We Have Another Winnar!

Good Morning, Kittens.

 

Apologies for the lack of posting.  I have stress.  Mostly work-related with a (not-so) helpful mix of other stuff as well.  I am working on getting it sorted.  So bear with me.

 

Meanwhile, remember the "Show Me Your Best Mugshot" contest?  Well, we have a second place winnar!  Congratulations, Michelle M.!  I would link to your pic, but I can't.  Trust me.  It is awesomeness in a bucket!

 

Michelle, you may choose between one of these fabulous mugs:

 

Mug 2: http://www.flickr.com/photos/enviroboi/5058038775/

Mug 3: http://www.flickr.com/photos/enviroboi/5058044325/

Mug 4: http://www.flickr.com/photos/enviroboi/5058049431/

 

Let me know which one you'd like, and -once I get my forking act together- I'll ship it to you! 

 

In other news, it is a SUPERBUSY weekend ...

 

David arrives today after work.  I'm planning on meeting him at the bus stop, and, then, we are going to pick up my (and 2 of my neighbors') Marine Corps Marathon 10K Race Packets.  Will also spend some time (and -hopefully- not too much money) wandering around the exhibits.

 

No real plans after that.  I think a lazy night of dinner and movies and cocktails will be in order.

 

Saturday, we are going to the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear.  Then, heading back home to do some party shopping.

 

Sunday, I have to get up super early to get to the race starting point.  After the 10K, I think David is going to brunch with friends.  I have to head home to get ready for the little party I'm having in the evening for my group of friends who ran the race.  Should be a good time.  I've made ginger-infused vodka.

 

Monday, I am off!  yay!  And David heads home in the afternoon.

 

Good times, kittens.  Good.  Times.

 

Have a great weekend!  And Happy Halloween!

*smooches*

We Have a Winnarz!

Good Morning, Kittens!

 

Remember the "Show Me Your Best Mugshot" Contest?  Well, the Canadian has provided us with a winnar!  YAY!

 

And, I would LOVE to show you the winning photo, but -since I'm at work and have to update via email- I can't.  Sorry.

 

Oh, wait.  I just remembered she sent it via twitpic.  Here's a link: http://twitpic.com/2zd0i9.

 

ANYWAYz, congratulations to our Grand Prize Winner, ShallowGal, for exquisite photo of the Salahis in one of the mugs.  Funnily enough, this was also my pick for the win.  Apparently, I have Canadian tastes in mugshots?

 

ShallowGal, please choose one of the four mugs pictured below as your prize ...

 

(Haha.  Who am I kidding?  I can't post pictures.)

 

So, um, ShallowGal, click on these fun links and choose your mug:

 

Mug 1: http://www.flickr.com/photos/enviroboi/5058033067/

Mug 2: http://www.flickr.com/photos/enviroboi/5058038775/

Mug 3: http://www.flickr.com/photos/enviroboi/5058044325/

Mug 4: http://www.flickr.com/photos/enviroboi/5058044325/

 

Second, Third, and Fourth Places to be announced later this week.  (See how I'm able to drag this contest out for dayz? It's a desperate tactic on my part to increase readership.  Ok.  Not, really.) ... I'm just lazy.

 

In other news ... last night, I went for a little run.  Because I go home later than usual (stupid Red Line.  *curses*), I decided to run on the sort of well-lit track rather than the dark and scary park trail.  The only problem with running on a track is that I lose track of how many laps I have made.  I may have run 3 miles.  or 1.5.  I have no idea.  It seemed like I ran for a long time at least.

 

And, that's about it.  Have a great day!

*smooches*

Finances, Shopping, and Pottery

Good Morning, Kittens.

 

I got some good news yesterday.  As you may know, the mortgage on my apartment is a 5-1 ARM.  That means, I paid the same interest rate for 5 years.  Then, it adjusts every year after that based on some weird financial calculation that I don't understand.  Five years ago, I got a decent rate (after paying a point*) of 5.75%.  Yesterday, I received a letter from the mortgage company explaining that my new rate will go into effect on 1 January.  Whoa.  Have I been in my place for 5 years?  And I *still* haven't redone the kitchen?  Why do I suck at this kind of stuff?

 

Anyway, my new interest rate?  It is an awesome (and low) 3%.  CRAZY.  Which without going into too much detail, means that I can pay about $200 less a month than I'm paying now and STILL be paying more principal than I am now.  INSANE!

 

What am I going to do with that extra money?  Probably drink it.  Haha.  Seriously, I think I will do a "Pay Myself" program, in which I deposit the difference into a separate savings account.  Happy happy!

 

I also got a fun, surprise present in the mail.  AND, I ordered a cute pair of skinny cords from Levis.com. 30% off!  Free shipping!

 

Meanwhile, pottery class was pretty good.  I got back two finished items: this little teacup and a slightly larger similarly glazed, similarly shaped, possibly useless bowl-cup-thing.  It's too large for a teacup/mug, but too small to be a useful bowl.  Maybe it could hold M&Ms.  Or candy corns.  Or something.

 

I trimmed the platter that I almost put my finger through on Sunday.  I think it will be OK.  It's a wedding present (if it turns out).  And, I threw a round vase.  Good times!

 

Today, after surviving work, I need to go for a run (only 5 more sleeps 'til the 10K - ACK!) and do some cleaning.

 

*This has something to do with paying a little bit extra and the bank lowers the interest rate by one point

Weekend Update: Party Party Edition

Good morning, Kittens.

 

So, Friday night, I went to my friend's *cough*50th*cough* birthday party.  It was lots of fun.  I drank a lot.  And, then, we actually got a ride to Silver Spring.  Yay!  It was cold out and I didn't want to have to wait for metro.  Once back at my place, SCGB, Tomokito, Eric from Baltimore and I had a margarita before saying good night.  I didn't get to bed until nearly 3AM.

 

Saturday morning?  Very. Hung. Over.  I blobbed around the house for most of the day ... and, then, I went for a run.  The weather was gorgeous. I ran (and walked) just over 6 miles.  Yay!  And, I didn't die.  Yay!  Once I had rested up a bit, I walked up to the Whole Foods (and likker store).  I bought a few ingredients that I needed for dinner and I bought a bottle of wine and a big ol' bottle of vodka.

 

Once home, I made ginger-infused vodka.  Hopefully, it will be ready in time for the post-10K party next Sunday.  Then, I cooked dinner: pesto-braised butternut squash with pasta.  It was delicious.  Nom nom nom.

 

Later that evening, Tomokito and SCGB came down and we watched bits of "Mommie Dearest" and finished the bottle of wine.  Yay!

 

Sunday morning, more blobbing.  And, then, SCGB drove me to the pottery studio.  I glazed two mugs and a bowl and trimmed a platter.  I was going to trim another platter, but I nearly put my finger through the floor of it.  Which is bad.  I will discuss the situation with the instructor tonight.

 

Oh, and we have a winner in the "Show Me Your Best Mugshot" Contest.  But, I am holding off on announcing it officially until tonight or tomorrow.  (Partly because I may be getting some more pottery back tonight and partly because I don't have the runners up yet).

 

Stay tuned for that exciting announcement.

 

Have a great day!  *smooches*

 

 

Waiting for the Weekend

Hello, Kittens.

 

I realized I forgot to blog this morning.  Oops.  What can I say?  I had an early meeting, and, then, I had to make it work (and watch the penultimate episode of Project Runway).

 

Weekend plans:  Tonight, I'm going to a friend's birthday party.  Mike is making the cake.  Yay!  Eric from Baltimore is coming down.  Tomokito and SCGB will be there.  Should be a rockin' good time.

 

Saturday, recovering and cleaning.

 

Sunday, pottery studio.

 

Yay!

 

Have a great weekend!

A Little More Light Hearted

Good Morning, Kittens. 

After yesterday's rather heavy post, how about some fluff?

 

Like, my New Winter Coat! Kenneth Cole!  Purchased from Hautelook!  Greatly reduced!  Wool!  Hurrah!  Warm and snuggly FTW.

 

And, FLOWERS!  From my neighbor, K-Factor.  Who said, "Sorry, they aren't purple, but they are purple-ish."

 

And, a NEW BELT (no pic.  sorry) from the Canadian (who is K-Factor's BF), who said that the belt was Just Too Crazy for him to wear.  So, of course, I had imagined something sparkly or with studs or something.  But, no, it's ... well ... it's pretty much a plain black belt.  Interesting ...

 

And, finally, the Show Me Your Best Mugshot Contest has EIGHT entries thus far.  It's not too late to enter.  You have until tomorrow (at, what? say, midnight EST?). Send me your mugshots.  We have a stellar (and foreign!) judge lined up!  Yay!

 

Have a great day!  *smooches*

 

Wearing Purple

7th grade, pre-algebra class ...

 

As I worked out a problem on the board, the boy whispered loud enough so I could hear, but the teacher couldn't, "Steven Gay-vis.  Steven Gay-vis."  My ears burned.

 

8th grade, homeroom ...

 

"Are you going to take your boyfriend to the Spring Dance," the girl taunted me in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear. I flushed and sank lower in my seat.

 

The first day of 9th grade ...

 

"Aren't you the one everyone thought was gay in middle school," the guy asked me as I sat at the high school cafeteria table full of students from another middle school with whom I was trying to make friends.  I said nothing.

 

Three small instances.  Simple sentences.  Not-so-innocent questions.  30 years later I still remember them as the tiny pieces of grit that got under my skin.  Oyster-like, I built up layers of protection, coating the grit until it no longer hurt.   But, at the core of my sparkly fabulousness, they are still there.

 

Was I bullied in school?  Some.  What did I do to get through it?  I made friends.  It wasn't easy. In seventh grade, in a new town, at a new school (and one in which no one I met over the summer attended), I made three friends.  Three.  A guy down the street who never looked clean and cursed like a sailor. A girl from a poorer part of town who was in most of my classes.  And, an 8th grader who would sit beside me on the bus in the mornings and talk to me.  Three friends are better than none.  Three friends provided refuge against being alone.  Three friends who made each day bearable.  Three friends who probably kept me alive.

 

Middle school was hard.  High school wasn't as bad.  The consolidation of several schools in our county meant that I could have a fresh start.  Until that incidence in the cafeteria, I believed that was true.  I coped the only way I knew how.  I avoided contact with people from my middle school.  I made friends with students from the other schools.  In a school of 1600, the boy who never looked clean and the girl from the poorer part of town disappeared in the masses of bodies changing classes.  Still, I was sometimes bullied, but I made a group of friends who wouldn't tease me ... and that's all I needed.  Smart kids who were ostracized for being smart and band geeks. The Island of Misfit Toys. That's where I found my safety net. 

 

At the beginning of the Fall of my 11th grade year, the band director said to me, "You need to come out of your shell."  I nodded, but I don't think he realized my shell was what was keeping me from falling to pieces. 

 

It's taken me a long, long time to become comfortable with who I am and how I look.  Bullying didn't make it easier, but it also helped shape me into the person I am today (who I love.  I love me!  Yay!). So, today I'm wearing purple in support of all those kids who are being bullied and teased in school. 

 

Hang in there, kittens.  I close with the rapidly becoming schmaltzy "It Gets Better."  It does get better (even if you aren't a fabulously wealthy, exceedingly handsome famous actor/designer/writer).  It even gets better if you are a vicious unrepentant bitter old queen.

 

*smooches*

 

 

 

 

Universal Truths

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that blog readers in possession of a good (or even a not-so-good) camera, must be in want of a mug.

 

Why, yes, I have been rereading Pride and Prejudice.  Why do you ask?  So far, my sweet sweet kittenz, we have 5 entries in the "Show My Your Best Mugshot" Contest.  They range for the unquestionably cutez to the horribly frightening.  AND, you still have a few more days to submit your entry (Friday, Oct. 22 is the deadline).  If you have trouble providing a link, feel free to email the photo directly to me (environyATgmailDOTcom).

 

I have a truly stellar Guest Judge lined up (unless he was too drunk at the party and forgot I asked him).  In that case, I *may* have a stellar Guest Judge lined up.

 

And, if you can't believe it, I have EVEN MORE pottery on the way (although, I don't know if I'll be having a contest ... they may become Xmas presents or something).  So far this session, I have made 3 mugs, 2 bowls, 2 spiral things (that could be bowls or cups or something), 3 platterybowl-likethings (aka wedding presents), and a plate.  Busy busy. 

 

Have a great day!

*smooches*

Weekend Update: Busy Busy Edition

Good Afternoon, Kittens.

Whew! Busy day today! I've planted chrysanthemums and ironed 10 shirts. I still need to take out the recycling, iron a couple of pairs of pants, and clean clean clean ... and maybe go for a run (although I might put that off until tomorrow).

Anyway, good weekend. Friday, I had happy hour at Molly Malones in Eastern Market/Barracks Row. Lots of beer. Maybe a tequila shot. Little food. VUBOQ was a little durnk.

Saturday, very. hungover. Lots of blobbing. And a 3.5 mile run. Then, Carolyn came over and we went to dinner at 8407 Kitchen Bar, a new-ish restaurant near Silver Spring Metro Station. It was delicious ... but expensive ... especially when you add in cocktails, a couple of glasses of wine, and dessert.

After dinner, I went to K-Factor's birthday party at Buddha Bar in DC. It was fun, but the drinks were pricey. And it started to get really crowded. And sometimes really crowded places make me uncomfortable. And the second drink I ordered was bad. So I left a little early. Oh, well.

Sunday, I went to the pottery studio. I made a plate and a bowl. Then, I headed into DC to meet this guy (J?). He was nice enough. Relatively attractive. We sat and people watched and talked for awhile. Then, we went to Commonwealth for a drink and appetizers. The date ended with a handshake. Weird. I can't remember the last time I ended a date like that. Not much chemistry anyway.

When I got home, SCGB and Tomokito came down for bourbon and gossip. Fun!

Now, I think I'm going to take a nap. Yay for Mondays off!

*smooches*

PS. don't forget the "Show Me Your Best Mugshot" Contest! If you want to email me your photo (rather than posting a link in the comments), send it to environyATgmailDOTcom.

Almost the Weekend

Good Morning, Kittens!

 

Once again, I must despair over the dirth of entries into the "Show Me Your Best Mugshot" Contest.  C'mon people.  I have pottery to give away.  You know you want it.  I think I'm going to set the deadline for entries as Friday, October 22nd.  Enter now for your chance to win.  All I need is a mugshot.  How hard is that?

 

In other news, I am out of dry vermouth.  Must go to likker store soon. 

 

Yesterday, I went running.  It was good.  I spent most of yesterday gorging on Halloween candy and the run helped to get rid of my major Sugar Buzz.  My knee hurts this morning though.  I have two more weeks to get up to speed for the Marine Corps Marathon 10K.  Gah.

 

And, the weekend is fast approaching. Huzzah.  AND, it's a three-day weekend.  Double HUZZAH!  After work, a current co-worker and I are meeting a former co-worker (formerly known as the Skankified Ho) and her new beau for happy hour in Eastern Market.  Boozy good times will ensue, I'm sure.

 

Saturday, I need to run.  And I need to clean.  And I need to do a little yardwork.

 

Sunday, I am going to the pottery studio for a couple of hours.  Then, I have a date.

 

No plans on Monday (other than pottery class in the evening) ... but I will probably be doing more cleaning and yardwork.

 

Joy. 

 

Have a great day!

*smooches*

 

 

Not Entirely Random Thoughts

Good Morning, Kittens!

 

Well, as proven by all the comments on my last post, the interest in my "Show Me Your Best Mugshot" contest has been ASTOUNDING!  I can't wait to see all the pictures everyone (or ... um ... no one) submits.    There are 4 mugs in need of good homes, so get to it. 

 

Yesterday, I hosted two guest speakers from the Alliance to Save Energy.  The turnout was amazing (I think the general may have put a little pressure on some people).  Standing room only.  At least 30 people.  I had expected 15-20.  The talk was good.  I hope people learned something.

 

AND, I bought the airplane tickets for my Fall vacation ... I am going to that Exciting Vacation Destination, the Place Everyone Wants to Visit, the City Where Dreams Come True ... DETROIT (and Ann Arbor)!  YAY!  It's a short trip.  I'm flying up on Saturday and returning on Tuesday.  Mostly I want to visit the fantastic cuzin and other friends and get out of here for a little while.  I have the rest of that week off, so I will be able to do some stuff around the house.  Should be good times.

 

Huzzah.

 

Have a great day! *smooches*

A Day That Was Crappy. And a Contest

Good Morning, Kittens.

 

Yesterday was a big pile of UGH.  Things that went wrong:

 

1. Huge setback with something I've been working on for almost a year, taking me back almost to Square One. 

2. Very Important Meeting I organized was only attended by 4 people.  Several people who were supposed to be at the meeting walked by and did not come in.

3. After the meeting (which ended at 4:45), I have an email saying I have to create a presentation by 1PM today.  Then, give a practice presentation (um?  what?  of the many things I do need to practice, making presentations is not one of them) in front of my supervisor.  Oh, and the practice presentation is scheduled for the exact same time when I have two guest speakers scheduled.  Oh, and the practice presentation is for a meeting which is supposed to be on the 14th, but a meeting notice *still* has not been sent out.  Wasted. Effort.  IMHO.

 

So, I left work Very Cranky.  But, I went for a run (about 2.5 miles) and had a martini.  Then, I felt a bit better.

 

AND, NOW, the Moment You've All Been Waiting For ...

 

The Great Mug Giveaway Contest: Show Me Your Best MugShot!

 

Take a mugshot photo (or make a drawing).  You are free to interpret "mugshot" however you wish.

Post your photo (or drawing) on your blog, on facebook, on Flickr.

Leave a link for me in the comments.  Easy Peasy.

 

A distinguished panel of judges will choose the top four mugshots.  The winners will get to pick from the following mugs:

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/enviroboi/5058049431/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/enviroboi/5058044325/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/enviroboi/5058038775/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/enviroboi/5058033067/

 

(There would've been 5 mugs to choose from; however, there was a small accident involving this mug and a very cute Baby Who Lives Upstairs. We'll see if super glue works.)

 

Good luck and show me your best mugshot!

 

*smooches*

 

 

Weekend Update: It's Still Going On Edition

Good Morning, Kittens!

What a weekend. Like, *whew* ... I am exhausted. AND, there is still EVEN MOAR fun on tap for today.

So, Thursday, after nearly being mugged on the train home from work, one of the Alphabet Boys ("I") texted. He wanted to come over. I said no. Thursday night was ME Night. I made a delicious dinner of tofu, bok choy, and mushroom stirfry (using my own homemade habenero hot sauce). And, I had a bottle of prosecco. And, I watched the 3.5 hour Bollywood Extravaganza, Khabi Khushi Khabie Gham. It was amazing. Then, I went to bed and finished reading the second book in the Hunger Games trilogy, Mockingjay.

Friday, I had a hair appointment. Yay. After that, I met Mike Who Makes Cakes for Lunch. When I got home, I had a package: Glitter Bandages! from an anonymous stalker! YAY! They are so fun. Thanks, Mystery Anonymous Stalker Person! I wore one out to da clubz.

Which is what I did Friday evening, Eric from Baltimore and I met Tomokito at the U Street Alero for dinner and many many margaritas. Then, we staggered over to Town. We watched the drag show and then danced until 1ish. We got home at 2. Eric went home. And, somehow, I ended up inviting one of the Alphabet Boys ("E") over. We had superfun teh buttsecks until 4AM. E is sooooooooooooo fine. OMG. But all he wants is the superfun teh buttsecks. No relationship potential. Oh, well. Whatever works.

Saturday? Very. Hung. Over. (and a little sore). I spent most of the day on the sofa, napping and blobbing. Around 4 PM, I headed over to Mike Who Makes Cakes' house to help him do a wedding cake for one of my neighbors. I painted leaves with edible glittery stuff. Fun. Then, we went out to dinner with some of his friends and I went home. Here is a picture of the finished wedding cake.

Sunday? Not as hungover, but very tired. I went for a run (for the first time since I started getting colds, about 2 weeks ago). The plan was to run/walk about 6 miles. After 2 miles, I died and came home.

Later that afternoon, Tomokito, Baby Hana, Emiliano, and I piled into the car and went to the neighbor's wedding. It was boozy good times. We got home around 7. I had cocktails with SCGB around 9. Then, I went to bed. Bed is good.

Today, I am meeting Mark for lunch. Then, having afternoon margaritas with K-Factor and other neighbors. And, finally, heading off to pottery class. Also, stay tuned. There is a contest brewing in my brain. I have 5 mugs to give away and am working on how I am going to do it.

Have a great day! *smooches*

Best Laid Plans

Good Morning, Kittens.

 

Last night, I was totally going to get a post ready of pics of my most recently glazed pottery (you may remember them as the mugs which gave me the Horrible -yet totes cute- Finger Burn).  However, that didn't quite happen. 

 

And, when I've tried to post actual pics from flickr using the blogger Post by Email function, they haven't quite worked.

 

So here's a link to the first mug: http://www.flickr.com/photos/enviroboi/5058639656/

 

You can click through to see the other four.  The three blue ones are the ones that had drippy glaze issues.  Three are handbuilt.  The other two I made on the wheel.

 

Today is my Friday.  Hallelujah.

 

Once the workday is finished, I'm stopping by the likker store to restock my supplies.  And, then, I'm spending the evening on the sofa watching DVDs and drinking myself into an incomprehensible stupor.

 

Joy.

 

Have a great day!

*smooches*

Tired. Bordering on Cranky.

Good morning, kittens.

 

Working 18 9-hour days in a row (well, not including weekends) is hard.  I am tired and looking forward to my four-day weekend ... I really want to spend the whole time sleeping, but I don't think that will be possible.  So far, in addition to the crazy amount of cleaning/ironing/housework I need to do, I also have the following on the agenda: hair appointment, crazy night out clubbing with Eric from Baltimore, wedding, and lunch with a friend.  I'd also like to do a little yardwork.  We'll see if that all happens.

 

Work is insane right now.  I can not find the motivation to get all the stuff I need to get done done.  Thus, it's not getting done.  Even though I do like learning the things I'm learning, I am also sometimes overwhelmed with all the that needs to be done.  Plus the fact that I have the wrong required qualifications for the job ... and if the people I work for ever figure that out, I'm on the unemployment line again.  Somehow, I doubt they will figure that out, but you never know.

 

Also, I haven't been running.  I've been sick.  It's been cold.  And the Marine Corps Marathon 10k is coming up at the end of the month.  Gah!

 

Anyway, enough complaining ...

 

Last night, I made soup ... some sort of curried butternut squash soup that I made up.  In a large pot, I heated up some oil, added some spices (curry powder, garam masala, cumin, chili powder), and sauteed an onion.  Then, I added a whole bunch of veggie broth (maybe 2 cups?).  Once that came to a boil, I added a can of diced tomatoes and a can of pureed butternut squash.  Next, I added maybe a cup of frozen corn.  I let that all simmer for awhile and salt and peppered to taste.

 

To serve it, I put a dollop of goat cheese in a bowl and ladeled the soup over it. 

 

I also had some yummy kalamata olive bread.  Nomz.

 

At that's about it.  So much fun.

 

Have a great day! *smooches*

Yesterday? Not My Day.

Good morning, kittens.

 

Yesterday was not the best of days. 

 

For one thing, I started missing D.  It really sucks when you meet someone with whom you really click, but he's going through some s**t and doesn't seem to have the time/desire to date.  At least that's my impression.  It could also be that he really wasn't all that in to me (which is kind of hard to believe.  I am fabulous) and used the whole Life Crisis thing as an excuse.

 

But, I've decided to not contact him until mid-month, when he leaves for a 10 day vacation.  And all I will say is "have a safe trip" or something to that effect.  In the meantime, the cranberry juice which I bought for him to drink when he was supposed to come over remains undrunk.  And the DVD we were going to watch remains unwatched.  *sigh*

 

At some point, I suppose I will get thirsty and desire entertainment ... and those stupid little hurdles will be crossed.

 

And, I guess I eventually will stick my toe back in the dating pool again, too.  Because, as they say, you can't win if you don't play.

 

Meanwhile, K-Factor did not go to pottery class last night, which meant I had to take the Metro ... which meant I had to rush home and rush around the house trying to get my stuff together and eat and change.  During that chaotic scramble, I slammed my wrist into my bedroom doorknob.  Owzer.  There is now a cute little welt. 

 

Then, at pottery, the five mugs I made at the end of the summer session were finally glaze fired.  Unfortunately, on 3 of the 5 the glaze ran and stuck to the kiln.  So, I had to use this motorized grindery thing to smooth out the glaze at the base of the mug.  And, in case you didn't know, friction makes things hot.  As I was turning one of the mugs to grind another spot, my finger touched where I had been previously grinding.  And, Owzer.  It burnssssss us.  There is now a cute little blister on my left index finger.  See? That made throwing a pots very difficult.

 

I did manage to ruin a halfway decent bowl.  Luckily, Gina (the instructor) helped fix it.  Yay. 

 

Stay tuned for photos of the 5 mugs.  And possibly a give-away ...

 

On the bright side, a certain leporiphilic* internet friend mailed me a Very Special Gift - the first 8 episodes of Mad Men 4 and lots and lots of music. I haven't had time to watch/listen, but soon ... very very soon.  At least, it's not all bad news, right?

 

Have a great day!  *smooches*

 

*I'm not sure, but I may have just made up a word.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weekend Update: Whirlwind Trip to NYC

Good Morning, Kittens.

*whew* What a weekend! I went up to NYC for "David Pasteelnick's" 45th Birthday Cabaret, which, although it sounds similar, is *nothing* like a Birthday Cabernet ... both do contain quite a bit of alcohol.

ANYWAYZ, so I left for NYC immediately after work ... if you define "immediately" to mean "not even close to immediately." I finished work at 4. My bus was at 5:30. So, I had time to wander around Macy's for a minute and to get food for the bus at Chopt. Of course, then the bus was over an hour late. We didn't board until well past 6:30. ugh.

Which means I didn't get to NYC until after 11 (original arrive time was supposed to be 9:20). Which means I didn't get to Jake's place in Brooklyn until nearly midnight.

Which means I was very tired Saturday morning. I was supposed to meet Nida for coffee in the morning, but I was tired and she had swollen ankles. Instead, I met Y for brunch around 2 at Curly's Vegetarian Lunch. I had this:

Polenta, spinach, 3 fried eggs, marinara sauce, cheese

Around 5, I headed back to Brooklyn to get ready for "David's" Cabaret. I wore my cute purple UniQlo jeans.

The show was at Don't Tell Mama in the theater district. David was fabulous and funny, of course. Josh was there. And Enrico. And Jere. And we made some new friends too.

Afterwards, some people went to a nearby restaurant, Film Center Cafe(?). It was fun. I had pizza and beerz.

Around midnight, Jake and I headed back to his place. Where we drank more.

Sunday morning? Slightly overhung lazy morning. Unfortunately, I was not able to visit the Mothership (aka UniQlo).

And, then, I had to leave to catch my 1PM bus. Can I just say that the bus stop was about a million times more chaotic than usual? I don't know why. But the MegaBus employees were not getting people to line up for each bus. So the passengers would swarm the bus trying to get on. Insanity. It was like trying to board a bus in Beijing. Srsly.

Oh, and disorder makes some people Very Cranky. Not me. I tend to stand back and watch it all unfold ... especially after being bitched at by some cranky old woman. When I asked what bus they were in line for, she said, "The 1PM to DC. Don't think you're cutting in line!"

I was like, "What? I'm only trying to find the end of the line (you cranky old prune)."

After that, I stood back and watched the madness. When it calmed down and most people were on the bus, I showed the employee my reservation, boarded the bus, and took a seat. So stress free.

Overall, a superfun weekend! And, the few crappy photos I took are here.

Have a great day! *smooches*

One Reason Why I Strongly Dislike One of My Co-Workers

Good Morning, Kittens!

 

Today, I am hosting a Guest Speaker as part of Energy Awareness Month (see my fantastic interactive bulletin board?).

 

I sent out a blast email yesterday afternoon to promote the Guest Speaker:

 

The Energy Program invites you to join us tomorrow at 1000 hrs in the East Wing Lobby for a guest speaker from the Renewable Fuels Association (www.ethanolrfa.org).

 

He will be speaking about the energy and cost saving benefits of using ethanol.

 

Hope to see you there!

 

I got this response from my co-worker:

 

I have a question....since the amount of energy you get from a gallon of ethanol is less then gasoline, how is that cost saving?  DOE's July 2010 report on Alternative Fuels cost comparison on an Energy-Equivalent Basis has gasoline at $2.71 a gallon and to get the same energy from ethanol you will spend $3.25?  I don't see a cost savings here.  If we wanted real cost savings, we should be using CNG at $1.91 for the cost on an Energy-Equivalent Basis.

 

The only plus is an environmental plus. 

 

What I see is typical spin from the Feds.

 

I replied:

 

I'm sure tomorrow's speaker will be more than happy to answer your query.

 

He responded:

 

I'll pass.  I get enough spin reading and listening to the news on a daily basis.

 

WTF? I had to stop myself from sending a sarcastic "Thank you for your continued support of the Energy Program" back to him.

 

Anyway, I hope there will be a good turnout for the speaker despite people in my own office refusing to come.  And, at the end of the day, I'm heading up to New York (YAY!) for David's Birthday Celebration.  YAY!  Good times ahead!

 

Have a fabulous weekend!  *smooches*