Monday, February 15, 2010

Love is much nicer to be in than an automobile accident, a tight girdle, a higher tax bracket, or a holding pattern over Philadelphia. - Judith Viorst



Happy Valentine's Day! I think in college I was always a cynic or just despised the fact that people felt the need to wear lovey colors and get all mushy one day a year. I remember wearing blue and turning my nose up at things. I don't mind the holiday at all. I remembered to wear pink. I sent people 'Happy v-day" messages. I really like this holiday. Mostly because I get a kick out of calling it v-box day.

Yesterday I got up and ran around. I finished cleaning, got to the gym, Home Deopt and the grocer's. And I hung a mirror that is still hanging. One point for me. Michael and Phil stopped in as part of their brotherly roadtrip and I made them brownie cookie things. We tuned the guitar, we talked and we took pictures. They were lovely. As you know... ;)



Alicia and I had decided to go to dinner and hang out for a while last night. We ate at Su Casa, where they gave us each a single red rose... which is currently over by the stairs. We drove out to Whole Foods and wandered for a while and then went to see Valentine's Day at the movies. Taylor Swift's character was really annoying. I like the ensemble cast aspect. Big names and all some how connected. I would probably watch it again when it comes out on dvd.

Also, Alicia told me people don't call ice cream places 'scoop shops'. I thought a place that you physically scoop ice cream into cones was considered a scoop shop. Maybe that's just her...

Red hearts,
JP

Sunday, February 14, 2010

The Universe and You

February is shaping up to be quite the month. Part of me feels like the universe is telling me to step up and deal with miniature disasters without freaking out. And by disaster I mean things I wouldn't typically choose to deal with alone, or at all. So far I've had to buy a new washer and of course, in true Jen fashion, I researched my options ad got other peoples' opinions before making my move. I ended up wish something energy efficant and within a decent price.



I also had mice. This was by far the hardest and grosses part of my month. I actually felt violated because there was some gross little thing running around my spice drawer, sleeping on my dish towels and touching my silverware. I put aluminum foil over the silverware after washing it for the second time and the lovely little creature crawled up under my protective barrier. I ended up getting a kind mouse house to catch and release the bugger. I set it up the day after I descovered mousey presents in my drawers. I realized after a couple days that it was never leaving the drawers to wander the kitchen so I removed everything from 4 drawers and put the trap in there with a bar of baking crisco. It ate part of one bar so I thought I could trick it with the second. This Saturday, a week later, I discovered the trap had a mouse in it and of course, I screamed. It took me 6 hours to gain the courage to release the mouse. I packed him up along with cleaning gloves and mittens, and drove over to a parking area by the train tracks a couple blocks from here. I placed the trap on the group and just looked at it for a bit. Opening it was freaking me out. I was afraid the mouse would jump out and I'd have to run away. Have to. I tried to get the cleaning gloves on but decided to just wear mittens, open the trap fast and run away. I succeeded in this plan but also got to see 3 mice instead of just one. 1 was no longer alive. He looked like he was attacked by the other 2. And the other two couldn't figure out how to turn around and run from the trap. I tried to help them without touching them but it didn't work, so I left the bottom of the trap there and figured I could always go throw it out in a few days. But the thought grosses me out. I hope they found a nice home with someone else.


This is the trap before I opened it. That is a label with a mouse on top and a leaf next to it. Michael was concerned that was a real mouse in the picture.

Cause I am me, the universe and you.
JP

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Every day is the start of something beautiful. - Matt Nathanson



January 2010
The first week was quite trying. One thing after another. Jocelyn and I decided to spill it all and put all the negative out there so we could get past it. It worked. There were a few pieces of the first week that I keep thinking back to that make me smile, so I'll say it was still okay. It was also really really cold during the month of January. Really cold.

On the 2nd I set my resolutions for 2010.

1. Read 12 books. I set the goal of 6 for the last 2 years. I read and listened to about 30 this past year. 12 should be easy.
2. Music. Take guitar lessons, self teach, join a gospel choir, play the keyboard more, or take up a new instrument like the ukelele. So far I've contacted people about guitar and voice lessons. I'm leaning toward some vocal lessons.
3. Make a monthly goal. I was hoping to work on some fears this way.
4. Be more fugal with money. Set up that retirement fund, spend less on randomness, save more.
5. June Goal. I set a weight/ health goal to make by the trip in June. JT and I are rewarding ourselves for meeting our health goals by going on a trip.



JT came to visit the second weekend. We ran our mini missions and tried to make new food. That Saturday we went to get me a haircut, had breakfast at Cohen's, stopped by the outlets while downing coffee, met up wth Chris B. for lunch at Archie Moore's in Milford and Whole Foods. We rested for about 5 minutes and then drove to Flats Tattooing in Waterford. I finally got my tattoo and met my January goal. While JT was here we decided our trip should be to San Francisco and Seattle. Yay! I booked the flights a few nights after and we decided we're taking the train between San Fran and Seattle half way through our vacation. Lots more to plan over the next few months.



Nate turned 3 on the 23rd. He's a little crazy and the two kids at the store is very difficult. Nate was running back and forth between the ATM and then threw a melon while Maddie took off with the onions. I made a big blue crane cake and we dressed in our favorite Wiggles colors for the party.


That night JT had a Mary Kay party/ girls night. Missa and some others came. Maddie also got to play with us. OH and Jennt taught Maddie to say "Auntie". Very exciting!

On the way back down that Sunday I stopped in Portsmouth to meet up with Jackie D. I had planned on having a late lunch with her and getting back to CT in a good amount of time. I wandered Bull Moose while I waited for, we met at the Friendly Toast, walked around the area, went to get coffee at Breaking New Grounds and walked over to Coat of Arms to people watch. I ended up staying through trivia and drove back down here at 10:30pm. Though it made for a long day, I think it couldn't have been a better day.


I took this one in Madison the morning of the 28th.

I should also note that I finished 3 books in the month of January.

And I've added more weights into my workouts to help reach the June goal.





CT Heather had 2 baby showers in the last week of the month. One at school and one at La Luna for the family. The Friday before her family shower her mum and I helped her put together the last of the shower gifts (chocolates... mmmmm...) and finish setting up the nursery. Heather and I had time to run errands and pick up food at the pub before I dropped her off at her massage. I picked her up an hour later so we could eat and put together Alicia's birthday present. :) I was the photographer at her shower but used her camera. Everything went well, the food was great and I want more chocolates.

January turned out to be okay but I'm glad it's over.
LOVE! JP