leafing through

Taking public transportation to work has not only helped me save money on gas, but it’s helped me financially in other ways too like no more impulse shopping. I realized, having a car handy almost cries out for me to go shopping. One time, I worked somewhere where my daily commute to and from work had me passing through strip malls with Ann Taylor, Banana, Gap, TJ Maxx, Barnes & Noble. Every day!! The temptation was more than I could bear, I would stop buy at least once a week to shop after work. I blew my per diem on so many things.

These days, I don’t have that luxury because taking public transportation means I have to either do a lot of walking to cover that “last mile” or just forgo shopping. So I fill up my gas tank about once a month and have extra disposable income to splurge in the occasional earring. See, I knew I could work in another earring picture!

Had I not said anything you would never have guessed these were $15! I would’ve preferred silver round ones but bargain hunters can’t be too picky. Plus they’re so bright and sparkly that you can barely make out their shape. I’ve been on an earring shopping kick lately. Macy’s has a 50% off sale and I just can’t help myself. Lately, every time I see a Macy’s it’s all I can think about: earrings!

Training at work is like a mini-vacation. For today and tomorrow, I don’t have to sit at my desk pushing buttons and churning paper. Or deal with Lord Voldemort and her raging menopausal hormones or incompetence.

Today’s class is about Financial Management in the gubment. Barf. They’re talking about spending tax dollars in accordance with the law as it’s specified for the purpose, time, and amount. Time. There’s this belief prevalent in the government that if Congress takes away your money, the end of the world is near. If an agency gets 1 year money or any time-limited funding, they rush to spend it at the end of the fiscal year. Regardless of the amount of waste that’s generated to spend it. I’m convinced government agencies are encouraged to spend regardless of how wastefully to get money back into taxpayers’ pockets because it’s this movement of money which drives the economy.

On his way out, one of the old farts in class asks me, “You’re not gonna be typing tomorrow will ya?”

“I dunno, maybe.”

“Cuz all that typing is kinda’ annoying. “

“Well, it helps me take notes.”

Geez, please step into the 21st century. My keyboard is actually relatively quiet but I have nails which click a lot. Maybe I’ll trim my nails to minimize the click. Or not, to maximize the annoyance. Muahaha. Hey he revealed his button. Can’t fault me for pushing it!

I was heading home from work today head tilted back snoozing on the metro when this girl hauling a big red bag plops down next to me. She whips out a pen and starts to do the crossword from the daily paper, I look up and catch her quickly looking away. Creepy. I sleep with one eye open and she’s stealing glimpses in my direction. Hubba hubba. Oh wait – WTF is her problem? Do I have a booger hanging out of my nose? As we get to the end of the line, she finally says, “Do I know you from ABC?”
“No.”
“XYZ?”
“No.”
“Oh, I swear I recognize you from somewhere. Where do you work?”
“QRS.”
“Oh yeah? How do you like it there?”
“It’s pretty good there.”
“I could’ve sworn I’ve seen you at work. What do you do there?”
“I’m an attorney.”
“Oh. Cool… Weird, you look so familiar.”

We follow the swarm down the escalator and as I’m walking to the exit, I turn to look behind me. There she is again!! She waves to me as she approaches, “I figured it out! I see you at the bus stop.”
“Yeah, I realized it on our way going down the escalators.”
“Duh! I’m slow.”

When we were in grade school, my sister, cousin and I used to have sleepovers where we’d play with our Barbies and Sweet Secrets and bake cakes out of a box – yellow cake, chocolate cake, brownies. Sometimes, my aunt would whip out her camcorder and have us play Julia Child. “Next, you have to add three eggs!”

I’ve been craving this cake-out-of-a-box for a couple of months now. This time, I added 1 extra egg as suggested by a colleague. It’s fluffy and moist.

I just got back from a huge dinner with the family at FuShing Cafe.  Delicious as usual.

That’s spicy conch on the left. Pretty much I was only able to take photos of the first few appetizers because after that, it was all out face stuffing. No time for pictures, gimme some of that tofu!

Jellyfish to the right.