gadgetry

I think Dan may just kill me if I paste one more Gizmodo link into our IM conversations (I heart that site...so many sexy products!), so I thought I'd put one up here, since I think it'd be underappreciated by him, anyway:


I must try this out.

As sketchy as it looks, it's actually an egg-shaped (no idea why) odor-eater for ridding oneself of those terribly annoying (and really persistent!) smells that linger on your fingertips after chopping things like onions & garlic. And $12 ain't that bad, considering how I generally avoid cutting onions at all at this point, because I hate those fingertip odors so.

I'm also really interested in trying this out. I've added it to my wish list on Amazon - which, to warn you if you click on it to see what I'm interested in, is very limited at the moment (in terms of things I'm reminding myself to check out -- which is mostly what I use it for). I once deleted most of what I had put on there because I was irrationally worried that Amazon's servers and backup machines would somehow all crash, and I would lose all the books I wanted to remember to read, so I copied them all down manually. I know, I'm rather odd sometimes. I think that whole fear-of-a-computer-failure thing is pretty logical for someone who works so intimately with computers & code, though. I know all too well the things that can and probably will go wrong, considering the shortcuts some programmers are known to take... (Not moi, of course!)

/me smiles & bats her eyelashes innocently

xoxo

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: Collapse AUTHOR: Jared Diamond
	TITLE: Hawkes Harbor AUTHOR: S.E. Hinton
	TITLE: The Art of Interactive Design AUTHOR: Chris Crawford

i give up.

I am so loath to say this, because I almost never, ever give up on a book, but...I am going to stop reading Feminism Without Borders. I don't feel quite as bad because I'm the only holdout; all the rest of the book group gave up on it weeks (and many pages fewer) ago. I stuck it out to page 88, but I realized I just don't want to spend my time on it anymore, as interested as I am in what it has to say. I just feel like it's taking me way too long. I had really hoped to learn something from it, but I didn't come away with much. Sigh.

I hate this feeling most of all because it's taking me so long because it's terribly dense -- and I feel like the stupidest person in the world for not being able to get through it! I suppose I can comfort myself knowing that I could make it to the end, but I'm consciously choosing not to. There are other books I want to spend my time on, more.

For now, it's the already-quick read, Hawkes Harbor by S.E. Hinton, of The Outsiders fame! (It's a really refreshing change of pace!) The Outsiders is one of my favorite books (not to mention movies!), and I was thrilled to learn that, after a 15+ year hiatus, Ms. Hinton was back to writing -- and this time, with a book for adults! I'm still not sure what I think of it, but it is very engaging. It's a thriller, from what I gather, although it has yet (at 66 pages in) to get very scary. But, with a quote from R.L. Stine (master of teen horror) on the back, I think my hunch is right.

I'll keep you guys posted. :) xoxo

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: Collapse AUTHOR: Jared Diamond
	TITLE: Feminism Without Borders AUTHOR: Chandra Talpade Mohanty
	TITLE: Hawkes Harbor AUTHOR: S.E. Hinton
	TITLE: The Art of Interactive Design AUTHOR: Chris Crawford

oops

This weekend was overwhelmingly busy (Friday: worked, finished the baby blanket, met Christine P. & Co. for a few drinks; Saturday: taught Claudia & Rachel to knit, volunteered during the busy lunch shift at the Women's Lunch Place, rushed to catch the train to Waltham to help Bethany prepare for Kevin's birthday party, and then actually attended the party - fun!; Sunday: went to the MIT book sale & Downtown Crossing with Dan, then a CodePink meeting, then a potluck dinner for Robin Lloyd, then dinner with Dan at the 'Snake), and I am exhausted. I didn't even get around to looking at the new week in my planner until just a half hour ago, at around 11:30...and I felt sick to my stomach when I saw "9:30am - appointment with Dr. Millis at the Boston Children's Hospital". Auuuughhh! I almost burst into tears. I cannot believe that, after spending all last week making sure that my referral to see him was approved, I had entirely forgotten the appointment! (It's been a bad morning.)

Fortunately, fate actually smiled down on me for once. I emailed Dr. Millis my sincerest apologies for having stood him up, and then called the BCH to reschedule my appointment...when the secretary was finally able to locate my patient info, she said: "So, you want to reschedule tomorrow's appointment?" I hastened to correct her that it was actually this morning, and that I had missed it...and then it dawned on me, that even though I had written the appointment down when I scheduled it, I had written it on the wrong day - the appointment was for tomorrow. Tuesday.

Boy, do I feel like a fool. But the luckiest fool ever, right now.

I certainly learned my lesson about checking my appointment book the day before, or at the very least when I wake up!

Now let's just hope my insurance company will let me move the referral from today to tomorrow....

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: Collapse AUTHOR: Jared Diamond
	TITLE: Feminism Without Borders AUTHOR: Chandra Talpade Mohanty
	TITLE: The Art of Interactive Design AUTHOR: Chris Crawford

how disturbing

I just cooked myself a veggie burger for lunch, and the individually-packaged processed sliced American cheese (that I had to purchase because I didn't have time to run to the other store!) that I put on top of it a minute before cooking time was up didn't melt. Ugh. I hate chemical-ized foods.

Unfortunately, I do love cheese, so I can't always go without. Sigh.

i love small things

I can't seem to stop eating these miniature chocolate meringue cookies from Trader Joe's. And I don't even like chocolate all that much. (I know, the sacrilege!)

Yesterday night was fantastic, as I got to see Miss Cait for the first time in, oh, forever. Seriously, hanging out with that girl is like the best thing ever, and yet we do it so infrequently. Hmm, maybe I smell.



We went to see the miniatures show that the Cambridge Arts Council had put up in the City Hall Annex, after a delicious dinner at Picante in Central Square. The show was fabulous, especially those little folding chairs pictured above. Ahhh, I love tiny little things!

Then I got to see Caitlin's new apartment & meet one of her roommates, both of which were very nice! It was so great just to catch up - maybe it's just me, but I feel like Caitlin & I just get each other more than almost anyone else I know. But yeah, I think it's just me. She probably hangs out with me out of pity because I adore her so. (Cait, I think the anxiety blog that I was checking out this morning is getting to me...eep!)

Anyway, for now, work. Later, maybe more. xoxo

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: Collapse AUTHOR: Jared Diamond
	TITLE: Feminism Without Borders AUTHOR: Chandra Talpade Mohanty
	TITLE: The Art of Interactive Design AUTHOR: Chris Crawford

that could have been bad, but wasn't

Nooo it just started to snow again! Spring, what happened to you?!?

Well, I just got back from the Women's Lunch Place, which was, for the most part, a lot of fun, as usual. I really like the people who work there - but today they proved to be even better. Right at the end of my shift, as I was finishing up preparing the hot dogs, a guest whose eye makeup helped her look uncannily like Liza Minelli (now, not then) came in for a glass of water. Apparently there wasn't any out in the dining room like there should have been, and she was irate from the start, saying she had to take a pill and needed water. I politely asked her for the cup she was holding, but she clutched it and barked at me to "let the water run cold, first!"...so, I did, and went back to my job of scoring hot dogs while I waited. The next thing I know, she's yelling at me about how I'm ignoring her and won't get her water! Thankfully, Gina (the director when I go in on Wednesday mornings, and a very awesome woman) appeared right then and started clearing the situation, explaining that I hadn't been rude (which is what "Liza" claimed) and asking her to please treat the volunteers with respect. "Liza" retorted that I wasn't respecting her, which was absolutely absurd, as I was doing nothing but catering to her requests, but sigh. Such is life. I was a little shaken up but fine until I went in back to get my coat from the closet, and people started asking me if I was okay -- and when people ask, I just can't hold it together anymore! So I cried a little bit, and got fantastic hugs & sympathy from everyone, as I expressed my wishes that I could be less sensitive -- they assured me that they are all sensitive when it comes to people at the WLP speaking rudely to them, and everyone was so incredibly nice. I couldn't believe how kind they were to me, and how many hugs and motherly reassurances (not to mention tissues) I got! What a great group of women. One of the regular girls said she wanted to make sure I was okay and that I wouldn't stop coming back, but especially after that show of support, of course I will keep going! I really like those Wednesday mornings, as I get more & more comfortable there.

And, it turns out that the rude woman had just gotten back from a bar (yes, at 9am), which explains some of her callousness. But, that's what we're there for -- to help someone who needs it. I am okay. I just hope she will be.

To backtrack a bit, Dan & I attended a Habitat for Humanity training session in the Fort Point area last night, and now that that's behind us, we can volunteer anytime, yay! I don't get a chance do H4H much, but it's cool to know that we can now sign up every once in a while to help out. I am looking forward to that - I love learning how to build pieces of a house. It makes me miss the days when I used to work in my father's workshop with him, making wooden boxes and other (usually entirely useless) creations.

And here is a picture of the baby hat I've been working on recently, just because I don't have any other pictures for this post:


Aaahhhh the flakes of snow are getting bigger! STOP IT!! xoxo

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: Collapse AUTHOR: Jared Diamond
	TITLE: Feminism Without Borders AUTHOR: Chandra Talpade Mohanty

i am Boston

I actually entered what I prefer in this quiz, figuring I'd go back afterwards and try to enter the things I thought were the most Boston-ish to see what the Boston result was like...but, even though I didn't choose "lobster" or "the Northeast", I still managed to "be" here! Nice.

You Are Boston

Both modern and old school, you never forget your roots. Well educated and a little snobby, you demand the best. And quite frankly, you think you are the best. Famous people from the Boston area: Conan O'Brien, Ben Affleck, New Kids on the Block

What American City Are You?

Thanks, Viv!

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: Collapse AUTHOR: Jared Diamond
	TITLE: Feminism Without Borders AUTHOR: Chandra Talpade Mohanty

is it naptime yet?

According to NPR, today is National Napping Day. Yay! ...I just wish I were allowed to take advantage of it... Lots of experts tout the benefits of naps, citing studies that show that naps not only maintain the level of productivity (which usually drastically declines in the afternoon/after lunch hours), but they actually promote even more productivity. Bosses everywhere should be jumping on this bandwagon in droves, but it has yet to catch on. Sigh.

This weekend was pleansant although pretty busy...Friday night I went to a party waaay out in Somerville, at fellow activist's house - she just got a piano, and so much singing and playing of instruments occurred, which pleased me, as I love to listen to others sing and play guitar, piano, etc. It was a late night, though, so by the time I got back to the North End, Dan and I decided it wasn't worth trekking back out on the green line to go see JV. Oh, well - next time!

Saturday, I met DiRo for another delicious breakfast of mimosas and pumpkin pie pancakes (with ice cream!) at the Pour House. Yummy. I raced back from there to meet Bethany for a Haymarket run, where we picked up loads of fruits & veggies. Then Saturday turned into one of my favorite days ever, as I spent it with Danny in the kitchen - he was making his always-delicious tomato sauce, and I was cooking up a sweet potato pudding, but with our nice, big kitchen it was rare that we were in each other's way. We had some beers and spent the afternoon talking and singing along with Dan's iPod (that was hooked up to the stereo). Good times.

And, luckily, Bethany & Kevin showed up a little late for our dinner date, so we managed to get the pizzas done almost on time! We ran some errands to some of the great little speciality shops in the neighborhood, to pick up things like pepperoni and yeast (although I didn't get fast-rising yeast, as the package was in Italian, and my memory of musical notations had faded so much that I wasn't certain that "lento" meant "slow"...oops).

Dinner was really fun, though, and I do hope we do that again. Following the meal, we went to see Thank You For Smoking, which I had been looking forward to but was rather disappointed by - I had imagined the story very differently. Oh, well - it was amusing, at least. Cute story.

For some reason (blame Mitch Hedberg), I was up until 3 o'clock Sunday morning, so with the clocks set back, I only managed to get about 5 hours of sleep. Which is definitely catching up with me now - hence why I want that nap!!

Sunday afternoon was spent with Karen and Josh, and was such a blast! When they arrived in the city, we met up and wandered around the Quincy Market area, specifically Urban Outfitters (where both Karen & I bought awesome shirts!). Then we went to Borders (I picked up this book, which I'm excited to read) and on to Billy Tse's for a fantastic sushi dinner - yum! Great food, great company - great day. Thanks for the fun visit, Karen! :) Definitely come back soon.

And, now for the start of a somewhat busy week...I do hope to catch up on my sleep somewhere in here, though. For now, I think I need to go get me some caffeine. xoxo

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: Collapse AUTHOR: Jared Diamond
	TITLE: Feminism Without Borders AUTHOR: Chandra Talpade Mohanty