are also addicting.
• So is the smell, warmth, and taste of coffee.
• Trying to get interested in doing dishes before dinner is more than a bit of a challenge.
• Thinking of a million things.
• new friend(?) from work asked how I was doing, because yesterday I was so sad.
• Contemplating how poor I really am right now.
  
• Wanting a dog (an older, wiser dog, no puppies. yes, I am aware puppies come before wise dogs.)
• Dreadfully missing the background noise of my parents house. It has the comforting "lived in" spirit that my little apartment does not have yet (tho I suspect it is because there are not 5 human beings in it.)
• For a start, I will turn on my Ipod, start a chili to simmer and play some rock band. There. Progress.
  

Work

The wife of a man I work with died on Saturday. It's a pretty sobering time, she was only 44 with two young kids. I'm really debating on whether to go to the calling hours. I never knew her, but I want to show my support.

Augh. Dying happens, but it surely sucks sometimes.

Uno

It was a successful Halloween party (with me leaving to go downtown, PARTY FOUL! Although, I came back in a cab shortly after I got there).

We have so much alcohol left over, I have no idea how. We had so many shots and bottles of beer. We played a game where we wrote out semi-common sayings and handed them out. Then when someone was caught saying it they had to take a shot.It worked out because it was spaced out pretty well.

However, now I am hurting. I managed to get up and go dance at the choreographers critique session (I'm still shocked I managed ok). There was one point where I messed up and hesitated, and I know I'm going to be "scolded" for it. Bah, I just need more confidence. There were a lot of cool pieces and very physical pieces, something I would like to do more of. Perhaps when I get bold and ask if I can choreograph something.....I have a feeling that won't happen for a few years.

Well, after quite the eventful October, I'm looking forward to this month which seems relatively quiet with the exception of Thanksgiving and my birthday. Which, for some reason, I have no interest in planning anything for it. I would like dinner, perhaps some nice silver hoops, and a massage. Yes, I definitely want a massage.

I have quite an interesting week ahead of me. So, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go read in bed with my hedgehog. He's in need of some attention :oD

NaBloPoMo

Okay. I'm going to try again this year. It's not going to work of course, but I think I'm on some sort of "Manic" bender right now. This month has been a whirlwind of travels and visiting and excursions. (Yuengling brewery tour? So fun!)

So, I think, seeing as it is my 25th anniversary of life in November, my "theme" is going to be 25. I'm thinking lists...wish lists, life lists, memory lists...probably not every day though. HA. I am going to try photos and perhaps some recipes.

Grand ideas, it will be great if I cam keep committed!

Poisoned!

Well, in a way. I received a call from a county health department nurse.

Her: We just wanted to give you a call, normal procedure for communicable disease.
Me: Um, I'm sorry, what?
Her: Oh, we got a call regarding your lab information testing positive for salmonella?
Me: Oh, hm, alright, they didn't call me. But thanks for letting me know!

Ya see, I was pretty out of commission for about a week. Specifically, the lower end of my digestive system was not cooperating. I went to a walk in and was prescribed antibiotics for a "potential food poisoning." I slowly recovered. However, I didn't hear anything, so I just assumed it was my body rejecting caffeine, dairy, whatever.

I can have coffee again!!!

So, this nurse has a questionnaire to go thru with me, I'm sure regarding what I ate and where. We'll see what happens with that and if anyone else got sick.

So much Grace

1. It's Friday!

2. The quiet stillness of the office before 8am.

3. Showers. Sweet, sweet showers.

4. Perrin's little leg sticking out from under his blankets this morning before I woke him up and he hid once more.

5. My jaunty red and white striped t-shirt I haven't worn in ages.

And because I'm in a good mood, here's more:

6. Being asked to do a reading for my cousin's wedding next year. Aw!

7. Washing our new cars tonite!

8. All the cold, cold beer in the fridge and the red wine in the wine rack.

9. Payday!

10. A business trip to Phoenix in December.

Grace

1. A quiet weekend of sleeping in.

2. The sound of the wind in the trees before a rain storm.

3. Being able to go into the office tomorrow to catch up.

4. Going to a party and managing not to over indulge (even though there was fresh salsa ans guacamole that was AMAZING).

5. The feeling of a creative dance in the back of my mind. It's there...not ready yet, but someday.

Grace on Saturday

1. Walking around with the Boy downtown on a lovely night. Fair atmosphere and I'm not having a panic attack with all the people gathered.

2. Not worrying about what other people think.

3. Cupcakes waiting to be frosted!

4. Seeing happy people with their pets

5. A morning spent on the bay while my Aunt fished. Swans, ducks and their young alllllmost grown, a crane and several jumping carp.

Many things:

Watching: The weather rapidly go from Thunderstorm to Sun to Thunderstorm in less than 5 hours. oh look, here's the rain.

Listening: Silence, beautiful silence at the office.

Waiting: To go out on a site visit. Yes, in the rain. Oh look, lightning!

Fretting: Work life just got crazy.

Confused: A mother from the dance studio the Boy's Mother runs just accused me of having to pull her YOUNGER daughter out of the studio because I showed the Boy's Mother that the OLDER daughter called the Boy's Mother some nasty things....on Facebook. Of which I was friends with her. Of which she knows I am dating the dance teachers son. People, the internet is never safe. I'm not worried, I'm pretty darn sure the Boy's Mother doesn't want to deal with that mother anymore.

Excited: for the weekend! Woohoo!

Missing my Leo-kitty...this was taken ages ago when I lived at home.

This was in March. I miss his little head. He was pretty sick at this point, but last Sunday he couldn't get up to greet us at the door. ::sigh:: 15 years as an underfoot, loving, forgiving, comforting presence. I will remember the guy always.

Tuesday Thanks

1. My window seat at work.
2. The fact that my poor old man kitty doesn't have to suffer anymore.
3. That I was asked to be a part of the dance company I have been taking lessons from and will get to perform.
4. Site visits out of the office on nice days.
5. Water. Man, I love water.

In a dream last night, I had heard that I was going to be laid off. The Friday afternoon type-of-layoff. I remember being SO PISSED OFF. I love waking up from dreams like that, the relief is just so amazing.

Grease 2

Really? ...really?!?

Man. this is pretty bad. "Reproduction" is a SONG. So weird.

Work with a Window

Rainy, yellow-gray, chilly looking kind of day here.

I got new digs where I work. Check it out:

Note: This photo was not taken today.

Not too much to look at, but I get a lot of light. The only thing unnerving about this side of the building is that I see a great many planes coming in for a landing in a nearby airport. And um, they look close. And we have tall buildings in the city. Am I the only one that gets a vague "oh, my -- that plane shouldn't be that low" type of feeling? It might be because of that day in high school then we watched planes running into buildings on TV on REPEAT THE WHOLE DAY. I guess that image stuck with me more than I thought.

NYC and the mountains

For 4 nights, 5 days.

SO excited.

Nightlife there is so rich, it's intimidating.

THEN!

Next weekend - Adirondack camping! super excited about this too. I will be driving through the park for work and remembered I've never camped there. It's time to change that. Man, I love being an adult. Vacations whenever possible. (I don't even have to take Friday off work because I'm driving up there for work! Score!)

My cousin will also be joining me. He just graduated from ESF so he sounded stoked to go too. This way I don't be allllll by myself in the woods. heh heh. Mr. ESF said he would bring a canoe and hammock and a big skillet. I've got a tent and fire starters. we're all set! hehe

Float

I just washed my hedgehog. That little dude gets into more trouble in his little plastic cage than you would think. Apparently he cut himself or skinned himself a tad somewhere because there's a bit of hardened skin under his neck. I thought it might be just some crud stuck to him, so I gave him a soak. He haaaaates it. I had to fill up the little tub quite a bit because it was so high up on his body. He got all tuckered out and curled up in a ball when I flipped him over to check out the "thing." I know it means they are uncomfortable or scared, but hooboy is it cute!

I feel emotional this week (the PMS as the Boy calls it). So here's some stream of consciousness:

So take that deep breath
take that first step
into that shimmering pond of insecurity.
Wading out to where it starts to get cool
creeping up your legs to send chills down your spine.

Gaze into the depth
just to try and grasp
the endless fathoms of the unknown.
As your legs give way to push off your solid ground
your head, your mind becomes enclosed in a sudden chill.

and for the briefest moment -
you feel panic
the tightening in your chest
of the potential for something to go very very wrong here.

But your eyes are closed

and your arms are outstretched

and you release that first breath

and you are fine.

Floating to the top of the doubt, the chill, the unknown.

Someone put me in a time warp please. I need about 10 hours of sleep to make it to 5 pm today.

A meme ...I stole

What are your current obsessions?
Working out, talking about working out....and vacations. I can not take enough vacations.

Which item from your wardrobe do you wear the most often?
Besides jeans, A black old navy tank top with the built in shelf bra. When I do wear it, i wear it for about 72 hours straight...and only take it off when I can smell it.

What's for dinner?
Uhm. Probably cheese and crackers. I'm not really one for making dinner.

What is your greatest fear at the moment?
That I will never have children

What are you listening to?
Hum of computers....again. I'm in our office at home.

If you were a god/goddess what would you be?
Athena. She's awesome.

What are your favourite holiday spots?
Well, I would say home, but it's more like...visiting. to REALLY go on holiday I would have to go camping or to the bach.

What are you reading right now?
The Robert Jordan books (ongoing), the life of Pi (still on first chapter) and an ocean book by Rachel Carson(when I'm feeling bookish)

What is your guilty pleasure?
potato chips. SO bad for you, but I love them.

Who or what makes you laugh?
Colin, clients when they think they are getting their way.

What is your favourite spring thing to do?
Sleep. Okay, fine. Dance! or read.

Where are you planning to travel next?
NYC Baby! co- Best friend - here I come!

What is the best thing you ate or drank lately?
uhm..this fake kool-aid is pretty damn tasty after not having water ALL DAY.

When was the last time you were tipsy?
Yesterday. atttt...5:38. We stopped at applebees after the ballet.

What is your favorite ever film?
Prolly Secret of NIMH

What is the biggest life lesson you've learned from your kids?
Um, I THINK it will be how to sacrifice and to be a little less selfless.

What book do you know you should read but refuse to?
I can't REFUSE to read anything really....just depends on if it's awful and I can't get into it.

What is your physical abnormality/abnormal physical ability?
I have a little do-hicky-thing nearmy ear. It's just a tiny bump and I totally forget it's there.

What is your favourite color?
green.

Best decade for fashion/music/movies?
1950s/1980s/meh.

Day 5 of non-stop physical activity: 3 days crossfit, 2 days dance. A machine I am!!

There is talk of a project at work in Long Island. It's for a hated client, but still. What an interesting cultural experience that would be. Trust me, it may be the same state, but it is defintly a different culture.

So.sore. Can't bend arms. Crossfit kicked my ass, put me in a rear naked choke, and demanded that I call it my lord and master. Cause it is.

Notes..

A trip back to the hometown....again.

A jewelry party to attend and business to take care of. I STILL have a bank account down there. Annoying. Taking the little bro to a band competition....ah..the duties of a big sister never cease. :o)

I tidied my computer area today and realized....I need a work area. I have so many crafts that there is not nearly enough space in this room I share with the Boy and his work area. Plus I have a huge stack of paintings and photos to hang. I think I have some phobia of putting holes in walls or something. This stack has sat here for quite a while.

::sigh:: Work in the AM and another 8-hour effort to make it seem like I have enough work to do.

Have a relaxing and enjoyable weekend!

Wow. Really regretting those 4 beers. And 4 shots....and a gin and tonic??

Yikes.

Trying out a new little feature...might make posting easier? Might make it an addiction. Too soon to tell.

A surprising number of references to kicking...

So, is anyone else having a rough day getting started?

It's reported that the temp is going to get to a scalding 67 degrees here, the sun is out, the sky is SO SO blue...::SIGH:: I feel like Charlie Brown not being able to kick the football....except that I can't go outside when its RIGHT. THERE.

I was laying in bed this morning, and we do not have a curtain or blind of any sort on one window. Our bed is also on the floor, which, in my opinion makes for quite a lovely view onto the branches of the nearby trees and straight on to the sky. Lovely.

In other news...things are better on the homefront.

In other, OTHER news, I will be going to an art gallery opening this weekend where the company I dance with will be performing. I haven't seen them perform yet so I'm excited. I think the co-director has taken a liking to me. She offered me this ticket when it was technically a "members-only" event. I love her. She's like a whole bunch of people I know in my life rolled into one. PLUS? She's 63 and she dances like she is definitely not. Hm...I suppose I have to dress up for this.

Alright. Friday, I'm comin' to kick the work day in the shins.

Grace

1. Tomorrow is Friday. Finally.
2. I have dance tonite
3. I get a refund from my taxes
4. I made an online purcase for mothers day and a neat necklace for me!
5. The sun felt nice on my hour walk around today.

This is so strange. I keep feeling like I have to wake up. That nasty pit feeling you have after you wake after a bad dream? I want that to go away.

But I'm up. hoo boy, I've never been up like this before. Up at 430...and can't get back to sleep. THAT is so strange.

I woke up with his knees in my back...and moved away...so strange...

FAIL #2

Boo, I am terrible.

However, there is actually a good reason I did not post.
Ahem, I was out having fun!!

Crazy, right?? On a whim, a woman who used to work here and I have kept in touch with, invited me out with a few of her friends. We went to this fantastically overpriced tapas bar with very expensive cocktails, and it was GREAT. She affectionately refers to her best friends as "The Bitches." It was so nice to sit and observe their personalities. And mooch off their plates. Thanks!!

In work related news : the week without the manager is almost OVER! Phew. I can not even WAIT. I have been doing her job in addition to my job and it's pretty horrendous. One without the other is manageable, but there is no way I would work here if I had to do both. NO SIR. So, I'm eagerly dealing with clients and submitting to quoting projects WAY TOO LOW because of the Head Honcho (HH). I'm still at a loss at why HH is trying to make our program more "profitable" when he gives the lowest quotes I've ever heard of. The manager knows this and quotes accordingly. Psh, doing her job, who knew.
Okay. I'm done.

Plans for the Weekend:
-Free dance concert tonite at 7
-Picking up Uncle S tomorrow at 10
-Driving to hometown
-Taxes with Pop's help (I'm hopeless, I know.)
-Sunday Dinner with The Boy's mother
-Going to my family's house to pick up Uncle S
-Drive home

Whereas I was going to stay home and cook a meal for 4 here. But whatev. I guess we're young and blah blah blah.

Happy Death Day Everyone. (Why the hell do they call it GOOD Friday??)

Starting Now.

I'm going to try to blog for a month.

I haven't done it yet, and I would like to attempt to really get something going.

Basically cause ya, know, my life isn't boring enough that I have to put ONE person through it. I have to put OTHERS through it. HAH.

Smell Memory:
Nights at Greenwood, my grandparents country home, after the kitchen had been cleaned up from the day. I remember it smelled like dishsoap and overly toasty coffee. The coffee pot was turned on again to warm up the leftovers. The soft whirring of the dishwasher on the clean cycle. The only lights were the work light over the stove and the little pot lights over the sink making the room seem black and white from the light spilling onto the tiled floor.

I physically had to remove myself from near the kitchen at work to prevent myself from standing in the doorway and breathing deeply. This is a ritual I'm sure I will fall into. Even now, if I do the dishes and clean the kitchen after it is dark out, I turn on the dim light over the sink and nothing else, and it feels like a fully completed task.

No overly toasted coffee though.

Grace

1. Spring rains
2. Lazy Sunday without plans
3. Waffles!
4. waking the Boy with a cuddle
5. It's warm enough not to wear socks in the house!

Food and SUGAR!

So remember that whole thing where I was going to blog about food?


Right. Well...maybe there will be now that I've seen this blog....Diet, Dessert and Dogs.

I guess this is her new website and in order to get some constructive criticism (she's brave asking it of the internet!), she's giving away pure maple syrup!! ::drool:: Now, I'm jumping on this opportunity...because, yes it is expensive, but I don't care. It's all I will eat on my breakfast food. Ever since my grandfather made his own maple syrup and handed out jars to the family, I've never been able to go back to the fake stuff. In fact, I would love to be able to make syrup of my own one day when I have a house.

But until then...I will enjoy using others maple syrup for tasty recipes like the Maple Cupcakes. Oh YUM!

A Week off of Work

Monday

Woke up earlier than the Boy (even tho he had to work) and got myself to Yoga at the gym. I have not been to the gym in at least 4 weeks, and I continue to pay. So, it was my plan to go and go to the gym twice that day. I was so sore after my "yoga practice" that I did not return. Of course.

Tuesday

Had an appointment where I found out I may have to have boob surgery (nothing serious). Then drove 2.5 hours to home town to visit my home girl from high school. Proceeded to stuff myself silly with all of our favorite foods from our favorite cafe, bubble tea and snacks. Became very jealous of her and her girlfriends very complete plan for their future. Called the boy to remind him to just take out the recycling. That's all I need done. "Okay, but I'll prolly forget." Stopped to dance with the Boys mother at her studio....touched my foot to my head and then got a severe cramp in my back. Go figure. Went back to hang with homegirl and family. Took a nice soak in the hot tub and passed out under a homemade quilt at her mother's house.

Wednesday

Woke early and watched some early morning "peppy TV!!!" shows. Decided that I was glad I do not have time on normal mornings to watch tv before work. Had some coffee, fruit salad for breakfast helped the homegirl's girlfriend make guacamole...and nearly devoured the whole bowl. We wanted to find some greeting cards that have the seeds in the paper (so you can just plant it) at a local artsy shop. No luck, but a lot of material envy because I had no money to waste on material things. Drove back home upstate and heard phone ringing. It was work. Listened to message from boss "I know you are having surgery this week...but we just got really swamped and thought you would only be hurting for a little bit so we need you to come in." He was joking. Got home...recyling was not taken out. Futzed around...organizing things for the next day...the Boy took me to get jello and pudding. Paced around until bedtime.

Thursday

The day of oral surgery. Boy had the day off....we were both up too early, left early for the appointment. "Oh we are running behind" and forked over the $715 that the insurance wouldn't pay for. Rush of adrenaline every.time. door opens. By the time I am called in 45 min later I have none left. "How are you today?" the nurse asks. I answer with a brief 'ok'.

I walk into the surgery room...not so bad, don't see any immediate torture devices. Mention that my left arm has a better vein. Dentist manages to get IV into the back of my right hand after painful tapping. "tap, tap, tap" Um, I have bad hands, that really hurts..."I'm just finding a vein." No duh. After some prodding on his part, grimacing on my part, it's done. I take a few deep breaths and wonder when the drugs kick in. The dentist injects something into the IV line....5, 4, 3, 2,1. I mention that it kicks in fast. A oxygen tube is put in my nose, I try to shake it off. Getting sleepy...I mumble I'm going to sleep now...and the nurse agrees.

Hm, are my eyes opening? I frantically try and let them know I'm awake...I sure hope they are done by now. "Yes dear, you are supposed to be awake now." I vaguely remember them making me sit in a wheelchair to the recovery room. I am hiccuping madly. I apologise for this to the Boy and to the dr coming in. "The medicine usually has that effect." No idea how long I sat there, the Boy went for the car and I was wheeled out to the car. By this time I realized I couldn't talk so I pointed to my face because I knew they would forget my glasses. Nurse returns with the glasses. I have no memory of the car ride home. or getting settled. I freaked out at one point because I couldn't swallow the pain pill because of the copious amounts of novacaine and the gauze that was covering my tounge. (instead of two pieces of gauze, they used one). The Boy is amazing and put in the Secret of NIMH which we watched together and took my mind off the slowly denumbing mouth. Sat in a haze for a long time, read, iced my face, watched tv, had lots of pain pills.

Friday

Boy goes back to work, my mother arrives. "aww...you are so swollen!" Bustles right in with all her motherly awesomeness (she looks dressy and smells nice) and does the dishes and vaccums. I can't really chat still so I watch a lot of TV and snooze. I want to get out of the house so we go to the store so she can make me soup. Come home, snooze some more. The boy comes home ("did she vaccum?) and my mom goes to visit and old friend. I'm glad she can visit with her friend. the Boy and I go out to the store again because I want some games. he buys Pass the Pigs and 10 dice for 2 bucks. We buy the dice because the only Yahtzee game they have is 21 DOLLARS. Please. When we come home I print out the Yahtzee score cards from the internet. Mom and I play a game before bed.

Saturday

My mom goes to pick up her brother from the group home he lives in so he can spend the day with us. He looks at all the pictures on Facebook of our family while we rearrange the guest bedroom. Mom, the Boy and I manage without too much bickering. Now we just need real mattresses. Mom spent the night on a crappy air mattress. My mom, my uncle and I take a walk to the playground. He charges up the play structure and heads for the biggest slide. However he spends the rest of the time on the swings which he clearly excells at. We have tasty BBQ for dinner and head our to take my uncle back to his group home...he is very sad. We promise we will come again soon. We head out to the stores to look for a bedroom set for the guest room. Mom buys all the linens and some neat boxes and I am going to buy mattresses. No good mattresses where we go. Ma has to sleep on another air mattress.


all in all, it was a nice week off. I'm very excited (and determined) not to make any more guests sleep on air mattresses while they are here. I swear, next time there will be real mattresses! But I am very excited about getting the guest room all together, it has a tree theme (what else). Also very excited to get back to dancing. Here's to hoping I can survive this work week!

Grace, Grace

1. Seeing sparrows peek over the edge of the window in the bedroom.
2. More quilt completed in addition to more kinds of fabric washed and cut.
3. The boy wanting to make a "home" for the hedgehog...out of paper maché.
4. Slow-cooker soup.
5. Getting to bed early.

The dining room table..."craft area."

Pieces of the quilt.

Ahh...Saturdays...

It's been chock-full of going ons!
Got up early to the sound of knocking on our door at 930. We had forgotten that we were getting a new furnace!
So apparently, my cat is utterly afraid of unfamiliar people now. Once the repair guy had started work I had to go rescue the cat from his hiding spot...in a little nook in the ceiling of the basement. How he gets up there, I'm sure I'll never know. He mainly stayed upstairs the whole time....things got a bit, uh, tense when it had been over 5 hours he hadn't been downstairs. Old man cat had to go. It wasn't pretty. He wouldn't go downstairs so we ended up picking up all the carpets and locking him in the bathroom. Poor guy.

But we have a new efficient furnace that doesn't belch carbon monoxide into our house! yay! Ha. Yeah, the exhaust pipe had disconnected and was quietly trying to kill us. Thank goodness code requires CO dectedors in apartments! It's all good now, just means we get to havelower heating bills now!

Went to JoAnn's for more fabric for the quilt I have started. I miscounted the number of pieces I needed to cut. I like that part, picking out and touching everything. Yes. I know it's just fabric, but I have a tactile sense of things. I touch everything. And have been known to smell cards and books. So, I hope you're not OCD about that sorta thing. Sorry.

(Photo from: http://freerangeliving.blogspot.com/)

I finally made the Moosewood Cookbook's Apple Cottage Cheese Pancakes. I had been eying that recipe for years. Then, like a fool, I started the recipe and attempted to "beat the egg whites 'til stiff" by hand. Fool. My wrists are killin me. The taste was...interesting. I may have needed more apple, less cheese. But it was AWESOME with the NYS maple syrup we just restocked on.

The Boy bought the street fighters game for xbox. And, I must say, I can hold my own against Mr. Video-Game-Guru. It's fun. :oD Plus he says things like "you're the best girlfriend ever" after I do a Super combination and laugh like villain.

Now, I'm considering more Chinese food and more violent video games..."TIGER KNEE!"

who's got some??

Well. I have been at work one hour and have glanced at a project folder.

Stupid internet.

1. I sewed three strips of my quilt last night!
2. Leftover bean dip for lunch.
3. More sewing tonight, three more rows perhaps?
4. New bath rugs....cause my ancient cat pooed on the others....
5. um...sewing.

I actually don't want to do anything other than make that quilt. It's my first one and I am sensing a dangerous spiral into a new hobby. A new, time consuming, expensive hobby.

Also....I sound like a cat lady, approximately 68.4 years old in this post. Sewing, quilts and cats.
Awesome.

Grace in Small Things

1. These heels don't make my feet hurt!
2. Getting a report off my desk.
3. A hummus, cucumber and cheese sandwich for lunch.
4. Taco night!
5. Snuggles with The Boy.

Sage advice from....

Work hard, play hard. - My dad on the college experience.



Even if you chose not to decide, you still have made a choice. - Geddy Lee (Actually, this quote might have been in the same card from my dad when I went away to college. He's an awesome dad.)



Remember who you are and what you represent or written: RWYAAWYR. - My mother when I would leave the house...and to my friends. I think she realized it was good advice early on. I don't think anyone minded the reminder either.

Watch "The Secret of NIMH" next time you're home sick!

Cause it's a cute cartoon, fun to watch, a tiny bit of action, nothing too emotional though, and slightly thought provoking. What IF animals really do communicate?! I love it.

When I started using the Internet

The very FIRST memory I have of using the internet was when my dad showed us we could track santa's trip around the world.When I regularly started using it it was to talk to my friends through AIM. Screw the telephone, I was on the computer until 1130 or 12 when I was in 9th grade. Then in 11th grade, the internet became my main pathway of communication to my computer-savvy college boyfriend. He showed me how friggin limitless it was. He still does actually. Thanks internet!!! lol

Random

Feeling wired.
Although, only on one cup of coffee and about 24 oz. of water.
Trying to drink more water...my skin and lips were VRY dry...and I was feeling, in the words of a friend - "cellulite-y." She says she is drinking a GALLON a day. Do you know how much water that is??? SIXTEEN cups. If I push myself, I get about nine cups. I think my brain would drown.

A 14-year old is suspected of shooting a cop in the head here. That's younger than my youngest brother. WTF.
Everyone keeps saying how "psycotic" he must be because despite all the programs available to assist youth and keep them out of gangs and drugs in the area, he still "slipped thru the cracks."

My 17-year old cousin is in chemo. WTF. I think of her a lot.

Three weddings for my cousins within the next year. Whoa.

I'll sing these songs at a karaoke bar if..

you blindfold me, give me many many drinks and tell me I am sitting in my car.

Inside out by Eve 6

The embarrassing part of the song comes when I would try to sing two people's parts at the same time.

Kiss Me by Sixpence None The Richer

I'm slightly tone-deaf and this song is slightly tedious. Double whammy.

I love Rock and Roll by Joan Jett

I would need a lot of whiskey for this one because I really don't have a rock and roll voice.

If I were a superhero, I would certainly wear tights

The Optimator - bringing cheers and beers to the down around the world.

Blue

Man, I have got the winter blues bad.
All I keep thinking about it family and how much I just want to chill out and veg.

I started my "new years" cleaning yesterday. I haven't cleaned since my parents were here at the beginning of November. It's lookin pretty grody.

My friends mother will be up here for a training seminar in two weeks, so I figured I better start now. It's just so annoying cause in order to do one thing you have to do another that needs something else done first. augh. Like rearranging the living room. It's such an awkward rectangle and the incoming traffic flow goes right thru the middle. Not to mention the outlets in weird places.

SO: for my sanity (and because I love procrastinating)
1) Living Room
- pick up dishes, misc,
- find a way to store electronic stuff (metal rack from office?)
-vaccum
-hang pictures
2) Dining Room
- pick up stuff from table and buffet
- Hang curtains
- find table cloth?
3) Kitchen
- Find a kitchen cart to reorganize for more counter space
- clean pots and pans
- clean spice jars
4)Office
- find storage options
- bring stuff up to attic
- neaten desks
- space for crafts?
5)Spare Room
- wash floor
6) Bedroom
- wash sheets
- wash comforters (laundromat)
7) Basement
- clean cat doo and misc.

See? it's a little overwhelming.

Plus today is like -6354 degress (not really, it's 11) and everything in my body aches. Except maybe my belly.

::sigh:: one more day of work before the weekend...

Vacations

I think -- I work purely for vacations. I can't wait to plan them, to travel to them...yep.

I's like to plan out my FOUR weeks of awesome non-working time, however I do have to narrow my list down a tad:
- New Orleans to visit my cousin
- the beach
- camping (multiple times)
- Virginia (for a wedding)
- the Northwest (Seattle/Oregon and the like)
- Florida
- the mid-west? I'd like to see my best friend again.

Hm..plus I have to take time off for my mouth surgery. Boo.

Monday

I had a falling out of sorts with music since college.
I remember in high school, I would always say that I "couldn't live without it."
When I moved home halfway through college, I don't remember being that compelled to turn on music every time there was silence.
I still don't get that persistent itch to have music on all the time, but once in a while, I just wanna turn some up loud.

So now I am on a quest to find some awesome tunes to keep me occupied. It's tough, because it's going to have to be an honest-to-goodness search. I'm pretty tired of most of the music I have in my library. Mostly because it is pretty angsty.

I'm over angsty.

I'm also over slowly getting chubby. I'm going to dance class twice a week starting tomorrow. Yes, that includes the gym I already belong to. No, I'm not rich. I just realize I can't be lazy and sometimes have to "sacrifice." I say that in quotes because I don't really care about money (shh...don't tell the Boy). I miss being creative, so hopefully it will help me relax and enjoy the year. So now, I'm off to work on my lazy butt.

P.S. Smelly cat is on my lap. pe-yew.

Easy Sunday

Here I am, again.
On the computer with my little old man cat keeping each other warm.
We have to kinda cut back on our energy, we have been using a BIT too much.

I have to call my neighbor today to let him know that he needs to get in touch with his buddy at the auto repair place. I have to bring my car in and he has to pay cause his wife broke my car door. Oops. Anyway, I hope they can work it out. I don't want to get all nasty and mean to have it paid for.

Listening to the Robert Plant and Allison Krauss album. It's pretty awesome. Very nice.

::sigh:: I need to clean, but it's probably not going to happen. Bummer.

Some Pig!

Or in my case...some year! Actually I have no idea. I'm terrible at tracking time, and therefore terrible at giving a re-cap of stuff that happened this year. But I can tell you what I did yesterday (amazingly).

I cooked.

Minestrone soup, Chocolate Orange Cupcakes and Artichoke dip.

Here's my messy kitchen:

I actually was just finishing the soup and started the cupcakes.
Oranges are awesome, and don't you forget it.

Minestrone Soup:
Cupcakes:

Ohhh yeah. super tasty. Then I went over to my aunts for New Years. Nothin like costumes on New Years:
Have a fantastic year!!!

not fair!

--Inspired by:http://belgianwaffling.blogspot.com/2008/10/its-not-faaaaiiiiiiir.html--

When I was a kid I was not allowed:

-To watch over a PG rating
-To have toy guns
-watch Rosanne (dad let us tho)
-to skip doing the dishes (I STILL despise doing dishes)
-go to the mall with just friends until I was 13
-get multiple piercings (prolly would still not be allowed to if i asked..lol)
-no boy girl sleepovers (um. that was probably a good thing)

That's pretty much it. I don't really remember a curfew. I must have had one, but we never really hung out at my house, so it didn't matter. I could go to dances and have boyfriends. But it just bugged me when the littlest brother was allowed to stay up and had toy guns and watch whatever was on TV. *tsk*

Rules I definitely am imposing on my children:
-dishes (muahaha, can't wait for this)
-chores before they leave the house on Saturday.
(why I feel the need for my house to be clean? I dunno)
- no boy girl sleepovers
- no eating on the couch (we don't even do it ourselves!)
- no excessive body mutilations (your father didn't need tattoos to be bad-ass)
- not sure on the swearing....prolly no s or f words. if it is allowed, no swearing AT anyone (no damn you, etc).

otherwise, everything else seems fine.

Right now, it's not fair I have to leave the house when it's super chilly out. bummer.

Scrooge, but not by choice

Well. I just fell off the map, huh?

Meh. It was just the craziest month. I couldn't keep up with myself!

Right now I'm "sneak" posting. (at work, shh) It's crazy dead at work. There is NO ONE here from my division. I want to play hookey. I hear that my aunt (who is a teacher) has a snow day. I MISS SNOW DAYS. dang it.

Tonight me and my #1 are going to shop. Yaaay x-mas season. I have stuff set up for everyone else but him. He would be easy to buy for if he did not have such EXPENSIVE TASTE. Sheesh. Maybe he'll be really obvious tonite and point out stuff he wants.

Next week is kind of going to be hell on wheels. I have to leave the area THREE times next week and write THREE reports. Hopefully two reports if I can get my act together today (not likely). Plus, I haven't driven my car since Tuesday because I have ZERO money to get it fixed. The check engine light came on during a marathon site visit so I ignored it and continued to drive, oh, about 100 miles. If at the very worst case scenario (i.e., it's going to cost a billion dollars to fix) I'll have to rent a car to get where I'm goin for work. They will pay me back for it. Then if it's STILL not fixed by the time I have x-mas vacay, I'll have to take a bus back home. Oi. I hope it doesn't come to that. I'm just not ready to go thru all the jazz to get a new car. Thank goodness I'm getting a decent bonus this year. It's too bad I can't use it all up on x-mas gifts. I could easily spend 900 dollars on everyone. :oD

Happy December!

But I don't wanna get up.....

I am totally up at 8 to go to the gym.
I think I'm nuts. It's the perfect day for bed.

My alarm went off at 630 (normal time for workday) and I didn't see the boy. I panicked because I had no idea where he was..."is he in the bathroom? no, I would have heard him..sleeping downstairs? no he never does that...unless he's mad, is he mad at me?"
Seriously, all these things went thru my foggy head before I remember, "oh right, he's at his mothers."

Sometimes, mornings are not my thing.

SO off I go, froggy morning voice and all to "totally condition" my body.
Yeah, right. That will take some time.

But I did do some belly dancing last night.

In my life

Here I am.
Typing away.
I have cookies setting up in the fridge.
Two loads of laundry in the cellar.
Neil Young is playing on Pandora and making me feel relaxed, nostalgic, emotional. (Cortez the Killer)

They have been playing a lot of Native American documentaries on public television this week.
They keep making me weepy. Why do we suck? Sometimes I am not so happy I am American.
Most of the time I live in my happy little world, where I just float along, make money spend money, nothing is destroyed...When my naive vision clears, it's a shock every time.

And here I am.
Planning for the weekend.
And that's about it.

My Life seems silly at times.

FAIL

Dah. I'm so ticked-off at myself.

All I had to do was post a little blurb or two. But nooooo....
Obama had to go and make history and all, and then I had to stay up way past my bedtime.

And the second day? Well, I was just so depressed about the whole "I forgot to post" thing (you think I'm kidding...) that I just didn't even turn on my computer.

Tragedy.

Anyhow, I'm trying to move on here. I'm still feeling a little sluggish. Life sucks when your whole body hurts.

Looking forward to the weekend! The madness that will ensue with 8 ladies shopping for wedding dresses. I am only meeting them at the store, and they are having brunch pre-shopping excursion. I'm sure more then one of them will have had plenty of mimosa to make it pretty amusing. :oD And then I will follow them home and have my share of beverages. woo!

Energy!

Where did it go??

I guess a gin and tonic after work will do that to ya. The best kind is created with tonic containing quinine. What an interesting wikipedia article! Totally did not relate the pill you take for malaria with the drink you make for um, everything else! And? It's UV reactive. How interesting...

When I went to Costa Rica, they recommended a slew of immunizations and medications. I opted for just the tetanus and the hepatitis I believe. Some of my buddies also opted for the Quinine. My side effects? a sore arm (I swear it was for a month!) And them? Weird-ass dreams. They didn't seem like scary dreams, but it was more like they were so strange, they were spooked. Glad I didn't take it. hm..

I guess tonic with quinine doesn't give the same effects (unless you drink like...30 liters or something). Bummer, it says it helps with arthritis and nocturnal leg cramps. But it's not prescribed anymore for that purpose because the risks associated with the drug are more severe than would warrant the use of it. Psh. They never had my leg cramps.

P.S. Don't forget the lime.

Weekend Crash

Experiencing a tad bit of withdrawal from the visitor crazyness.

We made Pumpkin ice cream and enough vodka sauce to feed part of an army.
We ran a 5K and took a late fall hike.
We re-adopted a kitty and are attempting to train him with some manners.

Now, I'm bummed. (plus one of my favorite food blogs already posted a pumpkin ice cream recipe!) oh well. Here are some sweet photos.

Pop hiking ahead.

Lovely views

Destination: waterfall.

Hedgehog, sleeping in pants cuff!

My favorite tree: the tulip tree. I would recognize
this tree shape anywhere.

Well, here is to a better week. I believe it will be much easier to wake up with that handy time change today.

Good night!

Happy November!

Well, I did it, and it wasn't too horrible.
My dad and I ran about half the 5K, and ran the last .6 miles. Our time? 38:15
Meh, I know, but we were not last! I will definitely run another. Just maybe when it gets warmer out.

Right now we are just hanging out, waiting for the motherly unit to return with food to begin our feasting. I believe the menu tonight is Pasta a la vodka. or something. I know it has vodka in it. Also, my mom purchased an ice cream maker for pumpkin ice cream!! My dad, brother and I used to make it every year with the ice cream maker they had received as a wedding gift. We stopped once the machine died. So my youngest brother was too late to experience the awesomeness that I remember pumpkin ice cream to be. I will take photos and post a recipe.

I also had made a cranberry crumble that I took photos of. It turned out kinda, um, odd...but I'll post it anyway. Good practice.

So, my kitty is re-adjusting to the basement. I heard the trip up wasn't too awful for him. He only whined part of the 3 hour trip. My mom stopped at the vet to pick up some tranquilzers because I didn't want him to feel too awful coming up. But he hadn't been to the vet for 2 years or so, so they wouldn't give it to her. Augh. My dad attemped to give him some benadryl, I know they give it to dogs. Dad mixed it in some wet food, Leo took two bites, and started foaming at the mouth. That didn't work either. Oh well. He seems to be okay. I have a little set-up in the basement for him, a chair off the floor and some blankets that he's been snoozing in. He'll settle in soon enough.

Okay, time to get back to my guests. Hooray for food!!!