So... nobody tells men under what circumstances they can use viagra, pay for sex, make family decisions, career decisions, etc... People assume that most of the time, men make the best decisions they can for themselves in any given situation.
But with women, it's a bit different. People often seem to think that a woman, given the choice, would not make such great decisions for herself. That she might panic or do something rash and stupid just for money or take advantage of services offered to help people in bad situations. (Take advantage as in "use inappropriately," not as in "these services are HERE FOR PEOPLE IN HER SITUATION.")
... Take Roe v. Wade, for example. Women had to go to court-- repeatedly-- to get the right to decide if it is a good personal choice for them to have a baby or not. And to get appropriate medical help, legally. And even today, that right to decide for herself is being eroded and contended. Many people believe that a woman is not equally important as a child or a man, not equally as capable of making the best decisions she can for herself in any given situation, and that she shouldn't have the right to make her own choices about her life path. That somehow, her life can be sacrificed for others' desires.
And often, the best decision a woman makes is that she will keep her baby. And that's great. It should be her right to make that decision as much as any other. But if she knows the baby will grow up in squalor, without love, without food or clothes or a safe place to sleep or be born addicted to drugs... If she knows the best thing she can do for herself and her pregnancy is to not become responsible for another person... she should have the right to make that decision, too. It's her body, it's her responsibility, it's her choice. And I, for one, generally believe that a woman is wonderfully capable of making the best decisions she can for herself in any given situation.
Today just happens to be the day that Roe v. Wade was decided. So, believing in the Goddess and believing that women are intelligent, capable, wise and wonderful-- I celebrate the few victories we women have, where someone in power actually agreed with me, and gave her the right to choose what she does with her own body.
Wednesday, January 23
Tuesday, January 22
Somehow, I Managed
About the crock pot...
Somehow, I managed to ruin a rather large and expensive crock pot stew. It was basically a bunch of fresh vegetables, a grain, some mushrooms, chicken broth, water, salt, and a bit of garlic. It tastes... bad. Bitter, and somewhat like warm moldy bread smells. If you ever have such a thing in your kitchen. Happens to me all the time.
... uhh... totally distracted by my cat. She is on top of a box (an empty box) that has a handle hole in the top, and puts her a good two feet closer to the dangling branch of one of my hanging plants. She has so far nearly biffed it by trying to reach up to the plant and play with it, by leaning WAAAAAY over the edge of the empty box to observe her domain from this new height, and by reaching one paw as far down INTO THE BOX (through the handle hole) as she possibly could, just to see what she ran into. Last but not least, she just now nearly biffed it by jumping down off the top of the two-foot-tall-but-one-foot-wide empty box. And she loved every little trouble-making minute of it.
I think I need more glee in my life. That sort of "I know I probably shouldn't be doing this but it is SO MUCH FUN!" gleeful feeling, mixed with a healthy dose of dangerous curiosity.
...sigh...
Yet again, I find myself envious of my cat.
Anyway, the lesson I'd like to share with any other hopeless cookers out there is to BELIEVE THE LABEL on the dried shitaki mushrooms. You want to soak them in water for at least 30 minutes, and then put them into DIFFERENT WATER to cook. And, I also suggest putting them in at the very end of the crock pot cycle, with your herbs. Also, if you try to use barley as your grain, put in something really sweet like ginger or sweet potato or something to help things along. And, most important of all, don't put in more than ONE ingredient you don't usually cook with per crock pot challenge. Or follow a tried and true recipe-- someone else's recipe.
This is actually the secret behind my insistence on cooking very simple foods with only a few ingredients. Fewer things can go horribly wrong. Including my spelling of the word "rescipee."
And if I ever catch the guy writing the script for this, I'm inviting him over for one of my "tasty" home-cooked meals, and I'm going to force him to eat seconds. In fact, there are actually two more helpings of this horrible goo sitting in my fridge right now. And I have no idea what to do with them.
Somehow, I managed to ruin a rather large and expensive crock pot stew. It was basically a bunch of fresh vegetables, a grain, some mushrooms, chicken broth, water, salt, and a bit of garlic. It tastes... bad. Bitter, and somewhat like warm moldy bread smells. If you ever have such a thing in your kitchen. Happens to me all the time.
... uhh... totally distracted by my cat. She is on top of a box (an empty box) that has a handle hole in the top, and puts her a good two feet closer to the dangling branch of one of my hanging plants. She has so far nearly biffed it by trying to reach up to the plant and play with it, by leaning WAAAAAY over the edge of the empty box to observe her domain from this new height, and by reaching one paw as far down INTO THE BOX (through the handle hole) as she possibly could, just to see what she ran into. Last but not least, she just now nearly biffed it by jumping down off the top of the two-foot-tall-but-one-foot-wide empty box. And she loved every little trouble-making minute of it.
I think I need more glee in my life. That sort of "I know I probably shouldn't be doing this but it is SO MUCH FUN!" gleeful feeling, mixed with a healthy dose of dangerous curiosity.
...sigh...
Yet again, I find myself envious of my cat.
Anyway, the lesson I'd like to share with any other hopeless cookers out there is to BELIEVE THE LABEL on the dried shitaki mushrooms. You want to soak them in water for at least 30 minutes, and then put them into DIFFERENT WATER to cook. And, I also suggest putting them in at the very end of the crock pot cycle, with your herbs. Also, if you try to use barley as your grain, put in something really sweet like ginger or sweet potato or something to help things along. And, most important of all, don't put in more than ONE ingredient you don't usually cook with per crock pot challenge. Or follow a tried and true recipe-- someone else's recipe.
This is actually the secret behind my insistence on cooking very simple foods with only a few ingredients. Fewer things can go horribly wrong. Including my spelling of the word "rescipee."
And if I ever catch the guy writing the script for this, I'm inviting him over for one of my "tasty" home-cooked meals, and I'm going to force him to eat seconds. In fact, there are actually two more helpings of this horrible goo sitting in my fridge right now. And I have no idea what to do with them.
Monday, January 21
More of a Good Thing
A while back, Crazy Aunt Purl asked her blog readers for good crock pot rescipees. Believe it or not, I'd actually embarked on my second attempt at crock-pot ownership just that week. The first attempt was one of those "oh, that would be great!" costco purchases, that doesn't look ridiculously large until you get it home, and realize you'll have to store the crock pot that feeds 20 people in one go... somewhere... and that there are a total of ONE PERSON at your dinner table...
The second attempt, well, Fred Meyer had a sale on crock pots, and the one I got is only supposed to make three servings at a time, if you fill it up all the way, which I don't. I even bought and cooked chicken in this thing, which is actually a minor miracle. I haven't cooked chicken in about three years, unless I was trying to impress somebody. And I think that only happened once. (For the record, it worked.)
Anyway, I heard about the blog post of rescipees for the crock pot, and went to check it out, and all these descriptions of food were SO YUMMY... I went to the store on my way home from work today, and bought an onion and some real vegetables. And I even cut them all up and dumped them all into my crock pot, and ... well... I guess I'll find out how it tastes tomorrow. But I feel so darn HEALTHY to be making something that takes more than 3 minutes to cook! (Now in case you were worrying, I actually do eat healthy food most of the time-- and cook it myself, basically from "scratch"... well, I don't make my own chicken broth... but anyway-- don't worry.)
AND THEN somebody actually mentioned that the dutch oven can be used the same way as a crock pot, but you put it in the oven at 350 (?) for five hours, and that same tremendous juicy stew of yummy foods happens. Wow.
I love food. I love it even more when it both tastes good and is good for me. Especially when I'm stressed out, and not getting enough sleep. Which would be most of the time, really... Going to bed at 11pm and getting up at 5am will do that to you. And not working and job-hunting, and moving to a new place to live, and being in a major car accident that was actually your fault, and sorting through every dagmn piece of crap you own and deciding that at least 1/3 of it MUST GO AWAY, and attending a major conference in your professional field-- on the other side of the country-- mid-move, and...
Well... I'm hoping to establish a more productive and less stressful routine in February. I really count my new year as starting then anyway, so I'm still really hopeful about everything. Hope is my friend. And, really, so is my new crock pot. Friends are a wonderful thing to have, let me tell you. I'm lucky that way. (And I'm not talking about the food.)
The second attempt, well, Fred Meyer had a sale on crock pots, and the one I got is only supposed to make three servings at a time, if you fill it up all the way, which I don't. I even bought and cooked chicken in this thing, which is actually a minor miracle. I haven't cooked chicken in about three years, unless I was trying to impress somebody. And I think that only happened once. (For the record, it worked.)
Anyway, I heard about the blog post of rescipees for the crock pot, and went to check it out, and all these descriptions of food were SO YUMMY... I went to the store on my way home from work today, and bought an onion and some real vegetables. And I even cut them all up and dumped them all into my crock pot, and ... well... I guess I'll find out how it tastes tomorrow. But I feel so darn HEALTHY to be making something that takes more than 3 minutes to cook! (Now in case you were worrying, I actually do eat healthy food most of the time-- and cook it myself, basically from "scratch"... well, I don't make my own chicken broth... but anyway-- don't worry.)
AND THEN somebody actually mentioned that the dutch oven can be used the same way as a crock pot, but you put it in the oven at 350 (?) for five hours, and that same tremendous juicy stew of yummy foods happens. Wow.
I love food. I love it even more when it both tastes good and is good for me. Especially when I'm stressed out, and not getting enough sleep. Which would be most of the time, really... Going to bed at 11pm and getting up at 5am will do that to you. And not working and job-hunting, and moving to a new place to live, and being in a major car accident that was actually your fault, and sorting through every dagmn piece of crap you own and deciding that at least 1/3 of it MUST GO AWAY, and attending a major conference in your professional field-- on the other side of the country-- mid-move, and...
Well... I'm hoping to establish a more productive and less stressful routine in February. I really count my new year as starting then anyway, so I'm still really hopeful about everything. Hope is my friend. And, really, so is my new crock pot. Friends are a wonderful thing to have, let me tell you. I'm lucky that way. (And I'm not talking about the food.)
...And then it was gone...
No shigt, there I was. Trying really hard to be loving and fun, and trying even harder not to laugh at something that shouldn't be encouraged... two days from the end to my second career as a nanny... with three hours of sleep under my belt, in freezing cold temperatures, in the middle of a move that included one car accident, (yes, the one you already heard about), one falsely advertised $19.99 for one day truck rental (try $69 plus gas), two parents, three sick friends, one person's first experience with a frozen pizza, a freaked out psycho cat, and a highly efficient group of people who could not believe that I didn't really want EVERYPOSSIBLETHING to get moved in one go...
When suddenly, the "Stinky Bum Brigade Truck" ran through the house, and it's little boy engine sounds like this: "PPTTHhhhhhhbbbbtttttt".... I had no idea there was such a brigade, but let me tell you that if ever there was, it definitely started and ended in a house full of diapers and solid foods, and it sounded just like that. And... well... I hope that little boy learns some spit-control in his fart noises, or else starts handing out napkins to innocent bystanders when he pretends to be this one particular vehicle. That particular engine noise looks and feels every bit as juicy as it sounds.
And in that moment of complete deadstop when I learned about the Stinky Bum Brigade Truck, and my mind went "...uhhhh...", I realized how very lucky I am. How many people can say they have six friends in one town who would come to their house on a cold day to help them move, while suffering from major head colds, sore throats, thrown out backs, and sundry other commitments and challenges-- and who would still love them after realizing just how "creatively organized" the packing job had so far been.
Then the moment was over, and I discovered that the youngest has added yet another word to her growing vocabulary. "toot" And a new song (my fault, actually, but I learned long ago that the trick to easy diaper changes is to distract-- so I sing, and encourage toy-handling and other sundry oddities during diaper duty)... I think it originally was a few bars out of the Music Man musical... "shee-poopy, shee-poopy, shee-poopy".... but it's just so darn appropriate sometimes!
I think I need to start spending more time with adults.
When suddenly, the "Stinky Bum Brigade Truck" ran through the house, and it's little boy engine sounds like this: "PPTTHhhhhhhbbbbtttttt".... I had no idea there was such a brigade, but let me tell you that if ever there was, it definitely started and ended in a house full of diapers and solid foods, and it sounded just like that. And... well... I hope that little boy learns some spit-control in his fart noises, or else starts handing out napkins to innocent bystanders when he pretends to be this one particular vehicle. That particular engine noise looks and feels every bit as juicy as it sounds.
And in that moment of complete deadstop when I learned about the Stinky Bum Brigade Truck, and my mind went "...uhhhh...", I realized how very lucky I am. How many people can say they have six friends in one town who would come to their house on a cold day to help them move, while suffering from major head colds, sore throats, thrown out backs, and sundry other commitments and challenges-- and who would still love them after realizing just how "creatively organized" the packing job had so far been.
Then the moment was over, and I discovered that the youngest has added yet another word to her growing vocabulary. "toot" And a new song (my fault, actually, but I learned long ago that the trick to easy diaper changes is to distract-- so I sing, and encourage toy-handling and other sundry oddities during diaper duty)... I think it originally was a few bars out of the Music Man musical... "shee-poopy, shee-poopy, shee-poopy".... but it's just so darn appropriate sometimes!
I think I need to start spending more time with adults.
Friday, January 4
Bumper Stickers
Okay. I don't need a frog. I need a toad. My old "gotta be me, and I'm weird" bumper sticker was a toad. And that means its time to visit Hot Topic at the mall. And hope that music group (or whatever it was) is still "in."
Toads being, strangely, the symbol of Hecate, the Goddess of the waning moon, universal wisdom, women's intuition, transition and crossroads, herbal healing, and -oh, yeah- witches. Which will keep me from using that "I heart Herbs!" one, and possibly also the "Dirt Worshiping Tree Hugger" one. Probably save me from a few nasty looks, too, especially if my new job is anywhere that's not here. Anything I can do to stay safe in my new car is GOOD, people. I promise, no incriminating baggie of dried coconut in the glove box, either.
Also, I have a bumper sticker somewhere that says "Normal People Worry Me" which will go on the FRONT of the car. My good friend, SLM, has promised me an Evil Bunny, and an "Eat a Lime" bumper sticker, so I'm good there... And I'm saving the one I found that says "Outrageous Older Woman" for my 60th birthday. Trust me-- I'll still have it.
Anything else you've seen that really REALLY needs to be permanently affixed to my car? Because I'm starting to think that's enough, really. For a small car with no hiney to speak of.
Toads being, strangely, the symbol of Hecate, the Goddess of the waning moon, universal wisdom, women's intuition, transition and crossroads, herbal healing, and -oh, yeah- witches. Which will keep me from using that "I heart Herbs!" one, and possibly also the "Dirt Worshiping Tree Hugger" one. Probably save me from a few nasty looks, too, especially if my new job is anywhere that's not here. Anything I can do to stay safe in my new car is GOOD, people. I promise, no incriminating baggie of dried coconut in the glove box, either.
Also, I have a bumper sticker somewhere that says "Normal People Worry Me" which will go on the FRONT of the car. My good friend, SLM, has promised me an Evil Bunny, and an "Eat a Lime" bumper sticker, so I'm good there... And I'm saving the one I found that says "Outrageous Older Woman" for my 60th birthday. Trust me-- I'll still have it.
Anything else you've seen that really REALLY needs to be permanently affixed to my car? Because I'm starting to think that's enough, really. For a small car with no hiney to speak of.
Thursday, January 3
Easier in an Email
...Plus it is WAY past your bedtime, and you need your sleep.
An open letter... with lots of intended recipients...
(partly because it was so cathartic to write... and partly because I realized that I owed this explanation to a lot more people than received the original email...)
Getting mad because you were offering me a suggestion about being more productive in my job hunt made me stop and think tonight. I really don't want us butting heads. I can't think of much worse that could happen, actually, for me. Not that we always have to agree, but more that you are such an important friend, and that your advice is nearly always worth listening to. The fact that I was so self-absorbed in doing things MY WAY made me wonder what exactly I was feeling so defensive ABOUT!
So... I finally realized just how NOT WELL I'm dealing with my responsibilities lately. And I suspect that any suggestions you have offered lately probably HAVE been met with grumpy resistance on my part. I wanted to apologize for that. It means a lot to me that you are always there to cheer me on-- even when I'm too stubborn and too overwhelmed to appreciate it. So... I'm going to try and be a little less self-absorbed, and a little more self-aware, and maybe be a better friend for you, too. I know you could use a good friend right now, and I haven't felt like I was really helping you much lately. You're important to me.
But, back to me. My favorite subject lately, even when you've had more important problems to discuss.
I think I'm just really afraid of the future right now. And this whole not knowing whether I'll find a job to go to or if I can really honestly support myself financially, and having to put most of my stuff in storage again-- it's all normal and fine, and it'll probably turn out okay, I know.
But it also all is very similar to the situation I was in when I moved out of my ex's apartment two years ago. Right down to the time of year. I don't have an angry, hurt husband this time-- and I think I've got more stuff, if that's possible. But I'm hoping that now I realize why I've been so paralyzed by the situations I'm currently facing, and why I've had SO MUCH fear in relation to this move and job-hunt... It's really been paralyzing. Maybe I can move forward a little better, now. Because while I know it's irrational... it's still THERE, you know?
...and maybe recognizing it will help me stop dreaming about vampires every night...
I don't know that I'll be any better about taking suggestions for a while-- I'm already so afraid of failure that sometimes I hear a desire to help as more criticism. Sad, but true. But as of February, I've decided to stop nannying. Two final days in Feb, and that's it. I'm hoping that one huge stress off my back will help me be more productive in searching for career-oriented jobs and doing what's best for me instead of doing what's easiest, the way I have done lately. Also, I'm hoping I'll have more energy to be there for you. I'm going to try not to use any more lame excuses about why I'm where I am in my job-hunt, or complain as much, either.
It's hard to admit I'm not doing everything I could be doing to improve my own situation, especial to people whose good opinion I care about as much as I do yours. So... I could be applying for more jobs than I have done so far. Three job apps in three months isn't a great average. But I have a plan for that, now. I could also spend less time reading books or watching movies or puttering around in my apartment... and have a lot more time to get the things on my list accomplished. Maybe having access to less stuff will help with that, once I move.
But mostly, I realized that I'm so tired from worrying and tired from feeling like I'm NOT meeting anybody's expectations (especially my own) and tired from getting over all the emotional shit that comes with a divorce and a graduate program and a big debt load and a new career and a new life and a new home (or two or three).... It isn't easy to face doing something new or difficult when I'm always drained. And these things just take time to work through. I should know-- I've been working through these same things for two years now. (but not the vampire dreams-- those started right after Christmas...) I probably need to sit back and recognize just how much I HAVE accomplished in the last two years, and just how far I've actually come emotionally. That might help... Anyway-
I'm going to do it. I'll get a good job, get by until then on the money I have saved up, get moved, get my shgit together, get over it... But I sorta wanted to explain to you what's going on with me lately. You may already know it, or maybe I did my whole "hide the problems" thing again, or maybe I just haven't called you in a few months-- I really don't know. Hence the long email. And the apology.
p.s.
I also finally figured out that my downstairs neighbor has been smoking at night, and that's why my allergies and my sleep are so bad all the time here. So maybe moving out will also help with some of my stress.
Glad to have you in my life. Just wanted to say that in case I haven't been acting that way lately.
-Me.
An open letter... with lots of intended recipients...
(partly because it was so cathartic to write... and partly because I realized that I owed this explanation to a lot more people than received the original email...)
Getting mad because you were offering me a suggestion about being more productive in my job hunt made me stop and think tonight. I really don't want us butting heads. I can't think of much worse that could happen, actually, for me. Not that we always have to agree, but more that you are such an important friend, and that your advice is nearly always worth listening to. The fact that I was so self-absorbed in doing things MY WAY made me wonder what exactly I was feeling so defensive ABOUT!
So... I finally realized just how NOT WELL I'm dealing with my responsibilities lately. And I suspect that any suggestions you have offered lately probably HAVE been met with grumpy resistance on my part. I wanted to apologize for that. It means a lot to me that you are always there to cheer me on-- even when I'm too stubborn and too overwhelmed to appreciate it. So... I'm going to try and be a little less self-absorbed, and a little more self-aware, and maybe be a better friend for you, too. I know you could use a good friend right now, and I haven't felt like I was really helping you much lately. You're important to me.
But, back to me. My favorite subject lately, even when you've had more important problems to discuss.
I think I'm just really afraid of the future right now. And this whole not knowing whether I'll find a job to go to or if I can really honestly support myself financially, and having to put most of my stuff in storage again-- it's all normal and fine, and it'll probably turn out okay, I know.
But it also all is very similar to the situation I was in when I moved out of my ex's apartment two years ago. Right down to the time of year. I don't have an angry, hurt husband this time-- and I think I've got more stuff, if that's possible. But I'm hoping that now I realize why I've been so paralyzed by the situations I'm currently facing, and why I've had SO MUCH fear in relation to this move and job-hunt... It's really been paralyzing. Maybe I can move forward a little better, now. Because while I know it's irrational... it's still THERE, you know?
...and maybe recognizing it will help me stop dreaming about vampires every night...
I don't know that I'll be any better about taking suggestions for a while-- I'm already so afraid of failure that sometimes I hear a desire to help as more criticism. Sad, but true. But as of February, I've decided to stop nannying. Two final days in Feb, and that's it. I'm hoping that one huge stress off my back will help me be more productive in searching for career-oriented jobs and doing what's best for me instead of doing what's easiest, the way I have done lately. Also, I'm hoping I'll have more energy to be there for you. I'm going to try not to use any more lame excuses about why I'm where I am in my job-hunt, or complain as much, either.
It's hard to admit I'm not doing everything I could be doing to improve my own situation, especial to people whose good opinion I care about as much as I do yours. So... I could be applying for more jobs than I have done so far. Three job apps in three months isn't a great average. But I have a plan for that, now. I could also spend less time reading books or watching movies or puttering around in my apartment... and have a lot more time to get the things on my list accomplished. Maybe having access to less stuff will help with that, once I move.
But mostly, I realized that I'm so tired from worrying and tired from feeling like I'm NOT meeting anybody's expectations (especially my own) and tired from getting over all the emotional shit that comes with a divorce and a graduate program and a big debt load and a new career and a new life and a new home (or two or three).... It isn't easy to face doing something new or difficult when I'm always drained. And these things just take time to work through. I should know-- I've been working through these same things for two years now. (but not the vampire dreams-- those started right after Christmas...) I probably need to sit back and recognize just how much I HAVE accomplished in the last two years, and just how far I've actually come emotionally. That might help... Anyway-
I'm going to do it. I'll get a good job, get by until then on the money I have saved up, get moved, get my shgit together, get over it... But I sorta wanted to explain to you what's going on with me lately. You may already know it, or maybe I did my whole "hide the problems" thing again, or maybe I just haven't called you in a few months-- I really don't know. Hence the long email. And the apology.
p.s.
I also finally figured out that my downstairs neighbor has been smoking at night, and that's why my allergies and my sleep are so bad all the time here. So maybe moving out will also help with some of my stress.
Glad to have you in my life. Just wanted to say that in case I haven't been acting that way lately.
-Me.
Tuesday, January 1
Moving On
I've decided that Christmas Cards this year are a total wash. Just not on my top ten priorities list, and not likely to get there before February. Sigh. So I guess I'm saving myself some money for next year, right? Except next year, I had hoped to have time to MAKE my cards again, thus justifying some small portion of the ridiculous money I spent on stamps, paper, etc between 2004-2006. Oh, well. I think I really spent that money because it meant I could spent those four hours a month with a really cool group of non-military women. And for that, it was TOTALLY worth every penny.
In other news, I LOVE my new car. I haven't tabulated the gas mileage yet, but the fact that I was able to drive for something like five hours straight without going below 1/4 tank? Happy. I also find that I like being able to close the trunk, and know nobody can see all the crap I've stored there. And the 6 CD-changer is nice. And the built-in Blue Tooth capability. That's a new one on me. Built-in wireless phoning. On my steering wheel. But now that I've programmed in the voice-recognized phone numbers I'm most likely to call in heavy traffic (usually because that means I'm STUCK in heavy traffic, and going to be late), I think I'm a convert.
Especially with my recent commitment to SERIOUSLY SAFE DRIVING. SERIOUSLY. I wasn't sure I'd be okay talking on the phone (or any other not-so-safe thing you always end up doing in the car) ever again after the accident, but... well... Being able to push a single button and start talking to the air, and then push another single button and be disconnected-- I feel fairly safe with that system.
Now all I need is a frog. Bumper sticker. For my car. To replace the one I lost with the CR-V. And I have to decide whether or not it'd be a good thing to put my "I heart herbs!" bumper sticker on my car. Especially since I do buy dried herbs like lavender and comfrey and peppermint and Nettle from a local herbalist on a fairly regular basis... It's like the time a friend found my stash of unsweetened finely-grated coconut in the glove compartment. A nice fine white powdery blob of COCONUT in a little plastic baggie... Yeah.
Anyway, Did I tell you I found three different emergency medical kits in the CR-V when I cleaned it out? I threw out the moldy one (yuck!), and put the best of the remaining two into the new vehicle. Once I get my little sample carpet square back in the trunk (for if I get stuck on ice or in snow-- before that I had clumping cat litter. I hadn't really thought that one thru...), I'll be good to go. After all, it IS winter.
I've agreed to nanny through January. I'm determined to actually do the 2-3 posts a week I was originally hired to do for LJ online. I've got a short web-design job lined up for an aunt of mine, and I'm moving to a new temporary apartment until I get a full time job, or until it stops being a good place for me to be. I'm also trying to cut my belongings (clothing, books, furniture, archives, sundry craft supplies, and paper-saving tendencies) down by about 1/3 before I move. Somehow, being done with school has not had the "time-suddenly-available" effect on my life that I'd hoped for.
And somewhere in all this, I still do need to be applying for actual LIBRARIAN JOBS. I'm really determined that my next real job will pay more than $10 an hour. Like, maybe, $20-30 an hour instead. After all, I have a terminal master's degree now. And I'm going to be paying for it for a long time. Loooooooooooonnnngggggggg Tiiiiiimmmmmmeee
Yes.Terminally.
Beyond that, I feel rather silly, and thought I'd share the laugh with you-- at myself, as usual. See, I was starting to realize that I don't want too much furniture that I can't lift (or at least shove back and forth) by myself. And I want to give back to people all the stuff they've been so great about loaning me over the last two years. So I'm planning to return the borrowed, customized, 300 lb TV to my really awesome friend H. And with that gone, I started to wonder how I'd watch my "relax and vegetate" movies... so I thought about getting a new cheap TV (they don't exist), or maybe just a computer screen (totally possible, but actually MORE expensive), and then I remembered that some guy at a party said it was cheaper for him to just get a projector and project his movies on the wall... (yeah, right)... So I called an expert. Well, actually, I called the expert's wife. (Hi James!) And he clarified that it is VERY expensive to buy a computer screen with normal DVD-player hookups in it. But, he agreed with his wife that I could probably watch my DVDs on MY EXISTING COMPUTER for quite a few months before I wore out the DVD/CD drive. Oh.
Right. I HAVE a computer that can play movies. Duh.
Thank goodness I talked to a few sensible people before I went and broke my budget. Again. And actually, having tested it, my computer has better resolution and clearer sound than the really really BIG TV that I'm borrowing. And I can lift it, all by myself. So now I'm wondering if they don't make external computer DVD-reading hard drives for cheap... so I can keep from wearing out the one inside my computer. And I'm not quite sure what to do with my perfectly good fairly new DVD player. Also, I realize that I'm going to miss the personalized cup-holder in the old TV. Somewhat.
In other news, I LOVE my new car. I haven't tabulated the gas mileage yet, but the fact that I was able to drive for something like five hours straight without going below 1/4 tank? Happy. I also find that I like being able to close the trunk, and know nobody can see all the crap I've stored there. And the 6 CD-changer is nice. And the built-in Blue Tooth capability. That's a new one on me. Built-in wireless phoning. On my steering wheel. But now that I've programmed in the voice-recognized phone numbers I'm most likely to call in heavy traffic (usually because that means I'm STUCK in heavy traffic, and going to be late), I think I'm a convert.
Especially with my recent commitment to SERIOUSLY SAFE DRIVING. SERIOUSLY. I wasn't sure I'd be okay talking on the phone (or any other not-so-safe thing you always end up doing in the car) ever again after the accident, but... well... Being able to push a single button and start talking to the air, and then push another single button and be disconnected-- I feel fairly safe with that system.
Now all I need is a frog. Bumper sticker. For my car. To replace the one I lost with the CR-V. And I have to decide whether or not it'd be a good thing to put my "I heart herbs!" bumper sticker on my car. Especially since I do buy dried herbs like lavender and comfrey and peppermint and Nettle from a local herbalist on a fairly regular basis... It's like the time a friend found my stash of unsweetened finely-grated coconut in the glove compartment. A nice fine white powdery blob of COCONUT in a little plastic baggie... Yeah.
Anyway, Did I tell you I found three different emergency medical kits in the CR-V when I cleaned it out? I threw out the moldy one (yuck!), and put the best of the remaining two into the new vehicle. Once I get my little sample carpet square back in the trunk (for if I get stuck on ice or in snow-- before that I had clumping cat litter. I hadn't really thought that one thru...), I'll be good to go. After all, it IS winter.
I've agreed to nanny through January. I'm determined to actually do the 2-3 posts a week I was originally hired to do for LJ online. I've got a short web-design job lined up for an aunt of mine, and I'm moving to a new temporary apartment until I get a full time job, or until it stops being a good place for me to be. I'm also trying to cut my belongings (clothing, books, furniture, archives, sundry craft supplies, and paper-saving tendencies) down by about 1/3 before I move. Somehow, being done with school has not had the "time-suddenly-available" effect on my life that I'd hoped for.
And somewhere in all this, I still do need to be applying for actual LIBRARIAN JOBS. I'm really determined that my next real job will pay more than $10 an hour. Like, maybe, $20-30 an hour instead. After all, I have a terminal master's degree now. And I'm going to be paying for it for a long time. Loooooooooooonnnngggggggg Tiiiiiimmmmmmeee
Yes.Terminally.
Beyond that, I feel rather silly, and thought I'd share the laugh with you-- at myself, as usual. See, I was starting to realize that I don't want too much furniture that I can't lift (or at least shove back and forth) by myself. And I want to give back to people all the stuff they've been so great about loaning me over the last two years. So I'm planning to return the borrowed, customized, 300 lb TV to my really awesome friend H. And with that gone, I started to wonder how I'd watch my "relax and vegetate" movies... so I thought about getting a new cheap TV (they don't exist), or maybe just a computer screen (totally possible, but actually MORE expensive), and then I remembered that some guy at a party said it was cheaper for him to just get a projector and project his movies on the wall... (yeah, right)... So I called an expert. Well, actually, I called the expert's wife. (Hi James!) And he clarified that it is VERY expensive to buy a computer screen with normal DVD-player hookups in it. But, he agreed with his wife that I could probably watch my DVDs on MY EXISTING COMPUTER for quite a few months before I wore out the DVD/CD drive. Oh.
Right. I HAVE a computer that can play movies. Duh.
Thank goodness I talked to a few sensible people before I went and broke my budget. Again. And actually, having tested it, my computer has better resolution and clearer sound than the really really BIG TV that I'm borrowing. And I can lift it, all by myself. So now I'm wondering if they don't make external computer DVD-reading hard drives for cheap... so I can keep from wearing out the one inside my computer. And I'm not quite sure what to do with my perfectly good fairly new DVD player. Also, I realize that I'm going to miss the personalized cup-holder in the old TV. Somewhat.
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