Will Move For Work: July 2011

Wow, it's been three weeks since I've done a post! Guess I've been too busy having a pretty normal life :) I've joined a book club, hung out with my neighbors, watched fireworks along the river, made gallons of vodka sauce for a company lunch. It's refreshingly balanced.

I think all my paperwork is in order now, with the exception of Paparazzi's license. I finally sorted out my car stuff, which turned out to be much easier than the DMV website led me to believe. Which made me want to rewrite their instructions online. But I resisted.

My home library finally set up. I found the shelf
pegs after I'd ordered a pack. Figures.

I used my library card for the first time today (turns out there's a branch between my walk from work to the bus stop). I picked up a few DVDs since I still don't pay for TV and the circulation lady says, "That'll be $6." I looked up and said, "Excuse me?" Turns out, they've been charging $2 a week for DVDs "as long as she can remember" and "that's a pretty good deal."

Excuse my language, but fuck that. People go to libraries because they don't have money. And not to sound too Tea Partyish, but we've already paid for those items! It's called city, county and state taxes, not to mention grants at higher levels, often also funded with tax money. I told her I didn't want them. I'd rather pay for Netflix than double pay at the library.

I did, however, check out a copy of Mastering the Art of French Cooking (Julia Child). The recipe I want to make is likely the most complicated thing I'll have made up to this point, and let's just say it ends with setting a bird on fire. I did buy a fire extinguisher for just such an occasion, so if I try it (clearly a weekend project), I'll post pictures. Anyone know how I can tell if my bakeware is fireproof? Reading through the recipes has me convinced that it's time to seriously consider a casserole dish.

John sent this huge, beautiful, awesome
smelling bouqet to me at work for our
one year anniversary.

I'm eagerly anticipating a trip to the grocery store this weekend since I haven't gone in a couple weeks in an attempt to save money and see how far my food supply could go. The downside there is that I've been out of fresh fruits and vegetables for a while now, which is bad because I've been trying to focus on eating more fruits and vegetables. (Can you say pesto made from leaves I just collected from the basil plant outside my back door? Yum.)

I have, I'm happy to report, lost weight since I've moved here, which I think is the result of several factors besides more veggies. I'm less stressed, I eat far less Mexican food (sad), I don't eat late dinners like I used to, I walk more, and I go for jogs. Simple.

Speaking of jogging: In two weeks I'll be in my very first running event with a group from work. It's just a mile, but running the whole thing is a real challenge for me. Running a mile has always been a challenge, even in my super-fit softball days. John will be in town (he's coming in a week!) so I've persuaded him to run with me to encourage me.

Too bad Paparazzi can't go! I am looking into obedience and agility classes for him once my budget can accommodate it because I think it would do wonders for all of that energy... or at least make me feel better about caging him all day while I'm at work.

My extra room super pimped out with Ikea and my
baby furniture. Sweet.

One way to make that happen is filling my extra room, but I'm being selective about it. I was able to outfit it with a bed finally when I came upon some great deals. It's ready to go, and there have been some bites, so my fingers are crossed that I'll find the right person and bring in some extra income.

I'd like to end this post with a few photos of things I've seen on my walk to work that amuse me in what is most likely a very dorky way. Things like this are the reason I like going by foot when I can; you just don't see this driving down the road and it makes for great details in short stories.