"76 Trombones led the big parade..." It's day 76 of the Ruskin Project countdown and what pops into my head when I hear this number is the main song from the musical play The Music Man, "76 Trombones." This is an appropriate song for today's drive home from New Jersey when my car began making odd beeping and buzzing sounds. Listen up:
Not only were there unspecified sounds but the overhead light spontaneously turned on and could not be turned off, the radio wouldn't remain on one station, instead it scanned perpetually, and the car would no longer lock automatically.
Overhead light on while driving at night makes for very poor visibility!
Sister creating clever shield with paper and hand so I could see the road...
Obviously some type of an electrical problem (I think...). Or, my car has developed a case of The Love Bug. Time for a check up.
I was laid off from my job of 11 years on April 14th. It's a fear-inducing change. I want to make the best of this situation while I search for new work. So, I'm tracking my progress and sharing my discoveries over the next 98 days of severance pay. With common sense, humor, patience, and guts, I endeavor to act on John Ruskin's philosophy: "For we are not sent into this world to do any thing into which we cannot put our hearts."
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
.8/42/8.9. (...77)
On my way to New Jersey for the Devilman Triathlon! The jersey turnpike is congested and this drive is long but hanging with my Sis makes it a good trip! We'll race a .8 mile swim, 42 miles on the bike, and an 8.9 mile run tomorrow morning!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
World's Shortest Taco Tour (...78)
To celebrate Cinco de Mayo, I went to The World's Largest Taco Tour in Manchester, NH. It was supposed to be 5 to 9pm. Each restaurant had these colorful posters with a number to text your vote for the best Taco. A fun way to celebrate the holiday! All of Manchester was out in droves roaming the streets and in line for Tacos. By 6pm most vendors had run out of dough for their tortillas! So we headed to get pizza at a favorite place, 900 Degrees.
Even without the proper celebratory food, a gal can't go wrong on Cinco de Mayo if she's got a handsome Bandito by her side.
Even without the proper celebratory food, a gal can't go wrong on Cinco de Mayo if she's got a handsome Bandito by her side.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Sewing! (...79)
Tonight I'm doing a repair job on a tie, not an "O'Toole Original," just a little fix for a friend.
After making the bag in my class, I became hooked on sewing aprons. Here are my first two, worn by my lovely models.
And just recently I made this baby blanket! I copied the pattern from a blog my mother discovered. It's such an easy pattern and a good gift. So much more enjoyable than shopping for one.
The original blanket would have been 3 inches wider and longer than the finished product, but I made several mistakes and had to keep cutting off "problem areas." As a beginner sewer I'm still learning the tricks of this craft.
I've purchased way too much fabric at this point! Since taking my class, It's hard to resist the variety of patterns and colors! Many, many yards of striped fabric are now tucked away in my bureau drawer, along with winter weight houndstooth patttern wool and a few solid grays and blues. I'd been wondering when I'd ever have time to use all of it. Watch out, Martha...I've been laid off and who knows what I'll create with all this time on my hands.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Free Cake & Expensive Yogurt (...80)
To my delight I received a postcard from Starbucks, offering a FREE Cake Pop! I would never buy one of these funny treats. They're cute, but I think most Starbucks food is tasteless and usually any gimmicky food creations are far worse. But if its free, I'll try it! So on my way to an informational interview yesterday I stopped in at Starbucks to collect this free treat. I chose the Rocky Road Cake Pop and it was...gross. Not good, like swallowing a tablespoon of canola oil. The only redeeming quality was the clever packaging. Since I'm monitoring my spending, especially on expensive coffee shop treats, I should be grateful for a free one, but this one left me sad and still hungry. So when I got home I went to one of my favorite cooking blogs and made this recipe: Our Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies. Dee-licious.
While grocery shopping for the cookie ingredients, I did a little comparison shopping at two stores, TJs and Whole Foods, specifically to check out the cost of Fage Greek Yogurt. I eat this stuff nearly every day. It's an expensive habit! It's not a shock that TJs is 30 cents cheaper, but seeing the price in black and white makes me shocked I'm still buying it.
I MUST BREAK THIS HABIT. Yogurt is good for me (protein source plus all those live cultures help my immune system) but bad for my wallet. I think I'm going to ask my friend (Doug, you know I'm talkin' to you) to teach me how to make yogurt at home. It should save me a bundle and it tastes even better than store bought.
While grocery shopping for the cookie ingredients, I did a little comparison shopping at two stores, TJs and Whole Foods, specifically to check out the cost of Fage Greek Yogurt. I eat this stuff nearly every day. It's an expensive habit! It's not a shock that TJs is 30 cents cheaper, but seeing the price in black and white makes me shocked I'm still buying it.
Trader Joe's $3.99 |
Whole Foods $4.29 |
I MUST BREAK THIS HABIT. Yogurt is good for me (protein source plus all those live cultures help my immune system) but bad for my wallet. I think I'm going to ask my friend (Doug, you know I'm talkin' to you) to teach me how to make yogurt at home. It should save me a bundle and it tastes even better than store bought.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Should I Read These books? (...81)
I'm looking at this stack of books that at one time were recommended to help explore career questions. Should I read these books? If not, what should I read?! I have little confidence any book will give me the clarity I wish for but I'm going to give each of them a chance anyway. I've read #2 already. I'm starting a 2nd book today, not sure yet which one. Probably "Drive" because I think it will be the most tolerable and because it has the least intolerable title.
- What Color is Your Parachute? by Bolles
- Creating a Life Worth Living by Carol Lloyd
The Adventures of Johnny Bunkoby Daniel Pink- Drive: The Surprising Truth about What Motivates Us by Daniel Pink
- Secrets of the Young and Successful by Jennifer Kushell with Scott Kaufman
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Layoff Dayoff (...82)
After a group bike/run/bike adventure today I'm too exhausted to write, so I've been staring out my window for the last hour. Plus, a gal should rest once in a while and enjoy a day off from layoff talk. No layoff talking, writing, researching, or planning. It's hard to do and I've broken this rule a few times already today. Next Sunday I'll take a 2nd stab at it.
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