Everyone’s been talking about the unusually hot and long heat wave we’ve been suffering but I guess up until yesterday I didn’t go outdoors much aside from the short walk from Metro to the office. But yesterday evening, we had dinner with a friend and just walking around the area even at 7:30 in the evening, it was still cookie-baking hot. By 11PM it got a little more bearable but wow I hope we get some relief rain soon.

Today is the vernal equinox! This weekend is much much warmer (close to 80 degrees!!) and today is particularly sunny. I think working in cubicles gives me a false sense that the days are dim and dreary. Now I know it’s just our working conditions that are dim and dreary. Today, with windows to enjoy the full on sunshine, I figured out why the orchid’s leaves look like they’ve been fried crispy.

It’s always the fine print that gets ya.

The windowsill is full on baking sunlight in the mornings. I moved it away and applied soothing aloe and sunblock on those poor crispy leaves.

Look, here’s another sign of spring. The chinchillas are hot and molting.

I haven’t stepped outside today yet but I’ve noticed that it’s kinda’ dark indoors even with the shades open. What a glum day. Though it does feel Spring-like to be getting these rains. Actually it makes me want to start my garden soon! All this free watering happening and I’m missing out. So with the rain, today’s get-to-do activities consisted of cleaning the shower, toilet, floors, and tables. I broke another item. A statue. Dearie me, at this point, I don’t know what to say anymore. I had no idea I was so good at breaking things. It’s like a newly found talent. Who knows how long those six bowls will last. I’m putzing around doing laundry, cleaning the kitchen and eating snacks to further slow down my tax filing. I’m torturing myself with it. It’s not hard but so tedious. And I just don’t feel like typing in numbers anymore after doing that all week.

Let me go see what the animals are up to.

Putzing around, like me!

“Quit blogging and gimme more food woman!”

Update:
I was hoping to submit my taxes this afternoon but after doing it twice and getting two different results, I need to do it a third time! Dangit!

Update 2:
Ahmigawd!! No charm doing it a third time. Now I have three different results!! GAAAAh!!!
That’s it. I can’t do this anymore. I will have to finish it another time.

Update 3:
I got a repeat result! 2nd and 4th try were a match. Whew! Though based on this bad track record, I think I might do it again. Just to mess with myself. Later, with a fresh brain.

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!