In honor of Earth Day yesterday, I finally set up recycling baskets at work. Waste Management had dropped off recycling bins outside by the dumpster about a month ago, but no one in the building had set up designated baskets yet. We'll see how long it takes everyone to realize they're there (despite the signs I've hung up alerting people to it.)
It makes a little more work for me, since I'm the only one who takes the trash out. I'll have to make two trips now - one for trash and one for recycling. Especially once the weather starts to get warmer. Dancers go through a lot of plastic water bottles in the summer. It'll be worth it, though, not to send all those water bottles to the landfill.
I'm also wondering how difficult/expensive it would be to rig up little shelves in the bathrooms, way up on the wall by the ceiling near the door. My idea is to put on the shelf one of those motion sensor scented spray things, so that it is triggered by the movement of the door, but out of reach of the kids. Think it would work?
These are the things I think about when I'm bored at work.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Things I'm Working on (And One Thing I'm Not)
A couple of things I'm working on in my spare time lately:
I have a couple of plain white handkerchiefs I got from I don't know where. I ironed on some patterns on to them and have begun to embroider them.
The first couple are earth tones - reds, greens, browns, a little bit of orange. I'll post pictures of them completed if I remember.
My latest pair of socks is the Falling Leaf pattern from last year's pattern a day calender:
I have a couple more rows of the pattern for the cuff before I turn the heel. I have to decide if I want the pattern to continue over the top of the foot. I like the way it looks, but I don't like the way it feels, sometimes. It can be too bulky in shoes. But I also think that socks look funny if the pattern stops at the ankle. Hm. Decisions.
I'm also working on eating better (who isn't, these days.) I was at Wegman's the other day and saw this awesome bowl on sale:
I'm hoping that if I have the fruit out on the table, I'll be more likely to munch on that and not on the leftover Easter candy or the chips hidden away in the cabinet. A sensible person would just throw the chips and the candy away, but I know that if I do that, when I'm craving chips or candy, I'll go to the store and buy a whole bag and binge instead of just eating a couple out of the bag in the cabinet.
So far, having the fruit out is working pretty well. You can't see it in the picture, but there are also grapes in the bowl. Every time I pass by, I think I better eat the grapes before they go bad, so I eat a couple. There is still Easter candy left, a week and a half after Easter. The chocolate bunny hasn't even been opened yet!
The thing I am not working on:
The Boy™ bought me this guitar for my birthday ... gosh, I don't even know how long ago, now. Before we moved to PA. I can't play a single note. Not a chord. Not a thing. I bought some books. Downloaded some podcasts. Tried for a while. And gave up. I keep meaning to get back to it, but ... I don't know what my problem is. Lack of motivation? Lack of patience? Lack of talent? I want to learn to play. I just haven't yet. I might just need an actual person to teach me. But I really can't afford lessons right now.
Or maybe I just don't have an ear for music and need to accept the fact I will never learn to play.
I have a couple of plain white handkerchiefs I got from I don't know where. I ironed on some patterns on to them and have begun to embroider them.
The first couple are earth tones - reds, greens, browns, a little bit of orange. I'll post pictures of them completed if I remember.
My latest pair of socks is the Falling Leaf pattern from last year's pattern a day calender:
I have a couple more rows of the pattern for the cuff before I turn the heel. I have to decide if I want the pattern to continue over the top of the foot. I like the way it looks, but I don't like the way it feels, sometimes. It can be too bulky in shoes. But I also think that socks look funny if the pattern stops at the ankle. Hm. Decisions.
I'm also working on eating better (who isn't, these days.) I was at Wegman's the other day and saw this awesome bowl on sale:
I'm hoping that if I have the fruit out on the table, I'll be more likely to munch on that and not on the leftover Easter candy or the chips hidden away in the cabinet. A sensible person would just throw the chips and the candy away, but I know that if I do that, when I'm craving chips or candy, I'll go to the store and buy a whole bag and binge instead of just eating a couple out of the bag in the cabinet.
So far, having the fruit out is working pretty well. You can't see it in the picture, but there are also grapes in the bowl. Every time I pass by, I think I better eat the grapes before they go bad, so I eat a couple. There is still Easter candy left, a week and a half after Easter. The chocolate bunny hasn't even been opened yet!
The thing I am not working on:
The Boy™ bought me this guitar for my birthday ... gosh, I don't even know how long ago, now. Before we moved to PA. I can't play a single note. Not a chord. Not a thing. I bought some books. Downloaded some podcasts. Tried for a while. And gave up. I keep meaning to get back to it, but ... I don't know what my problem is. Lack of motivation? Lack of patience? Lack of talent? I want to learn to play. I just haven't yet. I might just need an actual person to teach me. But I really can't afford lessons right now.
Or maybe I just don't have an ear for music and need to accept the fact I will never learn to play.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
On the Topic of Babies ...
There are other baby things sprouting around here (none there, don't get all excited.)
Baby Jade plant. This is a cutting from a larger jade plant that The Boy™ and I have had since college. I'll post a pic at another time of the Mama Jade. She's getting big now that I've learned the trick to jades (the trick is to ignore all the things you read about jades. This one LOVES water. Water it as often as you can.)
If you look closely, you can see Betty Fish in the background.
Baby tomatoes. This little buggers will be going in the garden in a couple of weeks. The Boy™ and I are going to be eating a lot of sauce and salsa this summer, I think. I'm not complaining about that. Fresh salsa is one of my favorite foods. (Does salsa count as a food? Or just a condiment? Condiments are food, right?)
Baby Harper. My friend Amber's little munchkin. Don't you just want to squeeze those pudgy little cheeks? She was about 6 weeks old in this picture, I think. Amber brought her in to visit me at work. It seems like everyone I know is either having babies or getting married this Spring and Summer. Crazy.
I'm ending this post with another picture of Harper. Because I can.
Baby Jade plant. This is a cutting from a larger jade plant that The Boy™ and I have had since college. I'll post a pic at another time of the Mama Jade. She's getting big now that I've learned the trick to jades (the trick is to ignore all the things you read about jades. This one LOVES water. Water it as often as you can.)
If you look closely, you can see Betty Fish in the background.
Baby tomatoes. This little buggers will be going in the garden in a couple of weeks. The Boy™ and I are going to be eating a lot of sauce and salsa this summer, I think. I'm not complaining about that. Fresh salsa is one of my favorite foods. (Does salsa count as a food? Or just a condiment? Condiments are food, right?)
Baby Harper. My friend Amber's little munchkin. Don't you just want to squeeze those pudgy little cheeks? She was about 6 weeks old in this picture, I think. Amber brought her in to visit me at work. It seems like everyone I know is either having babies or getting married this Spring and Summer. Crazy.
I'm ending this post with another picture of Harper. Because I can.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Stress
I'm a little stressed and crabby right now. I imagine I'm not much of
a joy to live with (my apologies to The Boy).
a joy to live with (my apologies to The Boy).
A lot of the stress is coming from work. There are changes afoot which
could be good or could be bad.
Foremost on my mind, however is that the Bosses are SO late in getting
the summer schedule out that I fear summer enrollment is going to be
very low. This does not bode well for hours for front desk staff.
Is it time to look for supplimental work for the summer? Or perhaps a
new job altogether? One that doesn't include idiots or cleaning the
bathrooms?
Sent from my iPod
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Baby Shower
The Baby Shower went well. Sister and Brother-in-Law are all set for Baby to arrive. They still have two more showers to go, too! Brother-in-Law's mother is throwing them a shower in May and their work is supposed to throw them a shower as well. This kid is going to be set until s/he is a teenager!
I didn't get a chance to take a lot of photos. Cousin Suzie took some pictures (thanks Suzie!) but my camera is persnickety and doesn't focus very well, so a lot of them came out pretty blurry. Here are some of the nicer ones.
Here is Sister sitting on the rocking chair from Grandma (our Grandma, Baby's Great-Grandma.) I don't know why she thinks she's so huge. She doesn't look that big at all.
Not a fantastic picture, but here is all of us: Sister, me, Dad, Mom and Grandma. Dad looks like he's on the verge of saying something. Probably "Are you done taking my picture now?" He hates having his picture taken.
This is a sweet picture of the Mama-to-be and the Grandmas and Great-Grandma. *waits for the chorus of 'awwwws'*
Mmmm .... cake ......
Someone at the shower referred to me as Aunt Gina (which makes me think of my own Aunt Gina -- Uncle Kevin's wife. I'm trying to get Sister to have Baby call me Auntie Gina, but I don't think anyone has paid much attention to that yet.) Aunt Fran asked me if that made me feel old. Honestly? No. Being an Auntie doesn't make me feel old. Want to know what makes me feel old?
These two. Beautiful, aren't they? These are the neighbor girls. In my mind, the older one is about four and the youngest is an infant. And they probably will be their whole lives. I can't quite wrap my brain around the idea that the older one is in college. I don't know how old the younger one is, but I know I'd probably fall over if someone told me. Being an Auntie doesn't make me feel old, Aunt Fran. Emmi and Izzy, do.
I didn't get a chance to take a lot of photos. Cousin Suzie took some pictures (thanks Suzie!) but my camera is persnickety and doesn't focus very well, so a lot of them came out pretty blurry. Here are some of the nicer ones.
Here is Sister sitting on the rocking chair from Grandma (our Grandma, Baby's Great-Grandma.) I don't know why she thinks she's so huge. She doesn't look that big at all.
Not a fantastic picture, but here is all of us: Sister, me, Dad, Mom and Grandma. Dad looks like he's on the verge of saying something. Probably "Are you done taking my picture now?" He hates having his picture taken.
This is a sweet picture of the Mama-to-be and the Grandmas and Great-Grandma. *waits for the chorus of 'awwwws'*
Mmmm .... cake ......
Someone at the shower referred to me as Aunt Gina (which makes me think of my own Aunt Gina -- Uncle Kevin's wife. I'm trying to get Sister to have Baby call me Auntie Gina, but I don't think anyone has paid much attention to that yet.) Aunt Fran asked me if that made me feel old. Honestly? No. Being an Auntie doesn't make me feel old. Want to know what makes me feel old?
These two. Beautiful, aren't they? These are the neighbor girls. In my mind, the older one is about four and the youngest is an infant. And they probably will be their whole lives. I can't quite wrap my brain around the idea that the older one is in college. I don't know how old the younger one is, but I know I'd probably fall over if someone told me. Being an Auntie doesn't make me feel old, Aunt Fran. Emmi and Izzy, do.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
To Make My Life Easier
Someone needs to invent an instant transport device. I'm ready to go home tomorrow, but I don't want to drive 4.5 hours to get there. I want to just push a button and be transported there instantaneously.
Can someone get on that tonight and have it to me by morning? Thanks.
(I'll have baby shower pics and whatnot up tomorrow or Monday. As per usual, I have camera and have taken pictures, but did not bring camera cable with me.)
Can someone get on that tonight and have it to me by morning? Thanks.
(I'll have baby shower pics and whatnot up tomorrow or Monday. As per usual, I have camera and have taken pictures, but did not bring camera cable with me.)
Friday, April 10, 2009
Good Friday
Had a busy day today with Mom. After doing a couple of loads of laundry at home, we went to the grocery store then over to Grandma's to pick up a rocking chair that Grandma is giving Sister for the Baby's room. It's a nice rocking chair - wood, with brand new caning on the back and seat.
Of course, you can't go over to Grandma's in the afternoon without going out to lunch. So we took her to the little family restaurant where she and Mom usually go to lunch on Saturdays when they do the grocery shopping.
Then back to Mom's, to drop off the groceries and do a couple more loads of laundry.
Later in the afternoon, we took the Moose Monster to Mom's work to show him to the people she works with. Boy, did they get a kick out of him! We've forgotten how big he is, I guess, because we see him all the time. Other people see him and can't get over how huge he is. He just ate up all of the attention. And, of course, he absolutely loved the car ride to the other side of the city. I've never seen a dog who loves the car as much as this dog does. He's so funny.
I think we're pretty prepared for the baby shower tomorrow. We just have to put the table decorations together - flowers in the vases and candy on the plates - and bring everything over to the restaurant around 10:30 tomorrow morning.
Of course, you can't go over to Grandma's in the afternoon without going out to lunch. So we took her to the little family restaurant where she and Mom usually go to lunch on Saturdays when they do the grocery shopping.
Then back to Mom's, to drop off the groceries and do a couple more loads of laundry.
Later in the afternoon, we took the Moose Monster to Mom's work to show him to the people she works with. Boy, did they get a kick out of him! We've forgotten how big he is, I guess, because we see him all the time. Other people see him and can't get over how huge he is. He just ate up all of the attention. And, of course, he absolutely loved the car ride to the other side of the city. I've never seen a dog who loves the car as much as this dog does. He's so funny.
I think we're pretty prepared for the baby shower tomorrow. We just have to put the table decorations together - flowers in the vases and candy on the plates - and bring everything over to the restaurant around 10:30 tomorrow morning.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Mini Vacation
I have a long weekend this weekend. For some reason, BossMan decided we'd get Wed-Sat off for Easter/Passover this year. I am not looking a gift horse in the mouth and enjoying the time off (as much as I can.)
However, I am still busy. Is it possible for me to have time off and not be busy? I spent much of Wednesday running around, Getting Things Done. I think I accomplished most of it.
Today, I have driven to my parents'. The Boy™ stayed home to get some work done. It's a long drive to do by yourself. Especially with all the construction. Will they never be done working on Route 15? Something in me says no.
Anyway, I'm here, safe and sound. I've started a load of laundry already (I'd be a fool not to take advantage of the washer and dryer while I'm here.) The great big Moose Dog and I are just hanging out now, waiting for Mom and Dad to get home from work.
Saturday is Sister's baby shower. Pictures and updates from that to come. Eventually.
However, I am still busy. Is it possible for me to have time off and not be busy? I spent much of Wednesday running around, Getting Things Done. I think I accomplished most of it.
Today, I have driven to my parents'. The Boy™ stayed home to get some work done. It's a long drive to do by yourself. Especially with all the construction. Will they never be done working on Route 15? Something in me says no.
Anyway, I'm here, safe and sound. I've started a load of laundry already (I'd be a fool not to take advantage of the washer and dryer while I'm here.) The great big Moose Dog and I are just hanging out now, waiting for Mom and Dad to get home from work.
Saturday is Sister's baby shower. Pictures and updates from that to come. Eventually.
Friday, April 3, 2009
More Pain
Physical Therapy was enlightening but painful today. The therapist
told me what I guess I kind of already knew (something The Boy has
been telling me for years.).
I have been compensating for my lack of range if motion in my hips in
a very bad way. This back pain has probably been building up for a
while and likely has been a long time coming.
She put my back and hips through the full range of motion, limited
though it is. Which is why I hurt as much as I do right now. Although
it didn't help that it rained all day, so my hips hurt anyway. Then
she gave me some stretches and strength exercises to do and we made an
appointment for next week.
I'll let you know what kind of torture she puts me through then.
told me what I guess I kind of already knew (something The Boy has
been telling me for years.).
I have been compensating for my lack of range if motion in my hips in
a very bad way. This back pain has probably been building up for a
while and likely has been a long time coming.
She put my back and hips through the full range of motion, limited
though it is. Which is why I hurt as much as I do right now. Although
it didn't help that it rained all day, so my hips hurt anyway. Then
she gave me some stretches and strength exercises to do and we made an
appointment for next week.
I'll let you know what kind of torture she puts me through then.
Sent from my iPod
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Things I Am Wondering
* Will I eat more fruits and vegetables if I buy them in bulk at Sam's Club? Or will they all just rot? Is the produce at Sam's even good?
* Can I squeeze in a haircut before I leave for Rochester next week?
* Are knitted t-shirts and vests as cute as they look in the pictures on Ravelry? Or are they going to be a waste of yarn once I knit them up?
* Why do I have 'Greensleeves' stuck in my head?
* Do I need a casual Spring jacket? Or can I get by with my dressy trench and my raincoat? I have a quilted vest, but sleeveless isn't always the way to go.
* Are my black sweatpants loose enough to wear to PT tomorrow? When she said sneakers, did she mean running shoes, or can I wear my Converse?
* Should I try to get the Friday before Memorial Day off of work as well? I'm not sure driving to Oswego the morning of Fred's wedding is such a good idea after all. What if we run into traffic and are late to the wedding? What if we are exhausted and fall asleep during the ceremony? How embarrassing would that be?
* Is there such a thing as mini-Peeps? How cute would it be to have mini-Peeps for my sister for her baby shower? Like baby Peeps! I'm going to look for them on Saturday!
* Have I annoyed people by doing this whole post in a list? I don't think I care.
* Can I squeeze in a haircut before I leave for Rochester next week?
* Are knitted t-shirts and vests as cute as they look in the pictures on Ravelry? Or are they going to be a waste of yarn once I knit them up?
* Why do I have 'Greensleeves' stuck in my head?
* Do I need a casual Spring jacket? Or can I get by with my dressy trench and my raincoat? I have a quilted vest, but sleeveless isn't always the way to go.
* Are my black sweatpants loose enough to wear to PT tomorrow? When she said sneakers, did she mean running shoes, or can I wear my Converse?
* Should I try to get the Friday before Memorial Day off of work as well? I'm not sure driving to Oswego the morning of Fred's wedding is such a good idea after all. What if we run into traffic and are late to the wedding? What if we are exhausted and fall asleep during the ceremony? How embarrassing would that be?
* Is there such a thing as mini-Peeps? How cute would it be to have mini-Peeps for my sister for her baby shower? Like baby Peeps! I'm going to look for them on Saturday!
* Have I annoyed people by doing this whole post in a list? I don't think I care.
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