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.
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.
Work
In thinking about life, careers, employer subsidized health care, etc., I came to the following challenging life question:
Are you lucky to have them or are they lucky to have you?
Gotta figure that out.
Are you lucky to have them or are they lucky to have you?
Gotta figure that out.
The 13th Floor
used to be on 18, now I sit on 14... a much shorter commute. There's
no 13th floor in my building, however, so I guess the 14th floor is
actually the 13th floor when counting up from the lobby. It seems
kind of silly to me for them to omit the 13th floor. Aren't we all
adults here?
In NYC
Spent the holiday weekend in NYC celebrating July 4th and also the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson sailing up the Hudson. There was sun and nice weather for the fireworks. Walked around Manhattan a bit and made it over to Brooklyn briefly. A selection of pics:
A view of The Highline, a park recently opened that's actually an old raised railway line. Very cool to have park space winding through buildings.
Blue deviled eggs. We had plenty of red and white foods for a small pre-fireworks party, so these (somewhat) blue appetizers helped even things out.
A trailer park in Brooklyn. (Get it? There's a park... in an old camping trailer.)
Hard to see this one, but it's a sign on the Williamsburg Bridge that reads "Leaving Brooklyn. Oy Vey!"
A view of The Highline, a park recently opened that's actually an old raised railway line. Very cool to have park space winding through buildings.
Blue deviled eggs. We had plenty of red and white foods for a small pre-fireworks party, so these (somewhat) blue appetizers helped even things out.
A trailer park in Brooklyn. (Get it? There's a park... in an old camping trailer.)
Hard to see this one, but it's a sign on the Williamsburg Bridge that reads "Leaving Brooklyn. Oy Vey!"
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