As I embark on this journey of another new adventure, I'm learning a lot about myself. That's not new, really. I always learn about myself when I do something new but this one feels a little different from what I've done in the past.
To catch you up: I've just moved my life from California to Scotland for an opportunity to course-correct on an old life path that I somehow lost sight of over the last couple of decades, the details of which are unimportant for this particular brain dump of a blog post.
I've made big moves before. Several, actually. I moved from home in Germany to Boston to go to college, I moved from Boston to Columbus, Ohio for law school five years later, and then I moved from there to California for a job a decade after that. Each of those moves, although big and new, were not particularly scary. Each time I had a specific idea of where I would be and what I would be doing for the foreseeable future, i.e. several years. I always knew I was landing somewhere I could settle into for a significant amount of time. Plus, I was also pretty young. I mean, how much fear did I really have of new experiences when I was 19?
However, when you're 19, you have very different expectations than you do when you're 42. You also have different responsibilities. Well, I do anyway. All of my previous moves seemed fairly straightforward. Cut ties in the old place and build new ones in the new place. I'm not talking about human ties: I have managed to hang on to many of those connections over time and distance and I wouldn't change that for the world. I'm talking about financial and legal and business ties. When leaving a place in the past, I've been able to take my bank account with me or at least move from one bank to another once arriving, if necessary. In the past, I didn't own and run my own business either and that comes with certain responsibilities as well.
This time is different. First, I only know where I will be and what I will be doing for a very short 12 months. I have absolutely no idea what will happen after that or where I will go or what I will do. That is both terrifying and exhilarating. I'm a planner so not having a plan for what comes next is terrifying to me. Having a blank slate to create whatever future I want is quite exciting and I have very consciously given myself the liberty of not being tied to any one place or thing so that I can create my future without the impediments of attachment. Although I didn't get rid of all of my belongings, I did pack them into a portable/movable storage situation so they can be sent to me wherever I end up at the end of this year or three or five or whatever.
This time is also different because I continue to have financial responsibilities in the place I'm leaving. I have bank accounts and bills there and will continue to have those. I kind of have an address there but I don't. By that I mean, I have a "permanent address" for purposes of legally telling organizations, governments, visa offices, etc. where they can find me, even though I don't technically have an address there since I don't own property or anything else, really. Instead, I'm basically borrowing an address from friends who own their home so that I can have a place where official mail can reach me (like bank documents and for purposes of voter registration or my stateside driver's license).
This time is different because I'm a lot older than I was the last few times I made big moves. The other ones were at ages 19, 24, and 33, respectively. I'm now in my forties and it just feels different. One big difference this time is that I've just left a home I lived in for nearly a decade. It's the place I lived in for the longest time in my entire life. Before that, in my adult life at least, I always moved at least once every 2 years and never really felt fully settled into my various homes. That's not true of the most recent one: I found my place when I moved the last time and I stayed there, really making it my home. My own comfy nest-y bubble of a home. Now I am, by the very nature of this move, living in a temporary situation. So even though I'm trying to give it my personal touches here and there, I know that I will only be in this living situation for a year so I'm emotionally not really settling in completely.
So, I mentioned that I'm learning things about myself. I am. For instance, I am learning which creature comforts are important to me; what's worth it to me to splurge on even though I'm in a temporary situation. Proper wine glasses are one of those things. I like to drink red wine out of red wine glasses, white wine out of white wine glasses, champagne out of a proper champagne glass, you get the picture. Bubbly water without the volume of waste plastic bottles create. Good lighting. My favorite shoes, even though there are more of them than might be considered normal. Fresh flowers (side note here: the most amazing thing in the world of traveling to new places is arriving to a bouquet of your favorite flowers after a long journey to an uncertain future and I have the most thoughtful, lives in my heart pocket, friend who knows this. I adore you! Friends, go out and do this for your dear ones. It's so worth it!).
I'm learning that, although I am an introvert (albeit an extroverted one), I can push myself out of my shell with minimal effort when I'm comfortable in my own skin. I've learned that my instincts are typically right and I should always, always listen to my gut. I've also learned that I can do the scary new things and once I try them, they're less scary and no longer new. I've learned that, even though I'm pretty messy by nature, I like things neat and clean and everything in its assigned place. I've learned I'm a creature of habit and I tend to create habits pretty quickly but if I push myself to take an alternate route or order something different from the menu, I see and experience new and exciting things.
Yes, I'm older and more set in my ways but once I decide to do something, I tend to do it and I refuse to live a life of mediocrity so long as I have a choice in the matter. Also, I haven't yet and I hope I never do give up on my childhood dream of changing the world and I'll take the opportunity to do so if it comes my way every time. Including this time.
So here's to new adventures!
pic
Monday, September 4, 2017
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Farewell 2016
It seems to be globally accepted that 2016 has been a pretty terrible year. Since I originally created this blog as a place to gripe about things, it seems natural to me to write a long post about how terrible this year was for me. However, I feel a little beaten down by the year and am exhausted from thinking and talking about the negatives. So, in an effort to step away from my own experience with terrible 2016, I decided to look back through my calendar for the year with a specific focus:
I was looking for evidence of fun stuff I did this year, the good things, the laughs. The good news is that I found some! I traveled more this year than ever before and the vast majority of that travel was work-related so it's easy for me to just think of the year in terms of numbers: the number of flights, trains, hotels, etc. However, before I get into those numbers, I want to highlight some of the good things I found in my calendar for this year:
I saw whales! Lots of whales. I went whale watching twice this year. Once off the coast of California with one of my dearest, oldest friends from childhood and his entire family. On that trip, I got to experience the fairly rare joy of seeing not one but two blue whales. The other whale watching experience was of the coast of Iceland, which, I mean.... Iceland! So there's that! I spent my birthday on a boat in the North Atlantic watching so many minke whales (or "minky whales" as my Icelandic guide called them) play and feed. I also saw humpback whales, dolphins, porpoises, sea lions, puffin, and any number of other sea life.
I had visitors from all over the world this year. I love introducing people I care about to my neighborhood, my life. Showing dear ones the beauty, diversity, and vibrancy of Oakland always gives me a chance to dig in an appreciate this place I call home. In life we tend to take the things we see and experience regularly for granted and this year I had several opportunities to take a deep breath and fall in love with my home again and again.
I got to experience things I've never experienced before. I went to Iceland. I went to China. Both places I've never seen before and both of which deserve their own blog post at another time. I went on a Thelma & Louise road trip across a good portion of the U.S. where I accidentally mooned some unsuspecting Utahans, explored a national park, survived "the loneliest highway" in America, and ordered entirely too much food from room service. Our Thelma & Louise road trip eventually culminated in an alternate ending you don't get to see in the movie: when they drive off of that cliff in Utah, they land on a beach in Mexico in case you didn't know.
I got to spend time with so many people I care about deeply, people I've known for decades and am so thrilled to have in my life, people I don't see often enough. I got to spend time with family. I got to help celebrate milestone birthdays: my grandfather's 90th birthday, my mother's 65th, my childhood best friend's 40th. I got to spend time with my sister and my nieces and nephew. I learned new things and taught old things to new people. I made new friends, and reconnected with old ones.
I didn't take much time to take care of myself this year but I've decided that's perfectly okay sometimes too because I still learned a lot about myself. I learned that sometimes putting my own needs first is the right thing to do. I learned that I am strong and confident and even when I'm not, I can fake it until I make it most days. I learned that I am proud of myself, my integrity, who I am, and how I treat others. I learned that I have a lot to learn and I found renewed clarity on where I want to focus that learning, or some of it anyway.
I traveled. So much. The vast majority of my travel was work-related this year. Some people think that traveling for work is glamorous and fun but mostly it's just work. I did, however, get to do some travel that was not for work this year. I experienced, Iceland. I experienced a tiny piece of China, which means I've now been to an additional continent. I went on a road trip, and I visited friends and family.
I mentioned numbers earlier and since I'm a numbers kind of girl, here they are:
This year I boarded 83 planes and 21 trains. I stayed in 27 hotels. I went to 3 continents, 5 countries, and 9 U.S. states. I explored at least 1 national part, several state parks, went on 2 whale watching boat trips.
Anyway, even though the overwhelming feeling is that 2016 sucked, I'm glad I took a look back at the year with an eye toward the positive.
Lets see what 2017 brings. I'm ready, I think.
I was looking for evidence of fun stuff I did this year, the good things, the laughs. The good news is that I found some! I traveled more this year than ever before and the vast majority of that travel was work-related so it's easy for me to just think of the year in terms of numbers: the number of flights, trains, hotels, etc. However, before I get into those numbers, I want to highlight some of the good things I found in my calendar for this year:
I saw whales! Lots of whales. I went whale watching twice this year. Once off the coast of California with one of my dearest, oldest friends from childhood and his entire family. On that trip, I got to experience the fairly rare joy of seeing not one but two blue whales. The other whale watching experience was of the coast of Iceland, which, I mean.... Iceland! So there's that! I spent my birthday on a boat in the North Atlantic watching so many minke whales (or "minky whales" as my Icelandic guide called them) play and feed. I also saw humpback whales, dolphins, porpoises, sea lions, puffin, and any number of other sea life.
I had visitors from all over the world this year. I love introducing people I care about to my neighborhood, my life. Showing dear ones the beauty, diversity, and vibrancy of Oakland always gives me a chance to dig in an appreciate this place I call home. In life we tend to take the things we see and experience regularly for granted and this year I had several opportunities to take a deep breath and fall in love with my home again and again.
I got to experience things I've never experienced before. I went to Iceland. I went to China. Both places I've never seen before and both of which deserve their own blog post at another time. I went on a Thelma & Louise road trip across a good portion of the U.S. where I accidentally mooned some unsuspecting Utahans, explored a national park, survived "the loneliest highway" in America, and ordered entirely too much food from room service. Our Thelma & Louise road trip eventually culminated in an alternate ending you don't get to see in the movie: when they drive off of that cliff in Utah, they land on a beach in Mexico in case you didn't know.
I got to spend time with so many people I care about deeply, people I've known for decades and am so thrilled to have in my life, people I don't see often enough. I got to spend time with family. I got to help celebrate milestone birthdays: my grandfather's 90th birthday, my mother's 65th, my childhood best friend's 40th. I got to spend time with my sister and my nieces and nephew. I learned new things and taught old things to new people. I made new friends, and reconnected with old ones.
I didn't take much time to take care of myself this year but I've decided that's perfectly okay sometimes too because I still learned a lot about myself. I learned that sometimes putting my own needs first is the right thing to do. I learned that I am strong and confident and even when I'm not, I can fake it until I make it most days. I learned that I am proud of myself, my integrity, who I am, and how I treat others. I learned that I have a lot to learn and I found renewed clarity on where I want to focus that learning, or some of it anyway.
I traveled. So much. The vast majority of my travel was work-related this year. Some people think that traveling for work is glamorous and fun but mostly it's just work. I did, however, get to do some travel that was not for work this year. I experienced, Iceland. I experienced a tiny piece of China, which means I've now been to an additional continent. I went on a road trip, and I visited friends and family.
I mentioned numbers earlier and since I'm a numbers kind of girl, here they are:
This year I boarded 83 planes and 21 trains. I stayed in 27 hotels. I went to 3 continents, 5 countries, and 9 U.S. states. I explored at least 1 national part, several state parks, went on 2 whale watching boat trips.
Anyway, even though the overwhelming feeling is that 2016 sucked, I'm glad I took a look back at the year with an eye toward the positive.
Lets see what 2017 brings. I'm ready, I think.
Thursday, May 19, 2016
Sometimes you just have crappy days.
Most days, people easily refer to me as Suzy Sunshine. That's because I'm generally a fairly optimistic, look-on-the-bright-side-of-things kind of girl. But sometimes it's a different story.
Here's how things went down today:
I woke up early today. I had to fly to Southern California for a work thing and wanted enough time to have a relaxed morning. That part of the day went okay but once I got to the airport, things started going downhill. It wasn't the abnormally long security line - I get to bypass most of that - it was that the scanner wouldn't stop beeping every time I tried to go through it. They couldn't find anything on me (I'm guessing that was because I had nothing on me that should cause any machine make any noise unless fabric is a problem now) so after multiple pat-downs I went happily, albeit slightly annoyed, to my gate.
The flight itself was also mostly uneventful. I was flying into an airport where they deplane from both the front and the back of the plane. This means that if you sit in the very last row, you will be first to get off the plane so that's what I always do when I fly to this airport. Sitting in the last row also means you're close to the bathroom which is a good thing on days like today because I had more coffee and more water than usual.
And this is where the day goes south...
I did indeed have to go to the bathroom but every time I tried, there were at least 2 people in line. So I waited. It's a short enough flight that I figured if nothing else, I'll just go once we land and I'm off the plane. No biggie.
Yeah, until we landed and then had to sit on the tarmac for what seemed like FOREVER because I had to pee while we waited for a departing plane to leave the gate we were trying to go to. And you know, you can't get up at that point. The seat belt sign is illuminated as I was so nicely reminded when someone else tried to get up.
Finally, we got to the gate and I basically sprinted off that plane and down the stairs into the terminal and to the bathroom. Aaahhhhh........
Ok, next stop rental car. This is always a quick and easy thing. I do this nearly twice a week. I always use the same rental car company so I know their system. I'm an express member and I reserved a car so all I have to do is go to the little kiosk where all the cars are, bypassing the counter and the lines. Easy peasy and I'm on my way.
Except, not today.
Today, the lady at the express counter says I have to go to the counter inside because they're low on cars and only express members with reserved cars will get one. Fantastic! I fit that category! Too bad, still have to go to the regular counter today.
Alright. Fine.
I went to that counter. I waited. There were only 2 couples ahead of me in line but somehow it took 30 minutes to help them. Once I finally got to the counter - at this point I was pretty miffed since I wanted to get where I was going - the lady behind the counter, who looked pretty exhausted at this point, said to me, "sorry, we don't have any more cars."
Wait, WHAT?
But I reserved one. Sorry.
Also, I've been here for nearly 45 minutes at this point, you couldn't just let me know so I could try one of the other companies?!? oh, sorry.
ARGH!! Ok, trying desperately not to yell at this lady - I know it's not her fault - I asked what her solution might be. She said she thought they might have a mini van in a back lot somewhere.
No. Forget that. I'm going to a different company.
The next counter took care of me easily and quickly. Finally in a car an hour after I should have been, I got on the road.
At this point, I was so hungry, I would have been angry even if I wasn't already fuming from the car rental situation. I finally got to where I was going, found the one non-fast-food option that was still open for lunch that late and ordered a sandwich and a soda water.
I found a lovely table outside where I could get work done before my scheduled meeting - I am SO glad I took the earlier flight down today! - and the server came over with my beverage and my sandwich. Finally I thought this day might be returning to normal!
Nope.
I have no idea how he did this but my sweet little 16-year-old boy of a server somehow managed to dump a full glass of icy soda water on me instead of setting it on the table. AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!
Ice and water down your shirt, although refreshing, is not an entirely pleasant experience, by the way. It's very surprising. And very cold. And very wet.
Well, at least it was just water.
After lunch I went to meet my first scheduled meeting of the afternoon. Found the spot, found a good table, even got there a few minutes early. Only to get a call that my meeting was going to have to be rescheduled. Hrmmmpfff. Fine. At this point, who cares anymore, right?
I settled in to do some more work - seriously questioning my decision to fly down so early now - when I got a message that my flight home later tonight was already delayed. I booked myself on the last flight home today because I didn't want to miss the last flight home in case I was late getting to the airport. I can always jump on an earlier flight. So at this point it was looking like I wouldn't be home until about midnight. Ugh. Alright, so the plan now definitely had to be to get to the airport early.
I had one more scheduled thing and it was the primary reason for this trip. I was doing a presentation for a great group of people. I got there, got set up, ready to go! And then they told me they were running late. Ok, that's not that big of a deal.
I figured this was a great opportunity to run to the restroom again since the new plan was to haul ass to the airport after my presentation. Ah, but no. I was at a school. Those buildings close fairly early. The presentation was to be in a side building with no restrooms and the proper building was, of course, locked.
Of course.
Alright, fine. Holding it. Again. In the meantime, I was seriously beginning to rethink the idea that I wanted to start hydrating properly. Screw that.
I did find another open restroom. Thankfully there were still some people working in another building and they let me in. Woohoo! Here's to the kindness of strangers!
Did the presentation, hauled ass to the airport. Got gas for the rental (so as not to pay $10 per gallon!! WHAT?!). Got to the rental return area and of course their remote technology wasn't working. Had to go in to that damn counter again to get properly returned and get a receipt.
Ran from the rental car return into the airport (I am SO thankful for small airports!), got through security fairly quickly and ran to the gate from which the next flight home was scheduled to leave in 15 minutes.
Normally, this would be perfect! No problem! And if I couldn't get on that one, there's one more before mine!
No. Not today.
The next flight after this one was cancelled so all of those people were trying to get on this one. The standby list was already 16 deep by the time I screeched to a halt at the gate - shoes in my hand, hair flying, sweat dripping...
Needless to say, I did not make that earlier flight. I obviously didn't make the next one either since it was cancelled. So, new plan: I wait for my late flight home.
The silver lining here is that I now have time to have some dinner before I get home at or around midnight. This airport thankfully has a decent food selection.
Nope. All of those people who were on that cancelled flight? All of the people from other delayed and cancelled flights? Yeah, they all had the same idea. And they got there before I did.
OK, fine. I give up. Clearly this day is not my friend. Suzy Sunshine has left the freaking building.
All I can hope for now is to get home safely. Oh, and also I'd like for that to happen today please.
Friday, February 26, 2016
An exercise in patience
If someone were to ask me if I am a patient person, I would say I am, generally. And I think that's a fair assessment of myself. It's entirely possible, of course, that I am completely off my rocker here but in my own brain at least I'm fairly patient so lets assume I'm right and go with the basic premise that I'm generally a patient person.
Now, even a patient person has moments of impatience or experiences situations that cause all semblance of patience to flee the vicinity.
And I most definitely have those moments. What happens to me then is that I first get antsy and annoyed, then anxious, and then super angry. But because I know that voicing that frustration or anger won't actually make the situation better - or faster/more efficient - I don't say anything. I keep it inside. Often when the cause is something like another driver just driving badly - or very slowly - there's not anyone to yell at anyway (although I do yell at them. Loudly. Colorfully. They just can't hear me.) Usually these situations are just a suck-it-up-and-deal-with-it kind of situations.
Well, this evening I experienced a whole string of these.
I was at an event for one of my clients. I knew that I needed to leave at a specific time in order to drive to the airport, drop off the rental car, and make it to the terminal in time to grab a bite before all of the very limited food options close and still make my flight - the last flight out of the evening.
I know this airport, it's tiny. It's quick. I fly in and out of this airport all the time. I am like a well-oiled machine when it comes to traveling so I've got this!
That's what I started with anyway.
So, I'm getting ready to leave my event on time. You know those moments when you know you just can't leave the room because, well, first of all everybody would notice and second, it would be incredibly rude to leave at that moment? Yeah, that. So, I stay. No biggie. I have a little cushion.
Finally, about 10 minutes late, I get out of there. No sweat! It's ok. I get on the road and although there's a little more traffic than there should be for this time of night, I manage to get to the rental car return place in decent time with a fully manageable anxiety level.
I pull into the rental car return area. Typically a return takes less than 5 minutes even if there are a couple of others waiting, especially at this tiny airport.
Nope. there's only one person working and there are multiple people waiting to return their cars ahead of me. Deep breath. It's ok. This shouldn't take that long. But it does.
By the time it's finally my turn, there's a line of people waiting to pick up cars so the attendant goes and deals with a couple of them. I'm definitely in a hurry now and my anxiety level is increasing. Somehow, in these situations, I often feel like if I scream loudly enough inside my own head, and say over and over again, "hurry up! I'm in a hurry!!" that somehow others will hear me or magically understand that I am, indeed, in a hurry.
I feel bad for the guy. He's working all alone and has a bunch of waiting people who, for all I know, are in a hurry too. So I breathe, check the time, and convince myself I'm ok. It only takes about 3 minutes to get to the terminal from here.
Finally - I think he heard my internal screams - he comes over to help me and it really does only take a couple of minutes.
But then the receipt won't print.
REALLY???
Ok, I need the receipt but just email it to me! And I take off for the shuttle bus.
Thankfully, the bus pulls up right as I get to the stop and I jump on. But then we have to wait for other people to get on the bus, of course. Breathe more. It's ok. And it doesn't take that long so I'm ok.
But then the shuttle driver turns out to be the slowest driver in the whole entire world. It's like his job is to drive as slowly as humanly possible while still actually moving. What usually takes 3 minutes ends up taking nearly 10! AAAARGHH!!!! STEP ON IT!! I HAVE A PLANE TO CATCH!
At this point, the thought of actually getting food before the limited options all close turns into a mere glimmer of hope which is waning quickly. More frustration. I try to calm myself with the knowledge that, at this tiny little airport, there's never a line to get through security. Plus, I'm a fancy frequent traveler so I get to go through the quick line anyway.
I FINALLY get to the terminal and jump off the shuttle bus, run into the terminal, up the stairs to security, and there is the longest line I've ever seen at this airport. Also, the quicker line - the fancy pants frequent flyer special super speedy line - is closed. By now I'm screaming bloody murder in my head. How is this possible? How can everything, EVERYTHING, take longer on the same night?
I know there is absolutely nothing I can do to make this line go faster. I know there is absolutely nothing I can do to make the restaurants (if you can call them that) stay open longer so I can have dinner before I get home at way-too-late-to-eat-anything o'clock. I know that I just have to deal with it and wait it out.
-----
I did, of course. I said nothing, I just moved along in the line, got through security (the people in front of me didn't know how to do airport security - argh), and made it to the last restaurant to close as they were just about to shut it down. I got the very last piece of pizza, which was of highly questionable freshness & edibility but I got food. Just before my flight started boarding. Phew!
While I was boarding the plane, I thought how silly it is to get so worked up about these things. There was really nothing I could do so why get so frustrated and angry? I made it. I got food. Nothing terrible happened. I didn't miss the last flight home of the evening. Everything was fine. And the anger and frustration started to melt away again.
Whew! What a day!!
And then, as I was settling into my seat, I hear the most amazingly wonderful words from the flight attendant. "Hey folks, we've got everyone on board. Does anyone mind if we leave early?"
Friday, April 10, 2015
I have some things to say.
You know those buzzfeed articles people post on facebook? You know what I'm talking about: the ones where you read the title that you (judgmentally) think, "Right, no way they get this right. I bet this this is super inaccurate". And then you read it just to prove yourself right and get proved wrong instead? Well, I recently read one of those like that.
Kind of.
I read it and I actually thought the author made some good points and I agreed with most of what she said but there are certain areas I disagreed with. The topic combined with the accuracy/inaccuracy of it made me think about it for a while after I finished reading it so here I am blogging about the damn thing.
First, here's a link to the article so you know what I'm talking about. It's ok, I'll wait. Come back though! I have things to say!!
The title of the article is "17 Statements That Mean Something Completely Different To Plus-Size Women"
There are a lot of things I like about what Sheridan Watson, who is a buzzfeed staff writer, says. First, I appreciate that she identifies herself as a "fiercely curvy gal" and I also appreciate that she says she doesn't speak for all plus-size women. I'd like to make those same identifications/disclaimers here too.
Now, in case you didn't click on that link to read the full list of 17 statements, basically, she lists things people say to overweight women and then translates it to what we actually hear.
Right off the bat though, I take issue with the first one:
What you say: “Wow, you’re soooo confident with your body.”
What we hear: “Wow, it’s amazing how you choose to live life somewhat happily even though you’re fat.”
I am confident in and with my body and I hear this statement fairly regularly in some form or another. I do not, however, typically hear that particular translation and here's why:
I believe that a lot of women who say this to me genuinely wish they were as comfortable and confident with their bodies as I am. The truth is that most women, sadly, are not confident with their bodies regardless of size or shape. I'm not going to step onto this particular soap box for very long but I do think it is extremely unfortunate that we, as girls, as women, are not empowered by society, by the media, and by the various other forces putting pressure on us, to be comfortable with ourselves (and mind you, this goes for men too). I don't know what made me be comfortable and confident. I do know that I am not the norm in this and it saddens me when I meet girls and women of every possible shape and size who are not comfortable in and with their bodies and therefore are not confident with their bodies. So, when someone says this to me, I mostly feel sad. Not for me but for them.
The next statement I want to call out is:
What you say: “I didn’t know you work out so much.”
What we hear: “How can you work out often and not be thin?”
This one I agree with. I had a conversation recently with my hair stylist, whom I ADORE! He is tall and skinny and looks like the perfect picture of health. When I told him I had recently run a half marathon he was excited for me and super supportive but then he said, "you know, I would probably die if I tried to run even a couple of blocks! Most people tell me I look so good and "oooh, I wish I was thin like you" but it's not all it's cracked up to be." He has struggled his entire life to put and keep weight on. He LOOKS healthy but he knows he isn't. He also isn't all that active. The reality is that I am probably a lot healthier than he is, I'm certainly a LOT more active than he is but if you put us side-by-side and asked 100 people which one of us is healthy and/or active, 99 of them would choose him. I take pride in the fact that I live a pretty active life. I enjoy it. I don't love working out but I do walk a lot, I play tennis, I trained for and ran a half marathon very recently (although I don't love running!), I hike, I swim, I even went roller skating not too long ago. In other words, I'm a pretty healthy & active lady. It's time to shift our perspective: just because someone doesn't fit your ideal of a "healthy, active" person, doesn't mean they can't kick your ass in any given activity. Watch yourself!
This next one is one of my biggest pet peeves and gets me going like not much else.
What you say: “Are you just lazy?”
What we hear: “Fat = Doing nothing but eating all day. This is an equation I’ve known for years yet your body is giving me a different result.”
I don't often encounter this actual question or statement but I do often encounter this bias. It's what I call fat bias. There are a lot of people in the world - some of them pretty close to home actually - that believe that all fat people are lazy. And dumb. And probably dirty too.
You know what? I am lazy! I don't like taking out the trash and would rather sit and read a good book than take that smelly trash bag outside. I am a master procrastinator on certain things. I will sometimes try to carry as many grocery bags as I possibly can so I don't have to make a million trips to the car after a major grocery run.
None of the lazy moments have anything to do with my weight. In fact, mostly I'm just being efficient - especially with the groceries! I also work really hard. I run two businesses, I have friends and social engagements, and see above for how active I am. I bet that a lot of people who think I'm lazy just because I'm overweight would struggle keeping up with me in my daily life so, F*#! off! You have absolutely NO idea what you're talking about and this bias, just like most every bias, is uninformed and inaccurate and it's time for you to get rid of it and move on. Meet me at the tennis court or go on a hike with me or, heck, train for another damn half marathon with me (even though I said I'd never do another one!) but don't you dare make assumptions about my productivity and activity just because I don't look like your ideal of a "normal" productive member of society. Asshole.
Whew! I told you that one got me hot!
OK, next, we have another one I disagree with:
What you say: “Ugh, I feel sooooo fat today.”
What we hear: “I’m feeling self-conscious about myself and choosing to discuss this with my friend who is at least eight sizes larger than me without thinking about how it’ll make her feel.”
You know what? Sometimes we feel fat. It doesn't matter your size. It doesn't matter that you're not actually fat. Sometimes we all just feel that way. Even I, and I am actually fat, have days where I feel bloated and gross and - yup - fat. Most days I feel great and comfortable and confident (see above) but every once in a while...
I absolutely do not hear this translation when someone says "I feel fat today" to me. I don't feel like this statement is about me at all. It's about the person who is saying it to me and, given what our society says about "fat", I take it as an honor for that person to feel comfortable enough with me to tell me they aren't feeling their societally-sanctioned-best that day. I'm sorry you don't feel great. I hope you feel better tomorrow.
Now, if this is a frequent, attention-seeking, drama-creating statement by a person who is motivated by that sort of thing, well, then maybe you should stop spending time with that person.
And finally, another one I agree with but one that I believe deserves some additional time:
What you say: “I just want you to be happy.”
What we hear: “Because there’s no way anyone would be happy at your size, right?”
You know what? Thank you for wanting me to be happy. But screw you for thinking that weight, body shape or size, or anything else you project on another person is what that person truly cares about or will actually make or break someone's happiness. What this statement makes me think is that the person making it is actually pretty unhappy themselves. If you know me at all, you know that I am a happy person and I'm actually pretty darn happy with my body (again - see above) so go away.
Besides, why do you think that if a person doesn't fit your ideal of a "normal" body, that person is unhappy? And, by the way, what makes you think my weight, size, or shape is something that has any bearing on my happiness anyway? What about my life, my friends, my family, my job, my activities, my hopes, my dreams? Also, why do you think that my body is something that dictates everything else in my life? I promise you it doesn't. I'm good. I don't need you to worry about me. I've got my shit handled. As much as anyone else does, anyway. And probably more than you do.
The bottom line in all of this is, don't judge a book by its cover. Don't assume I am a certain way, I'll try not to assume things about you.
Now I'm going to go sit on my couch, be lazy, and relax before I get up early tomorrow morning for a round of tennis.
Kind of.
I read it and I actually thought the author made some good points and I agreed with most of what she said but there are certain areas I disagreed with. The topic combined with the accuracy/inaccuracy of it made me think about it for a while after I finished reading it so here I am blogging about the damn thing.
First, here's a link to the article so you know what I'm talking about. It's ok, I'll wait. Come back though! I have things to say!!
The title of the article is "17 Statements That Mean Something Completely Different To Plus-Size Women"
There are a lot of things I like about what Sheridan Watson, who is a buzzfeed staff writer, says. First, I appreciate that she identifies herself as a "fiercely curvy gal" and I also appreciate that she says she doesn't speak for all plus-size women. I'd like to make those same identifications/disclaimers here too.
Now, in case you didn't click on that link to read the full list of 17 statements, basically, she lists things people say to overweight women and then translates it to what we actually hear.
Right off the bat though, I take issue with the first one:
What you say: “Wow, you’re soooo confident with your body.”
What we hear: “Wow, it’s amazing how you choose to live life somewhat happily even though you’re fat.”
I am confident in and with my body and I hear this statement fairly regularly in some form or another. I do not, however, typically hear that particular translation and here's why:
I believe that a lot of women who say this to me genuinely wish they were as comfortable and confident with their bodies as I am. The truth is that most women, sadly, are not confident with their bodies regardless of size or shape. I'm not going to step onto this particular soap box for very long but I do think it is extremely unfortunate that we, as girls, as women, are not empowered by society, by the media, and by the various other forces putting pressure on us, to be comfortable with ourselves (and mind you, this goes for men too). I don't know what made me be comfortable and confident. I do know that I am not the norm in this and it saddens me when I meet girls and women of every possible shape and size who are not comfortable in and with their bodies and therefore are not confident with their bodies. So, when someone says this to me, I mostly feel sad. Not for me but for them.
The next statement I want to call out is:
What you say: “I didn’t know you work out so much.”
What we hear: “How can you work out often and not be thin?”
This one I agree with. I had a conversation recently with my hair stylist, whom I ADORE! He is tall and skinny and looks like the perfect picture of health. When I told him I had recently run a half marathon he was excited for me and super supportive but then he said, "you know, I would probably die if I tried to run even a couple of blocks! Most people tell me I look so good and "oooh, I wish I was thin like you" but it's not all it's cracked up to be." He has struggled his entire life to put and keep weight on. He LOOKS healthy but he knows he isn't. He also isn't all that active. The reality is that I am probably a lot healthier than he is, I'm certainly a LOT more active than he is but if you put us side-by-side and asked 100 people which one of us is healthy and/or active, 99 of them would choose him. I take pride in the fact that I live a pretty active life. I enjoy it. I don't love working out but I do walk a lot, I play tennis, I trained for and ran a half marathon very recently (although I don't love running!), I hike, I swim, I even went roller skating not too long ago. In other words, I'm a pretty healthy & active lady. It's time to shift our perspective: just because someone doesn't fit your ideal of a "healthy, active" person, doesn't mean they can't kick your ass in any given activity. Watch yourself!
This next one is one of my biggest pet peeves and gets me going like not much else.
What you say: “Are you just lazy?”
What we hear: “Fat = Doing nothing but eating all day. This is an equation I’ve known for years yet your body is giving me a different result.”
I don't often encounter this actual question or statement but I do often encounter this bias. It's what I call fat bias. There are a lot of people in the world - some of them pretty close to home actually - that believe that all fat people are lazy. And dumb. And probably dirty too.
You know what? I am lazy! I don't like taking out the trash and would rather sit and read a good book than take that smelly trash bag outside. I am a master procrastinator on certain things. I will sometimes try to carry as many grocery bags as I possibly can so I don't have to make a million trips to the car after a major grocery run.
None of the lazy moments have anything to do with my weight. In fact, mostly I'm just being efficient - especially with the groceries! I also work really hard. I run two businesses, I have friends and social engagements, and see above for how active I am. I bet that a lot of people who think I'm lazy just because I'm overweight would struggle keeping up with me in my daily life so, F*#! off! You have absolutely NO idea what you're talking about and this bias, just like most every bias, is uninformed and inaccurate and it's time for you to get rid of it and move on. Meet me at the tennis court or go on a hike with me or, heck, train for another damn half marathon with me (even though I said I'd never do another one!) but don't you dare make assumptions about my productivity and activity just because I don't look like your ideal of a "normal" productive member of society. Asshole.
Whew! I told you that one got me hot!
OK, next, we have another one I disagree with:
What you say: “Ugh, I feel sooooo fat today.”
What we hear: “I’m feeling self-conscious about myself and choosing to discuss this with my friend who is at least eight sizes larger than me without thinking about how it’ll make her feel.”
You know what? Sometimes we feel fat. It doesn't matter your size. It doesn't matter that you're not actually fat. Sometimes we all just feel that way. Even I, and I am actually fat, have days where I feel bloated and gross and - yup - fat. Most days I feel great and comfortable and confident (see above) but every once in a while...
I absolutely do not hear this translation when someone says "I feel fat today" to me. I don't feel like this statement is about me at all. It's about the person who is saying it to me and, given what our society says about "fat", I take it as an honor for that person to feel comfortable enough with me to tell me they aren't feeling their societally-sanctioned-best that day. I'm sorry you don't feel great. I hope you feel better tomorrow.
Now, if this is a frequent, attention-seeking, drama-creating statement by a person who is motivated by that sort of thing, well, then maybe you should stop spending time with that person.
And finally, another one I agree with but one that I believe deserves some additional time:
What you say: “I just want you to be happy.”
What we hear: “Because there’s no way anyone would be happy at your size, right?”
You know what? Thank you for wanting me to be happy. But screw you for thinking that weight, body shape or size, or anything else you project on another person is what that person truly cares about or will actually make or break someone's happiness. What this statement makes me think is that the person making it is actually pretty unhappy themselves. If you know me at all, you know that I am a happy person and I'm actually pretty darn happy with my body (again - see above) so go away.
Besides, why do you think that if a person doesn't fit your ideal of a "normal" body, that person is unhappy? And, by the way, what makes you think my weight, size, or shape is something that has any bearing on my happiness anyway? What about my life, my friends, my family, my job, my activities, my hopes, my dreams? Also, why do you think that my body is something that dictates everything else in my life? I promise you it doesn't. I'm good. I don't need you to worry about me. I've got my shit handled. As much as anyone else does, anyway. And probably more than you do.
The bottom line in all of this is, don't judge a book by its cover. Don't assume I am a certain way, I'll try not to assume things about you.
Now I'm going to go sit on my couch, be lazy, and relax before I get up early tomorrow morning for a round of tennis.
Monday, March 9, 2015
Sunday Dinner!
Some years ago when I first moved to California, I was telling a dear friend about how much I loved Sunday dinners during the decade I lived in Ohio and so we decided to institute the tradition here in California. That was six years ago and, while most of the people who were a part of it then have either moved away or moved on, I decided a little over a year ago to start the tradition again. Since then, there have been only a handful of Sundays without Sunday dinner at my place.
I love Sunday dinners. I love bringing together the people I care about. I love cooking for them. I love sitting around a big table with good food, good friends, good wine, great conversation, and lots of laughter.
However, every week I struggle with what to make. I try to stay away from frequent repeats of menus and I always have a hard time thinking of what I've already made, etc. So, I decided to start keeping track. I may do a weekly blog post with a recipe, I may not. I may take pictures of the food, I may not. Either way, here's what we had for dinner last night (with links to the recipes): Chicken Stroganoff and a chopped kale salad.
Oh, and all of the recipes are typically for about 6 servings. I tend to double or triple the recipes depending on how many people I expect to show up. Plus, who doesn't love leftovers?
Happy eating!
I love Sunday dinners. I love bringing together the people I care about. I love cooking for them. I love sitting around a big table with good food, good friends, good wine, great conversation, and lots of laughter.
However, every week I struggle with what to make. I try to stay away from frequent repeats of menus and I always have a hard time thinking of what I've already made, etc. So, I decided to start keeping track. I may do a weekly blog post with a recipe, I may not. I may take pictures of the food, I may not. Either way, here's what we had for dinner last night (with links to the recipes): Chicken Stroganoff and a chopped kale salad.
Oh, and all of the recipes are typically for about 6 servings. I tend to double or triple the recipes depending on how many people I expect to show up. Plus, who doesn't love leftovers?
Happy eating!
Chicken Stroganoff
Chicken Stroganoff:
- This is loosely based on a recipe from Real Simple.
Ingredients (for about 6 servings):
olive oil
1 onion, sliced into thin rings
2 red bell peppers, seeded and thinly sliced
10-ish oz (about 20 medium) mushrooms of your choosing, thinly sliced
salt & pepper
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch strips
1 cup dry white wine
1 cup of chicken broth
2 - 3 tablespoons of barbecue sauce
1 - 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 - 3 tablespoons of Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon (or 1 tablespoon if you like it spicy) of hot sauce
1/2 yogurt
Directions:
1. Heat about 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook the onions until soft. Make sure to stir frequently.
2. Add the bell peppers and mushrooms. Season with some salt and pepper, and cook until the mushrooms give up their liquid.
3. Strain the vegetables into a bowl (you'll want that liquid for later)
4. In the same pan, heat more olive oil, season the chicken with a little salt and pepper and cook in batches until it's golden brown. Then add the chicken to the veggies in your colander.
5. Pour wine, broth, and vegetable liquid into the pan and bring to a boil. Scrape up any brown bits and let the sauce cook for a few minutes.
6. Combine barbecue sauce, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and hot sauce in a small mixing bowl. Whisk until combined. Then whisk the mixture into the sauce and boil until the liquid has reduced by half. It should start to thicken a bit.
7. Reduce heat and whisk in the yogurt. Don't let the sauce boil again. Add the veggies and chicken back into the sauce and let it simmer until heated through.
I serve this over buttered egg noodles. It's also really good over toast.
- This is loosely based on a recipe from Real Simple.
Ingredients (for about 6 servings):
olive oil
1 onion, sliced into thin rings
2 red bell peppers, seeded and thinly sliced
10-ish oz (about 20 medium) mushrooms of your choosing, thinly sliced
salt & pepper
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch strips
1 cup dry white wine
1 cup of chicken broth
2 - 3 tablespoons of barbecue sauce
1 - 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 - 3 tablespoons of Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon (or 1 tablespoon if you like it spicy) of hot sauce
1/2 yogurt
Directions:
1. Heat about 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook the onions until soft. Make sure to stir frequently.
2. Add the bell peppers and mushrooms. Season with some salt and pepper, and cook until the mushrooms give up their liquid.
3. Strain the vegetables into a bowl (you'll want that liquid for later)
4. In the same pan, heat more olive oil, season the chicken with a little salt and pepper and cook in batches until it's golden brown. Then add the chicken to the veggies in your colander.
5. Pour wine, broth, and vegetable liquid into the pan and bring to a boil. Scrape up any brown bits and let the sauce cook for a few minutes.
6. Combine barbecue sauce, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and hot sauce in a small mixing bowl. Whisk until combined. Then whisk the mixture into the sauce and boil until the liquid has reduced by half. It should start to thicken a bit.
7. Reduce heat and whisk in the yogurt. Don't let the sauce boil again. Add the veggies and chicken back into the sauce and let it simmer until heated through.
I serve this over buttered egg noodles. It's also really good over toast.
Chopped Kale Salad with Edamame and Avocado
Chopped Kale Salad with Edamame and Avocado:
- this is based on a recipe I found in the Oakland Tribune from Spring of 2014.
Ingredients for salad:
1 bunch of kale
fine-grain sea salt
1 cup chopped up snow peas
1 small red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 cup of edamame
1 avocado, cut into small chunks
1 large shallot, finely sliced
a bunch of cilantro, chopped
a bunch of basil, chopped
Ingredients for dressing:
1/4 cup of olive oil
2 tablespoons of rice vinegar
1 tablespoon finely grated ginger
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons lime juice
3 garlic cloves, pressed or minced
Directions:
1. Tear kale leaves into chunks and discard the tough ribs.
2. Put kale leaves into a big salad bowl, sprinkle sea salt on it and massage the kale by scrunching it with your hands until the leaves get darker green and fragrant.
3. Add the rest of the ingredients to the kale.
4. Whisk together the ingredients for the dressing and toss with the salad.
- this is based on a recipe I found in the Oakland Tribune from Spring of 2014.
Ingredients for salad:
1 bunch of kale
fine-grain sea salt
1 cup chopped up snow peas
1 small red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 cup of edamame
1 avocado, cut into small chunks
1 large shallot, finely sliced
a bunch of cilantro, chopped
a bunch of basil, chopped
Ingredients for dressing:
1/4 cup of olive oil
2 tablespoons of rice vinegar
1 tablespoon finely grated ginger
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons lime juice
3 garlic cloves, pressed or minced
Directions:
1. Tear kale leaves into chunks and discard the tough ribs.
2. Put kale leaves into a big salad bowl, sprinkle sea salt on it and massage the kale by scrunching it with your hands until the leaves get darker green and fragrant.
3. Add the rest of the ingredients to the kale.
4. Whisk together the ingredients for the dressing and toss with the salad.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Going postal
I don't go to the post office all that frequently but when I do, I always go to the post office in my own neighborhood. For this reason, I don't know if what I observe there is a post-office specific - and therefore unique - experience or if it is a universal truth in post offices around the country.
First off, there's always a line. I don't mean one or two people waiting when I walk in. I mean an actual, legitimate line of people. A minimum of 5 or 6 people. It doesn't matter what time of day it is or what season it is, there is always a line. It is a reliable truth. It's one I don't necessarily understand but one I have come to accept.
Secondly, I think you enter an invisible magical vortex when you cross the threshold into my neighborhood post office and get in line with the rest of the poor souls there at any given moment. Everyone who enters (except me of course, I'm immune!) automatically loses all ability to follow directions, read instructions, or utilize any common sense that may have been present prior to entering. I'm serious. When did we as average members of this society lose the ability to mail things? People don't know how to address envelopes anymore. People don't know which envelope to use, how to fill out forms, which forms to fill out, how to pick up packages, you name it.
Of course, the wonderful people who work at my neighborhood post office have devised a brilliant plan to address this situation: They maintain an unwavering, unbreakable pleasantness with every single idiot customer they come in contact with. It is truly impressive. They explain what said idiot needs to do to properly complete their task, then they tell that idiot to come right back to them - "don't wait in line again, just come right back to me!"
It actually seems to work pretty well. I did watch several of these idiots get back in line once they had completed their tasks, although a couple of them had to be sent away multiple times to redo what they were told the first time.
Do people use the post office so rarely that they legitimately don't know what they are doing? If that's the case, I'm confused about the ever-present line of people. If everybody is a first-time postal user, there aren't enough people in my neighborhood to warrant such persistent and long lines over time. So that can't be the case. Since everybody cant 'be a first time user, what's the problem? At some point, don't we learn how things work? The only logical explanation is the invisible magical vortex described above.
For my part, I've decided to be amused by the scene rather than be annoyed like everyone else seems to be in these situations. I don't go that often and I know what to expect since I've been witnessing this phenomenon for the past five years.
It does make me wonder though...
First off, there's always a line. I don't mean one or two people waiting when I walk in. I mean an actual, legitimate line of people. A minimum of 5 or 6 people. It doesn't matter what time of day it is or what season it is, there is always a line. It is a reliable truth. It's one I don't necessarily understand but one I have come to accept.
Secondly, I think you enter an invisible magical vortex when you cross the threshold into my neighborhood post office and get in line with the rest of the poor souls there at any given moment. Everyone who enters (except me of course, I'm immune!) automatically loses all ability to follow directions, read instructions, or utilize any common sense that may have been present prior to entering. I'm serious. When did we as average members of this society lose the ability to mail things? People don't know how to address envelopes anymore. People don't know which envelope to use, how to fill out forms, which forms to fill out, how to pick up packages, you name it.
Of course, the wonderful people who work at my neighborhood post office have devised a brilliant plan to address this situation: They maintain an unwavering, unbreakable pleasantness with every single idiot customer they come in contact with. It is truly impressive. They explain what said idiot needs to do to properly complete their task, then they tell that idiot to come right back to them - "don't wait in line again, just come right back to me!"
It actually seems to work pretty well. I did watch several of these idiots get back in line once they had completed their tasks, although a couple of them had to be sent away multiple times to redo what they were told the first time.
Do people use the post office so rarely that they legitimately don't know what they are doing? If that's the case, I'm confused about the ever-present line of people. If everybody is a first-time postal user, there aren't enough people in my neighborhood to warrant such persistent and long lines over time. So that can't be the case. Since everybody cant 'be a first time user, what's the problem? At some point, don't we learn how things work? The only logical explanation is the invisible magical vortex described above.
For my part, I've decided to be amused by the scene rather than be annoyed like everyone else seems to be in these situations. I don't go that often and I know what to expect since I've been witnessing this phenomenon for the past five years.
It does make me wonder though...
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Other people don't know how to travel
Traveling can be fun. You get to see all kinds of new and interesting things and you get to meet all kinds of new and interesting people. But there are also those things/people you would rather not come across.
Recently, I experienced two of these. The first was that person who, no matter how obviously you do not want to engage in conversation keeps talking to you: I took the airport express bus from my hotel to the airport in (beautiful & amazing) Toronto. As I was waiting for the bus, a lady asked - fairly - whether she was in the right place for the bus to the airport. She kept talking to me even though I was obviously engrossed in the article I was reading. Once the bus came I thought I would have to make the decision whether I would appear rude and not sit with this stranger on the bus or sacrifice my quiet time to be friendly - i.e. not rude and sit next to this woman. I took the only seat available that was not directly next to her but across the aisle from her on the bus. I immediately got comfortable and closed my eyes to take a nap. However, every time I did, she would ask me a question, like I was the expert on her trip. What time would we arrive at the airport? How much time would she have before boarding her flight? Would she be able to change her seat on the plane if she didn't like it? Seriously? Every time I turned and closed my eyes, she asked another question. ARGH! When someone is trying very obviously not be be interrupted, don't interrupt them! Don't be this person.
The other annoying person you encounter while traveling is the one that decides to chat up the customers official, the security people, really whomever they can. This has effect that everybody behind them has to wait and a line forms while the talker tells this poor unsuspecting airport worker the life story of her son/granddaughter, whatever. That customs official/security agent/gate agent doesn't care about your grandson who just won an award for being the best quiet sitter in 2nd grade. And, believe me, the people behind you really don't care about this. They do however care that you are making their lives a little more annoying and their already frustrating travel experience that much more frustrating. Don't be this person either.
Recently, I experienced two of these. The first was that person who, no matter how obviously you do not want to engage in conversation keeps talking to you: I took the airport express bus from my hotel to the airport in (beautiful & amazing) Toronto. As I was waiting for the bus, a lady asked - fairly - whether she was in the right place for the bus to the airport. She kept talking to me even though I was obviously engrossed in the article I was reading. Once the bus came I thought I would have to make the decision whether I would appear rude and not sit with this stranger on the bus or sacrifice my quiet time to be friendly - i.e. not rude and sit next to this woman. I took the only seat available that was not directly next to her but across the aisle from her on the bus. I immediately got comfortable and closed my eyes to take a nap. However, every time I did, she would ask me a question, like I was the expert on her trip. What time would we arrive at the airport? How much time would she have before boarding her flight? Would she be able to change her seat on the plane if she didn't like it? Seriously? Every time I turned and closed my eyes, she asked another question. ARGH! When someone is trying very obviously not be be interrupted, don't interrupt them! Don't be this person.
The other annoying person you encounter while traveling is the one that decides to chat up the customers official, the security people, really whomever they can. This has effect that everybody behind them has to wait and a line forms while the talker tells this poor unsuspecting airport worker the life story of her son/granddaughter, whatever. That customs official/security agent/gate agent doesn't care about your grandson who just won an award for being the best quiet sitter in 2nd grade. And, believe me, the people behind you really don't care about this. They do however care that you are making their lives a little more annoying and their already frustrating travel experience that much more frustrating. Don't be this person either.
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Adventures in Travel
So I travel a lot. I have mostly gotten used to it. I have noticed though that my annoyance level has increased when it comes to inexperienced travelers at the airport: those who take forever to get through the security line because they have stuff in their pockets or they have giant bottles of lotion in their purses and then they don't know how to board the different airlines?
But I have also noticed something about my own traveling lifestyle.
You know how you buy certain things at certain stores? You have a special brand of something that you really like and so you purchase it at a specific place. Right? Well, I do that too. Except, here's what I realized the other day: As I was planning my travel day, I built in an extra 10 minutes at a certain airport because that's where I buy my make-up at that little spa in that one terminal. Incidentally, there is also a specific airport for rain gear (I bought my last rain jacket there after I built in an extra 15 to 20 minutes for that purchase!) and there's a specific airport for gifts for any occasion.
I could probably find places to purchase these things locally or online. But I have a routine and it works for me so for now, I'll keep doing what I'm doing.
-
In other news, I overheard the strangest conversation on a plane yesterday:
Passenger A: "It's ironic. Both of my parents were doctors but I have just never believed in medicine or the power of medicine to do anything. That's why I never go to the doctor. It just doesn't make any sense."
Passenger B (after what seemed like an uncomfortable silence in which he was trying to think of a way to respond): "What do you do?"
Passenger A: "I work for a group of health insurance companies doing sales."
Passenger B didn't respond to that one.
A couple of things:
1. Wait, what???? Who doesn't "believe" in medicine? I know there are people who, for religious reasons refuse medical treatment and care but they still believe that medicine exists and does something, right? This person doesn't believe in the power of medicine, as in, medicine doesn't do anything. Even those who refuse medical treatment do so because they believe it does something.
What kind of doctors were her parents? What kind of parents were her parents??
2. Seriously????? How can you reconcile these two statements? You don't believe in medicine but you sell health insurance to people? Huh?. How? Why? I... I don't understand.
People are weird.
Anyway, that's the latest from the road.
Happy travels!
But I have also noticed something about my own traveling lifestyle.
You know how you buy certain things at certain stores? You have a special brand of something that you really like and so you purchase it at a specific place. Right? Well, I do that too. Except, here's what I realized the other day: As I was planning my travel day, I built in an extra 10 minutes at a certain airport because that's where I buy my make-up at that little spa in that one terminal. Incidentally, there is also a specific airport for rain gear (I bought my last rain jacket there after I built in an extra 15 to 20 minutes for that purchase!) and there's a specific airport for gifts for any occasion.
I could probably find places to purchase these things locally or online. But I have a routine and it works for me so for now, I'll keep doing what I'm doing.
-
In other news, I overheard the strangest conversation on a plane yesterday:
Passenger A: "It's ironic. Both of my parents were doctors but I have just never believed in medicine or the power of medicine to do anything. That's why I never go to the doctor. It just doesn't make any sense."
Passenger B (after what seemed like an uncomfortable silence in which he was trying to think of a way to respond): "What do you do?"
Passenger A: "I work for a group of health insurance companies doing sales."
Passenger B didn't respond to that one.
A couple of things:
1. Wait, what???? Who doesn't "believe" in medicine? I know there are people who, for religious reasons refuse medical treatment and care but they still believe that medicine exists and does something, right? This person doesn't believe in the power of medicine, as in, medicine doesn't do anything. Even those who refuse medical treatment do so because they believe it does something.
What kind of doctors were her parents? What kind of parents were her parents??
2. Seriously????? How can you reconcile these two statements? You don't believe in medicine but you sell health insurance to people? Huh?. How? Why? I... I don't understand.
People are weird.
Anyway, that's the latest from the road.
Happy travels!
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Packing done right!
I have so much catching up to do! Since my last post, I took that train trip up to Seattle, I went on a trip to South Africa/Zimbabwe/Zambia, I've seen some terrible fashion choices on which I had some very clear opinions (if you can't walk in them, your heels are too high!), but now I'm about to embark on another adventure and I figured it was time to at least check in.
So, I'm going to Guatemala and Costa Rica. And I'm going there TONIGHT! I've never been to Central America and I'm excited for a serious vacation. I will be hiking, fishing, exploring, and beach sitting. I'll read, sleep, doze, laugh, and have a really amazing time. (At least that's what I'm expecting!)
In the meantime, I have to post some pre-vacation pictures because, lets face it, I'm not getting any work done today!
Ok, anyone who has traveled with me knows I take pride in my packing abilities (2 1/2 weeks in South Africa and I almost only packed one carry-on bag) so here's today's packing success:
4 pairs of pants (+1 pair of jeans because someone forgot to pack his jeans)
3 sun dresses
3 swim suits (because, why not? I'm going to be spending some serious time on the beach.)
7 T-shirts/tank tops (I'm overpacking on this one)
3 other shirts
3 pairs of shoes
underwear
socks
wine and chocolate for the people I'm staying with
hair products, including a curling iron (you never know when you need to look cute!)
sunscreen, mosquito repellent, etc.
chargers, other electronics
a baseball cap (because someone also forgot to pack his baseball cap)
band-aides and other 1st aid stuff
in one small, carry-on sized bag, which I will be checking. My actual carry-on is a tiny little day backpack. And I'm not at all concerned about having room for stuff I buy there because I'll make room by giving away the chocolates and the wine and besides, I have the ability to get a bag of some sort there if I need one.
I'm so proud of myself!
So, I'm going to Guatemala and Costa Rica. And I'm going there TONIGHT! I've never been to Central America and I'm excited for a serious vacation. I will be hiking, fishing, exploring, and beach sitting. I'll read, sleep, doze, laugh, and have a really amazing time. (At least that's what I'm expecting!)
In the meantime, I have to post some pre-vacation pictures because, lets face it, I'm not getting any work done today!
Ok, anyone who has traveled with me knows I take pride in my packing abilities (2 1/2 weeks in South Africa and I almost only packed one carry-on bag) so here's today's packing success:
4 pairs of pants (+1 pair of jeans because someone forgot to pack his jeans)
3 sun dresses
3 swim suits (because, why not? I'm going to be spending some serious time on the beach.)
7 T-shirts/tank tops (I'm overpacking on this one)
3 other shirts
3 pairs of shoes
underwear
socks
wine and chocolate for the people I'm staying with
hair products, including a curling iron (you never know when you need to look cute!)
sunscreen, mosquito repellent, etc.
chargers, other electronics
a baseball cap (because someone also forgot to pack his baseball cap)
band-aides and other 1st aid stuff
in one small, carry-on sized bag, which I will be checking. My actual carry-on is a tiny little day backpack. And I'm not at all concerned about having room for stuff I buy there because I'll make room by giving away the chocolates and the wine and besides, I have the ability to get a bag of some sort there if I need one.
I'm so proud of myself!
Friday, December 21, 2012
Happy Holidays!
Tis the season, right?
Right.
Although, I had decided not to decorate my place this year. It didn't make sense to decorate, I'm not going to be here anyway. Actually, I'm leaving today and I'm very excited about it! (Next post will most certainly be all about my train travel adventure!)
So, I'm leaving today. Apparently in my world this means that today is the day I need to decorate my apartment. What? Yup. That's the logic of my brain.
I think it has something to do with how dreary it is outside and I know I'll be coming home late next week to a dreary day and there's something about a little sparkle and twinkle that brightens up dreary winter days.
And so...
I give you Happy Holidays in the form of an avocado tree, a dwarf lemon tree, and a bay window:
And remember this guy? The whole reason I created this picture window was to be able to change it seasonally. Seemed appropriate to actually do it.
Right.
Although, I had decided not to decorate my place this year. It didn't make sense to decorate, I'm not going to be here anyway. Actually, I'm leaving today and I'm very excited about it! (Next post will most certainly be all about my train travel adventure!)
So, I'm leaving today. Apparently in my world this means that today is the day I need to decorate my apartment. What? Yup. That's the logic of my brain.
I think it has something to do with how dreary it is outside and I know I'll be coming home late next week to a dreary day and there's something about a little sparkle and twinkle that brightens up dreary winter days.
And so...
I give you Happy Holidays in the form of an avocado tree, a dwarf lemon tree, and a bay window:
 |
| The full view of the living room with lights and everything! |
 |
| This poor sad avocado tree is my Charlie Brown Christmas Tree. It's where the presents are waiting for me to open when I return next Friday. |
 |
| The lemon tree. It smells really good! |
And remember this guy? The whole reason I created this picture window was to be able to change it seasonally. Seemed appropriate to actually do it.
 |
| Thanks to Julia and David for my coke-can angel on top! |
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Fall... beets... cupcakes!
It's fall in Northern California. That means that the days are a bit shorter and cooler, the nights chillier, the leaves yellow and brown and crunchy under foot. It's lovely. It also means it's the season for root vegetables and I love root vegetables. I especially adore beets.
So naturally, I made cupcakes.
Okay, I'll explain. I was inspired by a recipe I read in Sunset magazine which I have recently mysteriously begun receiving. It had a recipe for red velvet cupcakes colored not with food coloring but with roasted beets. I thought that was brilliant! And so I set out to make them.
Being me, I couldn't just follow the recipe exactly. First, I decided to make mini cupcakes instead of full sized ones. Then I used whole wheat pastry flour instead of the cake flour, I used truvia instead of sugar, being diabetic and all. I also changed the buttercream icing to a more lactose-intolerant-friendly vegan cream cheese icing with a dash of grapefruit bitters for extra flavor.
They turned out alright. Next time, I will not bake them as long as they got a bit dry. They are still pretty tasty though and I like that they aren't super sweet. They are a really pretty red color though, which is great for Halloween!
Anyway, here are some pictures and the recipe. Original is from Sunset Magazine, Northern California edition, October 2012.
And here's the recipe:
So naturally, I made cupcakes.
Okay, I'll explain. I was inspired by a recipe I read in Sunset magazine which I have recently mysteriously begun receiving. It had a recipe for red velvet cupcakes colored not with food coloring but with roasted beets. I thought that was brilliant! And so I set out to make them.
Being me, I couldn't just follow the recipe exactly. First, I decided to make mini cupcakes instead of full sized ones. Then I used whole wheat pastry flour instead of the cake flour, I used truvia instead of sugar, being diabetic and all. I also changed the buttercream icing to a more lactose-intolerant-friendly vegan cream cheese icing with a dash of grapefruit bitters for extra flavor.
They turned out alright. Next time, I will not bake them as long as they got a bit dry. They are still pretty tasty though and I like that they aren't super sweet. They are a really pretty red color though, which is great for Halloween!
Anyway, here are some pictures and the recipe. Original is from Sunset Magazine, Northern California edition, October 2012.
 |
| roasted beet puree |
 |
| finished batter |
 |
| Adding icing. |
Red velvet cupcakes with orange buttercream
Makes 12 cupcakes (32 mini
cupcakes)
Cupcakes
1 lb. red beets (3 medium), scrubbed
1 lb. red beets (3 medium), scrubbed
2 cups sifted cake flour
1 tsp. baking powder
¾ tsp. kosher or fine sea
salt
1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 cup plus 2 tsp. granulated
sugar (or 3/8 cup truvia or other similar brand if doing sugar free)
3 large eggs, beaten to blend
2/3 cup canola oil
¾ tsp. vanilla extract
Orange buttercream
1 cup unsalted butter, at
room temperature
2 cups powdered sugar (10
tsp. truvia if doing sugar free)
½ tsp. pure orange oil (or
zest of 1 orange)
¼ tsp. vanilla extract
- 1. Make cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350. Wrap each beet in foil, put on a rimmed baking sheet, and roast until tender when pierced, 1 to 1 ½ hours. Let cool. Peel, cut into chunks, and puree in a food processor. Measure 1 ¼ cups puree.
- 2. Line a 12-cup muffin pan (1/2 cup size) with paper liners. Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Set aside.
- 3. Whisk together beet puree, granulated sugar, eggs, oil, and vanilla in a large bowl. With a plastic spatula, stir in flour mixture one-third at a time just until smooth.
- 4. Spoon batter into muffin cups, filling each almost to the top of the liner. Bake until cupcakes spring back when gently pressed and a toothpick inserted in center of one comes out with a couple of moist crumgs clinging. 25 to 30 minutes (15 – 17 minutes for mini cupcakes). Let cool in pan on a rack for 10 minutes. Transfer to rack to cool completely.
- 5. Make buttercream: Beat butter with a mixer on high speed until very smooth. Add powdered sugar, orange oil, and vanilla; beat on low speed to blend, then on medium until fluffy and smooth.
- 6. Spread a thick layer of buttercream on cupcakes, swirling it decoratively. Or pipe frosting from a pastry bag, using a star tip.
Per cupcake: 481 cal. 29 gram
of fat, 53 g. carbs, 176 mg sodium, 94 mg chol.
Per mini cupcake of sugar free: not sure of the
calories but it’s much less, 10 g. of carbs.Tuesday, October 9, 2012
President McKenzie
Ah, yes. President McKenzie. Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?
It's not what you think. Really. It has nothing to do with politics or countries or clubs (or country clubs for that matter). Instead, it has everything to do with my new company and the fact that I have accepted the position that I offered to myself. That position is as President of the company.
I'm also the CFO, the Secretary, the gofer, the marketing department, the payroll department, and several others that I'm sure I don't even know about yet.
Regardless, I went through a lengthy meeting with my lawyer doing the official things a board, a president, a CFO, and the secretary of a company do. And after I signed my employment agreement with McKenzie Solutions, I signed a lot of documents as Kate McKenzie, President.
I thought that was pretty neat.
And now I'm terrified I'm going to do something to get in trouble! Yikes!
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Social Norms?
I'm spending the morning working from my local coffee shop. I decided I needed a change of scenery - because apparently I haven't had enough of that lately... No, it's just that my cleaning lady is at my place and I don't like to be there when she's cleaning. I feel like I'm in the way.
Anyway, I'm at a coffee shop. There is music playing as there is in all stores and coffee shops and restaurants these days. As a side note: have you ever wondered what it would be like if there wasn't any music playing? Would that affect you in any way? Would you even notice?
Ok, back to the current situation. So, there's music playing. The shop is fairly busy, most tables are taken. People are working, talking, reading, etc.
There is one woman at one table who is full on dancing to the music that is playing. She has a book in front of her but she hasn't paid attention to it at all, at least not from what I can tell. Instead, she's sitting in her chair, dancing to the music. Smiling, enjoying herself.
Now, what is interesting to me is that everyone sees her, walks by her, makes sure not to make eye contact with her. Everyone seems to be thinking, "oh wow, stay away from the crazy lady!"
Why? Why do we assume that someone who is enjoying the music and is free enough to dance to that music when it moves her is crazy or dangerous? Maybe she's really just having a wonderful time!
I'll admit that I, myself, initially avoided making eye contact but now I can't stop watching her. I caught her eye and smiled at her and she just smiled back and continued dancing.
Maybe she's nuts. Maybe she's weird.
But maybe she is exactly what we should all be: free enough to hear, appreciate, enjoy, and act on her impulse to dance to the music around her.
Anyway, I'm at a coffee shop. There is music playing as there is in all stores and coffee shops and restaurants these days. As a side note: have you ever wondered what it would be like if there wasn't any music playing? Would that affect you in any way? Would you even notice?
Ok, back to the current situation. So, there's music playing. The shop is fairly busy, most tables are taken. People are working, talking, reading, etc.
There is one woman at one table who is full on dancing to the music that is playing. She has a book in front of her but she hasn't paid attention to it at all, at least not from what I can tell. Instead, she's sitting in her chair, dancing to the music. Smiling, enjoying herself.
Now, what is interesting to me is that everyone sees her, walks by her, makes sure not to make eye contact with her. Everyone seems to be thinking, "oh wow, stay away from the crazy lady!"
Why? Why do we assume that someone who is enjoying the music and is free enough to dance to that music when it moves her is crazy or dangerous? Maybe she's really just having a wonderful time!
I'll admit that I, myself, initially avoided making eye contact but now I can't stop watching her. I caught her eye and smiled at her and she just smiled back and continued dancing.
Maybe she's nuts. Maybe she's weird.
But maybe she is exactly what we should all be: free enough to hear, appreciate, enjoy, and act on her impulse to dance to the music around her.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
YUMmmmy!
It has been a long while since I posted anything but this new recipe is too good not to share. I've made it twice in the last few weeks and I just can't get enough of it. It is creamy and nutty and utterly scrumptious. The creaminess comes from the cashews, not cream. I've rediscovered cashews recently. They are amazing!
It's from Vegetarian Times and actually it's a vegan recipe so all of you non-dairy types can enjoy it as well. Now, those of you who know how I cook know that I use a recipe mostly as a guide, a starting point, a suggestion, so I altered it a bit as I went. I also don't measure my ingredients so I wasn't very precise and it was absolutely delicious.
Anyway, here it is:
Black Pepper Fettuccine with Chardonnay Sauce
Serves 2
Sauce:
1 cup raw cashews
1 cup Chardonnay wine
1 Tbs. nutritional yeast (I use vegetable broth powder, this is where the sauce gets its salt)
1 Tbs. lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
Pasta:
3 oz uncooked fettuccine (or any other kind of pasta, I used spinach linguine the first time, whole wheat penne the second)
1 cup baby spinach (I used more like 2 cups)
6 asparagus spears (the second time I made it I used broccolini simply because that's what I had on hand)
1/4 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips (I skipped this)
1. To make Sauce: Blend cashews and 1 cup water in blender or food processor until smooth. Strain out solids using fine mesh strainer; discard solids (I used the solids as well, they added the tiniest bit of nutty crunch but make sure the mixture gets nice and smooth first.)
2. Simmer Chardonnay in a small saucepan over medium heat 7 to 10 minutes, or until reduced to about 1/3 cup liquid. Stir in cashew mixture, nutritional yeast (or vegetable broth powder), lemon juice, and ground black pepper. Keep warm.
3. To make Pasta: cook in boiling salted water according to package directions.
4. Meanwhile, bring 1/4 cup water to a simmer in a small skillet. Add spinach, and cook 2 to 3 minutes, or until wilted. Keep warm.
5. Heat grill pan over medium heat. Grill asparagus 7 minutes, turning once. Grill bell pepper 2 - 3 minutes (if you're using them) until wilted. Keep warm.
6. Drain pasta, and return to pot. Toss with Sauce, and divide between 2 plates. Top each serving with wilted spinach, asparagus, and bell pepper strips.
The second time I made I deviated a little more and added sauteed mushrooms for a nice meaty vegetable. Still delicious. Whatever you do, whichever vegetables you choose to use, enjoy it. And try not to eat all the sauce before you put it on the pasta!
Enjoy!
P.S. For anyone who is interested, here is the nutritional value per Vegetarian Times:
per serving: calories: 386; protein: 15g; total fat: 16g; saturated fat: 3g; carbohydrates: 49g; cholesterol: 0; sodium: 184mg; fiber: 5g; sugar: 6g.
It's from Vegetarian Times and actually it's a vegan recipe so all of you non-dairy types can enjoy it as well. Now, those of you who know how I cook know that I use a recipe mostly as a guide, a starting point, a suggestion, so I altered it a bit as I went. I also don't measure my ingredients so I wasn't very precise and it was absolutely delicious.
Anyway, here it is:
Black Pepper Fettuccine with Chardonnay Sauce
Serves 2
Sauce:
1 cup raw cashews
1 cup Chardonnay wine
1 Tbs. nutritional yeast (I use vegetable broth powder, this is where the sauce gets its salt)
1 Tbs. lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
Pasta:
3 oz uncooked fettuccine (or any other kind of pasta, I used spinach linguine the first time, whole wheat penne the second)
1 cup baby spinach (I used more like 2 cups)
6 asparagus spears (the second time I made it I used broccolini simply because that's what I had on hand)
1/4 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips (I skipped this)
1. To make Sauce: Blend cashews and 1 cup water in blender or food processor until smooth. Strain out solids using fine mesh strainer; discard solids (I used the solids as well, they added the tiniest bit of nutty crunch but make sure the mixture gets nice and smooth first.)
2. Simmer Chardonnay in a small saucepan over medium heat 7 to 10 minutes, or until reduced to about 1/3 cup liquid. Stir in cashew mixture, nutritional yeast (or vegetable broth powder), lemon juice, and ground black pepper. Keep warm.
3. To make Pasta: cook in boiling salted water according to package directions.
4. Meanwhile, bring 1/4 cup water to a simmer in a small skillet. Add spinach, and cook 2 to 3 minutes, or until wilted. Keep warm.
5. Heat grill pan over medium heat. Grill asparagus 7 minutes, turning once. Grill bell pepper 2 - 3 minutes (if you're using them) until wilted. Keep warm.
6. Drain pasta, and return to pot. Toss with Sauce, and divide between 2 plates. Top each serving with wilted spinach, asparagus, and bell pepper strips.
 |
| Here's a photo of my first finished product. |
Enjoy!
P.S. For anyone who is interested, here is the nutritional value per Vegetarian Times:
per serving: calories: 386; protein: 15g; total fat: 16g; saturated fat: 3g; carbohydrates: 49g; cholesterol: 0; sodium: 184mg; fiber: 5g; sugar: 6g.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
The final piece (for now). Finally!
Alright, I've been posting a lot of home improvement projects in the past few months. It's been fun to finally really turn my place from an apartment into a home. I've redone my living room, my home office, my kitchen, and my dining room.
There was only one piece missing from making this wave of improvements complete: I wanted a bar/sideboard/wine storage thing for the dining room. I spent a lot of time looking for the perfect piece. I initially thought I wanted something like a china hutch but couldn't find anything that I really liked. Then I thought about getting some kind of old desk to convert but again, I couldn't really make it work the way I wanted to (I thought about using the old secretary but didn't like how it looked). Ultimately I decided I wanted something simple, not too big, and functional. But how does one find the perfect thing?
Then, a few months ago I visited friends in Southern California and I really liked the bar they had. And thus began another journey...
I knew they got their bar at a really expensive place and I didn't want to spend that kind of money on it. So I began a very long and broad internet search. You can NOT believe how many different bars, hutches, sideboards, and wine storage things are out there!
Eventually I found exactly what I was looking for at Crate & Barrel. But it still cost a lot more than I wanted to spend. And then I found a coupon! Woohoo!!! Armed with my 20% off coupon, I called all three Crate & Barrel stores in the Greater Bay Area only to find out that they were all completely out of stock. The last person I spoke to said that every store in the country is out of stock and they're waiting for the manufacturer to make more and that they weren't expecting to get more of them until at least June or July. Sadness.
So I grudgingly continued my search. I found the same bar at a few other places for less but they were all out of stock as well. I guess they get theirs from the same manufacturer. And then I found it! A small, family-owned discount furniture place in Ohio of all places. Not only did they have the exact thing I was looking for, they had it for half the price Crate & Barrel did! Plus free shipping! Their website said they had one in stock so I ordered it immediately. I was so excited!
And then came the email: "We're sorry. The item you ordered is out of stock. We will notify you when it becomes available." WHAT??????? AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!
sigh...
I called them to find out how long it would be before they expected to get it in again and they said probably May. Well, that's better than June or July and it was half the price so I left my order in their system.
They lied, by the way. They said they were going to notify me when they got it in. They didn't. Instead, yesterday I came home from a meeting to find a big, heavy box from FedEx outside my door. My bar arrived!!! And it's only April!
WOOHOOO!!!!
So, last night I got to spend the evening putting together my new bar/wine storage piece and I love it. Here's the fun and the final product for your viewing pleasure.
So, finally it is complete! Well, there are still some things that have to be hung and put on the walls but now that the furniture is all there, I can do that. So happy to have it finished!!
There was only one piece missing from making this wave of improvements complete: I wanted a bar/sideboard/wine storage thing for the dining room. I spent a lot of time looking for the perfect piece. I initially thought I wanted something like a china hutch but couldn't find anything that I really liked. Then I thought about getting some kind of old desk to convert but again, I couldn't really make it work the way I wanted to (I thought about using the old secretary but didn't like how it looked). Ultimately I decided I wanted something simple, not too big, and functional. But how does one find the perfect thing?
Then, a few months ago I visited friends in Southern California and I really liked the bar they had. And thus began another journey...
I knew they got their bar at a really expensive place and I didn't want to spend that kind of money on it. So I began a very long and broad internet search. You can NOT believe how many different bars, hutches, sideboards, and wine storage things are out there!
Eventually I found exactly what I was looking for at Crate & Barrel. But it still cost a lot more than I wanted to spend. And then I found a coupon! Woohoo!!! Armed with my 20% off coupon, I called all three Crate & Barrel stores in the Greater Bay Area only to find out that they were all completely out of stock. The last person I spoke to said that every store in the country is out of stock and they're waiting for the manufacturer to make more and that they weren't expecting to get more of them until at least June or July. Sadness.
So I grudgingly continued my search. I found the same bar at a few other places for less but they were all out of stock as well. I guess they get theirs from the same manufacturer. And then I found it! A small, family-owned discount furniture place in Ohio of all places. Not only did they have the exact thing I was looking for, they had it for half the price Crate & Barrel did! Plus free shipping! Their website said they had one in stock so I ordered it immediately. I was so excited!
And then came the email: "We're sorry. The item you ordered is out of stock. We will notify you when it becomes available." WHAT??????? AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!
sigh...
I called them to find out how long it would be before they expected to get it in again and they said probably May. Well, that's better than June or July and it was half the price so I left my order in their system.
They lied, by the way. They said they were going to notify me when they got it in. They didn't. Instead, yesterday I came home from a meeting to find a big, heavy box from FedEx outside my door. My bar arrived!!! And it's only April!
WOOHOOO!!!!
So, last night I got to spend the evening putting together my new bar/wine storage piece and I love it. Here's the fun and the final product for your viewing pleasure.
 |
| Box unpacked, parts, pieces, and hardware separated. Ready for assembly. |
 |
| Somehow this was part of my process. I can't help it if my legs are good helpers! |
 |
| The final piece in its various iterations. |
 |
| The finished dining room. (Yes, pictures still need to hung). |
Monday, April 23, 2012
still can't get used to it
I saw my roommate from college freshman year on a TV show the other day. It's still so weird to me when I see someone I know on TV or in a film. It happens frequently enough that it shouldn't surprise me so much anymore but I'm not sure I'll ever get used to it.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
A favorite pet peeve - or "idiot parkers"
OK, I've been all nice and creative lately. Time for some griping.
I have some pet peeves. I freely admit that. Most of them involve language and spelling but there are some that exist in the real world. One of those is idiotic parking.
Let me explain.
I live on a street where most people do not have enough off-street parking to accommodate their vehicles. I also live on a street where parking is free, which is unusual for the city. I also live in a fantastic neighborhood that people want to visit.
This combination of things leads to people parking on my street with great regularity. What bothers me is when people park so that they take up so much space that another car would have easily fit, had they only parked properly.
Sitting in my living room, looking out of my windows, I just watched three people - yes THREE in a row! - park with so much room between their car and the nearest car that only a motorcycle or a Smart car would fit but no regular car. The result is that there is now only very limited parking available on my street due to these idiot parkers.
Here's a picture of a few of them. There is just as much space behind the red car and just as much space in front of that blue one at the front. REALLY? Come on!
And I'm expecting guests for dinner tonight. Where are they going to park?? I really wanted to yell down at these people to pull up! But, alas, I refrained from doing so, leaving myself to grumble to myself and be terribly vexed by the idiots I observe in the world.
I think this idiotic parking phenomenon is part of a greater pet peeve of mine: inconsiderate people. More on that another day.
I have some pet peeves. I freely admit that. Most of them involve language and spelling but there are some that exist in the real world. One of those is idiotic parking.
Let me explain.
I live on a street where most people do not have enough off-street parking to accommodate their vehicles. I also live on a street where parking is free, which is unusual for the city. I also live in a fantastic neighborhood that people want to visit.
This combination of things leads to people parking on my street with great regularity. What bothers me is when people park so that they take up so much space that another car would have easily fit, had they only parked properly.
Sitting in my living room, looking out of my windows, I just watched three people - yes THREE in a row! - park with so much room between their car and the nearest car that only a motorcycle or a Smart car would fit but no regular car. The result is that there is now only very limited parking available on my street due to these idiot parkers.
Here's a picture of a few of them. There is just as much space behind the red car and just as much space in front of that blue one at the front. REALLY? Come on!
And I'm expecting guests for dinner tonight. Where are they going to park?? I really wanted to yell down at these people to pull up! But, alas, I refrained from doing so, leaving myself to grumble to myself and be terribly vexed by the idiots I observe in the world.
I think this idiotic parking phenomenon is part of a greater pet peeve of mine: inconsiderate people. More on that another day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)