leafing through

This weekend, I saw mounds of dirty snow in a park, right next to some people playing tennis in shorts and t-shirts. It was sunny and probably in the mid-50s. I walked about outside with only a light jacket. It felt cool but what a nice feeling to be out in the sun. Then, I spotted some bulbs poking through the earth. Could it be? Spring is coming!? Or is March coming in like a lamb and going out like a lion?

I changed my mind about liking this settling back into the usual rut! This week has been long. Every day feels like two and today, I’m wondering why I’m still sitting here. Where’s the SNOW!? And ensuing CHAOS! PANIC! Milk, eggs, bread, toilet paper people!! Get more toilet paper! I’m predicting rain.

Lent started last week some time, and it wasn’t until 2 or 3 days after that I realized I didn’t select anything to give up. So I had to rack my brain for something that wouldn’t be such a bad thing to start doing or stop doing. Something that can better my already wonderful self.

“Self,” I said, “how could you possibly be even better? (And it needs to be something you’ve already done or not done these past few days.)” And all I could come up with was coffee. I gave up coffee (again, I know) until April 4th.

I haven’t been to work since last Friday when we were let out early due to the impending snow storm. We now have yet another storm which is coming down pretty steadily. So after day four of being cooped up in the house, the Wii finally made it’s debut. Yesterday was a full day of Rayman’s Raving Rabbids ending with Raving Rabbids 2 into the wee hours of 1 AM!. Today, it’s on to Dr. Mario. My arms are sore from Raving Rabbids.

Snowmageddon or Snowpocalypse, whatever you want to call it, landed. It didn’t exactly deliver two feet of snow (as least where I am), more like one foot, but it was all day from Friday at 10:30 AM to about 5:30 this evening. Trapped at home, tackling the “Maybe-get-to-do list” was the activity du jour. Started with laundry and then headed straight for the chinchillas. I can’t help it! I find myself thinking about them or missing them sometimes when I’m out of the house. Yikes, I’ve become one of those crazy animal people. The Chinchilla-lady!

So the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser pulled through for the wall. Black scuffs from bike tires and other unknowns came off. The Eraser wore out eventually and disintegrated.
Here’s the before:

And the after:

Without the fancy camera magnifying the after, to me, in the normal room lighting, the wall looks much cleaner. More like this:

The Orange Glo however, couldn’t quite get the stains and dirt off the kitchen cabinets so I had to go over it with some ammonia first. Tomorrow – Wash the shower? Cabin fever eating? Whip up some dishes? Pester the chinchillas? Try to take over the world!?

It’s been snowing since 9 last night. We’re supposed to accumulate up to a foot of snow in some areas so I’m staying in, watching the chinchillas. Gina’s a lot more timid although she’s starting to come around slowly but Marco’s really getting more comfortable leaving his box and wandering about aaand leaving little presents everywhere.

Last Saturday, we had our first noticeable snow fall of the season. There was even some accumulation left the next day. That’s cause for a celebratory meal! How about mofongo? I just like saying that word: mofongo. It’s mashed plaintains cooked with spices, bacon and onions. There’s bacon in it. ‘Nuff said. Caribbean Breeze was decent. I’m not sure my socks were knocked off by the cubano sandwich but the ceviche tasted fresh and the seafood enchiladas were good too. Maybe because they were served with a side of mofongo.

According to the very accurate and scientific Old Farmer’s Almanac, the brown band on the woolly bear caterpillar can predict how severe and long the coming Winter will be. The longer the brown band, the shorter and milder the Winter.

This Winter better be nice and easy or the caterpillar gets it!

Rough week. The weather got super cold and the rain makes everything just so dreary and dark. Remember the coffee I quit, sorta? Well, I’m all over it again. Anyway, I’m going to have to think of a plan b with this walking home from the bus stop business. It takes me about 10 minutes to walk home and call me a pansy, but that’s just 10 minutes too long in 40 degree weather, forget 30 degrees. Will I survive this Winter??? Dun-dun-duuunnn! I know one thing though. This Winter, I am not skimping on the heat. It’s sheer misery to me and I’ve decided to indulge myself this year. Ha, listen to me… turning on the heat is an “indulgence.” Someone please knock some sense into me.

This morning, I woke up because it was so chilly! Plus I had this horrible dream about trying to escape someone. He was holding a plate of salad to entice me and look like a kind person to the passersby. I had to recruit strangers to escape but they thought I was the nutty one since the salad-holder looked nice. Probably me internalizing the news about the girl kidnapped from Tahoe maybe. Crazy.

Last week, highs were in the upper 90s. This week, we’re looking at something closer to the upper 70s. It’s definitely turned Fall on us almost overnight. I wouldn’t be surprised if temperatures went back up but I’m enjoying this Fall weather teaser. That’s one of the good things about this area, the Autumn season.

I parked my car at a garage on the lower level today and since it’s been raining for a couple of days off and on, there are plenty of breeding grounds for mosquitos.  So I get into my car after work and as I’m pulling out of the garage, I feel itchy everywhere!  In a matter of seconds, a mosquito had flown into my car and turned me into a buffet bar.  I counted 4 bites.