My New "Sport"

Awhile ago, I posted this rambling about how I felt very boring and old, yet was repeatedly carded for R-rated movies. Despite being very happy with my life, I felt like I should be doing more of something that makes for a better story than, "Well I watched You've Got Mail again" come Monday morning. (Although that does sound like a pretty sweet weekend.)

I have decided that the real problem is my lack of doing things. I accomplish what needs to get done, but I want to do more than that. Expense is partly to blame, but I also get lazy and tired and just stay home. So I'm resolving to do more fun things, more activities, more somethings.

What are these "things" of which I speak? There are several. Some are big; some are small. At some point I might make some sort of goal list. But I took an important step this weekend in one of my big goals, or I guess my dad did, by bringing me my old bike.


I don't even know if this is the kind of the bike I should be riding. I've had it for at least a decade and have probably ridden it twice. Considering we're heading into non-ideal bike weather, who knows when I'll start biking (Santa's going to bring me a helmet!), but I have a bike.

Bike riding isn't really the ultimate goal though. Yes, it will be a great way to stay in shape and a fun activity for Lee and I to do together (Believe it or not, Lee does not enjoy You've Got Mail weekends.). The ultimate goal is to bike across England. For reals. There's a website and everything. I really want to do this.

I have no idea when we'll go. I have no idea when in the foreseeable future we'll be able to afford to fly to England (or sleep or eat). Not to mention we'll be having kids in the next couple years. But, I have a bike. I might need to get a different one, but there is a bike in my apartment. I've taken the first step.

Crafty Progress

The knitting is starting to come together I think! The baby blanket is starting to look more like a blanket than scarf...maybe?


I also made some more progress on another secret project. I think it's a secret. I can't remember what I've said about it before. Hmm...I should finish it this week and it will cease being a secret soon.



My goal is that if I work really hard and finish secret project and make lots of progress on the baby blanket this week, then I should have tons of time in November for Christmas gift making. The hopefully-not-too-lofty goal is to finish gift crafting in November and dedicate December to holiday baking and other general merry-making.

(Caitlin, no this secret thing is not your mysterious birthday present, which I hope to finish in early November.)

My Mixed Feelings for Fall

Fall would be a perfectly fine season if it didn't signal the coming of winter. I hate winter. I really really hate winter. It's barely tolerable for the holiday season but then I'm done with it. When I wake up on December 26, I want sweater-weather until summer. As in just a sweater, not a sweater under my gigantic parka with scarves, hats and gloves and the occasional pair of thermal underwears. I hate winter. And fall only serves to remind me that it's almost winter...again. And today is a miserably rainy fall day.

Blech.

Photographs

I've been trying to take more pictures lately AND suck less at taking them. It hasn't been easy. I've even been toying with getting one of those fancy DSLR cameras, but decided to try to make the most of my current camera before spending $600 on a new one with more buttons and modes that I can shake a stick at. Here are some decent photos I've taken lately.




While visiting the fancy new Target, I saw this empty liquor bottle in the parking lot. I like how the angle turned out, that angle being me trying to sneak a picture quickly without looking like the freak taking pictures of empty liquor bottles in the Target parking lot.





This is the inside of the hotel where that party was where I won the football. Go Cats. In other Katie Trivia, this was where Lee and I spent our wedding night before heading to Mexico.

Going Natural

Lately I've been on this natural/organic kick. I've tried this before because it seemed like the cool thing to do, but now I feel it is the right thing to do. And it hasn't turned out be as expensive as I thought it would it be (Although I still buy normal cheese, milk and some meats because that's just really expensive.).

There were several things that kind of happened at once to start this. Several of my friends had recently expressed their concern about where our food comes from and the things that go in it. Do you really need high fructose corn syrup in bread? No you don't. And my office had started going in together with a local CSA to get some fresh, local fruits and veggies. (This was also a great opportunity for us to learn what on earth chard is.) Then I saw the video bleow, which is awesome even if you don't like Star Wars.



In addition to health and environmental benefits, it is so much more fun to shop at healthy grocery stores. Don't get me wrong, I love a good trip to the Walmart, but I truly enjoy being in Whole Foods and Fresh Markets. Plus you can't beat their Sample Saturdays. No where else will the cashier flip through their mailer to find coupons for you. The employees always ask to help you find things or  share personal recommendations. It's amazing.

On Sunday I had bought a bag of honey crisp apples (AWESOME) from Fresh Market and had griped all the way home about the $8 I spent on them. (For four apples! Four huge apples, but still only four apples. I can get a whole sack of organic gala apples at Walmart for $3.96.) On Monday, I go to cut into the first one...and it's rotten. I even checked with a co-worker who is more produce knowledgeable and she told me to take it back. I called the store to make sure I could exchange it and they said it would not be a problem to bring it back.

"Not a problem" does even describe how amazing they were yesterday when I returned with my bad apple. They never even looked at my receipt. A cashier immediately came to my aid, walked me to their produce guide, everyone apologized (I mean, it happens, I understand.) and the produce guy walked me to the apples, helped me pick out a new one and gave me an extra. I'll pay $8 for apples if they come with that kind of service. And they really are the best apples ever.



I must say though, before you start to think I've become some kind of health nut, there are some things that I don't care how many chemicals are in them and I never will:

• Oreos
• Ice cream
• Velveeta cheese logs
• Candy, candy, candy
• Chef Boyardee
• Velveeta Shells and Cheese (The best mac and cheese ever.) 
• Eggo waffles (Although I do get the whole wheat kind.)
• Little Debbie Christmas trees and Valentine hearts
• Pillsbury crescent rolls
• Pillsbury cookies
• Chocolate
  

And there's probably several more...

Things that Make my Mouth Sweat

I tried this new, easy pasta recipe the other night. Well, before that I should mention that I have never cooked anything spicy. I have tried some Rachel Ray recipes that were supposed to have a "kick" but really weren't anything to brag about in the flavor department. I often worry that my cooking is bland and wish I was a more flavorful cook. Something to work on.

So I tried this recipe for Fettuccine with Sweet Pepper-Cayenne Sauce. Didn't sound too spicy to me. Red peppers, barely spicy. Garlic, my bff. And cayenne, which I had never used before but couldn't be worse than some red pepper flakes, right? Throw in the sour cream and chicken broth and I expected another mildly-flavored pasta dish.



Umm...I was sweating. My mouth was on fire! I was downing Lee's milk (Actually, this is a regular occurrence. Lee always drinks milk and I always drink water. But once I see Lee's milk, I want some too and just steal his. We've been doing this for over a year. Why I don't get myself some milk to start with remains a mystery. Anyways...). I'm not a huge spicy person, but I can handle medium salsa so I was quite taken back by this dish.

I think I might cut back on the cayenne a little next time, but still quite tasty. Lots of flavor!

Two Dollars

I'm Catholic; Lee's Presbyterian. Sometimes to bridge the gap at dinner, I will say a freestyle grace.

I'm horrible at freestyle spoken prayer. (Not that anyone can be really bad at prayer because the important thing is that you pray, doesn't matter what you say.) I go off on tangents and say awkward things. For example, a few months ago while I was freestyling grace before dinner, I said, "Dear God, I just want to thank you for all the amazing and wonderful things you've blessed us with. [So far, so good...] I know a bitch a lot --"

What is wrong with me?! So in an attempt to apologize to God for all my complaining when I know how lucky and blessed I am, I said, "I know I bitch a lot." This is why I like to stick with "Bless us O Lord".

But in all honesty, and moving past my use of the b-word during prayer, I do complain way more than I should. I always want more when really, I have more than enough, more than most even.

When I think about areas to improve as a person and Christian, I think the biggest thing for me (and really what it all boils down to) is loving and giving generously. Sharing your love, time, fortune, gifts, chocolate chip cookies, extra tickets, hugs, anytime minutes generously with no holding back. Love love love. Give give give.

We were at Lee's church yesterday (I go to mass every week. Sometimes Lee comes too. Sometimes we go to his church. There's lots of church.) and the minister had a particularly challenging sermon seeing as he gave us all money. For real.


As we were reflecting on the story of the widow's mite and how when we give it's not from what belongs to us but from the abundance God has given us, he told us to pass out the envelopes that were at the ends of the pew. Inside was $2 to give to someone in need this week.



I'm really excited about my $2 and a chance to be a better giver. I haven't decided who's getting it yet. Louisville seems to be a hot spot for people collecting money at intersections, more so than anywhere I've lived. Or, my best friend just had her appendix taken out so she might need some flowers, cookies, or trashy magazines. (Okay, maybe trashy magazines aren't the best idea but they would be appreciated by the person in need!) Lots of options!

I was out one afternoon walking through the Highlands with some friends, one of whom was a friend of a friend I had never met before. We wandered by someone asking for money and friend-of-a-friend just gave the woman $5. As we moved on, someone made the comment wondering if the $5 was just going to the liquor store across the street, which was exactly what I was thinking. But then friend-of-a-friend said, "Well that's between her and God." Friend-of-a-friend is very wise.

Goal for my 26th year: Give more. Love more. Don't ask questions. Just give and love. Starting with this $2.

And maybe complain less too.