Stumbled across this article and this website while searching for legal get-rich-quick schemes. Though concerning the latter, it looks like I'll just have to practice frugality, instead. Sigh.
And a little randomly, I found several articles about how to get started in the Slow Food (USA) Movement.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The Snow's Coming Down I'm Watching It Fall
Well, I was. Typically, the snow stopped after only a few hours.
Surprisingly, the Federal government remained open this morning. As I walked to work from the Metro station, I listened to the crunch of the snow under my boots, held my umbrella into the wind, and realized that, with a hat, I can conquer any weather. Hats make one invincible, I'm convinced.
Despite the fact that I abhor being cold, I do like snow. It muffles the sounds of the city, and distances one from the rest of the universe. Blanketing the streets, trees and buildings in white. Fewer cars on the road, fewer people walking the streets.
It also means that the workday is cut short. 3-5" predicted, and the office of DNS closed at 1300 to get people home safely, and as a result, I ended up with the afternoon off. I do love living in the mid-Atlantic, where locals freak out at the barest hint of snow or ice.
Surprisingly, the Federal government remained open this morning. As I walked to work from the Metro station, I listened to the crunch of the snow under my boots, held my umbrella into the wind, and realized that, with a hat, I can conquer any weather. Hats make one invincible, I'm convinced.
Despite the fact that I abhor being cold, I do like snow. It muffles the sounds of the city, and distances one from the rest of the universe. Blanketing the streets, trees and buildings in white. Fewer cars on the road, fewer people walking the streets.
It also means that the workday is cut short. 3-5" predicted, and the office of DNS closed at 1300 to get people home safely, and as a result, I ended up with the afternoon off. I do love living in the mid-Atlantic, where locals freak out at the barest hint of snow or ice.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Ode To A Haggis - A Scottish Supper
Tonight is Rabbie Burns' Night. And although perhaps not as celebrated as Guy Fawkes Night, which includes fireworks and a historical treasonous plot, or Christmas, still it involves celebration and good food. That is, if you like haggis (I do).
It turns out I'm not the only person at work who misses Scotland, so I invited my coworker out for a "Scottish" evening on this very Scottish holiday, to the only Scottish pub in the area - an hour away. Apparently the Scots don't emigrate and then open pubs as frequently as the Irish do.
When I got to the pub there were a dozen or so fiddle players playing Scottish folk music, to set the appropriate stage for Robert Burns' Night. No bagpipes, which was probably a good thing, they're so loud, and the fiddles already made conversation difficult. Though I do love bagpipes (I hear it's love or hate, but no in-between).
The restaurant is packed when I walk in, I can barely get past the entrance. There are at least three gentleman wearing kilts, without Scottish accents, disappointingly, and the average patron's age seems to be 45, with a few children to bring that number down. We started off with a haggis appetizer, and then had other Scottish dishes, that weren't quite like we remembered, of course... About halfway through a man got up (one of the ones with kilts on) and spoke into the microphone, inviting anybody to share with the group music or words, and threatened (promised?) to recite Rabbie Burns' poem "Ode to a Haggis" in two versions, later on.
Another gets up with a fiddle and plays for a minute or two before a guy in plaid trousers (yep, trousers) sits down at our table and asks if we're done fiddling. We both give him blank looks, neither of us having brought a fiddle to play, or even knowing how to play a fiddle. He starts, looks down, sees what he'd taken for a fiddle case is actually a purse, and disappears with an apology for the intrusion. Later he joined the first fiddle player with his own.
Over dessert, the first kilted guy and a very excited patron, also in a kilt, walk in a procession holding up a plate with a haggis on it, to the front of the room. The first gets up to the mic again and starts reciting in an almost-Scottish accent, the aforementioned poem. Which is written in Scots, so unintelligible in the first place, and made more so by the accent. The haggis is sitting out on a tray right up in front, next to a shot of whisky (I've heard Scotch whisky's spelled differently because in the 19th century smugglers made the distinction in order to find a loophole in the prohibition of the importation of alcohol). The poem is read again, this time in English, and then another song is sung.
Evidently there are traditional toasts to the Lassies and the Laddies, and stories that go along with the toasts. The kilted man who read the poem began the toast to the Lassies with some very inappropriate sexual innuendo concerning the microphone - most of the older patrons seemed to find it funny, but we two twentysomethings felt a little out of place. Probably we were the only customers present who weren't tipsy.
We left before the story about the Laddies concluded. All in all, a very entertaining evening and excellent people watching. Especially that one sexagenarian who loudly bemoaned the lack of bagpipes, carried the haggis to the podium, and drank a whisky in salute to the guest of honor.
It turns out I'm not the only person at work who misses Scotland, so I invited my coworker out for a "Scottish" evening on this very Scottish holiday, to the only Scottish pub in the area - an hour away. Apparently the Scots don't emigrate and then open pubs as frequently as the Irish do.
When I got to the pub there were a dozen or so fiddle players playing Scottish folk music, to set the appropriate stage for Robert Burns' Night. No bagpipes, which was probably a good thing, they're so loud, and the fiddles already made conversation difficult. Though I do love bagpipes (I hear it's love or hate, but no in-between).
The restaurant is packed when I walk in, I can barely get past the entrance. There are at least three gentleman wearing kilts, without Scottish accents, disappointingly, and the average patron's age seems to be 45, with a few children to bring that number down. We started off with a haggis appetizer, and then had other Scottish dishes, that weren't quite like we remembered, of course... About halfway through a man got up (one of the ones with kilts on) and spoke into the microphone, inviting anybody to share with the group music or words, and threatened (promised?) to recite Rabbie Burns' poem "Ode to a Haggis" in two versions, later on.
Another gets up with a fiddle and plays for a minute or two before a guy in plaid trousers (yep, trousers) sits down at our table and asks if we're done fiddling. We both give him blank looks, neither of us having brought a fiddle to play, or even knowing how to play a fiddle. He starts, looks down, sees what he'd taken for a fiddle case is actually a purse, and disappears with an apology for the intrusion. Later he joined the first fiddle player with his own.
Over dessert, the first kilted guy and a very excited patron, also in a kilt, walk in a procession holding up a plate with a haggis on it, to the front of the room. The first gets up to the mic again and starts reciting in an almost-Scottish accent, the aforementioned poem. Which is written in Scots, so unintelligible in the first place, and made more so by the accent. The haggis is sitting out on a tray right up in front, next to a shot of whisky (I've heard Scotch whisky's spelled differently because in the 19th century smugglers made the distinction in order to find a loophole in the prohibition of the importation of alcohol). The poem is read again, this time in English, and then another song is sung.
Evidently there are traditional toasts to the Lassies and the Laddies, and stories that go along with the toasts. The kilted man who read the poem began the toast to the Lassies with some very inappropriate sexual innuendo concerning the microphone - most of the older patrons seemed to find it funny, but we two twentysomethings felt a little out of place. Probably we were the only customers present who weren't tipsy.
We left before the story about the Laddies concluded. All in all, a very entertaining evening and excellent people watching. Especially that one sexagenarian who loudly bemoaned the lack of bagpipes, carried the haggis to the podium, and drank a whisky in salute to the guest of honor.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Hello, Newsies! What's New?
Ten points if you can reference that quote.
So I've been real lazy lately, which is why my last post was posted exactly two weeks ago. So here's a little update:
1. I needed new sheets, because my bamboo fiber/organic cotton ones are falling apart on me. This time, I did not buy organic. Or even sustainable. Nope, I went for the sale items.
2. HAPPY OBAMA!!! I didn't venture into DC because I hate crowds and cold weather, but saw an amazing inauguration and inauguration speech via television. Obama struck a very inspirational note, and I especially appreciated his appeal to the people, to get involved and take part in the fugure of change - change we can believe in.
3. It's still too, too cold. I've been spending far too much time indoors to avoid freezing. I must think of other alternatives.
4. The Caps, though playing a great game in my opinion, which I state as a new hockey fan, still learning the more detailed aspects of the game, gave up the game on a bad turnover followed by a very unwise penalty. Of course, I'm not attaching any blame - nobody's perfect, and if one was, one would be boring in the extreme.
5. The green in my life has not been a very bright, opaque shade of green lately. It's been more o a foggy, translucent green. Although, I have managed to keep all my houseplants alive and most of them healthy. I also still don't own a car, so I walk and take public transportation... but there have been no new efforts of late. Aside from #6, I suppose.
6. Lately I have taken to eating healthier, which includes doing my best to not ingest pesticides, and to eat more antioxidant-rich foods, and "superfruits" such as goji berries (not my favorite, though I'm sure they'd be alright in trail mix) and guava (no luck on that yet as Harris Teeter doesn't stock them).
So I've been real lazy lately, which is why my last post was posted exactly two weeks ago. So here's a little update:
1. I needed new sheets, because my bamboo fiber/organic cotton ones are falling apart on me. This time, I did not buy organic. Or even sustainable. Nope, I went for the sale items.
2. HAPPY OBAMA!!! I didn't venture into DC because I hate crowds and cold weather, but saw an amazing inauguration and inauguration speech via television. Obama struck a very inspirational note, and I especially appreciated his appeal to the people, to get involved and take part in the fugure of change - change we can believe in.
3. It's still too, too cold. I've been spending far too much time indoors to avoid freezing. I must think of other alternatives.
4. The Caps, though playing a great game in my opinion, which I state as a new hockey fan, still learning the more detailed aspects of the game, gave up the game on a bad turnover followed by a very unwise penalty. Of course, I'm not attaching any blame - nobody's perfect, and if one was, one would be boring in the extreme.
5. The green in my life has not been a very bright, opaque shade of green lately. It's been more o a foggy, translucent green. Although, I have managed to keep all my houseplants alive and most of them healthy. I also still don't own a car, so I walk and take public transportation... but there have been no new efforts of late. Aside from #6, I suppose.
6. Lately I have taken to eating healthier, which includes doing my best to not ingest pesticides, and to eat more antioxidant-rich foods, and "superfruits" such as goji berries (not my favorite, though I'm sure they'd be alright in trail mix) and guava (no luck on that yet as Harris Teeter doesn't stock them).
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Shootouts... and Really Bad Eggs
So lately I've been thinking through a few things, mostly involving the near future: where I'm going to live next year, how to work out the 6 months interim between the day I don't have a job anymore (at this point, obviously I'll think of something) and the time my lease runs out; what I want to study, when I want to get my graduate degree, and where I want to do that; and most immediately (and more interestingly than all the others), where am I going to go on vacation this year? And how many vacations can I fit in...
More on all of that later. For now, this article has a bit in common with the last I posted in that it's depressing and frustrating. It is relevant to the long involved sentence above in that I may change my current vacation plans as a result.
The apartment search is looking rather grim, because the city and neighborhood of my choice apparently has one of the highest median income rates in.the.country. Which leaves me on the poor end of the scale. It's slightly discouraging to realize I qualify for tax-credit communities for the first time in my life. My choices are: live with roommates, or find another town. It's going to be a tough decision.
I haven't even gotten to the point of thinking constructively about school yet, so that's going nowhere fast. Which is kind of okay for now.
Went to the Capitals vs. Flyers game last night. The fans had an Incredible time of it. The Caps played better defensively than they can, Jose Theodore was stunningly on his game tonight (YAY THEO!!) - so much so that on the way out, fans chanted "Theo Theo...", which doesn't happen often. Though the offense didn't really click, that doesn't mean the fans didn't. Boy, did we have fun. Especially warring with the Flyers fans:
(Flyers fans): Let's Go Flyers"
(Caps fans, in overlapping fashion): "Flyers SUCK"
Ah yes. We yelled, chanted and cheered till we were hoarse, and clapped till our hands tingled.
And good times were had by all.
...
Except for maybe the Flyers. Vengeance is sweet, especially served cold, over ice. Or so I hear.
More on all of that later. For now, this article has a bit in common with the last I posted in that it's depressing and frustrating. It is relevant to the long involved sentence above in that I may change my current vacation plans as a result.
The apartment search is looking rather grim, because the city and neighborhood of my choice apparently has one of the highest median income rates in.the.country. Which leaves me on the poor end of the scale. It's slightly discouraging to realize I qualify for tax-credit communities for the first time in my life. My choices are: live with roommates, or find another town. It's going to be a tough decision.
I haven't even gotten to the point of thinking constructively about school yet, so that's going nowhere fast. Which is kind of okay for now.
Went to the Capitals vs. Flyers game last night. The fans had an Incredible time of it. The Caps played better defensively than they can, Jose Theodore was stunningly on his game tonight (YAY THEO!!) - so much so that on the way out, fans chanted "Theo Theo...", which doesn't happen often. Though the offense didn't really click, that doesn't mean the fans didn't. Boy, did we have fun. Especially warring with the Flyers fans:
(Flyers fans): Let's Go Flyers"
(Caps fans, in overlapping fashion): "Flyers SUCK"
Ah yes. We yelled, chanted and cheered till we were hoarse, and clapped till our hands tingled.
And good times were had by all.
...
Except for maybe the Flyers. Vengeance is sweet, especially served cold, over ice. Or so I hear.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
The Future.
Last remaining developed country with "historical commitment to deomcracy, free markets, and civil liberties" seeks strong leadership.
Here's a scary and depressing article to brighten up anyone's morning. I wonder if Nostradamus or Sibyl saw this coming?
Here's a scary and depressing article to brighten up anyone's morning. I wonder if Nostradamus or Sibyl saw this coming?
Monday, January 5, 2009
January Sales
Yesterday I got cabin fever in my apartment, which called for an emergency outing... to Georgetown, a trendy shopping neighborhood in DC. The January sales treated me too well, and I got an amazing winter coat for $35!!! (I wasn't going to mention it, but couldn't help myself.)
I suppose by using some very twisted logic one could posit that shopping in the sales also helps save the environment... in that, at least the clothes I bought will be used (and used well) instead of going to a landfill... Where do leftover clothes end up, anyway? I know Target sends some of theirs to Goodwill (found tons there this weekend)... but what about other clothing companies? Food for thought.
I suppose by using some very twisted logic one could posit that shopping in the sales also helps save the environment... in that, at least the clothes I bought will be used (and used well) instead of going to a landfill... Where do leftover clothes end up, anyway? I know Target sends some of theirs to Goodwill (found tons there this weekend)... but what about other clothing companies? Food for thought.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
In Search of Wool Slacks
After searching through three thrift and consignment shops for a nice pair of wool slacks that actually fit me, have resigned myself to the realisation that I need to buy them new. Have come woefully close to finding just the right pair, and have failed each time.
Shopped at the largest Goodwill I have ever been in, where I tried on several things and ended up with one... for a whopping $5. Gotta love thrift stores for economic wardrobe-updating. Unless one is looking for a nice pair of wool slacks.
Off to the January sales soon... no doubt to spend too much money on more new clothes...
...
Never claimed to perfectly adhere to the Ideals of Green.
Shopped at the largest Goodwill I have ever been in, where I tried on several things and ended up with one... for a whopping $5. Gotta love thrift stores for economic wardrobe-updating. Unless one is looking for a nice pair of wool slacks.
Off to the January sales soon... no doubt to spend too much money on more new clothes...
...
Never claimed to perfectly adhere to the Ideals of Green.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Welcome 2009!!
Happy New Year!
I had a great time last night, but must confess I didn't have fun as green-ly as I could have. What with the weather (Chicago/St Andrews style winds and cold, cold temperatures), high heels and a nice dress, I opted not to walk much - and took taxis instead. I did Metro in to the city, and shared my taxi with others, but in warmer weather I hope to walk/Metro more. Unless I forget to invest in lower-heeled shoes. Which could happen.
The first taxi ride involved much hilarity - we called two, and got them after some confusion ... but there were nine of us. Which made the second cab awkwardly full. Our driver, a character, muttered about getting into trouble for having four people squished uncomfortably into the back seat, and asked one of us to duck down. So three of us took turns, the guy maintaining that it would give the game away to have one guy in the back, then just girls, and then a guy again when he traded ducking positions with one of us girls. I laughed so hard I cried, and most likely smudged my oh-so-carefully-applied mascara.
New Year's Day I plan to spend home, watching plenty of sports on TV (two hockey games and soccer and the Rose Bowl!!) Maybe I'll walk to the grocery store, and maybe I'll starve... In all, a greener day in the transportation department.
I had a great time last night, but must confess I didn't have fun as green-ly as I could have. What with the weather (Chicago/St Andrews style winds and cold, cold temperatures), high heels and a nice dress, I opted not to walk much - and took taxis instead. I did Metro in to the city, and shared my taxi with others, but in warmer weather I hope to walk/Metro more. Unless I forget to invest in lower-heeled shoes. Which could happen.
The first taxi ride involved much hilarity - we called two, and got them after some confusion ... but there were nine of us. Which made the second cab awkwardly full. Our driver, a character, muttered about getting into trouble for having four people squished uncomfortably into the back seat, and asked one of us to duck down. So three of us took turns, the guy maintaining that it would give the game away to have one guy in the back, then just girls, and then a guy again when he traded ducking positions with one of us girls. I laughed so hard I cried, and most likely smudged my oh-so-carefully-applied mascara.
New Year's Day I plan to spend home, watching plenty of sports on TV (two hockey games and soccer and the Rose Bowl!!) Maybe I'll walk to the grocery store, and maybe I'll starve... In all, a greener day in the transportation department.
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