I went to see People Under The Stairs perform Thursday night. I'd never heard of them before this week, but was really impressed. And the concert was cheap! Fifteen bucks (and not paying Ticketmaster a big fee) was great.
A video of one of their songs:
Voting
I voted Tuesday in the biggest election I ever have in terms of the relative importance of my personal vote. And it might be the biggest I ever get to vote in from here on out. Massachusetts voters essentially got to decide the fate of a LOT of U.S. legislation and thus domestic and foreign policy. You know the story by now, obviously, and all the analysis and causes and ramifications, etc. It was something like 1.1 million votes on one side and 1 million votes on the other side. One of my friends blames "lazy Democrats" on the loss in such a (traditionally) Democratic state. Granted, there were a lot of variables in play that all contributed to the final tally. But I'm reminded of the Prop 8 issue in California in 2008. (To amend the state constitution to ban gay marriage, you know the story there too). The reason I think it's similar is that the ballot measure made it past a traditionally liberal electorate because they didn't pay attention to the issue until it was too late. Complacency and apathy. I fully support a democratic system and fully believe that we're only as good as the government we choose to elect (and the laws we consequently enact).
Snow
Lots and lots of snow to begin the new year in Boston. Took advantage with a ski trip over the weekend. Thumbs up.
Snuggie
We had a Secret Santa gift swap on my floor here at work. I got a beige (khaki?) colored Snuggie. This is me pretending to type and being snug:
I haven't decided if I'm excited about it or weirded-out. (You've been living under a rock if you don't know what I'm talking about.) Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Unless it's a Snuggie.
I haven't decided if I'm excited about it or weirded-out. (You've been living under a rock if you don't know what I'm talking about.) Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Unless it's a Snuggie.
Cold
In case there was any question, the cold has arrived in Boston. Cold coldness on the walk to the T this morning. No snow on the ground right now, but the cold and the wind are enough to make it feel like 12 below. Here's the weather report from my phone when I got to work this morning.Even with all the bundling up, my face still gets numb. And my mouth gets cold enough that I have a tough time forming words.
Brrr.
Chicken Pot Muffins
muffin tins last night. Very yummy.
Dumplings!
Went to a dumpling festival last weekend in NY, which featured dumpling-like food from a handful of countries.
There was even a giant dumpling which had it's own security (the dudes with the "I heart dumplings" shirts, naturally).
- Is it real?
- Yeah.
- What's in it?
- A million little dumplings.
Economic Micro-Stiumulus
I love using up change. I don't know why, and perhaps it says something about my personality, but I get excited when something costs $5.19 and I have the change to pay the $0.19 cents rather than paying $6 and receiving $0.81 in change. I readily acknowledge that the same amount of money is changing hands, but for whatever reason, I'm glad to have less change.
But I find (as I think most do) that a pile of change accumulates at my desk at work and at my dresser at home from each time I empty my pockets when I didn't have the precise combination of nickels and pennies and dimes that I needed. And it takes effort to spend down the accumulated pile of coins. Furthermore it's a losing battle, as I'm pretty sure there are coins at the bottom of my change pile that have laid undisturbed for years.
So here's my plan. Instead of spending through my pile of coins by attentively trying to pay with exact change, I'm planning a mini-micro-stimulus project aimed at local businesses. I will put more money into circulation, just like the government is doing. My plan is to get rid of it by dropping it in tip jars at stores nearby. I figure that this money hasn't been used in a while, it's not doing me any good, I might as well get rid of it as tips. I see only upside: I'm getting rid of a troublesome pile of change, I can feel good about leaving something in the tip jar, and someone else gets some previously idle money.
Though I do wonder whether the people working at the ice cream shop/pizza place where I might drop it off would actually want it. What if they feel the same way about the coins?
But I find (as I think most do) that a pile of change accumulates at my desk at work and at my dresser at home from each time I empty my pockets when I didn't have the precise combination of nickels and pennies and dimes that I needed. And it takes effort to spend down the accumulated pile of coins. Furthermore it's a losing battle, as I'm pretty sure there are coins at the bottom of my change pile that have laid undisturbed for years.
So here's my plan. Instead of spending through my pile of coins by attentively trying to pay with exact change, I'm planning a mini-micro-stimulus project aimed at local businesses. I will put more money into circulation, just like the government is doing. My plan is to get rid of it by dropping it in tip jars at stores nearby. I figure that this money hasn't been used in a while, it's not doing me any good, I might as well get rid of it as tips. I see only upside: I'm getting rid of a troublesome pile of change, I can feel good about leaving something in the tip jar, and someone else gets some previously idle money.
Though I do wonder whether the people working at the ice cream shop/pizza place where I might drop it off would actually want it. What if they feel the same way about the coins?
Dining Outside
Well, the nice weather is on its way out. It's official fall and it's chilly and that's all people seem to talk about riding the elevators at work now.
- "A bit chilly out. Had to wear a jacket."
- "Yep."
But at the beginning of the week it was still definitely mild out there. Nice enough that I had dinner outside at two different restaurants.
First Oleana. The meal was great and being outdoors on their private patio was fun.
Second was Olecito. I think it's well-known as the burrito bar sibling of Ole. Check out their website with their lucha libre mascot. Their outdoor seating was a metal table out back in the parking lot under a lamp and four chairs that belong in a local social hall. The food was tasty and despite the lack of a created "atmosphere" it was still a great dining experience.
- "A bit chilly out. Had to wear a jacket."
- "Yep."
But at the beginning of the week it was still definitely mild out there. Nice enough that I had dinner outside at two different restaurants.
First Oleana. The meal was great and being outdoors on their private patio was fun.
Second was Olecito. I think it's well-known as the burrito bar sibling of Ole. Check out their website with their lucha libre mascot. Their outdoor seating was a metal table out back in the parking lot under a lamp and four chairs that belong in a local social hall. The food was tasty and despite the lack of a created "atmosphere" it was still a great dining experience.
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