Flyaways

So, they were right, those who call this place "the Windy City." I'm not sure how the natives do it, other than surrendering or arming themselves with helmet head, but my newly shorn head is enjoying its FREEDOM moment.

In the meantime, I've discovered that windswept hair really, really likes to get stuck in freshly applied lip gloss...

Office perk?

I walked into the office kitchen and found the dishwasher chugging along. I gave it a wry, somewhat sour glance, thinking about our own, busted no-longer-just-a-dish-dryer at home. And then I gave it a more speculative thinking about our poor, broken dishwasher (who is just longing to do its job, I know it!) at home. Hmmmm, there could be some possibilities here...

Forgetful

Isn't it funny how the vagaries of one forgetful moment can come to dominate the considerations of the following month? Almost makes one want to program an alarm into one's partner's phone.

Almost.

Allergy hunt

An elimination diet/food journal really isn't that hard to do when you only eat a couple of different items. Thank goodness for small mercies, anyway.

Are eggs in a lot of things?

Sigh.

Gleefully yours

Since the introduction of the nighttime pastime quality time, my TV-watching has dropped dramatically. While there was no coincidence (well, technically there is co-incidence, but it was by design) with this lower (and I'm still getting a steady diet of Netflix, I'm just not as devoutly being led by the nose by the major networks anymore) intake of the TeeVee, I still manage to keep up with my favorites and a few rather guilty pleasures (lookin' at you, Grey's Anatomy). It has become so reasonable that I wasn't threatened by either the originally planned or the actual shut off date of analog TV. We don't get broadcast TV anymore, but Internet viewing handily satisfies any viewing urges.

This season, there is one show that I could actually call "appointment television," assuming I did still have a TV signal. Glee is simply, the most compelling show since BVS. Like every band, orchestra, and choir dork that's heard of it, I am hopelessly hooked. It doesn't hurt that I'm a big fan of Ryan Murphy to begin with (Popular closed on a cliffhanger *shakes fist* and I've never quite recovered!!), but the cheesetasticness is such that I can NOT get enough. Singing! Dancing! Screechy teenage drama! Screech my-age-folks drama! Pretty people! Truly, something for everyone. I watched the pilot last spring, and...several times over the summer. Then I watched the director's cut of the pilot. Twice. FINALLY, when they started airing episodes, I've had appointment viewing at my work console for Thursday lunchtimes. With my new large screen, it is quite a midday treat!! With options for 5-minute pick-me-ups throughout the day/week/potentially year. Luv it. LURVE!!!

So, in summation, I like it, quite a lot. Go watch.

A new member of the family

You know what that means - it's onsie (not misspelled) time!!!

I really don't get sick of making these. Squeeeeeeeeeee-cute!!!!!!!!!!

Eyeroll

Don't you be rollin' yer eyes at me, missy! If you wanted to direct the conversation of this class, you have to Speak Up. It's certainly not my fault that I ask such fascinating questions!!

So far, I love my class! I actually looked at the homework and thought to myself, this is a GREAT assignment! (And then I told the teacher, which, I admit, was a little suck-uppy, but I really wanted to commend her on creating a useful and interesting exercise.) I'm really looking forward to the rest of the term. It's everything school should be!

Hoarding

Alternatively titled: What??!! He likes Cheerios!!

I like to buy in bulk when things are on sale. I especially like it when I can stack the in-store sales with coupons, preferably coupons in the $0.50 - $0.95 range, so they can double or even triple (!!). We don't eat that many processed things, which does cut down on our coupon use, but when the stars all align, this can happen:

A good buy can make me SO HAPPY (and also talkative about my coup) and after scoring this particular deal I was positively full of glee.

I didn't know that I would grow up to be a normal girl who lusted after pretty dishes and high thread-count sheets, but I've always known that I would be a girl who longed for a pantry - the bigger the better. (In my more lucid moments, I do admit that I probably shouldn't be trusted with a pantry, much to my sorrow.) It's partly genetics (I think the hoarding instinct in my family indicates that we are descended from squirrels. The womenfolk, anyway.) and partly, er cheapnessthriftiness? I do so love a bargain!!

Spoiled

You know that you've been spoiled rotten by the advances in modern genetic engineering for fruit when you look down at your (hand-cut into small chunks by a loving spouse) container of watermelon and sniff,

Ugh, seeds! I don't like seeds in my watermelon, so I ALWAYS buy seedless. ARGH! It is SO HARD to chew the watermelon and spit the seeds out! Hmmmph! I wonder if ANYTHING ELSE will go wrong with my day#%$%^^&!!!!

Image of summer

Just call it Polynesian delight - the remains of a pan-Asian feast (potstickers, edamame, soba noodles) fronted by some fresh-squeezed pineapple juice with a kick (i.e., lots and lots of rum). The best part is definitely the "cup" left behind by the pineapple corer.

One reason to upgrade

One more reason to wish for a much, much bigger house: if we have horrible, rude, annoying house guests, there is a place we can stash them/I can flee to. Right now in our one-roomed wonder I'm stuck with "going for a walk" (running away!) or "working at the office" (running away to a store!). Bleah.

Guesting II

Notes to self:

Always asks hosts something about themselves (and then listen carefully, with a follow-up question[s]) at least once.

It's not necessary to prepare an agenda, but do be prepared to express an opinion on any offered agenda.

Also, it does help to have some idea of what you want to/can (are physically able to) do.

Yardwork follies

Some thoughts on working in the yard with my folks:

Tree removal is not, I repeat, not for amateurs. Some things are worth paying for. Enough said.

Tree butchering, likewise, is not just for any yokel with a tiny chainsaw. Before the tree murder commences, one should at least have a google-knowledge of pruning and diseased-limb (only! No need to cut down the whole tree!) removal.

Lockjaw successfully avoided in the metal-saw deconstruction of an ancient, beyond-rusted (crumbling) swing set. Just barely. This time. I hope we don't see the same wheelbarrow-full of busted-up parts next time we come to visit.

You can't hoe through brickwork. Or foundation stone. Or expect me to. Really.

Gardens need to be watered. Even when it rains once a week. Otherwise, don't bemoan your lack of tomatoes.

Gardens need to be protected from deer/rabbits/woodchucks/giant marauding turkeys. If not, seriously, shut up about the no tomatoes thing. Take up bow hunting and everyone will be happier, I swear. Except maybe the turkeys.

Composting is easier when your take the peelings out of the plastic bag.

I think that fires should be put out, not allowed to burn themselves out...days later. Also, I think that there should be a maximum amount of lighter fluid allowed per burning experience. Finally, I'm not so sure you should be dousing the land with quite so much lighter fluid so close to the garden. Oh well, it really only matters if you're actually getting and eating the food from the garden.

Well, there are less mosquitoes now. Well done!

Less sucky than expected

It could have been worse? Not nearly as painful as anticipated?

Which phrase damning with the faintest praise adequately expresses the relief I felt?

I don't feel bad about qualifying the most recent visit to the family home last weekend in such tones, since I used to dread family interactions with stress breakouts and tears and fears and threats to [insert drama] before I go through that again!!

Therefore, almost being killed with a chain saw and/or a falling tree branch (him, not me); not being able to breathe for a couple of days due to the mildew? mold? bad air in general? (also him, not me); being asked about pregnancy (me, not him); and dealing with random nattering anxiety (mostly me) wasn't nearly so bad. Especially considering that I still wonder, on occasion, how, exactly, I made it out of teenager-hood alive (and not having literally exploded from the stress and frustration of weathering much higher than average - both quantity and quality - parental worry and freak outs).

So, you know, progress. Yay!

A bad night

[small voice] I didn't mean to poison him! [/small voice]

In fact, I felt fine and dinner actually tasted pretty good (he ate two big bowls). But it still follows that the only meal I prepared in an eon still left him weak and retching, miserable on the floor.

Ouch, for both of us.

5≤word(s) movie reviews

Hamlet 2: horrified fascination, indeed

Becoming Jane: statuesque; Auestenesque; blahblahblah English countryside

Hellboy 2: Golden Army: cartoonishly stunning; everyone is immature

The Godfather 2: almost everybody dies, grimly

The Godfather: Eye-talians are mean, goal-oriented, successful

Twilight: she's more corpse-like than him!

Ghost Town: Crankypants ghost whisperer isn't funny

Center Stage: Turn it up!: surprisingly, I want more

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2: so much $$ for travel??!!

Step Up 2 the Streets: please, don't

Milk: eerie, affecting portrayal

Gone, Baby Gone: better because he chose poorly

3:10 to Yuma: almost everybody dies, rather awesomely

Mamma Mia!: utter singing and eyesore drek

Shaun of the Dead: grrrr, argh, delightful

John Adams: Wheaties-like, for dislikers of Wheaties

Jesus Camp: chillingly truthful

The Spanish Prisoner: neat process but kinda annoying!

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist: great if you're a teenager

Get Smart: more fun than you think

GI Joe: gorgeous American explosion and noisemakers

Up: odd but delightful

Terminator Salvation: unsatisfyingly intense and bleak(est)

Star Trek: don't worry, just enjoy

Angels and Demons: THanks is SO not RLangdon

Transformers 2: what -BOOM!- just happened??!!

Happy Potter 6: hormones don't help plot holes

Wolverine: RAWR! Hot (tempered) and head-scratchy

Outgrowing Restaurant Week

I don't get too excited about Restaurant Week any more. The former seasonal occupant of far too much mind space (which of the most expensive places are running the promotion cross referenced with my current aspirational restaurant list and locational and/or convenience concerns) has now been relegated to the merest whisper of interest. I still take note of its occurrence, so I can make reservations (preferably during the extended RW days, so as not to have to contend with the hordes) at my favorite places. I do so love even the semblance of a bargain! Otherwise, I am, for the most part, disinclined to join the masses. I'm glad it still happens, and even more glad that so many more establishments are participating these days, so the next generation of DCish gastronomes are additionally incentivized to sample finer dining experiences around town. I don't, however, do much venturing past my own favorites. There were RWs where I went to 5-6 different places! Even with the deal and being that I've always lived and worked outside the city, it could become quite an investment in time and funds. And not all meals were hits, by a long shot. These days I'm less interested in trying new and exciting hotspots than revisiting wonderful places that I already know and love. Guess old fogeydom is just one more turn around the corner.

Profundity

The most important question of the year is shaping up to be some iteration of

Have I made my expectations/needs/wants so perfectly clear that I can actually justify this rage I am feeling due to the offending party/ies falling short?

Since I fulfilled my somewhat ringer New Years' resolutions so completely and successfully, this has been the point of personal improvement that has come up most often, in a variety of situations, throughout the year. It has been especially galling because this is usually the first question that I ask others, when personal relationships seem to be veering off course and they are seeking advice/comfort. Naturally, my own righteous short-temperedness suffers upon closer examination of my behavior in the context of this vital question.

Probably the most important realization I have ever made is that people are not mind readers. Such a simple epiphany, but one, even after having been struck, that is not always easy to consider in terms of one's daily conduct. Since I want the whole world to revolve around my needs and desires, this obvious truth can be maddeningly difficult to accept, especially during fits of pique.

I continue striving to remember this one simple fact and behave according to my favorite advice.

It is quite a struggle.

Some, including myself, would whine that asking for certain things/behaviors diminishes or negates the value of achieving the desired result. While I can't deny that I feel this way about any number of things that make me feel cared-for and loved, I also can't deny that practicing the "if others truly want to please me they would/could figure out what I want" method leaves many opportunities for satisfaction on the table. Therefore, in an attempt to convert from a shrew with unreasonably high expectations for the world to a universally beloved and contented person, I am trying to explicitly state my specific wishes, in hopes of capturing the surplus happiness that has thus far gone untapped.

We'll see how it goes.