December 31, 2009
Be it resolved
1) Eat at least two vegetables every day (fruit doesn’t count!).
2) Stop biting my nails, for real this time.
3) Thank my parents more often.
4) Take charge, at least a little.
5) Revel.
Yours?
December 30, 2009
Majorette
Ninety minutes of telephone conversation that began nearly precisely where the last one had left off, a few months shorthanded into the first fifteen minutes or so, and in typical friends-for-life fashion, I was proclaimed Majorette roughly halfway through.
Which, I hope, *doesn’t* mean that she wants a marching-band-themed wedding. We could make that work, though.
’cause I’m a former band geek, and I make a pretty good Majorette.
December 29, 2009
Hrm.
I mean, it’s just hair. It grows back. And who knows… it might grow on me.
It’s just that the LAST time I went brunette, I was completely in love with the color. And this? This seems a little closer to that burgundy brunette, and I’m just not sure I’m pulling it off.
But it’s just hair, right?
And at least it’s not that entertaining shade of Bozo T. Clown orange that happened in college, when I unwisely tried to turn my platinum-dyed tresses a fiery red. At least it’s not that.
Hrm.
December 28, 2009
Obviously…
…the best gift I got this year was part of the down payment on my condo. Obviously.
But running a surprisingly close second, are these adorable fingerless glove/handwarmer thingies that I’m about to put on right now, because my building is always cold. Always.
And yes, I was fortunate to receive some other very thoughtful gifts, gifts that clearly had thought and effort behind them. But these? These not ONLY have thought behind them, and evidence concern for my well-being on the part of the giver, but they have a pretty awesome, and likely unintentional, side benefit.
They remind me of one of my favorite hilarious movie quotes from a movie that would never be classified as a comedy. Why, you might ask?
Because they’re argyle.
Makes me giggle every time I look at them, which is a pretty awesome thing, when one is trapped in the office.
December 23, 2009
Driving
… myself, 19 kinds of cookies, bags full of presents, bags full of laundry, a suitcase full of clean clothes, and what’s left of my sanity northward, to the Land of Milk and Honey.
Likely back on Saturday. Happiest of happy holidays to you all!
December 22, 2009
Last minute-gift idea…
That right there? Is perfect for so many people. And if it doesn’t magically appear under my tree in the next week or so, I’ll simply take matters into my own hands. Yep.
December 21, 2009
Uncle!
I give up. I don’t know if it’s exhaustion from completing 19 of the recipes on my list, combined with present wrapping and last-minute shopping, plus a side of car-clearing. It might just be that I’m tired.
Or, it could be that I’ve been filled with a sense of holiday spirit – a feeling that I’m trying to make other people’s lives better, that I’m trying to increase the overall amount of happiness in the world.
Likely, it’s a bit of both.
But I just want to give everyone a big hug and start with a fresh slate.
That’s all I want for Christmas this year, for everyone. Can we have a fresh slate, please?
December 18, 2009
Under Pressure
At least I got it done. Sort of.
Last one to play, absolutely needed to win, and I won. Well, my opponent lost, more than I won, but it wasn’t a mere technicality. But me? I am not so much the closer. I don’t bat fourth. And I certainly wasn’t expecting to play last, to be the deciding factor for my team.
I used to say that I’d rather be lucky than good – but that both would be nice. Well, I was a little more lucky than good last night, and I think I’d distinctly prefer the ratio weighted the other way.
Today, I’m baking. The baklava is in the oven, the syrup is made, pans are greased, and all of the things that needed the Cuisinart have been prepped. From now on, it’s just a matter of putting it all together!
Except for the part where I stop by the store to pick up another jar of peanut butter because there is apparently whipped peanut butter out there, which I didn’t even know to look for, and they haven’t really labeled those jars very clearly. So! A new supply of peanut butter, a hop to the gym for my break, and the rest of the day will be spent with my B*tch-a$$ in the kitchen, making mini bourbon caramel apple and mini pecan pies.
Enjoy the glorious snow we’re about to receive – may inappropriate snowpeople and sneak attacks with stockpiled fluffy ammo be in your future!
December 17, 2009
Did I not mention? Because I should have mentioned…
…that I have a final round of playoffs tonight. I’m a little nervous, because I think this team has started to think of me as Someone Who Wins. Which I kind of have been for this team, this season… but *I* don’t see myself as SWW, certainly not someone who does so reliably.
At least, not without alcohol.
Anyway, I’m at least somewhat improved today – my joints are merely whimpering in protest, as opposed to screaming. However, I would like to point out to WMATA that they can pretend the 8-10 minutes between trains on the orange line is due to a malfunctioning train if they want, but those of us who experience this phenomenon whether there’s a malfunction or not would really rather not be patronized.
So, Metro: If you’re going to make it so that the cars are completely full after EFC, with nary a space for a human until we’ve started offloading again at Rosslyn, just be honest and tell us so. If nothing else, it will give us a reason to get a head start on the contortionist classes that will allow passengers to fit between the overhead bar and the ceiling.
December 16, 2009
Things that are NOT allowed to happen for $500, Alex
I nearly passed out at work, yesterday.
I was either going to pass out or become more violently ill – I was sure of it. And then I managed to get through it with some sips of flat soda and between-the-knees head placement. Which was a good thing, as navigating public transportation back to my abode while on the verge of unconsciousness, while it would have protected me from awareness of my fellow passengers, would not end well, I think. But I felt better, and I made it home, and I chalked it up to a crash from the caffeine I’d had earlier.
And then I woke up this morning, and in case the lack of coherence in the previous paragraph didn’t tip you off, I’m a bit under the weather. Seriously sore throat, cloggy eustachian tubes, and the inability to sleep without feeling as though I’ve been drugged – though I haven’t yet consumed anything labeled with oversized N or Q.
This is a problem, you see, as I’m scheduled to bake this weekend. I’ve taken Friday off, done my shopping for all but one ingredient (I need to find a 10 oz bar of espresso-flavored chocolate), and have a list of 22 (how did THAT happen?) kinds of cookies, complete with baking schedule. If nothing goes wrong, I should be done by dinnertime on Sunday.
But something is going wrong, because I feel like I swallowed a hedgehog.
So let’s hope that my immune system kicks it into high gear today, shall we? Because I have to get a LOT done*:
Apricot Marzipan Bars
Strawberry Marzipan Bars
Snickers Fudge
Chocolate Raspberry Bars
Chocolate Caramel Toffee Bars
Baklava
Lemon Tea Cakes
Orange Spice Cookies
Ginger Cookies
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Cherry Nut Rugelach
Peanut Butter Chocolate Balls
Peanut Butter Cookies
Raspberry White Chocolate Whoopie Pies
Russian Tea Cakes
Cranberry Pinwheels
Mocha Cookies
Pecan Tassies
Caramel Bourbon Apple Pie Cookies
Pistachio Biscotti
Macadamia Bars with Eggnog Drizzle
*And just how in tarnation did my list not include a single drop of Nutella? Hmph!
Seeking John Galt 