Fish Don't Fry

My game room is still a work in progress, but I started "spring cleaning" my kitchen this week. I was going through my kitchen cupboards and discovered some stuff I didn't know was there. I found a box for my toaster and what I thought was a George Foreman grill, but turned out to be a waffle iron.

I think the last time I cleaned out my kitchen, I didn't get to the high shelves in my cabinets. I'm not sure how else to explain why most of the small appliances are in my pantry but these stragglers are in the cabinet. Some reorginization of the shelves/pantry is definitely in order.

Movie Monday!

I've gotten into the habit of watching movies on Mondays. I usually clean out my TiVo on the weekends of all the shows I recorded through the week, which leaves few regularly viewed items for Monday.

Today's movies were The Others, October Sky and Diabolique. The first two were recorded with commercials, which was annoying to have to stop and fast forward while I was multi-tasking, but I got through them alright. Diabolique had no commercials (thanks, Turner Classic Movies!) but had subtitles so I didn't try to do anything other than watch the movie. It was worth my full attention since it was a great suspense drama.

State of Hair

I'm trying to train my hair to be washed only every other day. The length demands it, and the fact that it has a natural curl and an unnatural color reinforces it. It's really the only sane thing to do to try to contain the frizz and make it more moisturized. I'm not quite ready to cut it, there's nothing to be done about the waves and I'm not about to show off my nearly salt and pepper hair by not dyeing it.

It's more a matter of me training myself to not wash it everyday since I'm used to doing just that. I've heard you should only wash your hair every third day, but don't let's be silly.

Kentucky Fried Cousins

My cousins who live in Kentucky are visiting Ohio for a few days. Just wanted to jot that down so that when I'm trying to remember the last time they visited, I can just find that information here.

Sweet Deals

This week I signed up for two different "promotions." One is actually a deal that saves me money. The other is a deal but is spending money I wasn't spending before.

Both are an upgrade of sorts. I think the difference between the two is that the first one was initiated by me, and the other was the result of a phone call to me.

I think I've mentioned before that I'm an easy sell. I can be upsold like nobody's business. You want fries with that? Yes.

Hometown Heartache

My favorite online news website, NewsNet5 posted a video about Lorain, Ohio that starts with a shot of the beloved Lorain Lighthouse but is actually about the closing of half of the city's Catholic churches. I think I've been to most of them. I wonder if I could name them all?

It's pretty sad that so many are closing in Lorain, but 12 is really a ridiculous amount for a city that size. Some are within walking distance of each other. The interesting thing about Lorain, the International City, is that a few of the churches celebrate at least one of their masses in a language that isn't English. I hope that isn't totally lost when the churches close or are consolidated.

Dish and That

Since I've been eating most of my meals at home, I've been cooking more. I've also been baking a lot during my free time. Of course that means I've been running my dishwasher frequently, but I've also been hand-washing the un-dishwasherable dishes.

My hands are in a state! I keep forgetting to put hand lotion on so my skin is dry, my nails and cuticles are chipped and I have a few cuts where Nigel swiped at me the other day. That last bit has nothing to do with the rest of the post, but it's true!

The Quick Brown Fox...

I was filling out an application that asked, "if required for the job, do you type?" the form also wanted to know the approximate speed of my typing. So, I found this test online and started hitting the keys. The astronaut test flummoxed me with the quotation marks (45 WPM) but the Wizard of Oz test went much better (65 WPM).

I put down that I type 50 WPM. I don't think I'll ever be required to be a fast or even a fair typist for any job I get through the company, but I guess it doesn't hurt to know my skills.

Papas y Papas

Two or three weeks ago, I had the bright idea to buy a bag of potatoes. A ten pound bag of potatoes was on sale for $2.99, which I thought was a great deal. And when I got to the checkout, it turned out to be $1.99, which was a super great deal. How could I not buy the bag? I thought I would have no trouble getting through ten pounds since potatoes stay good for a long time and are delicious and versatile and can be eaten for any meal. Plus, the bag didn't look that big.

As of today, I'm not sure I'm even halfway through the bag. I need to step up my spud consumption and how! I've decided to make potato salad tomorrow since I have all of the ingredients for it. Tonight was mashed potatoes.

Do potatoes have a sweet application?

For the Birds

All day today, I've been bird watching. Not like with a pair of binoculars in the woods somewhere but just out the big picture window of my living room. This will sound like Romper Room, but I saw bluejays, cardinals, robins, morning doves, finches and some kind of black birds.

The morning doves have made a nest in the tree on the tree lawn. It doesn't seem like the most stable place to build a home and some other birds have been scoping it out. I think the black birds want to take it over, but the doves are a lot bigger. The stupid squirrels in the neighborhood keep bouncing around it too. I hope the doves win the war.

Kiss Them for Me

Today was one of those unusual days when I didn't turn on my computer until after 11 o'clock PM. I had checked my iPod but sometimes my iPod is unreliable, especially when I'm trying to tweet something.

Luckily (or unluckily) I didn't get any emails on my main account and my other accounts didn't get anything interesting or important.

Click and Clack

Ever since this morning, my joints have been clicking and popping like nobody's business. These cracks aren't just the normal kind that knuckles make.

Now I notice that Nigel's little bones are also creaking and crackling like the old man cat he is.

I wonder if it has something to do with the weather? Maybe the first day of spring is associated with arthritis? I don't know, but I hope it simmers down.

He Could Have Bit Me!

There's a character in the movie To Have and Have Not who asks people "Was you ever bit by a dead bee?" I haven't seen the movie in years, but I remembered that line today when I got home and a bee fell straight down in front of me from the top of my screen door as I swung it open. The bee was moving a little so I smushed it with my shoe. I didn't want to get stung by a live bee, and I surely didn't want to get bit by a dead one.

Speed Racer

I took my car in for an oil change this morning to a garage that has a Wednesday special. I had never been there before today.

As I was driving away my speedometer started bouncing up and down and finally landed on zero. I went back to the garage and told them what happened. Incredulous, they said the two problems weren't related.

Dee: So, you're saying it was just a coincidence?
Mechanic: Yeah. I hate coincidences.

I told the guy I was never coming back to which he replied that if I took my car to a dealership they would tell me the same thing. I told him I was superstitious enough to never come back in case another coincidence happened.

*Update* While driving home tonight my speedometer was working for about 10 minutes after which it fell to zero. About 20-30 minutes later, my check engine light came on and my odometer stopped working. I was about 10 minutes from home so I kept driving and made it home without further incident. I had planned to take my car into my regular shop on Monday, but I'll have to see if they can get me in sooner. I hope I don't have to start taking the bus!

Red Tape

I'm seriously annoyed with a certain government agency that sent me a bill and then decided I didn't need to pay it after I wrote a check, addressed an envelope and licked a stamp. Well I didn't actually lick a stamp because it was self-stick.

Luckily, I only put the letter in my mailbox and the postman/postwoman (I've had a new mail person everyday for a while so I don't know who's coming today) hasn't come yet. But, I'm still annoyed.

Actually, I'm annoyed with the Post Office too because of the inconsistent mail delivery I've been experiencing. Newsweek is supposed to be delivered on Monday and ads on Tuesday. The rest of the week can go to hell, but I need the beginning of my week to start a certain way.

One Third Done

I'm mailing my local taxes form, which means I only have two more to do. If only I could find all the paperwork for my federal taxes. This isn't going to be as easy as I thought.

Shades of Gray?

Most of the windows of my house don't have shades or blinds. My living room had blinds until I got new windows, which means they've been uncovered for 4 years. All of the bedroom windows have coverings. With the exception of the game room, the blinds and shades are drawn most of the time.

Once I get curtains, etc. on the windows in my living room and dining room, I'm sure they'll be shut when the sun goes down and opened again when it's light out. I don't expect to keep them open all the time like my neighbors across the street.

I feel like they keep their house on display for my benefit since I can't help but look at their lighted rooms with open blinds. Their television flickers and catches my attention most nights. And now they've started doing the same on the second floor. I swear my neighbor was just naked in his bedroom a minute ago. He was at least shirtless.

Pi (3.14) Day

I was thinking about why I don't make pies as often as I make cookies and cupcakes. It's partially a size issue. Pies really only come in one size. They can't be made easily into cup-pies like cakes into cupcakes. Their recipes can't be halved to make a half batch like cookies.

They aren't as celebratory as cakes. I know some people have birthday pies, but really cakes are more traditional. Pies are messy too. Cutting and serving is a pain. Next day pie isn't as yummy as cake. I'm not an à la mode fan either. Melting ice cream has no place on an otherwise perfectly fine dessert.

As far as baking supplies, you need a lot more ingredients for pies since you have to have crust and filling ingredients. Who has all that on hand? I only have one pie pan. I can recall making three pies in it (apple, key lime and chocolate). I have a mini-cupcake/tartlet pan that I rarely use.

I'm totally making a pie this week.

Lent

I have a lot of borrowed books and videos that I need to read or watch and return to their rightful owners. Currently, I'm watching the first season of Justice League Unlimited. I've seen most of these episodes before but not recently. Next on my queue are some TV on DVDs and movie(s) that were lent to me. As for the books, I don't know when I'll get to them since I just found another stack of magazines in my guest room.

¿Donde esta la biblioteca?

I went to the library yesterday for the first time in I don't know how long. I'm pretty sure I first signed up for a library card in 2001 and have used it infrequently since then. The main branch was renovated a few years ago, and I hadn't been in the newly refurbished building, which means it's been at least 3(?) years. All I know is that it's been so long that I had to sign up for a new card.

I got out 12 books. Not a bad haul, but all of them are serious in nature by which I mean they came from the nonfiction shelves. Well, two of them are cookbooks. About beans.

Beanie Baby

I went to the grocery store today specifically to buy some dry beans. I went to this particular store because beans are cheaper there. Cereal and bananas were on sale so I bought a box of Rice Krispies (mainly for making Treats) and a few bananas in addition to 5 lbs of beans.

I didn't think it was an unusual haul until the checkout clerk asked me if I was a vegetarian. I didn't understand why he was asking that so I just said no and left it at that. Is that a typical shopping trip for vegetarians? I guess it is unless the store carries a big bag of "people" food (you know, like dog food).

Reading Material

I'm constantly reading old newspapers and magazines because I never seem to read them when they are new. I'm currently working my way through newspapers from the end of last year and I'm midway through an October and a December Newsweek. I have six or so Martha Stewart Living and Real Simple Magazines to peruse. I also have a box full of New Yorkers that I refuse to recycle until I flip through them, at least. I'm sure there is an issue of People or Star floating around too. These are old issues!

I'm usually good at turning down offers for more magazine subscriptions, but I just got an offer for one year of Entertainment Weekly for $10. My head says don't do it, but I think I will end up saying yes.

Not Dead Yet

I started my taxes today and will finish them by Friday (hopefully). Not that they are that complicated, but it'll take some hours to get all three sets I need to get done finished. The good thing is that I expect to get money back from the Federal and State returns. I might have to pay some local ones.

Weather with You

It is currently 59 degrees. What? I wondered why my heat hadn't turned on in hours. When I went out earlier today, it was 42 degrees and raining. I'm very confused.

Yesterday, I saw the thermometer hit 69 degrees even though it was supposed to top out in the low 60's. Is the weather going crazy or is it just me?

At least it stopped raining for the time being. It's only been raining all day!

Cyclamen

It looks dead, but it's not. I've had this plant for 7 1/2 years, and it looks like this when I forget to water it. But I'd water it more regularly if I knew it would die if I didn't. It's its fault for being resilient.

Happiness is...

An open window.

Movie-ing Out

I'm more seriously thinking about ditching cable. Now seems like a good time to bail since lots of shows are in repeats. I've been loading up my TiVo with movies in case I cancel my subscription. Today I recorded "My Mom's New Boyfriend" -- yes, I'm serious.

I think I'll be okay since the Food Network has shows online and Hulu has the entire first (read: only) season of John Doe.

Rearranging the Gaming

My catchall third bedroom, AKA the game room, is in serious need of an overhaul. I've decided it's my project of the week.

Earlier today, I went through my VCR tapes. I found four that can be taped over, one that needs to be recycled and two that have shows I want to watch (My Name is Earl, Dr. Katz and Passions to name a few). Tomorrow I'm going to re-rearrange my CDs, which got disorganized when I added songs to my iTunes library.

I think the project might spill into next week since there's a lot going on in a small room.

Dia-logical

Do you ever wish you could use dialogue that people use in television, movie and book worlds? Some dialogue you just can't say in real life. Certain phrases aren't said in America like "who's she, the cat's mother?" which as far as I can figure out is the response when someone calls a woman in the room "she." I wonder why there isn't a corollary phrase for when a guy in the room is called he? I also like the phrase, "I'll bite," which I've tried to use (unsuccessfully) in everyday conversation.

Internet Connection

I'm not sure when it started, but my Internet connection at home likes to "freeze" and stop working. All the lights on my router light up, and the connection is lost. The only way to restore it is to unplug the router, wait for a little bit and plug it back in.

Last year, I tried to fix the problem by calling the manufacturer's 800 number and talking to a customer representative for over an hour, which got me nowhere. Anyone know why this happens or what I can do to stop it from happening?

Garbage Day Eve

Tomorrow is my garbage day and since today is Sunday, a lot of people set their garbage and recycling out earlier than the 7 PM mandated by my city. I always wait until Monday morning to set mine out because I hate when the critters rifle through my trash and I have to clean up their mess. And on blustery days like today, the bags blow all over the place. I like to be neat with my garbage.

As I was driving around this morning, I noticed three or four couches on the curbs. Am I crazy or is that an unusually high number of couches for one garbage day? Maybe the city only picks up couches once a month? Maybe there was a furniture store that delivered new couches today? I hope I didn't miss a good sale.

What will be the hot new garbage item next week? I'm hoping it's refrigerators.