Sunday, November 9, 2008

A Good Weekend

Not a bad weekend, all in all. There was a minimum of running around madly, and a good dose of leisure and relaxation. Another plus: I finally finished a project that I’ve been working on for a couple of months.

Actually, I’m a little surprised that I did finish it, given how many half-started projects I’ve had over the years. While my brain knows that working a little bit regularly can get a job done, eventually, my gut has never made that connection. So I get frustrated, or (more often) distracted by a shinier project and the old one is (temporarily, I tell myself) abandoned.

Here it is:A useful use of all those scraps of brightly colored artisanal paper that I’ve been hoarding all these years.

Saturday I went to a jewelry demonstration, which was fun. I didn’t buy anything, although there were a few pieces that I liked. The problem was, the math. The games are fun, the jewelry nice to look at and imagine buying, and the sales spiel not too intrusive. But during the part when the hostess says “if you sell $1000 dollars worth at your party, you earn $500”, I immediately think,

“they can make a profit if they sold the pieces at 50% off”

and when she adds all the other ways to get discounts and benefits … I’m left thinking that the pieces are almost certainly priced at least 300% cost. Not to mention the prices do not include shipping (likely high) or tax. So a piece that is already nudging past what I’m willing to pay at, say $30, would probably end up costing me about $40 – and the total cost to make it is probably at about $10-15 …

Which is why I’ll go to a demonstration, enjoy a demonstration, but never buy at a demonstration.I also spent some quality time this morning starting on the mighty, mighty Christmas card project, over some buttermilk pancakes and Sarah McLachlan. We’ll see how I do this year? Bets, anyone? ☺

Sunday, November 2, 2008

A not so relaxing day

Today I was supposed to meet friends for brunch in Philly. Unfortunately, for the first time in 15 years, I locked myself out of the apartment. A call to my apartment management’s emergency number confirmed that a lock-out is not considered an emergency and they couldn’t help – I’d have to call a locksmith. (While my apartment management is great for repairs, etc. during the week, their absolute insistence on not working on the weekend is very irritating.) The police also could not help, and suggested that I either call a locksmith or the fire department (to break in).

I opted for the locksmith, and spent a not so lovely hour sitting on my front stoop staring at my psychotic pumpkin while I waited for the locksmith to arrive. (My apartment management also could not recommend a locksmith, so I was left with calling 411)

In the end, it took the fella about 3 minutes to pick my lock. And cost me $149. I’d opted for a locksmith, because I’d imagined it would be cheaper than the repairs necessary to fix a broken window. Next time, I’ll break a window. Actually, next time I’ll call a cab to take me to work to pick up a spare set of keys.

At which point, my friends had just received their food. I almost didn’t go in to join them. The only reason I did, was that I felt certain that I’d end up spending the day nursing my annoyance until it thoroughly ruined my day. Andrew very kindly went through the menu and found a selection of things he thought I’d like (good job Andrew!) and almost as soon as I sat down I was given:
Cafe Cuba Libre: Cuban coffee with steamed coconut milk.
Torta de Cangrejo Benedict :
Jumbo lump crabmeat and potato cakes, poached eggs, avocado mash. Tomato Hollandaise sauce.

Yum!

And because Mike is in Germany, emphatically not living it up, Kristin brought him in absentia:

Of course, we mean to taunt him with it.

Now, if my ipod will turn up, I’d be more relaxed. But I’ve looked for it everywhere and don’t have a good feeling about it. Fingers crossed.

Jack O'Lantern

Well, it’s that time of year again, and on Friday we had our annual Jack O’Lantern contest. As a member of the social committee, (hmmm. Brownbag committee, check; Sustainability Club, check; Social committee, check; Office Art committee, check – I seriously need to cut back on contributing) I felt obligated to participate.

And it’s not like the idea of carving a pumpkin is unappealing.

However, this year I was way busy at work, working long days and fighting off a migraine almost everyday this past week (unfortunately triggered partially by sleep disruption), my energy levels just were not where they should have been.

In fact, I should have given up on the idea of competing. But I’d already bought the pumpkin, so I stayed up late (see earlier note re; migraine triggers = STUPID) to do my part.

I’d also forgotten how long it takes just to gut the damn thing (and it was a big pumpkin), especially as I love to make pumpkin seeds later. So this year’s effort took about 1 ½ hours – 1 hour of which was spent gutting the monster and the last half hour was spent wishing it was done.

Not a magic formula for success and I won the booby prize for next-to-last.

Sigh. Next year I’ll try to remember to a) buy a pumpkin carving kit, and b) spread the job over two days.